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

“So a hundred years have passed in the human world, but also within the human changeling’s DNA. When a changeling returns, they have just enough time to observe the changes to their world, perhaps to walk about for a few minutes, before the forces which have kept their body together in the fairy world or the realm of the demons wears off. Their body then disintegrates. I’ve seen it happen countless times. In the blink of an eye they become ashes on the wind.”


The images and thoughts generated by Xavier’s explanation were too overwhelming, too devastating, and Jacob collapsed to the ground sobbing.


Seconds, maybe minutes later, he felt Xavier lay down behind him and enfold him in his arms. As he sobbed he could imagine the demon’s arms were Robert’s arms. They felt very similar. Strong, muscular, powerful. They comforted him and after a long while he stopped sobbing and fell asleep within their embrace. 6


Chapter 18