1 The Girl I walked into the club feeling surprisingly at ease for a place I normally wouldn't be seen in.

I would've stuck to that rule to this day had I not been looking for the owner. 'You know the rules.' I turned to face the man who had spoken, if he could be called a man and gave him a quizzical look. 'Rules?' 'No humans.' I gave a sideways glance at the small girl cowering next to me before turning my attention back to the bouncer who had spoken. 'She's an exception.' I told him coldly. He slammed his hand against the wall causing all three of us to be showered in a cloud of dust and brick fragments. 'There are no exceptions!' I felt the girl cling to my arm and everyone in the club freeze. Somewhere in the back I heard a witch laugh and a fairys' wings flutter uncomfortably. 'Is there a problem?' a woman asked in a cool tone. The demon bouncer nodded and growled, baring his needle like teeth. 'This girl thinks she can bring a human in here!' This second outburst seemed to ignite the activity in the club and everyone began crowding around. The purple haired woman nodded and turned to me. 'You know our rules. Any human who passes through our door is-' 'I know. I promise you there is an explanation. If we could just talk.' 'The girl waits outside.' she commanded. 'Natalie. Please.' I tried to keep my voice as level as possible as I pleaded with her. She turned her back to me and for a moment I thought she was denying my request.

'Make a path. Nobody lays a hand on the girl.' A few of the demons grunted in disbelief and Natalie's golden eyes seemed to glow this time as she repeated herself. 'I mean it. Nobody.' With one last glare just to make it clear how serious she was she walked up the path made by the patrons and through the door I assumed led to her office. 'Nice place.' I commented wryly as I closed the door. 'It is.' she replied ignoring my sarcasam. I did a quick sweep of the office noting the small golden plaque on the wall. Homines mortem intrantibus tabernacula nostra 'Natalie I-' 'Does she have a name?' she asked conversationally. 'She won't talk.' Natalie bent down so her eyes were level with the girls' who was by this time, trembling so hard I could feel the vibrations right through me as she squeezed my arm. 'What's your name honey?' Natalie asked quietly while giving her an encouraging smile. Her eyes had a slight glimmer but were not glowing as they had before. The girl looked at me and I nodded signalling that she should speak when she refused, Natalies' eyes grew more intense and it was no longer a question but an order. The minute the words left her mouth I felt a charge run through the air and tried to brace myself for whatever was coming. I barely had time to register that I was falling backwards as I saw Natalie get flung across the room by what appeared to be a ball of light. Within seconds, the ball vanished leaving in it's place, the girl, her bright green eyes wide. 'Jade.' She said in a silvery sweet voice while offering Natalie her hand. To my astonishment Natalie refused the help and I noticed she was shaking. Jade appeared not to notice and seemed to be staring at the gold plaque which she pointed at suddenly.

'What does that mean?' she asked with a tilt of her head. Natalie answered before I had time to open my mouth. She seemed to have recovered and was sitting at her desk watching carefully. 'The death of men who enter our dwellings.' Jade nodded but didn't speak seemingly lost in her own thoughts. Natalie turned her attention back to me. 'I think we should continue this privately. I looked over at Jade who looked quite content surveying the office. There was no way I was letting her go out there on her own. Sensing my unease Natalie considered before speaking. 'She can stay here. She'll be safe.' She passed her hand infront of a wall panel which melted at her touch revealing a hidden room. After sealing the wall behind us she walked around the small room igniting the torches on the wall. When she finished she fixed me with a questioning look. 'What is she?' 'I was hoping you could tell me.' I sighed. She began pacing around the small stone room again. She shook her head and didn't respond for several minutes. 'I've never seen anything like her. In all my years, I've never come across anyone with that much power. And at such a young age.' The awe in her voice was unmistakable and made me realize the potential Jade had. The fact that she had gotten Natalie off her feet alone was testament to that. Nobody had managed that for as long as anyone could remeber and they tried. She suddenly stopped her pacing. 'I'll see what I can find and I'll be in touch. Oh and uh, I'd appreciate it if that little, incident, stayed just between us.' She motioned for me to exit the room back into her office where Jade was waiting. As I re entered the office I was confronted with the sight of the demon bouncer who had denied Jade entrance lying on the floor. Unconscious, I hoped and not dead. Jade was standing over him calm as ever.

