I wake to the sound of something shifting——soft, distant, but sharp enough to pull me out of sleep. My room is dark, shadows curling across the wall, stretching lounger than they should.
For a second, I don't move. I just listen.
Then I sit up.
"Mom?" My voice is hoarse, dry from sleep.
No answer.
The house is too quiet. Not the safe kind of quiet—-the kind that hums with warmth and safety. This is something else. Still. Expectant.
I push off the covers, bare feet hitting the cold floor as I move toward the door. I open it slowly, peering down the hallway.
"Mom?" I try again, louder this time.
Still nothing.
A whisper stirs the air—-so faint I almost think I imagine it.
"Sarah"
I freeze.
Not my mom's voice. Softer. Familiar and unfamiliar all at once. It curls around my name like a secret.
My hand tightens around the doorframe. "Mom?" I call again, louder. A tremor in my voice now.
No response.
The pendant around my neck pulses once—-sharp and sudden. Heat flares against my skin, and I gasp, one hand reaching up to clutch it through my shirt.
My slick toward the hallway again.
A second later, the lights flicker. Once. Twice.
I spin toward the living room. And that''s when I see it——just for a heartbeat. A shape. A figure.
Dark. Still. Watching.
But by the time I blink, it's gone.
"I'm just tired," I whisper to myself, swallowing against the knot in my throat. "I'm just—-"
But I don't finish the thought. I take one step back, then another, slowly retreating to my room. I close the door with trembling fingers and press my back against it.
The silence returns.
I slide under the covers and pull the blankets over my shoulders,,, heart pounding like a drum in my chest.
The pendant glows faintly beneath the fabric.
And then—-
The world slips sideways.
*********
I'm standing in water.
Cool, ankle-deep, perfectly still. A shallow pool stretches our in all directions, rippling faintly beneath my feet though no breeze stirs the air. The sky Above is endless twilight—-violet and silver, pierced by stars I don't recognize.
Across the surface of the water, shards of light float like petals, drifting gently toward the center of the pool where something glows—-a tree.
It towers above everything. It's bark is silver-white, veined with gold. It's leaves shimmer between pale blue and frost green, glowing softly like lanterns in the dark. The roots pulse beneath the water like veins, alive and ancient.
The pendant is around my neck here too, burning like it knows this place.
A soft voice drifts through the air—-singing, almost. It doesn't have a source. It's everywhere. In the branches. Beneath the water. Inside me.
I take a step forward. The ripples spread.
And then I see them.
Figures around the tree.
Not fully human. Not fully real. They wear cloaks that look like they're woven from straight starlight and wind, faces obscured by intricate masks—-each shaped like an animal or a piece of nature: a fox, a raven, a flame, a moon.
The Court.
They stand in silence, unmoving, like statues watching a storm build.
I try to speak, but no sound leaves my mouth.
A woman steps forward from their ranks.
Her mask is gold and bone-white, shaped like a moth. Her hair tumbles in dark waves, crowned with tiny glowing stones. She lifts a hand.
My body goes still.
"Daughter of the Vanished Line," she says—-not with her mouth but into my mind. Her voice is cold and beautiful, each word slicing like wind over ice.
"You carry what was lost. You wear what was taken. The blood remembers."
I want to ask what she means, but my throat locks. The pendant burns hotter, pulsing like it's trying to answer for me.
"The veil weakens," she whispers. "They'll come soon. Even those closest to you."
Behind her, the other masked fae begin to whisper in unison, their voices rising like a chant. One word, repeated over and over:
"Awaken."
The water darkens beneath my feet. The light of the tree pulses once—-twice—-
Then shatters.
I fall.
Darkness rushes up to meet me.
********
I wake suddenly, a strange sensation in my chest pulling me from sleep. My eyes flicker open, and the darkness of the room feels… different. Heavier, almost suffocating. The hum of the pendant against my skin is faint but steady, vibrating just under the surface of my thoughts.
Then I hear it—-soft footsteps, light as breath, drifting down the hallway outside my door.
My heart stutters. Panic creeps in. It's late. Too late for anyone to be walking.
I roll over in bed, straining to listen. The footsteps continue, and I feel my breath catch in my throat.
"Mom?" I call out, my voice shaky. My mom must be awake, moving around in the dark, like she often does when the weight of her thoughts keeps her from sleep.
But there's no response.
I sit up, tension coiling in my body. A cold wave of unease sweeps over me. It's too quiet now. Too still. I glance at the clock—well past midnight.
I swing my legs out of bed, feet hitting the cool floor. "Mom?" I call again, louder this time. My voice echoes in the hallway beyond the door, unanswered.
I hesitate.
The house feels…wrong. The air is too still, like it's listening.
I take a step toward the door, hand outstretched—-when it creaks open on its own. Not fast. Not sudden. Not human.Just a slow, careful swing, as if someone—or something—on the other side was waiting for me to reach it.
My breath catches in my throat.
Lilly stands there, backlit by the faint glow of the hallway. Her eyes are wide, her mouth set in a hard line. The soft light flickers across her face, casting shadows that don't seem to follow her movements—-like something older is watching through her eyes.
