“Yes father.” His daughters answered meekly.
His wife tightened her lips, raised her chin and answered. “As you wish.”
“I had better see some changes in this household or there will be the devil to pay. You are all old enough to see to your own futures. If I have to I will personally escort you to the door and toss your belongings out with you.”
“You would toss your own family out for her?” Aura’s mother hissed.
“Get this through your head my darling wife. She is a child who has been abused under my roof for long enough. I. Will. No. Longer. Tolerate. The. Abuse. In. My. Home. No child deserves to have to put up with the treatment she has had to live with. This is her home as much as it is yours. I took on that responsibility when I accepted her as a daughter on the day I married you. To my shame I didn’t do this ten years ago when I first noticed what was happening, but it was too easy to turn my back on it and hide in my office. NO. MORE.”
He could tell none of them were happy about any of what he had said. It did not matter, as he wasn’t any happier about the situation than they were. The bottom line, as far as he was concerned was that there was a child outside, shivering in the rain. They had driven her there when she should have been curled up in her own bed, in her own room, warm and dry. She should have been allowed to sleep surrounded by pleasant dreams. Aura should have been allowed to enjoy her evening as they had done.
He looked at his wife and shook his head in disgust. He knew she was going to fight him on this. He also knew that she was quite aware of the folly of doing so. He would crush her if he had to. He would make sure that she would treat her own child like a human being for a change. If he couldn’t, he would make her regret the day she decided to challenge him on his decision. If he could make corporate giants quake in their shoes, he could handle his own family.
To make sure he was completely understood, he added. “I will be watching you from this point on. All. Of. You. If I am not satisfied with the changes I see, there will be repercussions. Am I making myself clear?”
“Yes father.” His daughters replied, and he was sure they meant it.
He was equally sure that he would have to be vigilant or they would revert to their old tactics. He looked at his wife and she gave a deep breath before giving in.
“As you wish.”
“You went too far.” He declared. “Tomorrow we will go to the ruins and see if we can start to set things right. Now, go to bed and get some sleep. It is almost dawn. Don’t expect to sleep late.”
He allowed them to sleep until halfway through the morning then the four of them went out to the ruins to meet with Aura. They found nothing. There was no sign of the camp, or any sign that she had ever been there. Not even the excavation marks, that had been there the previous day remained. He just didn’t know how to explain it.
The stunned and puzzled foursome went home to call the police to report a missing person: A seventeen-year old girl by the name of Aura, their daughter and stepsister.
CHAPTER IV
She had yet to face him, but he could sense the beauty of the mysterious maiden as her image began to take shape, appearing as if it was taking form from the diminishing mist. She stood on the crown of a hill, her head thrown back to allow the sun to bathe her face, and as she did her dark mahogany locks fell free past her waist in a tangle of waves. The curls in her hair were so shimmery and soft in appearance they reminded him of satin. She raised her arms to the light above, almost as if in worship then gave a mournful cry as she folded them across her chest. Her hands clutched her shoulders as she bowed her head and he could see her body shudder and shake as if in extreme grief. He moved forward to comfort her.
Without a word or movement her spirit beckoned to him. He could not reason why he should be so captivated by her. What drew him? He felt her power through every fiber of his being and although he knew he should fear it, he did not. There was a sense of rightness about the lure, something that told him that she belonged to him, yet there was so much about her that was strange, so much he wondered about. The only thing he was sure of was that she needed him, just as he knew that if he ever managed to find her he would never let her go.
He moved, seeking her side, and the closer he got to her the more he noticed the differences that separated them. The strangeness of her attire spoke to him of another place, and he wished he knew more of this woman who held him enthralled. Her every movement seemed a study of grace and beauty and he felt his blood run hot in his desire to possess her. He could almost touch her, his fingers mere inches from her, when as suddenly as she had appeared she began to fade from his view. He stopped, watching in silence as the mist that had brought this vision to him reclaimed her. He lunged towards her figure, only to find her gone. In a voice raw and thick with grief he raised his head and screamed.
"Do not leave me!"
He felt a constriction so tight in his chest he could scarcely breath, a sensation he fought, along with the deep sense of loss that the disappearance of the maiden left him with. He sat up and gave another anguished scream. "NO!"
A pair of heavy rough hands descended on his shoulders and with a harsh movement shook him.
"Wake up Thorn, wake up. You are having another nightmare."
Thorn's eyes snapped open and he focused his gaze onto the face before him, looking as he did into his brother's worried expression. He took hold of his wrists, and, on a gasp, demanded. "Where is she?"
"She?" Edmund, Thorn's brother had no idea what he spoke of. Surely he could not mean the comely little whore they had brought to him the night before. He had ordered her away in harsh and insulting tone. "I thought you said that she disgusted you and by now she probably warms another man's bed. I can, however, send for her if you have changed your mind."
