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 what happens now? The fairies told me they’d guide me back to my world if I helped them, but you…” He turned to Xavier. “…told me my home and my lover would no longer be there. I can’t go back to the fairies nor would I want to.”


At that moment he noticed Xavier and Prince Arrok smile at each other and he could have sworn he saw the prince wink at Xavier.


“What is it?” asked Jacob. “Why are you smiling like that?”


Prince Arrok laughed. “To answer that you’ll have to accompany Xavier and me back to the Capital; back to the royal palace.”


By now they were alone in the clearing. The rest of the demons were moving away, through the woods in the direction of the Capital.


“We should follow,” said Prince Arrok.


As they were walking, a thought struck Jacob.


Chapter 21