The dark-haired girl turned to stare at Killian, as though her black eyes had the ability to reach into his soul. There was no need to explain our appearance, for it was evident Cleo had already been watching us. She was searching for the details of our interaction with Ms. Ludwig.

  “Nothing of importance,” I responded.

  “You must learn to mind your own business,” added Ariadne. “I’m sure you have more important matters to concern your little mind.”

  “You’re a strange girl, Ariadne Moss,” remarked Cleo. “It is no wonder that people avoid you.”

  “It is better to be strange than it is to be arrogant,” retorted Ariadne.

  Cleo rolled her dark eyes before fixing her gaze on the features of my countenance. There was a mixture of unexplainable fear, hatred, and envy in the air that surrounded her cloaked figure. The dark-haired girl loathed the admiration the Four Elementals had earned from the people of Aisling. She despised the light that had penetrated through the darkness of the realm. The Lennox family had developed a reputation for the betrayal that flushed the happiness from the heart of their home. A hidden part of my spirit pitied the pernicious girl, for it was evident her soul contained a terrible sadness.

  The sky revealed a valley of sodden gray, which released the tears of the gathering clouds. My sister closed her eyes and allowed the raindrops to stream down her pale face. She did not regard the storm as an impediment on our journey, as the sunlight never failed to follow our path.

  Clear puddles of rainwater were beginning to form around our boots. Despite the casual conversation that floated through the air, I was subconsciously aware of the electricity that dwelled in Cleo’s heart. Her power had the ability to send a series of lethal shocks through the water. There was a darkness in the Gift that flowed through her veins, as she did not care to embrace the beauty of her individuality. The majority of the Lennox clan had been Gifted with powers of the common categories; however, the dark-haired girl was the first rarity in her extensive family. The teachings of Wolfgang Gregory had survived the passing of several centuries. Cleo Lennox was nothing more than an outsider in her own house, for her Gift was nothing of the common sort. She was a peculiarity, and she wanted nothing more than to reclaim the acceptance of her clan.

  “I suggest you meddle with the issues of your own character,” sneered Cleo. “You are swift to underestimate the potential of darkness.”

  The teenage girl stalked away through the gathering puddles of rainwater. Her leather boots were silent as they trekked across the cobblestone road. We departed from the magical village with an unsettled feeling in our hearts. Nothing could replicate the memories of my first day in the village of Willowcrest, as the realm had transformed several times since then.

  CHAPTER SEVENTEEN

  The next morning arrived with the haste of the golden sun. Although my eyes were suffering from a terrible lack of sleep, my ears did not fail to hear the footsteps of my sister as she wandered through the halls of Macnas Manor. The events of the previous afternoon had failed to provide my mind with the answers it deserved. Our friends had been quick to blame us for the actions of our late grandmother. A part of my mind agreed with the doubt and uncertainty of my Gifted companions. I was unable to think of a logical reason behind Orinthia’s decision to hide the details of Fionn MacMillan’s disappearance. The passing of time had tangled the truth into an inseparable knot, and the reality of the realm was crashing down on my shoulders.

  The morning sun disappeared as a sudden thud sounded from the other side of the closed window. My consciousness was jolted awake with force as my heart pounded against my chest. I glanced up from the shelter of my heavy quilt. The figure of a slender human was accompanied by the wingspan of a gigantic bird. For a brief moment, I was convinced an angel had replaced the stone gargoyles of Macnas Manor. As I slipped out of bed and hurried across the floor, the character tapped on the window.

  The familiar brown hair and blue eyes of Kade O’Reilly greeted me as the glass swung open with the breeze. My friend folded her wings against the back of her long dress. She was struggling to catch her breath in the foggy morning air. A thin layer of dew streamed down the dark feathers of her wings.

  “Good morning, Kade!” I smiled between an obvious expression of concern. “Are you well?”

  “Yes, yes, I’m fine,” replied Kade. “I heard about your encounter with Cleo Lennox. That girl is nothing more than a bundle of trouble, you know.”

