She laughed, shaking her head no.
“Then what are you?”
“I’m here to offer you a life you can be proud of.” Moving to sit on the bed next to me, she leaned in. “What if I told you, you share the soul of a very, very holy man?”
With a snort, my head lolled against the pillow as I sunk lower into the sheets.
“Like Jesus?”
Her thin lips formed words that made no sense. “A knight.”
“A knight? But I’m just a kid from the city.” I shuddered. “How can I be a knight?”
“If I tell you, you must make a choice. Can you do that for me, John?”
Her pale blue eyes were soft. I wanted to believe her, I felt like I could trust her. The sins and shame I had collected hung on me like chains. My dirt and filth clogged anything pure from reaching beneath the surface.
“I think I can do that.”
“Good.” She sat back and closed her eyes. “You were once a knight of the Round Table. You served King Arthur and his realm. You were the purest of them all, Lancelot’s son.” Pausing, she somehow was able to hold me in a stare that I could feel prod at my soul. “You are the Grail seeker.”
I couldn’t take my eyes from her as my fingers twitched. I had never felt like this before. She was staring right at me, seeing me. I knew she could see all of my dirt. She was sifting through all the baggage.
“I can help you claw your way from this pit. It will grant you the adoration of your family as well as lost friends. But it will come at a price.”
My heart latched onto the idea of seeing my mother and father again and not through a cell door. I wanted to see my sister graduate from college and meet my new nephew that my older brother hid from me. I wanted to make my friends see I wasn’t a screw-up. Most of all, I wanted to win her back.
“I’ll do anything. Anything at all.” I locked my jaw against the urge to cry like the little boy I still was.
With an understanding smile, she caressed my cheek. “Are you sure?”
“Yes.”
“Do you wish to know the price?” Her eyebrows rose as if I would balk.
“No, just do it, and I’ll accept it later.” Gripping the sheets in my hands as tight as I could, I braced myself.
“All right.” Her gaze went out the window at the sky full of stars. She raised her hand.
“What are you doing that for?”
“You will see.” This strange woman reached for the window, and a white aura encased her hand. Eyes wide, I tensed.
“Forgive me, Sir Knight, for stealing you from your deserved eternity.”
The hand that glowed came closer and closer until her hand rested on my chest and a heat burned my flesh. The light went out, and I felt it spread throughout my body. As it traveled, all of the sickness and aches melted away.
“It’s working. Whatever you’re doing is working!” I knew she had to be an angel. Instead of rejoicing with me, her lips offered a sad smile. Before I could ask why, it felt as if someone tugged me underwater.
There I met the price. I saw flashes of a country I had never been to, heard a language that was foreign to me. Men gathered around me, we clang in armor, we feasted in a great hall, and then I saw her.
Such a great beauty, it was the duty of every man to love her. Her face, her hair, her body ... it called to me.
Diana ...
Her name came to me, and with it, my senses flooded with knowledge. I saw a man with blond hair and piercing green eyes riding past me into battle. The admiration in my heart swelled. They called me by a different name.
You are the wretch who shares my soul? Boy, give yourself over to me and never fall so far from heaven again.
“Who are you?”
I am you now, and you are me. Give into grace; give into mercy, and peace I shall bestow unto you.
“Take it. You can have it. I’m not worth anything.” Emotion lodged in my throat as I admitted my self-loathing.
No, you are worth more. Allow me to show you.
Hands gripped my temples, and it felt as though I was being shown the secrets to the world. My mind was on the verge of exploding. My soul filled with such a conviction I didn’t know how to place it.
I burst to the surface, gasping for air. Holding my head in my hands, I understood. I knew so much, and I was thankful. I stared at my hands, letting them curl and uncurl. A part of me was angry; I had earned my place amongst the angels. The other half was grateful for this second chance at being human.
Clearing my throat, I turned to face the woman who had called me down.
“Glad to see you took so well to the boy. He is still in there? Isn’t he?”
“Of course, he is, Vivian. He’s just a bit shocked with all this newfound information.” My lips twitched.
“Good. I was afraid his soul would be too weak and shatter.” She stood, ready for business.
“Why did you call me back to earth, woman? You know I earned my place. God chose me.”
A graceful wave of her arm cut me off. “In a few years’ time, we will need you.”
“A few years?” I stepped out of bed. I placed my hands on my hips. “You bring me back to the living for a moment in the future? What could be that important?”
Vivian stepped up to me. Her voice so stoic it sent a chill through my new body. “This is the girl. I can feel it. In a few years, we shall all be together again, to fight the same battle again.” Her lips pursed. “We will need you to succeed once more at your quest.”
I scratched my head. “You need someone who can seek something?”
“Yes.”
Tilting my head, I gave her a sly smirk. “And just what am I seeking?”
A manicured brow jumped, and she matched my facial expression in kind.
“The Holy Grail, dear Galahad. The Holy Grail.” Her lips curled into a smile. “The resurrection is about to begin.”
About the Author
Kylie C. Stewart has been writing short stories and books all her life. A native of Hammond, New York, Kylie grew up on the St. Lawrence River dreaming of big things. She has a Master’s of Science in Equine Business from Middle Tennessee State University, which is why there are so many horses in her books. After working in the Kentucky Race Horse Industry, she moved back to Tennessee to pursue writing, audiobook narrating, and voice acting. She is a huge nerd and big into anime as well as the cosplay community.
Kylie was influenced by her Scottish heritage to become an independent British history buff. She has a small library dedicated to Tudor history and is lover of the Arthurian legends. She also has an intense love of the supernatural, theological, paranormal, and mythological worlds.
Kylie lives in Dallas, TX with her husband and fellow voice actor Eric Rolon, and their two cats, Asuka and Haru.
To keep up with Kylie on social media click below:
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Other Books by Kylie C. Stewart
LEGEND SERIES
Set in Stone #1
The Duke’s Curse #2
COMING SOON
Resurrection #3 (Summer 2017)
Return to Avalon #4 (Winter 2017)
Rise of the Dragon #5 (Spring 2018)
Into the Inferno #6 (Summer 2018)
Chasing Camelot #7 (Winter 2018)
Legend Book #3 Resurrection
Coming Summer of 2017
Avalon may have his soul back in place, but now the battle is on. With his new found power comes a high price. New enemies line themselves at the Dragon’s door. Will Avalon be enough to keep Alexandria safe?
Alexandria has to choose between her first love and the love of a lifetime. With Lancer acting stranger every day, her trust in him falters. Can her heart decide before it’s too late?
The King has returned. The Grail seeker has been reborn. The rival Knight has
a score to settle. The Resurrection has begun.
Playlist
Elements (orchestrated) - Lindsey Stirling
Haunting – Halsey
My Blood – Ellie Goulding
Beside You – Mariana’s Trench
Running – Adam Lambert
Human – Christina Perry
Seven Devils – Florence and the Machine
Don’t You Worry Child – Swedish House Mafia (The Piano Guys version)
In Her Eyes – Josh Groban
Nearer My God to Thee – The Piano Guys
Tell Me Now – King Arthur Soundtrack
One Last Night – The Vaults
Take Control – Kodaline
Somebody to Die For – Hurts
Pompeii – Bastille
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The Duke's Curse (Legend Book 2) Page 19
