The wind blew fiercely on the cliff's edge, the rain a steady drizzle. Thunder sounded overhead, making the girl jump. She walked dangerously close to the edge, her body shivering.

Was it because of the cold rain blowing in or from what she had just done? Or was about to do?

Her light caught the pathway that led down, down to where he told her she must go. The summoning must be done in a particular place. One they had sealed up long ago. When they killed him. He had said.

Tears pricked her eyes, but she hastily brushed them away. She tightened the strap on her bag. It held everything that she would need to perform the ritual.

This was only the beginning, though. He wouldn't be able to be brought back yet fully. But this was a start.

She would summon his spirit, and then together, they would be able to figure out a way to bring him back for good. To make them pay for what they had done. He had refused when she brought up the idea of getting anyone else to help. She had to do this alone. He had made that very clear.

She saw the cavern entryway, sealed with a boulder just beyond the tree growing up curved out of the face of the cliff. There was a slight crack at the top of the big rock. She would have to unseal the opening with the spell he gave her.

Then, then she could find the spot where he said she must perform the ritual inside.

Lightning flashed overhead, streaking the inky sky. Reaching into her bag, she dug blindly until her hand fisted the sheathed athame. She blanched at the next item she brought out that this spell would require.

The leather pouch moved under her hand, and the girl almost lost her nerve. Just as quickly though she thought of him. She was getting him back. She thought of them! The reason that he wasn't with her in the first place.

With a fierce cry of anger, she plunged the sharp blade through the bag. Immediately the movement stopped, and blood flowed down her palm. Breathing heavily, she began to inscribe the ancient symbols onto the rock, chanting as she did.

Once the entryway was clear, she shakily made her way into the cave. It was damp but still dryer than outside. She was tired from the spell she had performed to get in, but she couldn't stop now. She swung her light back and forth slowly, looking for the markings that he said would be there.

She grunted in frustration, continuing further into the blackness of the cave. She could hear the waves crashing against the walls outside, the thunder echoing dully in the pitch black.

Her flashlight flickered, and she was afraid that it would go out. Luckily it did not.

A feeling of unease began to fill her. She wanted to get out of this place. Her mouth was dry, and her brow was spotted with perspiration.

THERE! She had found it. Finally!

The girl set out to do her work quickly. She was pulling out black salt, candles, and the big book that he had helped her to find. She was almost ready.

She pulled the black-handled knife out last, sitting inside of the circle she had made form the salt; the black candles flickered wildly. She rinsed the knife ceremoniously to remove the blood that still clung to the shimmering blade.

The girl flipped the big book to the page she had marked previously. The last item she would need from the bag gave her much pause, but this was the only way. So she reached down into the bag bringing out the object wrapped tightly in cloth. Her face paled as she unwrapped it. She unscrewed the lid pouring the dark contents into the bowl that sat in front of her beside the knife. Picking up the knife with shaking hands, she cut her forearms, holding them over the bowl, watching as her blood dripped down into the bowl and mix with the blood that glistened within. Then she began to chant.

It would be done very soon.

Her eyes darkened, the chant continuing. Picking up the bowl, she began to pour the blood on top of the salt surrounding her, creating a circle.

It was time.

A scream filled the cavern as the blood poured down her arms, soaking the ground beneath.

Suddenly there was silence, and the candles were snuffed out at once, leaving the cavern in eerie darkness.

******** ******** ******** ********

Ember woke with a start. You know that feeling that you get when you were falling? Except this was filled with screams. She jolted, disoriented, her arms shooting out in front of her. The fire crackled softly, emitting a warm glow into her otherwise dark bedroom.

Had she been dreaming? She couldn't remember what about if she had. Thunder rumbled overhead, the crash of lightning following shortly after. She grabbed the clock off the nightstand, squinting to see the time.

It was late. She still had hours before time to get up and ready for her day. More thunder sounded, making her groan. She knew that rain was supposed to be lucky, but she hoped the storm started waning by the time they had to open the store.

