"That's better," said Kaelen as he stepped down from the frame.

  Silver got a glimpse of another room behind him before the glass swung shut and showed the usual portrait of Aillen's human glamour standing motionless in the motel lobby.

  Kaelen shook out his limbs and gave Silver a bright smile. "I think we've gotten off on the wrong foot," he said. "Allow me to reintroduce myself. My true name is Kaelen and I am not from San Francisco as I previously implied."

  "My true name is Sylvester," said Silver. "And I am from Bristol, OR. Just like I said."

  "You don't seem particularly surprised by any of this," Kaelen observed. "Alarmed by the events, maybe. But not surprised at the information I've given you."

  Silver said nothing, simply stood and looked at Kaelen, noting the slight mottling of his skin, like purple camouflage patterns, the way his black hair sprang upward from his scalp like grass, and the enormity of his eyes, which took up an uncomfortably large portion of his face.

  Kaelen's smile never wavered as he hissed through his teeth.

  Silver looked into his oversized eyes and gave him a bright smile of his own.

  Finally Kaelen broke the silence. "Fine. You're still here. So what do you want from me?"

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  "Want?"

  "You must have a reason for sticking around after you learned the truth about me. Are you spying? Looking for favors? A teacher?"

  Silver froze.

  "Ahhh," said Kaelen. "So. You know what you are, but nobody has offered to help you use your talents." He stepped forward and placed a six-fingered hand on Silver's shoulder. "I can help you. I can find a mage who will teach you. There are even a couple of people staying here right now who might help."

  Silver's mind raced. He shouldn't trust Kaelen, he knew that. But his offer was tempting. Why hadn't he heard anything from Rosza about a teacher?

  And Devon and Fiona hadn't given him any instructions as to what to do if Kaelen discovered him. Surely it would be best to stay in his good side, right? If he thought Silver still trusted him, he might not guess that his secret was out.

  But he remembered what Kaelen had said before about debts, and realized that this particular myth of the Fae must be true. It was important that he not owe a Fae any favors.

  "I will, of course, pay any tutor you may introduce me to," he said smoothly. "And you may take a $100 agent's fee out of my paycheck for this week."

  Kaelen's eyebrows rose. "That won't be necessary."

  "Yes," said Silver. "It will."

  The Fae inclined his head slightly. "Very well."

  "Very well," Silver echoed.

  The two of them stood in silence for another moment. And then Kaelen pivoted on the heel of his shiny black dress shoe and strode out – using the door this time.

  Silver's breath left his body in a WHOOSH and he collapsed back into his straight-backed wooden chair.

  Uprooted by the Storm is the first novella of my Duoverse serialization. Episodes are posted every week on Royal Road and . The story is farther along on Ream than Royal Road, so to read ahead, check out my page. Ream members also get access to my entire catalog of ebooks, sneak peeks into my writing process, updates about my terribly exciting life, pictures of my pets and plants, short stories, flash fiction, and poetry.

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