The corner of Jennet’s tablet lit up with a private message - from Tam. Her heart kicked, and she sent a quick glance to the front of the classroom, where the Lit teacher was droning on about poetic forms. Holding her tablet low, she opened the message.

Keep an eye on Keeli. Remind you of anyone?

Hm, that was cryptic.

She set the tablet back on her desk. Keeli shared this class with her, though she hadn’t gotten to know the other Viewer girl that well. What had Tam meant? Jennet leaned forward and glanced down the row to where the black-haired girl sat.

Wow. Keeli looked pale as milk. Her skin seemed almost translucent, and her eyes were shadowed. As Jennet watched, the girl brought a trembling hand up to her throat and swallowed.

Keeli looked like… she looked…

“Mr. Clark?” Jennet didn’t wait for the teacher to acknowledge her. “I think Keeli’s about to faint.”

“Miss Carter, you’re disrupting - ”

“Catch her!”

Jennet was out of her chair and at the other girl’s side just in time to keep her from tumbling to the floor. Geez, she was heavier than she looked.

Jennet wasn’t the only student to get there, though. Roy Lassiter crouched beside her and gathered Keeli up in his arms. A strange look, almost of regret, crossed his face.

“I’ll take her down to the nurse,” he said.

“Is she still breathing?” Jennet couldn’t tell.

“Yes.” A spark of annoyance flashed in Roy’s eyes. “Move, please.”

She backed up, and Roy got to his feet, carrying Keeli. Jennet started after him, but Mr. Clark held up his hand.

“Take your seat please, Miss Carter. I’m sure Mr. Lassiter has everything under control.”

The door closed behind Roy and his burden, and the room fell uncomfortably silent. Jennet slowly went back to her desk, feeling the prickle of everyone watching her, though it was hardly her fault Keeli had collapsed.

But was it Roy’s?

***

At lunch, the cafeteria was filled with the buzz of speculation. Every student had a theory about what had happened to Keeli, and the babble of voices was loud in Jennet’s ears.

“You’re late,” Marny said as Jennet set her tray down at their usual table.

Tam gave her a long, level look. His green eyes were serious. “Did you see my message?”

“Yes.” Jennet said. “I stopped by the nurse’s office - I wanted find out how Keeli is doing.”

“And?” Tam asked.

“They took her to Central Hospital for testing.”

He leaned forward, tense. “She’s that bad?”

“She’s not in a coma, if that’s what you mean. The nurse said she’s going to be all right. They thought Keeli was dehydrated.”

“Dehydrated. Right.” His voice was flat.

Marny glanced between the two of them, her bobbed black hair swinging across her shoulders. “What are you guys saying? Did Keeli game on some flawed equip, like what happened to Tam last month?”

“Maybe,” Jennet said. “Though Keeli doesn’t sim. In fact, from what I know, she pretty much despises gaming.”

When she’d first arrived at Crestview High, Jennet had desperately needed to find a prime simmer. She’d tried the Viewers, first, with no luck. Had Keeli changed her mind, under Roy’s influence? The thought made her cold.

“We do know someone who’s been playing,” Tam said. “Roy Lassiter.”

Jennet met his gaze, seeing her suspicions mirrored in his eyes. Something, or someone, had drained Keeli’s energy to the point she had collapsed.

“Come on - you’re trying to pin this on Roy?” Marny snorted. “That’s taking the jealousy a bit far, don’t you think?”

“Hey,” said a voice behind them. “Talking about me?”

Jennet pivoted to see Roy Lassiter himself standing there. An easy smile lay on his face, but his eyes were cold.

“Hi, Roy,” Marny said, her voice suddenly all soft and gooey.

Jennet wanted to give her a sharp elbow to the ribs.

“Mind if I join you?” He didn’t wait for an answer, just set his tray down on the other side of Marny.

“Actually, we do,” Tam said.

“Funny.” Roy shook his head. “You crack me up, Exie. So, Marns, how’s it going?”

“Really good,” Marny said, “now that you’re here.”

Jennet nearly choked on her water. She set it down and blinked at the other girl.

“Are you serious?” she asked.

“Relax.” Roy turned to look at her. There was an odd glow in his eyes. “Everything’s fine. I thought it would be nice to spend a little time with Marny. She’s sturdy - just how I like my women.”

Marny giggled. Giggled! A sick feeling washed over Jennet.

“Stop it.” Tam shoved his tray away and glared at Roy. “Your girlfriend just collapsed, and now you’re putting the moves on Marny? That’s seriously flawed.”

