RUNS IN THE FAMILY

Your mom?" I asked. I turned back to the pond, looking for a house of some sort, but there was nothing. Lend picked up a rock and, giving it an expert flick with his wrist, skipped it across the top of the water. Another thing he could do that I always wanted to. The others were watching the water expectantly, so I did the same.

The middle of the pond moved, shifting as though there was a sudden change of current. It turned toward us, the water building up and moving of its own accord, creating a small wake. I'll admit I was nervous. Most of my experience with paranormals involved things that could kill me. It was all I could do not to take a step back as the wave came closer, flowing faster and rising above the level of the pond.

When it got within feet of the shore, the water shot up, spraying high into the air. Little droplets, freezing cold, showered down on my head. The water settled to reveal a woman standing there. Well, standing being relative, considering she was still on the water and made of it, too. The light reflected off her rippling form; she was absolutely amazing. Her top half was well-​formed, right down to a hauntingly beautiful face and cascading hair. She held out slender arms toward us. After her waist the water dropped down, forming a sort of dress shape where it connected back to the pond.

“Hi, Mom.” Lend waved cheerfully.

She laughed. It blew my mind. I had always thought Reth had the most beautiful voice and laughter, but she put him to shame. It made you feel like you were lying next to a stream on a warm day, letting it run over your fingers as you lost every care in the world except the cool, cleansing sensation. It bubbled with clear music notes.

“Hello, my darling,” she said. Her features rippled into a smile as she looked at Lend. I could see right through her to the other side, but the way her face manipulated the water and reflected light you could see her expressions. It was like Lend in his normal form, only much less stable. I noticed something else, too. Her heart, or where her heart would have been, seemed to generate light--like she glowed from inside. This must be a normal thing for paranormals. Why had I not noticed before?

“Cresseda,” Lend's dad said. He looked happy and sad at the same time, watching her. It made me wonder what the family history was.

“David.”

“He got home safely.”

She laughed again. “I told you he would. And he found the answer.” She fixed her eyes on me. I didn't know what to do, so I raised one hand in an awkward wave.

Lend looked down, shaking his head. “No, I'm sorry. I didn't find anything. I saw what was doing this, but I don't have any answers.”

Cresseda shook her head, water droplets raining down in front of her. “You have the answer with you.” She smiled, and her eyes, insubstantial as they were, seemed to bore straight through me. “What a lovely balance. Lend shows whatever he wants the world to see and you see through whatever the world wants to show you.”

“What do you mean?” Arianna interrupted.

Cresseda shimmered like she was about to lose her form. “Lend found what he was meant to find.”

David frowned. “You mean--Did you send him?” He turned to Lend. “Is that why you went? Did she ask you to?”

Lend shook his head. “No, I went because I heard you guys talking. Didn't you get that info from a banshee?”

“Yeah, but I--”

“Things are not as they should be. Now they may return. Or they may be lost entirely,” Cresseda said thoughtfully. And really unhelpfully, too. She wasn't much good in the whole making-​sense department. Of course, Lend had been talented at the whole vague, random-​answer thing while he was in the Center. It was obvious now where he'd learned it. “Change is coming. 'Eyes like streams of melting snow.'” She smiled at me again.

I shrugged, uncomfortable. “That's not about me.”

She shook her head. I didn't know whether she was agreeing with me or telling me I was wrong. “The waters are emptier now.” Her voice was tinged with sorrow. “I am sorry about Alisha. You will set it right?”

“How did you know about Lish?” I asked, my voice catching.

“She was part of the waters. Return her to us?”

I shook my head, tearing up again. “I can't; she's dead.”

“Cresseda,” David said, his voice gentle and leading, like he was trying to get her to focus. “We know a little more about the thing that's doing this. We were hoping you could help us.”

She waved one hand dismissively. “This is not a matter of the waters--it is a matter of fire and spirit. The path is not mine and I cannot see it.” Lend's shoulders slumped. Everyone in the group looked disappointed. “And, Lend? Stand up straight, stop slouching. My beautiful boy.”

I almost laughed. I guess she really was a mom, after all. She beamed and the light reflecting from her grew brighter, then the water that formed her let go, dropping back to the pond with a loud splash.

