"Al, here's the thing. I'm…" he paused for a moment. He seemed nervous. He was never nervous. He seemed to lose nerve for a moment, because he turned his head and the butterflies took flight, disappearing around the house. "I'm afraid you won't like the type of music I play. Plus, none of the kids at school show up anyway. I just don't want to disappoint you." He looked at me with a pleading look in his eye, as if he just wanted me to let the subject drop.

I sighed. I would, for now. So much for being stubborn like I had originally planned.

As he relaxed beside me and I could feel his tensed muscles relax. He pushed his feet against the floor to get the swing moving again, and wrapped his fingers around my chin. My stomach started fluttering like butterflies as I turned my head willingly. The kiss was tender and sweet, and just the right length. It left me in the meadow for a full minute this time. He pulled away and my face was flushed and my eyes were glittery and happy.

"I love you," Killian said, and my heart soared. He seemed edgy, and suddenly I was at a loss for words. Killian O'Connell told me he loved me! No one had ever told me that before…then again, I haven't had any serious relationships. I shook my head, realizing I had left Killian waiting for my response for a few moments now, and he started to say, "Look, if you don't-"

I cut him off by pressing my index finger to his lips, and he quieted. I took a deep breath and grinned, "I love you too." I pressed my forehead to his and gazed into his eyes, allowing myself to soak in this moment exactly so that I would never forget: I wanted to remember the wind that was blowing through the trees, making the leaves whistle their own unique tune. I wanted to remember our synchronized heart beats and the way Killian's hair was all ruffled up. Birds sung in happiness, butterflies and dragonflies whirred around our heads, and I grinned widely. "Nature seems to approve of those words," I pointed out, and then giggled.

Killian returned the laugh, if not a bit anxiously. He sat up and rubbed the nape of his neck, staring out at the woods with his head tilted to the side. "I'm going to fix you some dinner and then I better head off. The show starts at dusk." He seemed reluctant to bring up his show, but I ignored him and nodded. I would cut him some slack considering he just told me he loved me.

"Sounds good." I stood up and stretched. I had been sitting curled up on the swing, and my legs were cramping up. Nature continued to sing as we headed inside, where I saw my dad sitting on the couch, failing at looking like he had been reading the paper the whole time we were outside.

"Dad? What are you doing home?" I asked, as my suspicion and curiosity spiked.

"Love, I'm going to go start dinner. Have a nice chat with your dad." He kissed me on the cheek and let go of my hand, waving hello to my father and hiking to the kitchen. I listened to him gathering pots and pans from the cabinets and then plopped down next to my dad.

Dad was very young, only about thirty; my mom got pregnant with me extremely young. I think she was sixteen when she had me. My dad was born Jason Barr, in a small town in Kansas. He wasn't even starting too bald. In fact, he wore his rusty blond hair long and pulled it back into a ponytail. He had muscles from the many hours he spent at the gym so that he could be strong enough for work, and he was tall.

He fingered his chin, which was scruffy and needed a shave, and then looked at me. "You guys sound pretty serious," he said, and I groaned. I really didn't want to talk boys with him, especially with Killian in the next room. "Just be careful, alright? I don't want you to end up like me." His eyes shrouded over and I glared at him. I didn't like when he talked like that.

"Dad, don't worry. Mom didn't leave. She was kidnapped, remember?" We had told that to each other ever since Mom disappeared, so that we didn't have to face the fact that she died or left us. The sizzling sound of bacon against a pan was heard from the kitchen, and I inhaled the fumes excitedly. I loved having breakfast for dinner. Especially when there was bacon involved. I loved bacon.

"I know. I just don't want you getting hurt." He stared at me for a moment, my azure eyes reflected in his, and then nodded. "Anyway, I thought you should know I didn't have to go into work early today. They said it would be slow until tonight, since summer started and kids will be having bonfires and such." He looked at his watch and kissed me on the forehead. "It's about time I leave though. Bye kiddo." He ruffled my hair up and stood. He waved at Killian as he passed the kitchen and then disappeared outside.

