by Rue Volley
“No… not yet. We have a ceremony to perform,” he said.
I narrowed my eyes and stared at him.
“A what?” I asked him.
“You know… like a wedding,” he said to me.
I sucked in my breath and stepped back, falling onto the bed.
“Whoa… a wedding?” I said.
“Well, yea… kinda. We, ah, say some stuff… kiss, then we jump in the bed,” he said to me.
I smiled at him.
“Stuff, like what?” I said.
“Well, whatever is in your heart really… Protectors don’t have a whole thing written out... We just pledge to each other; so it is up to you and me to talk,” he said.
“Oh crap,” I muttered.
He leaned down and smiled at me.
“Do not tell me that you are nervous,” he said.
I looked up at him and bit my lip.
“I, ah… I am not really the best at talking in front of people… My words get all jumbled, and I start to forget about what I want to say,” I said.
He pulled me up and laughed.
“I think that your doubt in what you can say is the least of your worry; because once I get you on this bed, it is on,” he said.
“Oh, I know… You underestimate me,” I said.
“Oh really?” he asked as he touched my neck and let his hand move down it slowly.
My heart fluttered and he smiled as he stared at the pulse quickening on my neck. I swallowed and looked at his face. His lips looked so inviting; I just wanted to kiss him, do whatever we were going to do right away. He took his hand from my neck and flicked my nose. I blinked at him.
“And why?” I said as I rubbed my nose.
“Stopped you from thinking dirty thoughts,” Josh said as he smiled.
“Unnecessary,” I muttered.
“No, I needed a distraction too.”
I looked at him and smiled.
“Why are you all like… we have to wait, now?” I asked him.
He grabbed me and pulled me to him. He lifted me up and I wrapped my legs around him. He leaned in and kissed me… softly. I melted into him, I really did. He caressed my lower back with one hand and placed his other hand on the back of my head. He laid me down and leaned against me on the bed. I ‘oh’d’, as he pressed against me and moaned at my neck.
“See… I need a distraction, or I will take you right here, right now.”
I accidently pressed my hands on his back and he hissed and rolled off of me.
I looked at my hands and they had blood on them.
“Oh shit… Josh, you’re bleeding,” I said.
He looked up at me and nodded.
“Part of the dying shit I am dealing with,” he said.
“Tell me what to do… What can I do?” I asked him.
He leaned up and grinned at me.
“You can love me, Rue Volley. Just love me as you do.”
“No, I mean about this,” I said as I held my bloody hands up to him.
“Well, just don’t hook up with Johnathan after I am gone. I may be dead, but it would just piss me off.”
I tilted my head at him.
“Stop being a smart ass! This is serious,” I said.
“Okay, listen. Let’s just focus on one thing at a time. First… ceremony, then bed… Then we will worry about this rash I seem to have here.”
I shook my head at him and grinned.
“Fine… but as soon as I can I am finding a way to fix this. I will fix this,” I said.
“Okay, deal,” Josh said as he rolled off of the bed and held his hand out to me.
I took it and he pulled me up and started to pull me towards the tent opening.
“What are we doing?” I asked him.
He looked back at me and smiled.
“Announcing the ceremony. I won’t lie… I so wanna see Johnathan’s face drop,” Josh said to me.
I pulled on his hand and shook my head.
“Maybe I should tell him.”
Josh shook his head and laughed.
“You are kidding me, right? Come on, Rue! You know that I deserve to be able to tell him.”
“You are just being an ass,” I said.
Josh leaned in and kissed me quickly.
“A dying ass,” he said.
My heart fluttered. I wish that he would stop saying that. I was so not going to accept it, and neither should he. I sighed and let him pull me from the tent… heading out to announce what would seem to be a bittersweet moment, one of which I would hope would lead to forever and not to the grave.
***
Caine lay in a hole, deep in ground, in the middle of the field. He moved a little and then he stretched out his arms and cried out as he heard cracking, like his muscles were frozen in place. He pushed himself up and stumbled, catching himself with one hand, moaning as his back cracked too. He stood up slowly and twisted his neck, cracking again. He looked up and watched the clouds float in the sky over head. He waved his hand and all the clouds dispersed quickly. He took a step and then another, like a monster just zapped to life by 50,000 volts of electricity.
He reached the edge of the hole and dug his fingers into the earth, pulling himself up. He stood up and looked out at a charred countryside, earth dug up… bodies thrown everywhere. He stepped forward and looked down at a mangled body. He kicked it and it rolled over exposing the bloodied face of a young boy. Caine grinned and leaned down… Color started to float up from the lifeless body and he drew it into his palms and shuddered as it absorbed into him. He looked at the face of the boy as it blackened and started to shrink.
“Dead energy is so less fulfilling,” Caine muttered to himself.
He looked out at all the bodies and smiled as he held his arms out to his sides.
“I will consume you all,” he yelled towards the sky.