"Lilly?" I whisper.
She steps into the room, glancing behind her like she's being followed. "Sarah," she says quietly. "They've taken your mother."
The words barely land before I shake my head. "What?"Taken her? Who—-what are you talking about?"
"Someone from the fae realm crossed over," Lilly's voice drops, steady but urgent. "They've taken her, Sarah. And the fae council needs your help to find her."
I blink, and the world tilts—-like the ground is no longer mine to stand on. "The fae council? Why mom?"
Lilly steps closer, scanning the room, her movements hurried. "Your mom isn't just human. The fae… they know who and what she is. And now, we need you. You're the only one who can find her."
I stagger back, my mind spinning. The pendant at my neck pulses, almost as if it's reacting to her words, urging me to listen. To understand.
"What do you mean what she is? I don't—"
"Sarah, please," Lilly interrupts, her voice pleading now. "There's no time. They've taken her to the fae realm. The longer we wait, the harder it will be to get her back. You have to come with me."
I shake my head, my heart racing. "I… I don't even know what to do. I don't know where to start."
Lilly's gaze softens, and she places a hand on my arm, grounding me. "You've always had this power inside you. We knew it long before you did. Your mother's been protecting you from the council. But now… it's time for you to protect her."
I glance around the room, my mind reeling. The pendant. The fae. My mother's secrets. Nothing feels real anymore. But deep down, I know it's not a choice. If the fae has my mom, I can't sit back and wait. I have to act.
With trembling hands, I clutch the pendant. It hums against my skin, stronger now, as though answering Lilly's words. "What do I do?" I whisper, the weight of everything crashing over me.
Lilly doesn't hesitate. "Come with me. We don't have much time. We'll go to the portal, and I'll show you the way."
The pendant against my chest pulses suddenly—-hard. A sharp, insistent thud against my skin like it heard her first. My hand flies to it instinctively.
Then a whisper drifts through my mind, threading like smoke between my thoughts:
"It begins now."
I gasp.
"Sarah?" Lilly's voice snaps me back.
I look around my room—-the blanket still tangled on the floor, my lamp casting long shadows on the walls. Everything familiar. Everything wrong.
My fingers tighten around the pendant. It's warmth no longer feels like protection. It feels like a clock, counting down to something I can't name.
I nod, heart pounding. "Let's go."
*********
The air is thick, almost heavy, as we step closer to the portal. The heat presses in from all sides, and the hum of the pendant around my neck pulses against my skin. It feels like something ancient is waking up within me, pulling me toward the door, urging me to move.
Lilly is walking ahead of me, her steps confident, but even she seems slightly tense. I can feel the shift in the atmosphere, as though the air itself is alive, breathing in time with my own heartbeat. Every instinct screams at me to turn back, but I know I can't. My mother is out there, and I'm the only one who can bring her back.
Lilly stops in front of the doorway. The moment I step closer, the air grows warmer, and a sudden sense of dizziness strikes me. It's like reality itself is bending around us, and I hesitate, swallowing the lump in my throat.
"This is it," Lilly says softly, her voice cutting through my swirling thoughts. "Are you ready?"
I nod, though I'm not sure what I'm ready for. I feel both like I've been here before and like I'm stepping into something completely new. Something powerful. Something I don't fully understand.
She steps forward, and I follow her. The moment we pass through the threshold, the world around me seems to shimmer. The air thickens with magic, and everything—the trees, the buildings, the sky—seems to hum with energy, as though the very landscape is alive. I blink against the light, which feels almost too bright, but then I see it.
Lumindellar.
The city is breathtaking. It's like something straight out of a dream—a place where magic is tangible in every brick, every tree, every beam of golden light. The buildings are tall and sleek, their spires reaching toward the sky. They're like medieval castles, but alive, almost organic in their design, covered in vines and blooming flowers that pulse with soft light.
The sky above is a warm golden hue, with thin clouds drifting lazily across it. The air smells fresh, like wildflowers and rain. I can feel the magic swirling around me, slipping beneath my skin and into my veins, making me feel like I've been here all my life.
But it's also overwhelming.
I take a hesitant step forward, my heart pounding in my chest. The pendant around my neck pulses, and for the first time, I realize that it's not just a piece of jewelry. It's part of me. And it's responding to the magic around me, resonating with it, guiding me forward.
"Sarah," Lilly's voice cuts through the haze of wonder and unease. "There are things you need to understand about this place."
"Okay", I nod knowing there is nothing I know about this place.
"The council you're about to meet is made up of a couple of courts. Unseelie and Seelie courts. I'll explain everything about them later. Just know to be careful"
Before I can respond she's already walking ahead, leading me through the streets of the city, her pace quickening.
I try to keep up, but I can't stop staring at everything—the way the trees shimmer with bioluminescence, the way the buildings glow with a soft light. The Fae realm is unlike anything I've ever imagined, beautiful yet terrifying, filled with wonder and danger in equal measure.
Lilly doesn't stop until we reach a grand palace—a towering structure made of smooth stone, with large windows that let in the golden light from above. The air feels even thicker here, like magic itself is pressing against me from all sides. It's hard to breathe, hard to think. I grip the pendant tighter as we approach.
