Shade crept forward, more wary than before, Faeries aren’t that bad I guess, things could be worse. Could be a tiger, lion, or a snake! She hurried to keep up with Jack. She pulled her sweater tighter around her because the sun had gone down and the heat had faded. “Jack?”

“Yes, Shade?” A slight impatience tainted his voice now.

“It sounded like Vange knows you, like, more personally. Do you know her well?” Shade fumbled over a root sticking up from the dirt.

Jack pressed his lips together as his pace hesitated for a moment. He furrowed his brow as she waited.

“I did know her, personally I mean. That all has changed now. We were, well, lovers I guess. I loved her very much. We were to be married. Then the Lonares Court started raging war against the Guildrin Court of Faeries, where I reside. She changed then, switched sides, started using dark magic. I’m not sure what made her choose to change but she up and left one day and never returned. She became one of the Unseelie Lonares’ Queen’s top lieutenants.

‘Now, she has been stealing magical artifacts from our clan; probably trying to beef up their armory of weapons and magic against us.” He stopped, breathing in slowly as the memories washed over him.

“So you were in love and she just left, just like that?”

“Yes, I’d rather not talk about it anymore.”

Shade sighed, scanning the darkening woods. Jack seemed nice enough and she did not want to get on his last nerve, especially not when the woods looked to be so ominous.

Jack came to a sudden stop in front of an enormous oak tree; it looked ancient, like it had lived longer than anything else in the world. He reached towards it, mumbling something under his breath. With his outstretched fingers he touched numerous knots on the tree’s thick trunk. At first, nothing happened.

Shade looked around and up into the tree, something swatted her calf and she jumped. She then began scrambling around to get a better look at the forest floor. Fluttering near her was what appeared to be a small fly. Its wings batted like a hummingbird and had a snarled smile from on its lips. Lips? Flies don’t have lips. She narrowed her eyes at the creature; it had a soft golden glow to its skin, like a small tiny elf, with white cottony hair and long pointy fingers. Its face filled with a malicious smile painted across it.

“Um, hi, how are you? I’m…” She didn’t get a chance to finish her words for the wind flew out of her as her arm was jerked back. Jack gripped her wrist hard and furious.

”Stop, don’t speak to them! The demi-fey are not very merciful or nice. They like to play games and mind tricks that can kill you. There is almost no way to snap out of their enchantments; they can make you dance till your feet are bloody stumps! Weren’t you listening? And never eat or take anything they give you, you understand? You will belong to them forever!” Jack let go of her arm and angrily turned back to the tree.

“Endora, philis montie!”He touched the tree knot again and then the earth began to move near the roots. They vibrated alive, snaking, moving, and parting like tentacles. An opening with steps widened at the tree’s base, and they were all made of stone. The vibrations ceased and the ground remained open. Shade had to close her mouth, which was hanging open like a flycatcher. She had never seen anything like this in her life.

“Follow me and stay close. Humans are usually not welcomed here.” Jack stepped down into the darkness, holding onto small roots sticking out of the crumbly walls like parts of a banister. Shade followed reluctantly, silently wishing she never got out of bed this morning, descending into the void as the grass and trees disappeared from sight.

When they had almost reached the bottom of the staircase, she heard a loud rumble and felt shaking as dirt trickled down onto her from above. Her arms instinctively flew up over her head waiting for a cave-in that did not come. She looked up when the noise died away. The hole in the forest floor had closed above them.

She now stood in what appeared to be a hallway made of dirt and there were smooth stones all around them. Roots dangled from above and the only light came from lamps hanging on the walls. Slowly, in even intervals each one magically flared up. The lamps gave off an eerie flickering glow as Shade held her breath in the dim light.

Jack dusted his shoulders and shook the dirt off. He started walking down the hall and Shade had no choice but to follow, while attempting to breathe in and out slowly and deeply. The floor was flagstone, nestled in the soft moist dirt. It was cool in the dark tunnel, but not uncomfortable; there was no wind to chill her down here.

