A Ribbon Strand: Raised Hackura

Not Our Reality Pt. 1

        Eric watched the short Haley calm down her version of him down. Jackson linked me, “I’m beginning to wonder if we should worry about Arion given how much this you…. wants to kill him.” I frowned, “My Haley….and can we just talk about how crazy it is I have to refer to her as my Haley because there are two of them…. but My Haley would be devastated if something happened to Arion. We can’t let….me...kill him.” Jackson said, “Not to state the obvious…. but his Haley would be devastated too. I think Arion is dead in their reality.” I looked at myself then his Haley. Jackson was right. His Haley was devastated over whatever happened to Arion, but this me…. definitely wasn’t sad. He wanted to kill our Arion. Arion tried to break the tension by making a joke. Saying he must be dead in our reality. My Haley felt pain and Aiden flinched when he said it. He commented on how much this other Eric cared about his death.” I linked Caleb, “We might have to stop the other me from killing our Arion after that joke.” Caleb snorted, “We need Beta Dylan to give a class on when to make a specific joke.” Much as I would never voice it…. Caleb was right. Dylan could time jokes perfectly. Arion...needed lessons so another me didn’t pop up and kill him. Marcus asked the other me what his problem with Arion was. 

            We all learned in to hear his answer which was silly. Even if he whispered it, we’d have heard him. His Haley quickly asked about the relationship between my Haley and her siblings. She was trying to avoid letting our Arion know what the problem was. I linked Caleb, “Text Lucas and Chase….and well...everyone else...let them know we have visitors. If they want to swing by...maybe with all of the other Alpha’s here…. we can contain that me should he decide to go for Arion’s throat.” His Haley was emotional about the relationship mine had with her fairy siblings. Her Eric held her tightly as Arion stepped forward. He growled at him not to come near her. Oh good. She pleaded with him while I looked over at Jackson, “He really might kill him.” Jackson was shocked, “But why?” I frowned, “It had to be bad.” Arion promised not to harm the other Haley. Arion was desperate to calm her down. I was confused why the promise was necessary, but the other me was finally considering letting his Haley near Arion. Even Aiden was inching forward. My Haley was subconsciously leaning forward too. My jaw dropped when Arion agreed to let the other me punch him in the face. Jackson linked, “Seriously? How can the other you hate this guy? He’s a fairy, and he’s offering up his own face to comfort the Haley that’s not even ours.” I frowned, “I really don’t know.”

            The other me was clearly linking his Haley. He eventually let her go. Begrudgingly. He hovered over the two of them as his Haley ran to Arion. For his part, Arion rubbed her hair ignoring the other me’s murderous glare. When he told her just to cry that he had her. The other me stiffened and let a low growl loose. Jackson said, “Oh I do believe her Arion said that to her.” I sighed, “I would guess so.” My Haley linked me wanting to confirm that I liked Arion. I told her I did. This other me though was two steps away from killing him if he was much as twitched. His Haley finally calmed down and stopped crying. She snapped Arion a new shirt. He told her he didn’t care about his shirt. She told him she was happy to see him. Her Eric took her back. He apologized to both of them for his actions in their reality. His Haley said it wasn’t really his fault. Then she proceeded to explain it was Alania’s fault. Jackson linked me, “WHAT THE f**k?!” The other me didn’t seem to know this. Arion and Aiden nearly fell over as the other Haley told mine to watch her back with Alania. I glanced at Marcus and Bjourn who seemed taken aback by the vehemence this one spoke about Alania with. This Haley…. hated Alania. Not just didn’t like her. She hated her. Passionately.  

            Arion popped over to her Eric and told him to punch him. I winced when I heard his jaw break. Before my Haley could do anything, His Haley popped to Arion and healed him. Jackson linked me, “I am so confused. She still loves him and the other you wants to rip his head off.” Arion asked the question we were all wondering that Jackson had voiced. Arion quickly realized it was because of who Haley was. Her Eric bit out that the Haley who was sold as a snack to a vampire wasn’t even selfish. What?! Arion and Aiden were pissed. My Haley was stunned into silence. Her feelings were…. conflicted. She was sad for herself. Glad it wasn’t her, and guilty that she felt that way. Jackson linked, “A vampire…. they gave a royal fairy to a vampire?! ARE THEY HIGH?!” Bjourn and Marcus’ eyes were blazing gold. The other me explained that Fabian gave her over to King Damon. Bjourn relaxed, saying Fabian was dead. The other me barely acknowledged that before he told us what happened to his Haley. I grabbed my Haley. I growled in my link with Jackson, Marshall and Caleb, “SHE WILL NOT BE TAKEN FROM ME! Certainly not while she’s pregnant! SIMS?! For god's sake! I won’t let her be put in those...pregnant or not!” Jackson said, “As the other Haley pointed out…. their reality is not ours.” I glared at them, “It will not happen here. Do you hear me?” They all nodded. 

