Chapter 2 #2
The forest grows quiet, and she sits up, as her wings begin to flutter, carrying her into the air.
She uses her wings to sense the direction of the noise.
Scanning the perimeter of the pond, she hears a loud heartbeat thump in her ears—the pace rapid and uneasy.
Closing her eyes, Isyss uses her senses to scan the forest, bringing her attention to a large ashtree to her left.
As she flies in that direction, her senses sharpen, allowing her to hear the shallow breathing.
“Hello?” Isyss calls out.
No response.
“Whoever you are,” she begins, “it’s okay to come out.”
She lands on her feet, standing in front of the tree as she senses a familiar presence behind it. Closing her eyes, she breathes in the familiar scent—lavender.
“Could it be?” she thinks.
Taking in another whiff, the scent of lavender consumes. It’s laced with a scent that makes her heart pick up speed and everything within her tingle.
“It’s okay,” she says softly, approaching the tree. “You’re safe here.”
Before she can fully approach the tree, she sees a woman with rich dark chocolate skin, smooth as honey, and a head full of lavender curls peeking out from behind it. Her eyes are big and filled with fear—but her heart, Isyss can feel it. She can sense its familiarity.
“Fermena?” Isyss questions.
The woman steps from behind the tree. She is wearing a white silk night gown that hugs her curves as it grazes over the top of her bare feet.
Isyss takes her time approaching; she can see the confusion in her eyes.
“Where am I?” Fermena asks frantically. “And how do you know my name?”
Isyss takes a moment, trying to determine how to answer her. Does she tell her that she has been watching over her dreams—or answer the latter? It truly doesn’t matter anyway because she’s here now. Isyss doesn’t know how Fermena got here, but there is no turning back now.
“You’re in Lumaethera …” Isyss responds. “The land of the dream fae.”
“Dream fae?” Fermena whispers. She comes out fully from behind the tree, an expression of shock filling her face.
Isyss nods as she takes a few steps closer.
Reaching her hand out to invite Fermena closer, she sees the fear in her face as she takes in Isyss’s full form.
Fermena’s eyes meet Isyss’s iridescent wings, and she takes a few steps back.
She takes in the deep brown skin that covers Isyss’s curves and the way her full white locs cascade over her shoulders.
Fermena’s heart pounds, threatening to break free as reality sets in as to where she is.
“W-Who are you?” Fermena stammers.
“I’m Isyss,” Isyss says, stopping in her tracks, sensing that Femena is scared. “I’m one of the dream fae that live here, but I promise you’re safe.”
“Safe?!” Fermena panics. “I don’t even know where I am—or how I got here.”
Isyss wants to grab Fermena’s hand so badly and pull her in close to calm her nerves. She’s seen her like this before in her dreams, and no longer wants her to feel fear. If only Fermena knew she was truly safe with her—she already made that promise.
Fermena had been having nightmares more often than usual, and it had to be something in her waking life that was causing the terrors.
Isyss had been studying her closely since the same nightmare had been recurring in every dream cycle.
Although she could fight off the shadows and weave more peaceful dreams, it was alarming how often they were happening.
Isyss had been spending time in the earth realm monitoring Fermena’s day-to-day life to see if she could notice any actions that may have taken root in the dream realm.
She watched as Fermena snuggled into her bed and shut her eyes to fall asleep.
A few moments later, she felt a gust of wind come through Fermena’s windows.
As the wind entered the room, she could see a spirit form in mid-air, its white silhouette hovered over Fermena’s bed, watching her sleep.
Unable to make out the features of the silhouette, she could see it fading in and out as it began to speak.
“Baby,” it whispered. “I miss you.”
Fermena groaned as her legs began to kick in her sleep. She rolled from side to side as she started crying in her sleep.
“I will wait for you,” the spirit continued.
“You shouldn’t be here,” Isyss interrupted, as she approached the spirit. “You’re fading.”
The spirit brought its attention to Isyss, looking at her with sad eyes, its silhouette fading in and out.
“You will get stuck in this realm if you don’t fully cross over,” Isyss said. “You have to move on, or she will never be able to see you again.”
“But I can’t leave her,” it said.
“She’ll be fine,” Isyss reassured the spirit. “You have to let her go and allow her to move on. You will meet again when it’s her time.”
Sadness and worry filled the eyes of the spirit. “How do I know she will be safe while I’m away?”
“I’ll protect her,” Isyss said. “I will keep her safe and love her like you once did.”
