(Circe's P.O.V)

I woke in my own bed for the first time in days, having dragged myself there after realizing that I couldn't simply sit outside his door all night, wondering what on earth was wrong with my life. I hadn't bothered to turn on the light when I had entered, so the repairs to the room had escaped unnoticed by me.

Now, blinking tiredly and sitting up in my bed I looked around the room in wonder. It had been entirely restored, there was no longer a gaping hole in the wall. My piano had not really been damaged in the first place, thanks to a certain someone having enough common sense to bolt it to the floor.

The wood of my room had been painted a lovely creamy white and, with some surprise, I noticed a new door in the wall, almost directly opposite the one that led out into Obsidians room.

Kicking my feet out of bed, my night gown swirled around my feet as I made my way over to the mysterious door. Upon turning the knob I let out a delighted laugh. The door lead out, right to the back of the ship, where a small balcony had been built, with wooden carved railings. I ventured outside, clinging to the railing as the familiar sensation of a swiftly moving ship came back to me.

We were moving! We must have set sail last night and I had just been too tired to notice. We were well out of the fog, I could see the thick shadowy mass moving swiftly away from us, although it was still a prominent feature in the distance. The water was calm and smooth and we were cutting through it quickly, although there appeared to be no wind.

Strange ... I thought to myself.

Princess. You are awake.

Rearing magnificently out the water like a great white sea serpent, I came face to face with Unabonan, his sudden appearance making me stumble back in shock. I didn't think I would ever get used to the look of these giant creatures.

Water poured steadily off his hard white scales and he created a bigger wake than the boat as he twisted easily through the water, keeping pace with no effort. He blinked a great white eye at me and huffed out a little steam through his seashell shaped nostrils.

Anthemin has been waiting for you to arise.

Is he alright? I asked worriedly.

Unabonan snorted delicately to the side, spraying out a load of sea water and what looked like a fish, which hit the water with a smack and quickly swam away. His shook his great head from side to side.

Irritating creatures.

His head sank a little bit lower into the water until only the top half of his head was visible, his eyes trained on my face.

He is well Vanima. He is just concerned with the amount of energy you used yesterday on healing Half-breed child.

Don't call him that, I thought angrily. His name is Cobalt.

Unabonan did not reply, instead he sunk completely below the waves and disappeared from sight.

I stepped back from the railing, feeling a little apprehensive and a lot of angry, even though our conversation was as short as short could be. Cobalt was worth just as much as anyone else. So what if I had chosen to use alot of energy healing him, that was my choice.

And it was a good choice Vanima.

Anthemin?

Yes.

I know it was a good choice, but he doesn't seem to share the same opinion.

Prince Unabonan is bound to Prince Zalas. Anthemin's words whirled around my head, his voice calm and strong.Their opinions tend to be the same about alot of things. It is not worth disrespecting a Dragon for.

Shame clogged my throat and I swiftly changed the subject.

Where are you?

Out on deck Vanima, come, get dressed and join me.

Giving one last look at the retreating fog, I hurried back inside, closing the door behind me.

* * * *

Out on deck, I was surprised by the amount of people running around, preforming various tasks. Obsidians room had been mercifully empty and at a glance he was no where to be seen.

"Circe!" Nathaniel's face appeared over the railing that surrounded the poop deck. He disappeared, only to reappear seconds later, hurrying down the stairs. "You're awake!"

I smiled, walking into his hug and he wrapped his arms tight around me.

"Where did you sleep last night?" I questioned, my voice muffled by his arms.

"On one of the Air Kingdom Ships," He replied. "I didn't really sleep though, I was up all night."

I pulled back so I could look at his face, concern flickering across my features. "What kept you up?"

He shrugged. "Oh you know, I just have a busy brain." He stroked my cheek with one hand. "Nothing to worry about sis. It's a beautiful day and we have finally left that damned fog behind, what do you want to do today?"

"I don't know," I said honestly. "Anthemin wanted to see me, so I came outside."

Naddy took a step back from me and pointed behind him. "Well he's right there if you are looking for him."

I peered over his shoulder and caught sight of the young dragon who was curled on the deck. The Pirates were giving him a very wide berth and he let them, eyeballing them ferociously whenever they got too close. His head snaked around and he caught my eye.

Princess.

I hurried over to him, stopping slightly in front of him and bowing slightly. He inclined his head in return and I moved forward to touch his head.

