Rising Moon (The Rune Stone Trilogy) (11 page)

             
She quickly steered herself away from Blake, grabbed a bag of salad to go along with her salmon and headed for the check out lane with her head down. Normally she walked around with her head held high, but today she wanted to sneak home and enjoy the peace and quiet. She needed to relax and unwind. She escaped the grocery store unnoticed and headed for home.

             
When she turned the corner to her block she realized it wouldn’t be the night she thought it would. Terra sat on her front steps.
"
Hey!
"
Terra jumped up and opened the gate for Aylin.

             
"
Hi Terra.
"
Aylin smiled cautiously.

             
Terra’s smile faltered.
"
Is this a bad time? I suppose I should have called you first.
"
She started fidgeting with the buckle on her purse.

             
Aylin put her free hand on Terra’s to stop the fidgeting.
"
This is a perfect time. I just didn’t expect to see you today. You looked swamped at the bookstore.
"
She unlocked her front door and held it open for her.

             
"
Yes, it was busy today. But, I imagine the whole summer is like that, with the tourists.
"
Terra shrugged.
"
I like keeping busy like that. It’s the down time that gets me nervous, lets my mind wander.
"
She followed Aylin to the kitchen.

             
"
Oh? Has it been wandering recently?
"

             
Terra nodded.
"
I have so many questions, and I really don’t know where to begin. I was hoping you had some time.
"

             
"
Of course. Let me start up dinner, are you hungry?
"

             
Aylin decided the best way to answer all of Terra’s questions would be to tell her virtually everything she knew. Even though her mother hadn’t been a faerie, she had been trusted with almost everything from Aylin’s father. For a reason that had been unknown to both Aylin and her mother, he knew his time with them was short and tried to show her mother his capabilities and how to teach Aylin when the time came. She started small, with the gardens, teaching Aylin how to revive ailing plants, how to bring them back from the dead, and even how to conjure up new plants. This was all done with the heat of her own hands.

             
Aylin could also form balls of lights in the palms of her hands. Mastering this is the most important power for faeries because these lights will act as guides, send messages to others, they can be used as weapons when strong enough, and they also have healing powers.

             
Aylin continued to learn about the capabilities of their minds. It takes more energy and concentration to do, but it is possible to project images into another being’s mind. If they allow their minds to be completely open to each other it forms a mental connection between them, which can be to their advantage. They could be at opposite ends of the earth and still project images to each other. If one is in danger she could flash images in their minds, and it would give them a clear picture of her surroundings. However, projecting can occur involuntarily if she is in the presence of too strong of emotions and doesn’t have any control over her mind.  It is possible to put a block on the projections, but that could be dangerous in itself. Too many blocks can sever the connection and it could be near impossible to restore the connection.

             
Just like any other creature, they have their weaknesses. They’re allergic to iron. It can be fatal if enough of it gets directly into their bloodstream. If it comes into contact with their skin it can severely burn them, and if it is consumed it will weaken them.

             
Faeries have a longer life span than a normal human being. Their bodies age at a slower rate, and they can live up to two hundred years or longer, more than twice the normal life span of a human.

             
Whether she even knew herself, Aylin’s mother never told her why she was bond so tightly with the moon. She physically feels the changes and the different phases of the moon. She feels the strongest and most connected on full moons. Two years ago she experienced an eclipse and it had nearly been an out of body experience for her. She had no idea what to expect with the sun and moon connecting, and nothing could have prepared her for what she went through.
             

             
As the sun and moon’s edges touched Aylin knew immediately that there was something wrong. She had been sitting on the shore, in her rocky cove, when she couldn’t sense the movement of the water anymore. When the sun was nearly one quarter behind the moon she lost the feeling of the deep, slow pulse of the earth under her feet. She didn’t have the energy running up through her legs, into her heart, giving her a sense of her surroundings. She could only physically feel the cold wet stone.

             
When the eclipse was complete, and the sun and moon were united she had tears flowing freely down her face. The constant thrum that was always in the back of her mind was gone. Her skin felt cold, despite the eighty-degree weather. She was no longer connected to anything. She felt as if she was back to being human, and nothing more. The earth felt completely empty to her. It had been the worst feeling in the world.

             
As quickly as her powers had left her, they returned once the eclipse was over. She was left exhausted and weak, and slept for nearly two straight days afterwards. Never again would she take for granted the abilities she possessed. She still searched for the reason of why the eclipse left her feeling powerless.

             
Aylin paused to study Terra who seemed to be absorbing everything. Aylin began to wonder when Terra would feel overwhelmed, and had wondered this out loud.

