Solace, Ireland – Early March…
The weather was quite warm, considering the season. Jacen had expected at best a cold rain. Instead, the air was mild, and the sun was out. People bustling about the town seemed cheerful, going about their business with a jaunty air.
Jacen himself felt a bit jaunty, although he couldn't explain why if asked. Maybe it was the fact that Winter was almost over. Whatever the cause, he found himself walking with a bit of a spring in his step.
He was on a mission. Helena's birthday was coming up, an important one. The year she would begin the change from child to woman. Mom wanted to give her a little party. The whole concept of having a party for one's birthday was an import from her human childhood… certainly such things were unknown before she came to live Belowground. Dad suggested a private, family party as opposed to a big celebration, which Helena agreed to enthusiastically. Privately, Jacen thought that Helena didn't really want such a fuss made over her, but conversely wanted to make Mom happy.
Thus, he found himself here in this charming little town, just a few miles away from the Goblin Estate. He wanted to find a special present for Helena, something she would really appreciate. She'd recently announced that she and Tremane had been talking about establishing a learning center, something like an Aboveground college, where Othánas (and any other people who have an interest) can come to learn. Helena in particular was interested in making human medical practices something all Othánas women could learn as a way to supplement their Healing magic. Dad found the idea intriguing and promised his support. Toward that end, she began collecting medical tomes and other information sources. As the town of Solace had an antique bookseller, Jacen thought he had a good chance of finding a book (or set of books) that Helena didn't already have.
He was musing about his sister's plans as he reached his hand out for the door to the bookstore. He had time to notice a movement through the glass before the door flew open, slamming him in the forehead. He dimly felt himself falling backward, the impact on his ass almost as hard as the one on his head. He sat there, placing one hand over the rapidly swelling knot on his head, while the other was placed on the sidewalk to prevent him from falling farther backwards.
"Oh, God… are you all right? I'm so sorry…"
He tried to focus his blurry vision on the female kneeling before him. He could vaguely make out that she had red hair. As the foggy picture before him started to clear, he found himself looking into a pair of sparkling blue-green eyes.
She was… lovely. Creamy skin with a light dusting of freckles across the nose and cheeks. The bright blue-green eyes, fringed with dark lashes. Delicately sculpted brows. Plump pink lips. This one didn't wear much in the way of makeup, which was a little unusual for human women, but she didn't need it. Her copper hair was glorious, falling in waves below her shoulders and shining with golden highlights. As his gaze swept over her form, his mouth went dry. She was sweetly made, slender yet strong. She was clad in a sundress that, while modest, had the effect of accentuating her physical charms.
In all, she was an exceedingly pretty woman. He felt his nerves tingling at the sight of her.
Realizing he had better answer her, he gave her what he hoped was his most charming smile. "Oh… I'm alright. My fault really, I was too busy enjoying this Spring weather and not paying attention to where I was going."
She smiled at him, a devastatingly lovely smile. "You're being too nice. I'm the one who wasn't paying attention." When he started to get up, she took his arm to help. Thankfully, he was able to get to his feet with a minimum of swaying. "Perhaps you should see the doctor… that's quite a knot on your head," she said, concerned.
He waved off that thought. "I'll be fine. Nothing a little ice won't fix." He found himself lost in her eyes. "I'm Jacen. Jacen Danaaru."
"Madeline O'Neal."
"Well, now that we've gotten that out of the way, perhaps you'd do me the honor of accompanying me over to the café over there, where I can get some ice."
What the hell, Jacen? You didn't come here to score a date…
Her eyes flickered over him, and her expression turned a bit wary, as if she was unsure about accepting his invitation. She looked at him for another moment, then smiled. "I suppose it's the least I can do, since I'm the one that put that bump there."
Smoothly, he tucked her hand into his arm and started leading her across the street. As he did so, he felt a wave of… something… wash over him.
Madeline was happy. The bookseller had called to tell her that the special order she'd placed for her grandmother had come in. A First Edition printing of 'Nights in Ardalon', it had taken her months to finally find a copy that wouldn't cost her entire year's salary. It was in pristine condition; the jacket cover unmarred. Tickled with pleasure at this acquisition, she was reading the back cover of the book as she pushed open the door.
She felt the impact immediately. As she looked up, she saw that she'd smacked someone in the face with the door, watched him falling back. She rushed to his side. "Oh, God… are you all right? I'm so sorry…" He looked up at her, his green eyes unfocused. For a moment, she felt her heart stop.
He was… gorgeous.
