Brave New World
Defying Gravity (and Curfew)

November19, 2005

Toeveryone living in New York City, it felt as if winter had arrived early, buthad forgotten the snow. The trees werealmost completely bare, just a few orange stragglers left to cling to thebranches. The wind was cold and bitterand pieced straight through to the bone. Luckily for Reyna, she was safe and warm inside Dunstan’s brownstone,watching nature wreck its havoc on earth’s inhabitants from a safe distance. Sitting on her bed, she was able to peer overout of her window down to the streets and laugh whenever the wind got the bestof a pedestrian.

Turningher attention back to the notebooks on her bed, Reyna looked over her net day’sitinerary for the fifth time. She’d beturning fourteen tomorrow, meaning she’d get to see all her friends, eat lotsof cake, and get away with anything she’d like. Marcus was set to come over around noon with plans to spend thenight. Reyna had already prepared theirsleeping bags down in the living room, had bought all the necessary snackingitems, and had rented their favorite movies from Family Video.

Will and Jaredwould also be coming over for dinner and cake, and maybe they could all sneakaway to watch a fight or two. Sybilwould be coming in the morning and would be in charge of all things food, whichReyna was eternally thankful for since if it was up to Dunstan, he’d just orderthem pizzas or something generic. Sophieand Lilith were also scheduled in for a visit, though Reyna didn’t reallyunderstand why, she didn’t question it, knowing that they gave the bestgifts. Of course, they wouldn’t arriveuntil after Jared and Will left to save everyone a headache.

Thepresent that had Reyna practically jumping up and down on her bed withexcitement, though, was that tonight Dunstan had promised her that he’d takeher to see the Broadway production of Wicked. Reyna had seen the advertising poster for itone day while they had been out and had begged Dunstan to take her eversince. He’d surprised her earlier in theday by coming home with two tickets in hand. Reyna had squealed and jumped on him, unable to contain herexcitement. The performance was supposedto start at 7:00 tonight, just an hour and a half away. Reyna had been ready to go since Dunstanwalked in with the tickets, dressed in one of her nicest dresses—courtesy ofLilith—and matching earrings—courtesy of Sophie.

“Reynadear, are you ready?” Dunstan called upthe stairs.

Runningdown the hallway, and barely managing to catch herself from tripping down thestairs, the Reyna beamed up at him and replied excitedly, “Yup!”

Dunstanshook his head and sighed at her antics. They slipped their feet into their shoes, grabbed their coats, and headedout of the house to the awaiting cab. They arrived at the theater forty five minutes later, giving them plentyof time to check their tickets and coats, replace their seats, and a run to therestroom for one final pit stop to hold them over for the performance. Making sure her phone was turned off, Reynacould barely sit still in her seat, especially once the lights went dark andthe curtain raised up high.

Thefirst half of the show was amazing. Reyna was completely enamored with the first song, ‘No One Mourns theWicked’, laughed during ‘What Is This Feeling?’ and ‘Popular’, and had to hideher sniffling during ‘I’m Not That Girl’. Elphaba had just finished her brilliant solo in ‘Defying Gravity’ whenthe sound of buzzing reached her ears. Lookingfor the source of the incessant noise, Reyna discovered that it was Dunstan’sphone buzzing away in his pocket. Hewinced and pulled it out of his pocket, saw who was calling him, and shuffledawkwardly down the aisle so he could answer it. Huffing, Reyna returned her attention to the magnificent play in frontof her.

Beforeshe knew it, Reyna was laughing over the fact that Elphaba survived and wouldgo on to live happily ever after with her scarecrow. It was only when the lights turned back upthat she realized Dunstan hadn’t returned. Frowning, she turned her phone on with the intent to call him. A text came through before she could dial hisentire number, and Reyna noticed that it was from Dunstan. Biting her lip, she opened the text.

Called away by client. Left cab fare with box office. Text me when you’re home.

Barely holding back ashriek, she stomped over to the coat check, grabbed her coat, and then skulkedover to the box office for the cab fare. “Hi,” she said to the woman behind the glass, “My, uh, guardian,” shepaused with a questioning tone, then continued more surely, “Yeah, he leftsomething here for me.”

