A World Beside Our Own

Always There

Whenever I look at reflective surfaces, my godmother is there. I usually have to make sure I’m alone before talking with her, so that people don’t think I’m talking to myself, as they can only hear my half of the conversation. I can always feel she is there regardless, and she’ll make regular comments about what’s going on around me. With her help, my grades are definitely going to improve…

She can’t really read my thoughts though, so I have to concentrate when I answer. I’ve started writing my side of conversations, so that we can have a quiet chat between the two of us without me having to speak or change my focus all the time. In my dreams we can talk freely, but she explains its cause I’m on a different level of consciousness. She allows me to remember our dream conversations, so it helps in not repeating something we may have discussed overnight.

Ashanna takes me dress shopping for the Dance on Thursday. The dance is tomorrow, so we need something that fits with little to no alterations. It’s interesting having the opinion of three women as we shop for clothing. I sadly know nothing about women’s fashion, so I’ve been relying on my family to figure out what clothes look best for me.

We finally settle on this nice moss green cowl-neck evening dress. We go for the high neckline dress, as I don’t have a cleavage to promote. It’s a full length dress, with the slit just above the knee, Ashanna was originally going to go for a hip height side slit, but Luna agrees with Lairelindë. Wait till I have more of a figure for something that revealing. I’m only 15, this is supposed to be a teen dance.

Ashanna decides to glam it up a bit, adding a gold belt and matching bangle. She completes the look with a two-tiered beaded necklace and matching green pearl-like clip-on earrings.

“If you like earrings, we can see about piercing your ears come your birthday.” Ashanna says as they examine my new look in the mirror.

“You know if we add some green tips or feathering to her hair…” Luna starts.

“No, I don’t need another daughter colouring her hair all strange manners of colours.” Ashanna says causing Luna to giggle.

The clerk has been quiet up till now, letting the women decide on what we’ll go with. Once we’re satisfied, she rings us up. Lairelindë senses her unease as much as I do. “Recently adopted.” I answer that question she’s been dying to ask.

“That will be a lovely dress for the Harvest Dance.” The woman relaxes and smiles. “You are so lucky to have a family to spoil you like this.”

I look to Ashanna and smile lovingly. “Yes, I am, and I thank the stars every day for it.”

Luna gives me an affectionate hug in response, and we head out of the store. We’re on the way to the food court for supper, hoping to find some good vegetarian options when I hear my name. I smile as I recognize the voice and catch my soon-to-be girlfriend as she leaps happily in my arms. I take a half a step back to account for her momentum. I’m thankful Fae are light, a human girl her size probably would have knocked me over.

“Who is this enthusiastic little thing?” Ashanna smiles as Luna scowls at my affections being stolen away from her.

“This is my classmate Sala Nixë, she’s the first friend I made in class last week.” I smile as I put Sala down. “She’s also my date for the dance.” I smile at her affectionately.

“So this is the tall blond girl you speak so fondly of?” A voice says from behind Sala. The woman is almost a head taller than her daughter, and the resemblance is uncanny. She wears a long ivory dress with gold accents, frost-like lace trims the neck, sleeves and bottom.

“They are assensing one another, this could go badly if Sala’s mother is intolerant of other races.” Lairelindë says to me.

“Mother, don’t make a scene.” Sala pleads. “Simia is adopted into their family, they care for her more than her birth parents did.”

“Oh, really?” The Sylph Queen says to her daughter. She doesn’t look happy. “And why do you care so much for this…” she gasps.

“See, I told you Simia was special.” Sala says hugging me close.

“How far are you along your path, child?” The Fae’s eyes have turned opalescent as she picks my aura apart.

“Two weeks.” I reply, reading the undertone of her question, there’s only so much you can say in a mall full of humans.

“And how long will it be till it’s completed?” She’s not sugar coating anything.

“She can detect me riding alongside you, she’s trying to figure out why I’m here.” Lairelindë adds.

“If all goes well, she will be her full self by the New Year.” Ashanna catches on to what the Sylph is implying.

“You mean you are going to be a true Elf next year?” Sala whispers in amazement.

“If we can reach one of my Elven ancestors in the outer planes, yes.” I whisper back. “We have a lead.”

“And you support this?” the Sylph seems confused why Ashanna would help me.

“It is that or truly make her my daughter by bloodline, which do you think is better?” Ashanna challenges the question.

“I think my daughter would prefer her girlfriend to keep her fair complexion.” The Sylph responds with a hint of rudeness.

“Girlfriend?” Ashanna looks confused, looks over to us, and realizes Sala is affectionately hugging my side, her arm around my waist.

I blush. “It’s not official yet, I wanted to see how things go with the Dance tomorrow. We haven’t even kissed.” I say defensively.

“It’s clear what Sala wants, though.” Ashanna gives me a motherly smile. “While an unusual mate, I suppose it’s better than most of the boys Luna talks about at school.”

