Dawn came slowly the next morning, the events of the last few hours heavy in my mind. I was currently seated on a ratty old chair in the guest house, the morganite being turned over and over again in my palm. Just as I was about to give up my vigil, the air chilled. It chilled in the same way that heavy snow chills you to the bone. Wet, heavy, suffocating, and freezing. There was even a faint mist that suspiciously resembled snow in the air as "Elissa" appeared with a small, defining pop.

"Good morning," I said evenly. The woman was visibly startled. It was then that I took in her appearance in full. Her long, curly dark hair was pinned to the top of her head—not a trace of grey in sight—and her features were decisively far more pointed than I'd ever seen possible in human genetics. As her mouth opened in surprise I got a glimpse of very pointed teeth. Goddamn faeries. It figures that they show up in my life wrapped up in a nice little bundle of deceit. My eyes narrowed further at the thought.

"Aline," she quickly changed her shape to the one I was more familiar with, "what are you doing here? How long have you been here?"

"Oh, a few hours," I replied vaguely. That was a lie. I had gone straight here after Michael's reveal and refused to move from this perch. Godric had taken my makeshift stake from me, insisting that faeries couldn't be staked. Well, he hadn't so much taken it for me being ignorant about the inner workings of faerie, but rather for the fact that I nearly destroyed Pam. Eric had been less than pleased about that. (But secretly I knew he was amused that I stood up to her. I took it that not many mortal women did or would.)

"Save it," I snapped. "What the fuck are you doing here?"

She stared at me, dropping the charade with a frown. The form she chose to take was more aligned with her true form. (What I assume was her true form.) Except her features were less pointed and more pleasing to the human eye. "What gave me away?"

"I was entirely convinced that Michael wanted my head on a platter for Edgington," I spoke calmly, despite the heavy urge to claw her clear into the ground. Even if she were in bloody shreds on the floor, I'm not sure I would be satisfied. I do not take being crossed very kindly. Even less so to pointless illusions. Marc and I had many fights on this manner. He seemed to think that because I was not vampire he could pull one over on me every once in awhile. I always made sure to remind him that, while I wasn't vampire, I most certainly was a supernatural being and wouldn't fall for his bullshit. There was more blood on my hands for and from him than I will ever honestly admit. Weres run hot. Temperatures and temperaments, as I've always joked around with Alcide. He fervently, vainly denies his temper. Liar.

"No," she said quickly, "Michael wishes no harm upon you. I'm sorry if I caused him any suspicion." There was a gentle honesty to her voice. And also a hesitancy.

"Then why did you cause suspicion?" A better question: "Who are you?"

"My name is Nahla and I have been sent by your father."

"My father?"

"From the faerie realm."

"There's a faerie realm?"

"Why of course," she looked startled, "it was created after the vampires nearly drove us into extinction thousands of years ago." She shook her head. "It always baffles me how you younger hybrids so willingly run off into the open fangs of vampires. They could drain you, you know."

"I could stake them, you know," I shot back. Vampires get a bad rep. Okay, some of them deserve it. Like Edgington. But some weres aren't much better off. Like Debbie.

"The were blood in you is strong," she frowned. "I'm afraid he may have sent me too late." I ignored the remark.

"What does he want, anyway?"

"Your help." I gave her a doubtful look. "I swear that is all that has been asked of you. That and he would like to meet you. You're raising quite a fuss in our realm. Nearly as much as your friend in Bon Temps."

"Forgive me if I don't believe you, Nahla, but up until five minutes ago, I thought your name was Elissa and that you were a pet Eric and Godric picked up on the street." I didn't care how degrading that was—or how questionable it made my relationship with them. But, on a technicality, my father was paying them to be my friends. Ouch. My ego stings a little bit. (Not really. I like to think that I know them a little better than that. Just a little.)

"I understand your hesitancy," she reached out and grabbed my hand gently. She forced a memory into the forefront of my mind. A rather handsome man came to mind, asking for my help. He seemed distraught about something. Clearly asking me was breaking his pride. It was definitely a last result to reach out for me. He hadn't even known how other than to get someone to gain my trust. It was good to know that he at least understood abandonment makes someone an angsty creature for the rest of their life. "But I implore you to think this through. Your father has no other allies to turn to. And you possess skills unique to our realm."

