Title: Enchantments and heartache
Author: Jennaravenrose
Summary: For once Tyler gets the girl
Genre: Romance/adventure
Rating M-----
Elsewhere in a realm out of reach and out of sight from mortal men
Ozxandria walked downed the hallways of her home. Ok walk wasn't really the word it was closer to fleeing. She rounded a corner and slammed open the door to her room. She slammed it shut behind her and collapsed into tears on the other side of it. Her fathers' announcement still ringing in her head. How could he think to offer her in marriage to someone she has been at open war with for the better half of thirty some years. She sobbed to the empty room.
An hour later she was composed and plotting. Within half that time she was packed and sneaking out of her window. She ran all the way to the boundary between the worlds. She paused upon the threshold and glanced back once. Then summoning her courage once more she stepped through. A dizzying grating sensation greeted her and for a moment she could no longer breathe. Then all at once it was over and she was in an unfamiliar woods.
She shakily regained her feet and started walking not caring in what direction she went. She just wanted to put as much distance between herself and the gate. She soon found herself on a ribbon of crushed black rock. There were strange red lights fading into the distance. She decided to follow it.
Some time later an older woman with several cats climbing around in her cab stopped and gave her a lift .the ride in the strange vehicle made her somewhat nauseous or maybe it was the cats she wasn't sure by the time she said her farewells. They had entered a town called Boston. Ozxandria thanked the woman and got out near a park. She took a seat on the wooden bench and tried to calm her stomach.
She had done it she was in the human realm now and for better or for worse she would make her way in it. She wandered around the edge of the park trying to get her bearings. She had just found them when a familiar tug pulled at her consciousness. She warily walked towards it. It seemed to be coming from an antique store labeled O'Connor Antiques. She walked towards it and opened the door. An older woman holding some sort of art piece topped with glass was walking out as she entered.
The place was cluttered and had dust and furniture everywhere. An older man was behind a strange table he was bent over with his back to her putting something in a lower cabinet. "Excuse Me," she said hesitantly. The man looked up and stared at her for at least a minute or so before breathing out "by the gods, I thought I recognized that voice" he said "Connor?" she said back recognizing him through the glamour he was wearing. "Aye lassie tis I" he said with a grin. She flew forward and hugged him. She had not seen him since his trial and subsequent banishing some ten plus years ago. When he reasled her he said "hold on" and turned a small plaque in the window around. "Now come in the back and tell yur old friend what brings ye to this side of the realms" he said and put an arm around her shoulder and guided her to the back office. He served her some tea and cookies and waited while she recounted her tale of woe.
"So you ran?" he said when she came at last to the end of her tale. "Aye I'll take exile or worse before I'll ever lie with Hanadrin" she said "can't says I blame ye lass but you know they will look for ye here" he said. "I know, " she said softly "that is why I need your help" she said. "And I would willingly give it in all things as I have pledged to you before" said Connor "then help me now, I need to fit in, I need to hide can you help me?" she said pleadingly. "Of course give me until the morrow and I'll have ye a hiding place, for now you sleep here tonight" he said.
Next day still Boston
Ozxandria walked down the stairs and into the area that served as a kitchen. Connor set a platter in front of her and poured something into it. Then poured a white liquid on top of it and set a spoon in the platter. " It's called cereal, people eat it for their morning meal, also known as breakfast" he said setting it in front of her. She lifted the utensil and took a bite. Took a few more bites and glanced up at him. "Well?" she asked at last. "I have found something though ye might not like it," he said between bites of his own food. "What is it?" she asked.
"A place for young humans, it's called a boarding school" she nodded for him to continue, "you will have to act like a human teenager, but that shouldn't be to hard" he said she grimaced. "While your there you can learn about this realm, I've already made the arrangements" he said Though she didn't like that he had already made the assumption she would do it, she recognized the need for speed in this matter. "You leave this afternoon by greyhound" he said She frowned at him "you wish me to ride a dog?" she asked, "no, no, that's the name of a transport company, it's actually called a bus" he said with a laugh.
"I'll provide you with money while your there and I've already wired the tuition, I have a friend in Las Vegas wiring your transcripts" he said. "Las Vegas? Transcripts?" "Transcripts are papers that say where you attended school, if anyone asks about Vegas, just remember lots of lights and gambling" he said "I've taken the liberty of conjuring you a fake id" he said
She finished eating he took the bowl rinsed it and put it away quickly "ready?" he asked she swallowed and nodded. He handed her a bag, and told her to memorize the ID card inside, he also showed her a piece of paper in another paper that he said was her ticket. "Remember your new name, its important but don't worry it still is close to your original" said Connor. She was flipping open the wallet in the purse, as he called it. In it was a card with a picture of her, an awful one at that. She glanced up at Connor in mute appeal. "Don't worry lass they all look that bad, even mine" he said with a grin.
She frowned and put the Id back into the pocket it had been in inside the wallet, and pulled another card from the pouch, it was silver and had her name on it. Humans use those for money, its linked to my bank account, so please don't overspend. Another one, a real one will be coming in the mail for you. "So my names Xandria now?" she asked. "Yes, it'll be easier to remember I thought" he said. "Now we've got to go," he said holding open the door. He led her to another smaller vehicle." It's called a car" he said when he noticed she was staring at it. She blushed at his admonishment and climbed inside the vehicle.
As soon as the door closed she wanted to get out. The amount of cold iron in the car was setting her nerves on edge. When Connor finally got in she was reaching for the door handle. "Easy lass this is something you must get used to," he said. "How I can barely breathe," she whispered. He started the engine and she jumped. "Its okay, it's supposed to make that noise" he rolled down the window on her side. " Better?" he asked.
Xandria was fighting for calm. All of her nerves were screaming get out of the car, until he rolled down the window and she could breathe again at least. Though her nerves still made her feel like bolting. "That's the first thing you must deal with, humans use death metal in a lot of their daily lives." She nodded "steel is a form of it and it is more common, and u see its effects" he said pointly. They were pulling up before another building he pulled up next to another car and shut his off. "Now one last thing this bus you'll be riding in is mostly steel" she swallowed and looked scared for a minute. "I saw your glamour slip when I got in so maintaining with that much steel around may be difficult. This will help maintain it," he said handing her a necklace. She looped it around her neck.
"Be careful lass humans may have looked like they have changed but they are still basically the same" he said. "Thank you Connor I wouldn't have lasted two days without your aid" she said "its all right lass that's what kinsmen are for", he said and hugged her. He walked with her inside and made sure she got on the bus.
He could tell she was nervous maybe even scared a little but she seemed to be able to handle it. He waited until the bus was pulling out before he returned to his car and drove home. As he watched the buses taillight fade into the distance he whispered "good luck to ye lass yer gonna need it"