Chapter 067:

Janet landed with a thud, her side tingling in pain. Everything was muddled, both her sight and her mind refused to work. Her eyes were barely working even though she had gotten new contacts just a few days prior. It was strange that she could remember that but not anything else.

“What?” she weakly spoke aloud. “What happened?”

Her voice did not sound like her own. More light and less scratchy.

What's the last thing I remember?

There were all those nasty men on board the bus...They were trying to rob us. And then...we died? Is that it? Then there was...A woman. I don't know...

It sounded stupid but she was definitely alive even though she distinctly remembered being killed. Metal had punctured every part of her body and flesh. And yet she was still alive; breathing and feeling pain. Nothing was making sense. Was this heaven? It certainly didn't feel like it.

She rose herself up and sat on her backside. That felt different too; none of the usual aches or pains, no sense of relief once the pressure had been relieved from her joints. She rubbed her eyes with her hands. They too felt different, more youthful and soft, yet definitely her own.

Slowly her vision returned. Her hands were nothing like she remembered. Gone were the blotches and spots. These hands were immaculate. Not a single thing wrong with them. She touched them together to test the sensation.

They were hers.

“What's happening?” she asked again.

Her vision was returning. All around her were slowly moving masses. They looked like people, some were starting to groan.

She decided that the best thing to do, until her vision returned, was to sit still. Better not wander off when she could barely see. She tried her best to get a handle on her surroundings but it was very difficult. Something soft and smooth rubbed over her skin.

“What am I wearing?”

A thin silk dress covered her body. A body that was not hers. She did not have such a youthful or shapely young body. As she explored this new body she let out gasps of surprise. Everything was like new, even though it certainly wasn't her own body. She never looked like this in her youth.

“Hello! Is anyone there?” came a female voice.

Janet looked at the source. A few meters away was a slowly squirming body, very pale in skin with long blonde hair. From what little she could see the woman was wearing the same silk dress.

“I'm here. I'm here.” Janet replied. It was difficult to associate her new voice with her own mind. Something she would just have to get used to.

She moved on all fours, her legs were not strong enough to support her weight, and crawled to the woman.

“Are you alright?” she asked.

The woman’s head shook from side to side, not taking it off the solid and cold white floor.

“I...I can barely see. Where am I?” she sounded completely terrified.

Janet laid her hand onto the woman's shoulder. It was incredibly soft and warm, twitching in fear underneath her touch. Her long and shapely legs pushed hopelessly on the floor.

“I don't know. What's your name Dear?”

The woman sniffled and rose herself up. She had a very pretty, and sharply featured, face. Pale green eyes stared desperately into her own. Janet decided to take the initiative.

“Well, Dear, my name is Janet. What's yours?”

The woman's face frowned deeply.

“Janet?” she looked at her in complete disbelief. “I remember you. From the...crash. But aren't...Aren't you eighty?”

Janet felt her eye twitch in annoyance. “Well, that's a blunt way of putting it, but yes Dear, I am that old.”

The woman shook her head, taking Janet's hand. “No. I mean, you look like you're barely twenty. Maybe even younger.”

“What do you mean?” Janet asked, bringing her hands up and touching her face.

Her fingers traced over her features. If anything she felt features like the young woman infront of her. Something was tickling her ears. Using her free hand she brushed away her hair, the same bright blonde, over her ear. When she touched her ear she nearly had another heart attack.

It wasn't the same. Not that that was shocking in itself any more. It was definitely an ear, but it was far too long to be a humans. She traced it to a faint point at the top.

It's like...what was that movie?...It's like an elf's.

More memories came flooding back. There had been a black void, where all of them had gathered. A woman in a flowing green dress had spoken to them, the words were very vague, and had dragged them down into a dark abyss. And now they were here.

What was her name?

“Dustine.”

“What's that Dear?”

“Dustine. My name's Dustine...I think.”

“Is your head fuzzy?”

Dustine nodded weakly.

“I think it'll pass in time.” she looked around and saw many more bodies starting to move. She coughed and spoke loudly “Hello?”

“Hello?” a voice called back, a man's voice. “Am I alive?”

“Your voice is fucking annoying...Why the fuck did I get dragged to hell along with you tossers?”

