Realms of the Otherworld Box Set

by Jana LaPelle

  ​Alaric takes control. He seems to be excellent at issuing orders. We head out and make our way to the Hummer as Nemus persuades the hospital staff that we're ready for discharge. He places glamour on those of us with less than human looking ears, sparkly complexions, and Jasmine. We all pile in, and surprisingly enough we all fit as the Hummer is more spacious than I would have thought. The ride home is a somber one as we both discuss the arrangements for a family-only funeral and make appointments to meet with the estate attorneys. Because it has been a week since the accident, we agree on a closed casket service to be held the next morning. By the time we pull into the long drive that leads back past the large fishing pond toward the house, I realize that I'm not sure that I'm ready to walk into the house without Mom. The drive splits and Declan stops. I look at Lexie, "Do you want to go home or do you want to stay with me?" We grew up on the same property; Mom owns close to two hundred acres and gifted Audrey and Daniel land to build on, so we have always been close.

  ​“Let’s go to the main house, for now.” She says.

  ​"Declan, take the drive to the right." He slowly continues up a drive that is now flanked on either side by trees as he pulls up in front of a large two-story craftsman style cottage with a wraparound porch. I'm surprised to see Millie and Hank are waiting on the porch for us. They weren't supposed to be back from their own vacation for another week. They must have heard about the accident and made it back from Ireland earlier than expected. Millie and Hank are like family. Millie takes care of the house and cooking and has been like a second mom to Lexie and me. Hank takes care of the grounds and has been the only male influence that I have ever really had. We slowly begin to exit the vehicle, and as Lexie and I make our way up the steps to the porch, Millie holds open her arms wide to pull us into a hug. Hank stands behind her with his hands on her shoulders giving her his quiet support. Lexie and I cling to Millie for a few moments, trying to hold our tears at bay before we pull away.

  ​“Millie, Hank, we have some friends that you need to meet.”

  ​I turn and gesture towards the guys and begin to introduce them only to hear Alaric say, "It's good to see you, Millie. Hank.”

  ​My mouth drops open as I look back and forth between them. Stunned, “You know one another?” I ask.

  ​He just looks at me and smiles, “How did you think I was able to keep dibs on you without having eyes and ears here? Millie and Hank have been keeping me abreast of your wellbeing for some time now.”

  ​“Really? How is that even possible?” I ask looking back and forth from the couple on the porch to the group standing at the base of the steps. I narrow my eyes and say, “Then I think we all have much to discuss.” I turn back to Millie and give her another hug, and then smile up at Hank and reach out to him as well, pulling him in for another welcoming embrace.

  Chapter 9

  (Ashlinn)

  ​Jasmine, the Myna bird flutters about my head for just a moment until Nemus drops the glamour that conceals us all. With the exception of, Lexie and Nemus, that's when I discover that Millie and Hank are also both elves. To say that I didn't see that one coming was an understatement. Then Millie takes one look at me and begins to gush, going on about how beautiful I am and how she always knew that I would be something special.

  ​Being home should be comforting, but I find that I'm feeling oddly out of place. Walking into the house, I take in all the familiar surroundings and swallow back the tight knot in my throat. I already feel her absence from this place as we make our way to the back of the house where the oversized kitchen and sitting room are located. Everyone begins to settle in talking amongst themselves. When no one is looking, I quietly make my way out the back door to the back deck that overlooks a gentle sloping yard to a tranquil brook. The house and yard have been nestled back into a wooded area that I have always thought looks like a place out of story books. I've always loved the back yard area the most, with the surrounding woods, the sound of the gurgling water in the brook, and the afternoon sunlight filtering its way through the trees. It has always felt majical to me.

