by Jana LaPelle
From there, I rent a car and drive up the coast and follow it along the Florida panhandle. At some point, I see a rental sign. I stop and write down the number before finding a pay phone. The rental was available for the next two weeks. I met up with the owner of the little one bedroom bungalow and pay in cash up front for the next several weeks. Once that was done, I wandered the white sandy beaches of Santa Rosa, Florida aimlessly for days. My soul aching with the loss of Colin and nothing I do can ease the pain in my heart. I allow myself this time to grieve, to try to come to terms with my circumstances. I’ve paid in cash for everything. No one could find me even if they were looking for me which I don’t believe that anyone is.
The summer is coming to an end when I finally decide that I need to prepare for the future. I have a career that has barely started, and if Colin is right and I can heal even just a little bit, then I will throw myself into my work and into becoming a mother. I know that he would want me to go on and enjoy my life but knowing that and doing are two different things. I leave the sandy beach behind me to find the slip of paper that Siobhan pressed into my hand the last night I was in Ireland. I’ve kept the scrap of paper safe until now. I quickly retrieve it, along with a glass of sweetened iced tea and head for the covered deck that overlooks the Gulf and the setting sun. I slowly unfold the paper in my shaking hands.
My dear child, our beautiful Joanna,
I know that ya are hurting and ya heart is breaking, but ya will never be alone. Na truly, ya will always be family, and we take care of family. Colin made arrangements and funds were transferred to yer account some weeks ago. He wanted ta make sure that ya were taken care of, and before ya ask, no, he did na have any idea as to what was to come ta pass. He only ever wanted to make sure ya would be okay in the event that something happened ta him. Our Collie was always the planner. Be looking for correspondence from us lass, we have yer Stateside address. Our correspondence will have a return address of the Collin’s from Galway. That way no one will be able to connect us, and it will look as if ya are receiving letters from distant relatives. We will establish a line of communication. In the meantime, Joanna, contact the witch that I have listed below. I believe she is part of yer grandmother’s old coven. She will be discrete, and ya can trust her ta ward yer property against evil intent. From what I hear she excels with wards and is one of the best in yer area. Ya will be safely tucked away once the wards are in place. Then ye need to ask her for a concealment charm to wear when ya leave yer property and that should do it.
This is na the last ya will hear from the Elans, your family. We mean to keep in touch the best we can without compromising yer location or existence. We love ya and will do what we can from afar. I know ya feel betrayed and alone and heartbroken but yer stronger than ya know and ya can do this. No one else in this world is better suited to yer task. Ya will make a wonderful mother. The Elans will be in touch. In the meantime, when ya are ready, head home, Colin has one last surprise for ya.
We miss ya, and we grieve for ya and Colin. Please forgive us for na being forthcoming of our fears. We did na have enough information to foretell the future, but we suspected what would come, just not how or when.
We will miss yer presence within our family. Safe travels lass.
Much love and sympathy,
Siobhan
Shortly thereafter, I made my way home to find that Colin had contacted a builder that had already broken ground and the framework of our new home was already up. All the arrangements had been made, and funds had been taken care of. In a matter of five short months, the house that was to be our new home was ready for me to move into. Moving day was a very bittersweet day.
From that moment on, I did what I needed to do to keep you all safe from the darkness that dwells within our worlds. I had the property boundaries warded to stave off those who would seek to cause harm. Each of you wore a concealment charm that I had given to you so that you could have a normal life growing up and still be safe. I ensured that you were trained in defensive skills and more importantly weapons. Weapons that I thought would hone your skills and talents. Little did I know that you both would take to the bow as you did, you both have some seriously wicked aim. Use the skills you have trained in and most importantly follow your heart. You girls are my reason for staying so long in The Mortal Realm. If not for my family I would have followed my kindred long ago to The Overworld from a broken heart. I don’t expect anyone to understand the depth of a kindred bond until you meet your very own kindred. You will not understand how finding and losing your kindred can affect you. I have been broken since that day and every day since has been a struggle, but I would do it again for you, my children. A mother’s love is unconditional and fierce and protective, and I hope you each get to experience that type of love in your lifetime.
