Chapter 28: Emerald Dreams

Friday, September 15th, 2006, Faerie Pocket

I swallowed my last bite of sausage and leaned back contentedly, sipping on a coffee that was just as good as what Jaques’ had brewed. I was glad that—at my request—Crann had conjured up comfortable chairs for us last week. Picnic-style benches were not nearly as pleasant as these royal court-inspired padded thrones. It seemed that anything associated with the middle ages and earlier was within her disposal to create at a whim.

When Stacy had asked her why she had bedrooms with Human-sized beds in them since she was so small, we’d all found out that she had simply made the existing guest rooms and furniture reconfigure themselves to suit our needs. It was a property of the hill itself; Crann had ensorcelled it when she first created the Pocket after Merlin had led the great Exodus. That had given me the idea to ask for better seating, to which Crann had readily agreed. My women had gotten quite a kick out of the feeling that we were all sitting in a Fairy Queen’s court when we gathered around the table together feasting; it went perfectly with the bedroom fit for ancient nobility.

Luckily the magic needed to create such things was supplied by the artifacts Crann owned and didn’t drain any of her resources. She couldn’t afford to do much more than standard maintenance on her home right now. Not with what reservoirs she had left in her Arcanantium stone, and her personal abilities were currently augmenting that. Basically, her lifeforce was fueling her Pocket’s stability, and other than her using small bursts, her hands were tied from casting any but the most basic of spells. She confessed to me privately that she’d really put her trust in me when she’d left her home to save Alan. She estimated that it had shaved about three year’s life off her mini-realm by doing so. I got the feeling that things were direr than she was willing to tell me and that she had really strained herself when she helped my man at my request.

Crann had later told me (while discussing the war between the Council of the Burning Rock and the Alliance of the Mystics) that if she’d had access to her usual magical reservoirs, then she would’ve launched an immediate attack upon the three red-robed bastards who had been hunting me. Thankfully, she had plenty of amulets, wands, rings, and a variety of other magical items that helped her to maintain a luxurious life in her Faerie Pocket. Otherwise, we’d probably be camping out under some trees and eating whatever wild vegetables and fruits we could scrounge up from the fields.

I sighed, thinking about the future and how that no matter how great these last couple of weeks had been, that reality couldn’t be put off forever. Looking around the clearing from in front of the fountain—which was where we’d moved the Table of Plenty as we called it—I admired the colorful view of the valley for the thousandth time since taking refuge here. I was finishing a leisurely lunch with Crann and Alan—who was currently snoring in his chair. He tired easily nowadays but was mending nicely, according to Aimee. Sweeping my gaze across the remnants of the pizza, chicken wings, sausage, and french fries that we’d gorged upon, I still marveled at how we could simply ask for any food or drink we wanted while touching the table and how it would instantly appear before us. A few thousand tables like these would cure world hunger in an instant.

My women had skipped lunch, having skedaddled off to ride with the Unicorns, packing only sandwiches the table had made for them. Apparently, Bella—what Angie had named her Unicorn—had taken quite a liking to her human rider. The herd had never encountered humans before, and seeing nothing but our adoration, they had determined that we were unlike what their oral history had portrayed us to be. They decided that giving the girls rides was fun, and before they knew it, Crann had informed them that they were welcome to ride as often as they liked.

Of course, my women were ecstatic, and it had only taken a couple of days before they were having races across the vast meadow where the Unicorns roamed. I refrained because the King of the herd—who’d I taken to calling Blackie—was wary of a male riding his mates regardless that I was the one that was going to save their home and the other males wouldn’t accept riders. After the first day that I’d brought them all, watching as they joyously cantered off into the distance, I stopped visiting. I didn’t want to be bored while waiting for their return after they disappeared into the endless sea of blue-green grass, even if I had a book to read. I’d much rather study in a comfortable chair.

Pushing such thoughts from my mind, I focused upon my decision that Abby and I would be leaving in the morning and decided that now was the right time to let our esteemed hostess know. I looked over at her; she was hovering at my side eating some slices of a fruit she’d called Zambwa. It reminded me of a Kiwi, except that it was yellow-skinned instead. She was so damn beautiful in an otherworldly way that it still took my breath away. It wasn’t a sexual thing either—though she doubtless had sex appeal—it was just that she looked so exotic, and like fine china, she was exquisite in her delicate form. I was fascinated with her light caramel-colored skin, large tear-dropped shaped amber-colored eyes, and tiny pointy ears. I loved how her bright green hair flowed around like seaweed whenever a light breeze picked up; it had a silky sheen to it and shimmered in the sunlight.