"Here we are," Lilly says, her voice tense as she pushes open the door.
Inside, the Fae Council is waiting.
The room is vast, its ceiling stretching high above us, covered in strange glowing symbols that twist and writhe with the same magic that fills the air. The council members are seated around a long stone table, their eyes all trained on us as we enter.
There are eight of them in total, four from the Seelie Courts, and four from the Unseelie Courts. They sit like statues, their presence commanding and cold.
"Lilly," one of the Seelie members says, a tall woman with silver hair and a voice like wind chimes. "You've brought her here?"
"Yes," Lilly responds, her voice steady, but there's a tension in her shoulders.
"Sarah is the one who can help."
They turn their eyes on me, all of them. My heart skips a beat as I realize I'm being judged, measured, tested.
The Seelie members are calm, their energy serene, but the Unseelie members are more… volatile. They watch me like I'm a threat, their eyes narrowed, their lips pressed into thin lines.
One of the Unseelie members—a man with dark hair and sharp eyes—leans forward, his voice low. "We don't trust her. She's just a human."
Another, a woman with twisted vines for hair, scoffs. "She's a half-blood at best. Her kind has always been a threat to our world."
The tension in the room rises, and I feel it—like I'm standing on the edge of something dangerous. The Unseelie members are hostile, and the Seelie members are cautious but hopeful. I feel exposed, like I'm caught in the middle of something I don't understand.
Lilly steps forward, her gaze hardening. "You will trust her," she says, her voice sharp. "Sarah is the only one who can find her mother. Someone here in the fae realm took her, and only Sarah can save her."
The silence in the room is deafening. Then, another voice cuts through it. A tall man with gold-tipped wings and an air of authority leans forward. He's a Seelie member, I think, his eyes steady and calm. "What is it about her that makes her the only one to find her mother?" he asks, his gaze flicking to me, then back to Lilly.
Lilly hesitates before answering, and I feel a pang of fear. She knows something, but she's not telling me everything. "Sarah's bloodline, her connection to the magic of this world, is stronger than you think. Her mother had been hiding it all her life, but now… it's awakening."
I stare at Lilly, my mind racing. What does she mean by that? What connection do I have to this world?
"I don't care what she is," a voice from the Unseelie Court snaps. "She's no different from the others. She can't be trusted."
"I'm not sure we have time for this," Lilly says, her voice edged with frustration. "Her mother is in the Fae realm, and if we don't act now, we might lose her forever."
The room falls silent once more, and I can feel the weight of their decision. The tension is unbearable, and I don't know who to trust anymore.
Finally, the Seelie member, I believe, with the golden wings speaks again. "We'll help her," he says, his voice soft but firm. "We must. But we must test her. Her abilities are untested, and the Fae are not forgiving of failure."
Another member of the council—a woman with emerald green eyes—looks at me intently. "You must prove yourself, Sarah. If you fail, we may not be able to help you. If you succeed, we will guide you."
Lilly looks at me, her eyes filled with determination. "You can do this. I believe in you."
I don't know if I believe in myself.
The weight of everything—the pendant, my mother's disappearance, the council's scrutiny—presses down on me. But deep down, I know I can't turn back now. My mother is out there, and the Fae realm holds the key to saving her.
I take a deep breath, feeling the hum of the pendant in my chest. It's my only connection to this world, and I need to trust in it, trust in myself.
"I'll do whatever it takes," I say, my voice steady despite the uncertainty swirling in my chest.
The council members exchange looks, some skeptical, others hopeful, but they nod in agreement.
"Then," the golden-winged man says, "your trial begins."
The moment the words leave the golden-winged man's mouth, the room feels colder, like the very air is holding its breath. The council members exchange glances, their sharp eyes never leaving me. A ripple of uncertainty spreads through me, and I try to calm the frantic beating of my heart.
The trial. My mind echoes the words, but my feet feel rooted to the floor. What does that mean? What do they expect me to do? How can I prove myself when I don't even know what I'm supposed to be?
Lilly steps closer, her presence a brief comfort amidst the tension. "Sarah," she says, her voice firm but soft, "trust yourself. You've got this. You are more powerful than you think."
I swallow, feeling a strange sense of déjà vu, like I've been standing on the edge of something bigger for my entire life. The pendant around my neck hums again, louder now, vibrating through my chest. I take a deep breath, feeling the weight of its power.
The golden-winged man nods once, signaling to another member of the council, a tall figure with long silver hair and striking violet eyes. "Alette," he says simply, and she stands, her regal movements effortless and graceful.
"Follow me," Alette commands, and the sound of her voice is like a bell tolling in the air. Her tone brooks no argument, and before I can gather my thoughts, she turns and walks toward the large doors behind the council.
I glance at Lilly, but she doesn't offer any further reassurance, her gaze focused on me with an intensity that leaves no room for hesitation. "Go, Sarah," she urges softly.
I nod and take a step forward. The others fall silent as I walk toward Alette. With every step, the space between us seems to grow. The room, once so grand and intimidating, feels smaller now, and the weight of every eye on me presses harder. I reach the doors and push them open, the cool breeze from the other side washing over me as Alette leads the way.
