Character Interviews

How did it start?

Jessie: My wedding to Walt Arbol, Jr. was no longer the intimate setting I wanted. His mother took control and hired a planner when she didn’t like the venues I selected. Totally insane. What I really wanted was a small ceremony with a barbecue, beer, and fire on the beach. I loved Walt with all my heart, but more than once I wondered if I was right for him and his lavish world. I’m more simplistic, down-to-earth, while he is sophisticated and driven.

After our engagement party, at his parents’ estate, I went for a morning jog. I admired an abandoned farmhouse where children, I’m guessing from the neighborhood, were playing outside. On my return, I saw smoke billow from the farmhouse windows, and the children weren’t in sight. They were inside. I ran in to save them. The last thing I remembered was falling off the porch’s roof when it collapsed, until I woke again in the hospital, after being placed in a coma. But I wasn’t in a coma. I went to a different, parallel world. My life had changed, and I had to tell my fiancé that I was in love with another man, a warrior and protecter, from this other universe.

What was your reaction?

Walt: Jessie, my beautiful bride-to-be, had been nervous about the upcoming wedding. I get it, but my mother knew how to plan for the 300-plus guests that the family would need to invite. (Chuckling) My mother’s idea of a small wedding was different than Jessie’s. I knew once we were over the wedding, our lives would settle down.

All went to hell when I learned Jessie was in the hospital after saving those kids. For three months I stayed by her side, ignoring my business duties, while she was in the coma. We didn’t know if she was going to live or die. And then she woke. She thrashed and called out a name I didn’t understand or know. And then to hear my grounded Jessie say that she went to another world? (Head shaking) I was shocked. Who in the hell was this Jezero?

She wanted to tell me what happened to her, about this place. I refused to listen. For a couple of days, the tension between us was unbearable. I couldn’t get through to her that she never left the hospital. I was with her the entire time. And then my friend Sam convinced me to listen to her side of the story. Maybe she needed to tell me about her dream to heal and process what happened. If not, I could lose her forever. Sam was right. I’d listen so I could prove to her it was only a dream. But what she said ….

How did you find her?

Jezero: My men and I were nothing but tired as we traveled through a storm in enemy land. The rain fell with such intensity not even the forest offered protection. As I contemplated our path, I heard my name called, a desperate voice ran through me. I couldn’t ignore the calling. We turned toward the sea where we found the woman, unconscious yet breathing. I knew she was special. I had no choice but to take her with us to Dusken, my sanctuary. I named her Jezamina. This woman put me and my men’s lives in danger, but I had to listen to the calling and protect her. Once Vyrone, the Morlorn’s evil doyen, learned how she was found on his land, he’d do whatever it took to reclaim his “property.” Aye, the battle was soon to begin.

Last thoughts?

Jessie: Walt didn’t want to hear me out. I get it. But he had to understand what I went through. Why I changed. And, I needed to prove to myself that the other world existed. I have to get back to Jezero. Too many lives are in danger because of me.