Morning came to find Seren already awake and with their bed made. They were in the kitchen downstairs and flipping through cookbooks they found around the kitchen. Cooking wasn’t as easy as the books made it look. They were trying to find something simple that they could reasonably make, though even toast seemed more advanced than they thought.

  “What are you doing?” Eric asked as he walked into the kitchen, surprised to find them standing there.

  “Cooking. Or trying to.” Seren said. “It’s a lot more confusing than I thought.”

  “No better time to learn,” Eric agreed. He took the cookbook from Seren’s hands. “Everyone should know how to make the basics.” Seren stepped aside as they watched Eric with interest.

  “You cook?” They asked.

  “A little.” He said. “Out of necessity. Bring the eggs.” Seren nodded and brought out the carton of eggs to the stove. Eric cut four slices from the bread loaf. Sending Seren back to the icebox for the butter. They felt suddenly heavy as they brought the butter over. Their breath felt ice cold, and their face felt burning hot. Their eyes watered even though they felt nothing.

  “What happened?” Eric asked,

  “I don’t know.” Seren said. “I just got sad all of a sudden.”

  “About what?” Eric asked, turning and kneeling in front of them.

  “I don’t know.” Seren said. “I guess I thought about how.” Seren felt their throat close; they tried to push through it and keep talking but they couldn’t make their voice work.

  “How what?” Eric asked.

  “Dad and I used to cook like this.” Seren whispered. Eric nodded slowly.

  “If it’s distressing you don’t have to help,” Eric said, Seren shook their head.

  “No, I mean. I can get through this.” Seren said, trying to swallow their tears and move forward. Despite the tears streaming down their cheeks. Eric took the eggs from them and put them on the counter. In the next motion he picked Seren up and set them down on the counter next to the ingredients.

  “You’re okay,” he said simply. “It’s all okay.” Seren nodded, trying to remember how to breathe. They felt so small sitting on the counter. They kicked their legs a little as Eric started making a simple breakfast.

  “Scrambled eggs, okay?” Eric asked. Seren nodded. “Good, you’re making them.” Seren looked up in alarm. Eric handed them a bowl and a whisk.

  “Crack the eggs, add salt, pepper, and milk.” Eric said. Seren looked at the bowl, the instructions were vague, but it was clearly a test. They had been given all the ingredients and now they had to work out the amount. Seren hopped off the counter and puzzled out how many eggs they needed and cracked them into the bowl. Finding cracking eggs were a lot harder than they had imagined. While egg white ended up on the counters, no shells ended up in the mix. Then they put the eggs away and found the milk. Bringing it back and pouring in what seemed like a reasonable amount. Then came the seasonings. Which was their own confusion. How much of each was the right amount? Seren knew how much salt was too much, but they didn’t have a clue about the pepper.

  To see where the limit was, they tasted the pepper straight. They pulled a face, but with a better understanding they put the seasonings in. Then they whisked the contents of the bowl together. After all of it they put the bowl next to the stove where a plate of toast now waited.

  “Looks pretty good, now pay attention because this is the important part.” Eric said, he took the bowl of eggs and poured them into the buttered skillet. Seren watched intently as Eric directed them on how to make scrambled eggs. Learning that scrambling eggs was not just cracking a bunch of eggs into a skillet and stirring until cooked. But in the end, it produced a plate of silky scrambled eggs and toast. They sat together at the breakfast bar and ate.

  The tale has been illicitly lifted; should you spot it on Amazon, report the violation.

  “Everything’s so quiet.” Seren said.

  “Yeah, it’ll pick up again when the fae are gone.” Eric said. Seren felt cold; the temperature dropped in the warm kitchen. “Seren. You aren’t. You’re not.”

  “I’m fae. But not the bad kind.” Seren said numbly.

  “Yeah. Like the Queen. I’m sure there’s even lots of fae in the fae forests that are good just like you.” Eric said, seemingly oblivious to how cold the room was getting. “It’s like you aren’t even really fae. Cause you don’t look like fae.” Seren stood up.

  “I’m full.” Seren said and left the kitchen. An icy mist followed after them. They went upstairs to their room and flopped on the bed. The boredom of being cooped up in the house was starting to get to them, they were ready to try a puzzle or a coloring book. For now, they were content to just look at the ceiling and stew. The room appeared hazier and hazier as Seren stewed. Not even trying to hold back their fae power. It made the windows frost over and their bed stiffen. The doorbell rang and Seren sighed. Getting up off their bed and leaving their room. It didn’t occur to them right away that Eric was downstairs and available to answer the door. But it wasn’t like they had anything better to do. They paused at the center of the staircase as they saw Lord Spring pushing his way into the house. Still sporting the bruises that Seren left them with.

  Seren immediately shrunk down to hide behind the banister. They hadn’t changed into their day clothes or armed themselves and were now finding themself very vulnerable.

  “Where is he?” Lord Spring said as he looked in the halls and rooms available.

  “Who are you looking for?” Eric asked, very annoyed.

  “My enforcer! Last he was seen was here with the fae-trash!” Lord Spring turned abruptly on heel, finding himself face to face with Eric who was taller.

  “You will not speak about my child that way.” He said, quiet but serious as the grave. “Get out.”

  “My enforcer-”

  “Isn’t here now Go!” Eric yanked the front door open so suddenly it had Lord Spring flinching.

  “This isn’t over!” Lord Spring said, hastily leaving. “We all know they’re working with the fae! You can’t keep them hidden forever!” Eric slammed the door and locked it for good measure.

  “Seren. I know you’re there.” He said Seren stood up and walked down the rest of the staircase.

  “Kyi’s missing?” They asked.

  “It seems that way.” Eric said.

  “I didn’t know, I promise I have nothing to do wi-”

  “I know.” Eric interrupted their hasty defense. He looked tired and Seren couldn’t help thinking it was because of them.

  “I’m sorry.” Seren said.

  “It’s” Eric started to snap but stopped and took a deep breath. “Just go.” Seren stayed put for a moment before looking at the door. Eric didn’t stop them as they grabbed their shoes and went outside. After they shut the front door, they sat on the step and put their shoes on. Thinking to themselves as they did. They weren’t sure what they were going to do but Kyi disappearing left them feeling empty. The second person Seren had interacted with who had gone missing, presumably taken. Coincidence? Or was the fae following them after all?

  Their walk through the streets didn’t give them any answers, no one strange followed them though there were quite a few dirty looks being thrown their way. Seren tried to find comfort in the library. Looking through the stacks and finding people would immediately vacate whatever aisle they were in. Seren couldn’t focus on any books feeling more and more alone as they wandered the bookshelves. They saw a familiar and sympathetic face. Miss Alison, shelving books. Seren wandered up.

  “Anything interesting? They asked, looking over the books. Miss Alison looked up but her normally friendly face turned to a disgusted frown, and she abandoned the return cart and left. Seren clenched their fists hard. It was all unfair.

  Seren left the library, storming fast as if they had someplace to be. They stormed all the way to Mrs. Houper’s house where they knocked harder than they meant to. They were hesitant as Mrs. Houper opened the door. They waited, hoping she would be the same she always was, but they were fearful she wouldn’t be.

  “Serenity? Honey what is it?” She knelt to Seren’s level with the same motherly tenderness she’d always had. Despite themself, Seren burst into tears. “Oh! Honey, come on in. We’ll get something for you to drink. Come on, come on.” Mrs. Houper brought Seren inside and gave them a tissue to hold to their face to stop the tears and snot from getting everywhere. She brought them to the kitchen and sat them down, pouring a glass of water and putting it in front of them.

  “Tell me what’s the matter, I’m listening.” Mrs. Houper said gently.