Lost to the Orcs (Oyeon Orcs)

Chapter Thirty One Unexpected Guest

CHAPTER THIRTY ONE: UNEXPECTED GUEST

Jason. That is the name of Addie’s love. The man who is trying with all his might to figure out how to send me back and how to bring Addie to the fore. Our search history is wild. From witch to voodoo rituals. Herbs and tinctures. But nothing has come of it.

Just a big headache.

Jason is heartbroken. He misses Addie. And as he’s said “You’re a delight, but it’s not the same.” I’m just sorry I’ve caused them this heartache.

It is the same for me. Jason is well and good but he’s not–He’s not U’snar. He’s not Jaedason.

I miss Arawn. I miss my baby.

It’s been a month. We’re lost in depression and at a loss of what to do.

When I get up the morning that starts my month back in this world, I find myself vomiting in the toilet. Jason, who has been sleeping in the living room, rushes to the bathroom door, which I’d left open in my haste. “Are you alright?”

I wave him off, assuring him that I am fine. He leaves and I hear the kettle being put on the stove. A migraine is manifesting behind my eyes. I groan, standing up on wobbling legs, battling the nausea. I rinse and wash out my mouth. Brush my teeth in an attempt to get the filmy taste out of my mouth. Finally, I pop some headache medicine.

I’ve been fighting this lethargy, the headaches, the confusion for so long. It just feels natural at this point. God, is this what my life is going to be like from now on?

Jason comes to get me. He’s made some food, well, warmed up a muffin from the store and made me tea. He’s a doctor. He barely has time to sleep let alone learn to cook. “I think…” He sighs, his eyes looking more horrified and depressed than before. “I think you should take a pregnancy test.”

My head slowly lifts to stare at him. The nausea returning. “What are you talking about?”

He swallows, his fear and sadness warring for dominance on his features. “Addie and I–we were intimate the day before you came. At least, I think. So when she or well, you, didn’t reply I thought maybe she was upset or needing space. I gave it.” He rubs his face vigorously with his hands. “I’m sorry I didn’t tell you. I–I don’t–Without Addie–”

Ding-Dong

Both of our heads jerk up. It’s four in the morning.

Jason stands up to go and check when the knocking starts. We both look at each other with concern. Swallowing the bile rising in my throat, I grab a bat near the entrance and Jason pulls out his concealed carry. I don’t know why a doctor needs one but that’s neither here nor there.

Jason looks through the peep hole. He frowns, shaking his head at me to let me know he doesn’t know the person. I shoo him out of the way and peek through, standing on my tip toes.

Brows meeting my hairline, I gasp. My hand reaching the lock in seconds. I’m yanking the door open on Jason’s shout, telling me to stop.

I stare into the gaze of a male I never thought I’d see in this world. “What are you doing here?” My voice chokes.

His burgundy brown eyes stare at me with relief surrounded by an extremely human face. “I’m so glad you’re okay.”

And Irf pulls me in for a hug.

His beautiful black hair falls around us, spilling mostly out of the messy bun on his head as he clutches me to him. I can smell it on him. Home. I can smell my mates. I can smell their beautiful scents of Citrus and Earth. I start to sob. Breathing in so desperately. So, so desperately.

“It’s okay. It’s okay. I’ll bring ye home, wee lass. I promise. We’ll get ye home.” I nod. I don’t care what we have to do. I can’t–I can’t live my life without them. Not after breathing it in here . Breathing them in here.

I pull away, remembering Jason behind me. Sniffling, I look at him. “Sorry.” Jason says, explaining his pained face. “I just… you’re Addie but your not. And it was hard to look at you–” I nod taking a step back from Irf’s arms.

“Come inside.” I beckon Irf with a sniffle, as I wipe my eyes with the heel of my palm. When the door is closed and locked behind him I gesture to Jason, “Jason, this is Irf. Irf, this is Jason. This is… uh.. He’s Addie’s lover.” I don’t think he’ll understand what a boyfriend is and I don’t think Addie and Jason are engaged.

He nods in greeting to Jason. Who nods back. “When you didn’t come back, I knew your body had to of survived.” He explains, grabbing his loose strands of hair and redoing his messy bun. It doesn’t fix much , but it does make his attractive face that much more appealing.

