Between the Realms by Elle Casey Read Free Book Online

in the Here and Now as upstanding fae citizens.   Some prefer it here.   There are less ... restrictions, shall we say."
    I tried to wrap my mind around that awful fact, but chose to change the subject instead, mainly to conserve my sanity for when I'd really need it, like if a dragon came at me, stinkin' up the place with his rotten egg breath.
    "Listen, err, Spike ... I'd really like to get out of here.   Could you by any chance show me the way to the door?"
    "The door?   What door?"
    "The door into the Gray.   Or the rip.   Or the seam.   Whatever you guys call it."
    He smiled but not kindly.   "We call it the void.   You wish to step into the void?"
    The way he said it made me shiver.   It sounded so wrong, but I said it anyway.   "Yes, I'd like to step into the void ... as long as it will take me back to the Here and Now."
    "There is a toll you must pay."
    "A toll?" I asked, my weak voice pissing me off.   But all I could picture was that guy who was a huge skeleton on the River Styx holding out his boney hand.   And I'd forgotten to bring any chocolate balls with me.
    "Of course.   There is a passage and you must pay the toll."
    I tried humor to get past the anxiety.   "Is there, like, a troll there or something?"
    "Precisely."
    My smile disappeared in an instant.   "Trolls aren't real," I whispered.
    He leaned in, almost nose to nose with me now.   "I'll bet you said the same thing about vampires, once."   And then he smiled, his glistening fangs looking way too sharp and definitely way too close.
    I stepped away as far as I could, my back coming up against the tree.   "Stay away from me, vampire."
    He let out a long breath.   "You have nothing to fear from me.   I am shackled by Spike's love for you.   It is an annoying but ever-present specter.   I am bringing you to the void so that I can escape this unfortunate prison."
    "Hey.   That's kind of rude, don't you think?"
    He shrugged.   "Love usually is a prison.   I do not find it enjoyable in the least."
    "Sounds very Underworldy to me.   If you want to be in the Here and Now again, you might want to learn how to enjoy being in love.   I'm pretty sure that's the main goal over there."
    He paused to consider my words.   "You are correct, of course.   I had not considered it in that way before.   Our time in the forest together was quite enjoyable, I must admit.   I could be convinced to indulge again."   He stepped closer to me.
    I held my hands out as a barrier.   "Keep your fangs and your nasty vampire-parts away from me, loverboy.   I'm not interested.   Not as long as you have that black soul inside you.   Just show me the way to the void.   Maybe your good deed will help you get out of here faster."
    "Perhaps.   In any case, I long for my own corpus.   We shall step into the void together so you can have your friend back and I can have myself back.   I must say, I do not envy him your company, as I know you will probably just toy with his emotions again; but it is his choice to continue on his fruitless and hopeless journey to your heart.   I shall worry about it no longer."
    My mouth dropped open at his nerve.   "You know ... you are a seriously insulting vampire.   I don't see where you get off judging me like that."
    "I am but an observer.   You do as you wish.   Spike's heart is there for you to cherish or destroy, at your leisure."
    I shook my head, speechless.   This guy was a total turd.   He must have been sent to the Underworld as punishment for giving out torturous, hellacious guilt trips.   I wondered if maybe he hadn't been a math teacher or something in his last life.
    He moved away from my tree, going in the direction Tim had flown.   I stepped out from behind my shelter and followed him.

CHAPTER NINE

    THE MORE WE WALKED, THE closer we got to the Ancient - the tree that was Maggie's home.   My mind was going a million miles an hour, trying to figure out how she might be involved in all of this or