            Arion was enraged. He said he would never do that to her. His Haley said he stopped it. That he didn’t put her through it. Something was evasive about that. She’d stepped away from her Eric to comfort Arion…. which was a bad move. Her version of me was clearly remembering whatever happened with Arion. He growled. She popped back to him trying to calm him down again. Caleb said, “Whatever happened…. It was bad.” I answered, “I got that.” The other me was murderously glaring at Arion. The other Haley was trying to figure out what else she needed to know. Probably so they could leave before Arion died again. They thought all they needed to know was to fix Zader. I cut in saying they needed to know about Satan’s coven too. The other me didn’t take his eyes off Arion as he told me they already knew because his Haley had put it together. She added that she’d killed the coven in Louisiana when they’d taken Emmaline. Jackson said, “WHAT?!” I said, “It’s not happening. We won’t let her be taken. Either of them.” The other Haley wanted to make sure mine knew Lexi, Miley, and Emmaline. She got misty eyed again when my Haley told her they were called the fearsome foursome here. 

            I couldn’t stop myself from asking why she was so short. I had to know…. I had to know what she saved my Haley from. I was stunned when the other me growled at Aiden and Arion. Jackson linked, “No way…. they couldn't do that to her. Fairies would make fun of her for being so short. They are such assholes about how tall and how long their damn hair is.” Both Aiden and Arion stepped back in shock. They both looked torn apart at the thought that they could’ve hurt her. His Haley said it wasn’t important. Aiden immediately disagreed. Arion looked like he might be sick. Marcus cut in with a hard angry voice. He had put together why she was so short. I didn’t want to think about it, but it had to be because her legs were broken…. many times. The other Haley’s voice seemed broken when she spoke to Marcus. His anger hurt her. Her Eric clearly wasn’t going to let her evade the question any longer. He confirmed her legs were broken so many times as a child it stunted her growth. You could’ve heard a pin drop. My head shot up when he said every single bone in her body was broken multiple times in Faerie. He said Aiden and Arion just watched her get hurt. Marcus and Bjourn twitched towards weapons they had on them. 

            Jackson linked, “Oh f**k us all. Surely, they know that Aiden and Arion are different here.” I linked back, “That's why they only twitched.” The other Haley quickly said that Aiden and Arion weren’t always around. The other me wasn’t done though. He clearly had things to vent at Haley’s fairies’ brothers he couldn’t in his reality. He glared at them saying they watched their little sister be beaten. His Haley closed her eyes and admitted it was because they were told to. Jackson linked me, “I don’t think her Eric knew that.” I linked, “Based on his expression….no he did not.” He asked what she was talking about. She quickly explained that she found Arion’s port.” Jackson linked, “What?” I linked, “It’s a video diary. All fairies have them. It’s a status thing.” Jackson nodded. Aiden’s hands were on fire as she told them Alania told them not to do anything because their family could lose power in Faerie if they interfered. Jackson linked me, “Alania really is a b***h. I’m glad our Haley doesn’t like her.” Her Eric was not having it when she told him that Aiden and Arion didn’t want to see her r***d and killed in front of them. Jackson gripped my shoulder as he said she was r***d. Everyone was angry. I was shaking. They r***d her…. I knew she suffered but…. I closed my eyes and held my Haley tightly. It wasn’t her reality. It wasn’t her reality. Was my new motto. My Haley never suffered that.

            She kept trying to calm her Eric down. I linked Jackson, “She won’t be able to calm him down. I wouldn’t. I wouldn’t care about any logical points she could make. I’d just be furious.” Jackson linked, “I don’t blame him. This is horrible.” My Haley’s dread grew when the other Haley said Arion protected her in the beyond. Jackson linked me, “So he really is dead.” I linked, “Yup.” Her Eric finally agreed not to kill Arion. We still didn’t know why he wanted to. Arion asked why he would because he was different. Thank the moon goddess. Aiden said their mother would not ruin anything else because that meant she’d kept Arion and Haley from bonding. Not necessarily. He asked if they had the book Dylan had uncovered to give to them. Apparently, his Haley found it as a child, but she didn’t know they were promised siblings at the time, so she didn’t know how to save Arion. We were missing something in this story. 

