“So you believe he knows of Rapture?” Lorsan asked referring to the drink that he had developed.

Trik nodded. “I can think of no other reason that he would have to buy the land where you are planning on putting the store houses.”

Lorsan stood and began to pace. “We need to move things forward. If Tamsin is dealing with your human,”

“—Chosen,” Trik growled. “My Chosen.”

Lorsan waved him off. “Yes, yes, your Chosen , then. If he is dealing with that little issue, then he won’t have had to time to move forward with the land purchase, which means that we should have time to contact Leon and tell him to get it done.”

Leon was the human realtor that the dark elves had hired to help them find the land. Trik didn’t care for the sleazy little man, but it wasn’t up to him who Lorsan employed.

“I’ll go see him.” Trik stood to go.

“What are you going to do about your Chosen?” Lorsan asked.

“You aren’t going to tell me what to do?” Trik raised his eyebrows at his King.

“Would you obey me?”

Trik’s face spread into a callous smile. “Not when it comes to her.”

Lorsan rolled his eyes. “Not when it comes to anything is what you really mean. Do what you must, but at some point you will have to tell her who and what you are. Will she be able to handle it, I wonder?”

Trik shook his head with a low chuckle, “I’m the assassin and spy for the Dark Elf King. I kill without remorse. I live for myself and my own pleasure. I come from a dark people with dark hearts. What do you think?”

~

Cassie spent the next twenty-four hours going through the motions of her day, but her mind was only on Trik. She went from class to class, nodded at the appropriate times , and attempted to look interested when Elora spoke to her.

“You’re thinking about him again aren’t you?” Elora asked as she nibbled on the carrot she had pulled out of her lunch bag. They sat in their usual spot in the far corner of the cafeteria , giving them a full view of the room. She and Elora were experienced people watchers. They amused themselves by imagining things that people were saying or thinking while they went about their lunch period, unaware of the two girls humoring themselves.

“I can’t get him out of my mind. It’s like he put a spell on me or something.”

“I don’t know what sort of magic elves hold,” Elora replied.

“Are you still going on about that?” Cassie interrupted exasperatedly.

“What other explanation is there, Cassie?” Elora asked indignantly. “You said that the dude’s appearance changed right before your eyes.”

“A synapse in my brain must have misfired.”

Eloraraised an eyebrow at her. “A misfired brain synapse? That’s really what you want to go with?”

“As opposed to, Elves with Magic Abilities for $200, Alex? Then yes I’m going to go with misfired brain synapse,” Cassie smarted off .

“We’re going to Lisa’s store after school,” Elora told her as she took a drink of her soda all the while ignoring Cassie’s scowling face. “We can talk to her and see what she thinks.”

~

“Lisa!” Elora hollered as the little bell over the door of Enigma, her mother’s store, jingled. Cassie followed her into the new age shop, her eyes never ceasing to widen at the many interesting things that decorated Lisa’s store. They walked to the back of the store where the cash register sat and waited for Elora’s mom to come up from the backroom.

“What are you girls doing here?” Lisa asked as she drug a large box from the storeroom. Cassie walked around the counter to help her and Lisa smiled. Cassie once again noted to herself that Lisa had one of those disarming smiles that made her feel like everything was going to be okay.

“Cassie saw some elves and then met one who has pretty much put a claim on her,” Elora said nonchalantly.

Cassie’s mouth dropped open as she listened to her best friend explain the situation to her mom as if she were talking about the weather and not about some mythical species.

Lisa froze and looked from Elora to Cassie, her eyes wide, with disbelief or surprise, Cassie couldn’t tell.

Elora shrugged. “I didn’t tell her anything, I just gave her an explanation for what she saw.”

Lisa took a step towards Cassie. “What exactly did you see?”

Cassie was surprised that Lisa wasn’t laughing or telling them that they were absolutely crazy for even considering such an idea.

“Well…” Cassie started. She explained everything she had told Elora and waited for Lisa to finally tell her that she needed some sort of medication for her hallucinations.

Lisa stepped back and leaned against the counter, her arms crossed in front of her chest and a thoughtful look on her face. A face that was nearly identical to her daughter ’s. Her hair, a dark brown, could have been the same color as Elora’s. But Elora had kept hers dyed since before Cassie could remember, so there was no way to be totally certain.

“So what do you think about Elora’s ideas about this?” Lisa asked Cassie carefully.

Cassie cocked her head to the side. “What do you mean, what do I think ? Are you telling me that you believe her?”

Lisa nodded slowly. “I believe her because I know that it’s true, as does Elora.”

“How?” Cassie practically shrieked.