Lexy woke up to knocking at her door, she sat up and looked at the door.

“Coming.” She got dressed and then came to the door. She opened it to see Thokath,

“We have a flight to Dallas Texas.”

Lexy raised a suspicious brow, “Why?”

This only made Thokath smirk, “You have a competition to win.”

Lexy’s jaw dropped, “REALLY!”

Thokath nodded, “What are you waiting for, let's go.”

Lexy nodded and looked at the bow on her dresser, “Should I not grab my bow?”

Thokath shook his head, his smirk still present, “No, just come downstairs.”

Lexy raised a brow and went downstairs with him. Her eyes widened when she saw there on a table. A competition grade recurve bow with a leather quiver filled with black and red feathered arrows all set up in an open bow case.

She smiled ear to ear and hugged Thokath, “Thank you!” Tears of excitement pricked at the corners of her eyes.

Thokath chuckled while he patted her head, “The limo is at the front, get your stuff and put it in the trunk.

Lexy nodded and grabbed her new equipment. She opened the front doors to see the limo with its trunk open and most of all it was a beautiful day outside.

Lexy smiled hear from ear and placed her bow, arrows, glove, and quiver in. She looked over to the front doors to see Thokath walk out of the building with sunglasses on.

The driver quickly got out of the limo and opened the back door for the two. Thokath got in silently while Lexy got in and looked to the driver, “Thank you.”

The driver nodded and closed the door. Quickly he went to the driver's door, got in, and started the limo. Lexy looked to Thokath, “So, how did you know how heavy to set the string on my bow?”

Thokath took off the sunglasses his ruby gaze set on her, “The weight was listed on the trophies.”

Lexy blinked, “Oh, I forgot that, and Thokath I really appreciate this.”

Thokath nodded, “Of course.” his smile wavered, “By the way, the painting you saw in the storage room. It was from your mom and your dad. A lot of the family sends original paintings of the deceased to the family mansion.”o

Lexy, “How did you know I saw that painting? Also, how did you know it was my dad?”

Thokath shrugged, “I was there at the family reunion after they got married. It was painted then. We have not hosted many family reunions in a while.”

Lexy raised a brow, “Why?”

Thokath sighed, “Well, let's just say when your dad died it affected a lot of people.”

Lexy nodded and looked out the window to see they had reached the airport. She watched while they pulled into the drop-off. The limo parked and the driver rushed out to open the door. Thokath was the first to get out then Lexy.

Lexy went to the back of the limo and the trunk popped open. She took out her bow case and now she felt ecstatic to see an airport. The two went into the building and went through the procedure of getting to their flight. Till finally reaching the plane.

Lexy and Thokath took their seats. She tightened her grip on the arm of her chair when she heard the engines of the plane rev. She felt it take off and she let the breath she was holding out.

The flight wasn’t long, nothing important besides Lexy occasionally watching people stare at Thokath’s hair.

The plane eventually landed, Thokath and Lexy got off the plane. Lexy grabbed her luggage and got to the drop-off of the airport with Thokath to see another limo waiting for them. Lexy looked to Thokath, “You brought your limo with you?”

Thokath shook his head with a smile of amusement, “No, it’s just another limo that looks the same. There's a difference.”

Lexy raised a brow, “Right.”

The two got to the limo and the driver came to the trunk and popped it. The driver then opened the passenger seat for the two. Thokath got in silently while Lexy looked at them and was about to thank them when they spoke before she could, “No need to thank me miss” He paused and Lexy could swear his eyes changed to slits for a second, “It’s just my job.”

Lexy felt a shudder go down her spine and nodded, “Got it.”

She got into the car and the door closed. Thokath looked to the driver through the open window, “To 2041 South Walton Walker Blvd Dallas, TX 75211.”

The driver nodded, “Yes sir.”

Lexy felt the limo go and watched through the window with excitement as she looked at the buildings pass by. Till finally, they reached a large stadium with a huge parking lot. The parking lot was practically filled to the brim. Lexy raised a brow, “I've seen people this excited for a concert. Never this many for an archery competition.”

People were walking around to those just lounging near cars. The limo parked and Thokath looked outside of the vehicle. He narrowed his eyes and put on his sunglasses, “Lovely.”

Lexy was the first person to get out and she shuddered when the whole parking lot fell silent. People froze and set their gaze on her even if they were over ten cars away. Interest was keen in their eyes. Could my eyes be orange? Do people with the same eye color gather like this? Because every single person that was staring at her with intense interest all had haunting orange eyes. Lexy heard of aggressive competition before but this was a new level.

