you know Violet and Hugh?”
“They were taken by the Force.”
I wasn’t sure what the Force
was exactly, but I had a hunch.
“The police force?”
The girl nodded. “Yes, but no
one calls them police now. They’re
just the Force.”
“Okay, but when were they
taken? We were with them a few
minutes ago.” I checked our
surroundings. Hugh and Violet were
nowhere to be seen.
“When they were transported.
There was a bounty on their head.”
A male explained.
“A big one.” The first girl to
enter the clearing nodded. “Biggest
I have ever heard of.”
“A bounty?” Were Violet and
Hugh in trouble? Why would they
have returned home then?
“The announcement gave no
reasons.”
“This makes no sense.” Daisy
dug her foot into the damp soil.
“None of this makes sense.
“My bet is you’re going to have a
bounty on your head too. You
brought a Pteron into the Glamour
Realm.” She pointed a thumb at
me.
“I had a good reason to bring
him,” she looked at me for help. “A
good reason.”
I thought fast. “I’m escorting her
home by order of The Society.”
“I thought you were with Violet
and Hugh?” The male asked
suspiciously.
“We were, but I was still her
escort.”
“She’s been escorted. You may
leave.” He moved his hand as if to
shoo me away.
“He can’t leave yet.” Daisy
squeezed my hand. “We have other
reasons to be here.”
“Do you?” The girl asked. “This
should be interesting.”
10
DAISY
What kind of mess were we in
now? It was bad enough that Violet
wanted to take us through some
weird other world to get to Mount
Majest, but now we were on our
own, and both of us might be in
trouble. What would happen if, or
more likely when, these people
discovered I wasn’t an Allure?
Things were only going to get
worse.
“What other business does he
have here?” The girl asked again.
I’d put my foot in my mouth, but I
had to say something. Otherwise
one of them might make him leave.
Owen was strong, but who knew
what these people could do?
“It’s private.” I tried to keep my
voice firm. “Do you know how we
can find Violet and Hugh? I know
you said they’re in some sort of
trouble, but maybe we can help.”
“Are you suffering from memory
loss?” The first girl walked over.
Owen started to move in front of
me, but I stopped him. She wasn’t
going to hurt me. She put her hands
on either side of my head. “You’re
not full Allure yet, huh? That’s the
problem. Is this your first time in
the Glamour Realm?”
“Yes.” Change of plans. Maybe
playing on my lack of knowledge
could be a help rather than
hindrance.
“That changes things.”
Something silent passed between
the two.
The guy nodded and walked
toward me. “What does it change?
She’s still breaking the rules.”
“Not intentionally…” The girl
rested her chin in her fisted hand.
“Clearly Hugh made her before he
could tell her.”
The guy shook his head.
“There’s no way Hugh made her.”
“Why not?” the girl asked.
“It’s a completely different
essence. It’s….” His eyes darkened.
“It’s Taylor.”
“How could that be?” The once
friendly girl stepped back. The
others instantly looked suspicious.
“She’s been missing… and this girl
isn’t her.”
I shook my head. “It’s not like
that. A witch… it wasn’t my fault.”
Several more of the people
stepped closer.
“Honestly, it wasn’t my fault.”
Owen glared at the crowd, and
they stopped. “Just tell them the
truth.”
“The truth?” The angry guy
asked.
“Yes. The truth. Roland made
Daisy.” Owen pulled me against his
side. “Roland was made by Taylor.”
“Oh.” The girl sighed with relief.
“Where is he?”
“I don’t know. Violet and Hugh
were helping.” I went along with
the story. It was easier and
hopefully safer that way.
“You poor thing.” The first girl
hugged me in an awkward way
since Owen wasn’t budging.
“Separated from your maker before
you even understand the way of
things.”
“That doesn’t explain why she’s
with him.” The angry guy scowled.
“She still hasn’t told us the truth
about that.”
“I already told you. I’m her
protection. The king assigned me to
guard her until she found her
maker. That was the secret. We
had no idea there were still Allures
around and now that we do; it’s our
duty to make sure no harm comes
to this new one.”
“The Society has changed…”
The angry guy seemed lost in
thought. “Do you have any idea
where Roland might be?”
“With the Elders.” I had to risk
sharing the information. It was the
only clue I had, and if there was
any chance these people could lead
us there, I had to take the chance.
Several of them gasped. “Has he
been summoned there?”
I hated lying, but what could I
do? “Possibly. Do you know how to
find them?”
“We can find the Elders, but that
doesn’t mean they will see you.”
The girl crossed her arms. “You are
not even a full Allure after all.”
“I need to find him.” Then I
thought of something. “Does the
Force work with the Elders? Is that
where Violet and Hugh would have
been brought?”
The girl shook her head. “No.
The Force is its own separate
entity. .” She held out her hand.
“I’m Sky by the way. Who are you?”
“Daisy.” We were lying about so
much already. I decided using my
real first name could be helpful.
“Nice name.” The angry guy
held out his hand. “I’m Adrian.”
I accepted the surprisingly firm
handshake. “Nice to meet you.”
I waited as half a dozen more
introduced themselves. No one
moved to introduce themselves to
Owen, so I took care of that myself.
“This is Owen.”
“Hi,” they mumbled before
turning back to me. “You are just in
time for the Blood Moon Festival.”
“The what?” Owen and I looked
at each other.