Short, messy golden hair and sculpted facial features, clean shaven, and eyes of the most incredible emerald color she had ever seen. He was slender but broad shouldered and nicely muscled. He was without a doubt the handsomest man she'd laid eyes on outside of a cinema. His eyes focused on her, and he gave her a smile that she felt all the way down to her toes.
"Oh… I'm alright. My fault really, I was too busy enjoying this Spring weather and not paying attention to where I was going."
He had an odd accent. A mix of British with a Celtic lilt, as well as another element. American, perhaps. He was dressed in a long-sleeved shirt and jeans, which flattered his physique, at least from what she could tell. She felt herself smiling at him in appreciation for what she was seeing. "You're being too nice. I'm the one who wasn't paying attention."
When he started to get to his feet, she instinctively took his arm. He rose with a minimum of effort, but swayed slightly when he stood straight. Fearing a concussion, she suggested that he go to see a doctor.
He shook his head slowly, his sexy smile getting wider. "I'll be fine. Nothing a little ice won't fix." He looked deeply into her eyes. "I'm Jacen. Jacen Danaaru."
Huh. Odd name. I can't figure out where he's from by that.
"Madeline O'Neal."
His smile was getting sexier by the minute. "Well, now that we've gotten that out of the way, perhaps you'd do me the honor of accompanying me over to the café over there, where I can get some ice."
For a moment she hesitated. Right… a guy as gorgeous as you? What are the odds that you're still single? Thousand to one, I'm sure.
She surreptitiously scanned his hands. No ring. Not that it meant anything, but… no ring. She looked back up into his eyes… felt an electrical shock go through her whole body. Before she could stop herself, she heard her own voice, "I suppose it's the least I can do, since I'm the one that put that bump there."
Smiling almost roguishly, he took her hand and tucked it into his arm, leading her across to the café. For some reason, a wave of euphoria swept through her, unlike anything she'd ever felt before.
She had sat across from him, a plate of buffalo wings between them. He ate them like they were some kind of rare delicacy.
He was a travel blogger, spending a lot of time in America (which explained the trace of American accent she'd heard), and was in town to do an article on small town Irish life. He was staying at Aedon Castle, which itself was rather extraordinary. Owned by a mysterious conglomerate that dated back to the late 20th Century, the locals were intensely curious about the place. It was maintained by a staff of men that rarely went into town, and occasionally a woman or two could be seen now and then on the grounds from afar. It had a small city built within its walls, all around it, which consisted of charming, medieval style buildings. The fields around it were farmed using local labor, with a profit-sharing program that the residents of Solace appreciated greatly.
Jacen had laughed uproariously when she'd voiced the local suspicion that it was the compound of a religious cult and assured her that it wasn't anything of the sort. In actuality, the castle was a retreat for the CEO and upper echelon of the conglomerate, the peaceful countryside being an ideal place to unwind. He himself had been hired by them to write some local color, perhaps to entice more of their employees to visit. According to Jacen, it wasn't backward… it had electricity, running water, and Intranet. She laughingly suggested bringing her there for a tour someday. To her surprise, he'd actually agreed.
She couldn't remember meeting a more charming man. He had a delightful sense of humor, a little on the snarky side. He had a way of smiling at her that just warmed her from head to toe. It was all she could do to keep the silly grin off her face while they sat together.
He had some odd mannerisms. When they parted, she could have sworn he was going to take her hand and kiss it. Sometimes he used a turn of phrase that was almost… old-fashioned. He had the manners of a gentleman, opening the door for her, seating her first before taking his own, giving the waiter their order.
And what the hell was that cologne he was wearing? He smelled like the masculine equivalent of a pumpkin spice muffin, along with something… indefinable. He smelled so good that she wanted to just bury her nose in his shirt and sniff him all night. The scent made her feel almost drunk.
In all, he was probably the closest thing to her dream man she had ever encountered. And this drew her up short. She'd thought that about someone once before… and it ended badly. Jacen made her feel… almost like she could fall in love again. It was frightening.
She hadn't meant to accept a second date. She really hadn't. But of course, she did.
Author's Notes:
If you do the math, you realize that this story is set in the 24th century. I am not a science fiction writer, so I just changed "internet" to Intranet, to reflect maybe a new system. Otherwise, life for an average person (as Madeline is) isn't all that different… at least not as far as I'm going to get into. Cars are still called cars, even if they have an alternate fuel source. Electricity is still used, even if generated in different ways. Computers are still computers. That kind of thing.
And yes... that was one of Sarah's books that Madeline was acquiring for her grandmother.
Solace, Ireland is fictional. I needed a small local town near the Irish Estates.