The second installment of an ongoing series. If you have not read the previous one, you can find it here.

“Come. We must hurry,” Said the being, reaching for Tara’s hand through the now open window.

The feeling returned to Tara’s extremities as she got over her initial shock. The being didn’t seem threatening at all, now that they were standing right in front of her. They looked much softer now, waiting patiently with their hand stretched out. A polite smile stretched across their face. Quite pretty, actually. Or, handsome?

“I’m not going anywhere with anyone I don’t know.” Tara refused. “Besides, summer school starts tomorrow, I can’t just be going around with some stranger.”

“Forgive me.” The being said, stepping through the window, making sure their flowing robes didn’t get snagged in the opening. “I know you so well, I forget you don’t know us at all.” They motioned to the bird-creature, who flew to their shoulder and settled, nuzzling the side of the being’s face.

“You’ve been following me?”

“Keeping an eye on you on behalf of your father.” The being corrected.

“Why?” Tara could feel her face flush. She had never even met her father and now she finds out that he had some– person– keeping tabs on her. “Why couldn’t he just come see for himself? Why has he been away all this time if he’s going to send someone to spy on me?” Tara turned her back on the two strangers and crossed her arms.

“He made a promise.”

Tara turned her head and side-eyed the intruder. “Promise?”

“He promised your mother he would stay away until such time when you decided for yourself that you wanted to come see him.”

Tara, suddenly humbled, turned back around to face the Being.

“Of course, as time went on, we began to realize that she was never going to tell you of your father… of your birthright.”

“My what?”

The creature on the Being’s shoulder began to chatter.

“Quiet, Hanky.” The Being put their finger on the creature’s beak, which seamed to calm it in an instant. The being turned back toward the window, gazing up at the daytime darkness.

“Hanky?” Tara scoffed. “Is that what you call your bird… thing?”

“Quiet.” The Being responded, sticking their finger in Tara’s face.

Moments later, the Being turned around. Their expression had changed. Their calm exterior had been replaced with restlessness. “You must make a decision quickly.” The being climbed onto the window sill and crouched, awaiting an answer.

“I don’t understand. What is going on?”

“It would require more explanation than we have time, I’m afraid.” The Being had noticeably accelerated their speech. “The quick version is that your father’s energy has been sucked to within an inch of his life and he wishes to see you before he passes on.” As an afterthought, the Being also stated, “And Hanky is not my homunculus, it belongs to your father.”

“Why does he call you ‘Master?'”

“I imagine it is because that is what your father called me.”

“And you want to take me to go meet him? My father?”

The being nodded.

Tara looked around at her room. Everything she knew about herself could be found here. She thought about the things she didn’t know about herself. If anyone had answers, maybe it would be Him. Her father. A man she assumed, up until now, had no interest in her. Her mother never spoke ill of him, but she never led Tara to believe he had wanted contact with her.

“Okay. Let’s go.” Tara said, reaching her hand out.

The luminous Being reached their hand out, in turn.

The hands clasped.

“My name is Phyal.”