Realms of the Otherworld Box Set

by Jana LaPelle

  ​Jasmine looks at me with eyes wide in alarm, and then she says, “Yes my lady! I will find him.”

  Suddenly, the tether pulls taut like a rubber band that has been stretched too far, and I'm flying backward, but before I go I manage to say, "Thank you Jaz, I owe you one!" Then I'm flying back the way I came, back to my body, back to Earth. The scenery flies by at an incredible speed until suddenly I'm back hovering over my prone form. Alexia, my Lexie, is still by my side but now she has a book in her hands, and she's reading to me, Romeo and Juliet, as my body lies deathly still against the stark white sheets of the hospital bed. She looks pretty banged up with a bandage around her head, and one of her legs appears to be broken and set in a cast. Alexia may be my niece making her the only family I have left, but she's also my best friend, after all, there's less than a year's difference in our age, and I vow to myself to make it back to her. I'm all the family she has left in the world. Suddenly, feeling drained, I'm pulled back into my body. What once felt like a welcome cocoon, has now become my prison, and I long to be free of it.

  Chapter 3

  ​Wow, that was really cool, and a little scary all at the same time. I have either lost my mind, or I have developed a really cool ability. I'm not sure what's happening to me, and then there's that conversation with a sprite no less. Seriously? Where had that come from? I'm awakening; I need my guardian? Try as I might, I can't for the life of me figure out why those words burst from my lips. It just bubbled up out of me from somewhere locked deep inside of me. So far, I have been unable to repeat my previous journey to the meadow, it's as if I'm drained of energy. Now I'm stuck in my dark prison to ponder whether or not I've taken the crazy train straight to looney town. Talk of realms and then sprites and astral projection? Right…

  ​I believe that something beyond my comprehension is happening to me, no matter how ridiculous that sounds. Since my eighteenth birthday I have felt really off and now this? Mom told me always to wear my necklace and that when I turned eighteen, I would be able to read the letter left to me by my birth mother. The very same mother who had abandoned me when I was just weeks old, but since we were on vacation for my birthday, Mom said she would give me the letter to read once we got back home. She had kept it all this time, and now I feel an urgent need to read that note. I swore that her words would mean nothing to me, but now I'm not so sure. Now? I worry that there's something in that letter that I should have read before now, before all this happened. I know that my strength is beginning to fade, I can feel it, but at the same time, I feel an overwhelming need to try to reach the meadow just one more time before I fade away to nothing. I need to get to Alaric before it's too late. I pray Jasmine has been able to get a message to him. I have no idea how much or how little time has passed. I reach deep inside myself to muster up the energy to do what I must before it's too late.

  ​Just like before, I imagine replicating what I had done on my last journey to the meadow, but this time, I think about tapping into my core energy. The same energy that I can feel fading. As I gather my strength, I think about what I need to do, and once again I'm on my way. This time, there's no stopping to see my hospital surroundings. My ethereal body, along with its tether, is speeding past everything on my way to the meadow. Soon I'm standing in the majical meadow, and for the first time since the accident, I spin around to take in all of my surroundings. What I remember most from my previous dream walks is Alaric. Images may have been detailed, but happenings were blurred and unfocused. Now I'm amazed at how vibrant the color is, color like I have never seen before, kind of like the Technicolor from old films, and then I notice that the meadow is surrounded by a forest. In the distance, there's a waterfall that feeds the gentle pool of water I had seen on my last trip here, but the most important feature that I had failed to truly notice before is the tree. Yes, I remember Alaric being under the tree, but without him there my focus is centered on the tree alone. It's magnificent, a beautiful and enormous weeping willow. I find myself drawn to it, even though it's in the middle of the pool of water, rooted on a small lush green island. I find myself moving toward it, drawn in by a mystical force that I can't deny. The sun is rising, and the sky is layered with a multitude of color, and the air is shimmering with what? Oh, my… the air is shimmering and twinkling with sprites as the sun reflects off their skin and wings, it's quite literally the most beautiful thing I have ever seen.

  ​“Jasmine? Are you here?" I manage to ask in a quiet, reverent voice.

  ​“Yes, my lady.” I hear from a quiet voice to my right.