How are you? Did you sleep well? I linked and he huffed, steam blowing from his nostrils.

My sleep was adequate. I do not like being at a disadvantage to these people though. They do not trust me aboard their ship.

I stroked the softer scales around his eye and he hummed in content.

Oh my poor Anthemin, I thought sympathetically. Would you like to go and stretch your wings?

His head jerked up and he shuffled his wings, making the ship rock and causing the crew to send him dirty looks which he returned.

I would like that very much Princess.

I nodded my head, and then a thought occurred to me. "Oh!"

What is it?

"Nathaniel?" I called out, looking behind me to where my brother still stood. He took a step forward, question in his eyes.

"Yes?"

"Do you know if Cobalt has woken yet?"

He shook his head. "No, I heard the girl talking to the older man this morning, she said he hasn't stirred."

Worry gripped at my heart. What if he never woke? I nodded, bitterly disappointed, tears threatening to spring from my eyes. "Okay," I said. "Let me know if you hear anything, Anthemin and I are going for a ride."

Unable to look at him I leapt onto Anthemin's back, nestling down in the dip in his neck. Pressing my body against his smooth scales I whispered into his ear.

"Let's go."

His agreement resonated through my mind and he spread his wings, lifting himself off the deck with one powerful flap, tendons and sinew straining as we left the world behind.

Up in the air I felt better. We soared high above the ships, gliding on the warm currents of air, taking the time to get to know each other a little bit better. There was one question that I had been dying to ask Anthemin since we had left the Air Kingdom.

Anthemin, I began, unsure of how to approach the subject.

You can ask me anything Princess, He linked, sensing my discomfort.

Why ... why did the Dragon King refer Zalas his Son?

I felt Anthemin breath out underneath me and we soared up a little higher.

That is a very sacred subject Vanima.

You said I could ask you anything, I replied reproachfully.

I did say that. He paused for such a long time that I thought he was not going to continue. He referred to the Prince as his Son, because that is exactly what the Air Prince is. He finally said, his voice resigned.

What? I was confused. How can that be? I don't ... I don't understand.

Anthemin leaned slightly to the side and we picked up speed, leaving the ships behind. He beat his wings powerfully and we swooped low to the water, breaking the calm surface as he lowered a claw, dragging it through the water as we flew with exhilarating speed.

The Prince is half Dragon Vanima. He appears to be human but he has a Dragon inside of him. I know only the legend, it happened before I was born, but Zalas and Unabonan are brothers. The bond that they have runs blood deep.

As I tried to process his words, I vaguely noticed a white mass in the distance that seemed quite familiar. As it were, my mind was so full of questions that I couldn't quite place it.

How is that even possible? I wondered incredulously. Air Sprites can't mate with Dragons.

Anthemin's voice was serious. No they cannot, it is unnatural. I suppose I will have to explain right from the start for it to make sense.

I nodded and he continued.

When the Earth Kingdom was banished, the Dragons were left extremely untrusting of everyone and everything. Even the people of the Air Kingdom. They retreated into their cliffs, sealing off the tunnels and refusing contact with anyone but their own kind. The Air Kingdom suffered harshly because of this, they depend on the Dragons more than you realize, but now is not the time for me to explain that.

The Air Sprites lamented the loss of their Dragons, their idols. They mourned and the city grew dark. The Queen could not stand for the separation between the races, especially after all the Dragons had done for her. They had kept her from death when the Air Pendant was created and she was suffering more than anyone else.

So she approached the Dragon Kingdom, her pleas reaching the ears and the heart of our King. As the legend goes, she pleaded with him, begging him to let the Dragons roam free with the Air Sprites once again. To stop going against nature. They were meant to be together, she said. Their races were meant to live in harmony. She would do anything to prove that to him.

Anthemin's voice grew hushed in my mind, and I realized his amazement at his own words.

My Mother said that the King looked her dead in the eye then.

Anything? He asked.

Anything, was the reply.

So he touched his snout to her stomach and both the Queen and the King began to glow with a white light, that pierced through the sky, blinding everyone with it's glory. And when the light died down after two days and two nights, the Queen was collapsed on the Dragon Kings back, clutching an egg, larger than any seen before and covered with the markings of our history and our future.

