"Witch-child."

I turned my head from my boyfriend to the stranger. I knew he was talking to me, but it still felt like I couldn't breathe. The man tipped his head towards me.

"NO!" Monica yelled as she rushed forward.

But it was too late.

Easton blinked in surprise at where Saria had been, just seconds ago. His heart raced as he took a step forward. No Saria, no little beast and no uncle Argyle.

"Argyle!" Monica yelled frantically as she spun in circles. "NO! Bring her back!" Warm tears ran down her face as she put her hand over her heart. "Please." she whispered, her voice cracking.

Easton ran his fingers nervously through his hair. "Fuck." He whispered still in shock. A lot about Saria was starting to make more sense.

I looked around in confusion. Tiger lept off me and stretched lazily before rushing off into the woods. I turned slowly to take in my surroundings, but not an ounce of fear filled my being. I knew this place. I turned my head to the east upon hearing the waterfall. I felt my heart soar at the familiarity and comfort. I looked to the left and for the first time I saw the castle from my paradise up close. A castle on a hill that I had always thought was simply a figment of my imagination. A castle I thought I had envisioned to fill in the picture of my ideal paradise.

I finally turned my attention back to the tall man. He was huge. Huge not in fat but huge as in height and bulky muscles underneath his forest green jacket. He had on khaki colored pants and big brown leather boots. And now he was watching me. His eyes taking me in, not having spoken a word.

I couldn't speak either as I lifted my eyes and our gazes locked.

Eyes.

Identical.

My heart vibrated at the last confirmation I needed to the questioning in my heart at the first sight of him.

"Aye, know you who I am?" His voice was low, a bit rough as if he wasn't used to speaking. He took slow measured steps as he walked around me.

I swallowed hard, feeling like a nervous 5 year old girl. "Are you...my father?" I asked. Even my voice came out squeaky and cracked.

The man seemed satisfied after inspecting me. He finally stopped walking and stood before me. "How old are you?"

"18." I replied nervously. I looked down, too anxious to meet his eyes.

He crossed his arms over his chest and absently scratched his beard. "Aye, witch-child...you are well?"

I nodded. "My name is Saria." I stated.

I saw his mouth twitch in amusement. "I'm not too good with names aye....Saria." He replied with a twinkle in his hazel eyes. "Name's Argyle."

I nodded. "Hi."

We stared at each other in silence for a couple seconds before he nodded at me. "I knew not of you witch-child....Saria."

I nodded again. "Okay." My heart raced as an inexplicable desire to be hugged by him, covered my entire soul. "How did...how did you find out?"

He put his hands in his pockets and walked away slowly. I took that as my cue to follow, so I took a couple steps behind him. He held his hand behind his back as he strolled. "The queen said she saw my magic in you."

My eyes widened. That day she'd asked if I was Monica's daughter. She'd known. Maybe that's why she'd seemed so shocked. Not just because she knew my mother, but she'd figured out who my father was. In fact, I remember she'd left quite abruptly.

"Which brings me to the fact that you don't seem too surprised by your current surroundings." He looked back to see if I was following.

I nodded. "I uhm...it looks like my paradise."

Argyle stopped abruptly and turned around so fast, I stumbled back.

Had I said something wrong? My heart raced as I took another step back.

He cocked his head to the side. "Your paradise?" He whispered intrigued.

I nodded and swallowed hard. "Uhm...yeah...uhm but not...i mean this castle, I've seen it from far off. I just...I just didn't think it was real." I pointed in the direction we were going. "The sounds, the temperature..." I turned around. "It's all exactly the same." I pointed to the waterfall. "That waterfall, I know it. I have the same one...or I think it's the same..." I trailed off.

"You've been here?" He asked curiously.

I shrugged in confusion. "I think...i don't know...I mean my paradise is my own little world so it's weird...i mean Tiger was the only thing I could bring with me...he seems very familiar with it." I pointed to my cat, currently lapping up the sparkling water from the river flowing through.

"How?"

I turned my focus back to him and shook my head. "I don't know...I just....I think of a place to escape and recharge and I just appear there."

