Capturing Caroline

by Anya Bast

  People seemed not to laugh or talk all that much. In fact, the quiet on the street was a little eerie. As they traveled past the buildings, proper papers now procured, thanks to her unsettled stomach, Caroline watched people barter for goods and walk in and out shops.

  Jessa had told them they would seek sanctuary in a safe house in the northern part of Titan and Caroline couldn't wait to get there. Apparently the magical trigger switch they needed to trip was somewhere near the heart of this great Magica civilization.

  It was nearly twilight before they arrived. The safe house was a smaller, narrow building nestled in among much taller structures. It looked to Caroline like a townhouse in some strange version of London. Logan drew up the carriage in front and allowed them to unload their packs. That accomplished, he traveled a short distance down the street to stable the horses.

  "So," Caroline said as they gathered their things and headed to the door. "If the Magica are so advanced and all, why don't they have cars?"

  Jessa answered. "Energy in the form you’re accustomed to is not compatible to our magick. We have illumination, but it's not electricity, not in the way you know it."

  They got all their things through the front door and into a small foyer. A hallway led to a downstairs sitting room, and there looked to be a kitchen in the back. A stairway led to the second floor. That's where they went with all their stuff. There were two bedrooms and a bathroom up there. Everyone went downstairs to make dinner, but she stayed upstairs to change her clothes and clean up a little.

  When she made it back downstairs, it was dark outside and some of the "illuminations" that Jessa had told her about flickered in sconces on the walls. There hadn't been many of those in the jail where she and Torrent had met.

  Jessa, Logan and Torrent were all in the kitchen, a map spread out over a table in the center of the room. Bowls and plates of food sat on a nearby serving table and everyone was helping themselves. Suddenly ravenous, she picked up a plate and helped herself to bread, cheese and fruit.

  "Here is where we need to go tomorrow," said Jessa, pointing at a small black dot on the map. "I don't anticipate any problems getting there now that we have the proper papers from the front gate."

  So, tomorrow was the day. She set her plate down, suddenly not hungry even a little. "What is this place and what will happen when we arrive?"

  Jessa looked up at her, but only for a moment. A glance. As if it was painful to look her in the face. "We created this place for Torrent. It's keyed to him and him alone. I’m not sure what to expect when he enters, but I'm certain there will be fireworks...magically speaking."

  "When I trip it, what can we expect will be noticeable?" asked Torrent. "You will be in the heart of this city when I trip that switch. Maybe it will be like setting off a bomb. If you're noticed, it will be damn hard to escape."

  "Impossible," answered Jessa with a small, sad smile.

  "Not impossible,” answered Logan quickly. "We escaped the Magica before."

  Jessa’s mouth twisted in a wry smile. "Yes, and we're running out of miracles, don't you think?"

  "It doesn't matter," Caroline interjected. "It doesn't matter what happens to any of us. It's clear that this is the only way to bring peace to the Lycaon. It avoids war. It avoids fresh bloodshed and it ends a time of fear and hatred. There is a bigger picture here. I am ready to lay down my life for it."

  Jessa's eyes went wet with tears. She drew Caroline into a hug. "I'm so sorry it has to be this way. I'm so sorry the Magica are the way they are."

  Caroline looked her in the eyes. "Jessa, I know not all the Magica are bad."

  "We should eat and get a good night's sleep," said Logan, laying a hand on Jessa's shoulder. "Tomorrow is one of the most important days in our history."

  Except Caroline couldn't sleep.

  She stood at the bedroom window, looking down over the moonlight-silvered street. Everything was completely still out there, totally silent. Once in a while she glimpsed a guard riding down the street. Apparently there was an enforced curfew.

  Torrent came up behind her, cradling her body against his and nuzzling her hair. "I wouldn't change a thing," he whispered. "I'm so happy I was able to share a part of my life with you, even if it was short."

  She squeezed her eyes shut. They were stinging with tears. "Don't talk like that. You're talking like you're already d—gone." Opening her eyes, she led him to the bed. "Let's not sleep a wink tonight. Let's just soak up each other's presence. Let’s memorize every moment of this night to hold onto."

