Clarice Lahey sat at the table at the small outdoor cafe and tried to remember what was bothering her. Something wasn't right. There was something missing.. she just couldn't remember what...

"More coffee, miss?" She turned at the voice to find a teenage girl holding a carafe. Clarice smile but shook her head. "No thank you."

The girl vanished back inside and Clarice turned to look across the street to the park. Maybe a walk would help. She laid the money for the coffe on the table top and left, barely bothering to look before crossing the street. Her mind these last few weeks has been.. preoccupied by the vague notion that she was missing something important. A car horn blared behind her as she reached the far side of the road, but she ignored it and headed off along the closest path amoung the trees.

The bird song and gentle rustle of the leaves soothed her and she found herself relaxing. The lost empty feeling had become a part of her now, so she can go for hours without noticing it still there. The sound of water pulled her forward to a stream where a couple of small children play, their mothers closeby.

Her heart gave a sudden pain as she stood amoung the trees watching, and suddenly tears are running down her face. "Are you alright, dear? You're crying?! What's the matter?"

She turned, startled to find one of the mothers standing close to her. "I .. I don't know. Really... I'm sorry to intrude.. forgive me.." with a hasy smile , Clarice turned and ran off down the path, taking the first turn she came to then another, not caring where she wound up, just as long as it was far from the mothers and children and unexplained pain and tears...

With a startled gasp she stumbled over a root and crashed to the dirt path, her knees and palms stinging painfully, bringing fresh tears to her eyes. She pushed herself up to a sitting position to survey the damage, and discovered both knees of her stockings ripped, dirty and bloody. The palms of both hands were also pebbled by torn skin and dirt. Her dress was a mess of dirt and grass stains, and she couldn't conceive of how one stumble on the path could've caused so much... perhaps her flight through the forest had caused some and she just hadn't noticed.

"Oh... are you okay?" a voice called from a short distance away and she turned to see a slim,young man just up the path approaching her. "You're hurt! Here, let me help you."

For some unaccountable reason, Clarice felt a moment of dread as the young man reached out for her arm to help her to her feet, but the moment passed as soon as his flesh touched hers. A surge of heat and energy washed through her and she felt her skin crawl as if she were suddenly covered in insects.

The young man had pulled back in surprise and sat on his haunches watching her with interest. As soon as the feelings began to vanish, he spoke again. "That was interesting... feel better now?"

Clarice opened her eyes and blinked blearily up at him from her sprawl on the ground. She was about to ask him what he meant when she realized the her hands and knees no longer stung. She glanced in surprise at them and suddenly found herself speechless, staring at hands that were not her own.

Blue. Blue hands... the nails tinted with the same pale cotton candy pink polish she'd been wearing. Her gaze wandered up to where the blue skin vanished beneath her sleeve, then turned to her legs where the blue resumed. Her hands went to her face, and she turned in shock to the young man, who was merely watching her, and amused look on his face. "I'm ... my skin...What did you do to me?"

He rocked back on his heels in shock. "Me!? Lady, I didn't do anything except try to help you up! You did this on your own.. I had nothing to do with it! " A sudden mischievious grin appeared on his face. "I perfer the colour red, myself... but I must admit, that shade of blue looks amazing on you."

She felt herself start to shake and suddenly started to cry.

"Whoa! Hey! What's wrong! Oh... wow.. you really didn't mean to change like this did you?"

She shook her head no, futiley attempting to wipe away her tears.

"Oh.... I swear, I didn't do it. I mean, I might be able to do something like it, I guess, but I didn't."

Clarice suffled back the tears and looked up at him as he helped her to sit up. "What do you mean... are you a witch?"

The man laughed, his eyes twinkling. "No. Are you?"

Clarice shook her head. "People at home think my mother is, but she's not, really. She's just really pretty and can pass for being younger than she is. And she's really smart too." she added with a smile, wiping away the last of the tears.

The young man sat down beside her, crossing his legs. "So pretty lady-who-is-not-a-witch. Do you have a name?"

"Clarice. Clarice Lahey."

He accepted her hand and turned it palm down to kiis the back of it. He looked up with a sly smile. "A beautiful Irish name, if I ever heard one, for a beautiful Irish lass.. Well, Miss Lahey, you may call me... Faal. And I, like I said, am not a witch.. but I can do magic." he said with a grin and a shimmer of light moved over him subtley changing his appreance. His already pale skin took on an almost silver cast, and his eyes seemed to have too many colours in them. He chuckled and reaching up, brushed his hair behind a delicately pointed ear. "I'm Fae.. as a fine scottish lassie, I assume you know what that means."