When the egg split open, inside there lay a boy and a Dragon, both conceived through magic, and born to bring our races peace with each other. The boy was half Dragon, the Dragon half Air Sprite. Our races merged as one, and symbolizing the unbreakable bond between the Dragons and the Air Sprites.

Since then, it has been rare, but Dragons have been known, only one other time in fact, to link to an Air Sprite and form a bond. A bond that is unbreakable and reinforces the link between our kind. You and I are only the third pair to link in history.

His voice grew soft in my mind, his affection for me swirling around in my mind.

We are special Vanima, you and I. We are bonded together for life. I will never fail you.

Nor I you, I thought, powerful emotions rushing through me at his words. What a beautiful story.

I couldn't believe that such things were possible, the loyalty the Queen had for her people could be equalled by no other. I wiped away a stray tear that had slipped down my cheek.

It is a beautiful story, Anthemin thought tenderly, his emotions mirroring my own. It is incredible the lengths that Queen Airocei goes to for her people. It is no wonder that she is loved by all.

Yes. I thought. She is truly amazing.

Yes. He thought. And now I believe we have reached our destination.

I looked down and gasped in delight. While I had been listening to the story, we had flown further, leaving the ships far behind and now the white mass was below us, separating out and instead of one massive clump, the individual flowers made themselves known. I reached out in delight although we were still high above them.

Oh Anthemin, please fly lower, I must touch them again.

As you wish Princess.

The need for the flowers was so strong that I was almost compelled to dive off his back. My necklace burned longingly against my skin as Anthemin complied, swooping lower and in one smooth motion dove into the water.

I was prepared for the hit and clung to his scales so I was not forced from his back.

We surfaced and I laughed in delight. The water was just as welcoming and warm as it had been on our journey to the Air Kingdom and it swirled around us as Anthemin treaded water, shaking lilies off his head and twisting his neck around so he could look at me playfully.

I thought you could use some time to get your energy back. We can stay here for as long as you want, the ships will catch up to us by nightfall.

I laughed in glee, adoration rushing through my body as I leapt from his back and onto his head, wrapping my arms around his snout and dangling off him. My clothes were soaked but I did not care and I squealed as he flicked his head up, causing me to fly off, high into the air.

I shrieked in delight, my leggings splitting down the middle as I felt my legs merge for the first time in far too long. As the water came back down to meet me I spun in the air so that I made the dive head first, my tail slicing through the water last. I took a deep breath, feeling the clean rush of oxygen through my gills. What a feeling.

I quickly discarded my shirt and flicked around in the water to where Anthemin swam towards me, fully submerged, his wings tucked into his sides and his claws striking powerfully through the water. He still looked incredibly graceful, if a bit out of place and we broke the surface at the same time.

He rolled onto his back and bobbed about like a giant white whale, blowing water out of his nostrils as he did. I swam up to his head and tickled his ears.

Thankyou so much for this. This is just what I needed. I thought sincerely. And it was. After being away from the ship for so long, and then returning, only to be bitterly disappointed by the one person I had thought most of while I was away ... well it was fair to say that upset had not adequately described what I was feeling.

He gave me an upside down dragon smile, which was rather toothy and quite ferocious.

You're welcome Vanima.

He left me to my own devices for most of the morning as I swam through the water for a while, just enjoying the sensation that I had missed so much. Every now and then he would ask a question of me and I of him. I told him much about my family and my life back at home, eventually, with the sun now high in the sky, we lapsed into comfortable silence, content with soaking up the warmth and enjoying the water.

I was fascinated, once again with the beauty of the underwater life in these waters. The suns rays pierced through the gaps in the lilly pads, creating beautiful lines of light in the water and the fish, so bright and colorful, swam in and out of the sun spots, their scales reflecting the light and creating beautiful patterns on the ocean floor. I could not wait for dark, when their true colors would shine. Anthemin had said that the ships would reach us by then and I wondered if we would be able to stay in one place for the night, it would be wonderful to show Nathaniel the wonders that these waters held.

I remembered with fondness, the fishing trips that we would embark on when we were younger, and my talent for catching the biggest and the brightest, and his talent for catching not much of anything.

I chuckled. Nathaniel had not understood my need to set them free at first, but eventually he began to see, he would swim with them for my entertainment. That was a time where the water petrified me, when staring into it's depths chilled me to the bone.

