Chapter 11 It Will Be OK

Twenty minutes later everyone was hopping into a large black van to go to the airport. Somehow Trent's people had come up with a military type helicopter to fly directly to the village on the border.

At the airport they were joined by a Dr. Schmidt, who was an expert on local Elven lore and local Elven populations, and was an elf. He advised the village they were about to visit was inhabited almost entirely by elves.

And 45 minutes later they were landing in the middle of a field on the side of a mountain, next to a small village. The village was so deep in the mountains that the only way in was by railroad line or by helicopter. They were not too far from Lake Lugano in southern Switzerland, by the map. But the remote location made it much further away than as shown by mileage on a map.

As if the villagers saw large helicopters land everyday, no one came out to meet them. Dr. Schmidt asked them to wait at the edge of the village while he met with the village Sa'han.

After a short wait, Dr. Schmidt returned with a short man with hair the same color as Trent's. If that wasn't a giveaway to his heritage, he also had slightly pointed ears! Apparently the elves in this village never docked their ears! Maybe the elves here never left the village. Whatever, Rachel thought.

She was anxious for some news on Trent, so she purposely strode over to the pair and asked the shorter man in a loud voice, "DO YOU SPEAK ENGLISH?"

Both men looked at her incredulously, and Dr. Schmidt said, "Ms. Morgan, let me introduce you to Sa'han Calussi, the Sa'han of this village. He might have some information for us, but he advised me he doesn't know where Mr. Kalamack is being held. And he dies speak English."

Rachel raised her left hand to shake his hand, and saw Sa'han Caluzzi give her ring a hard look.

Taking her cue from the fact that Dr. Schmidt had not named her as Trent's wife, she refrained from mentioning it herself. "oK, nice to meet you Sa'han Colussi. I will go get my companions." She walked over to her group and told them not to mention her status with regard to Trent. It could be that the local elves might not approve.

They all followed the Sa'han to a small building in the traditional chalet style and went inside. It was obviously a meeting room because there were chairs placed in a semi circle around a raised podium. Off to the side was a small kitchen area with vending machines. 'Vending machines in an isolated Elven village,' thought Rachel. 'Huh!'

The Sa'han gestured to the kitchen area and said, "Please help yourself. There are appropriate coins in a bucket on the counter. Please feel free to take anything you want. "

They all helped themselves to tea and coffee, and sat in a group near the podium. The Sa'han sat next to them, and said in a strained voice, "Why are you all interested in the American Elven Sa'han? Not one of you is an elf. What is your relationship to him?" With that, he turned to Rachel and gave her an intense gaze.

Well, the ring probably had given him some indication of her connection to elves, and it wouldn't take a genius to go from that assumption to her involvement with the man they were seeking. But before she could speak Ivy said with a strain in her voice, "We are all either close friends or employees of Sa'han Kalamack."

He nodded, not taking his gaze from Rachel. Then he nodded again, as if to himself, and turned to face them all.

"The Statue you seek is said to take wayward elves to a prison in the mountains where they remain until they have mended their ways. I have not heard of this happening in over 1000 years. Is there anything that your Sa'han has done that an ancient elf statue would not like? I need to know the truth if you want me to help." Sa'han Colussi said sternly.

"I'm not an elf and we got married a few days ago, but it's not a recent relationship. We've been involved in one way or another for a few years." Rachel blurted out. She wanted to find Trent now, and if this guy wouldn't or couldn't help, they needed to find another elder elf or whatever.

"So that is a promise ring?" The Sa'han turned his attention to Rachel. "Have you tried to find him using your ring?"

"It doesn't seem to want to make a connection this time. I was able to contact his mind twice after he'd passed out for no known reason, but both times I was right next to him, touching him in some way." Rachel explained. "When I concentrated I thought I might have heard a whisper, but it was so faint that I can't be sure. Nothing like the slaver rings we wore two months ago."

The Sa'han's head shot up. "Slaver rings? Where did you get those and how did they work? Are they still available?"

"No," said Rachel, worried that she had destroyed them too quickly. "They were evil, so I destroyed them, melted them down, shortly after we used them. We only used them once."

