Escape To Gettis And Love

By Gerri Bowen

Koozie and Dromo are back

Maggie is content with her life as it is. She’s divorced, and makes a good living as a massage therapist in Gettysburg. She is not ready to accept there is an open portal to Viking Ireland in her back yard that is open. Yet when the intruders come through, she is attracted by one man’s aura, Joren. She later finds out that he saved her brother and is a healer, which attracts her even more. Yet she’s been hurt before. Despite her inner fears of commitment, she believes she could be happy with this man.

When the portal is discovered to be open, Joren knows it’s time to go through to Gettis and rescue those children who had been stolen away so many years ago. With permission from the old man, Joren collects his men, the prisoner, and his sword, Singer of Mighty Blood Songs and enters Gettis. His world is rocked. Wonders abound and the children are safe. His mission is now changed. One of the reasons is Maggie. Would she have him?

The evidence of Arndt, an evil man who is pursuing the travelers puts everyone in Gettis at risk. Without alerting the outside world of their portal, can they defeat Arndt and his men, and live happily ever after?

Koozie and Dromo will help them.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Gerri Bowen
• Release date: Oct 18, 2015
• ISBN: 9781310084713

Gerri Bowen

Gerri lives in south central Pennsylvania with her family, two dogs and far too many cats. Her books and stories can be found in the romance section. Some are Time Travel, some Historical and some contemporary. All involve fantasy and the paranormal and humor.

Book preview

Escape to Gettis and Love Copyright 2015 by Gerri Bowen

Published by EverSummerLand

Cover design and Layout by www.formatting4U.com

Smashwords Edition, License Notes:

This ebook is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. This ebook may not be re-sold or given away to other people. If you would like to share this book with another person, please purchase an additional copy for each recipient. If you’re reading this book and did not purchase it, or it was not purchased for your use only, then please return to Smashwords.com and purchase your own copy. Thank you for respecting the hard work of this author.

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced in any form or by any electronic or mechanical means, including information storage and retrieval systems—except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles or reviews—without permission in writing from the author at [e-mail]. This book is a work of fiction. The characters, events, and places portrayed in this book are products of the author’s imagination and are either fictitious or are used fictitiously. Any similarity to real persons, living or dead, is purely coincidental and not intended by the author.

For more information on the author’s works, please see www.GerriBowen.com

This book is Dedicated to the memory of

BonfireBob

Acknowledgments

I thank the Central Pennsylvania Romance Writers for all their help, enthusiasm, laughter and our annual retreat.

I thank Emily Norment for being my first reader.

I also thank fellow CPRW friends Vicky Burkholder, Joyce Meyers and C.C. Farmer for reading this and giving me their suggestions on how to make it better.

I'd like to thank Judi Fennell for her editing skills as well as her formatting skills.

The Cast of Characters:

Maggie- Our heroine.

Colin-Maggie’s brother.

Nora-Colin’s wife.

Patty-Maggie’s granddaughter.

Helen-Matriarch of the family.

The Boys-Colin’s friends from childhood on.

Joren-A Dane who resides in Ireland. Our hero.

Captain David Heacock-A Civil War surgeon/soldier who one night wandered from the battlefield and through a portal into Viking Age Ireland.

Sheila-Doctor and Nora’s sister.

Laurel-Maggie’s daughter and mother to Patty.

Jimbo-The Sheriff.

Brendan-Maggie’s brother.

Kelly-Maggie’s sister.

Moira-Nora and Colin’s daughter.

The Patterson’s-Adopted Nora and Sheila.

Glossary:

My Wild-Blooded World

For those readers unfamiliar with my work, these pages describe those unknown creatures you’ll be reading about in this book. The full list is on my website www.gerribowen.com

AMAZON PEACE KEEPERS:

The Amazon Peacekeepers was an army of women, of mostly Immes, Pelldari and Shenti origins, who kept the peace wherever they were sent. Their success came from their development of the shot shield. It was form fitting body armor that could deflect any missile, any object at all, and return it to its source.

