The Elf Girl (18 page)

“I’m sorry,” he said, appearing out of thin air beside me.

I was beginning to get used to his teleporting, but I didn’t care for his strange attitude.

“Sorry for what?” I asked.

“For that horrible lunch date,” he said, looking down.

“Did you just say lunch
date
?” I questioned.

I saw his cheeks turn a little red. He wanted this to be a date and I had screwed it up because of how cold I was to him.

“I’m sorry,” I said.

“No, it wasn’t your fault. I was acting a little…”

“Weird,” I finished for him.

“Yes.”

“And I was acting…”

“Rude.” He raised his eyebrows.

“Yeah.” I sighed. Normally I would be offended, but it was the truth. I had been a little rude. I wasn’t exactly used to a guy reacting this way toward me, both distant and interested, so I used my dating inexperience as an excuse, not that I mentioned the fact aloud….

“Can I make it up to you?” he asked suddenly, stirring me from my thoughts.

“Can I make it up to you, too?”

His hand brushed against mine, and I swear, I never had so many goose bumps covering my arms. “I’ll see you tonight at dinner then.” He winked at me and vanished before my eyes.

My heart fluttered like a butterfly in my chest. What did this mean exactly? Did he really have feelings for me? Did I
want
him to have feelings for me? More importantly, which part of him would show up at dinner? Would it be the kind and intriguing part…or the weird and distant part?

And where did the Stranger fit into this equation? It was foolish of me, but I still couldn’t help thinking about him, even with the feeling of Stellan’s hand brushing against mine burned in my memory.

I asked myself these questions repeatedly until I realized I was standing on the stoop in front of my house. It still felt weird calling it mine. I was fifteen and I owned a home. I didn’t think I would get used to it, at least not for a while.

I stepped through the doorway, my mind still buzzing with thoughts of Stellan and the Stranger, and suddenly my arm started burning again. I felt an agony far worse than the first time, even though I knew what was happening to me this time around. But why did Addison have to use the same arm? Couldn’t she spread the pain around instead of just concentrating it in one aching spot?

I looked down when the burning stopped to read the newest message:

How was lunch? Tell me all about it at dinner!

I then decided that Addison’s ability was extremely annoying.

~7~
The Elfen and the White Picket Fence

I was practically praising the Lord when seven o’clock finally came and I could go to Addison’s house. I had spent the rest of the afternoon rearranging my own house…six times to be exact. I moved the couches closer to the fire and then farther away. Then I turned the table one hundred and eighty degrees and straightened out the kitchen and bathroom, trying to make the house feel more like my own. Adding a personal touch was just what I needed, even though it took me six tries to get it right….

After some more arranging, I showered for the second time that day – just to pass the time – changed into a green knee-length cotton dress, and picked out a necklace from Zora’s jewelry drawer to wear for dinner. It was a simple yet stunning emerald pendant on a silver chain. The more time I spent looking through Zora’s jewelry, the more excited I became about buying my own. And wearing her jewelry made me feel closer to her, even though she was so far away.

The walk to Addison’s was short, and soon I was at the doorstep. Before I could knock, Cass was opening the door.

“Do you live here or something?” I joked.

“No, I just like it here, that’s all.” He grinned.

“I see,” I commented, stepping into the house.

The delicious smell of food hit me right away, and my mouth began to water. The homemade meals here in the Elf Realm were far different from the processed ones of the Human Realm – in sight, smell, and taste.

I followed Cass to the table, where Stellan was moving a chair out for me. I smiled and took my seat, noticing the other seating arrangements. Addison sat across from me, with Cass across from Stellan. Aaliyah was seated at the head of the table.

In front of us were roasted chicken, potatoes, and bread. It looked delicious
and
normal. I felt better about eating something I knew was also prepared in the Human Realm. I could get used to the different cuisine another time. We ate and drank until we were full. I even had wine, which I learned was customary to drink at dinnertime for elves. It seemed there was no age limit for drinking alcohol. I knew many people in the Human Realm – Dina’s partying friends, for instance – who would love it here because of that.