“But how did you get here? And why do you look like that?” I gesture to his changed appearance. Dressed in clothing of ‘today’.

He rolls his eyes, that usual sass and annoyance creeping into his voice and features. “How would you humans react t’ an Orc comin’ ‘round? Not weel, I would think.” I agree. But he didn’t need to say it like that. I glare at him without any heat. He smirks before taking a seat in the living area. “But I couldnae leave them like that. They’re desolate withou’ ye. So I was looking through archives. Old archives. Ones I didnae even know existed until recently. There were notes from my Aithír that implied so many things. I donnae e’en know how t’ wrap my head ‘round it. But I needed t’ work fast.” His gaze locks with mine. “Yer body is starting t’ reject ‘he other soul. Ye’ll go back to yer own bodies soon if we donnae fix it.”

“And because I’m already in my body,” I press a hand to my chest.

“Yes, she’ll start leaking back int’ hers. Or she weel die.” He holds out his hand to me. I place it in his and his eyes bleach of their color. Paling to a mockery of their original beauty. “Hello,” He says, but I know he’s not talking to me. I can feel it.

The sensation of choking starts to occur .

“No, breathe. It’s alright. I won’t let ye die.” He holds out his hand to Jason and I beckon the skeptical male to take Irf’s hand.

Jason sucks in a breath of air as he feels her. “Addie.” He chokes. And I feel her too. She is so warm and bright. And she loves him.

“I’ll save all o’ ye.” Irf proclaims. “But I need ye ladies t’ work with me.” Both Addie and I seem to look at him with curiosity and confusion. Because of course we’ll work with him. “There isnnae a lot of time but I will explain everything. I just need ye t’ listen.”

“I came here by followin’ ‘he tether o’ Addie’s body with her soul. Which is slowly leakin’ there but she is fightin’ it. Thankfully she is. Otherwise, I would ne’er ‘ave found ye. Thank ye Addie.” A tear spills down my cheek. Addie’s tear. “I warn ye that I cannae access ‘he archives from here, as this is my actual body. With magic makin’ me look human. Thus, is all ‘he way o’er where we are. So ‘he majority o’ what am usin’ is from memory. But I promise I’ll get ye both where ye belong. Ye’re needed where ye’re loved ‘he most. Now, if ye have these ingredients, it will help a lot more.”

And he explains things we are going to need. Herbs, items. Etc. From specific cloth. To specific herbs. Funny enough, some of those ‘rituals’ we researched online and had bought the things they required had the right gist of it. But they were missing some of the knowledge that Irf has. It is not blood of an innocent. It is blood of innocent intentions. If you want bad shit to happen, your bad mojo will get in there and fuck everything up. Things like that.

When we have everything all set up, Irf smiles. “It will take a day t’ get this completed. Then, we’ll be out o’ yer hair an’ out o’ yer life forever. Ye’ll ne’er be forced back int’ yer old body again Addie.” I feel her relief at this declaration. It had been a visceral fear of us both after I’d been slammed back into this body. “Ye’ll be stuck with us too.” He grins, indicating me.

I laugh. “Oh! The misery!” We all guffaw. The news that this is all almost over giving us such happiness and relief.

Jason goes to work that night and requests emergency time off and is immediately approved. One of the newer doctors takes up his time like the man were starving for it. They were worried about him, but after he states it is for his fiancée, they were appeased.

I honestly don’t have much to do. There isn’t anyone to say goodbye to. I’d cut ties from most everyone long before I’d left this world for the other. And anyone of significance is long past. So I find myself scrolling through the art and love everyone’s pieces online. I’ve informed everyone on my social media of my change in work status. Addie might end up with some of my old commissioners asking for pieces but really it all depends.

I read the new book by my favorite author. Ironic that it’s about two Orcs and their pregnant mate. It makes me smile and cry. The beautiful story playing out before me like it were my own. Well, not exactly my own but it’s ironic to imagine. I send the author an anonymous thank you for the story. Giving her all the love because I know she works hard.

