Chapter 3: Forbidden Encounter

It was still the middle of the day and all Dali could think of was when the sun went down. She knew she shouldn't go out there. She shouldn't see him, but something about him drew her to him. He had a presence. She could say he had a hold on her.
"What is it about him? Why do I want to meet him so badly?" The door creaked open.
Dali jumped around. Pel stood there like a marble statue. "Talking to yourself again Dali?" Pel's purple eyes were fixed on her. "People will think you're crazy."
"Pel I," No she thought. I can't tell her, she won't let me go. "Never mind."
"What? I'm your best friend Dali. What were you going to say?"
"Nothing, I've forgotten." Dali lied.
Pel sighed. "I'm simply exhausted from singing. I think I'm going to take a nap."
Dali looked at her. "Ohh an Elf taking a nap. Singing isn't that strenuous Pel."
Pel gave her a sharp look. "Good night. Wake me up tomorrow."
Dali stuck out her tongue. Pel laid down and promptly fell asleep. 

	Dali left the room to roam the halls of Umoleth Academy. She knew that if she were caught sneaking out of the building at night she'd be expelled. She couldn't let that happen. She'd have to be very quiet. She'd need an invisibility spell. Problem was she didn't know any. Geny could give her one...maybe not. Geny would tell Lady Wisteria. 
I can't get caught! She wound around the maze of halls until she reached the top of the building. She went out on the roof and surveyed the land. She loved going up there. It always felt so peaceful. Her first year she got caught at night out on the roof. The moons shone so brilliantly. The Cestal Moon shone a pure white. The Elves believed that it was where pure souls went when they died. That is why the moon was white and full every night. The second moon, the Forgoth Moon, shone blood red. Most people considered it an evil moon. The Elves also believed that it was where the souls of evil people went. If that moon was full it was considered an ill omen. It's only been recorded full six times in history. That night her first year the Forgoth Moon was half full. She was disturbed by it. Lady Wisteria found her and as a punishment she was locked in her room at night for a month. She looked out at the land. A dusky color was covering the sky. A pretty purple twilight was settling over Kalan. The sky was the same color as Pel's eyes. Dali knew Pel would never forgive her if she met with him. She had to go. Had to.

	Dali went back inside and down to her room. Pel was still sound asleep. The purple twilight was now fading into a darker black. Crisith was sitting on top of Dali's dresser as she entered the room. She lit some candles so she would not hurt herself climbing out the window. She climbed up onto her bed and started for the window. "Meow" Dali fell back. She turned to the cat. "Damn you. You scared me!" She quietly yelled at the cat. Crisith's yellow eyes were like two suns. They shone with such brilliance. She went for the window again. "Meow!" Again. She looked like she'd kill the cat. "What is it?" She hissed. "Meow." "Do you want me to stay?" The cat looked pleadingly at her. "You don't want me to go. Well I have to!" Dali climbed back up the window and down the other side. She'd have to be very careful about not being seen.
She snuck across the yard and made her way to the concert hall. The Cestal moon shone with such a brilliance that night she feared she'd be seen. The white light gleamed off of the marble building. She was almost to the building. There he was. He stood in the light unafraid of being seen. His black hair shone in the moonlight. He looked even better in the pale light. Dali's heart stopped. He was the most beautiful boy she had ever seen. She looked at him for a few minutes more before she realized he was staring at her. His eyes pierced her very soul. She walked over to him almost spellbound. He held his hand out to her and she took it. His skin was soft and delicate. She looked in his eyes. He had faintly purple eyes. She wanted to speak but felt herself scared. She tried to speak but he put his hand to her lips. He looked her up and down. He spoke. "I'm surprised you came. Didn't your friend warn you about me?" His voice was like silk.
"I didn't tell her I was coming. She said you practice the dark arts. Is it true?"
"If dark arts means I practice sorcery, then yes, I do."
"But men aren't allowed. I mean, except for survival spells..."
"I know, but I don't think it's right." Vey looked up at the sky. "What is so wrong about men practicing sorcery? What was done happened hundreds of years ago." He stopped.
"You've had the dream, right Dalia?"
"I-I" She stammered.
"You know what I'm talking about. I've had that dream. I kept seeing your face wondering who you were. When I saw you the other day I had to know. Since I saw you talk to Yukii I figured he must know you. His sister...now that was a surprise." 
"Leave Yukii out of this." She started to turn red. "I don't want you to talk about him."
Vey grabbed Dali and pulled her closer. He looked deep in her eyes and she blushed again, the anger draining from her. "Dali, I'll be watching you." Vey kissed her.
Dali was startled and tried to pull away. He let her go and ran off. She could still see that charming smile and hear his voice ring in her head. "I'll be watching you..." 
 
