by T. R. Reilly
Contents
Title Page
Copyright
Dedication
CHAPTER ONE
CHAPTER TWO
CHAPTER THREE
CHAPTER FOUR
CHAPTER FIVE
CHAPTER SIX
By
T.R.REILLY
Copyright © 2016 by T.R.Reilly
ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.
The unauthorized reproduction or distribution of this copyrighted work is illegal, except for the case of brief quotations in reviews and articles.
Dear Reader,
Thank you for downloading my first book in the Knights of Burana Series!
I hope you enjoy the book and the entire series, as much as I enjoy writing it.
Book Two is available now on Amazon.
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Dedicated to my loving and supportive husband,Paul.
Thank you for everything.
CHAPTER ONE
Leanna leaned against a large slightly moss covered rock, her bottom planted firmly on the ground in front of it. At twenty years old, she was already more tired than she should be for someone her age. As she sat writing in her journal she couldn't help but feel frustrated with her lack of social life. She was so tired of being an outsider and not fitting in anywhere, it was exhausting just getting up to go to work. Being around people too long always left her feeling drained,
as if they were taking her energy. Other times she felt others putting their energy onto her and she could feel their emotions. Being in an empty house, now that both her parents were dead, was a little lonely at times too. Still, she couldn't imagine living anywhere else and more importantly, wouldn't want to. The house was larger than she needed, but it was all she'd ever known. Closing her journal and looking around, the forest seemed unusually quiet. Her daily visits into the forest usually brought her peace of mind and a feeling of calm, but right now she felt like something was not quite right. The bird song was missing, there was no breeze moving the leaves or rubbing the tree branches together. Her eyes searched for a sign of wildlife, a chipmunk or a squirrel, anything, but there was nothing. As she stood and took a deep breath in and released it, she thought she heard a twig snap. Her head swiftly turned in the direction of the noise. She stood, waiting to hear it again and was met with eerie silence. She moved her eyes to the clearing next to her. The area was open to the sky and surrounded by tall trees. There were a few good size stones here and there, in the shape of a circle. It felt like a faerie circle to her, like it had been deliberately placed there just for her to see it. How else could she explain being called to this spot for the last ten years, each night in her dreams, seeing the mystical circle in her mind. Her father had told her more then once when she was a child, that faeries were real and that one day she might see one for herself, but when he got sick and died a couple of years ago, she stopped believing in myths and fairy tales.
There was another sound from the woods on the opposite side of the circle from where she sat. Her thoughts returned to the oddness she felt in her spot today. "Who's there?" she called out and waited. Met again with further silence, she decided to go and investigate. She placed her journal on the rock next to her and began to move toward the trees. "This is private property, you can't be here," she said, feeling slightly more nervous than she liked. As she carefully walked toward the sound, she cut around the faerie circle and looked to a large pine tree slightly to her left. There was the flicker of a face, it flashed too quickly to make out anything, but she was sure someone was watching her.
"Come out now and I won't hurt you," she said, trying to muster her courage and sound formidable. She jumped back and gasped when a gorgeous man stepped out from behind the tree, standing poker straight, not making any move toward her, but not running away either. Leanna held her ground and kept her arms at her sides, even if her mouth was slightly agape at seeing such a handsome stranger in her forest. "Who are you?" she asked in a calmer voice when she realized he didn't feel threatening. "Hello, sorry to disturb you, milady...my name is Ash" The handsome man bowed his blond head slightly, then returned to standing upright and proud.
"What are you doing here? this is private property." She continued to drink him in with her eyes.
"I know, I'm sorry. I don't mean you any harm." He put his hands up to show her he was unarmed and harmless.
She looked him over for a moment, he sure is tall and hot, she thought, then said, "You aren't from around here are you?"
He smiled and looked down at his clothing which consisted of a pair of khaki colored trousers, a dark colored tunic that was open at the neck, revealing some of his well built chest. Around his neck was a leather cord with a gold colored leaf dangling from it. He shrugged, looking back up at her. Leanna took a couple of steps toward the stranger, "I've never seen anyone else here before, ever! Where did you come from?" She looked around cautiously wondering if anyone else was going to pop out from behind a tree. Ash took a step toward Leanna this time, but she held up her right palm to stop his progress toward her. "I have been here often, you are Leanna -"
She cut him off and yelled, "How do you know my name!?" putting her arm back down to her side she began to back up quickly and without looking where she was headed, her right heel caught on something on the ground behind her. She began to lose her balance and fall backward, her arms flailing out at her sides like a pair of wings, trying to right herself. Before she could hit the ground with a thud, Ash was quickly behind her, his large hands gently catching her and helping her to stand upright again. She turned to look at him up close and gazed into the most beautiful aqua blue eyes she'd ever seen. She gasped, trying to find words, but her brain had turned to mush. She continued to stare at the handsome stranger, breathing him in, as he stared at her adoringly. After several seconds of awkward silence, she put her hands on her hips and stuck her chin out, "Is there a reason you're here?" she tried to sound like she wasn't completely thrown off by the blond, blue eyed hunk that had just saved her from falling down.
