GOMEN. I originally wanted to make this chapter a lot longer, but I decided to stop it where I did, but I will try to do the next chapter quick for your enjoyment! I just feel that if I rush things the story wouldn't be as descriptive and elaborate... I apologize for the wait, but here you go!

I awoke to the sound of my mother's car pull in the driveway. I stretched and smiled, glad that they were home. But, the smile soon vanished when I saw a book on the floor. The events of last night suddenly came swarming into my brain like an attack. There were so many questions I had. But I wasn't expecting any answers, as most of them involved my meeting up with a deadly creature. Just thinking back to being outside sent a bad feeling to my gut. After a few minutes of spacing out, I heard my mother yell my name from downstairs. I sighed, and drug myself out of bed to change and go welcome them back.

I was rubbing my eyes going down the steps when I heard several people scream, "Surprise!"

I blinked, reassessing my surroundings. My neighbors, grandmothers, and aunt were standing next to my parents, who were holding a medium-sized caked, topped with burning candles. Still confused, I exchanged gazes with my Father and Mother, until one of them spoke up.

"Lizzy, Hun, I really wanted to spend all yesterday with you, I did, but we absolutely had to go out last night. So, I really, truly hope you forgive me for not celebrating your birthday with you. I mean, sixteen, that's a big year, Hun. Now, come here and blow out the candles!"

I staggered a moment, then obeyed and approached the cake with a smile. I blew out the candles, without even giving thought of making a wish. Honestly, I had completely forgotten that it was my birthday the night before. They all cheered and set the cake down in the middle of our kitchen table. Mother cut me a slice, and I took it, pretending I was overjoyed. I glanced about the room, looking at everyone. My aunt looked a lot like my fathers, and was oddly built for a woman. She had short brown hair, and dark olive skin. She was a warming character, always knew how to liven the room, but when I spoke with her, there's always this distance, like she will only tell you very little about herself.
Grandmother was the same way, only not as social. She was quiet, and whenever she spoke, it was always something wise. Her hair was long and dark grey, almost black, and her build was very husky. Nothing about her really screamed old. I had always found her intimidating, but Father insisted she was a very kind woman.

"She's just not very approachable, it's a family thing. Also, saying she's a workaholic is a nice way to put it." Although he said that, Father never told me what she did for a job. It must not have anything out of her house, because the commute is horrible.

Then, I rested my gaze on our neighbors. I don't usually see them, as they only come over for special occasions. The woman, Elora Vestiel, was tall, and very fair-skinned. Her hair was a ghostly blonde, and very, very long. She always looked elegant, and was very meticulous at everything she did. Her voice was soft, and comforting. Mother once told me that when she sang, she sounded like an angel. Her eyes were green. A bright green that captures your attention. Her husband, Alinar (Alin for short) isn't much different. He's tall as well, and has very long, bright hair, along with a pale complexion.
I've wondered where they came from, considering how different they looked, and their names, but when I asked them, they said,

"Our family comes from around many different areas, as we are constantly moving around. So, there is no specific location."

Since then, I've shrugged the curiosity away. I began eating my cake, listening to my parent's conversations. "So, Elora, what's Rein been up to? I haven't seen him in a long time." Elora stops, smiles, and while looking at me, she states, "Rein has been training. So, for the time being, he's staying with Hethavorn."

I felt inquisitive on why she looked at me when she spoke, almost like they were keeping a secret from me. I fidgeted, and stared at Elora. "Um, excuse me, but who is 'Rein'?"

Silence falls in the kitchen...Both Elora and Alinar are looking at me, then Elora opens her mouth and turns to look at Mother with a concerning face. "Does she…-" My mother started moving around laughing frantically, "Ah, deer, Elora, could I speak with you in the other room?"

For some reason I felt nervous as I watched Mother pulling Elora behind her into the corridor, with Alinor calmly following. Father, who was caught up in a conversation with Sam, noticed them walking away, and turned to me. I couldn't tell if it was an apologetic face or a disappointed one, but he looked away quickly after. Sam gathered what just happened by looking between the two of us, and hopped out of her seat to stand next to me. I looked up into her prominent face, and asked,

"Sam, is there something I should know?"

She chuckled and sat down in an empty chair, "Sweetheart, this is family, there's nothing we would keep from you, and if we do, it's for your protection."

I furrowed my brow. "But, the Vestiel's aren't family. So, they would keep something from me, right?"

"Calm down, Liz, what just happened was between them and your mother. I'm sure they'll make up over a phone call in a day or two. You know us women, emotions all over the place." She tried to laugh, attempting to make the situation a little lighter. "It's all going to be okay, don't worry."

"But, the way she looked at me, like she thought I knew something. But, mother didn't tell me. Am I not smart enough to know something? Or too young? Why did Elora look so worried for my sake?"

"Ah, now you're just putting together your own puzzle. Sweetie, nothing's going on. Eat your cake and stop jumping to your own conclusions… I bet it was only a small matter."

