by Jana LaPelle
A sad smile appears on my face before I say, "I may not be your solas for much longer. My strength is failing me, and I find that I can no longer fight the dark majic of the blood contract. It is invading my entire being. Soon my soul will be consumed, and the light you once saw in me will be gone. I will be consumed by darkness, and I fear what I will become once that happens. Will you still want me then?" I reach up to stroke his jawline to feel the rough stubble that is always there. I pull him down for a gentle kiss, and as I do so, I can breathe easier. The dark ribbons of the blood majic wrap around us binding us in this moment together, but as I go to deepen the kiss, my dark prince pulls away from me breaking the spell. I whimper from the loss of contact. I crave his touch. I want to get lost in his scent, and I hear myself begging, "No, please Tarron, you are mine. I need you, please don't stop." I feel as if I'm a million miles away and confusion is sitting in, why would I say that? I feel as though I'm not really here at the moment as if this is all a terrible nightmare that I am unable to wake from.
Tarron’s look is one of concern as he says, “You must rest mo solas, you are not well." My beautiful dark prince strokes my hair back away from my face to tuck it behind my ear, and a shiver races through me. I reach up to touch his lips and trace their mesmerizing outline with my thumb. I want nothing more than to have them on mine and I give into the need as I quickly push up and pull his mouth to mine. The dark need inside of me is taking hold. I want my enticing dark lord as I greedily attack his lips and deepen the kiss. As I do so, I can feel the shadows swirling around us pulling us together. Something in the back of my mind and the depths of my heart is screaming, no, this is not right. But I'm lost to the darkness. He is my dark lord, my dark prince, and soon we will rule The Horde together. I find that I'm greedy for more of Tarron and the power that will come as we rule The Horde and I will reign by his side as his dark Horde Queen.
Suddenly, Tarron breaks away and says, "You must rest Ashlinn. I need something of yours. Do you mind if I borrow one of your throwing knives? I promise to bring it back." His face is a mask of concern and resolve, as is Jasmine's.
Nothing is clear to me now. I’m a bundle of contradictions and all of the sudden I'm confused. I shake my head as if to clear the cobwebs from my mind. Nothing is clear, and I’m not sure how to distinguish between reality and dream or nightmares, "How did I get from the bathroom to the bed? Tarron, when did you get here? I'm sorry. I really don't feel like myself. I think there may be something wrong." Looking at the clock, I see it's almost seven thirty, "How did it get to be so late?" I ask in my confusion.
Jasmine looks at me quizzically and then over to Tarron, "Well her eyes are back to normal, that's a good thing. I think. Tarron I will show you where Ashlinn keeps her weapons, but you have to promise to bring it back. They were a gift."
Tarron looks between us clearly torn as he says, “Rest mo solas, we can have dinner another night with The Horde. You are not well this evening and not yourself. I will be back to check on you later tonight.
(Alaric)
Our bond has been cold, dark, and a heavy weight in my chest. There has been nothing but silence for hours as my panther has paced back and forth in front of the dolman portal, ears laid back and tail twitching. Nothing and no one have been able to influence me to change back from my panther form as I have retreated and allowed him to take over. My mind is cloudy and foggy as I focus on the blocked mate bond and the fact that Ashlinn is pregnant. It will be hours before I'm able to get through the portal to get to her and by then fourteen days will have passed. This portal only has one opening, one side which means that only at sunrise may we pass through to the Mortal Realm. My alpha stands with me, and once again tries to force me to shift and once again my panther digs in not allowing the power of our alpha to force the change. Nothing else matters but getting to our mate, nothing, and no one, so we continue to pace with heavy paws in agitation, keeping our vigil.
It's close to midnight when I first feel the bond come to life. For a moment I think that I must be imagining things, but then I'm flooded with Ashlinn's emotions, her thoughts, and images. At that moment I shift asking my panther to recede as I latch on to everything that Ashlinn is throwing at me. Her despair is deep, and she's frightened for what is to come. I can't give in to my feelings of anger and hopelessness since she has been gone. Instead, I send her love and hope and try to let her know that I'm coming for her. In those moments the bond is full of warmth and light but as suddenly as the bond comes to life it is snuffed out again, and for several seconds Ashlinn's pain is my own as we both battle the dark majic that is blocking our bond.
