by Marnie Cate
Lunging at me, he said, “The next time, you won't have a chance to call your magic.”
I sent a gust of wind. Cole and the guards were sent across the chamber, slamming against the stone wall. Cole returned to his feet and charged at me. Calling Water, I made the ground slick. He fell to the ground. Before he could get up, I sent a rush of my icy magic, freezing him in place. With balls of Fire blazing in my hands, I loomed over him.
My stomach fluttered and I stopped. What was I doing? Calling the elements, I encircled my child and watched as the Shah faded from Cole. Slowly, the man I loved returned.
“Mara, I thought I had killed you.” Cole looked so broken and hurt.
“As long as the Winter in our child is contained that side of you will be gone. I can control it.” I tried to go to him but one of the guards blocked me. “He will not hurt me now.”
“The risk is too great, Mara,” Cole said.
“The boy is right. You are carrying Winter, Mara. Your daughter will be born to restore the rift that was caused by the loss of Snowystra. She will be the Winter Guardian,” Tannus declared.
“Wait,” I said, touching my stomach. “What do you mean my child will be the Winter? I will not let that happen. Don't you see what it did to us?”
“Unless a suitable replacement is found, the child will be brought to us and she will be raised amongst the gods,” Tannus said.
“No, you can't take my child. Take the Winter. Make me the Winter. I ruled as the Vizier. I have dark magic running through me.” My hands blazed with fire. “You will not take my child!” I threw the magic at Tannus.
A guard blocked the ball from hitting him. The large man patted the flames out and glared at me.
“Mara, please calm yourself,” Danu said. The Fire in my hands extinguished. “The gift you were given by me has grown too strong. You cannot be Winter.”
“What about me?” Cole said. “I only have a small bit of water magic inside me.”
“And the corrupted magic of Snowystra running through you. You carry none of the pure Winter,” Tannus said. “Enough of this nonsense. My decision is made. The child will be brought to me on the eve of her first birthday. She will be raised in my home. And, the Shah will die tonight.”
“No,” I screamed, pushing at the guards dragging Cole away. “You cannot do this. You created the Shah.”
“Silence!” Tannus yelled.
The room began to shake. The tears streamed down my face. They were taking Cole away from me and I was helpless.
“Collect yourself, child. Cole will only be stripped of all magic. He will be entirely mortal again. This is the only way. The boy will live but his gift will die along with the dark king,” Tannus said.
“Don't cry, Mar,” Cole said. His piercing blue eyes begged me to compose myself. “I loved the gift Danu gave me but I love you and our child more. I will be the man you fell in love with again.”
The guards removed the cuffs from Cole and Danu went to him. She gently stroked his cheek before embracing him. As she held him, she whispered something privately to him. Cole's body shook with tears. When she broke the hug, he nodded and kissed her on the cheek. Their eyes locked and he knelt before her.
“Cole Oliver Sands, I perform this task with a heavy heart. Water, essence of life, your presence in this boy is rescinded. The gift bestowed upon you is removed but the love I have for you is endless. Your commitment to protecting the magic will not be forgotten.”
A blue bubble surrounded Cole. The soft sound of children crying echoed in the hall. The sphere exploded, sending droplets of water everywhere. Cole stood up. His eyes were wide and his face contorted, frightening me. He clutched his head as if he was going to rip all of his hair out and he began to scream.
Danu wrapped her arms around Cole restraining him. An orange glow emitted from her, twisting around him. She released him and he fell to the ground, black particles covering his body. He began to writhe on the floor. Essie held me back when I tried to go to him. His screams quieted and strands of black and silver ripped from his body, soaking the marble. As the last thread left him, he laid completely still. Alaunius picked Cole up and carried him away.
“Where is he taking him?” I asked. My heart was beating so fast and I found it hard to breathe.
“Back to Galinevo, to the Waters of Zdravi,” Essie whispered. “He will need you.”
