Chapter 1

Allie

 Once upon a time (yes, I really did just start the story like that) there lived a girl called Allie. That’s me. I live in a world of magic, unicorns and rainbows. But as we all know, where goodness lives, so does evil. My world is being overrun with darkness and it’s my job, with my friends, to protect all that is good and fair. I’m one of The Few. 

The Few are the ones whose magic is contained until they find their one true soul match. It’s not always a romantic match. It can be a friend or even a family member. I’m in no hurry to find mine. I like being me, being independent. I fight the good fight with wits and pure physical strength.

My world is beautiful, all colour and light. Trees grow to magnificent heights. Grass really is greener. Animals are friendly and the people are free and open and welcoming. The only sectioned off area is where I live with all of The Few. There are two hundred of us right now. I spend my time with my four good friends and we have been labelled “The Group” by all the others. The Group consists of me, Allie the Tamer (Animals and kids love me), Jimmy the Hardest (He’s tough and stern and usually in charge), Sala the Wise (she is filled with knowledge and always says the right things), Jenny the Oldest (She is an old soul in a young body) and Christian the Good (self-explanatory really). And as odd as it sounds, we didn’t choose these names, we were created with them. Each person here is created from thought. We have family units we belong to and communities we live in. Within these family units you sometimes get someone like us. The Few. No-one knows why or how. Or if they do, they aren’t sharing. Each person has an aura and The Few have a golden edge to theirs. Our auras change with moods and situations, but for us, the gold is always there. The Few are also the protectors of our world. We’re trained in thought and battle but, it’s not all work here. I’ve lived here now for 10 years and loved every minute of it. I don’t know what I would have done without my friends though. Right now, I’m heading off to the market place to catch up with Jimmy and Sala. It’s our night for dancing and dinner and drinks. Jenny and Christian will meet us later.

“Hey guys!” I call out as I enter the courtyard of the market. “We good to go?”

“Absolutely,” Sala replied, “I am so over this week.” 

Truth is, we all are. The Darkness has been creeping closer lately and The Powers That Be are starting to stress. It’s up to us to try and stop The Darkness. Our new teacher for mind battles this year is a Fairy. A really, really hot Fairy called Fadden. Concentrating in class has been very difficult. I know he’s not my one but I feel something strange when I’m near him. 

“Stop thinking about him, Allie! God, what do you even see in him? Can we just go eat and foget about work for tonight?” Jimmy’s voice was low and filled with anger. 

“I’m not trying to think about him, Jimmy.  I’ve told you before, there’s something strange about him.  I haven’t figured out what it is yet.”

Jimmy shrugged and started walking towards our favourite restaurant. Sala slung her arm over my shoulders and gave me a side hug.

“C’mon sweetie, let’s go eat. Fadden is work. Tonight is about fun!” Sala laughed at my exaggerated look of excitement.  We headed in to the restaurant looking for Jimmy’s dark hair. He’s usually easy to spot because of his height but we couldn’t find him.  Finally, we heard his voice coming from the back of the room.

“Why are you even here? Don’t Fairies have their own places to hang out? Isn’t it enough we have to deal with you at work?”

Sala and I hurried towards Jimmy. I have never heard him so angry before. Worry ate at me as we reached him. And then we saw who his anger was directed at. Why was Fadden here? And why exactly did Jimmy hate him so much? 

Fadden looked Jimmy up and down and said, “Pretty sure I can go where I want, human boy”.

Jimmy’s face darkened with fury and he stepped closer to Fadden looking ready to explode. I quickly grabbed him by the arm and tried to drag him away.

“Jimmy! Stop. Come on, let’s go somewhere else.” I kept tugging on his arm to get him to move but he just pulled away from me.

“Oh, sure. I should have known you’d side with him” Jimmy snarled at me.

“What do you mean? I’m just trying to stop you yelling and causing a scene.  Can we please leave?” I begged him to listen.

Fadden just stood there the whole time with a strange smirk on his face. This enraged me and I turned to glare at him. “And you! Stop smirking and move away from us, please.”

Suddenly I realised that the whole restaurant was silent. In fact, they looked like they were frozen. I gasped and shook Sala but she didn’t respond. The only ones moving were Jimmy, myself and Fadden. Confused,  I turned to Fadden and demanded “What’s happening? What have you done?”

Jimmy grabbed my hand and squeezed it tightly. “We need to get Sala and get out. Now!”

“No, I don’t think so. Not yet, at any rate.” Fadden leaned forward and placed his hand on my shoulder. “I can’t believe how blind you all are. Do you not see or even sense how special Allie is? We Fairies have been waiting a millennium for her to arrive. I am only here because of you.” He turned his silvery eyes on me. I could feel myself getting mesmerised by the shimmery glow. 

“Me? I’m not special. I’m just me. Aren’t I, Jimmy?” I looked to Jimmy for confirmation of my statement but he was just shaking his head in misery.

“You are special, Allie. I’ve always known and have been waiting for you to figure it out.”