I swam deeper, never straying too far from Anthemin who had found a very different appreciation for the sea life. He was floating on his back, trying to catch fish with the spike on his tail. Every now and then he would spear one and then he would give it a giant flick, sending the fish through the air and into his cavernous jaws. I could feel his satisfaction at his own cleverness running through our link every time he chomped down on another morsel.

Rolling my eyes I couldn't help but smile. Dragons.

I touched the sparkling sand at the bottom of the ocean bed, fish swam around me in their many numbers and if I squinted, I could make out the dark shadow in the water that represented the giant coral reef, not too far away. I looked back up to the surface, giggling underwater at the comical sight that was Anthemin. All I could see of him was his back, the spikes that decorated his spine was catching the attention of alot of the fish, every now and then his tail would appear, swishing around in the water, disrupting the many lilly pads that floated around him.

I struck out for the surface, spinning through the water as I swam upwards, extending my arms above my head. The feeling was so incredibly relieving that I simply could not describe it.

My head broke the water and reaching out, I picked up another lilly, cradling it gently in my hands. I had been moving through the ocean slowly, picking up flower after flower and marveling at their beauty. This one was no exception.

The flower began to glow brightly, the yellow tendrils in the middle waving around as though they had a life of their own. The light heated up my hands and I exhaled as a rush of pure energy entered my body, clearing my senses, enhancing my vision and causing the pendant that lay against my collarbone to glow bright white blue.

It was an amazing feeling and I felt no boundaries as I had before. I knew myself better now and I did not know when I would have a chance like this again. I pushed as much of the energy as I could into the pendant and it sucked it all up, seemingly insatiable. My long hair swished around me, the tips of it beginning to glow softly beneath the water.

Making my way over to Anthemin, I noticed that he too had begun to glow with a subtle luminosity, his white scales lighter than the flawless lilly petals.

Do you take in energy like me? I thought curiously, touching his side and feeling the energy within him humming under my hand.

Yes, came the reply. These are Dragon Lilies Vanima. He rolled over, half submerging his head in the water, keeping his nostrils just above the surface. I sensed a certain amount of humor in his tone.

Dragon Lilies?

They are named so for the incredible amount of power that they store. And also because we were the ones that gave them that power.

I titled my head to the side, intrigued by this and eager to hear more.

It's no coincidence that they grow so close to our Kingdom Vanima. One of the ancients swam through here before the Kingdom was founded. These were left in her wake.

He made a motion as though he was shrugging, his great shoulders lifting out of the water and back down, causing waves to break away from him, the lilies rocking gently, back and forth on the surface of the water. He took in my confused expression and rolled a great white eye.

Dragons are like no other Vanima. There is no explanation for our magic. We cannot control it, it just happens. And when it does, it is the most powerful magic that the world will ever see.

Flipping over onto my back I rolled his words around in my head. So much of my life I had always entertained the idea of control. That things were under someone's control, that our lives were already planned for us and we just had to deal with the hand we were given. Since I had been taken that fateful night, I had realized that there was control, and then there was the supernatural. The supernatural was on another level, things weren't controlled ... they just happened.

The way Anthemin talked made me realize that I was still learning, I had been expecting a reasonable answer to every question that I had thought up. But there was nothing reasonable about this. What was reasonable about a giant Dragon living inside a mountains for thousands of years? What was reasonable about a half Air Sprite and Dragon half-breed? What was reasonable about a Kingdom that floated in the air where Humans had always believed Heaven to be?

I flicked up my tail, twisting my tail fin this way and that, admiring the way the light from the lilies glinted off the scales. What was reasonable about the fact that I could grow a tail? And breathe underwater? Nothing, was the answer. Absolutely nothing at all.

* * * *

(Nathaniel's P.O.V)

"So you are Circe's brother?"

I looked patiently down at the little black headed girl, her bright green eyes shining with excitement. She had introduced herself as Lacy, the girl that Circe had picked up at a Pirate Port they had stopped at on their way to the Air Kingdom.

"Yes, I am her brother."

I was not an idiot, I knew her better than anyone else and I could see that she was deeply upset about something. I had no idea what it was about and when she had rather abruptly left on Anthemin I had respectfully kept my distance. She obviously didn't want to talk about it just yet.

However I had kept to my word and ventured into the ship in search of the boy that she referred to as Cobalt. I didn't know too much about him, apart from the fact that he was that prick of a Captains twin brother and I had a feeling that the Captain might have been at the root of whatever it was Circe was running from.

