by S. E. Smith
He leaned back and took a long swig of the cold beer. The stress and worry from the last two days eased, and he began to relax. He looked at Magna. Her curious but compassionate expression gave him hope that she would use her magic to help him.
“Her name is Gem Aurora LaBreeze. She is a princess from the Isle of the Elementals,” he began.
“I turned her into stone,” Magna added.
“To save her and her people,” Ross said.
“Yes,” Magna replied, a single tear coursing down her cheek.
“Thank you,” he said.
Magna nodded and sniffed. “Please go on,” she encouraged.
Over the next several hours, Ross shared everything – well, almost everything – that had happened. All three asked him questions. Magna’s concern focused on the alien creature and her fear that it may not have been killed. Kane was interested in Ashure while Gabe wanted to know more about the traps and how he and Gem had escaped them.
“So there are two more alien creatures left,” Magna said.
“Yes, at least, that is what they think,” Ross replied.
Magna nodded and looked down at her hands. “The one that took over my body was a General. The others are lesser soldiers. They were dispensable in battle. They do not have the same power as a General, but that does not make them any less dangerous. In the right situation, with the right body, they can be just as deadly,” she explained.
Kane and Gabe wrapped their arms around her, and Ross felt a pang of loss. He really understood now what it meant to love someone. This couldn’t be the end for himself and Gem.
“What is it that you want from Magna?” Gabe asked.
Ross turned his attention to Magna. “I think you already know,” he said.
“Yes,” she replied, turning her hand over and showing him the glowing blue shell in the center of her palm.
Epilogue
Isle of the Elementals
* * *
“Gem,” Adrina greeted.
Gem looked up when she heard her name, then turned her face away from her mother’s searching gaze. Her bottom lip trembled, and she closed her eyes to keep from crying. She knew she wasn’t successful when she felt the tear coursing down her cheek.
“I’d like to be alone,” she requested in a thick voice.
She should have known it was not likely to happen. Either her mother, her father, Nali, or one of the servants had practically been a constant companion over the last two days. She wanted to be alone so that she could grieve. She didn’t understand how her heart could hurt when she felt like it had been ripped from her body.
“There is a celebration tonight,” her mother said.
Gem looked at her mother and scowled. “A celebration? What for? I have no desire to celebrate,” she replied in a sharp tone before she looked down at her hands in shame at taking her hurt out on her mother.
Her mother walked over and sat down on the bench beside her. She’d thought hiding in the maze would shield her from all of the worried stares. She had returned to the garden where everything had started. Yet even here, she could find no peace. The ghost of Samuel haunted her here, and the spirit of Ross haunted her outside of the maze.
A choked sob rose in her throat, and she buried her face in her hands. Her mother held her, and she snuggled closer. They remained that way while she cried, her mother softly singing an old song that she used to sing when Gem was a child.
Softly do the roses grow,
They sing the song of love,
For in their soft red petals,
My sweet love’s blood does flow.
* * *
Cry no more, my lady,
Cry no more, my love,
For on the moonlight’s rays,
My love, he will always come.
* * *
On the sweet breeze, I will hear
The words of my love to me
Cry no more for me, my sweet Princess,
For my love for you still grows.
* * *
I will come to you, my love,
I will come to you, I swear,
For softly on the waves that rock
It will carry me home to you
Gem’s crying slowly eased with the gentle rocking and soothing ballad. She pulled the image of Ross close to her heart. Memories of their days together flowed through her mind – his crooked smile, the teasing light in his eyes, the touch of his fingers as he caressed her cheek, and the love reflected in the way he looked at her.
“It felt like I knew him forever, yet we had just met,” Gem murmured against her mother’s shoulder.
“When you find your soul mate, that is the way it feels. Your father and I have been together for hundreds of years – yet every day feels like we just met. I never tire of his smile or his touch. Your grandmother said that it is because our souls already know one another from a previous life,” her mother explained.
“Will it always hurt this much?” Gem asked, her voice catching on a sob.
Her mother shook her head. “Not always, but sometimes. When it does, remembering the good times with him will help ease the pain. As long as he is in your heart, he is never gone. He will always be with you as long as you remember him,” her mother said.
“What if I forget?” Gem asked, sitting back and holding her mother’s hand in hers.
Her mother shook her head and gently cupped Gem’s hand in hers. Gem frowned in confusion when her mother guided her hand down to her abdomen and firmly pressed it so that her palm lay flat against her belly.
“How can you forget when you carry his child?” her mother asked.
Gem frowned. “His child? How can… We only… It is too early to know,” she faltered.
Adrina chuckled and shook her head. “I’m your mother, Gem. Your colors gave it away. The power of the Goddess’s Gem is not only in you, but in your child. You carry in your womb a new future for the Elementals – one that will make us stronger. The Gem of Power is the Goddess’s love. It has the power to heal our kingdom, our people, and you if you give it a chance. The power of love is the most powerful emotion in the universe. Though you unleashed it in grief, it saved our world,” her mother explained as she caressed her face.