The corridor beyond is even more beautiful than the city itself. The stone walls shimmer with an iridescent glow, and the air is filled with a low hum, like the heartbeat of the Fae realm itself. Every corner of this world is alive with magic. It sings in the air, curls in the trees, pulses in the ground beneath my feet.
We step into an open space, and my eyes widen as I take in the scene before me. The area is circular, surrounded by tall, intricate archways, each one covered in glowing vines and flowers. A patch of land at the center is clear, the ground covered with soft grass that seems to pulse with its own rhythm.
"This is where your trial will begin," Alette says, her voice steady, but I hear the faintest edge of something—expectation. "You must prove that you can wield the power that lies dormant within you."
I swallow hard, the weight of her words pressing down on me. How can I possibly prove something I don't even understand?
Alette raises her hand, and in an instant, the ground before me shifts. The soft grass seems to ripple, like the surface of a pond disturbed by an unseen force, and from the depths of the earth, a glowing orb rises, floating just inches above the ground. It pulses with light, flickering like a heartbeat, and I instinctively take a step back.
"This," she says, "is a test of your control."
I look up at her, confused. "Control? What do I need to do?"
Alette smiles faintly, her violet eyes glimmering. "You must call upon the magic within you. The pendant you wear connects you to the power of this realm. It is time to awaken that power."
I take a deep breath, my hands instinctively going to the pendant around my neck. The hum grows louder, resonating deep within me, until it feels like the very air around us is vibrating with it.
"Focus," Alette instructs. "Channel your magic into the orb. Let the power flow through you."
I close my eyes, trying to calm my racing heart. I focus on the pendant, the way it hums against my skin, the way it feels like a part of me, like it's waiting for me to do something. I try to think of all the times I've felt its power—when it pulsed in my chest, when it guided me forward. I reach for that connection, that power, but it's elusive, like trying to catch the wind in my hands.
But the more I concentrate, the clearer the feeling becomes. It's not just the pendant—it's me. The magic is inside me. I can feel it now, surging through my veins, like a fire igniting in my chest.
I hold out my hands toward the orb. Slowly, cautiously, I push my magic forward, trying to focus it, direct it. The orb trembles beneath my hand, flickering erratically, and for a moment—-just one—-I feel it slip. My magic stutters, buckling under the weight of pressure, expectation, fear. A searing bolt of heat jolts through my arms, and I gasp, stumbling back a step.
A ripple of concern moves through the room.
"She's losing control," one of the Unseelie murmurs, almost smug.
Alette's voice breaks through the haze of panic. "Focus, Sarah. Don't fight it. Let it flow."
I take a deep breath, steadying myself.
But then—-something clicks.
I no longer force the magic. I let it….move.
I close my eyes again, feel the pull of the pendant, and surrender. The orb steadies, swells with light—-calm, rhythmic, alive.
A quiet murmur spreads across the council.
I open my eyes, and for a moment, I'm stunned. The orb hovers there, alive with magic, responding to me. I did it. I made it happen.
Then, with a final pulse, the orb dissolves into a shimmer of golden dust. The pendant at my neck flares in response—-not just bright, but loud, vibrating with a sound I feel more than hear. It sends a low hum rippling through the stone floor.
Several of the council members shift—-some with interest, others with unease.
One of the Unseelie, the man with the angular face and sharp voice from before, leans slightly forward. His expression hardens. "That pendant…..it remembers," he mutters.
Alette gives him a look—-cool, deliberate——and raises a hand to end the trail. "She passed."
I exhale, trembling, my arms heavy, my chest tight with something I can't name. Pride? Fear? A knowing I've only just begun to understand.
Then I hear it—-just for a breath.
A whisper, deep and velvet, curling beneath the surface of thought.
"Nox remembers."
I snap my head up, but no one else seems to react. Only the pendant rests warm against my chest, as if satisfied.
Alette stands tall, her eyes still trained on me, but there's a glimmer of approval behind the sternness. She nods, but her expression remains unreadable. "You've done well. But there's more to face, and your next path lies deeper. In Nox."
The world feels heavier now. Like it's been watching me.
"The next test will not be so… forgiving," Alette finally says, her voice low but firm. "You must face what lies within you—the magic, yes, but also the consequences of using it."
I swallow hard. Consequences? What kind of consequences could I possibly face?
Alette turns to the others, and I notice how they watch me, sizing me up like I'm some kind of puzzle they've yet to figure out. The Unseelie members are as cold and distant as ever, their eyes narrowed, clearly skeptical. But the Seelie members, though silent, exude a quiet, restrained hope that I can feel deep in my bones.
"She is not ready," one of the Unseelie men speaks up, his voice cutting through the tension like a knife. He stands from his seat, tall and imposing, with sharp, angular features. "How can we trust her to complete the task when she hasn't even mastered the magic?"
Lilly's eyes flash with irritation, but she doesn't intervene. Instead, she steps closer to me, placing a reassuring hand on my arm. "She's more ready than you think," Lilly says, her voice unwavering. "Give her time. She will prove herself."