"The only slaver rings that work for us, elves, are for a connection of an elf and a demon. Are you a demon Madam Kalamack?" Sa'han Colussi asked accusingly.

"Sort of," Rachel hedged. "I was born to witch parents, but because of genetic tinkering done by Trent's dad, I became a proto-demon. That's the way I understand it. Trent and I knew each other as kids; we went to summer camp together three summers. Neither of us remembers much of it, though, because they put memory blockers in the water. It was at camp that they messed with me, I think."

"It's a very complicated relationship then. Sa'han Kalamack has consorted with demons, but has controlled the only day walking demon with slaver rings, and then went on to assert additional control by binding the demon to him, through Bonding rings. It's a very strong connection, but flows mainly from him into you. His connection to you must be strong, I can see how he reached out to you when he was sick. I just don't know if you can do the same, because of the master-slave power. It runs from master to slave, not the other way."

"Umm, I had the master ring, Trent had the slave ring,". Rachel said reluctantly, sensing that the older man wouldn't like that news.

"That is disturbing for many reasons, but it may make it possible for you to reach out to him, as the connection may be strong both ways. I have never heard of bonding rings being used between an elf and a demon, but it seems to have given you a connection. I think we can work from it, but you have to know, it's extremely dangerous. I suggest you talk this over with your friends before we proceed."

"No, I am going to try, no matter what. I have been in danger before, and it's worth the risk. He's my, well, mate. I don't know how else to explain it. It's separate from legal vows, it's a bone deep connection that we've always had. It took us years to figure it out though. And I think it's stronger for me than him, somehow. Maybe. I'm not sure." Rachel tried to explain.

"Rachel, let's talk about this, please." Pleaded Ivy.

"OK. I want to call my Mom, too, if I can get reception here."

She did get reception, the village had a satellite connection to the cell system. She didn't want to worry her Mom, so she didn't give her any details, but told her she loved her and would do what she must to find Trent. Surprisingly, her mother understood, and just gave Rachel her support and love.

After the call, Rachel wiped tears away from her cheeks, and faced Ivy. She, Ivy and Kisten, who had insisted on joining their expedition, walked to a corner away from everyone else.

"Rachel, you don't have to...never mind, I can see you do have to go get Trent. Between the two of you, you're always in some kind of trouble. I guess you do need each other. Just remember Kist and I both love you, and we are waiting for you. But go do what you have to and then come back to us."

Rachel reached out and hugged the two vampires, and then hurried away.

She couldn't lie to herself, she was scared. She didn't like messing with Elven wild magic, and she thought the goddess may not like her, especially since she bonded with an elf. But there was no question that she was going to do whatever it took to find Trent, to her last breath.

The Sa'han had them all supply themselves for a walk deeper into the mountains. After hiking several miles, they came into a natural canyon between two rock faces. It was long and narrow. They had to walk single file to get through. At the other end was a natural amphitheater with a mountain stream cascading into its center. The smell of wine and cinnamon was strong, but they did not see any other people. At the far end of the clearing there was the entrance to a cave in the side of an immense cliff. Sa'han Colussi asked everyone to remain in the amphitheater except Rachel. He motioned for her to follow him.

Inside there was evidence of recent activity, including boxes of food and supplies stacked in one corner. The main chamber had several doors cut into the rock and she was ushered into the one on the far left. It was set up as a comfortable bedroom. An elderly woman was sitting next to a bed reading a book. She looked up at their approach and nodded and left the room. There were curtains around the bed, obscuring the view if the person in it.

Rachel's heart leaped into her throat as she hurried over to the bed. Trent lay unconscious, muttering something, and twisting his head from side to side and in small jerks. She wanted to put her arms around him and kiss him. It had worked before, hadn't it? But she was afraid of hurting him. She glanced at the village Sa'han and he gestured for her to sit by the bed. " You can touch him. No one has been able to break the spell he's under, but please try. We are in uncharted territory here, a demon and an elf bonded, it's unbelievable!"