Their popularity with the masses was due to the fact they never harmed anyone. Any fatalities or injuries occurred against the ones who fired on the Peacekeepers.

Their training was vigorous. Many girls were injured and maimed, some died before learning how to move their body to deflect. Many thought Queen MariVI the embodiment of grace and skill when she deflected with her head and arms and body, obliterating any who sought to disrupt the peace by throwing bombs and missiles. She maintained an Amazon had to strengthen her precognitive abilities so as to better anticipate an attack.

(THE) AMELIA:

It came to pass that one of the planets was special, because when it was formed it was formed with the love of life into every particle of its matter. On this particular planet, all life knew an urge to grow, and to grow joyfully and abundantly, uncontrolled and amuck, as it were.

It was here that the Da TamPanni set up the sanctuary, a place for all beings of the universe could come for shelter, refuge and healing. He placed this sanctuary in an area he called Breen, on land that would become islands and ocean, on The Amelia, also known as the planet Earth.

(THE) COUNCIL:

Organized to ensure normal humans remain ignorant, and unharmed, by those with the Wild Blood.

Council members also befriend those humans with Wild Blood, taking the time to train them in how to use their gifts.

(THE) DA TAMPANNI:

In the beginning, when all the souls that ever would be burst into the void and began seeking knowledge of The Plan, the Da TamPanni was first in their midst. He began as a star sweeper, deriving great pleasure in sweeping the debris of the Great Opening and forming belching balls of gas, brilliant, giant stars. All this with just his thoughts, mind you.

Creator was pleased by Da TamPanni’s diligence, delighted as the Da formed a star and then surrounded it with fifteen plants, each one different from the others, for this showed Creator that Da TamPanni understood The Plan. As a reward for his fantastic brilliance, the Da TamPanni was given governance over this star and its planets, and all that might evolve upon them.

It was on Breen that the Da TamPanni set up the sanctuary, a place for all beings of the universe who could come for shelter, refuge and healing. Since Breen also served as a portal, a door through time, its existence was to be kept secret and protected.

The Da TamPanni preferred to let mortals interact with other mortals whilst he dealt with his other worlds and his other-worldly visitors. He began the practice of selecting amongst the Wild Blooded mortals to form a family, and placing them in charge of Breen.

With that honor came the understanding that this family would guard Breen, keep the peace within and allow none to enter. Nor was talk about Breen allowed lest that encourage the curious and greedy. He placed no restraints on how the family maintained control of Breen’s borders.

The consequences for disobedience were well known…death or banishment. However, people being what they are, there were times a dynasty failed, and a new dynasty was established.

The Da TamPanni is not a god. Woe to the one who places the name TamPanni and God in the same sentence. He will, however, allow himself to be called an angel.

DENNENE:

The Dennene are everywhere on The Amelia. Although given their own dimension to call their own, they slip into ours regularly. Wild, untamed spaces attract them, or areas gone to weedy growth. They come into our dimension to enjoy the chlorophyll. They get off on it.

You know when you come upon them, for although they remain unseen, you’ll sense a cold, unemotional presence. If that happens, it means they’re cautioning you to go away or stop digging, or pulling a particular weed. The Dennene don’t know weeds. All growth is precious to them. If you explain aloud what you’re doing, transplanting something to another area, or pulling up this so you can plant flowers, they might assist you.

On the other hand, they might warn you to leave well enough alone. If you ignore their warning, then generally whatever you attempted won’t work. They knew that ahead of time and warned you. You didn’t listen. Apologize immediately.

Some people have had success with the Dennene by keeping up a continual stream of conversation whilst gardening. By explaining what you hope to accomplish, you would be amazed by the assistance they give. Or you might drive them away with your incessant chatter.

Generally tall and fair, they have pointed ears and show themselves as a white or shiny human-like form. When sighted by humans, they are sometimes called Fae, or Faery, ghost or angel.