You couldn’t be around her without spending most of your time just unabashedly staring; she was captivating. To all of us, she was a marvel, and it was with childlike wonder that we’d follow her around, learning about her home and way of life. I’d spent one day just watching her as she tended her valleys. Swarms of butterflies would flit around her—almost like a monarch’s cape—while brightly glowing wisps danced around her head like a golden shining crown. Seeing her lithe form darting to and fro as she used her magic to promote the growth and well-being of her living subjects was awe-inspiring.

She controlled everything here, but as she’d explained to me, what she really did was minor tweaking since it was a real ecosystem—except without the large predators. It even rained here once a week; water was evaporated from a valley that I hadn’t seen, which apparently had a large lake. Crann had created a complex magical world here, and she was a kind, welcoming host who was as fascinated with us as we were with her. After we left here to continue on our mission, I hoped to see her again one day—we all did.

“So I’ve decided that we’re going to leave tomorrow. We’ve been here for two weeks now, and for the first time in what seems like months, I feel great. I’m completely healed, and everyone’s spirits are riding high, especially since Alan’s been able to move around again with that wheelchair you made him. Hearing him telling his dirty jokes has been priceless, and we can never thank you enough for what you’ve done.

“And as much as I wish that we could simply just keep on living here forever, the reality is that I have a clock ticking down on me. I need to find the rest of Malachar’s rings so that I can resurrect him and get him outta my head. If I don’t, then the magical poison that the Council attached to them will kill me. I figured that once I got you your stone that we’d stay another week before setting out for Switzerland,” I told Crann as she hovered next to me at the picnic table, now eating a slice of Honeycake.

“Then I’ll go over everything I told you about how the bracelets work one more time. This is important, not only so that you remain undetected and therefore unharmed but also so that you are successful in returning with what will be our salvation,” Crann commented after swallowing and dusting crumbs from her hands, her voice sounding like wind chimes.

“I hold a firm picture of what I want to look like and say ‘Gbanwee’ while twisting the bracelet clockwise on my wrist. Right?”

“Correct, Jake, son of Adam,” she nodded happily, looking pleased. “I will visit with your sister-mate after and make sure that she remembers it correctly as well. There are only three charges in the one you have and six in your sister’s, so make sure that you do nothing to attract undue attention to yourselves. You don’t want to be forced to change too often and then run out of charges when you might need them.”

“I understand. We won’t fail you, Crann. You have my word,” I solemnly vowed.

And I did understand. She had explained it all in great detail a few days earlier when I’d stayed behind with Billy, Alan, and Killer while my girls had all gone for what had become their daily Unicorn ride. Crann had told me about how she used to venture forth into the Parisian forest at least once a season, enjoying how it changed. Earth was unlike her Faerie Pocket—which existed perpetually as a realm of summer—and she loved experiencing the contrast of both fall and winter. Although she’d explained that spring’s beginning held a fondness for her as well.

However, for the last decade or so, she’d only been able to visit once a year because she could no longer afford to spend the magic necessary to recharge her Bracelet of Forms—as she called it in English. That would change once I brought back an unspent Arcanantium stone from Ireland. Apparently, three extras had been left there in case another pocket was formed or there was an emergency with an existing one. Once in her possession, she’d be able to recharge a few such items then, including one that granted the bearer invisibility.

“Stay still for a moment, I want to make sure that you have a crystal clear idea of where the entrance to the Gairdíní na Sióg lay inside Oileán na Cinniúint. So I am going to imprint its location within your brain along with the spell word needed to gain entrance. Also, this will guide you to the stones once you’re inside. They should be in the center of the first valley, but I have not spoken to the Máistir Gairdín, whose home it is for some time. I fear something may have happened to him,” Crann informed me, her voice sounding like a harmonica.

“Was he a Forest Sprite like you?” I asked curiously.

