“A room without books is like a body without a soul.”

- Cicero

“Good morning.”

“Good morning Bethany. Love the new hair!”

“Oh…thanks.”

“Visiting your aunt?”

“Yeah, my usual visit. The dessert cook at the café sent a whole heap of cupcakes for you.”

“The nurses will love those! And we might share with the doctors.”

“Enjoy.”

I opened the door to Aunt Jo’s room and closed it behind me.

“Hi Aunt Jo. Won’t be a moment.” I crossed the small room to the sliding doors that opened onto a tiny courtyard. In the three and more months that Aunt Jo had been a resident of the room, the doors had never been opened until now. I flicked up the latch that unlocked the door and slid it open then did the same with the screen door. “It’s open.” I called softly into the courtyard.

Almost instantly shadows jumped down from the rooftops and over walls, the tiny courtyard filling up with five handsome young men. Rafael pulled away from Bastian and straightened his shirt.

“Was the manhandling really necessary?”

“Don’t tell me you’re mourning the loss of your vampire mojo?” Bastian chortled.

“Hush!” I hissed. “I don’t know how I’m going to explain why all of you are here all at once so keep it down.”

The little room in the hospital shrank in size with the seven of us inside it. I stood at the end of the bed and gazed at the still form of Aunt Jo who was looking gaunt and her hair, lank. She was wasting away in the bed.

“Sorry I took so long,” I apologised softly, “but I think I know what to do now.”

I closed my eyes and breathed.

The incantation that riddled my body hummed with excitement at being summoned. I could feel it wanting to surge forward and held it back with a stern warning.

“We need all the elements.” I said then turned to the guys. “Who wants to go first?”

“May I?” Faelan asked gently.

“Yeah, sure.”

“What do I do?”

“Put your hand on my shoulder and let the memory flow.”

Faelan’s elf touch was so light I almost felt the memory before I felt the physical connection.

“Jo West…the day we met…you were tending your garden…speaking with the plants as if they could hear you…”

Jo used her watering can to douse the little seedings with a gentle sprinkle of water.

“Not too much or else you’ll drown.” She warned then knelt. “And you, you and you…you don’t belong here.” She plucked the weeds that were trying to grow in the garden bed. “There now my fine little sprouts. Take your time to grow and when you’re ready, I’ll pop you in the big ground and you can all turn into a fantastic hedge.” She stood up and brushed her hands on her soiled jeans as she turned around. “Phew…alright…who else wants a drink?”

She moved through the back of ‘House of Figs’ where her love of green things that grew were tended. The world she was in smelled of earth, water and sky. Jo breathed in the scent of her home, her hands on her hips, enjoying the warm touch of the air.

Her pose stiffened and she tilted her head and opened her eyes, looking around.

“Is someone there?” She called softly. “Rob?”

The grounds of ‘House of Fig’ were silent and Jo felt silly at thinking anyone was there but she peered around the Observatory which sat quiet and still, dominating the backyard.

“Honestly Jo,” she said, putting her hands on her hips, “don’t start seeing things that aren’t there. Oh…that creeper is going the wrong way.”

She pulled the wooden ladder out of the shed and brought it over to the pergola that existed to create a hanging space for, not only fairy lights but the grapevines she had planted on one side and climbing roses on the other. One of the grapevine tendrils was curling up and away from the pergola, trying to reach the Observatory.

“That’s the wrong direction my little friend.” Jo said, climbing the ladder and reaching out to grasp the tendril. “Come on…back this way.” She held it tenderly, tucking it back into the pergola. “I know you want to reach for the sun but if you don’t have something to…”

One of the legs of the wooden ladder splintered, rotten from water damage and the ladder lurched sideways, throwing Jo who was already perched on her toes, onto the ground. She struck the unyielding tiles so fast she had no time to scream. Her head exploded with an instant and violent headache and stars danced before her eyes, her ribs jabbing into her lungs and she gasped, whimpering for help.

But Rob was out and not likely to return for an hour.

She was alone.

Her consciousness was swimming and shock was starting to set in. Jo couldn’t even fathom moving she was so broken. Then a face appeared above hers. It was a fine boned, soft face with eyes the colour of moss and hair like shafts of dawn’s sunshine.

“Hold still,” he said gently but firmly, “you are injured but I can help.”

“Who…” Jo grimaced, her words lost in the rush of pain, her mind starting to go dark. And then…she felt a hand on her forehead…and the threat of unconsciousness which had been rolling towards her…retreated. She gasped, feeling a warm buzzing sensation envelope her as though she was experiencing a full body massage. There were a couple of sharp pangs in her chest but they were fleeting and the relief after the realignment of her ribs was profound. Jo breathed in deeply without pain.

She looked at her healer, his expression serene.

“Who are you?” She whispered. “Where did you come from?”

“Iffah…”

“Iffah…an elf of Iffah?”

“Yes.” He admitted as he opened his eyes. “I have repaired the damage…you may experience some…bruising…”

Jo gave a small shriek as he slumped to the ground. She sat up and reached out to him.

“Oh…what do I do?”

“You waited with me until Rob returned from his errands,” Faelan recounted gently, “after which, Rob took me to the fig tree and I rested amongst its roots. You watched over me until it was dark and then Rob stood guard. When I regained my strength, I returned home, never intending to come back…but I could not resist the pull of the mystery of the door and so I returned to the ruins…”

“Query, are you sure about this, Johanne West?”

“Yes, Rob. I’m not going to go far.” Jo insisted, walking into the Observatory. “I know I wouldn’t be welcomed there, not amongst the elves anyway.”

“Query, why do you think the elf healed you if his kind regard humans with such distrust?”

“I guess it’s just one of the questions I’d like to ask him.” Jo pressed on the bookshelf and it slid open with a sigh. She stepped onto the threshold and looked out across a mountainous ruin landscape. “Hello?” She called. “Are you there?” She spent several minutes waiting and calling before shrugging and turning back to Rob. “Well…he knows where the door is if he wants to come back.” She sighed. “I’d just like to know he’s okay.” Jo closed the door and turned to Rob. “Well…I suppose we’d better get on with our baking.”

“Query, may I assist you, Johanne West?”

“Yes…but just change my preferences in your IDV to Jo, rather than Johanne West.”

“Preferences updated.”

Jo laughed and went inside, leading Rob behind the counter. “Alright…lemon meringue pie. That’s the recipe and we need all these ingredients.”

She busied herself in the kitchen, gathering the elements that, when put together properly, would create a magnificent lemon meringue pie. She forced herself to concentrate, knowing that worrying about the nameless elf who had healed her would not do any good. She and Rob prepared the base for the pie then turned to the eggs.

“We need to separate the whites from the yolks. Have these been in the fridge?”

“These have not and they are fresh.”

“Excellent.”

“Why is that?”

“Oh Rob, did you programming glitch? You didn’t say ‘query’ at the start of that question.” Jo laughed and looked at her robotic companion. He was staring at the back of the café. She frowned and turned to see a figure standing in the shadows yet possessing an ethereal light that seemed to illuminate him no matter where he was. “Oh!”

“I believe your elf healer has returned.”

“Yes…hello.” Jo swallowed and licked her lips. “I…please…come in.”

He stayed where he was. “Why is it important that the eggs are fresh?”

“Oh,” Jo blinked, looking down at the box of eggs in front of her, “because…fresh egg whites at room temperature will rise into a meringue. A good way to fail at meringue is to use old eggs straight out of the fridge.” He gazed at her without blinking. “Do you want to try it?”

“No.”

“That’s okay.” Jo smiled. “Do you want to stay? See how it turns out?”

He shifted on his feet, his eyes darting away. “I should not. I should not be here.”

“Then why come back?” Jo asked, coming to the end of the counter but no further.

“You…were worried about me.”

“Yes I was.”

“I am fine.”

“Yes. So am I…thank you.” Jo offered gently. “I’m Jo. Johanne West, I mean.” He said nothing, looking like he was about to flee. “You are?”

He hesitated. “Faelan.”

“It’s nice to meet you Faelan.” Jo beamed.

“You too.” Faelan went to leave then paused. “The fig tree was grateful.”

“Huh?”

“You did not wound him to hang the swing. He likes you.”

Jo put her hand to her cheek and blushed. “Well, if you ever talk to him again…tell him I like him too.”

Faelan nodded and disappeared.

“But I came back…because I could not resist the sweetness of your kindness.” Faelan said in the hospital room. “And I stayed, because I found a place where I belonged…where I could learn something new.”

He turned to me and I nodded, feeling the sensation of the memory in my heart.

“I’ll go next.” Eustace offered, his hand touching my other shoulder. “Jo…you can hardly have forgotten the day I burst into your world…”

Jo heaved the contents of the washing machine into a cane basket, hiking it onto her hip and closing the lid. She carried it out the back of ‘House of Figs’ to where the washing line was discreetly hidden at the back. A basket of pegs hung from the line and she plunged her hand in, grasping two and pulling them out, attempting to wrestle a large sheet onto the line. She flung it over, pegging one side down and adjusting the other until the hems no longer draped on the ground. She continued to work until all the bedding was on the line, huffing her hair out of her face and picking up the basket.

It was then that she heard a clatter from the other side of the Observatory. She frowned and walked around, finding a broken pot, the earth inside it freshly spilt and the poor plant lying on its side.

“Don’t you worry,” Jo knelt and scooped it up, taking care with the roots, “I’ve got another pot you can go into.” She found a spare and gently replanted the roots and earth. “That was a neat trick, you know, falling over.” She looked back at the Observatory and scratched her head. “Weird…actually…what was that?”

A rattling sound could be heard in the garden shed. Jo picked up a broom and approached it, the scraping sound growing louder and louder.

“A cat, maybe? Chasing a mouse?”

She peered in through the window, her view obscured by the stacked chairs. Before she could approach the door, they flung open and something big launched itself out, scurrying out of sight before Jo could see what it was.

“Oof that’s a big cat!” She declared. “Come here little kitty, kitty, kitty…”

She figured she’d cornered it somewhere in the far back of the property. She snuck towards it, pushing the sheets out of the way, peeking around the edge, hunting her quarry.

Suddenly one of the sheets was pulled aside and a handsome young man with white hair tipped with blue and eyes resembling sapphires appeared in front of her.

