You're Not the Only One With Secrets - "YNTOOWS" by Lucia Roberts (best ebook reader for surface pro .txt) 📕

Hours passed, only told by the fact that the sun had risen and it was now dawn. He hadn't come. Maybe he wasn't in the forest, I thought as I slowly trudged back home. I stopped at a creek I had jumped over last night to wash all of the dirt and soot from my body and wings. I shook my wings out in the water I threw over my shoulders and let them seep back into my skin to form the beautiful, unique tattoo they changed to when I tucked them in. The comfort I found in this, was knowing that I was the Fall Faerie; I was special. Each Faerie has a talent, which is told by the design on his or her wings. Mine was of course unique because there is only ever a few Fall Faeries in existence at one time. Wings were one of a kind and special. It was one of my few comforts. I let myself remember the special things that go with this honor.

I am the only Faerie that can walk among humans and not give off an odd aura, as my Goddess was also a Fall Faerie and she created the world that is apart from Humans; so I am also the only one who knows when a being may pass through this portal besides my Guide, or teacher: Elder Malachai. I am the only Fall besides Malachai that we know of; so we have the most duties and strongest pull for having to watch a Fae because I am closest in soul to the God/Goddess: a blessing and a curse; as the Humans say. The Falls and Winters are protectors. The Gods pass along to us our duties by a bond that attaches as soon as we see the one to be watched for the first time. Thinking about this calms me a bit. It seems to be the one thing I know with all my being that can’t be changed or thrown in my face as something I misunderstood.

As I was tying the last strings of my corset I hear an all too familiar laughter from the trees. "If you have been here longer than ten seconds you'd best be wary of my response to such behaviors" I call to the voice from the trees. The laughter booms loud and pure now.

"Oh no, trust me Ciquala, even if I'd been here earlier I have more respect for you than that." I turn around now to face the Centaur.

"Oh, more respect than you give the Kelpies I hope!" He flashes one of his 100 watt smiles.

"Of course!" and he puts his hand over his heart as if I'd offended him. "I am oh so disappointed you'd question me that way." he said.

"Inteus, I have seen the way you toy with those poor creatures; it's hard to believe you're not that way with everyone." He looked wounded briefly but in a flash that sunlight smile was back and he opened his arms for a hug. "Shall we start over then?" he asked playfully. I ran over and threw my arms around his neck knotting my fingers in his black mane as he lifted me off the ground into a strong hug. "Anything you want to tell me Ciquala?" he asked softly. Tears pricked my eyes just then and I hugged him tighter. He set me down gently and put his hands on my shoulders after brushing loose strands of my hair back into the vines I had it tied back with. "What has happened?" The look in his golden-brown eyes and the strength of his grip on my shoulders exuded concern and I couldn't bear it. I looked down to the river bank, shuffling my feet and folded my arms tightly against my stomach.

"Vishnu.." I started. I didn't want to say it out loud again; make it any more real than it already was. Each time it spilled from my mouth more maggots sprouted from the egg of questions and confusion inside my mind. "Vishnu.." the tears were stinging my eyes now; threatening.

"For the Gods sake Amaranth! What happened? What did the Dog do?" A tear fell and hit the sand beneath my feet and I tried to ignore the chiming sound on the wind.

"Vishnu isn't Vishnu! Elder Malachai said he isn't even a spirit animal! He was talking about dragons and then told me to ask Vishnu what his name was. He wrote on the floor! He used a charcoal pen. Vishnu wrote that his name was Lord Sairyn Arrowrept. On the floor. Using a charcoal pen." I sniffled; trying to hold back the tears as my voice broke. "He lied to me. He's not a spirit animal. And he lied to me. All this time..." Inteus pulled me to him.

"Where is he?" he asked gruffly into my hair.

"I don't know. I waited for him out that way all last night, and I couldn't find him, so I just washed up out here and was heading back when you found me". I ignored the look I was getting for admitting that I was out all night alone. 