             
"
No, don’t stop,
"
Terra said. They were now sitting in Aylin’s garden, overlooking the sea.
"
The more you explain, the more it is all making so much sense to me!
"
She bubbled with excitement.
"
That first year I had kept myself basically locked up in my home because whenever I was outside I felt so weird. Like I could feel the earth breathing and it scared the hell out of me. But this last week has been wonderful. I know now that when my skin begins to tingle there is a storm coming, and when I get mad my hands get really hot. But what you are saying is that any strong emotion can trigger it, and there is a way to control it. This is so great!
"
She was on the edge of her seat.

             
"
All of that is wonderful, Terra,
"
Aylin said slowly.
"
However, there is another side to this.
"
She knew that she needed to tell Terra, but she wished she could have El here with her.
"
There is a price, if you will, for all of this power.
"

             
"
What do you mean?
"
Her face fell a little.

             
"
We have a purpose besides bringing life back to dying plants, and playing with balls of lights. Your unique tattoo brands you as the third. Each faerie bears a mark that indicates their purpose is on earth. Some are to keep the waters safe for travelers across the sea, some are to help with growing crops keeping the soil full of nutrients, and some are purely for mischief. And there are many that have the same or similar purpose, but inhabit different parts of the world. We, however, are the only ones with this specific symbol. It marks us as protectors.
"
She let this sink in for a moment.

             
"
Protectors?
"
Terra frowned.

             
"
Protectors of the elements. Hidden in the woods is something that holds the Power of the Elements. It has a few different names, The Stone, The Keeper of Duile, and we refer to it as The Rune. It appeared in the very first forest of the earth. For centuries the fae have fought against a coven of witches that wish to gain control of The Rune.
"

             
Terra tried to stifle her giggles.
"
Witches? And the power of the elements? Come on, that is straight out of the old folklore tales.
"
She shook her head.

             
Aylin leaned closer to Terra.
"
Where do you think they got the idea?
"

             
"
You’re being serious?
"

             
"
Yes. Very serious. At times of heightened threats the protectors are brought together. Our unique gifts compliment and strengthen each other. We are the last stand between The Rune and those who would use its powers for themselves. It might be hard to digest, but it is our destiny. Lives have been lost protecting this, so don’t take it lightly,
"
she said gravely.

             
Terra watched Aylin for a moment and saw the sadness that refused to be hidden in her eyes.
"
Your dad,
"
she whispered.

             
"
Very good.
"
Aylin nodded.
"
He was protecting The Rune as much as the secret of me. Now that you know, you must be aware of your surroundings at all times. There is always a threat that the witches will find us.
"
She looked at Terra.
"
As long as we are together when the threat is near, then they will not succeed. They haven’t yet, and never will.
"
She gave her a slight smile.
"
Tomorrow night El and I will take you to The Rune. It’s time for you to see it and feel it, know why it is ours to protect.
"

             
"
It’s here on the island?
"
Terra looked back toward the woods.

             
"
Well,
"
Aylin paused, grasping for the right words,
"
it’s accessible wherever we need it.  If you were back home you would be able to find it if you knew where to look in your forests. It can be anywhere, but only those who are meant to can see it.
"

             
"
I don’t understand that.
"
Terra frowned. She had disappointment written all over her face.

             
"
Tomorrow you will.
"
Aylin smiled.

             
Terra was silent for a while, watching the waves crash against the rocky coast in the distance.
"
I know my brother is giving you a hard time.
"
She didn’t look at Aylin when she spoke,
"
I’m sorry for the way he is treating you.
"

             
"
He hasn’t been the friendliest, that’s for sure. But there is no reason for you to apologize for him. I can handle him.
"
Aylin said gently.

             
"
I just wished he understood that you and El are the reason I am back to my normal self, kind of. He thinks it’s because he’s here and it’s not. But I can’t tell him that, can I?
"

             
"
We have all gone through hardships with this, just be thankful you have someone that cares enough for you to follow you here.
"
Aylin sounded sadder than she meant. What was wrong with her? Just the mention of Terra’s brother was bringing her spirits down. She’s never met a person that had this affect on her, and she really didn’t like it.

             
"
I think if he got to know you he would change his mind. You and he are more alike than not.
"
Terra smiled to herself.

             
"
I wouldn’t go that far.
"
Aylin smiled at Terra. She knew it would be up to her to make it easier on Terra, because it was probably out of Blake’s realm to make anything easy on anyone.
"
Come on, I want to see what your abilities are.
"
She stood and stepped off the brick patio and led Terra toward the bench and pond in the corner of the backyard.
"
Have you grown anything?
"
Aylin sat down with her feet tucked under herself.