Jo did the only logical thing she could think of.

She screamed.

He yelled and suddenly she was soaked in a giant spray that seemed to emanate from his body.

Jo stood, dripping and stunned, the useless broom in her hands as the young man tilted his head.

“Hi.” She said out of reflex.

“Hello.” He beamed, pointed teeth appearing.

“Did you…want something?”

“I am playing a game.”

“A game?”

“It is a very special game. I am looking for an egg!”

“Oh…that’s nice…” Jo removed her glasses and wiped them. “So…what are you?”

He tilted his head. “I am a water dragon.” He said as if it was obvious.

“Yes…of course.” She cleared her throat. “I’m Jo. Welcome to ‘House of Figs’.”

“Hello!” He grinned then his sapphire eyes sparkled. “What’s in the strange building?!”

He sprinted towards ‘House of Figs’ with Jo stumbling after him.

“You’re welcome to stay…but perhaps we should find you some clothes?!”

The guys around me sniggered.

“You were naked?” Bastian looked at Eustace.

“Dragons don’t wear clothes…I didn’t see why being human was any different.” Eustace rubbed the back of his neck bashfully.

“I must say,” Faelan said softly, “your first meeting with Jo seemed to lack…substance.”

“That was Eustace for you.” Rafael muttered then caught my look. “Was, I said was!”

“I reckon it’s my turn.” Bastian declared, cracking his neck. “Ready?”

I nodded and felt his warm touch on my back, the smell of the fresh, clean earth of Alte Fehde washing over me as the memory was revealed.

“I was only about thirteen years old when I found the door to the Observatory and discovered ‘House of Figs’. There was a dinner party on with children playing on the lawn and adults talking animatedly…it wasn’t hard to hide beneath the long hem of a tablecloth. Before I could follow my ingrained instinct to attack the lowly humans who were hiding, somehow, within the tunnels of the Wand, a bread roll tumbled in my direction. It was heavenly…”

Jo was ever vigilant at the dinner party, happy to greet and talk with the booked guests but always on the lookout for dishes that needed to be cleared and glasses that needed to be filled. The café waitstaff weren’t bad but Jo really wanted ‘House of Figs’ to exude a reputation of excellence and she worked hard to make it happen. The dinner party for a family and their extended relatives, was a happy affair. She was pleased to see children playing, swinging on the swing and enjoying the space as the adults talked, ate and drank. She put her hands on her hips and allowed herself a moment to really appreciate how far ‘House of Figs’ had come.

“My first booking…not bad.” She mused then caught sight of the entrees table, the delectable nibbles needing a little tidying up. She approached it and moved the three platters of food onto one, making it substantial and neat again. As she did so she spied a hand coming up from the other side of the table, dirty fingers reaching out, touching some of the savoury nibbles and snatching them away.

Jo tilted her head and waited. A minute later the hand reappeared, groping blindly for a handful of something. She guessed it to be a shy child hiding beneath the table and as their fingers danced emptily across the table, she picked up a chicken drumstick and pushed it into reach. The fingers grasped it, whipping the prize away beneath the table and she heard the sound of happy munching. The hand reappeared again at the end of the table, grasping a bread roll.

Jo tried her hardest not to laugh. She tore open a roll and buttered it generously before squatting down and drawing the edge of the tablecloth up.

Underneath, surrounded by a sea of bones and food scraps, was a boy in tatty trousers, bare feet and no shirt. His hair was a tawny tangled mane, the top of his head pressed against the underside of the table. He was so busy devouring the roll that he didn’t notice Jo for a few seconds and when he did, his eyes went wide in fright, his mouthful forgotten.

Jo smiled as kindly as she could at him, holding out the roll towards him.

“It tastes better with butter.” She offered gently, pushing it into his hands.

He gulped, his chest quivering in fright and suddenly he bolted, over turning chairs and causing one guest to spill her drink in his desperation to dive into the Observatory. Jo ran after him but found all the doors securely closed.

“A runaway from somewhere I suppose…” She mused. “Well…I hope the food helps.”

“When I returned three days later, it was nearly two weeks for you.” Bastian recounted with a smile. “I caught sight of you hanging out some washing and thought I’d have a little snoop for some more food. I even braved going into the building, sure I could smell something fabulous in there…until a certain robot grabbed me by the scruff…”

“You were trespassing.”

“Yeah…I know…”

Jo sighed and looked at the washing. “Never ends…” She jumped when she heard a crash and a loud yell. She picked up the basket of dry washing and dashed to the back door. “Rob?”

“Take care, Jo, for we have an intruder.”

She could hear furniture being knocked about and someone was snarling in anger, growing as if Rob had managed to capture a wildcat.

“Who is it?” Jo dropped the basket in the laundry and ran into the café, stunned to see a boy fighting Rob’s grip on the nape of his neck in vain. His legs were kicking and his hands were hooked into claws, his face contorted into rage, fuelled by fear. “What is it?”

“I believe it to be a werewolf.”

Jo studied the boy who could not free himself from Rob’s hold no matter how hard he struggled. She recognised the tattered pants and the tawny mane.

“Oh!” She cried. “It’s you! I wondered if you’d come back.” She had hoped he would. “Are you hungry?” Her words had a powerful affect on him for his arms and legs went limp and he looked at her with big, amber eyes. “I could make you something if you like?” She went around the counter, Rob turning the boy so that he could watch her. She hastily pulled out some meat from the fridge. “I could cook you up a nice steak with chips and chutney?”

She worked quickly, frightened the boy would begin to struggle again or even break free. But he seemed utterly transfixed by her preparations and she wondered if he’d gone into shock when she slapped the steak onto the griddle, instantly searing from the heat and he howled.

“What is it?” She cried.

His big eyes stared at the steak.

“I would surmise that werewolves eat their meat raw.” Rob offered.

“Well, I’ll make it a rare steak then.” She put out a plate and dunked the chips into the hot oil. It was a simple meal, hearty but hardly anything elite. She didn’t want to make anything that was too elaborate and lose the little werewolf. The chips did not take long and she sprinkled them with a special salt blend before dumping them onto the plate in a big pile and slid the steak, glistening with drizzles of olive oil and scored with lines from the griddle, next to them. She put a helping of chutney in the small gap on one side, picked up a steak knife and a fork and brought it around the counter, the boy’s eyes fixated upon it. She set it on the table. “Let him go, Rob.”

“Query, are you sure, Jo? He is a werewolf.”

“He’s just a hungry boy.” Jo said firmly. “Let him go.”

Rob released the boy’s scruff and he landed lightly on his feet, poised for flight but arrested by the sight and smell of the meal.

“It’s yours if you want it.” Jo urged gently.

The boy licked his lips, inching towards it, giving Rob a quick glare before sniffing the steak. He leaned down and licked it, a deep growl of pleasure escaping his throat. Jo watched as he picked up the steak with his hands and tore into it, his pointed teeth making quick work of the hefty cut. She wasn’t bothered at all by his lack of manners, going to the fridge and pouring him a glass of milk. She sat on the chair opposite him and pushed the glass across the surface.

The boy looked up at her, at the milk and then at the way she was seated. He looked at the chair and fumbled his way onto it, sitting at the table. The chips, dunked into the chutney, quickly followed the steak and his eyes rolled in pleasure before he sniffed the milk and downed the entire glass all at once.

He closed his eyes and gave a big, contented sigh.

“Food for us comes from our relatives, whether they have wings or fins or roots. That is how we consider food. Food has a culture. It has a history. It has a story. It has relationships.” He opened his eyes and looked at Jo. “Hello…my name is Jo.” She glanced behind him. “That’s Rob. He wasn’t trying to hurt you. He was protecting me. But you’re not going to hurt me, are you?”

The boy swallowed and shook his head.

“What’s your name?”

The boy hesitated only a moment. “Bastian…of the Wolfgang clan.” He picked up the plate. “Can I have some more?”

There was a round of chuckles in the hospital room.

“Perhaps we should have called you Oliver Twist.” Rafael remarked.

“I was hungry.” Bastian shrugged. “At least I was partially dressed.”

“I’m never going to live that down.” Eustace moaned.

“I suspect, after my memory, that you will not be the focus of their mockery.” Rob announced.

I looked at him. “Are you sure?”

“For Jo.” He nodded and I felt his hand on mine, the cool, strong touch of metal flowing through my veins. “Our initial meeting, while significant was not the most poignant of our interactions. It was not long after the door had unlocked between Infinitus and this world that a moment occurred just before I was to return to my world…”

Jo locked the front door and turned to survey the café. “I think that’s everything.” She remarked to Rob who stood stiffly to one side. “Looks good.”

“Query, does its physical appearance play a part in the appeal of ‘House of Figs’?”

“Yes, it does.” She nodded and yawned. “Well…I’m done. I think I’ll have a hot shower and a good night’s sleep.”

“I shall return to my world.”

“Alrighty then,” Jo headed for the stairs, “sweet dreams.” She climbed the stairs, heading straight to the bathroom. She had become used to Rob’s regimented routine. He always did as he said he would and she knew he was probably already out the back door, heading for his world. Jo showered, washing her hair and cleaning the grease and chocolate smears off her skin. She loved ‘House of Figs’ but it was a lot of work and she was exhausted.

After her shower she ruffled her hair then used a hair dryer to take most of the moisture out of it, combing it down into a neat brown sheet. She plaited it loosely and dressed in her pjs, sliding her glasses onto her face so that the world was much clearer and draped her dressing gown around herself.

She yawned again as she left the bathroom, heading for her room, sparing a glance for her spare room which was a little time capsule for her niece. As always she felt a pang of loss and moved swiftly on to her bedroom where she flicked on the lamps, plugged her phone into the charger and went to hang up her dressing gown, scooping her current book from the bedside, finding the bookmark embedded inside.

From behind, she felt a man’s arms embrace her and she stiffened as he nuzzled her neck and kissed her skin.

“You are so beautiful…”

Jo shrieked and yanked herself out of Rob’s arms, stumbling backwards, holding the book out in front of her like a sword. Rob stood with a slightly puzzled expression on his far too perfect face.

“What are you doing!” She demanded.

“Responding to the signal word…” Rob explained, taking a step forward.

