Like lies

That's not possible." I insisted.

The man felt sorry for me so he didn't reply. He got back to eating his burger.

I checked my phone for any missed calls. My father hadn't called but I'd received two texts from Nicole asking where I was.

That was not important. I had to tell Father what I just discovered.

"Hello."I curtseyed when the line finally went through.

"So what did you find out?" Father demanded, straight to the point and not even beating around the bush.

"Kristy might have teleported."

He paused and cut the line.

What the hell was wrong with him? Was he not taking this seriously?

Kristy was trapped in the in-between. The feared gateway of hell.

I immediately needed fresh air, a none chaotic atmosphere to breathe.

Frank was right. The garden was spectacular. Rose bushes spread around the acre of land and carpeting its earth. Beautiful creatures like the unicorn running around freely and Pegasus blocking the harsh rays of light. The magnitude of the queen of Unseelie was erected in the middle of the land with crawling vines intertwining the golden sculpture and making it more beautiful to see.

The perfect place to ponder on what made Kristy take such a risk.

It occurred to me that she must have sensed danger and the only way out was teleporting but, what threat?

"Are you ok?" The green-haired boy who always seemed to catch me moody asked.

I looked up to meet his eyes. His hair was shimmering like emeralds placed in the sun.

"I'm just trying to process all this. You know. My sister gets missing, she teleports and there is a chance she's trapped where I'll never see her again."

"The technicals will still be on it but in the meantime, I suggest you get where you'll rest for the night."

This was the right time to tell him how stranded I was.

"Is there any room I could stay in for the night. I was rushing and I didn't take enough change."

"I wish I could help but the rooms available are for special guests."

I got the message. I wasn't wanted here. It wouldn't hurt anyway to spend the night outside where everyone could hurt a powerless Fae.

" So if I don't have powers, I'm basically forbidden to enter the rooms?"

"No."

My senses tingled. He was lying to me.

He was only being nice so I didn't go with the 'you think I'm stupid' line.

He joined me sitting on the Lush wet grass.

"But your sister had an apartment at Roxbury street."

I remembered Kristy had told me one time too many about her apartment in case I came visiting. I had never visited thanks to the many bad memories it brought along.

But still, how did he know where she lived? Some vibes came on that I did not like.

"Did you know Kristy?"

"A little." Was his vague reply and he walked out of the garden.

Kristy's apartment was a great place to investigate though. If I needed answers, I would definitely find them there.

***

I had a spare key Kristy had given to me so I tried it

The door clicked and I peeked in.

Kristy's apartment was not big per se but far bigger than our house back at Belleville and comfier, it lacked Dad.

I entered, studying the room. It was lavender and sparkled thanks to the sparkles glued on the painting. A lot of artwork decorated the walls and made the place more like home.

I sank into the bed staring into the ceiling which had a crack.

"Where next?" I asked myself.

I went next to searching for everything in the house. Her luggage,... Her luggage?

I threw it on the bed.

Kristy made it.

She was with it before she disappeared. I remembered her holding it firmly.

Unzipping it, I checked the contents. 

I found the leather-bound book mother left us as an heirloom.

I felt the urge to go through it.

My premonitions seemed to have worked their magic and faedust sprinkled out of the book.

Kristy?

A small side of the book had something written in bold. 

"Valerie help me!"

I had to show this to the technical. I snapped it and went scrabbling back in the luggage.

The phone we had been calling was there. Kristy was a phone break and would never put her phone there.

The Revelations were just coming. The court had to hear of this. I scrabbled for my phone, my fingers trembling as they dialed the number.

"Hello." I trembled.

"Ugh! What can I do for you?"

For a customer service representative, she was rude.

"Um- I found something. My sister successfully teleported home and she seemed to be in..."

"Successfully teleported?"

She was genuinely surprised so I took it on me to enjoy it.

I was like 'duh. She's my sis!' all over the phone.

"Yes but it seems she teleported for a reason. She left a note asking for my help."

"Ok. I'll send your complaint to the high table."

"Thanks." I appreciated and cut the phone.

The high table would request my presence in an hour or two so I had to get clean. I was sweaty after all the traveling.

I stripped down to my undies. The air was cold and I got goosebumps.

I was lucky there was water and I got dressed. A black T-shirt so old it already looked grey and a pair of jean shorts that weren't born 'Crazy'.

It looked good to go at least in my eyes.

My phone chimed but I didn't bother checking it. It was a message from the high court requesting my presence.

I brushed my frizzy hair with a brush I found in Kristy's closet. The black dye was already getting out of my hair and the purple was returning. I was becoming Kristy's image, my disappointment. 

"You need a haircut," I told myself and strode out.

I bumped into a girl on the way out.

"Kristy? Where are you rushing too?" 

The redhead thought I was Kristy so I just waved her off,

"Yeah...I'm going somewhere."

She didn't seem pleased but I didn't dwell on that much. I had somewhere to be.

***

"So you're telling us, Kristy made it home?" One of the elders, the oldest in the Tresk asked.

"Yes. Her suitcase was in her room with this written on it." 

I showed them the note.

"So she successfully teleported?"

"Yes," I affirmed, enjoying the looks on their faces.

"Then it settled. She isn't trapped in the in-between. Someone took her."

"Yes, and I hope this would aid the investigation."

"There won't be such."

The elder's words hit my ears like a hammer.

"What do you mean?" I asked, trying to get what the fu*k they were saying.

"Valerie clearly asked for your help and that could only mean she was involved in something else and you know about it. This is between you and her."

What the...

"Are you people really going to do this to one of your prized students?

"This is beyond us now."

What did they mean? Beyond them? 

"So what is going to happen now?"

"That is your decision." They said.

"Frank?"

Frank peeked in, answering higher orders.

"Escort her please."

Frank walked towards me to do just that. The sight of our so-called Elders disgusted me.

"I can walk myself out," I said, rejecting Frank's help and keeping my dignity, I walked out on them.

The garden seemed like the best place to cry in.

Frank came in shortly after and I wasn't pleased but I couldn't stop him from joining me.

"Hey there."

I ignored him. I kept staring into the note Kristy left me.

"I know you're disappointed in the Tresk for abandoning you at dire times but the only do that when they are trapped."

I didn't feel the ting so he was telling me the truth.

"What do you mean?" I quizzed.

"I mean...It might have been executed by other kinds."

My mind didn't wander far. 

DEMONS!