by Mary Ting
He felt so strong, yet so gentle. His strong body firm, yet so soft. And mine burned when his arms around me tightened.
“Jaclyn.”
His breath brushed my flesh, like the whisper of a warm breeze, filling me with flames of desire.
Jack’s hand moved with easy leisure over my face, softly caressing my nape, and then gripping my shoulder. Every part of him touched every part of me as his chest rose and fell with mine.
My head spun. Our mingled breath rose like a love song of restraint and longing. We paused there, and then our cheeks touched.
The roughness of his stubble prickled my skin, but oh so pleasantly. Then his lips moved and stayed at the corner of mine as if asking for permission to continue. His mouth, hot and persuasive, sent temptation trembling throughout my body.
A beast of hungry passion blossomed between us, despite the desperate events surrounding us. When he pressed tighter, I became terrified of the absolute power he held over me. Under his captivating stare, I was quite near to losing control. I wished for more, but I would not kiss him.
Not here. Not now.
It felt wrong to enjoy passion when Father’s life dangled in a monster’s hands, and to make matters worse, every town nearby would suffer. Closing my eyes, I gently pushed him away. A disappointed, soft sigh released from his mouth, and I felt a rush of regret.
Jack turned to the table. “My mother died from a high fever that would not break.”
“I’m sorry,” I said again. I reached out a hand to him, but dropped it. “I don’t remember much about your mother, but the few times I saw her, she was nice to me. She was kind and beautiful.”
He probably did not care about my opinion, but I wanted to let him know what I thought of his mother.
Jack sauntered inside one of the chambers and returned with a small rag in his hand and a long crimson fabric. “They were hard times after she passed. We never knew how much Mother did for us until we had to take on all of her work.” He lifted the rag and lightly scrubbed my face.
I stilled, surprised by his kindness, but I took his wrist to stop him. “I must look like a man. Perhaps I should keep the dirt.”
Jack’s lips twitched, his green eyes shining. “You’re too beautiful to pass for a man, dirty face or not.” Then he stroked along my cheek and my chin.
I flinched and sucked in air. His words and fingers touched my heart the way they should not. However, the smooth, heartbreaker Jack I’d known years before might have changed. Perhaps like me, he had grown up. He seemed responsible and more like a man than a boy.
When I pushed his hand away from my face, I saw red lines. “You’ve cut your hand?” Small cuts crossed his palm. “You must use a salve of willow’s bark and honey to help to heal and ease the pain.”
“Aye. We have plenty. Four men live here, remember? You care.” His eyes glowed again, his grin—wicked, but gorgeous.
He untied my cloak, letting it drop, and then he wrapped the crimson fabric around my shoulder.
“What are you doing?” My eyes bounced from my left shoulder to my right. “It’s a cloak. Why? I can’t accept a gift.”
“You can return it if you do not want it later, but your cloak is stained with blood.”
My own blood.
Jack cleared his throat. “It belonged to my mother and I would be honored if you wore it. I promise it will keep you warm on our journey back to save your father.”
Thousands of emotions exploded inside me. My father. My mother. Longinus. Monsters. Jack. Jack. Jack.
I closed my eyes for a second, marveling in this moment of safety, warmth, and gratefulness. When I opened my eyes, I offered Jack my most sincere happy smile to thank him.
Jack’s cheeks flushed and he grinned sheepishly.
The door slammed open, pushed by the screeching wind.
Jack and I jumped apart.
William entered with swords in hands. Two daggers secured to his waist and boots. Catching our eyes, he said, “’Tis time.”
Chapter Nineteen
Miracle or Work of Evil
When William, Jack, and I entered inside the church, the people sitting toward the back stared at us. I ducked my head lower and clutched my cloak tightly in front of my body. Though the hood over my head covered most of my face, I worried they would know I was a girl.
The men continued to watch me walk cautiously over the stone floor to the front. Then William snaked to the side, away from people’s view. I trailed behind him.
Men filled most pews, shoulder to shoulder. A metal cross and a Bible sat on the altar. Candles burned on the tables—flames ascending—gave the feeling of unity and wholesomeness. Light shone through the high windows, giving the room a Heavenly glow.
I felt as though I’d stepped into God’s home, though I had no idea what Heaven looked like. Peace flowed through my soul.
“The monsters will not leave their mountain. God will protect us.” Standing behind the altar, Father Henry raised his hands. He hadn’t seen us come in because he was gazing heavenward, and his loud voice overpowered the sounds of our entry.
James moved in front of the assembled crowd. “If you do not leave your homes today, your family will perish at the hands of the devil.”
The crowd roared with criticisms.
“You do not know what you’re talking about, boy,” one hollered.
“Have you seen the monsters with your own eyes?” another asked.
“I will not leave the home I’ve built,” someone said from the back of the room.
Jonathas stood beside his brother and raised his hand to quiet everyone. “I understand how you feel. Truly I do. Our home is here as well. But my father has seen the monsters and so has Jack. They tell us the monsters are coming. They will come for you and your family. So run, I say.”