“No, he was one of the Gean-Cánach. They look human and have a penchant for seducing your womenfolk while cursing any men who try to win them back. Although this has not happened since the Exodus. No matter, he will not be a danger to neither you nor your sister as long as you refrain from threatening him. His name is Nörlux. If you find him give him this communication stone,” she instructed as she plucked a smooth black pebble the size of a marble from out of thin air and then floated it over to me. “Tell him that Crann wishes to convene a great assemblage. If something unfortunate has befallen him, then as I said, the beacon I plant in your head will lead you where you must go. And if that is the case, please return with all three of the extra stones as well.”

“Okay,” I agreed. “That’ll make my job much easier if you implant it in my memory for me.”

Crann flew closer and laid her tiny hand upon my forehead; she was so small and dainty that it fit entirely between the bridge of my nose and my hairline.

“Nweta ihe omuma!” she spoke, a triple cymbal crash echoing in the air. I felt a brief flash of heat enter my skull, and that was it.

“There, it is done. Now think about what the spell word is that you’ll be needing,” she asked me, this time, coming across as a flute.

“Tinye nrọ nrọ!” I answered, my voice going unusually throaty as I said words that I’d never spoken before and were clueless as to their meaning.

“Good,” Crann nodded in satisfaction as her wings buzzed in a blur, keeping her steady right in front of my face. “Now, this one will be for the location here and the spell word to regain entrance. Nweta ihe omuma!” she cried once more as she touched my forehead, sounding again like a triple cymbal crash.

I felt the brief flash of heat, and before being prompted, said the words needed to get back inside her home, “Tinye ụlọ obibi n’oge ọkọchị!”

“Good! Now once more. This time I’ll be casting something a bit different. I’ll be placing a beacon inside you so that when you concentrate on the location of the cache of Magical Spellbooks that I promised you, you’ll be able to orientate yourself in the right direction. I hope that they are still hidden behind the stasis spell where Merlin had stashed them. For all I know, he may have come back or sent others to retrieve them. If they are still there, then now you should be able to see the illusion that guards the entrance and enter without worry,” she informed me, sounding like the strumming of an acoustic guitar.

“I hope so too. I’d hate to disappoint Violet. I owe her my life, and this is the least I can do.”

“Nweta ihe omuma!” Crann cried out for a third time; the triple cymbal crash punctuating her use of magic as I felt a flash of heat under the touch of her palm.

“There, that’s done. Now, remember, you both need to take a sip of the elixir that I gave you right before you leave, or you will be snared in the nasty spells left for you by those red-robed Wizards—and no one wants that—it would be the end for you and your sister both. You mustn’t forget to take another small sip at dawn every three days afterward. If you forget, then your magical ability and that of the artifacts will not remain hidden from any with the sight to see. There is enough there to last you both for three weeks. I imagine you will be quicker than that, considering how you told me that you can travel to Oileán na Cinniúint within hours instead of the many days it would have taken your ancestors. These plane things sound interesting. I can’t picture how huge hunks of hollow metal could fly without the aid of magic; this science you spoke of must be very powerful indeed. I would like to see this someday,” she said melodiously as her amber eyes glinted inquisitively.

“And one day, I would be more than happy to show you, but first I need to secure you those stones, and then I need to free myself from Malachar’s curse.”

“That would be most delightful, Jake, son of Adam. I look forward to such a day,” Crann replied mellifluously as she cocked her head as if hearing something. “Your sister has finished riding for the day and has just arrived at the ridgeline. I’ll go prepare her for your journey so that you can have the evening to say your goodbyes. I’ll see you in the morning, cara na Sióga,” Crann informed me happily, her voice sounding like harp strings being plucked in a concert hall.

“Kara nah Seeoga? What’s that mea...” I trailed off in mid-question as she was already zipping out of sight.

My curse? If it weren’t for me, you’d be jerking your cock while lying in a tent somewhere, hoping and praying for someone to give you an actual job as a mason instead of some glorified garbage man! You’d never have accumulated your harem, nor would you have met Violet. Show some respect, boy! If things work out, then you’ll be one of the most powerful magic users in existence and will be forever linked to those you love.

