Bren wants me to stay close to my family, but I’m going to crap on that idea. I’m not a child; I’m not in immediate danger, and I’m not going to let myself be paranoid. I am fine.
My thoughts are also getting pulled in a different direction.
I can’t stop thinking about him.
The space elf.
Stars, he was a looker. Tall with raven hair and glittering gray eyes, I’m having a hard time thinking about much else.
I cough and settle myself down on the ground, my back pressed against the trunk of the fallen tree. I close my eyes and breathe deeply. Think, Sophia. Finding Eema is a little like meditation, but instead of focusing on my breath—boring—I focus on her and send my intentions into the earth. I am here, I think. I need to talk to you. “Eema,” I say out loud.
There’s silence at first. This is no surprise. Eema will talk to me if she has the time for it. She’s a lot like a real mother, actually. Sometimes her presence will fill my spirit, and other times, I don’t sense her at all, or if I do, I get an ‘I am very busy, Sophia. Run and play. I will talk to you later.’
After a moment, I speak again. “Eema.”
Another moment, and she comes.
Hello, sweet child.
“Hi.” I talk out loud. It’s what I’m most comfortable with, and she can hear me either way. “I just wanted to talk to you. I’m confused.”
What do you want to talk about?
A lot, actually. But I’ll start with the most important.
“Well, I know that the ‘lost child’ you’ve talked about is Bren. He’s not a human, is he?”
A pause. Yes, he is, she says, but also not. He is a lost child. Eema says the title like it should explain everything.
“Well, what is that?” I press.
He will tell you when he is ready. He is my child, too. His secrets are his own until he decides they are not. I said as much last time.
I grind my teeth in frustration. The secret is driving me bonkers. I told Bren I wouldn’t ask him, but I had said that in the hopes that Eema would tell me.
What do you plan to do now? she presses.
“What do you mean?” I ask.
What are you going to do? You’ve been waiting for so long, Sophia. It is time to do something.
“What do you want me to do?” I say grumpily. “I thought I was supposed to lie low and not attract any attention. Or something.”
It’s too late for that, she says. You have been detected by more than one entity. The time for hiding has passed. The time for doing is now. Another, longer pause. Will you trust him? I will support you either way.
“Trust who?” I say. “Bren?”
No. The prince of the stars.
“What?”
He is here.
A man steps into the clearing, and I start in surprise, losing my connection with Eema.
“Who are you?” I say, my voice a little higher than I wanted. My heartbeat skitters with alarm and something else that I can’t place.
It’s the man I saw yesterday.
The space elf.
An elf.
An extremely attractive elf.
“Hello, human.” He inclines his head politely. “My name is Eldaren. Prince Eldaren.”
The prince of the stars. Eema’s words echo in my head.
I should feel fear. Alarmed, maybe, that I am alone in the woods with a strange man.
But I don’t. I don’t get any dangerous vibes from this elf. “What do you want?” I ask.
“You.” He tilts his head a little to the left. “Or rather, I need your power. Your enchantment. You are a gaia.” It’s not a question. He knows.
“Yes.” I don’t see any point in hiding it. “What of it?”
“I’ve been looking for you for many years.” He steps forward, hesitantly, as if any sudden movements might frighten me. “I didn’t suspect the gaia would be so young.” A pause. “Or a female.”
That last bit rankles a bit. “And why would you expect me to be a man?”
Eldaren pauses, as if deciding what to say. “I . . . it doesn’t matter. What is important is that I have found you.”
“Why have you been searching for me?” I’m halfway surprised Bren hasn’t shown up. Is he somewhere else, or is he keeping himself hidden? Probably just as well. I’m curious to talk to this stranger, and I don’t want anyone trying to interfere. Stars, Eldaren is handsome. Long dark hair, broad shoulders; he looks every bit a hero from one of my fantasy novels. His outfit is a little more modern than I would like, but I can’t be too picky. It has a Victorian-era flair to it that suits him very well.
“Ever since I have come to this planet, I have been searching for humans with magic,” Eldaren says. He steps closer. “There aren’t many of you with enchantment, but I’ve found a few. Those who can manipulate the flows of water; those who can make plants grow or wither. I’ve recently found someone who can weave shadows to make himself or others nearly invisible. All have been helping us with the elven cause—”
“Which is?” I press. Excitement skitters up my spine. Does he want me to join him?
“To heal this planet,” Eldaren replies. He hasn’t looked away from me, not even once. His eyes are a beautiful gray, almost silver. “That is why we are here. We want to help the Earth regain her former glory.”
“Really?” I can’t help but beam at him. “That’s great.” Wait. My eyes narrow. “What do I have to do with any of this?”
“You’re a gaia,” Eldaren says, as if this explains everything. “You have a connection to the Earth itself. I hope that you will be able to tell me what we need to do to expedite the planet’s healing.” His gaze turns expectant.
“Oh.”
