Secrets (BOOK 2)

CHANGES MADE

We go to the park, where a group of fairies gather to raise the sun. They are just finishing when we get there. Parasela begins to walk the other way.

“Parasela! We brought you breakfast!” I yell. She looks around, not noticing us. “Parrie! Parasela Sol!” I bellow louder. She finally spots us, fluttering her tiny wings as fast as she could.I haven’t seen her since before we left for Fraunce. She takes the food, and hugs me. “I missed you, Katie! Oh, and thanks for the food.” She says, squeezing me for what seems like an eternity.  She finally lets go, and I breathe heavily. When I look up at Lany, she has terror in her eyes. Of course, Paraselas’s hugging her, too. 

I start to laugh when Parasela lets go. “What’s so funny!” she asks. I continue laughing. “Look at Lany!” Parasela turns around and looks at Lany with annoyance. “She looks like an idiot!” I burst, unable to control the laughter. Lany’s clearly trying to cool off. Parasela’s heat reflected off of Parasela and on to Lany. Fire fairies, thankfully, are immune to it. 

Once Lany had stopped, we start walking to the fountain, where I fell into Fairy Jewel. I smile slightly at the memory of Pippi in the water.

We landedwith a splash! We thrashed about like a cat in water.

        “HOLD ON!’’ Sara called as she threw a rope into the fountain. Pippi grabbed onto the rope, and I grabbed onto Pippi.

When they got out, the Store Keeper, who happened to sell linens, hurried into his shop and gave us a towel. They thoroughly dried themselves off, and then Pippi introduced herself and I.

         “I’m Pippi LaPru and this is my sister, Katie.”

         “So… you are from Fraunce, I presume?” Sara asked.

        “Yes” Pippi said.

“Uh, cool. We’ll find you a place to stay and tomorrow we can talk. It’s already getting dark out” Sara remarked.

“Katie! I dare you to jump into the fountain!” Parasela demands, taking me out of my flashback. “Parrie! You know I steam!” I whine. Honestly, I kind of wanted to jump in, but my element restricted that. I’m not as bad as Pippi when it comes to water, but it’s not like I don’t react. 

“I know.” Parasela says with a smirk, and pushes me in. “You-evil-” I start. “You evil little devil!” Parasela starts to crack up. Instead I just shiver.

Oh boy. I thought. Why aren't I steaming?

“Katie! Are you alright?!” Lany asks franticly. Her and Parasela lift me out of the fountain, and carry me together. They start towards the medical tree. Lany’s light blouse does little to warm me up. 

Slowly, everything fades to black.

Once I awake, I notice I’m confined mossy room, with berry lanterns, giving it a dark feel. The doctors poke and pry me until they reach a conclusion.

“Sweetie, you’re going through some drastic changes.” a nurse says, after most of the doctors have left. A few look around for medicines. 

“Wha?” I say, in a haze from all the drugs.  

“It’s not as bad as it sounds, honey. You’ll just have to stay in the hospital, only for a few days.” 

I was confused. “Whadda you mean?” I slur. “You have no idea what’s going on, don’t you?” she asks. I shake my head no. The nurse’s white hair bobs as she exits. Another younger fairy carries a chart in. 

“Let me explain all of this in a simple way. Since your father is a fire fairy, and your mom is a snow fairy,” she says, looking at me. I nod in agreement. “You are a hybrid fairy. Part fire, part snow.” I nod again. “This happens a lot, don’t worry. When two fairies of different elements collide, their offspring has the element of the father, that is, until about your age. How old are you again?”

“14.” I grunt. 

“Oh, you’re a little young for this to happen.  Was there a catalyst?”

“My friend Parasela pushed me into the fountain in the square...”

The lady sighs. “That must’ve sparked something genetics related in your system. Well, this change usually occurs during the age of 16. The combined elements create a new element, for example, There is a male sun fairy and a female water fairy. The offspring will be a sun fairy, but at the age of 16, they turn into a air fairy.” 

I nod. Yeah, you’re defiantly explaining this simply. “Then why do I have to stay in the hospital?” I ask. 

“Oh, just so the change is completed properly. 

“Will it be painful?” I worry. Of course, when I’m completely changing elements, that’s the first thing on my mind. Pain.

“Oh no, sweetie, The only thing you’ll feel is a chill every so often.”

I let out a sigh of relief, but remain in shock. How would Pippi treat this? She has a thing against hybrids... Mutts, she calls them.

I lay my head down on the leaf-wrapped pillow. The fairy with the chart leaves, and another enters, a male, who pokes me with all sorts of needles connected to a cart filled with fluids. One bag is filled with a orange liquid labeled “staple wax”. Another had a sticky substance labeled “brizer”. It’s a paste that is inserted into your right arm, taking place of blood. I slowly drift off into a light sleep, listening to the doctor write on her clip bored.

A couple hours later, after I wake up, a nurse comes in with a shake the color of slush in winter, and smells like dirty socks and pool water. 

“Drink this, it will help with the chills.” she says.  I shiver at the touch of the cold glass. I start to chug the shake, ignoring it’s blunt flavor. I instantly stop shivering, and I thank the nurse. I fall asleep again.

 When I wake, Lany and Parasela are hovering over me. 

“Sorry about Pippi, she’s a little ticked off.” they say, worried looks on their faces.

“Katie Florence LaPru, your mother wishes to see you.” a nurse says, with a hint of urgency. I stand up slowly.

We walk down the hall to a tree root room labeled “Guest Room”. I walk in. Lavern stands in front of a ivory-colored chair. I stiffen. She must’ve heard about the firework show. Lavern looks me in the eye.

“Take a seat, Katie.”