Tales From Otherworld: Collection One Read Online Free PDF

always Camille to the rescue , isn’t it?”  
    With a sigh, I slammed through the back door and headed out into the backyard, ready to blow. I stomped across the yard to the path that led to Birchwater Pond. Lovely, just lovely. I was always the fall-back person. Don’t feel like doing something? Just ask Camille. It had been this way all my life and I was sick and tired of it.
    As I passed the place where Hyto had captured me, I shuddered, unwelcome memories flooding over me. But Smoky and the men had cut down the trees his father had blasted, and in their place, they’d planted rose bushes that bloomed well into the autumn, trying to replace bad memories with prettier ones. It had been Trillian’s idea. Right now, that didn’t make me feel any better. But their spicy scent spiraled down to catch my attention. I couldn’t help but pause and close my eyes.  
    As evening breeze flickered past, I listened to the echo of birdsong and caught another deep breath, letting it out slowly before I opened my eyes and continued on. Maybe this wasn’t so bad after all. I’d wanted to go down to the pond earlier, and Delilah’s forgetfulness had gotten me out of the house. I’d apologize to Kitten when I got back. After all, if she was really sick, then there was no harm in helping her.  
    I slowed my pace, letting the approaching dusk wash over me. By the time I came to the opening leading out to the shores around Birchwater Pond, I was calm again. But wait…there were lights flickering from the grotto. There shouldn’t be—not this time of year. Yes, we’d built picnic tables and benches and a shelter near the pond so we could come down here in inclement weather for our rituals and holidays, but there shouldn’t be anybody there right now.
    I cautiously slid to the side of the trail, easing toward the lights. Could they be eye catchers? But we didn’t have eye catchers Earthside. What about will-o’-the-wisps? Maybe we had another invasion of the freaking pests? They could range from mischievous to highly dangerous.  
    Just as I was about ready to return to the house for backup, I heard music. One of my favorite softer bands—Tamaryn. Now, will-o’-the-wisps wouldn’t be trying to lure me in with an MP3 player!  
    Frowning, wondering what was going on, I stepped into the clearing to get a better view.
    “Surprise!”  
    The onslaught of laughter startled me as the majority of our household jumped out from behind bushes. Morio and Smoky were first, then Shade, Nerissa, Roz and Vanzir. Behind me, Delilah and Hanna laughingly raced in from off the path behind me, carrying Maggie.
    “Menolly will be here when she wakes up,” Kitten said.
    “What is this?” I now noticed that the picnic tables were covered with food, the lights were Christmas lights strung from tree to tree, and the music was coming from the sound system we’d wired through the woods. There were also presents on one of the picnic tables, wrapped in pretty paper.
    “Happy anniversary, love.” Trillian stepped out from behind a cedar tree. “You didn’t really think I’d forget, did you? You honestly believed I’d run off to Otherworld on our anniversary if I didn’t have to?” He was laughing, and he opened his arms.
    I stared at him, briefly wanting to kill him for what he’d put me through. Then, with a laugh, letting the day slide into the past, I moved into his arms, and pressed my lips against his.

MEETINGS
    Here’s a short scene that gives you just a glimpse of the first time that Maria, the D’Artigo Sisters’ mother, met Sephreh ob Tanu…

    The first time they met, it was shortly after summer solstice, in a little outdoor café off a back alley. Maria had been there many times, always alone, to eat lunch while she sketched. Pastries were expensive. Due to the war, sugar was rare, and they were chewy, made from whole grains rather than white flour. But they tasted good, and were big enough to make lunch from, along with a