The Gateway

Spinning around the glade as though she were at a ball, Faryn barely noticed the snowy white owl perched upon the white monolith in the center of the clearing. She gave only the slightest glance at the owl that watched her with eyes too intent to really belong to something so innate. Faryn was much more involved with the careful steps of a spinning waltz, and going faster and faster. The tattered edges of the amateur dress swirled around her feet, getting spots of mud on it even though she was very careful to avoid the puddles. The creme dress was old; it had been her mother's and Faryn had loved it well.

She stared at the raging sky as she spun. She couldn't help but giggle as she realized it was going to rain, it always came when she needed comfort, and today she needed it more than ever.

It was her birthday.

Abruptly, she bumped into the stone bench, falling to sit on it. Too dizzy to go on, she caught her breath and stared up at the owl, not realizing just how closely its eyes watched her. On a sudden impulse, she began to recite the poem from her mother's book.

"Through dangers untold, and hardships unnumbered, I have fought my way here,

To the castle beyond the goblin city, to take back the child that you have stolen.

For my will is as strong as yours, and my kingdom is as great.

You have no power over me."

The owl quirked it's head to one side, feathers turning up indignantly about it's neck. Lightning flashed, and the owl took off in a mad fright. Faryn shook her head sadly, whispering, "Poor thing." She pulled her skirt into her lap, unconsciously, and turned her gaze back to the darkening sky. The clouds rolling in made the storm inside of her calm. She fingered the tiny silver clock inside of her dress absently, pulling it out to gaze at the hands. They hadn't moved in all the time she'd had it. At times, she felt like them, suspended in that moment. Thinking again of all the ways she could have changed what had happened.

However child-like she acted at times, Faryn had grown into an intelligent adult. She knew there was nothing she could have done. That didn't stop her from wishing, once a year, that there had been.

The thunder came, spurring the girl into motion. Somberly, she crossed the park her mother had often played with her in. She brushed through the trees that separated the happy family park from the cold black gate of the cemetery in a daze. She pressed one side open, leaping carefully across a puddle that had formed there from the morning's rain. Stealing silently and quickly from one dry patch to another, she reached Sarah's gravestone.

Crouching before it, Faryn stroked the stone ears of a rabbit that sat calmly beside a smiling faery child. The statue was half Faryn's size, and hadn't been a part of the grave site originally. Ever-practical Heather had dealt with the majority of the details surrounding Sarah's funerary arrangements. She had picked out the simple stone plate that sat in the ground above her mother's coffin. She had engraved it plainly, "Sarah Talenka; Loving mother and sister." It was Faryn who, a week later, had found the garden statue of the faery girl holding a book. Then, after begging her Uncle to buy it for her, had taken it to the grave in her brother's red wagon.

Tugging a stone-carved crown of leaves from her sleeve, she put it atop the faery's head, then dropped her hand to run her fingers over it's cheek. "Happy birthday, Momma," she said softly. Leaning over, she kissed the stone forehead. "I suppose you wouldn't have let us put forty-five candles on a cake for you, anyway." She laughed while pressing fingers to eyes to ebb the tears. "I'd better get back. Aunt Heather'll worry. But I'll come tonight, and read you a story, all right?" Faryn ran her hand over the immobile hair of the faery before breaking into the return skip-and-dash she needed to reach the gate cleanly. From the arch she waved back, "Bye momma!"

A flash in the sky reminded Faryn that she should be on her way. She could just picture Aunt Heather barring her from the house when she was sopping wet. The thunder came as she crossed the bridge back into downtown, and the rain was on it's heels. Halfway through the backyards and alleyways, Faryn realized she could get no wetter. She slowed to a fast walk to enjoy the rain, smiling into the clouds as they flashed and thundered.

Having taken the long way around, she hadn't expected any weirdoes. Yet, the rise and fall of an engine following her made her steps longer. The worries were put to rest when the driver called out, "Ho, there, soaking Siren. Looking for a ride?"

"Uncle Jack," Faryn exclaimed, whirling around. Sure enough, the familiar blue eyes grinned back at her from under the perfectly groomed black waves of hair. She hadn't seen him in the year she'd been at college, and for some reason his crooked nose was very comforting. Jack wasn't actually her uncle, of course. He had been Toby's partner since they had become detectives ten years earlier, which made him just as family as Heather was. "What are you doing here? I thought you were on vacation until Friday?"

