The Incandescent | Book 7 | The Fairy arc

Chapter 31 ~ The Secret of the Glittered Scheme

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~ Planet Monshalow ~

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Each time Crimson and Mara arrived with their daughter Amari, Ireyna was reminded of Killian's mortality and her own immortality.

Her dismay grew when Ireyna thought she saw Killian's first grey hair. Killian assured her it was just the way his hair appeared in direct sunlight, that his hair was not turning grey yet, but Ireyna knew the inevitable truth. He would soon grow old, and she would remain young.

Old age meant death; death meant loneliness; loneliness meant emptiness; emptiness meant no purpose, no meaning, no reason to continue living, according to the fairy born with immortality she never wanted.

Ireyna checked the calendar, but four years had not passed. Sensing her unease, Killian distracted Ireyna as best he could. Though his efforts proved successful when he was with Ireyna, it was when Ireyna was alone with her thoughts that she felt anxious depression snag her like a chilling wind.

A year before the endeavor, Ireyna telepathically contacted Casim. Hello, Casim. This is Ireyna. When do I start my endeavor?

Just under twelve months, fairy, Casim responded, surprised to hear from Ireyna. We have limited time before the endeavor. Please initiate no further telepathic outreach unless it is an emergency. You may call or message me on the butterfly communicator. Until then, Ireyna.

And so began the arduous task of waiting.

Ireyna called Casim on the butterfly communicator, surprising and annoying Casim as he began receiving repeated notifications.

Sometimes the calls occurred at convenient times; sometimes the calls occurred at inconvenient times.

Convenient time: Ireyna was alone in the rose garden and Casim was reading a book aboard his ship.

"When do I start my endeavor?" Ireyna asked.

"Ten months, fairy," Casim answered.

Another convenient time: Ireyna was in the city and Casim was enjoying breakfast and coffee.

"When do I start my endeavor?"

"Seven months, fairy."

An inconvenient time: Ireyna was running errands and Casim was in the middle of writing a report when Ireyna called unexpectedly, making Casim jump in startlement. The inkwell spilled over the page, covering the paper with glittery black ink.

The butterflies answered the call, and Ireyna said, "Good afternoon, Casim. When do I start my endeavor?"

Casim righted the fallen inkwell. He hastily traitored the ink, making it flow back into the inkwell. He picked up the ink quill, hiding his startlement and responding in a calm manner. "Five months, fairy. Not much long now."

Another inconvenient time: Ireyna was outside the mall and Casim had just stepped out of the shower.

"When do I start my endeavor?"

Casim ran a hand through his wet blond hair as the butterflies wrapped a lilac purple towel around his thin body. He closed his eyes, sighing in annoyance. "My dear fairy, you already asked me last month...."

Another inconvenient time: Ireyna was in the stable and Casim was making salad for dinner. He dropped the salad on the floor when the butterfly communicator started ringing from another room. Casim hastened to pick up the salad while the butterflies accepted Ireyna's call and hit speakerphone. The butterflies carried the butterfly communicator over to Casim, who threw the ruined salad in the trash.