Seren’s alarm went off at midnight. They silenced it quickly and laid there still. Listening for any sign that Eric had heard their alarm. When they didn’t hear anything they got out of bed. Fully dressed. They felt their heart beating hard. Seren knocked lightly on their closet door before opening it. The nest looked dormant.

  “It’s time,” They whispered. Then the nest came alive. Sprites filed out with the Waterbearer coming out from the nest.

  “Once you are on the other side. We will not be able to help you. You will have only yourself and your own abilities.” The Waterbearer said. “Are you still sure you want to do this?”

  “Yes.” Seren said. Though they did feel a small whisper of doubt.

  “Brave. We have a gift that will help you fit in.” The Waterbearer said. She gave a noise like a ring of a bell and a swarm of sprites retreated into the nest and came out pulling an ethereal silver cloak.

  “Whoa,” Seren breathed. Mesmerized by the sight. “Is that fae silver?”

  “No. It is made of the enchanted waters only waterbearers can make. Woven delicately together.” The waterbearer said as Seren took the cloak. It was soft like a summer breeze. “It will keep out the bitter cold of the fae realm. It shall also camouflage you and protect you from harm.” Seren twirled the cloak and put it on. They instantly felt warm+h.

  “Thank you.” Seren said and stood up.

  “Please, allow me to accompany you on this quest.” A little pastel green sprite flew up to Seren’s eye level. Holding a tiny staff

  “You may,” Seren said. “What’s your name?”

  “Mint.” The sprite said. Seren nodded, looking over the sprites and the nest.

  “Thank you, for the cloak and the help.” Seren said. Their chest felt cold and empty as they took hold of the closet door. “If I don’t come back. Take care of Eric?”

  “On my honor.” The waterbearer said. Seren took a steadying breath and shut the closet door.

  “Are we ready?” Seren whispered. Mint flew to Seren’s shoulder.

  “Ready.” Her little voice said by their ear.

  “Okay. Here we go.” Seren said and grabbed their doorknob but it didn’t turn. They wiggled the handle but found their door locked. Seren smiled, the door wasn’t going to stop or even slow them. But it felt comforting to know that Eric was still trying to stop them. They focused on the doorknob and felt the mechanisms within. With a click they unlocked the door from within.

  “I’m still learning all the stuff I can do.” Seren whispered to Mint. “It’s kinda cool the stuff I can do.”

  “Fae are capable of many things.” Mint said. “You’re going to be surprised by your abilities as they grow.” Seren nodded as they slowly closed their door with as little sound as they could. They crept down the stairs. Alert for any other traps or obstacles that Eric had put in their way. Seren was stopped at the bottom of the stairs by the large cabinet that usually decorated the dining room and was filled with all the expensive and fine dishware and silver. Seren knew they couldn’t move it without making noise. So they looked over the banister and found a spot halfway up where there was no furniture beneath the stairwell and climbed over the railing. They dropped down and landed as lightly as they could on the ground. They froze and waited for any sign that they had been heard.

  Seren heard movement coming from the sitting room. Once everything was quiet again, Seren crept to the sitting room archway and peered in. Eric was sleeping on the couch. Seren smiled.

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  “He’s really intent on trying to stop me.” Seren whispered.

  “Why?” Mint asked.

  “I guess he doesn’t want me to get in trouble.” Seren said. They went to the closet and found the front door was also locked and barricaded. Seren put their shoes on and left the front door. Instinctually hearing Mrs. Houper telling them not to wear their shoes in the house. They paused at the pantry. Grabbing a little package they’d prepared earlier. They stopped at the back door. Looking back and getting the overwhelming feeling to go back upstairs and go back to sleep.

  Instead they pushed through the anxiety and left the house. The moon was full and high in the sky casting a silver light on the fenced yard.

  “There is no way out from here.” Mint said. “Not for one without wings.”

  “You’ve had wings for too long.” Seren laughed. Approaching the tree at the far end of the yard. They grabbed a branch and walked their way up the tree trunk. Climbing over the branch and jumping onto the old wooden shed The shed rose above the fence and Seren jumped over the fence and onto a trash can and then to the cobblestone alley ground. Seren offered their shoulder for Mint to ride as they walked through the streets. Mint was too happy to hide herself in the folds of the cloak.

  Seren walked through the streets with their head held high. Pretending they weren’t terrified inside. Guards were on every single block in twos or threes and every single one was giving Seren a hard suspicious glare. But they didn’t even look around to acknowledge that they were there.

  “Psst. Serenity.” Mint whispered into their ear. “Those big looking people are following us.”

  “Good.” Seren said softly. “That way there’s more people in the forest to find the others when they get released.”

  “What if they stop us?” Mint whispered.

  “They won’t. Not until they have proof I’m suspicious. Just walking down the street wearing a cloak reminiscent of fae-silver.” Seren said. Then they thought about it. “Actually the cloak might get us in trouble.”

  “Take it off.” Mint suggested.

  “Too late now. Taking it off will just make us more suspicious.” Seren said. “Let’s just keep on and hope for the best. If I have to, I'll figure out what other abilities I have.” Seren walked out of the Summer district. Tracing their hand along the wall of the steamworks. The streets were bare. They were the only one in the streets, only passing the occasional guards at their posts. Which all seemed to watch them. Seren could only wonder how many guards were on their tail now.

  Seren entered the Winter district and felt a shiver. All the hair raising on the back of their neck and their stomach plummeting into their heels. They swallowed the bile creeping up the back of their throat and kept walking. Going through the streets autonomously. They couldn’t believe their feet still knew the way. No matter how hard they tried to focus on their task at hand, they couldn’t help but remember.

  Remember the cold, the poverty, the fear, the helplessness. It all came back and made them feel so small. They tensed every muscle as they tried to keep walking tall.

  “Where is the danger?” Mint asked.

  “There is no danger, just memories.” Seren said. Knowing Mint would have felt them tense.

  “How are memories dangerous?” Mint asked.

  “They can hold you like a winter freeze.” Seren said. They walked all the way to the back of the city walls. Where the overgrown and uncared for garden grew wild. Where their old house used to be.

  Seren stopped as they felt their memories paralyzing them. Their old home was nothing more than a pile of rubble. Long since torn down, if the moss and fungi growing over it was any indication. The sight of it had Seren ready to cry.

  “Why have we stopped? There is no fae activity here.” Mint said, slapping Seren’s shoulder.

  “Right. Sorry. This place is just sentimental.” Seren took a deep breath and turned away from the pile of detritus and continued to the gardens. They were somehow even more out of control then they remembered. Not that it was surprising. No one took care of this place.

  “Are we going to climb again?” Mint asked.

  “Yup.” Seren said and stepped through the weeds and tall grass. A couple of brambles tried to grab onto their clothes but they were stunned to find nothing could find purchase on their cloak. It wove through the growth like water. Seren found the gnarled old tree that had grown into the wall and up over it. The bark made it seem like the tree was dead and for all Seren knew, it was. They climbed up the tree and into it’s highest branches. Climbing up onto the wall and looking down the other side. It could easily break a bone if they jumped. But luckily they were able to climb down another tree that had entwined with the one Seren’d climbed up.

  They hit the ground and faced the forest. Realizing now they had no idea where to look.

  “Any idea where to start?” Seren asked Mint.

  “I might,” The sprite flew up off Seren’s shoulder. “Follow me.”