The Gathering (79 page)

"I know.
 
I'm so sorry."

"It's hard to breathe without you."

She reached up and touched his face.
 
He closed his eyes and relished the delicate traces of her skin against his.
 
He opened his eyes and she smiled.

"You’re here."

"You're dreaming," she said.

"I don't ever want to wake up."

He pulled her to him and kissed her softly, her hair blowing against his face.
 
His lips tingled as they gently moved against her cheek and he felt her breath against her ear.

"Wake up, Babe.
 
Please wake up."

He shook his head.

"No."

"Please… my mother needs you.
 
Please."

He stepped back and smiled.

"I never did get my way, did I?"

Alisha smiled and stepped away from him.

"Be happy, My Love… breathe."

She stepped farther away and began to fade.
 
The cold wind blew against his face.
 
His eyes opened as Connie and Quinn stared at him.

"You ok?"

Vance shifted and sat up.
 
He rubbed his eyes and ran a hand through his long black hair.

"Yeah, just a dream."

Quinn shifted and looked at the castle.
 
They were soon joined by Todd, who was holding a plate of food, which he handed it to Vance.

"Here you go.
 
You haven't really eaten."

"Not hungry."

Connie sighed and took the plate from Todd and shoved it into Vance's hands.

"Look, you need to eat.
 
Eventually we're going in there and you're going to need all your strength, so eat."

Vance stared at her and shrugged.

"Fine."

"Tonight's the full moon.
 
What do you think will happen?" Connie asked.

Vance shrugged and shoveled food into his mouth.
 
Quinn stared at the birds flying above the castle.

"When should we start to get ready?" he asked.

Connie sharpened her blade.

"When we see a sign.
 
No idea what would be, but we have to wait for a sign."

"Great."

“Yeah.”

They sat quietly waiting for a sign.
 
Vance finished his food and closed his eyes.
 
He wanted to dream.

124

The Shape stood on his balcony staring intently at the falcons that moved effortlessly above him, shadowed against the afternoon sun.
 
He was in awe of Alia Stark.
 
She had no reason to fight him like she had, and yet she refused to give in and call to her goddess.
 
He almost pitied her fate.
 
Almost.

There was a knock on the door.

"Enter."

Blaylock opened the door and walked in.

"Master?"

"Here, Thomas."

Blaylock walked to the balcony and stepped out.
 
He stood back by the door and waited.
 
The Shape looked away from the sky and sighed.

"It's time, Thomas.
 
Prepare the main room and prepare the princess.
 
It's your time.
 
Have fun."

Blaylock smiled, but then looked at his Master.

"You aren't coming down?"

"No, not until it's time.
 
You can do whatever you like to them, except kill them… yet."

"You want me to put the son and boyfriend with Stark?"

"Of course.
 
Please relay the rules to Rona and Gary.
 
I'll be joining you when the moon rises."

"Excellent!"

Blaylock turned to leave but stopped and turned back around.

"Oh yeah, what about the soldiers in the tank?"

The Shape turned back to the sky.

"As soon as I have what is rightfully mine, you can do what you want with them."

"Um, ok… does this have something to do with the taking of the magic or something?"

"Yes.
 
There are specific rules that must be obeyed.
 
We promised Mrs. Stark that her soldiers would be left alive and unharmed."

Blaylock looked confused and shook his head.

"Well, what about the boyfriend and the son?
 
We did some damage to them."

The Shape smiled and looked over at Blaylock.

"Yes, but neither one of those young men ever became a soldier.
 
They merely joined a rescue party.
 
She never asked us to spare them."

"Oh, I get it."

Blaylock started to smile and nod.

"Ok, I'm going.
 
They’ll be ready soon… and Master?"

"Yes?"

"Thanks for the princess.
 
I've been aching for it."

The Shape smiled and turned around as a falcon landed on the balcony edge.

"I know, Thomas, I know."

Blaylock grinned and bowed as he backed off the balcony.
 
He walked silently to the door and left the room.
 
He walked quickly down the stairs and found Brollen.

"Gary!"

Brollen turned.

"Yeah?"

"It's time, Man.
 
Let's go get 'em."

"Sweet!"

They started to leave when Blaylock saw several concubines walk by, he pointed at them.

"You two!"

They stopped, turned and kneeled.

"Nah, get up.
 
I need you to go get Coeli Stark and make sure you make her presentable for the ceremony."

They smiled and nodded and then walked towards the dungeon.

125

Kaley and Ian stood holding one another on the balcony of her room.
 
The early evening sky was still awash with sunlight.

"Are you sure you're ok with this?"

Ian smiled and kissed her head.

"Of course, I am," he said.

Kaley leaned back and looked into his eyes.
 

"I just can't go right now.
 
What if my mom doesn't come back?
 
And then there's Alisha… I… I don't…"

"Shhh, I said it’s fine.
 
I'm not interested in just getting married, Kale.
 
I'm interested in getting married to you.
 
If I had to wait a million years, I would.
 
I love you."

She smiled and softly touched his lips.

"I'm sorry I fought this for so long."

He laughed quietly and held her face in his hands.

"I'm not.
 
The way I see it, we had to figure some things out about ourselves.
 
I mean, I've been in love with you since I was twelve, but I wasn't sure what I wanted to do and where I wanted to be.
 
I think maybe you were going through a similar thing."

Kaley nodded.

"I just didn't want to make finding love be the most important thing in my life."

"We'll have plenty of time to figure this out, Kaley.
 
As soon as they all come home, we'll go from there, ok?"

Kaley nodded and fell back against his chest.
 
She relished the way she felt in his arms, safe from the world, warm against his heart and protected by his arms.
 
They watched the sun hang low in the sky as the shadow of the moon began to rise.
 

"Whatever they wanted my mother for, it'll be happening soon."

"She'll be ok, Babe.
 
I know it.
 
I can feel it.
 
Besides, with all the prayers going out to bring them home safe, I'd be surprised if they had a mark on them."

"I know, God is watching them… and hopefully saving and protecting them."

"He is, Kale, He is."

She closed her eyes and prayed to God.

“Bring them home safe, Lord.
 
Please, bring them home safe.”

126

The Horde guard brought Coeli into the main banquet room and made her stand before Blaylock as he sat on the throne.
 
They had bathed and oiled her, dressed her in fine clothing with gold jewelry hanging from her wrists, ankles, fingers and neck; her long black curly hair was shining and her lips were painted red.

Blaylock leaned back in his throne with Rona standing to his left.
 
He looked over at her and smiled then turned back to Coeli as he placed a finger on the side of his head.

"Well, well, the princess.
 
Don't we look lovely?"

The court laughed, but Coeli didn't move.
 
Her hands at her side, she stared at him.
 
Blaylock smiled and laughed.

"I guess flattery gets me nowhere."

He got up and put his face to hers, smelling her sweet scent and running his finger down her chest and stomach.
 
He heard Coeli barely gasp and he smiled.

"No, not yet, Princess, first we have a surprise for you."