Peaceful Times

The next few days were peaceful times. I was still afraid of Amir, but he understood when he had spent too much time with me. During the day we would sit in the tree or go out and find herbs together, while talking and laughing. At night we would meet at the tree, after I had transformed (I didn't want him to see me in that much pain), and talk some more. It was the slow season for travelers, except within a few weeks a circus would come through and then the usual group of soldiers, so there wasn't much for Yaffa, Ormond, the others, and I to do.

"What should I call you?" Amir asked one day as we sat perched in my tree. "Some call you Rose, some call you Gaia,"

I laughed. "Call me what you will. Rose is my human name, the name I had before I became a Faerie. Then when they gave me my ceremony I was given the name Gaia. I really don't care what I am called, unless it is insulting."

"Hm, how does Rose sound?"

"Very nice," I laughed.

"Okay, I've got another question. What is your favorite flower? Your favorite color? Your favorite things to do? Your lifelong dream?"

"Are you always so full of questions?"I demanded. He laughed. "My favorite flower is the Bleeding Heart." I replied softly. "It was my Father's favorite flower too. He had a garden full of them. 'Look, Little Rose, it has a secret.' He whispered to me one day. He told me that bleeding hearts are the greatest secret keepers in the world. Why are they heart shaped? I've always thought of the bleeding heart as a comfort, as knowledge that I am not the only one who is untruthful." I shook my head to clear it of the sad memories. "My favorite color is the color blue on my wings. How it glows and sparkles in the moonlight. It makes me miss my family, and my freedom." I paused. "I am sorry, I am filling you head with more questions than I have answered."

"No, Please, go on. It is very interesting."

"Very well. My favorite things to do are fish in the little brook over that way, sleep in the sun, and listen to–to–" I broke off, blushing.

"Yes?"

"Listen to you read." I blurted. "It comforts me, the sound of your voice. It reminds me of other times, when my father would read to me." I explained, ignoring his grin. "And my lifelong ambition is–was– to be able to read."

"Was?" Amir asked. I knew he was astonished.

"Well, I really don't have time anymore with the whole Faerie thing." I admitted.

"I have an idea." I looked at him and pretended to be worried. He swatted my head playfully. "No, really, it's a good idea, I promise." he said earnestly. "I can teach you to read! It can't be that hard!"

I sighed and shook my head. "I don't have time."

"Why not?" he demanded.

I sighed again. "I can't really tell you, but it is very important. It has something to do with the night. And who I am." He frowned. "I can't! It is a secret. Listen, I need to go. I'm going to try and figure some things out okay?"

"Fine!" he snapped. I recoiled easily and slid out of the tree. "Don't come looking for me!"

I turned around and gaped at him. "Amir,"

That was the first time I had ever called him by his name, to his face. He scowled. "Fine then. I guess I won't be seeing you."

It began that night. Yaffa and I were stationed on first watch at the front of the forest. We were seated on the ground staring ahead. Occasionally we would say something to each other, but we communicate better when we're silent. Suddenly Yaffa jumped up, her eyes growing wide and her nostrils flaring. "Gaia," she whispered, but she didn't need to say anything else, I was already on feet, sniffing the breeze. The smell stank like rotten fish. "You go, I think they smell us and are trying to sneak around." I nodded and dashed away. The sun was rising, my wings were gone, I was slowing down. I turned directions and headed for the Gypsy camp. I entered, no longer afraid for myself, but for the village. Amir came to my side, knowing my fear.

"I need a horse! Quickly! There isn't any time to lose!" I gasped. I doubled over, trying to catch my breath as Amir brought me a horse. There was no saddle, only a bridle.

"Rose, you hate horses." he said with a frown.

"I don't care." I jumped up onto the horse and dug my heels into it's sides. It dashed wildly away from the clearing and I urged it to go even faster. My first stop was the town. Alec (the boy I had a crush on when I turned into a Faerie) happened to be the first person I spotted. "Alec," I panted. "Get everyone ready, the Abdul are coming."

"What?! They're early! I–"

"It doesn't matter, get them ready. Tell Ormond!" I spurred the horse again and together we raced past the village and deep into the Wood of Lights. All the lanterns had been blown out and I saw no one. I spun around as I heard a growl from behind me. I faced an Abdul and it's rider. The Giant cat was nearly as big as large farm cow. It was black as night and matched it's rider. It's rider dressed in all black except for it's mask which was white. The horse backed up, whinnying nervously.

"Well, well, look who we have here. If it isn't Little Rose." taunted the rider. How did he know my name? I glowered at him and lunged. I tackled the man (his voice was too deep to be a woman's and nor did he have a woman's curves) to the ground. I struggled to get out from underneath him, but he wouldn't have any of that. He held down my shoulders and sat on top of me, looking me straight in the eyes. "May as well have a little fun while I'm here, right?" I struggled even harder, but he held me down. He bent his head over me and I could feel his breath on my face. It took all my strength not to vomit all over him, but thinking back on that, it might have been smart. Then he put his dirty lips over mine and kissed me. His tongue forced my lips open and moved freely. I kneed him between the legs and was satisfied when I heard him moan. I slid out from under him and made a mad dash for the horse, but the Abdul leaped in front of me. The man recovered and grabbed my leg, pulling me across the ground toward him. I punched him in the jaw and gasped in pain.

In one last attempt to overcome me, the man punched me with all his might in the stomach. I rolled over and retched. I coughed and felt something coming out of my mouth. It was blood. The man disappeared. And that stupid horse came over to me and sniffed my hair. "Go, get help!" I ordered. It didn't move. I sat up ignoring the pain and swatted it on the rear. "Go home!" the horse got the message and galloped back the way we had come. I fell back onto the ground, in too much pain to move.