There were many tunnels branching off from the main one. She stayed close to Jack, afraid to lose him in the dim maze. Dangling roots gripped her hair, like fingers catching her strands and pulling hard as if they were alive. She used one hand to cover her hair, to keep it from catching the snarled roots. Her other hand was stretched out to help her balance against the cool smooth dirt walls. She hoped that wherever they ended up, that they would be there soon.

There was soft glowing light up ahead, growing brighter as they inched closer to it. Voices could be heard, echoing in spurts down the hall. The hall abruptly ended and opened into a large round room. Shade began to realize that the voices were coming from the many bodies fluttering around in the room. Most looked human from what she saw, but others, she wasn’t sure what they were. Their faces glared at her, an intruder from a world above; somehow, she had a feeling that they did not see too many strangers down here.

Shade felt na**d under the dozens of eyes that were scanning her like a tourist. She stumbled behind Jack, who seemed oblivious of the commotion around them. That is, until a large troll stood in front of them, blocking the path.

“Out of the way Renny, I must see Ilarial immediately. I have some strange news about Vange. I brought someone who needs to see her.” The Troll narrowed his eyes behind Jack, boring his glowing, yellow spheres into Shade. She felt herself shrinking under that glare; he was monstrous and one of the scariest things she had ever laid her eyes upon.

“Can’t do that Jack, no strangers allowed without prior approval, you know that. We have to be sure she is not a spy; the forest is crawling with them. They could only be so lucky to have you waltz one right into the center of our residence. I have to tie her up now.” The troll pushed past Jack and reached for her. His large hands were hideous and reminded her of moldy green cheese. They looked burly, and if he got a hold of her she didn’t know how she would break free, even if she tried.

“Jack?” She stepped back as he came closer. “I’m not a spy! Don’t touch me! Jack?” She peered around for him as the troll’s fingers grabbed her arm and squeezed, digging hard into her flesh. The next second, the Troll was on the floor staring at the ceiling, blinking in disbelief and surprised. Jack had his sword to the troll’s throat and his foot pressed down onto the massive chest.

“I told you Renny, we must see the oracle Ilarial. I vouch for this girl. She is no spy. Now stay out of my way or the next time this blade will find your throat all the way through.”

He pushed off and looked at Shade. She trembled as she let out a breath, which she had stifled in her chest. He motioned her to follow him. She nodded and stepped past the troll, who glared at her with his burning yellow eyes. She turned away, scurrying over to Jack as he continued walking down another corridor that was off the main room. She didn’t let her gaze deviate from the room until it was out of sight. Shivering, she hugged her arms around herself even though the room wasn’t cold; the chilling feeling that overwhelmed her sprouted from fear.

“I apologize for the security around here; we’ve had a lot of break-ins and Queen Zinara is not pleased. You must understand if I even suspected you of being a spy, you would not be standing here with me at all.”

Shade gulped. She was feeling most unwelcomed.

“Ah, here we are!” Jack stopped at the end of the hall and tapped on a wooden door. It had deep carvings that curved and twisted throughout the ancient wood, smoothed over by time and use.

“Come.” A female’s voice commanded. Shade hoped she would be friendlier than the bunch they had already encountered.

Jack heaved the door open and let Shade go in before him and closed it behind them softly. She studied the room; it glittered in the dim candlelight illuminating from the center of a round wooden, table that was near the floor. There were also several large pillows tossed about the room that were probably used for seating.

From behind the table, a platinum-haired woman stared at her. She smiled and lifted her arms, motioning them to sit near her. Her gown flowed around her like liquid ice, white and sheer. Her hair glistened in the light, her eyes were like grey pearls shinning. The oracle’s eyes brought out the smoothness of her face. Her lips were dark pink and nothing about her seemed old. She almost looked like an angel without wings. Shade tried not to stare, hoping she hadn’t been rude.

She settled on a large blue pillow, which was soft and comfy.

She noticed several objects on the table before them; stones of different colors and markings were scattered on the wood. There were also some small animal bones, bleached white and spread across, mingling with the stones. Whatever these were, Shade had no idea what they were for.

“Please, take my hand.” Ilarial brought her slender pale hand towards Shade, her long white robe flowing from the thin white arm.

