What ifs and What nots (Dani’s POV)

It had been weeks since I had last seen Kat and I was thrilled to be heading across the realms to visit her. I was taking her Portal Bead in the hope that maybe she would come home more often. The grief process is never easy, but I hoped she was a bit more herself then she had been lately. Oliver had planned all week to join me, but thanks to some weird disturbances he was working for the next three nights.

“Are you ready to go?” he asked.

“Of course! I have clothes, a couple books, a jar of peanut butter, and a pound of Kona coffee and filters.” I smiled at him, reaching back to collect my red rolling bag.

“Peanut butter, coffee and filters?” He quirked a brow at me.

“It’s been months since has had access to either of those two things. My plan is to get her caffeinated and sugared out then have a talk about coming home.”

“Are you sure that’s a good idea? What if she isn’t ready?” His concern was as much for me as it was for her.

“Then I will give her a hug and visit her every weekend until she is ready to come back. She’s my best friend and practically my big sister. You don’t give up on family.” His smile warmed me. He leaned forward and kissed my forehead, then announced he was off.

I looked around the apartment one last time and sighed. Gathering the bead into my hand I held tightly to my cart and pictured the castle where I had met Tallyn. The air around me began to shimmer, and then it felt like the floor was pulled out from under me. My stomach flip-flopped as there was a flash of light, but then the ground settled again and the light cleared. I was standing beneath a beautiful blue sky. “Hmmmm, strange. It’s daylight here.” I hadn’t landed quite as close as I had hoped. I could see the castle in the distance, but I was still looking at a three or four mile hike. “Lucky me,” I muttered and began to walk.

When I arrived I was tired, hungry, and my feet hurt. I looked up at the man in the lookout. “Hey, permission to enter?” I called up to him. The Elf’s attention snapped down to me, his eyes narrowing.

“State your business!” he snapped.

“I”m here to see the Princess Alizeyah. I’m her friend Dani.” He leaned over and whispered to the Elf beside him, who ran off in the direction of the castle.

He turned his attention back to me and held up his hand. “After an incident last fall involving Lady Lily we are cautious about who we let through the gates. I hope you can understand.”

With a sigh I looked up at him and gave a nod. While I was tired of waiting already, I felt better knowing Kat was at least in a secure location. I stood quietly looking up at the sky above. When I head the sound of rapidly approaching feet, my attention shot back to the guard. His friend had returned. They spoke softly for a moment before turning their attention back to me.

“You may enter, Lady Dani. We apologize for the wait. Cylan has brought a horse with him and will ride you and your bag up to the castle.” I smiled and offered a quick salute before I ducked through the gates. Sure enough on the other side of the heavy door stood the Elf I guessed was Cylan. He took my bag and helped to hoist me up onto the horse, where I sat nervously. He secured the bag behind me, then gracefully pulled himself up in a manner I could only dream of.

“My lady, have you ever ridden?” he asked.

“Only if you count a pony when I was five. She was led around a stable by the rancher.” He noticeably grimaced.

“Then, perhaps you should hold onto me tightly,” he directed. Following his recommendation I wrapped my arms around his waist and held on tightly as he pushed the horse to a gallop. The world rushed by and I felt as if each bounce jarred all the bones in my body. We passed through a second set of gates and stopped near the steps leading up to the great hall.

When we arrived he pried himself free of my arms and touched down just as gracefully as he had mounted. He helped me off, still shaking, taking extra care not to let me crumple when I hit the ground. Accepting my bag, I thanked him, tugged down my Tshirt, and climbed the stairs to the great hall.

A handful of women sat beside a large window working on embroidery. I scanned the group, looking for Kat, but she wasn’t there. To my surprise though, Alathea was. They all looked up at me expectantly. Finally, a pretty dark-haired woman stood up. She was pregnant but didn’t seem hampered yet by her growing belly. “Hello? You’re Lady Dani, right?” She approached me with her hand extended. Handshakes were not common in this land.

I reached forward and took her hand. “That’s correct. I’m here to see Princess Alizeyah.” No matter how many times I said it, it still felt awkward. She must have read it on my face because she chuckled.

