Jacob is a photographer and artist. One day, as he is walking through the woods, he catches a glimpse of a fairy, a tiny, flying human-shaped creature. He knows no one will believe him, not even his lover Robert, so the following day Jacob ventures back into the woods whereupon he discovers more than he bargains for. An old oak lying across the rushing waters of a small river is the gateway to another world. Fairy Land is a place of wonders where he meets Kellen, a fairy soldier, Faena, a vain beauty, and King Utrin. Jacob is eager to return home to Robert, but the fairy king gives Jacob a task he must complete before they will show him the way back. He must break the energy barrier between Fairy Land and the Demon Realm for the fairy soldiers to pass through. In the realm of the Demons, Jacob meets Xavier, from whom he discovers what the fairies have been hiding from him -- time passes differently in these realms than on earth. Devastated, far away in both time and distance from his home and beloved Robert, what is the twist that returns the smile to Jacob’s face? The surprise that brings the joy back to his now miserable existence?

Changelings

However, when Elrad tried to pass through the energy barrier he was thrown back into the other fairies.


“But that’s not possible,” said Faena.


The fairies looked at each other with puzzled expressions.


Every muscle in Jacob’s body was tense. He could feel them starting to cramp as the energy of the barrier coursed through him. He struggled to suck in another mouthful of oxygen and as he exhaled he managed to say, once again, “Hurry.”


“Featherlight,” said Kellen, who was now standing. “Jacob, stand with your legs apart.”


Each of the fairies began to glimmer and while he exercised every ounce of strength he had to move his feet apart, the fairies transformed themselves into miniature versions of their previous selves and were instantly airborne.


Chapter 14