Eiler loved dusk, a magical moment in an otherwise common passing of hours. The last fleeting colors of sunset streaked pink and burgundy across the sky. Entranced, she sat on the deck enjoying every nuance of the change. A chill breeze lifted her hair, and she pulled her sweater tightly around her body. More than sunset, she adored the fall. The crisp change from sweltering summer, leaves resplendent in hues of gold and red, October was her favorite month. Taking it all in, she hoped she could reproduce the colors on her next painting.

Soft scuttling under the boards beneath her feet drew her attention from the gorgeous display overhead. Must be a cat. Meaning to enclose the base of the deck during the summer, she had put it off to finish painting the trim and repair the garage door. Erika teased her about a chance to paint anything delayed more practical tasks. Oh well, there was always next spring.

The soft clatter of disturbed stones disclosed stealthy movements below. Darn animals. Well kept pets were one thing, but strays always brought problems. Only two days ago, some animal, probably a dog, had overturned her garbage can and left a horrendous mess. Then, yesterday, something killed one of the beautiful finches that sang to her from the cherry tree every morning. Grieving the loss, she buried the poor, mangled thing in a small tissue box beneath the roses. Erika didn't think that was going overboard; she was sad, too.

The scraping returned, a brisk rustle and clack of stones in the gravel beneath the deck. Curious, she stepped lightly across the boards and tried to see what it was. Unfortunately, the deck had been constructed to allow only a small gap between the planks. With the deepening shadows of evening, only darkness was visible. A brief flash of reflected light startled her. Greenish-gold and spaced about two inches apart, she figured they must be the eyes of a cat.

"Shoo!" Probably the marauding predator that killed the bird, she stomped the boards to scare it away. "Get out of here!"

Expecting a scrambling retreat, only still silence responded. Strange. She got down on her hands and knees to have a closer look. The cat must have slipped away, there was no further signs of it. Maybe it went out the other side and she missed it. Cats could be quite stealthy.

"Eiler? What are you doing?" Her sister called from the doorway, a grinning smirk on her face. "Looking for gold or just a lost contact?"

Standing, she dusted off her hands. Erica loved to tease, and being the older sister, often jabbed her with almost motherly sarcasm. Now that Eiler was twenty-one, their four year age difference didn't seem as much. "I think a cat got under the deck, probably what killed the finch."

"Well, chase it off. Better yet, call Animal Control and tell them we have a nuisance."

Why was it her job to call? As always, this sort of mundane task fell upon her shoulders. Eiler did far more to keep up the house, fixing leaks, painting, repairing broken fixtures. Erica rarely took on more than the dishes or dinner. Her striking beauty probably got her the job as executive secretary for the corporate C.E.O, too. Eiler's position as a lowly file clerk at the County Courthouse hardly compared. Maybe she felt inadequate and tried to make it up by being more responsible for things around the home. Being so opposite in character, living with her sister had been an exercise in compromise. Both needed their space, but also stability.

Even their names spoke of the difference, not that their parents had known there would be such. Erika conjured up visions of the beautiful heroine romance novels revolved around, while Eiler seemed a practical label, meant for one destined to make something of her life from more tangible means.

A disastrous engagement to a philanderer had jaded Erika to any lasting relationship with a man. Eiler hoped this was only temporary. At twenty-five, her sister was a true beauty, tall and blond with a sweetness and honesty that was hard to find. She just needed time to heal wounds inflicted by someone who didn't appreciate how special she was. Eiler was never jealous of her sister. With dark blond hair and less than exquisite features, this never bothered her. Having a beauty for a sister inspired her to find her own special quality, and that was painting.

Unfortunately, Eiler's trek into a solitary life had been fraught with financial woes. There had been months where she had less than ten dollars for food after the bills were paid. Living on peanut butter sandwiches, the reality of a dismal future as a starving artist crashed in on her. Thrown together by circumstances meant to help them both, they made a complimentary, if quirky existence. Erika allowed her to paint and express herself while paying the bills, and Eiler took on the job of keeping up the home and contributing what she could. The rattle of stones beneath her feet drew her attention back to the cat.