Janet recognised the voice. Dustine clung tightly to her hand out of fear. Even with their muddled minds there was no way they would forget why they were here.

“Well? Where the fuck are we? Is this some sort of hospital? Hey!”

Jacobs, the leader of the gang of robbers that caused the accident, was with them. And annoyingly, alive. He was some distance away and seemed to be the same sort of creatures they were now. While he was certainly different, there was enough similarities to tell it was the same man.

“What's happening boss?”

“Shut yer' trap. Just shut up. Where's that prick? Where is he?”

She saw Jacobs stand upright, only to wobble and fall back down. That was heartening to see. She had to fight down an inappropriate chuckle. Jacobs rolled around as he tried to calibrate himself to his new body.

“Hang on.” she mumbled, Dustine not letting go.

Something else wasn't making sense. There weren't this many people on their bus.

We got hit by another bus. That must be where half them came from. But I remember that some of the people, at least on our bus, weren't...this white. So these are completely new bodies. Elf bodies?

A rush of fear washed over her.

By God, what is happening here?

More groans emanated from the sprawling mass of probably human elves. It gave Janet time to study the room. The floor they rested on was a completely white marble forming a large twenty meter wide circle, barely a perceptible gap between each slab. It seemed that she was in the middle of this circle. Beyond this lay a large step made from a yellow stone, perhaps a rich sandstone, and beyond that large columns of white stone, touching up to a white ceiling that radiated a light without any perceptible source. The entire circle of columns was enclosed by more white marble stone.

It's like...It's like I'm in one of those ancient temples. That spoke to those Greek or Roman gods. Is that where we are? Have we travelled back in time...With these new bodies?

Lord, why have you done this?

Before she could cry out against her fate something rumbled behind here. She turned, along with everyone else that could see, and saw dozens of pale, blonde haired and pointed eared people approaching them. These did not look like them though; they shined with metal and carried spears. Seeing that sent further chills down her spine.

Warriors. Soldiers.

She tried to stand and flee but her legs were not working yet. She twisted and fell onto the cold stone. Judging by some thumps around her, others had the same idea as well. She raised her hands her hands to shield herself.

“Please do not be afraid.” A soft, but authoritative voice cried out from the door.

A different dressed blonde elf moved forward, the armed soldiers parting slightly, and another followed closely behind. One clearly a woman and one a man.

The elf woman wore the same green dress as the blonde woman as in the black realm. That dress would have been appropriate if she was serving at a club of ill repute. Only the most important pieces were covered. Most of her legs, arms and stomach were exposed. She wasn't fat in any sense. They weren't fat but they lacked any muscle tone. Though, she clearly had some...plastic surgery. Janet had worked in a hospital before retiring and had never seen someone with a figure that was so naturally top heavy. It was just visible that most of her back was exposed. Odd. Janet wondered why she didn't just wear a bikini, and skip the pretension.

None of the male elves near her paid much mind, at least in a sexual sense.

The man wore something more conservative. A pair of green shorts and an open shirt, showing off a slim but well muscled chest. Perhaps he could have worked in a similar club? On each of his hand he wore a golden bracelet. No one else did. Was he a leader?

“Please do not be afraid.” The woman said, raising both hands in an attempt to calm them. Many scurried away as best they could.

She slowly and delicately moved forward, her bare feet barely making a sound. She crouched and gently rested her hand on the closest human elf, still groaning as they held their head, waiting for their body to adjust. The human elf's head twisted to her, lathered in fear. She recognised the face...barely. It was the bus driver, the one who's heart attack had caused them to careen through a crossing and collide with another bus. That seemed to explain why there were so many of them here.

However, she remembered that the man was rather portly. Not the slender and lightly muscled man that lay in fear infront of her.

The elf woman smiled and laid her other hand on his. There was always with a warm smile on her beautiful face as she looked around. He was still terrified but slowly his face softened. Everyone's did. Everyone was too stunned to do anything else. No one had even started to cry yet. Janet was sure that was going to happen soon. The only reason she wasn't was that she was so stunned by her surroundings.

“My name is Aeirlaya Luyarus.” A few tears came to her eyes. Tears that made Janet mentally frown.