            Arion quickly told her that his death was not her fault. He told her she couldn’t have known what the book meant and that it was about them. They both encouraged her to give the book to her Aiden. Blue Moon popped in. Lucas linked me, “There really are two of them. She’s…. short. Like Really short. What the hell?” I said, “We should call their reality Hell. Both our mates suffered there.” Lucas growled, “WHAT?!” Dylan called the other Haley fun sized. My Haley explained this is the Haley who made our reality what it is today. Dale ran to her and picked her up. He hugged her, twirling her around. The other me immediately told him to put her down. I frowned. Were we not friends with Blue Moon in this messed up reality? Lucas linked, “What the hell?” I linked, “I don’t know anymore. Their reality is so damn f****d up.” Dale put her down frowning a the other me. I was horrified when the other Haley turned green. 

            Jackson linked me, “I didn’t know a person could actually turn green.” Bjourn moved towards her but she popped away before he could say anything. I could hear her throwing up most likely in my room upstairs. I wasn’t the only one. Everyone else besides the fairies could hear her. Jackson linked me, “Ok…. officially heartbroken for this version of you two.” I was too. This poor Haley. Her Eric explained she couldn’t be touched unless she initiated it, but she was getting better. My heart was already broken for them, but that just broke it even more. I looked at my Haley…. My beautiful unbroken Haley because of his. Because she came here to save mine. Mine had everything she should've had as a child because of the Haley vomiting in my bathroom…. all because of a hug. Dale was upset with himself. I Linked Lucas, “It wasn’t his fault.” Lucas was frowning. Not even Dylan had a joke. My Haley went to go talk to the other Haley. 

            Arion said, “I’m popping to her to grant her peace.” The other Eric growled, “Don’t you even…” Arion popped away. Aiden stepped forward, “We are not your reality. He loves her. We both do.” The other me matched his step, “If not for MY Haley…. you would’ve been JUST like my reality...” Aiden frowned, “But we aren’t. I have never, nor will I step aside and watch ANYONE hurt my sister.” Marcus said, “What did Arion do to her?” Her Eric growled, “He shot her up with iron and took her from me…. nearly killing our first set of triplets…. if the fairy goddess hadn’t granted her protections…. EJ, Cassie and Alexander would not be with us. He took her to King Damon TO SNACK ON! THEN after she SAVED HIS LIFE when we got her back…. he later came with Masium to take her and my children from me. There was a group of fairies who felt they were too powerful to be with me. Masium wanted her to breed! TO BREED! In our reality NONE of you knew she had powers until she was with me. She hid it from you. When she finally ran away, Marcus found her beaten, r***d, and broken in the human realm. He took her home to their realm, and her Hackura family put her back together. Does that stop you f*****g fairies keep trying to break her? NO! Your f*****g mother is the devil!” Aiden was silent for several moments. Finally he asked, “How did my mother die?” The other Eric’s jaw ticked, “She tied her life to Fabian’s after Faelynn died. We blood eagled him in the Hackura realm. She died after that.” 

            I looked at Jackson. Aiden said, “That was evasive wolf. How long after Fabian did, she die?” Eric’s jaw clenched, “Not long.” Aiden laughed, “That’s rather unlikely.” The other Eric growled, “Shut up Aiden.” Aiden said, “Oh...Then you know it’s not possible, don’t you? Mother could’ve and should’ve lived for years after Fabian died. Even with their life forces tied.” The other Eric said, “I will tell you one more time to shut up.” Aiden turned towards Marcus and Bjourn then snorted. He shrugged, “Your me has to know. I’m guessing your Haley does not know though. She only knows what she reads I’m guessing. She still has that beautiful innocence about her despite what she suffered. I do not think your Haley can handle the truth of what happened. I suggest you all continue keeping it to yourself.” The other me said nothing. Yellow Hills showed up. Lexi flashed upstairs. Alpha Chase looked around, “Umm…. this seems odd.” Aiden said, “Oh you know…. other reality sister suffered greatly, and this Eric hates us.” Alpha Chase raised his eyebrow, “I can see that.” Aiden said, “Anyway…. I find it interesting that you appear to know it’s unlikely my mother would die so soon…. Why is that? Did you kill her?”