Our dinner conversation included a discussion of Aaliyah’s amazing cooking skills and Addison’s day at school. I gathered that everyone was trying their best not to bring up my sister, even though she was on all of our minds.

But I tried to keep my spirits up and enjoy the time I had with my new friends.

Part way through dinner, I learned about the orchard Aaliyah owned a half mile away, where they picked apples, pears, and oranges. I recalled the tasty fruit from this morning, noting that it must have been their own. When I showed interest, Aaliyah told me she would take me there tomorrow and we could even have lunch. I was glad I would have something fun to do, because I knew the rest of my time would be spent on both my sister and my secret.

Cass left after dinner. He had to get home or his mother was going to “make him sleep in the stables.” We all laughed at that one. Apparently, although there was no age limit on drinking, there were still curfews.

When he left, Addison made tea and we took a seat in front of the fireplace.

“How are you, Ramsey?” Aaliyah asked.

I shrugged. “I’m okay.”

“Are you sure you are comfortable being alone in that house? You could sleep here if you want,” she offered.

“Thank you for the offer, Aaliyah, but I feel closer to Zora there. If I am to find her, I have to know her.”

“We understand,” Addison said, as she took my hand and smiled.

Does she really, or is she just saying that?
I wondered. I felt I could trust Addison, but I was also wary of her because a part of me believed she had brought me here only to find Zora; that she was only concerned for my sister’s wellbeing. I could trust her to help me find Zora, but could I really trust her with my life? I wasn’t so sure I could, not yet anyway.

We sat in silence for a few moments, no one knowing what else to say. This situation seemed to occur every time the subject of my sister came up during a conversation.

“I just remembered a question I had for you, Addison!” I blurted out, finally breaking the silence. “Stellan told me to ask you about it.”

“He did
what
?” Addison shot a worried look at her brother.

“I wanted to know why you guys liked doing errands so much,” I told her.

I was smiling, but the whole room went completely silent once more. I bit my lip and looked down. “What?” I asked.

“You should start sharing things with her, Addison. If you want her to help find Zora, she has to know what you’re up to,” Aaliyah suggested, resting a hand on her daughter’s shoulder.

“Yes, Mother, I know. I just wanted her to settle in first. She’s had a tough couple of days,” Addison explained.

“That’s no excuse, Addison,” Aaliyah scolded. “She can’t be kept in the dark. It isn’t fair. She needs to know.”

“Yes, but we didn’t want to worry her,” Stellan commented.

“Worry her? Confusing her is worse,” Aaliyah said, shaking her head.

My frustration, mixed with a pinch of confusion, built until it got the better of me. “I’m right here, you know! What are you all talking about?” I asked, looking over at Stellan.

“Once again, I’ll let Addison explain this one,” he said, leaning back against the couch.

I sighed. “Addison?” I asked.

Addison sighed. “
Fine
,” she said, and took a deep breath. “The reason we have been sort of…
avoiding
you today is because we are making arrangements for a little trip.”

“What kind of trip?” I wondered.

“In three days we are leaving for Tarlore,” she said bluntly.

“To see Queen Taryn?” I assumed, remembering that Tarlore was the capital of the Elf Realm.

“Precisely. If we want to find Zora, we’ll need the Queen’s help,” Stellan informed me.

“But what will she do? I thought I was the only one who could find Zora,” I said, and suddenly I felt a rush of disappointment.
Are we going because Stellan and Addison don’t think I can find my sister on my own?
I wondered. I knew the odds were against me, but I had been counting on them for support so I could do my very best to find her.

“We are quite certain that Zora is in the Element Fairy Realm because that is the Realm we are fighting against. We will need protection if we are to search for her there. It’s very dangerous for elf soldiers to be there, and even more dangerous for untrained elf civilians,” Stellan explained, unknowingly reassuring me that this had nothing to do with their faith in me.

“It’s also against the law to cross over into a Fairy Realm. Ever since the war began, going into any Fairy Realm was decreed too dangerous,” Addison explained. “We’ll need the Queen’s permission to go to the Element Fairy Realm.”

