Rise of the Hidden Prince

By J. M. Stephen

With her feet planted squarely in both her home world and the fairy world, Pippa Gardner has an assignment: Find the long-lost son of Queen Mab. Her quest is thwarted by various natural disasters such as geysers, earthquakes, and teenage hormones. With the help of both her human and non-human friends, finding the lost Eros is the easy part. What to do with him is a whole other question, one that might be beyond Pippa’s control.

Meanwhile, the fairy world is preparing for the fight against the long-foretold coming of Ruinae, a malevolent entity which will end both worlds as we know them. While all plan, not all plan to fight on the same side.

About the author:
J. M. Stephen is an author and educator with a penchant for mythologies of all kinds. She loves the woods, secluded places, reading Virginia Woolf and being out in nature. She has taught writing, literature and publishing at The Gotham Writer’s Workshop and The New School. Her articles and short stories have appeared in numerous publications. Aside from her young adult series, she is also the author of the adult biblical fantasy, Nod. She lives in New York City with her family.

Review:
Rise of the Hidden Prince is not only a fine follow-up expanding the story, but an excellent vision of a young girl coming into her powers and purpose. Considerations of who chooses which side and why are particularly well done, bringing readers into a story which holds a side dish of ethical and moral conundrums, as well. – D. Donovan, senior reviewer, Midwest Book Review

• Language: English
• Publisher: DX Varos Publishing
• Release date: Nov 10, 2020
• ISBN: 9781941072820

J. M. Stephen

J. M. Stephen is an author and educator with a penchant for mythologies and history. She loves the woods, secluded places, reading Virginia Woolf and being out in nature. She has taught writing, literature and publishing at The Gotham Writer's Workshop and The New School. Her articles and short stories have appeared in numerous publications. Aside from her young adult series, she is also the author of the adult biblical fantasy, Nod and four works of literary fiction. She now writes for newspaper The Deerfield Valley News in the southern Vermont town where she lives with her family.

Book preview

The Chronicles of Pan, Book 2

Rise of the Hidden Prince

J.M. Stephen

Copyright © 2020, J. M. Stephen

Published by:

D. X. Varos, Ltd

7665 E. Eastman Ave. #B101

Denver, CO 80231

This book contains material protected under International and Federal Copyright Laws and Treaties. Any unauthorized reprint or use of this material is prohibited. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system without express written permission from the author.

Book cover design and layout by, Ellie Bockert Augsburger of Creative Digital Studios.

www.CreativeDigitalStudios.com

Cover design features:

Male student standing and smiling at the camera

By Ljupco Smokovski / Adobe Stock

portrait of young smart casual man with eyeglasses

By Viorel Sima / Adobe Stock

Woman in denim shorts goes walking on white background isolation, back view / Adobe Stock

ISBN: 978-1-941072-81-3 (paperback)

978-1-941072-82-0 (ebook)

Printed in the United States of America

ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

To My Siblings

Ian and Stephanie

Thank you for sharing your stories and listening to mine

Table of Contents

Chapter One

Chapter Two

Chapter Three

Chapter Four

Chapter Five

Chapter Six

Chapter Seven

Chapter Eight

Chapter Nine

Chapter Ten

Chapter Eleven

Chapter Twelve

Chapter Thirteen

Chapter Fourteen

Chapter Fifteen

Chapter Sixteen

Chapter Seventeen

Chapter Eighteen

Chapter Nineteen

Chapter Twenty

Chapter Twenty-One

Chapter Twenty-Two

Chapter Twenty-Three

Chapter Twenty-Four

Chapter Twenty-Five

Chapter Twenty-Six

About the Author

Chapter One

I keep having this dream, Pippa said to her friend, Phoebe, as they walked out the doors of Catskills High School and into the wide-open air. It smelled like freshly cut grass outside and the buzz of students just getting out for the day fluttered in the air around them. I’m in a city, it looks like maybe New York, and there’s this boy with black hair.

Is he from school? Phoebe asked as she awkwardly held her many books in one arm and her oversized water bottle in the other. Apparently, hydration was good for your skin, that’s what Phoebe said she’d read on some writer’s Instagram somewhere. That’s why she’d gotten her new extra-large water bottle that she carried everywhere, not that Pippa’s friend had to worry about her skin, it had always been flawless. Maybe you saw some guy around and are subconsciously thinking about him. You’ve been here a while, Pippa, it’s time to find you a boyfriend.

