Kindred: Book 1 A Realms of the Otherworld Book (5 page)

Her words push me over the edge and I explode, “I demand to see her at once!” I state as all my guard gather behind me. I think that I might lose it as Nemus steps forward and very gently persuades the receptionist to give us her room number and buzz us in.

I turn to Nemus, “Thank you. I’m obviously not holding up well. Your calm head and actions are much appreciated.”

As we round the corner in the wing that holds Ashlinn, Nemus sets about persuading the staff to stay away from her room until further notice. Hopefully his persuasion will last for as long as we need it to complete Ashlinn’s awakening.

As I and the rest of my men enter the room Alexia gasps and looks around rapidly taking in the intrusion and its meaning, “Who are you and what are you doing here?” She demands.

I hold up my hands in a submissive posture, “Alexia, my name is Alaric and we mean you and Ashlinn no harm. We’re here to help. We’re going to bring her back to you. To us. I know this is a lot to ask but you have to trust me, to trust us.”

“How would I know that? How can you prove that you mean us no harm?” Alexia demands.

“Lexie, this is going to sound crazy but Ashlinn came to me in what I would describe as a “dream like” state and asked for my help. She told me about the accident. She told me that you sit by her side and that she can’t wake. We’re here to see to it that she does wake. Can you trust us to do right by you and Ashlinn?’ I ask.

“How should I know that I can trust you? And you’re right, what you just said sounds crazy and it’s not inspiring much faith that you’re here for the right reasons.” She demands.

“If Ashlinn remains as she is for much longer she will die.” I state.

“What? What are you talking about? The doctors say she’s just in a coma.” She says.

“I’m talking about saving her life. Is that something that you are interested in?” I ask bluntly, losing my patience, while trying to get through her defenses.

“Yes! By all means, but I don’t know any of you and this all sounds crazy! I’m not sure what to do? She’s all the family I have left.” Alexia’s voice trembles and she’s now on the verge of tears, her false bravado now gone.

Declan steps forward at that moment and kneels down in front of Alexia and looks her directly in the eyes. For a moment nothing is said and then slowly he takes her hand and says, “Alexia, my name is Declan. I know that this is an unusual set of circumstances. You don’t know who to trust right now but I swear to you on my honor that we mean you and Ashlinn no harm. We are truly here to help and have your best interest at heart.” They stare at one another for a few moments longer and then with a slight nod of her head Alexia looks up to me with unshed tears in her eyes and then back to Declan and says, “Okay, I trust you. I’m not sure why, but I do.” With a quizzical uncertain glance she nods again at Declan as something unspoken passes between them.

“Thank you Alexia.” I say. Turning to Nemus I ask, “What must we do first?”

“First, the necklace, she will need her talisman in order to get started.” Nemus says.

Chapter 6

(Alaric)

“Alexia, do you know where Ashlinn’s necklace is?” I ask.

“When I woke up after the accident the staff gave it to me for safe keeping for Ashlinn. I think it was taken off of her in route to the hospital. I asked if I could put it back on her but the staff told me no and for me to just hold onto it. Should I have put it back on her? I have it here.” She reaches over to pull the top drawer open of the bedside table and gentle pulls out the necklace and hands it to me.

I reach out to take the necklace in my right hand and at that moment Jasmine lands on my shoulder in the form of a myna bird ruffling her gray feathers and says, “It kind of looks like a key.”

“Where did that bird come from and why does it sound like it’s carrying on a conversation with you?” Alexia asks eyes wide.

I smile at Alexia and say, “Well that’s a long story but I will say that not everything in this room is what it appears. If we can trust you to not make a commotion I’ll have Nemus lift the glamour that he has put on us before we get started. But you should know that I, Declan, Torin, and Tolin are elves. Nemus is a Druid and, well, the myna bird is a water sprite named Jasmine.” Alexia is once again looking at me with wide eyes but she nods her consent. “Nemus, we’re all friends here, lift the glamour from all of us except for Tolin and Torin, they are to guard the door. It’s just one more thing you’ll not have to concentrate on while you work with Ashlinn.”

Nemus just shrugs and with a wave of his hand the glamour is lifted. Alexia just stares at the three of us with her mouth slowly dropping open as she says, “Oh. My. God. I obviously died in that accident and this is a weird hallucination in the afterworld. She’s like a fairy and you all have pointed ears except for him. Wow.” She shakes her head back and forth as if clearing cob webs from her mind but her gaze never strays long from Declan.

I make a mental note to ask Declan about it later but right now we have a mission to complete but before I can focus on that Jasmine takes that moment to land on my open hand to exam Ashlinn’s talisman. “It’s beautiful, is it a key?” She cocks her head and gets down on her hands and knees to take a closer look as she runs her tiny hands over the piece, “There are four trinity knots that are paired together to make a sort of square, connected to a short round barrel with multiple raised edges on either side of the barrel, connected to the pendant hanging from the necklace. There are amber and diamonds strategically placed thru out the design. Interesting, I still think it looks like a key.” She continues to examine the piece.

“Jasmine, can you go introduce yourself to Alexia? Maybe tell her about your first meeting with Ashlinn? Nemus needs to get started.” Shifting my attention to Nemus I walk towards him. “Should I place the necklace around her neck?” I ask of him.

“Yes and then we will begin.” Nemus is always so serious but now I can tell that he is about to withdrawal into himself in order to perform the ritual that he has been preparing for in order to safely awaken Ashlinn.

