Finding Faerie (Pixie Dust Chronicles 3)

Vance looked up at the sky. “Would you knock that shit off?”

I smoothed wet hair away from my face. “I’m not doing that!”

“Oh, Jesus! You don’t even realize you’re causing it?” He chanted something in Latin again but the rain didn’t stop.

I jutted my chin. “Told you it wasn’t me.”

He looked worried. “Karli, yes, it is. It’s pouring off of you. Make it stop.”

“I’m not doing anything!”

The wind started gusting again, blowing the rain sideways. Vance was chanting in Latin and throwing fairy dust everywhere. “Fuck! I can’t make it stop!” He turned towards me and his mouth fell open. “Oh, shit, what’s happening to you?”

“What are you talking abou—" I fell to the ground screaming as pain ricocheted through my skull. I was on my hands and knees, panting and clawing the dirt as the pressure increased.

Vance ran towards me and dropped to his knees. “Karli, stay with me. We need to get help.”

Where would I go, I thought. I tried saying that aloud but I couldn’t form the words.

He tried scooping me up but backed away as soon as he touched me. “What’s happening? You’re burning up!”

I cried out and fell flat on my face into the mud. I curled into a fetal position and shook violently as visions flashed through my head in rapid succession. I was in a forest, this forest, surrounded by brutally savaged bodies. In the next moment, Connor was standing over me, with fangs extended, ruby red eyes lusting for my blood. The third flicker showed Maria, stunning as always, ripping out Naela’s throat with her fangs. Deafening screams surrounded me.

I covered my ears and groaned. “Make them stop. Please make them stop screaming.”

Vance pulled my hands away from my head as he flipped me onto my back. My fingers were coated in blood. What the hell?

“What screams? Never mind, honey, just hold on. I’m going to fix this.” I saw a blue light glowing as my eyelids fluttered. I think he was trying to heal me but I couldn’t be sure; the fog was getting thicker. “It’s not working. Dammit!”

I forced my eyes to remain on his ruggedly beautiful face. “What’s happening to me?”

He blinked through his tears. “I don’t know.”

A peaceful vision swam through my mind. I was in a pond with Vance. I knew that pond. It was the same one we’d made love in during that dream I’d once had.

I smiled. “It’s okay, Vance. The pain stopped. It doesn’t hurt anymore. I just need to sleep.”

His eyes widened. “What? No! Stay with me. Do not close your eyes!” He grabbed my face and held me in place. “Do you hear me? Do not close your eyes!”

I tried to listen. I really did. But my eyes rolled back anyway.

“Fuck!” He shook me. “Karli, snap out of it! Look at me! Goddammit! What the hell is going on?” He shook me harder, making my teeth clack together. “SOMEBODY HELP ME!”

And…fade to black.