“Stay back!” Jo climbed up onto a chair. “Don’t come any closer!”

Rob didn’t. “Query, have I erred?”

Jo was shaking so hard the pages of her book flapped together. “Get. Out!”

Rob turned and left without another word. Jo stared at the space he’d occupied for a long time before she was finally brave enough to clamber down. She lunged forward and locked the door, sitting on the bed, keeping her eye on it in case he burst through unexpectedly.

She put her hand over her mouth, her whole body trembling.

“What…why…did he do that?” She gasped. “He…I…” She leaned forward and put her head in her hands then froze. “He can still get in…I need to lock the door.” She got up, slipped her arms through her dressing gown and unlocked her door. She peered out then dashed along the landing to the stairs, looking around furtively like she was an intruder in her own home. When she couldn’t spy him she hurried out the back to the Observatory and flicked the lights on. The door to Rob’s world was shut. Her fingers reached out to remove the book from the shelf when she paused. “What if he didn’t go back? What if he’s still here?”

She swallowed then lightly pressed the shelf, the door easing open. While her whole body screamed to run, she edged forward and peered into the limited space beyond. The light of the Observatory was enough to illuminate some random pieces of unidentifiable furniture, a chair, a makeshift coffee table…and Rob’s impassive expression as he turned towards the light.

Part of her wanted to slam the door shut tight, yank the book out and run.

The other part, the compassionate part, recognised that he had done as she had asked…and was sitting all alone in what she guessed was a shipping container.

They gazed at each other for a long time before Jo breathed out.

“I think…we should talk.” He blinked at her. “In ‘House of Figs’.”

Rob blinked again. “You told me to get out. I have.”

Jo folded her arms. “Just…come and sit…and tell me what’s going on.”

Rob stood up and approached the door. Jo stepped back fearfully as he emerged and closed the door behind him.

“Query, are you afraid, Jo?” He asked.

“A little.”

“Query, of me?” Jo nodded. “Query, what can I do to alleviate your fears?”

“Promise me that whatever happened upstairs…will never happen again.”

“I have updated your preferences in my IDV.” Rob assured her.

Jo nodded. “Alright. I think I can trust that. Let’s talk.”

“I am still surprised that you wanted to talk, let alone allowed me to stay.” Rob remarked softly. “It was clear that my actions had upset you…yet you chose the path of compassion. If not for you, I would never have built upon my programming and found new purpose for my existence.”

Rob’s voice died out in the small room. I could almost feel the grief emanating from the other guys.

“Rob,” Faelan whispered, “what were you programmed to be?”

“Whatever you are thinking, I reckon that’s it.” Bastian cleared his throat. “Mate…I’m so sorry.”

“Thank you for your concern.” Rob replied firmly.

“Perhaps we should have had a rule,” Rafael mused, “whatever is said in this room, stays in this room. After all, if Jo sought to protect us in our most vulnerable moments, we should do the same.”

I looked at Rafael. “It’s your turn.”

“Yeah.” Rafael took a deep breath. “I know.” He reached out trembling fingers and grasped my hand. The smell of water drifted past my nose and I closed my eyes. “I could see no hope…no future other than what I was already living. I was doomed to exist as a vampire, a slave to my despicable addiction…I was wretched and alone as I climbed the clocktower. There was no hesitation as I took myself to the highest point at the top of the gears and threw my body into the crushing abyss…”

Jo wrung her hands, glancing at the clock then back at the customers.

“Query, do you have an appointment Jo?” Rob asked as he processed a customer’s order.

“What? No, why do you ask?”

“You have been looking at the clock all morning.” Faelan remarked. “I have the cheesecake order prepared.”

“I’ll take it.” Jo scooped it up and deposited it on the table. “Enjoy.”

“Thank you.”

She turned, her eyes catching the clock again before she caught Bastian’s curious look. “It’s nothing. I promise.”

The guys didn’t believe her, she was sure but to their credit they didn’t interfere. Jo busied herself with going out the back and overseeing Eustace watering the plants. With Faelan’s elf abilities and Eustace’s watering skills, her garden was growing at a wonderful rate, blossoming and blooming, even at out of season times of the year. The Observatory was full to the brim with books and she’d even found a box of old books in the cellar that had probably been left behind by one of the previous owners. She was relieved they were still in such good condition.

‘House of Figs’ was an extremely popular coffee shop and café. It was usually flush with customers and its modest entertainment area was often booked out months in advance.

Everything was as it ought to be.

Jo sighed. “Why do I feel so…unsettled?” She looked at the Observatory and worried the inside of her mouth. “Ugh…just another hour…and then no chickening out.”

When the café had emptied and the guys had finally finished cleaning their stations and returned home, Jo entered the Observatory and faced the gothic portion of the bookcase. Sitting in the heart of it was the, ‘The Bloody tale of the Vampire Queen’.

“Can’t leave it like this…I can’t…” She breathed out and squared her shoulders, tightening the belt of her heavy wool coat despite the warmth of the summer afternoon. “Right…here I go.”

She pressed the bookshelf. It usually popped open ever so slightly but this time, the door flung open and a body collapsed across the threshold. She gasped, lurching back and stared at the mangled form of what she presumed was a dead man. He was young with alkaline features and hair as black as Bastian’s first attempt to sear steak. He was dressed in a well made, tailored suit with gothic flare and venetian drama. His legs were bent at strange angles, his arms too. His head bore signs of a bad blow yet for the violence of his appearance, there was little to no blood.

Jo clutched at her collar, frightened by the presence of a dead man…when he groaned.

Immediately she lunged for him, kneeling by his side.

“You’re alive?” He groaned again. “Rob!”

He was swift in appearing and though he would have noticed her outfit, he did not comment on its strangeness, immediately addressing the broken body of the young man in the Observatory.

“Inside. On my bed. Good grief…what happened to him?”

Jo pulled back the covers and Rob deposited him into the bed.

“I have straightened his limbs as best I can.” Rob turned to Jo. “Query, given the seriousness of his injuries, should we not call an ambulance?”

“Given where he came from and what he probably is…I think he’ll be alright.” Jo brushed his hair back from his face, his eyes closed.

“Query, what is he, Jo?”

She tucked the covers around him and stood up. “I think he’s a vampire. The son of Queen Catina…oh…of course. He’s…his son…”

“Query, is it wise for him to be here?”

“He’s in no condition to hurt me…not that I think he would wish to.” Jo pressed her lips together. “What was his name…Ronin..R…something starting with R…Ra…Rafael. That’s it.” She stood up. “We should make him something to eat.”

“I would prefer to maintain vigil over the vampire.”

“Good idea.” She saw his look. “I’m compassionate, not stupid.”

“When I woke up,” Rafael continued the memory, “I found myself in strange surroundings. I was oddly frightened by the softness of it, by the warmth of the sun through the windows and the embrace of the bed I was in. My world was so cold yet there…I knew what it felt like to be safe…and that terrified me.”

“What…are you…doing?” Rafael said through gritted teeth, his jaw still healing.

“Sewing up your torn sleeve,” Jo looked up from the corner chair, “your body might be able to heal itself but your clothes have no such ability.” Rafael slumped against the pillows. Jo put the mending down. “Why don’t you have something to eat?”

“Why didn’t you let me die?” Rafael demanded weakly, a tear trickling out of his eye. “Why?”

Jo licked her lips. He’d asked her that several times since awakening. His broken plea never failed to rip her heart into pieces.

“Because…you’re important…”

“I’m a vampire.” He growled. “I’m inhuman! I’m a monster!”

“Stop it.” She came over to him and sat on the bed.

He lurched back. “Stay away!”

Jo sighed and stood up. “Rafael, I’m not going to give up on you.”

“I hate you! I hate you for not letting me die!”

“You wouldn’t have died and you know it!” Jo fired at him and he recoiled. “Think about it, Rafael? You would have lain in that clocktower, taking days upon days to heal while your bloodlust increased out of control. Imagine the havoc you would have unleashed upon Atannica once you could move?”

He shook, his withdrawals increasing. “You think you’re any safer with me here?”

Ensure your favorite authors get the support they deserve. Read this novel on Royal Road.

Jo eyed him. “I think your legs are still broken.”

“Just…I just…want to die…” He moaned, curling up on his side. “Please…I don’t want to live anymore. Not like this…”

Jo’s jaw trembled violently, tears trickly down her face. “I’m going to make you something fresh to eat.” She escaped downstairs to the kitchen and leaned on the counter. Thankfully the café was closed. Rob looked up from cleaning the fridge.

“Query, how is Rafael?”

“Cursing me for not letting him die.” Jo forced herself behind the counter, turning on the little coffee machine which heated up quickly. “I’m not sure what to do. I don’t know that anything can help him. His body demands blood.”

“Query, would a raw steak suffice?”

“No, I don’t think so.” She put a slice of carrot cake on a plate and made a mug of coffee. “It won’t be long before he’ll be able to limp home.”

“Query, what will you do then, Jo?”

She didn’t have an answer. She climbed the stairs and entered her bedroom, setting the cake and coffee on the bedside.

“You need something to eat.”

“I need blood…” Rafael threatened.

“Here,” she held out the mug of coffee, “this is what gets me going in the morning.”

“You think your pathetic human libations would have any effect on me?”

“Fine. Don’t drink it.” Jo put it down and returned to her mending. She kept her eyes down, focussed on keeping the stitches small as she brought the two torn pieces of fabric together.

“What is this?”

“I told you, cake and coffee.” She said brusquely then paused, realising that Rafael’s tone had been oddly different. She looked up and saw him staring at the mug in his hands. “Oh…that’s a new blend of coffee beans. It’s got notes of chocolate, hazelnut and cherry in it.” He was remarkably transfixed by the simple mug of coffee. “It’s a cappuccino.” Jo went on to explain. “That means it has steamed milk in it…”

Rafael put the mug to his lips and sipped it, his eyes closing. Jo put the mending down and watched as, for the first time, his shoulders lost their rigidity and he sank against the pillows, allowing them to embrace him. She watched him drink the whole thing, after which he sighed so deep she thought he might sink into the mattress.

“I’m glad you liked it.” She said, standing up. “I can make you another…if you want?”

Rafael’s icy blue eyes opened and he looked at her with such yearning, her heart wept. “Can you teach me how to make it?”

