“Ready?” Grant asked coming up beside me.
“Yes, I feel much better, let’s go.”
As we made our way quietly into the woods, every once in a while a critter would scatter under a bush or scurry into a hole. Grant’s falcon was huge with white speckles covering his brown feathered body. His pale yellow beak resembled a razor sharp hook and his long talons could easily tear apart flesh. With a wave of Grant’s arm, the falcon pushed off flying up into the sky. We followed him for a few minutes before he swooped down into the forest and out of sight.
A moment later, the falcon flew back with a small rabbit clenched in its claws. My stomach heaved as the falcon dropped the bloody hare to the ground in front of Grant’s feet and then landed back on Grant’s arm. “Nice job, Turu,” Grant said stroking the big bird’s neck. “Hey, Jilly, why dinna ye walk down that way. The noise will scare any wee beasties toward my direction.”
I gladly accepted, refusing to look at anymore dead animals. I walked a ways in the white snow covered forest hearing the pitter-patters of little animals scurrying out of their hiding places. I glanced back seeing no sign of Grant. He must have walked the opposite way.
Mortal. It sounded like an icy caress riding the wind that blew through the silent forest. I heard small animals quickly leave the area around me as I turned in a circle. “W-who said that…,Grant?” I quickly glanced around, but all I saw was a winter wonderland. Suddenly, an ice cold breeze blew up my spine. Reluctantly, knowing something stood behind me, I slowly turned around finding a tall, willowy figure emerge from a white whirl-wind of snow between two trees wearing an ice blue hooded cape with white fur trim. The entire cape sparkled as if covered with a thousand ice crystals. Smooth alabaster hands emerged from the cape’s sleeves as long slender fingers pulled back the hood of the cape.
I sucked in a breath. A beautiful woman with long straight white-blond hair and eyes resembling ice glared up at me.
“Mortal,” she said, her cold voice reverberating through the forest. A few birds flew out of the trees overhead. She sauntered over with her cape and pearlescent gown swirling around her legs in the snow. “So, this is the mortal who broke the pact.”
* * * * *
CHAPTER SIXTEEN
“W-who are you,” I asked turning slowly, following her every move as she walked around me.
“I’m hurt,” she said mockingly, “Merrick never mentioned me?” She stopped circling me and began looking me up and down. “I’m Rowena, one of the Guardians and you my dear have been a very naughty girl.” A wicked smile formed on her lips. I turned to run. “I think not,” the guardian said nonchalantly as my legs instantly froze in place. No matter how hard I tried to take a step, they wouldn’t budge. “I don’t think a little, girl to girl chat is too much to ask for.” I glanced around to see if anyone was close by. “No one can see us and even if they could…no one can stop a Guardian.” Rowena began to circle around me once more stopping behind me. I glanced over my shoulder willing my legs to move.
Rowena reached out as an icy gust of wind radiated from her skin. She picked up a long lock of my hair and studied it. “Such an unusual color, still rather plain non-the-less.” She tossed the lock of hair over my shoulder as if it disgusted her. “So mortal,” she sneered, “what shall your punishment be? That is the question.” She brought up a long finger and tapped her puckered lips. “I could kill your precious Immortal.”
“No! Please, I’ll do anything you want, just don’t hurt Merrick.” Tears stung my eyes as I realized how easy it would be for her to destroy him.
“How sweet,” she said sarcastically. “It always amazes me how you mortals latch on to the idea of love so quickly. But, are you sure you’d do anything for your beloved Immortal? After all, I don’t think he’s thinking of you in the least.”
“You don’t know that,” I said quietly.
Rowena tsked and walked in front of me leaving her back to me. “Not too bright are you mortal?” Rowena spun around and leaned in close to my face. A storm raged inside her ice blue eyes while her teeth transformed into sharp points as she curled her lip. “I-know-everything!” she growled out through clenched teeth. I leaned back as far from her as I could as the icy gust of wind swirling around us took my breath away, burning my lungs.
Rowena turned back around and walked a few steps. The wind died down and I gasped for air trying to catch my breath. She swirled around to me, composed once again. She raised her hand up to my cheek leaving a trail of ice burning my skin in her hands’ wake. “I think you need to see some proof for yourself. I’d never lie,” she said as her mouth curved into a wicked grin.