Rachel walked slowly to the bed and then got right on it and laid down next to Trent and put her arms around him as if she was trying to warm him. And she kissed him lightly on the cheek. There didn't seem to be any change in him, so she went with bold and gave him a long kiss on his mouth trying to tease a response out of his mouth. There was nothing. The tears started running down her face and they dripped onto him as she lay pressed to him.

And she heard a soft keening noise. Then she realized she was making it. It just flowed out of her without conscious thought. She didn't try to stop, going with it in case it would somehow reach him.

Forgetting about the Sa'han in the room, she laid her ring finger onto his heart and pressed the ring into his bare flesh after pushing his shirt up to expose his skin. And then she pressed her body into his, and concentrated on their moments together over the past few days. She ran through everything like it was a movie in her mind lingering on the memories of their kisses, and passion, and love. Her tears started to fall heavily on him as she started thinking further back to all the moments over the past year when she could have just reached out and touched him. She, no they, had wasted so much time doing their little dance of distance. And she felt herself start to feel drowsy, in spite of her wish to stay awake, to keep fighting.

"Rachel, I knew you'd find me, I knew it, but I didn't want you to come here. Go back, you might get trapped here like me. Please don't risk yourself like this, please!" Trent's voice woke her, and for a moment she was disoriented. Then she saw Trent laying in the bed next to her as he had been, but now he was in chains. And this wasn't the room in the cave where she'd just been.

Without thinking of anything but the intense relief at seeing him she threw both arms around him, and kissed him passionately, putting all her worry and anguish into the passion of the kiss. And Trent, almost in spite if himself, responded to her passion by deepening their kiss until that was all they thought about, for a time.

But then he pulled from her, and said, "What are you doing here? How did you get here?" And Rachel could see from his expression he was starting to incorporate this additional information into his plans. Somehow Rachel had reached him. Could they both go back by the same path?

"I have missed you so much. Are you ok? Where are we and why are you in chains? How can we get out of here?" Rachel said, reaching out and putting her arms around his neck. She couldn't not touch him.

Trent leaned his forehead into hers, and just breathed in her scent. He had thought he'd never see her again, and although he didn't want her trapped with him, he was so glad she was here with him. "I don't know where we are, or why I am here, or why you are here. I don't want you to be trapped here, but if this has to be, I am so happy to see you! I missed you my darling! ". And then he wrapped his shacked arms around her and kissed her until she was dizzy from lack of air and from desire. When she looked into his eyes, she saw desire hot in his gaze. 'Well, that hasn't changed, thank god!' She thought. And she wrapped her body around his, as much as possible for a man shackled to a bed, and started the kiss over again.

When they both had to stop to breathe, the desire in Trent's eyes had deepened and was joined by his usual look of determination and by hope. "Everything will be OK." He whispered into Rachel's hair. "We will figure it out. We are together and I know we can do anything together."

Rachel's eyes started leaking tears and she said against his shoulder, "You promised you'd never leave me! Why are you here? I was so scared I'd never find you. If you leave me again without telling me, I'm going to pound you!"

Trent smiled at the two lines of thought running together in her brain. She was so unique, so interesting. "Which is it, are you mad at me, or happy to see me?"

"Both, you silly elf! Don't do it again."

Trent looked at her and said, amused, "You do know this wasn't voluntary, right?"

"I know, but your stupid, umm, I mean annoying goddess seems to like messing with you. You need to talk to her. I mean, on our honeymoon, really?" Rachel grumped.

"Well, technically we're in a bed, and we're alone..." teased Trent. Everything seemed better with Rachel by his side. They'd faced terrible odds before, but whenever they were together, they'd been able to overcome them. She had taught him to believe in the 11%. Hell, their entire relationship was in the 11% category, and they were going to make it work.

"Is someone watching us? I mean, I see there's no one here now, but have you seen anyone?" Rachel asked seriously.

"No, there was water here in a pitcher with a glass, and some vending machine crackers, but I haven't seen anyone, or heard anyone. I have no idea where we are, but that damn statue came with me, and it's sitting over there on a ledge carved into the wall. I tried to move it, the chains are long enough to let me move around the room, but it seems fused to the stone."

