Makenna had been teleported back to her bedroom at home. She appeared over her bed and yelled as she fell and landed on it. The box containing her dress slipped from her grip and crashed onto the floor, tipping over.
Suddenly, from the box, Makenna heard a scream.
“What the—?” she asked. “What’s that?” Makenna dropped her wings behind her and crawled to the edge of her bed, peering down at the box. Her entire face turned blue.
From the box, Raeven knocked down the lid and crawled out. He rolled onto his back and examined the ceiling of Makenna’s room. Pulling his wings close, he said, amazed, “Whoa!”
“Ahhh!” screamed Makenna. “What are you doing here?” Her entire room shook. Makenna grabbed her pillow and hugged it to her chest.
“I wanted to come along,” Raeven admitted. He flapped his wings, which helped him stand, and added, “I was curious about where you lived. Whoo wee, this is quite an unusual cave. I’ve never seen a cave like this before. You humans have some interesting home styles.”
“Get out of here!” Makenna shouted. She fell out of bed and landed with a thump on the ground.
Raeven started to approach her, his wings still held close to his chest.
“Eee!” Makenna screeched when she saw him. She backed away from him and crawled under her bed. “Nice bat. Nice bat.”
“I am super nice, Makenna!” Raeven sauntered under the bed and crawled onto her forearm. “Though I am sometimes considered annoying, loud, and crazy, I am still the nicest bat a girl could ask for. I believe you need somebody you can rely on while you wait for your friend to recover. I’m sure you feel disillusioned. That’s why I’m here.”
“I don’t want you!” Makenna tried getting up, but her head hit the bottom of her bed. “Ow!” she cried out, reaching for it.
“Ooh, that hurt,” said Raeven, cuddling up to Makenna’s arm. “I always find girls a fascinating species. What do you think?” He held his wings behind his head and peered into Makenna’s eyes.
“Get off of me!” she shouted, tossing Raeven off her arm. She grabbed a jar she had under her bed, which she used to collect pennies when she was younger, and quickly scooped up Raeven, putting the lid on the jar and twisting it shut. “Ha, ha!” she laughed. “Gotcha! Time to show you no mercy!” Makenna crawled out from under the bed and hurried to her window. Inhaling and exhaling, she flapped her wings and soared out of it.
Raeven nervously peered up at her, but Makenna merely glared. Then, hugging the jar to her chest, she soared forward and headed toward the Gator Pond.
***
Makenna flew to the crab dock. Since everybody was either at school or work, it was empty. It had been a while since Makenna came to the crab dock. She landed on the pier and glanced forward at the estuary. Her eyes landed on Raeven.
Looking a bit saddened, Makenna approached the end of the higher dock.
Raeven saw where she was taking him and gasped. “You’re crazy, woman!” he shouted.
Makenna, who contemplated throwing him into the estuary, stopped at the end of the dock. Clenching her teeth, she extended her arms and held the jar over the estuary.
Raeven pressed his wings against the jar’s wall and peered pleadingly into Makenna’s eyes.
Makenna stared back, and Raeven shook with fear. She finally clenched her teeth. “I can’t!” Makenna plopped the jar down on the dock’s railing. “I can’t do it when you’re looking at me like that! Ugh!” Makenna sat on the dock, pulled her knees close, and buried her face.
Inside the jar, Raeven sank to the ground and took deep breaths. He shook out his head and smiled secretly. “Ah,” he said, waving his wing, “puppy face never fails. Humans sure are an interesting crowd.”
“What am I supposed to do?” Makenna unburied her face but kept her head lowered. “Tracey’s hurt, the dance is tomorrow, and now I’m talking to a bat. Can things get any worse? I might as well throw myself off the dock.”
“I personally think that is a terrible idea, you big bug,” Raeven told her through telepathy. Not only could he talk, but he also had the power of telepathy.
Makenna sighed and muttered, “Of course I’m a big bug. I’m a total jerk, and it’s all because of my craziness about Peter Nelson. What should I do, Raeven?”
Raeven started jumping up and down. “Punch him! Kick him! Tell him that you will make a sacrifice and become a Crystal Metamorphic Fairy! Give some credit to me, though, okay?”
