The Heart of Trelyssia
Page 32
As the cheers rang out in the hall, the four friends looked at one another, unsure of what Sasket had just bestowed upon them, but realised it must be quite monumental. As one they stood and as Abi curtsied to the crowd, Randall, James and Steve bowed, accepting their accolade.
After that, the rest of the evening was a blur. There was food and drink aplenty, which they all gratefully tucked into. The party atmosphere got to everyone, and once they had all finished eating, the tables were pushed back to the edge of the hall and a small band appeared and started playing. It wasn’t long before everyone was dancing. James was reluctant to get on the dance floor, so Abi spent most of the night dancing with others. It seemed everyone wanted to have one dance with her, and when she eventually returned to where James was sitting watching the action, and especially Abi, she was exhausted.
‘You look really good out there,’ James told Abi as she sat down next to him. ‘But you are looking a little tired now. Had enough?’ James asked.
Abi leaned her head against James’s shoulder ‘You know what?’ she replied. ‘I think I have.’
‘Shall we get out of here then?’ James asked with a twinkle in his eye.
Abi raised her head and looked at him. ‘Quick way or long way?’ she asked mischievously.
‘Quick way!’
In the blink of an eye Abi transported them back to their room and gently settled the pair of them on the end of the bed.
‘James?’ Abi began.
‘What?’ he asked when she paused.
‘Do you get the feeling that it’s now truly all over?’
‘Not really,’ he replied. ‘Hey, were are you going?’ he asked as Abi got up.
‘To get something to write with and paper,’ Abi told him as she headed over to the bureau.
‘What on earth for?’ he questioned, puzzled as to why she would want to start writing late at night.
Abi quickly wrote on a piece of paper before handing it to James. ‘This is my mobile phone number,’ she told him. ‘It’s the best number to get hold of me on. Put it somewhere safe or try and memorise it.’
James glanced at it before tucking it in a pocket. ‘As you wish, though I don’t see why you’re giving this to me now,’ he said.
Abi shrugged in response. She had a feeling that it was important to give James a means to contact her now, before it was too late. She just didn’t want to get a discussion about her feelings tonight.
James, seeing Abi’s reluctance decided to distract her instead. ‘Shall we go to bed?’ he asked reaching for Abi to pull her down beside him. Abi, grateful for the diversion, succumbed easily to his advances. Before long, the two of them were wrapped in one another’s arms, enjoying the sensation of being together.
* * *
The shrill ring of an alarm clock woke Abi from a deep sleep. She groaned as she turned over and reached out to switch it off before burying her head back under the covers. Seconds later she was sat bolt upright, staring round her in disbelief. Abi was back at home, in her own bedroom. She looked at the vacant side of her bed and a pang of loneliness went through her. No James. The last thing Abi remembered was going to bed with James after the banquet. They must have been sent back overnight and she hadn’t even had the chance to say goodbye to James.
Abi threw back the covers, grabbed her dressing gown and headed downstairs to turn on the TV. She needed to know what date it was, and to try and find a way to explain the fact that she had been absent for as long as she had been. Abi grabbed the remote and settled herself on the sofa switching to a news channel for the latest information. As she accessed the right part to get the date her jaw dropped in amazement. According to what she was looking at, no time had passed at all. Abi couldn’t have been anywhere, because today was the tomorrow she should have woken up to what seemed like another lifetime ago.
Abi sat numb with shock for ages, unable to believe what she was seeing. It couldn’t have been just a dream, it had all seemed too real. What about James and her feelings for him? Abi was sure that they were real. But could everything that she had been through actually have happened?
Abi glanced up at the clock on the wall and realised that if she was going to get into work today she had only ten minutes to get ready. Abi started to make a move, when she realised that the last thing that she wanted to do was work, so instead she grabbed her mobile to ring in and say that she was sick. But before Abi could start dialling it began to ring in her hand making her jump. She looked at the display to see the number was withheld. Abi contemplated not answering but thought it could be important and if it wasn’t she could always hang up.
‘Hello,’ Abi answered wearily.
‘Is that the Fiery Woman’ a voice answered.
‘What?’ Abi was still feeling too out of things to comprehend what was happening.
‘Oh. I do beg your pardon, I must have the wrong number. Sorry!’ A voice that Abi knew so well, sounded very apologetic.
‘Wait,’ Abi cried, as her brain cells began to activate and work out what they had just heard. ‘James?’ she asked incredulous.
‘Yes, hello Abi,’ came the cheery reply. ‘You‘re not being very alert this morning, are you?’
Abi collapsed back on the sofa. ‘I feel out of things,’ she replied. ‘Did our time in Trelyssia and that battle really happen?’ she asked. ‘Have you seen what the date is?’
‘Yes, I’ve seen the date and it does seem rather odd.’ James paused reflectively. ‘However the fact that Randall and Steve have all the same recollections that I do, it seemed implausible that it was a mass dream. I then remembered you giving me your number and I went to see if I had it here, which I did. So, as final proof we decided I should ring the number and see what I got, and I got you.’
‘I’m so glad you called,’ Abi told him. ‘I was thinking it was all a dream and that you and I never happened.’
‘Oh, it definitely did!’ James replied. ‘I think it should continue happening. Can you come and meet me?’
‘Where are you?’ Abi asked him. He proceeded to give her directions to the hotel he was staying in with Randall and Steve. ‘I’ll get there as soon as I can,’ Abi promised.
‘You’d better. I want you here with me now and always!’
‘Well, you’re just going to have to wait until I’ve got some clothes on, and I’ve driven to you. Even driving fast it’s going to take a while!’
‘Be careful driving!’ James admonished. ‘I want you to get here in one piece. The last thing I need is for you to have an accident.’
‘I’ll be careful,’ Abi promised. They said their goodbyes then, and hung up.
As Abi ended the call a big grin crossed her face. It had all happened. The fact that James had just called her was all the proof that she needed. Abi leapt up from the sofa and ran upstairs to get ready to meet James. Her life was about to take a whole new turn, but it was one she was going to enjoy, mainly because she knew that James would be very much involved in her future.
Did you enjoy reading this book? If so, please send comments to:
Trelyssia@aol.co.uk
Also, the sequel to this book, Return to Trelyssia, is reaady and waiting in the wings. If you would be interested in a sequel, please let me know.
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