Greener Grass
by Raven Corinn Carluk

Bella stared out her front window, the rain streaked glass blurring her view of the coffeehouse across the street. It had been raining all day, keeping shoppers away. She'd been in an introspective mood ever since her visit to Karen's Koffee at lunch, and the lack of customers was just fine for her.
    The young witch had closed her occult shop early, yet had lingered here, just watching and thinking. Thinking mostly about the striking new barista at Karen's.
    She'd first seen him a week ago, learning the ropes from Wynne, the day manager. Bella was a regular at Karen's, and Wynne knew exactly what the short brunette wanted. She'd sat at her favorite table, near the straggly fern, and started reading. When her drink was ready, the young man had brought it and her chocolate muffin over. He'd introduced himself as Lucian, and Bella had fallen hard into his emerald green eyes.
    From that moment, Bella had become infatuated by the young barista. He was over six feet tall, lithe with wide shoulders, perfect silken lips, and long lashes around his almond eyes. He would have made a great underwear model, or an actor, or anything else a young woman could fawn over. Bella found herself fawning over him in the space of a heartbeat. Yet what started as a schoolgirl crush developed into nagging curiosity. And now curiosity had become outright suspicion.
    Stepping away from the window, Bella went over everything she'd observed in this last week, pinpointing again why Lucian intrigued her so much.
    First had been his fantastic eyes. The gem color could have been from contacts, but that didn't explain the retinal gleam deep in his pupils. There was also the blood red color of his shoulder length hair, but that was likely to come from a bottle. She knew no one had hair naturally that color. As he'd walked away from her, Bella had seen the fern rustle in the corner of her eye. By the time she turned, it had stopped, and she'd blown it off. The witch convinced herself that she was being hormonal and childish, and her imagination was simply running wild.
    The next day, all the plants at Karen's were looking livelier, though still sickly. Bella watched Lucian serving, walking gracefully though the crowd, all eyes following his lithe form. Everywhere he passed, soft sighs and tiny smiles followed. Even the dying flowers seemed to follow him like the sun. It was subtle, and no one seemed to notice. No one but Bella, that is.
    The witch had spent her lunch watching Lucian, rather than enjoying her book. He moved like a dancer, never missing a step, managing to carry two trays without spilling, a smile always on his face. His hair was held in a thick ponytail, bouncing playfully against the nape of his neck, and he smelled like springtime. He was enticing in a way no other man had been to her. Bella determined to come back, to watch him more, but business kept her away. She hadn't even seen him leave that night.
    Bella's third day of observation started early. She had a delivery, so she was at her store well before Karen's opened. She saw Wynne arrive, as well as Karen to do the books, but no Lucian. Disappointed, she spent the first part of her day in a funk. She'd wanted to see how he arrived, had wanted more clues about the mysterious young man. Much to her surprise, Lucian was there at lunch to serve her. He'd smiled, and told her he'd been there all day when she asked. Bella had responded that she hadn't seen him arrive, yet another customer had interrupted them before he could answer. She'd tried to get his attention again, but there was always something that kept him busy. Bella had finally returned to her incense and herb inventory, thoroughly frustrated, and very confused.
    During this last week, the plants had started growing well, flourishing almost. One of the regulars even commented on them. Wynne said that Lucian just had a green thumb, and that the plants just needed the love none of them had been able to give them. Lucian humbly accepted the praise, then went back to doing the dishes. Only Bella noticed the unnatural growth rate, and thought it curious.
    The lights finally went out at Karen's, and Bella broke from her reverie. She straightened, watching intently. Richard, the night manager, came out, keys in hand. Lucian had been working tonight, so he should be coming out shortly. She waited, watching closely, hugging herself. If Lucian went out the back, she'd never know. She told herself no one would go into the disgusting alley, not to walk home. Just as her impatience began to overpower her curiosity, the tall man came out, hands in his pocket.
    She shivered as she watched him, still entranced by his unearthly good looks despite everything she'd seen. He was beyond just good looking, and didn't seem real. Even from here, she could see the little sparks of light shine from the depths of his eyes. Bella wanted to know what kind of magic user he was, and she wanted to know right now.
    Lucian said good bye to Richard, then started walking down the street. Richard went to his car and drove off. Bella's eyes were only on Lucian, intent on following him. She bundled up in her jacket, pulling a scarf over her hair to protect it from the rain, hardly looking away from the window, trying to keep him in sight. Slipping as quietly as she could through her own door, Bella wondered that Lucian wasn't bundled up against the chilly rain.
    Recalling what she'd seen earlier, Bella decided she wasn't that surprised.