Ash looked at the ground briefly while shaking his head, smiling. Then looking back to Leanna his expression changed, he spoke firmly, "I am here to protect you. All I have ever done is protect you. If you will allow me to, I can explain everything."
Leanna was a little surprised at his response, she couldn't imagine what he would want to protect her from. She was just a bored, lonely young woman, with no friends or future prospects. "I'd really like to hear this" she laughed, and turned to walk back to her rock. She picked up her journal and leaned against the rock. She motioned for Ash to join her, noticing that he hadn't taken his eyes off of her. His face revealing a slight smile that lit up his aqua eyes.
Leanna felt a sense of comfort and goodness coming from Ash, almost as though she'd known him her whole life. Ash stood a couple of feet from her as she made herself comfortable against the rock.
"So you say you are here to protect me. Protect me from what?" Leanna raised one eyebrow and narrowed her eyes.
"Not from what, milady as much as from whom..." He spoke in a gentle, yet serious voice.
"Okay, from whom?"
"I must explain to you first, that I have been your protector since you were brought here. This is not your true realm...I mean home."
Leanna looked shocked for a moment, a million questions suddenly forming in her mind. "What do you mean...not my true real
m?"
"You believe your parents are human right?" he said.
"My parents are dead and of course they were human, what else would they be?" she raised her voice a little.
"Your mother was from my world...the realm of the Fae. Your father here, was a guardian appointed by your mother, to keep you safe until it was time to return home."
Leanna began to feel her eyes fill with tears. She'd missed her father every day since he died, was this some kind of sick joke? This makes no sense at all. Her mind reeled at the thought of her entire life being a lie. Maybe this guy was some lunatic or something. Attractive or not, I don't believe you, she thought. She pushed herself up off the rock and backed away again, keeping her journal held against her chest as a shield.
Ash appeared a little startled by her response and took a couple of steps back. "Please, milady I assure you I am not crazy, nor am I lying-"
"Get out of here, get away from me. My father is dead! My mother died when I was a child! I am alone, how dare you come here and tell me this...this...story! What is wrong with you? Her eye's grew larger and her bottom lip began to quiver slightly. "Did someone put you up to this? Is that why you are dressed so strangely?... following me around the woods?"
"No, I assure you I-" Ash stood still, his expression soft with concern.
"Oh, that's it isn't it? Let's just make fun of the weird chick, she believes in this faerie stuff!" she sobbed and turned her back to Ash. She felt him come up behind her, felt his warmth and sensed his emotion as he approached, but she couldn't allow herself to get sucked in. "Just go away and leave me alone" she said in a low voice and stomped away quickly, moving back toward the path to the backyard and her big lonely house. She didn't look back to see if he was following.
Standing in the bathroom getting ready for bed later that night, Leanna thought about the things Ash had said, how her mother was a Fae from another realm. Even if she could believe that, why wouldn't my father tell me? She thought for a moment about her childhood and all the times her father had walked alongside her to her faerie circle, and spoke with her about other realms. She'd just thought he was telling her stories, she never dreamed he was telling her the truth. She looked at the reflection staring back at her from the bathroom mirror, her long shiny black hair, her sad emerald green eyes and full rosy lips. She never really thought of herself as anything other than dull and average. She'd never really noticed anyone checking her out, like they did all the cute girls. Yes, she was a bit quiet and mysterious, but she would have liked to have been asked to a dance or a movie. It just never happened, not yet anyway. As she continued to look into her own eyes in the mirror, her mind went to the moment she first saw Ash up close earlier that day. She'd noticed his strong jawline and beautiful blue-green eyes right away, before gazing on his full lips. In fact, she stared so long that she almost hadn't noticed something odd, where his blond hair was tucked slightly behind one ear. Then a thought struck her, she pushed her hair back behind her right ear, exposing it. Leaning in to get a closer look, she realized something she hadn't really ever thought of before. The pointy tip on her right ear was just like Ash's ear, that she'd seen poking through his hair. Quickly she put her hair behind her left ear and held them both out slightly from her head, her eyes widening with the realization, "Oh my God, I'm a bloody faerie!" she exclaimed before beginning to laugh. "I think I may have judged him too quickly," she mumbled to herself. Reaching for her toothbrush and toothpaste, she began to brush her teeth, going over the events of the afternoon in her mind, slowly realizing that things were about to change, in a very big way.
Later, in bed, she laid facing the window and watched as the moonlight shone its beams onto the ceiling over her curtains. She imagined what life might be like in a faerie realm. "Maybe I'd at least have friends there, she mused out loud."
She felt butterflies in her stomach every time she thought of Ash and wished she'd been a little nicer to him.
"I wonder if he will come back to my spot tomorrow," she said to the moonbeams, not waiting for their response, "I hope so, I really do want to hear him out." She closed her eyes and drifted off to sleep.
