Crystal

AFTER SUNSET ON THE CLOUDLESS night the temperature dropped. Chilled, Nicholas cared about nothing. Mother would have admonished him for being out without proper clothing, but mother was no longer alive. He lay on his back upon the grass beyond the dark lifeless farmhouse. His paralyzing grief unwilling to relent, he lay still staring up to the Milky Way. Motionless he wished to become as small as he could. He tried to lock his thoughts away so he would not feel. His arms out to his side, he raked his fingers through the grass, clutching the grass, hoping to become part of the earth. He did nothing to clear the grime from his lips, or the dirt clogged in his hair, or the tears swelling his eyes. If he thought enough, he could think his heart stone, and if he thought even harder, he could become stone. He envied the rocks rolling at his fingertips. Rocks were not alive. Rocks had no feelings.

“Nicholas.” A woman’s voice called. Her euphonious intonations, delicate, light and pleasing to the ear contrasted the feelings he battled. Was he dreaming, he thought? Nicholas pushed up on his arms. Searching, his eyes turned in the darkness, but were useless in the inky blackness. Starlight did little to illuminate his surroundings. He pushed back on knees and perched on his heels, eyes still searching the darkness.

Nicholas.” He thought he wanted to die when he heard his name. “Who is there? He asked, “Where are you?” he lay back to the ground and stared at the stars. “Nicholas, child of two worlds. Despair not. You are not alone. Everything happens for a reason.”

“Reason?” Nicholas said, tightening his jaws. “Whoever you are, my parents are dead. Do you hear me?” He whimpered, “and you…you spew out philosophical platitudes. Show yourself.” Although Nicholas would not stand, he searched but managed to find no one. “Who is there? Where are you? Please, show yourself to me. Do I know you?”

He waited but heard nothing further. He thought it might have been his imagination. Just topping the grass, he saw a glowing sapphire mist rolling toward him. Carrying the mist, a mild breeze abruptly stopped before him, where it whirled and stacked up. Nicholas heard the voice emanate from the mist. “We have not met, but you do know me. I am part of you.” “What are you talking about?” Nicholas said, “Everyone I love has been taken from me.” “Not everyone,” whispered the mist. It began to uplift and thicken further. The floating face of a woman began to form at the level of Nicholas’s eyes. “Who are you? And what do you want?” he muttered, turning his face away. “You said not everyone. Do not trifle with me. I warn you. I am unwell…” “Hello ‘Unwell.’ I am Crystal, your grandmother.” Whispered the voice, “I can help you, Nicholas.”

“Grandmother? I don’t understand.” He said glumly. “Both my grandparents…” he whimpered, thinking of his adoptive parents “and my birth parents are long dead, since I was an infant. An now so are my adoptive parents.” He said dolefully, glimpsing the cold, dark farmhouse. “How can I believe you? How can I believe anyone, anymore?” “Use your gift, Nicholas. Your heart will tell you if I speak the truth.” The mist wafted around Nicholas reaching his face. Materializing against his cheek, her hand affectionately wiped tears from his eyes. Formed from the most delicate iridescent ice crystals, the sapphire mist, assumed the features of the most beautiful woman Nicholas had ever seen. Throughout her body, the colors of the Aurora sparkled individually with increasing intensity as Crystal affectionately stroked Nicholas to comfort him. “You do not know how special you really are.” She uttered kindheartedly. “I would suppose I’m important enough…” He grumbled. “I mean to say you Nicholas are here because of love.” “My parents loved each other and me, I suppose. Is that what you mean?” Nodding, she continued. “In life I was the daughter of Lady Hydra.” “She is a powerful being.” Nicholas murmured. “I fell in love with a mortal.” She said. “As did my mother.” He said. “We were married and I had a daughter, Margaret; your mother. Although, you are not immortal, Nicholas, you do possess all the magic of the linking. “I know little of the linking or any magic I possess. My father said it is what relates and drives all living things. He knew those things.” Nicholas said, peering into her face. “But, what I do know is that I never knew you.”

“But, I you.” She said, smiling. “My mother, the great Lady Hydra, foretold of your destiny. She told of you to your mother in a vision, for she knew your mother would never see you grow up.” “Father Time showed me that.” Nicholas said. Crystal nodded, “Of that I am aware.” She pushed her ethereal face within inches of Nicholas’s. “With the help of the Powers That Be; you were given all the tools and support you need to restore the balance of the Aurora Kingdoms.”

“Rise.” Crystal said, placing her hands on Nicholas, she helped him to stand. The dulcet tones of her voice seemed to reassure and comfort him. Movement in his peripheral vision, upon the dark grass, darker shadows came to him. Nicholas turned his head. A throng of Oddlings came toward him. “Except the help and strength of all, your friends. All are part of you. We are here to guide and support you.”

Nicholas recognized many familiar faces, and some new ones. Beast, Ursa, and Ursara, stood beside Nicholas, accompanied by several more: Elves, Trolls, Gnomes, Centaurs, Minatare, Sprites, Pixies, Fairies and many other Oddlings. They seemed to come out of nowhere. Each Oddling bowed before Crystal, after which they began working together to clean up the area.