Argyle lifted his hand out of his jacket pocket, and moved something between his fingers that he opened up to show me. "So I'm guessing you won't be needing this." He revealed the midsize ruby to me.

I stared at the stone and slowly opened up my own palm. My ruby ring materialized in my palm. I took the gold ring with the ruby stone in the center and slowly slipped it on my pinky finger. "I too have a ruby....it's my mother's."

"Is it?" Argyle asked in amusement.

I lifted my eyes to him.

I looked down to see the ring slip off my finger on it's own and literally fly into his opened hand. My eyes widened as he brought it up to his face as if to inspect it. He smiled. "Your mother stole it."

Oh shit. That was not what I expected to hear at all. I watched as he put the ring in his palm, along with the midsize ruby and closed his hand. He opened it and my ring and the ruby disappeared. Holy fucking shit, my mom was a thief and I had just gotten caught with stolen jewelry.

"Aye witch-child." He turned around and started heading in the opposite direction from the castle and now towards the waterfall. "That is between your mother and I."

"I'm sorry." I whispered following him like a little kid. "I didn't know it was yours."

Without turning around he answered. "It's yours."

I looked down at the ring that had materialized even bigger and brighter on my left index finger. I gasped and looked up at him in shock. I took the ring off and put it back on my index finger again just to make sure it was real. "Thank you." I whispered.

Argyle stopped again and slowly looked back at me. "Is this it?"

I burrowed my eyebrows in confusion. "Uhm...yes, it's a little different though..."

"Because you're in my paradise." He put his hand out as if to usher me. "Let the land know you want to enter yours."

I blinked and took a hesitant step forward. "Uhm...." I stared at the waterfall and the forest around it. My bed wasn't there, nor was the beach anywhere near. So maybe I was mistaken. Well...I didn't want to look stupid in front of my new found dad. I took a couple more steps forward. "Well uhm...if we maybe go around this water------" the land seemed to shimmer as if in a mirage and I saw my beach and I could make out my bed. "fall..." I froze in place and turned to him in fear.

But he smiled encouragingly and nodded. I took the next step through the shimmer and entered my familiar paradise. My grand bed, exactly how I left it. the sound of the waves crashing against the beach, the perfect white sands, the dolphins jumping in the background. This was it.

I turned around in confusion but the castle we'd been heading too earlier was once more far off, on a hill like a painting.

Argyle stepped forward admiring the view. "Aye nice..."

I turned to him slowly. "This whole time." I whispered looking back at the castle on the hill. "This whole time...we....were....we were in the same...same place...." I could feel my emotions rising. If I had been curious and adventurous enough, I could have....I could have met my father sooner?

Argyle chuckled. "This world is full of our ancestors." He put his hand out and spread it in the sky. My mouth dropped as a huge rainbow appeared. "From one edge of the rainbow to another. Most are now spirits who protect the realm from outside forces. But those like us who still breathe are fortunate enough to have our own slice of heaven to reside in."

I kept staring at the rainbow, still mesmerized by it's colors.

"We prefer our solitude our kind. You could have walked your entire paradise and never have found me, and I the same." Argyle continued. "But now." He turned to me. "We shall always find the other."

My heart skipped as the first thought that ran through my life, was damn, my life is better than a 90's lifetime movie. The second was that I wanted to cry. Then joy. And finally the anger set in. This wasn't fair. This wasn't fair. How? How could she lie to me? To us? How could....this entire time? My entire life?

I turned to look up at him. Man, he was a freaking tall man. "She lied to me." I squinted up at him. "I thought I was just one of those people who didn't have a father. And I was like fine, that's life----but I do. I do have a dad and he's a fucking fairy!"

Argyle twitched his nose in amusement at her use of the word fairy.

"And people are dying---"

Argyle frowned and turned fully to her. "Which people are dying?"

"Fairies!" I put my hands in front of me and waved them. "Everywhere, fairies, at school... I don't know...BUT I DON'T EVEN HAVE MAGIC....I don't have magic." I gasped. "I need magic...but no, come to find out, my dear old mom lied....she lied to me." I stomped my foot. "I could have been a much cooler human being!"

