Chapter Ten: Revelation

Chaos. Students running from each other and the giant spore covered mushrooms. After Laura saw what was happening, she rushed out of the room to help. Carmilla, clearly annoyed by the event, had followed after her. I tried to keep up with the two but was quickly lost in the crowd. I dodge between students as I try to locate my friends. I manage to catch a glance of Carmilla pulling Laura out of the way of a spore before my attention is captured by a familiar voice.

"Ugh!"

I turn and see Mia on the ground, having been knocked down by a fleeing student. In front of her a mushroom grows from the ground, its spores pulsing ominously. The sound of my heartbeat fills my ears as I rush towards my mate.

Third Person

Mia watches from her spot on the ground with wide eyes as the spore burst open. Suddenly, a wall of water appears in front of her, intercepting the dangerous liquid. Someone leaps over her and lands firmly on the ground. A sword appears in their hand as the wall falls away and they take a strong swipe at the mushroom, cutting it down.

Trinity turns around and looks at Mia, whose eyes are filled with shock, confusion, and fear. She holds her hand out to help her up. Mia stares at her hand in hesitation before finally gripping it with trepidation. Trinity helps her stand and they gaze at each other in silence. The moment is broken by a nearby scream, reminding them of the trouble at hand.

Trinity looks back to Mia. "I can explain, I promise you, but it's going to have to wait." She turns and runs to help others.

Trinity POV

It's already been a long night and it was about to get even longer. I thought to myself as I stared at Mia's dorm room door in trepidation. Finally I raised my hand and knocked. "Mia." I call when there is no answer. "I know you're in there and I know you're scared. I'm not going to hurt you, I swear. Please just let me explain." After a few minutes of silence the door finally opens, revealing the brunette. We stare at each other silently. "May I come in?" Mia backs away and lets me walk into the room. She closes the door and looks at me. "Thank you."

Mia crosses her arms. "What are you? How were you able to do that…? With the water and the sword…people can't do things like that."

"I was born with it. It comes with being what I am; the powers. The sword was a gift."

"What are you?" Mia asks again.

"I'm considered a myth, just a fantasy, but I'm real." Here goes nothing. "I'm a fairy; a water sprite to be specific…well half really."

"What the other half?"

"Earth Fae. Each fae belongs to an element; water, earth, fire, and air. My mother is water, my father is earth."

"Your mother and father? How many of you are there?"

I swallow. "When the world started to become more violent between human and supernatural alike, my people went into hiding. Humans don't believe that we exist and the supernatural think we've gone extinct."

"Supernatural? There's more…"

"The world is full of many things Mia. I just happened to be one of them."

"If you really are a…fairy; why are you here? Why are you going to school like…"

"A regular person?" I fill in. "My parents wondered the same thing. We were meant to stay away from humans, to hide our existence; something I've never really been good at. Though I never revealed my true nature, I was always fascinated by humans. Their culture, their technology,…I couldn't help myself. My parents didn't approve at first but I was able to convince them to try to talk to the people outside of our territory, they love humans almost as much as I do now."

"So that's why you came here? To be around more people?"

"That and to pursue an education. I took an interest in computers when I was young and wanted to learn more."

"And what about your interest in me? Was I just some project that you could study and marvel over? Was everything just a lie?" She asks, her voice cracking at the end.

I shake my head. "No. No, I promise you that that is the farthest thing from my intentions towards you."

"Intentions? What were your intentions towards me?" She raises her voice a bit.

I bring my hands down my face with a sigh. "I'm not explaining this right." I drop my hands back to my side. "Okay, I think we should both calm down and I'll explain everything from the beginning."

She huffs and crosses her arms. She takes a deep breath and nods. "Alright." She nods. "Fine." She sits on her bed. "Explain."

I step towards her and gesture towards the bed. "May I?" She nods and I take a seat. "I know that this may be a lot to asks, but I need you to promise me not to share any of what I'm about to tell you with anyone."

"If it's such a secret then why are you telling me? You barely even know me."

"That's part of the explanation, but I need you to promise."

"Fine, I promise."

"My name is Trinity Ava Clairborn and I am a fairy."

"You already told me that."

"I did. But what I didn't tell you is the weight my name carries amongst my kind. Each elemental fae has a ruler. My father is…for lack of a better word, a commoner. My mother on the other hand is a royal."

"What like a princess or something?"

"Exactly that actually." I say, making her eyes widen. "My mother is the only child of the king and queen of the water fae."

"That means you're-"

"A princess as well, yes." I confirm before continuing. "When my mother met my father, she passed on the chance to the throne. She wasn't one to fully enjoy royal life in the first place and preferred to live a simple one with my father. So they enjoyed their life together before eventually having me. I was raised in a small village, not a village like you must be picturing, but a village that dwells in the depths of a lake. We were deep enough in the forest that no one came around and even if they did, there's enough enchantments to ward them away."

"Enchantments?"

"Nothing that will cause anyone harm," I tell her. "but it will give them the urge to travel in a different direction. Though my parents raised me as a commoner, they still brought me to visit my grandparents often. I was taught by my grandmother about the royal life and how to rule, should I ever decide to take the throne."

Mia shakes her head. "That still doesn't explain why you're telling me all of this."

I swallow the lump in my throat. "Each fae has one person out there that compliments them, that completes them; the only thing that is above the law of secrecy…each fae has a soulmate. Since we're immortal, we have all the time in the world to find them. We know once we see them, which is why my grandparents weren't able to discommend my mother for marrying my father instead of a royal like they hoped. He was her mate. All they want for her, as every parent want for their child, is for her to be safe and happy, and my father is the one thing that ensures both."

"But why…" Mia trails off.

"My grandmother ordered me to leave Silas, not as my grandmother but as my Queen. Then I met you. I knew as soon as I saw you that I wouldn't be able to leave. I didn't want to. It is forbidden to separate a fae from their mate. As you saw earlier, Silas isn't exactly the safest place in the world. Normally, leaving wouldn't be a problem but because of our situation I was able to stay because of the Joining Clause."

"Joining Clause? And what situation?"

"The Joining Clause is the law that states that I am not bound to or by anything that leads to potential endangerment or harm of my mate. If fae meets their mate, even though they may be from separate elements, they are welcomed within each other's territories. Like my mother was welcomed to the Earth Kingdom and vice versa with my father and the Water Kingdom." I look at Mia. "I'm fae but you are human. Never before has something like this happened."

"So I'm your…I'm your mate."

"Yes." I nod. "But I don't want you to feel pressured or forced to do anything that you don't feel comfortable with."

"How does it work? What's it like for you?"

"When a fae meets their mate it's…incredible. My mother saw my father and it was like gravity pulled them together and tethered them to each other in the deepest way."

"But I don't-" she shakes her head. "I don't feel anything like that."

I knife pierces my heart but I keep my face blank. "As I said, a fae has never found their mate with a human. I understand that things are quite different for you."

Mia runs her hands through her hair. "I can't…I don't know how to deal with this." She looks at me. "I need time…away from you. I need to think."

I bow my head. "I understand." I stand up and walk to the door. "Once again, I ask that you tell no one about this conversation."

"I won't."

I take a deep breath and leave the room.