Finding Firebird
When a young woman tries to rekindle her relationship with her extended family, she's forced to make a choice between her world and theirs.

Chapter 4, Scene 5

11/14/2009 10:42:00 PM

After setting down our flats, Kayde and I walked to the shed to get some gardening tools, which for one reason or another, I seemed to collect, and so I had more than enough for the four of us. As Kayde and I came out of the shed with a trowel in each hand, Flora looked at us and laughed.

“You dear, dear children. Do you honestly expect a flower faery to use a trowel?” She asked with a twinkle in her eye “I’m the kind of woman who likes to get her hands dirty!” She said, digging into the dirt.

“I prefer to stay clean, myself” Said Syle as he grabbed one of the trowels.

Kayde and I picked one up as well and started digging on the other side of the row that Flora and Syle had started on.

“You know” said Syle “You’re at quite an advantage having your grandmother here to help with the planting.”

“Why’s that?” Asked Kayde

“Let me show you.” Replied Flora.

Once her hole was big enough she pulled a basil plant out of its pot. Holding on to the base of the plant in one hand, she held it in the air in front of her eyes and stared intently for a moment. As we watched, the roots that had been wrapped around the large clump of soil seemed to move. At first I just assumed that I was seeing things, but then the roots began to twist and unwind from the dark moist soil. Kayde and I leaned forward as we watched Flora set the plant in the ground and watched as the roots pressed themselves against the walls of soil, burying themselves in the dirt. Softly, Flora pushed the pile of dirt towards the base of the plant, filling the empty spots with the soil.

For a moment, the two of us were silent as we processed that what we had just seen was real, impossible as it may have seemed.

Finally, I asked Flora “How did you do that?”

“Well, that’s part of my specialty, but with practice, it’s something every faery can learn to do.” She answered. “I can do it without words by communicating to the plant that its roots are safer and better off unwrapped from the soil and pressed into the earth.

“Now if you, or Kayde were to learn to do that, you would have to spend everyday taking care of these plants to teach them they can trust you and talking to the plants so that they know your voice and spirit. Once you do that, when you tell them they are safer and better off, they’ll listen to what you tell them and take it into consideration.”

“What do you mean? Plants can think?” Asked Kayde

“Oh yes” Answered Syle “Every single natural thing on our earth has a spirit and can think, trust and worry the same way that we can.”

“Now, since you know the secret to talking to plants, let me show you part of what is in fact part of my specialty…” Flora said, as she began to giggle.

She stood up and walked around the garden. “First, I have to make sure that I don’t put any strain on the plant by asking them if they feel strong and healthy.” She found a portion of the garden that she liked and stood in front of it. “These ones say that they are feeling strong and healthy, but could use a bit of a boost, that’s what I’m here for.” She said to us.

She began a low hum, almost too soft for me or Kayde to hear. As her humming grew louder, she kneeled down on the dirt and leaned forward, placing her hands on the ground over her head. Kayde and I watched her, curious and silent, trying to see what she was doing.

“No sweet one, watch the plants.” Said Syle quietly.

As we looked to the plants, we both gasped. Right in front of us, my garden was growing; we watched what seemed to be a week, possibly two weeks of growth right in front of our eyes. New stems, new leaves and new flower buds began to shoot out right before our eyes. One of my basils, which had not been growing well since I planted it in early May filled out before my eyes, turning from what looked like a branch stuck in the ground to a small bush.

Kayde and I were shocked with what we had seen, leaving both of us momentarily speechless. We looked back and forth from each other to the plants to my grandmother, trying to decide whether or not we should believe what we had just seen.

“Don’t worry kids” Said my grandfather. “In a few weeks, none of this will be surprising to you in the least. Which reminds me…

“In a week or so, maybe sooner, the two of you will start looking differently. Now, Kayde, I’m not sure about you, however I do know that Albert is not much one for calling attention to himself. The problem is that soon, it seems, Phoenix will be red, and she’ll have to stay that way for at least a little while until she knows how to use her glamour.”

“Oh goodness!” I said “I didn’t think about that. Neither has dad, of course, but he’s going to hate that! Oh Flora, what on Earth will we do?”

“Oh, don’t you worry your pretty little head off one bit” My grandmother reassured me. “Syle and I will figure something out as soon as we can.”

After a few moments of silence, Kayde stopped working and looked up at Syle “Why do you think her skin’s already doing these color flashes and mine isn’t?” He asked, seeming more curious than worried.

“Well, it’s highly possible that yours has actually been doing the color flashes, as you put them, but that your color will be similar to the current color of your skin. I mean, look at me, or Raven, although we were both born with our color, could you imagine trying to catch your skin changing from its current color to mine?”

“Or my mom’s” I reminded Kayde, “My mother’s skin was exactly the same color, the only difference was that it had a shimmer to it.”

“Don’t worry Kayde” said my grandmother “The fact that your skin hasn’t had any changes in color will actually make it much easier for you not only to fit in as it happens, but to learn your glamour as well.”

