Page 61 of Lost to the Orcs

Jason comes to get me. He’s made some food, well, warmed up a muffin from the store and made me tea. He’s a doctor. He barely has time to sleep let alone learn to cook. “I think…” He sighs, his eyes looking more horrified and depressed than before. “I think you should take a pregnancy test.”

My head slowly lifts to stare at him. The nausea returning. “What are you talking about?”

He swallows, his fear and sadness warring for dominance on his features. “Addie and I–we were intimate the day before you came. At least, I think. So when she or well, you, didn’t reply I thought maybe she was upset or needing space. I gave it.” He rubs his face vigorously with his hands. “I’m sorry I didn’t tell you. I–I don’t–Without Addie–”

Ding-Dong

Both of our heads jerk up. It’s four in the morning.

Jason stands up to go and check when the knocking starts. We both look at each other with concern. Swallowing the bile rising in my throat, I grab a bat near the entrance and Jason pulls out his concealed carry. I don’t know why a doctor needs one but that’s neither here nor there.

Jason looks through the peep hole. He frowns, shaking his head at me to let me know he doesn’t know the person. I shoo him out of the way and peek through, standing on my tip toes.

Brows meeting my hairline, I gasp. My hand reaching the lock in seconds. I’m yanking the door open on Jason’s shout, telling me to stop.

I stare into the gaze of a male I never thought I’d see in this world. “What are you doing here?” My voice chokes.

His burgundy brown eyes stare at me with relief surrounded by an extremely human face. “I’m so glad you’re okay.”

And Irf pulls me in for a hug.

His beautiful black hair falls around us, spilling mostly out of the messy bun on his head as he clutches me to him. I can smell it on him. Home. I can smell my mates. I can smell their beautiful scents of Citrusand Earth. I start to sob. Breathing in so desperately. So, so desperately.

“It’s okay. It’s okay. I’ll bring ye home, wee lass. I promise. We’ll get ye home.” I nod. I don’t care what we have to do. I can’t–I can’t live my life without them. Not after breathing it inhere. Breathingthemin here.

I pull away, remembering Jason behind me. Sniffling, I look at him. “Sorry.” Jason says, explaining his pained face. “I just… you’re Addie but your not. And it was hard to look at you–” I nod taking a step back from Irf’s arms.

“Come inside.” I beckon Irf with a sniffle, as I wipe my eyes with the heel of my palm. When the door is closed and locked behind him I gesture to Jason, “Jason, this is Irf. Irf, this is Jason. This is… uh.. He’s Addie’s lover.” I don’t think he’ll understand what a boyfriend is and I don’t think Addie and Jason are engaged.

He nods in greeting to Jason. Who nods back. “When you didn’t come back, I knew your body had to of survived.” He explains, grabbing his loose strands of hair and redoing his messy bun. It doesn’t fixmuch, but it does make his attractive face that much more appealing.

“But how did you get here? And why do you look like that?” I gesture to his changed appearance. Dressed in clothing of ‘today’.

He rolls his eyes, that usual sass and annoyance creeping into his voice and features. “How would you humans react t’ an Orc comin’ ‘round? Not weel, I would think.” I agree. But he didn’t need to say it like that. I glare at him without any heat. He smirks before taking a seat in the living area. “But I couldnae leave them like that. They’re desolate withou’ ye. So I was looking through archives.Oldarchives. Ones I didnae even know existed until recently. There were notes from myAithírthat implied so many things. I donnae e’en know how t’ wrap my head ‘round it. But I needed t’ work fast.” His gaze locks with mine. “Yer body is starting t’ reject ‘he other soul. Ye’ll go back to yer own bodies soon if we donnae fix it.”

“And because I’m alreadyinmy body,” I press a hand to my chest.

“Yes, she’ll start leaking back int’ hers. Or she weel die.” He holds out his hand to me. I place it in his and his eyes bleach of their color. Paling to a mockery of their original beauty. “Hello,” He says, but I know he’s not talking to me. I can feel it.

The sensation of choking starts to occur.

“No, breathe. It’s alright. I won’t let ye die.” He holds out his hand to Jason and I beckon the skeptical male to take Irf’s hand.

Jason sucks in a breath of air as he feels her. “Addie.” He chokes. And I feel her too. She is so warm and bright. And she loves him.

“I’ll save all o’ ye.” Irf proclaims. “But I need ye ladies t’ work with me.” Both Addie and I seem to look at him with curiosity and confusion. Because of course we’ll work with him. “There isnnae a lot of time but I will explain everything. I just need ye t’ listen.”

“I came here by followin’ ‘he tether o’ Addie’s body with her soul. Which is slowly leakin’ there but she is fightin’ it. Thankfully she is. Otherwise, I wouldne’er‘ave found ye. Thank ye Addie.” A tear spills down my cheek. Addie’s tear. “I warn ye that I cannae access ‘he archives from here, as this is my actual body. With magic makin’ me look human. Thus, is all ‘he way o’er where we are. So ‘he majority o’ what am usin’ is from memory. But I promise I’ll get ye both where ye belong. Ye’re needed where ye’re loved ‘he most. Now, if ye have these ingredients, it will help a lot more.”

And he explains things we are going to need. Herbs, items. Etc. From specific cloth. To specific herbs. Funny enough, some of those ‘rituals’ we researched online and had bought the things they required had the right gist of it. But they were missing some of the knowledge that Irf has. It is not blood of an innocent. It is blood of innocent intentions. If you want bad shit to happen, your bad mojo will get in there and fuck everything up. Things like that.

When we have everything all set up, Irf smiles. “It will take a day t’ get this completed. Then, we’ll be out o’ yer hair an’ out o’ yer life forever. Ye’ll ne’er be forced back int’ yer old body again Addie.” I feel her relief at this declaration. It had been a visceral fear of us both after I’d been slammed back into this body. “Ye’ll be stuck with us too.” He grins, indicating me.

I laugh. “Oh! The misery!” We all guffaw. The news that this is all almost over giving us such happiness and relief.

Jason goes to work that night and requests emergency time off and is immediately approved. One of the newer doctors takes up his time like the man were starving for it. They were worried about him, but after he states it is for his fiancée, they were appeased.

I honestly don’t have much to do. There isn’t anyone to say goodbye to. I’d cut ties from most everyone longbefore I’d left this world for the other. And anyone of significance is long past. So I find myself scrolling through the art and love everyone’s pieces online. I’ve informed everyone on my social media of my change in work status. Addie might end up with some of my old commissioners asking for pieces but really it all depends.

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