A scream pierced the air, just like in the dream that had awoken her. She scrambled out of her bed, rushing down the short set of stairs and to her Grandmother's partially open bedroom door. Her Gran was already up, so the screams obviously weren't the strange ghost voice fucking with her.

"What in blazes is that?" Ember heard her Aunts voice from behind her as she scrambled towards her grandmother fearfully.

"Och, both of ya get in here," Nori told them, her usual steady voice wavering.

"Is someone being killed out there?" Ember whispered, moving to follow her Gran.

"Shh. Go'n fetch tha' book. Quickly an' quietly. Wen' go ta me bureau an fetch tha warding candles in there."

"Warding candles? Ma' what's going on?" Arwen questioned but did as she was instructed.

"Ya each take one an light it. Then be repeatin my words exactly. I'll explain why when we be done."

The three women sat quietly, staring at the lit candles. There had been no further screams, but Ember was still shaken. Visibly so.

"Come," Nori said, moving towards her closed bedroom door, "both of ye. Les go get a mug an I'll explain what that was."

"Wait, Gran, we can't go out...."

"Em, we are safe in here. Tha I promise ya'."

Once their tea had been made, the three women sat in the study. Nori set her mug down and looked at her family. Much like the night that Ember found out that she was a witch.

"What was that, Gran?" Ember was the first to speak.

"Tha was a bean-sidhe," Nori told them simply.

"Ma..." Arwen said, her voice trailing off when she received a harsh look from the old woman.

"What?" Emer asked, looking at her Aunt. Obviously, her Aunt was reluctant to believe her mother's words, even if Ember was unfamiliar with them.

"Ya think us witches be real but no tha Fae? Ya oughta know better than that," Nori told her daughter.

"Wait.."Ember said, "the Fae? As in Faery's? They are real?"

Nori nodded solemnly, picking up her cup of tea before continuing. "Tha bean-sidhe comes as a warning ta us, o' death, or some comin of doom ta us."

"What! Couldn't it be something else?" Ember cried out.

"Of course it could," Arwen said, cutting her eyes at her mother.

"Ember caught the look and raised her eyebrow. Clearly, her Aunt didn't want to speak about this and didn't believe that it was a bean sidhe, so Ember decided that she would let it go until she could speak to her Gran alone. After what she witnessed on the hill and found out about her family, she wouldn't dismiss other mystical, magical beings so quickly. She didn't know why her Aunt would either.

It made Ember wonder what other supernatural entities there were out there. She knew that there had to be others. She believed her Gran. And she wanted to know what and why the Fae would be here, warning them.

"So, the warding candles?" Ember asked, sipping her hot tea.

"Ya each place one on yer night stand, whatever ya do keep it lit, an let it burn until it goes out. Tis fer protection. It is no ordinary candle, so it will las until we find jus what this Fae is doin here."

Arwen stood once Nori had finished speaking, "I'm going back to bed. Ember, I suggest that you do the same. We have the store opening to worry about." Arwen grabbed her cup and turned to leave the room.

"Ya go get tha candle from me room, child," Nori commanded.

"Yes, Ma," was all Arwen said before disappearing from the study.

Nori sighed, rubbing her forehead as the door clicked closed behind Arwen.

"I believe you, Gran," Ember whispered, "Can we talk more about the Fae later this evening? I want to learn more about them and why they are warning us."

Nori smiled at her granddaughter, "O' course we can, child. Ya needs to learn about these things. Now go on up," she said, her tone softer, "but d'no forget ta get tha candle."

Ember kissed her Gran on the cheek and slipped quietly from the study, getting her candle before making her way up the landing to her bedroom. Ember noticed that her Aunt's candle had been taken as instructed.

What a strange night, Ember thought as she climbed back into her plush bed, staring at the soft flicker of the candle's flame before quickly giving in to sleep; thanks to the special brew of her Gran's nighttime tea; lingering thoughts of the Otherworldly screams not far from her mind.