She looked at him, then at us before shrugging and simply saying. 'He tried to hurt me.' Natalie bent down and examined him for less than a minute before standing again. 'Dead.' she sighed. 'He was one of my better ones too. Shame' With a wave of her hand she made his body vanish leaving only a black mark on the carpet. I shot a glare over at Jade before looking apologetically over at Natalie. She couldn't be happy about the carpet. She went back to her paperwork and I signaled Jade that it was time to leave. Maybe she hadn't noticed the scorch mark. As I was closing the door I heard Natalie mumble darkly under her breath. 'That carpet was my mothers' It wasn't until two weeks later that she finally got in touch with us. In that time I had gotten Jade settled in my home and come to have a better understanding of just how unique she was. She was quite a peculiar child and seemed older than her years in some ways. ALthough I would never let her know it, she was also immensly powerful which frightened me a bit. We were sitting down to dinner when Natalie materialized in the middle of the room. She had never been one to knock so this was no surprise to me. She let out a small squeak at the sight of Jades' plate which was covered by a large slab of meat. She had disguarded her vegetables and they were strewn here and there on the table next to it. After telling Jade to stay where she was and finish her dinner I led Natalie into the next room where we could talk freely. 'Did you find anything?' She jerked her head. 'Druids. That's all I could come up with. And even that doesn't make sense. They didn't have half her power. This girl is something else but, maybe she's connected to them somehow.' She stopped pacing to think and the air around her began to crackle. She was annoyed. Never a good sign. She wasn't the most stable fairy. I kept silent. Anything I said would only make things worse and I had no theory of my own to offer anyway. After a few moments she looked thoughtful and the electricity surrounding

her began to fade until it vanished all together signaling that she was calm. I began to relax. 'What about her parents? What do we know about them?' she threw the question at me like a plasma bolt and impatiently waited for my answer. I shook my head and thought over my words carefully before speaking. It wouldn't do any good to upset her. 'Nothing. She won't talk about them.' I recalled a couple nights ago when I had gone into Jades' room to check on her while she was asleep. She had spoken only one word. 'Mommy.' I had questioned her about it the next morning and she had refused to speak to me at all for the day. Natalie straightened her shirt and walked back into the dining room. 'Well, she'll just have to tell us whether she wants to or not.' she flung over her shoulder. I could tell by the look on her face she was not going to be gentle and I had no desire to see a repeat of the last time she had made Jade angry, I decided the only way to prevent it was to speak before Natalie could. I put a hand on Jades shoulder and Natalie, realizing what I wanted sat in the chair to my left watching. 'Jade. We need you to tell us about your parents.' I said gently. In response she pulled on one of my curls lightly entwining her fingers in it. Her eyes bright and sparkling. 'You have pretty hair.' she told my quietly. 'Your parents.' I reminded her untangling her fingers from my hair. In response she stared at me and pulled on the hem of my skirt. 'I like your dress.' Natalie had obviously reached her breaking point and banged her fist on the table as she stood, knocking the chair to the floor. 'Enough! Your parents! Now!' I expected to feel a charge like the last time but Jade only sat there staring. She got up from her chair and turned her attention to her plate which she wiped clean with a wave of her hand. When she had finished she fixed Natalie

with a serious look. 'You're mean. I don't like you.' She walked past us and up the stairs. A minute later we heard her bedroom door close softly. Natalie was bewildered. She wasn't used to someone just walking away and I could tell she couldn't believe what had just happened. 'It's better to just let her be for now. She'll come around.' I said carefully. I wasn't sure what had happened with Jade and her parents but whatever it was it was obvious she was hurt. 'She has time. It's going to take me a while to get a hold of what I need...' The tone in her voice alerted me. She was planning something and that was never good. I looked back at the results of her previous plans. Nine times out of ten, someone had ended up dead. 'Natalie, what are you going to do?' I knew she could hear the slight rise in my voice. The fear and I cursed myself for it. 'Relax. I'm just going to help her. It's not a good idea for you to get so attached.' She said it as though Jade were a doll about to be thrown away and another shiver went up my spine. 'What are you talking about? What are you planning?' 'Aria, we don't even know what she is. What her purpose is. The less we know the more of a liability she is. We can't afford that. If I can't find out what she is...' There was no need for her to continue. I knew what she was saying without her having to say it. I should have known this was coming. I knew going to Natalie was a mistake. I had no one to blame but myself. I had single handedly put Jades' life in jeopardy. 'Are you even going to try?' I knew it was apparent to her that I held no respect. 'I'm going to get a hold of someone who may be able to help.' She told me sternly. Natalie was my best friend and the only thing in this world I had close to a decent sister but over the years I had learned that she had a dark side. As much as I loved her, I had very little trust in her. And I knew how cold she could be. Then something she said hit me.

