Page 16 of Court of Aether and Shadows

"What are you talking about?"

She took a deep breath as if steeling herself from something.

"My grandmother used to tell me stories,” she quietly admits as she briefly looks away. Her expression is filled with longing, as if she can picture herself before the very woman she speaks about, listening eagerly to the fabled tales, she expressed with gist “Stories of another world, hidden just beyond the veil of our own. A world full of life and power and beings that defy imagination."

Despite myself, I found myself leaning in, hanging on her every word.

She continued, her eyes taking on a faraway look.

"She spoke of creatures both beautiful and terrifying. Fae, she called them. Beings of such perfection and power that they could drive a mortal mad with a single glance."

Insanity at the mere sight?

"But they weren't all good, these Fae," Elenore went on. "Some were cruel, delighting in the torment of humans. Others were kind, or at least as kind as such alien beings can be. And some... some sought out humans who could perceive their world."

Perceive?

"What do you mean?" I asked, my mouth dry.

Elenore's gaze sharpened, focusing intently on me.

It’s as if she can see right through me.

"There are some humans, rare individuals, who can tap into what my grandmother called the 'Twilight Zone.' Others call it a Starlight Veil that shimmers and weakens depending on the individual’s level of power to manipulate such protective walls. It's a space between worlds, where the barriers are thin. These people can venture into the Fae realms, either in dreams or, in rare cases, physical reality."

Holy shit…

I swallowed hard, trying to process this information.

Part of me wanted to laugh it off, to dismiss it as the ramblings of a madwoman. But another part... another part recognized the truth in her words, resonating with something deep inside me.

"These people," I said carefully, "the ones who can cross over. What... what are they called?"

A small smile played at the corners of Elenore’s mouth.

"My grandmother had a name for them. She called them-"

But before she could finish, the door burst open.

Liam stood there, his usually immaculate appearance disheveled, worry etched across his handsome features.

"Sparrow! Thank God you're awake. I've been going out of my mind with-" He stopped short, taking in the scene before him. His eyes narrowed as they flicked between Elenore and me. "Am I interrupting something?"

Elenore stood smoothly, her demeanor shifting back to that of the professional medic.

"Not at all. I was just finishing up here. Your friend is healing well, but she needs rest. Try not to excite her too much.” She says that with a wink, making Liam blush instantly.

As she gathered her essentials and moved towards the door, I couldn't help but call her out.Because she didn’t tell me what I could be!

"Wait! You didn't finish. What did your grandmother call them?"

Liam looks completely confused, but I don’t care because I yearn to know the title given to such gifted individuals.

Gifted…or cursed.

She paused at the door, looking back at me with an unreadable expression.

"Another time, perhaps. When you're stronger. For now, focus on healing. And..." she hesitated, then added softly, "Becareful of your dreams, Sparrow. Not everything that glitters is gold."

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