Another growling roar rips from deep inside me as I stand in front of the dormant portal. Staring into its darkened deeps, as I absorb all the images that my kindred has sent me. Images of her sitting on a cliff overlooking the ocean, images of Tarron having meals with her, images of her and five guards that have been assigned to her, images of her throwing a knife at Tarron, and images of her succumbing to the blood majic as Tarron twirls her around in his arms, kissing her. I'm trying hard to hold it together as those last images settle into the foremost corner of my mind, and I see a blinding red.
Dagda comes up behind me and lays a hand on my shoulder. He stands there quietly as I battle my emotions. I take what comfort I can in his quiet vigil. Those last images are hard to dismiss as they play over and over in my mind. My rage is barely contained, and I’m shaking with the need to shift, but I know that I cannot. I have to plan in the hours to come how we are going to get her back. She's mine, and Tarron must be punished for taking her from me, for tainting her beautiful light soul with dark majic. Her soul will forever be touched by darkness, and she will never again be the innocent young woman I pledge my soul to. She will forever have to carry the taint of this unnatural binding that has been forced upon her and my child. My child. I remember Ashlinn's words, not even an hour before I left out, as she said, "It may happen sooner than you think." I can't fault her for keeping this information from me. She knew that I wouldn't let her go, but after how everything went down I'm not sure that I could have prevented it from happening.
My rage is beginning to recede, and I'm starting to breathe easier. Dagda is still standing behind me and now Rhespen. I stand, still facing the dark interior of the portal as I say, "She's pregnant and she is enduring untold pain as she fights this dark majic that is worming its way into her soul. She has endured ten days so far, and I can't get to her. Ten days. I have endured nothing compared to her. She is so strong, but she's tired. I don't know if she can endure four more days."
Dagda claps me on the shoulder and says, “Son, you have to have faith that she will come through this. You have to have faith that you will be reunited with your kindred and unborn child. She is stronger than you know.”
“Yes, she is, but her despair runs deep, she feels as if she is betraying me all the while she fights the hold this curse has over her.” I spit out as my anger rekindles.
“How do you know that?” Tolin asks as he has joined us in front of the portal.
"Because somehow she was able to break through the darkness that binds our link to one another to reach out to me through our bond, she flooded our bond, with love, agony, despair, guilt, and her fear. I could sense how much that cost her in the end as the curse attacked her with a viciousness that was not there before. Her agony was all I felt as the bond snap shut again." I'm visibly quaking in my anger and helpless.
Rhespen steps forward, and his feral panther is visible in his glowing amber eyes and the angles of his face as he says, "We will get her back. Now, we have several hours before sunrise. We make our plans to move forward. We will need the druids and Alexia. We will need protection spells cast so that we cannot be ambushed. We have much to do and much to plan for, come with me, my son. You need to lead your army. They are here to do your bidding so let's plan our next move."
With one last look back at the dormant portal, now my only link to my kind
red, I move toward the army that has gathered behind me awaiting my direction. I look to Dagda, Rhespen, Tolin and the rest of my Guard, Ashlinn’s Guard and say, “Let’s make plans to bring her home. Nothing else will be acceptable. No one touches Tarron. I want the honor of bringing him to his knees.”
Chapter 12
(Tarron)
"Jasmine, hurry, I fear that time is of the essence for what I must do," I say as I follow her to the large walk in closet. As I look around the space, the one thing that surprises me the most is that the casual wear is what is front, and center, ready for her, everything else, the expensive dresses, the gowns, the jewels, everything looks as if it has remained mostly untouched, as if these things are not important to her. I'm pulled out of my ponderings as the little sprite grabs my attention.
“Here, here they are. What do you plan on doing with these?” Jasmine asks, clearly alarmed at the turn of events this evening.
"If all goes as I think it will, I will be back here before midnight, please have one of her male sentries inform me of any changes in her condition. I go to seek council with the witch Morgwais," I say before taking one of the knives, I chose the jewel-handled dagger on impulse. It just feels right.
