Crystal Friend Chapter 1 By Mildred Ki'Lya

On her bed was sitting a small creature, about four inches tall, with marvellous green wings. She must have been there for a minute, looking in amazement for the little creature spoke

“So, have you decided to stand up here for the whole night?”

---

Version 2.3 – Thanks to Puddintane and stanman63 for correcting my mistakes

Warning: this is the first ever story I wrote, and English is not my native language, so be indulgent, please. If you find errors, don't hesitate to point them to me though.

---

 

Ashley came back from school. It was a long day, and she didn't relinquished the idea of coming home and relaxing a bit. “Hi mum, it's me” was what she said when she entered the house she shared with her parents and her little brother. She also had a sister, but at the age of 21, you generally don't stay with your parents, you live by yourself. At least, that's what you do when you study far from home.

Entering her room, she first noticed a strange object on her bed. It was a little ball, of the purest white. It seemed fragile, as if it was sentient. It looked like it should be taken care of, not just disposed of offhandedly. Wondering what it was, she went through her clothes to dress a bit more comfortably. The weather was warm and she would be more comfortable with a light skirt and top. Returning to her bed, where the strange object still was there. Delicately, she took it to put it to a side of the bed.

Life was OK so far. Not that great, but she could manage. Her biggest concern was that one day her body would betray her and she would no longer be able to be a regular girl at school. She deeply longed to find a solution to that problem. If only she could have been born a girl, but she knew it wasn't the case. She had heard of people like her in the crystal library, and she knew, there was a possibility to get her body to behave as she wanted it to, but, she hadn't found much more information. The crystal she had used at school wouldn't let her find more specific information. Probably, the school had limited its usage.

She knew crystals could do almost anything. She knew it was the key to her problem, but she didn't knew how to use them properly. It was some kind of secret only shared among great magicians. She wanted to become one of them, but it would take years, and her body would probably have been wasted by that time. Like many evenings, she was lying on her bed, thinking of her life, and sadness filled her. Mind you, crystals made it possible to have cars, telephones and many of the advanced technology. It could even heal people, a doctor would program a crystal just as needed, and by carrying it around, you healed.

Wrapped up in her thoughts, she just drifted off to sleep.

“Ashley“

It was her mother, Eryn

“Sweetie, you don't want to sleep through dinner, do you?”

Realizing that she was asleep for too long now, she composed herself, “Excuse me, Mum, I was so tired, I couldn't help it.”

“It's OK, just have dinner with us, would you? I know your life isn't always that easy, but life has to go on. I'm sure you'll find a way in time, just keep the faith.”

“I'll try.”

“Don't just try, and you know it, now come”

She followed her mother downstairs in the kitchen. Usually, she would help her mother a bit, but not today. The dinner was uneventful, her brother as always teasing her, in a good kind of way. He cared about her but was afraid to let it show, or so she thought.

Their dinner finished, everyone helped to clean everything up, and when that was done Ashley came back to her room. Up the stairs, Ashley was in awe of what she had found. On her bed, was sitting a small creature, about four inches tall, with marvelous green wings. She must have been standing there for over a minute, looking in amazement when the little creature spoke.

“So, have you decided to stand up here for the whole night?”

Realizing where she was, she entered the room “But ... who are you, I mean ... what are you doing here?”

“It isn't usual finding someone like me here, is it?”

“No, not really.”

“By the way, I'm Meryl, you are...?”

“Ashley.”

“You're probably wondering what I am doing here. All I can tell you is that there is a good reason.”

“You mean you don't know why you came here?”

“Haven't you seen my egg?”

“It was ... and you ...”

“Yes.”

“Oh, sorry, I have to admit, it's the first time I met someone like you.”

“I'm not that different, you know” replied Meryl. And, in less time than needed for blinking, Meryl took a human form. Looking around 14 years old, with the same blond hair and green eyes she had in her pixie form. “Do I look more normal now?” she then asked.

Ashley, in shock, sat on her bed next to Meryl. Trying to start a conversation, Ashley questioned, “How do you do that?”

“For me, it's like breathing,” she replied, “there is no great secret here, if you are like me.”

“I guess.” That was all Ashley was able to say at that point.

They remained silent for a moment more, sitting on the bed next to one another, having nothing to say. Ashley was recovering from the shock she had just gone through. Believing, as she did, that magical creatures existed, was one thing. Having one of those creatures in your bedroom talking to you was a completely different matter.

“Would you help me?” Meryl suddenly asked after a few minutes.

“Probably. How can I help you?” replied Ashley with a bit more confidence than before.

“You know, I just came to this world, and I am new to all of this as well. I may instinctively know a few things, but I'm a real novice otherwise. I don't know my way around here, and have no idea where to live.”

