Armand parked the bike next to the entrance. I noticed that the only way to travel on a date was by bike; because you can get all the cool parking spots by the front door. I got off the bike and looked around. The place was jam-
packed with people. It’s what you get on a Friday night.
There was a line wrapped around the building. Abby, Jason and my Master arrived five minutes after we did. Michael, Gabriel and Shannon were called away to check on a
scuffle among the pack. So we lost the three of them temporarily. I hope it was a dominance thing and not the rogue we were looking for.
We all walked up to the line. While we were standing there waiting to get in Abby touched up my make-up. For some reason, looking my best was important to her. The line looked like we were in for a wait. I was almost tempted to call it a night but something kept me from doing so. I felt a wave of power crawling up my skin. It tickled my insides and I started to giggle. I couldn't help it. After a few seconds, the giggle went into a full laughing riot. Armand was doing everything he could to calm me. His calming power just backfired. Logan tried opening the marks to help me control what was happening, only to have them slam shut.
Jason tried to say something to me but I couldn't hear him.
My senses were trying hard to locate the power source.
I reached my magical hand out and ran it up the line of the
tickling power.
It stopped not far from the entrance. I gave a little tug and whispered on the air 'Stop it, that tickles!' The power immediately died down. I pulled myself back together. My sides hurt from so much laughing. I relaxed my
muscles a little and looked at Abby and Jason. Their eyes were wide. "What's the matter with you two?' I asked.
"You are glowing, Ana," said Abby with a stunned expression.
I looked down at my hands. I looked to Logan. "It seems that little power boost gave you a new look, wee kitten," he said. I took my trench coat off to see how bad it was. When the coat was off there were a few gasps and whispers.
All saying the same thing, "Look there's one of them now. Isn't she beautiful." Armand put a protective arm around my body. The line turned into a huddle and I was the center of it.
Oh, how I hate being the center of attention. The crowds parted and coming towards us were three fey. The one in the center was beautiful.
He stood about 7'8" tall and had long purple hair. His eyes were gold, silver and gray. His skin had a lavender tint to it. Twin males flanked him. They stood three inches taller than the center man did. They were not so pretty. Eyes the shape of a viper; They had shiny brown and cream scales.
I can see now why the club was so hot. Being able to see people or fey like this would make any tourist happy.
The little trio stopped in front of us. The one in the center spoke, "I heard the giggling. So I came out to see who received our welcome. You are a sight to behold." He said looking at me. It seems he was oblivious to the people
who were with me. "Let me introduce myself. My name is Silvanus. I make you welcome to my place of business. May I ask who you might be?"
I looked into his eyes. It was weird to see someone else with eyes like mine not related to me.
I took a well-needed breath and answered him.
"My name is Ana, Ana Autumn. It is nice to meet someone else, besides my father and great grandfather, whose eyes are like mine. They are very beautiful." Good girl, Ana. The formal complements would not make him angry
with you. Oh, if only papa or father were here.
"As are you, Ana. Would you like to come inside and see my place of business?" Silvanus held out his hand for me to take. I could smell the lust coming from him. I wasn't sure this was right but Logan whispered in my ear, "Don't decline the offer, wee kitten, he will take much offense. He is paying you a wonderful complement. The lust means you are worth talking too."
I smiled back at Silvanus and went to reach for his hand. Then I heard a low growl coming from behind me. I looked over and saw that Armand's eyes went to his beast. I looked back at Silvanus and could sense his response to Armand.
It was aggressive. Why do males always become possessive over a female? This is bad, I could tell. Never has this happened to me. What do I do? Tell Armand to stuff it or insult the fey? Damn I hate politics. "Armand! Please,
control yourself! It’s normal for them to act this way. He is paying me a complement in return to the one I gave him." Armand broke away from the staring contest to look at me. "You are my mate." he stated.
"Yes, I know that. He is part of the world of my other half. How can I prove to my father and great-grandfather that I am ready to visit the court, if you insult every fey I come across?" Armand fought his beast down but I knew it wasn't far from the surface.