She glanced down. Right between the boards at her feet was the greenish glow of eyes. She stomped the boards, but the eyes only blinked. A bit unnerved, she leaned over for a closer look. The eyes blinked again and in that brief moment, Eiler shivered, her skin crawling with a sudden fright. The eyes were now spaced too far apart to be just a cat. It seemed odd, just moments ago they were much closer. Could there be more than one animal under the deck? A raccoon, perhaps a family of them?

Their house sat on top of a tree-covered hill and wild animals often visited. Purchased the spring before, she loved the location, right on the edge of the incorporated township, no close neighbors, lots of space. The back yard would need some work next spring, a fairy ring of mushrooms had grown right in the center. That, and the "fixer-upper" condition of the house, had made the property a steal. Auctioned at an Estate Sale at thousands of dollars less than other home in the area, the previous owners had passed away and the family wanted a quick sale. Only a few people knew of the bargain. Eiler heard about it at the Courthouse and recognized the value immediately. With the small inheritance they had received from their grandfather, it seemed predestined for them to buy. Erica considered the remoteness a drawback, but to Eiler, it was much safer up here away from all the hurry and crowding below.

Well, it seemed safer. Right now Eiler was spooked, and she wished she had a neighbor to help her. Scott Farleigh was the closest, about a half-mile away. Maybe she should call him and ask to come check this out. He had a shotgun, too.

She glanced up at the sky, nearly dark. How much could be accomplished this late? The animals might be gone by morning anyway. Another tentative look at the eyes showed them glowing brighter in the deepening shadows. Whatever it was, it did not seem afraid of her, not one bit. Skin crawling with goosebumps, she stepped back, out of sight of those creepy eyes. Unnerved, she turned to go back inside, hoping that by daybreak things would be back to normal. A sharp gasp escaped her. Two more sets of eyes gazed up through the gap that had been behind her moments before. One pair was closely spaced, the other had eyes so large only a slash of the middle shown through the planks.

Frightened and unable to decide what to do, she froze. It took a moment to calm herself enough to think. Whatever was under the deck couldn't get to her since they were beneath the boards, she reasoned. Summoning courage, she leapt over the glowing eyes and scrambled to the door, slamming it behind her. Air wheezed in and out of her in frightened gasps. Had she really seen, in that brief flash as she jumped, what she thought she saw?

A tiny clawed hand had shot up and raked the air as her feet passed over. No, it couldn't have been. Being frightened can make you see things, and being nearly dark, the shadows and her own movement must have played a trick on her eyes.

"What in the world are you doing?"

Startled, Eiler jerked and nearly screamed. "Don't do that!" Erika's pretty face contorted with surprise.

"Do what?"

"Sneak up on me. I just had a major scare out on the deck. Something is under it, a whole bunch of somethings."

"Oh for Pete sake, it's probably a family of cats moved in for the winter. It is getting colder, you know."

Erika always dismissed things before she got all the facts, and right now Eiler was in no condition to explain further. Tea would help calm her down. Her hand shook as she adjusted the flame under the teakettle. As she lifted the bone china cup with matching saucer from the cupboard, her jangled nerves sent it clattering.

"You really are spooked, aren't you?"

"Yes. I was so scared I froze out there." She took a teabag of Earl Gray from the canister by the stove and plopped it in the cup.

"Here," Eric rested her hand on Eiler's shoulder. "You sit down and let me get your tea. While you're collecting yourself, you can tell me what happened to scare you so bad."

After a few sips of the soothing brew, she told her sister about her encounter. Erica seemed puzzled, but not frightened, the dark blue of her eyes unemotionally focussed on the window overlooking the deck.

"Hmmm. Your mind can play tricks on you, especially at dusk. Nothing looks the same. If you ask me, the shadows just before dark can be downright spooky. I'll get a flashlight and we'll both go out. We better put your fears to rest or you'll have a terrible time going to sleep thinking the Boogy Man is under the deck."