I panted as I ended my rant.

He stared at me, blinking several times. I stared back at him, matching his gaze.

"Why are people dying?" He asked calmly as if I hadn't just acted like a ranting spoiled teen, in front of a man I just found out was my  father in less than 5 minutes.

"I don't know." I shrugged relunctantly. "I don't."

He scoffed and turned around seemingly unstatisfied with my answer. But then he shrugged nonchalantly and walked on. "I don't care."

My mouth dropped. "People are dying." I jogged after him. Man big man, big steps.

"People die everyday witch-child. They live, they fuck, they die."

"But we need to do something." I pleaded, bumping into him and almost falling all the way back at the impact. I hadn't seen that he'd stopped.

"Oh, you have a plan." He nodded. "Aye, little one, now we can negotiate."

My mouth dropped open as I stared at him blankly. He waited patiently, his hands behind his back. I took a deep breath and slowly exhaled. I put an index finger up. "Okay, so I don't have a plan yet....."

Argyle turned back around and continued walking.

"Yet." I insisted as I resumed following him. "But none of that matters if I don't have my powers!" Once again, I almost propelled back as I bumped into at the abruptness of his stops. Why didn't he just stop...no he just kind of stopped before stopping, it was strange, it was as if he went a step and a half back in time to stop.

"That I can make a wager." He said happily, revealing his diamond encrusted top molar.

"Uhmm..." I trailed off in confusion.

"Little witch-child..."

"Not that little."

"If I unleashe your powers, what will you give me?" He questioned, tilting his head to the side.

"Uhhh..." I swallowed hard. "Uh....what does that mean? Like...what do you want?" I asked him.

He scratched his beard and peered down at me.

I blinked back in embarrassment, geez, this man was intense.

"A loc of your hair."

"A loc of my hair?" I whispered back in confusion.

Argyle nodded. "Aye witch-child."

"To get my powers back?" I questioned slowly.

Argyle nodded. "To get your powers back."

"Wait a minute---" I shook my head. "How do I even know if you can get my powers back. My mom is a badass witch, so if she put a spell on me where I can't do fairy  magic than, I promise you---"I gasped as a quick flash of heat passed through me and my vision went blank.

Hello?

Gasping, I felt thrusted forward, so I put my arms out as if an earthquake had occurred.

but I was still right there. I looked around hesitantly,

He put his hand out as we continued walking across the beach. "Loc."

"I don't even have scissors or a mirror, how can I even---"

"Then allow me." He moved ridiculous fast for such a tall guy. In a flash he had a very plump twist out in his hand and a small glistening knife in the other.

I reached behind to touch the hair he'd chosen. "Oh damn! Can you half that, that's such a thick piece, I'll be bald." I protested as I dug my finger to separate the twist out and pulled it forward. "Okay but don't make it so-----"

He sliced a piece about the length of my thumb. 

"Obvious." I wasn't happy but couldn't complain.

I Watched as he reached into his pocket and actually pulled out what I believed to be a pocket watch. I strained my neck to try and see as he opened the golden ball at the end, but all I saw was him put in a piece of my hair and close it.

What was he going to do with that? Should I have done that? I fluffed the back of my hair to make the cut strands blend back in with the rest of my hair.

When he turned to walk again, I quickly jogged after him. "Uhm dad....sir....mister...."

Argyle stopped and turned once more.

I slid to a stop this time only a hair away from bumping into him, but I didn't. That's the victory.

"My powers."

He twitched his nose and looked up at the sky squinting against the sun. "Paint a rainbow." He stated simply and turned around.

"What?" I blinked in confusion. "What does that mean, paint the rainbow? How do you paint a rainbow?" I called out to him when I saw he hadn't stopped. "This is going to sound really dumb but I know you don't mean with paper and colors."

"You're right it was really dumb." He responded. "If thou are my blood. Yar shall paint a rainbow." He shimmered away as I stared dumbfounded out into the ocean.

"That doesn't make any sense." I whispered sadly as I stared at the spot he'd once been.