  He walked with her over to the bed and slid between the sheets with her. Tucking her against his chest, he rested his chin on the top of her head and closed his eyes. She wanted to stop time and freeze it in place. She wanted the whole world and all of the dimensions to disappear and leave her and her love alone.

  She wanted a lot of things she would never get.

  They didn't sleep at all that night. They did exactly what Caroline had asked for—completely conscious in the moment, savoring every second together. Right before dawn they made love slowly and tenderly...for the last time.

  Chapter Twelve

  The building was located about twenty minutes away from the safe house if one traveled by foot. After breakfast—Caroline and Torrent didn’t have a bite—they made their way across the immense city to reach it.

  Caroline stood outside on the street staring up at the building that would take her husband’s life, until Jessa nudged her to go inside. Likely Jessa was afraid she was drawing attention to herself. An easy thing to do in this place where everyone conformed so eerily....and creepily. She felt like she'd slipped into a nightmare of Stepford pilgrims in this place.

  On the way over Torrent had been asked for his identification twice. It was a good thing they’d taken the extra risk and had gone through the gates the day before. The papers had given them a confidence they wouldn’t have had otherwise.

  As she walked toward the entrance, Torrent caught her hand. He'd been in the shadows, hunched over a bit, trying not to draw additional attention to himself. Together they drew deep breaths, and stepped inside.

  The interior smelled of dry herbs. As Caroline's eyes adjusted to the lighting, she could make out glass cases full of herbs and shelf upon shelf of wooden boxes and jars. It was a shop of some sort.

  A tall, slender man with a pair of glasses balanced on his hawk-like nose stepped out from a doorway in the back. He was carrying a large book. "Can I help—oh. Jessa." He didn’t sound pleased to see her.

  "Hello, Randolph."

  Randolph glanced at each of them in turn, shadows settling into his brown eyes. "Is today the day, then?"

  Jessa nodded. "Today is the day."

  Stark fear flashed across his face. "Oh, my."

  "My reaction as well." Jessa motioned at Torrent. "Meet...him."

  Randolph dropped the book on the counter with a thump and walked to the center of the room. "You didn't need to tell me that. I’d know a Lycaon anywhere." The man peered up at Torrent. "You're so big."

  "Am I the first Lycaon you've ever met?" Torrent sounded amused.

  "Well, I've met Logan, of course, but I never really thought of him as Lycaon." A sheepish expression crossed his face and he fidgeted with his glasses. "Sorry, Logan. I met no offense."

  "It's all right, Randolph. Torrent is a much more representative specimen of the Lycaon."

  “On behalf of my people, I would like to say I'm sorry for what the Magica have put your people through," Randolph said to Torrent. He said it solemnly, as thought he’d memorized it for just this occasion.

  "Thank you. I'm just pleased there are some of you who want to make it right."

  Jessa broke into the conversation, "Today we'll do that."

  Randolph cleared his throat. "Well, hopefully, anyway. As you know, this has never been done before. We have no way of knowing exactly what will happen. In theory, by the end of the day today our people should be separated forever.” He pause
d. “But all of this could backfire."

  "We've got to try, Randolph," answered Jessa, sounding a little exasperated. Apparently this wasn't the first time they'd had this conversation.

  Randolph ignored her and turned to Caroline instead. "And who are you?"

  She extended her hand and the man just looked at it, perplexed. "I'm Caroline Gannet, from Earth. Apparently I’m part Lycaon dire wolf. My ancestors were left behind when the first split took place.

  "Oh!" Randolph smiled from ear to ear. "I get to meet a Lycaon and a mostly human all in one day." He grabbed her extended hand in both of his hands and vigorously pumped it up and down….then sideways. He had the human hand shaking tradition partially right, anyway. "How exciting!"

  "Randolph, as much as Caroline wants to delay...we'd better go down there before something has a chance to go wrong."

