CHAPTER 1

Questions Unanswered

Running. That's what I was doing, with a fire wind on myneck. I didn't know where I was going, but I knew I had toget away. If I looked behind me, I could lose ground. I felt myarms pumping along my sides, as though that would helpme go faster. If only I could fly. With that thought, I jumped,leaping over a lump of grass buried along a fence. Faster.Faster. I had to get away.

The air moved through my lungs giving me strength. Iwasn't good at running, but the jumping I could do thanks toall my gymnastics classes. I came to what looked like a deadend of the dirt trail I'd been following. I started to examine mysurroundings for an exit. A large stone fence seemed to linethe edges of my path. At the end was a tunnel. This had to bemy escape.

That's when I heard the roar. I didn't want to look back,but sometimes you can't help it. Slowly I turned, feeling likea character in a horror movie as the camera sweeps behind.There it was. A large, scaled creature, teeth bared, with asinuous neck like a dragon with sweeping Pterodactyl wings.It looked more like a dinosaur from a textbook than a realliving thing. It gave another bellow and snorted fire. That can'tbe good.

* * *

My eyes opened. I'd woken up from another of thosenightmares. I was glad. This time I thought he might catchme. It's good to wake up just in time, especially when beingchased by a dragon. Luckily, it was still only a dream. But ithad felt so real. I gave myself a shake to help wake up andfocus.

In my line of business, what seems like fantasy can bereal. I'm a Crystal Keeper, and between my Fairy Helpers,my talking cat that happens to be a sorcerer too, my unicornguide, and friends in high places (like the Green Man),dragons could just be around the corner. If these dreams keepcoming like this, I won't be surprised if a dragon shows up atthe window.

But that's the least of my worries. I still don't know whereEdina, my best friend and fellow Crystal Keeper, has beentaken. Dark Sorcerer Balkazaar kidnapped her after we fooledhim by wishing the Pillywiggin fairies free. I don't think hewas too happy about that.

The last time I saw her, Eddie (my nickname for Edina)was grabbed by Balkazaar and taken through a fairy pathvortex to who knows where. That's what I've been working onthe last few days since I've been back from the fairy paths inIreland. I've been trying to find her. I have no idea how, but Iam going to try.

Since that day, she hasn't been in school. I've called herhouse, but get no answer. I figured, maybe, in a couple daysthere would be a big search or something. A newscast wouldcome up with her picture saying she was missing and the girlhunt would be on. But nothing. Absolute nothing. I have noclue what is going on.

Meow.

There was a thump, and I could feel the walking of my cat,Brewford, as he made his way along the bed.

Was it the dream again?

"Yes, Brew, this time he cornered me, and I didn't have anexit. Each time it seems to get worse."

It could be just a symbolic dream. I'm sure you are feeling a bittrapped in your options on where Edina might be. The creature thatseeks you could represent your frustrations.

"Maybe, Brew, but somehow I think it's more than that."

Dreams can be messages from other realms. Or sometimes aportent of foreboding. The creature, how would you describe it?

"Scary, big, scaly, and kind of thinking of it, a lot like adragon."

Dragons are interesting. They can be very helpful sometimes.Did you consider that maybe it's not the dragon going after you, butmaybe something else? What do you think you're running from?

"I don't know. I can't see. But maybe I'm not running fromthe danger, but toward it. Wouldn't be the first time." I gaveBrewford a wink.

He gave me a half stare. This seemed to make him lookmore like Garfield in my mind. With Brewford's striped tail,tabby fur, and Abyssinian eyes, I half expected Odie, Garfield'ssidekick, to jump up on the bed next. Of course, Brewford isalso a powerful cat sorcerer, not to mention several centuriesold, which he never lets me forget. Yoda with fur comes tomind.

Are you ready to feed me? Your mother isn't up yet. I think thesecond job is making her extra tired.

That's another thing. Mom got a new job that started thisweek. It's only part time in the evenings, but it's going to makeit hard for her to do all the Mom things. You know, helpingwith homework, cooking dinner, and feeding the cat. So thenews went something like this:

"Honey, I'm going to have to rely on you to be moreresponsible now that I'm working at night too. We need themoney, and I know you can do it. `Kay?"

I simply nodded. I mean what else could I say? I couldn'treally tell her the truth. I could see me trying something likethis, "Hey Mom, I help the fairies and have saved the worldtwice now. I can totally handle a night or two a week on myown. I'm a big, sixth grader now, and a Crystal Keeper." Butthis was a secret I couldn't tell her. No one could know butanother Keeper.

But then, being a Crystal Keeper is like that. I have foundthat saving the day is part of the job. Luckily, I have elvesto help with my homework too. One of the perks of being aCrystal Keeper. The elves and other fairies of the realms relyon us to help guard their entrances and assist with magicaldefense. But that comes later in the story.

Right now, I am just trying to just figure out where Eddieis. It's tough not knowing what happened. I figured, with itbeing Monday, I could maybe talk to some of her friends I meta few days ago. Maybe they've seen her since last week.

"Okay, hold on, cat." I eased myself off the side of the bedand heard another thump. I felt the rubbing against my...