Rachel looked around. They were in a room carved into rock with no door. The ceiling stretched so high she couldn't see the top. And the walls of the room were polished and smooth, no possibility of climbing out on these walls.

Because the vending machine crackers had given her an idea. She screamed, "Sa'han Colussi, let us out! You have no right to keep us here!"

Trent looked at her like she had two heads. "Rachel, who are you screaming at? There's no one here! Who the Tinks blasted hell is Sa'han Collussi?"

Rachel sighed, and said, almost to herself, "It was worth a shot." And then she filled Trent in on everything that had happened since he disappeared.

After hearing the story, Trent said, "I think that the statue acts as a line jump, like the twin rings we used to come together under Cinci when Eloy was hurting you, and when you came to me in the Ever After. But it only works one way, and just jumps the person to this room. The question is, who invoked it and why use it on me? I am not going to believe this is because of the 'elves hate demons' excuse and think that's why I was targeted. I think there's probably some Elven political issue and our marriage is just a convenient argument someone is using to bring me down, or at least take me out of the dialog for a while."

"But they obviously didn't count on our union being as strong as it is, though, and they sure didn't believe the Promise rings would create such a solid, growing bond. As always, when we are together, we are stronger than the sum of our two strengths would have people believe. That's why Piscari wanted to keep us apart. It's also why Cormel is working against our union, I think, the Ivy issue aside." Trent explained thoughtfully.

"But they will never keep us apart, especially now that we are about to bring a demon-elf hybrid baby into the world." Trent said loudly, as if speaking to someone other than her. Under his breath he said, " I'm sorry Rachel, but that's not really true, yet. But maybe it will be someday."

Rachel did not have to feign shock for their unseen audience. What was Trent talking about? It must all be part of the show he was putting on for someone as yet unseen.

Trent went on loudly, "I'd hate for something to happen to the life inside you Rachel, because of this rough treatment. I don't think the goddess would be happy at all with that as she has acknowledged you already, listened to your prayers, and given you what you needed once already. We both know you are full of wild magic, it sparks between us all the time. The Elven Promise rings have accepted you, also. That's why we have been able to build a strong bond so quickly."

Rachel knew Trent was practicing his own form of Trent magic by persuading whoever was listening to them to let them go. She hoped it might work, because she was cut off from the lines down here, as if she was wearing a zip strip. She might have access to demon curses, but only ones already stored in her internal spell book. She searched her memory until she found one that weakened metal. "Metalis!" She shouted, and the shackles around Trent's feet and wrists became brittle, like twigs. Trent sensed the change, and he broke each restraint, and pulled them off. It was the first step toward freedom, at least.

Rachel was suddenly exhausted and she fell over onto her side facing Trent and started to drift off. Trent panicked and kept shaking her to keep her awake. Then he seemed to be overtaken by the same lethargy, and he fell over into the bed facing Rachel. He reached out his hand to hers, and they clasped hands just as sleep overtook both of them.

Rachel and Trent woke at the same time. They seemed to be in the same bed as in the prison, but the air was sweeter, fresher. There was a slight breeze flowing around the room. The scent of cinnamon and wine was overpowering, heavy and cloying. They both sat up, still holding hands and Trent scooted over to her side of the bed and put his arm around her shoulder. Rachel suddenly noticed about a dozen or so elves in robes standing against the outer walls of the room. This room was similar to the first room she'd been in, and there was a door heading out to somewhere. The elves were quiet, and creepy.

As if they had been waiting for him, they all stood straight as Sa'han Colussi walked through the door. He spoke directly to Trent. "Is it true the demon is carrying an elf-demon progeny? We have believed this was impossible for centuries. We are aware of the progress your labs have made in this area, but we were unaware a solution had been found. It is, frankly, unbelievable."

Trent answered first in English, "My WIFE, my bond mate needs to be out of the stressful environment immediately for her safety and the safety of what she carries inside her. It is the goddess's wish that she be free to carry an elf-demon hybrid into our world. This is the key to ending the war between our two species, and it is well past time for us, as elves, to take the lead in this action. Are we not the true superior species?" He winced as he said his last remark and looked at Rachel. But she was spacing out, and didn't appear to hear him.

