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daughter’s long
dark hair. She jerked away from her mother’s grasp like she had
been stung.
    “She still broke it.” She clutched her doll
in her arms and slid off the bed, running past her mother and out
the door.
    Why didn’t anyone tell me being a mother
was so difficult? Evanna thought, trying to hide the hurt on
her face.
    While she shook her head as if trying to
shake off her uneasiness, her mind suddenly snapped to Lestel’s
absence. Oh, my. The poor thing’s probably half-starved by
now.
    Evanna shuffled out the door and down the
hall. The library’s door looked even bigger than she remembered.
She clenched the shiny brass handle and pushed. The hinges moaned
as the large door swung open. The library was as dark as
midnight.
    “Lestel? Darling? Are you there?” She stepped
inside, feeling her way past mounds of papers and books. The air
was dank and heavy with a strange, musty smell. “Lestel? Where are
you?”
    Her eyes strained against the shadows, trying
to make out even the faintest bit of light. Such deep darkness
frightened her, though she never knew why. She could feel her heart
pounding in her throat as she held her breath, trying to listen for
any sounds of movement. Dense silence pressed in on her, throbbing
in her ears. She released a huff of breath, disappointed and very
confused. As she turned to leave a strong hand clawed her shoulder.
Screaming at the shock, she stumbled free, turning to face the
owner of the mysterious hand.
    “Lestel! Don’t you ever scare me like that
again!” Her hand rested on her heaving chest while her husband’s
smiling face shone down at her.
    “I’m sorry my dear, I couldn’t help myself.”
Dark circles clung underneath his eyes and his shoulder length
brown hair shrouded his ghostly face.
    “I was worried about you so I came to check
on you. You look ill, maybe you should go to bed for a while.” She
reached up to touch his waxen face but he pulled back just beyond
her reach.
    “I feel quite fine. In fact, I feel better
than ever. I have something to show you. Tonight, though. The
sunlight wouldn’t do it justice.” His words poured over her like
ice water, numbing her to the core.
    Evanna nodded despite a strange nagging
tickle at the back of her mind. He looks so pale. Not himself at
all.
    “What is it?” Her voice was distant, unsure
whether her worry was warranted or just her imagination.
    “If I told you,” he reached his hand to the
door knob while escorting her out with the other hand, “it wouldn’t
be a surprise.” Before letting her go, his nose brushed against her
hair, breathing in her scent, sending chills down her spine.
    Evanna stood alone in the corridor long after
the door had creaked shut, not knowing what to think. Going without
sleep did strange things to the mind. Shrugging off Lestel’s odd
behavior, she strolled back to her bedroom to get ready for the
day. After all, there was much to do.
     
     
    ***
     
     
    Merrick found himself standing in an empty
room. Tall windows yawned before him with silver curtains
fluttering like ghosts. Black mountains stood far in the distance
as the moon rose from behind with an unnatural speed. A woman with
long waves of blond hair walked past with hushed footsteps. She
reached the window and turned to face him. He realized she was
actually looking further past him. It was the same elf from before,
her green eyes glowing in the darkness. She opened her mouth but
the words were muted and distant, as if he were hearing it with
hands over his ears. Suddenly her widened eyes snapped to his.
    Look to the city in the sky. He will kill us
all.
    She fell back over the window’s ledge.
Merrick ran toward her, only to find he was falling too. Suddenly,
he was swallowed up by darkness, thrashing against the sounds of
his own screams.
    “Merrick! Wake up, it’s only a dream!”
    His eyes burst open. Amaeya was leaning over
him, her honey brown curls dangling over his face. Her green eyes
were