by Jill Cooper
Dani’s bedroom had a four-post canopy bed that faced the open window on the terrace. She might be able to enjoy the soft mattress and fluffy pillows if not for the fact the contractions were right on top of each other and labor had advanced into a critical condition.
A nurse in a gray dress with a white apron and headpiece positioned Dani’s bent legs. “Big push coming up. We need to get this baby out. Two days of hard labor is enough for any woman, don’t you think?”
Dani nodded because she didn’t have the energy to speak. She looked to Timothy who took her hand and squeezed it hard. “I’m here with you, Dani. I’m here. You can do this. I know you can.”
She gasped a breath. “The head… I can feel it coming.” She pushed with all her might. Her insides began to tear and she shivered as she felt something passing through her. Calling out with surprise, Dani laid back down as a baby’s cry pierced her ears.
And it sounded like magic.
Dani cried as Timothy bent down to kiss her. “You did it. You did it.” Timothy kissed her again. Full and passionate, he engulfed her. Dani moaned, touching his cheek wishing the moment between them would never end, but something in her pinched. Something said it wasn’t over yet.
But how could that be?
****
Evelyn watched from the hall as Dani gave birth, horrified and disgusted at the display of love she saw between the house servant and her husband. How in everything just and right could her son even begin to kiss the woman who had ruined all of their lives?
The baby was born and Evelyn lifted the silver dagger, studying it and then glancing back at Dani. Absently, she stroked the medallion she wore around her neck. Beneath the heavy stone, her skin burned hot and power emitted drawing her mind closer to the Dark Lord Creighton.
Almost to the point where she felt as if he was in the very room with her, whispering in her ear. Flashes entered her mind of an old temple buried beneath the sand dunes far out west. She saw ministers there and a hidden room. Power emitted from there, so strong, it made Evelyn sway on her feet, barely able to stand it’s golden gleams.
Next came a deep laugh from the bowels of the cavern and a creature shrouded in darkness and mist.
It’s name was Villain and it was calling her.
Evelyn gasped as the City Minister behind her leaned in close, breathing against her neck. “You know what you are to do,” the minister said. “Take your revenge and Creighton will have a promotion for you. You’ve always liked the taste of power, haven’t you, Mrs. Richardson?”
True. Every word of it was true. Evelyn wanted to get it taken care of before Mitchell arrived. He thought he’d get to raise his son, but Evelyn knew the truth. Creighton wanted the child, for reasons unknown, and Evelyn was here to get the baby for him. Distasteful as it was, Evelyn smiled at the thought of revenge she’d have against her husband’s mistress.
Just as Evelyn were to step into the room, the midwife approached both her and the minister. “Minister, we have a development. She’s having twins. Another baby readies to be born.”
“Twins?” Evelyn felt faint at the thought she’d have to help raise two.
“Twins,” the minister raised his eyebrows. “Something like this hasn’t happened in over three hundred years. It was thought to be impossible. Part of the reason these children are special, no doubt.”
“Then we make sure they’re both healthy and strong,” Evelyn said. “For the dark lord.”
Dani called out in pain and Evelyn went to be by her side. Dani glanced at her with shock and Timothy stood up straighter. “Mother.”
Evelyn forced to her face her kindest smile. “It’s okay Timmy, Dani. Just birth this final child and everything will be fine. Mitchell will be here soon and everything will be fine. I promise.” Her dagger safe now under the hem of her dress, Evelyn took Dani’s hand and squeezed.
Dani’s mouth fell open and her breathing was rushed. Evelyn steadied herself, almost unable to control her new impulse to slit the throat of the house servant whore who now had her claws in both Evelyn’s husband and her son.
“Timothy, darling,” Evelyn said sweetly. “Run and get poor Dani some water. I’ll take good care of her while you’re gone.”
He hesitated and Evelyn filled with anger. “Mother, I’m not sure—”
“Go on. Look how tired she is.” Evelyn smiled. “She must be thirsty. Mustn’t she?”