Clarice swallowed, finding her throat suddenly dry and nodded. "A .. a pleasure to met you, Faal. And it's an Irish name, true.. but I'm a Scottish lass." she added with a wink.

He smiled, chuckling as he still held her hand. "We must look a couple of fools, sitting here in the dirt.. and you with your pretty dress all torn and stained. Here, allow me." He said, flowing to his feet effortlessly, drawing her up beside her. She felt a faint wash of tingling warmth pass over her. "There. Much better." He said, holding her out at arms length and looking her up and down.

She glanced down at her dress to fine it clean and new. Not a mark or wrinkle on it. She glanced back up with a smile. "Very impressive. I don't suppose you can take care of the rest of this mess as easily?" she said, indictating the blue skin.

He reached out again taking her hand and pulling her back to him. "Perhaps. I've never tried to change someone else's actually physicality before. It might take me a little while, I'll have to research a few things back home before I try... Would you mind terribly coming with me? I swear, I've never asked a girl to come home with me before." He added with a wink. "They normally offer."

She chuckled, smiling shyly. "I don't know, Faal. I thank you for any help you can give me, but..."

He smiled, giving her hand a squeeze. "Relax, luv. I'm teasing. By 'home', I mean Scotland.. the Orkney's to be more precise. Perhaps while I'm doing my research, you could visit your relatives and such?"

Clarice looked thoughtful for a while. It had been a while since she'd last visited her mother. And perhaps the trip home would help with this empty feeling inside her... She looked up with a smile. Hope suddenly blooming inside her. "Alright. I'll go."

Faal smiled broadly and resumed his human guise. "Excellent. Since we shall be travelling together, I suppose you shall be needing this."

Clarice suddenly felt that warm tingling cover her again, but this time it didn't leave. She glanced at him curiously to see him smile. She looked at her hands... and they were her hands again. No more blue!

"It's just a glamour, luv.. a disguise, like mine. But don't worry, I'll do my best to make it permanent as soon as I can."

She took a deep breath and offered forth a brave smile. "Thank you, Faal. If I may ask... why are you being so nice to me? Why help a perfect stranger?"

He tucked her hand into the crook of his arm and lead them down the path. "Suspcious of a seemingly generous Fae when the Fae aren't exactly known for their... generosity' ?" He chuckled. "You intrigue me, Clarice. You spark my curiosity in a way that hasn't been sparked in a good long time. Come.. let's go gather whatever you wish to take with you. We may be gone for a while..."

'Ey Lassie! Tell tha' Laddie o' yours that we be missin' 'im down at th' pub!"

Clarice smiled, juggling the bag of groceries as she fumbled for the keys. "Will do, Mr. Dalry. He should be home shortly. No doubt you'll be seeing 'im this evening!" She waved as she got the door open and slipped inside. With a tired sigh she removed the amulet that Faal had given her to hold the glamour while he was away, and hung it on the hall mirror. The bag of groceries hit the counter with a thud and she quickly sorted things out and put them away.

"Bonnie, luv? Is that you?"

"Mum? Are you still here? I thought Mrs. Safford was giving you a ride back out to the farm?"

"Oh well, dear.. you kno' how things get shuffled around...somethin' else came up. She said she'd be around a bit later."

Clarice watched as the older woman came graefully down the stairs, patting her hair as if it was less than perfect already. "You look lovely, mum. As always."

Mary Lahey blushed and shooed her daughters comlpiments off. " Is yer friend back yet?"

Clarice smiled. "No mum, Faal's not back yet. He should be soon though."

"Well.. I hope 'e's found what 'e's lookin' for this time... livin' like this... it's not good for ye."

"Mum!"

"Oh, tha's not wha' I meant! I meant... ye've been holded up here for months now.. doin' nothing but brooding about wha' happened and hopin' Faal' ll find a way to undo it. What ye need, girl, is to get on with it! Accept it and move on! I don' know why it happened now.. but it did! To be truthful, luv... I don' think Faal can undo it. This isn't fearie magic... this is yer birthright.Things 'appen when they  'appen fer a reason girl! Stop wastin' yer life tryin' to puzzle out the whys!"