“Lucky bastard” I said, jokingly.

Kayde laughed and tossed a small handful of dirt into my lap. “Watch it girly.” He said laughing.

As we started on the last flat of plants, I realized it was starting to cool off which meant it was probably around five o’clock, if not after. I looked up and saw that the sun quite a bit lower than I expected it to be.

“Kayde, do you have your phone?” I asked, hoping I still had enough time to get ready without rushing.

“Sure babe, what’s up?” He asked.

“I was wondering what time it was. We’re supposed to be leaving around six, remember?” I reminded him, realizing that just maybe, gardening was not exactly the best choice before dinner.

“Oh yea, it’s um, four thirty seven.” He told me. “I guess we’ll have to save the rest of these for tomorrow. I’ve got to go home and at least change my pants, although a shower and full change of clothes would be nice, time allowing.”
“Don’t worry son, we won’t leave without you. Go ahead and take your time.” My grandfather told him.

Kayde got up and dusted his pants off and gathered up the trowels and took them to the side of the house to rinse them off with the hose. When he was out of hearing distance I leaned toward my grandmother and asked what I had been wondering since earlier.

“Last night, what you said about how a half blood comes into their power?” I started off “You said that they have to have strong feelings for the other half blood? Does that mean that Kayde feels the same way for me that I feel for him?”

“Well dear,” My grandmother said softly “The feelings don’t actually have to be positive, it could be strong feelings of hate, but seeing the way he hangs around you and looks at you definitely says that strong hate is not the case here.”

As I stood up and turned to walk toward Kayde I saw he was already almost back to us.

“I’m going to head home now babe, I’ll be back around six o’clock, ok?” He asked me.

“Yea, that sounds good. I think I need to head upstairs and start getting myself ready as well.” I told him, giving him a kiss on the cheek. “I’ll see you in a bit.”

Read On

Chapter 4, Scene 4

11/13/2009 09:41:00 PM

After my father had left I remembered the plants in Kayde’s back seat and all the letters and cards that my grandparents had sent talking about the different things they had planted that spring or summer and such.

“Would you guys like to help Kayde and I plant some stuff in the garden?” I asked Syle and Flora.

“Oh dear one, we’d love to! We can show you some tricks too.” Said Flora with a wink.

As the four of us walked out to the car, Kayde asked his first question about being a Half Blood.

“So, this whole ‘glamour’ thing? Is that something Phee and I will be able to do?”

“Yes”, said Syle “You will, of course, it will take practice, like everything else, your specialty will come first, and faster, the other stuff, like everything else in life, takes time.”

We got to the car and each took one flat of plants and headed to the back yard. As we were walking, Kayde stopped for a minute and just started to stare at me.

“What is it babe?” I asked him, confused.

“Nothing… I just thought I saw something.” He said, still looking confused.

“Like what?” Asked Flora.

“Nothing, it was just a trick of the light or something, I’m sure.” He answered and kept walking.

“Kayde?” I said his name somewhat softly. “What did you see?”

He looked at me with eyes that seemed to be full of worry or confusion, but I wasn’t sure which.

“Your skin. It was… Well, red.” He said, giving me a strange look. “Just for a second though, nothing to worry about, I’m sure.”

“Red skin, you said?” Asked Syle. “I know it seems impossible boy, but you saw us last night, my skin as pale as snow, Flora’s green as leaves. Phee’s red skin could give us an insight into what her specialty will be.”

“Earlier, when I was sitting on the porch, I thought I saw my skin turn red as well. I thought I was just seeing things, so I wrote it off as nothing.” I told Syle, Flora and Kayde. “You think this means my specialty will have to do with something red?” I asked.

“Not think dear one, we know.” Said Flora “For now, why don’t we go into the back yard and plant and talk.” She said, as she began walking again.

Syle, Kayde and I all followed her around the side of the house to the back yard.

Read On

Chapter 4, Scene 3

11/13/2009 09:39:00 PM

Even though I had figured it would have been Kayde when I opened the door, I was pleasantly surprised to see his playful smile and mischievous eyes looking back at me.

“Phee, I’ve done something horrible.” He told me. “But now I don’t feel quite so bad, knowing that you forgot all about your roses!”

“Oh Kayde, I didn’t forget about them, I’m planning to plant them today.” I told him laughing. “I just haven’t had a chance yet since we’ve got company.”

“Oh? Should I be worried?” He asked me.

“No, not at all. At least, I don’t think so.” I answered, hoping he wasn’t still uncomfortable with my grandparents. “What exactly is this terrible thing you’ve done?

“Oh, um… come to the car with me real fast.” He said, grabbing my hand and pulling me towards his open passenger door.

“Kayde, I can’t go anywhere with you. I have no shoes on and there are people in my house trying to spend time with me.” I hissed at him.

“We’re not leaving. Just look in the back seat.” He told me.

I leaned over into the car and saw flats and flats of different herb, fruit and vegetable plants.

“Oh Kayde! Are these?” I stopped myself before asking, afraid that I would end up making an assumption that wasn’t accurate.