  Randolph let go of Caroline's hand and peered out the front window. "You weren't followed, were you?"

  "I don't think so." She glanced at Logon. "But the authorities have surprised us before. Better we do this quickly."

  Sudden nausea rose in Caroline's stomach. She pressed a hand to her belly and willed herself not to throw up. She would not mar the final few minutes she had with Torrent.

  Randolph swallowed hard. "All right, follow me." Then, under his breath he murmured, "I hope this works."

  Caroline hoped it didn't. She hoped that with every ounce of her being. Then, at least they’d tried. They tried….but it hadn’t worked. Too bad.

  It would the best day of her life.

  He led them into the back room, which was packed practically to the ceiling with boxes and jars. The acrid smell of the place stung her nose and made her sneeze. They followed a narrow path through the dimly lit storeroom to a door in the back. Randolph opened it, snapped on a small blue colored light and led them down a flight of precariously steep stairs.

  At the bottom was a large cellar. Damp and fragrant. Lovely. After only a heartbeat a low thrumming sound met her ears. It raised all the hair on the back of her neck and made her nausea worsen.

  "What is that?" she asked Jessa.

  Jessa and Randolph were staring at each other as if in awe. "She's waking up!" Jessa exclaimed. "Randolph, she's responding to Torrent!"

  "I hear it," Randolph sounded more frightened than excited. "I didn't think it would work, but listen..." he trailed off.

  "Who's she?" Caroline asked, starting to feel more than a little pissed off. Here Torrent was about to die and Jessa seemed happy her stupid magickal contraption was working.

  "I named her Elsa," said Jessa, finally turning toward her. "I didn't want to tell you before because naming the machine that will kill Torrent seems..."

  "Cruel?" offered Caroline with her eyebrows raised and her voice cold. "Brutal? Insensitive? Careless?"

  “In my defense, I didn't know at first that the machine would need to take a life to work and we spent so much time with her." Jessa shrugged. "It was easier to name her."

  "Yeah, well, I think Elsa is a bitch." Caroline crossed her arms over her chest and walked forward, into the darkness, just to get away from everyone. She was trying hard not to sob.

  Torrent came to stand near her. In the pitch black, he laid a hand on her shoulder. "I can feel it pulling at me."

  She stiffened, then turned and launched herself into his arms. "Don't let it take you."

  "I can feel it, Caroline." He pulled her against his body. "It wants me, only me."

  "I can't do this," she whispered raggedly. "I'm not strong enough for this. Torrent, I can't—"

  He sealed his mouth over hers and kissed her hard, then rested his forehead against hers.

  "You are strong enough, Caroline. You're the strongest woman I know. Please, be strong for me now."

  How could she say no to that? She let out a deep, shuddering breath and closed her eyes. "Okay."

  He held her for another few moments until Jessa interrupted them and led them further down the hall.

  "Where did Randolph go?" Caroline asked as she fell into step beside Torrent. Jessa was leading them down a corridor with slimy wet stone walls.

  “Some customers came into the shop. He went up to wait on them. Need to keep everything seeming normal, you know?"

  They walked to the end of the corridor and stood in front of a huge wooden door. Pale blue light flickered over the stone walls from intermittent sconces. The light made all of them look as sick as Caroline felt.

  "This is it, isn't it?" asked Caroline. The humming had grown louder.

  "I can feel whatever that it is behind the door," said Torrent. "It wants to devour me."

  Caroline, still holding his hand, clamped down harder.

  "I don't know exactly what will happen when we open that door, Torrent," Jessa said, not looking at either of them. "I was surprised that Elsa woke up at your presence. You may have some time to say goodbye to Caroline when you first go into that room...or you may not." She glanced at both of them. "I suggest you say your goodbyes now. I'll give you a moment."

  Jessa walked back down the hallway, leaving them alone.

  Torrent caught Caroline up in his arms immediately, his mouth coming down on hers and kissing her so deeply it was as if he wanted to consume her. He set his forehead to hers and tangled his fingers through her hair. "I wish we could have a lifetime together," he whispered. "I wish we could make babies. I wish so many things."

