"You're dying?" Ariel said slowly. Autumn nodded, avoiding her gaze and Ariel's eyes narrowed. "Are you just messing with me right now? Because leaves die in winter and crap like that?"

"Well, technically that's true," Autumn said nervously. She lifted her hair, which was still hiding the right side of her face. Ariel's stomach dropped. There was a hole in Autumn's face. The leaves had disappeared and she could see more leaves inside. "I really am dying."

Ariel shot up, slamming the bedroom door shut. "What the hell?" she hissed. "Why hasn't the Doc found a cure for you yet?"

"Because there is none," Autumn said. "I've known the Doc and his family since I was seven years old and they have worked relentlessly to find one, but I told you once before – not all curses can be cured."

It was suddenly too difficult to breathe. "How can you be so calm about this? I mean... just how?"

"I've come to terms with it," her eyes were beginning to redden and she looked down at her lap. "I've known for awhile now that I probably wouldn't survive this winter."

"If you know, then why are you still here?" Ariel exclaimed. "You should go home and be with your family and the people who love you!"

Autumn shook her head. "I don't want to go home."

"You don't – but – that's stupid!"

"My parents can't cope with it," she explained. "My mother is what you call a drunkard, and my father is so busy with his job, he prefers that I stay here and get the care I need."

"Surely they would drop everything though when they hear that you're...you know?"

"I've told them," she played with the hair covering her face. "The Doc helped explain to them my situation, but they said they couldn't come."

"What the hell?" Ariel screeched. "What kind of parents do you have? I thought my father was a bastard, but he sounds average compared to your parents!"

"I've barely lived at home since I was cursed. For thirteen years I've either been here with the Doc or living with a carer in Sweden. The carer had to quit because of family reasons three years ago, and since then I've been here permanently."

"I can't believe this," Ariel whispered, collapsing onto the bed. "This is just bullshit."

Autumn shrugged. "I don't blame them." Ariel glared at her in disbelief and she continued. "I was cursed because of my father's job. He's a member of an organization called the Paranormal Investigation Unit. They are like the Police of the paranormal world, I guess. He upset a gang in Sweden and they kidnapped me, wanting to trade for a member of their organization the P.I.U had arrested."

"Holy hell, but your Dad get you back, clearly. Ariel breathed.

"Yes. He was second in command at the time, but the man in charge refused to negotiate. So my father got his own team together to get me out. The gang had a witch working for them, however and before they could get to me, she gave me this curse."

"That doesn't explain why your father doesn't have time for you now." Ariel argued. "I mean if he was willing to go against the rules to get you back, then why suddenly stop caring?"

"He never stopped caring!" Autumn snapped, and Ariel was shocked at the change in Autumn's demeanor. "He was just scared. After that job he was promoted, but he was scared that if other criminals knew about me, they would try to kidnap me again, or something else would happen to me – so he kept me away, to keep me safe.

'He loves me," she said, more to herself than to Ariel. "He does."

Ariel touched her arm, tensing when she felt the leaves beneath the fabric move. "I'm sorry. I didn't mean to imply he doesn't care."

"I know," she whispered, shooting Ariel a smile. "I do wish I could see them, though."

"Then call them," Ariel pressed. "If you can't go to them, then make them come to you, even for a day! Amelia can bring them here. Tell your dad you want to see him!"

The door opened and Emily rushed in, smiling. "My brother is coming to visit me tomorrow!" She said happily, oblivious to their conversation.

"That's great," Autumn said.

"Yeah, cool," Ariel replied. She gave Autumn a pointed look and she sighed, mouthing, I'll call.

The next morning Ariel ran into Michael and Samson in the kitchen. They were standing over the bench, both reading the front of the newspaper.

"Morning," she poured herself a glass of water. "Anything interesting in the paper today?"

"Indeed so!" Samson exclaimed. He made some space for her to take a look. The heading read, Tourist found dead. Ariel glanced at the picture below. A balding man in his early forties stared back at her. Judging from the quality of the image, it appeared to be a copy of his passport photo. There was something familiar about him, but she couldn't put her finger on what it was. She glanced down at the beginning of the article. 'On Tuesday evening, tourist Simon Cantanelli was stabbed on Swans Lane. He was declared dead on the scene by parmedics... skimming over the content, she read that a knife had been found at the scene, and police were investigating to find the culprit. For the whole story, turn to page 3...'

Samson tapped the photo with his finger. "I can't recall the last time Bilbury experienced something like this! It will be best if you stay away from town for a few days, they will all be quite excited by the event."

"Not sure excited is the word I'd go with," Ariel frowned, looking at the photograph. Why did he look so familiar? "I'd say you're the one that's excited, Samson."

"Oh, no no," he fussed, grapping his cup of tea. "I'm merely thinking of the people of Bilbury." Taking the paper, he walked into the dining room, still talking of the last time the town had seen any sort of excitement.

