The Immortal Takes a Wife

by Pamela Labud

  “Right.”

  Holly tipped her head sideways. “Let’s start with what you do know.”

  Fiona thought for a moment. “I know I love him with all my heart.”

  “Exactly. What else?”

  “I don’t want him go.”

  “Would you still be marrying him if he didn’t have this sentence hanging over his head?”

  Now, that was a question. Fiona closed her eyes and let the memories of their time together—good and bad—and considered what she held in her heart.

  “Yes.” She said at last. “I want to be his wife. If only for a day, or an hour, or a lifetime.”

  Holly wore a broad grin. “Atta girl! Now, let’s get this party started.”

  “Right.”

  Ten minutes later she was dressed and ready to run out the door.

  “Do I get to look at the wedding dresses before we leave?”

  Holly laughed. “Oh, heaven’s no. That’s for when we get back.”

  “Why?”

  “Because, my dear. That is how it’s done. Haven’t you ever watched those reality shows? You trusted me with your wedding and I promised to deliver.”

  “I did.”

  “And now I know one true fact. It’s so much more fun planning someone else’s wedding.” She laughed. “Ready?”

  Fiona looked around the room one more time.

  “Ready.”

  #

  Max continued to pace. “What is wrong with you, brother?”

  “What?” Matty was sitting at the dining room table, several historical texts set out before him.

  “You’re going to get married in a couple of hours and then be leaving us forever. Aren’t you the least bit nervous?”

  Matty looked up and then over to Hawke. “Oh, I am.” He turned to the bounty hunter. “Are you sure about this? Because I don’t see anything in the journals.”

  “I don’t know a lot of things, but I know the law. I was a cop before this gig. For an invading entity to come onto local soil, they have to have permits.”

  “Maybe, but they were in a bar, after all. It was ‘hey, have a drink with us’ and by the way, we have all the answers to your problems…sign here.’ I did exactly that.”

  “That’s terrible,” Max said, pausing in the middle of the worn spot on the carpeting he’d made from his pacing back and forth. “Who does that?”

  “Druids,” Matty said. “Judging by these public records, they’re very good at it.”

  Hawke was studying an overly large ledger across the table from Matty. “Look at who they recruited. Goblins, Hobgoblins, Dwarves, Wood Elves…. all of the magics who don’t handle their drink too well. Very susceptible. My guess is that it was a scheme that they were in cahoots with Remmington.”

  “The bondsman?”

  “Rumors are that he’s been in several illegal activities over the years, but nobody’s been able to convict him.”

  Max took the seat next to Matty. “I know that’s true. Matty and I spent three hours doing legal searches. That guy’s as clean as a new born sea sprite.”

  “Well, we don’t need him,” Hawke said. “Thankfully, where the Druids are concerned, they only need a hint of impropriety and they’re out. It’s their honor code. You commit a crime in their ranks, they take punishment to a whole new level.”

  Max leaned forward. “Wait. That’s your plan? To shame them into submission?”

  Matty and Hawke exchanged glances. “They are very strict, you know.”

  “Enough to make them set you free?”

  There was a silence between them. “Maybe,” Matty answered.

  “Look,” Hawke said, “I told you there are no guarantees. I was hoping for a bit more evidence, but if we frame it right there might be a chance.”

  Max crossed his arms and rested his head upon them. “Oh, goblin hell. We are doomed.”

  “Maybe not,” Matty said. “Look, all of these creatures are either hybrids or lesser power magics.”

  “So.”

  “Well, you said it yourself, brother. We’re not like others. We have only one magical power—and that is not dying. If you or I was a full warlock or vampire, they wouldn’t come near us.”

  Hawke sat back and crossed his arms. “So, what’s your point?”

  “That they only ‘press’ beings into service that are weaker than they are. Remmington, for all of his bravado, is not some all-powerful magician. He’s a regular guy, like us.”

  “Then, he can’t cast a spell over someone that’s strong enough to resist him?”

