*7*

The sitting room was starting to glow gold from the fading sun light when I finally heard the three locks click. Crae had returned. I sat up straighter against the wall and watched him enter the cottage. He sighed and went for the kitchen.

"Welcome back," He spun around at my voice, as if not expecting me to be there.

"Kyrene," He cleared his throat. "What are you doing on the floor? I thought I left you on the couch?"

"I was on the couch." I sat up a bit. "I just crawled over to the window when a Fairy wanted to play. Instead of playing, she explained a bit more to me in a way I could understand. And I've decided..."

I took a deep breath. "I've decided that I want to understand who I am. I want to know more about what an Orelie is and does. I want you to help me."

Crae smiled softly. "I'm glad to hear that. Let's get you back on the couch and I'll make us some dinner." He picked me up and placed me back on the couch. I adjusted myself so I was a bit more comfy and sipped from the water glass Crae had left me before he went out.

"So what did you need while you were out?" I called out to him.

"I had to do some work around the town," He replied. "Nothing serious. Helped a few people out with issues they were having and resolved conflicts over some magical issues."

"Sounds interesting." I took another drink of water. "Will I be doing that?"

"In due time," He said as the smell of dinner drifted up my nose. "You'll be helping me with odd jobs and eventually telling possible futures."

"Possible futures?" I asked.

"Nothing is set in stone," He replied as something sizzled. "You basically see what could be their future just by what they've done up until that point. There is a way to see other futures if they change their actions. The future has endless possibilities. You'll just be picking from what you've got to go by."

I nodded to myself. "Makes sense, I guess." I looked up just as a plate was set beside me on the table. I sat up a bit more and manually swung my legs off the couch. I leaned forward and picked the plate and fork up to eat.

Crae sat next to me and watched. "Do you need help with that?"

I shook my head. "I'd like to start doing things on my own. I don't want help all the time." I scooped up a bite of food and placed it in my mouth.

I smiled around the bite. "It's really good."

"Glad you like it." He said as he began to eat his food. We sat in silence the rest of the meal, something I'm used to. It didn't bother me one bit. The only thing that bothered me was that I couldn't get up to put my plate away. I couldn't wait to start walking again. It'll make things much easier for me, and for Crae. I just know he'll get annoyed at having to care for me almost all day.

"Kyrene," I looked up from my water. "Did you want to try some of your exercises tonight?"

I thought for a second. "The sooner, the better, I guess."

"Alright," He picked me up again and laid me on the floor. "We'll start with simple knee bends. Just like this." He guided my leg to lift a bit and bend at the knee.

"Just do that until it starts to hurt a bit." He instructed and sat back.

I bit my lip. "Can I get some help?"

He nodded and guided my leg through a few reps of five bends. I had us stop after a while when my legs started to burn.

"Try not to push yourself, Kyrene," He said as he helped me sit up. "Strengthening your muscles won't be an easy feat. We have to take it relatively easy and not over stress your muscles. That'll only do more damage to them."

"Fine." I picked at my nails. "I'd like to head up to bed then."

Crae got me up into his arms and carried me up the stairs to my bed. "Just call me if you need something." I nodded as he set me under the covers. Once he left the room, I stared out the window, trying to ignore my legs. Is he not able to use magic to heal my legs? In this world, are there people comparable to doctors? Would they be called healers? I need to learn the correct terminology.

I scooted farther under the covers and closed my eyes, willing myself to sleep.

------------------

Morning came sooner than I expected. I groaned to myself and rolled over onto my side. I grimaced and quickly sat up. I stared at my arm, my eyes widening. "Crae!"

He was in my room in less than a second. "Kyrene! What's wrong?"

I showed him my arm. "I-I don't know! I think something bit me last night!" Two puncture wounds sat on the top of my forearm. The blood had already caused scabs to form over the bite.

Crae gently held my arm as he examined it. "It appears something did bite you, but I don't know what it could have been. I would have known if an animal had gotten into the house, or if another creature had snuck its way in."

He sighed to himself. "For now, let's get it cleaned up." He left to get the supplies and was back in a few moments. "I was actually about to come get you. I have been summoned back to the town for something serious. I didn't want to leave you alone all day again, so you'll be coming with me." I nodded and watched him clean and bandage my injury.

Once I was patched up, Crae helped me dress in clothes for the day. I didn't mind that he was dressing me. I'd had a couple male caretakers back when I was younger, so this was nothing new to me. We got a small bite of breakfast before we headed out.

Crae locked the house up and adjusted his hold on me. Again, he was holding me as if I was a toddler. I brushed it off, expecting this to become habit. I just held on to him and stared as his feet briskly walking across the ground.

After a while of walking, I looked up back to Crae's face. His features were soft, yet he had a slightly strong structure in his cheeks bones. But that's not what I was trying to focus on. I stared hard at him, hoping I could get a glimpse at his future. No matter how hard I tried, I couldn't see a thing. It was beginning to irritate me.

"Kyrene, I know what you're trying to do." He suddenly said and startled me. "I knew what you were trying to do the first time you did it. You're trying to see my future. There are some of us who can block our minds from the Orelie."

