The Lost Fae

I was running. From what I couldn’t tell you but I was running. Not the slow running people did through the park on a summer morning, or the brisk run the kids in cross country did, but terrifyingly fast, through the trees, my bare feet somehow not cut open by the sharp sticks and thorns under them. I had always loved running, the wind plowing past me, the air fighting to get to my lungs, the sweat, but none of that was the reason I was running now. Someone or something was chasing me. I hadn’t actually seen this said thing but I knew it was there, not far behind me. The thought terrified me. How could I, just a teen girl in her senior year of high school get away from whatever was after me? I had no fighting skills other than the little my uncle had taught me, and no weapons. I was totally and utterly screwed.

A small part of me knew that I was dreaming, that at any moment I could wake up and be rid of all these fears and worries, but for some reason I wouldn’t allow myself to wake up. Whether it be curiosity, or just plain stupidity, I kept myself trapped in my worst fear until I came to the edge of a cliff. I could still hear that thing chasing after me but I stopped and looked down at the ragged rocks below, nearly covered by the massive waves rolling through. “Elora.” The monster behind me hisses the closer it gets. “Run out of places to hide I see.” Whirling around, I looked into the eyes of a man with piercing red eyes and blood covering the front of his white shirt. “Guess that means your mine now.” And just as he lunged I let myself fall backwards into the ocean beneath me, not even screaming on my way down.

* * * * * * * * * * * *

“Elora!” The voice of my aunt breaks me out of my dream. “You need to get up sweetheart.”

“I’m up!” I groan, rolling to my side and grabbing my phone to check the time. 8:30 was the usual time I got up in the mornings but today I dreaded it.

“Kate is down stairs keeping your uncle company so I suggest you get ready soon.” That was why I dreaded this morning. Kate wasn’t my friend in any way, I only tolerated her for my aunt and uncle’s sake so they didn’t think I was lonely and try to take me to social events again to make friends. I had no problems when Kate wasn’t around but when she was it was like my own personal hell. All she did was flaunt her fathers money and sleep with a hundred different guys a month, always expecting me to clean up her messes.

After throwing on a pair of skinny jeans and a black camisole, I push my feet into a pair of tennis shoes and tie my long raven hair into a ponytail, letting my side-bangs fall out. “Ellie!” Kate squeals over enthusiastically, running over to squeeze me into a painful hug. When she pulls away I watch her blue eyes look me over and a frown twist on her lips. “Are you sure you want to wear those shoes? They kind of take away from the outfit.”

“We’re going prom dress shopping Kate. I need to be comfortable while you cart me around every dress shop in Michigan.” I try so hard to keep the distaste out of my voice but fail miserably. To my luck Kate takes it towards the shopping not towards her.

“You need to get used to wearing heels, Ellie. Prom is the highlight of high school and you need to look your best. Tennis shoes just won’t cut it.” She told me matter-of-factly.

“I thought graduating was the highlight?” My uncle Thomas interjects before I can come up with a snarky comment to throw at Kate. She snorts and rolls her eyes at him.

“Only losers care about graduating Thomas. It’s just facts.” If only she knew the person she considered her best friend was lined up to be the next valedictorian at the end of school.

“We should get going.” I sigh. She opens her mouth but I cut her off. “And no, I’m not changing my shoes. I want to get to the store as soon as we can.”

“Look at you being anxious about some other girl getting your dress first.” Kate beams proudly and hell if I wasn’t going to let her believe that’s why I wanted to leave sooner instead of me wanting to come home sooner.

“What about breakfast?” Uncle Thomas asks, holding up a skillet of eggs. A wave of nausea rolls through me.

“Not hungry.” I tell him, throwing my best apologetic smile. He eyes me warily but says nothing and lets Kate drag me out of the house. My aunt would be sad I didn’t say goodbye but there was no stopping Kate once she got her mind set on something.

“I think I want a red dress this year.” Kate announces as she parks in the mall parking lot. “What about you? Do you know what color you want?” It takes me a moment to realize she’s talking to me and not Poppy who Kate insisted we pick up on our way.