As always, Erica was right. Her skin still crawled with the sensation that something weird was out there. Although she wasn't too keen on going back out, she said, "Okay."

She slipped into her jacket and zipped it all the way up. Following Erica, she stayed close, nerves jangling, eyeing the shadows by the steps. Armed with a big flashlight that took four batteries, Erica played the beam across the deck. The light it produced was amazing. A gasp slipped from Eiler as it briefly illuminated something protruding up between the planks. Erica quickly centered the beam back on the spot.

"Oh, see? It's only a twig that got stuck between the slats. The wind is making it move."

Sure enough, it was nothing more than a little stick rocking back and forth in the chilly October gusts. Relief flooded her and she laughed. "Geez! I feel so silly. Scared by a piece of wood." She glanced down. No eyes, either. Now she really felt dumb. Sometimes an artistic imagination can be carried away by the simplest of things. She bent over and pulled the misleading object from its resting-place, then tossed it over the fence.

"Looks like your cats are gone, too." Erika turned the flashlight down to shine between the decking. "There's no sign of them."

"Good. I feel much better. Thanks for being so cool."

"No problem, that's what big sisters are for. Now, let's go inside, it's cold out here."

***

Three days passed and nothing out of the ordinary happened on her evenings out on the deck, although she did spend less time out when it got closer to dark. To fill those minutes, she started a new painting, an autumn landscape, and was pleased with the unfolding results. A field with corn stalks, a couple pumpkins, and, of course, a gorgeous fall sunset. Halloween was less than a week away, so the work seemed appropriate.

"You should have started that sooner," Erika said, always practical. "You could have sold it already."

"There's always next year. Besides, I may just keep it."

Erika rolled her eyes. "We could make our house a gallery. You've covered almost every wall!"

With a shrug, she went back to painting. The field needed something else. Thinking of the mushrooms in the yard, she quickly mixed a tiny bit of burnt umber with titanium white, then began dabbing the caps into a fairy ring. Perfect. The scene was taking on a magical quality, just what she wanted to capture.

After working for another hour, she glanced at the clock. It was getting late. Although still in need of work, the painting would have to wait. The tang of turpentine filled her nose as she cleaned the brushes. With a sigh, she shut off the light and went to bed.

Some time after midnight, she was awakened from a light sleep by a sharp clink on her window. Groggy, she sat up and cocked her head, listening. Had she dreamed it? There it was again. Like a pebble being tossed against the pane, or hail. Slipping into her robe, she gingerly crossed the carpet in her bare feet. Another brief tick made her slow as she approached the window. The curtain was drawn. In the darkened room, she could barely see her hand as it reached out.

"Eiler?"

She jumped even though she recognized Erika's voice. Irritated, she shot a harsh, whispered, "What?" in the direction of the door and turned.

"Something strange is going on outside."

Her voice was low, but she sounded scared. "I heard something being thrown against the window. Is that what you're talking about?"

"Yes, I heard that, too. But there's more. Look."

She tiptoed across the room, then slowly drew back the curtain only an inch or two. Eiler stepped closer and peered out over her sister's shoulder. From the upstairs window, the night sky was clear, stars winked and twinkled around a sliver of moon. Below, the entire back yard was cloaked in shadow, bushes and trees mere amorphous blobs. In the yard, the fairy ring of mushrooms glowed a soft greenish white. Blood pounded in her ears as she noticed shapes moving in the center of the ring.

"What is that?"

Another clink against the pane startled Erika and she let go of the curtain. "I don't know."

"The mushrooms are glowing. Do you think it's swamp gas or something?"

"I guess it could be. But what is out there?"

The moving shadows. "Maybe the cats came back?"

"I don't think so. Let's go downstairs to your studio. We can get a better look from there."

