The Elf Girl (27 page)

Except for the sales clerk, the bookstore was empty. I headed straight for the area where I had seen the book. I searched the bookshelf for where I had hidden it behind a few of the other books on locks.
Please let it be there
, I prayed silently. Sure enough, it was just where I had left it.

Almost squealing aloud with joy, I picked the book up and hugged it. Yes! Something good had come out of today! I was just about to go to the sales counter when the front door opened. A chime sounded, and I looked up out of curiosity. Was it really curiosity? Was it fate, or was it just a creepy coincidence that I was in the store at the exact moment
he
came in?

The Stranger walked through the door casually, obviously not looking for anything in particular. The only problem was that he was heading
my
way. I didn’t think he saw me, but he definitely would soon if I stayed where I was.

Once again, drawn to his eyes, they held me for a moment and I was unable to move. I had no idea why, but something about this elf held me in place. When I saw him, he was all I could think about. The feeling was both a good and a bad one. Good because he made me stop thinking about bad things. Bad because I didn’t know how to stop thinking about him when I saw him. I had no control.

He looked up as he walked closer, and for a moment, we just observed each other. I felt my cheeks go red hot. “
It isn’t nice to stare
,” I heard my human mother saying in my head. I turned my head away and slowly backed up into another section. I knew it was obvious that I was avoiding him, but what else could I do? I was totally gawking at an elf I had literally run into two days ago. I was embarrassed.

No, this wasn’t just embarrassed. This feeling went way beyond embarrassment.

The fear of what would happen to me if I allowed myself to come too close to him hit me. Without any control, what actions would I regret later?

Then, as I thought about it more carefully, I realized I wouldn’t care what I did with him, so long as I could still look into his eyes….

I went as far back into the store as I could before bumping into the back wall. Three books fell to the floor, making three loud
thuds
. I hurried to pick them up and stuff them back on the shelf. During the process, my own book fell to the floor as well.
Great
, I thought.
Could this get any worse?

It did get worse. It got a lot worse. As I reached for my book, someone else beat me to it.
He
beat me to it. I looked up to see him holding the book out to me. If I had a mirror, I knew what my face would look like – horrified: 1) I was completely embarrassed; 2) I couldn’t stop looking into his eyes; 3) He was right in front of me and I didn’t know what to do.

“Drop something?” he asked, trying to suppress a smile but failing miserably at the act.

I nodded and smiled back at him sheepishly, unable to find my voice to respond in any other way.

“Interested in locks, I see,” he commented.

I nodded again.

“Well, here you go,” he said, and he handed the book to me.

I nodded.
Oh crap, why did I just nod?
Take the book!
I screamed inside my head.
Take it!
I took it slowly. He kept looking at me, smiling.

“Thanks,” I muttered.

“Hold on, wait,” he said, as I turned around quickly, almost running to the counter. I reluctantly ignored his calls of protest. The temptation of going back to talk to him was great, but I was able to resist.

“Find everything all right?” the elf asked.

“Yes,” I said hurriedly.

I paid the clerk, grabbed my bag, and rushed out of the store. As I walked back home, I told myself repeatedly that I was wrong about today turning good. Today was definitely bad.

I couldn’t get the Stranger’s eyes out of my mind as I returned home.

And I couldn’t help but wonder what would have happened if I had listened to him…if I had gone back to face him.

***

“Ramsey, are you okay?” Addison asked while we were having lunch later that day.

But I wasn’t paying attention. I was thinking about the sequence of events that led me here. After my episode with the Stranger, I ran home, threw the book in a drawer, and high-tailed it over to Addison’s house. The trunk would have to wait because I couldn’t stand being alone anymore. It left me with too much thinking time. I needed distractions.

Since Addison hadn’t arrived home until noon, I talked to Aaliyah about the orchard, drank tea and nervously munched on freshly baked cookies. I did anything I could to distract myself. I was already as freaked out as I could stand.

“Ramsey.
Hello
?” Addison yelled.

“Sorry, what did you say?” I snapped out of it and finally turned my attention to the elfen girl sitting across from me at the table.

“Are you okay? You seem very out of it. Even more so than you were this morning,” Addison noted.