“Like she would date a boy.” Luna and Sala say together, leaving me to giggle. My girls know me so well in such a short time.

“Simia gets prettier every day, and smells like a field of lavender, it’s so refreshing.” Sala says leaning against me.

“We were about to grab something to eat. Would you care to join us? If our children are to date, it is only polite to get to know one another.” Ashanna says in a gentle tone. I’ve heard her use that tone, and it’s almost impossible to resist it.

The Sylph smiles. “Very well, there’s a restaurant at the end of mall, they have excellent vegetarian dishes there.”

Emenya nods and we follow the Fae to the restaurant. “I am Miahna Nixë, this is my daughter Sala.” She starts introductions.

“I am Ashanna Rasmussen, and these are my daughters Luna and Simiathlas. It is a pleasure to make your acquaintance.” Emenya gives a pleasant smile.

“You are much more elegant than I would imagine, considering your heritage.” Miahna says bluntly, but doesn’t say it outright, being in a public setting.

“There is an exotic fruit that allows us to be kinder and more gentle than the rest of our people.” Ashanna says, playing with words.

“That would explain the alluring scent that surrounds you and your daughters, though I don’t smell it as much on your youngest.” I’ve barely eaten the fruit, it must by my contact with my family that has it lingering on me.

“Consuming the fruit is toxic to mortals, Simiathlas most likely has it as a lingering effect from contact.” Ashanna says thoughtfully.

“It could explain Sala’s near immediate attraction, though…” Luna adds thoughtfully.

Miahna suddenly becomes interested in the subject. Once we get to the restaurant, she requests a quiet personal booth. The two families sit across from one another, Sala is disappointed she can’t sit beside me, and Luna gives a smirk that she won this contest. These two girls fighting over my affections are going to get tiresome, considering that Luna shouldn’t be holding such feelings for me.

Once we’ve made our drink and food order, we discuss the blood fruit and the benefits it gives to the vampires in my family. Ashanna admits to Miahna that I have sampled some fruit, but it should not have been enough to change the scent I generate. It is most likely due to contact with them. To be honest, I don’t notice the smell anymore, must be because of my constant exposure to it.

Ashanna asks the one question that’s been bugging me for over a week now: “Why Hillcrest?”

“You mean, why this small little town full of paranormal creatures? Or why did I choose a place that has a warm summer, and not a more northern climate, considering our nature and our abilities?” Miahna asks Emenya to clarify.

“Why such a southern city?” Mother smiles. “The weather here, you must be uncomfortable at least four months out of the year…”

“The summer months we vacation further north.” The Sylph smiles. “Yes, the warmer months are hard to tolerate. The schools further north are much larger though, I thought a smaller consolidated school would be better fitting for my daughter.”

“Wouldn’t it have been better to be surrounded with more of your kind?” I can hear the concern in Ashanna’s voice.

“On the contrary, it would have been more dangerous. Sala is my only heir, if anything were to happen to her...” The Sylph’s face creases with worry.

“Because the Winter Fae are currently a weaker house, and easier to take advantage of?” Ashanna catches on. Miahna nods.

“The teachers have encouraged me to embrace Sala’s affections, that she would need my protection. Now I’m understanding why.” I add in candidly.

“But my pendant…” Sala says, looking down at her necklace.

“Won’t protect you as much as you think it does.” I say to her, and Sala looks at me shocked.

“They see your growing power as a keeper of nature and light.” Miahna’s eyes glow opalescent again. “Yes, you would make a suitable protector as your strength grows. Your teachers are wise.”

“But Simia is so thin, she’s not anywhere as strong as Coach Montgomery.” Sala says confused.

“Strength is not always to be seen, my child.” She gives her a motherly smile. “Simiathlas has the beginnings of a powerful druid. For one so young as well. She is likely stronger in nature magic than any of your arcane friends in class.”

“Even more powerful than Ginette?” Sala says, amazed.

“Ginette can cast cantrips and simple spells.” I say from what our friend was showing off this afternoon.

“And you?” Sala looks at me. “I’ve seen none of your abilities before.”

The food arrives, and we’re quiet for a moment as they hand the plates out. Once we’re alone again, I take a knife and place it in my glass of water. “Ure Rauta” I say to heat the knife, and the water in the cup warms up and boils, as the knife turns red hot. Miahna is about to reverse the spell, when I hold up my hand. “Nicurauta” I say to cool it back down. “One does not start something that one does not know how to stop.” I echo Lairelindë when she taught me the two spells over the weekend.

“I am impressed.” Miahna smiles, I can see by the shocked look on the faces of Sala and my family that they are as well.”

A cheeky smile grows on my face, and I look at the vase of flowers on the table. I touch the baby’s-breath. “Manapiucca” I whisper, and six of the little flowers turn into blackberries. “Aini’emenya says the berries will last for four days and each berry holds a full meal of nutrients.” I eat one berry, knowing it’s going to kill my appetite, but I want to prove that they are not poisonous. I hand the rest of them to Miahna. “This is my gift to you.”