Before I could say anything else, she gave me a light hug and walked back over to my father, to engage another long, laughing conversation. I tried to put it off and kept eating the cake. Why did she look at me like I had something to do with it? Why did mom pull her away? Who's Rein? Father's also keeping something from me. Or, maybe he's not… Ugh…

Just when I almost got a headache from thinking too much, Elora strolled back into the room with grace, her husband close behind. She stopped in front of me, looked back at my mother, who was now beside Alinor. "This child has every right to know." Her voice was now a little higher than usual, like there was a tint of anger within her. But even so, she kept her ground, and stood tall and beautiful like she does.

"Elora, can't you see we're keeping her safe?!"

"'Safe' isn't being oblivious to the truth.. She's going to have to learn someday. And the more you lead her into blindness, the worse off she'll be to the coming years."

"ELORA. What my child should know is my choice, not yours."

I sat there, staring at these people, like I was watching a movie. They couldn't be talking about me. Elora straightened her posture, and nodded her head. "Very well." She submitted so easily, even though she was very concerned. And for my sake.

Soon after the Vestiels left, Grandmother also bid us a farewell along with Aunt Sam, and they swooped out of our house. I waited until I heard the vehicles trail off, and then went to find my mother cleaning dishes in the kitchen. The way she stood over the sink, with such motherly composure, almost made me nervous. Father had already retreated to his office, so I walked up behind mother, breathed deeply, and spoke.

"Mother?"

She jumped and let out and small squeak, splashing some water on herself. She was obviously deep in thought. After clearing her throat, she smiled at me. "Elizabeth, don't scare your mother like that."
I knew that whenever Mother didn't add a pet name or call my Lizzy, she wasn't in a good mood. Looking past this, I glared at her.

"Mother, what do I have the right to know? Better yet, why are you keeping it from me?"

She froze, almost shocked, but chuckled sweetly and continued to wash the dishes.

"Sweetie, Liz, don't let what Elora said get to you. She... can get a little out of line some times. She's always been like that..."

"But Mother, it wasn't what she said that caught me of guard. It was how you reacted. What are you keeping me safe from? What blindness? What will happen when I get older?"

"Elizabeth. Mother's busy. Maybe some other time. I put some cake in the fridge if you would like some later."

She quickly reverted back to her calm, quiet self, and acted as if I wasn't standing there, appalled at her actions. I felt anger overcome me. Mother was avoiding the subject. I sighed heavily and strutted out of the kitchen and up to my room. As much as I wanted to piece everything together and finally know these answers, everything seemed to be so much more than my understanding. And that just made me even more aggravated than I originally was because of Mother. My curiosity for things kept topping one another. The moon, Rein, mythology... That thing. What the hell did they mean?

I found myself picking up the mythology book once again, and so I slumped onto my bed and opened up to the table of contents. Right before I decided to turn the page over to a chapter on "Elves," father walked into the room. I jumped a little, not expecting him to pop in, and by sheer instinct, I shut the book hard and smiled at him. I shouldn't have felt like I was hiding the face on what I was reading to my father, the storyteller, the one who bought me this book.

"Hey."

He chuckled and sat down on the bed next to me. His eyes shifted over to the book, and his smile faded a little. "What might you be reading?"

"Oh, it's just.. Lately I've seemed to gain a big interest on mythology. It's crazy how people come up with this stuff. With the moons and the hunters and seekers… But, it's all pieces together, like it's their own little world."

I heard me father catch his breath, "Ah, well, that's what writers and storytellers are for. Their big imagination. It's all just to pass the time anyway."

"Well, your stories are always really good, why didn't you become a writer? Is it just a low paying job?"

He looked around, trying to find a response. Then, he repositioned himself to face me and said,
"Some people… are very observant. It's just… A lot of stories stem from personal experience. Not that people run into elves while strolling in the park, but, maybe… Say a writer runs into a bad guy. Just someone who intimidates them, and gives off a dark vibe. They use that as fuel. Y'know, to make their stories seem more real. So, that writer might go home and write about someone running into a… shape shifter! And his eyes were dark, as if they were about to take form into an unknown creature, much more fearsome than our imagination can conjure. Like, they use real life situations, and turn them into a fictional one, so we relate to it in ways, but we also feel intrigued because… well, shape shifters don't exist in our world."

I forced a laugh. "Yea, that'd be… well, fearsome I suppose."

He patted my back and stood up to leave. "And about today, please disregard what happened between your mother and Elora. They always bicker about stuff."

"Yea, so I've heard, but Father, she said there was something I should know? Do you have an idea of what she might be talking about?"

He sighed, and turned his ear to me. "If you must know, we'll discuss it over dinner."

I felt a wave of relief wash over me. Yes! I grinned widely and nodded, "Okay!"

And so, I was finally going to figure out what had gone on between Mother and Elora. Maybe I can ask them about my other inquiries as well. I shut the mythology book and set it back on the bookshelf along with the other book I knocked down. Once again, I looked around my room, and everything seemed just a little smaller, more closed in. Like a cage. No, no. Not a cage. I'm not a bird. Or a shape shifter.

And so, I waited, and waited, until finally, it was dinner time.