“I’m just stressed.”

Okay, that was kind of the truth. I just hoped she didn’t ask why. I did
not
want to tell anyone about the Stranger.

“Why? Tell me about it,” she suggested.

Crap.

“I, uh, it’s hard to explain,” I blurted.

“Try me.”

Double crap. I didn’t want to answer.

“No, it’s okay,” I finally said.

“Ramsey, just spit it out!” Addison cried.

Triple crap.

“It’s Zora,” I lied.

Well, I wasn’t really lying. Zora was a huge part of my stress, just not the center of it…at this moment. I felt stupid for thinking like that. Of course, Zora was at the center of it! She was
always
the center of it. She had been ever since I stepped through that elf circle and into the Elf Realm.

“Oh,” Addison said. She stopped talking after that.

I was thankful my semi-lie had saved me. Then I realized how often I had been lying to avoid subjects I wasn’t interested in discussing. It wasn’t a good thing for me; another change. We ate in silence until Aaliyah asked if anyone wanted more tea.

“I’m fine, thank you,” Addison said politely.

“I’ll have more, please.”

“Ramsey, this is your seventh cup!” Aaliyah commented.

“Yeah.” I didn’t know what else to say.

Aaliyah poured the tea and sat down. She reached across the table, and I jerked my hands away. I didn’t want any memories to calm me down like a bottle of pills. Nothing could help right now. Only finding Zora could help.

For a brief moment, I actually wished the Stranger were here, because I knew he would be able to calm me down. I didn’t know what it meant for me to believe something like that; all I knew was that it was the truth.

“Ramsey, please,” Aaliyah begged.

I reluctantly put my hands in hers. If it would make her happy and leave me alone, I would give in and let her try.

A picture flashed before my eyes.

It was of a baby rocking in a cradle. Her delicate face was smiling and her hands were waving in the air. Her emerald green eyes were full of happiness and wonder. She was dressed in a green cotton dress that reflected her cheerful eyes. A tuft of pale hair was on her head, held together by a brown bow. Everything about the memory was nice and simple. It was just a happy memory. No strings attached.

When the memory left and I opened my eyes, I was a little disappointed. I had enjoyed that memory. I hadn’t wanted it to leave. I never wanted Aaliyah’s memories to end.

“Do you know who that baby was, Ramsey?” Aaliyah asked.

“No, should I?” I asked.

“It was you,” she informed me.

“That was me?” I was stunned.

“Yes. You were almost a year old at the time.”

“Thank you, Aaliyah. I think that of all the abilities I have witnessed so far, yours is my favorite. You sure know how to cheer someone up.”

Addison snorted and smacked me in the shoulder. “Hey!” she cried.

“Sorry, Addison, but it’s true,” I said. I winked at her and smiled. “Aaliyah’s ability doesn’t hurt people or destroy furniture.”

Addison pouted and muttered, “It’s not my fault if you’re sensitive and your table is cheap.”

“Don’t feel bad. I’m sure Ramsey likes your ability second best,” Aaliyah said, patting her daughter on the back and laughing when Addison gave her a look of disdain.

“No way, she likes mine more!” Stellan said, as he appeared by my side.

“Aren’t you supposed to be working?” Addison asked.

He smiled slyly. “We’re leaving tomorrow, so I took the rest of the day off to get ready.”

“Good idea,” Addison commented.

I got up and hugged Stellan tightly. I had missed him a lot today, and it felt good to be back in his arms. It felt safe and normal, unlike my interactions with the Stranger. We sat down together, our hands intertwined.

“So what kind of planning do we have to do before tomorrow?” I asked, getting down to business, all traces of my crazy mood finally gone.

“Not too much, actually, but let’s go over how this is going to work,” Addison suggested.

I nodded. “Okay.”

“The three of us will leave tomorrow morning at five. Getting to Tarlore takes about two or three days, so we will pack enough food for the journey. When we arrive, guards will probably take us to Queen Taryn. After a night’s rest, she will want to discuss all of our options. Then whatever we decide, we will do.”

“I’ve got one question.”

“Yes?” Addison and Stellan said in unison.

