His Only Reward **Completed and Free**

Chapter 25 : Are you coming home?

Jorōgumo Realm

Jamie’s POV

I  raced through the forest loving the feel of the wind in her hair. I loved nothing better then being in the forest with a bow on my back. My Curly fire red hair was pulled back in a ponytail. My skin was tanned from being out in the sun and I felt my face was flushed with exercise.  I  had been out all day foraging for food. So far all I had managed to find was some blackberries and mushrooms. I had also collected some willow bark to be made into tea for when someone had  a headache or monthlies. 

I reached the boarder of my home and suddenly had a feeling of dread, but I did not know why. I suddenly heard the bark of my old hunting dog Pickles. He always greets me when I come home, I bend down and fuss him. I race in the cottage and see Ma. I run to hug her, she hugs me back and asks “ What is that for Love?”

I release her and smile “ I don’t know Ma, I just really missed you today that’s all”. She similes at me, “why don’t you get yourself cleaned up for dinner? “ she says softly. I turn and race out to the water barrel and fill the wash tub. I start to splash my face with water.

“Hello Jamie“

“I look up to see who it was. I did not see anyone, not even DA.  “ I must be hearing things!” I mumbled to myself

“Jamie I know you Can here me” 

I looked everywhere again, but I could not see anything apart from a black cat. “Oh look at you! Aren’t you a nice ball of fuff! What your name hmmm?” I said in my best baby cooing voice.

“Jamie, first Stop talking to me like I am a baby, Second my name is Fluff. You gave me that name” fluff said firmly 

“What do you mean? I never met a handsome cat like you before!! “ I said. I did not feel surprised this cat was talking to me. Why was that?

“It not real Jamie, you must come home!“ Fluff said

What do you mean I am home already!

“Dinner!” I heard Ma shout. 

“ I am sorry Fluff, but I am not going anywhere. I am home.“ I turned and ran into the cottage. The strange cat followed me into the Kitchen.

“ Who that my love?” Ma smiled whilst looking at Fluff. Ma’s smile did not quite reach her eyes which was strange.

“Say I am a stray. DO NOT TELL HER I CAN SPEAK! “ Fuff said. For some reason I trusted him.

“Just a stray I found in the yard Ma.“

“You know I don’t like cats Jamie. Put him outside.” Ma snapped.

I said nothing and picked up Fluff.  I put him outside thinking “Ma loves cats! She always looked after abandoned Kittens.”

“See” Fluff said. “It senses danger. Jamie this place is not real, it is based on your memories“

“I turn round and went back in for my meal

Later that evening Da came back and I was excited to see him. ” Da!”  I yelled excited and gave him a hug. He laughed “ Hello my sweetheart, have you been a good girl today?” 

My heart suddenly felt tight. A memory flashed through my head, Da on the floor covered in blood saying “such a good girl”. 

“Are you ok sweetheart? “I heard my Da say. I pushed the memory away and smiled “of course Da! Can I practice my readIng with you?”

“Of course honey. Give me a few minutes to wash up”

“Ma?!” I shouted 

“Yes sweetie?“ Came the reply from the kitchen

“I think I having my bleed has start, I am going to take White Snakeroot for the pain - is that ok?” I said cheerfully. 

“Of course sweetheart, we don’t want you in any pain!”

“Thanks Ma!”  I replied. I walked to the shelf Over the fire place with some of Da books on. I picked one up and flicked through it. The pages were completely blank.

I sighed, “of course it is not real. Why would it be?” I grumbled

There was a shimmer next to me, Fluff appeared “ about time”

“Dam that cat!” Hissed the pretend Ma walking in from the kitchen.

“It was not him actually” I said

“What do you mean?” Demanded pretend Da who had come in.

“You guys are good, don’t get me wrong. But you made some fundamental errors.“ I said confidently 

“Such as?” Hissed pretend Ma

“Well for start White Snakeroot Is a poison for one, Ma would never let me take it. The second was the blank books I never had a chance to read, so there were no memories for you to work with.  Lastly Ma did love cats, she said there was a little bit in magic in all of them” 

“Well aren’t you a clever girl” hissed pretend Ma “Such a shame, you could have been so happy!  But now we will have to finish feasting on your soul”  Pretend Ma was suddenly transforing into a Jorōgumo. A monster with a women’s top half and a spider bottom half.

“Quick, the escape route is through the fire place” Fluff instructed 

“Are you nuts! There is a fire in the fire place!“ I shouted

“Well it is either that, or been sucked dry by her! So, are you coming home or what? ” Fluff said and then jumped in the fire.

The Monster was about to launch herself at me. “f**k it” I said and jumped in to the flames. I expected to feel burning sensation. Instead I felt like I was flying down a dark tunnel and then suddenly nothing.

Next moment I hear Richard shouting “YOU LEFT HER THERE! I AM GOING TO SKIN YOU ALIVE AND USE YOUR SKIN AS MY OWN PERSONAL d**k POUCH!“

“Ewww Richard that is not a mental image I wanted to wake up to. Don’t you think I been through enough today?” I said opening my eyes 

I was immediately encircled by strong arms and kissed throughly. “Thank Chaos you are alright! I could bloody kill you! What where you thinking?” He said with a rough edge to his voice.

“I could not bare you to go into the Darkness” I said softly.

“Don’t you ever, ever do anything like that again!! You split you soul, do you have any idea how dangerous that is?” He said crossly

“I didn’t, but I do now!” I said rubbing my head. She did not say she would do it all again in a heart beat.

Just then Edward came in, “Ahh sleeping beauty is awake at last! Just in time too!”

“Time for for what?” I said

“Time for you to go back to the mortal world. Princess you been out for weeks, it is the Summer Solstice.” Richard said sadly.

My heart sunk through the floor.