“Yes sweetness, they’re for you.” He answered, putting his arms around me. “You probably have some of it, but there’s nothing wrong with expanding a garden, is there?”

“No!” I exclaimed. “Not at all! Not ever!”

“Alright, I think I’ve kidnapped you long enough, shall we go back inside with your visitors? I’m sure your father is dying to meet me as well.”

Kayde draped his arms around my shoulders and we walking back to the house. As we got up onto the porch, we could hear arguing.

Oh no. Already? I thought to myself, knowing exactly what had happened, I broke into a run into the house and Kayde chased me in.

“You think that just because she’s like you, you can take her under your wing and teach her all your weird crap? I’m not letting my daughter turn into some kind of weird ass dirt worshipper!” Yelled my father. “I am not going to allow you to corrupt-”

I rushed between my father and my grandparents as Kayde stayed standing at the entrance to the living room. “I don’t know how this happened, nor do I even care, but you guys will NOT argue around me.” I said in a firm voice. “Dad, I’d like you to meet Kayde. Kayde, this is my father, Albert.”

“Nice to meet you, sir.” Said Kayde, obviously feeling a bit out of place and uncomfortable.

“You too son.” Replied my father, obviously still seething about what ever had taken place while I was outside with Kayde. “I understand my daughter is rather taken with you, so I figured I should stick around and meet you.”

Kayde moved to my grandparents and offered his hand to Syle. “It’s nice to meet-”

“Didn’t we do this part last night?” Asked my grandfather, laughing as I realized Kayde wasn’t familiar with my grandparents in their glamoured forms.

“Kayde, that’s Syle” I told him. “And that’s Flora. They used their glamour to come and visit with us today. They’d like to take us out to dinner tonight, are you free?”

“Yea, I don’t have any plans today other than seeing how long it will take of me hanging around before you kick me out.” He said, laughing at his own joke.

“I think now’s a good time for the shopping. I’ll be back by six o’clock for dinner, sound good?” Asked my dad.

“Yes, six sounds fine” Said Flora to my father kindly.

Read On

Chapter 4, Scene 2

11/13/2009 09:39:00 PM

I sighed; disappointed that it would be that much longer before I got to see Kayde. I turned and headed up the stairs with a sigh. When I got to the top of the stairs I heard another knock at the door.

“Just a moment” I heard my father shout downstairs. He was probably sticking his food in the microwave or something to keep it from attracting flies. I heard muffled voices downstairs and hoped that my father wasn’t giving my new boyfriend the third degree. Or bringing up what I had told him last night.

Mortified I grabbed a pink tank top and a pair of jean shorts and pulled them on over my bra and panties. As I ran down the stair I heard a woman’s voice that sounded familiar but I just couldn’t place a name to the voice.

As soon as I got to the bottom of the stairs and turned into the living room I realized the voice. I couldn’t place it because it was a voice I hadn’t heard in almost sixteen years. It was the voice my grandmother used to use when she would come to visit. The one she used when she used her glamour.

“Phee, look who came to visit.” Said my father in a tone that sounded like clenched teeth.

“Flora! Syle!” I said, surprised and excited. “What are you two doing here?”

Flora turned to me to explain. “Well, seeing as we never really got along with your father, we thought it would be best to come and visit with the two of you before your party so that we wouldn’t have to worry about 16 years of awkwardness coming around to visit at your eighteenth birthday party.”

“So, where’s our boy Kayde?” Asked my grandfather.

“Oh, he’s going to come over later.” I told him.

“Oh, I see”, said Syle, “Do the three of you have any plans tonight?” He asked, turning to my father as I sat down in one of the chairs in our living room.

“Not that I know of, do we, Phoenix?”

“No, we don’t, I didn’t have anything planned at least.”

“Flora and I were thinking that we could all go out to lunch or dinner tonight.” He said with a smile.

“Well, I’m sure that Kayde and I would love that, Dad, would you come with us?” I answered before my father could turn down their offer.

“Of course.” He said. “It will have to be dinner tonight though; I need to do some shopping today, for the house and for the party.”

“Sounds good to me.” Said Flora, my grandmother. “While you’re shopping, I’m sure that there are things Phoenix and Kayde want to talk to us about.”

“Yes, there are! At least on my end!” I said enthusiastically. “Like, I guess it’s more of an observation then a question but what you said about a half blood coming into their power. Does that mean tha-”

“Not that this isn’t interesting” Interrupted my father. “But it all still freaks me out a little bit, could we maybe avoid the faery talk until after I’ve gone shopping?”

I laughed at my father’s weak tolerance for anything out of the ordinary and agreed. We sat in the living room for a bit and talked about things, starting with weather, and then continuing on to food, which seemed to be the topic of choice for all four of us. We talked about favorite foods and least favorite foods, even foods we loved to eat but hated to cook. For me, it was fudge. I could eat fudge every day, but hated to cook it. As we talked and laughed, there was another knock at the door and I stood up to go answer it, assuming this time, it was Kayde.

