Chatoyant College, Book 1: New Student Orientation

Chapter 42: Disbelief

"There are faeries that live in the woods," the note said. "I knew they were the ones who took Annie because people forgot. Usually they can be bargained with. I couldn't. Maybe you can. You have some intrinsic magic? Don't go at night."

Dawn stared at the note, clutching it tightly between her fingers. "You think I... have some magic? I haven't even started classes yet."

Lorelei nodded, her eyebrows drawing together. "That's the only reason I can think that you would remember. I don't know what it is, though."

Faeries. Dawn closed her eyes and shook her head, trying to clear it, then opened her eyes again. The note still said the same thing. She shouldn't be surprised. At a college like Chatoyant, the only one (as far as she knew) in the world that taught magic, shouldn't faeries come along with it as a matter of course? There was probably a mermaid in the fountain that graced the administration building's court and vampires living in the town. It was still a shock to her. Why hadn't Aunt Pru warned her about them? Maybe she hadn't known. It didn't seem like faeries were common knowledge. Of course, the most Aunt Pru had done was to display a few silly little tricks of magic for her as a kid. She hadn't exactly been a treasure trove of knowledge.

"I should bargain with them. What do I bargain?" Lorelei shrugged, her breathing becoming more labored, so Dawn decided to change the subject quickly. She could only think of one other question. "Can Edie and Corrie come with me?"

Lorelei nodded hastily. "Yes, absolutely. Anyone else you think would be helpful should come, too. They..." She coughed. Dawn leaned forward, and Lorelei smiled wanly. "They make it hard to know about them, but I think the knowledge should be spread. But go soon. Don't lose her."

Dawn knew what she meant, despite the mixed-up pronouns. She nodded and stood, feeling shaky but determined. "All right. I hope they let you out of here soon."

Lorelei laughed, breathing more easily now. "I'm sure they will. I'll see you soon, Dawn."

She walked out of the room, looking down at the note in her hand. She looked up when she got back to her friends, leaning against the wall next to the elevators. "Do you guys want to go in and say hi to her? I kind of want to get going, but I don't want you guys to feel left out."

Corrie pushed off from the wall. "I'll just say hi quickly." She walked over to the room, and Dawn took her place leaning against the wall.

"So you know what to do now? Is it urgent?" Edie sounded anxious.

Dawn sighed in frustration. "I don't know. Lorelei couldn't explain a lot to me." She handed Edie the note and watched as she scanned it quickly. When she had finished it, she handed it back to Dawn quietly, but her eyes were skeptical. Dawn frowned. "This could be really bad, or not too bad... What? If you have something to say, say it."

Edie looked at the floor. "I just... faeries? I'm not one to claim they're harmless little flitty things, if they existed... but they don't. How can faeries have taken Annie? There's no such thing outside of books."

"Why are you so surprised?" Dawn knew her voice betrayed her impatience, but she couldn't help it. Why was Edie being so dense? "How can you say that? We go to a college that teaches magic. I admit it sounds really strange, but so does everything else."

Edie bit her lip. "I still haven't seen any magic. How can there be real magic?"

Dawn's voice rose in pitch. "But you--"

"Uh--" Dawn was interrupted by Corrie's return. "Um, I talked to Lorelei. Edie, do you want to say hi?"

"Yeah." Edie pushed herself abruptly away from the wall and walked quickly down the short distance of hallway, glancing back once.

Corrie looked after her as she walked away. Dawn stared at the floor. "What's going on?" Corrie finally asked as Edie went into Lorelei's room.

Dawn shrugged. "I don't know. She won't... well, see for yourself." She gave Corrie the note.

The blonde frowned at it. "Faeries? Huh." She was silent for a few moments. "That makes some sense, actually."

"Then maybe you can explain it to Edie. She still doesn't seem to much like the idea of magic."

"She doesn't believe in it."

"I don't know how much longer she can keep herself from believing it."

Corrie shook her head, but was quiet. Edie returned from Lorelei's room shortly. "Okay." She took a deep breath. "I guess we should go."

Dawn pressed the elevator button. When they'd gotten on, she said, "You're not going to try to stop me?"

Edie looked up and gave her an odd little smile. "Stop you? I'm going with you. It may not be faeries, but there's got to be some kind of danger in the woods, and two heads are better than one."

"Three," asserted Corrie. "I'm going too."

Dawn grinned with relief, despite the panicky feeling her stomach acquired at the thought of going into the woods. She had considered asking them to come with her, as she was afraid to go alone, but now she didn't have to say it out loud or feel like she was pressuring them. "I'm so glad I have you to count on."