He closed his eyes and held his hands up as the color started to leave each body and float towards him. It started to swirl and then he opened his mouth and allowed it all to enter him at once. He stumbled backward and slowly stood up straight as his own color started to return to him. He held his hands out in front of him and watched the greyish color fade as the porcelain shade returned to him.
“Much easier to eat,” he said to himself.
He heard an echoing voice overhead and looked around him.
“Who are you?” he yelled towards the sky.
“I want to welcome you home,” he heard behind him.
He turned quickly to see Sophia standing before him in red.
He stared at her and gritted his teeth.
“Mother,” he said.
“Caine, my love. You are ready after all this time, to take your rightful place by my side.”
Caine laughed and wiped his lips, dried blood fell to the ground.
“You have nothing to offer me,” Caine said to her.
Sophia smiled and held her hand out to him.
“My love, you have been shunned by all you loved. I offer you revenge, on all that which harmed you.”
Caine grinned at her.
“That would include you,” he said.
Sophia tilted her head.
“If you wish, but I would think that you would want at least one ally upon your return to Valon, my son,” she said.
“My return? Valon shut me out long ago, along with her wretched inhabitants.”
Sophia sighed.
“That was a different time, love. All those who opposed you have long since left or perished. Your reign is secure now.”
Caine looked at the sky and back at Sophia. He laughed.
“Why? Why should I trust you? You, who threw me in Trail as a child? You… who allowed me to be exiled…? You, who sent me here again to rot forever?” he yelled at her.
The sky thundered and Sophia looked up at it and grinned.
“You have reached your full power; it was necessary to strip you of everything so that you could receive everything. For a true Lord has no fea
r of losing, because there is nothing to lose.”
“Nice metaphor, Mother,” Caine said as he stood his ground.
Sophia shook her head.
“Do not pick up habits from that failure of a Lord; his humor annoys me.”
“I apologize. I spent too much time with him,” he replied.
Sophia smiled at him and held her hand out to him.
He looked at it and laughed as he looked around the charred countryside.
“I think, that I would rather stay here in this wasteland than go with you.”
Sophia smiled.
“I have a gift for you… something that you would like to have I am sure.”
Caine grinned and stared at her.
“There is nothing that I wish to have from you.”
“Well, perhaps you would like to see it first; then you can make your choice.”
Caine stared at her as she raised her hands in the air and a body started to fall from the heavens. Caine watched it fall until it hit the ground about thirty feet from them. He heard a groan come from it and looked at her.
“What have you done?” he asked her.
“Only capture what you could not,” Sophia said as she waved her hand in the direction of the body.
Caine looked at her and then started to walk in the direction of the fallen body. He slowed down as he gazed upon the girl and he looked back at Sophia. She raised her hand to him and he looked back at the girl. He leaned down and turned the girl’s face to him. She was bloodied, but a beautiful sight nonetheless.
“Rue Volley,” he whispered to her.
The girl’s eyes rolled in her head and he picked her up and rested her against his chest.
He looked at Sophia and shook his head at her.
“She is injured; you did not need to do this,” he said.
“Do not be particular about your gift; she was not easy to acquire. I lost many tracking her down,” Sophia said, knowing that it was really Clytie in Rue’s form.
Caine looked at her face and grinned.
“You will bear a new era with an heir,” he whispered.
He walked towards Sophia with Clytie in his arms. He stopped, looked at her, and nodded.
“I would take it that you are pleased with this turn of events then?” Sophia asked him.
Caine looked down at Clytie and smiled.
“I am,” he replied.
Sophia turned and raised her hands into the air. The air in front of them started to wave like water as the wind picked up. Caine watched as a doorway appeared in front of Sophia and he watched her go through it, disappearing in front of his eyes. Caine looked down at Clytie and grinned.
“You are my true mate, Rue Volley. Let us return to Valon and destroy it together,” he whispered as he walked into the wavering doorway and onto the platform of the Trial room.
All protectors in Valon stood there staring at him.
He held Rue close to him and stared out at all of them.
A cheering rose up as Valon accepted her new Lord and saviour.
Chapter 17
Bathe in the Fire
Josh and I had looked for Johnathan, but he was gone. I felt a sense of relief really. I didn’t want to tell him for some reason; although, I knew that it would be okay. He had said it was okay… He said go to him. I did just that, but in my heart a small space was reserved for Johnathan and his feelings, not his love… just his happiness.
Josh muttered something as we went tent to tent looking for Johnathan and finally I pulled on his hand and jerked him back to me. He hissed and I stared at him with an “I’m sorry” on my face, realizing that my worry for Johnathan’s feelings, about what Josh and I were going to do, should be the furthest thing from my mind. I mean, Josh said, “I am dying.” I guess that it hadn’t sunk in yet. I guess that I was not going to allow it to. I couldn’t. If I did that I would feel like I had accepted defeat. I don’t accept things easily; although, I seem to be holding it together better than I expected. Josh looked down at me and smiled.
“What is it, Rue?” he asked me.
I looked up at him and wanted to hug him really hard. I knew that I couldn’t. It would hurt him and I was not about that. I grinned and squeezed his hand.