Read On

Chapter 4, Scene 1

11/13/2009 09:38:00 PM

The morning sun was bright and warm, the way it should be in the middle of July. I woke up much earlier than I expected, probably because I went to sleep at midnight but to me, it felt more like two in the morning. Dad was still asleep, so I decided to get up and make some food.

I pulled my robe on and headed down stairs to the kitchen. It was incredibly warm in the house so I walked around opening the windows and then decided to open the door as well. It seemed quiet and peaceful outside so instead of breakfast, I made myself a nice pot of Mint Magic tea and sat outside on the porch swing listening to the birds. Everything seemed different today. Calmer, quieter, and happier. Even the birds seemed to be singing a different song.

I sat drinking my tea and thinking about last night. Apparently, I was a Faery. Well, I was half Faery. What my specialty was, so to speak, I didn’t yet know, but according to my grandparents, I would soon enough. And so would Kayde. I realized that seeing as I couldn’t come into my powers without the help of another Half Blood who I had strong feelings for, it was the same for Kayde, which meant he had strong feelings for me as well. It wasn’t until that thought popped in my head that I realized at some point today, Kayde would be coming over, and to the best of my knowledge, my dad would probably be home.

I looked at my watch to see what time it was and for just a moment, my skin looked as though it had a slight reddish tint to it. Inspecting my arm closely, I decided that there was no way my arm had been red. It must have been a trick of the light, or my eyes, or mind, or well, something, because I was very obviously not turning red.

I picked up my tea pot and cup and headed back into the house for breakfast. After setting the pot and cup down on the counter I opened my refrigerator and started searching for something to cook up. After a through hunt of the fridge and kitchen I decided that the most sensible dinner would probably be an omelet. I pulled 3 eggs off of the door and some pepper jack cheese off the shelf and set the two on the counter. I pulled out some mushrooms, onions and garlic and sautéed them in some butter. As they were cooking, I chopped some thyme, chives, oregano and basil in the food processor and then mixed them with the eggs. Once the mushrooms, onions and garlic were done, I poured them into a bowl and then poured the eggs into the pan. After letting the eggs thicken up a bit I sprinkled a bit of pepper jack cheese over the eggs, then poured the mushroom, onions and garlic onto half of the pan and covered them with a pile of pepper jack cheese and flipped the other half of the egg over the pile of veggies and cheese. The minute I took the omelet out of the pan and sprinkled a bit of cheese and hot sauce over the top, I heard my dad coming down the stairs.

“Smells good down here Phee, what’s for breakfast?” He asked.

“Well”, I told him “I just made myself an omelet with mushrooms and onions and garlic.”

“And nothing for your dear old Dad, huh kid?” He asked laughing.

“Nope. Nothing. Because someone, who shall remain nameless, forgot to do the grocery shopping again.” I told him teasingly, “Someone who has been in charge of the shopping for the past sixteen years, might I add…

“By the way, here’s the list for the party. Next weekend, remember?” I told him, hoping we wouldn’t have a situation like my sweet sixteen where he had to rush out the morning of and buy food and cook all day.

As I was heading into the living room to eat, there was a knock on the door. I handed my dad the omelet and winked at him. “Just so you know, this is a bribe to buy food today…” I told him as I headed for the door. “This is probably Kayde, so be nice.” I nearly begged.

“Wait. Phee, if that’s Kayde, shouldn’t you put some clothes on?” Asked my father.

I rolled my eyes. “Did you just forget everything I said last night?” I asked him.

“No, I purposely blocked it out. Please put some clothes on before you make me remember.” He said, setting down the plate and walking to the door. “Don’t make me invoke my parental rights, kid.” He said walking past me.

Read On

Chapter 3, Scene 5

11/11/2009 11:18:00 PM

“Dad, you awake?” I called, the minute I got through the door.

The house was still lit up so I assumed he was in the living room watching TV or something. I walked into the living room and saw dad spacing out on some detective show.

“Dad? I need to talk to you about something.” I said, turning off the TV.

“Oh, I’m sorry dear, what is it?” He asked, sitting up and looking at me.

“It’s about my birthday dad… And my grandparents.” I added on as an after thought.

“Oh Phoenix. Can’t we talk about this another time?” He said, sounding exasperated. “How was your date?”

“I don’t want to talk about my date, or Kayde, or planning the birthday party dad, I want to talk about Grandma Grandpa.” I told him firmly.

“Phoenix. Please. Not tonight.” He said, almost pleading.

“Fine, lets talk about Kayde and I then Dad. Let’s talk about our date.” I told him heatedly. He took me up to a hill just out of town and treated to me a French dinner. Afterwards, we ate desert and asked each other questions to get to know each other because we just met last night.”

“Phee! You know better than to go somewhere with someone you don’t kn-”

“Oh, don’t worry dad, it gets better. We sat on a tree branch and watched the sunset and then watched the city lights come on in the city. We ran around and chased each other and acted goofy. He pinned me down on the ground and ate me out for damn near half an hour and then, after wards, we had sex. Yes sir, right there on top of the hill, bare ass naked for anyone to just walk up and watch.