“The Blood Moon. It’s exactly
what it sounds like. A festival
dedicated to the blood moon.”
“That red thing?” I pointed into
the sky.
“Yes. It’s our blood moon. It
only comes once a year.”
“Oh. Good timing I guess.” Or
bad. Maybe they had a festival to
appease negative things. Hopefully
there was no sacrifice involved.
“You’re Dryads.” Owen shook
hands with the girl. “I’ve met some
of your kind.”
“The Dryads of your world are
nothing like us.” She crinkled up her
nose.
“Why not?” he asked.
“Because they gave up most of
their power. They left their home
realm.”
“And you get power from your
home realm?” I asked.
“Yes. From our trees of course.”
She crossed her arms.
I filed away that information for
later. “We wouldn’t want to impose
on your celebration. If you could
send us in the direction we need to
go, we’ll be out of your way.”
“Having an Allure at our festival
would be an honor.” One of the
girls, I was pretty sure her name
was Donna said.
“Even a new Allure who’s just
now changing?” I still wasn’t sure
what my standing was.
“Of course. We’d love to have
you come.” Adrian smiled.
“I need to keep Owen with me.”
“He can come if he behaves.”
Adrian narrowed his eyes.
Owen glowered. “Dryads answer
to the king where I come from.”
“But you’re not where you come
from. We don’t answer to any king
here.”
“Who is the leader then?” I
asked.
“The Elders of course. Isn’t that
why you want to find them?”
“Yes, but I thought maybe there
was something on the local level.” I
was grasping at straws. I was in so
over my head it wasn’t funny.
“Are you hungry?” Donna asked
Owen.
He shook his head. “Thank you,
but I’m fine.”
“We have plenty of food in the
village. Why don’t you come with
me?” She beamed up at him.
He smiled, but moved closer to
my side. “I’m staying with Daisy.”
“She’s going to be fine right
here.”
“We stay together.” I wasn’t
giving in on that. This time it wasn’t
for my own security. It was for
Owen’s. Who knew what would
happen to him? He was incredibly
strong, but I had absolutely no idea
what these creatures were capable
of, and we were severely out
numbered.
Donna smiled at me. “Are you
hungry too? Do you still have an
appetite?”
“Not much of one, but Allures
can still eat.” I’d seen Allures eating
several times.
“They can, but usually they are
picky. Our simple foods don’t
usually appeal.”
“I like simple.” I had always
been the least picky of all my
friends and family.
“Then you’re still human. You
won’t want simple later.”
“Not every Allure is the same.”
Violet and Hugh were completely
different from one another.
“No, but simplicity isn’t in your
makeup. You like grander things,
which is fine by us. We all have our
place.”
“It doesn’t matter. Owen needs
to eat, so I’ll come with him.” I was
tired of this conversation.
“I have a better idea.” Sky
popped up on her toes. “Want to
see Roland’s house?”
“His house?” Violet must have
been literal when she said she’d
take us to her home. Or not. She
had ditched us the second we
arrived, unless the Dryads were to
be believed, and they’d been
transferred to the Force.
“Yes. Maybe that would be the
best way to find him. I doubt he’s
with the Elders. No one stays on
Mount Majest long. You either get
an audience or you don’t.”
“Daisy and I are staying
together,” Owen interrupted. “I’m
not hungry. We can go to the house
first.”
“But then you won’t see our
festival.” Donna’s face fell.
“How far away is his house?”
Owen asked. “Can’t we do both?”
“In theory, yes.”
“In theory?” I was still trying to
figure out what to do. I’d been told
over and over again that the Elders
wouldn’t see me if I simply showed
up, so maybe finding Roland would
help too, especially if we couldn’t
find Violet and Hugh. The Dryads
had gotten strange when Taylor
came up. Was it only because she
was a missing Allure, or was there
more? Something told me finding
out would be important.
“You’re going to get distracted,
and he’ll never come back.” Donna
looked down at the ground.
“Why do you care so much
whether he goes to your festival?” I
sized up the tiny Dryad.
“Because we never get non-
fairies here.”
“So? You like him because he’s
exotic or something?”
Owen laughed under his breath.
“What about you? Why are you
with him?”
“Because I—” I stopped. An
Allure couldn’t love. I had to be
careful. “Because he’s protecting
me.”
Adrian smiled reassuringly. “The
change is making you emotional,
but don’t let Donna get to you. If
she bothers you, hope that you
never meet a Nymph.”
“Nymphs? They really exist?” I
remembered the name of the
mythological creature from school.
Unless I was mistaken they were
also the source of the modern day
term “nympho.”
“Oh, yes.” Owen nodded.
“And you know them?”
He held up his hands as though
in defense. “Not in any of the ways
you’re thinking.”
“Are you sleeping with Roland?”
Sky asked.
I coughed. “Uh, no.”
“Really? That happens a lot.”
“Not with us.”
“But Allures like sex.”
“Don’t most people like sex?” I
was going to lose my temper if we
didn’t start moving soon. Why did
these Dryads keep moving the
conversation in circles? It was as
though they were purposely
sabotaging us. Maybe they were.
“Yes, but you guys mostly live
through other people’s emotions.
Sex is supposedly still good though.
I guess the physical feelings are
real.” Adrian smiled.
“Great.” I glanced all around
me. I’d have left if I had an inkling
of what direction to go.
“Where’s Roland’s house?” Owen