As Thorn caught on to what Edmund was talking about, a look of contempt crossed his face, and he snarled back. "I speak of no whore."
"In that case I suggest that you wake a little more brother and realize just where you are."
Thorn gave his head a shake to clear his fogged brain, then heaved a mighty sigh. "Have I done it again brother?"
"Aye Thorn, you have. I trust I am right to assume that you do not mean Celeste when you speak?"
"Nay Edmund, she is definitely not the one for whom I seek. I do believe my meeting time with the person in my vision is getting closer."
"You have suffered with these dreams of yours for three years now, what makes you so sure they actually mean anything, beyond your desire to find a mate?"
"You know my thoughts and beliefs on that matter Edmund. I seek not just a mate brother, but, the specific one that was born just for me. One who will be completely and thoroughly MINE. There is no more to say on the matter."
Edmund frowned. He knew his brother's thoughts on the matter all right. Nor did he agree with them. There was no way that Thorn would be able to convince him that these dreams were glimpses gifted to him of the woman who was his soul mate, the woman who would share his life through eternity. As far as he, Edmund, was concerned, Thorn was indulging in a bout of wishful thinking and that he was due for a big disappointment. God, in Edmond’s experience, did not work to order.
As the two men resettled to catch whatever sleep that could still be gotten out of the night, Edmund continued to shake his head in disagreement. Five years ago he would have never believed Thorn capable of such romantic drivel, now he could only wonder at where his thoughts had originated from, and why he continued to believe in his vision with such unswerving faith.
This was just not in character with the man Thorn presented himself to be. A seasoned warlord he held a reputation second to none as a champion amongst men. He was a great leader, one whom men would lay down their lives for. He was also known for his wisdom and fairness, both on the battlefield and off. Men flocked to his side to serve under him, which allowed him the pick of the best fighters in the land and thus the best fighting force known.
Women als
o seemed to revere the great warlord, throwing themselves at him whenever the chance arose, and at one time he used to enjoy the attention, albeit with a moderate tendency, to indulge in the feast offered. Over the last few years, however, Thorn had taken no woman to his bed, believing it would hurt his cause. The abstinence had only added to his attraction as far as the ladies were concerned.
Edmund remembered asking his wife, Elisabeth, what it was that women saw in his older brother that attracted them so much. She had smiled at him, then, looking at Thorn, reported her thoughts.
"He is like a hero of old, yet so chivalrous as to be Godlike. His sable hair waves and curls so fine it makes one wonder how it would feel to run one’s fingers through it. At the same time the electric blue of his eyes, fringed as they are with almost sinfully long, black and lush lashes beacon, as do his wide and generous lips. Then there is his body, so hard and lean as to make one feel as if one would be safe held against him in the haven of his arms, yet not so safe that one would not find oneself carried away by the heaven one was sure he could offer in his bed."
She had thankfully then told him that she preferred a man with lighter coloring, making sure he understood she was more than happy that such a man had chosen her to be his wife.
A few hours after lying back down to rest they had risen, dressed and prepared for the new day. As the sun rose in the morning, a lad handed each of the warlords their helmet after mounting their warhorses. The lads then ran for their own horses. They were about to join another of the Duke Vernon's battle forces, and it was time they were on their way.
"Edmund, to my side," Thorn ordered as he started off, and his brother fell in beside him. "After the battle I would like to go through your fortress formations with you and discuss some changes, if you do not mind."
"Of course not. Your presence will also please Elisabeth. She claims we never see enough of you since you decided to relocate."
"It was time to move on Edmund, you know that as well as I, and so does Elisabeth, when it comes to that. Vernon's offer of owning the neighboring district was too good to turn down."
"More for him than you, we all knew his aim was to secure his Western borders. Nobody could have done that as well as you. What surprised everyone was how you could just walk away from the home that was your birthright. It is your stronghold Thorn, not mine."
"As far as I am concerned it is in good hands little brother." Thorn spoke with a fond smile. "Besides, I wish to build one of my own, a larger one to house my growing forces, Glenat was getting cramped."
"If the campaign doesn't take too long we should be back in time for the birth of my first child. We would like you to stand as Godfather, if you would. Elisabeth made me promise to ask."
"I would be honored." Thorn answered, then catching sight of Vernon's rear guard, he motioned for his troops to increase their speed, while Edmund and he spurred their mounts into a thundering gallop, each eager to greet their Duke, and friend, again.
CHAPTER V
Aura woke with the first signs of light and tried, without success, to shake a feeling the something was not as it should be. She looked about in confusion, in an attempt to figure out what was wrong, only to discover that she was no longer in her underground cave. Or if she was, it was not how she remembered it.