“Oh, and that’s not even the good part! When we came, together, might I add, a huge cone of light shot into the sky from my vagina and his penis. What do you think of that? Not to pleased, it seems. Well, it’s ok, there’s more.

“After we got dressed and got in the car, I thought he was going to bring me home, but no, we drove for twenty minutes to go to a forest. When we got there, we searched for 10 minutes trying to get in the damn gate that surrounded it. We finally found the gate, and got in and searched for at least 15 minutes for a house that SHOULD have been in the forest, according to the address, but wasn’t. By this time, it should be almost eleven, right? Ten forty five, to be accurate.

“Finally, we saw a magical arch that made people disappear when they walked through it. Oh, and in the arch, was a tunnel. So we followed the tunnel and found a door. A door with the address we were looking for. We knocked on the door and met a very nice couple, Flora and Syle, who for some insane reason were convinced that they were fairies.

“Not only were the supposedly fairies, they claimed to be my mother’s parents. Meaning they also claimed to be my grandparents. You know, the ones you never want to invite over so they don’t call attention to us? It makes sense that you would be worried about that since they seem to be in their early twenties and are green with bright yellow hair and pale with silver hair…

“Oh, and even though Kayde and I didn’t seem to get into their house until past eleven and stayed for at least an hour, here it is, eleven seventeen.” I finished and plopped myself down onto the couch and waited for an answer.

The whole time I had been talking, my father had sat there quietly, only listening to my rampage. Now he seemed to be thinking and processing everything I said.

“So, you met them, huh?” He asked. “I suppose that means you know everything? You know they didn’t want your mother to be with me?”

“Yes Daddy, I know all of that. But the important thing is that you lied to me. Kept things from me. Things about Mommy. Things about myself.” I told him softly.

“I know Phee, and I’m sorry. I wanted to protect you; I didn’t want you going to school with kids calling you a freak. I figured if I didn’t tell you, you wouldn’t try to learn how to use your powers or what the hell ever.” He told me.

“It doesn’t work that way though Daddy. If you had just talked to me, just let them talk to me, we both would have known how it works.” I hated that I had to explain this. I hated that I had to have this talk with him, but it had to be done. “In order for any half blood to come into their powers, they have to share and orgasm with another half blood. One who they have strong feelings for.”

“Half blood? Is that what they called you?” Said my father, his voice dripping with disgust.

“Yes Daddy.” I told him calmly. “It’s not a bad term, just a term, like mixed, except it’s not as easy as that, from the way they made it sound.”

“Wait, you mean that this Kayde guy is a half blood too?” My father asked, only at that point understanding what I was saying. “And what? You’ve known this guy over night and you’re in love?”

“No Daddy! We just met, how could I be in love?” I asked, shocked. “I do feel very close, drawn to him. I think one day, I might be in love with him, but not today. I feel like he’s my best friend. Like I could tell him anything.”

For a few minutes, I sat in silence waiting for my father to say something to me about the whole situation. Finally, he looked at me and sighed. “I guess this means you’ve invited them to your birthday party, doesn’t it?” He asked.

“Yes Daddy, I did.” I told him. “And they’re coming.”

“I figured.” He said with a sigh. “Look, Phee, I know this is important to you, but it sure did take a lot out of me. I’m going to get some sleep and if there’s anything else you want to talk about it, we’ll go out to breakfast and chat. Deal?” My father asked as he stood up from the recliner and began to head to the stairs.

“Deal.” I agreed.

“Oh, and Phee?” He said turning towards me at the stairway.

“Yea dad?” I asked, turning to look at him.

“I expect to meet this Kayde guy before your party next week.” He told me.

“Yea, I figured you would.” I said as I got up and headed to my room. “Good night Daddy. Love you”

“Love you too Firebird.”

Read On

Chapter 3, Scene 4

11/11/2009 11:17:00 PM

“Kayde, it’s late, we should get home.” I told Kayde as Flora and I got into the living room.

I hugged Flora and Syle and thanked them both for being so hospitable and helping me understand things. They invited me to come back anytime, and even offered me their car keys incase I couldn’t find a ride back. Of course, Kayde wasn’t having any of that. He was incredibly protective of me for someone who had just met me the night before.

We walked to the car in silence and it wasn’t until he had started the car and pulled away from the gated forest that I decided to say something.

“Kayde?” I started, gently. “Why did you watch out for me so closely back there?”

“I don’t know quite how to explain it. I feel… linked to you, I suppose is the best way to say it.” He answered, sounding genuinely unsure.

“It’s not bad or anything” I said, trying to comfort him. “It’s just curious. I mean, we just met yesterday.”

“Yes, but it seems I’ve known you much longer.” He said softly. “Like I said, I’ve dreamt about you.”

“You were serious about that?”

“Yes, very. For months now, probably since Yule, I’ve been dreaming about you. But, you were different. Your hair was always the color of fire, your skin, always tinted red. Your face, your body, your voice, it was always the same, just the colors were different.

