Page 17 of Oleander
“It’s kinda cute.”
Ander hums his agreement.
“Will it burn me if I touch it?” I laugh out loud, realizing I sound like a kid wanting to test the stovetop.
“No. Like I said, the wisps are friends to Fae.” Oleander caresses a small flame and lets it settle into his palm.
I follow suit, letting the glowing orb rest in my hands. It’s warm and makes my skin tingle. Hypnotic yet comforting.
“Whoa. Sweet,” I murmur, undeniably fascinated.
Ander gently scoops the wisp out of my palm and sets it back on the path.
“That’s what they do. They draw you in, making you sleepy and complacent, eventually leading you down a path you do not wish to take. That’s where the idea that they can be particularlysinisterarises.”
I eye the trail of lights leading deeper into the forest, no longer sure of this whole party thing. I glance behind me, searching for more students.
No one.
“You’ll be fine here. Hawk set them with his magic to lead the way to the party. They’re safe to follow. I promise.”
“Are you sure I can’t convince you to come with me?” I ask one final time.
“I can’t be around them,” he murmurs vulnerably, and I nod my understanding. Those guys were dicks, and I don’t even know their past.
“Okay. Well, catch ya later, then.”
We both linger awkwardly, staring intensely at each other before turning and going our separate ways. I continue down the dark forest path alone, wishing my new friend was with me. The moon is blocked by the cloudy night and the branches above. My only light is the guiding glow of the wisps. It’s a little eerie.
Unease creeps down my spine, and I’m starting to feel like I’ve wandered too far from the dorm. I’m an idiot for coming out here alone at night, even if I’m on the safe side of the wall. Just as I’m nearing a full-blown freakout, the wisps come to an end. I’m suddenly standing in the middle of a magical, colorfully lit forest. It feels like we're in a cave with the towering trees arching above us. Purple and blue spotlights highlight the canopy, while neon green lights showcase the flowers and ferns artfully placed on the ground. There’s a wooden bar, cocktail tables made out of tree stumps, and a large open dance floor. The atmosphere is relaxed, the décor extraordinary, and the mood completely magical.
“Wow,” I murmur in awe, standing at the entrance like a starstruck tourist.
Someone bumps into me from behind, coming to a stop at my side. I turn, staring down at a pint-sized fairy girl with bright white hair that fades to pink and then magenta.
Where the hell did she come from?
“Hawk tries too hard if you ask me,” she says dismissively, scanning our surroundings in a judgmental manner.
I mean, yeah, he definitely did, but wasn’t that the point? I don’t respond, eyeing the bar longingly. I need to avoid any sort of drama, and that starts with getting a drink.
“I’m Gaia. Who are you?” she asks rather forwardly.
“Um, Skyler.”
“How very human-sounding.” My heart skips a beat at her words.
Why would she say that? It’s only a name.
When I don’t answer, she asks another question. “What are you majoring in?”
“Oh, uh. I don’t know yet. I just got here yesterday.”
“From where?”
Damn, she’s nosey.
“Oh, it’s pretty small. I’m sure you’ve never heard of it.” I blow off her questions and smooth my hair down, hiding my secret like Ander advised me to. “What’s your major?” I ask in return, steering the conversation back to her and away from me.