So, now you know. I have lied to you since the day you were born or came into my life. I have hidden the truth from you in order to keep my family safe. Please, please, please don’t hate me for that. It pains me to acknowledge that I have deceived my family for almost two decades. To tell you all the truth would have led to too many questions and made it harder than ever to keep you hidden away until the time was right. I hope that you girls can forgive me. My secrets were necessary until it was time for you to assume the roles you were destined to fill. If you find that you are in need of more answers to questions not found here, look up Nessa, Colin’s little sister, my sister, she would love to hear from you. She has watched you both grow up from afar. Pictures, home videos, etc.
I have a feeling that something tragic will befall our family and it will be then that I pass from this life to the next. Know this, we will all meet again in The Overworld, all of us. Girls, please don’t be sad for me. When it is my time for me to pass from this life to the next, I go willingly. I know my time is near and I welcome it. It’s been almost forty years since I last saw my love, my kindred, my handsome Irishman. I miss Colin so, but I know that I will be reunited with his beautiful soul in The Overworld and I have been counting down the days to this moment, from the moment I lost him. My daughter, Audrey, Colin’s child, her family, and the two of you have been my saving grace. You have allowed me to push through the pain of being separated from my kindred. You both have been a blessing. I can breathe easy now because I have finally fulfilled my destiny. I have seen to it that you both have a fighting chance in the war to come. You will both play a pivotal role for all of mankind and for all of Faerie. I’m so very sorry that I could not confide in you before now, but it would not have worked in our favor. By our favor, I mean the side of the light. Always the light. You girls are the future for us all. I am so very proud of the young women that you have become, and I am so very honored to have been entrusted with your care and upbringing. I can only hope that I have been able to instill in you a sound moral compass. I love you both and can’t wait until we meet again. Until then, my sweet, beautiful girls;
May the road rise up to meet you.
May the wind always be at your back.
May the sun shine warm upon your face, the rain soft upon your fields, and until we meet again,
May the creator speak to you and guide you and may you always trust in your inner voice.
The voice of our creator resides in you both. Listen and trust in his guidance.
Until we meet again on the next plain of existence. I pray that you will both forgive me for not coming clean sooner, but it was not the time for me to reveal all I know to you. I pray that you will find what you need from my past in these entries to help you in your future endeavors.
Love always, your Mom and Meme, Joanna Claire Collins Elan. These are my most precious memoirs.
warrior
BOOK FOUR
A REALMS OF THE OTHERWORLD BOOK
JANA LAPELLE
Text Copyright © 2019 Jana LaPelle
This is a work of fiction. Any resemblance to actual events, locales, or persons living or dead is entirely coincident
al. Any references to historical events, real people, etc. are used fictitiously.
No part of this book may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means without the express written permission of the author.
All Rights Reserved.
Cover design by: www.ebooklaunch.com
Dedication and Acknowledgements
To my son Jonathan Gabriel, you have become my plot collaborator and my biggest fan. You have helped me get past quite a few writing blocks as Warrior came to an end. We need to take more road trips together, that’s where we do our best story plotting. I’ve said it before, and I will say it again. You are my inspiration, and I’m truly blessed to have you in my life. I love you beyond measure, little man.
To my readers, thank you all for your wonderful, kind words. I love hearing from each and every one of you. Your support means the world to me. I certainly hope that Warrior is all you hoped it would be.
Warrior
Part 1
Before you get started, have you checked out the Glossary of Irish Gaelic Terms? It’s there as a reference for you, the reader. Also, check out the Glossary of Irish Mythology. Now onto the continuation of Ashlinn and Alaric’s story.