“That’s what was so unnerving about them; their skin was strange, colored, the way yours always is in my dreams.” He explained to me. “I guess that was why I was so quiet; I couldn’t get over the fact that you truly are going to be like those people.” He said, putting his hand over mine.

“Kayde, I have to tell you something,” I said to him nervously “And I probably shouldn’t, and I don’t know if you’re going to like it, and I’m worried you might freak out, so please please don’t be upset or angry, just be open minded.”

“Flora knew about the cone of light we saw earlier. She said that it happened because I was beginning to come into my powers. She told me the only way it could happen is if a half blood, like myself, shared an orgasm with another half blood that they have strong feelings for.” I said quickly, afraid that if I gave him a chance to interrupt, I’d never get a chance to finish.

I was hoping that he wouldn’t be upset, or angry with me, or Flora, or what I was saying she had told me. At first, Kayde said nothing, in fact, for five minutes straight, he was silent and I was afraid that he hadn’t heard me.

“You’re trying to tell me that my parents, they’re like them?” He said slowly.

“Well, yes, probably. I mean, no. I mean one of your parents. Although I suppose they could both be half bloods, like me, which would still make you a half blood.” I said all of this quickly and then noticed that once again, I was blabbing.

“Phee, I know that it’s important to you to find your grandparents. But I just have to ask, do you really and truly think that those people are your grandparents?” He asked me.

“I do, Kayde.” I answered, knowing that I meant it whole heartedly. “They talk like my grandparents do in letters to me. They talk so well of my mother. They knew her, they knew me, and they knew my father. Even the writing in the scrap book and the photo, Kayde, there’s no doubt about it. Flora and Syle are definitely my grandparents.”

“If you believe that they are your grandparents, and that you can trust them, I will trust and believe this story about the light earlier.” He said, looking at me as we pulled up outside of my house. “Do you want me to come in with you?

“No, I have to do this on my own.” I told him as I took a deep breath. “Thank you Kayde, this is the most amazing night I’ve ever had.”

I leaned over the center console to kiss him lightly on the cheek. He turned his head at the last minute and wove his fingers through my hair as he kissed my lips passionately.

“I’ll see you tomorrow beautiful.” He told me. “That is, if you don’t have any plans, of course.”

“I’ll see you tomorrow, Kayde.” I answered for him, kissing him again softly.

I turned toward the car door and let myself out of the car. My breathing was slow and deep as I summoned the courage to have the conversation with my father that was a long time coming. Hopefully it wasn’t too late and he hadn’t gone to sleep yet. I checked my phone to see exactly how late it was and was shocked to see that it was just barely past eleven o’clock. I was sure that by the time we left the hill it was at least ten. It was as if we hadn’t even visited Flora and Syle at all.

Read On

Chapter 3, Scene 3

11/11/2009 11:16:00 PM

    Thousands of thoughts must have shot in and out through my mind when she said that. Above all, how could I believe someone I didn’t know to say something like that?
    “Why don’t you look like my grandparents?” I asked.
    “It’s called a glamour.” Explained Flora. “When we wish to walk among humans, we can change the way others see us.  Of course, we have to see them in order for them to see us the way we wish, and it takes a lot of energy, that is why we only came to see you on special occasions.
    “It’s not that we didn’t want you to know what we were like.  Your mother and father had a talk when she found out she was pregnant and decided it would be best to wait until you came into your power to know. There was no way to know that your father would not allow you to see us after your mother passed.”
    “It’s not Daddy’s fault.” I exclaimed, immediately seeing the falsehood in the statement I had just made. “He just didn’t want to confuse me, I’m sure…
    “Wait, what do you mean ‘come into your power’?” I asked, realizing her words. “What are you, exactly?”
    “Well, sweet one, we are faery.” Flora said slowly. “I am a Flower Fae, I help flowers of plants to grow. Your grandfather is a Frost Fae, every winter, he is partly responsible for the snow and ice. Your mother was a Night Fae. Her dark hair, the sky; her perlescant skin, the stars; her deep violet eyes, the ending sunset.
    “And you, dear one, I’m not quite sure what power you hold, but from the looks of things, we shall know soon enough.”
    “What do you mean, Flora?” I asked. “Should I call you grandmother Flora?”
    “Call me whatever you are comfortable with dearest.”  She told me. “You know us now, I no longer plan to disguise myself as an old woman.
    “I know that this will not be easy to hear, but as a half Faery woman, there are some things that are different for you than they are for us.  While we don’t age, you will, but it will slow down when you turn eighteen. Also, well, this part may be somewhat private, would you like to hear it alone, or would you like Kayde and Syle to stay?”
    Kayde stood up, “Now wait just a minute lady, I’ve been quiet until now. You may have her fooled but I’m no-”
    “Kayde please,” I said, looking to him with pleading eyes. “Just give us a few moments.”
    “Come now boy, it’s nothing to worry about.” Said Syle, as he stood and began to walk out of the room. Kayde looked at me, then turned and followed Syle out of the room.
    “Good choice dear.  What I meant was that being only half Fae means you don’t come into your powers the way you would expect.  Some never do come into their powers.
    “You don’t have to work towards this, or watch for it, it will happen when and if it’s meant to. When a half-blood, forgive the term, it’s truly not derogatory, shares an orgasm with another half-blood who they have strong feelings for, they begin to come into their powers.
“I was truly hoping you would want to hear this alone, because Kayde, like yourself is a half-blood, the problem is that he has no idea. You may share this with him, but he likely won’t believe you.”
    “How can you tell Flora?” I asked, shocked with this news.
    “He may not be, but I assume he could see the arch the same as you could, is that right?” She asked.
    “Yes, he could. As clear as day, just as I did.” I answered. “How could you tell we’d… Well, you know, had sex?”
    “Ah, that was easy dear.” She said, laughing. “Anytime a woman is given an orgasm, or has sex with someone she cares greatly for, her mood changes, her skin glows, the same way a pregnant woman’s does. And you, my dear sweet one, are absolutely radiant.”
“So, you’re telling me that the cone of light Kayde and I saw earlier was us coming into our… power?” I asked, amazed.
“Yes dear, it was. Come now, let’s join the men in the living room.” Said Flora standing.