Jasmine asks, “What are you going to do with that? My Lord, this has to end. It has to end tonight. If not all will be lost, you are the only one that can end this. If not all The Realms will suffer and may even fall.”
“What do you know sprite?” I growl.
"No more than you, but she does not belong to you, and the longer you hold on to her, the worse the damage could be. Do what you must!" She leaves in a flurry and goes to stand vigil over mo solas. She is right, the longer the blood contract is in play, the darker her soul becomes. I must hurry.
I quickly make my way to Morgwais. I rap on her door with urgency. As she opens the door, she asks, "Ye brought something of hers and yers? Yes?"
“Yes, my Lady. We must hurry!” I say.
She narrows her eyes as she asks, “Why must we hurry, what has changed?”
“Ashlinn has changed. I fear that she is being torn apart by this wretched blood majic, so please, we must do this quickly.” I state, voicing my fears.
"Ah, so ye be worrying for her well-being. Yes? Is that the case, my prince?" She asks, waiting patiently for my answer.
“Yes, yes. That is the case. We must continue quickly.” I say, urging her to be quick about it.
“What would ye do if ye had no seer in yer midst? Yes? Something to think about, now my Lord and prince let's get started, I need both her and yer item. Ahhh, I see that ye have chosen strong representations of ye both." With that, she putters about gathering items for the scrying.
We sit at her table, and she gathers everything around her. Soon she is muttering an incantation under her breath and then waving her old, gnarled hands over the bowl in the center of the table. As her chant increases in volume, I see a cloud cover the surface of the water in the bowl. I can't see what she sees, and I wait patiently for Morgwais to offer up her visions of the future.
“My prince, why do ye seek me council? What has the princess said?” She asks, looking at me quizzically.
"She said that we each have our destinies to fulfill and if we continue this path together that we will not be able to fulfill our destinies. She also said that this path would lead to all The Realms demise." I repeat.
"Ah, she does have the sight. She be special, but she is not to be yers. Ye have a choice to make my young prince. Ye can be stubborn and stay the course, dooming all of us and by all of us, I mean all The Realms or ye can choose to let her go and walk yer own path. The choice is yers and yers alone. I caution ye to listen to yer heart. I know ye care deeply for her in yer own way, but do ye love her? She will never be the same if ye continue to force her into this binding. I fear that what ye once found appealing will be lost to the darkness that threatens her very light. May I speak frankly?" The old witch inquires.
"Yes, please, I would appreciate your guidance where the princess is concerned.”
"There are those of us who be born with a dark nature, but yer princess be born with a pure and light heart even though she be a shifter. She will never be what ye want her to be. If the blood contract between the two of ye continues to pull her in, she will lose her soul, and ye will be stuck with a sad replica of what ye thought you wanted. Yer solas will be lost to ye. She was never yers, to begin with, my dear boy. Ye must let her go. In doing so ye will accomplish so much, ye will become a leader and ruler to yer people. Together ye will achieve much, but she will not be yer queen if ye choose this path. She will become yer confidant and one of yer dearest friends, but not yer lover. Yes?”
“If I choose to keep her?” I ask.
“Then all will be lost. I be sorry, my Lord. I know that is not what ye want to hear.” She says.
My worst fears have been confirmed, and my decision is made. I ask, "How do I break the blood contract?"
“My prince, ye must willingly give yer blood along with Danu and the witch’s blood that cast the terms of the contract, how will ye acquire all those things? This must be done as soon as possible. Time be of the essence. The princess be in a battle for her very soul. Blood majic is not something to be taken lightly. Call on me once ye have the blood of the others, my Lord. I know ye will do the right thing. One last thing my prince, it will be she that will appoint ye to yer throne and it will be she that will make certain the dark fae have a voice in Faerie through ye.” The crone’s words ring of truth.
"We must lift the wards, and I must call on The Dagda, he once told me that if ever I was in need of his assistance that all I had to do was call. I hope that works in this Realm as well. Gather the witches and meet me outside in less than thirty minutes time. I must make arrangements to increase the guards at the perimeter." I say as I make my way to the door.
From behind me, I hear, "Ye will make a great king, my Lord."
