Realms of the Otherworld Box Set

by Jana LaPelle

  I miss my kindred bond, but I latch on to what is there just like I told Ashlinn I would do in my parting letter to her. I know that the shackles I wear are blocking our connection. Our bond is out of reach because of these accursed cuffs. Once they were placed on me, it was if they majically became one piece of metal, no seams or keyholes are visible, and the bands fit snugly enough that there is no way to slip them over my hands. I haven’t been the same since they were placed on my wrists. It’s as if I’m weighed down, not only physically but mentally and emotionally as well. Maybe that’s a good thing that we cannot connect through our bond. She does not need to understand the depths of my torture thus far. The Morrígan is truly an evil and wicked soul. Her perception is one of cruel and evil intent. I’m pretty sure she has let the darkness overtake her heart. By the goddess, I miss Ashlinn and her light, I miss our twins, but above all else, I miss being in control of my destiny, and I need to find a way to take back that control, I need to find a way to get away from The Morrígan.

  ​No wonder why Ashlinn was so concerned. It makes sense now. My destiny is not my own as long as I’m within The Morrígan’s control and neither is Ashlinn’s. I sink down on my knees as that realization takes hold and I cradle my head in my hands and pray. I pray for strength to endure what is to come and I pray that Ashlinn and the babes are safe. I pray that I can survive this torture until I can find a way out from her wicked clutches. That’s when I hear it, a whisper in the back of my mind, “Stay strong, Alaric. Reprieve is coming.” The voice sounds familiar, but I can’t place it, and I can only hope that it speaks truth.

  ​From a distance, I hear her wicked highness stomping my way, and she is pissed from the sound of her voice, “How dare you come here and demand to take my prisoner, I won him fair and square. He belongs to me now.” Her voice screeches and echoes down the hall towards me. I still and slump over and pretend to be asleep as I listen to the exchange with hooded eyes. The movement causes the wounds on my back to break open and weep, and I inhale sharply at the searing pain.

  ​“What did you expect Morríganna? That I would not want recompense for what you took from me? Hell, what you did tore a rift between our realms. There will be long-lasting repercussions from your actions. I think a soul for a soul is a pretty good deal at this point. It’s your choice. I stand to lose much more than just a single soul from your actions, and you know it. You can’t just think that you can take from me and I will not- “

  ​“But I won him fair and square. That little bitch does not deserve to get him back so soon. It’s only been three days!” She shrieks and stomps her boot-clad foot, and the sound reverberates around my chamber.

  ​Three days, that’s as long as it has been. It has felt more like three months at times. I cautiously look up to see Morríganna and someone I have never seen before. The vibes coming off of him are intense, and I sense darkness within him. For all the darkness within, his appearance is one of all light. His hair is light, almost white it’s so blonde, his eyes a piercing crystal blue, he’s wearing black leather pants and boots and not much else, his tan chest and arms are bare sporting multiple tribal Celtic tattoos. He looks human, but I know that he is so much more. In my current condition, I can’t take him out, the male is large and heavily muscled. I watch as the two continue their exchange just outside the barred door to my cell.

  ​“A soul for a soul Morríganna, I will not settle for less, little sister. It’s like you don’t know me at all, I have no intention of handing Alaric over to his kindred, but I will have recompense. You ripped Cú Chulainn from my grasp and refuse to give him back, you have no idea how much I enjoyed his depravity, be grateful that I’m in a bargaining mood. Otherwise, your precious Lainn would be going back with me along with this young god.”

  ​“Luc, you know this is unfair. He is my prize, my spoils of war! Why would you strip him from me? I’ve not had nearly enough time with him.” Morríganna’s tone has turned pleading.

  ​“Because I can! Do not try me on this. You will not be pleased with the outcome. It’s as if you do not realize the consequences of your actions. Sister, you have torn a rift between the realms, The Underworld will become unstable before long releasing the dead, the demons and the fallen. What were you thinking? I no longer understand where your allegiance lies Morríganna. You must find a way to fix what you have wrought. In the meantime, I think it is time for you to hand over the young god, it is a fair exchange for all the problems you have caused me.”

  ​“Luc, come away from here, let me show you what I have been working on since your last visit from The Underworld, I think you will be impressed with my army and all those who stand with me. It would be counter-intuitive to take Alaric from me now. Don’t you see, Ashlinn can be bent to my will now that I have her kindred, the father of her children. I will soon be able to control the little Keeper, and in doing so The Tree of Life.” Her tone has become seductive and persuasive as she circles Luc, running her fingers over the broad expanse of his chest before lingering on his biceps. Her wanton seduction is disturbing on so many levels. Didn’t he just call her sister?

  ​“Morríganna, you seek to control too much. Mark my words if you continue down this path it will lead to your destruction,” Luc says as he plucks her hands from his arm.

  ​“I want my due, Luc, and I will have it. You have dominion over The Underworld, you don’t understand what it is like to be discarded and left to rot in this realm.” She whines, and I inwardly cringe at the grating sound of her voice.