Dennene generally don’t like anyone but other Dennene, which is why they have their own dimension to live in. They don’t have emotions like humans. Long ago when they battled the Nosrum, ridding their selves of emotion is what saved them as a race. They don’t understand deep emotion, but it intrigues them, sometimes disgusts them. Yet some are attracted to us because of our emotions; perhaps their racial memory remembers and misses emotion.

Beauty attracts them. Beauty of face, form or voice. A Dennene, male or female, will follow a particularly beautiful person, sometimes for years, and may even try to persuade that person to follow them back to their dimension.

The Dennene believe they found the Shadow. All are proficient at using either the large or small Shadow.

The Dennene deny the Fae are related to them.

At this point in time, their ability to vanquish Nosrum is their claim to fame. Their abilities may include entering minds, creating illusions, and altering local weather. They can have exceptionally long lives.

DENNENE PATROL:

Members of the Patrol are an exception to the normal Dennene. Formed by the Da TamPanni, the Patrol is composed of Dennene whose minds are just a little more open to other creatures outside their dimension…Dennene who have compassion. A small sliver of compassion, but it’s there. Again, a hint of what had been before their battles with the Nosrum.

There is always a group of riders out searching for Nosrum. They will not always go out of their way to help humans, but may help someone if they have the blood of Dennene flowing in their veins.

DROMO THE MAGNIFICENT:

Dromo the Magnificent has been much maligned, due to the fact that after accepting the assignment that brought him millions of years into the past, he destroyed three planets and lost another three. Once he realized he was about to destroy three inhabited worlds, he transferred as many life forms as he could onto The Amelia.

By remaining to rescue the doomed, Dromo lost his arms and legs. Being part Pelldari, he self healed, but later, after watching the Wizard of Oz, decided he liked the look of steel arms and legs, substituting steel for tin.

It is whispered that since the Da didn’t destroy Dromo for his actions, merely forbid him entry to The Amelia, that Dromo must be one of the Da’s children.

Dromo sneaked onto The Amelia whenever he could. He liked London, particularly 1960’s-70’s London, where he could wander with his steel arms and legs, and no one gave him a second glance. It was there he met Spoe.

The Da interceded for Dromo eons later, when he was brought to trial for the destruction of one million Antilier egg cases. Dromo maintained he was set up. The Da may have believed him, for again, he wasn’t destroyed. Instead, the Da TamPanni sentenced Dromo to an indeterminable number of centuries of habitation on The Amelia, but in animal form, to learn a lesson.

FAE:

The Fae, faery, or fairy evolved early on The Amelia. Although they are distantly related to the Dennene, they deny any association.

GIFTED:

Those humans who have the Wild Blood, and can access their gifts, whatever they may be.

NOSRUM:

Where the Nosrum originated is a mystery. Some say from the silent sector of the universe, because they destroyed all life there and now hunt in our sector. They seek to destroy.

They have no visible form of their own, but slip into bodies from whatever planet they happen to inhabit, like a type of possession. They feed off fear. The greater the fear they create, the stronger they become.

When reading about someone accused of murder, much to the shock of all who knew the accused, it is a given that Nosrum has used that person. Even animals will be used, because unprovoked animal attacks produce large amounts of fear.

Killing a person or animal hosting a Nosrum will not kill the Nosrum. The Nosrum slips away to the next host, usually the one who has just murdered his host. Angry people, battles, riots attract Nosrum. So do important people like royalty, politicians, and church officials.

The Dennene hunt the Nosrum. It is said that because the Dennene long ago fled the Nosrum instead of fighting them, they will never have another home of their own until all Nosrum are extinguished. When they find a creature possessed, three or more Dennene corner it, tie it down, and stare until the Nosrum is forced from the body.

Some believe Nosrum is a fungus, floating through space until it settles on a planet.

PELLDARI:

From planet Pelldar in the Pelldari star system. Although Pelldar remains intact, The Amelia draws the Pelldari to visit, as well as to borrow humans that interest them. They have always been on this planet.