Please. I've been alive longer and seen more things than most of the people here. Do you think I don't know when a woman is putting on the water works? But to what end?

The others nearby didn't seem to see through it. They relaxed as they heard her sob in happiness. Dustine's hand gripped hers hard. She looked down and saw that she was gripping hers very tightly as well.

“Something's not right.” Janet whispered. “Keep your eyes and ears open, and don't believe anything they say.”

Dustine nodded, rising up to sit next to Janet.

“What the hell?” a new voice cried out.

It was not one she had heard before. Everyone looked over to him. He sat next to Jacobs, probably one of the robbers, and frantically looked at his arms.

“What happened to my skin?” he asked Aeirlaya angrily. “I wasn't this colour before. I was black, you bitch, not this! What did you do to me?”

Oh dear.

Aeirlaya smiled, a mixture of fake and honest, and moved more closely. As her body shook it took some of the wind out of their anger. It almost made Janet want to roll her eyes. Men could be so easily distracted.

She knelt closely infront of him and took his hand gently.

“I'm sorry for your pain. Truly I am. But we have been praying to the Goddess every day and night for your arrival. To help save us from the evil that is destroying our world.” More tears flooded out. “We need your help.”

“How come we're not in our bodies?” Jacobs asked, oddly calm in the situation, though not being subtle about his stare. “I like my new teeth though...”

Aeirlaya smiled but did not understand. Janet remembered his foul breath as she desperately searched for something of value to give to them. And when...

Where's that young man that was next to me? Anton, that was his name. Where...

Janet tried her best to surreptitiously look around to find the man she was sitting beside when this whole thing started. Even though they were now elves, there was enough similarities to tell it was the same person so long as one looked hard enough. She looked at everyone who's face she could see. None looked like that man.

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“I...I am glad that this has worked out in your favour.” Aeirlaya awkwardly smiled at Jacobs, who was still leering at her exposed chest. “But, you are all so weak now. Your bodies have only just been born. And you are still adjusting to them. The journey for your souls has been a difficult one.”

She rose up and waved at the soldiers. “We will take you somewhere more comfortable. This cold stone is not good for your new bodies.”

The elf soldiers, in a glittering suit of armour, came forward and gently brought them to their feet. Their faces were completely covered by their helmets and their scaled armour clinked lightly with every movement. As two soldiers came to Janet she got an even closer look. Each scale, that looked like it belonged on a fish, had tiny white links that held them together. They were barely as thick as a hair. Yet they looked incredibly strong. What level of craftsmanship went into them?

Two sets of strong hands, covered in a thick and soft leather, lifted them all up. A few objected but their objections were ignored. Especially when they fell down when they tried to stand on their own.

Slowly and gingerly they were led away from the strange room. The moment they were outside everything changed.

They were no longer on Earth.

Giant trees, taller than the highest building on Earth, soared above them. They were so thick that only a little light made it through the hundreds of branches. Hanging from the lower branches where large crystal that emitted a bright white light.

The ground underneath her feet changed from the perfectly white stone to a far more rough brown stone. At the edges were tiny edges of moss growing up. Despite the rustic look of the pathway it was clearly maintained, by something. There was no way that moss would stop only a centimetre up the stone and stop. Did that mean anything?

They continued to walk forward at a reasonable pace, the elven warriors with them started to carry them when some slowed down. They had no say in what was happening.

Small round houses started to emerge around them, again nothing like on Earth. These were built into and around the base of the tree, almost as if they had been grown out of the tree and formed the home. Dozens more dotted the trunk of a tree. Smaller light emitting crystal hung from the center of each doorway, yet there was no door. A small blonde head, barely a meter off the ground, peered through the gap. A child? A hand grabbed the child by the head and pulled it away.

Are we freaks to them?

More elves peered out but disappeared just as quickly. Some even carried a bow and had an animal slung over their soldier. They regarded the group with distrust and disdain before hurrying away. Each made sure not to get anywhere near their procession.

I guess Aeirlaya is definetly someone important. But who's the other man?

She glanced at the elven soldiers carrying her. She dared not ask them yet.

