Bride of Alvar (Redemption Saga, Book 1)

Chapter 26

As I pull myself from my slumber, my mind scrambles to grasp the present.

Who am I?

I'm Lucy from Earth, not Alvar from Axus, but I know what it feels like to be Alvar.

"Lucy!" Emily calling my name surprises me. She rushes into my tent, arms extended. "We made it out just in time, before the caverns collapsed."

"The caverns? What do you mean?" I blink. Did that mean all of Goblia was buried in the collapse? Had there been any survivors? "Is Alvar alright?"

"Of course he's alright! He rescued as many as he could before the caverns collapsed, it seems Remora committed a mass suicide with explosives."

"Holy crap." I gasp and cover my mouth. "Are Leeza, Grey, and Fletch okay?"

"Yes," Emily said, "We're lucky to be out of there with our lives."

"What of the Huldra?"

"The what?" Emily cocked her head, confused obviously.

"The deer people?" I ask.

"Oh, them. Strange," she shudders. "But everyone here is strange. Lucy, why can't you understand why everything is so wrong for us, Earth people? Why can't we just go back? It's dangerous here."

"I'm sorry, Em, I'm not going back, I don't want to," I say. Washing over me is guilt over my anger toward her. Yes, I know she's controlled me and manipulated me and dominated my life sometimes and yet, she's been there for me. Emily didn't leave when everyone else thought I was crazy, for that I deeply appreciate her. I remember the times we went to coffee while cramming for exams and talking about boys together, giggling over naughty romance novels, and her basically teaching me how to act "normal" when my entire childhood and teenage years had been abnormal because of my mother. I wish Emily the best even if I realize our close relationship is becoming strained. She's not happy here and I'm to blame for her being here in the first place.

"Did you get a chance to talk to his high-and-mightyness about me going back?" Emily nodded outside at of tent.

Alvar was out there? Outside my tent right now? A shiver goes through me and I have the urge to dash from the tent and embrace him. Maybe I'll just do it. I stand up. "I think I may have convinced him to let you go back," I murmur, before rushing from the tent to meet him. There are so many outside, dozens of gobli, some from Goblia, but most of them are from the encampment I'm staying in, the Huldra leader is talking to Alvar in the center of the group.

Alvar catches sight of me and we exchange a knowing look between us. His stance is rigid and cold as he speaks with the Hulda leader.

"Lucy, are we going back to Underland?" Emily asks from behind me, quietly so as not to disturb whatever conversation is taking place.

"I am sure we'll head back there soon," I whisper back at her.

"Lucy, I've been meaning to ask you this for awhile, but how did we get here even?"

"Huh?" I'm not quite following her.

"Well, how did we travel from Earth to Axus?"

"Arlite," I tell her, "A special kind of it."

"Really? What kind?" Emily prods me on for more information.

I see where she's going and it dawns on me that maybe I've already given here too much information.

"Emily, don't think of using it by yourself, it's much too dangerous," I warn. "I remember Alvar told me that once lost in the Bridge you're lost forever."