The familiar walls of the hallway were comforting as they headed for the stairs. Whatever was outside was something... unnatural. A shiver rippled through her as she followed Erika down. When she got to the doorway of the studio, Erika stopped abruptly and let out a gasp. Eiler stepped next to her and was stunned. Her landscape was glowing just like the fairy ring outside. The ring of mushrooms gave off the same greenish glow, the sunset a dark, brooding suggestion above the corn stalks.

"What's going on?" Erika whispered.

Unable to answer, Eiler walked into the room. Beyond the painting, the uncurtained window mirrored the glow from outdoors. Stepping closer, she saw movement within the circle of luminescence. Small bodies of various shapes and sizes cavorted in the glimmering light. A sharp click as something struck the window made her draw back in fear the unearthly creatures would see her.

"What are those things?" Erika gripped her arm and pointed.

"Fairies? Sprites?"

"That's crazy."

"What else would you call them?"

"Then, what are they doing? Why are they here?"

Curiosity overwhelmed her. When another clink rattled against the pane, she crept up to the corner of the window and peeked out. Although the light was dim, the shapes were partially visible when they got close to the mushrooms. Something like a tiny troll, long hair in a braid, a leather jerkin covering its potbelly, spun in a circle then threw something into the air. Another creature, smaller and whip-thin dashed to the edge of the ring and caught whatever was thrown. As it drew closer to the mushroom, a lizard-like face with glowing eyes, reminiscent of what Eiler had seen under the deck, turned toward the house. Almost to quick to see clearly, the goblin spun, then hurled what he caught. It ricocheted off the window and another beast leapt to catch it. This one hovered for a moment, and Eiler realized it had wings.

"Are you believing this?" Erika asked.

"It looks like they're playing some sort of game."

"Do you think they're dangerous?"

The sharp fangs on the lizard-goblin made that a real possibility. "Maybe. But if we don't disturb them, they might leave us alone."

Very faint, the sound of tinkling laughter carried through the window. She watched as the mysterious game continued. Bursts of laughter were followed by short hoots of triumph. An occasional glimpse of a creature either made her skin crawl, or delighted her. The tallest was maybe two feet, the smallest hardly the size of a finch. Some were ugly, plodding beasts, misshapen, grotesque. Others seemed nearly angelic, beautiful creatures with shimmering wings that reflected the greenish glow in a flash of iridescence. Regardless of their size or appearance, they all played their sport with equal enthusiasm. And their eyes. When they looked at the house, she saw a glittering, blinking field. Eiler thought they must know they were being watched, but the gathering seemed oblivious to their presence, completely caught up in the play. It wasn't until the sky began to change from black to deep cerulean, did the game end with a grumbling sigh.

Eiler glanced at the clock. Four a.m. The throng of competitors disbursed. The twinkling of their eyes scattered across the yard and disappeared into the woods.

"Wonder where they go during the day?" Erika said, her voice pensive.

"Probably camp out under the deck." She shivered as she remembered that tiny arm. Was it likely they had planted the twig there to throw her off? A glance at the landscape showed the light fading, like the ring outside. "Magic."

"Huh?"

"I said, magic. There is some sort of magic here."

"I never would have believed this if I hadn't seen it myself. Yes, magic."

Erika continued to look out the window, a mesmerized expression on her face. Always the logical one, this probably was quite a shock to her. Eiler's imagination made the encounter a bit less shocking, more ideas for her paintings. Maybe it was a dream? She reached over and pinched Erika's arm.

"Ouch! What did you do that for?" As she rubbed her arm, she started to giggle. "No I'm not dreaming, either."

"Aren't you scared? Shocked? Mystified by the whole thing?"

"Yes, I am. This was the most fantastic thing I've ever seen, but somehow I feel privileged, special. Whatever those things are, we experienced something that few people have ever seen. Makes you wonder about stories of fairies and such."

It was possible, no; probable that tales of sprites and forest spirits came from actual encounters. "Why here, though? If we lived in England or Germany, it seems more likely. Folklore about these creatures grew out of those cultures. We're in Oregon. That's pretty far from the Old Country."

