Old Promises, New Mysteries: Book 2 of The Kinstone series

Our stop in London was to be nice and brief, that’s if you can call a three hour layover brief. It goes without saying that the moment we got off of the plane, everyone felt ten times better.

Being stuffed into a 400 foot metal tube for six or more hours is not fun. It’s the same even while flying privately. It had been well over a year and a half since I first visited London.

While our stay in the city was short, I couldn’t help but smile. London was the first place Rachel ever took me to. I can still remember my utter shock when she sprang the trip on me. I looked around the part of the airport were in.

My eyes caught the sight of the first restaurant I ate at when she and I got off of the plane. My stomach was grumbling and complaining for food, and it really wasn't that far from where the group was sitting. So I wandered off and walked over to it.

It was a tiny little pub which was slightly crowded. I found a seat and picked up a menu. I grinned as I looked around seeing that it really hadn’t change at all. The TV was showing a soccer match, which I watched, but didn’t really get into.

I was soon joined by Alexis and a couple other folks. I smiled softly to them, wondering if one of the adults had asked them to keep an eye on me. I didn’t mind. The four of us all ate together and spoke, simply enjoying each other’s company.

Our meal was short, but time spent was good. We then paid our bill and returned to the rest of the group. An hour later we all then headed for our next gate. Not as much a mad dash, just a brisk pace.

After arriving, we again sat down. There was still time left before our flight, so I pulled out a book and began to read.

The hairs on my neck then stood on end. Something powerful or otherworldly was nearby. I looked up to see where it was coming from. No one around me could sense it or was even affected by whatever was coming.

Now this made me nervous. Fae. It had to be. I was in Albion, the realm of the Fae. Well, not quite. Tir Na Nog was where they lived. But England was their home turf.

My eyes scanned around me, trying to catch a glimpse of them, seeing who or what was there. I knew I was being watched.

A familiar presence washed over me something that I hadn’t felt in over a year. Titania. The hairs on my arms stood on end.

I met the fairy queen last August during my first few magic lessons with Rachel. She didn’t mean me any harm, but was scared shitless during the encounter. My gaze then turned out into the crowd of people, simply walking around.

There she was, just standing there. Her beauty was still as mesmerizing as the first time I met her. A soft and gentle smile stretched across her face. Long dark, nearly midnight black hair draped onto the floor. No one noticed her, normal people couldn’t.

Fae are extremely similar to yokai, both are like spirits in some fashion, while very much possessing physical bodies. The terminal went quiet, everything slowed to a crawl. Again, no one around me seemed to notice that she was there. Why is she here in the first place?

She didn’t move, just merely stood there. I almost felt compelled to get up and meet her. But I held myself back. It wasn't that I was afraid to go see her. Lord knows how happy I am in fact that she's here.

I wanted to go see her and talk to her. As it was when Rachel and I only spoke through emails before meeting her, it was the same with Titania. We had become friends and like with all my friends, I wanted to properly talk to her.

But it's the utter shock and surprise that she's here which is probably why I'm not bursting out of my seat and rushing over to her. That and the fact that one of the most powerful beings in the world is standing over a dozen yards from me.

She then spoke. I couldn’t make out what she was saying, but it was warm and soothing. Then a voice rang through my mind.

“Greetings my Little Fox. I pray you blessings upon your journey. And know how I have missed you.” I then blinked and she had vanished.

The terminal’s loud roar of people soon returned. I looked around, seeing Elizabeth staring at me. “You all right Aria? It looked as though you completely spaced out.”

I gazed at her. Feigning a smile, “Yeah, I’m fine, just thinking ahead,” an obvious lie.

Her gaze deepened, “Are you sure?”

I nodded, “I’m sure.”

Unconvinced, she nodded, “Okay then,” turning back to watch her kids.

I looked back out onto the crowd, Okay…what was that all about?

I sighed, pulling my legs back into my chest. I pulled out my phone and texted Rachel. Telling her that we were in London and about where I ate. I grinned as she told me how much she loved me and how it’s good to hear from me.

I held back telling her about Titania, didn’t want to worry her more than she already was. Not to say I wasn’t happy to see fairy queen. Lord knows I’ve thought about asking for her to visit or something, which…may or may not be a good idea.

I took yet another glance at the terminal, thinking there would be some trance of the queen, but again…nothing. Returning to what I was doing, I finished texting with my mother and shoved my phone back into my bag.

A little while later we boarded the plane for Florence. I had been traveling for nearly twelve hours and I was feeling it all over. Just four more hours and we’d be in Italy. I quickly took my seat and buckled in. I glanced once more at the terminal. Thinking I’d might see the fairy queen again. Alas, not there. I knocked my head against my seat.

A few minutes later our plane took off, heading towards our final destination.