Timothy rose up, but Dani grabbed his arm. “Stay,” she begged with a hoarse and dry voice. “The baby will be born before you get back.”
It’d be perfect, wouldn’t it? But no matter how hard she tried, Evelyn couldn’t get her son to leave, and her rage only continued to grow.
****
Two babies. A boy and a girl lay in each of Dani’s arms. She felt exhausted, but she also felt radiant love when she gazed at their faces. Each of them wrapped up in a white blanket that bore the minister’s seal and white bonnets upon their head. The babies slept like angels and she loved them both.
The open window brought a cool breeze onto Dani and she loved that, too, as Timothy sat beside her on the bed. His eyes sad, his expression glum, he stroked the daughter’s cheek and then the son.
Dani didn’t know why he looked so sad. She wished she could’ve asked him if he changed his mind. If he no longer loved her or the baby because there were now two.
“My father’s arrived. I know he has claim to you over me,” Timothy sighed and stared at the floor. “If you want me to step aside, please say so now. I don’t know if my heart could take getting to know the children, only to find out later.”
“Timmy, no.” Dani’s heart broke for him. “These children I made with your father, but my life is with you. I know if he’s here, he will want to be part of their lives somehow, but you are my husband. You are their father. You’ve been with me all this time.”
Timothy smiled with great relief as he kissed her. “I never thought I could hear such sweet words from an even sweeter lady. I love you, Dani Richardson.”
“Warms my heart to hear such love for my son. My children.” Mitchell said as he entered the room. “I’m sorry for how things started, but not sorry to see my boy such a grown man.”
Dani bit her lip as she studied him with a pensive glance.
“There’s something I must tell you,” Mitchell leaned in close and whispered. “Part of Creighton’s plan for you and the babies. The—,” He didn’t get a chance to finish as the Minister entered the room and Evelyn entered with him. The woman’s face drawn cool and distant, Dani didn’t trust her, no matter what Evelyn said.
“We’ve brought the problem of your two children to the grand elders of Creighton. They sense something special about them. The both of them. We’ve been advised to break the rules and allow them both to live under one home.”
Dani breathed a sigh of relief. Thank goodness.
“You’ll have two days with them before we move them to the house of elders. No commoner has ever visited the temple, and for that, I’m sorry. But they will receive a good life and the best possible training.” The minister said. He snapped his fingers and Evelyn stepped forward. “She will be the children’s guardian under Creighton’s wing of protection.”
Evelyn smirked like she won. Maybe she had.
Dani felt like the life had just been sucked out of her. What did he just say? She glanced at Timothy and then Mitchell. Both men looked dazed, but Timothy looked far angrier. “If you mean you will take the babies from my wife’s arms, you will need to go through me, Minister.”
“And you’ve proven to be quite the defender of the family home?” The minister laughed. “Oh, please. I have more power than--” His eyes widened. “Oh, no.”
And just like that, he disappeared. His suit, hat and cane fell to the ground, but the minister was gone. But was he dead? Evelyn stepped back, stunned into silence.
Dani glanced around. “Tim? What’s happening?”
Timothy raced to the window. “The
y’re all falling from the sky. The death hunters are dead. The portal’s closed.” He turned back with a look of awe on his face as happiness lifted his expression. “They’re all gone.”
“It’s over?” Evelyn asked, her voice shook. “How can it really be over?” She raced from the room.
“I’ll go after her,” Mitchell said and hurried from the room.
Dani hugged her babies close as Timothy sat on her bed, cradling her. No one knew what to say or what they would do, but for the first time, Dani had real hope for the future. Not just her future, or even that of her babies, but also for the world.
****
Her future had been secure and Evelyn was going to have real power, so how now was it just over? How?
“Evelyn,” Mitchell chased after her as she stopped at the end of the hall. “Please, stop. We should be celebrating. Creighton’s been defeated.”
