JOURNEY INTO THE REALM: The Spell Master (Journey into the Realm Series) by Markelle Grabo Page A

fun after school.”
    “I was just showing Nathan the eggs,” I told her.
    She wasn’t very convinced. “Outside?” she asked, eyebrows raised.
    “Um….” I looked down at my feet.
    “We just finished looking at the eggs…and I was just going home,” Nathan said. “See you tomorrow, Ramsey. It was nice meeting you, Zora.” He waved and walked down the street before either of us could stop him.
    “Ramsey, go inside. Now ,” Zora instructed, once he was out of earshot.
    I sadly watched Nathan walk away. It was rude of Zora to act so hostile to him. Was she right to be suspicious? Was I acting the wrong way around Nathan? We were just friends; we hardly knew each other. But I couldn’t deny our connection. And I couldn’t deny how much I already liked him.
    Did this mean I wanted to be with him instead of Stellan? No . Leaving Stellan for Nathan would be just as foolish as fighting an Element fairy without any weapons. Plain suicide.
    Still, I hung my head low and walked slowly to the door. Zora waited impatiently for me to enter the house. I sighed.
    “Really, Zora?” I asked.
    This was ridiculous. Zora was my sister, not my mother. She didn’t have the right to make me do anything. I listened because I loved her, and I knew she cared about me.
    But if she was going to act like this all the time, I didn’t know how long it would be before I stopped listening.

~6~
A Dream
    “Ramsey, what were you doing out there?” Zora asked when I finally walked into the cottage.
    I rolled my eyes and sighed dramatically. I knew how to play “angered teen” after so many years watching Dina, but this was more than just an act. I was genuinely pissed off. “Having fun, Zora. I was having a good time.”
    “With an elf.”
    “With Nathan ,” I corrected, pronouncing his name slowly so she would understand.
    Her emerald eyes narrowed. “He is still an elf.”
    “So?” I probed, crossing my arms in defiance.
    “Stellan is at war, Ramsey. I thought you understood that.”
    “You don’t need to tell me that, Zora. I know he is at war. I know he is in danger every day. But that doesn’t mean I can’t have fun. I deserve to have a life!” I cried, clenching my fists to show how angry I was.
    “Listen to yourself! You’re running around with another elf while Stellan is fighting for you and the rest of the Realm. I didn’t think you would take your relationship with him for granted.” She threw her hands up in the air with frustration. “That’s why I chose to support your relationship. I’m beginning to have my doubts.”
    I sneered. “I see what you’re getting at, Zora. I know you’re still upset about him being with me and not you. I can see it. No matter how much you try to hide it. And now you’re punishing me for his mistakes!”
    “That’s not true,” she said quietly, her expression suddenly gentle and young.
    “You don’t fool me, Zora,” I said, refusing to pity her. I went into our room and slammed the door behind me, reminding myself of the way Dina would slam her door after a fight with my human parents. I felt like a rebellious teenager, but this situation was completely different...right?
    I was fuming as I sat on my bed and buried my face in my pillow. I wasn’t doing anything wrong! Stellan told me in his letter to have a life. I was living! I had friends and great classes at school. What was wrong with that?
    I knew the only thing wrong with it was that Nathan was an elf. If I was having fun with an elfen like Janie or Ellie, Zora wouldn’t be so upset. I was right about her and Stellan. She was jealous. She still cared about him, and I knew in her heart that she wanted him back. She put up a front, but I saw right through it.
    I usually never became this heated, but Zora’s accusations had shaken me and made me doubt my commitment to Stellan. Was I really taking him for granted?
    Thinking about Stellan reminded me of the letter I had yet to write to him. Still feeling