Lauren sauntered down the hall just a second later in her cheering outfit. Anna and Keegan laughed as they watched all the guys turn and stare at her legs as she walked by. Lauren shook her hips deliberately, loving the attention, and smiled at the girls.

"Let's go outside to eat so we can catch up in private," Keegan said, grabbing them by the arms and pulling them towards the door.

Keegan noticed a glance exchanged between Anna and Lauren, and wondered what that was all about. Shrugging it off, she led the way through the back doors of the school.

It was a brilliantly bright day with not a cloud in sight. Some of their cla.s.smates were lounged around the quad with their lunches and sodas, enjoying the mild weather and sunshine. Laughter and the distant sound of cars on the main road were the only sounds as the girls headed for the shade of an old Oak tree.

Keegan turned with her hands planted on her hips once they were hidden behind the bushes surrounding the tree. "So how long have you guys known I wasn't human?"

Lauren looked down sheepishly, unable to make eye contact. Anna was smiling from ear to ear. "Finally! Do you know how hard it has been all these years not to be able to talk about the elephant in the room?"

Keegan wasn't sure if she should laugh or cry, or stomp her feet like a little kid while screaming not fair! She settled for crossing her arms over her chest and narrowing her eyes at her friends. "You have both known all this time?"

Anna shrugged her shoulders. "Hey, it's not our fault that elves like to be so secretive."

"So, you're a fairy?" Keegan turned her attention to Lauren.

Lauren looked from side to side to make sure no one was looking. Suddenly, flecks appeared in the air like stars, and almost translucent wings flapped open behind her. Flapping her wings, Lauren floated in the air with a big grin across her face.

"Wow, that is really neat." Keegan looked over at Anna. "What's your story? I hear people aren't quite sure about you, because your dad is human?"

Anna lifted her hands in the air and closed her eyes. Keegan's mouth dropped open as flames appeared in her palms.

Keegan jumped up and down, clapping, and squealed, "We are like the coolest kids ever!"

Anna's face scrunched up. "I don't know, I think Calvron might be the coolest kid ever."

Lauren nodded her head in agreement. "He is awesome!"

Keegan crossed her arms tightly across her chest and stared back and forth at them. It was not fair that they all knew about each other and she was the only one left out. She thought they were her friends. She gave in and asked, "Why is he so cool?"

Smiling mysteriously, Lauren said, "He's a very powerful wizard, and they are rare these days. He can do almost anything; at least, that's how it seems."

Anna looked wistful. "I wish I had a quarter of his power."

"What exactly are you, Anna?" Keegan raised an eyebrow. "You're not a spirit walker like your mom, are you?"

Anna's eyes squinted. "How did you know my mom is a spirit walker?"

Keegan was momentarily stunned into silence. "You guys didn't hear?"

They exchanged another glance, this time looking confused. Anna shook her head. "Hear what?"

Taking a deep breath Keegan told them the long version of how she lost and regained her life. They both stared at her with their mouths hanging open.

"You guys know about the battle between the light and dark elves, right?"

Anna's face fell and she nodded. "Yeah, we heard something about it."

"Well, I was there," Keegan told them, giving them a wry grin as they both gasped. Lauren covered her mouth with one hand and touched Keegan's shoulder with the other. "So were Donald and the other guys. Donald was hurt and I ran onto the field to help him. My mom is a Healer, and she was able to treat his wounds, but we were in the middle of the fighting." Keegan paused, clearing her throat as she remembered the clash of old-fashioned weaponry, the stench of hundreds of sweating bodies, and the ground, drenched in blood. "I was. .h.i.t by an arrow and killed."

Anna and Lauren looked on her in horror, but Keegan plunged on "Anna, your mom somehow knew I was dead and showed up, bringing me back to life with dark magic."

Lauren spoke first when she had finished, "OMG, you were dead? Keegan you were dead!" She pulled Keegan into a tight hug. "I can't believe we could have lost you for good."

Anna was quiet for several moments before she whispered, "My mom knows dark magic?"

