What if her adventure wasn't over? What happens after forever?
Chapter One: The Boy in the Water
The young fae raced down the water's edge, giddy with anticipation. She took a deep breath before skidding down the steep embankment. The wind blew her wavy brown hair with its deep blue streaks against her face as she dug her heels into the soft sand to slow her descent.
Anders, the rare shape-shifting Balander, danced around her head as he shifted forms. His miniature dragon wings kept him just out of her reach as she leaped to catch her fae friend. Anders dived down in the water but quickly resurfaced, the water gleaming off of his scales.
The girls swiped her hair out of her eyes, her smile still beaming on her face. She nestled close to the water edge and waited. "I'm here. It's safe now," she whispered to the clear liquid. Anders flew in figure eights above her head.
Slowly the water rippled beneath her; it had heard her call. A face appeared in the water. Deep, dark, blue eyes the color of the midnight sky in the fae world, mirrored her own. While the eyes were crystal clear, the rest of his face was only a reflection, transparent in the water.
"Good morning!" The fae girl sang with joy to the boy in the water.
"Good morning Selene! Is today the day?" The boys asked, just as excited as the young fae, Selene.
Selene nodded joyously. "Today is the day the prince arrives! Oh, I hope he can see you too!"
A giant bullfrog hopped through the boy's reflection in the water, causing multiple ripples to murk his image. Quickly, the boy came back into view, his smile smaller before, not reaching his eyes. "Selene, I am so excited for you! Please don't be sad if he can't see me too. You have such a rare and treasured gift."
Selene's smile fell, "But, I want him to be your friend too." Her eyes darkened with disappointment.
She saw his hand try to reach her through the water, but just like with every reflection, the boy would never be able to leave. Not in this world. "I will always be his friend. Even if he can't see me, I can still see him, remember that." His sapphire blue eyes glistened as he spoke.
"You promise?" Her hand hovered over the water over his transparent one.
Finally, his smile brightened again. "I promise."
"And, you'll always have me!" Selene beamed.
The boy chuckled. "You promise?"
"I promise!" She leaped from her spot in the sand slightly brushing the water's edge, causing the ripples to bubble again. Anders stopped his flight and landed softly on her shoulder.
The boy's head shook off the waves, his medium length hair cascading around him. "Oops," she giggled. "When will you be able to meet my family? They are the most powerful fae in the land. Surely, they could see you?" Anders nuzzled against Selene's cheek.
"The fates are not ready to meet me. One day they will be, but not yet." The boy looked up, and then his imaged moved slightly to peer around Selene. "Someone is coming. Goodbye for now! You know how to find me."
"Goodbye, Apollo!" Selene happily whispered to the faded imagine. She looked behind her towards the sound of footsteps, but when she turned back to the water, Apollo was gone.
Her father's face came into view over the inclined hill, "So, this is where you've gone. I should have known." The fate was shaking his head, but he beamed at his daughter. He wasn't wearing his formal robes, but a dark cloak of deep greys, the cycles of the moon displayed on his sleeves. His shirt was light grey silk, and his pants were black. Her father's eyes stark white stared fondly at her. While ominous to some, they were always comforting to her.
The fate knelt and held out his arms to his daughter. "Come here, child," he coaxed softly. He was the King of Darkness, the most powerful fae to ever exist. But, when it came to Selene, he was the most gentle creature in the fae world. Unless anyone tried to hurt her, then they would face eternity in the In-Between.
Selene ran into her father's arms, only slipping once on the embankment, but she quickly caught herself. She hurled her small body into her father's open arms, momentarily knocking him off balance. The King of Darkness braced himself in the grass and swooped his daughter in the air.
"Is he here? Is he here?" She squealed as she embraced her father.
"Not yet, my princess, soon. But, your Godparents are here, Ever and Nix." Her Godparents were friends of her parents who considered family. Nix and Ever had found love in the most unlikely of situations. Although Selene wasn't old enough to know the whole story. "Why don't you stay with them until our young prince arrives? Your aunt and uncles should be here soon as well. Aren't you excited, princess?" He ran his fingers through his daughter's uniquely colored hair and tried his best to conceal his worry from the young fae.
The expected arrival of the new prince was not going as planned. Lives hung in the balance. If the King could shield his daughter from all the pain in the world, he would. But, he only had so much control over this. As much as he could bend the rules, there was only so much he could do, without outright breaking them.
"Aunt Nan and Uncle Brody! And Uncle Charlie!" Selene wrapped her arms around her father's neck. He gladly returned the embrace as he carried her toward the palace. He squeezed her tightly against him.
Teague, the King of Darkness, one of the fates of the fae world, would do everything in his power to prevent another catastrophe. He had had many dark days, but as he closed his eyes, the worst day of his life replayed in his mind. The reoccurring nightmare that plagued his sleep. That he feared he was relieving once again.