Argyle appeared in front of a wall. He put his hand out, his palm vibrated blue lights, filling the hollowed lines of the wall. It suddenly cracked and disappeared, opening up for it's master. Argyle stepped into his throne room, ignoring the almost floor to ceiling chests of treasures that lined up the walls. He sat down on his gold throne and propped his leg up on the emerald stool. Reaching into his pocket, Argyle slowly lifted out his pocket watch. He smiled as he ran his fingers over the intricate carving.

Tiger meowed and jumped on Argyle's lap. The infamous Prince of Greed, patted his aging cat as his palm enclosed over his pocket watch, the object completely disappearing in a blink. Argyle smiled as he stared at his now empty hand.

"Saria...my daughter."

**

The man stepped out elegantly from the shadows, his cape brushing past the tub.

Whitney gasped as she shot up out her bath. Her hand out, mouth open, but her magic was countered at the exact same time. The intruder's pale white hand with the long black nails almost brushed hers as the force emitted from both hands crashed.

"Now, is that a way to treat a guest." The stranger took a step into the light. "Headmistress Silva."

The elf's eyes widened in disbelief. "King Luciano..."

King Luciano smiled and waved his hand. Dragging the naked, soapy elf across her bathroom floor. "You seem surprised elf." He stated calmly as his black Italian loafers paced itself towards her. "Are you asking yourself however did I make it through that fire?"

"You haven't been welcomed----"

"Oh but I have." King Luciano grinned as he spread his arms out. "I have my pretty, pretty little elf."

Headmistress Silva, shot up but King Luciano sped to her, grabbing her hair as he tilted her head back. Fangs extracted, veins running down his face, and his usual purple eyes now a deep gold, dipped in red.

"I will take pleasure in the awareness of the fact that you have lost." He tightened his hold painfully on her hair as he whispered in her ear. "I have not forgotten what you've done." He growled. "I will destroy everything and anything your ancestors helped build. I want you to see it. I want you to weep. And then I'll tear your fucking heart out of your little fucking elfen chest." He spat and yanked her back forcefully so she sled across the room.

Headmistress Silva wiped the blood off her chin and chuckled as she got up. "You're scared. You haven't fully recovered." She stated. "Your magic is weak----"

King Luciano threw his head back and laughed loudly. He tilted his head to her, if he wasn't so fucking evil, maybe the spark that had ignited between them 200 years ago, could have turned into something. He appeared in front of Whitney, his red lips almost brushing against hers as he spoke, his head tilted down to her. "Don't you just love it when I keep you guessing?"

"You have 10 seconds to leave this campus." She ordered, her eyes swirling.

"You have 10 seconds to tell me the werabouts of my son." King Luciano threatened.

It was the split second hesitation in her eyes that caused him the most pleasure. "Oh...oh so you do love when I keep you guessing." His seductive smile could make you take your clothes off and drain yourself for him in mere seconds. He grabbed her neck. "I cannot sense my son in this world. So you have 10 hours to retify that or I will rain hell on all your fucking fairies."

Headmistress Silva gasped as she stared at her now empty bathroom. "FUCK!" she yelled in frustration as she ran to grab her bathrobe. She waved her hand and rushed to her side office. She slammed the door shut and angrily dialed on the screen. A blue translucent screen popped up.

"Yes?" Queen Gayle responded as soon as her face flickered into view.

Whitney took a deep breath as she tried to compose herself. "Your highness, you owe me an explanation."

Queen Gayle lifted her chin. "I don't owe you a single thing."

Whitney clenched her jaws. "An entire race without the ability to lie is filled with nothing but liars." She gritted angrily.

Queen Gayle kept her composure and cleared her throat. "Are you expelling my son?"

"There were conditions to your son's entrance into this campus." Whitney continued. " I will not deny that I was vehemently against it to the council of elders. But I kept your promise. You may have charmed the rest of the fairies but you cannot charm an elf. I have not forgotten the monstrosity of his kind."

Queen Gayle clenched her jaws. Her shoulders back, icy blue eyes piercing the elf. "He is half fairy." She replied.

