For now, she will keep running, and try not to think about her future. Ariana leans back and soaks. She sinks under the water holding her breath, and just before she surfaces, she sees a face. He has long blonde hair, bright blue eyes, and ears that signify her race. He stares at her as though shocked and reaches out as if to touch her! She bursts from the water coughing. She is stunned. He could see her! She snatches a towel and stands up to dry off. She twists the water out of her hair and shakes the curls loose, then wraps her body in a towel. The mist is thick in the room and she walks back to the mirror. This time, when she looks, she sees his face clearly. Scrying is usually done in a reflective surface, like water, but it can also be done in fire and steam. Ariana is a fire elemental, once the Fae Queen, she gave up her powers to save her brother from shadow. She was able to retain a few of her gifts and studied Wicca to strengthen them.
The man staring at her is powerful as all Fae are. Not sensing darkness around him, she steps forward and her mouth goes dry. He is beautiful but his eyes draw her in. Some say the eyes are the window to the soul, and she sees wisdom, strength and pain in his eyes. She reaches toward the mirror, only to jump back when he speaks.
“Tell me where you are!” he demands. Ariana tries to release his image but finds to her astonishment, he now holds the power.
“You are in danger. I can help you,” He urges her softer this time. The sound of wind chimes fills the air, and her heart stops. Ariana races for her clothes. She ignores him, drops her towel and pulls on her jeans and t-shirt. He starts to speak but she walks to the mirror and wipes the steam. She chuckles at the frustrated sound the Fae makes then doubles over in pain. Ariana presses a hand to her pounding heart and knows she is found.
“Damnit! Not now.” She says feeling dizzy. Whenever the Dark Fae is near, she has the same symptoms. Shooting pains radiate from her wound and she gets dizzy, nauseas and weak. She pulls on the glamour spell and hurries to the front door. Before she opens it she spreads her senses out and finds the owner of the house waiting for her.
“Hello.” The woman says looking at Ariana. She is holding a welcome basket with fruit, crackers, and wine. “I just wanted to stop by and make sure you are settled. Did you find everything to your satisfaction?”
“It’s just lovely. Exactly what I was hoping for.” Ariana says accepting the gift.
“Wonderful, if you need anything the map into town is in the kitchen drawer and the phones all work. Perhaps we could have coffee one morning?” she asks Ariana.
“Of course, I would love that. Maybe in a few days, after I’m all settled in.” Ariana replies to her
“Perfect. I will let you go. If you need anything, please call.” Ariana watches her leave and sighs in relief.
Slowly closing the door, she presses a hand to her heart. She sets the basket on the wooden kitchen table and thinks. It usually never fails her. Afraid to go back to the bathroom but needing some answers she walks back. The steam is gone, and so is her visitor.
“That was weird, I’ve been alone too long.” She releases her glamour spell and picks out her long red curls. I cannot stay here now, she thinks. She quickly begins packing up her bathroom supplies. “So much for rest,” she sighs.
Ariana pulls off her damp clothes and lays them across the edge of the tub, and pulls on fresh jeans and a black t-shirt, followed by socks and boots. She braids her hair and tosses it over her shoulder. Where do I go now? She looks outside but does not sense the shadow close again. She knows better than to doubt her intuition. It is time to go, but how to buy some time so they do not follow her. As she closes the window blinds, she smiles and hurries to the bed. She places the jeans and t-shirt on the bed and chants a spell. They fill with a female shape, similar to hers. Covering the body with a blanket, she tries to think about the hair. What to do about the hair, then smiles. She hurries to the kitchen and finds an old string mop. Another whispered spell and the strings on the mop turn red, now she has hair. She tucks the mop into the covers and arranges it to look like her.
Now to leave a surprise so she can escape. She begins to chant, calling on the power of the one element she still has access to; fire. After she is done, she grabs her two bags and slips out of the back door into the dark night. The road to town is four miles long. She walks fast towards the original farmhouse and looks for a car. Ariana feels bad as she nears the new house. Stealing is a crime and it goes against everything she believes in, but survival is necessary. She will make sure they recover the vehicle later. When she sees the shiny red Honda accord, she smiles in relief. The sudden sting in her chest takes her by surprise and she falls to her knees. Dizzy and disoriented she waits once more for it to pass. They must be at the house now. “Hurry, now,” she urges herself and tries to breathe through the