At the mention of a boyfriend, Pippa pictured Pan. Was he her boyfriend? What they had been through in The Land of the Fairies had been so intense boyfriend just didn’t seem like the right word. And now that they were forbidden to see each other it only made her miss him, and want him, more. She hadn’t seen Pan in so long and she wasn’t sure when she would be allowed to be with him again. She felt like she was grounded, or he was grounded, the way this war, this threat, this whatever it was, with Ruinea was keeping them apart. Pippa knew it was for the best, at least that was the company line about the situation. Pan was helping both her world and the fairy world avoid an all-out war, or invasion, depending on how you looked at it. But she could remember the way she felt when he took her in his arms and the electricity that ran through her the first, the second, every time he kissed her. And then there was the pain of being pulled away from him. It wasn’t like the Lady of the Lake’s decision to keep them apart was arbitrary, but she missed him every day and didn’t missing someone like that, make him her boyfriend?

Pippa, are you okay? Phoebe asked, jarring Pippa out of her thoughts. I just think this guy you’re dreaming about could be like…your soulmate. Phoebe was an avid reader and as such she was a hopeless romantic.

No, Pippa said of the boy from her dream. "I don’t need a boyfriend. Still, that guy from my dream, he’s about our age. But I’m not into him like that. It’s more familial, like I know him, I really know him very well, I just don’t know how. He’s got this thick black hair and these very, very green eyes. It’s almost like they’re glowing. But I know him. In the dream I just know him. I don’t know how, he looks like a stranger, but the moment I lay eyes on him it’s like I can’t shake him. And I wake up and it’s like I can still feel him there."

This dream guy with black hair, maybe you’ve got a crush on him? Phoebe asked, apparently ignoring her familial remark. Just don’t tell Phil. I hear he really wants to hang out with you, you know, one-one-one, when we’re in New York City next week. Pippa did not even bother to respond to Phil’s crush. He was a nice guy to hang out with, but she’d never given him the idea that she wanted anything more. Pippa remembered Pan again. She could still feel him close to her even if he was stuck on important business in the Land of the Fairies. There was so much work now that there was a real threat, but her heart belonged to him and no boy from her high school, or an imaginary dream boy, could change that.

"No, not like that, but it’s like I know him. I don’t recognize him at all, but I know him."

Funny, Phoebe said. Dreams are funny. I read somewhere that the subconscious knows more than we do. It can see things our conscious minds can’t.

Pippa watched the mountains in the distance as they walked toward the student parking lot. The second bell rang, chiming the end of the day for anyone who didn’t get the first message, as Pippa held her Ecology textbook to her chest like it was some kind of shield. Anyway, dreams are funny, you’re right. It’s probably nothing.

Funny things are happening everywhere, Phoebe said. Did you hear about the earthquake in Minnesota? And the geyser in Vermont? They’ve been talking about global warming so much but this is entirely different. We don’t know what this is. It’s like all the tectonic plates under the earth are messed up.

I did hear. I can’t believe they found a Geyser in New York, almost our back yard, Pippa said as she watched the other students march toward their cars.

And the earthquake in Iowa, Phoebe said. My aunt lives there and she said it wasn’t that big. If it had happened in Los Angeles no one would have thought anything of it, but in Iowa they were pretty freaked.

I know, something funny is happening underneath the surface of the earth, Pippa said.

It’s like the inner earth is trying to tell us something.

That does seem to be the case, Pippa said, looking out at the Catskill Mountains that seemed to shimmer in the distance. If only Phoebe knew how right she probably was. When her friend thought of inner earth she thought of the crust and mantle, all that rock and sediment that led to the core, stuff they’d learned in Living Environment class, but when the inner earth was mentioned Pippa thought of the Pan who was in control of it all. He was a magical being she’d never met, but then again, until a few months ago she hadn’t known that there was a whole world parallel to her own that she had a deep connection to. She hadn’t known that there were four Pans and it was their job to protect one part of the ecosystem. But at the thought of the four Pans she could only think of one Pan, the Protector of the Forest, with his thick blond hair and deep blue eyes. She remembered how it felt being close to him, feeling his protective arms around her. She almost closed her eyes and pictured him as they walked toward the parking lot. It had been months since she’1d seen him and she missed him so much.