  ​"Why do you call me that, Jasmine? My name is Ashlinn, and I’m no one’s lady.” I say in a hushed voice. “Have you been able to get a message to Alaric?’ I ask, as I continue to walk towards the magnificent tree. She calls to something deep inside of me.

  ​"Yes, my lady," Jasmine responds.

  ​“Can you please just call me Ashlinn? You’re making me uncomfortable.” I huff. “Where’s Alaric?”

  ​“He camps beneath the tree. You’ll find him there.” She says as she looks me over. “You looked washed out, not like you did the other day, you must get to Alaric as soon as possible!”

  ​I look around and find that there are not only sprites but other mystical creatures all staring at me as if I were something special, someone important. How odd. I continue on my path to the tree; it is truly magnificent. I have never seen anything like it, but all is not as it seems. As I grow closer, I sense that the tree is failing, the changes are minute but they are there, and it alarms me. "Alaric? Are you there? I need to speak to you." I call out.

  ​A man emerges from beneath the tree's canopy. Wow, I'm struck speechless. He takes my breath away. He's quite possibly the most breathtaking male I have ever laid eyes on. A gentle breeze moves through the billowing branches of the willow tree. Moving the swaying limbs around him in a weaving motion, that caresses his upper body in a manner that I'm suddenly jealous of, if only I were the branches of that majical tree, lightly dancing across his broad shoulders, I think wistfully. This is Alaric, and I know him. He's mine.

  ​“Ashlinn? What are you doing here? It's not time yet; you shouldn't experience your awakening for another few months. How is it you even know about your awakening?" He looks at me quizzically.

  ​ I stop midway to the tree. I look down to see that stepping stones have appeared as I take measured steps toward Alaric, "I really have not the faintest clue as to what's happening to me,” I say in a strangled breath, "I… I'm lost… Can you help me?" Tears streak down my face, and I'm abashed at how vulnerable I sound. I hang my head in shame. "Everything has changed so suddenly! I think that I died in the accident, but somehow they were able to bring me back. Now I can't wake up! I'm stuck, and I know that I'm fading. I don't know how else to explain it. Please?" I beg, breathlessly. "Can you help me?"

  ​“What accident, Ashlinn? What are you talking about?” His concern is evident in his voice.

  ​ I look up through my lashes to peer upon his handsome face. His eyes are a brilliant, piercing blue. His jawline is strong and chiseled to perfection, with the slightest hint of a five o'clock shadow. His skin is lightly tanned, and his chestnut colored hair is unruly in the gentle breeze as his somewhat wavy locks are tasseled in the gentle wind. He definitely knows a thing or two about working out; his biceps are impressive, and his pecs strain against the sleeveless leather vest he wears. Ever so slowly, his mouth begins to quirk into a smile as he looks at me and a dimple emerges, then I notice his ears, and oh good gravy, his ears are pointed, and at that moment I realize the man of my dreams is not a man at all but an elf. I gasp as I realize what I should have known all along, but at that moment I understand that I don't care if he's an elf, he's simply the most alluring male I have ever seen as my eyes meet his. Well, snap. I've just been caught checking him out, and I blush furiously, as I stutter, "Wh…What?”

  ​“Ashlinn, continue?” his smirk grows larger.

  ​As I get a grip on myself,
I say, "I think I need your help. I'm in a hospital, somewhere near the Jellico Mountains in Tennessee. We were on our way back home from the beach when there was a terrible accident. I saw myself die, but they were able to bring me back. Now I'm somehow disconnected from my body, trapped in a void. I can travel here, but I cannot wake up. I've tried. I fear that without your help I will cease to be." I continue to ramble on, "I have vague memories or dreams of you, but they are disjointed and unfocused as to who you are to me. I know that I know you, but I don't know how. I know in my heart I trust you, and only you to help me. Please, I beg of you, Alaric I need your help." My cry sounds softly around the meadow.

  ​As I look up, I see that Jasmine is hovering just left of my face and she reaches up as if to wipe my tears. I lean in toward her for a moment and allow her to comfort me. Then, as I turn my gaze upon Alaric, I see that he is deep in thought. “Alaric?”

