Chapter Four

 

 

 

 

Jade felt a presence. It was unworldly and felt like a rush of earth and water tumbling around her. She stiffened. The hairs rose on her neck as she turned around, flicking her eyes about the forest but finding nothing.

“Evie?” she whispered. The trees didn’t reply. They danced in a sway, rippling like a tide as the wind rode the branches. Jade couldn’t help but feel that someone was watching her. Shivering, she ran her hands over her arms and backed into a tree, hoping it was all in her head.

“Evie? If that’s you, it’s not funny!” Nothing but space and a haunting whoosh of breezes greeted her. She sighed. It was probably just her imagination. Feeling paranoid was not uncommon for her. When you’re different from your peers to the point you can manipulate others and the elements, she could trust no one. No one but her own flesh and blood.

Jade settled against the tree and scolded herself for being so jumpy. The feeling ceased and the calming sounds of the woods resumed their songs. She didn’t blame Evie one bit for loving it out here. Nature was an entity unto itself and its power was intoxicating. Jade was sure that whatever pleasure she derived from the earth itself was amplified a thousand fold for those bound to Faerie. It reeked of magic and power. It was like a surge tingling across her skin, vibrating and teasing.

She could never use it like her sister could. It was bound to faery blood only. But, that was okay with Jade. She had her own elemental magic to consume. And it was just as good.

A twig snapped, sending her jetting to her feet. Her breath huffed and burned in her chest as she spun around once more to find the perpetrator. This time he walked slowly into her vision. This time he wanted her to see him.

“What do you want?” her voice cracked, suddenly dry with the tingle of fear that slowly embraced her. She licked her lips, wanting the desert in her mouth to go away, but it didn’t comply. Not with an ethereal looking man standing before her.

The faery stood just a bit taller than her. His waist-length deep brown hair and skin the color of pale cream shined in the sunlight. Almond eyes blinked back toward her, amused with her widening eyes and opened mouth. They twinkled and were the same color brown as his hair. Jade found it interesting that he looked very near human. She’d expected wings, translucent skin and bug-like eyes. Maybe more like the demi-fey who fluttered on their tiny, fragile wings with their sharp cornered eyes without whites. No, he was the size of an ordinary man, only more mesmerizing than any one she’d ever met.

He was dressed head to toe in dark rich leather, soft and worn with use. It enveloped his body, fitting snuggly against his muscles and giving him a warrior’s look. She gasped as he stepped closer, an amused smile played at the corners of his lips.

“Stop!” She pressed her back against the tree, feeling trapped yet amazingly curious about the faery man. “Don’t come closer, or I’ll…I–”

“Or you’ll do what?” he snickered. His eyes twinkled playfully, making her seethe as its effect made her fear chip away.

“You don’t want to know,” she gritted her teeth, hoping it was a sufficient enough warning. She readied her magic, letting it tingle on the tips of her fingers.

As if sensing it gathering, he paused, sniffed the air and glanced around. He refocused on Jade and gave her a warm smile, no longer approaching her. “Forgive me, elemental. I can be off putting.” A tilt to his head as he continued to watch her but she held her ground, stilled and readied to slam the magic onto him if necessary.

“What are you doing in Faerie, elemental? Your kind are not native here. You risk much by treading here.” He pressed his lips together, looking slightly concerned but it faded just as quickly. He edged over to the fallen log she’d just been sitting on, sank to sit on it and patted the other side for her to join him. When she didn’t move, he sighed and slid off his sword, propping it next to him and pulled out a sack which had been strapped to his back.

“Forgive me, I’m tired and parched. Been on the move all day and I do regret barging into your solace, but I must have some nourishment.” He pulled out a flask of water, uncorking it to take huge swallows. He then clasped it shut and pulled out a small sack, grabbing some nuts and berries out of it and shoveled it into his mouth.

Yuck, Faeries have no manners apparently.

With a mouthful, he offered her some of his sticky snack but she shook her head and waited. Hoping Evie was not nearby.

“I don’t bite, elemental. I am really quite harmless. You can put that fire away you got there. You might subsequently start a forest fire if you let it flicker a little more.” He nodded towards her hands. Jade pulled them up and stared in horror to see that her hands were afire, dripping slight embers to the forest floor without her realizing it. She quickly extinguished the flames and stomped the smoldering ashes with her shoes.

He gave her a haughty laugh, amused by her loss of control. “You know, if you wanted to burn me, I’ll be pretty vulnerable in a few minutes, being that I’m exhausted. Would you mind if I hung in your woods for a bit? It’s quite quaint actually.” He looked around and pulled a blanket out of the pack, laying it on the soft mulch of the ground and plopping onto it, using the fallen log to shelter one of his sides.

“Wh–what? Y–you’re going to stay here?” Jade stammered. He couldn’t linger around here−their house was just a few strides away. What if he discovered it?

He placed his head on his pack, one arm easing over his eyes. “No need to stutter. I’ll keep to myself, don’t worry your pretty little head about it, miss.” He nestled into the ground, sounding truly exhausted. After a few minutes of silence, she wondered if he really was just going to rest here for a bit. What did he want?

“Who are you?” she asked one more time, her voice sounded suddenly small and squeaky. She cleared her throat as she slid to lean against a tree once more.

“I’m called Verenis. What’s your name, elemental?” he asked without getting up. His face was still hidden under his arm, blocking the light out. His breathing slowed to rhythmic and peaceful. Jade wondered if he’d fallen asleep already.

“Jade.”

“Now, Jade, what are you doing in Faerie?” Verenis rolled to his side, leaning on his arm as his eyes flashed toward her. A sea of earth drifted in them. It made her dizzy and wary of him, though his face was pleasant enough to look at and sent shivers down her skin.

“What do you care?”

“Heh, touché,” he smirked at her remark with his eyes dancing. She crossed her arms and frowned, feeling somewhat childish.

“What does it matter? What are you doing here, if I may ask.”

“Trying to stay alive.” The faery promptly shifted onto his back, covering his eyes again to cover them.

Nothing about him made sense. Jade had lost her patience and muttered her annoyance. He didn’t stir but softly snored as he drifted away into sleep. Jade watched him, unable to tear her eyes from his resting body. She wanted to ask him a thousand questions, but right now was not the time. She wondered if she would ever see him again after today. The thought of where Evangeline had run off to in the desolate woods had temporarily slipped her mind.