Read On

Chapter 3, Scene 2

11/11/2009 11:27:00 AM

For a few moments, everything was incredibly quiet as Flora poured a cup of tea for me. “Phoenix, dear. You’re here to find your mother’s family, are you not?” She asked me.

“Yes! I am! Do you know them? Are they near by?” I asked hurriedly.

“Calm down sweet one.” She said with a smile. “Yes, we know them, and they are indeed near by, but first, I want to talk to you a bit about your family. May I?”

“Oh yes! Please, ask me anything, I’ll answer whatever I can, but please, please help me find my grandparents!” I begged.

“What do you remember of your grandparents?”

“Oh, nearly nothing. I know the last time I saw them I was two. My father won’t allow them to visit me though, not even for my birthdays. That’s why I want to see them. I will be eighteen in a few weeks and I want to invite them.” I explained.

“Well then, what of your mother? Do you remember her?” She asked me.

“Oh! Mommy had the most beautiful smell. She always smelled of wood smoke and ginger bread. And she had the most beautiful long dark hair; it was as long as yours, I bet. And she was always so soft. Nothing ever upset her either. Oh! And her laugh! It would tinkle like the softest little bell, but still as soft as velvet. And she loved to”-

“Calm now sweet one. You remember your mother quite well, it seems.”

Sheepishly, I smiled. “Yes, at least, I think I do. I dream of her quite often. Father never talks about her anymore, ever since she passed, so I may just be imagining her.”

“Do you remember your mother’s name dear?”

“Of course! Raven. Raven Rose. I always thought she had the most lovely name.” I told them.

“Well, your imagination seems to be quite accurate my little love.” Said Flora. “I’m sorry to ask so many questions, I just need to make sure you are the right person before I tell you how to find your grandparents.

“Syle, love, will you go get the box?” She asked her husband.

“What’s ‘the box’?” Asked Kayde, trying to protect me, as Syle rose from the chair he had been sitting in.

“Don’t worry. It’s just a small wooden box that we use to hold important papers.” She explained, not insulted.

We sat and enjoyed our tea for a few moments as questions flew through my head. How do these strange people know my grandparents? How do they know my mother? Why did they look so odd? As the questions floated in and out of my mind, Syle came back from retrieving the box and sat back down in his chair. He pulled a small laminated card out of the box and then passed the box to his wife.

Flora rifled through the box for a few moments and then pulled out a card, similar to Syle’s and then two sheets of paper and handed me one of them. What I saw was shocking, an official sealed copy of my own birth certificate.

Kayde leaned over, reading the sheet. “How did you people get this?” He asked. “What the hell is going on here?”

“Kayde, wait, please.” I asked him with begging eyes. “I can’t lose this. You know how important it is to me.”

Protectively, Kayde draped his arm around my waist and sat quietly as Flora handed me a second piece of paper, identical to the first. Only this time, my name was nowhere to be seen, nor was my fathers. There were however three names I was familiar with. Raven Rose, Flora Rose, and Syle Rose.

“This can’t be! You two? You can’t be my grandparents! You’re not old enough. You’re not normal enough.” I shouted, standing up. “What kind of people are you? How could you do something like this to me?

“Kayde, we’re leaving. These people are frauds!” I said, turning toward the door.

“Phoenix, please wait. Just let us finish.” Said Syle, calmly. “You are a spitting image of your mother at your age, you know.” He said, smiling. “The same temperament too. She would never trust anyone unless she had known them her whole life. She didn’t even trust Albert enough to tell him what and who she really was until after she was pregnant.

“Would you like to see a picture of her on her eighteenth birthday?” He asked kindly.

“Oh Syle, you can’t show her that. She very obviously isn’t ready.” Said Flora.