  Tears rolled down her cheeks. She covered his hands that were cupping her face and stared into his eyes. "I will hold you in my heart and soul for the rest of my days."

  "I want you to be happy, Caroline. Go live your life, find love again. Be happy."

  She smiled, but they both knew that was a lie. After knowing him there would be no love again for her. It was that simple.

  They kissed again, long and slow. Somewhere in the distance, Caroline heard shouting and a scuffle, then the distinctive snap of the Magica's black batons.

  "Torrent, Caroline! Go!" yelled Logan from the big room down the hall. Then there was a thud and Logan said no more.

  Torrent stared down at her, pained. "They've found us. We've got to do this now. No more delay."

  Caroline closed her eyes for a moment. Boots pounded down the corridor toward them.

  "Okay. Let's go in together."

  Torrent nodded.

  Together they put their hands on the doorknob, turned it and pushed the door open. They stepped into a room of blinding blue light. Caroline slammed the door shut behind them and fumbled for the inside lock, just as large bodies slammed against the other side.

  "Torrent!" she yelled into the ever-increasing thrum, thrum, thrum that Elsa emitted. There was no answer. The light grew impossibly brighter and brighter, becoming blindingly white. Caroline couldn’t see anything.

  The noise grew louder and louder, pulsing through every molecule of her body, making her head feel like it would explode. Caroline sank to her knees, screaming at the top of her lungs and she couldn't even hear her own voice. The light was so bright she could only squeeze her eyes shut and draw in on herself.

  "Torrent!" she screamed over and over.

  He was gone.

  She didn't know how she knew it, but she did. Torrent was gone. Just like that. Elsa had devoured him, every last drop of that magnificent man, in order to make a miracle and save two worlds.

  “Oh, Torrent," she whispered as grief overcame her. She collapsed to the floor and slipped into a blessed black hole of nothing.

  Chapter Thirteen

  "Caroline." She heard her name as if from a distance. "Caroline, wake up."

  Her eyes fluttered open. The white light was gone. The thrumming was gone. The room was gone. Even the Magica city was gone. Her sister, Kaitlyn, hovered over her with a worried look on her face.

  Caroline pushed up. "What happened?"

  "It worked," said a male voice from somewhere to her left. She looked over and saw Logan sitting on a log, head bowed. "All those
with Magica blood have disappeared. The city is gone. All of them. Even Jessa." His voice broke on the last sentence and Caroline suddenly realized she wasn't the only one who'd lost someone.

  Caroline looked around. They were in the middle of a forest. "How did we get here?"

  "We never left," answered Logan. "We didn't go anywhere. The Magica and all their buildings did. We reset this reality by removing them. This is the forest that would have grown in this place had there not been a city."

  "Amazing," she whispered. Then she closed her eyes. "Torrent is gone, isn’t he?"

  No one answered her, but they didn’t have to. She opened her eyes and looked at her sister. Kaitlyn stood with tears running down her face, looking at a spot not far away.

  Cold fear gripped Caroline. She stood and stumbled over to the area where Kaitlyn was looking. There, in a patch of tall grass, lay Torrent's body.

  "No!" she screeched and collapsed next to him. His skin was ashen and waxy. "No, no, no!" She felt for a pulse, but his flesh was cold and unyielding.

  This was worse than Torrent just disappearing. He was dead.

  Caroline rested her forehead on his chest and sobbed.

  * * * *

  She wouldn't leave his side. Her sister cajoled her and Logan tried easing her away. All Caroline did was snarl at them. Finally, they left her curled up against his side in a ball while they made a fire not far away.

  Caroline cried until she had no more tears. The expression broken heart barely covered it.

  Her stomach was mush, her chest hollow; grief was a dark sludge covering her. She wanted a miracle. She wanted him to stir to life, to sit up and start breathing again, but his body only grew colder.

  There was no pulse, no miracle.

  Torrent had sacrificed his life for his people and that was the end. The prophecy had been true.