Her grey eyes were pleading, open and honest. Part of me wanted to throw her hand off of me and tell her to go deep throat a cactus or two. But there was also part of me that was honestly curious about what message she was carrying. And, after all, doesn't everybody tell you not to kill the messenger? Not that I really ever listen to anyone—but it's never too late to start. Right?

"When would you need me to leave," I asked. Her eyes lit up, I ripped my hand from her grasp, holding it up. "I'm not saying that I'll help. I just want all of the facts before I jump in blindly."

"As soon as possible," she admitted.

"As soon as darkness falls?"

"I cannot be around when the vampires wake," she shook her head. "I'm not sure that I would survive."

"They aren't murderers," I sneered at her. She shot me a pained look. I was lying and I knew it. But they didn't kill without some kind of warrant. And, besides pissing me off and worrying them (as if Pam can get worried), Nahla hadn't done anything wrong. Nothing wrong enough to warrant her murder anyway.

"I didn't mean that. It's not something that they can help. They are able to restrain themselves around you because you have an impeccable way of shutting down parts of yourself. I wasn't even sure that we had found the right person at first. But you have his pride through and through." She smiled proudly at me. "You are special Aline. Even the misguided gods above us know it."

"So I would have to leave now, then?"

"If you truly wish to help your father." A pause. "And the rest of us." I stared at her before groaning.

"How long will it take?"

"It should only take a few hours. I promise you this." There was such raw, earnest hope in her voice that I knew I would never be able to turn her away. Fuck.

"Why the fuck am I such a nice person? I wish I was more like Pam. And Debbie. I'd tell you all to go fuck yourselves." I shot her a dark look. The fairy before me looked caught between being offended and completely gleeful. I tend to have that effect on people. It's a talent—I know.

"You'll come with me, then?"

"Unfortunately. Just let me leave a note." I got up to leave but paused, my hand resting on the ancient doorknob. "What did you do to Michael anyway?"

"He would have stopped me," she grinned. "So I just glamoured him into thinking that he has to go watch over a pack of geese at the waterline until dusk." I stared at her for a few seconds before leaving her alone. My feet carried me slowly back to the silent house.

"Well, at least I know where I get that irrational sense of humor from. Faeries are peculiar little buggers," I grumbled. After a little searching, I found a pen and paper and scrawled a note for Godric, mostly. Eric was included as a courtesy. And Pam was simply given the instruction to stay out of my clothes if I wasn't back before dark. As for Michael? I left him some wicked instructions for a mixed drink. Maybe it would burn out that faerie magic that was wreaking havoc on his psyche. Doubtful. But, come on, who doesn't want to come home to a wasted archangel? I certainly wouldn't pass up the opportunity to see that.

I took the opportunity to change into more flexible clothes—ones that I wasn't too particularly attached to. When I went outside, Nahla was shifting from foot to foot nervously. She held out a hand to me. I gave her a long look before taking it within my own. A strange, ice cold tug plucked me from my spot on the ground.

By the time I had gained my wits about me again, we were standing near a lake. Well, several lakes. They were scattered across the land in varying temperaments. The one we were next to appeared to be within the season of fall—just before the first snowfall of the year. There were some covered in snow (but the water was unfrozen). Others were nearly golden from the sunlight pouring over them.

Nahla gently tugged at my hand. "Come, we have places to be." She never let go of my hand, keeping me rather close. I would have told her to keep her hands to herself if people weren't staring at me like I was made of diamonds or something. What am I? The lost child of Zeus or something? Ha. Yeah, right. Zeus was never really quiet about his lays and conquests. The whole world would know who I was if I were his long lost spawn.

We navigated through the lakes, then hill tops, and finally through a large wrought iron gate. The guards gave Nahla a curt nod, opening the doors without prompting. She didn't wait for them to be completely open before ushering me through. This whole getting dragged around bit was getting old fast. Soon enough, I was going to dig my heels into the ground and refuse to move. The thought had barely entered my mind when we walked through the front doors of the large castle behind the gates.

"Sir Kaelin has been awaiting your arrival," a woman hurried over to us. She didn't wait for any acknowledgment before turning and walking down a hallway away from us. Nahla followed with me in tow. We stopped before a large ornate silver door. The woman turned to the two of us. "I warn you that he has been a bit emotional today. Do not take it personally if you get a little frostbitten." She scurried away before I could present any questions.