            Arion popped back in and looked around, “What’s going on now?” Aiden smiled, “Oh…. just discussing with this Eric why mother died so soon after Fabian. Was she murdered?” Arion said, “She had to be.” The other Eric said nothing. Aiden nodded, “Our sister in their reality does not know that fact, Arion.” Arion said, “Then I would imagine the list of suspects is someone she would be upset about killing the wretched bitch.” Her Eric growled, “Shut up or I will kill BOTH of you. You don’t understand my Haley. She hated her mother as much as she is capable of. It tears her apart that she does. It TORE her apart to realize her mother did not truly love her. Let this be.” Arion said, “Fine. We wouldn’t have told her anything anyway, wolf. She has clearly suffered enough.” Her Eric said, “More than enough.” My Haley linked me wanting to make sure I kept the other Eric from killing Arion. I think he was past that notion because it would upset his Haley. He promised her not to kill him. 

            Marcus said, “She seems to have glossed over what happened to her even though our father told her to tell the long story when we first met. I don’t recall her saying anything about every bone in her body being broken multiple times.” Bjourn said, “She definitely sugar coated what we heard, and that was bad enough. What we read was worse. Did he truly hook her up to a car battery to deprive her of sleep?” Her Eric said, “She does that. She’s getting better at it. He did. I’ve seen the ports of it. He documented it, of course. The sick f**k he is. It starts when she’s six years old and continues until she’s thirteen and left.” Alpha Chase linked me, “Holy s**t….” I couldn’t answer. No one could speak. Tears filled my eyes. I looked up at the ceiling. I couldn't be more grateful that my Haley would never know that pain. 

        Arion clearly needed the subject to change. He asked, “Does she have her wings?” The other me’s jaw tightened, “Yes.” Marcus asked, “What happened?” He looked away, his eyes resting on Alpha Chase. Alpha Chase growled, “I wouldn’t hurt her.” Her Eric said, “You didn’t. Hanson and Noah attacked your pack with their ring forces at Matt’s bachelor party. Susie was there. Sophia tackled her as a shot rang out. You were determined to get to her despite bullets being shot.” Dylan said, “Uhhh who is Susie?” I smiled, “Alpha Chase’s sister.” Dylan threw his popcorn at Beta Matt. he said, “FOR SHAME! He has a sister?! Where is my memo?” Beta Matt shuffled. Alpha Chase said, “My dad has kept her quiet. He doesn’t want people to know about her.” I laughed. Dylan stomped his foot, “Good to know. I’m just people to Yellow Hills. People. I AM THE MAN OF THE PEOPLE! Jackasses. ALL of you! Alpha Fun Sucker is clearly on a higher level than I am. WHAT IS WRONG WITH YOU PEOPLE?! I’m not just people. I’m beta Dylan. I eat popcorn AND I KNOW THINGS! I’m going to get with my PF’s and figure out how to spy on you. I can’t believe you people! Lucas! They think I’m just mere people to them.” Lucas frowned, “I heard them, Dylan.” 

            Dylan said, “Now you’ve offended my Alpha. I shun you Beta Matt…. I shun you.” Alpha Chase said, “I don’t know how Eric knew.” I smiled, “I make it my business to know things.” Now Dylan threw popcorn at me. I raised an eyebrow. Arion said, “Anyway…. Alpha Chase getting shot would not give my sister wings.” Her Eric frowned, “I tackled him...and got shot with a silver and wolfsbane laced bullet.” Jackson snarled along with my other brothers. I looked at him, “She can heal you from that? Where did you get hit?” Arion snorted, “In the chest I’m betting.” Her Eric glared at him, “Yes, I got shot in the heart.” Aiden smiled, “Our sister is a phenomenal healer.” Alpha Chase said, “He would’ve been close to death. That’s better than phenomenal.” Aiden and Arion looked smug. Arion said, “So the pain of you nearly dying unlocked her wings.” Her Eric winced, “She didn’t understand…” Aiden hissed. Her Eric sighed, “Our you helped her through it. It just took longer because she was so angry and didn’t understand. Kill Noah and Hanson if you haven't.” Beta Matt cleared his throat, “Both are dead. Hanson was killed seventeen years ago by the hood. Ted told me that when Denise…. who I guess is Betty...took Noah to some lake house...she drowned both of them.” Her Eric shrugged, “Saves Sally then.” Alpha Chase tensed, “What?” The other Eric said, “Noah was obsessed with Lexi. So was Hanson to a degree. Sally was Noah’s first string. He treated her horribly. r***d her…. hurt her…. she rejected him eventually after giving it far longer than she should’ve. She went to the Hackura realm came back and found Derrick.” Beta Matt and Alpha Chase growled, “She’s Derricks here.” The other Eric smiled, “That will make my Haley happy. She quite likes Sally. She hated Noah…she called him a f*****g troll.”