“Celebrating a world without rule or leadership? Where we’ll be fending for ourselves?” Evelyn shook her head. “I almost had it all. Real security, real power. Now what will we do? What will any of us do?”
Mitchell touched her arm gently. “My darling, we can do whatever we want. All of our towns will need leadership. Governors. Someone to help transition. It could be you. Me. Any one of us, but we need to stick together.”
Stick together? Evelyn didn’t want to stay with him.
She thought back to what the Minister of City Affairs had said about the elder temple. No commoner has entered. But she wasn’t a commoner, was she? Maybe she could find it and go there, learn its secrets. Maybe even restore order to the world.
Evelyn made up her mind as her hand slipped beneath the hem of her dress and pulled out her silver dagger. Mitchell eyed it and then her. “What are you doing, sweetheart?”
Sweetheart, please, like he had ever treated her as such? He was nothing more than a lying scoundrel. The dark lord might’ve been evil, but he hadn’t pretended to be something he wasn’t. Evelyn far preferred that.
“What I should have done a long time ago.” Evelyn grunted as she pushed the dagger swiftly between Mitchells ribs, shoving it up into his heart.
Mitchell gagged, his eyes going wide as he studied her face. He gripped her cheek, his fingers piercing through her flesh, dragging them down her face. Evelyn screamed as the pain seared and yanked the dagger free and pushed his body back, watching him fall.
Holding her cheek, Evelyn felt her hot blood pooling against her palm. “Pity you weren’t stronger before.” Evelyn turned from him and started her slow walk out of the minister’s main office in Beantown.
She had a lot of work to do.
Chapter: Tarnish Rose
News of my army’s victory spread wide like a forest fire, but the work wasn’t done. It was, in fact, just beginning.
The McGee homestead needed work, but still stood tall. Sixteen men and women had been lost in the fight, each of whom had been mourned. The children returned unharmed, Creighton never found them at all, with Penny, George, and the others. We spent days celebrating while we repaired the damage, nursed the horses—and each other.
Everywhere I walked, I saw evidence of the good we were doing. Children painting, playing music and dancing, and at night sitting with books balanced on their laps. Ella, of course, reminded everyone not to bend the spines and to return the books promptly to receive the next one.
Learning to read for the children was simple. For their parents it was harder, it was a work in progress.
Everywhere there was a sign of love and devotion from Sebastian and Penny, to me and George. Our friendship carried us through and we got together as often as possible. Even as work in the library beckoned Ella and took her away from the homestead a great deal of the time.
A time of rest had been important, but it was almost time to take our mission back on the road. The world needed to be rebuilt. Things needed to be finalized, and really, the work was just starting, but first, we had something very important to put on. Something close to my heart.
We needed a wedding.
****
From the farmhouse second story window, I gazed out at the lovely sight of a beautiful day. The lush green grass was thick, wafting in the warm breeze and a giant, brown pergola had been built. Green vines and white flowers grew on the top and bottom row pegs and pink petals from flowers blew around as the guests finally started to arrive.
“There you are,” Markus grumbled. “We have much to talk about, Tarnish.”
I thought to tell him to call me Abby now, but I changed my mind as it would only prolong our discussion. “I know. It’s a big day. I’m sorry if you feel like I’ve been avoiding you.”
His eyes narrowed. “You have been avoiding me.”
“True, but it’s a big day.” I pointed at the long white gown I wore. The sleeves were lace as was the gentle heart-line across my chest. The dress gathered in the back and was swept up with a bow. In my hand, I held a simple boutique of yellow flowers.
Markus rolled his eyes. “Yes, yes. Your wedding to George, forsaking all the centuries of prophecies that have been foretold.”
I kissed his cheek. “It’ll work out just fine and you know it. Sebastian is your son. You love him and he and Penny work together just as well as George and I do.”