“Aini’emenya?” her mother asks as she eats her dish of fried rice.

“My god-mother, ancestor, and mentor. She first came to me from the Dream realm.” I reply.

“The Elven maiden riding along inside your head?” the Sylph confirms what Lairelindë told me about having been detected.

“It is our goal to free her and bring her back to the mortal coil this weekend.” Ashanna says without reservation. There’s no point in hiding what we’re doing from such a powerful Fae.

“Is that why you are so smart?” Sala asks eating her eggplant lasagna.

“Well, I am smart to begin with, but, yes, she helps when I get stumped.” I reply.

“When she is free from your bond, will she still be able to talk to you?” Miahna asks curiously.

I’m quiet for a moment as I wait for Lairelindë to answer first, then relay her response. “Only if we bind her to me or to an object that I carry, otherwise we will always be apart.” I’m quiet again. “It is the price needed to pay so that she can help me with my transformation at the end of the year.” I’ve begun to welcome my godmother’s presence. That she’s going to leave my mind, and forever be separated from me, is a scary thought.

“Can I try something?” there is something in Miahna’s tone that has Emenya worried.

“Sure.” I reply, I don’t think that Sala’s mother would do anything to purposefully hurt me.

“Give me your hand.” She says with a coy smile. When I do, she says “Hrivenahta.”

Numbing cold covers my hand and goes up to my wrist, and I frown. “Pustanixë” I say to resist the cold. I hadn’t even thought of what needed to be done, I just reacted to protect myself. My hand returns to its normal pink with no lingering pain or discomfort.

“A simple cold resistance spell would not have reversed my Winter’s Bite. You are strong enough to resist nature’s lure. You are the champion I have been seeking for my daughter.” Miahna smiles.

“What just happened?” Luna asks, stunned.

“Any simple spell caster can resist or tolerate an element, but the power of my spell would have still caused some pain. Only a strong druid can resist the abilities of a Fae to the degree that Simiathlas just displayed.” Miahna replies.

“Meddlesome Fae, had you hurt my daughter…” Ashanna threatens.

“When your daughter told me the berries would last four days, she told me just how powerful she is right now, and if she is this strong now, she will be even stronger come the New Year.” She looks down at Sala. “You followed your instincts and were drawn to your protector, I am proud of you.”

“I didn’t think I was being drawn to my protector, there was just something about Simia that felt safe.” She looks up at her mother, confused.

Ashanna is still looking upset. “Now, now, my Drow friend, you and I both know that Simiathlas would have been able to heal herself regardless, you have seen that in her aura.”

Ashanna’s expression softens. “Yes, I have. And with her ancestor’s spell book in her mind, she can heal herself of many things.”

“Had I warned any of you what I was about to do, you would have been able to prepare a stronger spell. I needed to judge our druid protege’s reflexes, to make sure she can take things thrown at her regardless of her readiness.” Miahna explains. She looks down at her daughter. “I took a chance at bringing you here, away from the court, to a small place, hoping nothing dangerous could lurk here. But you were still vulnerable, my dear.”

“But you said my charm…” Sala starts.

“The charm is your illusionary screen, so that people see a simple platinum-haired human girl, I put an enchantment to warn you if there was danger near, but it can’t protect you from that harm, I’m sorry if I stretched the truth on that.” Her mother says calmly.

“But Simia saw right through the illusion. She saw me for the Fae I am the moment she saw me.” Sala says in a worried tone.

“I told you at lunch yesterday, Simia can see through the veil. Illusions don’t work on her.” Luna frowns.

“Really?” Miahna looks at me curiously. “That is not a druid ability…”

“We don’t know where it comes from.” Ashanna responds. “Even before her abilities awoken, she’s always seen through illusions. It’s as if she has a natural resistance.”

“Too bad that natural resistance doesn’t include charm-like abilities.” I grumble. Luna smirks, she knows what I’m implying.

“That would make life with you two more tolerable, yes.” Ashanna frowns, leaving her daughter to pout in response.

Sala catches on about Luna’s constant flirtations and scowls at my sister.

“You two are going to have to learn to get along if I end up dating Sala.” I retort, leaving Sala to beam brightly, and Luna takes a deep breath. She stops herself from reacting further by distracting herself with her drink.

Why me? I sigh. I’ve never ever dated. Yet, here I am trying to mediate two jealous girls who are both seeking my affection.

“You could always just have them both as a girlfriend.” Lairelindë suggests I merely shake my head and wordlessly tell her it would be a horrible idea to date my sister.

“What’s wrong, nettinya?” Luna asks, feeling my emotions shift.

“Arguing with my godmother’s suggestion…” I reply. Lairelindë goads me to at least try it. My eyes widen. “No!” I say out loud this time. “Sorry, you really don’t want to hear her part of the debate.” I sigh.

Ashanna giggles. “It’s almost comedic the way you two bicker.”