Thokath got out of the limo and their eyes widened. Those who were close gave out cries of distress and began to run. Until they got to a certain distance as if they couldn't stand to be too close.

Lexy raised a brow, “What the heck?”

Thokath put a hand on her shoulder, “Come on, head in the game. It’s competition time.”

Lexy nodded, “Got it!”

She went to the trunk and popped it, she pulled out her bow case. The two walked to the front of the stadium where other archers were checking in. Lexy noted how none of these people had haunting orange eyes. She looked to Thokath who seemed to have his gaze on them as well. But yet no one else noticed these masses of people. It was as if they weren't there for others. Lexy shrugged it off; it was best to focus on the competition.

It didn't take too long to get checked in, once Lexy entered the grassy null of the field she shook off any distractions and focused on archery.

Thokath watched her set up at her post and adjusted her bow. The driver came over and sat next to him. Thokath looked at him, “How many.”

The driver blinked as he looked to the other side of the stadium where there were those with haunting orange eyes gazing at them. Like a hoard of beasts lurking in the dark. “I'd say at least a battalion of the apostles' forces. They knew she was going to be here. It's no wonder why she sent Lexy to you and didn't let her come here.”

Thokath nodded, “At Least there wise enough to keep their distance.”

The driver chuckled, “They probably didn't expect you or they would have sent their whole army.”

The two changed their attention back to Lexy as they watched the competition begin. Lexy let out a deep breath, she let her muscles relax as she took her stance, loaded her bow and took aim then fired. She zoned out the fact that she competed. Her only focus was to ready, aim and fire.

There was no stress, just one arrow at a time. Every three arrows hit their mark. She lowered her bow to see how she did. All three looked to hit near the center. It was hard to tell from her distance.

She waited patiently till the next round, when it was time to shoot she repeated her process. Till the final round, she flinched when she heard her last arrow hit. It didn't have that satisfying thunk. No, there was a crunch and a thunk. She looked at her target with wide eyes, she had heard that sound very few times. That was the sound of a carbon arrow breaking another arrow.

She could see the broken half on the grass. The bright red sticking out like a sore thumb. She’s never had this happen before. Tension filled her, what if she gets docked points for breaking an arrow like that?

Lexy shuddered, she would be fine with winning anything at this point. She hung her head low as she watched the officials tally up the points. It wasn't long in reality but it felt like an eternity.

Till finally, they were announcing the results. First, they announced the cash prizes, then they announced the scholarships. She hadn’t heard her name yet til, “And the lucky archer who receives the grand prize scholarship. Is archer number twenty-eight. We will be sending all scholarships and cash prizes via mail.”

Lexy looked at her number and excitement filled her. It was number twenty-eight! People began to leave as fast as they got there. She felt her hair go on end and looked to the other side of the stadium where there were a bunch of people watching her. They gazed at every movement and breath.

She flinched when she felt a hand land on her shoulder. Lexy looked up to see Thokath, his gaze was not on her, however. She followed his gaze to see he was staring at a woman with light green hair and a black dress. Her gaze met Lexy’s and the woman smirked.

Thokath looked to Lexy, “Let’s go. You did well.”

Lexy smiled brightly as she looked to Thokath, “Only because you brought me here.”

Thokath nodded, “And I'm glad I did. You just won a thirty-five thousand dollar scholarship.”

The woman with green hair watched them leave and clenched her fists in anger, “How the hell did that wench convince HIM of all people to look after her child!?”

One of the men near her raised their hands in defense, “We don't know! Our intel was solid! It was supposed to be the child and her mother not.” He paused and shuddered, “Not him.”

She huffed, “Well then if he’s looking after the child. We need to rethink EVERYTHING.”

The man nodded, “Yes, Elvira.”

****

Lexy noticed how once they left the stadium and went to the airport there were none of those people with orange eyes. She isn't sure if that's good or bad. The trip back was relaxing, more people stared at Thokath’s hair on the flight. She doesn't blame them, it’s eye-catching.

On the drive to the mansion, she fell asleep. She vaguely remembers Thokath saying something. But that was it.

******

Lexy groaned when she sat up in her bed and rubbed her eyes. Lexy got out of bed and walked over to her dresser,

Lexy opened her dresser and pulled out a grey shirt, light blue hoodie, black shorts. Lexy slipped into her shorts.

She then pulled her grey shirt over her head and put it on. Lexy grabbed her light blue hoodie, zipped it up, and grabbed her goggles off the dresser. Lexy put on her goggles, and her quiver of arrows, her bow. She grabbed her father's knife and put it in her hoodie pocket and with that Lexy went to her bedroom door.