So, you think this is all global warming or something? Phoebe asked.

I don’t know, it could be. Pippa nodded to Phoebe, watching out for her friend Vincent’s used Mini-Cooper, the one Mr. And Mrs. Turner had gotten him once he came of age, at least of age in this world. He’d just turned eighteen, whatever that meant when you’re a satyr from another realm, who had probably been alive for a thousand years or so. But Vincent wore teenage-hood well. He was still on the track team, where he was the star, he played violin in the school orchestra and his grades, despite all his worries about the Land of the Fairies, were still rather good. He and Pippa had both managed to make honor roll this quarter.

So, your mom’s picking you up? Pippa asked Phoebe, holding her book to her chest as she searched for Vincent’s red and blue mini-cooper. She couldn’t find the car but after a second she caught sight of Vincent walking toward her. His thick black hair was just a little shaggier than it had been when she’d first met him, and he kept himself trim and athletic on track. As he marched over in his faded jeans and white T-shirt Pippa couldn’t help but wonder if Vincent thought the year was 1950 instead of 2020.

Phoebe glanced at the ground as Vincent approached. Then her cell phone rang, a soft, rhythmic dance number ring-tone and she nearly jumped. That’s my mom, she’s here. I should go. See you, Vincent, Phoebe said, waving awkwardly as she rushed to the other end of the student lot, where parents waited to pick up their kids.

What’s her hurry? Vincent asked. She never wants to look at me these days.

She’s just busy, Pippa said as Vincent instinctively turned to guide Pippa to his car. So, have you heard any news? she asked, trying to sound casual.

Mr. and Mrs. Turner are more plugged in than most of us, but no, I don’t get much from them, Vincent replied. But these earthquakes and everything, you think? I don’t want to use the R word if I don’t have to. He turned back to look at Pippa. They both knew what he was talking about and this time it was Pippa’s turn to shyly glance at the ground to break his gaze.

And who is going to stop that? Pippa asked.

Vincent was quiet for a second. His shoulders grew tense as he looked out. You mean, Inner Earth, right? Is that who you’re not-so-subtly trying to get me to acknowledge?

I never met him, Pippa replied.

No, you didn’t.

Are you ever going to tell me what went on with you two? Pippa had wanted to ask her friend about the confession he’d made earlier in the year, the one where he’d said that he had also fallen in love with a Pan and that they had also been very close. But the one time she’d brought it up Vincent had not wanted to talk about it. In fact, her friend, who was always there for her, who never got angry or thought that she was asking too much (and sometimes Pippa thought she asked a lot of him), but the one time she asked about Inner Earth he got so angry that he’d turned and walked away and she hadn’t seen him for three days. Since then she knew to mind her own business about Vincent’s past love life. You don’t have to give me the nitty-gritty, just—

It was a long time ago and it’s over. He and I…The Land of the Fairies is a lot more open to…alternate lifestyles, two men, not a problem, two women, also nothing to get hung up about, but a Pan and a satyr- sound the alarms.

But with everything going on down there, geysers shooting up where there have never been geysers, and earthquakes? At the very least aren’t you worried about him? Maybe he’s in trouble. I wish I knew how to shimmer to him, but I guess since I’ve never been to the Inner Earth Pan’s lair or hideout or whatever, I can’t just shimmer there. And I don’t know how The Lady of the Lake would feel if we just went to see him.

Of course, I’m worried about him. But I can’t go back there to him. You aren’t even supposed to go back to the Land of the Fairies right now, we’ve been told to keep away, to mind our own business and live our lives here, as if that’s going to help anyone.

The Lady of the Lake might have her reasons.

And she might just be following a thousand-year-old protocol that is no longer relevant. And what about your Pan, aren’t you worried about him? Vincent asked as they reached his car. He used the key to remote unlock it and Pippa opened her door and got in as she waited for Vincent to come around to the driver’s seat. He turned the car on quickly and pulled out of his spot without much fanfare. Most of the seniors, the only students who used the student lot, had eighth period off and were already gone and so he had a clear shot out of the school parking lot.