Ahead of them, nestled between four large trees, a large wooden structure emerged. They were led inside without a word. At the center a small fire burned, surrounded by many cushions and furs. All along the walls were skulls of beasts, that Janet could never believe existed, alongside sets of weapons. Hundreds of them. It gave Janet a tinge of fear.

“Please.” Aeirlaya said softly, waving her hands to the cushions surrounding the fire. “The fire will warm you. We will bring you food and water while I explain what is happening. You must all be very confused and scared.”

Janet nodded. It was the truth. She was surprised that no one had tried to run yet. It must have been they were too weak, and now they were surrounded by hundreds of these elven soldiers. They had no idea where they were. Who knew how big this forest actually was.

Let's...Let's see how this goes before I do anything.

She looked down at her hands, scrunching them tight. Strength and control was returning.

I'll wait a bit longer at least...

The soldiers guided them to their cushions, gently lowering them with the care one expected with handling the elderly. At least that was good. Dustine was placed next to her, much to the relief of both of then.

Aeirlaya, and the elven male, took their position. She still didn't know what the position of the male was.

More blonde haired elven women emerged from seemingly nowhere, carrying large plates of fruits and silver glasses of water. Everyone had one set placed infront of them. The servers didn't wear the same slim dress as Aeirlaya but were still not wearing much.

“Thank you.” Janet said.

There was no reason to be rude, nothing good came out of it. Especially if they needed to run. A flicker of emotion, disgust, burst onto her face before being replaced by a courteous smile.

This doesn't seem good. I get the feeling they don't like us...in their bodies? Did, are these someone else's? No...

There was no way to be sure. Janet pushed down her mental wandering and focused on Aeirlaya and her male companion.

“I would like to apologise for having to bring you here.” she began, bowing deeply, followed by the elves present.

“You'd better have some fuckin' answers.” Jacobs said. “Like why we're some goofy looking elves, and not humans.”

Another twitch came over her face but she held it very well.

“Very well. I shall start from the beginning.”

“Good.”

“You're the reason we're here!” someone cried out.

Janet did not recognise the woman but she looked very angry.

“Did you think we'd forget that you tried to rob us? And that's why we died? I have a child that's going to be all alone thanks to you!”

Jacob's face turned into a snarl. A strange look on his now handsome face. “If you wanna' fight, I'll rip your head off.”

It did nothing but inflame those around her. Nearly half had no reaction, those she presumed where from the other bus.

Quickly their words flared into a full blown argument. Aeirlaya tried desperately to calm them but it was no use. As both rose to fight, the guards moved forward and restrained them. Neither were strong enough to resist.

“Please! Do not fight.” Aeirlaya pleaded. “You must save your strength.”

“Why?” Jacobs asked, a leathered hand pushing hard on his head. “Why are we here? You...”

“What is your name?”

“Jacobs.” he spat out. Aeirlaya gave the warriors a nod, and they released both of them.

“Well, Jacobs, we have not brought you here just to ruin your lives. You are all here for a very special reason.”

Jacobs scoffed, folding both his arms and ripping into the food. Everyone's attention drew on Aeirlaya. She coughed and smiled warmly.

“If we didn't need you we wouldn't have disturbed your slumber, but our world and our lives are in peril. Demons, beings of fire and hatred, have attacked our world. We, the Wood Elves, are the only race that stands between them and oblivion for everyone on this world.”

“Demons?” Janet found herself speaking aloud. “Like hooves and horns? Red skin and holding a spear?”

Aeirlaya, and the elves, frowned in confusion. The human elves around her nodded.

“You...You must have a different...idea of what a demon is.”

She waved her hand towards the fire. The flames instantly snuffed out replaced by a shimmering green light. Out of the light a face emerged. Six red eyes on a charred dog-like face. An orange liquid poured out of its eyes and down it's face. Slowly it opened its mouth, hundreds of black razor like teeth, revealing a glowing mouth. Like it had swallowed fire. Out of the mouth a forked tongue emerged and licked at the liquid weeping from its eyes.

“What the fuck is that?”

“That. That is a demon.” Aeirlaya said. “Creatures that are pouring into our world.”

“That's terrible.” Janet said aloud. “But...”

A creeping feeling worked up her back. Other human elves seemed to guess what was about to be said.