“What’sthe name, sweetie?” The woman asked.

“Reyna,”she responded.

Thewoman looked at her for a few seconds longer, then asked, “And the last name?”

“Oh,uh, huh,” Reyna sighed. What was herlast name? She hadn’t heard it use sinceshe was a little girl. It started withan ‘S’, she thought vaguely, or was it an ‘H’? Shaking her head, she decided to go with Dunstan’s last name instead,“Bates.” As the woman went through adrawer of envelopes, Reyna wondered if her last name was Bates now too. Reyna Bates. Scrunching her nose, she decided she did not like the sound of that.

The woman behindthe glass made a noise of approval and slid an envelope under the slot belowthe glass towards Reyna, “Here you are! If you need help getting a cab, just let one of us here know!” Nodding her head in thanks to the woman,Reyna made her way out into the frigid night. She couldn’t believe Dunstan had left her there. It was basically her birthday, for Pete’ssake! Growling under her breath, shewalked over to the curb and looked over the oncoming cars with a dullstare. Successfully calling over a cab,Reyna entered and told him the address. After ensuring she had money to actually pay him, the cab driver spedoff towards the direction of Dunstan’s brownstone.

Slouching down inthe seat, Reyna pushed out her bottom lip in a pout and looked out the window,silently fuming over the night’s events. The cab was just two blocks away from the house when a flash of silvercaught her attention. Whipping her neckto look out the rear-view window for a second glance, Reyna shouted, “Stop!Stop! Stop the car!” Slamming on the breaks, the cab driver glaredat Reyna through the Plexiglas. Pullingout the correct number of bills Dustan had left her, she all but threw them atthe man. “I’ll get out here. Keep the change!” She yelled, already half way out the car.

Pulling her coattightly around her body, Reyna ran down the side walk, her eyes honed in on ahead of white hair. “Melchiorn!” She yelled out, catching multiple people’sattention. However, none of them werewho she wanted. “Melchiorn!” She yelledagain as she got closer, and louder this time. She knew it was him! She justknew it. Her belly even knew it. Sucking in another lung full of air with theintent to call him for the third time, her voice quickly died off when the darkskinned Elf turned and made eye contact with her. “Melchiorn,” she breathedout.

The Elf raised adelicate silver eyebrow at her and for a brief moment, panic wrapped around herheart. What if he didn’t rememberher? Before more insecure thoughts couldflood her mind, Melchiorn’s lips curved into a tender smile.

“Reyna? Little Reyna, is that you?” His eyes flashed yellow in the light as heasked, reminding Reyna of the first time she met him.

Smiling backwidely, Reyna nodded and jabbed, “Now say it with conviction.” Letting a breathy laugh out, Reyna launchedherself at the Elf, wrapping her arms around his middle. Chuckling himself, Melchiorn squeezed hercloser to him. Pulling away slightly soshe could look up at him, she marveled at how he looked the exact same to her,like he hadn’t aged a day. “I neverthought I’d see you again,” she told him.

Patting herlightly on the head, he responded with a wry smile, “Never is an awfully longtime, child. Fate was bound to bring ustogether again eventually.”

“Yeah, but it’sbeen basically forever since I last saw you!” Reyna whined, hugging him again. “You know I ran away from that policestation, hoping I’d replace you again,” she mumbled into his jacket.

“Did you now?” Hemarveled, “What happened after?”

Reyna let out alaugh, “A lot,” she answered.

Humming, Melchiornpulled away a bit so he could have a better look at her. “Why don’t you tell me about it over some hotchocolate?”

Nodding excitedly,they clasped hands and made their way down the street. After stopping in a corner Starbucks, Reynaand Melchiorn sat outside on a bench. Reyna figured she would have been shivering if it weren’t for the hotchocolate warming up her insides and hands, not to mention the fact that herbody was bursting with energy and excitement from being reunited with herchildhood savior. Reyna told him allabout her time living in Central Park after she ran away from the policestation, how Dunstan had taken her in and taught her magic, about thefriendships she’s made. She even regaledhim about her experience with other creatures like the Fairies, Goblins, andDwarves—though she left out the part where Magnus assaulted Marcus.