And Irf cooks. It’s a potion with the ‘edible’ ingredients. It smells like sludge but if that’s gonna get me home, I'll bathe in it.

Irf was pretty surprised to see the advanced technology we have. He was delighted in the stove at least. And was horrified at the toilet. It was hilarious trying to explain to him about our plumbing system. Although, in the mountain we have something almost similar, he can see where we can make some improvements.

Finally, Addie, I can feel her. I can feel her excitement, I can feel her fear and I can feel her sorrow. She is sad to say goodbye forever to the world that created her. To the life she had even if it was miserable. It was still hers. It still made her who she is. And I understand that.

I touch many things that evening. From my bed, my favorite comforter. The blanket my mother created for me when I was a baby, wishing I could keep it and wrap my own baby in it. The pictures of my parents on the wall. One is identical to the one that is in my locket and I notice that it hadn’t come here with me. I’m thankful for that. I would sorely miss a visual reminder of them.

I kiss a childhood stuffy as I sit on my bed one last time. This is where Irf finds me. Jason is at the door when he does so. I wipe the tears from my eyes and place the stuffy back on my bookshelf.

What would you do? Would you stay? Would you leave?

In all honesty, with nothing holding me back, I would leave. I fear even if my parents were still alive, if I’d had a lover, anything, I would still leave. Because they are all my past. They aren’t my future. They aren’t where I need them to be. Because my mates, my Orcs, are somewhere else.

“Let’s do this!” I smile and walk to the living room. Jason hadn’t wanted me to possibly fall when I drink the potion and so he vouched for the couch. It’s odd seeing shells with candles on them. Lavender incensing the air to calm everyone. Sage to cleanse the air. Incense like that mingles in the air around us. Almost enclosing us in this strange ritual.

Irf takes a deep breath. His hands palms up as he breathes in and then down as he breathes out. As his hands lower, his facade melts away like water rippling down a window pane. And suddenly, there is the messy yet handsome peach tinged green Orc at an entire foot plus taller than me.

Jason gapes at him. “You are an Orc!” His brows are raised in surprise. As if all this time he was humouring the crazy person.

Irf rolls his eyes but doesn’t acknowledge the outburst. He hands me the mug of sludge, directing me to stare into the contents as he starts speaking the strange Orc tongue. I catch a phrase here and there but the words don’t stick because I’m falling into the sludge.

My consciousness slips and slides like it were going down a mountain of slickened mud. Swirling into the darkness. Losing myself piece by piece. It is warm. Irf’s voice falls into the aether. Fading into the riffling of wind through the branches of trees. The soft plod plod of feet crunching through fresh snow. To the sound of a fire being lit upon the lamps in a darkened cave.

“Breathe.” I hear Irf suddenly. But it doesn’t pull me out of the trance I am in. I breathe.

I’m surrounded by citrus and the smell of the earth. My heart pounds in my chest.

“Drink.”

My hands lift the mug to my lips. Lips I do not feel. Lips I do not know the distance to. But somehow I am able to drink. Like something out of a horror movie, I swirl down a drain. Sucked up. Swallowed.

Salt. Softness. The taste of citrus on my tongue. Of nuts. The earth. I moan. It is divine. I love it.

Distant sounds. Voices I can’t place. Are shouting but it feels like I’m listening from under water. Muffled.

“Open your eyes.” Irf says from down a tunnel. I turn, and look. He’s so far away. And I see her. Me. Us. As if looking into a mirror.

“Addie.” She grins. Her smile happy and excited. Ready for an adventure. She turns away from me, from this side of the tunnel, from this side of the veil, and runs.

I turn from the her, the mirror, the veil whatever I want to call it in this instance and I see it. Me. Laying down on my bed. In my nest. My chest tightens. Like I’m being held. Tight. By green gray beautiful arms.

Lips trial up my arm. Caressing my mark. I gasp as the electric shock reverberates through me. Reverberates through the tunnel. It cracks. Everywhere. All around me. My breathing escalates and I run. I run for my life as the tunnel falls apart around me. Pieces falling from the sky from the ground and the rounded walls. The holes shining brightly like the sun.

The tunnel collapses. With a shout, I dive at me. At them. At us.

My world goes dark.