“Who is it?” He shouted through the door.

“Open the door silly boy!” I heard my grandfather shout from outside. “We can see your glow from under the door.” He taunted.

Kayde opened the door and let my grandparents in the house.

“We heard you needed some help, hm?” Said Flora. “And by the looks of it, I can see why you didn’t just go to Phee’s house to ask for Al’s help.”

“My boy, you’re positively glowing. Do you know your power yet?” Asked my grandfather.

“Oh, we know it alright.” I answered. “It’s a positive kick in the pants. Once he masters it, he’s taking me to the casino.”

“Oh my…” Said Flora.

“You mean he’s…” Said Syle, not finishing his sentence.

“Yes, I am.” Said Kayde; at first, I was confused with his answer to their unasked questions, but then I realized he must be reading their minds.

“Well Syle, it looks as though we are going to have our hands full with these two.” Said my grandmother as she walked over to the couch I was sitting on and sat next to me.

“Yes dear, we certainly will.” My grandfather answered.

“Well, first thing’s first.” My grandmother said looking from Kayde to myself. “We need to get the two of you out of town. I think between Syle and I, we can manage to cover the two of you with our glamour until we can get you out of town. Once we’re on the freeway, it should be sweet sailing, so to speak. Kayde, we can put you in a sweat shirt with a hood, Phee, it will be dark enough that unless someone shines a flashlight on you, they won’t be able to know that you look like a cherry.”

“Wait a minute” Said Kayde “What exactly are you planning to do with my nifty new radioactive glow?”

“Anyone who passes us and notices your skin will just assume it’s a flashlight or lantern in the back seat.” Answered my grandfather. “For a few days, the two of you can stay at our house…”

“Wait, what do you mean?” I said, cutting off my grandfather. “Why only for a few days?”

“Let him finish babe, I think you’ll like the idea.” Said Kayde, sitting down next to me.

“As I was saying, for a few days, the two of you can stay at our house while we wait for the committee to finish your home in the forest.” My grandfather began to explain “Of course, you don’t have to live there permanently, the way your grandmother and I do, it can be a vacation home, so to speak. It will be a great place for the two of you to work on your powers, and a great place to set up shop when you need to not be in the real world.”

“How are we to know that this committee will even let us live there, I mean, we’re only half Fae.” I asked, not wanting to allow myself to get too excited.

“Because they have already approved it, dear one.” My grandmother said, hugging me. “That’s where we went after we had to leave the restaurant. We knew right away that you were the cause of the candles and the fire in the kitchen. We couldn’t let you go home with your father, especially after the situation at the restaurant.

“The differences we have with your father aren’t important. We knew it would kill you if you hurt him, and couldn’t let something like that happen to you.”

I turned toward my grandmother, surprised that they knew me so well. “What about my birthday party? Dad’s worked so hard on it, and we only have a week!” I asked, more worried about hurting my father’s feelings than about not having an eighteenth birthday party.

My grandfather, who as usual, had been pretty quiet, spoke up. “We’re pretty sure that we’ve got that figured out. You probably won’t know your glamour by then, though with hard work, it’s possible to get a hold on your powers. So, why not change it to a costume party?”

“That’s fine with me,” I answered “But what about Kayde? What’s he going to be? A light bulb?”

“I can cover myself in make up.” He answered. “Or body paint. Believe me, I can come up with something.”

After that, I had no qualms about the party so I called my father. Not surprisingly, he didn’t answer either phone, so I left him a message. “Hi Daddy, it’s me. I’m at Kayde’s, everything is fine. Kayde and I are going to go to grandma and grandpa’s for awhile and try to get a handle on things before the party.

“I know you’re worried, but try not to be, I’m still your Firebird, just, a little bit more so, I suppose. I love you.”

I hung up the phone and looked at my grandmother and grandfather and sighed.

“We’re going to have to run by the house and pick up some clothes for you” My grandmother said as she rubbed my shoulder “Why don’t we head to the house and do that while Kayde gets some of his things together?”

I nodded and leaned forward to lightly kiss Kayde on the cheek.

“Don’t forget your paints love.” I reminded him, knowing that this would be difficult for him and that painting would help him feel better.

“Don’t forget your music and laptop.” He told me, kissing my cheek as well.

My grandmother and I stood up and walked toward the door.

“Wait, babe, put this on, it’s cold out there.” Kayde said, jumping up and handing me his sweatshirt. “It’ll help with the whole red thing too.”