Flight (Children of the Sidhe) by J.R. Pearse Nelson Page B

idea. I’m returning beyond the veil. Abarta already tried my mother’s house, where I was raised. He thinks I’ve moved on, and I seriously doubt he’ll return. If he does, I have Hawk.”
    “ You’ve only just discovered your hawk. Give yourself time and you may discover other gifts. You need our help, Nathan. Let us help.” The last came out on a sob, and for the first time, Nathan understood that Tessa truly feared for him.
    “ You could come with me.”
    She stared at him, as if she’d never considered leaving before. “I can’t do that. I’ve lived here all my life.”
    “ Seriously? Is that as rare among Sidhe as it is among humans?”
    “ It’s not rare at all here. Things pass from one generation to the next. My brother is always off on his adventures. He can stay any time he likes, but he keeps a place in Underworld, by portal it’s like a three-minute walk from the Authority Guard.”
    “ Underworld? What does that mean?”
    Tessa fisted her hands on her hips. “I see Nemglan still left much of the explaining to me,” she huffed. “The world of Tir Nan Og is split, as the human world once was. Middleworld in Tir Nan Og – where we are now – is the most similar to the human world beyond the veil. Underworld is a darker place, accessible through portals.”
    “ So, is it literally under? Like under my feet right now?”
    “ Not quite. It isn’t in quite the same plane, but this is all esoteric. The truth of it is that most Sidhe can move between Underworld and Middleworld using established portals. Only one can move between them by creating his own portals as he needs them; that is Ian’s power. Humans are better off staying in Middleworld, but half-humans seem able to travel in Underworld without problems, or at least that was the case for Hazel.”  
    Nathan saw that flicker in her eyes he always saw when she mentioned Hazel. Not for the first time, he wished she wasn ’t so obviously hung up on Ian.
    “ You said Tir Nan Og is split as the human world once was . In my world, they speak of the hells and the heavens. You’ve talked about Underworld, but is there anything above?”
    “ Excellent question. You are a sharp one, Nathan.” She appeared thrilled at his interest, and Nathan wondered if this was a topic that just didn’t come up much among them. Tessa was a scholar, after all. “Upperworld is different. Some may reach it, but when they do, they never return to this plane.”
    “ Never say never.”
    Tessa frowned. “Really, they never return.”
    “ It’s a saying beyond the veil, never say never .”
    “ Well, I don’t care for it. Here, when I say never, I mean never .”
    “ Understood. So why don’t they return? Are you saying it’s impossible? Or is it just so great there that they choose that place over this?”
    “ No one knows. How would we? They never return.” She smiled wildly, and Nathan took it as an attempt to soften her words. It came off a touch manic. She had so much to learn about humans. “I suspect they cannot return. Some have traveled there meaning to return and tell others what they learned, but it never came to pass.”
    They were silent for a moment. Nathan thought of the ramifications. There was so much to Tir Nan Og that he hadn ’t seen yet. So much to learn and discover. He had to admit he hadn’t felt this alive for a long time.
    “ Maybe you can show me a portal and how to use it, and I can return to visit. You’d give me a grand tour, wouldn’t you?” He smiled, trying to win her over.
    Her expression didn ’t budge. “I will give you a grand tour. Now.”
    He grimaced at her unyielding tone. “Tessa, I must go sometime.”
    “ Must you?” She laughed, and covered her mouth, her expression wilting. “Forget I said that.”
    “ I won’t. I just can’t believe you would actually mean it. You don’t need me for anything.”
    “ I like you, Nathan. I like spending time with someone who has no expectations of me.