Chapter 8: Into the Spirit World

As the sun set in the sky, David and the boys began to stir. As the last of the light disappeared over the horizon, the boys awoke. Launching themselves down from their rafter, simultaneously they landed on the floor. "Finally, it's night! Thought the day would never end. Let's go see if Anwyn came back", Dwayne said as the other boys followed him out of the tunnels. David lingered behind, still high on the kiss from the previous night. The boys entered the mouth of the cave and scanned the area. They were disappointed when they didn't see Anwyn waiting for them. In the corner, Laddie opened his eyes. Stretching and looking around, he was equally disappointed that Anwyn wasn't there. Flinging his blanket off, Laddie walked over and stared into the night with Marko.

"I wonder if she's going to show tonight", Marko said as he looked out into the night sky.

"Guess we should head to the pier then. Maybe she's waiting for us there". David's voice pierced the room.

"No! We're waiting here. Anwyn said she would come". No sooner than David spoke, a figure began to appear in the moonlight. As the shadow came closer, Anwyn's silhouette appeared. Skimming the water, Anwyn flew up and into the mouth of the cave, landing just shy of Marko.

"Anwyn, you came back"! Reaching out, Marko placed his arm around her shoulders. Paul and Dwayne flashed Anwyn a smile.

"Of course I came back. I promised, didn't I"? Marko let go of his grip but it was quickly replaced by Laddie, who ran up to her, launched himself, and wrapped his arms around her waist. "Hey kiddo! Where did you disappear to last night? You missed the show". Laddie didn't respond. He was perfectly content clinging on to Anwyn. Eventually loosening his grip, Anwyn walked straight for David. Dropping her staff next to her, Anwyn threw her arms around David and pressed her lips into his. David, not putting up any resistance, grabbed Anwyn and deepened the kiss. The boys just sat there, a little shocked."Hi", Anwyn whispered while she stared into his eye.

"Hi".

"Uh….okkkk. When did this start happening?" Paul said with an extremely confused look on his face. "Does everyone get a turn"? Anwyn flashed him a whimsically annoyed look.

"Oh, last night; right after you went to bed. Sorry you missed the show and I'm really sorry to disappoint. David's the only one I'm kissing". Anwyn held onto David's arm as he wrapped himself around her.

"That's right boys. She's mine", David said, pressing Anwyn closer to his body. Smiling at David's words, Anwyn placed her head into his chest.

"Well…I'm not yours yet…you're gonna have to work for it" Anywn said laughing. A smile crept across David's face.

"Challenge accepted", was all David whispered into her ear. Anwyn glanced over at the boys.

"So what do you guys want to do tonight"?

"We normally head down to the pier to eat then we hang around and see what the night brings us", David said as he grabbed Anwyn's hand, leading her towards the entrance of the cave.

"Well, knowing you guys, that normally means trouble", Anwyn murmured. "How about we go someplace different instead"?

"What do you suggest"?

"We could go to my home". David glared at Anwyn. She had mentioned before that she dwelled in the spirit world.

"Is that what she's talking about? Your home? You mean in the spirit world"?

"Yeah! I remember you telling me how you can never see the sun. You seemed kind of bummed about it. Well, in the spirit world, your powers would be rendered useless, including the need to hide from the sun. The rules don't apply there. You guys would be safe to walk around during the day time".

"But Anwyn it's nighttime already. We missed the sun".

"No you haven't. The spirit world is opposite to this world. Since it's night time over here, it's day time over there. Besides, you guys brought me to your home…. I want to bring you to mine". The boys pondered Anwyn's offer.

"I say let's do it", Paul said excitedly. Marko and Dwayne nodded their head in agreement. David saw how excited his brothers were to see the sun again. Leaning down and kissing Anwyn, David whispered in her ear,

"Let's do it".

Happy that her new friends and mate…uh boyfriend…well the guy that was interested in her anyway, wanted to see where she lived, Anwyn broke from David's grip. Walking towards the center of the cave, she placed her arms out in front and put her hands together. Closing her eyes, Anwyn concentrated…calling to the spirits. As she began to spread her hands apart, a small light appeared. As Anwyn spread her hands further, an opening appeared. The boys stood there memorized by what they saw. Anwyn turned and reached her hand out to David.

"Coming?" David walked over and grabbed her hand. Glancing at the others, Anwyn waved her other hand, gesturing them to follow. "Come on". Reluctant at first, one-by-one they came over too, following Anwyn into the light. As the last foot moved past the threshold, the light vanished. A few moments past and the bright light dimmed and the boys were finally able to open their eyes. "Welcome to my home". David and the boys looked around. They were standing in a clearing. Off in the distance, a tree line formed, blocking their sight from anything beyond that. The air around them seemed thicker somehow. A bright aura that surrounded them made the place feel mystical. The place was beautiful. A sense of calm and peace came over them. "Look up". Simultaneously, all the brothers looked to the sky. Staring back at them was the most memorizing sight they'd seen in a long time; the sun. The big circular aura of light shined down on them. Their instincts would have normally forced them to flee for a shadow but none felt compelled to do so. The sun didn't harm them. They remained speechless for a moment. David's voice finally broke the silence.

"I can't believe we're standing in the sun and we're not burning alive. Who knows how long it's been since any of us hasn't been restricted to the night". Reaching for Anwyn, David pressed her into his arms. "Thank you for this". Kissing him gently on the lips, Anwyn smiled,

"You're welcome. There's a lot more to see though. Come on! My house is this way!" Leading the boys through the clearing, they pierced the tree line. Making their way through the wooded area, they came to another clearing. Anwyn turned and looked at David, "Home sweet home". A short distance away where was single tree in the center of the clearing. The oak stood over a hundred feet tall. On the top of its enormous branches was a wooden house, fixated in the center.