    She'd had a long lunch at Karen's, the rain sheeting down too thick to see through. It was fairly certain she wasn't going to miss any customers because of it, and she looked forward to the extra time to watch Lucian. The coffee shop had also seen a lack of customers, and Lucian was using the slow time to thoroughly clean the espresso machine.
    Bella had watched Lucian discreetly, intrigued by the way he took everything apart. The barista took his time, setting everything aside as he got to the guts of the machine. As he set the last part aside, Bella realized he was studying everything, curious about the motions and the way it slipped together. It was like he'd never seen a mechanical device before.
    She'd given up any pretense of being discreet at that point. As much as she'd already seen this week, Lucian continued to surprise her. Bella set aside her book, and watched the barista as he delicately cleaned every part, every surface, then placed it all back together. He'd seemed entranced by the espresso machine, unaware of anything else going on around him.
    He'd gotten it all back together, and it just wouldn't work. Water came out, but no steam. Lucian didn't get Wynne, however, but placed one hand on the front of the machine. Chills ran up her spine as Lucian whispered a few words, and hot water suddenly bubbled forth. Bella buried her face in the book as Lucian turned, too disturbed to confront him yet, the taste of magic lingering in the back of her mouth.
    Bella had spent the rest of her evening putting clues together in her brain. Everything pointed to Lucian being a magic user. Bella could cast minor spells, mostly for luck or good health, but she needed rituals and components. She could taste when other people cast spells, could feel the lingering power of a casting, and recognized charms when presented with them. There was only so much a spell caster could do amongst so many nonbelievers.
    Yet Lucian had spontaneously cast a spell with an instant result. And his presence had caused all the plants to recover. Maybe he'd put spells on them too. Heads turned when he walked by, as if women could feel his power. 
    As the evening progressed, Bella had decided she had to find out where he lived. It must be somewhere around the store, because he drove no car. He never got off the bus, and he never looked tired like he'd walked far. Bella realized he never looked tired; his hair never got lank, his eyes were never shadowed, his smile never faltered, he never slowed down.
    "He's so strange," she whispered, following him down the street. Lucian's gait was easy, his hair free of its pony tail, and his face was turned up to the drizzling rain. Bella figured his shirt had to be soaked through, but he didn't seem to care. He looked like he didn't notice the cold, almost as if he enjoyed the frigid kisses of the storm. She shivered, drawing chilly air into her lungs, bundling her coat closer to her chest.
    Lucian stopped at the corner, bringing his face down to look for traffic. Bella paused, hanging back, frowning. If he were headed home, he should have turned, should have kept walking. The only thing across the street was an overgrown park, more like a spot of wilderness in the heart of the city. There wasn't a sidewalk, or much of a pathway, and darkness hung thick and heavy amongst the sprawling trees. The homeless never made camp in the park, and most people wouldn't visit it during the day, yet the city kept it and didn't convert it to commercial property. So why was Lucian waiting?
    To her surprise, and her chagrin, Lucian crossed the slick asphalt into the wooded area. As a witch, she was drawn to areas of nature, so why wouldn't a more powerful magic user? Especially on the night of a full moon with spring approaching. She should have known he was going into the park. As the shadows swallowed him, part of her wondered if he lived amongst the wild trees.
    Bella trotted to keep up with him, not wanting to lose him in all the undergrowth. Once under the canopy of dripping trees, all sounds seemed to fade to the wet whispers of the rain in the leaves, the constant patter of water onto the fallen leaves. Bella panicked for a moment, trying to find Lucian's trail, cursing under her breath that she might have lost him already.
    There was a gleam through the trunks ahead, barely a fox light, guiding her forward. Bella made her way to it slowly, trying not to stumble on the uneven ground, placing her hands on the boles of trees to maintain her balance. She bit her lip, trying not to make noise, yet trying to get to her guide. She thankfully found a tiny path, and was unhindered by the scraggly bushes and blackberry brambles that wound through the park.
    The light grew brighter as she carried on, and it took on strength. Soon, it seemed like moonlight in a clearing, silver and lovely. Bella slowed, her eyes narrowing in suspicion, her teeth almost painful in her lower lip. She felt a whisper of power, and her pulse began to race as she tasted a hint of magic.
    She heard tinkling music, rising and falling in the breeze. A breeze that now had the warm scents of spring, sunlight and flowers. It called Bella forward, promising the young woman solace, and her eyes went wide as she came to a gap in the trees.
    There was a clearing, smaller than her bedroom, yet she couldn't see the trunks on the other side for all the gleaming light. What she could see was like a scene from someone's fairytale dream. Silver lights sparkled in the wash of moonlight, glittering as they danced, leaving tiny trails of argent dust. Phantasmal grasses and flowers glowed under an unseen sun, giving off their own light, nodding their heads drowsily. Colors danced above the tree line, faint, reminiscent of the borealis effect. 