Makenna shook her head and reached for her temples. “Ah!” she yelled. “I’ve gone crazy! I have to stop talking to a bat! It’s a bat! Why don’t I just accept that I will never become a Crystal Metamorphic Fairy? It’s already too late!” She stood and rested her arms on the dock’s railing, beside Raeven’s jar. Staring out at the marsh, she continued with, “I need help,” in a low voice. “I’m such a smart aleck."
“Are all humans this dramatic?” Raeven inquired.
“Oh, gosh!” Makenna suddenly shouted. She reached for her head. “He really does talk! He understands me! Maybe, just maybe…” She turned to Raeven again. “Do you know about the whole Crystal Metamorphic Fairy thing?”
“I do,” Raeven told her.
“Then,” stuttered Makenna, pointing at Raeven, “do you think you can assist me in earning that transformation?”
“I don’t see why not,” he said back.
“This could work,” Makenna muttered to herself. She brought her index finger to her chin. “Yeah. He’s a bat. He’s supposedly stupid. This could fix everything. So, you think you can help me with this next transformation?”
Raeven thought for a moment, and then he nodded. “Sure.”
“Only,” Makenna snapped, looking at him, “if we make a deal! You can assist me in getting the next transformation, but after I do, you’ve got to promise me that you will go away and leave me alone.”
Raeven’s face drooped.
“Do we have a deal?” asked Makenna.
Raeven sighed—“Yeah”—and scratched his ear. “Deal, Miss Delling.”
“All right,” Makenna said. “I’m going to let you out now, but remember the deal. After I become a Level 3 Metamorphic Fairy, you will leave me.”
Raeven slowly nodded, but said not a word.
“Very well, then,” finished Makenna. She grabbed the jar and held it in front of her. Lifting her hand, she placed it on the lid and slowly turned it. Soon, the lid came off, and Makenna set it down on the dock.
Raeven emerged from the opening, his claws holding onto the rim, and he peered into Makenna’s eyes.
She gulped.
Raeven soon opened his mouth and started to speak in English. “My name, Makenna, is Raeven, and in case you didn’t know… I’m a bat!”
“Yeah, I know.” Makenna gulped. “And I’m Makenna Delling.”
“Pleasure to meet you, Miss Delling, and thank you for inviting me to help you on your journey to become a Crystal Metamorphic Fairy.” Raeven held his left claw out to her.
Gulping, Makenna reached for it, but she couldn’t bring herself to shake it. She pulled away and groaned.
Knowing that she was nervous, Raeven dropped onto the dock.
“All right, Raeven,” Makenna finally said. “First things first, what’s the first thing I need to do to earn my next transformation?”
Raeven chuckled and answered, “You must go to the dance, Makenna. The dance is crucial.”
“Dance?” Makenna questioned. “You mean the Spirit Week Dance?”
Raeven nodded.
“But what if I don’t want to go?” Makenna added. “You don’t understand, Raeven, I don’t deserve to go to that dance, not after what I did to Tracey. Besides, I’m a freak. Is there something else I can do?”
“No, Makenna.” Raeven shook his head. “You must go to that dance, and you must go with Peter Nelson.”
“Peter Nelson?”
“Yeah. After all, he’s your boyfriend, right? Don’t you always feel terrific around him?”
Makenna sighed. “I do, Raeven. Are you saying that I must be at the dance to get the next transformation?”
“Not exactly, but that’s the best place to be. I guess we have to spend today getting you ready. You already have your dress. What about your hair, makeup, and other stuff girls do?”
“You have a wild imagination,” Makenna told him. “You’re right, though. I do need to take care of my hair and nails. What about Tracey, though? Is he going to be all right?”
“As long as he is at Merlin’s Island, yes.” Certainty was in Raeven’s voice. “Don’t worry, Merlin’s going to make sure he doesn’t leave until he recovers, so he’ll be fine. Right now, let’s not focus on him. Let’s focus on getting you ready for the dance.”
