Eating an apple, juice running down her chin, Selene scanned what she could from her viewpoint and took in the town. It reminded her of home – ordinary, plain with trees here and there, the houses and markets surrounding highlighting the town’s center. Children were playing with no care in the world, and people her age were watching her intently, especially one fellow Selene was drawn. She was unsure why, but something about him was familiar.

Standing there, she flinched, caught off guard by the baaing of sheep around her. They roamed the street everywhere, distracting her. Personally, Selene thought they should all be in pen somewhere. But as one crossed his path, she found herself drawn to him again. Him and his smile that shined beneath the rays of the sun. She could feel herself blushing. Had she ever blushed this much before, she thought, looking away.

“Don’t fall, Selene,” came a voice from behind. Selene spun at the sound of her brother’s voice. He was scowling at her.

“Don’t sneak up on me, Eris.”

“He’s a Touched Born,” he said, nodding towards the guy across the way.

“How do you know?”

Eris shrugged. “I just know. You should stay away from him, Selene.”

“We are aware of my age, correct? You can’t really tell me what to do.”

Shrugging again, Eris said, “I can try.”

“In which case, you’ll fail.” Smiling again facetiously, her lips pursed, Selene turned away, looking for the guy. He was gone.

“Selene, please, I have a bad feeling about him. I think you should stay away from him.”

“And why should I? Because of your intuition?”

“He’s Touched, Selene. Think about it. Do you honestly think he’s perfectly nice and harmless?” He gave her a scrutinizing look while he fished a coin out of his pocket. Selene looked away from him, hearing the coin plop into the water.

“Not every Touched Born is like you.”

“You don’t know that.”

“You can’t tell me otherwise,” said Selene rolling her eyes. “I’m going to the town library. Leave me alone, Eris.”  Walking away, she shoved her hands into her pockets, searching for her marble. Rubbing it, she found, gave her a sense of serenity. But that feeling didn’t last long. Selene felt eyes upon her, boring themselves into her back, penetrating her soul. Stopping midstep, between the back of a building and the forest, she looked to her left slowly, counting to three to calm her breathing. Fear immobilized her.

Standing there, half in the sunlight, half buried by the darkness of the trees, was Negal. Smiling, she waved Selene over, but her fear still controlled her. Despite knowing that she could trust the Shadowling Negal – at least somewhat – having grown up fearing them, the fear was engraved onto her. When Negal raised her brow impatiently, Selene finally forced her feet to move.

“Hello, Negal.”

“Selene, I’m glad you and your brother left. And with the Queen, no less, impressive. I take it you’re going to the Palace?”

Nodding, Selene asked, “will we be safe there?”

“Unless Senid finds a way to break through the magic and enter, you’ll be fine.”

“Is it possible for him to do that?”

Negal gave her a sad smile. “Everything is possible. Hope does not defeat that. Just stay within the palace walls.”

“Senid-”

“He will stop at nothing to ensure Eris is brought into darkness,” interrupted Negal.

“Why? Because of his father?”

“Oh, Selene,” began Negal shaking her head sadly. “This is far bigger than that.”  She snapped her finger, and a Vampyre smile appeared from the shadows.

“Nivette.”

The Vampyre Nivette smiled. “I see your brother has spoken of me. I’m flattered.”

“Nivette has agreed to watch over you.”

“How can she? With the barrier—”

“That’s where you and your brother come in,” interrupted Nivette smiling. “You need to enchant something for me to carry so that I may be allowed through.”

“How do I know I can trust you?”

“You don’t.” Nivette’s smile widened, almost touching her ears. “But you and Eris are mere mortals, whereas I am a Vampyre. So I can hold my own against a Shadowling.”

Selene stared at Nivette and reached out her hand. She wasn’t sure what she was doing but did it anyway.

“I’ll need something of yours. I’ll imbue it with magic, and at our next stop, I’ll have Eris give it to you.”  Nivette smiled. Her azure eyes, fringed red, glistened as she removed the leather band tied around her wrist.

“Take care of this. It was a gift from my late brother.”  She tossed it into the air while glaring at Negal.  Negal pulled back a shadow, letting the sun’s rays hit Nivette, searing her lower lip. Her fangs protruded, and Nivette let out a soft hiss, her nostrils flaring, her eyes darkening into pools of blood.

Catching the leather wristband, Selene backed into the sunlight, her fear rising. Negal just continued to stare at her, almost amused.

“We will be leaving now, Selene. We’ll see you soon.” Both Nivette and Negal vanished. Someone coughed, and Selene spun around. Before her, leaning against a tree, was the Touched Born fellow.

“Don’t be scared.”

“Have you been listening this entire time?” said Selene suppressing her anger at her privacy being invaded. At least her fear had finally abated.

“I was. Very brave of you to deal with Shadowlings and Vampyres.”

“I’m not that brave.”

“Bravery is due to the perception of an event. I perceive you as brave, holding your ground with a Vampyre and a Shadowling.”

“You don’t even know me,” she said, turning away.

“That’s where you’re wrong. I am Pietro, and as your brother said, I am Touched Born. I can read minds.”

The words caught her off guard, angering her further. If there was anything Selene was particular about, it was her privacy. “You invaded my mind? How dare you! I should spell your thoughts and rip them from your head! You had no right!” He laughed as she glared at him, making her rage bubble further. Then, to add insult to injury, he put his hands up in a facetious attempt to appease her. How dare he, Selene screamed in her head.