Neither Lauren nor Keegan knew what to say. The look on Anna's face made Keegan swiftly change the subject. "What do you guys know about elves?" She was curious if they really knew anything, and if so, whether any of it was accurate. She also wanted to clear the gloom that had followed her story.

Lauren bounced up and down. "I've heard that elves put on a front that they live among humans, but in reality they live underground. Is that true?"

Keegan couldn't help but smile. "There is a sliver of truth. We have underground safe houses in case of emergencies. Elves prefer living in nature over living in a city."

Anna finally spoke up, her voice a little clearer than it had been moments before. "Well, we are all envious that elves have the key to finding your perfect partner. We think that is the real reason you are all so secretive. Although we really wish elves would share what they know. It doesn't seem fair they are the only ones that know their soulmates without the search."

Anna's observation brought all of Keegan's problems back to the surface, and she pouted.

What's wrong?" Anna demanded, reaching to shake Keegan's shoulder gently.

"It is true about the perfect partner. We call them our chosen since they are chosen for us at birth. We are not supposed to meet them until we turn eighteen. Apparently, I have already met my chosen, but because of the dark magic I don't recall him." It felt good to finally have someone to talk to about all of this; it was so confusing for her. She pulled out her phone and showed them a picture she had saved on it of her and Rourk near the waterfall. She explained how they had spent the weekend together and she couldn't remember.

"When I was brought back," Keegan said, shooting a glance at Anna, "and I met him, I felt nothing for him." Just looking at her friends faces she could tell they felt badly for her. People searched high and low for their perfect match. To have it handed to you and then taken away seemed too cruel.

"He's hot." Anna grinned, handing the phone back to Keegan who managed a weak smile. Dropping her eyes, Anna continued, "You asked what I was, because of my parents." Anna fidgeted with her sweater. "Well, I am a witch." After a brief pause she added, "On the side of the light."

Keegan could tell she was bothered about her mother knowing dark magic.

"I wonder if there are any spells to bring back the bond?" Anna said. "It would seem if it was taken away that it could be given back."

For the first time Keegan allowed herself to feel hopeful. "Do you really think that is possible?"

"I will have to look into it, there is still so much I don't know, and I've never had anyone to teach me. Maybe I can talk to Calvron; he might be able to help or at least point me in the right direction."

Keegan glanced down at the photo one more time before she put her phone away. "Thank you, Anna; you have no idea how much this means to me."

Keegan was excited and relieved that she could finally share who she really was with her best friends. She wondered if this was why they stayed friends no matter how different their personalities were. Perhaps creatures of the light could sense one another. Keegan smiled thinking of all the times she had made up stories in her mind of people and guessed whether they were creatures or human. Not once had she given thought to the fact that her friends might not be. Oh, the irony of it.

A huge smile spread across her face, and she couldn't wait to see what adventures they would share together now that their powers were out in the open.

About the Author.

Julia Crane is the author of the Coexist: Keegan's Chronicles. She has a bachelor's degree in criminal justice. Julia has believed in magical creatures since the day her grandmother first told her an Irish tale. Growing up her mother greatly encouraged reading and using your imagination. Although she's spent most of her life on the US east coast, she currently lives in Dubai with her husband and three children.

Find Julia online at http://juliacraneauthor.com/index.html.

Available Now!.

In the Mind of Thaddeus.

A Novelette.

Thaddeus is the only elf that stands between his kind and complete extinction.

That's a lot of responsibility for a twelve year old. He'd rather play video games with his best friend and make fun of his older sister Keegan than have constant visions about the fate of elf-kind.

Unfortunately, his visions are happening more and more as the time of the prophesied battle approaches, and it's making it hard for him to live a normal life. At the urging of his father, leader of the Light Elves, Thaddeus begins a journal as part of his training; even though he thinks it's lame.

Through his witty and wise eyes, we glimpse the world of Julia Crane's Coexist, a novel about the battle between good and evil and the triumph of love.

In the Mind of Thaddeus can be read as a stand alone story or as a supplement to Coexist. It is a 7,500 word novelette.

end.