Clarice was silent for a moment as her mother brushed past her and entered the kitchen, setting about putting the kettle on for tea. "Mum... my father... being what he is... do you think that has anything to do with . the other thing i mentioned? The empty feeling?"

Mary paused in her task, not turning to look back at her daughter. "No. No that is something else... I'm sorry, luv. Please don' ask me about it. I fear ye might be hurt if ye try to break through tha'  bit o' trouble. Now if ye'll excuse me, luv... ah'd like t' 'ave a few moments t' m'self."

Clarice stared at her mothers' back for a moment, the strong feeling that she knew more then she was telling.. that she knew the answer to what was missing..."You know.. don't you! Tell me!"

"Bonnie Clarice Lahey! Y' mind yer mother! Ah told ye not to ask! Now get out and let me be!"

Clarice felt tears spring to her eyes and she turned and fled up stairs to the small room she had claimed as her own. Why would her mother keep secrets from her? It didn't make sense. Ever since she turned sixteen and her mother told her truth about her father's idenity, there had never again been a secret between them. Until now, it seemed.

The sound of the front door followed by the thud of car door, told her that her mother had left for home with Mrs.Safford. She sighed and pulled the pillow around to hug it as she lay on her side on the bed. Getting this place in Dunbeath, just a short drive from her mothers house had seemed like a great idea. Things had been somewhat strained between them ever since she'd arrived however, and now she knew why. Secrets. Her own mother knew the answer to the one question she'd been seeking so despertly.. and refused to tell her. And too make matters worse... she'd begun to suspect that she was right about Faal not being able to help her change back.

As if on cue, the door opened again and Faal called out. "I'm up here!" she answered, hurriedly wipping away any traces of tears that might be left, and stuffed her pillow back where it belonged, sitting up just as he appeared in the doorway.

"Hey luv. Everythin' alright?" he asked, taking a seat beside her. "Y'look a bit puffy 'round the eyes.. bin cryin'?"

Clarice sighed, grabbing her pillow and dragging it back around to hug again. She should have known she couldn't hide anything from him. "Me and mum had a fight. Well.. not so much of a fight as.. she knows something I need to know.. but refuses to tell me, Faal!"

Faal grinned and shook his head. " 'Rice lass... mum's are a strange bunch, fer sure... but they always have yer best intentions at heart for everythin' they do. Ye just to have faith in 'er. She loves ye, she'd never do anythin' to harm ye."

She sighed again and leaned against his shoulder. "Change of subject please. You didn't find it, did you?"

This time it was Faal's turn to sigh. "No, Clarice. Still nothin' that can reverse this. But... ah did have a wee chat with a friend of mine and 'e  has an idea that might 'elp!"

She sat up, tossing the pillow behind her. "Really? Well.. what is it?"

"Well... ye said yer da's got demon blood, aye?"

"No, my dad IS a demon... as in full blooded."

Faal waved it off. "Aye, tha's what ah said.. 'es got demon blood.. anyhow, m' friend has this 'alf demon friend who can change shape back an' forth between human an' demon. Since yer 'alf demon too... maybe 'e can teach ye how!"

Clarice looked stunned for a moment. "Do you think it'll work, Faal?"

He shrugged. "Don' see why not! 'E seems t' think tha' wha's happen' to ye is yer demon blood comin' through. So's if'n tha's the case, then..."

Her face lit up with hope.

"I told 'em to pop by. The 'alf demon 'll be here any minute. M' friend's makin' a stop off, but 'e shouldn't be too far behind. Hope ye feel up to company."

*        *
Clarice sat  nervoulsy on the couch beside Faal as the half demon, Brendan, sat across form her. "Do ye think ye have it now? Go on... give 'er a try. It's no' hard once ye know how!"

She felt Faals hand reach out and give her knee a comforting squeeze. "Go on, lassie. Y' can do it."

She took a dep breath and concentrated on what Brendan had told her. At first there was nothing and she thought she had failed again, but then she could feel a warmth start to spread across her, followed by the creepy-crawly sensation she remembered from the first time. she was so excited that she lost her concentration  and snapped her eyes open in time to see her skin finish deepening back to blue.

"Ye did it, Lassie! Ye were almost back to human! Ye just got to hold it a second more!" Brendan cheered her, reaching out to pat her shoulder.