	Her head still spun as she climbed back up to her room. She got out and back in without anyone noticing. Crisith was waiting up for her. Like he was making sure she was OK. She put on her nightgown and climbed into bed. She turned and jumped. There was Pel! In her bed! Pel's purple eyes shone in the candlelight. "Where were you?"
Oh help me Goddess of Umoleth! Grant me the key to my door so I can crawl through it right now! Dali's eyes went wide and she went pale as a ghost. 
"Umm Pel, you're up. Oh my"
"You didn't answer my question. Now where were you?"
"I-I was nowhere in particular, I just-just wanted to look at the moon." Dali smiled.
"Liar! You snuck out to see him. You did, didn't you?"
"I-I-I-"
"Why didn't you tell me? You know I want to see Yukii too!"
Good Goddess, she thinks I saw my brother! "Well, I was, but he didn't show up."
"Poo!" Pel got out of Dali's bed and climbed back into her own. She went back to sleep.
Dali could have died. She blew the candles out. Crisith came up and snuggled with her. "You told didn't you?" "Meow." I don't know what you're talking about his eyes said.
Dali laid down and tried to settle in. She could still feel his lips on her own. She put her fingers to her lips. Feelings of anger rose up in her. He stole her first kiss! He didn't ask. He just took it. She wanted her first kiss to be someone she loved. Someone she wanted to kiss. No, she took that back. The second she saw Vey in the moonlight she wanted to feel him. To kiss him perhaps. He was very sensual out there in the moonlight. Her heart pounded just thinking of him. I'll be watching you... She shivered. She laid down on her pillow and fell asleep.

	The next morning Dalia woke up and went about her normal routine. She made the bed over the cat, dressed, woke up Pel. She softly crept up to Pel's bedside. She placed her hand on her shoulder. "Pel, it's morning. Get up." She shook her again.
Last night still swam in Dali's mind. Especially that kiss.. Dali's eyes glazed over.
"Have a lover Dali?"
Dali came to quickly. "What? What are you talking about??"
Pel leaned over and winked. "I know that look Dali, it's the same one I have when I think about your brother."
Dali flushed red, a little angry. "Why must you bring up Yukii?!"
Pel sighed. "Dali, you really must get over that jealousy. Everyone likes him and he helps make it that way."
Dali looked at the floor. "I know, I really do. It's just, Yukii, he..." She thought about it some more. The past she kept hidden from everyone. "Yukii is one of a kind, huh?"
Pel smiled. "He is Dali. I've never met anyone so blatantly charming."
Dali closed her eyes. She had, and she had met him last night. She thought about those pale eyes. They haunted her. Dali realized Pel was watching her and came to. "Pel don't ever get involved with a man like my brother. People like that are nothing but trouble."
Pel smiled showing her perfect white teeth. "Whaaat? I think you just want to keep him for yourself. But he's your brother. You can't have him."
"I don't want him Pel. Not him."
Pel's eyes narrowed. "Who then?"
"Who? There's no one Pel!" Dali looked out the window. "C'mon Pel get dressed. We have to get to class."
Pel still looked at Dali suspiciously as she changed into her robes. They ran down the hall to get to the first class. 

Today it was Magical Creatures with Marid. Marid herself was a water sprite. The girls came in and sat down next to the twins Linette & Lynette. Goddess only knew which was which. Dali could never figure it out. Neither could most people for that matter. The only problem with the twin sorceresses was that they had to do all of their spells together. Neither could make one work on her own. This was illustrated Dali's first year. They almost got kicked out for lack of magical ability, until one day when the girls did an experiment together, and it worked. 
Marid called attention to the class. Her voice rang like a watery bell. It was very pretty. So was she. Marid had beautiful sky blue skin and deep dark blue hair. She could change her fins to legs at will. She had lived in the Kasner sea but was caught. No one knew how she had come to teach at the school, but she was very fond of Master Kalothei and Lady Wisteria. Dali often wondered how old Marid was. Being a water sprite she could be older than Lady Rowena who was head of the council of Umoleth and as an elf, was over 600 years old. Presently she has only sat on the council for 200 years. There are rules you know. Water sprites could live for millennia. They can only die if their heart is broken.
Dali wondered about everything else during class except what Marid was saying.

	The rest of the day was pretty boring. Dali and Pel only had that one class together and hadn't seen each other the rest of the day. At dinner they finally met up to exchange gossip. "Dali!! You'll never believe what Milena did to Professor Donella today!"
"What?"
"She bewitched her pulia. When Donella took a drink she bloated up like a balloon!"
"The woman is bloated enough Pel, how could she get any bigger?" Dali giggled.
"You should have seen it Dali, it was great!"
After dinner they all went to their rooms. Pel went straight to sleep. The next four days passed without incident. Professor Donella's class was especially nasty, considering what happened to her. The night of the fourth day Dalia found herself on the roof, starting at the moons and stars. The Cestal moon hung right overhead. It's white moonbeams like drops of silver. It was an almost perfect night. The air had a slight chill. Dali knew she couldn't hang around up there much longer. If Lady Wisteria found her she's be in a world of trouble. She headed for her room and found Pel fast asleep. Crisith was waiting for her to come in. She headed for the dresser he was sitting on. He pawed at a piece of paper, he wanted her to read it. Dali picked up the paper:
I've been watching, have you seen?
I want nothing more than to see you again.
Meet me tomorrow night.
Same time. Same place.
Dali looked around the room. Was he still there? She clutched the paper. She would meet him out there again. She couldn't say she didn't want to. She wanted to. Horribly wanted to.