I didn’t want to tell her about Mom; she didn’t need that right now. As soon as I got Ashling back, I would tell her then. Not a second before. I opened my mouth to speak, but she beat me to it.

“They got Mom too,” she whispered. A pit opened up in the center of my stomach. It was almost worse than if Mom had been taken by humans. At least the police would have had a chance in finding her then. As it was they were both depending on me to save them. Mother of God help us all.

“I’m so afraid Quinn. Please, please don’t leave me here.”

I wanted to close my eyes but didn’t dare, for fear that if I did Ashling would disappear. “I won’t, you have to know that I won’t. But I can’t figure out what’s going on.”

“It’s like Grandpa’s stories. The ones about the monsters. I thought he was crazy,” she whispered. “I wish I’d believed him.” Her green eyes spilled over with tears.

“I know. Me too. Do you remember him talking about Fomorii or Tuatha?” I asked.

Her eyes brightened and she dashed the tears away. “Yes! They battled over Ireland. The Tuatha were bright and beautiful and kind.”

“Like Luke,” I said, my voice soft. Her mouth dropped open.

“He’s one of them?”

I nodded. “Yes, but keep going, I don’t remember these stories of Grandpa’s.”

“He never told them to you,” she said. “Grandpa told me that it would be my job to tell them to you one day, when it was time for you to know . . .” Her eyes were wide, and I felt my own face mirror her expression.

“Ashling, tell me everything Grandpa said. I don’t think we have much time.”

She spun the tale as fast as she could. The two races, the Fomorii and the Tuatha de Daanan fought over Ireland. The Fomorii were cruel and tyrannical; they oppressed the people of Ireland for hundreds of years. When the Tuatha arrived they battled with the Fomorii, rescued Ireland from their clutches and restored peace to the land.

“Both races have great strength, speed, healing and powers with illusions. That’s all I can remember right now Quinn,” she said. Her eyes were their usual pristine emerald tones, but had bags under them, dark circles that attested to the stress she was under. I wanted to wipe them clean, take it all away from her.

“Why are they here?” I asked.

“I don’t know Quinn.” Her eyes sparkled with tears. “I just want to come home.”

A wave of exhaustion swept over me. I wavered, my one hand slipping from the mirror. Ashling shimmered and, for a moment, I saw my amber eyes instead of her green ones.

“Quinn. Don’t leave me!” she cried out.