“How do you know they’ll attack our town? Why would they come here and not another?” one asked from the right. “If you say your father has seen a monster, then let him speak. Where is your father?”
“Right here.” William raised his hand, walking faster to the front.
Jack and I followed him forward, but stopped next to his brothers.
“What my son says is true. They’re on their way here and to every town.”
“How do you know this?” a man asked.
William lifted his brow, and his fingers gathered into a fist. “Did you not know of my capture? Where do you think I’ve been the past few days? Not just me, but the other men. Our own Aldwin and Peter were killed by the very monsters my son spoke of.”
Gasps and muttering filled the room.
“How did you survive?” one asked.
“I do not know why the monsters did not kill me, but took me instead, along with John and Richard. The master of the monsters, named Longinus, warned us he would kill everyone.”
“I’m to believe he let you go to warn us? A talking monster with a name?” The stranger burst into a chuckle, holding his belly. “Now that’s a tale to tell.”
Laughter rang loudly around us.
“You stupid fools,” William snarled, his nostrils flaring. “Don’t you recall the reason we moved away from the Black Mountain sixteen years ago? I led you away from these monsters.”
“No man ever saw these monsters then. How are we to know they will come out now?” a young man asked.
“You must believe me. My son Jack saved us, but he could not reach Richard. Demon fire surrounded him, and he is still in the monsters’ hands. We must help.”
William did not say my name. His people would think him crazy if he did.
“You don’t need to go back. Let the monsters burn in the flames of Hell.” Father Henry gripped the altar and wiped the sweat beading on his forehead. “God has spoken to me. Kneel before the Lord and pray. He will protect all those who believe and those who mind their own business and stay put.”
“What is to be of Richard, then?” Jonathas asked.
The room went still. You could
have heard a pin drop.
“Does Richard not have a son?” a man questioned.
“Let his own son save him,” another added before the question had been answered.
“He has a daughter. She would be of no use.”
“Let his daughter save him.” A man made a funny sound, as if he’d pressed his lips together and blown.
I scowled. It took every ounce of my will not to punch his face.
Jack’s shoulders rose, and his body shook. I tapped his arm to calm him. He might speak in my defense, and it wasn’t worth the risk of revealing myself a girl in their presence. Jack’s family might get ridiculed or kicked out.
“Richard is not of our town. We have no obligation to save him. He is only one person,” one said angrily from the back right.
“Yes, we do.” John stepped out from the second pew. “Richard fought for our king alongside many of us. Not only is he an honorable man, but he also helped build our town. He might not have set his roots here, but many of your houses were made with his sweat and blood. And he helped us when he had his own family to take care of, so do not tell me he’s not one of ours.”
I had never been told Father helped so many, so selflessly, and I had been too small to remember. Father had done so many worthy things, but not once had he bragged about them.
“He forced us to move,” a man said from the first pew. “He spoke of monsters then, but they never came. We moved and started over for no reason at all. Leave him to his monsters.”
“Aye,” a group of them agreed.
Many of them clearly bore a grudge about the move; one by one, a chant of assent resounded around the church.
“Nay, he’s our friend. Many of you know him.” A man stepped in to the middle of the aisle to make his voice heard.
His gray hair contradicted the strength of his voice.
“He’s loaned you silver and goods and never asked for anything in return. He gave you food and shelter when you had none. What kind of man gives away his coin and labor to others?” He pointed to a bearded man. “Would you?” Then he turned the other way and pointed at another man. “Would you?” And then he asked the same to countless men, who turned away their faces. When they could not reply, he said, “I thought not. We are all sinners. But a man like Richard, who helps strangers, should be treasured. We should all learn from him. He is worth saving.”
Then chaos erupted.
“Stop.” William whistled. “We’re wasting time. I need men to rescue Richard, and those who are afraid may stay. It will be a dangerous battle. For those of you with families, I suggest you start heading toward the hill and hide. Go now.”
“I will come with you, William.”
“I will go.”
“As shall I.”
A group of men, along with the old man whose speech about my father had brought tears to my eyes, raised their hands. I thanked them silently for their bravery.
“Men, ride with me.” William paced down the aisle and I followed him.
“Stop.” Father Henry raised his voice. “No one leaves. I command you in God’s name to stay and pray. The hands of the Lord will protect us. The monsters will not come. God will send the devils back to Hell.” He opened the Bible and read the scriptures aloud. “‘I am Alpha and Omega, the first and the last ... I am he that liveth, and was dead; and, behold, I am alive for evermore...’”
I’d thought Father Henry was a little not right in his mind, and this only confirmed he had gone mad or senile.
Some of his trusted followers—big, strapping men—blocked the door.
Fools. They were all fools.
I had pictured it differently. The men would respect William and the good name of my father. Families would gather their belongings, as much as they could, and leave for the hills. Those men who had no families would come with us to help rescue Father. None of that was happening, all because of Father Henry. The church had a lot of power, but I did not think it would make men quietly await their deaths.