I’m always worried about Pan. Every night I walk in the woods and hope to see him, like that one time when he just showed up. And I feel him. I know he’s there and yet he doesn’t come for me.

You mean you still get that sense of safety, like he’s watching you from the Land of the Fairies just like he’d been doing since you were little?

Pippa remembered the first time she saw Pan, how he was new to her and yet she knew him and she could sense that he had been around, protecting her from a distance, since she was a young child. It sounds crazy, but of course he’s watching me. I know that. I thought you did too. I don’t think I could cope for this long without him if I couldn’t at least sense him. It’s been months, Vincent, it’s been months, do you think I wouldn’t have gone running back to the Land of the Fairies by now if I couldn’t at least sense his presence?

True, Vincent shrugged as he turned onto the state road in the direction of Pippa’s aunt Catty’s house. Your place? he asked. Or should we grace the Turners with our presence?

My place, sure. My aunt is teaching an art class this afternoon, so she won’t hover.

Vincent laughed at that. I like your aunt, but she sure does hover. Pippa nodded in agreement. She understood why her aunt was over-cautious, after the whole Land of the Fairies Induced Coma incident when she’d appeared to be knocked out for a week, therefore explaining her absence when she’d gone on those adventures in Pan’s world, but it was still tough sometimes when her aunt breathed down her neck whenever she wanted to take a walk in the woods.

They drove down the tree-lined road, past a few older houses, and a farm with long sweeping cornfields and a large red barn near the road, before Vincent turned into Aunt Catty’s driveway. It was always a surprise to her how different it was out here compared to California, where Pippa had grown up. The houses were much further apart, separated by trees and sweeping stretches of farmland or road. The weather could be temperamental as well, some days it was so hot Pippa couldn’t wear long sleeves to school but the very next day she might freeze in a sweater. But she liked Aunt Catty’s house and the woods were very peaceful even if it was still hard dealing with the sudden death of her mother in a fire last year. Vincent signaled and turned his mini-cooper onto Aunt Catty’s gravel driveway, the tires crunching over the tiny rocks as he coasted for a second before parking away from the house and near the woods.

I just figured you might want to go for a walk, he said as Pippa unbuckled her seatbelt and moved to get out of the car.

It always felt freer when she was outside, as if a car or a classroom, even the art studio or her bedroom in Aunt Catty’s house, was a great vice squeezing her body tighter and tighter so all she wanted was to go outside. Pippa felt her phone buzz in her pocket. She checked the number, it was Tina Kim, one of the girls from Drama Club she’d befriended this year, and so she decided to ignore the call. She liked Tina, but she could talk to her later.

Who was that? Vincent asked as Pippa made her way toward the woods.

Just Tina, nothing big.

She’s super excited about the fieldtrip to New York City. Bright lights, big city, Broadway, Vincent teased. Glad you got me to join Drama.

I know. It’ll be cool. I still can’t believe Aunt Catty is letting me get away for an entire week.

It is a school sanctioned trip. Aunt Catty likes anything school sanctioned, she’s sure they’ll be able to keep an eye on you.

Pippa made a face of mock indignation. I’m a perfect angel. I don’t plan on making any trouble in New York.

You have been very well behaved since returning, Vincent replied as they walked further into the woods. I can’t believe when they told you to stay away from the Land of the Fairies, and you know who, that you actually would.

I don’t think it would help if I started shimmering in and making demands. I mean, I miss him every day. There are days I wish I could just shimmer over, but I know he’s doing important work now. I know that they’re not just arbitrarily saying that he needs to focus, there’s something big out there now, there’s a real threat and I can’t just let my feelings override the safety of who knows how many people or creatures or worlds.

You are more mature than me, Vincent quipped, and Pippa wondered just what her friend meant.

Well, you could tell me about your romantic adventures with a Pan sometime, Pippa teased but Vincent looked forward, not taking the bait as they kept walking.

