“She’s connected to the dagger. Her magic, her essence, is buried within. If she is to have a chance at all to find her way back from the darkness, the dagger will guide her to her body.”
So I eased Celeste back to the floor. Reached over her, I grasped the garnet dagger. My fist clenched the hilt. The metal warm in my hand.
“Place the blade like this.” He showed me how to clasp her hands around the hilt.
Celeste’s body lay beside me, face up and eyes closed. I brushed a golden curl of her hair off her forehead. And I prayed to all the gods I’d ever heard of that Nivel was right.
Glanced at Nivel who nodded, and I placed the dagger on her breastbone. I eased up her left hand and then her right, and laid them clasped down on the hilt.
I held my breath. Nothing. With a glance at Nivel, he shrugged. I wanted to reach up and strangle him for his nonchalant gesture, when something caught my attention. Red flickered then glowed from the garnet.
Her fingers twitched. Grey eyes I thought to never see again flew open as she gasped for breath. “Is it over?”
She sat up and my arms flew around her.
“You’re crushing me.” Her hand pushed against my chest.
I released my hold, but my smile would not cease. For my love lived. Now everything was right again.
“Aye.” Nivel winked. “The Warloc’s body is gone, burned to nothing.”
Pain shot up my leg when I moved. Forgotten my leg and arm were shattered.
“Let me.” One of her hands brushed on my leg, the other upon my arm. Under the tickling warmth, I collapsed beside her. Soon the bones sticking out of my leg buried back into my flesh. Coolness swept over me.
“You’re lucky.” She grinned when I glanced at my healed body and then back at her. “Otherwise, I’d wrench your arm into place like you did mine before I healed you.”
“That was necessary. We didn’t have time. I’m sorry I hurt you.” How I wished to take away her pain. If only I had the gift of healing, I’d have healed her instead of shoving her shoulder back into socket.
“I was grateful for your help to escape Morgan. Just wanted to see your reaction.” Her smile brightened her face.
If I had healed her then, I’d have left her and the Warloc would have succeeded. Helping her up, I kept an arm around her waist as we left the tower.
Almost tripped down the stairs for staring at her instead of where my foot was headed.
Outside, my senses returned with the dawn. Questions I didn’t know if I wanted the answers to plagued me. Close, Shadowdancer nibbled on grass while we talked.
Rage boiled my thoughts of Nivel not explaining the prophecy to me. What if I hadn’t listened to my heart? He could have cost me everything. Had I killed her, would he have told me then? Even the Shints convinced me. If not for my love, the Warloc would have victory.
“Why did you not tell me that it wasn’t necessary to kill Celeste to honor the prophecies?” My gut twisted.
Celeste stroked my back.
“The prophecy would not work if I told you. I was instructed what to say when the bringer of death appeared.”
“Who? Where did you get this instruction?”
Nivel’s green eyes twinkled. And I wanted to smash his grin away. “From the witches.”
“What witches?” Celeste glanced from Nivel back to me.
“The council of witches who crafted the dagger. And gave me my children, along with a few precious moments with my wife.”
I gawked at him. Surely he did not mean what he said.
“The vampyre?” I stood on shaky legs. “Your wife was the human, tainted?”
“Aye, you’re my descendant from my beloved. Centuries passed as I watched the children of my children die.
“Just as you have had to live with your curse, I’ve had to share immortality with the Warloc.” Shadowdancer nosed Nivel’s hand for a pat. “The Warloc was the one who drove the people to ask for the vampyre’s help. Hoped in killing me, he’d gain my magic.
“But the witches absorbed my magic, held it in the dagger until the witch was found. Then my magic would rejoin to me,” he said with a wink, “which is why I knew you had not failed, for my magic returned. That and the safeguard of the dagger returning to you if lost or stolen.
“However, if the Warloc persuaded Celeste to use her and the dagger’s magic, then he’d possess her, and all of her magic. There would be none to stop him — not even your power to drain a kahj.”
“But the dagger saved us from the Bergone, and the fire of justice … ”
“Celeste’s magic, not mine. Her first bleed did not come strong enough to bring her magic to completeness until you freed her from Father Morgan. The Warloc knew what was needed to keep her magic dormant.”