“Not really.” I shrug. “I guess when I see the dress I’ll know.” I wasn’t a big dress wearer but on occasion I was known to find a dress that caught my eyes and would wear it to family events my aunt dragged me and my uncle to.

“I think a green would really make your eyes pop.” Poppy informs me as we all slide out of the car. Kate nods in agreement before heading across the street into the small boutique filled with every dress you could think of. Kate was the first to find her perfect dress, if that’s what you could call it. It was red, perfect for her bleached hair, and was strapless, going just a little past her butt to ‘cover’ everything, though she insisted on pulling it further up her legs. Poppy was stuck between two dresses, both very different yet the same with their skimpy design.

“Do you like that dress Ellie?” Kate asks, eyeing the emerald green material I had in my hand that I’d come back to over and over again.

“I’m not sure.” I tell her honestly.

“Try it on!” Poppy encourages. Nodding, I pulled the dress off the hanger and headed to the fitting room. After pulling my hair out of its ponytail, per Kate’s request, I stripped out of my clothes leaving me in my undergarments, and paused looking myself over for a moment. My ribs showed through my skin and my stomach was tight with muscle. I looked like I hadn’t eaten in months but the truth was I’d always been skinny and never ate more than a few bites before I was either full or nausea. My aunt and uncle never seemed worried so I never bothered asking if something was wrong with me. It wasn’t until a few months ago that just the sight of food made me feel sick. I would force myself to eat a few bites but always end up throwing up after it.

“Are you taking a nap in there or something?” Kate asks through the thin curtain. “Hurry up!”

“Sorry.” I say back and scramble to slip the dress over my head, zipping it up and watching it flow down to my bare feet.

“Oh my god!” Poppy and Kate said at the same time, as soon as I slid the curtain open.

“It’s perfect for you! Like it was made to fit you specifically.” Kate appraises. I let my hand slide down the fabric, feeling it cling to my every curve. It wasn’t my usual dress, too form fitting and a little too revealing with the slit in the side clear up to my hip, and dip between my breasts leaving no imagination to anyone who cared to look, but I loved it. I could see myself dancing with a guy at prom, his face a blurry image but a guy all the same, and his eyes full of wonder at the sight of me. I shake my head of the fantasy and smile.

“I think this is the dress.”

“Thank god!” Poppy groans happily. “I’m starving. We’ve been here for hours.” It hadn’t felt like very long for me but I guess that was because I spent a lot of my time spaced out so I didn’t have to listen to Poppy and Kate bicker about what size they were.

“I think we should go to Chandlers.” Kates says as we all pay for our dresses, now in garment bags, and walk back outside to her car. “There’s this new cute guy that works there and I’m dying for you guys to see how yummy he looks.” Poppy nodded eagerly and slipped into the front seat. I wasn’t too interested in going to see how ‘yummy’ some guy was, or eating in general, but Kate was my ride and wherever she decided to go I went whether I wanted to or not.

“Table for three please.” Kate asked the guy I was assuming the one she came here for in the first place, batting her eyes seductively.

“Right this way ladies.” He said with an Australian accent. He glanced at all three of us for a moment then grabbed three menus and started for the table in the far back away from everyone. “My name is Lucas and I’ll be your waiter today. Can I get you ladies started with some drinks?” He asked once we were settled in our seats.

“Sweet tea please.” Poppy asks politely.

“Lemonade.” Kate says, her voice dripping with lust. I silently begged God to kill me now so I didn’t have to sit through an entire meal with these two.

“What about you?” Lucas asks. Usually I would order a coke but the thought of drinking the sugary liquid sent a jolt of pain to my stomach.

“Just water.” I told him.

“Alright.” He says, smiling widely at all three of us, his eyes lingering on mine just a second longer. “I’ll be right back with those drinks.”

“Isn’t he just gorgeous?” Kate asks quietly after Lucas is out of ear shot.