"Whooaaaa….you live in that tree house?" Laddie said excitedly.

"Sure do kiddo. Come on…..let's go up". Anwyn opened her glider and lept in the air, flying towards the door. David and the boys attempted to follow her but quickly found out that they weren't able to. Landing on the porch, Anwyn looked down to see the boys still standing there. "What are you guys doing? Get up here".

"Uh…..we can't. We're kinda stuck down here".

"Oh yeah…..that's right. Your powers don't work here. Hang on!" Anwyn shouted as she disappeared from view. Anwyn walked in and back out carrying a rope ladder. She flung it over the side and attached it to the railing. "Guess you boys are climbing". The boys made their way up the ladder and into Anwyn's home. "Make yourselves at home"! The boys walked in and looked around. Anwyn's home looked just like one would expect a human to live. Furniture, closets, bathrooms, a kitchen…her place perfectly mirrored a humans dwelling in the 20th century.

"You know, for not being human…you sure live like one", David jokingly mocking her.

"What can I say…those beings know how to live comfortably", Anwyn laughed. The boys made themselves at home and began exploring the place. Anwyn led them upstairs and out the balcony door. Scanning the horizon, the boys could see the magnificent view that Anwyn had over the landscape. It was breath taking. Off in the distance mountains could be seen towering over the area. Around the mountains and beyond there were fields of flowers connecting with an endless forest.

"What is that?" Dwayne asked as he pointed to a dark standing figure in the far distance.

"That? That's trouble".

"Trouble?" Marko said, glancing over at Anwyn.

"Yeah. That's the Marwolaeth tree. It imprisons two very dark spirits".

"Imprisoned?" The boys all stopped and looked over at Anwyn. She could tell from their faces that they weren't going to drop the subject.

"Centuries ago Cerridwen and Arawn, spirits of death and war, were imprisoned to pay for their crimes against humanity. They both desired power above anything else. One day their desires got too great and they decided to go against the spiritual order. They both escaped into the human world, raining down death and destruction. They were eventually subdued and imprisoned in the tree for all eternity".

"Can they ever escape?" David asked.

"I don't think so and I definitely hope not. If they were to escape again, I don't want to think about the consequences".

"So you've met them before"?

"No, I haven't. At least I don't think I have. My memory isn't all there".

"What's that over there?" Paul asked, changing the subject. Looking over, Anwyn saw that Paul was pointing at a body of water.

"Oh that's just a lake. It's called Vyrnwy Lake. Why don't you guys go over and check it out. Don't wander off to far. It's easy to get lost here and you could end up in an area that you don't belong".

"We won't...mom", Paul mockingly joked as he headed down the stairs. Anwyn reached her foot out and tripped Paul on his way down. A devilish smile crept across her face. David just laughed. Not giving it more than a second thought, the other boys followed. Within seconds, all of them where gone….except for David.

"Aren't you going to join them"?

"Nope", David said while walking over to Anwyn. Without another word, David pulled Anwyn into him and slammed his lips onto hers. Instinctively, Anwyn wrapped her arms around his neck. While picking Anwyn up, she wrapped her legs around his waist. David carried Anwyn to her bed and dropped her down. "I've been waiting forever to get some alone time with you". Removing his jacket, David pressed his body down on top of hers. Several minutes had gone by and neither wanted to come up for air. David's hand glided up and down Anwyn's body. Caressing every curve, David's hand eventually landed on her breast. Rubbing and pinching at the nibble that lied underneath her corset, Anwyn groaned in pleasure; causing her to buck her hips into David. Seeing the type of excitement David was stirring in her, David tugged at the corset strings on her back, eventually loosening them. Skimming his hand towards her front, David slid the corset down, freeing her breast. Removing his lips from hers, David made his way down her neck. Nibbling at her skin, David made his way down towards her chest. As David shifted his body, Anwyn reached out and placed her hand over the bulge that was clearly present in David's pants. As Anwyn started to rub his crotch, David started moaning. Eventually reaching her breast, David started softly kissing her nipples. Opening his mouth, David started sucking; sending Anwyn on a flight of ecstasy.

"David, I….." was all Anwyn could say. Realizing that the boys could come back and ruin moment at any point, David decided that this needed to be continued at another time.

"I think we should stop", David whispered. "The boys could come back any minute".

"Seriously? Seriously….…you're gonna get me going then shut me down cold? You're such an ass"! Frustrated that she had to come down from her high, Anwyn realized that David was right. The boys could walk in any moment and oh boy…what a show that would be for them.

"To be continued…I promise you", David said while kissing his way back up her neck and onto her lips once again. While both lied there trying to come down from their high, David reached out and wrapped his arms around Anwyn, pulling her as close as possible. "Be with me".

"What"?

"Date me; only me. Be mine Anwyn. I admit it…..I've had feelings for you ever since I first started talking to you. I haven't been able to get you out of my mind". Anwyn didn't give David's words much though. Flinging herself on top of David's chest, Anwyn leaned in and kissed him.

"Truth be told…..I've been infatuated with you since we've met. You're not the only one who developed feelings ya know. I am yours". More than satisfied with her response, David flipped Anwyn back on the bed and jumped on top of her. "It's too bad we're not going to be alone for a while…" he said while pressing his groin in between her hips.

"Yeah…...to be continued, right?"

"Right".