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After that evening, to Lianah's slight dismay, Terrin did not seem show the slightest bit of romantic interest in her. That was fine, though sometimes she wondered if that night was just a simple dream.
"But," she told herself, "I have the crystal shard to prove it." Patting her pocket, Lia carried the momento around with her, for memory's sake. Sometimes, when she peered into the clear stone, she could remember Terrin's warm hand around hers as they walked through the woods.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The moomlight pierced cruelly through the fine velvet curtains in Terrin's room. The boy sat in a chair, facing the glowing hourglass, staring at the shimmering sapphires.
The handful left in the top chamber gleamed at him mockingly, their tiny winking eyes saying, "Your time is almost up." He shuddered, trying to count the small seedlike gems. Around two, maybe three month's worth before he would be transformed.
"What of Lia?" he said softly, remembering the purity of her soul. "And will I, a monster, a Beast, end up killing her, taking her life?"
One more sapphire fell, its slight weight making no sound at all in the silent room.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~
It was the end of winter now, Lianah noted. The snow had all but stopped falling, and the sun was beginning to shine bright. And she hadn't seen the bird since that eerie day by the river of crystal. Somehow, its lack of presence worried her more than reassuring her fears.
Standing, she stretched. Peering down at the papers, she glared at the product of three seasons of learning. Could she...? There was only one way to know.
Walking swiftly over to the bookshelf, she extracted one heavy volume, the first one she had ever touched in the huge library upon her first visit. Opening the Odyssey, her green eyes scanned the page hesitantly. The words bounced into her mind as if by magic, unfolding one by one into the epic story.
"Terrin!" she cried joyfully. The boy, across the room, nearly fell off the heavy bookladder he balanced on. Precariously, he teetered for a moment before regaining his footing and climbed down.
"Lia? What's wrong?"
"I can read!" she exclaimed. "I can read this book, understand the words!"
"That's wonderful!" He scanned the cover of the book, holding the leather binding carefully. "The Odyssey?" he asked, his voice humorous.
Scowling at him, she thwacked his arm. "I was curious! And I am going to read it!" she said stubbornly. "Even if it's long and boring."
"I won't stop you," he grinned, and felt his heartbeat quicken at the gleaming reflections in her emerald eyes. But the flecks of gold slowly turned to blue sapphire specks, dropping slowly within a glass confinement.
One month, he told himself. Only one month. Who cares now? If I don't try soon, if I don't tell her, it will soon be too late. "Lia, today we are going to celebrate!" he told her, and was pleased by the entirely happy look on her face.
"Shall i cook again?" she said slyly, remembering the adverse affects of her previous feast.
Shaking his head, the boy grinned. "My turn," he told her. "And wear something nice. I'm going to try and plan something special." He was rewarded by a curious smile and her anticipating eyes.
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