"Come on; let's go. I'll take you home."  He helped me up onto his chestnut back and I wrapped my hands around his waist. Briskly he turned grabbing his daggar belt, bow and arrow pack throwing them over his shoulder, and then we headed towards my cabin. 

We get back to my house and Vishnu is still not there. I don't know where else to look. The only sign that I can find that even relates to him is the paper lying on the floor with his real name on it. I decided that maybe if I said the name out loud it may make it seem truer. My hands were shaking as I picked the paper and took a deep breath. I did not want to believe this in the first place so saying it was irrelevant; but, it felt important. “Lord. Sairyn. Ambrose. Arrowrept.” My throat contracted and the words left a bitter taste in my mouth. I dropped the paper in hand that held it to my side and let my other hand reach to the sky as I silently begged the Goddess to help me make it through this. I didn't hear her but I felt a presence touch my shoulders so I guess I had the Goddess' luck to take with me.

I turned to the door to take the blasted piece of paper to Elder Malachai with or without the Lord.

"I'm going to take this to Malachai myself" I said; adding silently to myself 'since Vishnu took off'. Inteus looked wary. I know he thinks I'm going to get myself into some trouble. He always thinks that. He shuffled his back hoofs slightly, as he does when he gets nervous.

"Are you sure.." he trailed off. He knew better than to question me when I was like this. I'm usually not short with him. We're very close, but even so, I've never really had a hard time being around him or ever felt much of a need to argue with him. Tease him sure, but not argue. "Can I at least bring you there?" I sighed.

"I suppose so."

We got to Elder Malachai's dojo in only a few minutes. Or, maybe it just felt shorter because I was thinking so hard. I slid off his back and dusted myself off. Rather, that's what I made it seem like I was doing. I was stalling.

"Are you sure you don't want to stay with me? We could just go back to the cabin and wait; I mean, he has to come back sooner or later."  The offer is tempting. I haven't seen him in a while. No. Vishnu, or whatever his name is, is missing. Inteus must have seen my face set with the decision as he goes "Of course." and his back hooves move a bit. "Damned dog doesn't know..." He gives me a wistful smile before taking my chin in hand and drawing it up so I'm looking in his eyes. "Be. Careful. I don't care if you're a Fall, Spring, or mushroom Faerie. Do you hear me?" His eyes searched my face for confirmation that I understood the graveness of the promise he was asking me. I nodded, chin still in his hand. He stood back a pace, straightening his shoulder arrow case and bow just looking at me as if unsure as to whether or not he should leave. "Alright;" he nodded "I'll come by to check on you later ok?"

"Yeah, that's fine." I tried to smile.

"I'll come by after dark." He wiggled his eyebrows at me. It was just such a foreign look on such a strong face. I couldn't help but laugh.

"Merry part, Inteus."

"And merry meet again Ciquala." I watch him run off for a moment and then, smile fading, turned to the task ahead of me.

 I whispered the request for entrance charm and waited, and waited, and waited. I was just about to try again because I knew for a fact he never left this place for anything when he opened the door. But instead of welcoming me in, he just stood in the doorway. I reluctantly relinquished the paper to him as he held out his hand for it.

“Where is he?” he asked.

“I don't know. He ran away last night after I called him by his real name.” I answered honestly. I didn't really care if he was upset for my lack of knowledge as to Vishnu's whereabouts.

“Alright. You’ve done well; Amaranth” and he shut the door. He just shut the door. What was wrong with him? I whispered the charm again. He opened the door immediately. “Yes Amaranth?” He answered. He wasn't frustrated but he seemed anxious to get back to something that was probably the thing making muffled noises inside his dojo.

“That's it?” I asked him. “No explanations, lectures, requests; just, ‘You’ve done well’?”

“I'm a bit taken away right now Amaranth.” He shuffled his feet to keep my view blocked as he turned to look behind him before turning back to me.

“Why won't you tell me?” I asked, sounding like a torn child.

“I cannot explain.”

“Fine. I'll go find Vishnu; or rather, Lord Whatever.”

“No. Do not go looking for him. I fear for the outcome of