I turned to look at Silvanus. "I am very sorry for the insult my mate has given you. I beg forgiveness for the both of us." I made sure my face shown how humiliated I felt, due to Armand's jealousy. A smile went across his face.
"You I will forgive." He held out his hand and I place mine in his. He brought my hand up as he bent over and kissed lightly on my knuckles. "Come inside. Tell me what you think of my forest."
I looked to my friends and back to him. "What about my friends? They are the ones who decided I should come here. In honor of my birthday." I had to make sure that they were allowed to come with me. I didn't want to be in there by
myself. Silvanus looked at my party. He glanced from Jason to Abby then to Armand and lastly stopped at Logan. "The vampire may come inside with you. The others will stay and wait in line with the rest of the tourists." he said
matter-of-factly. I looked to Armand and the others and whispered, "Sorry." I wasn't going to pass up a chance to talk with another Fey.
I wanted to learn so much about the other world.
I would do just about anything for the knowledge.
Armand stood there with a stunned look on his face. He was upset. I felt bad a little for making him look like that. It is his own fault too. If he hadn't started a fight, I am almost sure Silvanus would have let them all come in.
Silvanus walked me toward the entrance. His two henchmen following behind us and Logan walking on the other side of me. I felt like a princess. Too bad I
couldn't be one. The thought of being someone of royal blood was exciting but to actually have the title to go with it…. that would be monumental.
We stepped inside a room covered with living trees, plants and flowers. I was in heaven. The music that was playing from the plant life under the thumping of
the dance music was magical. I closed my eyes and let the power of the music inside my body. Everything tingled and I wanted to dance and move with the
plant life. I was brought out of my little trance when Silvanus spoke. "I see
you are of the earth Fey. My I ask who your father is?"
I smiled up at him. "My great grandfather just found him this week. His name is Lochlir." I sounded like a little girl visiting Disneyland for the first time. Silvanus stopped and Looked at me. "You're not serious are you?"
"Yes I am. I met him today." I answered.
"The Prince is in the city?" he asked.
"Yes, he is." I looked at him as if it was nothing to be near royalty, "I am supposed to have breakfast with him in the morning before he leaves."
He looked at me very close. From my eyes to my hands and then walked around my body. He stopped directly behind me. "You bear the mark of the Raven," he
walked around to face me. "Why are you not in the queen's guard?" he asked hastily.
Before I answered, Logan stepped in; "She is in service with me. We did not know she was destined to serve the Queen. When her father told us about the mark, it was too late. We will be making an appointment to see her and making
the proper apologies." Nicely done Logan.
Silvanus looked from Logan to me and shook his head. I wonder what he was thinking. We were taken to a cozy table next to the dance floor. I was still enchanted with the plant life. When we sat down at our table the ficus trees
next to us become very excited. The trees' magic danced up and down my body.
It was intoxicating. I never had plant life wanting to share with me their power. I took a little at a time. I was smiling at Logan and Silvanus. They both looked to me. Logan was concerned about me. Several times he tried
opening our marks and each time he was pushed back. It was as if the plant life only wanted to share the power with me and no one else. I didn't care. I was enjoying the power rush.
Silvanus spoke quietly to me; "You feel the pull of the earth's power here, don't you?"
I couldn't answer him so I nodded my response. "Not many of us can do that. Tell me what you are feeling, Ana?" he asked.
The power was growing inside of me at a steady pace. I took a deep breath and let it out slowly. Then I was able to speak. "Normally, I am the one giving the power to the plant life. Tonight is different." I said the last part in a
rush because my beast wanted to play. She pushed herself to the surface and was trying to come out. I closed my eyes and began to dig my claws into the nice table. I don't care if Silvanus got upset. I will not let my beast free tonight. I can always replace the table later. I have enough money.
I had sedated her temporarily. I opened my eyes. Both Logan and Silvanus were staring at me. "Kitten, are you sure you are all right?" Logan asked.