<Yeah, yeah. I’ll praise you all you want if I don’t end up dead before my twenty-third birthday while knowing that everyone I love and care about would be soon to follow! Your rings, your curse! Anyway, you know what? I’m not truly complaining; I’m just stating the truth as I see it. I wouldn’t change a thing, even if it’s shitty. We’re going to win!>

Well, at least you’ve got some spunk in you over the last month or so. In the beginning, I was afraid that you’d turn out to be a weak-willed pansy. You’ve struck a decent balance between headstrong and stubborn and between selfishly indifferent and morally strict. At one point, I thought you’d turn into a bleeding heart and insist that you only use your power for emergencies.

<Nah, I like getting laid too much. After what I did to that clerk in the Jewelry store and then after to Angie, I knew that the temptation to run roughshod over my girls would be too strong if I wasn’t careful. I have no qualms about using it against strangers—I mean, look at what I did with Melanie or Natasha rather. And don’t even get me started on the Smidts and Lurch. But who wants a bunch of robots obeying their every whim twenty-four seven? That’s gotta be boring as Hell after a while.

Nah, I love the fact that my women are basically still themselves, and I never wanted to harm my family in any way in the first place. That would have killed me quicker than those Council fucks. Even still, I almost ended up warping Ang but thankfully managed to stop myself from acting out on my baser instincts and look at what I have now! I’m so glad that I did so. She’s a much better girl than I’d thought based on what I knew of her from my high-school days and from my sister; she wouldn’t have deserved what I almost did. But if I’m being honest with myself, I came super close to making her my fuck toy without giving two shits about her feelings, and that idea did give me a tiny bit of a thrill. It’s harder to treat someone like garbage once you see their humanity, though.>

Empathy is an excellent quality to have, m’boy—as long as it is balanced out with cold calculation when needed. And there is nothing wrong with a sex toy. Contrary to some of the thoughts that I’ve seen in your head—which your society has browbeaten into it—not everyone is created equal. That means not everyone is of equal value as well. There is a reason why Kings and Queens had subjects that would die for them, which is true today with your Presidents and Prime Ministers. There will always be millions of people who will never amount to being anything more than simple laborers, but leaders of quality are few and far between.

<You really believe that!?>

You mean to tell me that you don’t? Would you exchange, say, your Albert Einstein’s life for that of the manager from a local McDonalds? Or the life of your best military mind for someone who can barely add two plus two? You don’t send your best and your brightest to fight on the frontlines! There is canon fodder for that—another cool quip I found inside of your head, by the way. You don’t even need to answer me because I already know what you’ll say.

<Fine. You make a valid point. Besides, I think that I’ve already demonstrated just how far I’ll go to save myself and my family. That doesn’t mean that I have to feel good about it though. The list of men that have died for me weighs heavily on my conscience and—>

And well, it should! For THAT is what makes you one of the good guys. Believe me, if you felt no remorse for the lives lost in your service, then you’d be no better than the ones who hunt you. The trick is not letting it weigh you down to the point of inaction. You can’t let your guilt interfere with your drive to win. If you let it sway you or cause you to second guess yourself even once, then you’ll most likely end up dead, and then all of those lives would’ve died for naught.

<Yeah, well, I seriously hope that more than just a guilty conscience is what separates us from the bad guys! Anyway, I’m gonna go find Violet. I want to speak with her for a bit before the girls get back. I know that when they do that, my time will be spoken for until Abby and I cross back over into Paris.>

I’m looking forward to tonight’s bedroom festivities with eagerness!

Jake and Kelly fucked under the hill, To fill her cunny with his batter. Jake ate her cunt, full of spunk, And his Mom soon came cumming after.

Jake took the next, in a line of six, As fast as he could manage, Jake screwed all night; it was quite the sight To his women’s holes, he did some damage.

Jake and Abby banged—

<Jesus christ, Dude! Enough already!>

Sorry, m’boy. Tourettes, you know.

<Yeah, yeah.>

Saturday, September 16th, 2006, Faerie Pocket

“Promise me that you’ll come back, JJ?” Heather asked tearfully as she clutched at me tightly.

Abby, Heather, Stacy, and I stood on top of the ridgeline roughly at the same spot where we’d entered Crann’s Faerie Pocket two weeks ago.