    In the center of it all stood Lucian. Albeit, a changed Lucian. His hair was longer, waving in the breeze, stunningly red like a ruby. His plain black slacks and button down shirt were replaced by richly embroidered robes in multiple gem hues, billowing around his lean form. Rings glinted on his fingers, necklaces surrounded his slender neck, gemmed studs lined his pointed ears.
    Bella gasped, face draining of blood in her surprise. "He's an elf," she whispered, taking a step back. Leaves crunched beneath her heels, and Lucian's head snapped around, eyes glowing green. The witch stopped, frozen by the power of his eyes.
    Lucian turned, flowing like silk, and glided across the clearing to her. "What are you doing here?" His voice was rich, purring in her ears, his accent stronger.
    Bella shook, unable to judge Lucian's mood from his expression. She couldn't tell if he was angry, or happy, or completely neutral. Her voice caught in her throat, and she could only stare as Lucian continued to approach.
    Lucian stepped out of the clearing, and seemed even more mystical in the darkness. He was too otherworldly to be present in this overgrown copse. His eyes were lit from within, deep green with amethyst eye shine. His hair lay like a warm blanket around his face, begging to be touched. The hem of his robes billowed in the breeze, dancing upon it. "Why did you follow me?" He asked the question with a slight frown, obviously curious, his eyebrows swooping up like a raptor's wings.
    "You're an elf," she replied, stupidly. Her brain wouldn't work, and Bella was stuck on the fact that Lucian was not human. Not human, not from this world. Blinking several times, she once more told herself he was an elf, and she hadn't noticed. 
    He grinned, his shoulders visibly relaxing. The mystique of the moment broke, and Bella relaxed as well. She was surprised to see that Lucian grinned just like any other young man. When he smiled like that, he didn't seem like some mysterious creature from old legends. Lucian was just another handsome barista, like any other young man she saw walking down the street. She would never have guessed that a mystical being from another dimension would have such common behaviors.
    "Yes, I am. My whole life." Then he chuckled at his little joke.
    Bella laughed, with only a trace of hysteria, and stared up at the elf. "What are you doing here? Why are you here? Who are you?" Her voice rose in pitch at the end as excitement took over her.
    Lucian's grin spread into a beaming smile, his teeth gleaming and straight, and he gestured to the clearing. "Sit down, and I'll answer everything."
    She followed him docilely, close by his side, even as her stomach danced with butterflies. Stepping into the light, she felt like she was stepping through a gossamer curtain and strands of what had to be magic clung to her, sinking warmly into her skin. The cold of the night leaked from her flesh, and Bella was instantly dry. She shivered, and once more marveled as she looked around.
    The moonlight was not earthly moonlight, for she saw the clouds when she glanced up. Rain fell still, yet it seemed to fade away as it passed through the shifting borealis. Even searching for it, she could find no source for the silvery blue light. It simply filled this one little space, disconnected from the dancing colors overhead, almost as if Lucian had opened a pocket into elfhame. 
    Lucian touched her shoulder, stopping her as she stumbled into the middle, awed by everything she saw. The flowers brushed her hands and legs, soft like kittens, and she found herself softly petting them. The sparkly lights were the source of the music, and she giggled with delight as they danced around her, touching her with all the pressure of a snowflake, leaving glitter on her skin. Bella outright laughed as one light passed before her, leaving tiny silver sprinkles on her eyelashes.
    "They like you," the elf said, sitting amongst the soft grasses. The flowers bobbed around his head briefly, almost like they were kissing the beautiful elf, then went back to their private dances. Bella sat beside him, their legs barely touching. A scent like baking cookies rose in the night, as the grass bent beneath them, yet was not crushed. 
    "What are they?" she asked, watching the motes of silver as they circled the two of them. Bella felt like a small child on their first trip to the zoo; everything was new, enchanted, and unusual. There was a surprise around every corner, and she was too impatient to take a good look at what was right in front of her. 
    "They're sprites. Little bits of magic with just enough life to enjoy congregating and playing. I think they can tell you're a witch."
    Bella's scarf fell back as she turned to look at Lucian. "And you knew I was a witch?" She stroked a portion of the grass, amazed at how it felt like fur rather than plant. The more she petted, the more the delightful scent increased. 
    Lucian shrugged, a graceful roll of his shoulders, and followed one of the sprites with his eyes. "From the first time you walked through the door. Elves are always aware of magic." He turned back to her, his eyes pulsing with life. "I could almost taste it on you. It was intriguing."
