The room was modest, nothing like at Blackdown Keep but more like home. It was large enough to fit all of the furniture and a couch near a large window. It was distinctly feminine. There were various perfumes and jewelry on a dresser, with delicate looking decoration throughout.

I moved past all of it and opened one of the closed doors in the room. The private bathroom was attached to the room with a Roman tub and a stand-alone shower. I made my way inside and froze when I saw myself in the mirror.

The mint green dress I was wearing from the night before was filthy from the trek through the woods and swimming in the river water. With all of the mud and grime from the water, I looked somewhat like my human self.

But barely.

I had dirt streaked across my face which dulled my features somewhat. It was no longer the perfect tawny-colored complexion that I'd received once I turned into a fae.

I grabbed the hair tie from my hair and let my silver hair loose.

It was so short. Without telling me what it was for, Kymra had taken some of it so she could use it to masquerade as me using its magic. Had I know what it was for, I would have given her all of it. Now, it hung in shaggy uneven layers a little below my shoulders at the sides of my face, with the back shorter still grazing my shoulders.

I started digging through the drawers and found a pair of scissors. Holding my hair in one hand and the scissors in the other, I straightened it as best as I could, using a comb I'd found to guide me. I'd cut enough to even it all out, but now it was over my shoulders, not quite touching.

It'd been years since I had it that short.

I threw the silver hair from the sink into the trash can nearby then peeled off the dress and hopped into the shower. I didn't recognize any of the soaps or the shampoo in the shower but used them anyway once I sniffed them and found that they smelled all right.

I grabbed a nearby clean towel and wrapped it around me. I made my way to the closet with the brush in my hair and grabbed the first thing I could that looked decent enough. It was a cream colored long sleeve dress with a dark brown vest that tied in the back. I searched through the drawers in the dresser and felt instant remorse.

I found a brand new pair of underwear and bra set with tags still on them and silently thanked whatever gods were responsible for that small mercy. "Sorry, Julian's sister, I'll pay you back soon for using your things."

They fit and were comfortable. I raised an eyebrow; it didn't seem like a mere coincidence. I placed the dress over my head and slithered it on then put the vest on, tying it as best as I could behind me. Once done, I fished through the shoes and found something comfortable in a similar brown as the vest.

Julian was already waiting in the same hall we'd appeared in, a hand in one pocket, his phone in the other as he texted. He didn't look up. "Ready?"

"Yes."

He looked up and for a moment looked surprised.

I touched my hair. "I had to cut it shorter it was uneven."

"Hmm. You need a glamour for your hair." He paused and looked at me expectantly. "May I?"

After a moment, I nodded.

A second later, he looked away at the phone in his hand and started walking toward the door. "Okay, done."

I frowned and looked in a mirror as I passed it. My hair was brown again close to the color it had been when I was human.

"Why brown?"

He turned with a raised eyebrow. "Okay, blue then."

I took a step towards him. "Don't you dare-"

He didn't look back as he yelled. "Too late!"

I looked in the mirror. It was a dark blue bordering on black. And not my thing. "No," I followed him, taking almost two steps to make up one of his strides. "Take it back. Make it brown."

"Sorry, can't." He still didn't look at me.

"Can't or won't?"

"You're right, won't." He looked at me. "Lesson One: Balance. Don't drop the basket."

"What?"

A basket appeared over my head and suddenly dropped in front of me. I reached out to catch it and stumbled as it ricocheted from one hand then the other. When I finally was able to stop it with both hands, I glared daggers at his back.

"Keep up, Emylin."

I stomped my way up to him.

"Lose the attitude? I'd hate for people to think I'm starting to hang out with a three-year-old."

I only rolled my eyes. Quietly, I seethed in anger as I followed him down a small path out the front door.

"Can't we specter there?" I asked as I caught up with him.

"Yes, we could," he answered as he pocketed his phone. "But it's a beautiful morning and you were so anxious to start your training. You need to gather your strength. You were locked in a cell unable to use most of your muscles for weeks. Give them a good stretch."

The market must have been about a mile away down a winding path that eventually led to a town with tiny streets and small, quiet houses. They were close together with red roofs jutting out at odd angles. The windows had small sills and most had potted plants on them.

I watched the sun as it filled the sky rising across the eastern horizon. It was a beautiful day without a cloud in the sky. Fog clung to the city as we walked. I breathed deeply taking in the morning dew.

"This is Skryen - an ancient city, the gate to the Rathnure Mountains. Skryen sits at the base of the range, sea level. It used to be the only way to reach them."

"It's beautiful," I breathed.

"It's better in the Winter, the snow is covers everything but sticks around forever. Pain in the ass sometimes."

I gave a small smile.

"I see you made yourself comfortable with my sister's clothing. I thought you'd be the same size."

"Yeah, funny though I found a couple of things - brand new in my same size." I didn't mention what they were.

He shrugged nonchalantly. "Kymra made sure that you had what you needed while you stayed."

I frowned. "How long had you been planning this?"

"She came to me two days ago."

"Why you?"

"We grew up together. She knows the stakes I have in this."

He said no more as we made our way down the street. Eventually, the noise of a small crowd filled the street and when we turned a corner, I stopped.

It was one of the biggest open-air markets I'd ever seen. The mouthwatering smell of sweet food wafted through the air, color burst from every tent. The voice of the vendors carried throughout the street calling out what they were selling. Children ran through the crowds followed by their worried parents trying to catch them. The faeries stood aside and laughed as they barreled through.

"You're in luck, second Saturday of the month, you'll get to see some of the vendors you wouldn't normally see." He waved a hand. "Just stay close."