Erika shrugged and continued to gaze out the window. "Who knows why. Gee, do you think they'll be back?"

"I hope not. I'm going back to bed. I'll be a wreck for work tomorrow if I don't get a couple hours sleep."

***

Maybe she was exhausted from being up late the night before then working all day, but Eiler went to bed early and slept until the alarm woke her at seven. She went downstairs and found Erika already up. A fresh pot of coffee filled the kitchen with its wonderful aroma.

"You're up early. Thought you had today off."

"I do, haven't been to bed yet."

"Don't tell me... they were back?"

"Yes, only there were more of them."

"You're kidding. I slept like the dead, didn't hear a thing."

"They didn't play catch, instead they danced. There was music, too. Some of the fairies played instruments. It was heavenly."

There was something in Erika's voice that she didn't like. She seemed too caught up in whatever was going on, almost like she was hypnotized by it all. "Are you okay?"

"Silly." She patted her hand then got up for more coffee. "I'm fine, just thrilled by our tiny guests."

Guests? As far as she knew, they were uninvited. Her attitude was far from her usual practical and logical. Was her sister somehow bewitched by their magic? "Maybe you should stay away tonight. We have no idea what's going on and it might be dangerous to get involved."

"Yes, mother."

She giggled and slopped coffee on the table. Not bothering to wipe it up, she sipped and gazed out the window. After a moment, she started humming a tune Eiler had never heard before. This was not like Erika at all. What was wrong with her?

"You better get some rest, you're acting, well, wierd."

As if she hadn't heard, Erika continued to hum as she got up, then wandered out of the room. Eiler followed her to the studio. An oilcloth covered her landscape. Good. The less to remind her the better. When Erika got to the window she stopped and traced her finger over the glass. A contented sigh slipped from her.

"Erika? You really should go to bed, you're acting punchy."

Without turning around, she giggled then said, "I'm fine. I've got some things I want to do yet."

"Okay, but give yourself a break. I'll be home around five-thirty."

She left Erika in the studio and went to work.

***

The house was dark when she got home. Upstairs, she found Erika fast asleep, one arm thrown over her eyes. She must have been busy all day and just gone to bed. She hoped she would sleep through the night. Whatever magic was taking place outside was something both of them should respect and leave be.

After a light dinner, she went to the studio to work on the landscape. Intending to obliterate the fairy ring and put in a wooden cart with fall flowers and vegetables, she drew back the oilcloth.

"Hey!" Someone had painted tiny figures in the fairy ring. So, this was what Erika had been up to all day. She leaned closer and was surprised to see how good the work was. Doubting she could have done as skillfully herself, she admired the nearly exact duplication of the magical creatures she had seen two nights before. Erika was a good artist, but her medium was usually pencil or charcoal. Oil paints seemed out of her reach, the colors hard to grasp. Using only pencil, she had an uncanny ability to create light and shadow that had a depth of reality Eiler herself had trouble matching in oils. This was amazing. Somehow, she had finally made the leap.

Probably her deep fascination with the creatures had helped. Perhaps they produced an inspiration, a way of touching a part of her that only a shock could reveal. Eiler sighed. How could she paint over this? To do so would be an insult to her sister's newfound ability. Coming from an artistic family, she knew better than to mess with someone else's work, even if Erika had made the blunder herself.

Another painting was what she should do. Covering the first, she began to imagine a new setting, something that captured the autumn but without the taint of fairy magic. Mountains, that was it. Craggy range, gorgeous fall sunset behind, perfect. She grabbed a canvas and started sketching out her idea.

She missed her usual evening on the deck and worked well into the night. Just before twelve, she quit, exhausted and ready for bed. Before going upstairs, she checked outside and was relieved to see no glow from the fairy ring. Perhaps whatever they were doing was over with. Erika was asleep when she peeked in, and so as not to disturb her, carefully closed the door. It took only a moment, and Eiler dropped off into a deep, dreamless sleep.

***

Erika had a pot of coffee ready when Eiler got downstairs. "Smells great. How did you sleep last night?"