I look down on her in this form that she has worn almost her entire existence and she is beautiful. Her brown hair lays gently swept back away from her face, her skin is a beautiful golden tan, her ears are rounded, and she looks so very fragile. I gently place the necklace around her neck and clasp it shut. I lean down and whisper in her ear. “I’ve found you little one, it’s time to wake up. It’s time that we get to know one another. I’ve been waiting for you for a very long time. I’ll lend you my strength and I’ll be here for you, waiting for you to wake.” I pull back and look down on her face. Then I gently cup her left cheek with my large callused hand and lean over her to place a kiss on her forehead. “Begin.” I say quietly and hear Nemus behind me begin his chant.

(
Ashlinn)

He’s here. I can feel that he’s here. My energy is almost gone but then I feel his energy merge with mine. Don’t ask me how I know that’s what just happened but I do. From a far off distance I hear someone begin to chant. Suddenly I’m caught up in a maelstrom of feelings and sensations that I didn’t expect and then my inner turmoil and pain begin. I reach out to that invisible source of strength and latch on to it selfishly needing to replenish my stores before I’m wiped clean. My dark prison is not so dark anymore. Now, like a computer booting up, I feel my senses come online. I’m in sensory overload and it feels like my body is on fire. Like someone has reached into my being and is rearranging my molecular make up. I’ve never felt pain such as this in my life. If I had control over my form I would be screaming and convulsing from the shear agony of it all. I can sense Alaric by my side and I’m so very grateful that he’s here. His touch grounds me and helps me endure the pain that has overtaken my entire being.

I’m now free of my prison, the void, but the agony that is racing through my body is about to unhinge me. The only comfort I have is Alaric and then I hear, “I have you, Ashlinn. Always. Take what you need from me to get through this transition. I’ll be right here by your side, we’re kindred souls, and I have been waiting for you my entire life.”

With those words I let go of all that I’ve been holding on to. I feel my body begin to change, evolve. The pain slips away as I feel my body lift off of the bed that I’ve been laying upon. Alaric lets go of my hand and a warm comforting light begins to warm me from the inside out. As the light continues to build I can feel it pulse through me. I’m pulled into an upright position in midair and I begin to slowly spin emanating light from four points of my being. I feel the subtle changes begin to take hold and in one last moment I feel my body contort around an excruciating pain. I pull my legs and arms to my chest and then suddenly I straighten out suspended in midair, arms and legs thrown out with light emanating from my body before I sink back down to the bed I occupied before. The energy receding leaving me exhausted but free from my prison. The chanting subsides.

Chapter 7

(Ashlinn)

I’m breathing heavily. My body is still in turmoil as I struggle to adjust to what just happened but then I open my eyes to see his brilliant sapphire eyes looking back at me. It’s at that moment that I realize I’m lying on top him and his arms are wrapped around me securing me in to his chest. I look up at him through my lashes and then slowly I wrap my arms around him pulling him closer, savoring his smell and his feel. I find that I quickly loose myself in him as I snuggle in closer to his chest, my breathing is heavy as if I’ve just ran a marathon. Just being held by him calms my jagged nerve ends. I could get lost in this feeling it’s like nothing that I have ever experienced before. I lay my head on his chest and close my eyes sighing in contentment feeling like I have finally come home. The pull I feel toward Alaric is nothing short of majical and I would be content to stay in his arms forever.

“Mmhmm, I don’t mean to interrupt and as sweet as this little reunion has turned out to be we should probably get going.” I hear from a male voice over my shoulder.

“Declan, I think we can give Ashlinn some time to get her bearings.” Alaric’s voice rumbles through his chest as he pulls me in tighter. “She’s been through a lot and needs time to adjust. Ashlinn, how are you feeling?” He asks as he gently strokes my hair and kisses the top of my head.

I blurt out the first thing that come to mind, “I feel like I’ve known you for a thousand years but we’ve only just met, how is that possible? How is it that I dreamt of you for weeks before the accident? How is any of this possible? What just happened to me? I feel different, I don’t know how but I do.” I know that I’m rambling but can’t seem to stop, all the while I find that I can’t let go of Alaric as I hold him close, clinging to him like a vine.

“We have a lot to discuss.” Alaric says as he puts a finger under my chin lifting my face to his. “First, why don’t we see if you can stand? Then I’ll have Jasmine assist you in getting cleaned up, we can get everyone feed, and I can have Nemus see to Alexia’s injuries while you shower. Do you trust me? I need you to know before you see yourself in your true form for the first time that you have never looked more beautiful to me as you do in this moment.’ He says as he looking deeply into my eyes. I nod as the realization hits, I trust him implicitly.

I have been so focused on Alaric I’ve forgotten Lexie! How could I forget her? I whip my head around and look at Lexie sitting quietly in her wheel chair taking everything in with a handsome elf standing behind her with his hand resting on her shoulder. “Oh, my gosh! Lexie, are you okay? I’m so sorry that I haven’t been here for you.” I stumble forward on wobbly legs and reach for her as Alaric helps to steady me. I’m down on my knees in front of her as I take all of her in. Her auburn hair hangs in gentle curls around her face and reaches more than midway down her back. Her emerald green eyes are large and shimmering with unshed tears. Her skin is fair with a light dusting of tiny freckles over her nose. She and I have always been on the petite side both standing only around five foot. The bandage around her head has been replaced with just a bandage on the right side of her forehead, her right leg is in a cast, and her right arm is in a sling. I place my hand gently on her left cheek and repeat my question from before in a soft voice, “Are you okay?’