        Lexi flashed back into the room. She looked pissed off, and her fury was directed at her mate. Alpha Chase frowned, “Lex?” She hissed, “If you’re f*****g married…. I’ll kill your wife’s ass so FAST your HEAD WILL SPIN! I don’t know what I’ll do to you…. BUT IT WILL BE EPIC...and involve Fairy fuckery!” Alpha Chase put his hands up in the air, “What? I’m not married!” The other Eric was laughing. Lexi looked at me. The question was clear on her face. Dylan howled with laughter, “I’m moving to their territory Lucas…. she’s going to do something AMAZING to him. For another him being married. I DIE! You fools are going to get in trouble for what other reality you do. It’s too good. Karma has finally come.” I said, “Their reality is not ours. He’s not married. I swear.” She turned and studied Chase, “I’m SO mad at you right now!” Alpha Chase said, “Sweetheart...I’m not married.” She hissed, “ONE OF YOU WAS! You Asshole!” She flashed back upstairs. Alpha Chase groaned, “I’m going to get in trouble for what other me’s do? f**k! Why was I married in your reality?” The other Eric answered, “You got married so Alpha Sophia could take control of her pack.” I whistled, “His Haley saved your ass by making sure Alpha Allister didn’t die then.” Alpha Chase was confused, “How am I in trouble for what another me did? I did NOT marry Sophia. She’s like my sister!” Dylan muttered, “Because he knows what having a sister is like Lucas. BECAUSE HE HAS ONE! JUDAS!” He pointed at Beta Matt who sighed. Beta Matt turned to Chase, “This is probably worse than when girls have a dream and get mad at you because…. this actually happened.” Alpha Chase was exasperated, “IN ANOTHER reality! It DID not happen here. I’ll marry her tomorrow if she wants. Problem solved. Then I will be married TO HER.” The other Eric said, “It did not end well in our reality. You did marry Lexi eventually though. Have Haley get you a black diamond from Faerie. Lexi loves it.” 

            I raised an eyebrow, “Did Lexi kill Alpha Sophia in your reality? Is that the pack Cameron took over?” He shook his head, “No. Our Lexi didn’t want to know what his Situation was. As she called it. So she didn’t know he was married until someone called her to plan your anniversary party. She is a party planner in our reality. Cameron took over Alpha Hammond’s territory...it got complicated. His mate...died...and he fixated on Lucas’ Emmaline.” That actually made sense that Lexi was a party planner based on what I knew about her. Lucas growled. The other Eric said, “Back to Chase and Lexi…. We were having a meeting to get Chase his annulment. Unfortunately, before our realities fairies figured out, they were the promised siblings…. Haley….to save Emmaline from taking on the pain of keeping Lexi and Chase apart…. Haley took it on through some ancient fairy ritual.” Arion yelled, “OH! OF f*****g COURSE SHE DID! Doesn’t that sound JUST like our little sister Aiden.” Aiden frowned, “She would’ve been in a great deal of pain.” Her Eric nodded, “Yes, well…. according to my Haley, she’s used to pain, and Emmaline was not.” That didn’t sit well with anyone. Her Eric looked out the window as he continued, “She collapsed when Lexi found out. She couldn’t breathe for several moments. She was scattered and couldn’t think straight. She’d charmed us all into the room so we couldn't get out. Chase’s pack was attacked by Gamma McCann and rouges. Lexi arrived in time to save Reagan but…. Lexi was almost killed.” Alpha Chase growled. Her Eric continued, “My mate saved her, and Lexi wanted some time to sort through her feelings. She stayed away for a while…Chase almost killed Alpha Sophia when she finally returned. I’m pretty sure he thought very seriously about it. She finally gave him his annulment after Haley beat the s**t out of her. Then turned her into a snake. Our Dylan calls her Alpha Kaa.”