“Sure, but you know, I have to attend school during the day, and I can hardly be seen with a flying little creature around me. I don't think everyone would accept that. So, what do we do?”

“Well, I could attend school with you. What do you think?”

“I think I can handle that, you know, I just happen to know a bit of magic.” With that, Meryl miraculously produced some administrative papers that would let her attend school. “I think it would be enough.”

"You know, you'll have to teach me few of your tricks."

“So, you want to be a magician?”

“Kind of,” Ashley grinned, “but would probably take too much time to learn.”

“What do you mean by too much time? Learning takes time, but it's normal. You can't expect to know everything right away, unless you are like me. I could just change you, but I don't really know how. And I don't want to make a mistake.”

“You mean I could be like you?”

“In theory, it's possible,” Meryl answered noncommittally. “So, you haven't answered my question, what's in your mind. I may not be able to read minds, but I know when someone is hiding something. And I can tell there is something huge in there.”

Ashley remained silent, obviously embarrassed. Then, she said “You know, I really wish I could just ...” and stopped, incapable of continuing.

“Whatever it is, it's fine with me.”

“I wish I was a girl.” she said before turning away

“What do you mean, you are, aren't you?”

“No, I mean yes ... well, not completely.”

“That's fine with me, that's hardly a problem, or is it?”

“Problem?” Ashley asked turning back to Meryl. Looking at her, she saw that Meryl told the truth. Nothing like this could prevent her to stay her friend. “Yes it's a problem. I might be a girl now, but what about in a few years. My body is betraying me. If only I could ...” with tears in her eyes, she stopped, unable to finish her sentence.

Looking straight in Ashley's eyes, Meryl spoke: “I don't know how I can help you, but I will, I promise.”

“Thanks.”

“Now, you need to sleep, we'll see how to go from there tomorrow, go now”

Before Ashley could protest, Meryl had already cast a sleeping spell on her.

To Be Continued...

---

 

Thank you for reading.
Last thing, before you comment (if you ever want to), could you tell me if you think the writing is more UK or US, I don't have much idea myself since I'm French.

Also, I can't tell you when the next chapter will be out, as I have no idea yet.

Crystal Friend Chapter 2 By Mildred Ki'Lya Edited by Sephrena Lynn Miller

“You have nothing at all to fear from me, please! I never kill. And, I do not need much blood.” Blushing a deep rose red, she continued lowering her eyes, “It’s not the blood itself I need - it’s a gift of life, the blood is just the medium. That is different from how you are thinking of what the word ‘vampire’ is.”

Ashley was dumbfounded by what Meryl had told her.

---

Version 3.3

I want to thank Sephrena Lynn Miller for her extensive review and editing of this chapter, that helped me refining this story (even if it means some delay). If you find it great, it's because of her. Thanks as well to Sika Sinn for some corrections and Clarisse for advice, support and ideas.

---

 

Ashley was now back in her bed, deeply sleeping. There was no chance of waking her up. Meryl was looking over at her friend with mixed feelings. She seemed as if she was on the verge of doing something, but, there was always something that was keeping her from doing it. She finally decided to let her friend sleep a little more. Meryl opened the window some and changed into her pixie form. She fluttered out the window and over the houses of the neighborhood. She occasionally hovered by a window, peering inside with curiosity.

After a few hours of flying about, Meryl flew back to Ashley's room and closed the window. In an instant, her flying body disappeared and became her other self in human form. With Ashley sleeping like a log, Meryl proceeded to look through Ashley's clothes and selected a lavender flowered nightgown to wear for the night.

Meryl then slipped quietly into bed with Ashley. For a moment, she was just happy contemplating her friend sleeping. She was so peaceful Meryl hesitated to disturb Ashley. Finally, she came closer and gently whispered something unintelligible to Ashley's ears. Ashley was still fast sleep, seemingly impervious to her friend.

Meryl gently pressed her lips against Ashley’s cheek and then came down slowly onto her neck. Ashley unconsciously responded by lifting her chin, inviting her friend closer. At that, Meryl became more passionate: the slight kissing Meryl started turned into a gentle sucking on her neck. Both of them seemed to immensely enjoy the experience. A moment later, Meryl still attached to her friend's neck slid her arms around her chest and held her in a loving embrace.

After what seemed an eternity, Meryl pulled away from Ashley’s neck. Traces of blood were showing on Ashley where she had obviously been bitten. With a small sense of guilt, Meryl's red lips came back to the wound. When Meryl pulled away from kissing this time, no hint of what had happened remained.

Meryl snuggled in close with Ashley and closed her eyes. Soon her breathing slowed in rhythm to her friend beside her.