Without further delay, I make my way to the dining hall where the evening meal is under way and seek out my Captain at Arms and quickly relay the instructions for this evening, officially putting everyone on alert. As the males make ready to go to their post I see Daria sashay her way toward me, her look is smug as she sidles up next to me and says, “I see that your princess is a no show for this evening. What a shame that she is so very frail that she can’t attend the evening meal. I will see to your needs tonight in her absence. I will be there for you in her stead. Come, my Lord." And she pulls me in her direction.
I take affront at her tone and meaning, and for a moment I just look at her. For the first time since laying eyes on her, I feel nothing but disgust, and I say, “Not now Daria, I have important matters to tend to. From this day forward if I seek sustenance I will come to you. Otherwise, do not approach me in public again.” I say sternly, watching her jaw drop and her face flush in anger. I shrug her off and quickly make my way to Ashlinn’s chambers.
I'm not prepared for what greets me as I enter her room. Ashlinn is in bed tossing and turning, oblivious to everything and everyone, she is drenched in sweat, and she is burning up. Her complexion is extremely pale. The change is so drastic in the hour, or so that I have been gone that I'm shocked. I lay her jewel-handled dagger at her bedside, and I walk over to her. She stills at my approach. This is not what I wanted. I never wanted to hurt her. She is being torn apart. I swallow hard before saying, "Mo solas, I'm so very sorry. This was never my intent, but tonight I will make things right. Tonight I will break the bonds of the blood majic. I know now that you were never meant to be mine. Just hang in there a little bit longer." As I get up to leave, she begins thrashing, and I know that I cannot leave her, not like this.
“She will have to come with me. I need a warm blanket to wrap her in.” I state to no one in particular.
Jasmine is in my face and desperate to get my attention, “You should know that there is another that is being affected by this. She carries a child. How do you intend to break this cu
rse?”
“Damn it sprite! I should have been told before now.” I growl at the ferocious little pixie.
“Would it have made a difference?” Jasmine shoots back, her tone dripping in indignation.
Shaking my head in agitation, I gather Ashlinn close to me wrapped tightly in her blankets before I lay a gentle kiss on her forehead and I say, “I’m going to call on The Dagda. I will need him to call on Danu. I’m sure that together they will be able to bring the witch, who no doubt is with Danu, to break the curse. Come we have no time to spare.” We quickly leave the manor. All of Ashlinn’s entourage are accompanying us out as we make our way to the frozen back gardens and out toward the cliffs.
The night is turbulent, Morgwais and her coven of witches have already gathered, the four strongest have already begun to call to the four watch towers as they begin to cast their majic circle. There are torches lit along with several braziers around the area casting an eerie flickering glow across the cliffs. The wildly, whipping, wind threatens to extinguish their light and the flames dance about. The coven’s movements are synchronized as they sway right then left and bend at the waist completing a circular motion with their torso. Their arms push out and appear to reach out as if pulling thin air to their center as I hear the call go up individually, "We call on the Guardian of the Watch Tower to the East, to witness our rites and guard this Circle." Then I hear the call go up, "We call on the Guardian of the Watch Tower to the West, to witness our rites and guard this Circle." They continue to call on North and then South, and as they conclude, a loud sonic boom sounds, originating from the center of the circle, and I can feel the power of the circle burst forth like a rippling effect of a pebble in a pool of water but with more force. Now that they have completed their circle they begin working on lowering the wards enough to allow me to call The Dagda and hopefully Danu. They continue to chant in the background.
Ashlinn shivers in my arms, but for now seems content, her face is now as pale as snow. Switching my gaze, I look up into the dark rolling clouds of the midnight sky. I do what I never thought I ever would do. I call out to the heavens to the High King of the Otherworld. I call out to The Dagda who once gave me shelter, who sought to give me council. I call out to the Father God of Faerie and plead for him to come to me and pray that he hears my plea. I wait for several moments and nothing. I'm desperate, and I call out again and wait once more. I'm not sure how long I wait before I drop to my knees, I'm not beyond begging at this point as I cradle mo solas in my arms, holding her close. I hear her faint whisper as she says, "Together, Tarron, we will call them together."