The Pelldari are known for their healing, having perfected mind to cell treatment. Since they are capable of extending and restoring the life of any cell in the body, they have the means to extend life forever.

The Amelia has fascinated the Pelldari since it was first discovered. Their love for this tiny, yet lush wild world, lead them to rescue many species that are now extinct. It was the Pelldari who began Animal Control.

Pelldari blend in wherever they go. They can heal, read minds, and project their thoughts.

QUEEN MARI VI:

The last free Queen of the Amazons, Koozie defied Sector One concerning their decision to use her peacekeepers for purposes other than peace.

Resisting arrest, she escaped with ten thousand of her personal guard and one Northman. Since she felt obligated to return the Northman to his home from where he’d been taken, she decided that this planet was as good as any to hide her guard. Dropping off the women five hundred at a time, throughout the centuries, wherever they took a fancy, Koozie counted on the fact The Da TamPanni was as tight-assed as everyone asserted him to be, and wouldn’t allow Sector One to invade and capture her peace warriors.

Her plan to return and form a resistance against Sector One was foiled when the Da took her to task about the invasion of ten thousand alien women. He may have let her go if she hadn’t complained her warriors were without their shot shields since she’d shucked them, ten thousand shot shields, in some large and deep body of water.

Koozie joined Dromo in his animal adventures, ostensibly to learn some lesson.

SECTOR ONE:

Initially formed to address grievances, once men began to take on the bulk of work it somehow evolved into a huge, complex governing body that took itself very seriously.

Seeing an opportunity to expand its influence with the help of the invincible Amazon Peacekeepers, the First Director tried to force Queen MariVI to cooperate. His successor ordered her arrest for treason.

Sector One is now concentrating on finding a new Queen who will listen to reason.

(THE) SHADOW:

The Large Shadow serves as a short cut through the universe. Unfortunately, since its discovery, many unfriendly entities have used the Large Shadow as a place to hide, making it a sometimes dangerous place to be.

Terialis has taken on the task to help and guard those who inadvertently enter inside.

The Small Shadow is used for Shadow Blending. Like pulling a piece of blanket over you to hide.

SHENTI:

Shifters.

Wild Shenti prefer to remain in animal form, and have little use for non-Shenti.

Civilized Shenti shift when they desire to do so. They are as comfortable in their human-like form as their chosen animal form.

Usually larger than most humans, they are also stronger, more agile, and faster.

Some claim all the races of beings descended from Shenti.

TERIALIS:

A Dennene who travels the Large Shadow, protecting the innocent.

VAMPIRES:

Sunshine vampires are natural healers. Using their eyes to entrance, they then use their fangs to extract illness or poisons, or, inject healing mixtures into a body.

Sunshine vampires gave up their hunting and blood feasting when they had to accept sanctuary on The Amelia. They now eat regular food. They still have their fangs.

Blood vampires are rogue vampires, who have reverted back to blood feasting. Even though they don’t kill their victims, the Council must ferret out the rogue and destroy them, before humans become aware and panic ensues.

However, if Nosrum possesses a blood vampire, the next time that vampire bites, he will turn the victim into a Nosrum vampire. The Dennene are immediately called in to assist.

Vampires originated on one of the planets Dromo the Magnificent destroyed.

WILD BLOOD:

A human who has any mixture of Dennene, Shenti, Pelladri, that is, any extraterrestrial blood in their veins. Some humans with Wild Blood have no gifts at all, whilst some are very gifted. A human with Wild Blood who is gifted needs to be trained in their abilities, lest they begin to think they are losing their mind.

Chapter One

In Which Maggie’s World Changes Forever

In Just Four Minutes

Gettysburg Pa Present day

Twirling a lock of her short hair while considering the ten freshly baked and decorated cakes set out, all ready for tomorrow’s birthday party for her daughter and granddaughter, Maggie had to admit the smells in her kitchen were always a delicious after effect when she baked. She wondered if she’d made enough. Had Nora, her sister-in-law, made all the pies she promised she would?