I sat there for a few moments, memories of my mother lingered, making me emotional momentarily before I got up too. I passed the mirror as I made my way to the kitchen, and did some serious criticism of myself. I didn't understand why Killian liked me, let alone loved me; I was a plain girl. My natural black hair was cut to about my shoulders with extreme layers, and my crystal blue eyes never got any attention from the boys before. I was shorter than a lot of my friends, and my boobs weren't all that big. I sighed and shrugged my shoulders; life was weird sometimes. You had to learn to accept it or get stuck in self-absorbency.

"Alea? Love, dinner is ready." Killian's head popped around the corner and I jumped; I probably looked like an idiot, staring at myself in the mirror like that. Blood rushed to my cheeks and I beamed.

Killian looked at me suspiciously. "What?"

I shrugged my shoulders innocently and skipped past him into the kitchen where the table for eating was nestled in the corner next to a glass window that took up the space of the whole wall. The woods were seen from that window. It had been mom's favorite place to sit, when she was here. I sat down and started drooling when Killian put a plate with waffles, bacon, sausage, and all the fruit from our little garden nestled out on it. He sat across from me, with everything on his plate minus the sausage, waffles and bacon. Killian was strictly vegan, and when I asked him why, he just said, "I'm in tune with nature, remember?"

While I dug in, Killian picked at his fruit and watched me shovel in the food. "What happened with your mum?" He asked suddenly, and I nearly choked on a strawberry. I stayed quiet for a moment, but Killian didn't apologize or anything, just stared at me with those captivating eyes of his.

I wasn't sure what to tell him; I didn't like talking about my mother. Even though I was so young, I still remembered what she looked like perfectly: Like me, she had naturally black hair, except hers was like the night sky and grown down to her waist. I don't remember her ever getting a haircut. Not once. She was tall, but not as tall as dad, and she loved to wear green. She never wore cotton or anything, and like Killian, she was a vegan. Animals from all around would arrive just to be near her. One time when I was three a lone wolf came out of the woods and nuzzled into my mother. I remember the rough and soft feeling the fur had when I touched it. I loved her so much, and then she disappeared.

I didn't realize I was crying until Killian's finger touched my cheek. His finger trapped the tear and he held it in front of my face until I sighed unsteadily and started to speak. "Mom was different. She hated being indoors, and she only ate fruit, like you. Somehow she stayed healthy from it, even though we need protein and iron and such." I took a shuddery breath and closed my eyes. Killian and the rest of the kitchen disappeared. "She would talk to the animals, whenever they came near her, and they would listen."

Killian's interest instantly spiked, and I stared at him weirdly, but he just waved his hand for me to go on. Alright then…that was a little strange. The sun was starting to go down, and Killian looked outside worryingly.

"You need to be at your show, not listening to me ramble on about my mother." I said, slightly hoping that he would leave. I really didn't want to talk about my mom.

He sighed and stood. "I'm sorry. I need you to finish this story, so I'll come back tomorrow." I had gotten up after he did, and he wrapped me up in a hug. One thing I learned about Killian is he doesn't show affection very often. Well, he does, but it's usually just a kiss or hug. We have only made out three or four times in our two year relationship and sex hasn't happened. I wasn't sure why he wouldn't have sex, and he wouldn't answer me whenever I brought it up.

"Yeah, dad's at work all day, so we could go hiking in the woods or something." I muttered, shrugging my shoulders loosely. I haven't hiked in the woods all year; for some reason, they seemed weirdly inhabited and I didn't know what was keeping my usual curiosity at bay, but I stayed out of those woods.