“But there’s so much we have to do, Tarnish. Having a wedding right now is foolhardy. You haven’t begun your victory tour yet. The former cities of the civilized lands have yet to receive you.”
I sighed and moved away from the window. “Just think of how it’ll seem when I arrive married and happy. Not just a warrior or a general to a vast and grand army.”
Markus followed me into the bedroom where Claire’s daughter waited, looking perfect in her blue dress. “You’re at the very least an admiral. Plus, don’t take what I’m saying lightly.”
“I’m not.” Well, maybe I was a little bit. “I just think people want to see something other than proof of my brute strength, that’s all.” I pinned a yellow flower in the girl’s hair. She smiled at me and we rubbed our noses together.
Markus sighed as I exited the room. I gathered my dress up in my hands and he followed me down the stairs. “There are people to appoint. Governors, mayors, armed guards to be vetted. We must weed out Creighton’s followers and convert the weak to our way of thinking. People must be taught how to read and must understand its benefits. And that’s all just for week one.”
When I stood again in the kitchen, I spun around and took his hands. “We will do all of that. I promise you. It will be done. The world will continue to, well, spin, I guess.” Something Ella told me that I couldn’t rightfully even believe. The Earth was round and in space, whatever that meant. I was still trying to comprehend everything.
“But first, we have a wedding. A party.”
As Claire came into the kitchen she smiled at me. “You look lovely as ever.” She placed a ring of flowers on top of my head.
I hooked my arm through hers. “Thank you so much, Claire. I don’t know how I’ll ever thank you.”
“You? Oh, it’s me who has so much to thank you for.”
I glanced at Markus. “It’ll all get done, but I deserve this wedding. I deserve my own happiness and the people here, they deserve a party, too. We all do.”
Markus shook his head. “If I agree with you, will that swell your head?”
I couldn’t help a good-natured smirk. “Yes, I think it just might.”
****
Music played as Claire escorted me out to marry my beloved George. Its gentle notes struck me as romantic, soft and simple. A white satin sheet of fabric had been rolled out for me to walk across and I was taken back by how many people were there.
“Survivors from Haven, previous scavengers, and cities I’ve never heard of, they’ve all come to celebrate with you,” Claire whispered.
I couldn’t begin to express my joy. As we reached the pergola, Sebastian and Penny stood to the side with Claire’s daughter and I gave all th
ree of them a wink. Sebastian smiled with pride and I loved the sight of his hand tightly clasped with Penny’s. It was one of the most beautiful things I had ever seen.
Stepping up the three steps, I stood on a raised platform with my George. His eye was covered in his black patch, and his dark hair was growing longer with little wings feathering out as it grew the length of his chin. The scar on his face from the fight with the battle troll was sexy and I traced it with my finger.
“Time for that later,” Henry said with a chuckle. In his hand was a book and he tapped the front hard cover. “I’m going to read a passage. Something Tarnish Rose taught me to do. We’re gathered here today with joy. To join Abbigail Taylor and George Tippin with love and devotion. Let’s all join together behind them and remember what brought us all here.”
I could never forget. I took a deep breath and gazed into George’s eye. I had never been so sure of anything in my life and I knew he felt the same way. Wherever the library and the battle would take us, I knew the world would be a better place because we were joined together.
Forever.
****
The party went on all night and into the wee hours of the morning.
“Celebrate the first official city of the new Free World.” Henry shouted and held his glass in the air. “We shall now christen this city Tarnish’s Place.”
“Tarnish’s Place.” Everyone called and drank, except for me. It was weird to drink to your own name and to think I was now a city. I blushed at the idea, hiding my face against George’s chest. He hugged me close to him and kissed the top of my head. It reminded me that I was home wherever I was with him.
We’d be off soon to the first stop in the Civilized World. As I stood near the farm house, I saw Sebastian coming toward me. His hands were in his pockets and his head angled down so I knew whatever he had to say, it was important.