It was early May and today, unlike some days, it felt like it. The sun shined through the trees like translucent panes of glass, the leaves were green and so alive, and the ground was soft. As they walked further into the woods, Pippa saw a red robin and then a tiny bunny scampered near her feet. Animals didn’t usually get this close to humans, and at the end of the day, the bunny did keep her distance, but since her time in the Land of the Fairies, animals had been more drawn to Pippa. They just seemed to be more comfortable in her presence than they were around other humans. Then again it also turned out Pippa wasn’t all the way human after all. Her father had been a Pan a long time ago and though he’d left the Land of the Fairies before she was born, part of that lingered on her since she was technically the first half Pan/half human to exist.

So, it’ll be strange being in New York City, away from nature, Vincent went on as they walked deeper into the woods, closer to the slow sloshing of the lake. I used to seek out places like that, plastic, concrete, anything that wouldn’t identify me and bring me back. But now that it’s not a threat, I love being in the woods.

Funny how something becomes nice once it’s not a threat, Pippa teased and Vincent laughed at that, playfully knocking into her side as they kept walking. Just as long as we don’t get any of those strange earthquakes in New York City. Can you imagine an earthquake there?

The city wasn’t built for them, not like those California cities, Vincent said, and Pippa looked nostalgically at the landscape. There were times, especially when she was alone in the woods, when she really missed California and her mother.

As they walked on the ground started to rumble and Pippa looked down at her feet. The land vibrated and then seemed to all-out shake some more and Vincent instinctively grasped Pippa’s arm, steadying them as the ground continued to move. Famous last words, Vincent said but Pippa felt an intense sense of fear, it overcame her, reddening in her stomach as she looked out. She felt that safety then. In one single flicker she saw him, the blond hair, the tall, strong body clothed in green cloth and covered in vines.

Pan, she cried his name and reached for him, but he disappeared, shimmering away. But it was different, the way he shimmered, not like before, when he came and went, but as if someone had pulled him away. She reached for him again but then she felt a sense of fear pulling her, telling her to get away and so she took Vincent’s hand and ran with him away from the spot where they’d been standing.

The ground erupted, Pippa heard the earth toppling in on itself and a gigantic roar came from the ground like an animal was chasing them. They ran harder and faster to get further away from whatever it was but after a moment Pippa slowed down, her heart rate returned to something near normal and she knew they were safe, or at least okay. Vincent stopped with her and just when they turned around, they saw what had made the great roar.

A geyser came out of the ground, a giant gushing of running water, flowing upward like it was being expunged from the earth. Pippa plugged her nose, she could really smell the sulfur, the thick putrid stench was almost like rotten eggs. One time the water in California had been contaminated after a draught and the water at the house had smelled like that for days until Pippa’s mother had gotten it fixed. A sudden flash of memory, her mother standing by the kitchen sink, her hand on her head like she was about to topple over at the terrible smell, made Pippa stop for a second. It’s just that this water gives me such a headache, her mother had said, and Pippa had given her a chair to sit down.

What is that? Vincent asked. Water. Out of the ground. A geyser? Here? What’s going on? He shook his head, not as if he was afraid, or worried, or as if he couldn’t believe it. It was as if he was taking this sudden geyser in the middle of her Aunt Catty’s property personally. What the hell is wrong with him? Vincent asked more to himself than to Pippa and she knew that this him her friend was talking about, was Inner Earth.

Clumps of dirt burst forth from the ground with all that water and Pippa closed her eyes against the terrible smell. The ground trembled once again, and Pippa quickly grabbed Vincent’s hand. She steadied herself and closed her eyes but, in another second, with a flick of her senses, it was all gone. Pippa opened her eyes and at first she thought she’d imagined the geyser until she saw the impressionist outline of the wood nymphs constructing the landscape and knew that without trying, without even knowing it, she’d shimmered to the Land of the Fairies.

At least it’s calm here, Pippa said to Vincent, who had to steady himself on his satyr’s legs before he could speak. He nearly tumbled over and had to be caught by a tree full of wood nymphs, who instinctively held him up.

It is calm. I guess only your world is being hit with whatever is going on. I mean, do you think it’s–— Even now Vincent couldn’t say his name.

