13 Vasilia

   The wind whipped Warren's hair around as the massive boat carried them onward toward a  group of islands off the coast of Vancouver. White shoals crashed into the boat, a pod of killer whales put a show for the handful of people watching from the deck above. They oohed and ahhed as the black and white mammals played in the waves.

   “Are you Warren Vandal? I can barely tell you, humans, apart, you all look the same to me.” A female voice asked. “There’s no need to make that face, it’s just a question.”

   

   Nerea and plume were off talking in the passenger area. She had questions for Plume about New Avalon. At this point, Warren welcomed someone else to talk to, “I’m Warren Vandal,” he said as he raised his hand.

    A fairy girl about his age, although given the longevity of the fairy race age was a relative term, stared at him. Her perfect almond eyes narrowed, she looked at a picture and then back to Warren, her face aglow with curiosity. Her platinum hair waved behind her as her wings pushed the slender being towards him. “Warren Vandal?”

  “That would be me,” Warren replied. Warren found it impossible to look away from the gorgeous being in front of him. The kind of beauty men wrote songs about and fought wars over. 

   “I am Vasilia Foxwhistle, aid to the queen, and your tour guide to New Avalon.” She held out her hand, with a smile full of pearly white teeth. “You are much cuter than most humans.”

    Warren felt his face grow hot at her words and managed to keep his cool, “Pleased to meet you. Plume has told us next to nothing.”

    “Us? Did you bring someone with you? You were supposed to be alone. Why did Plume allow this?” Vasilia demanded.

     “My caretaker insisted she come,” Warren leaned over the railing, and watched the waves.

     “The queen might not like it,” Vasilisa leaned over the railing next to him, “Is there something interesting in the water?”

       “No, I like watching the waves, it calms me,” Warren turned his attention back to Vasilia’s heartbreaking beauty, “Why won’t the queen like my caretaker coming along?”

      “My people are bitter towards humans at the moment. Queen Elphame felt it was best if we stuck to ourselves for a while. Your caretaker will be shunned the moment she steps foot off this boat.”

     “Nerea can handle herself and my mom would’ve come too if she hadn’t died,” The image of her lying in the back of the station wagon still kept him up at night.

     Vasilia embraced him. Her floral scent made Warren punch drunk and dizzy, “Did she die the night we arrived?”

   

    For ten minutes Warren explained the harrowing journey from the rest stop back to the city to the discovery of the eidolon, “You’ve probably had bigger adventures.”

     Vasilia regarded Warren with a bit of awe, “I am not fond of adventures,” She frowned, “Most men ask me my age, why haven’t you?”

      “My mom said it was impolite to ask a woman her age no matter how young she looked.”

     Vasilia's laughter sounded like gentle waves crashing into the shore, “I think she and the queen would’ve gotten along. Elphame is suddenly aware of her age, and avoids the question altogether.”

     “Which one were you again?” Vasilia flew around him and stared at her clipboard. “Let’s see here Vandal...oh I see now.” A shyness swept over the young Seelie, “You are the Eidolon wielder. The queen is anxious to meet you.”

     “I know the magic is rare, but why is it such a big deal?” Warren took a seat on a long wooden bench in the center of the ship. 

     “I don’t know, the queen wouldn’t say.” She smacked her lips a couple of times, “So, what do you think of the Seelie?” 

    “I think you are a lot like us but some of you have wings,” Warren answered without hesitation.

    

     Vasilia moved closer until they were almost touching, “You don’t think one race is better than the other?” another inch closer and her soft hand touched his. Their eyes locked in some unknown contest, and Warren felt like he saw Vasilisa for the first time. His stomach knotted and Warren lost the ability to speak. 

    “I’m cold, I hope you don’t mind,” Vasilia said in a sweet tone. 

    Warren cleared his throat and found his bravery, “No, I don’t mind at all,” He dared to put his arm around her slender body, “I hope this is okay?”

     Vasilia nuzzled in closer, “I’d call it about perfect.”

     The pair did not speak for the rest of the trip, Vasilisa dozed on his shoulder a mysterious smile on her face. Warren watched her. The eidolon watched her with him. He flashed a picture of two people kissing.

   “We just met. I don’t want to rush her. She seems nice. My mom said it was better to be friends first.” Cyrus said out loud. He clapped his hand over his mouth. He decided to speak to the eidolon in his mind because talking to yourself never looked good among strangers.

     Nerea and Plume found him as the captain signaled they were getting close. Nerea took a picture of Warren and Vasilia. “Melanie said you attract attention wherever you go. The Seelie girls seem to like you as much as the human ones.”

     “She’s our tour guide to New Avalon. The Queen assigned her to us herself.” Warren said. He Nudged her awake, “You well rested their sleepy head?”

     Vasilia smiled, “Thank you for being a gentleman, Mr. Vandal. She gently ran a hand across his cheek, the sensation was electric and sent shivers down his spine.

     “Are you going to introduce us, Warren?” Nerea asked in an amused tone. 

     “How are you doing Vasilia? Is the queen well?” Plume shot her a sly grin. “I see you wasted no time.”

    Vasilia scowled and rose from the bench to shove plumes, “I was cold. Warren kept me from freezing to death on this floating deathtrap,” She said indignantly.

    “If you say so,” He turned to Nerea, “We better get to the car before we reach port.”

   Vasilia took Warren by the arm, “I’m coming too.”

  “I have no objections,” Warren said. 

   “Warren will ride in the front and Vasilia will ride in the back,” Nerea held up a hand and forestalled any argument either of them had. “How about we get through this meeting first before you two get carried away.”

    Warren crossed his arms, “I don’t see how putting me in the front seat will change anything,” he remembered turning fifteen not five, and resented being treated as such. 

    Plume interjected, “Come on Nerea, the kid has been through hell in the last couple of weeks. Let him have this one. I didn’t know Melanie, but after everything you’ve told me, I think she’d give it to him.”

  Nerea put her face in her hands and clawed at her face, “Fine, Plume front seat, Vasilia and Warren back seat. No funny business I can see you both clear as day in the rearview.” Her face softened at the way Warren and Vasilia looked at each other. Nerea poked Plume on the shoulder, “I remember when Melanie used to look at me like that. I am a little jealous.”

   Plume laughed, “They make for a good couple though.”

  “I suppose they do.”

  

  The small group entered the vehicle and waited for the ship to land.

  Vasilia smiled, “Are you ready to see your new home?”