“I promise, Peanut. It’ll be okay, and we’ll be back before you know it. Like I explained to everyone before, all we have to do is walk out of the forest, stop someone who speaks English so that I can get a lift to Jaques’ place. From there, I’ll collect our money and instruct Brock to take Chayana, Lurch, and David to one of the CIA’s safehouses. After that, it’ll be easy peasy—”

“Yup, we’ll head over to the airport looking like two completely different people. I’ve decided to tease Sparky here by turning myself into a sexy redhead—that way, he can drool all over me while dreaming about Violet,” Abby exclaimed with a laugh.

“That’s mean! But it is pretty funny,” Stacy giggled. “Still, you better come back to us. We’re gonna miss you guys so much!”

“And we’ll miss you guys too! But Jake’s right; it’ll be easy peasy. We’ll look like different people, and that liquid potion stuff will mask any magic for weeks. So don’t worry, Goldilocks, Stace. We’ll return as soon as we can get off a plane in Ireland, find this stone, grab Violet’s books and then hop another one back. Besides, I love you two little shits to death, and nothin’ can stop me from protecting our dumb-dumb’s ass and getting it back here in one piece,” Abby said reassuredly.

“Okay, I believe you, Abs. I’m still gonna miss you guys until you get back, though,” Heather muttered sadly.

“It’ll be quicker than you think, Peanut. I love you both; now give me a hug and a sexy kiss. Remember, it’s gotta last me for a few days, so make it count!” I growled with emotion. I also hated the thought of being apart from any of them.

“Hey, if Abs is gonna look like a sexy redhead ... What are you gonna look like?” Stacy asked curiously as she waited her turn to hug me.

“I figured I’d look like Lurch. He’s a handsome devil, no? Especially with his latest hairdo! The raggedy head look is in now, or so I’ve heard. The last time I saw him, he looked like he’d used a lawnmower to get it cut...”

“Eww! He looks like a cat coughed up a hairball, and then he glued it to his head! If you looked like that, I bet even Abs wouldn’t fuck you! And she’ll fuck anything!” Heather giggled as she wiped a couple of tears off her cheeks.

“Hey! You little shit disturber! I should spank your ass for that!” Abby grumped. “You KNOW that I only had sex with so many people because I was looking for my forever man!”

“I know! I was only kidding!”

“And none of them were ugly either! I had standards!” Abby spat testily.

“I know, I wasn’t being serious,” Heather said subdued. “I’m just sad because I’m going to really miss my big sister and brother. I’m sorry.”

“Come here, you little brat,” Abby said with a sigh, “You know that I can’t be mad at you. I love you twerp, and I’ll miss you too. And that includes you also, Stace, even though you’re a sneaky brat as well. Now get over here and hug n’ kiss me before we leave.”

“Hmm, who should I look like, Abs? Who would you like to fantasize about while I’m pretending that you’re Violet?” I asked, trying to distract them from any sadness they were feeling about our leaving.

“Oooh! I know! You should look like Justin Timberlake!” Stacy gushed.

“What!? Ewww! He’s so ugly!” Heather spat out in disbelief.

“No, he’s not! I think he’s cute!”

“Uh, yeah, so not my taste either,” Abby frowned.

“How about Jason Statham? Now he’s hot!” Heather suggested with a sexy smirk. “We saw the trailer for his new movie Crank at Jaques’ the other day, and I really wanna see it!”

“Okay, him, I can dig,” Abby agreed.

“Meh, he’s okay. But if you’re going to pick a movie star, then I think Vin Diesel is the best!”

“Eww! Yuck!” both Abby and Heather protested at the same time.

“His head is so bumpy! Good thing we agree on JJ, at least! Now, if you’d said Paul Walker, then I’d agree! He’s super sexy!” Heather snorted.

“Yeah, and at least, unlike Vin, I’m not bald anymore!” I quipped.

“Mmm, Paul Walker. Looks like we agree on more than just our brother, Goldilocks.”

“Of course we do! We both think Stace is super sexy too!”

Abby turned to me and rubbed my head, “Yup. It’s what? About half an inch of growth up there now? It feels good to rub it, but I’m looking forward to when I can run my fingers through it and grab it again. I miss that.”

“I can’t believe that it’s already been a month since the bloody CIA shaved me bald!”

