Chapter 3

Daryl cozied into bed, a cup of warm cocoa in her hands.

Beryl and Daff sprawled across the other side of the bed with mugs of their own.

“So, you’re a Half-fairy and you need to escape the hands of someone who’s trying to kill you.”

Her friend’s cousin nodded, “That’s right.”

Daryl watched in amazement. She could only believe what the pretty girl said owing to the large, deep-purple wings that looked heavy.

“Do,” she wanted to know more, “do you know other fairies or other- mythical people?”

Daff nodded with a pleasant smile, “I haven’t seen many types. I’ve only ever seen Elves, Merpeople and one Centaur one time.”

Daryl gaped, “What?! Where are you guys when I’m walking through the woods?”

Daff laughed, “Well, mom and I live in a cottage a little into the woods but most of my dad’s family live deep in the forest. They need to be surrounded by nature to stay healthy.”

Daryl nodded like that made sense, “And where did you see Merpeople?”

“We visit them every once in a while to keep touch.”

“In the forest?”

Beryl rolled her eyes, “Yes, Daryl, in the forest. They came crawling across the forest floor.”

Daryl threw up her hands in defense, “There are rivers and ponds and stuff, Beryl. Sorry for not being an expert on this!”

Daff had dissolved into giggles at her cousin’s comment.

Beryl laughed, “Maybe they need to be surrounded by water, you dummy.”

Daff nodded, “They actually prefer the depth of oceans. We come together to meet once in a few years. Picking an Island is ideal.”

Daryl raised an eyebrow as she chuckled, “So the humans are not invited when you have your little gatherings?”

The pink-haired beauty smiled, “Human are the domineering race. There are too many. It’ll be easy to destroy the other races or bring them into subjection so-“

Daryl nodded, dropping her smile at Daff’s sad tone, “Oh, right. Uh, you guys are afraid we might harm you.”

“Not all of you,” Daff smiled, “We’re just worried about your higher-ups.”

Beryl sighed, “Aren’t we all?”

Daff shook her head, “Mom is very popular among the merpeople.”

Beryl snapped up in surprise, “Aunt Agnes?”

There was a pleasant laugh from Daff when she nodded, “She suggests the most outrageous swimming challenges.”

Something about her tone of voice that indicated happy and silly memories put Daryl in a warm mood.

“What about your dad? You guys go together on your trips?” Daryl couldn’t help the question. Daff’s father seemed so mysterious and out of reach and yet, so closely related to the entire situation.

Daff nodded, “My dad is always close. Sometimes, he grows really frail spending too much time at the cottage and has to recuperate by flying back into the woods.”

“Flying, right.” Daryl looked over to give Beryl a look as if to say there was only so much she could take in a day.

Beryl laughed, “What about you, Daff? It makes sense why you wouldn’t visit much. How did I not see wings when you visited that Christmas?”

The half-fairy’s wings fluttered gently, “I can’t hide my wings until I get a good amount of sunshine and honey. Also, a lot more sleep than is normal.”

“So, if you get enough of those things, you can hide your wings?”

Daff nodded.

Daryl looked back at the warm chocolate in her cup. There was so much to take in but they had started to bond so quickly.

“We have our first day early in the morning, Daryl.”

Daryl looked up to see Beryl get off the bed.

“We can stay up a little longer, Ber.”

Beryl shook her head no as she reached to remove her facemask, “Any longer and we’ll be really tired tomorrow.”

Daryl shrugged, “I guess so.”

She looked over at the pretty girl who was chugging down her hot chocolate, “Will you stay at home tomorrow, Daphne?”

Daff and Beryl looked over in surprise.

“Wha- she can’t come to uni with us.”

Beryl laughed, “Her name is Daffodil. They’re Aunt Agnes’ favourite flowers.”

Daff smiled, “My dad used them to propose. I think he gets her a bouquet every month.”

Daryl felt her heart tug. They sounded like a cute family.

“It’s not a common name but it definitely suits you!” She gave the half-fairy a warm smile.

Daff smiled back, “Thank you, Daryl! Thank you for being so kind. I know my visit is rather sudde-“

Daryl shook her head no, feeling responsible for the girl, “It’s absolutely not. We love your company.”

She watched the girl’s widened eyes. Were they purple?

“You’re welcome to form part of our friend group for as long as you want.”

The waves tossed mercilessly in the moonlight.

Watching the inviting glisten on the waters, a boy stood at the very fringe of the sands.

It had been a week or more since he’d taken a dive.

Removing his hoodie, he tossed it away in the sand before thronging through the waves.

After a long pause, he took a deep plunge into the sea.

A burning spread through his chest before dissipating as he went farther and farther into the darkness of the underwater, legs rhythmically pushing back in strong motions.

As he made it closer and closer into the water, a pulsing rush of energy coursed through his body and he groaned, realizing how much he had really weakened over the week.

A new semester started the next day and the boy was determined to suck in as much strength as he could before returning to the beach.

He stopped pushing through the water and let his body drift through the space, feeling a force of power course through his veins. It felt good to be surrounded by the sea again.

The green streak reaching through his hair glowed in the dark of the water.

He sighed when he thought of the cute girl he’d seen that day. She had a cute nose and her hair had been pulled up into such a shabby ponytail. He smiled when he thought of her waving back to him, hesitantly and yet with so much confidence.

It was upsetting that there were so many people he couldn’t get close to; so many people he couldn’t completely allow into his life because of the secret he had to keep.

Thinking of the words of the professor, he sighed, watching bubbles rise up from his mouth.

Damon was on the move. The next few months would be tricky; maybe even dangerous.