Bride of Alvar (Redemption Saga, Book 1) Chapter 38

Mike stares at me, shaking his head and Angie furrows her brow sympathetically.

Here I am looking out of my head, holding a necklace and closing my eyes with belief while nothing happens.

I blush, trying to remember how Alvar used it when we’d first gone to Axus together. He’d taken me in his arms, before the spark had ignited and we’d gone over the Bridge…. but before that he’d touched my forehead with the crystal.

I know I’ll look even crazier to Mike and Angie if it doesn’t work, but I lift the crystal to my forehead.

The crystal starts to glow.

Mike and Angie’s expressions both change.

“You don’t have to come back, Lucy,” Mike says. I can tell he’s relieved my story isn’t the ravings of a madwoman. He takes Angie’s hand in his. “I understand.”

“You do?” I ask.

Mike nods. “You belong with whomever it was got you so passionate. You never were like this with me, and that—that’s okay. I’m happy you found someone you’re passionate about, Lucy.”

“Thank you, Mike,” I say, astounded by his compassion and understanding.

No wonder I was comfortable with marrying him.

My eyes well with tears. This is the goodbye I’ve wished for with all my heart. “Good bye.”

“Good bye, Lucy.”

I hug the crystal to me tightly and think of home and in a flash of white light I cross over the Bridge.

*

I find myself in a soft patch of grass, much like when I’d first traveled with Alvar for the first time. I’m dressed like a woman from Earth and I once again don’t fit in here in this magical world, but I’m magical, I’ve always been magical. Like Dorothy from the Wizard of Oz realized the power had been with her all along, I’d realized the same thing. Alvar hadn’t needed to send me away to save me. I could have saved him right away.

I know I’m in the same field we’d landed the first time we’d crossed, but I also don’t think I’ll get the speed of Mytonir to get me to Underland this time.

I breathe in the air, how I’d missed Axus air, but something is different. Smoke. I can smell smoke. I sit up in the grass and notice over the horizon an amber glow in the distance. Saul is already using Alvar. I rise to my feet and run in the direction of the fires, not knowing what else to do. I find the road so I’m not running through fields or jungle.

Once on the road I notice a small wagon in the distance, as I get closer I notice a large jungle cat is pulling it. I freeze and pull out my gun.

“Ah, I see you’ve returned,” the voice speaking out from the wagon could be likened to that of a snake.

I know who it is. The Sorceress.

The Sorceress rises from her seat in the wagon and glances at my weapon dismissively. “You should have stayed where he left you on Earth. But it will be quite delicious to have you here. The pain and suffering you will endure under Saul. I can’t wait to taste it.”

“Tell me where Alvar is.” I spit at her feet. “Or I will shoot you.”

“I’m not afraid of your Earth weapon, Lucy,” the Sorceress says and rolls her eyes at me. “But since you’re so eager to see about to your own doom I’ll tell you where you can find him. Still, are you sure? Have you forgotten how he kidnapped you and brought you into this mess in the first place? If you don’t remember now you will later as you writhe and shriek in agony to Saul’s whims.”

I try not to let her words take ahold of me, but there is something drug-like to them. My mind grows hazy listening to her. A fog surrounds us.

I’m so in over my head and yet my love for Alvar urges me to continue, even in this strange world of magic, even with this darkness I can feel.

“If I were you I’d use your Arlite to go home. Right now.” Her eyes glow amber and in a creepily self-satisfied way she smiles. She knows she’s making me think too much.

I close my eyes. I remember Alvar and everything he’s gone through to keep Axus safe. How he’d tried to keep Axus free of our world and Saul’s return by marrying me.

If I hadn’t married Alvar, Remora would have gotten into Earth. And instead of just Axus being in jeopardy, Earth would join her with a gobli invasion.

“I’m tired of your games,” I say, as calmly as I can muster. “Tell me where Alvar is.”

“He’s down this very road a little ways,” the Sorceress whispers in my ear and I jolt. How did she get that close so fast? “Do you want to hear what Saul did to him when he returned?”
I shake my head. “I don’t need to hear it.”

“Saul will destroy what’s left of Alvar’s soul,” the Sorceress says, “If he hasn’t already. You might as well give up now. It is best if you went back home.”

“I don’t know what made you like this! But I’m never going to give up on Alvar,” I state, my cheeks burning with anger as I step toward her aggressively and hold the gun to her head. I’m taller than her. Huh. I hadn’t realized that. “Now get out of my way!”

“Your husband is a wise man,” the Sorceress murmurs, stepping back from me and her eyes flicker with intrigue. “He married a creature immune to my powers of persuasion, most would have followed my command completely. Which means, the Cursed blood has affected you. You are the only one whom can help defeat the darkness of Axus. For now.” She shrivels from a magnificent beauty into a decrepit, emaciated old woman and gets back into her wagon. “Good bye, love, I guess I will have to find a way to torment Axus another day.”
She pulls out a whip and hits the jungle cat with it, “git up, Rift! Get me out of here!”

I shudder at her words, but can’t ponder on them for long. I’m not looking forward to meeting Saul, but hopefully I can kill him before we have a chance to exchange any words between us.