by J F Rogers
“Okay, I get your point.”
“We do what our Creator designed us to do. That is all.” He smiled and motioned toward the megalith. “When you’re ready.”
I glanced at my bizarre new family, still rousing from sleep. I didn’t know most of the former prisoners, but they were still my people. My mother was the first to step forward for a hug. “A year may seem a long time, but ’tis nothing compared to fourteen.”
Her bones protruded through her skin. It felt like hugging a skeleton. But she looked much healthier than she had, despite the conditions. “I know.”
She let me go and smiled.
Cahal pulled me into his suffocating bear hug. “God be with you, little one.”
Evan approached next. With his crooked smile and his short, black hair tousled from sleep, he looked adorable. I buried my face in his neck. He smelled like pine. His muscular arms enveloped me. “I hope we will meet again. I will never forget that you gave me another chance.”
I backed up. “I don’t have such power. God does.”
His blue eyes flashed as he smiled. “But He chose to use you. And you could have said no.”
I shrugged and returned the smile.
Declan stood before me, gazing into my eyes. I didn’t know what to do. Should I hug him? As I tried to think of what to say, he pulled me into his embrace.
My head rested on his shoulder. I hated that his arms felt so good. But I was leaving for an entire year. Surely, a goodbye hug was acceptable. I squeezed him back and tried to memorize the moment—the feel of his strong arms, his musky scent. The ends of his brown hair flipping up, tickling my cheek. The tingle of my skin against his, and the flutter of my stomach.
“I’ll miss you,” I said. My voice cracked, and I blinked back tears.
“I will miss you too. Remember, you are loved.”
Epilogue
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SITTING IN THE FAMILIAR purple moon chair in Stacy’s bedroom felt strange. Comfortable, yet different. Stacy looked the same as she always did at the end of summer—her skin slightly darker so her freckles were less visible, but they had multiplied, covering almost every available space with a higher concentration on her cheeks. She sat on the edge of her bed, staring at me. Slack-jawed, her head jutted forward with eyes so wide, white was visible all around.
“You can’t tell anyone.” I hated disobeying Pepin and telling Stacy about Ariboslia. But I couldn’t contain myself. I had to tell her. Besides, she wasn’t just anyone. She was my best friend. She’d keep the secret safe.
Eyes still bulging, she shook her head, and then nodded.
Clearly, she needed time to process all this. I smiled slightly. How I’d missed her.
She exhaled sharply through her nose. “I just can’t get over this. We thought you were dead.” She closed her eyes and shook her head. “When Fiona showed up here crying…” A tear slid down her cheek.
I crossed the distance between us, sat next to her on the bed, and wrapped my arm around her. Part of me wanted to take the bunny trail down to my amazement at Fiona’s ability to shed tears, particularly over me. But we could ponder that miracle later. We had three seasons to do so. “I wish I could’ve let you know where I was. There was nothing I could do. I was trapped. And it’s not like there’s cell service between realms. Not that I had a cell phone even if there was.”
“I know.” She sniffed and reached to her bedside table for a tissue.
“I have to go back,” I whispered.
“What?” Her eyes went buggy once again over the tissue against her nose. She blew, gave a quick wipe, and scrunched it up in her hand. “You’re going back there. With all those vampires? On purpose?”
“How can I not?” I got up to get her wastebasket and brought it to her. She threw the tissue inside. “God gave me the ability to save them…at least…some of them.” I put the can back and plopped on the bed again. “I don’t know why He chose to use me, but He did, and I can’t turn my back on that.”
Stacy took a deep breath. “I wish I could go with you.”
“I wish you could, too. But you can’t tell your parents, and they’d miss you. Besides, you have a scholarship. You have a great life and future here.”
She nodded solemnly.
“And it will be dangerous. Some fasgadair will want me to help them; others want me dead. I’m not going to know the difference. But I must help those I can.”
“That’s so not helpful, Fal. Don’t say stuff like that. I’ll worry about you…always wondering if you’re all right or not. If you’re…If you’re…”
“Hey. Don’t think like that. We’re not supposed to worry. About anything. Trust Him with it. I’m doing God’s work, Stace. How could I not be all right? Even if I’m killed, we’ll be together again…in heaven.”
She scowled at me. “That doesn’t make me feel better. I trust Him, but…it’s the not knowing. How can I handle wondering, not knowing if anything happens to you?” Her voice cracked, her green eyes glassy with unshed tears.
“I’ll tell you what.” I stared into her eyes, willing the severity of what I was about to say to sink in. “I’ll make sure Wolf or Pepin gets word to you somehow if anything happens to me. Okay?”
She rolled her eyes and shrugged. “I wish there was some way I could get through, just to visit sometimes.”
“That would be awesome. But there’s no way. You’d need a megalith, an amulet, and you’d need to know how to use both. Could you imagine if anyone could get through at any time?” Disturbing images of people pushing gachen off their land, claiming it for themselves, selling it for profit, raising hotels and amusement parks, placing all the wondrous creatures I’d encountered behind bars for a small viewing fee. Houses would line the oceans. Laws about shape-shifting would be enacted, assuming shape-shifters would be allowed to live somewhat freely. I shuddered at the thought of humanity and the destruction that would be sure to follow. Traffic. Congestion. Smog. Commercialism. Disease. Humans would cause greater devastation than the fasgadair could ever dream.