"Like a lamb."

"Great." Unwilling to confront her about the painting, she decided to let it go for now. Probably would be better to keep her mind on other things. "Halloween is only two days away, do you thing we should get some candy? Maybe a pumpkin or two?"

She wrinkled her nose. "Oh, gee, probably not. We're out of the way up here. Most kids will go for the neighborhoods with lots of homes. There are only two on this road besides ours, so I doubt we'll get any trick or treaters at all."

Practical to the end, Eiler laughed. "You're right, as always. I'd still like some candy, though. Just in case."

"Yeah, right. You'll eat all of it yourself."

"Au contraire! I will definitely give you a couple pieces."

Erika giggled. "Okay, Miss Piggy, go ahead. But get something good, like those little chocolate bars. Hmmm... and some lemon drops."

"Yuck! Why them?"

"I dunno. Just sounds good to me."

"Those you can have all to yourself."

***

On her way home, she stopped by the market and picked up the candy. The clerk, slightly overweight with a terrible complexion, ran the chocolate over the scanner, then gave her a funny look when she grabbed the lemon drops.

"You can't give those out to kids 'cause they ain't wrapped," she chided.

She paid the pimple-faced cashier. "I know. These are for my sister."

She rolled her eyes. "Old people like those disgusting things. Personally, I think they are too sour."

"Everyone to their own tastes." Irritated by the uninvited comments, Eiler snatched the sack from the counter. It wasn't so much what the girl said, but how she said it, scornful, as if she was buying a sack of dog poop. Before she thought better of it, she said, "Looks like you prefer highly sugared snacks with lots of fat."

A brief, startled look of shock passed over her face, then went back to her previous bland disinterest. She shrugged. "Better than pixie offerings."

Taken aback, Eiler asked, "What do you mean?

Already ringing up the purchases of the woman behind her, the girl said, "Aw, everyone knows you give pixies lemon drops to keep them from hexing you."

Before she could ask more about the strange comment, the woman behind her harrumphed and Eiler moved out of her way. The cashier went on about her work, oblivious to Eiler's disquiet. Was there a connection between Erika wanting lemon drops and the strange goings-on in the yard? She hoped not. Her sister always preferred candy on the tangy side, Sweet-tarts, sour balls, so this was probably just a coincidence.

Dismissing her concern, she drove home. As she turned the corner and motored up the steep hill towards there home, she noticed the glorious colors of the leaves reflecting the sunset. The days were growing shorter, leaving little time for her to spend on the deck after dinner. Did she really want to do that right now? Not really. All the strangeness of the past week made her nightly treks less appealing, and more frightening.

Erika had a chicken stir-fry ready when she arrived. Thankful for not having to cook, she put the candy in the cupboard, then helped herself to the aromatic mixture of peppers and rice. Erika had already started, so she settled into the chair across from her.

"I'm going to be early," Erika announced. "Today was a real bummer. Most of Mr. Kentworth's day was spent in meeting and, as usual, I got stuck with taking notes. I spent the whole afternoon transcribing."

It was a relief that she seemed back to normal. Being gregarious by nature, she loved her position when she could interact with new people, but occasionally, especially when Mr. Kentworth's schedule demanded long hours at the word-processor, she balked. Although a terrific typist, she preferred the hostess side of her job.

"It will get better, it always does."

"I know," she said, then sighed. "I much prefer the luncheons and parties to putting together an agenda."

"You get paid the big bucks for doing that, so don't knock it."

"Yes, but sometimes I wish... dancing..."

Erika got an odd, dreamy look and gazed off toward the studio. Hoping she wasn't getting wrapped up in the supernatural happenings outdoors again, Eiler quickly changed the subject. "Tomorrow night is Halloween. Would you like to dress up, just for fun?"

"What, have a party here?"

"Sort of. We could invite Scott over, play some spooky movies, bob for apples, you know, get into the spirit of the season."

"I don't know. Ask me tomorrow. Right now, I'd vote not to."