Jack laughed. "It was supposed to be a surprise, but Toby sent me out to find you while he finished up some paperwork. So, c'mon, I'll give you a ride the rest of the way."

Faryn shook her head, grinning. "Thank you, but it's two blocks away, and I'm too soaked to make much difference. I like the rain."

Jack shrugged, rolling his eyes. "All right. Suit yourself, silly girl. Want me to grab some clothes for you so you don't track puddles all over Heather's clean house?"

Faryn nodded emphatically. "Please. I've a set laid out on my bed, already."

"We'll be waiting then."

She waved as the car disappeared over the hill. Once it had gone, Faryn noticed the white owl perched on a mailbox across from her.

"Back again, are you," she asked, smirking at it. After a moment, she realized that it wasn't the same owl. It was a yellowed version of the same kind of bird. "Sorry," she apologized, heading up the hill herself. "Thought you were someone else." When she crossed too near it, the owl fluttered into the air, screeching something that sounded remarkably like a word. "Bye," she chuckled, slightly startled by the sudden flight.

Only when she'd reached her driveway did her mind discern the word the owl had uttered. Faryn spun madly around again, searching the sky. She swore it had spoken and said, "Lorialet." The owl was nowhere to be seen, and Faryn was left staring into a dripping sky.

"Hey there, daydreamer," Jack called from the doorway. "You can't gather rainwater by looking at it, so get inside before you catch cold."

In a dash, she tried to hug Jack, but he caught her lightly by the wrists, and turned her toward the foyer bathroom. "Not until you have dried clothes on. Shoo, go on."

While she changed, Faryn heard her Aunt Heather come into the entryway. She was playfully badgering Jack into going to the store to pick up last minute supplies when Faryn emerged, flinging her arms around a very unsuspecting man.

"I'm so glad you came!"

"Happy birthday," Jack hugged her back, laughing. "Me, too. I only have one question."

Faryn released him, smirking. "Oh?"

"Isn't that black bra a bit flashy for a single girl?"

Heather and Faryn rapped him lightly on the shoulders at the same time.

"Oh, Jack. Stop flirting with the girl, she's half your age!"

Everyone laughed. "So, how does it feel to be nineteen, birthday girl?"

"Ugh, Uncle Jack," Faryn rolled her eyes. "It would feel better if I were safely in my dorm room, and away from you crazies!"

"Well then, I expect you to act like a responsible adult, and not go anywhere that isn't upstairs," Heather instructed, tugging on the coat she'd been holding. "I'm going to pick up Toby, and Jack is going to be a gentleman and go to the grocery for me."

Serious again, Jack shook his head. "I told you, Heather, I can't."

"But you didn't tell me why."

"I'd rather not discuss it in front of Faryn, if you catch my drift," he insisted, his eyed widening and shifting to the side meaningfully.

Faryn understood, but Heather obviously didn't as she insisted, "I'm sure none of your little inefficiencies will embarrass the girl any more than she already is."

Jack sighed, shrugging in defeat. "Since you won't let it drop; I told Toby I would go to the airport to pick up Faryn's roommates, after I made sure she wasn't hanging out in the rain."

The birthday child squeaked in delight. "They're coming! They said they couldn't!"

Heather looked shamefully at the two of them. "Toby invited them as a surprise. I'm sorry I spoiled it."

"That's fantastic! I've got to get out this summer's photos," Faryn squealed as she retrieved her soiled clothes and raced up the stairs.

"Don't come downstairs," her aunt hollered up after her.

"All right!"

Faryn dropped the clothes in the hallway hamper, and skidded into her room, knocking over her brother as he dashed out of it. She barely caught a glimmer of red in his hands, before he had stood and hidden it behind him.

"Er, hi, Faryn. Was just. um.. opening your window.." Joshua lied badly. He was blond, scrawny, and mischievous. And Faryn could see the reflection of the red of the book on the white wall beside them.

"Joshie, if you don't give mother's book back right now, I'll say the words," she threatened, as serious as lightning.

