Honna walked beside Meechi silently, for what felt like hours. The morning dew had faded away as the sun rose higher in the sky. Everything was so beautiful. The lush greens of the grass that covered every inch of the ground, swayed back and forth in the breeze. It was so unlike the city where there’s only small dedicated patches that always had to be kept cut short. The air smelled a lot better than the city too. It never occurred to her that the grass had a scent, let alone one so invigorating. There were other scents around too, ones she remembered from visiting greenhouses on school trips, flowers and trees she couldn’t name, dirt being kicked up with each step. The cloaked girl ahead of her smelled nice, almost like the grass surrounding them, but with a slight tinge of iron.

Meechi turned to check on her every few minutes, something she’d been doing ever since she had her pinned against the wall, like she was expecting her to try and run away from her. A slight shiver ran through her at the memory.

I can’t believe she got so close to me in public. Well, sort of public. We were right out in the open. I can’t believe I got so close to her. If we were in the city we would’ve been reported for it and been sent an indecency ticket, for sure. Not to mention the fact that we hardly know each other.

“She only got close to scare you.” The goblin chided. “It’s not like she could be attracted to you. After all, all you have to offer is that great personality,” he snickered.

She begrudgingly agreed with the goblin this time. Meechi had said something about her aura, so obviously she was just getting close to either study or scare her. She lifted her hand up to the light, hoping to see whatever gold lining Meechi had talked about. Sarah had dragged her to the tanning salon before the funeral to try and help her relax, but Meechi was as pale as a sheet, so no matter how she analyzed it, Meechi couldn’t have possibly meant the color of her skin.

“Hey,” Meechi said suddenly, startling her. She quickly hid her hand behind her, feeling embarrassed for examining it so hard. “Have you ever heard of the Fae?”

She ran through her memories, recalling all the times she’d heard the word. Remembering things had never been a problem for her. Some called it, perfect recall. Honna called it, the only reason she was able to pass school.

“My mom used to tell me stories of the Fae as a child.” And, until she’d been sent around the world in a matter of seconds and seen Meechi’s eyes pulse with what she could only assume was magic, that’s all she thought they were, stories. “How many kinds of Fae are there?”

Meechi paused for a moment. She seemed shocked every time Honna opened her mouth. Was it really so odd that she be curious rather than afraid? Certainly not everyone freaked out just learning of the Fae’s existence. It’s been a part of fiction culture for so long, it’s hard to believe anyone would actually scream and run away.

Meechi held up two fingers. “Just two, here on earth. Kalos and Atelis.”

Honna scrunched her nose at the unexpected answer. “Aren’t there types like fairies and goblins?”

Meechi laughed. “Well, yeah. Those are different species of Fae. Just as there are different species of animals.” She pushed her cloak sleeve up to her bicep and proudly showed a tattoo in the shape of a sun. “You are usually born into one side or another but you can join or change sides once you become of age. If you choose to work for a side you get their brand.”

“Why would you let someone brand you?” Honna scoffed. The idea of being owned or forced into one side or the other gave her chills. “You’re not livestock.”

“Why are you even worried about it?” The goblin poked a pointy finger at her brain. “It's not like they’d brand you. Why would they let you into their secret club? What could you do that’s useful?”

‘Hey, I can cook,’ she argued back. ‘Everyone needs to eat, even the Fae...Right?’

Meechi dropped her sleeve. “I can understand why it looks that way, but it offers protection and, in many ways, acts as a VIP pass.”

Meechi walked over to one of the crumbling houses. This building was far more in-tact than the others. Honna had noticed they were spaced out over many miles. Why would these people have needed so much distance between their properties. If there was an actual reason, it has long since been forgotten.

“Are you coming?”

“Do I actually have a choice?”

“Not really,” Meechi said with an amused grin. “But, even if you did, would you really want to turn back now?” She ducked inside the slanted doorway.