"Sammy must be pretty bored, if he's this excited about a murder," Ariel said, using Amelia's nickname. Moving past Michael, she grabbed a clean glass from the sink. Michael stared out the window, his face pale, looking the opposite of Samson; confused and afraid.

A memory triggered and she remembered the day she went to town with Michael. She'd seen a guy speaking Italian when she'd wandered to the playground. He'd given her a bad feeling. It was him, she was sure of it. She glanced at the man beside her. Was he part of that Michael's syndicate too?

Quietly, she slipped out of the kitchen and knocked on the Doc's office. Amelia's voice mumbled through the door and she entered, closing the door behind her. Amelia was sitting at the Doc's once neat and orderly desk. Papers were scattered about, with folders and books piled dangerously high at the edge.

"Hey, kid," Amelia rubbed her eyes, smudging the corner of her left eye. "Did the Doc ever tell you about his system?"

"System?" she asked, momentarily thrown by the question.

"Ya know, for organizing everyone's cases. His Dad and Grand daddy all did it the same way, but apparently he had a new way and never taught me! How am I meant to therapise you when I can't even figure this out!"

On her last word, she hit the table in frustration, and the pile of folders scattered onto the floor. Ariel bent down and started helping to pick it all up. Grabbing everything and shoving into one pile, she paused on an open folder that had Kestral's name on the side. There was a diagram of her wings, with notes on certain parts, querying what was causing the decay. No magic, read one theory and another said, unable to withstand the human world, with the word 'human' underlined three times. It made sense. Lainie had told her faery stories about how they couldn't survive in our world. Something about the pollution and metal eating away at their flesh. It would explain Kestral's ugly wings.

"Hey!" Amelia snatched the file away. "Don't be peeking at other people's cases."

"Sorry."

Amelia placed it on the unstable pile, rubbing her head. "What did you want? I didn't think there were any sessions today."

She hesitated. "There isn't."

"Well?" Amelia waited impatiently, shoving the pile back onto the desk as it started to teeter.

"The man murdered in Bilbury," Ariel forced out. "He's one of those syndicate guys, right?"

Amelia's eyes snapped to her. "How do you know that?"

"I didn't, but you just confirmed it." Amelia winced. "Also, Michael was looking freaked out in the kitchen just before. Since he's a member, it would make sense..."

"How do you know that?"

Ariel glanced away. "I heard it somewhere..."

"Wow, you got yer nose in everything, don't ya? If you know what's good for you, you'll leave it be and pretend you know nothing about it."

"But if Michael is stealing parts of us –"

Amelia held up her hand. "I don't even want to know how you know that. Look," she lowered her voice. "Yeah, that guy was part of the Crossed Curses. He specialized in black market trading, so it certainly fits in with some of ya kids bits and pieces going missing."

"So Michael is behind it?"

"I never said that," Amelia snapped. "He's bloody well linked to it somehow though. Now you get along and forget everything I said. It's nothing you need to worry about."

"Why tell me if you want me to forget?"

She opened her mouth to reply and froze. Sighing she slammed her fist on the desk and the pile collapsed back onto the floor. "Because I'm an idiot, aren't I? I recon I can trust ya to keep ya mouth shut though, am I right?"

Ariel had a feeling she wasn't being asked, so much as subtly threatened. "I know when to keep my mouth closed."

"Good. Now away with ya, I need to figure out a new filing system."

After lunch, Ameia disappeared into town with Samson. The older man had protested going into town in the middle of an investigation, but Amelia didn't give him much choice as she shoved him out the front door, arguing that she would hide his scales.

Emily's brother, David arrived in a beaten up Volvo that could be heard from three miles away not long after their departure. Still getting ready, Emily had urged Ariel to go and let him in.

Well over six foot, he had the appearance of a guy who spent all his time at the beach; tanned, beach blond hair that looked like it was still drying after a dip in the ocean and fit. He wasn't as tan as the guys back home, but Ariel guessed he was probably pretty sun kissed by England standards.

"David!" Emily rushed past her, crashing into her big brother as Ariel closed the door. He grinned, wrapping his arms around her and spun her around.

"Hey Squirt. You alright?"

She nodded, beaming. Ariel couldn't remember the last time she'd seen Emily look so happy. "I'm good."

Emily dragged him off to show him their room and the rest of the house. Ariel went outside to sit with Autumn, who was feeling strong enough to brave the elements. She seemed convinced that it was going to start snowing soon and she wanted to see it when it did.

Ariel shivered, wrapping her jacket tighter around her as Autumn picked at the plate of cheese and biscuits on the table. "You know you can see snow from your bedroom window."

"I know, but feeling it on your fingertips is the best. Trust me, you're going to love it."

"I'd rather take your word for it," Ariel replied grimly.

Lucas soon joined them and Ariel resisted the urge to sidle closer and absorb his warmth as he took the seat next to her. She put some cheese on the crackers and passed them to him. "Have you ever seen snow?"

