Blood And Breath

3

On Earth, I can only open portals within stone circles, so I couldn’t bring you directly into town. I probably should have done this when I was away from Lochlan, but I hated the thought of you being stuck in that place any longer than necessary. He’s waiting for me back in Faery, and if I don’t go back now, he’ll find out what I’ve done and end up involved. This has to stay between you and me. If he helps in any way, and Queen Guin finds out, it could mean war between the Hunt and the Seelie Court.”

I knew she felt the need to explain herself, but she could have dropped me naked into the thorny branches of the tallest tree, and I would not have balked. I was grateful for any help I received. I fingered the odd form of currency, wondering how the papers could be of any value rather than coin. It was doubtless one of a myriad of changes to which I would need to assimilate. “Be safe, Fen. I’ll see you again soon.” Rebecca flung her arms around me, and after a stunned moment, I embraced her in the first hug I had been offered in centuries. “Thank you, Rebecca. This favor you have done for me will not be forgotten.” I pulled back and bowed my head deeply in respect. She was evidence of the good still left in the world. I only hoped my hardened soul was worthy of such kindness. In less than a minute, Rebecca had opened a portal back to the Twilight Realm, and I was alone again. Yet, the word ‘alone’ did not carry the same connotation as it had just hours earlier. Solitude was something I had resigned myself to accept. It had even become a part of who I was. I might always live a solitary life now that it had become my custom, but there was freedom in knowing it was my choice to make. This new world presented an overabundance of choices. The prospect was almost daunting but also filled me with some semblance of optimism. It was a trait I had possessed before, but it had been squashed in the name of self-preservation. Acceptance of dire circumstances was crucial if one was to persevere through the roughest times. I found that holding on to scraps of deluded hope merely led to disappointment and heartache, making life that much harder. I was aware that I had hardened over time; however, I had not realized the extent of my change until repressed memories began to bubble to the surface. The tickle of the breeze against my skin, the hoot of an owl calling out across the open sky, and the freedom to wander as my spirit desired. All the experiences that had been out of my reach had been packaged up and stored in the recesses of my mind. In an attempt to align myself with the horrors of my life, I had forgotten the wonders that existed in the world outside my prison. Even at night, the deep green of the grass could be seen as I made my way toward a cluster of trees gently swaying in the wind. I was stunned to discover what an enormous difference a simple breeze could make—the smells it carried, the cool touch along my skin, the sounds it made as it forced its way across the landscape, and the sense of exhilaration that came from a deep breath of that fresh air. Never would I allow someone to take that from me again. Attempting to shake the ominous thought, I found a hollow in the ground that was well-padded with fallen leaves and butted up against the trunk of a broad tree. The night was brisk, but I was no stranger to discomfort and was able to burrow into the leaves for warmth. The decaying mass had been there for some time, which hinted at the fact that I had returned during the spring months. Seasons. Yet another part of life the Shadow Lands had denied me. I lay for some time in my leafy cocoon, enveloped in the sounds around me. I had doubted my ability to sleep at all, but to my surprise, the next thing I knew, I was opening my eyes to the breathtaking sight of the sun cresting over the horizon. What magnificence. The sky lit in colors I had thought only existed in my imagination. How could I have not wept each and every day at the loss of such beauty? The rising sun was brilliant and inspiring—it was life itself. I will die fighting rather than return to the Shadow Lands. Once the golden orb had fully ascended over the horizon, I set off in its direction. The blinding light was painful to my sensitive eyes, but in a good way. Growing pains were the best sort of discomfort. Soon, my eyes would adjust to the light of day, and I would emerge from the darkness in which I had been shrouded for so long. I crossed several small roads, as Rebecca had described. Instead of dirt or cobbled pavers, the roads I encountered were constructed of an unfamiliar solid material. The journey took me through open fields and was easy to traverse, but there was little in the way of trees or brush to keep me hidden. I was not in the habit of walking in the open. The Shadow Lands had little variety in the way of vegetation, but the tall grasses and clusters of scrub trees had provided ample cover. Being exposed kept me on edge, repeatedly looking over my shoulder to scan my surroundings. My vigilance alerted me to the growing hum of something approaching extremely quickly. I ducked into a cluster of taller grass, peeking toward the source of the roaring noise. As it grew closer, a heavy unease settled in the pit of my stomach. A shining metal carriage flew past me at a dizzying speed. Did they now use magic on Earth? How had the thing been propelled without horses? How woefully behind was I to find myself? I had expected changes, but for the first time since Rebecca offered me an escape, a new kind of apprehension set in. Not that I would have refused the chance to flee the Shadow Lands, but I realized that my adjustment to the modern day might be more problematic than I had anticipated. Unfortunately, nothing can be done about my ignorance but to continue and adapt as quickly as possible. I had been concerned that I would not know which road was the ‘larger’ one she had mentioned, but there was no mistaking the thoroughfare when I came to it. Carriages flew along the roadway in a steady stream, and I kept far from their sight. In her rambled warning about modern Earth, Rebecca had insisted the most danger I might face would result from misunderstandings. I would take her at her word that there were no physical threats, but my instincts had me highly guarded. I had little in the way of weaponry, and my knowledge of spells would do me no good in the heat of a battle. My survival techniques in Faery had hinged around remaining a step ahead of my adversaries. Here in this strange new land, that simply was not an option. I continued south, keeping the road in my sights until I came upon a cottage nestled in the gently rolling hills. Brightly colored garments hung from a line in the garden, and I gazed down at my worn leathers. There was no question that I would be noticeably out of place unless I changed clothing.