Faal smiled brightly at her, giving her a squeeze form the side. The door bell rang, and Faal stood up. "That'll be Calum."

Brendan smiled and stood up as well. "Well, I guess tha' means we'll be headin' off to the pub now."

Clarice stood and walked him to the hallway. "Thank you so much for your help, Brendan." She said, giving him a quick, shy hug.

He chuckled, hugging her back. "Not a problem, Clarice, luv. Ye call m' any time ye need demonly advice." He said with a wink, handing her a slip of paper with his phone number and address on it. "It was a pleasure meetin' ye."

Faal was just closing the door behind a tall slim man with long dark hair. " 'ey , luv! This is Calum Macrae, the friend a' was tellin' ye about. Calum, this is Clarice."

Callum reached out and took her hand, sending her crashing to the floor. She cried out in pain as waves of heat shot through her and pain centered on either side of her head, and shot down her back. She felt her eyes burning and covered with her hands as she sobbed, begging someone to make it stop.

Brendan was the first to reach her, and he scooped her into his arms and rocked her, speaking soothingly. "It's alrigh', Clarice. Don' fight it, luv.. it'll pass soon." He glanced up at Faal as he squatted down beside them. "She's changin' again.. see? It's almos' done with."

Calum hung back by the door, unsure what to do while the two men helped a shaking, sobbing Clarice to her feet.
She leaned heavily Faal as she blinked, tears easing away the slight burn. Calum was the first to see and raised an eyebrow. Clarice noticed his look and spun trying to move Faal out of the way so she could look in the mirror. "What?! What's happened now?! " She stood weak-kneed as she stared  past the now familiar blue face into eyes that seemed to almost glow red. and her ears... they formed points sticking out from her hair...

"Easy now, luv.. careful where yer swattin' tha' thing!" Faal said, gentley swatting something behind her. She turned to look. "A TAIL! I have a tail!? Faal! "

Faal shushed her and pulled her into a hug. Brendan looked curiously at Callum then at Faal. "Clarice.. you said the first time this happened was when you first met Faal... exactly how did it happen?"

She choked back her sobs and struggled to answer her new friend. "I told you... the crawly feeling.."

He shook his head.. "No luv... not wha' ye felt when it happened.. wha' happened jus' before it came upon ye."

Clarice snuffled and wiped her eyes, thinking back. "I'd fallen.. and Faal took my arm to pull me up...."

"Uh- huh. Tha's wha' i suspected..." Brendan said, smiling at Clarice. "No worries, luv... ye know 'ow to change back now, an' all ye 'ave to do t' avoid any more changes.. is to stay away from faeries."

"What?!" Faal asked,  turning a surprised look to Brendan. "Wha' are ye talkin' about, man! We've been together fer months now an' nothin's 'appened to 'er!"

"But it DID 'appen to her the very first time ye touched 'er... just as it did the very first time Calum touched 'er..."

Clarice looked thougtful for a moment, her tears forgotten. "But... Bess.. at the pub.. she's a fearie! Why didn't I change when she touched me?!"

Brendan shrugged. "Don' know, lass.. maybe t's cause she's a girl.."

"No." Faal said, a shocked, yet understanding look on his face,"It's because she's a 'alf blood... Calum and Me.. we're both full bloods."

"So... as long as i don't meet any more full blooded Fae.. I won't change anymore?" Clarice asked, hopefully.

"No lass.. as long as ye don't TOUCH any new full blooded fae... 'cause tha's what brough' it on.. touch."

Clarice looked at Brendan and smiled. "I can live with that, I think. Especially now that I can change back."

Brendan gave her a quick squeeze and a grin. "Need a 'and  getting a grip on the new stuff? I can hang back a bit while the boy go on to the pub. Maybe see you give the change another shot?"

Clarice smiled and turned to Faal. "Do you mind?"

He gave a smile. "Not at all, luv. You two have fun.. don't do anythin' I would do."

"Don't you mean 'don't you anything you wouldn't do'?"

Faal grinned back at her as Calum slipped out the door. "Now luv... ye know me better then tha' !" he said with a wink, and closed the door behind them.

Brendan laughed."So, Clarice. Are ye ready to give it another try, not that ye've got some extra's to change back with ye?"

Clarice laughed and bowed. "Lead the way, teach!"