Page 36 of Touched

Quickly sweeping across the sweating cement floor with my palm, I search for my weapon. Finding it, I manage to grasp it in my palm. Then, I jump to my feet, holding it on the massive Trahan towering over me. Taking a cautious step backward, I holster my Glock.

My weapon is futile against whatever they are. My only chance of escaping this alive is my wit.

Fucking hell.

With palms facing out, I catch my breath and calmly ask, “Whatareyou?”

I instantly know one thing for certain, I’m fucked.

Like,royallyfucked.

* * *

The evening air swirls around me. I’ve just stuffed a few books from my bookcase into my satchel, and am now heading to the meadow, one of my favorite places in Laric to be. It’s out in the open, so no one can accuse me of attempting to sneak off. My parents have put eyes on me; I can sense them watching my every move, following me as I make my way through the colony. And Da made sure to let me know the wards have been reinforced should I attempt to try to leave Laric again. It takes me several minutes, but I reach my spot without having to speak to anyone.

I love to read, and everyone knows it, so me lying in the meadow reading an approved fairy book should not raise any suspicion as to why I’m here.

“…with the likes of him.”I can’t get my mother’s stinging words out of my head. I’m determined to know what she means by that. If she won’t explain herself, I’m going to have to figure it out on my own. I sense nothing wrong with Callum. They don’t even know him.

Dropping to the lush grass, I crack open one of the books and flip to the index in the back of it, scanning the columns until I findSylph. It’s referenced on several pages. I decide to start on the first one. I groan when nothing there helps me to understand why Ma and Da are so afraid of Callum.

I think I find what I’m looking for when I see the chapter on theGreat Wars of Fae.

“The War of Zephyrs…” I mutter as I read the passage.

The War of Zephyrs occurred between the Fae and Sylph after a long peace was broken. Sylph, the protectors of Fae virginity, broke that peace when young Fae began disappearing throughout the wards, only to return with human-like Sylph children in tow. Thus began the separation between the once peaceful Fae and Sylph.

As I continue to read, I begin to understand why my mother is so bitter against my Callum. He isn’t like that, though. He’s barely Sylph and he’s certainly not trying to sneak me away to steal my virginity and taint the Fae bloodline with his Sylph blood.

Times have changed. We’re different now.

The world is different now.

This war happened so long ago. Before my parents were even born.

It’s not fair for them to hold it against Callum. He has nothing to do with what his ancestors did so long ago. It’s not as if he chose this. Anger boils in my chest, and a fierce wind whips through the tall grasses, bending and breaking the strands, causing debris to kick up around me.

Get ahold of yourself, Aeris. Before someone takes notice.

It might appear as if I’m alone, but I know I’m not!

Closing the book in an effort to calm my mind, I sigh. I need to know more. I want to know everything about him… about Sylphs.

If both our kinds were once at peace, why can’t that peace be restored?

At one point, both of our kinds lived behind the Veil. We lived in harmony.

So, why can’t it be like it was?

We can show them that no harm will befall our people. Sylph and Fae can live peacefully once again.

I should search the Archives.

That is, if I can get in. The restrictions are heavy, especially for us young Fae. I’ve questioned it before and have been shut down by the Elders too many times to count.

What is in there that they don’t want us seeing? Knowing?

I was never taught about these so-called wars in school. If they are an integral part of our history, why is it being kept from us?

---