The Unseelie man scoffs but says nothing more, and Alette raises a hand to silence the murmurs of discontent from the council members. The silence stretches, thick and heavy, until Alette finally speaks again.
"You will have to prove your mastery over the pendant, Sarah," she says, her voice commanding. "You must show that you can wield its magic without allowing it to control you."
I glance down at the pendant, now warm against my skin, and for the first time, I truly wonder: What am I unleashing? What kind of power lies dormant within this small piece of jewelry? How much of it is truly me, and how much of it is the Fae realm pulling at me, guiding me?
Alette's voice pulls me back to the present. "There is a place where the power of the pendant can be tested. It is in the city of Nox, deep in the Unseelie lands. There, you will face the greatest test of all."
My chest tightens at the mention of Nox. The name sounds ominous, like something dark, something that shouldn't be disturbed.
"The city of Nox?" I repeat, my voice laced with uncertainty. "Why there?"
Alette's eyes glimmer with an unreadable emotion. "Nox is where the power of the Fae is at its strongest, where the laws of magic are most volatile. It is a place of mystery and danger. If you can harness the pendant's power there, then you will prove yourself capable of handling the responsibility that comes with it."
Lilly steps forward, her expression serious. "The warlock who controls Nox knows more about your family and your mother than anyone else. That is where you'll find the answers you're looking for. But first, you must master your magic. If you fail… we may lose everything."
My heart races again, but this time, it's not just fear. It's anticipation. Nox. A warlock. My mother's secrets. I feel the weight of it all settling over me like a storm cloud.
"How do I get there?" I ask, my voice steady despite the churning uncertainty inside me.
Alette's gaze softens, just slightly, as if she's acknowledging the difficulty of what lies ahead. "You will be guided. We will give you what you need to find your way, but it will be up to you to unlock the path to Nox. Trust the pendant. It will guide you when the time is right."
Lilly's eyes meet mine, her expression intense. "Sarah, I know this is a lot. But you can do this. You have the strength, the magic, and the will to survive what comes next. Don't let fear hold you back."
I nod, though doubt still lingers in the pit of my stomach. The pendant thrums against my skin, as though agreeing with her words. It feels like a promise, a pull toward something greater—and yet, something dangerous.
Alette turns away, signaling the others to stand. "Your trial isn't over, Sarah. But you've passed the first test. Now, the real journey begins."
As I look around at the council, some still skeptical, some quietly hopeful, I realize this is just the beginning. Nox, the warlock, the pendant—it's all part of something much larger than I ever imagined.
I swallow the lump in my throat, feeling the weight of their expectations pressing down on me.
"Let's begin," I say, the words tasting strange in my mouth, but for the first time since stepping into this realm, I feel like I'm starting to understand. The magic is in me, and whether I'm ready or not, it's time to unlock it.
The words "Let's begin" feel like a declaration, but as I say them, they seem to echo in the space around me, bouncing off the walls of the grand chamber. The council members watch me with varying expressions—skepticism, curiosity, but also something more. Something calculating.
Alette nods, but her expression tightens with something that feels like… expectation. "This is only the beginning, Sarah," she says again, as if reminding me of the weight of what's ahead. "You must not falter."
Lilly steps forward beside me, her presence a steadying force. She places a hand on my shoulder, her fingers warm against the cool tension of the air. "You'll have your answers soon," she whispers, and though her words are meant to reassure, they do little to dispel the swirl of fear and uncertainty rising in my chest.
The hum of the pendant against my skin pulses again, stronger now, almost insistent. It's as though it's alive, speaking to me, urging me to trust it. Trust myself.
I look at the council members once more. The Unseelie courts seem unmoved, their faces impassive, and I can feel the disdain in their gazes. The Seelie members, on the other hand, are quiet, their eyes filled with a distant hope. I wonder if they believe in me. I wonder if I believe in myself.
Nox. The city of Nox hangs in the air like a dark promise, a place I'll have to face soon. The thought of it sends a cold shiver down my spine. But there's also something else—a deep pull, a beckoning feeling from within me, like Nox is calling me home.
"We'll guide you," Alette says again, her voice cutting through my spiraling thoughts. "But only you can unlock the path. The pendant will show you the way when the time is right."
The weight of the words sits heavy on my chest. A heavy responsibility, a power I'm still learning to control, and an unknown fate that awaits. The road ahead feels like walking on a razor's edge. One misstep, and everything could fall apart.
I nod, feeling the full force of the magic swirling within me, but also the crushing weight of uncertainty. The power is mine, but so is the fear. And yet, somehow, I know that I have no choice but to continue. For my mother. For the answers that lie in the Fae realm.
"I won't fail," I whisper, the words slipping out more as a promise to myself than to anyone else.
Lilly's eyes soften with something close to pride, but there's still a shadow of doubt there. "You won't," she says, and her voice is so certain that for a moment, I believe her.
Alette turns, signaling the others, and with a final nod, she leads us toward the door. "Your trial begins now," she declares, and though the words are spoken calmly, the weight behind them hangs heavy in the air.
