Into the Eighth Sphere

Puck had called to Paracelsus several times telepathically hoping that he would be able to avoid passing down into this Eighth Sphere to find him ... but it perhaps it was that the preoccupied mind had blocked his message and could not receive him.

He would have wished at the very least to have an escort, but could not see any of the winged apes around to help.

He came to the rope ladder that trailed down the side and into the abyss. Although thick and wiry it was worn and showed signs of quite possibly giving way. He started to tremble for this was a face of Humanity he cared not to look at. An optimist at heart, he could not endure decrepitude.

Stepping closer he peered over, listening to the wailing that was rising from the distance below. He turned back quickly, forgiving himself his failure - with his nerves giving way to a new change of plan.

-Gabriel Brunsdon, Puck in Hell, Azlander Series

You could quite easily find his Window

The hues there were different to earth colors, and in strong contrast to the mainstream spiritual worlds he had known before. Most scenes were contrived with themes and it was like being in a dream that was more fanciful than even dreams could be.

But what was more fun again was finding the windows - and everybody had one.

By following the Avatar you could quite easily find his window once you started to look for it - and there you could see through to the character who was actually driving him - which gave a whole new meaning to the 'graphical interface operating systems' and the Microsoft word termed 'Windows'.

-Gabriel Brunsdon, Puck in Hell, Azlander Series

She Awoke with a Choking Sensation

Marley desperately needed to talk with someone, but
she didn't know whom to turn to.

It was only after she had returned back from the Island that it had dawned on her how unsavoury that time with 'the creature' had been. She would catch herself repeatedly thinking of him.

She soon developed nightmares where he would appear in the dark around midnight, pressing down upon her until she awoke with a choking sensation that left no breath to call out with.

-Gabriel Brunsdon, Puck in Hell, Azlander Series 

When Gnomes had Twilight Fairs

The spiritual planes are many, and with shifting vistas, that are not so easy a reality for the human mind to take in and keep - for men are made of a solid state matrix which prefers to be in one place at the one time, and they are not partial to the parallel realities.

Puck spoke of the age when zebras were all black; when children could see their Angels; when folk spoke the truth.

He told of an era of peace when the Earth herself was relaxed - when birds' feathers were luminescent and could light up the night sky in flight.

He talked of the time when Nature was responsive to thought, and you could walk to the water's edge and it would curl back its waves just for the asking. Of ages when there were unicorn races; and trade between kingdoms; when gnomes had twilight fairs, where fresh bread was nicer than cake.

Of times when the Wind actually talked - in the hollows of rocks and caves it could chatter and call, speak poetry and prophesize, and its songs would travel far over the mountains and teach the wild children of the north.

An age of oracles and far seeing vision - of artistry and intimacy - before the disease of disbelief had succoured the modernist minds.

His stories were all true - of spheres and planes and aeons lost - tales he kept safe within his own living memory, his testimony of what once was, now gone.

-Gabriel Brunsdon, Puck in Hell, Azlander Series

Humans Could Fly with the Ease of their Spirits

He had not spoken of his burdens to Marley for her spirit needed some comfort rather than distraction, and his graphic account of worldly calamity was too much for him in the present, let alone her.

Instead he told great stories of former times - when fruits would explode on the bough of giant trees and shower their seeds like fireworks; when humans could fly with the ease of their spirits, and horses wore silver shoes.

When someone from Faerie ever tells you something, you can see it - you can feel it - you believe it. For the true value of enchantment and its glamour, is in the imparting of a truth - by truth's own persuasion it makes itself real.

The strength of any magic lies within its fundamental realities, not within an empty falsehood as might be most commonly thought.

-Gabriel Brunsdon, Puck in Hell, Azlander Series

Puck had Broken Several of his Own Rules

His eyes were smiling and he seemed to look right back at her as though she should recognize him - and for no reason known to her, she immediately felt at ease with this stranger.

Whether it was the faerie dust, or Puck's own charisma, or possibly the fact that he had genuinely loved her with long time affection -whatever the attraction- she pulled the chain from across the door and let him in.

In the morning she would remember nothing of his coming at all - the only thing she knew was that the day after felt incredibly cheerful and full of light.

Puck had broken several of his own rules, and a few of the Fey laws besides. Getting to know Marley like that, he told himself, was good for them both, or so he had hoped.

-Gabriel Brunsdon, Puck in Hell, Azlander Series