"He is the spawn of a demon to all beings." Headmistress Silva replied.

Queen Gayle shot out of her seat in defiance. "You elitest egotistical bitch." She whispered angrily. Warm tears of frustration ran down her cheeks. "Don't you ever fucking talk of my son in this manner again."

"Save you fucking war speech, because your fucking son gave daddy dearest access to fucking fairytown!"

Queen Gayle blanched.

"Oh! Oh!" Whitney cried out mockingly. "You weren't going to tell me his father was King Luciano were you? No, absolutely not. So how do I find out? The fucking demon himself shows up! HE IS SUPPOSED TO BE DEAD!"

Queen Gayle shook her head. "That's not possible." She panicked. "He doesn't---he doesn't know him." Her voice cracked. "Easton doesn't know him!"

Headmistress Silva chuckled in disbelief, tears of frustration at the corner of her eyes. "You stupid, fucking, fairies...."

**

"Have they returned?" Headmistress Silva demanded as she stormed down the hallway.

The two teachers she summoned followed her quickly.

"Uhm no." Professor Tallulah answered. "But they're teens, they're probably using that time for---"

"I want Prince Easton immobilized on sight." Headmistress Silva ordered.

Professor Merryweather and Professor Tallulah looked at each other briefly in confusion. "Whitney." Professor Merryweather stepped forward. "That's the royal prince, we can't----"

"He is not one of us." Headmistress Silva cut him off sharply. She took a couple steps and sighed before turning around to the two professors she'd summoned. "Look, I know you two believe in the royal family and what they did for Merryweather's parents. I know your loyaltlies lies with the Queen."

Professor Merryweather and Professor Tallulah looked at each other sheepishly.

"I can no longer allow you to play favorites. There is no room for second chances here." Headmistress Silva explained. "We gave him a chance and he betrayed us." She whispered intensely. "Do you know who has access to every single part of our campus?" she asked them seriously. "Do you?"

"Headmistress Silva, I know he's half vampire." Professor Tallulah spoke up. "I know the history of his kind." She shook her head. "But he's just a scared kid trying so desperately to belong---"

"You lied to me!" Headmistress Silva whispered sharply to them. "He was there that night!"

"He's the only reason those girls were still alive!" Professor Merryweather whispered back. "He's trying!"

"He manipulated you!" Headmistress Silva replied. "Control of the mind is his greatest gift."

Professor Tallulah shook her head. "He's frightened. He's just like all the other kids. I've seen it. 19 years locked away----"

"His father is King Luciano." Headmistress Silva cut her off with a dry chuckle.

Professor Talluluah's face dropped.

"Yes." Headmistress Silva nod. "King Luciano." She turned to Professor Merryweather. "Remember him?"

Professor Tallulah's eyes dropped to the ground.

"He's the same monster who drained your entire village, because your grandfather told him...no." she reminded Professor Merryweather, who clearely did not need that painful reminder as he looked away.

"So you're aiding the son of a man, who countless times has tried to destroy your kind...." She lowered her voice. "Just for the sick pleasure of the high."

Professor Tallulah looked away painfully.

"And I for one. Can not allow my son to love a couple who is willing to destroy him." Headmistress Silva continued.

"We would never hurt Cosmo." Professor Tallulah whispered emotionally. "You know that."

"Then listen to me carefully." Headmistress Silva commanded. "King Luciano has access to our entire campus."

Professor Merryweather blanched at her words and he slowly turned to his mate.

"Gather everybody." Headmistress Silva nodded. "This is King Luciano we're talking about. Wether or not Prince Easton returns, this monster wants to spill blood. He wants revenge and he wants war."

Professor Tallulah shook her head. "That's----that's not possible...."

Headmistress stared at her coldly. "Should have thought of that before aiding his son." she turned, her heels echoing in the hallway.

**

"Paint a rainbow." I whispered, hugging my knees as I sat on the white sand. I looked down once more at my hands. It looked the same. I even felt the same. A little hotter actually but still the same.

Great.