Lexy opened her bedroom door to see an empty hallway. Lexy turned to her left, went down the hall, and made her way to the main entrance room. From there she went to the dining room and grabbed an apple out of one of the baskets on the table. Lexy then walked to the garden and archery range while she ate at the apple.

Lexy expected to just see flowers and targets but no. Standing just where the garden met the forest was a young man.

The young man looked strange, to say the least. With his red-tipped purple hair, even his eyebrows and eyelashes are tipped red and change to purple. The young man had set emerald green eyes that went well with his bright green long sleeve shirt.

Lexy observed this young man for a moment. That was when Lexy noticed something else. He was crying.

Lexy blinked and walked over to him,

“What is wrong with you?”

The young man looked to her with a sad smile,

“I've never seen so many plants before.”

Lexy blinked, wrinkled her nose, and raised a brow. She expected him to say many things but not that. That was when she got a good look into his eyes and noticed that they were like a cat’s. Lexy took a step back.

“What is with your eyes?”

The young man tilted his head and gazed at her like she had two heads.

“Have you ever seen a wizard or a tri-blood before?”

The two stared at each other for a long moment in confusion and Lexy decided to change the subject,

“Uh ok then, but why are you here?”

The young man blinked and his sadness was replaced with determination.

“I'm here looking for a dandelion. It’s a really rare flower and I really need it.”

Lexy went from confused to dumbfounded as she turned to the archery range and saw at least twenty of the weeds.

“Uh, you haven't looked that hard. There are literally like twenty right over there. Plus there are weeds. You could take a rose from the garden or a lily. Those are far more pretty than a dandelion.”

The boy’s eyes sparkled with hope and he looked to her,

“A weed? Then could I take some?”

Lexy raised a brow,

“uh, take as many as you like. They are considered weeds.”

The boy smiled brightly and hastily rushed over to grab a handful. He then looked to Lexy with the flowers,

“Thank you so much.”

Lexy nodded,

“uh sure but question what are the flowers for?”

The boy frowned,

“Well, I need them because my mom got sick and she needs dandelions for tonsillitis. It’s gotten pretty bad.”

Lexy wrinkled her nose,

“Tonsillitis? Is that like tonsil stones on steroids?”

The boy nodded,

“kind of imagine if your whole throat was swelling up and infected while you had a fever.”

Lexy’s eyes widened and smiled,

“Well, then how about this. I pick some, come with you and then you have twice the medicine. For your mom. By the way, my name is Lexy.”

The boy smiled brightly,

“Calum, my name is Callum Dustwalker and it would be amazing if you could help me.”

Lexy nodded and picked two handfuls of dandelions and turned back to Callum,

“So you live out of the veil right?”

Callum’s eyes widened and nodded,

“Yeah, I do. I can bring us there.”

Lexy smiled,

“Onward to Medicine!”

Calum smiled back and guided Lexy through the forest. They eventually reached the area Lexy had encountered Alcore and frowned. Callum looked at what she was staring at and his eyes widened as he stared at the disheveled area.

Callum looked to Lexy,

“Can you see it?”

Lexy’s eyes widened, “you can?”

Callum’s expression went to shock,

“How can you see it?”

Lexy frowned and shifted her weight from one foot to another,

‘Well the first time I went into the forest here I encountered a guy named Alcore who was being attacked. Then I ended up falling through something called the veil and now I'm stuck with this on my arm.”

Lexy pulled up the sleeve hiding the rebellion crest.

Callum’s once shocked expression changed to concern,

“Did you join them?”

Lexy shook her head,

“no, I didn't”

Callum brows furrowed,

“How many days since?”

Lexy raised a brow in confusion to the sudden question,

“How many days since what?”

Callum huffed,

“How many days since you encountered them?”

Lexy frowned not quite liking Callum’s worried tone,

“It was yesterday.”

Callum cursed under his breath and looked to Lexy,

“ok, what do you know about the veil?”

Lexy furrowed her brows,

“It’s an alternate reality that we are currently in, that’s about it.”

Callum glanced around frantically as if he was looking for a monster coming for him,

“Yes and no, imagine you go through a gate, once you go to another site that’s it you're not supposed to go back through that gate. If you travel between the two the guards of that gate come for you.

Some people know how to travel back and forth without problems. The rebels are typically fine from what I've seen. So we shouldn't have to worry. But in case we -”

Callum was cut off by the sound of footsteps and the sky changed to dark green. Callum’s eyes widened,

“Damn it!”