“I beg forgiveness,” said Pietro, obviously mocking her. “You’re quite right to be upset.”

Exasperated, throwing her hands up, she stared at him, clutching the wristband tightly. “I don’t have time for childish banter. Since you were so inclined to read my thoughts and eavesdrop, you know I’m in a hurry to spell this bracelet before the sun hits its apex.” Selene began to walk away, eager to get away. Unfortunately, Pietro took it upon himself to follow.

“I can help, and honestly, I would like to help the formidable Witch that pulled the Queen from her castle.”

Crossing her arms, Selene resisted the urge to roll her eyes. “Flattery won’t work, Pietro.”

“Please let me help. You only have a few hours to do what you plan to do. I can help you. I wish to.”  Selene stopped walking and looked at him, a bit surprised and taken by the honesty and earnestness in his teal-colored eyes. Biting down her lower lip, she watched the shadows the sun cast.

After a moment, she finally spoke, still hesitant. “Fine, but we need to hurry. I really don’t have much time,” she said, catching the sun’s position.

“Understood, follow me.”  Pietro led the way, his pale blond hair glistening in the sunlight. Then, catching his smile, she punched him hard in the shoulder.

“Don’t read my thoughts.”

“Sorry, but your thoughts are quite loud. I can’t help myself.”

“Try. Or at the very least, don’t make it so obvious that you are rifling through my head.”  Pietro smiled at her charmingly, and Selene blushed despite herself, averting her gaze.

“I’m in a hurry Pietro.”

“Of course.”  Pietro began walking again, and Selene followed him closely. From the corner of her eyes, she saw shadows twitch. She should have expected nothing less from her brother, yet it still amazed and annoyed her that he was always watching her.

They arrived soon at a cozy house with simple furnishings and small windows that let her see within. The door creaked open, and the warmth of the fire in the fireplace sent her reeling. It reminded her of her home. Of her mother and father.

“I’m sorry.”

Selene glared. “I said—” She stopped and softened when she saw the expression on his face. “It was for the best. I couldn’t and wouldn’t risk the lives of my friends and family.” A stray tear fell down her cheek. She was about to wipe it, but Pietro beat her to it, sending tendrils of warmth down her cheek and neck where he touched her. Her eyes met his, and her lips parted on their own accord. He looked down at her for a moment, considering how alone they were, and she wondered if he had felt what she did.

“Come,” he began, “like you said, you have little time.” Pietro grabbed her hand and led her up the stairs. His room was much like hers, filled with various candles, stones, potions, and elixirs.

“What do you need?”

“Gold dust,” she asked, sitting at the edge of the ground next to his rune circle carved into the wood floor at the base of his bed. “And a knife, lavender oil, silver dust, and a black candle.”

Pietro worked in silence as he handed her all the ingredients and got out of her way.

Selene spread the gold dust over the runes in the circle, smoothing it over the ground. Then, taking the small knife, she carved selected runes along one side of the candle before smoothing lavender oil over it. As soon as she was done, she rolled the candle, wet from the oil, in the silver dust.

“I need you to capture the sun’s light and make it fall on this,” she said, centering the candle before she pulled out the bracelet from her pocket. “Revoh.” The bracelet hovered over the unlit candle and waited for Pietro to shine the light with the small mirror he was holding. As soon as it did, Selene closed her eyes and centered herself.

“Gods of light, hear me; connect this to the heart of sunlight.”  Wind whistled into the room, swirling the gold and silver dust into the rune and above the candle. The dust settled above the candle, suspended as though frozen in time.

“Hanc armillam lumine tuo imbue. Per nocumentum pacifice transitum tenebris protege.” The sunlight set the candle aflame and enveloped the bracelet. The gold and silver dust in the air swirled into the fire. Finally, the fire blew out, and the bracelet fell onto the ground, outwardly untouched.

“Looks like it worked.”

“I certainly hope so.” Selene snatched up the bracelet and stood up. “Thank you for helping me.”

“Think nothing of it.”  Pietro put down the mirror and made his way toward her. Selene’s heart quickened. “If I wanted to see you again, would that be all right?”

“If you can get to the Palace, then yes.”

Pietro smiled. “I should learn to fly then.” Pietro kissed her on the cheek before walking to his bedroom door, holding the door open for her. But, by the goddess, she thought, leaving the room, she was blushing again.

Looking back from the staircase, she smiled. “I hope to see you soon, complete with wings.” And with that, she left, practically skipping down the stairs. However, her bight mood slightly diminished when she saw her brother standing by the stairs, looking at her disapprovingly.

“I said stay away.”

Hands on her hip, Selene responded in the same hot tone. “Did I say that I would?”

“I’ll take the bracelet,” he said, ignoring her.

Uh oh. “Don’t lose it, Eris.”

Eris looked at her as she handed him the bracelet. Selene could not read the expression on his face, which unnerved her. “We should get some food.”  Eris turned quickly before Selene could nod, leaving her feeling hurt as she stood there for a moment. Then she ran after her older brother, like she had so often done as a child, and gripped his hand tightly. He tightened his grip as well, making Selene feel more assured.