Leave it to me to have a strange huge red-haired man for a dad who clearly was not all together there. He seemed like a lone wolf. I smiled as I looked down and drew in the sand. It was like he was too cool, to hang with anybody. He didn't dress like a dad. I mean, my friends dads dressed like dads. Then again my friends dads weren't fairies.

I chuckled.

"Argyle." What a strange name. I had a father. I really had a dad. I smiled brighter. All this in less than two months. I find out I'm a fairy, I have a vampire boyfriend and a fairy dad. I'm like every preteen girl's wet dream.

"Paint a rainbow." I whispered, drawing the lines for the rainbow in the sand. I smoothed my hand over the top, red lights started to shimmer on the white sand. I stopped for a couple seconds and stared at my hand. I smoothed over the same spot again and a vibrant red curve formed. My mouth dropped. As I went ahead and smoothed my hand below the red as a streak of orange left my fingertips. I gasped and hurriedly filled in the colors of the rainbow.

I stared at the white sand and my vibrant rainbow art, the colors seemingly wanting to come alive. Not knowing what I was doing I reached down and lifted the colors as it materialized in my hand. The rainbow in the palm of my hands.

"Paint a rainbow." I laughed softly. "I fucking just...." I shook my head and spread my arms. "A rainbow!" I threw it up and gasped as it soared all the way up and widened, placing itself under the rainbow my dad had made earlier.

I laughed out loud in shock. "WHAT!" I covered my mouth and squealed.

Argyle lifted his head and looked up as if he could see through the marbled ceiling. He smiled and patted Tiger. "She put her first rainbow in the sky." He whispered proudly.

**

"Yeah and so , she asked me to bring her to my paradise." I explained as I playfully held the electric lights surging through my fingers.

"You seemed to have made some nice friends."

I turned my head to Argyle, sitting on the log, staring out over the cliff at the horizon.

I nodded and closed my fist to make the light disappear. "So what do you want me to call you?" I asked. "Argyle?" I offered up.

"Argyle is fine." He replied. He squinted at the horizon.

I nodded and sighed as I stared off at the beautiful sunset. Unable to help myself, I looked back down at my hands, just for fun, I willed it to glow. It felt so natural. As if, I had known what to do all along. This flow of energy coursing through my body, just knew what to do. I moved my hands around as I made a ball of light.

Argyle watched from the corner of his eyes but did not interrupt until she put the ball out. "We should head back."

I nodded. "Yeah, hopefully, they didn't kill each other." I joked.

Argyle looked at me thoughtfully. "So Easton is your mate aye?"

I blushed and clasped my hands together. "Yeah...about that...I had, I had no idea----" I could feel my body growing warm from embarrassment.

"He's a good kid." Argyle stated and looked off again into the horizon. "Trouble little lad, but aye, a good kid."

I blinked rapidly. "Wait, you're not...I mean it's okay if we're.....it's not a problem if we're...I mean, if he's your nephew, that makes him my cousin."

"Is that an issue?" Argyle asked curiously. "Has he hurt you?"

I vehemently shook my head. "No! no, no not at all he hadn't...uhm no issue." I put my hands up and shrugged. "I mean if it's fine with everybody....it's fine with me...it's perfectly fine with me." I added and took a deep breath. "I am perfectly fine being with my cousin." I exhaled with a sheepish smile. "And I am never going to say that outloud again."

"Okay, let's go." Argyle responded simply. The world shimmered and we found ourselves once more on my front porch.

Tiger ran off content to be back home. I noticed my mom nor Easton were outside, and it was pretty quiet. Maybe they'd worked out their differences. I held the doorknob and turned back to look at Argyle. "You're probably going to have to watch your head when you step inside." I warned him, looking up at his height.

"Why don't you just imagine us inside?" He asked.

"I can do that?"

"Teleportation is in your blood witch-child." He replied casually, arms out as he disappeared. I grinned and closed my eyes.

Living room.

I opened my eyes to Argyle leaning casually against the fireplace. Monica's mouth opened in what looked like horror and Easton....god, the way Easton was looking at me. He slowly got up as if in a trance, his mouth parted in awe. He squinted slightly at me.