Ruinae, Pippa said it for him. It had only been a couple of months since their brush with Ruinae that had toppled the Lady of the Lake’s, and so many other creatures’, belief that Ruinae was just a story told to children to keep them in line instead of the threat to both worlds that he obviously was. She wanted to keep talking about it, she didn’t want Vincent, or anyone else, to bury this idea and not face it. This was why she had agreed to be separated from Pan for now. This was why she and Vincent were back in her world working to help the Land of the Fairies any way they could. She didn’t want the threat of Ruinae forgotten or thrown under the rug or used for any perversion of the truth that might help a bad ruler, or someone like Silenus, who Pippa still did not trust, to get more power.

I don’t know what it is, but I think we should go back, see if we can help at your house. What will your aunt say when she finds a geyser on her property?

I know, Pippa replied. It was just instinct, bringing us here, we should go. She looked out then, scanning as far and as wide as she could to see if Pan would appear. If he was with her, she didn’t think there would be anything that could take her away from him. And she’d just seem him. He’d known something was up, in his own way he’d warned her, but then it had been like he’d been pulled away. She looked out, standing on her tiptoes until Vincent brought her back to the present.

You know he’s not here. You can’t just conjure him. Let’s go before they find us, I’m sure we’re not supposed to be here.

Pippa felt a great shift in the air. She saw the air nymphs moving faster and faster and in a second he was in front of her. He shimmered in not two feet from Pippa and she ran to him, grasping her arms around Pan’s neck, holding him close and smelling the great musky earth of the forest on him, before she could help herself. Pan, she said his name, pulling away from him to look at his face. You’re here. I don’t know how, there was a geyser and I shimmered in but before that I saw you. I saw you.

You did, he said. I knew it was coming. I didn’t think you needed a warning, not really, but I needed to tell you anyway, to make sure you were okay.

We were fine. But the geyser blew close to us. I got this sense that I had to move, and it wasn’t from you, it was like I knew something was there, something was changing – a warning.

Maybe you’ll get to meet him, Pan said thoughtfully. I didn’t think he’d come out, but something is up with him and I’m sure it’s not his fault but—

Who? Pippa asked before she figured it out. Inner Earth? Really? I thought Pan’s didn’t come out like that.

No, Vincent said. He won’t come out. Even if something is wrong, he won’t come out, he won’t help.

Someone has some baggage, my friend, Pan said of Vincent. I understand but under these circumstances, now that we know about Ruinae, he’ll come out. Pan then looked back at Pippa. He slowly wrapped his arms around her waist as she held him tightly to her I missed you, he said like he couldn’t believe she was there. They have me teaching the satyrs about healing creatures and making balms, but there are whispers that something more is coming, and we have to be ready. Every time I think about seeing you or asking for permission to be with you something worse happens. Just the other day all the wood nymphs near Queen Mab’s Clearing fell ill. They just stopped working and the fairies had to take over their jobs.

I’m sure that went over well, fairies working, Vincent said.

I know, but even the fairies are willing to pull their weight now. They tried…they didn’t really do much work, but they did try, Pan explained.

What’s wrong? Pippa asked but a second later Pan’s big blue eyes looked startled, almost scared, and he started shimmering. It wasn’t like it was before. Pan didn’t calmly shimmer, she could tell he was surprised as he started to disappear and then fade away. The shock on his face was seared in her memory and Pippa started shaking, she got a hot, scared feeling in the pit of her stomach as Pan faded from her and then disappeared.

Did you see that? she asked Vincent. Did you see the look on his face? He was surprised. He didn’t know it was coming.

I saw that. That’s strange. They don’t usually do that.

Do what? Pippa asked. She had thought she’d gotten the hang of this place. She’d thought she knew the rules about how things worked, but now it appeared Pan could be taken from her, actually pulled out of thin air. How and why would that be allowed to happen?

Before Pippa could complain further, or ask Vincent if he knew what was going on, the water nymphs started to move about faster and faster, the lake started to slosh about and Pippa and Vincent walked the few paces to the lake, since all movement seemed to be coming from there. They both knew what this meant and if the Lady of the Lake was about to appear, it was too late to turn around, shimmer back to her world and pretend nothing had happened. Water sprayed upward from the Lake and Pippa closed her eyes as some of it fell on her shoulders and tiny water nymphs caught it. The waters parted then and there was The Lady of the Lake, looking as young and as beautiful as ever. She wore a white shimmering dress; her long white hair was pulled back from her face and her skin seemed to glow as the sun fell upon her.