  Max nodded. “And that’s why he gets them drunk and probably drugs them. It was a good scheme for other magics.”

  “But not for us, Maxie. We’re Immortal. We aren’t as susceptible to drugs as other beings because of our powers of regeneration. So, I must have recovered before they had a chance to grab me.”

  “Right.”

  Matty watched him for a moment. Something in his demeanor changed. Standing up, he moved away from table and walked to the door, suddenly reaching for the door frame and leaned against it. It was as if all of his energy had been drained from him.

  “What is it?” Matty asked. “What’s wrong?”

  A few seconds passed before he answered. Clearing his throat, the bounty hunter turned back to them. “It’s my sister. I always thought that they’d cast a spell on her, you know. Keeping them with their gang, holding her ransom until I worked enough cases for them to let her free.”

  “There was never going to be enough cases, right?” Matty asked. “They would always hold her over you.”

  “Yes. I guess I knew that, but what choice did I have until now.”

  “What’s different now?” Max asked.

  “My sister has crazy magic skills. She’s as strong as I am. A Hybrid between a witch and a wolf. She could’ve broken away from them anytime.”

  Matty leaned forward. “Why do you think she didn’t?”

  He looked at them, his face a combination of sadness and pain. “Because it’s where she wants be. She’s a criminal like the rest of them.”

  “Maybe you can talk her out of it,” Matty said. “You know, big brother sharing his wisdom and all that.” He sent a knowing look to Max.

  Hawke staggered back to the table and dropped into the chair. “She tried to tell me she was in love with this guy, who must be working for Remmington.” He shook his head. “I am such a fool.”

  “Not at all,” Max said. “You may not be able to change things for her right now, you are still family and she may come back to you one day.”

  “Yeah, well, it doesn’t solve your problems, now does it?”

  “We have what we have,” Matty said. “We’ll have to do our best. That’s all we can do.”

  “Right,” Max said. “At least you’re free of them. If you want to be.”

  Hawke nodded. “I think I made my position clear last night.”

  Just then, Max’s phone rang. Pulling it from his pocket, he looked at the screen. “Oh, hey honey,” he looked at Matty and mouthed the word ‘Holly.’ “What do you need.” He paused a moment, listening to her. Then, glanced down at his watch. “Right.”

  Shutting the phone off, he slipped it into his pocket.

  “Well?” Matty asked. “Is Fiona okay?”

  “If you think angry enough to rip us all to pieces is okay, then, sure.”

  “Oh, man. Angry Fiona is not a good thing. Why is she upset?”

  “You, brother dear, are about to be late for your own wedding.”

  Matty felt his stomach drop. “She is going to kill me.”

  “It’s okay, brother,” Max said, patting him on the shoulder. “You’ve been dead before. What’s one more time?”

  “So not funny,” Matty said as he stood up and grabbed his jacket. Max stood up, too. It wasn’t until he was half-way out the door when he realized that Hawke was still at the table.

>   “Hey. What gives?” Matty asked. “Why are you still sitting there? Didn’t you hear the man? We’re going to be late for the wedding.”

  Hawke’s jaw dropped. “I’m not part of the family. You can’t even say we’re friends.”

  “Says who?” He looked at his brother. “He’s a friend, right?”

  “As far as I’m concerned. Hey, you are way more welcome than Uncle Walt.”

  “I don’t have a suit,” the bounty hunter muttered.”

  “No problem. I have plenty. I’m sure my wife has everyone outfitted to perfection.” He turned to Matty. “Wives are like that. Reaper wives? You have no idea.”

  Hawke slowly stood up. “Well, I’ll get my jacket.”

  Chapter Twenty

  To say Fiona had had an extremely cruising day, was an understatement. Now, hair a light auburn color and styled into several layers of a French braid, complete with Baby’s Breath flowers woven in, nails a lovely shade of emerald. Back in the room she was getting dressed at last.