"You're so bright." He whispered smiling.

I giggled and did a mini run in place. "I got my powers!"

His smile grew as I ran into his arms and he hugged me. Chuckling adorably into my ear as he held me tight. "You must be so happy."

I nodded and beamed up at him.

"You're so beautiful." He whispered, cupping my face and then smoothing my hair back. "You're so full of light...." His voice cracked.

I knew my mom was there and that was the only reason, I didn't kiss those tempting red lips of his in joy. Speaking of mom, I turned to her slowly, or eyes meeting in silence. There was no joy behind her gaze of sadness.

"Saria..."

"I have something I need to do mom." I whispered painfully. "I have so many things I wanted to say and yell at you about and honestly." I shrugged. "I have something, I need to do, so I guess my anger waits."

"It was only to protect you." She stated taking a step closer to me.

"I've over stayed." Argyle commented with a sigh. He turned to my mother and gave her a nod. "I've spoken with my daughter. I'll take my leave. But I'll be back for our talk." He vanished, leaving all three of us behind.

Easton chuckled sadly and ran his hands over his hair. "Why do mothers always say that?" He demanded.

My mom turned her gaze to him.

"You just wanted her all to yourself. You need to let her go." He spoke calmly.

"Let her go to you?" Monica countered. "How utterly convenient."

"Let her go." Easton replied again his voice while calm, rose an octave higher in my ears. I slowly turned to my boyfriend, seeing his gaze locked with my mom. The swirling of his pupils and they way my mother did not look away.

"Fine." Mother sighed. "You're right. I should stop holding on so tight." She exclaimed. She turned her attention to me. "You need your space to breathe and figure out who you are. I know I've lied, and I've disappointed you. From now on, I'm just going to support you and not control you."

My eyes remained on Easton's unwavering gaze on my mother.

"I'm sorry, if I caused unnecessary pain. Those weren't my intentions. I love you. Be happy, Saria. Be happy."

Satisfied, Easton turned to me with a beautiful smile.

I forced a smile on my face and tried to hold back tears.

He blinked in confusion. "You're sad. Why?" He demanded. He looked at my mother and back at me. "She said everything you needed to hear. You should be happy."

I swallowed hard and slowly reached out to take his hand. "It doesn't count if..." My voice cracked. "If you're controlling her."

"I'm no----" Easton stared at me for a couple seconds before lowering his gaze. "I was just trying to help." He whispered and sighed heavily.

"Let's go get Chloe's body." I whispered. "I know how to bring her to my paradise."

**

Life is ten thousands times easier when you can teleport. I couldn't believe I hadn't been doing this for everything and anything. All I had to do, was be touching the person for now, and they would be able to enter my paradise. Argyle said magic took practice and over time when I perfected, I could simply do it with my mind and not having to touch anybody.

Finally I learned magic and it wasn't sitting behind a desk in some fairy school. Although to perfect it, it looked like I could finally participate in magic training. I was happy and proud of myself.

But as I held Chloe's cold lifeless hand in one hand and Easton's hands in the other, I couldn't help but be brought back to the words Easton had my mother say.

He was quieter after I called him out about mind controlling her. He didn't say much as we hurridly grabbed Chloe's body. He did open his eyes wide in appreciation when I had successfully teleported them two into my world.

I had ended up collapsing on the open bed on the beach, completely exhausted. I had no idea, this is how it felt to actually use magic. It was true that magic need a source. And I'm guessing the source was my own life. In witchcraft we could tie the energy to something else, in fairy magic it seemed to come from your very essence.

I didn't know I had dozed off, but I woke up half 15 minutes later, feeling slightly more energized.

Easton had already dug the grave and I had woken up just as he carried her body carefully and placed her all the way down before flying back out. He'd taken off his shirt, so I got to admire his pale fatless body. His thick black wings looked sleek and shiny as steel. Interestingly there weren't any feathers. They were much larger than I thought they would be, but then again I guess it was proportionate to the body size but also they looked sort of like...oversized insect wings and not so much bird wings.