Hello, she said to Pippa and Vincent. I see the disruption brought you here.

Disruption? What is happening? A geyser blew at my aunt’s house. That doesn’t happen. And what happened to Pan? He just disappeared, something took him away.

We had to take him, bring him back to the woods where he’s working with satyrs, trying to teach them the ways of his healing balms. They’re doing well, learning from him, but there are still certain medicines only he can make.

You took him? Like a baby being picked up and put back in his crib. He’s not a child, you can’t treat him that way, Pippa said, and The Lady of the Lake only nodded kindly at her.

I understand your frustration and I understand what happened, the geyser scared you and you shimmered in, quite by accident. I didn’t think it was right that this turn into a long drawn out reunion, not when both you and Pan have so much work to do.

She’s still at it with the work, Vincent said. Ever since he’d been pardoned and allowed to live in the human world, Vincent had been less than deferential to The Lady of the Lake and many of her cohorts.

I know you’re upset, but that’s the way things must be. And a Pan and a human, you know that can’t be.

You keep telling her that and I’ll keep telling her the truth, Vincent stated, and The Lady of the Lake closed her eyes once and then very consciously ignored him.

What happened with the geyser? Pippa asked. I thought maybe you were trying to get my attention. Geysers randomly blowing in New York state – that just doesn’t happen.

I know. That’s been happening a lot lately. Much more than we would like. And even here we’ve seen some strange things. There have been some problems with Inner Earth. He has spoken to me. He hasn’t come out of his home in so long, not since— The Lady of the Lake looked over at Vincent and did not go on. Pippa almost begged her to keep going, to tell her the secret she was obviously hiding, but she knew better by now. They were so tight-lipped in this place that even after all she’d been through with them the Queens kept secrets from her. But we’ve talked. It’s not his fault. Something is wrong down there, something is coming. We know there’s a problem. Inner Earth is working on it but it’s not his fault.

Can we help? What can we do? Pippa asked.

And we’re just supposed to believe that? There’s a problem but it’s not his fault? Vincent asked. That’s a little too vague, even for you.

Yes, you are, The Lady of the Lake said calmly though Pippa wondered if she was disguising just a bit of annoyance.

The lake started to shimmer again, the nymphs moved about, white and blue strands of water sprayed, and then a female satyr appeared. Pippa had never seen a female satyr before. They were rare, very rare, just as male fairies were rare in Queen Mab’s realm. The Lady of the Lake turned to the female satyr, who had white and reddish goat’s legs and long black hair. She looked like she was from India and Pippa could just see this creature wearing a sari if she chose to look like a human. She wore a garland of beads and shells around her neck that covered her chest and stomach. She was a satyr, she belonged on land, or in the forest, and yet she seemed perfectly happy at sea.

Pippa, this is Vati, The Lady of the Lake introduced them. She’s my adopted niece, you could say. She has been living with me in the Lake, in the water, for many years.

I love the water, the satyr said, and Pippa noted the British accent. She hadn’t realized until then that people from the Land of the Fairies could have accents but of course they could.

How come I’ve never met her? Pippa asked. She looked over at the satyr and smiled kindly. She didn’t want to be rude, but she did wonder. Pippa wanted to ask the Lady of the Lake about Silenus, why wasn’t he at her side, but she was only happy that she didn’t have to see him. She was still sure that he had something to do with everything that was going on with Ruinae.

My niece is sometimes busy. She has her own work to do. But Silenus is also busy now and so she’s been helping me much more often.

Hello, Vati said, smiling shyly at Pippa. I’ve heard about you. You and Pan. I’ve been following your story. She glanced down then in deference.

Your Highness, Vati said, turning to The Lady of the Lake, We’ve found him. He’s on earth, in the Human World, but we’ve found him. It’s official now.

The Lady of the Lake turned to Pippa and Vincent, as if she didn’t want them to overhear. She whispered into Vati’s ear, but Pippa would not look away or give them privacy. Vati and The Lady of the Lake whispered to each other for what felt like a few minutes before they looked over at Pippa and Vincent. If this had been anyone else Pippa might have called them out on their rudeness.

Who’s here? she finally asked. Who are you talking about?