“She’s as uncomfortable with the title as you are. I’m Lily, Tallyn’s my husband.” She looked me over. “You look tired. Kat requested you stay with her in the tower. I’ll have a maid help you with your bag and then you can rest some.” She smiled warmly and gave my hand a squeeze. “We can talk more after dinner, but I’m glad you’re here. I think it will do Kat some good.” I blinked at her calling Kat by her Human name.

By the time we climbed the stairs I was ready for a hot bath and bed. The maid pushed open the door after a knock. I wasn’t prepared for the opulence or the floating books. The chamber was breathtaking. Lotus-like plants illuminated the walls. The light colored wood gleamed like gold in the late afternoon sun. Books, tablets, and manuscripts were suspended in the air,and at the center of the room sat Kat on a sofa with three books in front of her and a dozen more on the table.

When the maid left, Kat finally looked up at me. Her eyes had large black circles under them, her skin was so pale she looked like she was a ghost, and I realized in that moment just how bad things had gotten. She smiled at me in a way that didn’t reach her eyes and I couldn’t help rushing to her and hugging her. “Awww, Kat, I’ve missed you so much.” I turned and motioned to the floating books. “And when did you learn this little trick? I would love to be able to do this.”

She shrugged. “Alathea has been working with me to help me harness and master my gifts. I just sort of tell the air what I want and need, then it does it.”

I blinked. “I thought you said the elements left you?”

“I really wanted them to, but they didn’t.” She motioned with her hand and the books in front of her returned themselves to shelves along with four of the others. Two that had been floating now navigated their way to her. She flipped through some pages before waving a hand, sending the book to rest right before my eyes. It was an Archmage’s book of spells. The visible spell was how to call on Romijeer.

“Kat, you can’t be serious,” I started to argue with her.

“My father is a Wraith stuck between the worlds of the living and the dead. Romijeer has him,” she explained.

“What?” I couldn’t help but blurt out. She held a finger up to her lips.

“The Elf that helped me to escape called me Princess and introduced himself as Leonide. He gave me a message for my mother.” She paused, looking at me as the words sank in. “He isn’t really dead. My father – and Aiden’s – just needs rescued.”

“The let’s go tell the others.” I hoped she wasn’t going to suggest something crazy.

“No, not all of them. If my father can be saved, and if I can figure out what the spell is to turn myself into a Wraith, I may be able to reach Hue on the other plain.” I opened my mouth to say something but nothing came out. I thought about my conversation with Sheldon and the books I had been looking over. What if she was right? What if she wasn’t?

“What if we put together a team? A small group of us to go on this fool’s errand?” Was I agreeing with her? I opened my red bag and began digging through the books I had brought. I found a picture of a hallway of doors and was reminded of the description she had given of Romijeer’s tower. Holding it up so she could see, I began to explain. “What if you’re right? What if the doors lead different places depending on if you are alive, Wraith or dead?” She paused, looking at the book. “Remember the Greek legends about Tartarus?”

She nodded. “Exactly. There must be a way in and out of that plain. He’s still with me, Dani.”

I blinked and looked at her. “Huh? Your father?”

She smiled. “No, Hue. I can feel him when I sleep. At first I thought it was the abyss of darkness, but then I realized that sort of comfort and completeness could only come from him.”

She’s lost it! I thought to myself. “Kat, honey, he is dead,” I explained, wanting to help her touch back down to reality.

She shook her head. “I’m not crazy,” she cut in. “I know it sounds crazy and no, he isn’t talking to me, but Dani, I swear I can feel him. It’s why I’m not sleeping.”

“What?! You’re not sleeping at all?” She nodded. “Kat, you look like death warmed over, you need to sleep.” I took her arm and urged her towards the bed.

“I can’t. If I do, I don’t want to wake up. It hurts too much to feel him and then have to leave.” My heart clenched in my chest. If she was feeling him from their Soul Mate connection it may be the pull that led so many to commit suicide.

“Ok, but we need to find a way so you can get some sleep. It isn’t safe for you to face this sort of thing without being at your best. Let’s keep this quiet for now.” I told her.