Her phone sang and she smiled. It was her brother, Colin. How’d you know I was ready to call my favorite sister-in-law?

Your only sister-in-law, you mean. Nora told me to let you know she has the pies all ready. All ten thousand. All gluten-free. Wants to know if we should we bring them over now or wait until tomorrow.

Where’s Nora?

Getting dressed. Took a shower after the baking frenzy.

Maggie chuckled. Today or tomorrow is fine. Whenever you have time. I assumed you’d be busy picking up the Patterson’s at the airport today.

Nora says one of our kids will go.

Maggie looked forward to seeing Nora’s parents again. They were so nice. Unlike some in-laws. My ex-mother-in-law finally called. Their coming tomorrow.

You sound thrilled.

She guilted me again. I really don’t know how that woman does it. Made me feel guilty for inviting her.

You let her get to you. Tell her to take a hike the next time she starts.

Maggie rolled her eyes and picked up the tempo of her hair twirling. As if she’d actually say that. Out loud. And give her the proof that I’m the unfeeling, selfish ex-daughter-in-law she already thinks I am?

True, but why do you care? Enough about ex-inlaws. How’s Mom?

A bit agitated. Maggie looked out the kitchen window into the back yard to check on her mother and granddaughter, but didn’t see them. Has her slingshot. She’s also collecting rocks again. Asked where the guns were. She walked onto the screened-in porch to look out, her dog, Daisy, at her heels, but she still didn’t see them. Before you ask, the guns are locked away as always, and she doesn’t know the combination. Maggie stepped down into the yard, Daisy nearly knocking her over in her haste to reach the yard, and continued her barking.

What has you so excited, girl? Maggie looked in her mother’s direction when she heard yelling. Her mother never yelled like that.

Maggie hurried toward her mother, aware of her brother trying to get her attention. Mom’s yelling at Patty. Daisy’s barking. They’re—

Maggie stared, unable to make sense of what she saw. In the middle of the huge bank of forsythia growing in the far back yard, a circle of motion appeared in front of one bush. A circle of motion that went round and around, getting bigger. Sound emanated from the circle, like… chattering? Buzzing? Or was it laughter?

Patty ran toward the spinning circle. Maggie’s stomach dropped. No! Patty, no! Maggie shouted as she and her mother ran to catch Patty. First Patty, then Maggie’s mother entered the circle and disappeared. Daisy trotted after them and also disappeared.

Maggie stopped. They were gone from sight. They’d vanished. Where’d they go? Should she go into the circle, too? Call for help. But who would she call? How would she describe what was happening? The sound was faint, but she became aware of a voice calling her.

She looked down and realized she still held the phone. She put it back to her ear. Mom, Patty, and Daisy just disappeared into a circle! I know that sounds weird, but they just went into a a swirling mass of… I don’t know what. It was in the backyard. They went in and then… wham! They disappeared! It was the forsythia bush, the one Mom always watches . They just vanished! What should—

Don’t go in there, Maggs. Listen to me, don’t go in! We’ll be right over! Don’t hang up.

Maggie nodded, aware of her brother calling out instructions she assumed to the boys. She moved closer, careful not to get too close just in case the strange circle had the power to suck her in too.

She inched forward to see if they’d fallen into a hole, as unlikely as that was, but no, the ground looked normal, no holes, just dirt, old leaves, and thick roots. As quick as the thought occurred, she ran around to the back of the bushes, but everything was normal. No spinning circle here. She went back around to where the three had disappeared.

How could they vanish like that? Into thin air? Or rather, vanish into a forsythia bush?

Mom? she called out. Patty? Do you hear me? Come back home! If you hear me, please come—Aah! She jumped back when her mother and granddaughter suddenly appeared, Daisy right behind them, wagging her tail and still barking.

Relieved to see them reappear, she frowned when she saw their clothing and shoes were gone, well, all except for their underpants. Underpants they had to hold up because it looked as if the elastic was gone.