Lexy’s eyes widened as she heard the footsteps all around. Until she saw a group of people surrounding her and Callum.

They all looked the same, they had black short hair. Their bodies were covered up with large black cloaks. Their faces were covered with masks in the shape of a circle. The masks had only two thin eye slits that had black outlines.

Callum quickly grabbed Lexy and ran. The masked people hissed and began to chase the two. Lexy watched as things flew by and Calum reached a clearing in the forest.

Quickly Callum set Lexy down and then reached down to his shadow. Lexy watched in awe when Callum pulled a sword from his shadow. Lexy quickly put on her quiver and loaded her bow.

Callum turned his gaze to Lexy,

“One hit, then they disappear.”

Lexy nodded and watched when the masked man came into view from the trees. Quickly she aimed and released an arrow. She watched in awe when the masked figure disintegrated into smoke.

Lexy continued to take aim and fire while Callum took care of ones that got too close. Lexy quickly ran out of arrows and looked to Callum with wide eyes,

“I'm out of arrows!”

Callum looked to the surrounding forest to see how many were left. To see one standing there.

It stared at Callum and hissed,

“You fool, you know not the sinner you protect.”

The figure disappeared and the sky went back to blue.

Callum sighed and put his sword back into his shadow.

“that should scare them off for now.”

Lexy looked to him with wide eyes,

“for now? Also, how can you do that?”

Callum scratched the back of his neck,

“I know about them because I go into the veil occasionally. Those things don't like people going in and out at will. They won't come back until the next twenty-four hours or if you do another veil hop. To how I did that. I'm a triblood.”

Lexy wrinkled her nose and raised a brow. She took a moment to look at his ears and noticed how pointed they were.

“You say that like it answers everything. So elves can do magic?”

Callum nodded,

“Yes we can, there are wizards too.” Callum paused and took in Lexy’s confusion.

“Wait, do you not know all the bloodlines?”

Lexy tilted her head

“bloodlines?”

Callum sighed “oh you know the great seven tribes? How about the great goddess and the monster islands? Any of that rings a bell?”

Lexy shook her head.

Callum groaned,

“Of course not. Alright let me get these dandelions to my mom and then I know what I'm giving you.”

Lexy smiled,

“onward, to medicine!”

Callum smiled and pulled out Lexy’s arrows and handed them to Lexy. Lexy took the arrows and put them in her quiver.

Callum put a hand on Lexy’s shoulder and Lexy watched in awe as they sank into the shadows and rose in a suburban area. Only with cobblestone houses with tiled roofs.

Callum looked to Lexy,

“My mom is this way.”

Lexy nodded and followed Callum to a large brick house with tall cactuses around it. Callum walked up to the door and opened it. The house was nice, there was flour wallpaper pasted onto the walls with stone flooring.

Callum led Lexy to the kitchen where a girl was. This girl had hair exactly like Callum’s and it was pulled back into a neat bun. She had glasses on while she also had a simple black and green dress.

She flinched upon seeing Callum,

“Callum, what have I told you? Don't-” she cut herself off once she saw the flowers,

“Callum, where did you get that many flowers?”

Callum huffed,

“Does it matter right now Niph? Mom is sick!”

Niph sighed,

“I suppose you're right. Help me make the medicine.”

Callum nodded and looked to Lexy,

“Could you help?”

Lexy smiled and nodded,

“sure!”

Niph looked to Lexy with a raised brow,

“Who are you?’

Lexy smiled

“My name is Lexy. I gave Callum the flowers.”

Niph frowned and shook her head,

“Whatever I need you to do is take the flowers and cut the blooms off. Put the blooms in a bowl and I'll dry them and grind them up.”

Lexy nodded and had begun to help Callum cut the flower blooms off. Once all the flower tops were all cut off, Lexy watched when Niph pulled out a stone bowl and put the blooms inside. Lexy then watched in awe when Niph raised her hands and pulled water out of the blooms. The girl continued to do this until the blooms were shriveled up.

Lexy looked to Niph with her jaw dropped,

“Wow, water magic!”

Niph raised a brow,

“Have you never witnessed magic before?”

Lexy shrugged,

“Never seen water magic. But yes I have seen some magic.”

Niph raised a brow as she filled a pan with water from a large jar and put it on a stove that was holding glowing red stones. She glanced at Lexy,

“So what house are you from?”

Lexy raised a brow back at Niph,

“Houseline, what's a house line?”

Niph’s eyes widened and huffed while she eyed Lexy’s appearance,

“Well aren't you a load of the dark.”

Lexy tilted her head,

“what does that mean?”