"Tomorrow is Saturday, so you'll have most of the day to decide. I can whip up a house full of spooky decorations in a minute."

"I bet you can."

Somehow, Eiler didn't think they would have the small get-together. Erika seemed preoccupied, unenthusiastic about the idea. If only she could get her into a better frame of mind. Scott was handsome and seemed a very nice man, not that she was playing matchmaker, that was the furthest thing from her mind. All she wanted was for her sister to relax a little, find out that all the male population of the world wasn't like her ex.

"I'm going to bed. Good night."

The finality of her words felt like a forewarning. Eiler watched as she climbed the stairs, a little too briskly for someone worn out from the day's work. Not sleepy herself, Eiler went back to the studio to work on her newest challenge. The craggy, rock face of the mountains looked less rugged than she would have liked. She worked until eleven, and then went to bed.

Around one a.m., a dream intruded on her sleep. Erika, beautiful in a sparkling, gossamer-thin gown of blue silk, danced in the fairy ring with a misshapen troll, then the lizard goblin, then an elfin prince. Taller than Erika, his features like sculpted moonstone, he took her in his arms and twirled her around gracefully, his expression that of love and devotion. All around her, fairies and sprites pranced and skipped to a strangely familiar tune, chanting. The dancers spun rapidly, Erika's long, blond hair whirling straight out from her head, her expression that of total abandonment. From the edges of the circle, elfin musicians played their lively, haunting tune faster and faster. Soon, the whole scene was a blur of glittering fairy dust and swirling colors.

"Sam Hain! Sam Hain! One of us, one of us! Beautiful mortal, beautiful mortal! One of us, one of use!" The chant rose and fell with the music.

Soon, Eiler couldn't distinguish one creature from another, the glittering of their eyes and the flash of their wings in the mushroom's glow grew brighter. As the music came to a crescendo, the whole gathering swirled up into a fountain of sparkling light. In the center, Erika became visible, then coalesced into a bright, glowing orb that was enveloped by the elfin prince. In a lightning flash, the fairy ring gave up its light and stillness cloaked the area. The revelers were gone, and so was Erika.

Startled awake, Eiler jerked her head to see what time it was. Five-thirty. Horrified at the dream, she rushed to Erika's room. She slept, curled in a comforter as if nothing was wrong. Rubbing her face, Eiler tried to understand what the dream meant. Had she just been worried about her sister and imagined the extraordinary event? Had her imagination run rampant because of the encounter days ago? Or, was the dream a foretelling of events to come?

Unable to decide, she sat cross-legged on the floor by her sister's bed until dawn. Erika remained motionless, submerged in a deep slumber. Eiler's legs began to cramp, so she went downstairs to paint.

Drawn to the painting Erika had added to, she lifted the cover. Dizzy shock crept over her as she witnessed a bizarre scene. As if a mirror of the dream, Erika and the elfin prince were linked arm in arm, dancing amidst the supernatural creatures. No longer sure of anything, she snatched the painting from the easel and rushed outside. No. This was not happening, nor would she allow it. Somehow, the two scenes were linked. In a desperate frenzy, she took a box cutter from the shed and began ripping the painting from its frame.

Curled shreds of canvas littered the deck when she was finished. In a burst of inspiration, she rushed to the fairy ring. Stomping and kicking, she obliterated the mushroom circle. Coated with sweat, she assessed the damage. Nothing remained. The musty scent of the ruined toadstools drifted up, filling the air with a soporific thickness. A sudden, complete exhaustion gripped her. Barely able to lift her feet, she scuffed to the house, crept up the stairs, then fell into a deep slumber.

When she awoke, it was dark. Had she slept through the whole day? A blurry scene merged and shifted with the remnants of a dream long past. What had she done earlier? Feeling drugged, she set her feet on the floor. Light-headed, as if fighting off a heavy tranquilizer, she got to her feet and steadied herself by gripping the nightstand.