“Do I wear the Mood Diamond again?”

“No!” they both replied.

“She should,” Aaliyah said quietly.

Stellan and Addison glared at their mother.

“I agree,” I said.

“No, no, no, no, no, no,” Addison screamed as she got up and started pacing, “absolutely not!” I noticed she liked doing that whenever she was upset.

“I won’t let what happened last time happen to her again, Mother,” Stellan said sternly.

“It’s the right thing to do,” Aaliyah replied.

“The right thing? Are you kidding me?” Addison asked, disbelief wracking her features. “Since when is putting Ramsey in danger the
right
thing
? What happens if she gets hurt, or dies? Who will save Zora then? Who will save Ramsey?”

Stellan turned to me and shook his head. His eyes were full of worry.

“I have to wear it, Stellan. It’s the only way to figure out Zora’s location. I’ll be okay. I know what to expect now,” I assured him.

“But what if you don’t? What if you get hurt or killed? Don’t do it, please, Ramsey,” he pleaded.

I squeezed both of his hands. “I have to, and you know it.”

Addison was still yelling “no,” while Aaliyah tried calming her down. I looked into Stellan’s eyes and nodded. He leaned over, took my hands in his, and kissed me softly on the lips. Then he sighed and nodded as well.

“Okay, but you can’t wear it until we reach Tarlore. That way you can be looked after better, and if you do get hurt, help will be nearby,” he told me.

“Deal,” I agreed.

We shook hands.

“What?” Addison shouted after hearing us. “What does ‘deal’ mean?”

“I will wear the Mood Diamond when we are safely in Tarlore,” I told her.

Addison didn’t reply. I knew I had won.

“Fine,” she snapped.

“That sounds like a fair deal,” Aaliyah agreed.

“Then it’s decided. So where did my Mood Diamond go, exactly?” I wondered aloud.

She smiled mischievously.

“Addison, give me the diamond!” I pleaded.

“Not a chance. You can’t set eyes on it until we reach Tarlore!” she said happily, dancing around in a gleeful circle.

My response was a frustrated groan. “Why do you have to be so difficult?” I cried.

Her only reply was a bow, and then she disappeared into her room.

I shook my head and looked at Stellan.

“You won’t win that one,” he told me.

I had already known that.

“I know,” I sighed. “But can you blame me for trying?”

~11~
Fate

Dinner that night was part happy, part awkward, and part depressing all at the same time. We were happy to be together, yet anxious and wary about leaving. Cass was there, and I hardly spoke to him all evening. I wasn’t upset with him; I just didn’t know what to say to him. He seemed at a loss for words as well, and kept his attention focused on Addison. No, dinner was not a picnic at the orchard. Trying to eat was complicated enough, especially when I knew that my sister was getting closer and closer to death with each passing minute – and my internal clock only made me more aware of those passing minutes. How could I enjoy anything with this on my mind?

Stellan remained by my side the entire evening, and I was grateful to have him with me. I didn’t want to be alone so soon after my connection with Zora. Even though I didn’t have the Mood Diamond on anymore, I was still anxious. To make matters worse, the Stranger subject was still floating through my mind.

Stellan was the only distraction I had left.

“See you at five tomorrow morning,” Addison said, as we hugged each other goodnight after finishing our meal.

“I’ll be here,” I promised.

“Make sure to pack only the things you need,” Aaliyah advised. “You don’t want to be carrying too much on this kind of journey.”

“Are we walking?” I asked.

“Unfortunately, yes. We didn’t have enough time to arrange for horses,” Addison told me.

“Why can’t Stellan just teleport us?” I asked.

“I can’t teleport
that
far. My ability is limited to how many miles I can travel,” he said. “I guess I’m not strong enough yet. Abilities grow stronger with age, and I’ve had mine for less than two years.”

I sighed. “Bummer, but I guess we can manage,”

“Don’t worry; we will get there in time,” Addison reassured me.

“I hope so,” I said.

I hugged Aaliyah and turned to Stellan. He smiled and took my hand in his.

“Let’s go,” he said.

“Okay. Are we teleporting?” I asked. “Please tell me so I can prepare.”