“Totally.” Poppy agrees. I nod and throw her my best smile to appease her. Lucas comes back a moment later with our drinks and sets them all down so he can take our orders. Kate and Poppy both order roasted chicken while I order a simple caesar salad hoping it wouldn’t upset my stomach. Once he left again I lapsed into silence and listened to Poppy tell Kate about her dad’s new job.

“Hey wasn’t that guy at the boutique we were just at?” Kate suddenly asks, gazing over to my right. Poppy and I both looked in the same direction and watched a tall guy who looked to be about our age, being seated at the table a little ways away from us.

“I think so.” Poppy agrees.

“Maybe he’s stalking us.” Kate whispers anxiously. I pull my eyes away and roll them.

“Bay view isn’t very big, Kate. I’m sure it’s just a coincidence.”

“Yeah, I guess you’re right.” She says less nervous than before. “He’s kind of cute in a dark, mysterious way.” “Don’t look now Ellie,” Poppy giggles, “But I think he’s looking at you.” With a hint of curiosity, I look back over at him and meet his dark blue eyes, watching me intently. His hair was a mess of raven curls, falling into his eyes and he wore nothing but dark colors. Mysterious yes, cute no. This guy was hot, way hotter than should be legal. He stood out from everyone else.

“Think he’s new in town?” Kate whispers like he might hear us. “I’ve never seen him around before and someone that good looking would be etched in my mind permanently.” A ping of anger hits me when she says this mixed with jealousy but I push it away. I had no reason to be jealous or angry with Kate for thinking he was hot just as I had. Just then Lucas comes back with our food, a flirtatious smile on his face, and sets our plates down in front of us.

“Is there anything else I can get for you ladies?” He asks.

“No.” Kate says politely but her smirk suggests something else. “Thank you though.” Lucas nods and leaves after sliding Kate a small piece of paper.

“What is that?” Poppy asks as Kate shoves the paper in her pocket, smirking.

“His number.” Poppy’s mouth falls open, eyes bunging.

“No freaking way! All you did was flirt a little!”

“What can I say? I’m a natural.” She shrugs but I can see the smirk lingering on her lips.

“I need to use the restroom.” I announce, standing up. This salad was already messing with my stomach and I had only taken one bite.

“Okay.” They both said, not bothering to look at me. I hurry to the bathroom and lock myself in one of the stalls just as a wave of nausea rolls through me, causing me to throw up, barely making it into the toilet. The door outside opens and closes but I pay it no attention as I try to quietly throw up again but fail miserably. I didn’t know what was wrong with me but I knew I couldn’t keep this up. Eventually all my weight loss would show and rumors would spread around the town like they always did. Sighing I flush the toilet and set out of the stall only to slam into a rock hard chest. Men’s cologne fills my nose mixed with a hint of mint.

“Sorry.” I mumble, looking up and gasping just as I do. The guy from before, who seemed to be following me, was staring down at me, his face expressionless. “You’re not supposed to be in here. This is the girls bathroom.” I inform him, a shiver of fear begging to roll through me.

“I know.” He smirks, speaking for the first time. “But I’ve never been much of a rule follower.” His voice was rough, yet silky and made me want to melt right there.

“Okay.” I say then push past him and go to the sink to rinse my mouth out. My eyes meet his in the mirror and he smirks. “Are you just going to stand there and stare all day or are you going to tell me why you’re following me?” I snap. His smile widens but he never takes his eyes off me.

“Who says I’m following you and not one of your friends?” He wonders. I roll my eyes and give a humorless laugh.

“Because we’re standing in the girls bathroom together talking about it.”

“Fair point.” He agrees then leans down just enough that his lips are touching my ear. “I’ll see you around Elora.” And with that he leaves, the bathroom door swings long after he’s gone. My mind whirls and heart races as I walk back to the table. He knew my name. I had never met him before in my life yet he knew my names. But that wasn’t what had my heart racing or mind buzzing. It was that way he said my name. Elora.