“Bye, Mom,” Lend said softly.

Arianna folded her arms petulantly. “Well, that was a bloody waste of time.”

“I don't know,” an all-​too familiar voice mused behind us. “I found it rather entertaining.” I turned around, terror bleeding from my stomach outward until even my fingers trembled.

Everyone else seemed equally shocked, although only Lend looked scared. Reth stood in the middle of the path like some sort of beautiful Victorian dandy. He even had a walking stick--clearly freedom agreed with him and he'd stepped up his fashion. If he weren't so breathtaking, he would have looked ridiculous. On him it worked, and somehow made him creepier.

“What do you want?” David asked, his voice even and cautious.

“I've come to collect what's mine.” He smiled at me. It was over. Without his new name, I was powerless. I didn't even have any weapons. He would take me and there was nothing anyone could do.

“Don't touch her!” Lend jumped in front of me, planting his feet and holding out his arms. If I weren't so scared it would have been adorable--Lend thinking he could fight off a faerie. I wanted to cry. I'd never see him again and it broke my heart.

Reth frowned. “You are getting very tiresome.”

I put my hand on Lend's back. “Lend, no!” He had to get out of here. He knew what Reth could do, what Reth would do.

David, hands in his pockets, stepped closer to the faerie. “I'm sorry, I don't believe we've met. I'm David. What's your interest in Evie?”

Reth didn't even glance at him. “Time we were off.” He held out his hand. My mind raced as I tried to think of a way out that didn't end up with anyone dead.

Arianna stood her ground, spitting on the path in front of him. “She's not going anywhere with you.”

Reth raised an eyebrow. “What charming company you keep, my love.” He flicked a hand lazily and Arianna went flying into a tree.

The sun glinted off something on David's knuckles as he swung at Reth's face. What good did he think that would do? His fist connected, and Reth fell backward, clutching at his face with an inhuman shriek. My jaw dropped as David turned toward us. “Let's go, now.”

He turned his back too soon. From the ground Reth raised his hand and whispered something.

I shrieked as my wrist burned and I was dragged forward. I dug my heels into the dirt, but the pull was too strong and I fell forward, knocking Lend out of the way. There was nothing to hold on to. I clutched at my wrist like I could somehow tear away the fire.

Lend jumped on top of me, grabbing me around the waist and bracing us both with his feet. We slowed. Reth raised his other hand and the fire flared, pulling from my heart now, too. I screamed in agony. It hurt so bad I couldn't breathe, I couldn't think. A door melted into place behind Reth. A few more feet and I'd be his forever.

“No!” Lend squeezed me even tighter. David spun to hit Reth again, forcing the faerie to move one of his hands; I gasped with relief as my heart was released. He froze David on the spot.

Reth dusted himself off, maintaining his pull on my wrist. “Barbaric race, really. Now then.” He glared at Lend and raised a hand.

“No, don't hurt him, I'll come, I'll come!” I sobbed. At least then the pain would be over and Lend would be safe.

“No!” Lend yanked me backward, gaining a few feet on Reth.

Smiling, Reth opened his mouth. He was going to kill Lend.

Water, foaming and flecked with bits of ice, shot past us, whipping my hair forward with the force of its motion. Before hitting Reth, the water curved, turning back on itself and swirling around us. The fire in my wrist died, the invisible threads cut. Lend and I sat safe in the middle of the vortex, watching Reth's image ripple through the water.

“Really now,” Reth snapped, looking past us. “I would hope that you, of all things, would understand. You know what she means to us. All of us.”

“That is my son.”

Reth's nose wrinkled in distaste. “I see. Very well, he's of no import to me. I'll take Evelyn and be on my merry way.”

“She is under my protection as well.”

“She's no thing of yours. The waters have no claim.”

“Neither does the air.”

“We made her!”

My blood froze. What did he mean?

“Creation is not claim,” Cresseda said.

“And yet you claim the boy,” Reth sneered.

“Leave.” Cresseda's voice had gone from bubbling brook to roaring waterfall; it was power, eternal and unassailable.

Reth straightened his waistcoat and picked up his walking stick. “Very well. I'm not the only one who will come looking, though. Until next time, my love.” He waved his cane at me and stepped back through the door.