“But – it couldn’t save Ross,” she softly said.
“Didn’t it?” her mother asked.
Gem rested her cheek against her mother’s hand for a moment, afraid to think about what Adrina had just suggested. After all, if Ross was alive, where was he? She kept her hand protectively against her stomach. They both turned when they heard the sound of curses and dire threats coming from outside the wall.
“It would appear that a pirate has become lost in the maze,” Adrina chuckled.
“I’ll go help him,” Gem murmured, rising to her feet.
She took a couple of steps before she stopped and turned around. Retracing her steps, she brushed a kiss across her mother’s cheek. She moved her hand back to her stomach.
“Thank you,” she whispered.
“I love you, Gem,” her mother replied.
Gem nodded and hurried out of the garden. She didn’t know if what her mother had said was true, but for the first time in two days, she had hope that she would survive. It wouldn’t be easy, but as long as she held Ross in her heart, he would be with her.
Later that evening, Gem stood on the cliffs overlooking the lake. Far below, Nali’s ship could be seen. Every once in a while, the Thunderbirds would raise their wings and the crackle and pop of the electricity they emitted could be heard along with the explosions of fireworks high in the sky.
Her people were celebrating being alive and safe. The sound of laughter and the squeals of young children running through the gardens warmed her heart a little. Yet, everything felt different. She felt different.
“The occasion is far too joyous to be so sad, my Lady,” Ashure said from behind her.
Gem sighed and looked at Ashure with a raised eyebrow. “Are you leaving?” she ask
ed.
Ashure nodded. “Yes. My ship has arrived,” he explained.
She looked at him in surprise. “Surely there is nothing so pressing that it can’t wait until morning. Besides, I thought you always enjoyed a party. There has to be at least one Elemental female who would be excited to share her celebration with you,” she teased.
“Ah, yes, but there is only one that intrigues me enough to be tempted. Alas, her heart is already taken by a man from another world,” he replied.
Pain rippled through her. She turned and looked back out at the lake, waiting for the pain to pass. One night – they’d only had one night together. She pressed her hand to her stomach and pushed the pain away.
At least we had that, she thought.
“I suspect that may not have been the best thing for you to say, Ashure,” she responded in a strained voice.
“Perhaps, but…,” he started to say.
She looked at him from under her eyelashes. “But?” she repeated.
He opened his jacket and reached inside. She curiously watched him pull out a mirror. He held it up and moodily stared at it.
“I have a magic mirror that shows what your heart desires the most,” he said in a distracted voice.
She turned and faced him. “And what do you see when you look into it – jewels, gold, the finest liquor?” she asked.
He looked at her. “I see the woman who can fill the darkest part of my soul with light,” he replied. He held the mirror out to her. “Is there something you would like to ask it before I leave?”
Gem stared at the mirror in his hand. Her heart pounded with fear and a small measure of hope. Dare she ask for something that she knew no longer existed? Her hand trembled when she reached for the mirror and took it from him.
“What – what do I say?” she asked.
“Oh, magical mirror, grant my wish, and tell it what you want the most from the bottom of your heart,” Ashure said.
She nodded in understanding. She was thankful when he politely turned around and looked at the lake. She knew he was doing it to give her some privacy.
“Oh, magical mirror, grant my wish – where is the love of my life?” she whispered.
Gem couldn’t contain her gasp of surprise. The mirror tilted in her hand. She almost dropped it when the swirling colors parted, and she saw Ross walking toward her. She held the mirror closer, devouring the image of him.
She was so focused on him that it took a few seconds for the background of fireworks and the silhouette of a palace to register. By the time it did, the image began to fade.
“No! How do I bring it back? I – Oh magical mirror, grant my wish—” her faltering voice suddenly faded as she looked up and saw Ross – Ross! – standing in front of her – in real life!
“Careful,” Ashure exclaimed in an urgent tone.
He caught the mirror when it slipped from her suddenly numb fingers. Her eyes blurred for a moment, and she swayed. Firm, familiar hands grabbed her waist and steadied her.
Gem stared up into the soft, warm eyes of the man she’d thought she would never see again. She parted her lips on a hushed plea, and Ross captured them in a deep kiss that left her dizzy. He reluctantly pulled away and stared deep into her eyes.
“You’re alive. Oh, Ross, you’re alive,” she whispered in a voice filled with disbelief. “But, I saw you die. ”
“Yeah, well, I guess destiny – or this Golden Goddess of yours – had a different plan for me,” he tenderly replied.
“Golden Goddess?” she whispered, remembering the figure she’d briefly seen reflected in the alien’s eyes.
She shook her head and wrapped her arms around his neck. She softly sighed when she felt him tremble. He tightened his arms around her, and she reveled in the feeling that he would never let her go.
“I love you, Gem. I love you. I know it sounds crazy. I’m just a fisherman, or I was until I gave my boat away. I don’t have a hell of a lot, but if this crazy, mixed-up magical world accepts gold and a few jewels, then I might have enough to get us started. I’m pretty handy, and I’ve been told I have a cute ass. I swear if you give me a chance….” He stopped talking when she placed her fingers on his lips.