"In due time," Nahla said smoothly, throwing open the doors. The tall, handsome man I had seen in her memory stood with his back to us. Unruly curly dark hair fell just above his shoulders, which were clad in heavy blue material. Most of the people around the castle were dressed in the same fabric. It must be part of the official code of conduct for the noble.

When the door closed, he glanced over his shoulder. Only when he noticed that Nahla was not alone did he turn around. He was tall—far taller than myself. Perhaps even taller than Eric. And his eyes were about three shades lighter than my eyes. A feat I did not think possible. They were so light that the blue orbs could be mistaken for white upon first glance. His features were well sculpted, as were Nahla's. I had a funny feeling that they all had overly pointed features that they usually kept dulled down to a minimum. It made me trust them just a little less. Not because they look different, but because they wish so very badly to hide it.

"Aline," he said softly. "I did not think that you would come, my daughter."

"Guess it's a good thing Mom's genes won, huh?"

"A jab I deserved." He glanced to Nahla. "I would like to speak to her alone." Nahla gave my shoulder a reassuring squeeze before letting herself out. I imagined her standing outside the doorway waiting patiently.

Kaelin walked toward a small table on the other side of the room. Pulling out a seat, he motioned to it for me before taking the one opposite of it. I grudgingly sat down, my arms crossed over my chest.

"How much has Nahla told you about why I've summoned you?"

"Not much. Just that you need some help and I have special powers, blah blah blah." An amused flash crossed his face.

"So a very vague summary. I'm surprised that she got you here on that little."

"It was mostly a guilt trip laced with curiosity."

"I will be sure to indulge your curiosity at a later date," he nodded. "As for now, there is some political business I would like to discuss with you."

I set aside my pride and reservations, leaning forward to clasp my hands upon the table. "All ears."

"Lately there has been some warring within the Otherworld. Maab—Queen of the Light—seems to believe that everyone of fae blood should be gathered up and brought into our realm. This would be followed by varying mating rituals to keep our population growing. She has been on a warpath with vampires ever since they nearly drove us to extinction so many years before."

"And I'm supposed to do what, exactly?"

"Your godmother," he motioned to the doorway Nahla had exited through, "has been watching you for years. Keeping an eye on you for me. She has been telling me of your consorts with other supernatural beings. Mostly peaceful encounters. But there is a will in you like none I've ever seen. Even your mother was not as willful as you are. Perhaps that is because you have inherited my own faults in addition to hers." He paused, staring absentmindedly at the bookshelf across the room.

"What am I supposed to do?" I repeated, irritation in my voice.

"Convince her, perhaps, that we could live in coexistence with vampires."

"How the hell am I supposed to do that? Some of them want me dead. No, they want me worse than dead. They want to keep me as a little private water fountain pet. I don't think my words would hold much weight for you."

"I can smell him all over you—no, in you." He studied me evenly. "She wishes to expel anyone from your realm that know of our existence. Could you really idly sit by and allow him and the rest of your friends to be wiped from existence?"

I stared hard at him. "There's no way she could do that. Even if she is Queen of the Light or whatever."

"You underestimate us."

"I don't really have a basis to estimate off of." He nodded, standing up.

"And that is why I have decided to give you a little lesson on tapping into and controlling your powers." He held out his hand to me, a familiar smirk crossing his face. "That is, of course, if you don't decide to claw me to death."

"I have a feeling that my mother tried and failed."

"But not in vain," he assured me. I grasped his hand. What exactly was I getting myself into? I'm always getting myself into trouble. Even when I tell myself that I won't. Shit. I don't even listen to me. A mental note to work on that entered my mind, quickly shut out by the apprehension building in the back of my neck. Suddenly I wished for Godric to be by my side. The thought of being forced to leave him saddened and angered me. This Maab was going to get a good kick in her little baby razor teeth. I'd make sure of it.

Downbelowgirl, OrangePlasticGummyBear, treewitch703, and Jupiter Water Goddess are completely amazing for reviewing as fast as they did! I'm so happy that you're all really enjoying Aline, Godric, and this whole hodgepodge of a storyline. :)

As always, thank you to all the new favoriters/subscribers. And stay tuned for more juicy supernatural goodness within the next update.

~Lynn