Under the Stars

Jacob and Haldir sat out under the stars and drank whiskey. It was unusually warm for this early in the Spring and the full moon was bright in the sky. Beautiful. Peaceful.

Jacob caught the scent of apple pie and knew Eliza was near. Her heels began to click on the stone floor and he turned his head to watch her walk across the verandah. She was so damn beautiful. Jacob’s heart fluttered and a burning sensation ran up his arms and into his chest.

Haldir stood and offered his seat to Eliza, and he sat on the short stone wall that surrounded them.

Eliza sat, clutching a glass of wine. “Lovely evening, isn't it?”

“Absolutely,” said Jacob as their eyes met. Eliza smiled softly.

She had planned on avoiding Jacob. It’s been nearly three years since she lost her husband and she just wasn’t sure if she was ready for what she thought might happen. Sitting in her laboratory, cooking the potion, it suddenly occurred to her that if the Fates meant for her and Jacob to be together in this place, it must be for a reason. Besides, she wouldn’t be able to hide forever.

The phone call she received was from her new employer, Mrs. Tessa Hexom. They were discussing the details of her arrival. She hadn’t told Tessa about Jacob and she wasn’t going to tell Jacob about where she would be living in America.She wasn’t going to interfere in what was destined to play out for them all. If it was meant to be, it would be.

“So where did you run off to Eliza?” asked Haldir.

“I had a call. Just some details of my departure next week. I started your potion by the way.”

“Thank you,” said Haldir.

“So you said you were from America, where?,” asked Jacob.

“Which time?” answered Eliza.

“ I don’t understand,” said Jacob.

Eliza smiled and then said, “My father was cursed with the same curse your lady friend was.

I was born four times to my parents in different lifetimes. Once in Louisiana, once in Georgia, once in West Virginia and then finally in the other world.”

“What do you mean the other world?” asked Jacob.

“Great Balls of fire Haldir, have you taught this man nothing?”

Haldir snickered and said, “He’s not ready for that Eliza. His mother never taught him about the old ways.”

“Not ready for what?” asked Jacob leaning in towards Eliza.

Haldir broke in, “ It’s not really another world. It’s another reality Jacob. This life that you are living. Eliza is living. Your parents. Me. It’s just a dream really. A dream that you are playing out until you reach the next place. The memories of this life will carry you through all the long years there.”

“Yeah, I don’t understand. If you were born there Eliza, why are you here now?” asked Jacob.

“The same reason everyone born there comes here. It’s something different. The other world is never ending. Think of it as Heaven if you want. When your dream on Earth is over, you will go there. Time just goes on, we all just go on. It can get quite boring. Some of us are able to move back and forth without an Earth death, like Haldir and I.”

Jacob looked completely confused and said, “ So none of this is real?”

Haldir said, “ It is real Jacob. Like Eliza said, think of the other world as Heaven, except tangible. We work there, have families, go on adventures, have wars. It’s where supernaturals and immortals go when our time on Earth is done.”

“There aren’t any humans there?” asked Jacob.

Haldir said, “ No. They go somewhere else.”

“ Why?” asked Jacob.

Eliza answered, “ Who knows. It’s just the way things are Jacob.”

“Why haven’t I heard any of this before?”

“Maybe your parents had their reasons. It’s not really important anyway. It’s nothing to spend time fussing over. We all get there someday. Take your time and enjoy right now,” said Haldir.

Jacob looked at Haldir as he said that then looked to Eliza. Neither of them said anything. The moonlight reflected in Jacob’s blue eyes and made Eliza breathe heavily. She wanted to say something, anything but couldn't find the words. She just kept looking at his handsome face. The tension was thick enough to choke on.

Haldir broke the moment first, “Jacob you should think about going back home soon. I’m sure your family is missing you terribly.”

Jacob blinked away from Eliza. “You’re probably right. Marissa probably forgot all about me by now.”

“Who’s Marissa?” asked Eliza. A hint of jealousy in her voice.

“My baby sister. Although she’s not even a baby now. She’ll be one soon.”

Eliza put her hand over her heart and puckered her lips slightly, “That is so very sweet. What does she look like?”

Jacob took his phone from his pocket and pulled his chair closer to Eliza. He began flipping through his photos.

He came to one of his mother holding Marissa and turned it to Eliza. “ Oh dear, she’s just beautiful. Look at all the curly hair. And is that your mum?”

“Yeah, that’s my mother Tessa.”

“ She looks young enough to be your sister. She’s lovely. Show me more.”

Jacob flipped to another picture of Erik and him at the pack fair last year. “This is my brother Erik, he’s 13.”

“ So handsome,” Eliza said.

Then he flipped to a picture of him, Erik, Logan and a pregnant Tessa from last years Yule party.

“Your dad? He’s so handsome. I suppose that just runs in the family.” Jacob grinned and looked up at Eliza as she continued scrolling through his photos.

“ What about your family Eliza?” asked Jacob.

Eliza said, “Oh, I don’t have any, not here anyway. My mother and father are in the other world. Needless to say after all they endured, they had no intention of ever coming back here.”

Jacob asked, “ what happened exactly?”

“ It’s a long story Jacob and I’m afraid it’s quite late,” Eliza said as she stood up. “Please stay out as long as you wish. I’ll see you both in the morning.”

Jacob and Haldir both stood as Eliza walked away. Jacob could sense that Eliza was upset.

Jacob sighed and said, “ Did I say something wrong?”

“ No, it’s just hard to be all alone in this world Jacob.”

Jacob looked over to Haldir who was deep in thought, looked like he was having one of his visions.

The next morning, Jacob and Haldir went to breakfast but Eliza was noticeably absent. She was still working on Haldir’s potion and had simply forgotten.

After breakfast, Jacob went for a walk around the castle grounds. He needed to call his parents and let them know he was planning on coming home soon. He wanted to be home for marissa’s birthday next month.

“Hello Jacob?”

“Yes Momma.”

“Oh, I’m so happy to hear from you. I miss you so much, your father and I miss you so very much.”

“I miss you more. Hey, listen, I’m going to come home next month for Marissa’s birthday. For good, I mean.”

“Oh Jacob, thank you.” Tessa began to sniffle as she tried not to cry.

“ Don’t cry Momma. I love you.”

“I love you too Jacob.

“Bye Momma.”

“Goodbye baby.”

It felt like a bag of bricks had been lifted from Jacob. He had missed his family and was just being stubborn. He never should have left. Not that he wasn’t happy about training with Haldir and meeting Eliza, but his family...his blood...that’s all that really mattered.

Haldir had been in the lab speaking with Eliza while Jacob went for a walk.

“You’re going to enjoy Virginia Eliza.”

Eliza smirked and said, “Yes, I think I will.”