Disclaimer: This is a story derived from my own imagination, based on a published piece of literature, "Tithe" by Holly Black. I don't own any of her work.

Hot. Holy crap. It's hot.

Kaye inhaled the warmth in one sweeping breath as sleep slipped away from her brain. God, it's hot. The tattered, pink comforter that surrounded her entirely was very much a cocoon that trapped in all the damp air and dust. She kicked it off with one lazy motion.

The sunlight sprang upon Kaye's face suddenly and she instinctively threw her emaciated arms in front of her face. As if that helped any. With a groan, the overgrown babygirl swung her legs across the bed and locked her achy abs to rise in a sitting position. She peered at her shadow on the floor. Kaye was still enveloped in a flattering glamour from the night before but her grey silouhette revealed her true outline; a tiny frame with a huge head of frizz and bedhead. Sometimes glamours can't trick the sun.

Skinny, wobbly legs somehow carried themselves to the full-length mirror. Kaye's hands drifted together as she lifted the disguise off her figure. A different girl now stared back from the mirror. The mirror was so mean. Hopelessly tangled blonde hair, bloodshot asian eyes that glowed green, faded blue cotton panties that stretched over prominent hip bones. Oh yeah, and her skin was green. Kaye grew a liking for her pixie skin, which she thought suited her better than fabricated human skin. It was like an emerald tent that stretched over her bones.

Kaye had gotten skinnier, if that was possible, over the past few months. It had been 3 months since the last time she had seen Roiben, and secretly he was all she could think about. Her human life continued otherwise; her grandmother insisted she go back to school, and she found another job at some convenience store. But it was all such idleness in the midst of a worrisome event in time. The faeries were still unbound by the Unseelie Court and little mysterious events blossomed on the tv screen every night. And Roiben was nowhere to be found. And she was restless. Restless, worried, malnourished( as usual, though) and slightly confused. Furrowed brow and bitten nails.

The faerie looked down at her hands. The sides of her index fingers were darkened. She must've rubbed her coal-rimmed eyes in her sleep. A shower would be nice.

Pebbles and dirt groaned under her sneakers as Kaye strolled down a natural path in the woods. A brook excitedly rushed beside the path that she followed. Ever since Kaye lost that mighty glamour that was bestowed upon her as a child, she could never replicate one that was quite as effective. The water that ran from the metal showerhead irritated the faerie's delicate skin only a little, but eventually it became more of a nuisance to feel traces of iron invade her body. She found it more comfortable to cleanse herself in a stream nearby her grandmother's house.

The brook joined bigger branches of water, and soon Kaye stopped at a fair sized strip of water. She splashed some cool water on her warm face and sighed in delight. Days-old makeup decomposed and dripped down her green face.

"I need to stop looking like shit."

Kaye began to pull off her stained tee-shirt when she suddenly tensed up and stopped in motion. She didn't move her head but darted her eyes to soak in her surroundings. Someone's watching. Lutie? No. It wasn't Lutie. Oh. Ok. Kaye suddenly relaxed and continued to pull off her shirt. And boxers. The presence was not threatening but rather a familiar one, and the pixie caught herself grinning a little. She heard the slightest rustle behind her and the corners of her lips tugged further. God. I can't believe it.

"I'm surprised I detected you. Are you losing your touch?"

The offender revealed himself in one fluid motion out of the trees and reflected a similar, coy grin.

"I'm surprised to see you hardly clothed for all the world to see. Are you losing your modesty, my Fair Kaye?"

Kaye didn't turn around. Instead she cupped her hands in the stream and brought another splash of water to her now blushing face.

"What modesty."