Once she caughthim up to date with her life’s events, especially the part about Dunstanleaving her at the theater, she turned her focus onto his life and what he’dbeen doing the past seven years. Likethe other creatures she’d met, she wanted to know everything. Where did Elves live? Did Melchiorn come into the city often? CouldElves really live forever? Throughoutthe whole ordeal Melchiorn smiled patiently at the young girl, answered thequestions as best he could, and even offered up information that Reyna neverwould have thought of asking, like how the Elves lived in factions similar toFairies, though not as cut and dry.

Reyna was ecstaticto be spending time with Melchiorn and wished the night would never end. However, around eleven Reyna’s line ofquestioning was disrupted by the shrill ring of her phone. Putting down her now empty Styrofoam cup ofhot chocolate, she flipped open her phone and grimaced when she saw thatDunstan was calling. “Oops,” she mumbledto herself before answering the call. “Hello?” she asked tentatively.

“Where are you?” Dunstan asked curtly. Reyna could almost feel the waves of angerradiating off him through the phone.

“Uh, not far. I went to get hot chocolate with a friend.” She grimaced, looking up at Melchiorn who’sfaced was etched with concern.

“What friend?”

“Melchiorn,” Sheanswered, wondering if she’d ever told Dunstan about him, and if she had, ifhe’d remember the name.

“Melchiorn?” Dunstan repeated. “Did youjust meet him on the street Reyna? Iswear, if this is a repeat of the Dwarf incident I swear to God—”

“It’s not like theDwarf incident!” Reyna cut him off witha huff, though she knew she completely deserved his skepticism. “Look, it’s really not. He’s, like, my oldest friend, okay?” She said with some sass. Just because she understood why Dunstan wasacting the way he was didn’t mean she had to like it. Before either of them could saying anythingelse though, Melchiorn held his hand out and motioned to the phone. “Hold on,” Reyna said, “He wants to talk toyou.”

“Hello, SorcererDunstan?” Melchiorn greeted. “My name isMelchiorn and am a Child of the Blackfrost Woods. Yes, from Canada. Yes,” he said, and Reyna wondered what hekept saying yes to, “Actually it seems I met young Reyna here just before youdid, in Central Park. Funny isn’t it?” He laughed politely. “Yes, yes,” he said slowly with a nod of hishead. “Of course, I understand. I was unaware she had a curfew.” Reyna gave the phone a strange look. She didn’t have a curfew! “She’ll be home soon, rest assured.” Therewas a pause. “Good night, then.” Melchiorn ended and snapped the phoneshut.

Taking back herphone, Reyna mumbled, “I don’t have a curfew.”

“I know,” He saidsimply before grabbing their cups and standing.

“What?” The sorceress asked, standing too. “How?”

“Can you keep asecret?” He asked with a smallsmile. Reyna nodded sincerely. “Elvescan hear lies, Reyna,” he informed her while throwing away their trash. Taking her hand in his, they began to strolldown the street towards the brown stone. “And your father told quite a few in the past few minutes.” He cluckedhis tongue.

“Dunstan’s not my father,” Reyna said with a firmshake of her head. “Not even close,” sheadded.

“Oh? I assumed he adopted you and that’s why youlived with him.”

“Nah,” Shegrunted, looking up to see his eyes flash yellow again. “I’m just his ward or whatever,” sheshrugged. Melchiorn hummed, but saidnothing.

They were just ablock down from the brownstone, Reyna could see the front light from where theystood, when a strange chirping sound coming from the bushes caught theirattention. “What’s that?” sheasked.

Melchiorn hummedagain and moved to look between the bush’s branches. “It sounds like a bird,” he told her. “Ah,” he said after just a few seconds ofsearching. Reaching in with gentlehands, he picked up a small fledgling. “It’s a baby crow,” he said.

“Where’s itsnest?” Reyna asked, curiously looking at the bird. It was kind of ugly, if Reyna was beinghonest. Its head was too big for itsbody. The bird kept trying to stand up,but kept falling over in the Melchiorn’s hands, and its feathers had barelycome in, making it look sickly.