"NO! I mean, no. I don't have the proper stuff to go through the woods." He avoided my eyes when he snapped at me, and before I could ask him, he distracted me by crashing his lips into mine. My world exploded in the scents of blueberries and strawberries. We didn't even return to the meadow. There was a magical feeling to this kiss, and as it got deeper, the feeling grew. I wound my hands through his hair and pushed him against the counter, taking the kiss to a whole new level. Laughter and singing reached my ears, but I ignored it.

Killian was having just as much fun as I was, which surprised me, but I didn't dwell too much on it; I was going to enjoy this. I rarely ever got a make out session out of him, and when I did, wonderful things happened to my feelings and thoughts. My fingers wandered aimlessly through his hair, when they stopped on his ears. I pulled out of the kiss when my stomach lurched uncomfortably. "Why are they pointy?" I asked, feeling the tips of his ears. Why were they pointy? Was he one of those weirdo's that got his ears surgically done so his ears were like elves? What the hell was going on?

"Alea Raye, I don't know what you're talking about." He grabbed both of my hands and held them against his chest, but I pulled away from his grip; that tone and the fact he used my full name proved that he was nervous.

"Your ears are pointed at the top." I pulled away from his grip and folded my arms across my chest. He wasn't going to start lying, or I would get pissed. I should just kick him out now, before he gets his guilt trip thing going. He growled slightly under his breath and my eyes narrowed, before he reached for me. "Feel."

His hand led mine over the tips of his ears and they were, wait… They were round? I shook my head. "I could have sworn…"

Killian shrugged his shoulders loosely. "Maybe it was the heat of the moment. I really should go." He started to push past me, but I grabbed his arm and pulled him into me. I nuzzled my face into his chest and sighed.

"Sorry. I didn't mean to snap at you. I love you," I grumbled and he embraced me. It was still weird to say that. He was the first guy I've said it to, and I didn't want to overuse it in fear that he would get annoyed.

He pulled out of the hug and held me at arm's length, studying me carefully. Just as I started squirming uncomfortably he brought me back into the hug and kissed the top of my head. "You'll be okay." He seemed to be muttering to himself, and I could feel him shaking his head above mine. "I love you too," he replied, kissing my forehead this time and turning to leave.

"Wait! What are you talking about?" I asked. I was confused; I'll be okay? I didn't think I was in any sort of danger. Killian avoided looking at me straight in the eye, and he started leaving without answering me. "Wait!" I yelled, but he disappeared once he got outside. How did he do that?

I stood motionless at the open door, the wind whipping my hair around my face, and scoured the empty land for any sign of Killian. The land was barren; Elvina and our two other horses was grazing underneath the only tree in our field. Trees from the woods loomed down at me, as if they were glaring at me. However, there was no Killian. He just disappeared. I didn't understand. Shaking my head, I started to go back inside when I heard it.

I wanted to believe my ears were tricking me. I was simply not hearing that damned music again. I turned to the woods, my eyes wide with fright and longing. Several emotions passed through my being: Chills of anticipation traveled down my back, tears sprang up from my lids in sadness, my teeth chattered in unknown fear.

I heard flutes playing, and there was a mystical voice carrying over the land. It made the trees shiver and the birds to pick up in song. I would have thought it was Killian's band save for the fact that I had heard the same music eleven years ago. Killian moved here five years ago.

I longed to follow the music, but there was an unknown force holding me back, like there was a barrier I could not pass. I swayed at the steps for a couple of seconds, and then shook my head and disappeared back inside.

I wearily climbed the stairs to my bedroom, trying to ignore the music that took the person most dear from me as I headed to the last door on the left of the house. Portraits hung on either said of the hallways; my personal favorite hung on the left of my dad's bedroom door.

The picture showed that I was only two or three and my mother had me on her bare shoulders, and her little white sundress twirled around her body as we both had our heads thrown back, our eyes glittering with laughter and our grins splintering to our ears. My hair was brown then; that was before I dyed it black back when I was having a hard time in junior high.