"Thanks for doing that."

Easton looked back and carefully placed himself back on the ground, his wings disappearing. "Oh you're up. Are you okay?"

I nodded.

He grinned and picked up the shovel to pile the dirt on her body. "Easy there princess, magic is draining. Pace yourself."

"Now, you tell me." I whispered teasingly. I looked up at the sky and put my hands up, poking into the air, each poke creating another twinkling star.

Easton grinned as he looked up. "My mom likes playing with the stars too." He chuckled and continued shovling.

I smiled sadly and walked over to him, my arms crossed over my chest. "Speaking of moms..." I whispered, crouching down. I put my hand out to allow the dirt to flow by itself into the grave to cover her up. "It was really specific what you had my mom apologize for." I stated.

Easton stopped shoveling, since I had finished the job and simply wiped his forehead with the back of his hand. "Was it? I'm sorry, I overstepped." He replied and turned to pick up his shirt.

"I couldn't help wondering." I continued, ignoring the fact that it did look like he wanted to dismiss the topic. "Was that maybe something...you need to hear your mom say?" I spoke out nervously.

Easton had a split second hesitation as he pulled his shirt over his head and fixed his hair, out of his shirt and over his shoulder. He turned around with a soft smile on his face and a small chuckle. "No."

He turned his focus to the beach. "This really is paradise." He whispered with a soft smile. He blinked a couple times and then turned to me in confusion.

"What?" I asked standing up.

"I've never felt so calm." He whispered walking towards the beach, his hands in his pocket. Soft gentle breeze, blowing his hair back. He closed his eyes and took a deep breath. "So at peace. Absolutely no, internal struggle."

I smiled and walked over to him. Standing by him. "Right?" I nudged him teasingly. "Wanna swim?"

I laughed loudly at the wind that blew by because the next second, I saw him jump butt naked into the ocean. "Wait up!" I called out laughing as I took my shirt off as fast as I could. He was already swimming as I was getting undressed. I threw my clothes back and ran towards the beach.

"How is the water such a perfect temperature?" Easton asked, laughing as he pushed his wet hair back.

I swam towards him and playfully splashed him.

"I like your paradise." He whispered.

"I'm glad you like it." I grinned.

"It's a perfect place to be happy isn't it?" He asked as he swam closer to me.

"The happiest." I replied in confirmation.

Easton watched me carefully for a couple seconds before he spoke. "The happiest." He repeated, closing the small gap between us as he pressed his lips gently against mine. I wrapped my arms around his neck and kissed him back. My legs under water wrapping around his waist.

"Let's stay." He whispered against my lips.

I giggled and kissed him heartily. "I wish."

His eyes roamed mine as he held my gaze. "Then, let's stay." He whispered again.

I pulled my head back a little, interlacing my fingers behind his neck. "We can't stay." I whispered.

"Yes we can." He replied. "Nobody to tell us what to do, no parents thinking they know what's best. We can just be together. Be whatever we want to be." He grinned as he cupped my face. "Just you and me. Happy and safe in paradise." He released my face.

I smiled at the idea and shook my head. "What about our friends?"

His smile faded. "They don't care about us."

I shook my head. "That's not true." I frowned and held his chin. "Our friends care about us----oh fuck!" I cried out as realization set in. "We have to go! We have to----"

Easton cupped my face again and kissed me warmly. "We want to stay."

"We have to go and----"

He deepened the kiss.

I love you. We're so happy here. In this paradise. This world we have of our own. Nobody can hurt us. Nobody can hurt you. We only need each other. Let's not think of school. Everything is fine at school. In fact we are on vacation. This is our time to be together and enjoy without anybody getting in the way. We want to stay. We want to stay. We'll be so happy here, just us two. You and me. In this paradise.

I moaned into the kiss and slowly pulled back. Our warm breaths mingled as we stared at each other silently, under the moonlight sea. "I want to stay here with you." I whispered.

Easton smiled and gently pushed my frizzy hair back. "Then let's stay." He concluded before pulling me into a passionate embrace.