'What do you mean we don't know what her purpose is?' I couldn't quite grasp the statement or what she meant by it. 'I mean, who sent her? where did she come from? and why is she here?' She couldn't possibly be suggesting what I thought she was. There was no way. Could she? 'Natalie, you can't possibly think she's a threat. That's rediculous.' She rounded on me. 'Is it? Think about it. Look how powerful she is. How do we know they didn't send her?' I gave myself a minute to let this statement sink in. I was still having trouble believing she could think this. 'She's a child. Not an assasin.' Her eyes began to glitter sharply. 'Children are so easliy corrupted. You of all people know that.' I flinched at the memory that she was playing back for me. Kathy. A girl I had taken in and cared for. She had been a human but corrupted by a warlock and she had tried to kill me. In the end it had resulted in her death when she had been unable to complete her task. The memory ended and her eyes returned to their normal flat gold. As she watched me sympathetically. 'I'm sorry. You needed a reminder.' 'Actually,' I said walking to the front door and opening it. 'I didn't. I haven't forgotten.' I waited silently for her to leave refusing to make eye contact. I didn't need her to decide to try and order me to keep my distance from Jade, or worse. I didn't really think she would go that far but how could I be sure anymore. She walked out the door and I watched her walk down the path following her progress with my eyes and wondering silently when she would give up and teleport. I was just closing the door when she turned to me again. 'I'll be back in a week or so. To, see how things are.' The lingering note in the air told me there was something she had left unsaid.

A silent threat that chilled me more than words ever could. 2 The Unseelie Court As I walked down the stone hallway I couldn't help but feel as though condemned. There could be nothing more frightening than what I was about to face. I couldn't delay it any more and taking a deep breath that I silently hoped wouldn't be my last, I entered the queens' chambers. Bowing low I braced myself for the queens' reaction regretting the words I was about to speak. 'They have taken the child.' For a long while I heard nothing. I felt her eyes as though they were boring right through me and silently prayed she wasn't about to kill me. Then, in a cool and calm voice she spoke. 'Who. Has taken the child?' There was no doubt in my mind that she already knew the answer and yet she would have me speak it. Perhaps to enrage her further. The reason did not matter. The curse of the Unseelies is that we cannot ignore a direct question asked of us by our queen. Even if this curse was not in place, no one would dare ignore the queen. Unless we wished to die painfully. 'The Seelies. My Queen...' I faltered as I made eye contact for the first time. Her lavender colored eyes seemed to hold a slight mesmerizing effect over me. 'Who?' I realized this time what she was asking. As much as I wanted to, I couldn't break eye contact. I had no choice but to answer her whatever my punishment. 'Aria. My Queen.' I replied in a near whisper. Hating myself as I spoke. She nodded and I flinched as she raised her hand fully explecting an attack. She merely brushed off a piece of dust and continued to sit, watching. I began to wonder if she expected me to say something else. 'Aria. Isn't she your sister, Liliana?' she asked mildly. 'Half.' I answered earnestly.

She fixed me with a look of pure distain and I instanlty regretted my words. The only thing that could possibly make my case worse was correcting the queen. 'Half.' I repeated more respectfully this time. 'Yes. Your, half sister.' she sneered emphasizing the word. Although we share a mother, my sister and I are as different as it is possible for siblings to be. We have different sets of values or rather, she has all the values. I, like the rest of the Unseelies, didn't believe in restraining myself. More than that what annoyed me about my sister and her court is that they are cowards. They only fight to keep things just as they are. They have no desire for change. Their idea of a perfect world is everything remaining just as it is. Forever. We believe in progress. The Seelies are a whiny group who hold onto the past and never looked to the future. I thought of my sister and the wings on my back began to flutter angrily. Aria had always annoyed me. Long before we had ever chosen separate sides. The two of us had never seen eye to eye. 'Liliana,' I quickly snapped out of my reserve and was startled to find that the queen and I were no longer the only two in the room. Damion had somehow managed to not only enter the room, but come within two feet of me without me knowing. I surveyed him intently. He was exceedingly stunning even by our standards. His azure eyes contrasted sharply with his jet black hair. Another uncommon feature for our kind. What alarmed me more than anything else was his presence alone. If the queen had asked for him, this was more serious than I thought. 'We need that child Damion. Alive.' Her tone implied that he was to kill anyone and everyone in his path to get to her. My sister and anyone helping her were as good as dead. What could be so important about that child? 'I trust, Liliana, that you have no objections?' she asked in a slightly mocking tone. I bowed again and quietly replied,