  Fiona was sitting in a chair that Holly had placed in the middle of the room. She wore a blindfold and was ordered not to peek. After the day she’d had with the reaper, she saw now how she’d ascended to the top of her profession. She could have commanded a regiment if she’d chosen

  “How are you feeling?” Holly asked as she carefully prepped the dresses.

  Fiona took a breath. “Excited. Exhausted. Completely out of my league, here. I feel as if I might come apart at any second, yet peace.”

  Her words surprised her. And when she heard Holly approach her from behind and give her a hug, Fiona couldn’t believe that she had such a good friend.

  “That’s exactly what you’re supposed to feel like. Now. Turn around and choose your dress.”

  Doing as she was told, Fiona spun around. There before her were three breath taking gowns. But it was the one in the middle that Fiona knew instinctively was made for her. It was a slender, form fitting dress, with a single red ribbon under her breast.

  “That one,” she said, suddenly breathless.”

  Twenty minutes later she was standing in front of a floor length mirror, mouth open, staring at her reflection.

  “That is amazing,” Holly said behind her. “You are stunning.”

  “I don’t know what to say.” She turned and hugged Holly. “You are a true lifesaver.”

  Holly gave a little bow. “I won’t lie. I totally enjoyed myself. I wonder if I might branch off some day, you know, half time Reaper, half time wedding planner.”

  They both laughed.

  “Well,” Fiona said. “You can always use me as a reference.”

  “So, you stay here and get comfortable. I’m going to run down stairs and see to the last of the arrangements. I’m expecting the caterer and the flower guy.”

  “Right.” She sank back into the chair and propped her feet on the ottoman.

  Her nerves had been doing a rollercoaster ride until now.

  Closing her eyes, she heard a light tapping at her door. “Holly? You don’t have to knock.”

  She heard the door creak, and knew suddenly, it wasn’t Holly, but someone else. Jumping to her feet, she spun around to see Hawke filling the doorway.

  “Wow,” he muttered. “You look amazing.”

  Fiona had never been one to blush, especially living in Underworld City her whole life and owning a diner in the heart of a town known for crime, criminals, and corruption.

  But now, standing in front of the bounty hunter, she felt her face heat up.

  “Thank you,” she said. “Um, what are you doing here?”

  He looked at her a moment, his mouth started moving, but no words came out. Finally, he shook his head. “What?”

  “That’s a first. You seem to be a little off of your game.” She grinned. “What are you doing here,” she spoke a little slower this time.

  He didn’t look directly at her but cast his gaze off to her left and downward. As if, somehow, he couldn’t look her in the eye.

  “Right. Um, I wanted to let you know, your husband invited me to the wedding.”

  “So?”

  He looked at her again. “I didn’t want to put you into an uncomfortable position of having someone you don’t like at your wedding.”

  “First, you daft man, who said I didn’t like you? And second, Matty invited you. Why wouldn’t I let him invite whom he wanted. It’s his wedding too, you know.”

  “Oh. I thought…”

  “That I didn’t want you carrying my boyfriend off to heaven-knows-where? You’re right, I didn’t. But as to liking you or not, well, you’ve done nothing but try to help us. I know I’ve been a bit, um, snappish, but that’s just me. Any way, if you’re around long enough, you’d know I treat all my friends that way.”

  He seemed to relax a bit and modest grin spread across his face. “It’s been awhile since I’ve been called a friend.”

  “Then that is a shame. Now, get yourself downstairs before Holly catches you up here. She says I’m to be resting.”

  He started to turn away, and then paused a moment. When he spoke, he again didn’t make eye contact. “I want you to know, I’m not going to let them take him.”

  Fiona chest tightened, and she was pretty sure it wasn’t the corset under her gown. “I thank you for that.”

  He nodded once and then left her.

  Of course, she knew that chances were, tonight would be their last night together, and like Cinderella, she’d have to face the stroke of midnight. Unlike the fairytale princess, her happy ever after might never come.