"Erika?" The house was still and silent. "Erika!" she said loudly, hoping the urgency in her voice would get a response. Nothing. She glanced at the luminous dial of the alarm clock. Almost midnight. Still woozy, she walked to the window, arms out at her side to keep her balance.

In the yard below, the cryptic vestiges of the dream had become reality. The fairy ring had returned, regenerated by some magical force, and there was Erika, resplendent in her spritely gown of electric blue. Horrified, Eiler banged on the window, hoping to get her attention. Oblivious to the noise, Erika took turns dancing with the pagan beasts romping to the ethereal music that seeped though the pane.

She heard the chanting, too. The sound of it gave her chills. If she didn't do something, and fast, Erika would be lost forever. Eiler dashed downstairs to the studio. The handsome, elfin prince was about to take his turn dancing with Erika. Panicked, she ran to the kitchen. Hoping that the bit of superstitious nonsense the cashier had given her was true, she grabbed the bag of lemon drops from the cupboard then dashed out to the deck.

Shaking with fear, Eiler fumbled with the plastic bag, trying to tear it. As all stubborn wrappers that never open easily, this was no different. Using her teeth, she bit a hole in the edge then stuck her finger in and ripped it open. Lemon drops scattered across the deck. She jerked as a tiny, winged fairy buzzed by and grabbed a candy. It flew off into the trees behind the house. The music from the circle continued, growing faster and more cheerful as the dread moment approached.

"Sam Hain! Sam Hain! One of us!"

Gripped by urgency, she scooped up a handful of the hard lozenges and took one in her right hand. Throwing it as if a skipping stone, she lobbed it toward the fairy ring. A hoot of excitement was followed by one of the gnomes jumping up and grabbing the candy. With a loud laugh, he chucked it across the yard where it clinked off the windowpane of the studio. The lizard goblin whooped with glee and caught it on the rebound.

Hoping to distract them further, Eiler threw candies one after another. The throng of celebrants broke into small groups, some dancing, some playing their game of catch. Soon all the fairies were playing except the elfin prince. He held Erika in the center of the circle, an angry frown on his face.

Erika looked half-asleep, almost like she was in a trance. Still uncertain if she was safe, Eiler grabbed another handful of lemon drops and walked over to the circle. The gnomes, trolls and sprites scattered, carrying with them their golden treats. Tiny, wispy-winged fairies droned around her and she ducked. Like a ravenous flock of gulls, they swooped down, their fluttering wings blowing her hair back from her face, grabbed all but one of the candies from her hand, then flew off into the woods.

Only the elf remained, holding her sister tightly around the waist. Erika's head rested against his shoulder, her eyes closed, one hand draped across his shoulder, the other hanging at her side. The prince looked at her lovingly, then held his hand out to Eiler. Stepping forward, she hoped what she was about to do would release Erika. The last lemon drop had become slightly sticky from the sweat in her palm. Never looking away from his eyes, a misty, deep green, hypnotic and sparkling with golden fire, she placed the offering in his palm. A sad sigh slipped from him and he stepped away from Erika. She swayed, but kept her feet.

The elfin prince bowed low, then blew a kiss to Erika. Eiler watched him slowly fade until only a sparkling shower of fairy dust filled the air. A light breeze disbursed the twinkling specks further and blew the residue into the woods.

She took her sister's hand and led her back to the house. Erika seemed like she was sleepwalking and Eiler doubted she would remember anything that happened. Nestled safely in her bed, Eiler tucked her in, smoothed the hair back from her forehead and gave her a kiss goodnight.

Since she had slept all day, Eiler wasn't sleepy and decided to paint. Back in the studio, she drew the oilcloth from the canvas she started the day before. A moment of confusion seized her. Hadn't she destroyed this picture? The fairy ring with the dancing sprites had somehow returned. No evidence of her attempt to obliterate it was visible. The painting was different somehow. She looked closer. In the middle of the fairy ring stood the elf prince blowing a kiss to his lost love.

--end--

© 2000 Sharen Nehoda

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