The male elf spoke next. “We have fought these creatures to a stand still, but we are being ground down while they seem to have limitless numbers coming through a portal. We cannot reach it to close it...”

And this is going to involve us. Somehow.

“We have prayed, day and night, to the Goddess, Nithroel, for help.” Aeirlaya said with tears, a mixture of fake and real. “And she has sent you to us. To save this world.”

“Fuck off!” Jacobs said. “I'm guessing that you want us to fight those scary looking lava things? With all those teeth?”

Aeirlaya nodded.

“You can take that, and shove it up your arse. I ain't going to die for you. Just send us back.”

“We cannot do that.” Aeirlaya said calmly.

Murmurs grew from the human elves.

“Why not?”

“Because you have died already. Nithroel spoke to me and told me what happened. Your bodies crushed and torn apart by metal. Your souls otherwise sent to oblivion, saved from that fate by our Goddess. There is no body waiting for you on the other side. You would be instantly killed by the laws of nature.”

“What?”

Aeirlaya sighed. “You are here for the rest of your lives.”

The room went completely silent as everyone contemplated their new existence.

“Please, eat and drink something.” Aeirlaya said, motioning infront of each of them. “You must recover your strength.”

Janet found herself reaching for the food and drink. Even if everything sounded completely unbelievable she shouldn't waste away from spite. The food and water was very good, mainly a mixture of fruits, but helped to fill her stomach.

The male elf stood up as they finished their meals.

“I am Prince Folwin Luyarus.” the male elf bowed. “I have been instructed by my father, the King, to ensure that you are ready to fight these invaders.”

“You think we're actually going to help you?” Jacobs asked, bits of food flying of his mouth. The new body had not changed his etiquette. A few elves looked at him in utter disgust before a glare from Aeirlaya forced them back to a smile.

“Yes.” Folwin replied, his face still in a perfect smile. “You will.”

“We'll see.” Jacobs grumbled.

Janet could not help but agree. They had not agreed to this and now they were being told to fight, and probably die, against those vile looking creatures. Of course they would be upset. Though she found herself feeling a little ill agreeing with Jacobs.

Folwin smiled. “I understand that you are in an incredibly difficult and upsetting position, but if you help us we will make sure that the rest of your days are filled with luxury.”

“What sort of luxury?” Jacobs asked. Many others, even those not from his gang, nodded. As soon as a reward was lowered...

Jacobs looked at the serving women behind them. They kept their smile, but were desperately trying to stop themselves shivering out of revulsion. Jacobs turned to Aeirlaya and smiled even more wildly, devouring her with his eyes.

“As long as something good can be worked out.”

Really?

There was some murmur amongst the human elves, but most were still simply too stunned to react. Either that or were just going along with the flow.

Aeirlaya smiled, though Janet was sure she understood what they meant. Fowlin coughed.

“Very good. Tomorrow we will begin your training. Aeirlaya, our high priestess, has told me that you are incredibly weak right now. The journey has been strenuous on your body and your strength has already been drained enough.”

He waved to the guards standing at the edges of the room. They moved forward and gently helped them up.

“We have prepared bedding and food for each of you. I advise that you get as much sleep as you can. Training will begin tomorrow.”

He bowed low, his head almost touching the floor. Janet didn't know if it was genuine or another manipulation, but at first glance there didn't seem to be anything lying underneath. He genuinely felt bad for their situation.

The elven soldiers picked them up and gently carried them out. Janet dared a final glance at Aeirlaya and Folwin. There was nothing on their faces, like all of them were nothing to them. It did not bode well in Janet's mind.

Since she was strong enough to walk on her own she lightly shrugged off the elven guards and walked unaided. They did not begrudged her this right. Dustine walked infront of her, she too had decided to walk on her own feet. Many of the others were still too mentally exhausted to care. Now they were being brought back to the lone stone temple they arrived at. The other half of the wood elven village, the half that was obscured to them, was even more grand. The trees were filled with huts, nestled and built along giant branches. From each of the homes she could see lights. And movement.

By God, there must be thousands of them...Maybe even more. I don't think we can run away just yet.