“She had been my enemy at the start of the cup…my saviour by the time I drank my last drop.” Rafael laughed quietly. “The need for blood was greatly reduced and I began to hope that I might find a cure amongst the countless coffee bean blends of the world. But more than that…I had a place I could go to escape my hated life…where I could be safe. Thank you, Jo.”

I smiled tenderly at his story.

“Query, do you have everything you require, Bethany St James?”

I closed my eyes, symbols and writing dancing before my eyes. And somewhere beyond the incantation, I sense Ah’Man’s presence, guiding my hand.

“Yeah, I do.” I smiled. “Aunt Jo, Ah’Man scattered your mind to protect it from Gar’Dian…but I know how to bring it back together.”

I breathed out, holding my hands in front of me, slightly cupped together. The memories of the guys, the elements they represented, flowed through my body, pooling into my palms, forming a sphere of sparkling, golden light. The words of the incantation flowed around my hands, twisting and turning almost forming a cocoon. I could feel my lips moving as I spoke things I could only understand at the very edge of my consciousness as though I was murmuring just before I fell asleep…or perhaps before I woke up.

The incantation, absorbing the elements from the memories the guys had offered, finished their work, their twists and turns becoming wider and wider, paler in colour until they surrounded us, glancing off the walls of the room. And in my hands…was a book.

I smiled.

“Why am I not surprised?” I said softly. “If Aunt Jo was going to have her mind represented in a physical object…a book is exactly how it would be.”

“How will you return the mind to the body?” Faelan asked.

“If you and Eustace could facilitate the healing,” I said gently, “I’ll show you.”

I tipped the book flat into one hand with my arm outstretched to the left. I put my right hand on its back cover, feeling the trembling within. I pulled my right hand away in a large arc, the cover separating from the spine and the pages fluttered into a storybook rainbow.

“All the days ordained for me were written in Your book before one of them came to be.” I quoted Aunt Jo’s favourite passage. “Creativity is a miracle…life is a miracle. Time to live again, Aunt Jo.”

The pages began to flutter towards Aunt Jo’s head, fading as they did so, becoming transparent as they soaked into her mind. Page after page, story after story, all of it poured into her, the fluttering of paper like the flurry of many wings until not one single page remained.

I glanced at Faelan who nodded and breathed out, the incantation blinking out of existence, returning to the recesses of my mind.

We all held our breaths…

…when one of the machines began to beep a little faster…and then another…

…and then Aunt Jo’s chest rose with a sudden, deep intake of air.

I slid around the bed to the head and leaned down.

Aunt Jo’s eyes blinked, her forehead wincing.

“Give it a moment.” I said softly as she opened them again and I eased the oxygen mask off her face. She had red marks on her skin where the straps had been and her vision was undoubtedly blurry. I opened my bag and drew out her glasses, unfolding the arms and sliding them onto her face. She blinked several more times, her eyes adjusting and her expression creased into a relieved smile. “Hiya, Aunt Jo.” I said softly. “Welcome back.”

“I knew you could do it.” She rasped with a throat that hadn’t spoken in over three months.

I clutched her hand and glanced at the guys. “I had help.”

The guys could no longer be restrained, lunging forward to greet and hug Aunt Jo. Thankfully, when Dr Ishani arrived, she was so taken up with Jo’s coma recovery that she didn’t think to ask what on earth we were all doing in there.

After all…what could I have possibly said?

“Coffee cup, books, plants…is this notepad yours?”

“No, that was here when I moved rooms.”

“Okay. Have you grabbed your toiletry bag?”

“Nope. Gonna need that.”

“I’ll get it.” I found the toiletry bag resting on the sink in the tiny bathroom Aunt Jo had shared with another resident in the recovery wing of the hospital. I came out, grabbing the towel as I went.

“Not mine.” Aunt Jo laughed.

“Whoops!” I threw the towel back into the bathroom. Aunt Jo dressed in leggings and an oversized top with a beautiful dark pink, soft teal and grey pattern on it. She had let her hair hang loose, framing her face which glowed with health, her glasses perched almost permanently on her nose. “I have to say, for a coma patient, you’re looking pretty spritely.”

“Helps when you have an elf and a water dragon on hand.” She winked and put her hands on her hips. “Well, I think that’s everything.” I handed her the toiletry bag which she shoved into her suitcase, pulling the handle up.

“Ready to go?”

“Oh so ready.” Aunt Jo laughed in her voice that was deeper than mine. I opened the door and let her slide out, following with a box in my arms with the few bits and pieces that didn’t pack well into a suitcase. “I can’t begin to say how much I am looking forward to sleeping in my own bed.”

We stopped at the reception desk for the recovery wing where Aunt Jo signed some paperwork and thanked the nurses for all their help. And with that we left the wing through the sliding doors and took the long corridor back to the main foyer.

“Why oh why did they have to put the recovery wing so far away from everything?” I lamented.

“To make us recover by walking everywhere.” Aunt Jo winked. “I actually enjoyed it…for about two days and then I was itching to get home.”

“Well, considering all the statistics I’ve read up on comas, your recovery really is quite amazing.” I admitted. “I mean, without certain assistance, you could have been here for another month or two.”

“Even without their assistance, I would have recovered enough to be able to go out and get a decent coffee.” Aunt Jo smiled.

We walked alongside each other, my stride matching hers.

“I suppose we also have Ah’Man to thank for it,” I mused then frowned, “we also have him to blame too.”

“I’m not entirely sure it was the best way to go about it.” Aunt Jo admitted. “Once that incantation got into my head I started to have visions of the destruction of En’Daren. Had I had the chance to really study it, I might have figured it all out without putting you in danger…but Ah’Man’s ‘commune’ with me and his directions on writing the haikus, getting the incantation out of my head, showed that there was a chance to save En’Daren.”

“I wish he’d been as explicit with me in that bubble of time.” I muttered as we walked past the hydro pool and the physiotherapy wing where Aunt Jo had spent a great deal of time rebuilding her muscles after the prolonged vegetative state. “Still…when I considered that he wrote that message in haste with what remained of his mind after Gar’Dian ripped the incantation out of him and stuck it in a bubble…we can accept that not all of his methods made sense.”

“But he did have good intentions.” Aunt Jo put her arm around my shoulders. “Thank goodness for you. I knew you’d understand the meaning of my sending you the key.”

We walked quietly, the foyer just ahead. I sighed. “I…I wish you hadn’t needed to. I wish I’d come back to Glenwilde when you asked after the funeral. Then I could have been here when you needed me.”

“You did come when I needed you.” Aunt Jo insisted, stopping me to meet my eyes. “Bethany, without you, five worlds and En’Daren would have been lost.”

“I also gave Eden the push and quit from my job.” I nodded. “Not a bad accomplishment really for three months.”

“Not at all.” Aunt Jo looked up. “Dr Ishani?”

“I hoped to catch you before you left.” Dr Ishani greeted and appraised Aunt Jo’s appearance. “You look very well. I am deeply impressed with your recovery.”

“I had a lot of help.”

“You must be relieved to have your aunt back, Bethany?”

“You have no idea.” I laughed.

“Well, I just wanted to wish you all the best and if you need anything or have any questions, feel free to call.”

“Thank you.” Aunt Jo shook her hand and I waved goodbye as we headed to the exit. “It’s such a nice day…why don’t we…”

“We’re getting a taxi.” I ordered.

“I can walk.”

“This box is heavy.” I warned and she laughed.

“Oh alright.” I called a taxi on my phone and it pulled up within minutes. The suitcase went in the boot and the box rested on my lap as we closed the doors behind us. “So…what have you got planned?”

“What planned?”

“Don’t think you can fool me.” Aunt Jo glanced at me. “You’ve been checking and rechecking the date I was being discharged ever since I was told it. You’ve got something planned at ‘House of Figs’.”

“Just the guys…”

“Mmm?”

“And…a few guests…”

“Ah huh? How many is a few?”

“Less than the hordes of Genghis Khan?”

“Oh an intimate affair.” Aunt Jo laughed. “No wonder you insisted I do my make up.”

“First time facing the world after a coma. Yeah!”

“I’ve been out of the hospital. I’ve even been to ‘House of Figs’.”

“Yes but today you’re coming home,” I insisted, “and there are one or two…dozen people…who have been very concerned about you.”

“Well…as long as there’s decent coffee…”

“Rafael will make sure of that!”

The taxi pulled into the cul de sac, past the house with the blue roof behind the picket fence and stopped in front of the biggest building at the very back. There was a sign on the gate that said, ‘closed for private function’, and a familiar face and a less familiar face was waiting for us.

“Greetings Johanne West.” Rob took her hand and helped her out of the car. “Welcome home.”

“Rob,” Aunt Jo embraced him, “what have I told you about called me Jo?”

“In the event of a formal affair, I found myself falling onto old protocols.” Rob admitted. “Query, how are you?”

“All the better for hearing you say, ‘query’.” Aunt Jo turned to his companion. “Query, is this Anne?”

The young woman by Rob’s side was the same one I had seen in my vision of a restored Infinitus. She had been the cleaning robot that had transmitted the truth he’d shared with her to the rest of the robots. When the triune directorate had discovered what the outmoded robot had done, they had put it through an extensive upgrade and all previous knowledge had been lost. I had been able to restore it and Anne, as she decided to call herself, had remembered where Rob had appeared from and disappeared into. She had sought him out and we’d discovered her in the Observatory, amazed by her surroundings.

“Anne, I am pleased to introduce you to Johanne West.” Rob announced.

Anne had been styled to slightly resemble me with dark hair in a pixie cut. The resemblance might have been a bit uncanny but I’d left my hair long and curly after Gar’Dian had ‘goddessed’ me.

“Greetings Johanne West. I am Anne of Infinitus.” She blinked and looked at Rob. “Query, how did I do?”

“A perfect recitation.” He assured her.

Aunt Jo smiled at Anne. “It’s a great pleasure to meet you, Anne. I’m so glad you were able to come through from Infinitus.”

“It is much changed now from the world which Rob and Bethany St James experienced,” Anne explained, “however, I find myself drawn to this world.” Her dusky blue eyes looked at Rob almost shyly to which he returned a pleasant smile.

I tried not to grin my head off.