  ​His eyes narrow on the deranged goddess before he responds, his tone low and threatening, “Don’t I? I was Father’s right hand in The Overworld, and because of my arrogance and pride I fell from grace, and I’m now one of the Fallen. Forever barred from returning to Nirvana. It has taken me eons to finally understand my place in the universe, and I now embrace the role that I must play for there to be balance. That does not mean that I can’t indulge in a little fun now and then, but Morríganna, you covet too much. Lest I remind you that you chose to come to this realm and gave up your angelic wings to become a goddess. You did not fall to have your wings stripped from you, but you are in danger of falling yet.”

  ​“This,” she hisses and gestures wildly about, “is not what I signed up for. I want my due, and I’m determined to rule this realm, and as soon as I have brought Faerie to its knees, I will do the same in The Mortal Realm.”

  ​Luc chuckles softly, and the sound is not one of amusement but bitter disappointment, “Then you will seal your fate. Now give me what I have come for,” his tone brokers no more room for discussion.

  ​The Morrígan pushes her luck when she says, “He’s not yours to take, Lucifer.”

  ​As quick as a snake the male’s right arm thrust out, and his hand encircles her throat, lifting her off the ground and slamming her back against the far wall. Electricity seems to crackle all around him, and he leans in close, his voice deadly calm, “You forget your place sister, do not mistake this conversation as anything more than what it is. You will hand the young god over to me, or I will take him with or without your permission, and I want the keys to the binding cuffs you have placed on him. Morríganna, for the last time, the name is now Luc.”

  ​Luc releases his hold on her unexpectantly, and she crumples to the floor, clutching her throat, and craning up to look at him as she wheezes, “Take him, he’s not worth your wrath. I only have the means to place the binding cuffs on him, I do not have a key, or a means to remove them. Why would I need that?” She looks entirely too smug in her declaration, and my heart sinks at her words. If these irons remain, I will not be able to fulfill my duties to Ashlinn. My attention is drawn back to Luc when he swears.

  ​“What have you done? You know these shackles were dismantled ages ago for a reason and a purpose, they were deemed dangerous to us all! You understand that their purpose was to subdue those of us, gods, goddesses, and the Fallen that were out of control, but you have intentionally sou
ght it out again and placed it on this young god with no provocation, simply based on your whim, with no means to remove them?!” I watch as The Morrígan shrugs, it's evident that she could care less and the weight of my burden multiplies one hundred fold.

  ​I watch in rapt fascination as Luc backhands my tormentor, and I take supreme satisfaction as her head smacks against the wall behind her, blood trickling from her mouth from the assault. Her demented laughter echoes about the chamber, “You think you intimidate me?” Her wicked cackles echo within my mind, “You have no idea as to who you are dealing with, brother,” she screams back at Luc, “I will bring you all to your knees.” She spits the blood that has gathered in her mouth to the cobblestone floor. “Take that wretched soul and leave this place and leave me to my own devices. The Realms of the Living are not your concern, are they dear brother?” She sneers. “You have no power here!”

  ​Luc inhales deeply and ignores her taunt before muttering, “I have more power in my little pinky than you will ever have, you little twit.” He enters my cell tossing my ruined leather pants in my direction. I stand while shrugging into them and the boots he throws my way, he assesses me, his jaw set in a hard line when he rounds on The Morrígan again, “You are delivering me damaged goods, Morríganna. Make no mistake, you will come to regret your actions. I certainly hope your precious Lainn is worth all the trouble that will come your way from raising him from my domain. Soon the delirium from his first days back in the realm of the living will wear off, and he will once again be pining for his long-lost Fandra, fealty pledge or not, he will want you dead once he learns the truth of his kindred’s untimely demise and he will learn the truth. I will see to it personally.”

  ​The screech that erupts from Morríganna is ear-splitting, and she springs toward us in a blur of inhuman speed only to have Luc lift a hand as if swatting a gnat away, and she goes flying down the hall outside of my prison cell and once more she finds herself sprawled on the floor. Quickly she gains her feet and turns back to Luc, her jaw set in grim determination, “The wheels are set in motion, Luc, you will see they will all bow to me, and there is nothing that you can do. Now take your prize and leave. You are no longer welcome here,” she sneers and then her form shimmers before shattering and morphing into a hundred black ravens. The sound of their beating wings and their caws are deafening before they exit the dungeon.

  ​Clearing my throat, I say, “I think you may have pissed her off.”

  ​“Well, she pissed me off first. She is deranged, and there is no talking to her, she is way past the point of no return. Everything she does from this point on will seal her fate. Now, you’re coming with me.” His voice is all sorts of pissed off.

  ​“Where are you taking me?” I ask although I’m pretty sure that I have just exchanged one prison cell for another, and I don’t know which one is worse.

  ​“Come, Guardian of Life, it’s high time you get acquainted with The Underworld.”

  ​“Do I have a choice?”

  ​“No, you don’t. A soul for a soul and I will have my due, damn it. Morríganna doesn’t get to show me up in front of all The Realms and not suffer the consequences.”

  ​Muttering under my breath, I ask, “How is she suffering the consequences? I’m the one that’s going to Hell.”