Precursor
(Morríganna, The Morrígan)
I never thought in all my years that my arch nemesis would end up being a teenage goddess with no memories of her previous life. She has no memories of who we were to one another in The Overworld. That was a different life and we are different people now. I ponder that one fact that has been eating away at me for some time now as I take a sip of the succulent red wine in the pewter goblet in my grasp. I savor the taste of it on my tongue and exhale slowly, allowing for a moment the simple action to soothe my angst. Moment over. Are you freaking kidding me?! Everything that she is and stands for is beneath me, and that is why my Creator’s betrayal stings so profoundly. He chose to pit me against her, someone so decent and pure, so utterly, gah… I have no words! She is so utterly angelic and pure of heart it nauseates me. I underestimated her once, and it cost me dearly. I would have been much further along with my plots if not for my botched plans with The Tree of Life, but after last night’s gain, I’ll be back on track very soon. Everything this time around is going according to plan, and my plans are the only ones that matter. My Fomorian army of stolen orphans follow me without question, I made sure that they were taken at an impressionable age, even the lowly humans do not question my lead. They are pathetic but will serve their purpose when the time comes. I will use the weak mortals as my pawns in my well thought out game of chess in the war to come. I have them all eating out of the palm of my hand, including my sisters Badb and Macha. They never had any vision, I was always the visionary. Me! I take another swallow of my wine and savor the taste as the robust flavors roll over my tongue. The flavor soothes my weary soul as I tune into the calming effects of the alcohol coursing through my system. Once I am queen over all the realms, they will bow to me just like everyone else. My sisters are nothing more than a means to an end. There can be only one queen, and I do not intend to share the position. If they don’t step in line, then they will suffer the same fate as our dear older sister. Neamhain was always a thorn in my side, never wanting to follow my lead, never giving me the respect that I deserved, always trying to sway me from my course. I showed her! Together, my sisters and I scattered her essence across The Realm over a hundred years ago, and my pathetic sisters have been following my lead ever since. To my knowledge, Neamhain remains in the same state, somewhere in between, in limbo. The last thing I need is for her to show up and mess with my plans now. That would never do. Her reappearance could cause all my plans to unravel. I wish with every fiber of my being that I could have ended Neamhain once and for all but that was not to be, and I’m sure at some point that will come back to bite me in the ass. I will have to deal with her if and when the day comes.
My mind drifts back to my failed attempt to gain control of The Tree of Life. It was always going to be a long shot, one that would have paid off handsomely if it had not been for that little twit and the master plan that she cooked up with our Father, our Creator. Well, I have moved on past the betrayal of it all, I now know where I stand in the grand scheme of things. After last night’s success and my unexpected prize, I might just gain control of The Tree of Life yet. The horrified look on Ashlinn’s face was the last thing I saw before the trace trail closed with Alaric at the end of Vengeance. My whip and weapon of choice, he was completely and entirely at my mercy just before her well-placed dagger impaled my shoulder. I have to give her credit, I didn’t think she had it in her, and I now know that she will not hesitate to end me if given a chance to free her kindred or in the war to come. The thought of Alaric definitely brightens this dreary morning. He certainly was an unexpected twist to my best-laid plans. Although I knew from my conversation with Lugh that he would be letting the little Keeper in on the crypt’s location, I have no illusions as to were his allegiance lies. Lugh may have given me what I wanted, but he is aligning with the light, it matters not, he has served his purpose, and I planned last night’s encounter very well thanks to him. My surprise diversion for Ashlinn’s pitiful little ragtag crew went off without a hitch, just the way I wanted it to, the delay was enough to give us time to raise my Lainn, my lost lover from The Underworld and our losses were minimal.
My gaze wanders over the form of the sizeable slumbering demigod in my bed. He is all hard lines and solid muscle, I had forgotten how good we are together, and my heart softens. I always did have a soft spot for him. Of all my lovers he was my favorite, but then he met that cheating bitch, Fandra, who just so happen to be his kindred and then he only had eyes for her. She was the reason Lainn left me, and I vowed then and there to make her pay. As soon as I realized who she was, I immediately sent word to my brother, Manannán, the sea god. Fandra belonged to him after all, even if their union was not a happy one. I thought with her out of the way Lainn and I could be together again, but Cú Chulainn was never the same again. He declined all my advances after Manannán killed Fandra, until last night. Once he finally woke, he welcomed me back into his bed with open arms. No seduction was required, it was as if no time had passed from our last union, and his appetite for me was ravenous. Smiling wickedly, I relish the memory of his homecoming. He and I will rule all The Realms together, he will be my king. I can think of no one better suited to stand by my side and to bed me night after night. His touch thrills me beyond measure. He swore his fealty to me while in the throes of passion. He incites an inferno within me, and I intend to use that passion to further my foothold within The Realm. It matters not that he called out Fandra’s name more than once as we came together over and over again last night. Soon she will be a forgotten memory, once he drinks of my elixir, he will do my bidding and mine alone, and then no other’s name will dare cross his lips while we ravage one another. I see now that it is the only way, and then he will finally belong to me and only me.
