Day 1 -- 20,034

It went well enough, despite a few glitches.

And now, a little snippet:

I sat on the edge of the hood to the car and waited for about ten minutes. I figured that was long enough for Aletta to get settled in and start her little games.

And then I did something that I'd never done before with anyone, human or fae. I sent a Summons.

This is my place of work, and for fae that means that it comes with certain powers. One of those is Summons -- the ability to call someone before you. For a human it is a nagging feeling that they want to go somewhere. For a fae it's like a voice shouting in their head, demanding their attention. I made it especially loud and stringent.

Aletta arrived a few moments later, storming out of the hotel and stomping across the lot. That drew some notice since she'd kicked off her shoes, let down her hair, and probably looked as disreputable as she was ever likely to.

I stepped away from the car. No reason to let her know that secret.

"What were you doing up in the mountains playing badger today?" I said before she could speak.

I had caught her off guard. "I don't have to tell -- I don't know what you are talking about. How dare you summon me like this! You haven't the right --"

"This is my place, Aletta. Unless you are here to replace me? Want to stand guard on the veil tonight? I'd be glad to give the work over to you," I said and purposely looked to the hotel.

"I am not here to do your work for you."

"Then you must be here to work as my assistant," I said, looking back at her. "Otherwise I'd have to believe that you really came just for a visit, and I'm not that stupid, Aletta."

"I don't have to tell you anything," she said. Her face had flushed again. "I'm not answerable to you."

And then she did something that took me utterly and completely by surprise. She waved her arm and opened a door to fae and blatantly, right there in the parking lot, crossed back over.

A quick wind blew threw the lot, scattering leaves and trash. I blinked and stepped back, stunned. She should never have done that.

She should never have been able to do it. Not that easily. Not with just a wave of her arm. It unsettled me more than just about anything else had on the last day. More so than the nuthatches and the pigeons or the feel of magic in the air. Though maybe that was all it took. Maybe she, like just about every other fae in this world and the other, had better control over the magic than I did.