Page 72 of Threads of Fate

I stare at the ground. How strange is it that I am sitting in the same room as Otto's grandson? The fates have something at work. I don’t know what it is, but it’s big. Noah makes his way back downstairs after a moment. He tosses a book in my lap. Not just a book. A leather wrapped journal.

The leather journal.

“You guys have kept this journal for this long?” I laugh quietly and unwrap the book. “Gods, Otto was such a good man. I remember sitting with him at the dining table while he wrote in this thing. Everything I told him went in this book, ‘I want to make sure my family knows I’m not a kook.’. I did tell him he could have made this all up and still look like a kook.” I look up at Noah, “You do look like him. I thought you had looked familiar but I didn’t put it together. Anyways, he also wanted to make sure future generations of his family knew what was going on if I had showed up. Which I did but not long enough to stay and when I found out he passed…It didn’t feel right staying there. I did leave a bag of gold for his wife though.” I look at Noah again, his mouth gaping like a fish.

“So…that’s how the farm was saved back in the day.” He starts laughing and I chuckle along with him.

“I don’t know what the gold was used for but if that’s what it was for I’m glad.” I hand the journal back to him, “Read it if you want. There may be some fun family history there. Like the time your grandpa got me intoxicated on that gasoline you call moonshine.”

Chapter 25

Noah

Well, great grandpappy Otto had a wild streak a mile wide. It’s hard to think of your grandparents from the 19th century as wild but fool me once and all.

I read a lot of the journal and Aavin told me some stories about their adventures. Aavin isn’t as tightly wound as I thought. He does have a fun bone in there…deep, deep, deep down. We spoke about some of his travels here and even other worlds. The universe is vast. I knew that but to hear real world experiences is insane. He told me about different species he has met. Molten worlds, water worlds and worlds that are governed by animals. Worlds where the human-like species is not the top of the food chain. He spoke of some of the wars he’s been in and spoke of Aelore. Once you get him talking about something he is vested in, he will tell you everything.

Now, we are on our way to Bathaile and I can tell you with one hundred percent certainty, I will never shadow walk again.

“Hold on…I gott–a” I lean over and dry heave.

“Gods, you humans have such sensitive stomachs.” I side eye him and glare.

“We, ugh, fuck,” I dry heave some more. “I’m glad I skipped breakfast.” I mutter.

“We…” Aavin drawls. He twirls a finger in the air impatiently waiting for me to continue.

“Humans don’t travel like this. Some humans get carsick driving over a hill but it doesn’t make them weak. We aren’t made for shadow walking, you ass.” I state while trying to stand up straight. I hold out my hand for him to grab. Aavin looks at it and raises a brow and looks back at me.

“Most humans can’t even drink milk so your point is moot.” He grabs my hand and shadows us towards our next destination without warning. I fucking hate this. It honestly feels like my body is evaporating. I can’t even begin to describe it as anything else. At least it’s not painful. It just feels like all my molecules are dispersing. This can’t be healthy for me.

When we reach the next destination, I hate everything. I also hate Aavin’s smug face.

“You know I’m glad you made it through that first shadow jump. I didn't think you would.”

“What?” I ask, while shaking my legs, hoping the Jello feel will go away.

Aavin shrugs, “I didn’t know if we could transport people with us when we shadow jumped. Well, people who can’t shadow jump as well. I kind of thought you would not,” He puts a finger to his lips, “reform.”

I turned to him. Now I’m pissed off and feel like dog shit. “Are you serious right now?” I looked between him and the trees were surrounded by. Where are we? And how much longer?

“Yes, but I’m glad you survived. Now, I won't have to explain to Dana how you died. She might have been mad at me for that.” He holds his hand out. “We have maybe two more jumps. Then we have the portal. Which from what I’m told is the best part.”

“Maybe? You're not sure?” I can do this. It’s to get to Dana. I can suck it up. Even if it feels like my head is in a vice grip. I grab his hand and we shadow again. This time when I looked around, we were in a swamp and knee deep in waters I would rather not be.

“Where are we?”

“Florida. We have one more jump. Maybe. I’m going to try to make it to the island but since I have never been there it will be hard to be precise.”

“Yet, you have been here?” I wave my hand around.

“No, that’s why we are knee deep in a swamp somewhere on the coast of Florida. I think this is the Everglades. Let’s go before a large animal with sharp teeth finds us.” I have never grabbed a hand quicker.

The last jump is the worst. It also feels like it takes longer. When we stop we’re standing on a very small sandy island. I move my duffle bag off my shoulder for a moment and sit down. I lay on my back, enjoying the hot sand. I hear a thump and sand sprays onto my face. I sit up and wipe my face off. Looking over to the offending object. Aavin’s bag.

“Really? Come on man!” I glare at him as he sits down.

“Oh quiet. You’re fine.” He rests his arms on his knees and stares out at the ocean. I lay back down and shut my eyes from the blinding sun. I need a damn nap and some Tylenol.

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