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Chapter Two- "Your Eyes...."

Four hours later, the storm finally cleared out. They all went outside and started picking up tree limbs in the yard near the house.

Davena flung another large branch out of the flooded tomatoes and into the woods. She'd stuck with clearing the area nearest the house, which included the vegetable garden and her roses. Ian, she noticed, had kept straying closer to where she was working, until they were close enough to have a conversation. She struggled to uproot a particularly large branch resembling a small tree trunk out of the thick mud. Ian came over to assist her.

"Here, let me help you with that," he offered quietly, coming up next to her and helping her pry the small tree out of the mud. He carried it over to the edge of the woods and hurled it through the trees as if he was simply tossing a javelin.

"Show off," she muttered under her breath. His smile told her he'd overheard.

"What was that now?" he asked teasingly. Davena chose not to answer, picking up a tree limb and flinging it into the forest. Ian's smile faded and he walked over to her.

"I was only teasing, you know." His brown eyes met Davena's for a moment, and she looked away.

"Davena, may I ask you a question?" he asked. She nodded, still not meeting his eyes.

"Why do you never look people in the eye?" Starteld, she looked up at him and held his gaze steadily. He stared into her eyes, searching for the answer in their violet and blue depths. Wait, he thought, that's it. "

Because of you eyes?" he asked. She nodded again. "Why?" he blurted out. Davena hesitated.

"Because my eyes are two different colors and my hair is black, most of the townspeople think I'm a fairy changeling, but they ignore the fact that no child was replaced with me. I was simply left on a doorstep," she said, not looking away from his eyes once.

"They are persecuting you because your eyes are different?" he asked incredulously. She looked away and nodded, her eyes sparkling with the sheen of tears.

Ian placed a finger under her chin and gently turned her to face him. Her tear-filled eyes met his steadily.

"Your eyes are beautiful, Davena. Those who cannot see it or refuse to see it are blind," he said, lifting his finger from her chin.

Ian turned away and started clearing more tree limb out of the yard, leaving Davena staring after him, wide-eyed with her mind reeling. Am I crazy or does he know more about me than he's letting on? she thought. She mentally shook herself and started to pick up a soggy tree limb. It fell apart where she touched it. She rolled her eyes and picked up the tow soggy pieces, gently tossing them into the nearby woods, and then brushing her hands off on the skirt of her dress. She was definately going to need to give the dress a good scrubbing on the next wash day, what with all the mud around the bottom and the dirt and bits of tree bark on her skirt.

She and the others worked in cleaning up the land until the sun was high over their heads.

Her brothers and parents came over to where Davena, Ian, Will, and Elissa were.

"I think we should go into town to see how much damage came to the other townspeople. Do you want to come with us?" Robert asked both her and the others at the same time. Davena nodded.

"We should check on the rest of the crew," Ian said.

They joined the rest of her family and started down the path that led to the center of the village.

They arrived in the town square not 10 minutes later, to find the town in complete chaos. At least 30 grimy, filthy men with swords and guns were attacking. they stood in shock for a moment before Robert sprang into action.

"Bethany! Davena! Get away from here!" he yelled, picking up a sword from a fallen townsperson and rushing toward the fight.

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