A large metal gate blocked our path, but when we got to it, a guard nodded at Finn and waved us through. Once through, I saw beautiful houses dotted along the bluffs, mostly obscured by the trees. It was an odd sensation. I felt like there were more homes than what I could actually see. Everyone of them appeared luxurious and perfectly poised to make the best of the view.
We pulled up in front of a massive house perched precariously on the edge of the bluff. The driveway made a half-circle in front of it, with a grand fountain. It was pure white, with long vines growing up beautifully over it. The back, which faced the river, was made entirely of windows, and it seemed to be held up by weak supports. While stunningly gorgeous, the house looked as if it would fall of of the edge at any moment.
“What’s this?” I took a break from gaping at the house to look back at Finn. He smiled at me in the way that sent shivers through me.
“This is it,” Finn smiled. “Welcome home, Wendy.”
I had come from money, but it had never been anything like this. This was aristocratic. Finn carried my bag for me as we walked up to the house. When he rang the doorbell, it was one of those tremendous bonging sounds. This had to be the most beautiful house I had ever seen. I couldn’t believe that I’d truly come from this, and if I had, why would I have ever left? I had never felt so small or ordinary in my entire life.
With a house like this, I had expected a butler to answer the door.
Instead, it was just a kid. He was about my age, with sandy hair cascading across his forehead, and he was very attractive. Which made sense, because I couldn’t believe that anything ugly ever came from a house like this. It was too perfect.
He seemed confused and surprised at first, but when he saw Finn, an understanding came to him and he smiled broadly.
“Oh my god. You must be Wendy.” He opened the massive front door so we could come in. Finn let me go in first, which made me nervous, and I felt embarrassed with the way this kid was smiling at me. He was dressed like any other normal kid I had gone to school with, at least in the private schools, and I found that weird. As if he would run around in a tux first thing in the morning.
“Um, yeah,” I mumbled awkwardly.
“Oh, sorry, I’m Rhys.” He touched his chest, gesturing to himself, then turned back to Finn. “We weren’t expecting you this soon.”
“Things happen,” Finn explained noncommittally.
“I’d really love to stay and talk, but I’m already running late for school.” Rhys glanced around and looked apologetically at us. “Elora is down in the drawing room. You can get yourself there, right?”
“I can,” Finn nodded.
“Alright. Sorry. I would show you down there if I could.” Rhys smiled sheepishly and picked up his messenger bag lying by the front door. “It was really nice meeting you, Wendy. I’m sure I’ll be seeing a lot more of you.”
Once he hurried out the door, I took a moment to take in my surroundings. The floors were marble and there was a giant, crystal chandelier hanging above us. From where I was standing, I could see the breathtaking view through the windowed back wall of the house. It was all floor to ceiling glass, and all I could see were the tops of trees and the river plummeting below us. It was enough to give me vertigo, and I was on the other side of the house.
“Come on,” Finn instructed. He started walking ahead of me, turning down a decadently furnished hall, and I scampered after him.
“Who was that?” I whispered, as if the walls could hear me. They were lined with pictures, a few of which I recognized as being my master painters.
“Rhys.”
“Yeah, I know but… is he my brother?” I asked. I had already decided that he was foxy, so I really hoped that he wasn’t.
“No.” That was all Finn would say on the subject.
Abruptly, he turned into a room. It was the corner of the house, so two of the walls were entirely glass. One interior wall had a fireplace, and hanging above it was the portrait of an attractive, older gentleman. The other interior wall was lined with books. The room was filled with elegant, expensive looking furniture, and an easel in front of the window. A velvet chaise lounge was poised in front of the fireplace, and a woman laid on it, her back to us. Her dress was dark and flowing, just like her black hair that hung down her back.
“Elora?” Finn said cautiously, and I got the sense that he was intimidated by her. This was as unnerving as it was surprising. He didn’t seem like he could be intimidated by anyone.
When she turned to look at us, I forgot to breathe. She was much older than I had expected, in her fifties probably, but there was something stunningly elegant and beautiful about her. Her eyes were dark and large, and in her youth, she had probably been unbearably attractive. As it was, I could hardly believe that she was real.
