Chapter One
The shrill cry of a bird assaulted my ears as my boots crunched over the dry, dying grass. I winced and searched the barren sky, squinting in the glaring light of a harsh sun. Another cry came from my right and I ducked just as a crow swooped by.
“What's your problem?!” I shouted at the bird. “Why are you messing with me? I did right by Cailleach; she was pardoned.” The crow dive-bombed me again. “Stupid crow!” I waved my arms insanely at it.
“It's not a crow,” a voice very like my own said.
I looked towards the sound and saw myself standing against a backdrop of Native American tepees. My face was shadowed by my long, windswept, midnight hair but the stars radiating through the emerald irises of my eyes sparkled out of the darkness and the amethyst stripe in my hair caught their glimmer. I was definitely looking at an image of myself.
I was wearing a creamy beige buckskin dress, complete with rows of fringe and beautiful beadwork. There was a colorful, boldly patterned shawl around my shoulders and tall, beaded moccasins on my feet. The land stretched out behind the conical tents and me, ending in a blushing horizon. The sun was setting; twilight coming.
“Why am I talking to myself?” I asked her/me/it.
“Because there's no one else here,” she/I shrugged.
“Oh okay,” for some reason it made perfect sense. “What do you mean it's not a crow?”
“That's a raven,” she pointed at the bird who was now circling above us. “Heads up!”
I ducked as the foul fowl took another pass at me.
I'm going to shish-kebob you, bird!” I shook my fist at it because that's what one does when ravens try to peck your eyes out.
“It's only trying to tell you something,” she/I shrugged.
“That I should take up bird watching?” I huffed.
“In a way,” she smiled and I wanted to wipe that grin off my face. Her face. Whatever.
“Just spit it out,” I snapped. “When did we become so fey? And so native?” I waved at her tribal dress.
“Aren't you smart enough to figure it out for yourself? You're supposed to be this big sparkly Twilight Princess.” Her voice turned into that annoying sing-song tone most often employed by kindergartners and psychopaths.
“Are you mocking me?” I balled my hands into fists. I was about to pull a Tyler Durden and kick my own ass.
“No,” she went serious, “but they are,” she pointed up to the sky, which was now full of ravens. They swirled together, the beat of their wings thrumming beneath the sound of their cries. They dove at me and I screamed.
“Seren!” Tiernan was suddenly above me, shaking me awake.
I sat up, pushing him aside as I looked around the airy bedroom. The silk comforter was rumpled around my feet, where Cat (my puka companion who was actually closer to a dog than a cat) crouched, staring at me warily. Through the web of delicate night-blooming jasmine which formed a canopy over my bed, I looked up at the crystal dome set into my bedroom ceiling. Through it I could see the night sky, full of fey constellations. The stars of Fairy sparkled the same as they did in the Human Realm but they didn't look the same. Probably since Fairy was in another universe entirely.
“Seren?” Tiernan, my fairy boyfriend and Lord of the Wild Hunt (I have to add it or he'll be mad) gave me another shake.
“I'm okay,” I laid my hand over his. “Stop shaking me.”
“You screamed,” he accused.
“It was just a bad dream,” I sighed and laid back down.
“Oh, alright then,” he pulled the covers up around us and snuggled in beside me.
“Damn mocking ravens,” I muttered as I wiggled to get comfortable next to his firm form.
“What did you say?” Tiernan bolted upright.
“Ravens,” I frowned and sat up too. “They were attacking me and then I told myself that they were actually mocking me.”
“You told yourself?” Tiernan's eyes scrunched up with confusion.