  “Yes,” I responded. “Who told you?”

  “Ronan,” said Kade. “He seemed to be quite concerned about you.”

  “What are you talking about?” I inquired. “Your brother was not with us on our journey to the village of Willowcrest.”

  “You’re right; however, he was visiting the bookstore in the middle of the marketplace,” explained Kade. “My brother was a witness to your meeting, although I told him such a detailed description could only be provided by an observant stalker. You must understand my family does not trust the Lennox clan.”

  “Of course,” I responded.

  “I must admit I envy the friendship you have developed with my twin brother,” said Kade. “Our lives have been so busy! It is difficult to find the time we need to read under the shelter of a tree. Ronan talks about you quite often, you know.”

  My friend was watching me with gentle eyes, searching for the faint blush that tinted my pale cheeks. Although my face did not care to reveal the truth, there was a lovely spark of happiness in the depths of my heart.

  The floor squeaked under the weight of gentle footsteps. After a moment of silence, my sister appeared in the doorway of the chamber. She was clothed in a blue dress and leather boots. Her long hair was braided away from the edges of her face.

  “Kade O’Reilly,” Emery greeted our winged friend. “What brings you to Macnas Manor?”

  “Nothing more than the pleasure of your company,” responded Kade. “Although I must admit your family is the topic of the local gossip. The students and professors of the Academy for Gifted Youth are quite interested in your return to the realm of Aisling. There are many people who believe the Hanley sisters are destined to exile the Lennox clan.”

  “That is the stuff of nonsense!” I exclaimed. “There are many reasons for our return to Macnas Manor, but I must assure you the Lennox family has nothing to do with the matter.”

  “Oh, you needn’t explain anything to me!” laughed Kade. “I believe the rumors were started for the amusement of a few immature students; you mustn’t take them seriously.”

  My sister released a sigh of relief as she stood on the tips of her leather boots. There was a troubled glint in her eyes. A faint trace of dark circles rested under her blonde lashes, indicating the lack of sleep she continued to endure. I was beginning to imagine the purple veins had transformed into the lavender fields that swayed on the border of the White Birch Forest. There is always light to be found in unexpected places.

  Kade O’Reilly joined our family for a lovely breakfast of wild berries and pancakes. The teenage girl was unable to keep her thoughts from escaping through the tireless voice she wielded. She spoke with a high melody, which attracted a small gathering of songbirds on the edge of the open window. My parents were eager to bid our friend farewell as they hurried to the path of the seaside village.

  “Your family is very hospitable,” Kade spoke as the front door shut behind footsteps of haste. “But I must inform you the dining table is literally frozen.”

  Our Gifted friend has spoken the truth. The corners of the mahogany wood were dusted with a thin layer of frost. A sheet of ice had formed under the porcelain teacups and silverware. My sister was slipping from the edge of consciousness.

  “Emery?” I whispered as my freckled finger poked at her shoulder. “Are you falling asleep?”

  Emery suddenly sat upright and opened her eyes with an expression of bewilderment. She stared at us for a long moment before a wave of realization flooded her pale face. “Don’t you dare laugh at me!” she snapped. “I believe my mind has decided to live in the world of my dreams.”

  I was silently thankful for the control I had gained over the actions of my elemental Gift. This was not the first time my sister had subconsciously frozen her surroundings. I did not care to imagine the burning disaster that would follow such a habit in my own character.

  “I haven’t been able to sleep at night,” sighed Emery. “It is no wonder my eyelids are falling during the waking hours.”

  My tired sister eventually retreated to the sanctuary of her bedroom. The morning light promised to ward off the strange nightmares that tormented her fanciful imagination. She longed for the dreams that imitated the reality of her life. The fair-haired girl abandoned the daylight that danced across the dark floorboards, as she did not care for the lavender bouquets that had formed beneath her lashes. The purple flowers were destined to be tossed away with the summer wind.

  Kade O’Reilly followed me into the colorful garden that rested beside the old house. It was difficult for us to picture the wild blossoms that had been tangled around the stone walls. The touch of gentle hands had restored the brilliance of life to the depths of the vibrant petals.