Eventually, after asking for directions a few times, I had been lead to his room by an elderly gentleman who told me to call him Hobbs. Mister Hobbs was sitting with us now, having come to check on Cobalt himself, and it was here that we also found Lacy. She had been tending to him all night she told us, her eyes flicking over me with interest. The boy sitting behind her had stood up at our entry, extending his hand to grasp my own firmly.

"Leonardo."

"Good to meet you, I'm Nathaniel. Circe's brother."

And it was there that the questions had started.

"So I suppose you know all about what she is then." Lacy looked inquisitively at me and I heard Hobbs clear his throat uncomfortably, sending Lacy a look.

She held up her hands in defense. "What? I was just asking!"

I chuckled. The girls version of 'just asking' had turned into an hour long conversation which had require me to answer many personal questions, including what my favorite food was and whether I thought that girls were equal to boys in terms of climbing up riggings.

"I know that she is half Water and Air Sprite if that's what you mean." I said, confused as everyone in the room exchanged glances. "What, did I miss something?"

Hobbs chuckled. "Just a little bit o' somethin' boy." He rubbed at his eyes. "Circe is part Siren as well."

"Oh yeah," I said, remembering now. "I did remember the Queen mentioning something like that as well. To be honest, it was alot to take in and I forgot alot of it." I blushed just a little at my own ignorance. "But it's not a big deal is it?"

Lacy snorted delicately at the same time as Hobbs let out a bark of laughter. "On the contrary boy, it be a very big deal, seein' 'ow it might also effect you."

My brow furrowed. "What do you mean it could effect me?"

Hobbs leaned forward, his eyes bright. "You're enterin' the world o' fantasy and dreams boy. Forget everythin' you knew before, it's all irrelevant now."

"What do you mean?"

"You'll see. Come nightfall you'll see."

I noticed that Hobbs seemed to have a habit of speaking riddles, it was quite frustrating but I didn't want to push him for answers. I would just have to be patient. Lacy bounced on her seat excitedly and as though it was contagious I felt her excitement spark inside of me as well.

"Oooo it's going to be so much fun!" She squeaked, clapping her little hands.

Hobbson smiled at her. "Yes it is."

The door suddenly burst open, disrupting the contented aura of the room. Much to my displeasure none other than the Captain stormed in, his expression furious.

"Where is she." He spat, his eyes taking in everyone in the room. "Why is she not in here looking after him?"

By him he was referring to the motionless figure lying dormant on the bed. Cobalt was looking alot better, Lacy had said, but he was still running a slight fever and had yet to open his eyes.

I was about to snap a reply when Lacy stood, spreading her hands out in front of her soothingly. "I don't know where she is but there is nothing to be done at the time being, Circe has done everything in her power, now it's up to Cobalt."

Obsidian seemed to barely register her words before he was in front of me, pulling me up by my shirt front. I wrestled away from him, scowling as I took a step back.

"Where is she boy?!" He roared, his hands clenching at his sides as though he was trying to refrain himself from grabbing me again. His eyes burned with something unearthly and I felt a twinge of unease in my gut.

"She left this morning with her Dragon." I spat, sending a glare from hell straight back at him. "Not that it is an of you Goddamn business."

He stepped forward then, closing the space between us without any effort, the hatred burning from his eyes staking me to my spot. I straightened as I tried to hold my own, but he towered over me in his rage.

"Everything to do with her is my business." He hissed vehemently. "Now get out. All of you!" He spun to face the rest of the room, the scar that cut through his face making him look all the more menacing. "Everyone but Lacy, get the fuck out!"

The look that Mister Hobbs gave me told me it wouldn't be wise to argue, and so, with my head held high, I left the room, the old man following me with Leonardo on his tail. The boy paused at the door and I heard him say something quietly to Lacy before he shut the door gently behind him.

He nodded politely at us before turning and retreating further into the bowels of the ship and a few seconds after he had disappeared into the darkness of the hallway, I heard a door click shut.

Hobbs was shaking his head as he lead me out onto the deck. "That boy." He grumbled. "Is going to be the death of all of us if Cobalt doesn't wake up soon."

"Nathaniel!"