- - - - -

When the crystal alarm clock finally cleansed all the sleepiness from Ashley's eyes, she suddenly sensed a warmth close to her, she was not alone in her bed. After a brief moment of panic, she remembered: last evening, the egg, and Meryl. She couldn't remember going to sleep, obviously Meryl decided to share her bed. Meryl was supposed to be accompanying her to school today too. ‘How close is she getting towards me?’ Ashley wondered. “Morning,” came the feminine voice from beside her, interrupting her thoughts.

“Morning,” Ashley replied, finally blinking her eyes wide open. “I see you decided to sleep with me. I don't really mind that, but I don't know how Mum will react. If she finds out...”

“I don’t mean to cause any trouble…” apologized Meryl.

“No, you haven't,“ objected Meryl. ”But have you figured out yet how we can explain your presence?”

“Why not tell her the truth? Usually, it’s the best solution.”

“Somehow, I don't think she would understand.”

“I can fix that!” Meryl grinned.

Ashley, suddenly realizing that perhaps there was more to her friend than she knew, started imagining her mother chastising her for having a stranger over without permission and Meryl sweetly talking her way out of it ”• the image was a bit much. Ashley couldn't help but to giggle at that. When she recovered, she then told Meryl. “I had a strange dream last night. It's a bit silly, and I don't know how it came to my mind, but I dreamed that you were a vampire and that you were feeding from me.”

Finishing the sentence, Ashley burst out laughing as if what she said was the funniest thing on earth.

Meryl just lost all color from her face. She had planned on telling Ashley what had happened, but didn't expect that!

‘Uh oh!’ she thought, ‘if she was able to perceive that then she may have a talent!’

Ashley sensing discomfort from her friend asked, “What's the matter?”

Meryl, fingering the bedspread, just looked sheepishly down at the spread, really at nothing in particular. She stayed silent.

Ashley, then, with some concern in her voice, asked what she dared not think. “Is there something between your kind and vampires?”

Meryl lifted her gaze to meet Ashley’s. “Well,” she replied shyly, “I guess. In your mind, your image of it, there is similarity.”

Ashley, somewhat frightened and excited at the same time, just kept her mouth shut and decided to let her friend continue.

Meryl, flush with embarrassment and sensing Ashley’s feelings sharply said “Stop! Please, I am not that! Well... yes, I am something like that. Let me explain.”

Meryl returned her focus to the bedspread, not knowing how to say what she wanted to tell Ashley. When she finally found out, she focused on Ashley, looking at her in the eyes.

“You have nothing at all to fear from me, please! I never kill. And, I do not need much blood.” Blushing a deep rose red, she continued lowering her eyes, “It’s not the blood itself I need - it’s a gift of life, the blood is just the medium. That is different from how you are thinking of what the word ‘vampire’ is.”

Ashley was dumbfounded by what Meryl had told her.

“So, yes, I fed from you last night. I could only do so because you let me do it, unconsciously. I could never do any harm to you.” Meryl lowered her eyelids. “I care too much… for you.”

Meryl paused and looked at Ashley. Ashley‘s mouth was slightly open.

“You mean you drank my blood?”

Meryl, quite embarrassed, just nodded in affirmation.

After the first moment of shock passed, Ashley, now curious, asked, “But why would you need it?”

Meryl slightly grinned, “I don't need it to survive ”• I'm not a ‘vampire.’ But if I want to do anything magical, I need, what you could call the ‘energy’ ”• the gift of life. I don't need to drink blood. There are other ways...”

Ashley’s response was, “Cool!”

“You really don't have a problem with it?” asked Meryl, not quite understanding her friend’s reaction. She knew most humans did not find drinking blood ‘cool.’ Ashley seemed different somehow.

“Well,” Ashley started and raised her eyebrow, “Just ask me next time, before you do something like that to me. Not that I mind, especially since it doesn't seem to be painful. But I'd prefer being aware of it.”

“I will. I promise. I just hadn't planned this out, and I needed it badly. Since you let me ...”

Ashley pulled her hair from her face and pulled it back out of the way over her shoulder. “I like vampires.”

Meryl‘s look changed to puzzlement.

“Vampires that don’t kill. I don’t suppose it’s rational, but that’s just the way I am. I always liked it. It’s cool.”

Ashley took both of her friend’s hands and clasped them into her own and stated. “Don't feel guilty, you did nothing wrong. We are friends.”

Meryl smiled and felt the warmth from Ashley’s feelings. Shyly, she asked “Would you help me around here?”

“Friends help one another. I really have never felt this way towards anyone else, but I do feel that we are friends. I can completely trust you.”

Meryl broke into a smile as Ashley pulled her close and the two embraced.