“Let’s find Theo and Sam; it looks like Johnathan isn’t even here right now,” I said.
I was so trying to be the adult; it was hard to pull off.
We walked to Theo’s tent and he and Sam were leaning over the black book, deep in conversation. Josh cleared his throat and they both turned to look at us. I stepped in front of Josh for some reason. I guess that I now feel like the stronger of the two of us; although, I would never say that either. He would have a fit if he knew that I felt that way.
“Ah, I see that you are finding it easy to walk,” Theo said to Josh.
Josh shrugged his shoulders and I felt him tense up.
If he wants to pretend like he is good to go, then I will give him that at least.
“I’m good… Find anything yet?” Josh asked him.
Theo looked at Sam and she stepped to us.
“Seems that you took a full blow from a Lord, and for some reason you are still breathing… go figure,” Sam said as she glanced at me.
I hated that, but once again I was going to remain calm… Can’t promise how long I can, but I am giving it a go for sure.
Josh laughed and looked at Theo.
“I am like a cat,” Josh said.
Theo grinned and looked back at the book.
Josh looked at me and then back to them.
“I have something to announce,” he said.
I looked up at him and he kept his eyes on Sam. Sam looked at me and tilted her head.
I grinned. I didn’t mean to… but there it was all over my face, happiness in the wake grief… so typical for my life.
“What Josh...? You gonna take on Valon now?” Sam asked as she smiled at him.
“No… I would love to, but no,” Josh looked at Theo and Theo turned.
“Could you put the book away for a minute?” Josh said.
Theo closed the book and turned, crossing his arms on his chest.
“Go on,” Theo said.
Josh stood there and I literally felt him take a breath. It was not typical for him to not just blurt out whatever, especially to his siblings. I think that they felt it too, and Theo relaxed his arms and prepared for whatever was about to come.
Josh opened his mouth and his voice cracked. I smiled and squeezed his hand.
“We are doing it,” I said.
Sam laughed and covered her mouth.
Theo raised an eyebrow, and I realized that my explanation was just weak at best.
Sam looked at Josh and shook her head.
“You both really thought that we had to know that?” Sam said.
Josh shook his head and looked at me as he sighed.
“No… What Rue meant to say is that we are doing the ceremony,” Josh said.
Sam’s eyes lit up like a child. She smiled so big, it weirded me out, all her teeth showed in her mouth. Theo clapped his hands, which I was still trying to figure out when that became a habit for him, and he ran to me and touched my face.
“Excellent news,” he said as he scooped me up and hugged me tightly.
Sam hit Josh on the arm and he ‘owe’d’… She ‘oh’d’ and held her hands up to him.
“Sorry,” Sam muttered to him.
Theo looked at Josh and held his arms out to him.
Josh rubbed his hand through his hair and shook his head.
“I would hug you, but ya know…” he said as he pointed to his back.
Theo sniffled and Josh leaned in to get a look at his face.
“You are not crying, right?” Josh asked him.
Theo waved his hand and walked back to the book. He waved his hand behind him.
“Oh, of course not… When are we having the ceremony?” he asked.
Josh looked at me and smiled.
&
nbsp; “As soon as possible,” he said.
Sam grabbed my hand and started to pull me out of the tent.
I looked back at Josh and he winked at me.
“Where are we going?” I asked Sam.
She smiled and shook her head at me.
“Are you kidding…? I am making you a dress, come on,” she said.
I glanced back at Josh and Theo and waved my free hand.
I so need some happy; so let’s go do it.
Sam pulled me along until we reached the edge of the field and she looked at me.
“We get to kill something now,” she said.
I shook my head and looked at her.
“No, no. I don’t want to kill anything,” I said.
She turned to me and took both of my hands.
“Listen to me, this is a big deal and I am not going to just make anything for you to wear. We need something amazing; something that has never been seen before,” she said to me.
I bit my lip realizing that this was it. This was Sam’s one chance to make the perfect dress…the only dress, other than maybe her own. It also had an underlining sadness attached to it. I mean Josh might not… no. I couldn’t think this way. So right there and now, I was making a conscious effort to not talk about it. I know it didn’t make it not true… but I had to make it the furthest thing from my mind.
I looked at Sam and smiled.
“Fine, I’m in,” I said.
“Okay, then… we track together,” she said.
I swallowed hard, because I didn’t know what I was doing. I really didn’t. I had no real experience, I mean, they all played in the woods… I did it a couple of times only. Weak.
She grabbed my hand and closed her eyes. I guess this was the part where I closed my eyes too and really focused. I did it and felt the vibration coming from her hand through mine. I suddenly felt someone take my other hand and I looked to see Lily. She grinned and the three of us stood there, focusing on energy… life’s blood all around us. I opened my eyes up to see color swirling in the air. I looked at Sam and Lily as they looked up and stared at all the color swirling overhead.
“I am on point. You two track,” Sam said and she flashed out into the open field.