The city of Nox waits for me. And with it, the warlock. My mother's secrets. The pendant's power.
Lilly joins the council. But just before the gate closes behind me, I glance back.
One of the Seelie councillors—-a woman with soft, glowing hair and eyes like water—-watches me, unmoving. Her face is unreadable. Not cold. Not warm.
Just….knowing.
As the gate closes, the pendant hums one final time.
And I know I've just stepped into something ancient.
Something waiting.
*******
The moment I leave Lumindellar, the world seems to change. The air grows thicker, warmer, and the vibrant hues of the city fade into muted tones of gray and green. The trees loom taller here, their branches gnarled and claw-like, casting long, jagged shadows across the path. Even the sunlight feels different, filtered through the canopy above in thin, pale beams.
I pull the cloak around me, its magic shielding me from the strange, biting winds that sweep through the forest. The pendant hums steadily against my chest, its rhythm like a heartbeat, guiding me forward—but the hum feels more insistent now, as if it's tethering me to this world, or perhaps pushing me deeper into it.
But beneath that pulse, something else stirs. A quieter rhythm. Colder. Older. Distant—but not gone. Like something in the dark is waiting. Calling me by blood.
But the farther I go, the more the unease builds. I can feel the magic in the air—alive, restless, watching. It's like I'm being pulled in several directions at once, and every step I take brings me closer to something I'm not ready to face.
I think of my mom, of the argument I'd overheard between her and Ryan all those years ago. The memory creeps back unbidden, sharp as ever, and I replay it like a broken record.
"It's not safe," my mother had said, her voice trembling with fear.
"It's not about safety," Ryan had replied, his tone calm but edged with something I couldn't place. "It's about what she's capable of."
"She's just a child!"
"Exactly," Ryan had said, his voice softening, almost regretful. "That's why she has to be protected. Because when the time comes…"
The memory cuts off, leaving me with more questions than answers. What had he meant? Why had he been so concerned with protecting me? What was I capable of?
The pendant pulses again, drawing me back to the present. I tighten my grip on the stone Lilly gave me, its warmth grounding me. But it feels strangely insufficient. It doesn't dull the anxiety gnawing at me—the cold knot in my chest that won't go away.
As I walk deeper into the forest, the trees seem to shift, their branches forming strange, almost human shapes.
The path narrows. The trees lean in, as if curious—or testing me. Their branches twist together overhead, and every step feels like walking into a mouth that might choose not to let me back out.
Eyes, glowing faintly in the shadows, seem to follow me. Creatures, watching from a distance, their intent unreadable. It's as if the forest itself is waiting for me to make a move.
"Just keep going," I mutter to myself, though my voice sounds shaky even to my ears. The path ahead is winding and unclear. My every step feels like a decision to keep moving into something that might break me.
The pendant hums louder, its vibration stronger now, as though responding to something nearby. My fingers brush it, and the hum intensifies with each step. It's almost as though the pendant is alive, aware, reacting to what's ahead. It's guiding me—or is it warning me?
The wind shifts, carrying with it a faint, unfamiliar scent. It's sweet but sharp, like flowers blooming in decay. The trees close in tighter around the path, their twisted branches knitting together above me, blocking out the faint light that had guided me this far. Shadows pool deeper now, and the air crackles faintly, like static before a storm. The unease in my chest grows heavier, as though something or someone is pulling me in, unwilling to let me escape.
The hum grows erratic, its once-steady rhythm now breaking into uneven pulses. I feel the vibrations in my bones. The pendant feels warm against my chest, but the warmth doesn't bring comfort—it's like it's testing me, urging me forward even though I don't know where I'm going.
"What is it?" I whisper, as if the pendant might answer me.
A rustle stirs in the trees—too deliberate to be the wind. The air feels thick with presence, like the forest is alive, aware of me, and waiting. The creatures are still there, just out of sight.
"Who's there?" I call out, my voice trembling despite my attempt to sound firm. I've been through too much to let fear control me now.
The pendant's hum spikes suddenly, a sharp pulse that sends a jolt through me. My hand flies to it instinctively. It feels almost painful now, as though the pendant itself is straining, warning me. Or maybe trying to prepare me.
The rustling grows louder, moving closer, circling. The glowing eyes in the shadows grow brighter, more numerous, and I can make out faint shapes now—slender, elongated figures that don't quite move like humans. It feels like they're waiting for me to do something—anything.
"Stay calm," I mutter to myself, gripping the stone tightly. Its warmth contrasts sharply with the wild energy from the pendant. "Stay calm." But my breath quickens, heart hammering in my chest.
The pendant pulses again, its heat spreading through my chest. I swear I hear something—words, faint and indistinct, carried on the wind. A whisper, not from the forest, but from the pendant itself.
"Protect."
My breath catches. Did I imagine that? The word echoes in my mind, faint but insistent, as though the pendant is trying to tell me something—warn me.
Another rustle—closer now. One of the figures steps into the faint light breaking through the branches. It's tall, its limbs impossibly long, its eyes glowing a piercing silver. The air around it ripples, charged with magic that makes my skin crawl. It stops in front of me, its eyes locking onto mine with an eerie intensity.