“Query, may I help you with your bags?” Rob opened the boot as I paid the driver and when the suitcase was in hand, he closed the lid.

Anne opened the gate. Aunt Jo stepped onto the grounds and took a moment to look up at ‘House of Figs’ and breathed in deeply. I watched her, feeling a deep sense of relief.

“Nice to be home?”

Aunt Jo looked at me and put her arm around my shoulders. “Very much so.” She shook her head. “You know, you were an adult when I saw you at Sarah’s funeral so it’s not like you had any ‘growing’ left to do…but you seem grown up to me, now.”

“Had to happen sometime I guess.” I followed her up the path and then the stairs. I saw her pause and take a deep breath, her hand hovering above the door handle. “Aunt Jo?”

“It’s…feels like yesterday…but in another life.” She admitted then opened the door and walked into the café where the other four guys were waiting to greet her. “My boys!”

“Jo!” I watched with Anne as the guys swarmed her, each of them so relieved that she had returned. “We’re so glad you’re back! ‘House of Figs’ missed you. We missed you.”

“Not that Bethany did not do a remarkable job in your absence.” Faelan offered.

“I’m just as glad Aunt Jo is here.” I assured him I was not slighted. I smiled as she spoke with each one in turn and realised that they were all like her sons. She complimented Rob on his upgraded appearance and Rafael on breaking his vampiric curse. She pointed out the scar across Bastian’s eye and remarked that it made him rakish and even more handsome and even managed to get a hug out of Faelan.

“Eustace,” she turned to the water dragon, “how’s the baby of the family?”

“A bit more grown up, hopefully.” Eustace chuckled.

Aunt Jo blinked. “No, no! I mean, James! Where’s your son?”

“Oh!” Eustace brightened. “He’s out the back playing. Little kids have so much energy!”

“We know.” Rafael remarked dryly.

“Would you like to meet him?”

“I would. Very much so.” Aunt Jo took Eustace’s arm and he led her out the back door. I followed at the very back of the line, hearing the cheer of ‘welcome home’ from the guests that had assembled in honour of Aunt Jo’s return.

I waited patiently, happy not to be the centre of attention for once. Goodness knows I’d had enough riding on my shoulders for months on end. It was a relief to be part of the background. When the backdoor cleared of bodies I slid out to see Aunt Jo and Bronwyn reuniting. They hugged tightly, birds of a feather when it came to their love of stories. Jo was beaming and Bronwyn was weeping, unmistakably pregnant by now. She reintroduced Asher who shook Jo’s hand.

“Jo, I’m not sure if you remember Alana and Emer?”

The twins, descended from elves, Alana and Emer, stepped forward to meet Jo.

“I hope you do not mind,” Bronwyn explained, “Bethany thought that they might like to visit this world.”

“I don’t mind at all. It’s very nice to meet you again.”

“We also brought a couple of friends.” Alana admitted. “This is Micael,” he nodded politely, “and this is Bedwyr, an elf not long defected from Iffah.”

“Greetings, Johanne.” He said stiffly.

“You’re a long way from home, Bedwyr.” Aunt Jo said kindly. “How are you doing?”

“I am…well.” He said softly.

Aunt Jo moved towards him. “This has got to be at the very edge of what you understand and beyond what you were taught was right. Don’t feel you have to stay if you’re uncomfortable. It took Faelan a long time to really feel at home here.”

“He has spoken of the journey,” Bedwyr admitted, “and perhaps if it were a mere visit, I would have declined…but I wished to speak with your niece.”

“Me?” I came forward. “What for?”

Bedwyr swallowed. “I wanted to apologise for the way I treated you in Iffah. I knew it was wrong, leaving you alone in the forest…I…”

“Bedwyr,” I took his hand and squeezed it, “I could tell you were stuck between a rock and a hard place,” he frowned at the analogy and I hoped someone would explain it to him later as I continued, “but I could also tell you felt bad about it and you did what you could to get me through. I wasn’t your responsibility.”

“She was mine.” Faelan said firmly.

“Sir,” Bedwyr bowed, “I mean, Prince Faelan…”

“Just Faelan.” The elf with the tendency to favour sweets assured him. “Perhaps you will tell me how my brothers are?”

“Of course.” Bedwyr nodded and followed him off to the side. I saw Alana’s eyes watching them go and raised my eyebrows at her. She blushed and looked away.

Aunt Jo winked at me, having seen the look too. She turned to Bronwyn and Asher. “Where’s Elrond?”

“Oh, he and the little water dragon boy hit it off right away.” Asher chuckled and looked around. “Elrond?”

“Coming!” He arrived, soaking wet with a big grin on his face.

Eustace slapped his forehead. “James!”

James poked his head around the Observatory with a guilty look on his face.

“It wasn’t his fault.” Elrond insisted. “I made him sneeze when I made the flowers bloom.”

“Come on,” Eustace held out his hand, “it’s time you learned how to absorb water and not just spray it.” He hustled them over to a set of chairs.

“They’ll be fine.” I laughed then spied a couple of familiar faces. “Oh! Aunt Jo, may I introduce you to Armin of the Wolfgang clan and Gwenhwyfar.”

“Just Gwen wi’ do.” She insisted, wearing the dress I’d bought for her that Bastian had Armin deliver. Thankfully it was a loose design as she was showing signs of a baby bump.

“And I’ve never been fond of my middle and last names.” Armin chuckled. “Just Armin, soon to be of his own clan.” Armin wore a vest over his muscular chest and didn’t require trousers as everything from the waist down was covered in shaggy werewolf hair over powerful wolf legs. His tail draped behind him and his ears poked out of his tawny mane.

“Is Bastian kicking you out?” Aunt Jo looked at Bastian pointedly.

“I’m fed up with his goo goo eyes and soppy expression.” Bastian grinned with his pointed teeth. “Actually, I blessed their mating with the stewardship of the old bastion.”

“Oh?” I put my hands on my hips. “My invitation must have been lost somewhere?”

“We meant no offense…” Gwen stammered then caught my wink. “Ye havin’ a go…”

“A little.” I giggled.

“We talked about it. The church in Gwen’s town wouldn’t allow us to get married in it per her custom and, well…” Armin looked at Gwen with such intensity we all felt our cheeks redden. “I couldn’t stand being away from Gwen another minute.”

“We decided tha’ a blessin’ from the alpha of the Wolfgang clan were good enou’.” Gwen held Armin’s hand tightly.

“Not in Befest?”

“We’re still working through some ancient hostilities.” Bastian admitted, folding his arms across his broad chest. “Besides, their occupancy of the old bastion, a place that is defensible and will act as a middle ground, will help build relations between our two peoples.”

“I seem to be buildin’ one already.” Gwen patted her belly.

“Excuse me…” Bastian shifted away for a moment, diving into the milling crowd that was drawn together by the singular and remarkable experience that the Observatory had given them. Though there were werewolves, humans, dragons and elves, they seemed to recognise the uniqueness of their respective races traits and found common ground in which to speak. It helped that Faelan and Bastian had laid out a spread of savoury and sweet delights and Rafael had broken out his smaller but much more portable coffee machine.

The atmosphere was warm and welcoming. I glanced around, delighted that everyone was enjoying themselves when I spied a reluctant face standing in a shadow. I sighed and ducked over to him, grabbing his hand. He gave me a pained look.

“She won’t bite.” I insisted as I drew him back to where Aunt Jo was still speaking with Armin and Gwen.

“Bethany told me about the atrocities committed in the old bastion.” Aunt Jo remarked. “I don’t mean to be insensitive…but will that affect your residency there?”

“We decided that, in honour of their memory and in defiance to the violence the other clans sought to wrought, we would build a home where humans and werewolves could be safe to be together.” Armin said firmly.

“I hope we wi’ be able ta help the humans of my city an’ in turn, begin tradin’ wi’ them.” Gwen nodded.

“It’s a wonderful endeavour.” Jo shook her head. “When I visited, there seemed to be no end to the hatred.”

“I dinna pretend it’ll be easy,” Gwen looked at Armin lovingly, “but if we can love the differences in our race…others wi’ too.”

“Ahem,” Bastian approached the group with another familiar face in tow, “may I introduce Elke of the Wolfgang clan.”

She was clearly nervous, her beautiful pale blue eyes big framed with dark lashes in her face surrounded by her mane of white gold, her ears breaking through, tipped with dark fur giving them a dramatic look. Her legs were covered in similar shaggy fur but it was so soft in colour that it was hard not to reach out and stroke her tail. She wore a halter top that was tailored around her very nice bust then tassels of leather hung from the hem, like a veil of modesty over her exposed midriff. It had been tastefully beaded and she wore several arm bands and a single beaded plait hung from behind her ear.

“Elke!” I cried. “It’s so wonderful to see you!”

“I wasn’t sure you’d want to see me,” she admitted fearfully, “after what Christel…”

I embraced her firmly, stopping her flow of words. “It’s okay,” I whispered into her ears and stepped back, grabbing Jet’s hand again so he couldn’t run away, “you look great. And your ankle?”

“I was working one day at my station, polishing a piece of leather when it felt like someone touched it,” Elke shrugged, “the next I knew, my bones were back where they ought to be…and I could walk without a limp.”

“Wonderful!” I exclaimed, recalling the vision as I had returned life to Alte Fehde through Bastian’s tether.

“Wonderful indeed.” Bastian looked at me and winked. It was a knowing wink, as though he might recall something of my doings as if he’d been a part of the vision with me. Yet he never said. It was also not a flirtatious wink, I found myself observing as he turned to Elke. “I baked some bread. I’d love to hear what you think.”

Elke blushed brightly but nodded. “I’d like that.” She slipped her hand through his offered arm and he led her gallantly to the plate of bread rolls.

“And he called me goo goo eyed…” Armin rolled his eyes. “Shall we eat, my love?”

“Yes please.”

I looked at Aunt Jo who tried not to laugh.

“Aunt Jo,” I drew Jet forward, “I’m not sure if you remember Jet…”

“Debbie’s grandson?” Aunt Jo nodded. “Of course I do.”

“Gary’s grandson too…” Jet pointed out a little sullenly.

“His actions weren’t yours.” Aunt Jo assured him. “I’m so grateful that you were such a good friend to Bethany these last months.”