  ​I find that I'm craving the serenity that this place holds for me. I wander out into the yard and down to the brook to the tiny but serviceable arched bridge that Mom had put in, just for appearances. I love that bridge. There are four Adirondack-style wooden chairs and a fire pit that have been put in by the brook, a patio of sorts. Mom always had a green thumb, and when she was not at work, I would find her puttering around out here putting out all kinds of plants and flowers creating this tranquil place that I love so much. I find what I need to start a small fire in the pit, just because I long to hear the crackle of the fire mixed in with the sounds of the stream and then sit back to take in the familiarity of my surroundings. I can no longer hold my tears at bay, and I cry for everything that I have lost. I cry for all that I do not know, and I cry for my lost innocence as I sit by the quiet babbling brook.

  ​“Please don’t cry, my lady.” I hear a tiny little voice.

  ​I look around with a tear streaked face. “I’m sorry, who are you? Where are you?” I ask.

  ​A tiny sprite bashfully looks out from behind a giant mushroom not far from me. She is tiny, much smaller than Jasmine with long brown hair with a sort of circlet crown made from leaves, tiny twigs, and flowers, her brown eyes look sorrowful, her skin, wings, and dress are all designed to blend into her surroundings. "I'm so sorry for the loss of your mother; she was always so good to the trees and the flowers, and everything around the house. She took care of her land; I wish that I could have thanked her personally for the care she took. Such an amazing soul is with the gods and goddesses now. Please don't fret, my lady, I will take care of this place while you are away."

  ​I swallow back another sob and ask, “What’s your name? And have you always been here? If so, why am I just now seeing you?”

  ​"Talila, my lady," she says. "I'm a wood sprite and made this place my home not long after you came to live here. I have always been around keeping an eye on things along with Millie and Hank. As a wee child you would chase me through the trees, but as you got older, you could no longer see me. You were being raised as a human child by a human mother. But now that you have gone through your awakening all things fae will be seen by you."

  ​As I ponder her words I vaguely remember playing in the woods and telling Lexie about my wood faery, she never saw what I saw, and as I grew up I stopped looking for my imaginary friend and that makes me sad, and say, "Talila thank you for reminding me of that majical time in my childhood, I remember you now. I'm not really sure what happened to make me forget you, but I'm sorry that I did. Everything is so confusing now. There's so much that I don't know. So much to learn and you're right I do believe that I will be going away. Can I trust you to keep an eye on things here? I think that I may be gone for a while, and I don't want my home to disintegrate into disarray. Thank you, for always being here. I'm comforted in knowing that." I say with a heavy sigh, "I don't wish to be rude, but I need to be alone for now, there is much for me to ponder Talila. Maybe we can talk later?" Talila smiles sadly and nods her head in my direction, "Of course, please don't worry about anything here, all will be taken care of." She says and flits back into the trees. Just then I feel Alaric walk up behind me.

  ​“Will you send me away too?” He asks.

  ​"Of course not, come, sit. I just needed some me time. So much has changed. I'm burying my mother, sister, her husband, and my nephew tomorrow. I don't know how Lexie is holding it together. I love this home so much, but everything is so different now. The mother that I have always known is gone. I'm saying goodbye to her forever in the morning. She was everything to me." I sob. "She was my whole world. I don't know how to move on right now. I know that I have to, but she has always been there to pick me up when I fall. Who's going to do that now?" I ask as I look up at him, tears running down my grief-stricken face.

  ​“I will.” He says quietly, pulling me to my feet and int
o an embrace. “I will always be here for you, and though I could never ever take the place of your mother in that regards, know that I will do my best to be the partner you need. To be your friend, your confidant, your kindred, I will support and protect you always.” He gently pulls my face up from where I have laid it on his chest and looks deeply into my eyes. “It’s time for the two of us to get to know one another, and though it is true that I have waited eighteen years to be in this moment with you, I want you to understand that I will take things slowly. I know that you’ll need time to adjust to everything, to feel the bond between us and to allow that bond to grow.”