  ​ Those brilliant blue eyes of his connect with mine, "You're unable to wake? That can only mean one thing. Your necklace, your talisman, has been removed. You were to wear it until your awakening. Your premature death has jump started your awakening, and without your talisman, you're stuck in limbo. By the Goddess, I need to get to you! I need to know exactly where you are!" He demands.

  ​"I cannot give you exact details. I only know that we were traveling along the I-75 corridor, northbound on our way back home. The accident took place close to the Tennessee-Kentucky state lines. My niece Alexia is the only other one of my family to survive, and she stays with me. I need to come back to her. Lexie is all alone now. Alaric, can you find me?" I ask as my tether pulls taut, signally that my time is almost up. I look around me and what I see is utterly otherworldly. I have never seen anything quite like what I'm seeing before me, and I'm humbled to be surrounded by such beauty and majesty. I gaze upon Alaric and reach my hand up as if to touch his face, but then I hesitate, because I want so much more than a ghostly touch. My attention is pulled to the tree once more. She is stunning, but I can feel her life force ever so slowly ebb out of her. Sensing that she is not well, I don't ask myself how I know this, I just do. I reach an ethereal hand towards her trunk before I lean into her. I whisper, "Don't worry; I'll make it back to you, and once I do we will fix whatever is afflicting you." Then, as I turn towards Alaric, I plead, "Please find me. Do you think you can?"

  ​"There is a portal to the mortal realm near where you describe. I need to gather my men, and we'll find you. I promise! Ashlinn, do you hear my vow? I have waited eighteen mortal years for you."

  ​My tether pulls taut, and I feel myself being pulled backward, I want to stay but know I cannot. I look towards Alaric with desperation in my eyes as I plead, “Find me! Please?” I beg. His eyes meet mine as he smiles.

  ​“Always. I will always find you. I'm your Guardian, your kindred soul; our destinies are intertwined. I need you to trust me." He declares.

  ​“How will you find me?”

  ​"Ash, I have watched over you from afar for some time. I know you're scared, but I need you to trust that, I. Will. Find. You. It is my solemn vow.” He says.

  ​"I don't know why but I do." I look into his eyes as I'm suddenly being pulled backward, and I reach out to him as I'm pulled away from the meadow and Jasmine and Alaric. My tether pulls me back to what I now call the Mortal Realm and not Earth, back to my physical body, back to my prison for the time being.

  Chapter 4

  (Alaric)

  ​"Jasmine, you're coming with me," I command. "The rest of you know what to do. We're bringing her home." I bark out. I hope that my concern about Ashlinn's current predicament isn't etched on my face. I know how imperative it is that I get to her and fast. But before we get to the sídhe mound that will take us to the Mortal Realm we need to let the Aos Si, the sídhe guardians, know that we're coming. That's something that I can task the dryads to help with; the tree nymphs can quickly pass on the message that we are on our way so that we will be expected. I look around the edge of the trees and see a dryad's form begin to emerge from her tree. "Jade? I need you and your sisters to pass on a message to the Aos Si. Can you do that?" I ask. "I need for you to get word to them that my Guard and I will be heading their way before nightfall to pass through the dolmen portal to the Mortal Realm."

  ​ "As always Alaric, we are at your service, and it will be done," Jade says as she curtsies, and merges back with her tree. Before long, the forest will be abuzz with word of our coming.

  ​“Alaric, why am I coming with you? I have never been to the Mortal Realm.” Jasmine demands as she flitters about me.

  ​"Because Ashlinn will need a friendly fae face once she awakens. I think you and she have connected for some reason. You will be a gentle reminder that she was not dreaming and that all of this is real. Her awakening is going to be much more challenging than any of us thought possible with the recent turn of events." I say, worry evident in my voice. Then I let out a loud practiced whistle calling Tempest, my Shire horse; he's my mount, my partner, and an old friend. He appears over the ridge and gallops towards me. His black mane flying behind him, his body is sturdy and large and a gleaming solid black mass of muscle. He has a white blaze on his face that covers his muzzle and reaches up past his eyes, eyes that are a startling crystal blue, and each leg from the knee down is covered in long white silky hair. Tempest stands over 18 hands tall. In a word, he is massive. We have been together through thick and thin, and I would trust no other with this mission to get me to my men and back to Ashlinn. Time is of the essence. As Tempest gallops towards us and comes to a halt, he paws the ground with his hooves eager to be off.