I shook off the images. Thank God that would never happen. I longed to return all the more. “You know I have to go, Stace. Would you say no to God?”
Stacy groaned. “No.” She sat back on her bed, slumping against the wall. “At least, I hope I wouldn’t.” She kicked at my thigh.
I pushed her leg away, toward the headboard, causing her to tip over. “Okay, then.”
She righted, grabbed her pillow, and whacked me with it, then held it against her chest and part of her face protectively. Her smile wasn’t visible behind the pillow, but the crinkles at the sides of her eyes gave it away as she peeked above it. “I’m glad you’re back.”
“Me too.” A big part of me wanted desperately to return to Ariboslia, but I was glad. I needed to be here, to explain, to spend time with her and ease her mind. And I needed rest, time to prepare for whatever awaited me there.
Stacy threw the pillow next to her and leaned against it. “You’re just in time for school.” A devious grin spread across her face. “Your favorite.”
I groaned. School bored me before. How would I survive another year after so much excitement? “Lovely.”
“And it’s senior year. Prom.” She bounced the bed.
How could I possibly date a high school boy after meeting Declan? “For you maybe. Good luck with that.”
“Seriously?” Stacy’s jaw dropped, her eyes full of hurt. So dramatic.
“My word, Stace. Do we have to worry about this now? It’s months and months away.” And even longer until I return to Ariboslia. I sighed. “Maybe I’ll go solo, but I am not bringing a date.”
“As you said, it’s months and months away. You never know what could happen between now and then.” She raised her eyebrows as if she knew something I didn’t.
She was wrong. There was absolutely no way I would bother with anyone here. My heart was in Ariboslia.
&nbs
p; She deflated a bit, as if disappointed by the lack of fight. “At least we’ll be together, right? You’re waiting until after graduation to return?” Her eyes glimmered with hope.
“Of course. I’m not returning until my birthday. And, first thing Sunday morning, I’m coming with you to church.”
Stacy smiled.
Shameless Request for Reviews
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Authors need reviews! They help books get noticed and I love to know what my readers think of my stories. So, if you enjoyed this book, please consider leaving a review wherever you purchased it, on Goodreads, and anywhere you think a review might be helpful. I’m forever grateful!
You are loved,
J. F. Rogers
More from J. F. Rogers
The Redeemed: Pepin’s Tale—A FREE Short Story
Claim your copy here:
https://jfrogers.com/free-book/
Continue Fallon’s journey
Adrift (Ariboslia Book II)
Buy Adrift here!
Aloft (Ariboslia Book II)
Buy Aloft here!
About the Author
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J.F. ROGERS LIVES IN Southern Maine with her husband and daughter. She has a degree in Behavioral Science and teaches 5th-6th Grade Sunday School. She’s a recovered troubled teen and junk food junkie turned health nut who believes wholeheartedly in the One True God and can say with certainty—you are loved.
J F Rogers
Faith, Family & Fantasy
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Acknowledgements
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First and foremost, I must thank God for changing my heart…and my story. He sent so many of you my way to help shape Astray and make it a reality. Thank you, my loving husband, Rick: for your support, your feedback, and for putting up with me. You’re my rock. My beautiful daughter, Emily (aka mini-me): you enjoyed Astray enough to read it twice—something you rarely do. Thank you for your honest feedback and for finding so many editing issues. Your grammar skills are impressive! You were a huge part of this. I love you both so much!
Thank you, Pastor Nathan. I was petrified to reveal this story to anyone outside my family. Your glowing response encouraged me to get out of my comfort zone and dare expose my work to others. Emily Hendrickson: thank you for convincing me to seek a critique group and pointing me toward ACFW. Thanks to all the members of ACFW who provided input: Gretchen Engalls, Kari Wells, Amy Cattapan, and many more. Thank you, Yvonne Anderson: you took me under your wing and critiqued my entire manuscript without receiving or expecting much of a return for your efforts.
My critique group, Fantasy for Christ: when I was lost and desperate for other fantasy Christian authors, you sympathized with my plight and joined me. Sarah Grimm, Karen DeBlieck, Terri Proksch (Terri Luckey), Precarious Yates (aka Sarah Smith), Azalea Dabill, Kathrese McKee, Katie Clark, Sarah Witenhafer, Loraine Kemp, Tami O’Neal, and Phyllis Wheeler: You each brought wonderful insight to the group and played an integral part in piecing this book together. I couldn’t have done it without you. You’re all amazing writers who’ve become more than crit partners—you’ve become travel companions and friends. I love you all!
Thanks to the following groups: ACFW, Lost Genre Guild, and Realm Makers.
My editors, Deirdre Lockhart with Brilliant Cut Editing and my sister, Rebecca McKinney: thank you so much for taking the time to help Astray shine—no small task. You did an impressive job. Thank you all for your hard work, your patience, and your assistance in making this dream a reality.
My dad and fellow author, John Pilkington: You were always there for me. I can’t thank you enough for fighting for me and for influencing my life.
I must also thank my family and friends: it would take pages to list you all by name. You all encouraged me in one way or another, helping this project and my journey far more than you realize. I’m grateful for you all.
I’m amazed at how many people participated in this seemingly life-long project. God’s sovereign hand oversaw it all. My heart is full of gratitude.