  ​As I look up into his beautiful blue eyes, I see the truth of what he says and ponder the bond that I feel for him. It is strong, more so now than before when I was in limbo, and I know that in this moment he has branded himself across my heart, and I will never want another. It's true that we have only just met, and I know not the first thing about this elf man and his life in the Otherworld, but I want to learn everything I can about him. His presence in my life is something that I crave deep in the core of my being. I push myself up on my toes and take his handsome face in my hands and whisper, "Kiss me, Alaric." He looks down at me with serious eyes, and then a smile begins to appear as he gently cups my face with his large hands, then he strokes the tears away. He lowers his head and ever so lightly brushes his lips against mine. We let the kiss linger as we breathe each other in. The attraction and need to be closer to him are overwhelming, and I decide to give into this pull as my hands go around his neck tugging him closer. I respond to his kiss, opening for him as our tongues lightly brush against one another, lighting a fire within me. Need for him shoots straight through me as I mold my body against his, and he pulls me closer still, and I'm lost in the feel and scent of him. Our kiss becomes more urgent, more demanding, and the pull I feel to him is electric, my body is on fire and I crave his touch. As if he has heard my thoughts his hand moves to the back of my neck, pulling me in for more as he hoists me up against him, cradling my bottom in his hands. My legs wrap around him as the pull we feel to one another demands a more intimate mating. Our mouths and tongues dance across one another, and I hear a moan that starts deep in my soul escape into his mouth, and at that moment I rock my hips into his and feel evidence of his desire in the length of him. Desperate for more, I tighten my legs around him and deepen the kiss yet again. His mouth is a wicked pleasure that is fast becoming my addiction.

  ​Alaric pulls back breaking the most incredible kiss of my life, my very first kiss ever will go down in the record books as the most intense, erotic, unforgettable moment in this girl’s existence. Holy hot tamales, but that was intense. He leans his forehead against mine, we’re both panting trying to digest the moment and get our bearings as he holds me close to him. He is perfection; his body is rock hard with corded muscles that flex with his every move, and I find that I can't get enough of him. Boy, am I in trouble. That was just a kiss, and I find that I'm desperate for more as the bond between us continues to grow. I pull back and look deep into his eyes to see his need and adoration and say, "Elf-Man, that has to be the most amazing first kiss in the history of all the worlds. You have gotten so far under my skin I'm never letting you go. It feels as if you are my other half, and without you I'm incomplete, I never want to be without you ever again. I want you in my life in every way possible, and I won't be whole until that happens. You talk about allowing the bond to grow, but the bond I feel has just clicked into place, and I'm not sure what I will do with myself if it grows any stronger. I'm not sure that I will be able to exercise patience in that regard. I hope that I'm not the only one struggling here because that would really suck if that were the case." I say as I exhale.

  ​Alaric looks at me with his signature smirk that makes his dimples pop, and a chuckle rumbles out of his chest, "I assure you that this is a two-way street." He slowly lowers me to the ground, and I look around the clearing and realize that there could not have been a more perfect place for our first kiss to take place. I look back to Alaric and see that he is down on one knee, and as my eyebrow quirks up he takes my hand in his and says, "Ashlinn Ryllae Elan, will you consider binding with me? Before you ask, it is a lot like the human custom of marriage, but more. Will you at least consider it? I don't want any other thinking that you are not already promised." he says.

  ​I hold his hand and look down at him, he seems so uncertain, and I can't stand that he is unsure of my answer, so I blurt out, "Yes, I will bind with you. I know that this is all happening rather quickly, and that we have much to learn about one another, but this just feels right. I saw you in what I thought were my dreams, but now I know that my soul longed to be near you. That those weren't dreams at all, but me traveling across realms to be near you. So yes Alaric, I will bind with you." I say with a smile. He then reaches into the pocket of his black cargo pants and pulls out a ring, and with a smile, he then slips it on my finger. It's perfect; it's a simple white gold circlet with inlaid baguette emeralds that circle the entire ring creating a never ending circle of green. I exhale the breath that I was holding and say, "It's perfect."

  ​"This is a promise ring, Ashlinn, my promise to be yours and by accepting this ring your promise to be mine. We have much to overcome, and much that will happen in the days to come, but I believe that as long as we stand together, we can overcome anything that is thrown at us." Alaric says, looking serious.