"And you're one of them." I said with a slight pout.

"Yes, I am." He focused back on the path. "In due time, I will let you see my future. Just know that it won't be for a long time." I agreed to his terms and fell silent again.

But I wasn't silent for long. More forest creatures and Fairies began to appear. Fern must have told them I was here, because they kept mentioning Orelie with excitement and the ones that couldn't speak flitted around us and made cute little noises at me.

When we neared the town, the forest inhabitants dispersed back to their homes. My mouth slowly opened at how bustling the town was. People traded at stalls around us while others stepped out from buildings and made conversations with those around them.

"Crae, what is this place?" I asked just above a whisper.

"This is the town Silver Valley." He responded as he weaved through the people. "It's the main place for shops, taverns, and residential areas. There's a few farms along the outskirts of the town that help supply and transport goods to the other towns. We'll be heading to one of the farms on the more southern side of the town."

Eventually, we made it out of the town. I was excited to see so much of the outside world. I just couldn't believe so much actually existed out here. There was just so much to see and take in.

"We're here," Crae opened a large gate and stepped in, closing it behind him.

"I'm so glad you finally made it," I looked up to see a man pace towards us. "Come; it's just over this way. I knew I had to contact you right away. You've been around a while and I was hoping you could help me."

"Let's see what you've got." Crae followed the man. He didn't dress like the farmers I'd heard about in stories. He dressed in normal clothes one would find on Earth. I pulled my focus from that as we were led to the barn.

The man opened the door and brought us to one of the stalls. "I'd never seen this before."

Crae set me on a hay bale near by. I watched him examine the animal. It looked like a cross between a cow and a sheep. Does it give wool and milk? Or just one or the other?

Then I noticed something on its neck. "Crae, those bite marks!" He looked to where I was pointing. "It looks like the one on my arm!"

Crae looked closer at the neck of the animal. He gave a long, heavy sigh. "I can't be for sure, but I think maybe a Blood Demon has come down from Sogath Summit."

The man gasped. "No... It'll come for our livestock, then us! It could easily wipe out an entire village in one night!"

"Calm yourself." Crae held a hand up to silence the man. "As I said, I can't be sure. The Blood Demon is a possibility, or it could be another creature. I'd have to gather more evidence that one is even nearby. Until then, keep an abundant supply of silver and line all the openings with silver powder. That should keep it out should it return."

"Thank you," The man bowed his head and led us back to the edge of his property. When we were out of earshot, I looked to Crae.

"Something on your mind?" He asked.

"What's a Blood Demon?" It came out of my mouth faster than I wanted it to.

Crae shook his head, but not at my question. "They are probably one of the most hostile and evil creatures to roam our land. They feed off the blood of whatever they can get their claws hooked on. If it is one, it wouldn't have just attacked one cattle-sheep. It would have gone for the whole flock, then the farmer and his family. It could be a number of many things."

"But my arm," I held it up.

"That I'm not sure about, either." He closed his eyes and stopped on the trail. "I've only had you in Fucrya one day and already you're in danger and getting hurt. I hope this isn't starting a trend."

"Nevertheless," He opened his eyes and began walking again. "I will also take precautions around the house just in case there is a Blood Demon roaming the area. I want to keep you safe and-"

"Master Crae!"

He stopped and turned. It was a new person. "Master Crae, thank goodness I found you! You have to come quick! My cattle-sheep have been attacked! All the blood had been drained from their bodies!" I paled and clutched onto Crae's shirt.

"Lead the way." We were brought to a smaller farm farther north of the first one we visited. This time, four of the animals had been attacked.

Crae sighed. "This isn't good. Tell all your neighbors that a Blood Demon might be around. Tell them to line all the openings of their barns and homes with silver powder and iron dust. It will help keep the demon at bay."

"Yes sir," He thanked us the entire way off his property and even after we were heading back to the town.

"Are we going to tell Silver Valley?" I asked as we neared the town.

"We'll have to." He sighed. "If the Demon makes it this far east, he'll have a feast here. I'll have shops and inn keepers post signs to have people carry silver powder and iron dust with them and to put it around their homes and shops to keep it out. It's the best we can do."

"So, it is a Blood Demon?"

He nodded. "Yes, it is definitely a Blood Demon. But it's being picky with what it drinks the blood from, a trait I've never heard of before. It's concerning."

When we got back to town, Crae found the largest shops and all the taverns, letting them all know of the potential danger and to have them close and lock up shop before sundown. Apparently, that's when the demon feeds.

"Let's head back, Kyrene." He adjusted his hold on me. "We better get home before the sun sets. I don't think I'd be able to protect you and fight a demon simultaneously." I nodded and held on tightly to him.

I looked back to my arm. Blood had started to seep through the bandages. I hope I hadn't been a victim to the Blood Demon. But if that were the case, why wasn't I drained of blood like the animals? Is it because of my blood? Could it repulse the creature?

I'd have to ask Crae later once we get back to the safety of the cottage.