“Let me escort you to him, Mara,” Arianolwyn said, squeezing my wrist.
Words floated from my mind. There was a dark room. My clothes were taken. A door. Blinding light. So, white. Snow. Snowstrum? Tears welled in my eyes. I felt Arianolwyn's arms around me.
“The destiny of your child will be in your hands, Mara. It is a great responsibility to be the mother of Winter… especially now,” Arianolwyn said, hugging me tightly.
The fog my brain was in lifted. She released me. The night around me filled with blues, pinks and greens. When the ground under me moved, a circle of steaming blue water appeared. From the haze, I could see something floating.
“Go to him, Mara,” Arianolwyn whispered. “He will need your strength.”
Then blackness. As my mind began to clear, I realized I was no longer on dry land. I was standing in water up to my neck. I had been dressed in a two-piece swimsuit. My head finally began to form thoughts but only one word meant anything at this moment: Cole.
Chapter 16
Floating on his back, Cole drifted in the small ripples of the water. His face was emotionless. His eyes were different. The blue I had always loved were now a golden brown. Slipping closer to him, I caught his hand.
“Cole, I am here,” I said softly.
He entwined his fingers with mine and held my hand tightly. It was odd to see him so helpless. With my free hand, I traced the infinity symbol on his cheek with my fingertip. He didn't move. Sarika was sitting on the edge of the water watching us. I began to release my hold on Cole's hand to go to her but he gripped it tighter.
“I promise we are going to laugh about this one day, Cole,” I said. I dragged him through the water to Sarika.
When I reached her, I took a calming breath. “When can I expect to see Cole improve? Other than him gripping my hand, he isn't responding at all.”
“Call your Water magic,” she said firmly.
“That is cruel,” I said in a hushed voice. “You took it from him and now you want me to throw it in his face that I still control Water?”
“Do as I tell you and you can apologize to me later,” Sarika said.
I stared at Cole's lifeless body, hoping for any response. He wasn't there. Sarika also was watching him. Her face was no longer cold; instead, it expressed concern. She cared about him, too.
I brought Cole to the center of the water. Smoothing his hair, I pressed my lips close to his ear. “I know you are in there, Cole.”
Throwing my hands into the sky, I called, “With an open heart and mind, I call Water.”
Clouds drifted above us. I could feel the element surrounding us. But Cole was unresponsive to his gift.
“Water, I beg for your help,” I cried.
The clouds above grew dark and released fat drops of rain. Cole still did not move as the warm water covered him. Cupping his face in my hands, I kissed him. “I cannot lose another person, Cole. I need you. Our child needs you. We have been through too much for it to end like this.”
My plea did not move him. “How dare you leave me,” I cried. “Gram would tell you to—”
Then I realized exactly what Gram would say. The emotions of the elements are the same as those pulsing through my body. I couldn't help Cole with my anger. I needed to connect with his emotions.
“Water, I call your joy, your tears, your fear and your anger to me. Bless us with your raw emotions. Purify us. Restore the feelings which have been removed,” I called to the sky.
The air rumbled with thunder. Crackling blue lights surrounded us. I held Cole close to me as the rain began to pour. A strong wind
rocked the water and Cole wrapped his arms around me.
The electricity between us was so intense I felt the need to release him but he held me tighter. His skin flushed bright red. The heat emitting from him felt fiery hot against my skin. I could feel the anger inside him as if it was being channeled to me. I called Air and its calming touch. White licorice scented petals drifted by us.
Cole's skin rapidly cooled. He began shivering. His breaths became short and quick and I held my face close to his.
“You're safe, Cole,” I said. “Release your fear.”
Cole stood. Tears rolled down his face. He looked into the sky and screamed. I wrapped my arms around him and he held me back. His body shook with a gut-wrenching sob. This was more than just losing his magic. These were the same tears he shed when his mother had died and again when we lost Gram. I couldn't stop his pain. He needed to release this emotion and free it when he was ready. When I thought I could bear no more of the sorrow, his cries softened. And then a small flutter inside me began kicking. The movement felt like our child was drumming a song. Love will heal him.