  ​"Alaric I have lost a family that I hold very dear to my heart and will grieve their passing for the rest of my days, but I also believe that I have been given a chance at having a new family that I need to get to know. I think I've avoided everything for long enough; it's time for me to get back in there and face my new reality. What do you think?"

  ​“I think a lot has happened to you in the last week, and you can take as much time as you need to adjust. If you think you’re ready we can head back in, we’ve only been gone for about thirty minutes, so maybe we haven’t been missed yet.” He takes my hand in his and with a serious look he asks, “Are you ready?”

  ​With a smile I look up at him and see the meaning behind his words, he's asking if I'm ready to move forward in the next phase of my life, and although my grief runs deep there are so many things to be thankful for. There is a whole new world for me to discover but before that can happen I have to say goodbye to the first phase of my life, and that starts right now. "Yes, I'm ready," I say as I smooth my hair and dress and squeeze his hand in mine. Then we both make our way back towards the house.

  Chapter 10

  (Alaric)

  ​I know that I must look like a total tool to my guard, but I have never been happier in my life. Ashlinn has been the missing half of me for almost eighteen mortal years. Now that she’s by my side I’ve never felt stronger. As we walk into the kitchen, everyone stops what they’re doing and looks towards us, all with knowing smirks on their faces. I wouldn’t put it pass one of the brothers to have been watching us from the house, giving the group a play by play of our private moment. Ashlinn pulls me toward the group, and it looks like lunch is in order. Everyone is busy sitting out the makings for sandwiches; there’s an assortment of meats, cheeses, lettuce, tomatoes, onions, and all sorts of condiments. Iced tea and desserts are off to the side along with an assortment of vegetables and fruit. Millie knows how to put on a spread. The flat screen TV is on and tuned to an early season football game. Tolin and Torin are so absorbed that they haven’t caught on that food is within their grasp, oh well, more for the rest of us. Everyone begins to dig in, and before I know it we’re all around the table partaking in a late lunch while Millie is busy throwing together a stew for later tonight.

  ​I smile as I look over to see that Ashlinn, Lexie, and Jasmine are in an animated conversation with the water sprite flittering about and Ashlinn and Lexie laughing at her antics. Everything feels right, and I take it all in knowing that I’ll have to burst this bubble of normalcy at some point. Ash and Lexie need this mu
ndane distraction, so for this afternoon, I remain quiet, as do my guard. We all know that this short time will come to an end, sooner rather than later. This evening we will begin Ashlinn’s assimilation into the Otherworld, or Faerie as we call it.

  ​As the afternoon progresses everyone moves to the main family room. Ashlinn’s mother created an amazing home that is as inviting as it is homey, so there are plenty of seating for everyone as we crowd into the room to watch the next game. Tolin and Torin take center stage as always with their banter, and everyone is relaxed and enjoying this brief reprieve, but as the light of day begins to fade into twilight I pulled Ashlinn close to me. “It’s time to hear about the histories, are you ready? You need to know your origin and where you come from.”

  ​She looks at me, her tawny amber eyes aglow, and says, “Yes, Lexie and I both need to learn about a world we never knew existed. Right, Lexie?” She pulls Lexie in for a hug.

  ​Lexie nods her head in agreement, “When these guys came barreling into your hospital room, from that moment on it changed everything I thought I knew about the world around me. So yes, Ash, I need to learn about this new world, right alongside you.”

  ​With that, we move back to the kitchen and the table that will accommodate all of us. The TV has been turned off, and Hank makes a fire in the fireplace even though it's August and like eighty degrees outside, it seems fitting. It sets the stage for what is to come.

  ​ "Nemus is best at retelling the story of the histories. There is a lot to get through, and all you will need to know will not be accomplished in one night; there will be times when some of us will jump in to help Nemus out. The Druids not only wield majic, but are responsible for recording the histories, and maintaining the archives." I say.