And then Trent spoke in Elvish, and Rachel perked up enough to look at him in annoyance. This is just rude. She thought, peeved.

After one of the elves along the wall started to move towards them, Trent put Rachel behind him and started to sing in Elvish, and wild magic seemed to swirl around them. The elf backed off, clearly waiting for further instructions. Trent stopped singing.

At a motion from Sa'han Colussi, all the other elves left the room, leaving the three of them together.

They were all quiet for several seconds until Sa'han Colussi said, "You are correct Sa'han Kalamack. There has been an ongoing discussion about changing our stance toward the demon war. We are at a stalemate in the global enclave, and your voice, as the American Sa'han, will be the deciding factor. It's been obvious where you stand in this issue for the past year, after you refused to renegotiate your marriage contract with the Withins. No one had any idea you were as involved with the demons as you are, but the connection was obvious. I'll admit, I have been a voice against the end of the war. But progeny changes everything. It has to be with the goddess's blessing, or it could not have happened. We will escort you and Mal Sa'han Kalamack to the hotel in Geneva where the enclave is meeting today. The vote on the demon war has not been taken, and you will be given a chance to speak."

"We would not have held you much more than a few more days, but your bond connection was strong enough to bring your Mal Sa'han to you right through the line. I had no idea that such a bond could be created between the two species, but it is obvious it has been. We will let you speak, let you explain, to the Enclave, and the vote will be held after that. Please come with me and we will give you some real food and then reunite you with your friends and employees."

Rachel's reunion with Ivy and Jenks was heartfelt and touching. She even gave Kisten a little hug, causing Trent to grimace. He clenched his jaw when she hugged Paul and Bob, and they both looked over at Trent with shock and apprehension. But he just made a dismissive gesture, and then walked over to thank each one of them personally for protecting his wife and her friends. He promoted both of them on the spot and promised each a healthy bonus. No wonder his employees loved him and were so loyal, Rachel thought.

When she had a chance to sit down with Ivy alone, Ivy again pleaded with her to come back to Cinci with them to give herself a chance to think things through. Rachel sighed, and said, " I do think your idea has merit, but I have to back Trent up at the enclave meeting. Its a dangerous situation and he may need my help. I think we will be coming home right after the meeting, and we will come over to the church right after we check on Lucy and Ray. We'll all sit down and talk things through then, OK?"

Ivy sighed and said, "It'll always be something with you two, won't it? Something you have to work on together, and only you two can solve. Your life has become so complicated, maybe too complicated for a homebody like me. But I'll always be here to back you up when you need me. And to pick up the pieces if that ever becomes necessary, but I don't think it ever will. He does love you, I can see it in the way he looks at you, the way he treats you. He will never be an easy person to be with and that's probably why you two will work."

Rachel went over to Trent and kissed him lightly and said, "Come on elf man, we've got an enclave to win over! And Trent, I understand why you said the thing about the babies, but do you think it will ever be...possible? Don't get me wrong, I love Lucy and Ray, and there are all the babies I need right now, but maybe in the future?"

And Trent put his arms around her, and said, "Yes, I really think it is. And I can't wait for a little red haired demon-elf to be running us ragged. Because if he is anything like you, we are in for a lot of trouble!"

They said their goodbyes to everyone and finally it was time for Rachel and Trent to say goodbye to Jenks. They exchanged Hi-5s with one finger to his hand, and then Jenks flew up to sit on Rachel's shoulder. They hadn't had the opportunity to talk together in private the entire time he'd been in Switzerland.

Jenks said, "Tinks little pink dildo Rache, you smell weird!" And then he sniffed deeper, pulling in Rachel's scent.

"I'm gonna kill you cookie maker!" He said to Trent.

And then to Rachel, "You should have just told me before, I'd of understood!"

Rachel and Trent exchanged confused looks.

"Tink's little blue blanket, Rache, you're pregnant!"