Suddenly, a woman’s voice hollered up from downstairs. “Ashley! What's taking you so long? If you don't hurry up and get dressed, you'll be late for school.”

At that, Ashley and Meryl looked at each other. Finally Meryl broke the silence. “I suppose I'd better to hide now, I don't suppose your mother will be happy seeing me like that.”

Ashley was obviously lacking words.

Meryl continued “Don't worry about me, it's not as if I haven't eaten already,” she said grinned, “Just do like you normally do things every morning and your mother shouldn't suspect a thing.”

Following Meryl's advice, Ashley started to rummage through her wardrobe to find something to wear for the day. “If you need anything, don't hesitate to ask,” Ashley said as she had found something appropriate to wear and headed for the bathroom.

Left alone, Meryl started to look in Ashley's clothes to see if she could find anything to wear. She found an apple green dress and a white cardigan that could go with it. Completely dressed, she tidied the bed and then figured out that she had better hide in case Ashley's mother wanted to see what she was doing. So, after an instantaneous transformation, she flew behind a cushion to wait patiently for Ashley's return.

- - - - -

Thirty minutes later, Ashley returned. Feeling that she was safe, Meryl showed herself and cheerfully asked, “So, are you ready to go?”

“Yes. Are you ready for your first day at school?” Ashley replied as she was picking up her backpack.

“I hope so.”

“Good. Hmmm, how are you getting out of the house? Flying out of the window?”

“That's an idea! Can you close it behind me?”

Meryl opened the window. “See you outside!”

An instant later, she was gone. Ashley closed dutifully the window before heading downstairs.

To Be Continued...

---

 

Thanks for reading :) As always, I can't guarantee on any regularity. And, I have to tell you, I don't know at all where this is heading. I have few ideas for the next chapter, but no vision for the long term. If you can give me some ideas there.

I suppose there have to be obstacles to make a story fun, if not, the story is just going to be the story of a normal and boring life. So, what? I want Ashley and Meryl to be close friends, not keeping something voluntarily from each other. Ashley has a loving family that already let her being a girl. I plan to have Ashley start soon some hind of treatment (I can't stand her being without anything). More important, I don't believe humans can be bad. Surely, they can sometimes forget themselves, but I believe humans are fundamentally good. So, what ?

Still, I'm thinking of few ideas, but I'll let you wonder what it is. Still, if you have ideas to submit within the guidelines just the above paragraph, I'd be glad to read about them.

Thanks.

Mildred

Crystal Friend Snip 1 By Mildred Ki'Lya

This is a preview of the future of the story, I wrote this short extract on my English exam while I was bored to death just having to write something simple and too technical/real for my liking. It probably won't be included verbatim in the future of the story but it gives you an idea where it is going. Be warned, the style is very raw (no proofreading at all). I hope my teachers will still like it.

---

 

Headline: Vampires feeding on humans do exist

Recently, our reporter investigating strange reports discovered that vampires did exist, he witnessed a vampire feeding on its prey and took the photo shown above. The most shocking thing is that many influential people knew about this without ever telling anybody, including out queen, who said “Technically, they aren't vampires. We shouldn't be afraid of them.” Was she out of her mind? Was she really serious and will the king back up her statement? No sane human would consider themselves willing preys. Let's hope the king still has his entire mind, untouched by those foul creatures, and let's find a new king and queen able to tackle this matter and protect us from those monsters.

Reading this, Meryl paled significantly. if she was not careful enough, she would be spotted as a “vampire”. Surely the queen would find a solution to calm everybody, but in the meantime things could get really messy. She hoped Eric would not remember the little blood she took earlier. That was just bad timing, she had just registered to school this morning and it might become a living hell in a matter of hours. It was not as if she had a choice anyway, so she had no regrets. Enrolment just used most of her magic to produce her fake identity and she had been barely able to control herself with Eric. She had needed badly a bit of his living energy and he had done it willingly, even if his consent had not been concious.

“Are you well Meryl?” Ashley had removed her from her far-away deep in thought state of mind. Carefully, she put the paper down, hiding its headline. Ashley already knew who she was. Hell, she broke her egg in Ashley's bedroom. But this was the cafeteria and Eric was right in front of her. If he ever linked this article to her, she was doomed. She could tell the article was magically enhanced to produce hate feelings.

“You look pale, do you want to see the nurse?” Ashley's words registered in her mind, but she could barely think any more, fear slowly claiming her mind. Her head started to spin and she knew she would look very sick by now, she felt nauseated. In a moment of lucidity, she let out in a low breath “Yes, please” and folded the newspaper against her chest. The next thing she knew, Ashley was taking her away to the infirmary, her lunch untouched still on the table.