The pendant pulses violently, its light flickering faintly through my cloak. The creature hesitates, its glowing eyes narrowing as if it can see the energy radiating from me.
The realization hits me like a thunderclap: the pendant is not just reacting to the creature—it's warding it off. It's trying to protect me. But from what?
I take a shaky step back, clutching the stone in one hand and the pendant in the other. The creature doesn't advance, but it doesn't retreat either. Instead, it tilts its head, its movements unnervingly smooth, like it's trying to understand me—or the power I'm carrying.
The whispers grow louder, no longer just a single word but a stream of indistinct murmurs, rising and falling with the pendant's pulse. It's as if the pendant is alive, communicating with something—or someone—I can't see.
Then—one cuts through the rest. Lower. Sharper. Not like the others.
"You're close."
It's not the pendant. It's not the forest.
Someone else is listening.
"Leave me alone," I say, my voice firmer now, though my heart pounds in my chest.
The creature blinks slowly, its silver eyes dimming slightly, and then, without a sound, it melts back into the shadows. The others follow, their glowing eyes disappearing one by one until the forest is still again.
The pendant's hum softens, returning to its steady rhythm. I let out a shaky breath, my knees threatening to give out under the weight of what just happened.
I don't know what just happened, but one thing is clear: the pendant isn't just a key to my power—it's a shield, a beacon, and something far more mysterious than I ever realized. It's protecting me. But from what? And why does it feel like this is only the beginning?
********
That night, after setting up camp in a small clearing, I fall into a restless sleep.
The dream doesn't begin. It pulls. Like I've been yanked out of my body and dropped into something ancient.
The ground isn't ground anymore—it's memory. The air tastes like rain and blood. Shapes twist at the edge of my vision. Familiar and wrong.
I take a step, and it echoes forever.
Ryan stands ahead of me, blurred by shadow. But when he speaks, his voice doesn't come from him–it comes from me.
"You're walking into something you don't understand."
And then I see him.
Ryan.
He stands in the distance, his figure hazy but unmistakable. His dark hair falls over his face, his expression unreadable.
"Ryan," I call, my voice echoing in the dream.
He turns, his gaze piercing. "You're walking into something you don't understand," he says, his voice cold. "Do you even know what you're looking for?"
"I'm looking for my mom," I say, my voice firm. "What do you know about her? What do you know about me?"
Ryan steps closer, the air around him shimmering. "More than you're ready to hear," he says cryptically. "But you'll find out soon enough. When you reach Nox, you'll see the truth for yourself."
His words strike something deep inside me—fear, anger, confusion. "What truth?" I demand.
Ryan's expression twists, his voice lowering to a near-whisper. "The truth about your parents."
The dream shatters like glass.
*******
I wake with a start, my heart pounding in my chest as Ryan's voice echoes in my mind.
"The truth about your parents."
His words hang in the air, heavy and cryptic. I gasp, the remnants of the dream fading too quickly, but the impact of his statement lingers. What did he mean by that? What truth?
I sit up abruptly, my breath shallow and frantic. The pendant hums louder now, vibrating against my skin, as though urging me to listen—to follow the pull. It thrums with energy, the rhythm like a heartbeat that isn't my own. My fingers instinctively clutch the stone Lilly gave me, its warmth grounding me, but it's not enough to stop the sharp jolt of panic coursing through me.
The dream felt so real. Ryan's expression twisted, the sorrow in his eyes now a shadow that lingers in my mind. "The truth about your parents…"
My chest tightens at the thought. What truth? Why did he say that?
I look around the small room, the shadows in the corners seeming deeper now. The air is colder, heavier. Everything feels… wrong. I should be focused, prepared to face whatever lies ahead. But the questions in my mind won't let me move forward until I have some answers.
The pendant hums again, more insistent this time, almost like it's calling to me. I clench my fists around the stone and the pendant, trying to focus, trying to block out the fear clawing at my chest. What did Ryan mean?
"Ryan," I whisper, almost pleading with the empty air around me. "What did you mean?"
The pendant thrums beneath my fingers, its vibration growing stronger, like it's pushing me to do something. It feels almost as though it's alive, responding to my desperation. I can sense its power coursing through me, urging me to trust it, to connect with it, to dig deeper.
I close my eyes and try to quiet my thoughts, trying to listen, to follow the pull of the pendant. I breathe deeply, centering myself, and then I focus on the pendant—the one connection I've felt so strongly since I stepped into the Fae realm. The warmth spreads from my chest, filling my veins with energy that's both comforting and unsettling. It's as though the pendant is alive, and somehow, I am too.
In my mind, I speak to it as I've done before. Show me, I whisper. Show me what Ryan meant. Show me the truth.
The pendant pulses in response, and this time, the magic shifts—warms, then cools, like the feeling of the air right before a storm breaks. The ground beneath me hums with the resonance of the magic, and I feel my chest tighten as if the world itself is holding its breath.
A presence stirs in the distance, but it's not an ordinary feeling—there's something else, something more ancient. The shadows in the room seem to stretch and sway, as if alive. Then, a figure appears. It's Ryan, but different. More shadow than flesh, his face hard to focus on.
