Potions, Power and Pain

Chapter 10

Rowan Nightshade had no idea what was wrong with him, but he was obsessed with Reena Tansy.

The way she talked, laughed, smiled, all of it was perfect. She was perfect. The only thing that infuriated Rowan was that she never did any of it with him. She never talked to him, or laughed with him, or smiled at him. So he found himself staring at her, whenever the opportunity presented itself.

Before the annual camping trip he had known Reena was beautiful. Her shiny blond hair, big brown eyes and perfect features made that fact undeniable. However it was now all Rowan could think about. He was constantly mesmerised by her beauty, constantly distracted because he was thinking about her.

"Bro, are you even listening to me?" Querdo asked waving his hand in front of Rowan's face. Even his friends were beginning to notice how preoccupied and inattentive he was.

"Uhm, no." Rowan answered honestly.

"What is up with you? You've been so..." Querdo took a second to find an appropriate word, "Dreamy, all week."

"Honestly I have no idea I have just been really distracted."

"By what?" Querdo questioned.

"Just stuff." Rowan answered. There was no way he could tell his friend about Reena. He had been trying so hard to bury what he was feeling for her. Mainly because he was not sure precisely what he was feeling, but also because he did not know how his friends would react.

Avana for one hated Reena. He had never understood why and Avana had never told him. As for Querdo, Rowan had no idea what he thought of her, they had never really talked about it. He knew that Avana could sometimes be awfully malicious towards Reena but Querdo never really joined in.

So Rowan was trying his best to suppress everything, trying his best to suppress her. But his best was not enough, he felt as though the more he tried to stop thinking about her, the more he ended up thinking about her.

"Because it is the last night of camp, some of the guys and I are going to shape-shift and then sneak off into the Silva. A few of them brought booze, do you want to come?" Querdo asked, changing the subject.

While every faery was capable of basic abilities, depending on which kingdom they were from, each of them was also gifted a more unique power. Faeries from the Celestial Kingdom were all capable of flying, however some of them were gifted with the power of wind and air manipulation, light manipulation, precipitation manipulation or lightning manipulation. Faeries from the Earthly Kingdom were all capable of glamour, however some of them were gifted with the power of shapeshifting, plant manipulation or the ability to communicate with terrestrial animals. Faeries from the Aquatic Kingdom were all capable of breathing underwater, however some of them were gifted with the power to summon and control water, communicate with aquatic animals or manipulate aquatic plants.

Querdo for one, was able to shape-shift into a fox. "You know that I can't shape-shift." Rowan answered slightly harshly. Faeries' unique powers only begin to appear after several years and all of Rowan's friends had already discovered their special abilities, while he was yet to even show any signs of having one. After finishing years of fundamental training at the Academy, faeries then went on to learn how to truly master their power, those who never developed one were called the Talentless and were considered disgraces to their families.

"If we all work together we could totally use glamour on you and then you would be able to sneak out without a problem." Querdo offered.

"No I'm good." Rowan wasn't one for last minute invitations to things, especially if it entailed being reminded of his inability to shape-shift.

"Okay, see you later then." Querdo said as he walked out the door.

Despite not wanting to go out with Querdo and his friends, Rowan had absolutely no desire to stay in his room and sit around doing nothing, so he decided to go for a walk.

Rowan Nightshade Prince of the Earthly Kingdom going for a walk was unusual to say the least. He normally found walks awfully boring, however after a week full of activities with his classmates from the Academy, walking alone through the Silva under the stars was particularly enjoyable. He was able to enjoy some peace and quiet, and gaze up at the night sky, littered with bright shining stars. He had always found the Celestial Kingdom incredibly beautiful.

Just as he was ending his walk and arriving back at the campsite, he saw Reena, sitting on the same bench she had been a few nights prior, under the same tree, reading a book thanks to the light several fireflies were casting upon the pages.

Unable to help himself, Rowan walked over to her and sat down next to her.