I turned, pleasantly surprised to see Aranel walking towards me, her skirts swishing around her legs. I waved at her a little awkwardly and then immediately felt like an idiot. She came to a halt in front of us and cleared her throat, her gaze moving to Hobbs and a glimmer of recognition flickered across her face.

"You must be Queen Evangeline's right hand man, my Mother told me all about you, it is an honor." She gave a small curtsey and I stared at her in shock. I had never seen her be so polite before.

Mister Hobbs chuckled ruefully. "It would have been nice if such a pleasant welcoming had been extended at our first meeting."

An emotion that looked strangely like shame found it's way onto her face and she gave me a look out of the corner of her eye that clearly said that if I ever spoke to anyone about this I was dead meat.

Taking the hint I suddenly became very interested in a card game that two giant pirates were playing nearby. The two men appeared intimidating initially, but I soon realised (as one of them swore abrasively) that the menacing expression on their faces was largely due to concentration.
One of the men look led up, his skin was the colour of rich chocolate and he had what looked like a sharks tooth stretched through his ear. He smiled.
At his movement, his companion turned too, following his line of sight and raised a muscular arm, his finger bending in a beckoning motion.

Aranel was more terrifying than them, I told myself as I approached them slowly. To my surprise, the giant with the ear piercing asked, in a voice that sounded like gravel being rubbed together, if I would like to join them.

I agreed and one pulled up a barrel for me to sit on while the other dealt me a hand of cards. My ears were still tuned in however, to the conversation that was happening only a few feet away.

"I apologize on my brother's behalf as well as my own." Aranel was saying. "We meant only to secure the welfare of our people."

"Of course you did," Hobbs replied. "I understand and what is in the past is in the past. There is nothing to be done, I hope you realize however, if Cobalt does not recover, the Queen will be most displeased." his voice grew softer as he continued and he was momentarily drowned out as Giant 1 with the sharks tooth introduced himself as Samson.

The other giant was Jacob, Samsons brother. Both had been on the Pirate ship the longest out of any of the crew members which was a fact that they both seemed very proud of. I didn't voice it but it seemed to be coming clear to me that people did not last very long on this ship with the current Captain in charge.

Aranel's voice came back into hearing then. "She left this morning. Unabonan said that he talked with her briefly and she got a little upset. Anthemin flew with her, we saw them take off."

"We will reach them by sundown, I have no doubt as to where she is, they will be waiting for us." Came the reply. "I might go ahead however and see her. I could use the swim."

"Very well"

Samson leaned forward then, his eyes darting around the deck of the ship. "Never thought I'd see something like this." He ground out, his voice incredibly deep. "You know, with them Dragons and all."

I made a noise of agreement. "It certainly is a sight to behold."

Jacob grinned across the makeshift barrel table, showing a couple of golden teeth set crookedly into his gums. "I'd be surprised if we survive this one brother."

Samson laughed, slapping his knee as though the words held some humor for him. I couldn't find anything remotely funny about it at all. Jacob's words had been simple but as his brother continued to chuckle, his dark brown eyes caught mine, and although his grin did not fade, the laughter drained from his eyes until they were left empty and soulless, forcing me to look away.

A sudden hand on my shoulder made me jump and stand up suddenly, scattering my cards over the wooden boards.

"Easy there Nathaniel. It's only me." Aranel had finished her conversation with Hobbs and I looked behind her, just in time to see the old man sitting on the edge of the ships railing, his clothes on the deck. He turned and winked at me before slipping off the side of the ship, a green finned fish tail flicking through the air behind him.

My mouth dropped open and Samson and Jacob roared with laughter at my expression, Samson reaching up to cuff me cheerfully on the back, a blow that almost sent me flying to the opposite side of the ship.

"Welcome to our world boy." He chuckled, scooping up my cards that I had dropped and turning back to his game.

I looked around the deck but all of the other crew members seemed unaffected. Had they just seen what I had?

"Nathaniel." Aranel was tapping her foot impatiently. She disliked being ignored. "I need you to come over to my ship, I don't like leaving you here while Circe isn't about, and Zalas has cleared a room for you to have as your own."

I gaped at her. "Okay but ... did you just see that old man turn into a fish or am I going crazy?" I blurted out, sending Samson and Jacob into fresh hoots of laughter.

Aranel rolled her eyes and tugged on my arm without giving me an answer. "You'll see soon enough. Now come on."

* * * *