"As if," he rolled his eyes, running for Toby and Heather's room. It was the only one with a lock, though they were forbidden from entering. She reached it just a second before he slammed it closed, with just enough time to pull her hand out of the door jamb lest it be cut off.

After shouldering the door to be sure it was locked, Faryn started to pound on it. "Joshua Lincoln Talenka, if you do not open the door this second, and give me back my book, I will kick your butt from here to kingdom come!"

"Oh, right," the boy droned from the other side. "I thought you were going to wish me away. If you keep changing your threats, sis, I'm never going to believe you."

"Fine," Faryn said, laughing. "You want me to, I will.

"I wish the goblins would come and take you away!"

Joshua's voice came shakily through the door, "I didn't mean it, Faryn."

She heard him click the lock off, and turn the handle to open the door, but decided to go through with it, anyway. "Right now!"

The handle snapped back into place, and the door swayed open just a bit as a flash of lightning illuminated the dark room through the slit.

No one was standing in the way.

"Joshie?" Faryn pushed gently against the door, and felt her throat dry out when it swung easily inward, knocking quietly against the wall behind it. Thunder followed it with a louder crack.

No one was standing in the room at all.

Just to be sure, she looked behind the door, anyway. Sniggers erupted behind her, making Faryn spin around and slam the door closed in fright.

No one was behind her.

"Josh?" Forgetting all about the light switch, Faryn picked apart the dark room with her eyes. The paintings on the wall were undisturbed. There were no shadows behind the sheer curtains that hid the balcony doors. The closet was just next to the doorway, however, and the laughter could have come from there.

Flinging open the doors only revealed that the snickering was coming from the other side of the room, however. "Joshua," she intoned, stepping lightly around the bed. "When I find you, I'm going to tickle you until you can't breathe anymore." She leapt around the bed with a shout, but no one was crouched there.

Lightning flashed again, and this time the thunder was right behind it.

Completely expecting her brother to erupt from under the bed and scare her half to death, Faryn crouched beside the four-poster, and flung the bed skirt out of the way. "Gotcha!"

Only, there wasn't anyone there. The snickers came again, this time, all around her. There was more than one thing in there, she realized. Faryn was beginning to think her brother wasn't among them. She flung herself up on her knees, and became paralyzed in two seemingly giant eyes.

Perched upon the bed beside her, clutching the blankets in two, tiny, clawed hands, was a wide eyed and furry beast. It couldn't have been more than a foot tall from ear tip to toe. It was covered mostly in dark blue fluffy fur, but at joints and on the forepaws, Faryn could make out something shiny she thought to be scales. It's hind legs were twice the size of it's forelegs, and it's ears were cat like and half the size of it's head. The poor thing was so paralyzed with fear that it was shaking. It's dark, shiny eyes seemed to be bulging out of its face. The mouth was lipless, more like a cat's than a human's, but opened in fear none the less.

So frightened it seemed that Faryn felt calm in response. She reached her hand out to the creature, whispering, "It's all right." In turn, it raised one clawed paw as if to attack, but both girl and beast were frozen in place as they were forcibly reminded of the storm. The balcony doors swung inward violently, and Faryn jumped up to shut them again. A huge bird stopped her, swooping in and attacking with it's massive wings. She raised her arms to protect from the striking beak, but it forced Faryn back from the doors. Strong wind and bird were then gone as suddenly as they had come.

When Faryn dared to lower her arms, she was greeted with a sight that made her eyes nearly fall out of her head.

In the doorway, his arms propped regally on his hips, stood the Goblin King exactly as her mother and the book had described him. His eyes were mismatched shades of blue, his features aquiline, and his hair a white blond frothy mess atop his head.

From neck to toe, he was dressed in varying shades of black. He wore a scalded black breastplate embedded with a three pronged symbol, point up. Under that, the edges of a black tunic were barely visible. He seemed to be wearing black leggings and boots of some scaled creature's hide. What made the seeing difficult, of course, was the black cape he wore. It was made of the night sky on the inside, and feathers on the out, and not at the same time.

Her only response, of course, was one of shock as she dropped her arms and jaw. "Oh, shit."