“I love you, Ross, King of Yachats – or at least King of the fishing boat before you gave it away. I love you for you – and your cute ass,” she murmured.
Gem laughed when Ross suddenly picked her up and swung her around in a circle. She leaned forward and captured his lips. He slowly placed her feet on the ground, but his arms never left her.
“You have to tell me what happened after – well, after shit hit the fan,” he said.
Gem slid her hand from his shoulder down to her stomach. “I have a lot to tell you,” she acknowledged. “But first, I would like to introduce you to my parents. ”
Ross tightened his grip on the handle of his duffle bag. Everything he owned was inside it. The only reassuring thing about the bag was the weight – it was heavy.
As they walked across the park, he felt a little overwhelmed by the number of residents who turned and stared at him. He gripped Gem’s hand tighter when several children ran up to them. He expected them to greet Gem with adoration, not him.
“Would you mind telling me what the hell is going on?” he muttered when a young girl held out a bouquet of flowers to him. “Ah, thanks. They are very pretty. ”
The girl giggled and ran back to her parents. He shook his head and warily looked at the blooms. He wanted to make sure that they weren’t going to grab him, eat him, or do some other weird thing like singing or dancing.
“You are a legend among our people. Ashure has spent the last two days regaling the kingdom with your heroic deeds – how you carried all of us from certain death, fought a monstrous Kraken that made the great King of the Sea Serpent tremble in fear, survived the magnificent Yeti of the Canyon, were swallowed by the carnivorous Butterwort plant, and even saved his beloved hat from the Field of Fire,” she explained.
He stopped and looked at her. “Wait a minute, how did Ashure know about – oh yeah, you told him when we were sharing stories,” he said with a shake of his head.
“Gem, is it true? Is your…?”
They both turned and looked at an older couple who hurried toward them – or should he say floated toward them. He swallowed and set his bag on the ground. Gem held her hands out to them.
“Mother, Father, we were coming to see you,” she said.
Ross stood as straight as he could when the man stopped and looked him over. He looked down at the bouquet when he felt one of the flower’s fragile stems bend. He cleared his throat and looked up. This was a first for him. He had never met a woman’s parents before. He was the kind of guy that most girls would avoid introducing to their parents.
“You must be Ross,” the man said.
“Yes, sir. Ross Galloway. I’m from… a long way from here,” he awkwardly greeted.
Unsure of what the protocol was for meeting royalty, he held out the flowers to Gem’s mother who was standing silently by her husband. She smiled at him before taking them with a murmur of thanks. He nodded to them both before taking a step back. He looked down when Gem threaded her arm through his.
“I am Ruger and this is my wife, Adrina. We would like to welcome you to our home,” Ruger greeted.
Adrina stepped forward and kissed both of his cheeks. She squeezed his arms. Ross shot Gem an uncertain look when he saw the tears glittering in her mother’s eyes.
“We owe you a great debt for all you have done for our people and our daughter,” Adrina said before she laughed. “Thank you for the flowers. ”
“Let us return to the palace. Tonight, there is truly a reason to celebrate!” Ruger declared.
Ross picked up his bag. He looked down at Gem and smiled when she threaded her fingers through his. He absently answered the King and the Queen’s questions as they walked, but his mind was on the woman holding his hand and the magic all around him.
Thi
s is way better than living on the beach in Hawaii, he thought as the sky lit up with a brilliant display of fireworks.
It was nearly two in the morning before the festivities quieted down. Gem had murmured an excuse for them to depart the main banquet area half an hour before, and since then they had silently walked along the corridors to Gem’s living quarters. He held her hand as they walked.
“I can’t stop touching you,” he said.
Gem smiled. “Have you heard me complain?” she asked.
He chuckled and shook his head. “It’s hard to believe that all of this was right in front of us the whole time, just hidden,” he commented.
“The Elders’ spell froze everything and hid it so that the alien could not harm them,” she said with a nod.
“Gem – are you sure about this – about me?” Ross suddenly asked.
She paused outside a set of double doors. His heart pounded in his chest when she smiled at him, opened one of the doors, and pulled him inside. He had no sooner closed the door than she was in his arms kissing him.
He groaned when she pushed his jacket from his shoulders. He grasped the ties on the back of her sky blue tunic and loosened the ribbon, pushing the material off her shoulders.
“I want to make love to you in a bed this time. I want to explore every inch of you,” he murmured between kisses.
“Down… the hall to the right,” she breathlessly instructed.
They left a line of clothing from her apartment door to the bedroom. By the time they reached her bed, there were no more barriers between them. Ross fell back across the bed, pulling Gem with him. He gazed up at her.
“I love you, Princess. The first time I saw you, I thought you were the most beautiful woman I had ever seen,” he murmured, lifting his hand and caressing her cheek.
“When you touched me, you asked me about the colors. You tried to brush them away. Do you remember that?” she asked.