He nodded. "Once, when my family went up to Canada over summer break."

"See, that just doesn't make sense," Ariel protested. "Summer break should be spent in sunshine, not in the cold."

Autumn was telling them about the snow back in Sweden when Emily and David joined them. Ariel knew she wasn't the only one surprised to see Emily outside. She wasn't even wearing any of her protective gear. She must really want her brother to think she's doing well, Ariel thought.

"Hey guys," Emily pulled on David's arm. "This is my brother, David."

She worked her away around the table with introductions, but David's eyes became glued to Lucas. Ariel could see the fear and wariness in his expression. Her jaw tensed as she felt Lucas stiffen beside her.

Oblivious, Emily started to sit down next to Lucas but David pulled her back. "Let's go back inside," he said strangely.

Ariel saw the relief flood Emily's face at the thought of going back inside, but she quickly smothered it. "Are you sure?"

"Yeah," he said, pulling her away.

Lucas stood quickly. "It's okay, I'll go – "

As he stood, David yanked Emily behind him, his body stance becoming defensive. Emily flushed as she finally realized why David was uncomfortable.

"It's okay, David, Lucas is..." she trailed off, not wanting to upset Lucas further, but the damage was already done. Ariel saw his shoulders hunch up, his neck all but disappearing into his chest.

"It's fine, Em," Lucas said quietly. "I'll head back inside."

As he stepped away, Ariel grabbed his arm, pulling him to a stop. "No you won't. You'll stay out here with us."

Her body felt hot with anger. Standing up, she glared at David. "Do you have a problem with him?"

David glanced between her and Lucas. "Well, yeah. I mean look at him."

"I don't have to look at him," she snapped. "Because I know him. You don't, you judgmental bastard –"

"Ariel," Lucas growled in warning.

David stepped back at the tone in Lucas' voice and Ariel's anger grew. "You ignorant prick! You're afraid of the wrong person if you think he's the one you should be worried about!" She stepped closer, her scar burning and she slammed her fist into it. She knew she looked insane, but she didn't care. If it freaked him out more then good. "I'm the one that will rip your eyes out if you keep looking at him like that –"

"Ariel, enough!" Large hands grabbed her waist, lifting her up. She tried to break free but Lucas' grip was too strong. They started to move away and she slapped his hands as they walked around the side of the house.

"Put me down! I'm not finished talking to him yet!"

"Yes you are, if you say anything else Emily's going to start crying."

Lucas didn't stop until they were in the front yard, outside the front windows. Putting her down, he stepped back as she breathed heavily.

"If she did cry, at least it might remind him of why she's here, and who's fault it is that she's here!"

Pacing, she stepped by the Volvo and kicked the front tire. Wincing, she rubbed her toe, hearing Lucas snort.

"Laugh it up, big boy," she muttered.

"You do realize that's exactly what you were like when you first arrived?"

Whipping her head up, she flushed at the amusement twinkling in his eyes. "Shut up! I remember, you jackass. You didn't have to remind me."

The front door opened and Zeke walked out. Seeing them both together, he started.

"Not time," he muttered. "Not time..."

Walking back inside, he closed the door loudly and they both stared.

"I swear he was semi-normal when I first got here," Ariel said.

"I think the Doc has got him working on something difficult," Lucas replied. "He spends all his time in that shed these days. I think it has something to do with his research."

"Research?"

A clouded look passed over Lucas' eyes. "Yeah, I can't remember where I heard that though. Someone said he was doing research for the Doc."

"Whatever, he needs a break before he cracks for good. There's enough nutters here without adding him to the mix."

Lucas grinned. Looking back to her it faded into something gentler and Ariel felt nervous. "What?"

"Thank you. for before."

"Don't mention it, and stop looking at me like that. It's weird."

"I'm not looking at you like anything. This is my grateful face. I know you're not used to seeing people grateful..."

"Shut up, jerk."

Something cold and wet touched her nose and she jumped. Touching her nose, she looked up at the sky, expecting rain.

Barely visible, small flakes of snow drifted down to meet them. Another one touched her cheek and she stood up in wonder.

"Looks like Autumn was right about the snow," Lucas said.

Holding out her hand, Ariel watched as the flakes gently landed on her palm. Her anger and annoyance melted away and she smiled, trying to catch more in her hand.

"What do you think of your first snow?" Lucas asked, coming to stand beside her.

She looked at him, laughing in amazement. "I love it. Don't tell Autumn she was right."

He looked away, stretching out his own hand to catch the snow. "Deal."

Hi guys! First of all, I'm sorry that this has been so long a wait. Stuff has been happening and I hit a huge wall, so I went back to catching up on my own reading, because reading always helps right? :D It helped me anyway lol. I've been listening to Nina Nesbitt for inspiration (after all, she is my inspiration for Ariel lol). Any other Nina Nesbitt fans out there? Let me know what you think, and thank you all for your patience!