Abruptly, she spread her hands apart and an image appeared, floating right in front of me. A snowy forest appeared which we suddenly flew into. Up ahead through the trees, I made out a campfire with tents. The Immortals sat around the fire roasting small game. The picture abruptly zoomed into their encampment, almost as if I hovered above them.
Gideon read a book in the firelight, while Alexander sharpened his weapons, and Cain walked into a tent with a red haired woman he pulled behind him. “Where’s Merrick?” I asked looking all about the image, but finding no sign of him. Rowena snickered and suddenly we flew inside a tent…his tent.
I sucked in a breath as I saw Merrick sitting on a pile of furs with a brown haired girl straddling his lap, slipping her hand under his tunic. I wanted to call out to him, run to him. He felt like mine, like I was the only one who should touch him so. Merrick sat emotionless, while the girl caressed his neck and chest. Suddenly, she let out a sigh and sat back from him.
“Me lord, I canna do this meself,” she said. She smiled. “Weel, I can, but ‘tis more fun if ye join me.” The girl sighed again when Merrick didn’t respond. “Wot’s wrong? Are ye thinkin’ o’ someone else? I’m good at pretended me lord.”
Merrick glanced up quickly into her face showing emotion at last. “Nay,” he said with disgust, “I ne’er want ta see the lass that plagues me again. She’s nothing ta me.” Hearing his words, a lump formed in my throat and my eyes watered.
“Take this away,” I said quietly to Rowena. “Enough!” I yelled when she just ignored me. “I don’t want to see anymore!” Rowena laughed and abruptly the image disappeared leaving me once more surrounded by the snowy forest next to Cameron’s castle.
I gasped as Rowena cruelly grabbed my chin in her hand. “Back to the reason why I’m here, your punishment. I could kill you,” she said, “but that’s no fun.” Abruptly, she dropped her hand away. “I could destroy your Immortal, looks to me like he deserves it.”
“No,” I whispered. Tears ran down my face. As much as it hurt to hear Merrick utter such hateful words about me, I never wanted to hurt him. He was the one. He took my breath away, stole my heart. Even if he hated me, I knew I never wanted harm to come to him. “No, I’ll still do anything as long as you don’t hurt him.”
“Ah, you really do love him. How cute. But, you must know mortal, if I killed Merrick, that would be punishing myself as well.” She leaned forward putting her hand up by her mouth as if she was confiding in me. “They do take such a long time to make. Nine months in a womb, Ha!” she whispered. She stepped back and glanced down at my abdomen. “Yes, I do believe I have a brilliant idea.” A smile crept across her lips and she brought her hands together in front of her. “I won’t kill you. No, I’ll make a deal with you.”
“What sort of deal?” I asked cautiously.
“If the child you carry is a boy, he’ll be immortal and I will come for him once he’s born. If it’s a baby girl, you can keep the brat!” she sneered. My hand flew to my stomach.
I shook my head. “No, you’re wrong! Merrick said Immortals are infertile. I can’t be pregnant.”
Rowena took a step closer. “If we Guardians made the Immortals infertile, why can’t we make them fertile? It’s rather easy to cast a little magic his way.” Rowena laughed reaching down to my abdomen, placing her chilled hands on
my flat stomach. “Just think, you have about seven more months and your baby will be here. I’ll be a grandma…of sorts.” I quickly calculated back two months. The storeroom, the first time I laid with Merrick. “So, do we have a deal…or do I need to kill Merrick even as much as it will pain me to do so?”
“We have a deal. Don’t hurt him.”
“I give you my…word,” she said as half her mouth curled up into a chilling smile. “Till we meet again, mortal.” She turned and began to glide back toward the flurry, windy wall of snow. Suddenly, she turned and leered back at me. “Oh, one more thing mortal, I wouldn’t tell your Immortal he’s the father. He won’t believe you. You’ll only create more heartache for yourself. He no longer cares for you, as you found out and what makes you think he’d want you anyway after you grow fat and heavy with child.” A cruel smile crossed her lips and instantly, an icy cold wind blew over me as she disappeared through the curtain of snow.
