Chapter 1
Today is a beautiful day with bright blue skies and the gentle warm sunshine making me feel happy I have the day off to relax. Since the war, it has been quiet days and nights. Bill has been recovering and Amelia has been in New Orleans recovering from her loss of Tray. I have not seen or heard from Eric. Although, one night I think I dreamed he was outside my window, but I am sure it was just a dream. The daytime seems like my only solace as it brings a sense of normality.
I have a full day of relaxing and sunbathing to enjoy. The house is so quiet as I make my breakfast and notice the hot water has started to boil. This morning I have decided to have some of the new herbal tea, which Amelia had bought rather than my usual coffee so I can truly relax. My whole body still feels tense from the thoughts of the fairy war. I take my mug of tea and a peanut butter and jelly sandwich and go and sit on my Gran's favourite recliner. As I sit sipping my tea I reach over to the bookshelf behind me and grab a romance novel off the shelf. The cover of the book reads 'A night in shining armour' by Jude Deveraux.
As I'm just in my pyjamas I get up and an old white sheet as a blanket and return to the recliner to curl up and enjoy the morning reading and relaxing. I have only read a few pages and before I know it I am drifting off into a deep sleep. Gran's recliner is so comfortable I can understand why I often used to find her snoozing whilst sitting in it. So many thoughts have been swimming around in my head the past few weeks and it is great to finally have the opportunity to just switch off.
The next thing I know, it is like the light in my head has been switched on again except I am not where I was when I fell asleep. The sun now feels a little too hot and I can feel the burning against my skin.
"Oh no!"
I look about as the bright sunlight feels piercing on my eyes. I'm completely naked and still holding the old sheet. My feet are burning from the baked red earth beneath. I quickly wrap the old sheet around myself in a toga fashion.
"Where the hell am I?"
"What happened to my clothes?"
The land around me looks very barren except for a few trees and some hills on the horizon. How did I get here?
I started walking towards a nearby tree for some shade. I searched the bond and felt Eric sending me comfort. No matter where I am, I was sure Eric would come and find me. The wind was hot like an oven and I could not see anyone around to ask for help. I had never wanted nightfall as much as I wanted it now. As I approach the tree, I notice I am not the only one who has sought the relief from the sun under this tree. A sleeping kangaroo quickly rises as I approach and bounces away.