“Me?” Jet glanced at me, confused.

“I told Aunt Jo all about it.” I explained.

“Yes but…you described me as a good friend?”

“Of course!”

Jet cleared his throat. “Well…I…I’m glad you’re back, Aunt Jo.”

He drew his hand out of mine and escaped the conversation. I watched him go, conflicted.

“Give him time.” Aunt Jo said gently.

“He’s had time,” I muttered, “he’s barely been around this past month…I don’t understand…”

“Query, would you care for some salted caramel profiteroles?” Anne asked, bearing a tray of sweet goodness.

“Don’t mind if I do.” Aunt Jo gave my shoulder a squeeze before accepting one of the profiteroles. “Is Rafael brewing coffee?”

I wandered back over to Micael who asked for a tour of the café. Micael was particularly interested to look at the fridge. He shook his head, marvelling at it.

“So convenient!” He declared. “This world of yours, Bethany…it’s pretty impressive.”

“Can’t take much credit for it.” I admitted. “Besides, I think your world is pretty impressive. It’s certainly very beautiful. Oh!” I opened the freezer and got out a tub of ice cream. “I owe you an ice cream.”

“Is this the confection you were talking about?”

I nodded, making us both an ice cream sprinkled with chocolate. Micael was deeply impressed.

“All it needs is a roasted apple.” He winked at me and I laughed.

“Well, I did promise the ice cream and you promised the apple.” I retorted as we left the café to where the crowd of fictional characters gathered. “But this is as much of a date as you’re getting.”

“Yeah…about that.” Micael rubbed his neck. “I…well…there have been a lot of elves leaving Iffah…”

“Even after the second tree returned to life?”

“You’d have to talk to Bedwyr about that.” Micael admitted. “It does sound like the elves of Iffah have been greatly shaken up. But there are more elves living at Elvan now…and, well…”

I stared at him, seeing pink pleasure in his cheeks. “You’ve met someone, haven’t you?”

“I…yeah…”

I slugged him in the arm. “Micael, that’s great!”

“Really?” He looked at me. “You’re not mad?”

I rolled my eyes. “You hardly made me an offer of marriage, Micael. You flirted, I rebuffed…and I’m genuinely thrilled for you! What’s her name?”

“Aislin.” He grinned fully, allowing the pleasure he’d felt come to the surface. “She’s really beautiful. Not that you’re not…”

“Ugh…” I gave him a shove and laughed. “I’m not everyone’s cup of tea!”

“To be honest, I thought you’d wind up with Faelan. You know, all that tension was just an unspoken attraction…” Micael shrugged. “And then I thought, well if it’s not Bethany, it’ll be Alana…but I was wrong about that too.”

“Oh?” I raised my eyebrows. “Do tell?”

“What? You haven’t seen Alana blushing brightly every time he’s around?”

“Alana…and Bedwyr?”

“She talked him into attending one of the parties at Elvan,” Micael held up his hands in defence, “only at the edge of course but he sat with her the whole time. If they’re not…”

“Dancing?”

“Yeah, dancing,” he chuckled, “within a month…I’d be very much surprised. Mind you, Bronwyn is very firm on each elf coming to terms with the prospect of a different life in their own time…but nothing invites change like the possibility of a romance.”

I licked at my ice cream and considered this. “What about Faelan? Has he met anyone?”

Micael shrugged. “I’m not the one to ask. Now that the divine light of Iffah has been restored to full strength, there’s no need for him to sneak past the border to soak it up and he’s still not entirely comfortable about being in Elvan. He and Bronwyn look after the newly defected elves which means he does need to be there sometimes…but I think he prefers it here.”

I left Micael to sit with Emer and found myself looking for Faelan. He was at the sweets table, pointing out the confections to Bedwyr and Alana. I could see shy glances from Alana at Bedwyr and he was almost glowing at her attention.

I hunted for Aunt Jo and used my eyes to gesture to the scene at the dessert table. Aunt Jo rolled her eyes then laughed from across the backyard, both of us sharing in the joke.

My phone buzzed in my pocket and I took it out, saw the nature of the alarm and headed around the side of ‘House of Figs’, beneath the reach of the fig tree to the front gate. Coming up the cul de sac was a young girl with a bag on her back, wearing a green knee length skort over black tights and a white shirt with an emblem on the pocket. Her feet were in sensible but stylish black shoes and her golden curls were caught up in a ponytail with a green bow. She had a school satchel over her shoulder, her blue eyes catching sight of me as she looked up.

“Hello Adela,” I greeted, opening the gate, “how was school?”

“Not bad. Humans girls are really quite stupid sometimes.”

“Yeah we are that.” I admitted in the face of her scathing assessment. “Still not made any friends?”

Adela shrugged. “Not in my class but there are two girls, Shania and Lacy, in the other class, who aren’t completely intolerable. We meet at recess and lunch. Lacy said it’s her birthday soon. It’s a sleepover…”

“Well, nothing wrong with that, is there?” I asked, closing the gate and walking with her.

“I was a vampire a little over a month ago. I couldn’t go a night without blood.” Adela sighed. “It’s…weird.”

“Maybe we should have waited until next year to put you in school.” I admitted. “Your father and I thought that, getting you out of Atannica and into a different world might help ‘normalise’ things for you.”

“I will not be denied school!” Adela turned to me with big blue, non predatory eyes that had lost the depravity that the five hundred year life of being a vampire had cursed her with. I knew I couldn’t erase everything that had happened to her…but I wanted to restore something of her innocence while I had the chance. “It’s just so…different…but that in of itself is…refreshing.”

“Well, alright. But if you think it’s too much or if the girls are being bullies…”

“I’m five hundred years old,” Adela rolled her eyes, “I can handle some petty little girls.”

“Probably better than most.” I laughed. “Come on inside.”

“Is your aunt here yet?”

“She is.”

“What about Abram? I mean, what about my father?” Adela asked at the bottom of the stairs.

“Not yet but don’t forget, he has to wait until the clocktower turns.” I sighed. “If he comes…”

Adela tilted her head. “I wouldn’t worry about that. Yesterday he had me appraise his appearance in several outfits. You’d think he was the preadolescent! I’m going to go get changed.” She began to jog up them then paused and turned. “Um…is Faelan…here?”

I looked up at her. “Why wouldn’t he be?”

Adela shrugged. “Oh…no reason…”

I put my hands on my hips. “Human a month yet already with a crush?”

Adela held up her hands, helplessly. “Worst thing in the world, cursed to be at an age where your heart starts to yearn for love…and you’re stuck at eleven where no man of any decency wants anything to do with you and your mother is determined for you to remain a child.”

I nodded. “Yeah…that’s true.” I sighed. “You don’t think he’s a little old for you? He’s over two hundred years…”

“That makes me a little old for him.” Adela shook her head. “Oh…look I know it’s stupid and impossible…but it’s my first proper crush…I’d like to enjoy it a little.”

I smiled, Adela’s comprehension so much more than most other girls her ‘age’.

“Your clothes are in my room!” I called, heading out the back again, checking my phone. Rob had created an app which was like a ‘world clock’ except it showed the times in each of the worlds beyond the Observatory. It even showed the likelihood of the floating island being upright in the dragon world and the times when the door was accessible in through the clocktower in Atannica. It made visiting the worlds so much easier and organising a get together, that much more accurate as I could let people know in their world time, when to be at the door.

“Clocktower should be aligned.” I tapped my teeth. “Come on…”

The sun was shining and the afternoon, fading quickly into a beautiful early dusk, was still warm. So went a cold gust blew through the crowd gathered, I wondered if the door to Atannica had opened.

Gwen gave a small shriek and pointed and Elke gasped, recoiling into Bastian’s chest. I darted forward as we all turned to the Observatory.

A woman stood in one of the doorways, dressed in a long, simple sleeveless gown of pale blue and pale purple scales with long white hair and eyes as blue as sapphires. Her lips were glistening with moisture and her nails were opalescent blue. There was slight webbing between her toes on her bare feet and between her fingers. She observed our surprise and shock without fear.

Aunt Jo put down her coffee and approached her calmly.

“Hello,” she greeted, “I’m Jo. What’s your name?” The woman gazed at her. “Can you talk?”

“Yes.” She said softly. “I can…talk.” She paused. “Luna.”

“Luna? Is that your name?”

She nodded. “When I emerged from my egg, I saw the moon…and took one of its names as my own.”

“Egg? You hatched?” Aunt Jo paused. “You’re…a dragon?”

Luna nodded. “I am a water dragon.” I turned to Eustace who stared at Luna in shock. Luna looked at him calmly.

“You…you came from that egg that just appeared in the nest.” Eustace breathed, stepping towards her. “You’re…”

“The dragon you called mother, though she was not your kin, swallowed me while I was still in my egg to keep you and I from meeting.”

Eustace’s youthful face was bleak with shock. “How can you know that?”

“She kept me imprisoned within her for hundreds of years…and I learned all that she knew.”

“Genetic memory.” Aunt Jo whispered then raised her voice to normal levels. “Well, Luna, this is Eustace. He is a water dragon, like you.”

“Hi…” Eustace reached out his hand. Luna looked at it, confused. “You…if you give me your hand…”

“Oh,” she smiled, her beautiful face becoming radiant, “I am unfamiliar with human customs,” she slid her fingers into his grasp, “but I would like to learn.”

Eustace cleared his throat. “I…would be happy to teach you…” He turned to the chair he’d been sitting on and reached out his other hand. “This is my son, James.”

The little boy looked up at Luna in wonder.

“Hello James.” Luna’s eyes lifted to meet Eustace’s. “Hello Eustace. It is very nice to meet you.”

I had to put my hand over my mouth to cover the grin that I could not suppress. Eustace led Luna to the chairs and showed her how to sit. It took a while for the conversation of the guests to return to normal. I moved over to Aunt Jo’s side.

“Another member of the family?” I asked.

“I hope so.” Aunt Jo winked at me.

“Bethany,” Rafael looked at me from behind his coffee machine, “did you have something to do with that?”

I pulled a face and he rolled his eyes.

I felt a touch on my arm and looked to the side.