I brushed the hair out of my face darting a look around at the now peaceful woods. It appeared as if Rowena never visited. No footmarks, no disturbed snow, only the layer of ice on my cheek where she had caressed me.
“Jilly!” Grant yelled, running over to me. “There you are. I’ve been looking everywhere for ye. I followed ye’re tracks, but they just led in a circle through the woods.” Grant bent over catching his breath. “We should probably go in. Ye’ve been out here for hours. Ye’ll get frostbite if we stay much longer.”
It felt like only mere minutes to me, but a chill racked my body as I nodded, taking his outstretched hand. Grant swung his leather bag full of dead animals on his shoulder and we made our way back to the castle with the falcon following us from high above.
* * * * *
“Knock, knock,” Cameron said opening my door. “Here, this is cook’s special concoction for warming one’s soul.”
I sat up in my bed smoothing down the layers of blankets. When Grant and I had arrived back to the castle, I could barely move. My skin still felt ice cold to the touch. Luckily, I didn’t get frostbite on any extremities. “Thank you,” I said reaching for the hot cup. Cameron went over and stoked the fire and then came back and sat on the bed.
“Don’t worry,” he said patting my leg through the covers, “by dinner you’ll be as good as new. I’ll be back to check on you in a little while.” Cameron leaned down, kissed my forehead, and then headed toward the door.
“Hey, Cameron,” I said quickly before he left.
He turned around. “Hmmm?”
“Which Immortal was it that voted against finding me a way home?”
Cameron sighed and walked back over sitting next to me on the bed. His mouth became tight lipped as he stared at me. “It was Cain,” he said quietly. I don’t know what I expected, but I didn’t think Cain cared if I stayed or went.
“Why?”
Cameron let out a deep breath. “Jillian, Cain isn’t like the rest of the Immortals. You see, we were all created the same way, but each Guardian added an extra ingredient of their own in the creation process. We all have our own unique ways.” Cameron shifted on the bed, getting more comfortable. “Alexander was always more of a leader or ‘parent’ you could say. He feels he has to watch over us, protect us in a way. Merrick is the lighthearted jokester, always laughing or having a lady in hand,” he said avoiding my gaze. “Gideon is a great teacher. He spends most of his time when he’s here with the garrison teaching them new fighting moves and where their weaknesses lie.”
“And what about Cain?”
Cameron glanced up at me. “Cain is and always was a loner. He goes off, does his own thing when he’s not fighting with us. We think—.”
“What?” I urged him on when he wouldn’t continue.
“There is suspicion that he dabbles in Black Magic.”
“Is that what the tattoos are?”
Cameron shifted uneasily. “I think the tattoos help to keep the evil away. Sometimes it doesn’t seem like it helps. He knows magic. He can see things…so we’ve heard. We think he can even travel through time without the belt now.”
“Could he take me home?” I asked eagerly. What if I could return home to my century? I’d have the greatest gift of all, Merrick’s child and I’d be safe, away from the Guardians.
Cameron’s head snapped up and glared at me. “Don’t spend time with him, Jillian. The Guardians grow weary of the powers he’s gaining. They’re afraid he’ll soon surpass them. For your own good, stay away from him.” Cameron got up and left my room glancing back at me one last time before the door clicked shut. Energy and strength raced through my body from the very idea of going home, which now seemed like a real possibility. I had to talk to Cain. I knew he could help me. There was nothing here left for me.
The next morning I still felt weak and cold, but I was able to keep down bread and warm milk. I excused myself and retired to the library where Cameron had collected old manuscripts and priceless novels. Rows upon rows of books filled the three-story room. At the very top, a large stain glassed domed window filled the entire ceiling illuminating the room with natural light.
I threw a few logs onto the fire and curled up into a chair with an old atlas. As I carefully turned the torn pages, the fire began to flicker and pop. Glancing up, I did a double take discovering Cain stood before the hearth wearing a satisfied smile across his mouth. I sucked in a breath as he strolled over to me. He untied his cape dropping it over the other wing chair. The white tunic he wore opened down to his well defined abs exposing numerous black tribal tattoos covering his torso. He stopped in front of me. I slowly uncurled from the chair. He reached out stroking my cheek as warm sparks tingled under his fingertips while he traced the curve of my chin.