  “I’m concerned about your sister,” confessed Kade. “She has been acting quite odd, and I have noticed she is not engaged in conversation.”

  “I believe Emery is suffering from nothing more than a lack of sleep,” I responded. “We have struggled to become acquainted with this ancient home; Macnas Manor is nothing like the little white farmhouse that we grew up in. Despite our love for the realm of Aisling, this summer has brought many challenges to the Hanley family.”

  “I understand your situation,” said Kade. “Ronan and I did not grow up in Aisling, but we never felt content in the normal world. Our spirits are bound to the home of our ancestors. All Gifted people must eventually return to their rightful place, for we do not belong in the world that stands beyond the portal.”

  Although I did not agree with every word Kade O’Reilly had spoken, there was a spark of truth in her airy voice. The realm of Aisling was home to the Gifted people, who preferred to live in a land of kindred spirits and extraordinary dreams. Even so, there was a wonderful beauty to be found in the life that danced beyond the enchanted portals.

  The afternoon was settled across the silver clouds of the cerulean sky. My sister eventually awoke from her hours of sleep, and joined us for a picnic in the valley meadow. Our arms were heavy with baskets of fresh berries, lemonade, and delicate sandwiches. A wreath of wildflowers was placed upon the crown of my ginger head.

  It was difficult to imagine the dark mysteries that lurked in the shadows of the realm, as the sunlight seemed to penetrate through all of our worries. The lavender bouquets had disappeared from the pale skin that surrounded the eyes of my twin sister. The dark circles were replaced with a crinkled smile that warmed the corners of my heart.

  “Do you remember the night when we found Juniper Stone?” I suddenly inquired.

  “I remember the terrible fear that filled me when you disappeared from the castle,” murmured Kade. “I believed you had suffered the same fate as our elemental friend, but the headmistress explained you were searching for the wild-haired girl. I was foolish to hold such a terrible grudge on all of you.”

  “It was frightening,” said Emery. “I’ll never forget the moment when we found Juniper in the shelter of the moss. It is strange to think she cannot remember the attack that occurred in the dark forest.”

  “The Creatures of the Night Oak Forest were nothing more than a reflection of the doubts and uncertainties in our hearts,” I murmured. “There are more than single traces of courage and hope in our souls. Although we did not realize it, we have always possessed the ability to overcome the forces that threaten our Gifts.”

  We eventually came to a lovely willow tree, which wept on the edge of the emerald meadow. The sunlight dappled the floral tapestry we spread out across the earth. A small group of droplet faeries peered at us from behind the shelter of the tree. They gleefully accepted our offering of wild raspberries and fresh scone crumbs.

  “Do you know anything about the activity of the Order of Birch?” questioned Kade. “There are seldom meetings at Castle Moss, and I believe there must be a significant reason for the gatherings that have recently occurred.”

  “I don’t know any of the details,” I responded. “But I must admit the situation is a bit peculiar. I’m surprised Zara Hawthorne has not spoken to us about the matter.”

  “Few people have heard from the headmistress of the Academy for Gifted Youth,” said Kade. “Ariadne informed me that Professor Hawthorne has not been visiting the library at the Moss Shop. As you can imagine, this is quite unusual. There are many rumors about her engagement in the meetings of the Order of Birch.”

  Our fingers were stained with the colorful pigment of wild berries, but our cheeks were marked with freckles of amber and gold. The droplet faeries had resolved to stealing our tiny sandwiches, and the glass jar of lemonade was swiftly emptied in the summer heat. We conversed for several hours under the shelter of the willow tree; however, our winged friend eventually stood up and stretched her dark feathers.

  “Well,” said Kade. “I really must be going. My brother will be disappointed to learn I have excluded him from my visit to Macnas Manor, although I’m sure you will see him soon enough.”

