Page 2 of Dreaming of an Omega Christmas
Legend had it that our curse could be broken by meeting our fated mate: our soul mate. The only catch was that our soulmate had to be another wandering elf, and considering we were constantly on the move, it was pretty hard to actually sit down and come across each other. Even then, I wasn't sure how long we had to spend with each other to figure out whether or not we were soulmates. I never felt anything with the handful of wandering elves I met over the years. They said that we’d “just know.” And then the curse will break, and we'll be able to settle down somewhere and call it a home. Wouldn't that be nice?
I felt sometimes like Vale Valley could be that home. After all, the residents called it a place for those looking for a home and for love. Maybe that's why my path led me there so often. Aside from the fact I had yet to find either.
The bus continued along for most of the day on the way to New York City, stopping for a small lunch and then a dinner. With each growing mile between me and where I had been stuck, it was like a weight was lifting. I felt fantastic. Thanks to being up all night, I fell asleep.
~~~***~~~
A loud sound, like the screech of brakes woke me from my sound sleep. I looked around, trying to figure out why the bus stopped.
“Are we there?” I groggily asked another passenger.
She turned around in her seat and smiled at me. “The driver was having some trouble with the engine, so we took the next exit and found an auto shop. He’s not sure if we will have to change buses or not.”
Well, that was as clear a sign as any. This was my stop.
I hoisted my bag onto my shoulder, nodded to the other passenger in thanks, and headed down off the bus. I began my habitual scan of the horizon, looking for a hotel or some kind inn, or a coffee shop. I’d head in, get my bearings, and figure out where I'd spend the next few days. Once settled, I’d see if there was anywhere noteworthy to visit for my travel blog. The blog provided a decent enough income for a comfortable life on the move, but the occasional curse-provided windfall always helped.
I spotted a little hotel across the street and waited for the cars to clear, absently reading the signage around me. I gasped when I realized I recognized the name of the town. More than that, I knewexactlywhere it was located. I was no more than twenty minutes away from Vale Valley!
My path always took me back sooner or later, but it had barely been six months since I was there last, which was odd. There were usually a few years between visits. It was an unusual coincidence. But, I supposed, a somewhat welcome one. Then again, I would have preferred to be there for Christmas instead of Thanksgiving, but some of the holiday decorations would already be on display, and it wasn't as if the homey nature of Vale Valley ever lost its luster, no matter what time of the year was.
I found myself grinning at the thought of returning, and reached into my pocket for my phone to order a ride. After paying for lunch and dinner with the fifty that I found, I had a feeling I’d have almost exactly enough left to offset the cost of the trip to Vale Valley.
As I pulled up my app to find a ride, a wide grin spread across my face. I was going back.
Chapter Two
Travis
The sound of a crying baby echoed out of the baby monitor. Elarian set down his hand of cards and smiled ruefully across the table at us.
“Excuse me,” he said. “It's time for night feeding number one.”
I set down my cards and stood as well. “I should be getting back home anyway, but thanks for dinner.”
“Anytime.” We met halfway around the table and he gave me a tight hug. “Will you come over tomorrow for tea?”
“Probably.” It wasn't as if I had anything better to do.
“And you are coming for Thanksgiving?” Elarian confirmed for the hundredth time.
“If you're sure,” I said. “I don't want to crash your first Thanksgiving together.”
He took my hands in his. “We wouldn't be here to celebrate Thanksgiving at all, if it wasn't for you,” he said earnestly. “It won't be the same without you.”
“I'll be there then,” I promised.
The crying started working its way up into a wail. Elarian flashed me a grin and waved goodbye, before jogging across the living room and up the stairs.
“I'll walk you out,” said Traviel, standing as well.
There was no need for that. I knew the house as if it was my own, which it practically was. Nevertheless, I let him walk to the front door with me. Our faces reflected in the glass as he opened the door and, after almost six months, I still wasn't used to seeing a face that could have been my twin. The only visible difference were the slightly pointed tips of his elf ears, compared to my normal human ones.
“Have a good night, Travis,” he told me.
“You too, Traviel.”
I didn't bother looking both ways as I crossed the quiet street to my house. We were tucked away in a quiet corner of Vale Valley and there was rarely traffic. In fact, I didn't even lock my door most days.