“I believe ye wanted ta speak ta me,” he said as his gaze drifted down to my chest. I quickly held the book up to my chest holding it tightly to me. A low rumble of laughter escaped Cain. “That canna stop me, lass. Are ye no goin’ ta ask me?”
I took a deep breath and sat up a little straighter. “Can you take me home?”
A smile curved his mouth. “Yes.” He reached out his hand carefully following the curve of my collarbone. I sunk back into the chair as far as I could as my chest heaved quick gasps.
“W-when can we leave? I’m ready now.”
Cain tsked as he ran the back of his hand down across one of my breasts. “I said I could take ye. Not that I would.”
“What?” I cried sitting up. “I don’t understand. Why do you want me to stay? This is the only way I can save my chi-.” In a blink of an eye, Cain pulled me out of the chair and held me against him.
“Ye’re destiny isna in the twenty-first century. Ye’re needed here. And ye’re child isna a secret, at least not ta me.” Slowly, he leaned forward inhaling deeply as he pushed his nose into my hair. I froze when his hands pressed the small of my back closer against him. “Besides,” he whispered against my ear, brushing his lips against my earlobe, “ye wouldna like my price.” His tongue darted out tasting the sensitive skin. I pushed out of his hands. “Ah, ye see, and that was only a mere taste.” Cain smiled menacingly and walked over grabbing his cloak. He tied it back on. “Just ta let ye ken, ye’re Immortal will return in a fortnight.”
“He’s not my Immortal,” I said bitterly, remembering what the Guardian had showed me.
“When ye’re Immortal returns,” Cain said, ignoring my response, “dinna let him get away. Ye need him, just as much as he needs ye.” A thunk sounded behind me and I glanced back finding the book I read lay on the floor. I quickly turned toward Cain.
“I don’t-“ I realized I talked to an empty room. Was there anyone who would help me? I grabbed the book from the floor and plopped into the chair beginning to read, not really seeing the words in front of me but rather thinking about what Cain had told me. My destiny was here….
I spent the next two weeks making new gowns for myself with the help from Elise. I told her I wanted them with an empire waist, which I was accustomed to wea
ring back home. Thankfully, she didn’t think twice about it and helped me make my gowns. I’d have to have something that would hide my stomach when I began to show. I wanted to keep Merrick’s child a secret for as long as I could.
The weather grew worse and snow seemed like it never stopped falling. As the days rolled by, I couldn’t stop thinking of what I’d tell everyone when I began to show. Luckily, I hid the morning sickness fairly well, being that it attacked me at first morning light.
If I wasn’t sewing, I took naps or felt queasy, which I would then try to eat something, which usually helped to quell the sickness. I began to sneak a loaf of bread from the kitchen every night before I went up to bed, so I had something to eat in the morning while I lay in my bed feeling nauseous.
Finally, the day the Immortals would return, according to Cain, arrived. I ran up to my room and just made it over to my chamber pot as my breakfast decided to come back up. I hunched over and retched into the pot as the heaves racked my body.
“Jillian, are ye-“ I glanced over and saw Grant poke his head around my door. “Jillian, are ye all right? What’s wrong?” he asked running over and placing his hands on my shoulders.
“It’s okay. I-I think I have the ague,” I lied. I wasn’t ready to tell anyone my news. Grant held my hair back and helped me back into bed tucking the covers up to my chin.
“I’ll go get the village healer. She’ll ken what ta do.”
“No!” I yelled sitting up. “No, I mean, I think I just need some rest. If I still feel sick tonight, I’ll see her.” By the look of Grant’s expression, I didn’t think he’d agree. “Please?” I asked in my sweetest voice.
“All right, but if ye are no better by dinner, I’m personally going ta go fetch her.” I smiled and nodded as I lay back down snuggling under the covers. Grant came over and stood by my side. He looked like he fought with himself to lean down and kiss me. Instead, he made a tight smile and abruptly left.
Immortal of My Dreams Page 17