CHAPTER TWO
Leanna took a bite of toast and put it back on the plate. She had made a point of getting up earlier than usual today to find a nice outfit to wear. Carefully, she'd picked out a dark green top that showed off the color of her eyes, and a faded pair of blue jeans that flattered her slender figure. She even made the effort to put on a little bit of eye liner and blush, hoping her pale skin might look a little more cheery if she saw Ash again. Downing the last of her toast with some orange juice, she put on her sandals and headed outside to her backyard and the forest that apparently until yesterday, held secrets she had been unaware of.
Minutes later she was walking the well worn path behind her home. Leanna had been walking the same path since she was a small child. There was something about being outside, in nature, that made her feel alive and happy. She felt blessed that her family home backed on to an ancient forest. She couldn't imagine living in a city or town where she'd not have access to the beauty she found in this small piece of paradise. Once past the outlying trees, the forest sounds and smells filled her senses. Smiling with anticipation, she began to move more quickly, toward the clearing that held her faerie circle. Approaching the clearing, she saw Ash leaning with his arms folded across his chest, against her rock, and she felt the butterflies in her stomach again. Today the scenery looked even more beautiful than usual to Leanna. She smiled brightly and he returned a smile that made his eyes sparkle with joy.
"Good morning Milady Leanna." He stood tall and bowed his head and shoulders as she approached.
"Good morning Ash. Hey, I'm sorry about yesterday. I was just a bit...well...freaked out with what you said, about my mother..." she paused, not wanting to finish the sentence.
"I understand. There really is no easy way to tell you the things I need to tell you and I don't wish to upset you again."
Ash said gently. Leanna put a finger to her lips as if thinking and then dropped it before moving closer to Ash. "How did you know I would come back here today?"
"Because you come here every day." He smiled and motioned with his arm toward the rock he was leaning on.
"Oh," she blushed a little, looking away toward the faerie circle beside her.
"Milady, I have been told I must bring you with me when I return home again. But first, I need to explain to you..."
Leanna put up her hand, interrupting him, "Please, Ash, stop calling me Milady, My name is Leanna...what would you like to explain?" He paused for a moment and stood tall again, "Am I to assume you take me serious now? You believe me?" He asked, his face lighting up a little. Leanna shrugged, "Well, I'm still not sure what's going on here, but I'm willing to listen to what you have to say." And stare into your gorgeous face, she added in her thoughts.
Ash's face changed as he looked away for a moment, placing his arms at his side, his palms against the large rock, he faced Leanna.
"Did Brendon..uh...your father ever tell you about Fae realms or that you might meet one someday?" Ash asked.
"Yes he did, several times. I guess the next thing you are going to tell me, is that you are the faerie he spoke about?" She said trying not to sound too hopeful. Ash smiled sweetly and nodded, "Maybe I am."
"When was I brought here?"
"When you were a few weeks old"
"Why?"
"To keep you safe."
"Safe you say. Well, if that's true, why isn't my dad still here? Why did he have to die?" her eyes moistened with tears, as a lump rose in her throat, stopping her from speaking further. Ash took a step toward Leanna and put a hand on her shoulder, she didn't push it away. "I am sorry that Brendon died Leanna, unfortunately, there was nothing we could do about that." Leanna wiped her face with the backs of her hands and stood up a little taller and looked at Ash.
"So what happens now, you take me away to this Faerie place you keep s
peaking of?"
"We call our kingdom Burana and yes, I am here to bring you back with me." He smiled and squeezed her shoulder
"But first there is something I need you to bring with you."
"What's that?"
"Did Brendon ever give you an amulet with a green stone in it?"
"Yes, he told me it was my mothers, it's in my jewelery box, but why do you want me to bring that?"
"Indeed, it was your mothers and it's the only way we can prove your true heritage. May I accompany you to the house to help you prepare to go?" Ash dropped his hand from her shoulder and stepped away putting some space between the two of them. "Sure, that should be fine." She turned to head toward the house, listening for Ash's footsteps behind her as she veered onto the path through the forest to the edge of the backyard. When they reached the backyard, Ash stepped up beside Leanna and turned to her. "What has made you change your mind about me?" he asked casually. Leanna turned to look at Ash as she spoke, "I sat up most of the night, going over my life and I realized I always knew there was something different about me. That this wasn't where I belonged and when I began to put the pieces together, I knew that my dad had even prepared me for this. I just didn't realize it." Ash smiled and nodded.
"So, this place...Burana? How will we get there?" Leanna asked changing the subject.
"You will see soon enough, let's just get what you need from here, then I will answer some of your questions."
Once inside the house, Leanna invited Ash to have a seat in her living room while she packed a few necessary items.
Ash had told her she couldn't bring a lot with her, so she decided to leave her journals behind and take a few photo's and sentimental things with her instead. She retrieved her mothers amulet, her blue sapphire ring and a pair of earrings that she never wore, but kept because they were her mothers. Holding her bag, packed with toiletries, photo's, and the small items that belonged to her mother, she gazed around the only bedroom she'd ever had. She felt a twinge of sadness and wondered what would happen when people realized she was gone. Her boss and colleagues would notice first, but would they bother to check in on her? Probably not, she told herself as she turned her back on this chapter of her life and went to join Ash in the living room.