Chapter 2

I arrived at the bus stop just as the long yellow bus pulled up. My friends, Emma Reid and Hannah Grave were on the bus stop waiting for me. Hannah was texting furiously and Emma was reading and sipping a Starbucks latte.

"Hey guys, what's going on?"

"Oh- HAPPY BIRTHDAY!" they both said simultaneously, holding out a small wrapped present with a bow too big for the box. I ripped it open and inside the box was a necklace with a small silver heart on the end of it.

"Aw! Thanks guys! I love it!" I chirped, hugging them tight and hooking the necklace around my neck. We climbed on the bus and took seats in the back, and talked about everything that's been happening. Soon enough, Hannah was texting again, Emma was reading, and I was just staring out the window.

Everything was covered in dew and a patch of tulips and orchids were sprouting in a meadow across the street. Grass was growing tall, and a small pile of snow was melting against a tall oak tree. I stared at the meadow and day dreamed. Out in the distance, a boy was sitting in meadow playing in the flower buds; he had brown hair that framed his face, and a wide smile. Just then he touched a flower bud, and an orange daisy bloomed. What just happened? He was laughing and turned to another bud. He touched it, and another daisy bloomed. I must be seeing things; there is no possible way a boy could make flowers bloom. Suddenly, he looked up at me. I quickly turned away, trying to hide my fascination with him. I looked back at him again, and he was gone.

Wow, that was weird! How could a boy make flowers bloom? It's just not possible. It's my birthday, and I shouldn't keep this on my mind, and I probably imagined it anyway. It's not real, just like my dream.

The bus started to move so I started to stare out the window again, watching each town pass by. Maybe it was because her fingers got tired, or maybe she got bored but Hannah started to talk to me.

"So, since it is your birthday, we have decided to take you out for coffee and manicures after school today!" she exclaimed, Emma clapping her hands together behind her.

"Oh thanks guys! But sorry, I can't. I have plans after school with my dad."

"Too bad! Ah well, you will be missed," she sighed, but went right back to texting.

Just then, the bus stopped outside our school, and we stepped outside. Our usual group was outside talking and gossiping, but when they saw us coming, I was greeting by hugs and countless "Happy Birthdays."

The first bell rang, and we all hurried to our classes. I walked past the AP Psych room, and stopped. In front of me was the cutest boy I have ever seen. Tommy Ryan was standing by a water fountain talking to some of his friends. He had fair dirty blonde hair and brown eyes. He was built and was very tall. He played soccer and football, and still had time to get good grades. He wasn't the brightest crayon in the box, but his looks made up for it. I gave him a nice, flirty smile and walked by him, giving him enough time to notice and say something. I learned this from a T.V. show and it has never failed.

"Hey, um, Vanessa, is it? Happy Birthday," he said with a smile. He flipped his hair and talked to his friends. I heard some girls giggling behind me and I walked past them, totally embarrassed. He actually mixed up my name. I could feel my blood rushing to my face and many eyes watching my every move.

To make things worse, the rest of the day dragged on. Eventually, the last bell of the day finally rang and everyone started to leave. I quickly packed up all my things and ran to the bus to pick up some seats in the back. Once I sat down, I pulled out my iPod from my bag and started to listen to some music.

We started to move, and I suddenly remembered the boy from earlier. I wonder if he was there again. He was quite handsome, and he looked very happy. But even so, what was he? Did he make the flowers bloom? I started to daydream again, and before I knew it, the bus stopped and I had to get off. I started to walk down the street, passing the meadow from before. Daisies were sprouting in the fields and there bees were buzzing around the tulips. The trees were swaying, but from behind them, I heard someone singing.

I slowly walked through the brush and hide behind a tree. Behind it was a dancing creature. It was a green creature with a catlike face. It had ears pointing out of its head, cat eyes, and whiskers near its nose. It was singing and dancing around a patch of buds which started to change. It laughed and danced some more. For a moment, it looked my way.

"Sweet little child. I would love to dance with you, but I must leave. Lovely little human," It crackled, but with a strong gust of wind, it disappeared, but faint laughs came from the trees.

Little human? What did that mean? Maybe it was the fae? No, I didn't know they were allowed outside Chaos? They aren't… are they?

I ran back to the house tripping several times, but came to an immediate stop at the sight of my house. The door was wide open and broken. Something was wrong. I ran up to the open door and peered inside. Nothing seemed to be wrong.

"Dad? Dad, are you there!" I said. I started to panic. What if something happened to him? What if he was kidnapped? What if he was dead?

"Yeah Soph? What is wrong?"

"Oh My God, Dad!" I screamed. I hugged him so tight I could barely breathe. He smelled like saw dust and sweat.

"Whoa! Thanks for the love squirt," he laughed. I can't believe he was safe!

"I'm so glad you're okay!"

"Why wouldn't I be?" he asked calmly.

"What? What about the door?"

"Oh that! I fell into it today, and have been working all day in the garage trying to fix it," he explained. That explains why he smelled so terrible. I really thought something had happened.

"Well, the pizza is on its way here and the movies are ready to go. All we are waiting on now is the popcorn. You mind?"

"No, I don't. One second okay?" I asked. I placed my bag on the kitchen table and found the popcorn in the cabinet. I took out the bag and placed it in the microwave, and in a couple of seconds it started to pop. I looked out the window, and it had started to rain. The woods had a mist swirling around it, and I thought I heard a faint laugh again. It's all in my head, right?

The popcorn was done, so I took it and met my dad in the T.V. room. The pizza came too, and my dad put in our favorite movie, The Count of Monte Cristo. I love watching the movie with my dad, but this time it didn't feel right. Weird things were happening today, and something was going to happen. A sensation suddenly came over me. We were being watched.

I looked around the house, but everything was dark.

"Dad?"

"Hmm?"

"Something… S-Something is wron-"CRASH.

The door broke down and two blue creatures stepped through the door, hissing a glaring at us while a man with the legs of a goat stepped through too.

"Luke Bennet, Walker of the Courts, you have been summoned by the Autumn Court. You will come with us, human."

"Be gone, satyr, I do not walk for the Unseelie."

As he said that, the two blue creatures grabbed me with their gleaming talon-like claws digging into my flesh showing their razor sharp teeth.

"You will attend. The high mistress does not wait for a human. Come or your offspring dies."

My dad stared at me with eyes full of regret. "Fine. I will need your word that she will not be hurt in the Unseelie Court. Swear it."

"Luke Bennet, you have my word. Take them."

The creatures clinging onto me were now hissing and scratching my arms, making my blood run down they're fingers.

"Sarlith! Her blood is sweet! Just a finger or two my sweet?"

"No! She shall not be harmed…" shouted the satyr.

I looked at my dad, who kept staring at me with tear filled eyes that said, "Forgive me."

The claws of the monsters digged deeper into my skin as we left the house and crossed our yard into the woods. Then came the darkness.