“Hey.” Amari called out the open window as she pulled up to the sidewalk outside Ms. Roberta’s temporary housing. “Check the back before you get in.”

  “My bag! You found it?” Nova enveloped it into her chest. Eyes closed, a relieved smile lit up her face.

  “An old friend got it to me late last night.” Amari glanced over, seatbelt secured, she pulled out into the light traffic. “Ready to meet some great people?”

  “You mean werewolves?”

  “Yep and more. Some werewolves are like you're thinkin’. Some're like Ms. Roberta.” Amari lowered the music, focusing on the turns as they headed northeast.

  “Roberta?” Shocked airy syllables escaped Nova’s lips.

  “Were you even listening when you moved in?”

  “I heard I had a bed and room to myself.” Nova tucked her fist under her chin and gazed out the window.

  “Fair enough.” Amari sympathetically huffed, shaking her head. The last year she was in the group home, she had shared a room with Diana. Granted she loved her sister, they had spent many nights sharing secrets and dreams. Still a yearning to have a place of her own, a little privacy always remained. “Anyway, Ms. Roberta takes wolfsbane. It keeps the full transformation from happening but doesn’t take the knowledge of this world away. So Absinteres like her have their uses helping us hide our world from the humans.”

  “Our world.” Disbelief fogged up the glass.

  “What would help make this easier for you?” Amari wished someone had taken the time to ask her that very question.

  “Answers. Time.”

  “Answers I can try to provide. Unfortunately time is not something that I can give.” Amari relaxed her face.

  “How long does the wolfsbane work?” Nova shifted in her seat, leaning back onto the door foot tucked under her knee. Bag still secure in her lap as fingers played with the loose end of a strap.

  “As long as you take it regularly. It is by no means a cure. You will still be a werewolf. And once it is out of your system then transformation can be,” Amari paused, chewing on the inside of her cheek, “swift and shocking.”

  “Sounds like you know.”

  “Yep.” A short clipped word followed with a sigh.

  “What changed your mind?” Nova asked with failed nonchalance.

  Amari glanced out the corner of her eye. This young woman was astute. A quick succession of thoughts jumped on either side of the scale. The debate over what Nova could handle was balanced in Amari’s mind. “Not a what. Who.”

  Amari smiled at Nova’s raised brow.

  “She’s not ready for that.” Ruac’s voice pressed from the hazy forest in her mind.

  Amari felt her brow furrow. Her wolf felt the subtle command and yielded immediately. The human aspect of her questioned, but leaned into the trust she built with Ruac and obeyed. “That is a question for another day. Right now I need to prep you for what lies ahead.”

  “Hmm.” Nova’s eyes searched her profile. Lip drawn into her teeth. Decision made, she allowed the subject change. “That sounds sketchy.”

  “It probably looks a little weird from the outside.” A bobble to her head, Amari took another turn out of town. “A few times a year we gather and let loose. Everyone eats and celebrates.”

  “Where are you taking me?” Nova shifted to look out the window. More and more dense woods filled the spaces between the sparse houses.

  “Beyond the veil.” Amari chuckled at the widened eyes. “That is just what we call the overlap between the human realm and the fae realm.”

  “Fae. As in?”

  “Unicorns, Minotaurs…” Amari paused in thought. “What else did you mention?”

  “Pheonixes.”

  “Right.” Amari snapped her fingers. “Those and a few Benjamin mentioned remain in the Fae realm. There are only a few kinds of Fae that can easily pass through the veil. They can and sometimes do reside in either realm.”

  “Werewolves?”

  Amari nodded. The soft music mixed with static. “As well as vampires, elves, dwarves, gnomes. And on more rare occasions ghosts and yeti? Though those two groups have like a million kinds within those categories.”

  Stolen from its rightful place, this narrative is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.

  Nova pinched her nose as she rubbed her eyes.

  “A lot I know.” Memories flashed through her mind. Amari had a headache for days when she first learned about all the things that go bump in the night. “That is why I chose Absintere for a few years. Wasn’t ready for all of it.”

  “But now you are.”

  “I am not alone. And you won’t be either, whatever you choose.” Amari reached over and squeezed her hand once. “Now. When we get there, do not. I repeat. Do. Not. Volunteer for any game or take any food without checking with me first.”

  “What will happen if I do?”

  “Have you seen Willy Wonka? Blueberry girl? Legit possibility.” Amari’s face tightened with wide concerned eyes.

  “No.” Nova’s face blanched.

  Amari’s straight face broke when she glanced over. “No. But you almost believed me.”

  “No I didn’t”

  “Right. But seriously, it can mess you up. Some vendors have foods that are unique and for certain fae.”

  “Fine.”