“Feel your child, Cole,” I said, placing his hands on my stomach. During the pregnancy, I had felt movement and kicks but nothing like this. “If nothing else makes you smile, our baby should.”
For the longest time, he just stared at his hands and then the corner of his mouth lifted and his eyes lit up. “Our child,” he whispered.
Hugging me tightly, he rasped, “We are not giving up our child, Mara. I promise you. I will find a way to stop them.”
For the briefest of moments, I almost believed him. I needed to believe him.
Chapter 17
Sarika insisted we remain until she was confident Cole was well enough to return home and we were not permitted to leave Galinevo. Instead, we were brought to a cottage by the ocean where we were told to rest and calm our minds.
Every day Cole was taken away for treatment and I was left alone. They had expected us to act as if we were on a romantic getaway. I was told, “Why don't you spend a day on the beach?” Why should I? The sun and sand wouldn't save my child. I declined invitations to explore Galinevo and found myself staring at the ocean, watching the waves crash against the shore. How could I connect with the elements knowing my husband's connection had been ripped from him? Alone with my thoughts, my anger grew. Once again, we were prisoners. Trapped by Gods with their own agenda under the guise of helping us.
* * *
Days turned into weeks. Once again, Cole had not come home before dark. I could not stay here much longer. We were wasting time.
There was nowhere we could run where they wouldn't find us. The only option was to stop Tannus. But my magic was not enough to kill a God. Even if my family helped, I doubted it would be enough. And there were the others to think about too. Would Danu and Brighid help us? I couldn't be certain.
Cole's warm breath touched my ear. “Why are you sitting in the dark, Mar?” he asked. Flicking on the light, he held up a tureen. “Dinner is served.”
Cole sat at the kitchen table and scooped the warm stew into a bowl.
“You requested more kreas patata? Aren't you sick of this yet?”
“Nope. It's a mystery every time and the baby likes it.”
I took a big bite, contemplating the strange dish. With each chew, the flavor changed. It was sweet then salty before being extremely spicy and then cooling. The texture changed too – creamy, then crunchy.
Tossing my spoon on the table, I pushed the bowl away. “I hate it here, Cole. I want to leave.”
“You will never figure out the secret of the mystery stew if we leave.” Cole grinned at me.
I scowled at him and began to clear the table. I was not in the mood for his cheerfulness.
“Don't be mad,” Cole said. “They say I am doing better. The Shah is no longer inside me, Mara. We will go soon.”
“How soon? I've been thinking. Gram's journals must have a way to remove the magic—”
He interrupted me with a long kiss.
As he broke away, in the softest of whispers, he said, “Not here. We will talk about our child's future at home.”
He was right. If I was going to plan an attack against the Gods, I should not do it here.
The next morning before Cole left for therapy, we received a request for our presence from Sarika.
She met us outside the entrance of the great hall.
“It is nice to see you both so healthy,” Sarika said. “The last time we spoke you were so angry, Mara. You seem to have collected yourself.”
“I should not have taken my worry and frustration out on you. You were only trying to help.”
“All is forgiven,” she said, taking my hand. “It is time for you to return to Starten.”
She opened the door. Inside the room was filled with the colorful Curuxatyni. At the end of the room, Brighid sat on a throne. Her red hair was fanned out around her and emitted a golden glow. Sarika guided us to her.
“The Miezitari have been restored to their rightful place in Eftir Forest. As our guardian of the Afterlife, Faramond has rebuilt the connection that was lost. This has come at a great cost. The division of three was created to balance the dark and the light of the world. We do not have this equality now. Our world is unstable and the Mrak grow stronger each day,” Brighid said. Her voice was commanding and I feared her next words. “A solution has been found. The mortals before us have the key to restoring Winter.”
Cole rested his hand on my back and rubbed it gently. His touch reminded me to slowly breathe and not react.