'No my queen.' What did I care if my sister had been handed a death sentence? It was just one less thing for me to worry about. Besides, if I did have any objections, she wasn't going to back down, she would just see to my death before I could interfere with her plan. Probably an extremely painful death at that. It wasn't until five minutes later that I was allowed to take my leave. I sincerely hoped she wouldn't have need for me again anytime soon. As it was I spent more time in her chambers than any other Unseelie, and it was never to bring good news. 'That was quick.' She was sitting on the bed, her emerald hair shining so brightly it appreared to be sucking the light from the room. Which, it was. It was a wonder I recognized her half the time. She was constantly changing her appearance. Valarie had to be the most excentric out of all of us. She never had the same hair color twice. Then again, I guess if you have the power to change your looks at will, why not use it? The strangest guise I've ever seen her take was a chinese sumo wrestler. I still didn't see the appeal behind that one. On a whim she can change into whoever she wants. She can change her whole appearance at once or just a part of it. Yes, okay, I'm jealous. Who wouldn't be? My envy aside, she's my best friend or, as close to it as possible. It's never wise to trust anyone completely. As soon as you turn your back, you'll be stabbed. No matter how well you think you know the person. 'You went with your natural hair colour this time.' I observed. 'I see you're mark free. Emotional torture then?' she asked ignoring my comment. I shook my head. Partly in answer to her question and partly at her lack tact. I couldn't blame her. After all, I had assumed a punishment myself. It was almost as though she had expected the Seelies to get the girl first. As far as any of us know, the queen is not a seeress but then, she has many secrets. 'She called in Damion.' I told Val. I was still having trouble wrapping my head around that one. She looked up at me and stopped in the middle of changing her nails to a dark sapphire colour. She could have done them all at once but for some reason she chose to do them one by one. 'Damion? That kid really must be important. What does she want her so bad for?'

How was I supposed to answer that? I didn't even know. Nobody seemed to know except the queen herself. 'I don't know. I don't even know what she is. she must be pretty powerful though.' 'Yeah' She replied seriously while finishing her nails. 'If she's really as powerful as she's made out to be, I wouldn't mind getting my hands on the little brat. I could probably do it. How hard can it be to abduct a little kid?' For her sake, I hoped she wasn't planning on going behind the queens back. Valarie loved a challenge but that was suicide. 'The Seelies are protecting her.' I reminded her carefully. 'So? I've taken them before. And by the way, The Seelies? I heard it was your sister.' She told me with an raised eyebrow. 'Or is that why you're so concerned about Damion?' she asked contemptuously. Great. It wasn't bad enough for everyone to know I was connected to a Seelie, now they knew that she was the one who had taken the child. My standing with the queen wasn't very good as it was and this was not improving things. 'Half. Sister thank you.' I told her scornfully. Why did I always have to stress that? Was it so hard for others to remember that we shared only one parent? Of course, it seemed even harder for them to remember that it wasn't my fault. 'And no. That's got nothing to do with it.' My tone implied that the matter was closed and thankfully, she got the hint and left. I decided to take advantage of my time alone to try scrying. I hadn't attempted it in months and I didn't want to go too much longer and risk having to learn over again. Not that you forget how to scry but, the relaxation can be difficult and is necessary. I dimmed the lights and pulled out the small silver mirror I had been using since first learning. I chose a spot on the floor and placed the mirror before me and began to relax my body. Within five minutes or so, I wasn't entirely sure, a fog appeared and images began to form. I could make out my half sister with a little brown haired girl.

The downfall of scrying is there is no sound and to make it all the worse, the scene was too small to allow me to lip read even if I could. As I watched the scene infront of me, I grew frustrated and broke my concentration causing the display in front of me to burst. In a fit of rage I picked up the mirror and hurled it at the wall. Luckily, I had put an anti-shatter charm on it. I wasn't sure what had angered me more, the loss of concentration or the fact that the mirror had shown Aria. They had been known to show things specifically to anger or hurt a person. *** 'What is he?' she whispered under her breath. 'He's a Nix.' I told her quietly. I was certain he was listening, water sprites are known to have exceedingly good hearing. 'What's wrong with his teeth?' I gave her a reproving look as I answered her this time. 'Nothing.' 'But their green.' she cringed drawing the word out slowly. I touched her lightly on the arm trying to silence her. Water sprites did not like it when someone made reference to their teeth. 'They're supposed to be.' he hissed. At his words, Jade looked at the floor seemingly too scared to look at him even though his back was to us.