“Is my father here yet?” Adela asked. She’d changed into a pair of jeans with distressed hems with a pair of skater pumps sticking out from beneath. Her top was a plain white shirt with a faux leather jacket with grey fabric hood over the top. I could really sense her trying to distance herself from the fashion and indeed, the life of Adela the vampire.

Rafael and I had taken Adela to one of the large shopping centres at the edge of the city to shop for clothes when Adela had recovered from the breaking of her curse and the decision had been discussed and made about her attending school in my world. Rafael had endured waiting on benches and carrying many bags for the sake of his sister’s luminous expression as she forged her own identity.

I shook my head. Adela folded her arms. “If I have to, I’ll go drag him out.”

“Just…go talk to Rafael and give him another minute…or two before we resort to violence?”

Adela nodded and went over to her brother. I sighed and glanced at my phone again.

“Counting down the time when you can escape to your room with a hot cup of tea and a good book?” Aunt Jo asked, leaning towards me.

“Oh…no…I’m just…”

“Father!”

We both turned as Adela darted across the courtyard to where Abram van Helsing stood awkwardly in what I guessed was, his best suit. He embraced his daughter, somewhat surprised by her enthusiastic greeting. I wasn’t. Adela was very reserved, as if she was testing life by dipping her foot in it, one toe at a time. Her enthusiasm was for Aunt Jo’s benefit.

“How was school today?”

“Not bad although my accounts of history are somewhat inaccurate so I have to relearn it all.”

“Is this your doing?” Aunt Jo hissed at me.

“He’s just here to get his daughter.” I lied blatantly.

“Oh really?” She was not fooled.

“Ah,” Abram cleared his throat, “well…I’m sure you’ll work it out.” He looked up and saw Aunt Jo staring at him. “Jo…welcome back.”

“Thank you.” She said, bracing herself and walking over to him. “You…look well.”

“So do you.” Abram nodded, swallowing past his cravat which looked a little crumpled, probably from him fiddling with it. “It’s…been a long time but you haven’t changed at all.”

“Neither have you.” Aunt Jo put her hand up to her face. “Oh my goodness, this is awkward.”

“Just a bit.”

“I didn’t know you were coming.”

“And if you had you would have avoided me? Or pulled the book from the shelf?”

“No, of course not…well…not that I wouldn’t have been tempted.” Jo shook her head. “Everyone’s staring at us…”

“They’re waiting to see whether I’m going to sweep you into my arms and kiss you and if you’ll slap me in response.” Abram stepped closer to her then looked up. “Yes, yes, we are aware that we’re the centre of all your attentions. Can you please find something else to stare at?”

We all laughed and did our utmost to turn away as Abram and Aunt Jo disappeared around the Observatory.

“Oh no you don’t.” I muttered, sneaking towards the Observatory with the stealth of an elf and the shadow of a vampire. I slid in through one set of doors and pressed against the bookshelf closest to where I saw Abram’s elbow.

“…been so long. I wasn’t sure if you’d want to see me.”

“Well, let’s face it Abram, we didn’t exactly part on the best of terms.”

“I asked you to marry me!”

“Then you told me that what I do here was of no consequence!”

“And I was an arse for saying it!” Abram exclaimed then his voice softened. “Jo…I have regretted it ever since.”

“You…had other priorities…”

“I thought…if I could just see the revolution through…and then it wouldn’t matter to me at all where I lived, as long as I was with you.”

I felt a press against my back and looked over my shoulder. Rafael was leaning close to hear what was being said. I put my finger to his lips and he nodded.

“That’s not what you said two years ago.”

“Again, I was an arse!” Abram insisted. “Jo…the revolution was victorious and the humans are free, those who were oppressed by the vampires and those that suffered the curse. Atannica and indeed all of Engaland is as it ought to be.”

There was a long pause. Adela’s blond curls appeared in the corner of my eye. I gestured for her to stay back and she nodded, craning to listen.

“You’re still lord of Atannica. Bethany told me.”

I closed my eyes and prayed.

“I have made my position clear. I will not leave the newly freed humans without leadership and have committed myself for a period of time. But after two years, I will step down and allow them to govern themselves.”

“What then, Abram?”

“Well…I hoped…perhaps…you would allow me to court you?”

There was a long, horrible pause.

“Why wait two years for that?”

I held my breath.

“Well…because I didn’t want to rush you. I certainly didn’t want to overwhelm you by saying I’d marry you tomorrow if I could.”

“I’m not going to say yes to that! I just recovered from a three month coma!”

“I know!”

“But…I wouldn’t be adverse to your visiting…you know…if you have any nights free during your ‘lordship’ years...”

I scrunched my hands and pressed them against the sides of my head. Adela silently exclaimed and turned on the spot. Rafael put his hands on both of our shoulders and we calmed, drawn tight by the tension.

“I’ll be here every spare moment I can…”

I crossed my fingers.

“You can kiss me now, if you want…”

Adela clapped her hands over her mouth and Rafael punched his fists into the air, rejoicing as quietly as they could. I shooed them out of the Observatory and found all the guests waiting.

“Well?” Bronwyn asked quietly.

“I think they’re working it out.” I giggled.

It was several minutes before Aunt Jo and Abram appeared. Aunt Jo was understandably bashful but Abram was beaming.

“Thank you for trying to be discreet.” He announced and we laughed, the tension broken. Rafael shook his father’s hand as Aunt Jo came over to me at the coffee table.

“I owe you for that.” She said quietly.

“Whatever price I have to pay, it was worth it.” I retorted.

Aunt Jo put her hands on her hips then flung up her arms and hugged me.

“Thank you.”

I watched her go back to Abram, being introduced to Adela and leaned against the table.

“Bravo.” Rafael handed me a hot chocolate then came around the table to lean against it with me. “You’ve had quite the productive four months.”

“I’ve had quite the turbulent four months.” I retorted.

“I like the hair.”

“We’ll see how long it lasts.” I muttered. “Honestly, it’s very romantic but as a hairstyle, it’s a lot more work.”

We watched the guests chatter and laugh together with a deep sense of contentment.

“Thank you.”

“Huh?” I turned to him. “For what?”

“Everything.”

“I don’t think I can really take credit for everything.”

“How about saving my life? Giving Adela a place where she can attempt to be a normal human girl? Getting my father and your aunt back together? Oh I know, how about the whole revolution of Engaland?”

“Again, not really all my doing.”

Rafael sipped his coffee. “Just the right person in the right place at the right time?”

“I guess.” I couldn’t wipe the smile off my face as Abram took Aunt Jo’s hand and gazed at her tenderly, her face blushing with absolute pleasure. “Johanne van Helsing…”

“It has a nice ring to it.” Rafael chuckled. “I guess that’ll make her my step-mother.”

“We’ll practically be family.”

“When were we not?”

“True enough.”

“Mind you, I think our family will be expanding soon.” Rafael nodded to where Eustace and Luna were deep in conversation and sometimes, they even used words. “Look at those two…not ten minutes met and they’re head over heels.”

“I think the dragon world will be replete with little baby water dragons soon. James will be a big brother.” James was sitting on his father’s lap, holding Luna’s hands as they made water bubbles together. “The natural order of dragons will return.”

“Whereas the natural order of elves looks to be completely overthrown.” Rafael jerked his head to where Bronwyn and Asher, Alana and Bedwyr were gathered around the sweets as Faelan explained every confection with creative delight. “Mind you, Faelan isn’t hooking up with anyone.”

“He’s got all the time in the world, now that the divine light is so strong. He doesn’t need to sneak into pockets of it to be rejuvenated.” I thought back to the conversation I’d had with Micael then saw Bedwyr’s glance in Alana’s direction and a smile tugged on my lips.

“Do you know something I don’t?” Rafael asked.

I cleared my throat. “Just…that…well, things are working out well romantically for more than just a few…isn’t it? Humans and elves, humans and werewolves…”

“Bastian brought a werewolf date.” Rafael gestured towards Bastian and Elke.

“I just hope he’s not getting her hopes up…”

“He’s certainly attentive…”

“He’s flirtatious with all women.” I pointed out.

“You’re not wrong,” Rafael agreed, “however, with Elke, he seems to be more…subdued. Reserved.”

“Sincere?”

“Very possibly.”

“And Rob?” I turned to him. “What insights do you have on our robotic companion?”

“That you’d have to be blind not to see it.”

I shook my head and giggled. “Well…that just leaves you and me.”

Rafael turned to me and my skin prickled. “Yes…yes it does.” I looked at him and my throat closed over. Rafael’s eyes were soft and warm despite their cool blue hue. I trembled, licking my lips. “Bethany,” Rafael took my hand, “I care about you…”

I held his gaze, my breath stalled in my lungs when I suddenly realised what he was saying.

“But not in that way…” He closed his eyes and nodded. “Oh thank goodness.” Shock opened his eyes in a flash. “No, no,” I exclaimed, “I didn’t mean it like that…I just meant…”

“It’s okay, I get it.” He smiled without vampire teeth showing.

I studied him. “You…you’re not sad about being, well…alone?”

“I’m hardly a hermit.” Rafael pointed to the guests.

“I know…”

“And I have my father and my sister.”

“Yes…”

“And Jo and ‘House of Figs’.”

“True.”

“And I’m already looking at a property in Atannica which backs onto the clocktower. I’m going to break through so that the door will appear at the back of my coffee shop and I can start up my own café.”

I gazed at him. “Seriously?” He nodded. “But…is that enough?”

Rafael’s smile was soft and without pretence. “After five hundred years of hell…it’s more than enough.” He assured me. “At least…it’s enough for now.” I continued to gaze at him as he explained. “Adela has years of recapturing something of her humanity through being a child…even though I’m an adult, I still want to take time to discover myself. I’m not adverse to love but I want to know who I am before I depend on a relationship to define me.”

“I think that’s very wise.” I said gently.

“And in time, maybe a young woman will come to my café and ask for a coffee…and come back the next day and the next…and each day I’ll think, today is the day I’m going to ask her out…” Rafael chuckled. “Then one day, I’ll blurt it out like a gunshot and she’ll smile and say she’d love to…”

“I think that sounds lovely.”

“And possible now. And maybe, just maybe, I’ll meet someone who loves coffee as much as I do.”

I snorted. “Now that’s not possible!”

“You never know.” Rafael chuckled and bumped me with his elbow.