“We have every right to leave. You can’t keep us prisoners,” Jack said, the first time he’d spoken since we had arrived.
“You go when Father Henry says you go.” One of the guards stepped closer to Jack.
The other men stood in front of the door and narrowed their eyes, looking like they could eat Jack for a meal, though Jack was strong in his own right. The men glowered when Jack and his brothers pulled out their daggers.
Jack jabbed his dagger in the air to push back the guards. “I’ll cut your throat, giant. Now let us out.”
William pushed Jack out of the way. “No, son. You will not spill blood in the church.” He turned to Father Henry, who was still praying. “Father Henry, I demand you let us go, or unnecessary blood will shed among these people tonight.”
Some of the men gathered around Father Henry and the voices of prayer carried louder than before. The men in the church chose sides, as if for a battle, and appeared to be evenly matched.
Every moment wasted trying to convince Father Henry shortened the chance of Father’s rescue. It also allowed the monsters to get closer. The monsters could be tearing through the town nearest Black Mountain right then. I refused to stand still.
My stubbornness might kill me one day.
I ran to Father Henry, my heart thumping. When I reached him, I pulled a dagger from my boot with my trembling hand, rolled up my sleeve, and held it just above my arm. He looked terrified and backed away, so I had no time to think.
“This monster who calls himself Longinus is cursed by God.” I kept my voice deep, trying to sound like a man. “He wants revenge and will take it from innocent people. Good and evil are at war, and we are in the middle of it. Here is your proof.”
I sliced open my arm and held it above my head. Crimson liquid ran down like the blood of the lamb. I turned slowly so they could see the cut heal right before their eyes. Loud gasps pounded in my ears.
“A monster,” someone shouted.
Someone from behind me pulled down my hood.
The room hummed.
“She’s a girl.”
“She’s a witch.”
“Damn her to Hell.”
“Blasphemy.”
“Kill her.”
What have I done?
Now that I had acted, the decision seemed to be made in haste.
People fear what cannot be explained. And I was something that should not exist, could not be understood. Miracles could happen. People prayed for them all the time, but when a miracle appeared before them unasked, they called it a work of evil.
Believing in God’s miracles was one thing, but seeing one with your own eyes was another. Only the true believers would embrace someone like me.
Jack ran for me, pushing through the sea of men coming toward me. I should have moved, done something, at least run, but somebody held me from behind.
Something shiny sparkled for a second in the sunlight. Someone crashed into me from the side and knocked me down before the sword could strike.
“Jack.” I recognized the scent of him, like the smell of the forest after the rain.
Jack yanked me up. “Next time, give me some warning.” Releasing me, he turned to punch a man in the face.
“Duck.” I socked a man poised to take a swing at Jack from behind.
“Thank you.” Jack’s eyes rounded in surprise. “You’ve got quite a punch.”
“My father taught me well. Let us leave.”
I got a view of the whole church when we climbed over pews to move faster. Men were bloody from punching each other, and bodies tumbled about.
William opened the door with the help of his sons. They had to pommel a few men in doing so. Some men stayed in church while most scrambled out and jumped on their horses.
Good for them. I assumed they would gather their families and run. I prayed they would.
“John.” William pulled him to the side. “You need not come. You’ve been through enough. I need you here. Gather everyon
e and lead them to the hills. Pair up men and send them to warn other towns. They may not listen, but at least we’ve done our best.”
John embraced William. “Godspeed, my friend. Save Richard.”
“You spoke well of Richard. Everything you said is true. Thank you. I could not have spoken half so well. Everyone knew we were like brothers. They would not have believed me.”
John nodded. “The reason I had.”
William turned to James. “Stay and help John. You are my eldest. People trust you. Take as many as you can and go. Go north. I will find you. Stay safe.”
James hugged his father, his brothers, and even me. It broke my heart, not knowing if they would see each other again. I shouldn’t have such thoughts and hope for the best instead.
William gave James a shove and hid his sorrow. “Go, my son. Hurry.”
“My mother.” My words stirred everyone. “She does not know the monsters are coming, and she’s home alone.”
William gripped my arm just before I was about to get on Angel. “Luke is with her right now, but I did not ask him to stay. I will have some of my men stay with her until this is over.”
I clasped his hand in gratitude. “Please, can we stop by to see my mother before we go to Black Mountain? I know it’s a little out of the way, but I left home before she came back from your town. She must be worried about me.”
William’s lips thinned, and his hard eyes bored into mine. Then he examined my cloak. Could he tell it was his wife’s? Should I have said something? Surely he realized I wore a different one.
After seconds later, he smiled and answered. “Yes. We will.”
My heart felt somewhat at ease. I would have a chance to see Mother. I hoped she’d made it back home safely. She was going to be furious with me, but learning about Father would crush her soul.
“Men, we ride.” William settled onto his horse.
“Wait.” A man with red hair approached William, eyeing me like a lion stalking a lamb. “This is Richard’s daughter?”
“Aye.” William guided his horse around to face the man. “Is there a problem?”