She took the hand, finding it soft and surprisingly warm. “Um, hello, I’m Shade, Jack brought me here because I…”

“I know who you are and why you are here, Shade. I have been waiting for you a long time. I was hoping that you might run into someone like Jack a little sooner, but this will do. I am Ilarial, Lady Oracle of the tribe Guildrin.” She smiled. Shade felt warm and suddenly very calm. The woman was full of magic and it irradiated around the room like a warm fire on an icy night.

“I know you are confused. I have known of your existence for some time. You say you can hear what you call voices in your head from time to time?” The oracle asked kindly.

Shade nodded, she was in awe of Ilarial. She could not shake the weirdness of the room’s atmosphere. Was she under a spell? Being in Ilarial’s presence was like being drugged or sedated, it filled her with a warm and fuzzy feeling.

Ilarial smiled deeply, her eyes crinkled, exposing some age to this woman, but it was impossible to tell just how old she was. Her long hair draped around her shoulders and down her back like a thick rippled curtain, shining in the dim candlelight.

“The voices in your head, they are spirit guides, your ancestors trying to help you on your way. It’s difficult to tune into them because you are not trained, but they mean only to help you. You must not fear them, but let them fill you with their power and knowledge. They have led you to find us. You must know now that you are not all human. You are one of us, part faery and part human. This is why you can sense magic around you and it’s called you here.”

Shade concentrated on Ilarial’s words. What the heck?

Impossible. Shade shook her head.

“What? No. My parents aren’t faeries! What do you mean by that? That would mean my father or mother is a faery, right? That makes no sense. My mother is not magical. She is a modern soccer mom with 4 kids to feed and a single mom at that! My father is dead, he died two years ago, and there is no way he was a faery!”

Shade was growing agitated, her father a faery? No it couldn’t be because he had been so normal. She could still remember his calm voice reading to her at night before bed and the wrinkles that hugged his eyes and his smile. Faeries aren’t parents; they don’t die in car accidents like her father had. It was making sense to her, not at all.

“I know this may sound impossible. I knew that it would be difficult for you to accept. You are the oldest in your family, right?” Shade nodded. “Your mother was with a faery once; he charmed her into loving him instantly. She had no choice really. That’s how she became pregnant with you. Of course, this faery enchanted (the one you call father) almost as soon as he knew there would be a child, to make sure you would be taken care of in ways he could not provide. So your adoptive father fell in love with your mother, married her right away and then you were born. Both were none the wiser.” Ilarial paused, watching Shade’s reaction. She was careful in not enhancing the details.

“My dad was not my real father? How would you even know that? Who was this ‘faery’ then? Did he tell you himself? What if you’re lying?” Shade stood up suddenly looking down at Ilarial, her heart beating hard within her chest. Her breath caught in her throat, causing it to feel tight and it soon burned.

“Shade, please, sit down, you must listen to her, she knows more than you think.” Jack was suddenly standing behind her, taking hold of her shoulders and pressing softly down.

She took a breath, eyeing Ilarial with suspicion. She sighed, deciding it would be better to sit down and listen to whatever was thrown her way. Slowly, she sank down into the sea of pillows.

Ilarial was calm and still as a lake. She was not stirred up so easily but smiled again. The same warm feeling flooded over Shade once more. Calm, it said, so calm.

“I must tell you, faeries cannot lie. Unless of course you are not a full faery like yourself. We can enchant, stretch the truth or work a way around it, but never a straight out lie. I do hope you believe me. I mean no harm to you my child. I only wish to find truth for you.” She nodded and looked down onto the table before them. She picked up only the stones and warmed them in her hands. She then dropped them on the table and watched them roll to their places.

“These stones are quite powerful; they are mined from the heart of the earth, deep within crevices never seen by man. They are called seeing stones and the runes on them foretell futures or sing of the past. I see a great journey you must undertake, a misshapen love with a broken heart, confusion…” She pointed to each stone, first a blue stone, then a pink red one, and then blackened quartz. The last three were turquoise, purple, and yellow and they were wedged in a group together. She paused before them, turning her head slightly, as if waiting for them to speak. “Ah, yes, a most special task has fallen to you where your true self shall be revealed.”