“Finn!” Her voice was angelic and clear, and her surprise was endearing. With a graceful move, she swiftly sat up, and Finn did a small bow to her. It confused me, but I clumsily tried to copy it, and this caused her to laugh.
She looked at Finn, but gestured to me. “Is this her?”
“Yes. It is.” There was a hint of pride in his voice. He had brought me here, and I was starting to realize that must have been a very special request.
“Oh my.” Elora smiled wistfully at me and got to her feet.
Poised and regal, she was absolutely captivating. The length of her skirt swirled around her feet making it seem more like she floated than actually walked. Once in front of me, she inspected me carefully, gesturing for me to turn around so she could see all of me. When I had finished, she smiled appreciatively at me.
“You are lovely,” Elora sounded almost awed by me, and I felt a blush redden my cheeks. “It’s Wendy, isn’t it?”
“Yes, ma’am,” I smiled nervously at her.
“What an ordinary name for such an extraordinary girl.” She looked displeased for a moment, then turned to Finn. “Excellent work. You can be excused while I talk to her. Stay close by, though. I’ll call when I need you.”
“Yes.” Finn set down my bag and did another small bow before leaving the room. His level of reverence made me uncomfortable. I wasn’t sure how to act around her.
“I’m Elora, and I won’t expect you to call me any different. At first, this is all so much to get used to. I remember when I first came back.” She smiled and gave a light shake of her head. “It was a very confusing time.” I nodded, unsure of what else to do, and she gestured expansively to the room.
“Sit. We have much to talk about.”
“Thanks.” Uncertainly, I took a seat on the edge of the sofa, afraid that if I really sat down on it I would break it or something.
Elora went back to the chaise lounge where she laid on her side, letting her dress flow around her. She held her head up with her hand and watched me with intense fascination. Her eyes were dark and beautiful, but there was something familiar about them in a weird way. They reminded me of an eagle’s eyes or wild animal trapped in a cage.
“I’m not sure if Finn has explained it to you, but I am your mother,” Elora said conversationally.
It was impossible. I wanted to correct her. There must be some mistake. Nothing as stunning and elegant as that could spawn me. I was clumsy and awkward and impulsive. Her hair was like silk, and as it had been pointed out to me before, my hair was like a Brillo pad. There was no way that I was related to her. There must’ve been an error somewhere along the lines.
“Ah. I see he did not,” Elora mused. “From your bewildered expression, I take it you don’t even believe me. But let me assure you, there is no mistaking who you are. I personally chose the Everly family for you and delivered you to them myself. Finn is the best tracker we have, so there is no way you could be anyone else but my daughter.”
“I’m sorry,” I stumbled out an apology. “I didn’t mean to question you.
I just…”
“I understand. You’re still used your to normal human way of being.
That will all change soon,” Elora promised. “Did Finn explain anything to you about Trylle?”
“Not really,” I admitted carefully, afraid that I might get him in trouble.
“I’m certain you have many questions, but let me explain everything to you, and if you still have questions, you can ask me when I’m done.” Elora had a coldness to her voice, and I doubted I’d ever be able to question her on anything.
“Trylle are, to the layman, a troll, but that term is antiquated and demeaning, and as you can tell, it doesn’t do us justice at all.” Elora gestured to the expanse of the room, all her grace and luxury, and I nodded. “We are merely beings closely related to humans, but more in tune with ourselves. We have abilities, intelligence, and beauty that far surpass that of the human, but we have much fewer numbers. We keep to ourselves and try to ensure our way of life.
“Our way of life is relatively simple. There is an order to how we do things,” Elora went on. “And I am ensured with the responsibility of keeping that order. Again, the term isn’t entirely right, but I am the Queen.” She paused letting me take it in. “Meaning you are the Princess.” I wanted to ask her a question or refute her but she held up her hand to silence me. “You are my only child, the last of my legacy.
“There are two important distinctions to our lifestyle as Trylle that separate us from the humans,” Elora continued. “We want to live a quiet life communing with the earth and ourselves. We work to strengthen our abilities and use them to better this life, to protect ourselves and the things around us.