  My sister flashed a glance of amusement in my direction as she gathered the baskets into a neat pile. I did not answer with an expression of annoyance, as my eyes attempted to ignore the childish smiles of my companions. As Kade spread out her iridescent wings, a series of extraordinary shadows fell across the moss. After a moment of staring with round eyes, the droplet faeries hurried back to the shelter of the White Birch Forest.

  A sudden flash of light exploded from the edge of the emerald meadow. Kade shielded her face with the strength of dark wings, while a piercing scream escaped from my sister’s lungs. Several moments before the terrible sound, the forest had fallen silent, although conversation had distracted our minds from the concerning lack of birdsong. We dared to glance up at the violet-haired figure that stood before us.

  “Violet Holloway!” I greeted our friend. “I believe you have scared the life out of us!”

  “I apologize.” The girl smiled with eyes that never settled on the pigment of a single color. “I’m traveling to the village of Willowcrest, but my portals are always scattered when my mind is racing. I hope you will forgive me!”

  “Are you in a hurry, Violet?” asked Kade.

  “Oh, yes!” she replied. “Grayson Fields will be visiting the bookstore, and we are both searching for the last novel on the summer reading list from the Academy for Gifted Youth. There is a single copy in the shop, but I have been unable to transport myself to the village.”

  “Perhaps I can assist you,” said Kade, gesturing to the wings that promised to carry her home.

  “You’re positively brilliant!” Violet exclaimed as she came to a halt on the colorful tapestry.

  We watched with eyes of wonder as our feathered friend began to take flight. The force of her wings tossed my red hair to the care of the summer breeze. The evening sunlight streamed through the silhouette of her peculiar figure. There was a brief moment of silence before the brown-haired girl picked up the tapestry with a swing of her long arms. My sister gasped as we tumbled into the hands of the colorful fabric.

  “If you drop this blanket, you will experience the wrath of my flames!” My voice shuddered as we peeked out from the corner of the floral cloth. The treetops fluttered past us with an unsteady rhythm. Our friend was carrying the weight of our bodies with freedom and strength. The Gift of flight had provided her shoulders with wings that equaled the size of an adult griffin.

  “I will not allow you to fall,” Kade reassured us.

  “I don’t know if we should trust her,” whispered Emery. “Kade is quite a daredevil, and I believe this stunt is destined to have a terrible result.”

  “I can hear you!” snapped Kade.

  The evening swiftly transformed into a deep lavender twilight. It was not long before we arrived on the edge of the village of Willowcrest. My muscles were tense from the continuous swing of the tapestry in the air. As we were released on the ground, the world seemed to unfold with the decorative cloth.

  “I believe we have arrived before Grayson!” exclaimed Violet. “I must bid you farewell, but I have no doubt we will meet again soon.”

  The purple-haired girl tumbled out of the picnic blanket and jumped to her feet. Her bright eyes flashed with the colors of the Aurora Borealis. We exchanged a momentary embrace before she hurried through the crowded village. The cobblestone road sparkled with the reflections of stained glass windows.

  Our winged friend was late for her curfew. A radiant smile shone from her freckled face as she traveled into the distance. The sky was painted with the marvelous hues of the setting sun. Although our footsteps did not have the ability to carry us home before dark, the weight of the baskets was light.

  CHAPTER EIGHTEEN

  The month of August arrived with the scent of saltwater and wild foxglove. The passing days reminded me of the approaching schoolyear. Crisp leaves and fresh pumpkins promised to replace the burning heat of summer. Several weeks had passed without a word from the Guardians of Aisling. Although my sister’s nightmares had dwindled with time, the mysteries of Macnas Manor remained in our thoughts.

  The early morning mist sprinkled across my face as my horse carried me down the seaside trail. The faint droplets of water vanished with the heat of my skin. Sunlight streamed through the treetops of the ancient oaks that lined the road, and new blossoms replaced the wildflowers of early summer.

  Felicity suddenly raised her head and turned to stare at the waves that crashed on the sand. A ginger creature was approaching us from the edge of the water. The little fox glared at the chestnut mare with an expression of annoyance.

 

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