Melody had learned to read and write English and Latin from the nuns while growing up in Avalon. Latin was a necessary language to know in order to read God's Word. Now she was learning to write the strange, but eloquent symbols of the faerie tongue from Mab.

Mab had given back her shard on the condition that Melody promised to no longer ignore her words nor her instruction. Melody glanced over at Mab's figure lounging lazily in the window sill. Mab was gazing out the window, watching the tide come in, as if she had all the time in the world.

Melody felt short of breath as she remembered the past few nights. Nights filled with the touch of Mab's body, as the faerie-woman pushed Melody's mind and body into the clouds and far beyond. Melody ducked her head and allowed her long hair to hide the red blush creeping across her cheeks as she stared at the parchment in front of her without really seeing it.

Wham! Melody jumped in her chair when Mab slammed a book down on the table in front of her. "Stop daydreaming."

Melody peered up at her, "Why do I need to learn these letters?"

"Because you won't be able to read any of the books I give you if you don't." Mab answered testily.

"Oh." Why did Melody have a feeling that her mother would not approve of these books?

Though Melody also knew no one in Avalon would approve of her conversing with invisible, imaginary creatures from mythological legend either.

"Do I look imaginary to you?"

Melody winced. Apparently, Mab had heard that thought or had simply read her expression. She had an uncanny knack for reading faces. Melody returned her face to bland blankness and looked back up at Mab. "No."

"Good, then you can start reading your first book tomorrow."

Melody learned many things about the human world and the world of faerie. Most interestingly, she learned Avalon used to be a place of healing and worship for the Old Religion. The religion in Avalon had changed to Christianity, but the healing practices and customs had remained the same. The descendants of the old priestesses were all nuns now but every so often a child was born with the Sight, such as Nydia. But the power of Sight vanished after a few years if the person chose to ignore it instead of developing it. Which was why Mab stayed around, picking up the ones that showed the potential, so they could be cared for properly. The Sight was seen in precious few of them anymore. Most had grown so oblivious to the world around them that they didn't feel anything, even when Mab was standing right next to them, and her presence was not an easy thing to ignore if you were spiritually-sensitive.

Melody figured she must be the descendant of one of these priestesses of Avalon in ancient times. That must be where the power of her Sight had come from.


The white hound's coat glistened like frost in the weak sunlight of the courtyard. It sniffed the flowers and growled at any of the nuns that got too close. But the nuns were unaware of the proximity of the faerie hound. The faerie hound approached her with a fierceness in its eye and Melody stayed perfectly still. It took a long time to smell her, then wagged its tail, and trotted past her to Mab several feet away. It stopped at her feet and Mab patted it on the head.

Three-quarters human, only one-quarter faery. Perhaps she resembles you, but what use is she? the hound asked Mab privately.

That remains to be seen. Mab replied, watching Melody from afar.


It was Melody's seventeenth birthday. The months had flown past her as she studied whatever books Mab gave her. Melody was now fluent in the faerie tongue from reading so many books. It had been quite a chore keeping her books and other secrets hidden from her mother. Luckily, Mab was very good at making items vanish at the last second before discovery.

Melody didn't like all this secret-keeping from her mother. But she craved the knowledge more than she did honesty with her mother. But she also knew her desires were selfish and felt guilty about it.

Mab began to give her books full of incantations. Melody was hesitant to read these books. They seemed like a transgression far surpassing any of the previous ones. But there were a few healing spells in some of the books. Those spells Melody was seriously tempted to learn. She saw the incredible pain of the patients in her care every day. Wouldn't it be a good thing to have the power to help ease their pain?

Though it really wasn't in Mab's interest to train a healer, she'd do what she'd have to do to get the girl interested in learning the magic. And if a few healing spells was all it took, so be it.


Mab scowled after the fourth week of Melody's successful healing spells. The girl was wonderful at the healing spells, but Mab couldn't seem to interest her in any of the other spells. Most irritating. The brat was trying to follow in Nimue's footsteps in the most peculiar way. Nimue with a touch of Mab.

That didn't please Mab at all. She wanted to erase Nimue from the girl completely. It was time to take the gloves off and stop being gentle.


Hehehehehe! I am so looking forward to this. It's going to start getting really dark so brace yourselves.