    Bella blinked, blushing gently. Very few people had ever called her intriguing. Freak, weirdo, devil spawn, all of those, certainly. But never intriguing. "Why do you say that?"
    The elf tilted his head, blinking slowly. "Because you're a reminder of magic in a mundane world. You're one of the few colorful personas."
    "Then why are you here? If my world is so bland, why not stay in yours?"
    He sighed, looking up at the sky. A sprite circled his head, dusting his face with glitter. "My mother asked me the same question before I left home. It was hard to     explain."
    "I'll wait." She braced her hands in her lap, watching him as he grinned. She loved the way he grinned, and saw the barest hint of dimples in his cheeks. 
    "That's helpful. Mother wouldn't." They laughed together, and he let his posture sag. Bella realized that he was almost as tense and nervous as she was. She thought about it, and wondered how she'd feel to be discovered to be an outsider in a foreign realm. It made sense that he was uptight, and she wondered how she could help him trust her. For the moment, all Bella could do was wait patiently, let him go about this at his own pace. 
    After another few heartbeats, he began speaking. "Your world isn't really bland to me. It's not as vibrant as elfhame to be sure, but it has a refreshing simplicity to it. The colors don't clash, or overwhelm the eye. The tastes aren't condensed and prolific. The sounds aren't competing with each other. There's a serenity here that isn't available back home."
    Lucian fell silent, his eyes slipping closed as he awaited the reaction from his newfound companion. Bella stared in disbelief, still pondering his answer. The sights around her faded as she continued to stare at him, seemingly unimportant compared to his reasoning. "You came here because elfhame is too magical?"
    The elf chuckled, opening his eyes, turning to face her. She shook as his luminescent gaze caught hers. "That's about the gist of it."
    Bella gasped, stunned. She'd spent most of her life seeking the mystical in the mundane, wanting to find a world that was more than what it was. She couldn't stand how blind people were to the power of nature, how everyone was so dependent upon technology, how no one believed in the powers and spirits any more. She would give almost anything to go to a land dominated by magic, to some place where her talents could be appreciated.
    And Lucian wanted to come to her world because it wasn't magic.
    "You're kidding." Her voice was flat with shock, and she couldn't stop staring.
    He grinned crookedly, tipping his head to one side. "No, I'm not. I can come here and do things for myself. I make my own food, I take myself places on foot, I wash my own clothes. I don't just think about it being done, and there is nothing instantaneous. I have to wait, and be patient, and maybe things will be ruined. It's wonderful."
    Bella relaxed, leaning back, blinking several times. She still had problems wrapping her head around what Lucian said, but it was starting to make sense. "You come here because it's different from your world. And I want to go to yours because it's different from here."
    He nodded emphatically, leaning closer to her in his excitement. "Exactly!"
    The witch frowned in response. "But this world is so...well, so boring. It's mundane."
    Lucian bounced to his knees, grabbing one of Bella's hands with both of his. She sighed sharply at the warm strength of his hands, and fell into his eyes, mouth agape. "But that's exactly why I like it here.   
    "Bella, I come from a world that is entirely magic. Everything is controlled by the arcane. Anything can happen, and it all does. There is nothing certain, nothing that remains the same. Everyone changes their world on a whim, and no one cares.    
    "But here, there are laws of nature, and technology. When you wake up, your toaster will still be a toaster. You can't turn your car into a tiger just because it will match your shoes." He squeezed her hands, emphasizing his point. "There is tranquility to your world, and it calls to me."    
    Lucian's voice rose with passion as he continued, the sprites dancing more fervently around the two of them. "And the technology. Bella, do you understand how wondrous it is? Your people take every day objects, and combine them into the most amazing devices. Cars, toasters, coffeemakers, light bulbs." Bella started to feel his excitement, and she smiled at him. "Planes, trains, explosives, heart monitors. And none of it runs on magic or imagination. Someone had to invent it, and experiment with it, and keep trying until it worked. And other people expand upon it, and make it better."
    She found herself caught entirely in his excitement, and squeezed his hands in return. Listening to his words, hearing his obvious enjoyment, Bella couldn't stop the welling of pride inside. Here was an elf, from another dimension, who was talented enough with magic to use it in the mundane realm, that loved her boring old world.
    Bella realized she'd been as blind as the people she so disliked. She hadn't seen the beauty and the magic that was in every piece of machine, in everyday life. She suddenly loved her mundane world. She was a part of it, and she was meant to be here.
    She'd been looking for magic, and she'd been pining for something more. Smiling at Lucian's emerald eyes, Bella realized she had found a bit of magic that she could call her own.

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