They led them along the stone pathway and off along a well worn dirt path through the grass. Janet became acutely aware of the sensation of dirt clinging to her feet. Even that felt...heightened.

Nobody spoke a word until they saw their destination. The building was on the ground level again, considerably larger than the previous though much less ornate. Many windows adorned the structure though little light escaped from within. It was impossible to know what was happening inside. Several elven guards stood either side and opened a huge wooden door.

The inside was very spacious. Just like all of these people's buildings. A cluster of green crystals, hanging from the ceiling, illuminated a very spacious wooden floor. Along both sides were numerous doors, each with another green crystal hanging above.

Another elf emerged, stopping the procession. He was different than the other elven soldiers. Compared to the seemingly ageless elves holding them up this one seemed to be old. At least fifty or sixty years, if he was a human. His armour was a completely encompassing gold, far more intricate that anything she had seen before, and only left his head exposed.

“This will be where you will live for the time being.” the elderly elf spoke, a soft voice that bristled with authority. She was inclined to listen to him just through the power in his voice. “As Prince Fowlin said, you should spend all your time resting and recovering for tomorrow.”

The elf rested his hand on the hilt of a golden sword on his hip. “Tomorrow I will begin your training in earnest. One that will test the limits of your mind and body. I will reforge you into soldiers and mages worthy of the Vunyth Dynasty. Worthy of his Eternal Majesty.”

He spoke with such reverence at the end. An unsettling amount. The soldiers carrying them directed them to one of the doors along both walls. Inside was a well furnished but Spartan room; a comfortable bed, a desk and a chair. That was it.

The soldiers pushed her gently in, though it was with some finality. There was no backing out now. Not there was really a chance before.

Janet found her legs and hands trembling. She took the bed to steady herself, very comfortable underneath her body. She laid down on the bed and covered her face with her hands. There was not the strength within her to cry.

“What the hell is happening here?”

“Janet?”

The voice was Dustine's, coming through the wall. She wiggled herself closer. There was a tiny hole caused by a natural knot in the wood. It was barely a centimetre wide but more than enough for them to talk through.

“I'm here sweetie.” Janet replied, trying her best to sound calm. “How are you?”

“Um...Terrified.” Dustine faked a nervous laugh. “They don't seem to care what we have to say or want. What...What's going to happen to us?”

“I don't know. But, we'll get through this together.”

She heard some cries and whimpers coming from the other side. Her motherly side wanted to reach through and comfort the poor girl, but she could not.

“We'll get through this. All of us-”

“Even Jacob's and the rest of his idiots?” Dustine asked. “Those elves separated us pretty quickly.”

“I certainly hope not. They're the reason that we're here.”

Silence greeted her for some time.

“My...My mon. My dad...They don't know that I'm here. Everyone else's families...”

“We'll find a way to send a message.” Janet said. She knew it might not be possible, but she wanted to say anything to raise her spirits. “If they brought us here than we can send something back. Maybe that we can't get back but we're alive.”

A sniffle returned. “I would like that.”

Janet couldn't help the smile on her face.

“There's not a lot we can do now.” Jane said quietly. “We should try and get as much rest as we can. See what the new day will bring.”

“I'm scared.”

“Me too.”

Dustine shuffled and turned over. Janet sighed and looked up at the wooden ceiling.

The room felt like a prison. Perhaps it was. Except there was no out and no way home. Thinking that did give her another thought.

Nobody here seems to be that you man that I sat next to, Anton. Where is he? Surely they would know? I'll ask...someone, as soon as I get the chance. If he's not on Earth, then where is he? I wonder what he's doing?

God, what is happening to us?

 ---------------

Hello!

A different chap, from the other guys! Don't really know how it's going to go over, but I felt like i needed to bring it up eventually....Only on Chap 67 though.

A brief look at the Wood Elves style, their local leaders, and how they treat the new heroes by moving them through things so quickly they don't have time to think too deeply about it.

Had to go back and find their names, it's been a while

I would like to know if you would want a few more chapters about these guys or straight back to Atros. Either way, it'll be a bit before I can write some more chapters. I'm suffering a little bit of burn-out and need a bit to relax. Shouldn't be that long...Hopefully.

Anyway, Thanks for reading!