Niph furrowed her brows and her expression turned into one of distaste,

“It means you're a load of trouble like the dark apostles.”

Lexy scrunched her nose,

“What are the dark apostles?”

Niph’s jaw dropped and she looked to Callum who also tilted his head,

“yeah, who are the dark apostles?”

Niph fell silent and turned to the boiling water. She pulled a stone cup from one of the cupboards and poured the hot water in. She then added the dried leaves into the cup of hot water.

Niph sighed,

“I think you should know. Considering how you look. They're one of the two big religions around here. The dark apostles and the white sword church. The dark apostles believe that Orien is the true god, while the white sword church believes the same thing about the goddess Tethys. The Dark apostles are more violent than the white sword.”

Lexy frowned,

“What do you mean how I look?”

Niph looked to the finished tea,

“It doesn't mean much, besides I'm going to bring this to my mom. You can go play with Callum or something. Just head home before the afternoon wind.”

Lexy tilted her head,

“What’s the afternoon wind?”

Niph huffed,

“the afternoon dust storm, yeash don't you know anything?”

Niph then took the tea and left the room.

Callum looked to Lexy,

“it may be better if I brought you to your home before the afternoon winds. They can be really harsh on those who aren't built for it.”

Lexy nodded,

“yeah, Thokath will be home at noon anyway.”

Callum nodded and put his hand on her shoulder. Yet again Lexy couldn't help but watch in awe as they sunk into the shadows and raised back in the forest.

Callum leaned down to his shadow and pulled out a thick book. Callum handed the book to Lexy,

“That will answer a lot of questions. To what attacked. That was the warden. But this is also to thank you for the flowers.”

Lexy looked at the sun and saw it was at least a few hours from setting. Lexy looked back to Callum and smiled.

“I'll read some while you're here and then you can leave me at the mansion.”

Callum smiled,

“Well then, I think I would like to just sit here for a bit, and yeah I can just take us through a shadow when we need to.”

Lexy set down her bow and sat down on the grass. Callum looked at Lexy while he sat down next to her.

Lexy opened the book Callum handed her. Lexy opened the book to a random page to see an illustration of a creature that had the head and back legs of a deer but had the front legs of a bird. It also had very large wings that matched its peacock tail feathers.

Lexy looked at the text to see it was written in a strange language. Lexy looked to Callum and raised a brow,

“how am I supposed to read this?”

Callum looked to her,

“Oh right, sorry my bad I forgot the sight glass.”

Callum reached into his shadow and pulled out a circular piece of glass that had wooden riming. Callum placed the item on the page.

Lexy watched in awe as the text on the page rearranged itself to English. She read the title above the illustration and read,

“Peryton steed of the sky.”

Callum looked to the page and smiled,

“Peryton? Really pretty. But they don't like being looked in the eyes. They will see it as a challenge.”

Lexy looked to him and returned the smile,

“I will have to take your word on that. What’s their fur like?”

Callum hummed,

“The best way I can describe it is that it's like petting a duck. Smooth and soft.”

Lexy looked back to the book and turned the page. This page had an animal that had the head and back legs of a horse. While its front legs were tiger legs.

Lexy looked to the label that was above the illustration,

“Tiger horse.”

Lexy then looked to the other page that had info about the Tiger horse and turned the page to see one of the creatures that attacked Alcore on the page that were labeled as Drakes.

Lexy pointed to them and looked to Callum,

“I've seen those before.”

Callum looked to the picture of the Drake,

“Oh, really?”

Lexy frowned,

“Yeah, they were trying to kill the rebel that caused me to slip out of the veil.”

Callum nodded and the two sat there for a while. Lexy looked through the book while Callum enjoyed the peace.

Lexy looked to the sun’s lower place in the sky and closed the book.

“Are you going to come back tomorrow?”

Callum smiled,

“Yeah, besides who is going to help you with the warden? If you keep vail hoping you won't have to worry about it and my mom might need more flowers.”

With that Callum put a hand on Lexy’s shoulder. Lexy watched in awe as they sunk into a shadow and raised back in another shadow of a tree near the mansion.

Thereby the mansion was a limo and Callum looked to Lexy,

“So does this mean we're friends?”

Lexy smiled,

“Of course I will see you tomorrow.”

Callum nodded and sunk into the shadows.

Lexy watched him leave and went into the mansion. One of the maids looked at her.

“Will you be having dinner?’

Lexy shook her head,

“No, I'm heading to bed if you don't mind.”

The maid nodded and with that Lexy went to her bedroom to see the book Callum had given her waiting for her on her dresser. Lexy smiled and went to bed.