I sighed and pressed my fingers to the frame, struggling to keep the tears from falling. I needed Killian right now, but he never answered his phone when he was performing.

I shuffled into my room, my head hung at the sudden sorrow that usually came during the night. I slammed my face into the pillow. My room was pretty modern, tan walls, mahogany dresser and bed set. There was a space over in the corner where there was a triangle shaped bench placed into the wall and humongous sized windows loomed over the room. Massive deep red curtains hid the moon when needed, but tonight was a new moon and it wasn't necessary.

I fell asleep fairly quickly, slipping into dreams of magic and otherworld music and creatures dancing around a fire and mushrooms formed in a perfect circle.

A loud clap woke me with a start, and I clutched the blanket tightly to my chest as my heart pattered wildly against my chest. Another loud clap, and that's when I realized that a roaring thunderstorm had brewed over the hours of the night. I sighed with relief and allowed my breathing to return to normal. I should probably be taking some sort of medication for my anxiety, but my dad couldn't afford it.

I swung my feet off the side of the bed and realized that I had fallen asleep in my school clothes. I took a peek at the clock on my bedside table and noticed that it was a little after three in the morning.

I stripped out of my white skinny jeans and peeled my shirt off my body, standing in my bra and panties. I shrugged, pulling a plain black tank over my head and not even bothering with pants. Dad would be at the station for three days.

I padded down the stairs to the kitchen; the dreams had left me thirsty. Killian had been in all of them, and no matter how many times I woke up, I still dreamt of a faerie court in some sort of woods, and Killian was singing a beautiful tune.

I shook my mind from thinking too hard on this; that simply was not possible. Faeries? Seriously, come on. Those things didn't exist, other than in ancient folklore.

I blindly searched for the fridge, because my eyes hadn't adjusted to the darkness yet. I managed to stub my toe, slam my face into the wall, and nearly trip over the throw rug before my fingers closed around the refrigerator's door handle.

A sudden chill rolled down my spine, and I shivered. I felt like I was being watched. I flashed my gaze over my shoulder, scanning the room, but nothing seemed out of the ordinary. I seemed to be alone. I had made sure the doors were locked before I went to bed, so I felt a bit comforted by that thought.

I took a deep breath through my nose and turned my attention back to the fridge. I pulled out the orange juice and shut the fridge. Someone was standing behind the door of the fridge, and I screamed, dropping the orange juice and causing it to explode. It started to creep across the linoleum, and I searched frantically for a towel.

It seemed odd that I was more worried about the orange juice than whoever was in my home. I abruptly stopped searching for a towel and slowly turned my head to study the stranger.

He was extremely tall; I wasn't exaggerating, either. He had to be 6'7" at least. His piercing red eyes glowed in the dark, and I wanted to slap him the way he was looking at me. It looked like he was analyzing my very soul, and I could feel it. He wore his hair in a faux hawk; the auburn tips hung down over his forehead.

Something was weird about his smile, but I couldn't pin point exactly why it was creepy. Something about his teeth, I think. I couldn't be sure, though. That is, until I noticed his canine teeth were filed into points like a vampire's would look.

I blinked, and suddenly he wasn't there anymore. I looked around, confused, and bolted to the back door. It was locked.

I clutched my head, groaning, and wondered if I was somehow sleep walking and dreaming or something. I pinched myself. It hurt. I clapped my hands together, something I did to tell if I was dreaming or not, and a nice loud sound emitted from my palms. I decided I was awake and when I walked back over to the fridge, I rediscovered that I had dropped the orange juice.

After finding a towel and cleaning up the mess, I grabbed a glass of water and headed back up to my room, exhausted all over again. As I passed the front door I made sure it was locked too. The whole stranger in my house situation, whether it was real or not, scared me. I suddenly did NOT want to be alone.

I snatched my fully charged cell phone off the bedside table and dialed Killian's number, nibbling on my lip anxiously as my eyes darted to each corner every time a shadow moved.