I'll be lying if I say I don't feel guilty about disobeying Dad. He rarely ever restricts me in any way. That was part of why Morgan won custody over me, she convinced the judge that he allowed me too much freedom. But still, I just feel like I need to see what's at the top of the stairs.

Crickets chirp once I go into our tiny backyard and walk farther to the beginning of the stairway.A steady stream of water trickles down the stone steps, but it's not enough to saturate the earth. Still, I'm thankful for the boots I'm wearing. I take the first step up. Then the second. And the third.

Before I know it, I'm midway through the stairway. I can see Port Deposit below me, the city across the river, as well as the bright green foliage up ahead of me. Eagerly, I climb up faster with quicker steps. Soon I'm at the top, and I continue my trek through the woods.

I have no idea how much time has passed, but it can't be that much time. After all, if time were passing, wouldn't it be getting really dark? Here, it only seems to be like twilight. Actually, I think it's getting brighter.

The deeper I come into the woods, the more trees and flowers I see. I didn't even know flowers could grow this high, but here they are. So many flowers of every shade imaginable. The birds above are singing. Now, it's dim, but still bright in a way due to floating lights. It's beautiful here. Why would Dad have wanted me to stay away from this?

I'm feeling very thirsty for some reason, but luckily there's a stream near by. I look at the water and it's perfectly clear. Wow, who knew water could be this clean in nature? I scoop some up in cupped hands and raise it to my lips, but then I hear a loud shriek. My hands drop, and my eyes widen when I trace the sound to what made it. On the opposite bank of the stream, is a white unicorn.

The animal's coat is pure white, and it has a sliver mane and tail. A stark white spiraled horn protrudes from its forehead. After we stare at each other for a few moments, it nickers quietly.

This can't be real, I think. There are no such things as unicorns. Where the heck am I? Am I dreaming? I quickly pinch myself. Ow. I am definitely not dreaming this up.

I decide to just go along with my situation for some reason. What's the worst that could happen? "Hi, I'm Reyna," I say softly to the ethereal beast, reaching out just far enough to stroke it's nose. I expect it to jolt back and run, but it hesitantly lets me touch it's velvety nose. "What's your name?" I ask. Of course, I don't expect any response, but a deep voice disrupts my thoughts.

"My name is Acadium."

I jump back. "You- you just talked!" The unicorn snorts.

"What did you expect me to do? Just stare at you like a dumb animal?" How am I supposed to respond to that? The unicorn, I suppose he's male, begins to speak again. "Honestly child, you should know that unicorns talk. Look at where we are."

"Where are we?" I ask dumbly. Hey, maybe Acadium can tell me-

The white unicorn's eyes widen and he jolts back. "You, you're human!" I crinkle my eyebrows.

"Well, yeah. What else would I be?" The unicorn named Acadium shakes his finely sculpted head.

"You shouldn't be here! Human Reyna, you must leave at once!"

"But why? What is this place?" He lowers his snout to the bank of the stream, and a flower grows where he touched the soil.

"This is the enchanted forest, a large portion of the Land of the Fey." His golden eyes study me closely. "Although you seem human, you appear to have fey-like qualities... How did you come here?" Fey like qualities? What does that even mean?

"I came up a long stairway carved into a cliff from Port Deposit."

"Port De-what?"

"Port Deposit," I repeat. "It's a tiny old town by a river and railroad tracks-" he snorts.

"So that's what humans call it now. Port Deposit... I suppose that is a reasonable name. So close to the river, it's a port town. However, mineral deposits would wash ashore because the town was below sea level." I never knew that. I never thought much about town names before though.

"What did you know it as?" I ask.

"Young Reyna, there are many places between the human world and the Land of the Fey. We call these places "gates". But the place you seem to have entered from, is very old. We call it the Conestoga Gate because of the people who lived in the area." Acadium's golden eyes study me some more, and he shakes his head. "Still, you must leave. Time flows differently here. You've been here far too long already. It is approaching morning in your world. And our queen is fond of humans, especially pretty ones. For now, this world may seem enchanting, but don't let it fool you. It is vicious." Morning? Already? Oh no, I need to get back soon. Dad will be worried sick if I'm not there. And this queen seems a bit scary. But I'm still very thirsty.

"Okay, but I'm thirsty. I'll just get a sip, and I'll be on my way." I scoop up some water and pour it into my mouth. His eyes dilate and his nostrils flare.

"You can't drink the water! You're human! The water will bind you here!" He was too late though, for I have already swallowed.

"What do you mean? It's only water-" I don't get to finish, for I see two blue haired women burst from the stream. Acadium shrieks something at them, but they proceed to grab me by the arms and pull me into the water I thought to be only half a foot deep. Cool water hits me, and everything turns dark.