The Faerie Key

Chapter Ten and a Half

Drishti looked at the pictures. She knew something was off about Selcouth. She had a strange balance of shadows and highlights. The blend was something that shouldn't be found in this realm.

"What did you do?" It seemed that the Risa, she had known was only a tiny part of the more complicated woman.

Still, Drishti smiled at the memory of Risa teaching her to unlock her own past. When her aunt refused to allow Drishti to find out about her parents and their accident, it was Risa who had helped her find her gift.

"I guess I probably should have unlocked your secrets too, Risa."

It wasn't a good sign when she started talking to herself. She studied the picture of the key, unbreakable, but it had given her a clue. The metal wasn't a regular metal. Although she didn't actually know the type, she knew it was a mixture of elements. At least that was a sort of answer, not one Fionn would be pleased to hear.

Drishti traced the outline of Selcouth's picture, she could feel Risa there but there was something dark too, it was hidden further.

"Fionn, you're in trouble," she had seen the look in his eyes. There had been only one other time she had seen it and it had brought nothing but trouble.

Now she had to figure out a way to tell them, without giving anything away.

"The times now are too uncertain. And although Fionn left The Order, it doesn't mean it left him," Arax had managed to sneak his way into her conversation, his purple hair changed to red. The betrayal still poisoned him.

"You're right," she said.

"But you don't like it. Your soft spot for Risa, the traitor, and her grandson will get you in trouble."

Drishti chuckled, "Indeed, but isn't that why you are my assistant?"

Arax hair turned back to purple.

"Let's not keep them waiting," she got up from the floor.

"Will you tell them?"

"Only enough to let them move forward."

Arax sighed, "good deeds usually get punished. Look at Risa."

"I am. She deserved better and so did your sister."

His hair turned blood red and she could swear she felt the burning heat radiating from it.

Drishti placed a hand on his shoulder, "sorry."

Arax would never forget, but she hoped he would learn to forgive if only so he could live longer.

"Not even for you, my love," he placed his cold hand on top of hers.

"I can hope," she kissed his hand, which sent both burning heat and frigid cold through her. Risa had had that duality in her too. Did Selcouth?