Daisy came up and nudged Maggie as if to remind her what a wonderful dog she was to bring her people back home. Maggie patted Daisy’s head, but frowned when she saw her collar was gone, along with her rabies and license tags. That was odd. How could Daisy lose them so quickly?

Never go through there again! Maggie’s mother, Helen, pulled Patty forward. Nothing but murdering Vikings in there. It’s dangerous. Helen looked up and glared. Your granddaughter didn’t listen. I told her to stop, but no, she just kept going on, laughing like this was all one big joke.

Maggie frowned at the unusually angry colors of her mother’s aura. Distress and fear was in there too. Where were you? What happened?

Helen made a face and flicked her hand as if the question was of little importance.

Maggie tried again, anger slowly beginning to build, quickly replacing her fear. What happened to your clothes?

Her mother looked down as if just noticing what she was—or rather, wasn’t—wearing. Colin warned me about that. I forgot. Her face darkened and she shook her head. "Patty didn’t listen. We need to get her to understand that we never, ever walk through the spinning circle of the portal."

Maggie looked at Patty, standing in her Hello Kitty panties, a big smile on her face. Her aura was a happy one. No fear, no distress. I heard the faeries, Grandma. They called me. They knew my name. It was okay.

Helen gave a a bark of laughter. "Ha! You can’t assume they were the good kind of The Fair People. That’s what you should call them. They don’t like the other word you used. So if you heard them call for you, then they were bad and meant to take you. Or allow the filthy Vikings to get you."

But they were good, Patty said. They knew my name. I heard them.

Maggie nodded, forced a smile, and took Patty’s hand. We need to get you dressed. She glared at her mother. Both of you. Then we’ll talk. She looked closer at her mother. You lost your glasses, didn’t you?

Helen’s hand touched her nose. I’ll use my old ones. She straightened. "Maybe now you’ll believe me about that bush. I warned you all that there was nothing but nasty Vikings on the other side, just waiting for the chance to steal us all away. They will, too."

Cars screeched in her driveway. Her brother and the boys had arrived. Had they come across the fields? She’d forgotten to tell Colin their mother and Patty had returned. Had he heard?

Maggie looked at her phone, but the connection was gone. She narrowed her eyes. Helen hinted that Colin knew about this strange bush. That he knew about disappearing clothes. Why hadn’t he told her about those very important things?

Mom, you and Patty go inside and get dressed. Stay there until Colin and I figure out what to do about this— She motioned toward the forsythia bush. She heard her mother actually snort.

Doesn’t matter what you do to it, it still comes back. We’ve all tried. With that, her mother turned and pulled Patty by the hand and headed toward the house.

Daisy remained by Maggie, panting, her tongue hanging out the side of her mouth.

Maggie frowned at the forsythia. The spinning circle was still there. What had her mother called it? A portal? What in the world was that? She looked back at her mother. They had tried to get rid of it but it still came back? Maggie shook her head. Whoever they were obviously hadn’t tried hard enough. Things like this… should not be.

Staying where she could keep her eye on the spinning circle, she waited for her brother to join her. And… Nora? Nora had come as well as five of the boys.

After her brother backed up a step when she turned to face him, Maggie briefly closed her eyes and took a deep, cleansing breath. She pointed to the forsythia. You knew about this? Colin and Nora shared a look. "You both knew?"

Colin nodded. He looked guilty. Nora looked concerned. As well as guilty.

Good. They should feel guilty. No one told me about this…whatever it is.

Well? What’s that thing and why didn’t you tell me? Why’s it here? Why did Mom and Patty lose their clothes?

Eric, one of the boys, stepped cautiously toward them. Should we set up now?

Colin nodded, and then motioned for her and Nora to go into the house.

Set up? Maggie put her hands on her hips and waited.

Nora poked her husband’s shoulder. She needs to be told.

I know. Colin snapped.

Why are the boys setting up? Maggie looked where the men were setting up and did a double take. "Swords? Shields? Bows and