“It’s true! It’s so hard to believe that Aimee’s already been with us for that long!” Stacy added.

“It seems so much longer to me. These past two weeks have been awesome. It’s been so relaxing, and I just love the Unicorns!” Heather gushed.

“Okay, girls, it’s time. Now I’m doubly glad that I already said goodbye to everyone at the hill because you two are holding us up, and it’s hard enough to leave you as it is,” I said decisively.

“Wait! One last hug and kiss!” Heather demanded as she let go of Abby to snake her arms around my waist, clutching at me hard.

“Okay, one last hug and kiss each, and then we’ve got to activate our disguises and sip our potion. And as soon as we do, we’ve gotta leave without delay,” I told them firmly.

After giving Heather and Stacy another deep kiss, fondle, and a bear hug, I stepped back and closed my eyes. I held a picture in my head of a man that looked like a cross between Jason Statham and Brad Pitt. I didn’t want to look like a carbon copy of a well-known movie star, so I did my best to blur the two.

“Mi Gato,” Maria whispered as she appeared before me. “I wanted to tell you that I will be with you but that I might not be able to communicate while you are back on Earth. I want to make sure that I save my energy in case you need me again. I love you! Be safe, Querido!”

“I will, Maria, my Hermosa. Knowing that you’re with me brings me great comfort, Baby. I love you too,” I replied quietly enough so that the others wouldn’t hear me over their continued goodbyes. I knew they couldn’t see her right now and didn’t feel like going through another ten minutes of questions and them having me tell her things they wanted to say.

“Gbanwee!” I said firmly as I gave the thick silver bracelet on my right wrist a clockwise twist.

I felt a tingling sensation ripple through my body like a flash of heat, and I could tell that I’d changed.

“Whoa! It totally worked! You look like some GQ model or one of those Chippendales!” Stacy exclaimed excitedly.

“He looks very handsome, but JJ looks better!” Heather declared with a frown. “I hope this wears off once you come back!”

“I can cancel it at any time, Peanut, don’t worry,” I told her in a much deeper voice than I usually had.

“Hmm, looking good, Bro! It’ll be weird fucking you in a different body, but it’ll be kinda fun too! Welp! My turn! Here goes nothin’. Gbanwee!” Abby said as she mimicked my actions.

Instantly she shimmered and changed from a five-foot-five, platinum blonde-haired woman with piercing blue-grey eyes to a taller long-legged redhead with bright green eyes. I noticed right away that she’d made her tits a full size bigger; they had to be D-cups for sure now. While massive knockers weren’t my thing, I was still a guy and looked forward to seeing how perky she’d made them. She had also bubbled her ass out a tiny bit to make it slightly curvier. All in all, she was smokin’ hot even though she looked nothing like Violet. Which was a good thing since we needed to avoid attention at all costs, and Violet’s face was surely plastered all over the country with the rest of ours. Hell, it was probably all over the world by now because of the US government.

“Yummy! I could eat you any time you want!” Stacy giggled. “But I prefer what you normally look like, Abs!”

“Yeah, you look good too, but I’m already missing my big sister and brother,” Heather lamented as she sighed sadly, knowing that in a minute, we’d be gone.

“Damn! This feels so fucking weird! It’s gonna take some getting used to!” Abby declared in amazement as she examined what she could see of her own body, her hands hefting her now larger tits. “Crann was right. It is a bit disorientating at first, but it seems to be passing as quickly as she’d said it would. I felt a little momentary dizziness. Plus, it took a few seconds to get used to seeing things from a higher point of view, but I feel good now.”

“We’ll be quick. Just look after the others and have fun riding with the Unicorns,” I said as I popped the cork on the small vial containing the elixir that would mask our magic, taking a tiny sip. “Here, Abs, remember just the tiniest amount needs to wet your lips. It’s got to last us till we get back,” I instructed as I held out the vial to her.

“Good, you’re still here,” Crann’s musical voice came from above as she fluttered into sight. “I forgot to mention that time flows differently while you’re inside my home. It fluctuates depending upon how far it drifts from the realm it’s tethered to, but never mind that, the explanation of its periodicity would take too much time. Basically, at this point in the cycle, it should be that six days have passed on Earth for every one day spent here.”