Looking intentlyat the bird, Melchiorn whispered, “Indicamihi,” under his breath. His eyesflashed yellow once more, but this time stayed that unusual color for muchlonger than Reyna had ever seen. Sighingsadly, his eyes returned to their normal, silvery color, “Poor thing,” hesaid. “He was blown out of his nest bythe wind. You see this mark right here?”he asked, showing a decent sized gouge on its side. “A cat found him and picked him up for somefun, but then left him in this bush. He’s been taken far from his home and doesn’t know how to get back.”

Reyna’s browsfurrowed, “Can’t we try to replace his nest?” Placing one of her hands near the trembling bird, she pushed in a lightlayer of magic and could feel his heart beating erratically. Swallowing, she focused some more of hermagic into his wound and applied some healing magic to it. The gouge glowed softly as it healed andReyna smiled when she removed her hand and saw the wound was gone. Looking up at Melchiorn, she saw he wasstaring at her with a gentle smile on his lips.

Melchiorn lookedback down to the bird and said, “I’m afraid not. He doesn’t know where it is anymore, and hecan’t tell me what he doesn’t know.”

“What’ll happen tohim?” Reyna asked worriedly. The more she looked at the fledgling, themore her heart reached out towards him. What she had called ugly not two minutes before, she now considered cuteand in need of help.

“If we leave himhere, he’ll die.” Melchiorn said. “Fledglings need a lot of attention,Reyna. They need a warm home, foodalmost every two hours, and lots of affection. Especially crows.”

“I could take careof him!” She offered. “I swear I’ll makesure he’s always warm, and fed, and, and I’ll love him, like, a ton!”

“Are you sure?” Hetested, “It’ll be a lot of work. If youmiss one feeding, Reyna, he’ll die.”

“I won’t, Iswear! I’ll set my phone alarm for everytwo hours and everything. I can dothis. I can!” She told him.

Melchiorn smiledagain and gave her a long look in the eye. “I know,” he eventually said. “Here,” he said softly, handing the fledglingto her. “He’s in your care now.” Standing back up to his full height,Melchiorn tilted his head and observed the brightly smiling girl. “Any name in mind for him?”

“What about, um,Poe?” She said with a small smile.

“Poe?” Herepeated.

“Yeah, you know,like the writer?”

“Edgar Allen Poe?”

“Yeah!” Reyna saidwith a small smile, “Didn’t he, like write about crows?”

Melchiorn shookhis head, “That was a raven,” he told her.

“Oh,” the younggirl mumbled, looking down at her feet. An embarrassed blush stained her cheeks.

“It’s still a goodname, though.” Melchiorn told her. “Poethe crow.”

Laughing at therhyme, Reyna looked up at her friend with a smile, “Poe the crow,” sherepeated. Nodding, she looked down atthe fledgling, “What do you think, little man? Like the name Poe?”

“He does, actually.”Melchiorn assured after the bird let out a small chirp.

Reyna was going toask how he knew, but stopped when she saw the flash of yellow again in his eyesand figured it was an Elf thing. BringingPoe closer to her chest, they of them finished the walk towards the brownstonein companionable silence. Stopping atthe base of the steps, Reyna asked, “Do you have a cell phone, Melchiorn?”

Titling his headdown at his human friend, he replied, “No, child, I do not.” Seeing her pout, the Elf laughed and asked,“Why?”

“Well I thought wecould exchange numbers so I wouldn’t have to go seven more years before seeingyou again,” she said with a shrug, trying not to show how disheartened she wasby that prospect.

“Why don’t yougive me your number, then, and next time I’m in town I’ll call? Though, it may not be as frequent as you like.”

Perking up at the idea, Reyna quickly rattledoff her number, and then repeated herself so Melchiorn would remember it. He smiled and said it back to her, ensuringthat he’d remember it. Bending down tokiss Reyna’s forehead, Melchiorn mumbled, “Terratueris,” into her skin before pulling away. Reyna looked up at him, saw his eyes flash once more, and was ready toask him what he’d said, but he spoke first, “Until next time, Reyna.” With one last kiss of her head, Melchiornwalked away down the city streets. Watchinghim until he was out of sight, Reyna felt the curl of a smile on her lips. Looking down at a chirping Poe, she hummedand quickly climbed the steps up to her home.