“Piss off, Tam,” Marny said, a hint of vigor back in her voice. “You think Roy’s too good for me? Well, not everyone shares your warped social views. Just because you’re so screwed up over Jennet, doesn’t mean I can’t appreciate a good thing.”

“Whoa.” Tam held up his hands. “This isn’t about you - it’s about him.”

“That’s what I’m saying.” Marny stood up. “Come on, Roy. I’m sure we can find someplace more hospitable.”

“She’s got spirit,” Roy said, standing too. “I like that.”

He laid his arm across Marny’s shoulders, and she glowed, happiness practically rolling off her in waves.

“Wait,” Jennet said, holding out her hand. “You two can stay here.”

She didn’t want to let Roy out of her sight, and the way Marny was acting was just… wrong. The whole situation was so freaky it made her skin itch.

“I don’t think so.” Marny tossed her head. “Let’s go.”

Roy kept his arm around her as they walked away. Across the table, Tam looked as stunned as Jennet felt.

“This is grim,” she said. “What are we going to do?”

“First thing, we need to get Marny away from him.” He set his hands on the table, then balled them into fists. “Keeli looked the way you did, when the Dark Queen was sucking your energy.”

She nodded. “But Keeli isn’t a sim player. Even with Roy helping her, there’s no way she could have gone that deep in-game already.”

“Maybe she didn’t have to. Remember what Thomas told us before, about how the Realm of Faerie is starting to die?”

“Yes - he said there’s not enough contact with the mortal world. You think this is the Bright Court’s solution?” She glanced to the front of the cafeteria where Roy sat with his adoring fans. And Marny.

“I do.” Tam narrowed his eyes. “Somehow Lassiter is taking people’s energy, then transferring it in-game for the faeries to feed off. He’s probably giving it directly to the Bright King.”

Cold comprehension crept down her bones. “I guess we don’t need to warn Roy about the tithe - not when he’s taking other people’s energy to pay it. I wonder how many others he’s harmed.”

“He’s not getting Marny.” Tam’s voice was hard.

“Agreed - but how do we get her away from him? She’s convinced he’s wonderful.”

He swiped a hand through his hair, then let it fall back over his eyes. “I bet that’s another thing we can thank the faeries for. Lassiter’s amazing ability to influence people. All that false charm and handsomeness.”

His words rang an echo of recognition deep inside her. Handsome looks. False charm…

“Faerie glamour!” She leaned forward. “Tam, that’s it.”

 “Faerie what?”

“Glamour. It’s one of the fey magics described in my book. Here.”

She rummaged in her satchel and pulled out the green-bound copy of Tales of Folk and Faerie – the old book Thomas had given her, before he died.

It had given her the answer for how to save Tam, and she’d kept it with her ever since. She paged through, looking for the stories about faerie glamour. There, starting on page 238.

“Faerie glamour,” she said. “Confusing the senses and enchanting human perception in order to change the appearance of a thing.”

“Like making a regular-looking guy seem irresistible?”

“Exactly. Read this.” She slid the book over to Tam.

He scanned the pages, then frowned. “So what’s this ointment they talk about, that lets mortals see through the enchantment?”

“Faerie ointment. Here.” She set her finger on the opposite page and read aloud. “Wylde Thyme, Marygold Flowers, A Four-Leaved Clover, Budds from a Younge Hazelnut, and Grass of a Faerie Throne.”

“Nice. Grass of a faerie throne. Unless you know of some faerie throne sitting around in the real world, we’re going to have to go in-game for that.”

“Yes, but I think I know where I can buy most of rest of the ingredients - the herbs and stuff, anyway.”

He lifted one brow. “Does your upscale market sell four-leaf clovers?”

“Um…”

“Don’t worry - I was kidding. I know where to find some clover, even this time of year. I can go this afternoon.”

The harsh tone of the bell cut through the cafeteria babble, signaling the end of lunch. Jennet closed the book, but something made her hesitate. Instead of tucking it back in her satchel, she slid it across the table.

“Here,” she said. “You keep this for a while. Catch up on your reading.”

“Are you sure?” He picked it up, the gilt-edged pages glinting in the light.

“Yes.” She didn’t know why, but it felt right that Tam take the book. “I’ll hit the View market today, and get what ingredients I can. The sooner we make the ointment, the better.”

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

Thanks for reading! If you enjoyed this chapter, please vote for it.  :)

This book will be completely uploaded by July of 2014, at the rate of a chapter every 2 weeks. Can't wait? Feyland: The Bright Court is published and for sale in both print and digital formats (only $4.99 for the e-book version) from all online retailers. Did you miss the first story? Feyland: The Dark Realm is here on Wattpad, and also available from all online retailers.

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