“Tannus has decreed that the child within Mara is the Winter. Mara and Cole will make the ultimate sacrifice to restore the balance by delivering their daughter to us.”
“My daughter?” I whispered.
“The child of Winter will complete the divine circle. As we bid them goodbye, know that they will return with the greatest gift one could offer.”
With these words, the room exploded with bright light and colorful orbs. Cole held onto me. As the room spun, I wrapped my arms around his neck.
“They said our daughter. Cole, they can't take her from us. This can't be. I won't let them.”
The color around us blurred. I felt dizzy. Releasing the hold I had on Cole, I began to feel faint. His strong arms held me tighter, pulling me back.
A lavender hue filled the air around us. The spinning slowed as the blur began to take shape. Danu appeared. As she spun, she said, “Do not submit to your fear and sorrow, my children. The threads of fate are fickle and can turn quickly.”
With her last word, we began to move faster and I felt myself slipping from Cole's arms.
“Hang on, Mara,” Cole said. “I need your strength. Together, Mar. Together we will find a way. Stay with me, love.”
Seizing his arm with every ounce of fight I had left in me, the sinking feeling stopped and the blur of light faded. We were no longer in Galinevo. We were standing in Starten Forest outside the former circle of stone.
“We are home, Mara,” Cole said, looking around. “Everything will be ok now.”
I knew that we were pawns in the Gods' games but his eyes pleaded for me to believe.
Enjoy your happiness, Marina. Soon, it will be gone.
“You're right, Cole,” I said, forcing myself to push Snowystra's words out of my mind. “We are home.”
As we walked through the forest towards our family, I focused my energy on my surroundings. The moss beetles began their recognizable clicks as the sky began to pale. The crisp, cold air pushed the familiar smells of Starten through me. With everything changing, the constant in my life had always been the calm feeling I had when I was in the outdoors.
By the time we reached my grandfather's workshop, the sky was dark and filled with twinkling stars. The moon peaked out in a crescent sliver. Abruptly, Cole stopped me. A look of pain flashed on his face.
“I'm scared, Mara,” Cole said. “I hurt everyone with the way I left. Ess
ie saw how I had hurt you. They are never going to forgive me. I can't imagine what Elliott is going to say to me?”
“They are your family, Cole,” I said. Putting my hand on his chest, I called Air. “Breathe slowly. You are important to each one of them. We were all sad when you left but they were your champions. Over and over, I was reminded by them that you had to leave to get better. So, trust in the fact that this is your family and they love you, even when you think you don't deserve it.”
“How can you forgive me for what I have done?” he asked. “I wish I could go back and change everything that happened. I wish more than anything I could take away the pain I have caused you.”
“Stop, I know that man was not you, Cole,” I said. “I forgive you, or at least I am trying really hard to. Please stop beating yourself up or everything we have gone through will be for nothing.”
“I will try, Mar,” he said. “I understand why you haven't forgiven me.”
“Cole,” I started to scold him for what would continue but was interrupted.
“She's right you know. No matter what dumb mistakes you make, you're family and we will always love you.” My father, exiting the woodshop, came to us with a warm smile. He offered his hand out to Cole. As they clasped hands, I saw the respect and love they had for each other. Their bond of being forced to leave their families connecting them.
“Thanks, Elliott,” Cole finally said, breaking the silence. “I will never hurt Mara.”
Patting him on the back, my father said, “I know you won't. Now, come on. It's getting late and we will have much to do to find a way to stop them from taking my grandchild.”
“Granddaughter,” I whispered. “They are taking our daughter.”
Chapter 18
By the time we entered the house, the lights were dim and everyone had gone to bed. Two steaming cups of tea with biscuits had been left on the table with a note, Welcome Home in Essie's handwriting.
“I will say goodnight and we can talk in the morning,” my father said.
Cole and I sat sipping our tea. I breathed in the cinnamon vanilla scent. We were home.
