The lights danced upon the ceiling, filling them with wonder. Sam giggled and clapped and Daniel tried to follow a single spark with his finger. Jacob flicked his wand, concentrating, and mumbled under his breath. He had to keep the spells both going at the same time or he would get caught. His brothers liked the lights, though. It kept them from screaming.

They finally tired and curled up to sleep. Jacob dropped the lights and then the warding spell, and tucked them in. He wanted to join them, a light spell was easy, but masking had really taken its toll. There was work to do, however, so he hurried to the door and set back to picking the lock. It had been a week since they were put in here and he had made a little progress each night.

Their parents killed in a battle, they had been kidnapped by the winners while they slept. The twins had not even woken up and Jacob’s attempts to resist had been so feeble they had let him keep his wand. He was humiliated, but grateful. The twins had been inconsolable the first day and would only settle for magic since – pretty lights or dancing toys. They had seen no one except a hand shoving food into the room and Jacob was growing desperate.

She held the dagger out before her like a cross to ward off danger. The night was dark and full of noise. Insects filled the air with song and critters rustled in the brush. She imagined glowing eyes everywhere and had to remind herself to keep breathing. Her little brother was out here somewhere and she had to find him.

A stream crossed her path with no bridge in sight. She searched the bank for a footprint, but it was too rocky. He loved water, but there was no telling if he crossed it or followed the bank. She knew this stream and there was no way he could cross in the dark without swimming. Turning downstream, she hoped he had thought the same.

“Tegan, I’m going to kill you when I find you.” She muttered, but at least the bank was easy to follow.

She heard a wolf howl in the distance and gripped her dagger tighter. The soft rustling continued around her, but nothing of dangerous size. She gazed all around her, hoping for some sign, but found nothing. She wondered if he thought it all some giant game or if he was as scared as she was.

A small bridge ahead broke her revelry and she stared at it. She had never been this way before, had not even know there was a proper bridge in the forest. She approached with caution. There, in the center of the wooden planks, was her brother, curled up in a ball and fast asleep.

“Oh Tegan, you are such a strange child.” She stepped out on the bridge, and collapsed beside him, conscious thought slipping away faster than she could react.

A small speck of light floated out of the darkness and landed on his knee.  It sparkled cheerily and he laughed, picking it up and gently lifting it to his face.

“Pretty little fairy, come to brighten an old man’s night?”

The light danced about his face, touching down lightly on his cheeks and nose.  The old man smiled and closed his eyes. It had been years since he’d seen a fairy.  In his youth, they had always been around–teasing and flirting. But as he grew up, he had less time for youthful fancies and the fairies rarely came anymore.

The fire crackled and he opened his eyes. There were other lights flickering in the dark now.  They were gathering around him–a halo of twinkling magic. He stood up and they flowed around him, outlining his anciet frame.

“It’s time to go, isn’t it, my friends?” He gazed up at the sky, a shooting star raced to the west. “I’m glad you came.  I’ve missed you.”

The old man slumped to the ground, but his spirit stayed standing, surrounded by the fairies.  They rose into the sky together, escorting the old spirit home.