I couldn’t work out what they were talking about. All my life I knew I was one of The Few but I still couldn’t work my powers properly and I was about as average as could be. Even my looks were fairly average. Long blonde hair, blue eyes and a smallish body. I knew I was smart and could take down anyone who pissed me off but that was due to the extreme physical training we all undertook. I looked at Jimmy waiting for an explanation but he was glaring at Fadden.

“Why are you saying this stuff?  Fadden, what are you talking about?” I knew my voice was rising with impatience and fear as well. Fadden smiled at me but it didn’t comfort me at all.

“You, my little blondie, hold all the power of The Few in that small body of yours. We only wait now for your One. When he comes the world will echo with the sound of your power awakening. We have waited and waited for the moment that we can use you to spearhead our drive against The Darkness. Ole Jimmy here has always felt your power and is devastated he isn’t your One. So tonight, while you go home and sleep the sleep of the unaware, he will go home and curse the one who will take all he wants so badly. But don’t stress, Jimmy boy. Your time will come and when it happens you’ll realise that what you feel now is a pale imitation of the real thing. I’m not the bad guy here, I’m actually here to help.”

Jimmy took a step towards Fadden with fury in his eyes. I quickly stepped between them and put a hand on his chest to stop him.

“Jimmy! No, don’t.” I looked up at him in desperation. “Fadden, please unfreeze everyone so we can go. We can discuss your crazy talk later. I need to talk to Jimmy and the others now. Please.”

I turned my head to look at Fadden and was surprised by the look of despair on his face.

“You can’t take too long now, Blondie. I’ve already set things in motion by telling this much. The Fairies need you up to speed. It all comes down to you, your friends, and the bond you have, against The Darkness. I want, no, I need to be a part of that bond. Time is running out. You have until midnight to get The Group together and discuss what you all know. Because you are the only one who is clueless. I’ll be waiting in the compound training room. Plans must be made.”

Sound and movement suddenly happened all around us. Sala smiled at me but then looked around in confusion. “Where did Fadden go? Wasn’t he just here?”

Jimmy and I looked to where Fadden had been a moment ago to see an empty spot. I twisted  around trying to see him in the crowd but he was truly gone.

“We need to go. I’ll call Christian and Jenny and get them to meet us at home. We can pick up food to eat there. Fadden was right, Allie. We need to talk.” Jimmy was pulling out his phone as he spoke and refused to meet my eyes. Sala looked from me to him with confusion.

“Fadden? So, he was here. But I didn’t see you talk to him. What’s going on?”

“Not here, not now, Sala.” Jimmy snapped at her. “Let’s go.  Come on.” Jimmy grabbed each of us by the hand and started walking out. He let go of Sala to use his phone but kept hold of me. I pulled at his grip but he didn’t let go. “Hey Chris, change of plans. We’re picking up pizza and will meet at home. Are you with Jen? Awesome. It’s time to let Allie know what we know.”

I heard Sala gasp next to me. I slowly turned my head and looked at her with disbelieving eyes. “You’ve been keeping secrets from me?” I’m sure she heard the hurt in my tone because her eyes flickered with guilt. 

“It’s not like that, Al. We were protecting you. Or at least we thought we were.” Salas voice was low and sad. “We have been here for you for years. You’re my best friend and I just wanted you to be happy and safe.”

“I don’t know what’s happening and what you are talking about but I’m starting to freak out here! Jimmy, stop dragging me like a child. I don’t care what Fadden said. There is nothing, I repeat, NOTHING special about me. Far out, guys. I’m the weakest out of all The Few.”

My body was shaking and my mind was whirling with confusion. I wasn’t upset with my friends for keeping things from me. I know them well enough to know that they did what they thought was right. But I was upset that Fadden thought I was strong enough to fight The Darkness. I’m not. Not at all. And all this talk of my One. I don’t even know who he is. Considering I knew pretty much everyone in our closest communities there was no way he was from around here. The thought of meeting someone who could potentially take away my freedom and change my life didn’t sit well with me.

The wind had picked up while we were walking towards the pizza shop. Lately the chill in the air came more and more frequently. As we ordered our dinner I got a buzzing feeling in my body. I turned, trying to see if there was something causing it. Standing just inside the door was a man dressed in travelling clothes. He was tall and rugged looking. He was also staring right at me. My heart started beating fast and my breath came in little gasps. I couldn’t look away from his icy blue eyes. I started moving towards him without thought. 

“Allie! Where are you going?” Sala tried to grab my arm but I dodged her grip. Nothing could stop me from getting closer to him. My hand reached out as if to touch his chest. He took a step forward and as we touched everything exploded in a haze of colour. Without stopping we kept getting closer until there wasn’t a space between us. My mind was spinning but my heart seemed to be saying “Finally. Finally, you’re here.” 

We looked at each other, blue eyes to blue eyes. My hand rested on his chest, his hands on my shoulders.

“Who is this, Al? Do you know him?” Jimmy’s voice cut through the haze surrounding us. 

“My heart does.” I replied. And gag...who was that, saying lovesick shit like that?? “Oh no. No, No, No. You can’t be him. No. I’m not ready for this.”

“Nice to meet you, too.” His voice was like dark chocolate. Smooth and rich with undertones my body and mind yearned to hear more of. “I guess you didn’t know I was coming?”