I nodded and followed him as he ducked through the crowd.

I watched the vendors in fascination as they prattled on about their inventory -grains, fruits, vegetables, drinks, meats, fish, kites, shirts, dresses and everything in between. Julian was only interested in the fruits and vegetables and the occasional grains.

"How often do you come here?" I asked aloud, making sure he could hear me above the crowd.

"Once a month, at least. Oona usually does the shopping once a week but I gave her the month off for your training so I have to do the shopping myself."

"Why?"

"Have to keep what we're doing a secret."

I nodded silently as he continued through the market. He filled the basket with several fruits and vegetables then grains. Eventually, he placed a couple of bottles of wine and meat as well.

My arms felt like they were about to fall off.

I shook my free arm as he placed another large bag of rice into the basket. "Are we almost done? My arms are killing me."

He gave a mischievous smile. "Where's your upper body strength?"

"Nonexistent," I answered. "Obviously."

He laughed and beckoned me forward. "Come on."

I huffed as I moved to follow him but fell short as someone stepped in my way.

The man was short barely reaching my nose, with eyes so dark I thought they were black. Sweat glistened against his tanned forehead making his light hair stick to him. He had a toothy grin with dimples on both cheeks. "Hello there."

I took a step back, he was too close. "H-hello."

"My, my," he looked at the contents of my basket. "What is this?"

I moved the basket away from his prying eyes. "Food."

He laughed. "Only food? No toys, no jewelry? You know," he looked back where he came. "If you're looking for a new necklace I know just the man for you." He extended a hand and made a dark stone appear. "Very good stone for a very good price."

I tried to move around him. "Sorry, I have to go-"

He moved around me coming up on my other side. "Not impressed with precious stones?"

I raised an eyebrow.

"Oh," he almost giggled. "You're quite different from most women."

I moved to where I saw Julian last and froze. I lost him.

I cursed under my breath.

"Oh," he exclaimed. "A human curse word! Say it again."

I waved him away. "I have to go -"

He placed his bony hands on my shoulders. "It's been so long since I've been to the human world-what's it like?"

I shook my head. "I haven't been there in decades," I lied.

"Those humans," he continued. "They're so delicious." He licked his fingers. "Quite delicious."

I felt my stomach roll and my nose scrunched in disgust. "You're sick."

"Kay."

At the word, the man froze, his eyes wide.

I turned to find Julian. I hid my relief.

"You're not trying to pickpocket this girl here, are you?"

My lip curled just as the man laughed. "Another, Lord Curran? Third this month!"

Julian raised an eyebrow. "You're keeping track?"

The man bowed but I felt it was more mocking than sincere. "Apologies, my lord, I am just observant, you see. For instance, your girl she carries no money. She must not be the help, maybe nobility, a Lady even."

"Yes," Julian sounded bored. "She's with me and I have the money. All of it. In my Lord pockets." He smiled. "Would you like to have a check?"

The man laughed. "No, no, no threat needed. I value my hands too much to have them cut off for stealing from a Lord, you see." He gave a flourishing bow. "I am leaving."

Julian gently pushed me forward, this time making sure I was close to him. I felt the reassuring hand on the middle of my back.

"Kay," he finally said with a low voice. "Is a lesser faerie, mostly without power. Harmless, just pickpockets."

I looked back to where he previously stood and found him gone. "He's creepy. He said humans are delicious."

Julian shook his head. "Don't listen to him."

"Is that what faeries do? Eat humans?"

He looked at me with a raised eyebrow. "Friends with the King all of these years and you're asking that?"

I shrugged. "Damien had his secrets. Anytime I'd ask he'd get moody and avoid the subject. So I stopped asking."

He rubbed the stubble on his chin. "Well if you were human at the time, I can imagine his hesitation at telling you the real role ..."

I waited expectantly.

"We don't eat humans but we do feed from them. Their fear, mostly. Their lust more than anything a very symbiotic relationship - benefits to both the faerie and the human." He turned to me. "Don't look at me like that."

I must have had a look of either disgust or shock. Or both. I shook my head. "Sorry. I didn't mean to. Are all faeries like that?"

He shook his head. "No. Only in the Underworld."

I'm not the exception, Em, you are, Damien's words echoed In my head. "No wonder he didn't want anyone to know about me."

He finally turned down a less crowded alley. "He did a good job of keeping you a secret that's for damn sure. As the king's favorite human many would have been curious about you. Faeries, vampires even werewolves." He took my hand and my next step was in the large hall of the home we appeared in earlier. Not an alley but the proper marble floor of the house.

My head was spinning but it wasn't from spectering. "They're all real?"

He didn't stop as he walked through the hall. I followed him as he made a turn down a hallway on the first floor. The light of the day illuminated the halls and I realized the light of the sconces and chandeliers were all turning on as we walked past them.

"Yes," Julian answered. "All real, though we're the ones that live on a parallel plane along the human world. We're magic, they are not. Some though, not many, venture to our kingdoms and live alongside us in harmony."

"Amazing," I breathed. "Will I get to meet one someday?"

He shrugged as he started to turn into a modern kitchen. "Maybe."

The kitchen was all stainless steel and black with expensive looking countertops. It was the kitchen of my mother's dreams.

I placed the heavy basket on the large island of the kitchen. "So, what's the balance lesson with the basket?"

He turned and looked at the basket full to the brim of groceries. "Oh, that? That wasn't a lesson. I just didn't want to hold it - too heavy."

[A/N]: please let me know what you think! Please comment/vote or even send me a message. I'd love to hear from you!