“Yeah, you’re right…” I looked at him. “I look forward to meeting her one day.”

Rafael held out his arms and I found myself sinking into them, astonished that the once angular and antisocial vampire could change so much. As I enjoyed the embrace of his arms, I caught sight of Jet’s expression just before he turned and left the party, heading for the side of the house. I sat up and Rafael’s head turned to see what I was looking at.

“You know…maybe in a couple of years…you and I might have been able to revisit this topic…maybe even go out on a date,” I started and looked at Rafael in astonishment just before he winked with all the ease and friendliness of a werewolf, “however, something tells me, you won’t be available.” I gaped at him. He gave me a little shove. “Go on…before he leaves.”

I nodded and dashed across the courtyard, turning the corner and sprinting down the length of ‘House of Figs’, heading blindly towards the gate.

“Bethany,” I pulled up short, seeing Jet sitting on the swing, “what’s wrong?”

“Jet!” I exclaimed then cleared my throat. “Uh…nothing. I just…thought you were leaving.”

“No. Just sitting.”

“Ah,” I nodded, “too many people?”

“Something like that.”

I put my hands in my pockets. “Um…am I too many people?”

“That doesn’t make sense,” I sighed, “but you can sit if you want.”

I sank on the swing next to him, my feet drifting above the ground. From where we were we could hear the party, the clink of glasses, the echo of laughter and the smell of the food and coffee but we were oddly removed from it, as though in a bubble of time all our own.

Jet was in his typical clothing, his black jeans, red skater shoes, long sleeve tee under a short sleeve one. He’d been back to the barber to have his hair trimmed and it looked neat without being ‘in the army now’ sharp. I was in my green cargos and white runners, a white crop tank that just met the waistline and a denim bolero over the top of it.

We didn’t say anything for a while. I was still trying to work out what it was I wanted when I’d chased him around the building.

“Is your mum still here?”

“No. She left when she realised she didn’t have a leg to stand on contesting the will.”

“Your grandpa really left the house to you?”

“Yeah.”

I licked my lips. “Well…that’s something, isn’t it?”

“Something?”

“He must have cared for you to want to leave you the house. You don’t do that if you don’t love someone.”

“Yeah…no.” Jet leaned back and I felt the swing shift with his weight. “I had time to think it through. Pops…I mean Gary, or Gar’Dian, was really, really old…if his body failed him before his work was complete, he’d take over my mind and keep living on the corner of the cul de sac.” Jet spoke about it so clinically it was hard to know what he felt about the whole saga. “He didn’t want there to be any question about who got the house…cause it might have been him in my body. He didn’t care about me.”

“I think he did…in his own way.” I argued weakly, watching the breeze blow the leaves on the hedge. I wish I knew what to say. “So…what are you going to do with it?” Jet shrugged. “You could sell it I guess.”

“And do what with the money?”

“I don’t know,” I blundered, “you could travel overseas…you could visit all those online friends that you spend hours talking with during those gaming tournaments…” I glanced at him. The corners of his mouth turned down and he shook his head.

“I don’t think so.” He murmured. “I mean, the whole reason we get along is because I don’t have to deal with them in person. I’m not socially adept.”

“You do alright here.” I pointed out.

“Yeah…yeah I do.” He nodded. “And what would I get if I sold the house and went travelling? I’d be back where I was with less money and nowhere to live.” He breathed in deeply and let it out in a huff. “I’m better off staying. I think I can get a job here that I’ll be able to hold down, now that I know more about why I do what I do. This place is familiar to me.”

I swung my legs gently, looking down at my white runners.

“Well…I’m glad you’re staying.” I said, gripping the swing.

“Why?”

The question was so blunt that it surprised me. I looked up at his sincerely surprised expression.

“Why…because I’d miss you.”

“Why?” Jet’s brow was furrowed and his eyes, confused. “You’ve got everything you need right here.” He gestured to ‘House of Figs’. “Your aunt is well and back, you’ve got friends and you have five guys who would happily fight to the death over you…”

“Oh not this again!” I stood up and turned towards him. “Jet, you’ve got to stop thinking that I’m the heroine in some otome game! It’s not practical, not even realistic, that one person would be compatible with five very different guys. They can’t all be in love with me.”

“But they are.” I gaped at him. Jet looked at me without anger or accusation. He was just stating a fact. “They had to be. That’s why the incantation was able to draw from their worlds, because their hearts were tethered to yours.” He tapped his head. “I know some of this stuff now. I could see it happening even though I couldn’t do anything about it. When Gar’Dian spoke the incantation in En’Daren, he had a connection to the world, a deep love for his people and planet. In order to recreate En’Daren’s essence, he had to write books that contained the element required. You didn’t have that deep love of Alte Fehde, Engaland or Iffah or all the rest of it. But you had a heart connection with each of the guys. That’s what unlocked the worlds. They’re all in love with you.”

I pushed my hands through my hair, still unaccustomed to the long curly length. I yanked my fingers out and put my hands on my hips.

“Okay, I am prepared to admit that I have a connection with each of the guys,” Jet opened his mouth but I sat down and put a finger against his lips, “but one that was forged in a dark moment, a breaking moment in their lives. That’s…it’s the kind of thing explorers have, Sam and Frodo had in ‘Lord of the Rings’. I fall, they fall and we march to the ends of the earth together.” I put my hand down and cleared my throat. “And maybe, just maybe, there was an attraction born in that moment with each of the guys.”

“See…”

“Yes but it’s not love.” I argued. “It was fleeting, a momentary, if we pursued this it could turn into something…but it hasn’t. They love me, Jet…they are not in love with me.”

He studied my expression then turned to face forwards again. “But you could…if you wanted.”

“I guess,” I admitted then paused, “however, in my world, it’s not five guys in an otome as you call it. There are six.” He looked at me. “Bastian, Faelan, Rafael, Eustace, Rob and you.”

He rolled his eyes. “I’m not one of them.”

“They all think you’re one of them.”

Jet looked at me dryly. “I was the villain.”

“No you weren’t.” I folded my arms. “My otome. My rules.”

The corner of my mouth curled up slightly but he shook his head. “Look, even if no one blamed me for what happened…”

“And no one does.”

“…I couldn’t even be considered ‘one of the guys’. We didn’t have that…connection.”

My jaw dropped. “Jet…don’t you remember…all those memories that we created? You and me, growing up together?”

“Fiction.”

“Well yeah, duh, but…we…I mean, in that…wasn’t there…something…” I gestured back and forth between us.

Jet’s hazel eyes were sad. He looked away. “It doesn’t count. You and me…it wouldn’t work…not in the real world.”

“You don’t get to decide that for me!”

“We got into a fight the first time we met as adults!”

“That’s because you were on a forced errand for your pops and I was stressed out!”

“You’re getting angry now.”

“Cause you’re being stupid!”

“Come on, Bethany…if we’d ever just…met…” Jet shrugged.

I opened my mouth then stopped. I sank back onto the swing and thought about what he said for a moment. A cool breeze was blowing and the sun was sinking low in the sky. The shadows were growing longer by the second as I stared at the blades of grass, trying to see me from his perspective.

“You know something…you’re right.” I finally admitted. “If I’d been at ‘House of Figs’ and you’d come in for a coffee…I probably wouldn’t have thought much of our meeting.”

“There you go.”

“But I’m so glad circumstances forced us to get to know each other.” I insisted. “It’s my own ignorance that would have brushed you aside. Now…I’m really glad I got to know you. I’m glad you’re in my life…” I glanced at him cautiously, my heart trembling. His eyes faced forward, his expression not revealing anything. I sighed and looked away, wondering if I had it all wrong. “In our memories…our fictional memories…you seemed reluctant for anything more to exist between us…You probably don’t want someone like me jumping into your life…” I licked my lips, my throat tightening. “Too messy…”

“You are messy.” I cringed as Jet continued. “You’re impulsive and reckless and compassionate to your own detriment. You’re emotional and imaginative and sometimes I don’t understand you at all.” Tears stung my eyes and I closed the lids, trying to keep myself from sobbing. “My life is calm. It’s…ordered. It’s predictable. It’s a lake in the mountains, as smooth as glass, perfectly reflecting the leaves on the trees and the clouds in the sky. Every blade of grass is neat and tidy and where it’s supposed to be. It’s controlled…and inviting someone like you into my life would be like a big rock leaping in, making a splash, scaring the fish, sending waves onto the shore and breaking up the reflection,” tears escaped my eyelashes as my heart broke and my lips trembled, “and…I…I would welcome every ripple.”

His words took a moment to register.

I opened my eyes, staring at the grass, trying to wrap my head around what he’d said.

I turned and looked at Jet who sat, facing forwards, his expression calm yet tense. I swallowed, my heart fluttering wildly and I inched across the swing until I was sitting up against him. I raised my hand and touched his face, turning it towards me. His hazel eyes gazed at me timidly and my heart beat even faster. I licked my lips and leaned upwards.

“What,” he breathed, “are you doing?”

I gazed at him, unafraid. “Leaping in.” I said and kissed him.

He was tense and a little stiff as my lips pressed against his. I could feel his hands almost hovering above my shoulders, not sure whether to embrace me or cup my face.

I drew back a little and braced myself for whatever may come.

Jet’s eyes were closed and he leaned towards me, his forehead touching mine.

I could feel his trembling, as if he were standing on the edge of a precipice.

“Bethany…would you like…to go on a date?”

I let out a little gasp of air. “Yes.”

“With me?”

“Yeah.” I laughed softly as I drew back and he opened his eyes to meet mine.

“I know this great café…” I couldn’t stop my arms from flinging around his neck and embracing him. I felt his arms circle me, drawing me close. It was like coming home. Tears poured down my cheeks, causing his collar to become damp. “Bethany, are you crying?”

“Yes…but they’re happy tears.” I sniffled. “I’m sorry I’m such a mess…”

Jet brushed the damp from my cheeks, his fingers sliding into my hair.

“I…I like your mess. I really like you…a lot…” He kissed me and this time, it was without reserve. We melted against each other, snuggled up on the swing, lost in our own ‘happily ever after’.

And just like that, a new world was born as the story of ‘us’ began.

“You know you’ve read a good book when you turn the last page and feel a little as if you have lost a friend.” - Paul Sweeney