The Ones Who Had Loved Her The Most

Love Faded White

Dettlaff took them to a small run-down cottage deep in the forest. Ancient oaks soured around it, littering it and the surrounding area in dead leaves. The inside was possibly more dilapidated than the outside, but it would suit their needs for the time being. Dettlaff called it an 'old haunt, which made Jenny think he must have spent some time hiding from the world here. Together Jenny and Regis cleaned out the worst of the mess, Dettlaff gathered wood, and they spent the evening huddled around the small hearth.

"What is a Fae?" Jenny asked at last.
Regis and Dettlaff shared a look, and then Regis answered.
"The Fae Folk came here during the Conjunction of the Spheres like Vampires and all other manners of creatures and monsters. Not much is known about them, for they did not stay here long. They have strange magic of their own, and it is believed they returned to their realms. I have met several before, in my youth, they were wandering in this land looking for some lost artifact. They wield swords of Fairy crystal that are stronger and sharper than any steel in this world. The blades burn when they cut, a rather unpleasant feeling" Regis shifted uneasily, remembering the recent battle. "A Fae is almost as strong and fast as a Higher Vampire, they do not age, and most have no love for other creatures. I never learned much of them; the ones I had met did not attack me. They did not tell me where they had come from or where they were going, but I did see them fighting several rock trolls. They had moved with astounding speed and strength." Regis sighed heavily.
"All in all, they were very secretive and suspicious of me. I did not spend much time in the Fae's company and got the distinct feeling that they would be very dangerous foes, even to a Higher Vampire. But I' am afraid they are mostly a mystery, even to me."
"Why are they so cold?" Jenny asked, "When he touched me, his hands were like ice, and just being near him was like being in a winters storm."
"They have elemental powers. To put it bluntly, the Fae was probably being an ass and making you cold on purpose," Regis explained.
"Did they tell you what they wanted from you?" Dettlaff asked, "Why they took you?"
Jenny gazed into the fire. She didn't want to answer, but Regis and Dettlaff had risked themselves to come to get her, and they deserved an answer.
"The silver-haired one, he said he was my father."
"Explains a lot," Regis mumbled.
"Explains what?" asked Jenny sharply.
"We have both know that you weren't exactly human for a while now," Regis answered gently.
"You've known?" Jenny stood up abruptly "And neither one of you bothered to tell me? And how did you even know? I sure as hell didn't know!"
Dettlaff stood too and took Jenny's hand in his own "There was no easy way to tell you, and we didn't know what you were. What good would it have done to tell you but not tell you just what you were? As for our knowing, well, you don't smell like a human."
"I don't smell like a human?" Jenny asked, insulted, "Do I smell funny?"
"On the contrary, you smell exquisite. We need to know why the Fae came after you Jennevieve; we need to know how to protect you."
Jenny looked up into Dettlaff's eyes and saw the worry there and a protective glint aswell.
"They wanted something my mother had stolen from them; I do not know what. He forced me to tell him where her grave was," Jenny sighed "They won't find anything. She had nothing but a coin purse of gold and a piece of parchment with my name... the coin purse."
Jenny dropped Dettlaff's hand and crossed the room to where her travel jacket hung. She riffled through the pocket and pulled a faded leather purse out; she had carried it with her all these years as a good luck charm. Hanging from the drawstring was a small black stone. She had always thought it decorative, but what if it was what the Fae had been looking for?
Dettlaff came and stood beside her. "What is it?" he asked softly.
"My mother's purse. He had asked if she had left me anything, I had told him she only left me my name, but I had forgotten this." She touched the small black stone. "He asked about a necklace or jewel, but what if this is what he wanted? But it's just a rock."
Dettlaff reached out a long finger and touched the stone "It has a glamour on it, I can sense the magic."
"Well," Regis rose from the hearth and faced the others. "We know what he wants and are safe for the moment. We need rest and time to heal. I, for one, am going to get some sleep."