“No, I’d very much like to see it, please.” I answered. “Kayde, will you come with me?”

“Come this way with me you two, Flor, you might as well come with us.” Said Syle.

We walked back into the hallway and down the hall. About halfway down there were two doors, one on each side of the hall.

“That’s the bathroom, by the way.” Said Syle, pointing to the door to our left. “And this is our stop.” He said, opening the door to our right.

Behind that door was a bedroom, which had obviously been changed into a storage room at some point.

“Please, have a seat on the bed.” Offered Flora as Syle dug through a box next to a desk.

Finding what he was searching for, he stood up and sat between Flora and I. “This used to be your mother scrap book when she was younger. When she married your father, she left it here for us.” He said, opening it to the last page.

Dear Mom and Dad,

I know that you don’t want me to be with him, but I’m in love. He’s asked me to marry him and I said yes! I’m leaving this scrap book for you so that you always remember how sweet and innocent I once was. I hope that you aren’t taking this to mean that I love Albert more than I love you, just that I finally found my soul mate, just as you two did. You’re wonderful parents, and I will come and visit as much as I can.

Love Always,

Your precious Raven

Syle turned the page back one and there she was, just as beautiful as I remembered her, her long black hair over her right shoulder, straight and shiny as silk. Her skin pearly, and although it took a moment, I saw that certain places the flash hit her skin, it seemed to glimmer.

“Is that your mother?” Asked Kayde.

“Yes, it was.” I answered, smiling.

“She’s… she’s lovely. You truly do look just like her.” He told me, holding me close.

“Wait. This isn’t right.” I said, an epiphany forming. “This can’t be my mother. She may look like Mommy, but this girl can’t be much younger than Mom was when I turned two!” I said, confused.

“Phee, your father should have told you by now. I don’t know why he hasn’t.” Started Syle.

“I’m sure you’ve noticed that my husband and I don’t look like you, or anyone you’ve ever met.” Said Flora. “It’s because we’re not. Neither was your mother.

“I know this is going to sound completely insane, but you’ve had a strange night, so I’m just going to come out and say it. We’re not human, Raven was not human, and you, dear Phoenix, are only half human.”

Read On

Chapter 3, Scene 1

11/11/2009 11:27:00 AM

Slowly, the door swung open. The moment the occupant of the strange home opened the door, Kayde gasped. The woman standing there was not much taller than I and physically, she did not look much older than I was, either. Not a single wrinkle on her skin, or a sagging bit of skin anywhere to be found. She did however have a strange, older look in her eyes. It was as though she had been alive three times as long as I had, but frozen in time for the entire duration.

Her apparent youth was not what caused Kayde to gasp, nor was it what caused me to look at her with shock in my eyes. It was the bright yellow flowing hair that reached past her waist and I was almost positive that I detected a slight green tint to her skin, which was definitely not the lighting.

“Oh dear”, she said softly. “Now this is really going to be a problem.

“Syle!” She yelled out, looking into her home. “Syle dear, get dressed, we have company.” She looked back to Kayde and me, “Please, why don’t you come in? I just started a pot of tea.” She told us, opening the door wider and standing to the side.

As we stepped into her house, there was a faint earthy smell, similar to the way the soil smelled after a heavy rain, but it was much lighter. Kayde and I walked in and the strange looking woman showed us to her living room.

Kayde and I sat down on the soft moss green colored couch.

“Hi”, I said, feeling shy and slightly nervous. “My name is Phoenix and this is my… Boyfriend, Kayde.” I told her, hesitating and watching Kayde’s reaction for my use of the word. “I really hate to bother you so late at night, but I’m in town looking for my”-

“I know dear. Quiet now, we shall talk about that in a bit.” She said, interrupting me as she began to head for her kitchen. “For now, why don’t we just enjoy each other’s company as we wait for Syle to get in here?” She finished off as she left the room.

Kayde and I looked at each other, both equally confused by the woman, as she walked to her kitchen for the pot of tea she had mentioned earlier.

“I’m sorry, how rude of me, I meant to introduce myself. My name is Flora” She said, as she came back into the living room carrying a beautiful tray holding a tea pot, four tea cups, upside down on saucers and what I assumed were cream and sugar, along with what seemed to be a small jar of honey, all the same beautiful cream color. “Oh! And this is my husband, Syle.” She said as she gazed up behind us.

“Well, it’s lovely to meet the two of you,” Said the man who was possibly even stranger than Flora. At first glance, anyone would have thought Syle to be albino, with his pale skin and white hair, but in the light, his pale skin was nearly translucent with a slight shimmer, and his white hair was not actually white, but silver, and they were highlighted with nearly clear ice blue eyes.

Syle looked at me and a look of surprise began to cross his eyes “Well aren’t you just a”-

“Syle. Come now, have a cup of tea. She doesn’t seem to know.” Flora said, interrupting her husband.

“Doesn’t know what?” I asked, desperate to find out what, if any connection the two strange looking people had to do with my family.

Read On

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