“Tell me that it’s gonna be okay, tell me that you’ll help me find my way, tell me you can see the light of dawn is breaking, tell me that it’s gonna be alright, tell me that you’ll help me fight this fight,” Hold, Superchick, Rock What You Got.

Lydia’s POV

I knocked on Zan’s door, and waited for the door to open. “Auntie Lydia!” Aperella yelled, launching herself at me.

“Hey Aperella,” I hugged her, “Where’s your dad?”

“He’s in the back yard.” Then, as if considering something, she asked, “Do you have a boyfriend?”

“No,” I replied, walking to the side gate, “Tell your mother I say hi,”

“Okay,” she said, running off.

I met my brother in the backyard, “Sorry about that Lyd, ever since she found out she has an aunt, she’s been wondering if she has an uncle too.”

“It’s alright, I’m sure I was like that at her age.” I said, putting my stuff down. “What are we doing today?”

“Working on fencing.”

I supressed the urge to roll my eyes, which Zandor seemed to notice. “I know, I know, fairies don’t use swords, but it’s still a good thing to know.”

“When would I use this?”

“If you were able to steal a sword from your opponent.” he replied, “Can we start the practice now?”

“Sure, I’ll start you on a saber, if you were anyone else, I would have started you on a foil or epee, but I trust you.”

“Thank you, it’s nice to know one of my sibling’s trusts me.” I muttered, thinking of how Zala had acted earlier.

“What did you argue about this time?” he asked gently. Understanding of my relationship with Zala after she came back.

“My engagement,” I said sullenly. “She had no right to promise him that I’d marry him. I don’t even know the dude or what his powers are. . . . and I love someone else. I’m almost an adult, yet she treats me like I’m still a little girl . . .” I hesitated, not wanting to go on.

“Is there anything else?” he asked, sympathetic.

Starting to cry, I continued, “She also mentioned the scars on my arms. . . . She still doesn’t understand anything about me. You know more about me, even though I’ve known Zala since I was a baby.”

“It could be that you’ve alienated her from yourself, and don’t forget, we don’t know what happened to her while she was kidnapped.”

“True,”

“Practice is cancelled for the day, you wouldn’t be able to focus on the swords.” he said, “Go calm down,”

“Thanks,” I replied, going into the house and entering the room I shared with my young niece. I pulled Wyvernhail down from the top shelf and placed Rock What You Got in the CD player. I had just gotten to the part where Hai was holding her dying cousin Salem, when there was a knock on the door.

“Hey, Lyd, someone’s here to see you.” Zan said, opening the door.

“Hello,” Vinerus said shyly from the doorway.

“Hey Vin,” I said, perking up instantly and starting to blush.

Some other stories by Lydia Tall:

• Updates!
• D Is For Dead
• 9/11/01
• C Is For Conviction
• B Is For Betrayal