“So, you’re Brock’s ancestor.” Celeste placed a hand on her hip. “Should have known, for you have the same eyes. Greener than the meadows in spring.”
“Flattery will get you anything you desire.” He swept into a quick bow. “Now, the dagger is Celeste’s, returned to the witch as vowed. I also surrendered my home to that monster, but the heaviest fine was killing my beloved Rachel after our twins were born. Then turn my daughter over to the witches to raise as my sacrifice.”
My father’s words rushed through my mind.
“What did they — the witches do to my sister then?” My mouth dried as I reined control over the hope leaping in me, “was her sacrifice the same?”
“Your sister is alive and well.” He stroked his chin. “Saw her last year.”
“How is she? What’s she like?” How could he have kept this from me? From even my father and mother? “What about the blood my father spoke of when he gave her to the witches.”
“The blood pact.” As though seeing my confusion, he waved a hand. “Each witch joined some of her blood with your sister’s. This would protect her as well as strengthen her magic.”
“What magic? We’ve not had anything worth bragging about for centuries.”
“Just as you inherited my love’s vampyre taint, so did your sister inherit a measure of my magic.” Then he clapped his hands overhead.
The ominous onyx gates lightened to a clear emerald. Climbing vines bloomed and seemed to caress the stone castle instead of strangling the blocks.
“Don’t know how much time I have left.” He gave Celeste a hug, and then me. “But I intend on staying here. In my home — Rachel’s home. Take care, Brock. Love is precious, do not flounder wasting time. The land is healing.”
A grin escaped me. It was done. But what of Celeste? I could not live among her kind, and my people forbade anyone to speak or even look upon a human.
Was I healed, then, too? Another promise of the prophecy. “What of my taint?” I still felt the power behind my curse. “When will it be healed?”
Sadness seemed to darken his eyes as he stared at me, and my hope sunk into my boots. “You will always have it.”
“But the prophecies — ” I swallowed back the bile tinged on my tongue. And I knew before he spoke the words that I would never be free of my burden.
“They promise your healing, but not in the way you think. You have the healing of touching the one you love, to hold her. In time perhaps you will learn to control your magic, hold the power back.”
“Magic?” I scoffed, “I’ve no magic.”
“But you do.” His white robes flapped in the breeze. “Your magic is the part of nature that destroys in order to rebuild. Celeste is the healing half of you.” Again his silver hair didn’t match the smoothness of his face. His tone darkened his next words, and I knew there was no mistaken his warning. “Never must she take a life with her magic, for if she does, one greater than the Warloc will walk among us again.”
“At least all this is over.”
I expected him to agree, but he shot me a glare. “This isn’t over. The land is healing and the Warloc dead.”
“What else is left?” Celeste voiced my thoughts.
“His kahj. Only his physical body was obliterated. Even now, his death has alerted his progeny. As I waited and watched my children raise children for generations, so did he watch his human descendants. Did you not think he prepared for this day? For all of the possible outcomes?
“One remains who will take his power. Prophecy foretells this one will throw the land into darkness. But four who stand together will break even the Warloc’s kahj inside of eternity.” His hand rested on my shoulder. “Take care — read the prophecies in my vault.” He turned away from us and marched to the castle.
“Wait.” All of his words chased each other in my mind. “Who are these four?”
“One is the Vaer, the other the key. Third is the sacrifice, the fourth is the son of the dragons.”
“Can you for once not speak to me in riddles? Months I spent searching for a witch to kill — but was not what the prophecies foretold. It was my stubbornness that saved us this time.”
“Read the prophecies.” He dug through his robes and tossed me a pouch heavy with silver and gold human coins. “For your journey back. Inside the prophecies of the four in the vaults, you will find more money. Then look for your sister.”
“Where?” I remembered all too well the weeks of traveling from village to village to find Celeste.
“In Vicsburg.” His green eyes shone like emeralds. “She’ll find you. But remember, her features are more human than elf.” Without another word he swept across the ground and into the Keep.
“I wish you could come with me and see my homeland. But humans are forbidden.”
Celeste brushed her lips on my cheek, and then strode to Shadowdancer.
“Thank you for everything, Brock.” Mounted, she fumbled with the reins. “If not for your help, I’d be another Shint under the Warloc’s power.”