“What about the Human Realm? Is that okay?” I questioned.

Both siblings avoided my gaze. I could tell that I had hit a sore subject for them. Stellan looked up at me, worry creeping into his green eyes. “No. Leaving our Realm and going to any creature’s Realm is against the law, unless you are a soldier, a royal, or a scout. Especially the Human Realm,” he said gravely.

“Yet you went into the Human Realm,” I reminded them.

“That is another reason we must go to Tarlore. Queen Taryn must decide if what we did was right…and worth it,” Addison said quietly.

“If what was worth it?”

“We need to prove to Queen Taryn that bringing you back was important enough to break the law. Zora is not a royal, but you are a different story. Your unusual past is what gives us time to search for her, but it is a limited amount of time. If you can’t find Zora soon, we will all be put on trial,” she explained.

“And if we go to trial, we will probably go to prison,” Stellan added.

“How did she know that you went into the Human Realm?” I asked.

“Queen Taryn’s ability is to be able to see in her mind’s eye what any elf is doing or has already done. She has trained herself to notice when anyone crosses over into another Realm. When we went to find you, she knew right away. She has others like herself in her service, so even if she misses something, she will know sooner or later from one of them,” Addison told me. “The only reason we haven’t been apprehended by royal guards as of yet is because…well,
so
far
, she trusts you.”

I blinked hard and tried to keep my breathing even. “Okay, then this is a lot of pressure on me,” I said.

“Yes, it is. But if Zora believed you could find her, you will,” Aaliyah said encouragingly.

“I hope so,” I whispered to myself.

I realized that even though I had been brought here only because of my sister – and also that if she hadn’t been taken, Addison probably wouldn’t have come for me at all – I couldn’t let Addison or Stellan down. They had risked their futures to help find her, and I decided
that
alone was good enough for me.

***

While Aaliyah and Addison cleaned up, Stellan led me outside. The evening was crisp and cool, and the breeze felt good against my skin. It was almost midnight and the stars shone brightly in the sky.

“I’ll walk you home,” Stellan offered.

I nodded. “Okay.”

He took my hand and walked slowly with me down the dirt road. I guess he didn’t feel like teleporting tonight. I took the time to think about my situation. I had just returned to my real home and in three days, we were already leaving.

I knew I needed to find Zora, and quickly. Addison and Stellan didn’t risk everything for me to fail. If I didn’t find Zora soon, I would ruin their lives. They had pretty much saved me from a terrible life in the Human Realm, and now it was my duty to save them.

Seeing Blaire had to be first tomorrow before going to the orchard. If she knew something about Zora, I needed to know the information before I left. I also needed to buy that book on how to open locks. I had a feeling that what was in that trunk could help me figure out my secret. It might also be able to help me find Zora.

I was glad Stellan didn’t want to talk. My mind was swarming with so many thoughts and ideas that I was afraid my words wouldn’t make much sense if I spoke.

I looked up to see a shooting star flying through the night sky. I felt an incredible excitement spread through me, as if it were falling just for me. I wondered if shooting stars were a common sight in this magical place.

I had always believed shooting stars weren’t just a child’s tale. I believed if you wished on them, your wish would somehow come true. I couldn’t know for sure how the process worked, but it didn’t matter so long as my wish was granted. I took the opportunity and wished for a way to find my sister.

“I believe you can find your sister, Ramsey,” Stellan said in front of my door. It was as if he had read my mind.

Elves have a way with reading people
, I noted to myself.

“Thank you. I think I can find her too…if I have an idea where to look,” I muttered.

Stellan smiled and released his hand from mine. It felt colder without him. I looked down and sighed. How did he feel about me? How did I feel about him? What was this? Was it just a friendship or something
more
?

When I looked up, he was closer to me than before. I could feel his warm breath on my face. My heart pounded and my knees felt ready to buckle. I shivered, but not because I was cold. I had never been this close to anyone before. The scene was so…intimate. I could barely think, let alone make sense of what was happening.