As we step into the portal, there's a sudden rush of warmth that engulfs me, and for a moment, I feel as though I'm floating, a feather caught in a gust of wind. Eldrian's hand is firm on my arm, grounding me from being blown away by the hybrid reality around us. The sensation is unnerving and yet exhilarating at the same time.
Suddenly, with an audible pop, we're through. The dazzling world of the Fae fades behind us, replaced by the all-too-familiar sights and sounds of the human realm. We've emerged in the outskirts of my small town, just as dawn begins to break over the rooftops. Birds chirp a welcome greeting to the day, unaware of the monumental journey we've just undertaken.
Eldrian releases his grip on my arm but remains close by my side as we walk into the town.
The town holds memories both fond and painful for me; it was here where I had spent my childhood days with Will. Every brick and cobblestone feels nostalgic underfoot. I want to reach out and touch everything, reassure myself that it's not some cruel illusion.
Feeling my apprehension and excitement intertwined, Eldrian gives me a small nod of encouragement, offering silent support as he guides us through the unfamiliar familiarity of my hometown.
We make our way slowly towards the local cemetery, past buildings that look much older than I remember them being. A tense silence fills the air as we move further into town.
I locate a newspaper stand and crouch down to check the date, taking in a deep breath as I do so.
The date printed in bold letters shocks me 2053: 30 years have passed since I was taken to Silverest. The realization hits me with the force of a freight train, and I can't help but stagger back. Eldrian steadies me with a strong hand on my shoulder, his eyes filled with understanding.
As we resume our walk, my mind is a whirlpool of emotions. A decade of changes must have turned this town into a place I can hardly call home anymore. I find myself tracing the familiar route, guided by muscle memory more than conscious effort. The buildings and streets seem to echo the laughter and cries of a time long past, each structure imbued with memories that now feel both precious and distant.
What has become of my parents? My friends? According to the timeline, I have been gone for 31 years - including the year when Damien took me. Is time perceived differently in Silverest and the Fae realms?
Perhaps time is just another variable bestowed by the whims of the Fae, a tool used by them to preserve or distort, depending on their capricious desires. Shaken by this revelation, I clench my fists; my nails cutting into the flesh of my palm as I struggle to retain some control over the chaos brewing within me.
Eldrian studies me quietly, his gaze never straying too far from my face. He's searching for signs of distress, his Fae instincts still fiercely protective despite our change in surroundings.
I offer him a weak smile, hoping to soothe his concerns but knowing it does little to hide the turmoil raging within me.
We approach the cemetery gates and pause, the air filled with an eerie stillness that's only broken by our footsteps on the gravel path. The rusted iron gate creaks open under Eldrian's touch, revealing a world of stone and memory lying beyond it.
Here in this realm of quiet reflection and sorrow, I'm overwhelmed by a sense of trepidation.
The reality of what has occurred is only now fully sinking in. The dates on the headstones stand as stark reminders of how time has moved on without me.
Tears prick at the corners of my eyes as I wander through rows of granite epitaphs until I find myself standing before two identical tombstones bearing my parents' names. Despite the years that have passed, their final resting place is lovingly maintained with fresh flowers adorning their graves.
The realization brings forth a torrent of grief that has been held back for too long, and I fall to my knees beside their graves, weeping unabashedly.
The loss of my boyfriend and now my parents was too much for me to handle.
My sole intention in coming here was to locate Will's final resting place, but the sight of my parents' graves is almost too overwhelming for me to handle.
Eldrian watches me from a respectful distance, his features softened with empathy. He remains silent, understanding that there are realms of pain that no one, not even a Fae king, can breach. In my haze of grief, I barely register the gentle hand he places on my shoulder.
I don't know how long we stay there, time seems to lose all meaning as the weight of my loss presses heavily upon me. My tears fall onto their graves, mixing with the morning dew and sinking into the earth that now houses them.
After what feels like an eternity, my sobs gradually subside into shaky breaths. My eyes are sore, and I can taste the saltiness of my tears. I feel emotionally drained, but there is one more grave for me to visit. Wills.