My focus shifts back to my most unexpected, but certainly most treasured prize from not more than eight hours ago. I slip out of bed and pull on a sheer black dressing gown over my naked form. Walking out on to the balcony, I oversee my warriors in training as I contemplate my spoils of war. Momentarily I’m distracted as I watch males and females alike gathered below in my hidden mountain fortress. The late morning sky is dark, a storm is brewing. By all that is unholy, I love the weather here, it suits my mood, turbulent thoughts, and dark nature. In the distance lightning cracks the sky open, and thunder rumbles through the air. The wind is picking up, and my midnight black tresses ride the air currents around me, my hair whipping about. My gown is plastered to my form as I turn to take in my fortress. It has taken nearly ten years to have the mountainside carved out to make my obsidian castle. The dwarfs certainly know what they are about, their craftsmanship is beyond compare. No one would ever think to look for me here so close to the once active volcano. My fortress walls gl
eam black with veins of dark red. The glistening walls look as if they are bleeding, and I embrace the symbolism. Soon blood will run in rivers over the fields of Faerie, and my army will defeat my enemies. For now, my majic wielders have placed complicated wards that are strengthened periodically to keep intruders at bay and hide us from view from any who are looking to find my lair, and I know she is frantically searching for what is hers. Thanks to the wards, I know exactly how many times she has attempted to find her kindred only to be rebuffed. Which brings me back to Alaric. My last memory of him is one of his back laid open. The wounds that I inflicted were angry bleeding welts crisscrossing and lining his once flawless skin. I feel a cruel smile slide into place at the memory. I have plans for the handsome god locked in the dungeons below. By the time I’m done with him, that little meddling wench will not recognize her kindred on any level. He may not bend to my will easily but after a few weeks with his talents nullified he will grovel at my feet for relief and then I will have my revenge on that she-bitch for standing in my way. No one stands in my way! Not now! Not anymore, not ever again! I will take pleasure in bending him to my will, and by the time I’m done with him and everyone else in The Realms, no one will dare defy my reign. Laughter bubbles up out of me at the very thought of everyone bowing down to me. It will be so, I will accept no other outcome. I will have Ashlinn on her knees groveling before me for all she holds dear to be granted leniency where none will be awarded.
The bitch belongs to me.
Chapter 1
(Alaric)
I have no idea as to how long I’ve been kept in this dark and desolate dungeon. It could be hours, it could be days, or longer still. My sense of time is skewed like never before. Her wicked highness comes to see me at least once a day, maybe more, or perhaps it is just hours since her last visit. I have no idea. Our interludes consist of her attempting to persuade me to her side, and when her wanton seduction fails, she flogs me, visit after visit. By the gods, I hate that whip of hers, it is aptly named, Vengeance. She has wrought vengeance on my back repeatedly, and I will forever wear the scars of my time here. She has taken to marking my legs and arms now as well. I have been stripped of all my clothing except my briefs in an effort to degrade and humiliate me. A shiver racks my body as the cold of my cell seeps into my very bones. What will be next? In her sick and depraved mind, she wants to ensure that Ashlinn cannot stomach the sight of me, if and when we reunite. I can’t think that way, to do so is to give my captor power, and I’ll be damned if I do that. She doesn’t understand what it is to have a kindred and she never will, karma’s a bitch like that. Ashlinn would never look at me in disgust, but she may look at me with pity, and that is what I fear most. The torture that I have endured has left me a changed male. I will never again take for granted a single solitary day with my family. I now know that Ashlinn deserves so much better than me, she always has, but there is not anyone in the realms that I think deserves her, she is so much better than us all. There are times after the beatings that I don’t feel like I’m strong enough to be her kindred, her Guardian. Each day, I have to mentally strengthen my resolve after every encounter with the whip-wielding bitch. I know that my warring thoughts on this matter are more than likely a result of my shackles.