"The truth about your parents… it's not what you think," Ryan's voice floats toward me, his words low and cryptic. The connection feels like it's slipping in and out of focus, like the world is pushing me away, but I cling to it. "You must learn the truth. Not all is as it seems. The answers you seek are entwined in darkness, Sarah."
I gasp as the words hit me. What does he mean by "entwined in darkness"? Is this about my mom? About my father? The magic swirls around me, pulsing with an intensity that leaves my skin tingling.
"What does that mean?" I ask desperately, but before I can ask again, the image of Ryan flickers, growing fainter as though fading into the ether. The dream shatters again, breaking apart like shards of glass.
My breath comes in ragged gasps as I jolt awake, my heart thudding in my chest. I sit up, looking around the room, but the figure of Ryan is gone. The world around me feels suffocatingly real, and yet it feels like I've just woken from another layer of the dream.
I clutch the pendant in my hands, its warmth still radiating through my skin, grounding me. My pulse is erratic, and the air around me feels charged, still vibrating with the magic Ryan left behind. What did he mean? I have more questions now than ever, and it seems like the answers are just beyond my reach.
The pendant hums, as if responding to my frustration, and I feel a slight pull, almost urging me to keep going.
I look down at the charm Lilly gave me, its warmth offering some comfort. The connection to the pendant has grown stronger—it's almost as though they are tied together. There's no turning back now. My mom, my parents, this realm… everything is intertwined, and I can't keep running from it.
I stand, wiping my palms against my pants, trying to shake off the lingering tension in my chest. The journey is far from over.
I take a deep breath, feeling the energy settle slightly, and I clutch the pendant tightly. This is the path I've chosen—whether I understand it or not, I have to move forward. Nox is still ahead, the warlock still out there, and the answers I seek lie in wait.
"I will find out the truth," I whisper to myself, the words both a promise and a vow. The pendant pulses again, as if in agreement, and I know that no matter what happens next, I'm not alone in this.
I look out at the darkening forest. The path is unclear, shrouded in shadows, but I won't stop. The truth is waiting, and I'll find it, no matter what price I have to pay.
With that, I continue on, the hum of the pendant steady against my chest, my steps growing more confident, ready to face whatever challenges lie ahead.
*******
The air around me feels cooler now. The immediate danger passed. Still. I can't shake the unease creeping up my spine. The whisper—-Protect—lingers in my mind like the trace of a memory just out of reach.
I exhale deeply, scanning the space around me. The trees lean in, their gnarled limbs whispering secrets I can't quiet hear. The creatures—whatever they were—-are gone. But the forest feels changed. Listening.
The cloak tightens around me like a second skin. I touch the stone Lilly gave me—still warm, still calm—and then the pendant.
It throbs.
Not hums. Not buzzes.
Throbs.
A slow, deliberate pressure against my skin, like a second heartbeat that isn't mine.
My hand closes around it, and the feeling sharpens—like I've stepped into a current too strong to fight. I can't tell if it's guiding me forward or pulling me under.
Learn the truth.
That's what Ryan said in the dream.
But what's the truth?
And why does it feel like the answer might unravel me?
A memory brushes the edge of my mind—Ryan and my mother arguing in the shadows. Her voice sharp, his steady but regretful.
"She's just a child!"
"That's why she must be protected."
"Because when the time comes…"
The memory fragments like glass, leaving only a hollow ringing in its place.
I swallow hard. "What am I walking into?"
The pendant answers—not in words, but in pulse. Deep. Insistent. A pull in my bones.
I breathe in, steadying myself, and take a few more steps along the path. The trees start to thin. A breeze picks up. The smell of moss and something metallic rides the air. My eyes catch faint flickers between the branches—lights? Eyes? I don't know anymore.
Then the pendant sears—bright and fast—-beneath my collarbone.
I stumble back, gasping.
And then I hear it,
Not in the air. Not in my mind.
From the pendant.
A voice. Velvet and cruel.
"You are the key. But not to the door you think."
My knees buckle. My vision blurs. It's like the words aren't just in my head—they're in my blood.
The forest bends around me, for one flicker of a moment, like it's bowing to something unseen.
I don't speak. I can't.
I clutch the stone in my palm—it calms me instantly. Steady warmth. Grounding.
The stone feels steady in my palm—quiet magic. Ancient, but calm. But the pendant…it throbs with something else. Something that feels like a warning disguised as guidance.
They're not the same. The stone protects. The pendant commands.
I feel it now—two forces inside me. One keeping me together. One dragging me toward something old and buried.
The air shifts again. Not wind—something deeper. A ripple through the earth, like the forest is bracing for something. Or someone. I take a step, and it feels like the world steps with me.
A single thought breaks through the fear, sharp and terrifying.
"What if I'm not meant to find the truth?"
"What if I'm meant to be it?"
I grip the pendant harder, forcing the hum to settle.
The light fades.
The air quiets.
And I walk.
One foot in front of the other. The weight of two worlds at my chest. The path to Nox is no longer just a destination—-but a reckoning waiting to happen.