Jan. 31, '18

It happened again.

Candace woke us up at three-thirty as we agreed, while Sam woke Max. It was hard getting up that early, and it wasn't made any easier by how cold it was. We all bundled up in our warm coats, and Hal and I wrapped ourselves up in a comforter for good measure. Candace led Max and us outside where she and Sam had already stacked logs for a fire. Candace did make sure we all had some of her wonderful hot chocolate to sip on.

So here we were standing around in the freezing cold, almost hugging our hot mugs while the steam flowed up around us all. Unfortunately the cloud coverage was so bad we didn't have a clear view of the moon. Things were bright though, much brighter than could be explained by the street lights and porch lights that were on. Where the moon was was brightly back lit clouds, it was pretty despite our desire to see the moon itself.

As we waited, watching, Sam joined us. He came out wearing, I shit you not, a full actual wool cloak. It was very cool, and when we got to talking later I asked about it. He said he'd gotten it through his Ren Fest connections, someone that sells wool cloaks and coats. He said he could hook me up if I wanted one. I even got to try it on, and it's warm. I may have to take him up on that.

Since we couldn't make out the moon for ourselves, Hal brought out his phone so we could watch a live feed. As he was doing that, Sam pulled out flint and steel and struck the flint to create sparks. He did this over a pile of what looked like wool, but I guess it was wood shavings. It didn't take him long and soon enough he had a tiny smoking flame. He cupped it gingerly, almost like holding a precious child and blew on it to encourage it. It burst into flame and quickly he placed the shavings into a nook he'd left in the brazer. With a little more encouragement, the flame caught and grew and in short order we had a full on fire.

With the fire roaring, we bundled close. Sam stepped close to Candace and brought Max in to wrap his cloak around them. Watching on Hal's phone was alright, but of course our attentions wavered. We got to talking and Max suggested at one point we should roast marshmallows, which was a great idea.

It was about a quarter to five that the total eclipse started, and by then Sam had already tended to the fire. He had let it burn down and added wood in such a way to offer a place to put the log we had spiced up earlier. He brought out the log in preparation, and as the full shadow started to pass over the moon he placed it on the fire. It didn't immediately catch, the green plants and flowers smoking for a moment before catching themselves. But the smell that was given off was nice. Between the sandalwood and the anise, it was very pleasant.

Now that the log was on the fire, Candace passed out candles for each of us to hold. Sam lit his from the brazer, then in turn lit all of ours. Then we went about her yard and house and lit all of the candles that she and I had put up. It was kind of neat. While we couldn't see the shadow pass over the moon, the area did get noticeably darker and the bright spot in the sky had disappeared.

Between Max, Hal, and I, we were geeking out. Sam seemed to enjoy our conversation, but often asked about our references. Candace just listened. Once we realized she just didn't catch any of our references we started listing off movies that we were going to have to show her. She did get excited at that.

It was during this conversation that something caught my attention. I looked over toward the tree, and standing beside it was a beautiful woman. Despite the cold, she was only wearing a shift that was so sheer she may as well not have worn anything. She had olive skin, a little lighter than my own, and thick, dark, long flowing hair. She was tall, at least compared to Max and I. She's probably about as tall as Candace, and her hair just as dark. She wasn't as thin as Candace, her proportions would be better compared to Max than to me. Like I said, drop dead gorgeous. And she was watching us with an amused expression.

Of course, the first thing I do is look to Hal and Sam to see if they notice her, but everyone else was just talking. I looked back, she was still there. So I swallowed my pride and asked if anyone else could see her.

No one could. But since I had now drawn attention to her, and everyone was looking toward her if not at her. She responded, concerned even, and was now watching me intently. I didn't describe her, not fully, because that was embarrassing enough. But also because if they saw her, I'd want them to be able to confirm it. Sam asked what she was doing, I said "Just watching us." Though really, by this point she was watching me.

She didn't leave though, and the others became concerned as I was that I was seeing things. They all knew about the fairies, but only Hal was there for that. They were all having about the same reaction that Hal had before. But Hal was now showing concern much more along what I was feeling. But he remembered his theory about fairies showing themselves to me. So he left the comfort of our blanket and walked out to the tree where I had pointed. The lady seemed alarmed that anyone would approach her, but once she understood I was directing him she became amused again.

She brought her finger to her lips, a sign to me to keep quiet, and then she stepped away and avoided his search. I don't know why I stayed quiet, part of me is screaming that I should have said something. But as easily as she was avoiding him I don't think it would have done any good to have him more frantically run about the yard. So I kept quiet while Hal searched around the tree.

With nothing found, the others started to ask if I wanted to go in. I considered it, but when I looked back to the lady, she had a pleading look on her face as though begging me to stay. So I said "No, I'm fine." She indicated that I should pretend that she had gone. So I did.

I think part of why I agreed to this was that she was responding to us, to me, and interacting with me. I thought if she were just a hallucination, she'd be acting on her own regardless of what happened around her. Now I'm not so sure, and I'll have to ask Dr. Laurie next time I see him.

We watched Hal's live feed for a while, and she stayed the whole time. She seemed to enjoy the smell of the fire, but she avoided stepping close to it or to us. She did move about the yard and inspected Candace's garden. I think I even saw that she approved.

Since there was little else to see though, Hal and Max both indicated going back to sleep before they had to get up for class. So we all went in. They went to bed, I told Hal I'd join him later. Candace yawned and said she was going to bed. Sam asked me if I was going to be alright. I said I'd talk to Dr. Laurie when he calls me up about my results. He asked me if I needed anything, and when I said I'd be fine he locked up and went into Max's room.

When I looked outside, she was still there. She was watching me still, and she gestured for me to join her.

So I did.

When I was close enough, she asked why I could see her. Her voice was lovely, deep in a feminine way, and had a thick accent that almost seemed familiar. I told her I was asking myself that same question. She remained quiet as she watched me. It was penetrating, intimate, uncomfortable. So I tried manors, I introduced myself and asked who she was. She smiled and said it was nice to meet me, but she answered only that she was family. Before I could ask, she said I was a good friend. It caught me off guard, and I wanted to thank her and ask what she meant. But again she didn't let me. "She's in terrible danger, take care of her." Finally I was able to ask what she meant. She looked up toward where the moon should be. "I'm sorry," she said "but I'm out of time." And then she faded away.

I didn't move for a long moment. It seemed like I didn't even breath. Too scared of what had happened, if it had happened. Too scared that it hadn't happened. In my head, over and over was Candace's explanation, that tonight Selene could visit.

Sam came out and called to me, breaking me out of my stupor. He asked if everything was alright. I told him I didn't know. He came up and wrapped me up in a hug. He didn't have his cloak, or his shirt. I didn't notice at first how little he was wearing, I only noticed how warm he was, how strong he was. He held me firmly, comfortingly for another long moment before I finally moved. He asked me then if she'd ever went away. I shook my head, "Just now" I explained.

He brought me in and led me to our room, asking a last time if I needed anything. I said no, thank you. And then he watched me enter my room. I closed the door and listened for him to leave, which he didn't immediately. But now that he's gone I'm writing this down before I curl back up with Hal. I can't forget any of this. "She's in terrible danger, take care of her." Who's in danger? What danger?