Page 62 of Lost to the Orcs

I read the new book by my favorite author. Ironic that it’s about two Orcs and their pregnant mate. It makes me smile and cry. The beautiful story playing out before me like it were my own. Well, not exactly my own but it’s ironic to imagine. I send the author an anonymous thank you for the story. Giving her all the love because I know she works hard.

And Irf cooks. It’s a potion with the ‘edible’ ingredients. It smells like sludge but if that’s gonna get me home, I'll bathe in it.

Irf was pretty surprised to see the advanced technology we have. He was delighted in the stove at least. And was horrified at the toilet. It was hilarious trying to explain to him about our plumbing system. Although, in the mountain we have something almost similar, he can see where we can make some improvements.

Finally, Addie, I can feel her. I can feel her excitement, I can feel her fear and I can feel her sorrow. She is sad to say goodbye forever to the world that created her. To the life she had even if it was miserable. It was still hers. It still made her who she is. And I understand that.

I touch many things that evening. From my bed, my favorite comforter. The blanket my mother created for me when I was a baby, wishing I could keep it and wrap my own baby in it. The pictures of my parents on the wall. One is identical to the one that is in my locket and I notice that it hadn’t come here with me. I’m thankful for that. I would sorely miss a visual reminder of them.

I kiss a childhood stuffy as I sit on my bed one last time. This is where Irf finds me. Jason is at the door when he does so. I wipe the tears from my eyes and place the stuffy back on my bookshelf.

What would you do? Would you stay? Would you leave?

In all honesty, with nothing holding me back, I would leave. I fear even if my parents were still alive, if I’d had a lover, anything, I would still leave. Because they are all my past. They aren’t my future. They aren’t where I need them to be. Because my mates, my Orcs, are somewhere else.

“Let’s do this!” I smile and walk to the living room. Jason hadn’twanted me to possibly fall when I drink the potion and so he vouched for the couch. It’s odd seeing shells with candles on them. Lavender incensing the air to calm everyone. Sage to cleanse the air. Incense like that mingles in the air around us. Almost enclosing us in this strange ritual.

Irf takes a deep breath. His hands palms up as he breathes in and then down as he breathes out. As his hands lower, his facade melts away like water rippling down a window pane. And suddenly, there is the messy yet handsome peach tinged green Orc at an entire foot plus taller than me.

Jason gapes at him. “Youarean Orc!” His brows are raised in surprise. As if all this time he was humouring the crazy person.

Irf rolls his eyes but doesn’t acknowledge the outburst. He hands me the mug of sludge, directing me to stare into the contents as he starts speaking the strange Orc tongue. I catch a phrase here and there but the words don’t stick because I’m falling into the sludge.

My consciousness slips and slides like it were going down a mountain of slickened mud. Swirling into the darkness. Losing myself piece by piece. It is warm. Irf’s voice falls into the aether. Fading into the riffling of wind through the branches of trees. The soft plod plod of feet crunching through fresh snow. To the sound of a fire being lit upon the lamps in a darkened cave.

“Breathe.” I hear Irf suddenly. But it doesn’t pull me out of the trance I am in. I breathe.

I’m surrounded by citrus and the smell of the earth. My heart pounds in my chest.

“Drink.”

My hands lift the mug to my lips. Lips I do not feel. Lips I do not know the distance to. But somehow I am able to drink. Like something out of a horror movie, I swirl down a drain. Sucked up. Swallowed.

Salt. Softness. The taste of citrus on my tongue. Of nuts. The earth. I moan. It is divine. I love it.

Distant sounds. Voices I can’t place. Are shouting but it feels like I’m listening from under water. Muffled.

“Open your eyes.” Irf says from down a tunnel. I turn, and look. He’s so far away. And I see her. Me. Us. As if looking into a mirror.

“Addie.” She grins. Her smile happy and excited. Ready for anadventure. She turns away from me, from this side of the tunnel, from this side of the veil, and runs.

I turn from the her, the mirror, the veil whatever I want to call it in this instance and I see it. Me. Laying down on my bed. In my nest. My chest tightens. Like I’m being held. Tight. By green gray beautiful arms.

Lips trial up my arm. Caressing my mark. I gasp as the electric shock reverberates through me. Reverberates through the tunnel. It cracks. Everywhere. All around me. My breathing escalates and I run. I run for my life as the tunnel falls apart around me. Pieces falling from the sky from the ground and the rounded walls. The holes shining brightly like the sun.

The tunnel collapses. With a shout, I dive at me. At them. At us.

My world goes dark.

CHAPTER THIRTY TWO: PLEASE

U’snar

I’m sitting in the seat I’ve been sitting in for days. Weeks. Years. I barely get up t’ eat. If no’ for Jae, I would have probably perished by now. I can understand Irf’s grief now. Can understand wanting t’ drown myself an’ my sorrows. E’en if it is only temporary. I hate this.

Come back t’ me.

While she has slept, her belly has doubled in size. Now rounding just enough. Somehow she hasn’t withered away. Irf said it is something about the souls still being attached. She’s missed so much. So very much.

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