  ​I hear Jasmine's shrill voice. “I’ve never ridden a horse before, and you expect my first time to be on this beast? You have got to be kidding me.” She mutters.

  ​“I’m not sure what you are so worried about,” I say, “You have wings, it’s not like you’re going to hit the ground if he bucks, which he won’t. Ever.” I say.

  ​“I know, it’s an irrational fear, but I can’t help it.” She says in an almost shout with her hands on her hips. “Can I ride in your pocket? Please?” She squeaks.

  ​I agree and then we mount up, Jasmine in the front pocket of my shirt and we’re off, Tempest is not only huge but fast, and we ride like the wind, away from the sacred meadow, away from the Tree of Life that borders between the Mortal Realm and the Otherworld Realm. I’m on a mission to get to my men, my Guard, warriors that I have trained for this. I can only pray to the god and goddess that we are ready for what awaits us.

  (Alaric)

  ​It has taken us just under an hour to make our approach of Glenndale Loch Keep, me with a pixie in my pocket. I pull up on Tempest. My men are training just inside the walls of the Keep.

  ​“Ready yourselves!” I call out to my men. “We ride out in less than an hour for the Mortal Realm. Dress appropriately. I also need you armed, I’m not sure what we will face in the Mortal Realm, things are not as they seem.” I say as I look around. “Where is the Druid? He will need to accompany us.” I instruct. Jasmine takes this moment to vacate my pocket, zipping around in an agitated state. “What’s wrong Jasmine?” I ask.

  ​"How the hell am I supposed to travel in the Mortal Realm? There are no sprites there; Ashlinn said so, maybe I should just wait here until you get back. It's not like we're going to visit Ireland where the old folk knows of us, we're going stateside." She huffs.

  ​"Jasmine, I'll have Nemus conjure you a traveling glamour. It will be fine. Now I have things to do before we head out." I turn to address the men again as they're putting away their training weapons. "Ēolieus, I need you in charge of provisions and rations for this journey. Tolin and Torin, I need you both to round up additional weapons. Declan you are to plot our course, and will be in charge of mortal technology. We will be entering the Mortal realm in the Appalachian Mountains in Tennessee." I command. "Fergus and Lorcan, I need you to stay behind to be my eyes and ears while we're gone and assist with prepar
ations for our departure. Everyone meet me in the library in thirty minutes. Fergus, send Nemus to my chambers. Jasmine, you're with me." I command.

  ​“Alright mister bossy pants; let’s get something straight, right here, right now. The only reason why I’m here is for Ashlinn. I do not take orders from you so you can stop bossing me around right this minute!” Jasmine flutters in front of my face in an agitated manner.

  ​"I do apologize Jasmine for my gruff tone, but we're in a hurry, please follow me to my chambers where Nemus will join us to cloak you in a glamour spell for our journey. Time is of the essence." I say apologetically.

  ​“Well, alright, when you put it like that, I will acquiesce.” She says with a coy smirk.

  ​As we enter the foyer of the castle, I quickly run up to my chambers taking the stairs two at a time until I reach the top level. "Jasmine, can you remain in my outer chambers until Nemus arrives? I need to change and make ready for our journey. I'll be just a few moments." I turn and walk into my bedroom suite and make my way to a separate wardrobe. I pull it open and grab a pair of black fatigue style cargo pants, a black V-neck short sleeve T-shirt, a pair of black combat boots, and my black leather baldric to holster my swords. I quickly change out of my leathers and pack some of my gear. Then I make my way back to my outer chambers where I find Nemus and Jasmine waiting for me.

  ​"Nemus, Ashlinn needs us. We leave out shortly, Jasmine will be traveling with us, and she will need a cloaking spell, as will the rest of us that are traveling to the Mortal realm to hide our weapons. What can you do for Jasmine?" I ask.

  ​Nemus looks at me then Jasmine with his stoic features and considers my request. "I can glamour her to appear as a ferret? They are small and often travel with their humans." He says.

  ​“A ferret? You want to glamour me to look like a rodent? You cannot be serious! Absolutely not! I don't care if it's only a glamour I will not agree to be a ferret. Seriously?” Jasmine protests, looking seriously upset.