  Sinking back onto the chair, she crossed her arms. Forcing herself to relax, Fiona did her best to prepare for what the future held. It was more than a little frustrating to think that she had so many magical endowments. Being a werewolf, she could outrun, out see and out fight almost anybody, even among her own family. Being the only girl, it had been her one defense amongst so many males.

  But now, she realized that for all her strengths and all her attributes, if she lost Matty, she’d lose her center and her best friend. She felt as if her whole life had been careening forward to this moment and was about to come to a complete stop. It would be a long time, if ever, she would be able to pick up and go forward again.

  Just then, the room door creaked open.

  “It’s time, Fiona. Are you ready?”

  Fiona took one deep breath and then another. “Yes,” she said. She very well was ready. One thing she knew for certain, was she wasn’t giving him up without a fight. Fates help anyone who got in her way.

  #

  Now, it was Matty’s turn to pace. Never in his life, had he ever let anything make him this crazy.

  “Okay, my brother, the rings have arrived, and I must say, we chose an amazing set.”

  He held out the velvet boxes, opening them to reveal the intricately cut diamonds inside.

  Seeing one more example of his soon to be married state, Matty gasped as the room started to spin around him. Grabbing his brother’s arm for support, he took deep breaths and with his handkerchief, dabbed at the sheen of sweat that had just popped out on his brow.

  “What is wrong with me?” He asked Max, who was now standing at ease.

  His brother laughed. “You’re about to get married, that’s what. You’d better be ready for this, because Fiona has been through a lot. Whatever part of your hide she leaves, rest assured, I will take care of the rest.”

  Matty looked up. “Really? Now you’re threatening me?”

  “I am.” He leaned in closer, talking in a lowered tone. “Look, from one already married man to one who’s about to be married, things go smoothly if you just give in a lot.”

  “What?”

  If Max answered his question, Matty didn’t get a chance to hear it. The music sounded, and he spun around to see Fiona entering the room. On her father’s arm, a man that Matty had only met once under not very good circumstances
—it had been the last time he and Fi had been in a bad break up. It wasn’t her father that drew Matty’s attention. No one commanded the room but Fiona.

  His bride entered, chin up, eyes wide and searching the room. Searching that was, until she found him. Her dress, a flowing pearl white gown, form fitting and accentuating her figure. Her hair was swept up, clipped on the right side with white and pink roses that matched the delicate bouquet she held.

  Fiona could have been wearing rags, for all Matty cared. She was the most beautiful woman in the room and when their eyes met, she stirred his soul the way no other person ever had.

  She walked down the center aisle toward him, in long, slow steps and he marveled that there was no hesitation in her movements. As she drew closer, Matty’s heart bead faster and it was as if all of the air had been pulled from the room.

  When she finally reached the altar, her father leaned over and spoke only in a tone that Matty could hear.

  “I don’t know what you’re going to do about your problem, but if you manage to get through it and stay wi’ my daughter, I’m warning you now. Take care wi’ her or I’ll gut ya myself, as many times as I can lift my blade.”

  “Yeah,” Matty managed.

  “Dad,” Fiona said in a harsh whisper. She turned to Matty. “Sadly, he’s telling the truth.”

  Great, Matty’s mouth was now as dry as dust, he couldn’t take in any air at all and he didn’t know if he should acknowledge her or not.

  Suddenly, Max leaned over. “Just say yes, brother. Better to turn belly up now and save yourself.”

  Matty turned to him. “Do you mind? I know, already, I know.” He turned back to Fiona and nodded.

  A smile spread across her face. “Relax, Matty. We’ll get through this.”

  “I know,” he said at last, finally finding his voice.

  And like that, the ceremony began. Before he knew what was happening, the minister, a man whom Matty had never met before but whom had been recommended by Max, began speaking to those gathered around. Then, as tradition would have it, Fiona’s father placed her hand in Matty’s and stepped back, but not before sending the Immortal one last, threatening expression.

  Matty stood still, clutching Fiona in the same fashion that she was clutching him. They seemed to ebb and flow with the words spoken around them. Then, it came time for them to exchange their vows.