The Lady of the Lake closed her eyes for a second as if she was thinking something over and then she looked down at Pippa and Vincent as if she were making a decision about something. I might have a mission for you soon. A particularly important one back in your world. I think we may have found him. Based on what Vati here has just told me, I really think we might have found him.

Who? Pippa asked.

Or what? Vincent added.

Eros, The Lady of the Lake said calmly. Right away Pippa picked up a sense of excitement in the Lady’s voice. Based on what I’ve just heard…and that really is evidence Vati, it looks like we’ve found Eros. He just appeared. We’ve been looking in both worlds for so long and he just appeared.

Who is Eros? Pippa asked and Vincent looked over at her as if he couldn’t believe she’d forgotten.

Eros, Vincent said. You know, we told you before, Eros. Queen Mab’s son.

She felt that connection again – the one from her dream. It came swirling around her, just as she’d felt Pan all her life, she’d felt just these last few weeks that there was something else, some other feeling coming. That boy with the black hair from her dream came back to her mind and she saw his pale skin, his thick black hair, she saw him not in nature but in a city with buildings and traffic all around him. Once Vincent explained it all made sense. Eros. Queen Mab’s son. But why did she feel so close to him? And why now?

What do we do? Does Queen Mab know? Should we tell her? Pippa asked.

We’ll tell her, The Lady of the Lake said. She’ll have a fit and want to run off into the wild blue yonder, which is not what we need. He can’t…he won’t just come back to us.

Why did he run off? Does he know his mother is looking for him?

No. He was lost. He was taken. It seems he’s forgotten everything. He thinks he’s human and I believe someone must have brainwashed him so much he doesn’t know what he is. He’s forgotten his life here, his hundreds of human years in this world. He thinks he’s a teenage boy being raised in Manhattan. We can’t just go to him and tell him we’re taking him home. We need to be careful, we need to talk to him, befriend him. Yes, soon, I believe soon we’ll have another mission for Pippa.

Of course, Pippa said. I’ll go. Let me go get him. I’m human, he’ll be okay with me. He’ll talk to me.

I believe he’ll talk to you too. He’ll feel the connection and even if he doesn’t know, even if he doesn’t remember, he’ll talk to you.

What connection? Do I have a connection to Eros just like I have a connection to this place? Because I’ve been having dreams, Pippa said, getting very excited. The Lady of the Lake closed her eyes then and Pippa knew to calm down.

I just…you’re human, that’s the connection, Pippa, and you’re close to his mother. Maybe he’ll sense that. But for now, before you leave, perhaps you could go speak to Queen Mab. I believe she would rather this information come from you.

Chapter Two

I know this place is, like, preparing for war, but so much of it looks the same, Pippa said, looking out at the wood nymphs braiding the tree bark together as the nearly translucent sun looked like a great yellowish diamond in the sky as she walked with Vincent to Queen Mab’s Clearing. I can’t wait to see the fairies. I bet even with everything they’re still playing their games.

I don’t know if they can play the same games now, Vincent said as he walked with her through a tree-lined path that would lead to Queen Mab’s Clearing. But I’m sure they’ve turned being at war into a great game if I know fairies. You know, like those army men things little boys sometimes play with? Maybe they’re doing something like that.

So, what do you think will happen with her son? It’s been what, years?

Many years, Vincent replied. He went missing after we lost the red-haired sister, centuries ago.

Centuries ago? I keep forgetting how different time is for you here.

Even when we live in your world, we experience time differently. Even for me, when I experience a year of high school in the Human World, it’s like a snap of my fingers. It’s hard to get used to. And we don’t really age much. Wonder why no one ever gets very old.

There’s Silenus, Pippa remarked, and Vincent nodded quietly.

There is Silenus, he repeated, shaking his head in a thoughtful way. But, when Eros went missing, he went on, it really did a number on Queen Mab. She hid in her tree for a while and would not come out. It was bad enough we’d lost one of the Morrigan sisters but to lose two? It took The Lady of the Lake coming to her sister’s home nearly every day to make a dent in her depression. It took the fairies taking care of her all the time to get her to tiptoe out of her funk. But she’s not herself. She has never been herself, not since her son went missing.

What was she like then, when she was herself?

"She was still playful, still fun. But she felt more of a sense of responsibility. You’ve never seen her in