Through the Mirror

chapter 1

Airlianna was on her way to the winter place to perform at the fall festival, although, she thought to herself, it's not really like fall if there is snow on the ground and everything else. Doesn't it matter if the leaves disappear once they've touched the ground? It's just glamour. Besides, you'll get to see actual leaves on the ground soon enough.

But even if the leaves didn't touch the ground it was still amazing to see, she knew it was more than amazing. Right now she was on neutral ground, where it was neither summer nor winter, but both. It was fair day, and any fey within twenty miles from here were drawn in with all the entertainment and food, not to mention the trades and markets. Dwarves were milling about ready to confuse other fey with their mood swings, goblins were lingering near trash bins for leftovers, animals talking and non-talking were interacting with everyone, not causing too much trouble, and summer and winter fey were tolerating each other, for now.

"When are we performing? Airlia? Airlianna? Hello, I'm talking to you!" Skeve, Airlia's brother waves his arms around obnoxiously.

"Yes, yes, I hear you. Now, shut up, I'm trying to listen." She responds to him.

"Not again." He wines at her. "Last you did that we were late to the food cart and they were all out of Heart berries," he stomps his foot.

Skeve was eight, but already knew the world better than most because of his constant travel with his sister. He knew what fairies to mess with when he wanted to pull a prank and which ones would chase him for weeks. He's seen parts of the human world, and knew almost every road in the major cities; pairs, New York, Quebec. He knew every inch of Ireland, and Scotland, and couldn't wait to go back again next year.

Skeve looked around impatiently, there was no telling what conversation his sister was spying on, or how long she would be. Very few fey had the ability to listen in to other peoples' discussions like Airlia. And no matter how much some may ask, Skeve was to never tell what abilities either of them might or might not have. It was too dangerous in the Never-Never, you couldn't be sure what other fey might do if they knew everything about you. Knowledge of everyone and everything is something every fairy strives for because it means power over something or someone.

"Are you done yet?" Skeve asks his dark haired sister, tapping his foot, just itching to dance for the gathering crowds in the center of the festival. It was almost time, and his sister was just standing there being annoying, as always. He huffs out a breath when he doesn't get an answer, and crosses his arms. "Airlia..." he whines, looking truly like a pouting seven year old, his blonde hair spiking out onto his forehead, brown eyes big and pleading with his brows puckered down and his bottom lip poking out slightly more than the top.

He was wearing a green dancing pirate- like shirt with elastic at the wrists so it puffed out the sleeves. Skeve was also wearing black flowing pants that cuffed his ankles in similar fashion. The whole outfit was accompanied with golden thread designs. His brown eyes were outlined with thin layer of gold liner; it looked heavenly with his naturally thick lashes. His right ear was pierced in three different spots, one right where it starts to curve in to his slightly pointed tip, another right above the lobe and the last centered directly in the middle of the lobe. Each piercing was filled with a gold stud, the lower two connected by a golden chain.

"Alright, we can go," Airlianna turns to her brother. "But be careful of what you do or say today. And stick close to me. No running off. Im serious this time!" She says at skeves doubtful look. "There is... someone-thing," she pauses to purse her lips, "special here."

"Who? Special how?" Skeve questions.

"I've no idea." And with that said, she headed off toward the center of the square, towards her fellow gypsies, with her bother trailing behind.