With a heavy heart and an arm offered by Eldrian, I pull myself up from the verdant earth. My legs shake like they've been struck by lightning, strength sucked out of them by the sorrow that now pervades my whole existence. But there's a stubborn resilience burning within me that refuses to be extinguished.
Eldrian guides me through the labyrinth of tombstones, his firm hand providing warmth and reassurance. Soon enough, we're standing before another grave; an elegant slab of marble etched with the name 'William T. Grant'.
My heart lurches in my chest as I fall to my knees once more, hands reaching out to trace the engraved letters lovingly. Despite the searing pain that pulses through me, it feels relieving to finally be close to Will again. The weight of reality hasn't subsided; it is only now spreading its wings fully, reminding me of everything I have lost.
I'm vaguely aware of Eldrian kneeling beside me, his silence a comforting presence rather than an awkward intrusion. He doesn't need to voice his condolences; his understanding gaze speaks volumes about his empathy.
I lay my head against the cool stone surface of Will's gravestone, tears trickling down my cheeks.
The grief gnaws at my heart and soul mercilessly but strangely brings with it a visceral connection to Will. It's as if through my sorrow, I can feel him beside me - his laughter echoing in my ears, his scent lingering around me, his warmth enveloping me in a ghostly embrace.
In time, the warmth fades and the echoes recede, leaving me once more alone with my grief and the cold touch of marble under my fingertips. Eldrian's presence behind me is a persistent but unobtrusive reminder that I'm not entirely alone – at least not physically.
The sun dips lower in the sky as I pay homage to every memory of Will that I can summon. The shared laughter, stolen kisses, whispered secrets – they all wash over me in waves, each one bringing with it a fresh pang of agony.
As the world around us descends into twilight, Eldrian speaks for the first time since we entered the cemetery. His voice is soft, almost drowned out by the rustling leaves and hushed whispers of the wind through the tombstones. "We should go," he suggests gently, his hand landing lightly on my shoulder again.
I nod absently, my gaze unwilling to part from Will's grave. A part of me yearns to stay here where I can still feel his echoing presence while another part is terrified that lingering here will only plunge me deeper into sorrow.
The return journey through town is a blur. My mind is caught in a tumultuous whirlwind of emotions – sadness from losing Will and my parents, guilt for having vanished without an explanation for decades, anxiety about what lies ahead.
I have come to a realization: I have no life in this world. The human world I once called home now feels foreign and unfamiliar. I pause in my steps and face Eldrian, asking him, "What am I supposed to do now?"
He regards me with a soft, thoughtful gaze. "You find a way to live, Sam," he says gently, his voice carrying a reassuring calmness. "You find a way to honor their memory and build something new."
The words may seem simple, but they hold a weight of complexity that frightens me. "But how?" I ask, my voice laced with fear and confusion. "I used to be a normal girl, living a normal life until Damien came along and turned it upside down by making me a Fae Hunter." My frustration boils over and I snap, quickly apologizing for my outburst.
Eldrian smiles at me softly, his eyes glinting with empathy in the fading light. He reaches out, gripping my shoulders gently. "You adapt," he says, his voice carrying an undertone of conviction. "You've always had the resilience of a Fae Hunter despite your human roots, Sam. Your world has changed multiple times, and each time you've managed to rise above the challenges."
"But I'm alone," I whisper, my voice faltering under the weight of my grief and loneliness.
"You're not alone," Eldrian counters firmly, his gaze dire. "You have me, Sam. And together we'll figure this out."
There's a sincerity to his tone that soothes my fraying nerves. Deep down, I know he's right. Right about everything — my strength, resilience, and the fact that I'm not alone.
But the pain of my loss lingers heavily in my heart, whispering doubts and fears into my mind. It's a wound that won't heal easily or quickly with time.
"I... I don't know if I can..." My voice trails off as the enormity of it all threatens to consume me.
His grip tightens slightly as he steps closer. His face is etched with determination and concern. "You can and you will," he states emphatically. "It won't be easy or painless, but you're stronger than you think."
Suddenly, a wave of exhaustion sweeps over me. The emotional toll of the day is finally catching up and I sag against Eldrian who catches me effortlessly.
"Let's get you somewhere to rest," he says gently as he steadies me.