“Nay,” I shook my head. “According to Nivel, you’d have become him and evil would rule.”
The corner of her mouth twitched. “I understand, we cannot be together. But never will I forget you.”
She clicked her tongue and Shadowdancer broke into a trot. Each breath, she moved further away from me.
How could I let her go? She was my life. Even the colors around me dimmed at her departure. Knew if I could, I’d never want to eat or sleep. She filled every part of me, and still made me long for more. Her smell, her face, her kisses would haunt me every day until I was no more. In anticipation, I yearn for death which mocked me and would never come.
Months ago, I’d have giving anything to be on my own and away from her. But she’d molded me until everything that was alive in me rested in her and in her happiness. “Celeste. Stay with me.”
“Where? How?”
“I don’t care. The prophecy was misinterpreted by all. Perhaps the rules are no longer valid either. I just want you with me.”
Shadowdancer halted. She turned and looked back at me, tears in her eyes. In an instant I was at her side. “Do you mean it?”
I clasped her hand in mine and inhaled. Held her fragrance, lavender and tears.
“I love you.” Let her laughter come, I welcomed her joy even at my expense.
“But can you love all of me, the woman and the witch? Part of you agreed with the Shints that I — or witches — were evil. Or else they would not have taken so strong a hold on you. Do you love me and the witch?”
“I love you.” I swallowed my heart when it leapt into my throat. She must believe me, for she’d leave if she did not. “I love all that you are. No longer do I judge you unfairly — as I was judged.”
“I love you too.” She slid off Shadowdancer and into my arms.
Her kiss made my insides quiver in hunger.
With the sun and our love to heat our flesh, we made love again. Sweeter than the nectar of the goldenbloom.
• • •
After we dressed, I rode behind her on Shadowdancer. And thanked whatever god I’d pleased enough to give me my gift, Celeste.
“Come with me to read the prophecies.” No longer did I care what the elders would say. Because of her, all was safe — for now.
“Will your family accept me?”
Heard the uncertainty in her voice. “My father would’ve been a servant at your feet — but he died a while ago. Mother will teach you the Elvin weaving.”
“And your sister?”
“Not sure if my sister will even like me.”
“She will.” She leaned back in the saddle against my chest.
I mused over us. She and I were opposites. Her magic brought healing and life, but destruction and death came from my touch. Even our coloring, hers fair and mine dark, contrasted each other.
Yet, we meshed together as one. Accepted each other in love, despite our differences. She was my cure.
I’d be hollow without her.
-End-
About the Author
Andrea R. Cooper was born in Houston, Texas, and dreamed of being a writer since getting her first praise in grade school on her story about a piece of chalk. She has an Associate of The Arts Degree and has worked as a freelance writer. She lives outside of Houston with her best friend who is her husband, their three children, lots of books, and characters vying for her attention and their chance to tell their story.
A Sneak Peek from Crimson Romance
(From Implosion by Berinn Rae)
Beyond our world lies the unknown. Countless planets with endless possibilities. On one of those worlds, many galaxies from our home, an epic war has started a chain reaction, sending the war on a collision course with Earth. In the bloody aftermath of the Noble War of Sephia, the conquered Draeken flee, and the triumphant Sephians give pursuit. The first habitable planet in their path is a small, temperate planet called … Earth.
We are no longer alone.
Not yet public knowledge, the gold-skinned Sephians have reached a precarious peace with our military in their efforts to drive the winged Draeken from Earth and to extinction. As human-Sephian forces peck at Draeken defenses, we quickly learn that things are never as simple as right and wrong, good versus evil.
A Draeken commander reaches out to a human leader tied with the Sephians in hopes for peace. But simmering tempers at the clandestine meeting quickly erupt into a disastrous battle. In the ensuing chaos, a Sephian warrior-woman is captured by the most feared of all Draeken, a man with deadly secrets and deadlier intentions. As tensions within the Draeken ranks rise, the chance for a world war looks inevitable.
And it’s a war no one may survive.
To buy this ebook and learn more about the author, click here.
In the mood for more Crimson Romance?
Check out Life After Death
by Lillie J. Roberts
at CrimsonRomance.com.
The Garnet Dagger Page 18