“I will always love her…”
“Then you have to let her go so you can cross over and wait for her on the other side.”
The spirit nodded, realizing Isyss was right. It brought its attention back to Fermena. It floated down towards Fermena, to lie next to her in bed.
“Gemini,” Fermena whispered as a tear rolled down her cheek.
Gemini wrapped her arms around her one last time. “I’m always with you.”
“I can’t do this without you,” Fermena cried out in her sleep.
Isyss’s heart ached witnessing the pain Fermena was carrying—it was causing her more harm than good. Although Gemini desperately wanted to watch over her, it was her time to cross over, and Fermena had to let her go to truly live a full life like she was destined.
“Always find me in your heart,” Gemini whispered, placing a kiss on her forehead. “You will love again.”
Gemini released her grip from Fermena. “I’m ready,” she said, looking at Isyss.
Isyss used her wand to open a portal that sparkled with bright white light. Gemini took a moment to take one last look at Fermena, giving her a final goodbye.
“Thank you,” Gemini said, as she looked at Isyss and took a step into the portal. Isyss held her heart and smiled as Gemini crossed over into the light.
Isyss wants nothing more than to soothe her fearful heart. She takes a few steps back to give Fermena space and allow Fermena to come to her. She knows that when Fermena touches her, she will know who Isyss is—and that may be overwhelming at first.
“Listen,” Isyss says, holding up her hands. “I know this is overwhelming for you, but I’m here to help. We can get you out of here, but I need you to calm down.”
She watches as Fermena’s chest rises and falls as her anxiety roars.
Isyss can see the essence of her heart growing larger and larger, as a red energy surrounds her chest. “I’m gonna be over here,” she says, pointing over her shoulder to the space of grass surrounding the pond.
“And when you’re ready, we can talk more about getting you home. ”
Fermena’s eyes are as big as nickels, still unsure what to do or say.
She’s never been in such an enchanted place, let alone come face to face with a fae.
She nods her head slowly. Isyss turns around and heads to sit at the edge of the pond.
Placing her hands in the grass, she dips her legs into the pond and begins to sing a soft, sweet melody under her breath, with hopes that it will soothe Fermena’s heart.
As she sings, the vibration of her voice filters the air, turning into sigils that can only be seen by her eyes.
Her high-pitched voice rings through the forest as the trees begin to sway once more.
The peaceful sound brings silence, easing Fermena.
Moments later, she feels Fermena approach and sit next to her.
“What is that song?” Fermena asks. “What is it that you’re singing—I’ve heard it before?”
“You can hear it?” Isyss asks, surprised.
“Yeah,” Fermena says. “I find myself singing it a lot.”
As Isyss turns to meet Fermena’s eyes, her heart explodes with flutters and beats she’s never felt before. Her entire body tingles as her wings begin to flutter with excitement.
“What is this feeling?” Isyss thinks.
As she looks deeply into Fermena’s eyes, she feels a sense of familiarity, one deeper than she’s ever felt before.
There is a new feeling in her heart, a yearning for Fermena.
She’s seen Fermena before, but never up close.
Something about her is captivating in a way she never expected. Isyss smiles at the sight of her.
“It's a song I like to sing to help calm my anxiety,” she says. “It’s always helped me, so I was hoping you’d feel it too.”
Surprisingly, Fermena smiles, feeling no more unease, just safety. Adjusting herself, she brings her knees to her chest. “I like it. It makes me feel—safe,” she says.
“If only you knew,” Isyss thinks.
“I’m glad you feel safe,” Isyss reassures her. “Do you remember anything before you ended up here?”
“Umm…let’s see,” Fermena says, taking a moment to filter through her thoughts. “The last thing I remember was falling asleep in my bed, and then I ended up here.”
“Damn,” Isyss thinks abruptly. “This is happening sooner than I thought.”
“Okay…” Isyss says, taking a deep breath. “I’m going to share something with you, but you have to promise not to freak out.”
“Not to freak out?” Fermena says, face scrunched up in confusion. “What are you about to tell me next? I’m already in a foreign place—”
“Fermena,” Isyss says, cutting her off calmly. “Breathe.”
Isyss hovers her hand over Fermena's heart, lavender swirls of light emanating from her palm.
She moves her hand up and down, guiding Fermena to take deep breaths in and out.
Closing her eyes, Fermena follows her guidance, allowing her chest to rise and fall slowly.
Instantly, she feels a sense of relief, welcoming the peace and calm that Isyss is providing. Fermena sighs, releasing a deep breath.