  Chapter 2

  (Ashlinn)

  ​ I can’t sleep.

  I haven’t really slept since that night. The night Alaric was taken from me. For a moment I just breathe as I steady myself. Every time I close my eyes the image of Alaric flying backward through The Morrígan’s trace trail is permanently etched on to my retinas. I’m haunted by those last few moments, and I can’t help but question my actions over and over again even though I know that Alaric was right, there was really nothing that I could have done differently. We all did what needed to be done that night. Over the course of the last several days, I find that I’m continually strengthening my resolve to be the warrior he needs me to be right now. I will do whatever it takes to get him back. It’s only been three days. Three very long and draining days. Each time I attempt to find him while dream walking, I’m always pulled to the western territories, but then at the last moment, I’m repelled as if I’m being forced away by an invisible barrier. So far it’s my only clue as to the direction that we must go in order to find him, but if her majic wielders have erected protection wards, then it could take forever to pinpoint where they are hiding him away. I’m frustrated beyond belief, and I’m tired and have no right to be or whine about my feelings. I have no idea as to what Alaric is suffering, I have no idea as to where I can find him, and make no mistake, he is mine to find, and I know he needs me right now. I know it down deep in my soul. All I know is that our bond is still in place, but that gives me little comfort because I know that my nemesis will be taking every advantage of the time she has him in her grasp. God, I miss him so, and my heart aches from the loss. I know that the she-bitch is tormenting him and taking pleasure in it, and I can’t stomach the thought. The twins have been irritable for days, and I can’t say that I blame them, given my current mood.

  In my many hours of distraction, I went to The Twilight Realm and gathered Mom’s Memoirs last night. I sat and read them while I should have been sleeping, where no sleep was found, hoping to find answers to my many questions. This morning when Lexie brought Sammy over to check in on me and the twins, I gave them over to her to read. Currently, I’m watching and waiting for her reaction. Jasmine is perched on her shoulder, sprite size and the two are utterly immersed in the story of Mom’s past. I know that I for one was utterly blown away, she never once let on that she knew anything. Mom knew so much more than we were led to believe and her knowledge is game-changing. I know that Jaz and Lexie are close to the end, but for the moment I’m distracted by Lillie, Lachlan, Sammy, and the pups. The five are so cute with one another. I can tell that Lillie and Sammy are continually gravitating toward one another. Lillie is obviously more mobile than Sammy being that she is older, but the two end up together more often than not. Which leaves Lachlan chasing after his little sister. I shift my gaze to Lexie when she sighs, lowering the leatherbound book in her hands. That’s when our eyes meet, and I can almost see the wheels turning as she processes everything that she has just read.

  Jasmine’s wings begin to flutter. She lifts off of Lexie’s shoulder, and the next moment she is faerie size. She starts pacing before turning to us, “That’s just crazy! Your Mum must have been amazing. She was so brave and strong. That part when she writes about…” Suddenly she’s in tears, and I know exactly which part she is talking about, “Your Mum was an extraordinary woman, that’s all I have to say.” Drying her tears with the backs of her delicate hands, she smiles and says, “Let me go entertain and keep an eye on the babes while the two of you talk about, well… what all this means.” She waves her hand at the open journal in front of us and then turns a pointed look my way, “And then afterward, we find Alaric and wage war on The Morrígna. They have to be stopped before something horrible happens.”

  “Like a freakin’ rift being torn between our realm and The Underworld? News flash, Jaz, that’s already happened if what Morgwais said has come to pass. I need to trace over to the Isle of Tears and see how terrible the damage is so far. Maybe we’ll catch a break, and it won’t be so bad.”

  “I wouldn’t bet on that Ash. The Realms are in for difficult times ahead. The southern and western territories are aligned as are the northern and eastern territories. The dark and light fae are gearing up for an epic battle. A civil war that has been brewing for some time now. If the dead, demons and Fallen have an open doorway into this realm, then we can only pray that the gods and goddesses step up and choose our side in the war to come. Now, I have a tickle attack to see to.” She smiles, and I watch as she shrinks again in the blink of an eye and flies over to play with the twins and Sammy. She sparkles in the sunlight that’s streaming through the windows, and her wings are fluttering furiously as
she dives in to attack Lachlan. Her tickle attack has the desired effect, and his little throaty laugh makes me smile before turning my attention back to Lexie. I know the children are in good hands, their little giggles, jibber jabber, and cooing are proof of that. Jasmine is the ultimate baby mobile. Although I’m really connecting with her bloodthirsty side right now in my need to find Alaric, for now, I’ll put that aside, along with her promise of war. Turning my gaze back to Lexie, I can see she is still assimilating everything. I ask the question that I’ve been wondering about since completing the read, “Is it true? Blood memories? Do you have them? If so, why haven’t you said anything about this, Daerok? Good God, we have The Morrígan and her sisters to deal with, and now there’s another threat. Daerok is a freaking lich king, he and his druid followers have managed to become immortal. His an ex-druid. Not just any druid but their exiled leader!”