LOGIN:P
Jacob:I was married to the job. I always had been. Work the mission, achieve the mission, report back. Repeat.I haven't gotten close to many people, nor have I put effort into any romantic relationship outside the occasional hookup.For hundreds of years, this is how I've lived, and I've never minded it being this way before.I hadn't expected my mission would lead me to something so complicated and unexpected. Knowing what I know, the feelings building for Nora were entirely out of line.She belonged to another, and unlike many believed, it wasn't any of her suitors. Just like me, they will likely fall for the woman that no one could have.I would never cross that boundary again.I'm trying to make sense out of all of this and how it could possibly end well as things start to unfold.Tochi senses Nora is in danger. When she senses these things, they're always in the near future. An incredible gift that I've been fortunate enough to benefit from.The only problem was that the range
Annora: It's funny how certain things can jog a memory. A song that you used to love or listen to on repeat because you couldn't get enough of it can easily spark an emotion or a memory.The good, the bad, and the ugly.A place can tie your soul to a person or a memory of that person. Every time you are at or near that location or sometimes even think about it, you remember them or the memories with them.Smell was similar this way. As we enter the dining hall, the sundried tomatoes, sauteed onions, and garlic hit my senses like a freight train. Tuscan chicken, a meal I shared with Darin the first time we had a formal date.Darin's presence was all too heavy now. He was like the air that is required to breathe in order to survive; he continues to ensure that he is unavoidable at all costs.Did I owe him a conversation? Perhaps I did, out of respect for the time we spent together. Yet, on the other hand, I had felt that I owed him nothing after the way he had behaved.The hours I sp
Annora:Fae were the majority, in this dimension anyway. We often served as a mediator amongst other species and dimensions, although communication with other dimensions was sparse.Growing up, your early education consisted of the basics. Reading, writing, math, geography, so on and so forth - you get the idea.Further education wasn't mandatory and typically cost money; however, there were programs and schools for lower incomes and those with less in general. These studies were conducted throughout our pre-teen and teenage years and focused more on Fae-based knowledge.You learned about different types of Fae, their magic, weaknesses, and strengths, and took a deeper dive into not only Fae history but also more knowledge on all other species, etc.The Academies afterwards were, of course, to further specialize in a field. Magic-based courses were typically attended by regional leadership, those who worked within the region's domain, or a small variety of other specialties that req
Anorra:You know when you make a choice, consciously aware that it isn't the right thing to do and yet, every fiber in your body continued to push you to do it anyways? Well, that was me, in the here and now.Neither of Jacob or I spoke for what felt like an eternity. His chest was moving up and down with shallow breathing as his face drew closer to mine. The tiny hairs on my shoulder tingled as his fingertips brushed along my skin.A low cough comes from the doorway just as I start to feel his lips brush against my own. I quickly place my hand on his chest and pull away, looking over at El standing there looking more like a ghost than herself.My other hand is still holding the dress against my bare chest, although I feel more exposed than if I had been wearing nothing at all."El," I start, but I really had no idea what I was supposed to say. Jacob pulls away and rushes out of the room and my quarters like a bat out of hell."Nor, what do you think you're doing?" El asks quietly.I
Annora:A slight pang of jealousy lingers over me as I wonder if Chia and Jacob had slept together. I knew Chia had a crush on Jacob in the past, which was part of the reason she had brought him into our inner circle, but in typical Chia fashion, she never did share much about that type of stuff. I suppose we had that in common, being unable to be honest with even our closest friends and family.Of course, I had no place to feel any level or type of jealousy anyway. Jacob saved me once, big whoop. I was making too big a deal, I realize.It was either the commanding eye contact or the way I was annoyingly tapping my toe on the ground that finally made Jacob budge."I don't belong to any region, Nora," Jacob finally says.The hair on my body prickled gently across my pale skin, goosebumps traveling from the roots of my scalp all the way down my body.The light above us pulsed rapidly, mirroring my quickened heartbeat. The high-pitched humming radiating from the flickering glow slowly fa
Annora:It was like the world around me had stopped spinning, and yet gravity had pulled me to its core, making my knees feel wobbly.As El's words registered in my brain, I felt my thoughts go to mush.I should be happy and excited. That's what El would be expecting, but I'm neither of those things.I laugh awkwardly, petting Tochi softly as a distraction."Are you sure?" I ask, coughing to clear my throat."YES!" El is way too excited about this news.She doesn't know the truth, though. Jacob does, of course, he was there. He is studying me, gauging my reaction and interaction as it unfolds. I can feel my heartbeat quicken, but I don't let it show. I can't."Good. The next challenge is coming up, and I need both of you to be there. When does she arrive?" I ask cordially. I can't let it show. She can't know what I know, and at this point, the knowledge I do have is starting to feel hazy.How did I just see Chia, or at least a version of her, days ago, locked up in a room, and now s