Another power boost hit me. This time it awoke the same power Armand did last night. It rushed through out my body and joined my beast. The sensation I felt was something indescribable. I wanted to laugh. I didn't though. Don't want the locals thinking I was drunk. I looked at Logan and said, "I am fine now." I began to purr.
"I do not want to be rude but you're purring. I have never heard a fey purr." Silvanus said. He was looking at me with suspicious eyes. I smiled, "I was born half fey half human. Eleven years ago I was attacked." I said the last
quickly in a whisper. Keeping the control was hard but I was doing it very successfully.
"You were attacked by a wereanimal?" he asked me. His eyes narrowed suspiciously.
"Yes" I said. I went on to tell him what I remembered of the attack. He seemed very interested during the story. I did everything in my power not to burst into laughter. Telling my tale. The ficus next to me was whispering to me
some very naughty jokes. If you don't want a fey to know your dirty secrets never reveal them around a tree. They can never keep a secret. I felt my magic barriers slipping away from me.
I looked at my hands again and saw that they were glowing. Silvanus smiled at me. Logan looked worried. "At last I can see the true Ana. You are very beautiful. Let me give you a drink, on the house, for your birthday." I accepted the drink as he left our table.
"Anastasia, I am worried for you. When you stepped into this establishment, you have started to change somehow. I don't like it. I am unable to open the marks between us. I think it would be wise to leave before anything else
happens." Logan said.
"No!" I growled. "I am enjoying myself. I want to stay!" I sounded like a spoiled little child.
"Anastasia, listen to reason. You are being attacked by magic. You are not able to control this by yourself. Either let me in to help you or we will leave. The choice is yours." Logan really cares for me I'm touched but I don't care. Nothing is going to drag me out of this building tonight.
"What choice does Ana have?" Silvanus returned just in time. He handed me a light creamy pink drink.
"What is this?" I asked.
"It is a drink we have for special occasions. Tonight is you're birthday so we'll celebrate fey style."
He pushed the drink in front of me. I looked at his drink. It was a little darker than mine. "How come yours is darker than mine?" I asked.
"It has more fey rum than yours." He stated matter-of-factly.
I looked into the glass and sniffed the contents. I know I can't be poisoned but I just wanted to know what else was in the drink. I smelt rose, lily and
maple nectars. I tasted it and it was sweet going down. Eerie bagpipe music began to play as the dance floor was cleared of the humans. It was hypnotic to me. It made me want to dance. I looked to Logan; "I want to dance. Will
you dance with me?" I asked almost demanded.
"My kitten, I don't think you should. I think it is time we leave. Don't you want to see how Armand and the others are doing?" Logan cooed at me.
Check on the others? Yeah I should but I want to dance right now. They can wait. It’s my birthday after all. I get what ever I want today. I looked to
Silvanus and asked, "Do you want to dance with me?" I said it in a child like manner. I was beginning to feel like a child right now anyway. I wanted to play before mommy and daddy took me home to bed.
Silvanus stood to my right side and held out his hand. "It would be an honor to escort you to the dance floor, my child."
"I'm not a child! By U.S. law I am now a legal adult." I don't know why I said that. I just knew I needed to tell him. He bowed his head and said, "I am sorry. I didn't mean to offend you." I smiled brightly at him. I got my
way. I placed my hand into his. I felt a warm vibration going through my body. Especially down the middle of my back. I opened myself further to that power. It seems that the power, for some reason, center itself around my
birthmark.
"Ana, please, I beg you let us go home. You have had enough for one night." Logan begged. I looked at him and opened the marks between us. This time the
new power didn't object. I made sure Logan knew the full extent of what I was feeling. He closed his eyes and when he opened them again, they were glowing a
fiery Ocean Blue. "You see, Logan," I giggled a little, "Who would want to leave with all this wonderful power to play with tonight." I gave him a devilish grin and let Silvanus lead me to the dance floor.
Index