Author's Note:

Here's the third chapter. It isn't as upbeat as the last but I hope it isn't flat out sad and nothing else.

Hope you enjoy... –Evangeline

Shocking Announcement

"Well take your seats you five so we can get this show on the road," Grandpa Sorensen said in between laughs and we hurried to our seats.

I took my place in between Seth and Bracken. Suddenly, I was very aware of my appearance and his.

My attire consisted of a pair of light denim skinny jeans, a plain white t-shirt, a light denim jacket that went halfway to my hip, a gold circular belt, and white lace-up boots that went half-way to my knees. I silently thanked and cursed Vanessa for making me dress-up. As always, my light brown hair went half way down my back and I had side bangs that angled to the right. Sharia and the other fairies had insisted on doing my make-up, who knows that after you heal a fairy that had broken her wing you'd be treated like a super star, so my lips were glossy, I had black mascara on, and a tiny bit of golden eye shadow. Around my neck laid a golden heart necklace that helped me sense danger, a gift from the Fairy Queen when I officially accepted my role as her handmaiden.

Bracken was looking as wonderful as ever. He was styling a pair of light jeans and a white shirt that hugged his body in all the right places. His face was flawless face was ever so perfect. After the war he had cut his hair, now it was only an inch long and was messy in all the right places. I cursed him for being so cute when I wanted to be mad at him and not drooling over him. It really didn't help my case if I was drooling over a guy who would barley talk to me.

Great, I thought, This is gonna be a very long night.

"Hello Stella, Seth, Kendra," Bracken said turning to each of us in turn. I couldn't help but notice as his voice lingered on my name and how he looked at me longer than needed, but I dismissed it telling myself it was just some trick being played on my mind. My heart leapt with his voice, I hadn't heard it in two and a half weeks. Traitorous heart, I thought.

Before we could say hello in return, Grandpa Sorensen started to speak and I was so grateful.

"Now that we have everyone, I hope," laughter filled the room, "let's begin with some announcements before we start the feast. I only have one." He had gotten real serious and it was never a good sign when there is only one announcement… at an emergency meeting… and it couldn't wait till after dinner.

Seth and I shared a this-can't-be good look. As he took Stella's hand, I really wanted to take Bracken's but I couldn't. If I could have, I would have asked Elizabeth, my shape-shifter, or Liz, to turn into her favorite shape, a fairy, and comfort me. However, seeing as I wanted to leave my big secret a secret I let her remain a sleep in my hair as a lady bug like most times when she was in camouflage mood.

"After the great war for Zzyzx, we managed to extinguish the Society of the Evening Star," I shuddered a little at the name, I still had nightmares about them and I'm twenty now. "For five years, we have had peace and harmony. No doom has crossed our paths. However, "my heart rate increased, "on a recent trip one of my dear friends came across some horrendous evidence and heard a horrible rumor. Now, after a full year of research I can say that the rumor is sadly correct." He paused, looked down, and took a deep breath; his face was broken when he looked up.

"No," I whispered knowing what my grandfather would say. Seth took my hand in his.

"The Society is back," he said confirming my fears, "and," I griped Seth's hand tighter, "they want revenge." Seth's grip became tighter, as did mine. "Not only on this whole organization, but also on the select few who lead the battle at Zzyzx. During our investigation, we came across a hit list that the Society had ordered. As I have said many times, I will always tell everyone what I know no matter what. So, I'll tell you about this list. There were four names on that list, and only four. Number four and number three was the Sphinx, their leader who betrayed them, and the Fairy Queen, the mother of all light." He paused his hand was shaking and tears filled his eyes, I didn't understand. Whose names could be at the top of the list that would make him so sad and break his usual fearless act. Unless… but it couldn't be… they wouldn't… I mean… It wasn't possible…

"On the top of that list…" another pause, "were the names…" another pause and a tear feel from his eye, "Kendra and Seth Sorenson."

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