  ***

  Nearly two hours later, Amari turned the car off the backroad. Nova grabbed the handle and braced against the dash. Branches snapped off the mirrors sharply smacking the windows. A flute’s lively melody tinkled on the wind slowly growing around them. The quick joyful notes infused the air with energy. Around the bend, the forest gave way to a clearing. A smattering of cars lines in almost straight rows before a sea of colorful tents, flags, banners, and streamers.

  Amari chuckled at the gapped mouth. This sight never grew old. She closed her eyes and breathed in. A euphoric homesickness gripped her chest. One week of bright colorful days and game filled nights.

  “Where would you like to start?” Amari blinked rapidly as she beckoned Nova up the hill.

  Erratic ballerinas flitted through the flowers at the first stand. Nova ducked shoulders meeting her ears. The pastel wisps with bell-like giggles ebbed and flowed.

  “What?” Nova spun eyes never fully locking on Amari.

  “Pixies. Not to be mistaken for fairies. It's a thing.”

  “Right.” Nova gave a soft distracted half response.

  Like a ren faire gone wild, the temporary stalls housed wares and food that dazzled the eyes. The entrance started small and like a fun house mirror the stalls grew bigger as the festival spread out across the clearing. Giants loomed easily seen from anywhere on the grounds. Fire and sparks of a multitude of colors burst above the canopies. Amari watched the wonder drop Nova’s jaw.

  “How about we let the kids go around and have some fun?” Benjamin stepped around a pair of golems pulling a heavy laden cart.

  “Hey, I am Marley.” A short and petite, bronze skinned woman with analytical eyes held out her hand. Behind her a short, muscular man crossed his arms and another wearing loose flowing clothes barely covering a birthmark along his neck stood awkwardly.

  Amari watched Nova’s brow pique in question. “Here, take this.” Amari leaned in closer whispering. “Tap the stone three times and I will be able to find you if anything makes you uncomfortable.”

  Nova smiled. The clink of metal in the small satchel filled her hand. She turned and followed the others into the throng.

  “Bold as ever. She seems to be taking everything in stride.” Benjamin crossed to her side.

  “She just wants to belong somewhere. Anywhere.” Amari’s voice dropped off, barely mouthing the last word.

  “Our charges are occupied and I don’t see your family?” Ben straightened craning over the crowd.

  “They will join later this week. We all make sure to be off this full moon.”

  “Well, it would be my honor to escort a lovely lady such as yourself around the festivities.” Ben flourished his deep bow.

  Amari quieted her thoughts. No immediate gut feeling warned her against the course of action. She tilted her head. “Fine. But you better splurge for Miraculin icecream.”

  “Centaur tracks.”

  Amari stopped. Surprised at the little detail.

  Benjamin leaned down, hand lightly on her lower back guiding her forward again. “You think I would forget anything about you?”

  Wiping her lips, Amari tossed out the empty bowl. Fingers rubbed unscented sanitizer across her palms, clearing away the stickiness of the delicious treat.

  “How was it?”

  “Just like I remembered. Yours?”

  “Wonderful as usual. I get a delivery every so often.”

  “Oh?” Confusion filled her voice. “Nova.”

  “Excuse me?” Benjamin blinked, shaking his head.

  “Nova needs me.” Amari waved her hand.

  Quick pivoted steps dodged the satyr dancing through the crowd leading the way to the next show. Every so often, Amari paused listening for the undeniable high pitch patterned whistles. Heart in her throat, she forced even breathes through her nose. Playing hot and cold with the tones growing louder as she found her way behind the last row of tents.

  “Nova!” Amari slid to her knees next to an ancient oak.

  Curled on her side against the trunk, Nova grit her teeth breathing hard unable to say a word.

  “What happened?” Pointedly, Amari locked eyes with each teen standing around mouths moving with no sound. Deft fingers pressed into her wrist, Amari felt the thin layer of moisture. Eyes tracked the second hand. “Can you lay back for me?”

  Nova grunted, eyes unfocused.

  “What did you guys eat?” Amari asked as she palpated the abdominal quadrants.

  “I am not sure what she grabbed. Each of us had bought something to snack on. They all got passed around, I don’t remember what she ate.” Marley wrung her hands. Her eyes darted over her shoulder. The boys shrugged, lips pulling down.

  “Don’t worry, I got you.” Cold crashed through her chest. Amari shuffled to her knees, arms clumsily tucked under Nova. A little jostling, Amari adjusted the girl’s small frame as she stood. Soft whimpering broke her heart. “The rest of you better get back to Benjamin.”

  With a little maneuvering, Amari shifted the ring around her finger. She tapped a code onto the stone. Short, even steps the sounds drifted away. Amari looked down at the ashen face pulled into a grimace. “Help will be here soon, I promise. Just hold on.”