“I don’t know, Raeven. I still don’t believe I deserve to go to it. All these terrible things happened because of me, and things are only going to get worse if I go. Thank you, but no.” Makenna stood, looking deeply saddened. Dropping her wings behind her, she made her way toward the crab dock’s ramp and started climbing.
Raeven, who was left behind, sighed.
Makenna made her way toward the bridge that led to the crab dock, her hand at her bare neck.
Raeven followed close behind, admiring the scenery.
Makenna soon stepped onto the crab dock’s bridge, and she gloomily peered down at the estuary. Warm, salty tears rolled down her cheeks and collided with the water and the bridge’s wood.
Makenna soon turned her head away from the estuary and rubbed her eyes. She reached for her head and pulled off her crystal circlet. Makenna held it before her and examined it. A circlet meant sovereignty. It was meant to be worn by somebody reliable. Makenna didn’t believe she was dependable. She thought she was nothing but one giant bully.
With her eyes still glued on the bridge’s wood, Makenna tossed the tiara over her shoulder, and it landed on the end of it. She stepped forward and finished crossing the bridge.
Once Makenna reached the path, she turned on her heel and headed toward a cluster of trees on her right.
Behind, Raeven landed and gently picked up her tiara. “Makenna,” he whimpered. He flapped his wings and chased after her.
Ignoring him, Makenna carried on with her walk through Seabrook Island, quiet the entire time. She was now walking on a road known as Marsh Haven Dr., and condos were on her left. Warm sunshine crept through the tops of the clustered trees, casting a beautiful, magical ray over the area. However, despite knowing the scenery was stunning, Makenna was too depressed to appreciate it. She glanced at the condos and sighed sadly.
Raeven was behind her, still carrying her tiara. He stopped beside her and offered it to her, but Makenna said, “No, Raeven.” She pushed him behind her back.
Makenna left the condos and now walked on the road in an open area, marshland on either side of her. To her left, she could see the Seabrook Island water tower and fire station, as well as the marsh.
Wading in it was a Snowy Egret, who had just caught a fish. After swallowing it and getting it down its gizzard, it opened its wings and lifted into the air.
The egret soared by Makenna, and she glanced at it. At the sight of the egret, she feebly smiled. Egrets. Makenna loved egrets. She always considered them to be “peaceful, confident” birds. The sight of one made her feel like there was at least some hope.
Makenna stopped halfway over the bridge and stared at the Seabrook Island water tower.
As if it knew what she was going through, the egret stayed near her. It screeched and started to dance on the air currents. Folding its wings, it twirled down toward Makenna and soared by her face.
Raeven, who still followed her, stopped and started to hover.
Makenna did, too, and gradually, her smile grew bigger. “Okay, Raeven,” she softly spoke, turning to him. “I’ll go to the dance.”
Seeming to smile, Raeven approached her and again offered her the circlet, but Makenna shook her head. “No. You keep it, Raeven. I don’t deserve to wear that circlet.” Sighing, she skimmed the marsh, and her eyes landed on the dancing Snowy Egret. Smiling feebly, she continued. “Thank you, dear.”
The egret screeched for her to follow it, and Makenna did. It led the way toward Seabrook Island Rd.
As she followed it, Makenna grinned and twirled with it. Her confidence. Her confidence was returning. However, Makenna still didn’t believe she deserved to go to the Spirit Week Dance.
At the thought of it, she immediately lost her smile again. Makenna stopped and sank to her knees. She peered into the sky, and there was the egret.
It hovered before her, and its eyes met hers. It then glided by Makenna’s head again, and she and Raeven followed every movement of it.
After a bit, Makenna’s eyes left the egret, and she looked into the sky. She didn’t want to go to the dance, but if it would help her become a Crystal Metamorphic Fairy and save Merlin, then she had no choice.
Makenna placed her hands on her thighs and lowered her head.
Raeven landed beside her and rubbed against her, seeming to purr.
He and Makenna spent a good while there, and Makenna beat herself up the entire time. She could not stop thinking about Tracey and her foolish mistakes. Ugh, at times, she regretted being a teenager. In her opinion, they had tough lives. She had a feeling that the next day would be the worst day of her life, but she still had to go to the dance.
After a while, Makenna had a bad feeling. She gasped, and in a choked voice, yelled, “Tracey!”
***
Returning to Merlin’s Island, Merlin was taking a nap in the heart of his cave, but he was forced to wake up when he felt that something was “just not right” in Tracey’s room. He didn’t waste any time. Merlin climbed out of bed and hurried into the corridor that led to his apprentice’s room.
He soon entered it and, in a low, panicked voice, asked, “Tracey?”
Gina had woken up and stood on Tracey’s nightstand, looking worried. “Merlin!” she gasped when she saw him.
“Hi, Gina,” Merlin nervously spoke. He came within reach of her. “I woke from my nap when I suddenly had an unpleasant feeling. How’s Tracey? Is he still refusing to take the medications?”
“He hasn’t even touched them,” Gina whimpered. “Oh, Merlin, I’m scared.”
Merlin next glanced at Tracey and gasped.
Tracey was very, very white. He was down to the palest a fairy got before they died. He had slipped into a coma-like state. If not, he was in another coma, but this time a medical coma, not a magic coma. A cool towel rested across his forehead, and he wore another fairy oxygen mask.
At the sight of him, Merlin yelled, “Tracey!” and hurried to his side.
“Is it his magic?” worriedly asked Gina.
Merlin shook his head. “No, Gina. His magic level is pretty much back at base level. It’s his wings. The broken wings are killing him.” He felt a lump in his throat. Tracey was not moving. Nothing came from him, and his body felt like ice.
Merlin finally couldn’t help himself. His eyes swelled with tears, and he shouted, “Tracey, you can’t die!” Tears ran down his cheeks. Merlin began to sob, and his tears splashed onto Tracey’s shirt.
Gina whimpered, and her face drooped. “I’m so sorry, Merlin. I’m so sorry, Tracey.”
Merlin pulled Tracey into a hug, and Gina cuddled up to him. “This cannot be happening!” Merlin argued. “I’m not going to let him go!” He shook his head. “Wake up, Tracey! Please! You're way too young to die! Please, Tracey.”
Tracey did not wake up. There was no sign of life from his body.
Merlin hugged him tighter and waited for the wind to blow in and turn him to ash.
However, he and Gina didn’t know it, but in his unconscious brain, Selene visited Tracey.
Her glowing form hovered before him, and in her wise voice, she told the young fairy, “Everybody has to overcome great challenges in their life, but it doesn’t mean your life is over. Tell yourself, Tracey, that great things are going to emerge from this. You will always be Merlin’s son and Gina and Makenna’s friend. You will make it. You will not die. Trust me—you have just started a brand-new chapter of your story.”
“Thank you, Selene,” said Tracey in his mind.
Outside the dream world, his color began to return gradually. His body warmed up, and he began to regain his tan skin.
Gina, who had her head lowered, noticed that, and her eyes widened. “Merlin,” she said, nudging him.
He pulled his arms away from Tracey and gasped when he saw Tracey’s color returning. “His color,” he mumbled. “It’s coming back! How, though?”
He and Gina thought about that for a moment. Then, at the same time, they glanced at one another and said, “Selene!”
“Oh, I love that fairy,” sniffed Merlin. “Excuse me, Gina.” He set Tracey, who was still asleep, back down on the bed, and Gina moved out of his way. Merlin reached over to Tracey’s nightstand and picked up the medicine and cup of water. “Let’s try this one more time.” Merlin took a deep breath, as did Gina. He then attempted to give Tracey the meds again.
He took them. He actually took them that time.
Merlin weakly smiled and really started to cry, but it was tears of joy that time. “He took them!” he announced.
Gina seemed to grin. “What did I tell you, Merlin? I told you he would be okay. He’s just tired. Let’s let him sleep for the rest of the day, and we can check on him again later.”
“Oh, Tracey.” Merlin pulled his apprentice into another hug. “I thought I lost you for a minute there. Thank you, Selene, for bringing him back. He’s going to be okay, and it’s all thanks to you.”
Tracey’s color continued to return. For a brief second, he cracked a small smile.
ns216.73.216.168da2
and then Add to home screen.