A thousand questions assailed her consciousness as she looked about in confusion. Where was she? Had she gone to the wrong site, or gotten lost in the darkness that she had ran through the night before? She gave the matter a few moments as she sorted through her memories, then as she finished doing a visual scan of the things about her. She decided that she could not have made any errors. The contents of this cave belonged to her as they always had. The cave, however, was not the same place that she remembered.
Rising she moved to inspect her new abode. The top of the cave, when she poked at it with a stick, seemed solid, and the sunlight streamed in from an actual opening off to her right. Yesterday, the light had come from overhead, and there had been no openings leading into the cavern. The sound of water, which had been absent the day before, drew her out of the cave to investigate the outside surroundings.
About thirty yards away from the cave a small waterfall cascaded from between two large boulders. Aura decided she would check it out later. In the meantime, she wanted to continue to investigate her living quarters. Her subconscious mind was telling her that something was wrong. The landscape was not the only thing that was not as she remembered it was everything, the very atmosphere that surrounded her. Sooner or later she would figure it out.
The sounds of an animal fighting and struggles deep within the recesses of the cave were the first things Aura heard as she stepped through the entrance. The sounds were followed by a sharp yip, as she followed she realized they were running deeper into the cave system than where she had been. The scruffy looking, half starved body of a wolf lay dead within the coils of Roger's body, while he concentrated on swallowing one of the two pups. Aura ran to the rescue of the remaining pup, and almost got bit by the poor frightened creature.
The young wolf was so frightened and was acting on pure instinct, striking out at anything that moved, nor would he have stood a chance of surviving on his own against Roger, though he might have tried. She gathered the plump soft ball of fur into her arms and calmed him with soft words of comfort, as she held him close to her. Eventually the pup settled, with little whimpers, and Aura sighed as she decided to keep him. She was unsure how she would manage to do it, not with Roger stalking him for food, or what her mother would say about her bringing an animal home, but somehow she would manage. It was, after all, just a baby. As for Roger, perhaps the snake would find that he did not like the taste of wolf, and stick to his usual rodent type of diet. That, at least, would solve one of her problems.
Aura watched her pets for a while, until Roger settled down to coil himself up and went to sleep nearby. Seeing that everything was temporarily settled, she dressed and went outdoors, to find out where she was. For despite the fact that she seemed to be in similar surroundings, nothing seemed right.
The position of the sun, the layout of the cave that she had made into a camp, the running water nearby, the absence of noise about her, everything was wrong. Aura stood in front of the cave, surveying her surroundings, as she debated what to do next. Her investigations had to be done in a systematic manner, one that wouldn't lead her in circles. She headed for the small waterfall. It would create a basic point of reference, one which she could recognize readily and which would announce its presence from a distance.
She made her way cautiously, not knowing what to expect and not wanting to be seen. There was a feel of late spring in the air. A slight breeze carried the sweet scent of the season with it, the smell of fresh earth and blossoms. It served to confuse Aura further, for it was summer, not spring. She ran her hand through the water of the pond at the base of the falls and found it cold to the touch. It reminded her of how cold she was becoming herself, and she returned to the cave for a coat.
The wolf cub woke and as Aura donned her jacket, she watched him as he whimpered, then wobbled to his feet. He shook himself, and stretched as he yawned, before weaving its way over to her. Aura smiled, captivated by the sheer puppy antics of the animal. She had never had a dog before, something she could really love, and she worried about how she would keep him. She sorted through her supplies for a while, until she found something that they both could eat, and after they had, she made her way back to the pool.
There were actually, as she found out, two pools. One, the larger of the two, lay behind the boulders on the higher ground, feeding the falls. The other lay beneath the cascading water, as a sort of catch basin. The water then ran off in a stream, heading to wherever it went.
Aura knelt by the edge of the uppermost pond to scoop up some water in her cupped hands. She had been amazed by the clarity of the liquid. There were no signs of oils or chemicals, which often covered the rivers where she lived. She remembered h
ow she used to think the compound beautiful, as it formed rainbows in the water on sunny days. She had found, however, that the oil in water made it undrinkable. She took a tentative mouthful of the pond water, and closed her eyes in appreciation of the purity of the taste. Who said, she smiled in thought, that water did not have a flavor. She drank her fill, then rinsed off her face, before returning to her explorations. She made a sling for the pup and saw to her own personal hygiene before setting off. The pup, she decided, she would take along with her. All things considered, it was probably the safest thing she could do with him. Roger was not going to enjoy a second pup type meal while she could prevent it, he could take care of himself while she was gone. Even asleep, she had found, most people tended to find his size intimidating, and left him alone. Aura smiled in amusement as some of the myths and stories she had heard about snakes of his size crossed her mind. Some of the fabrications had almost been enough to make her laugh. People could be so gullible about the simplest of things.
Walking through the surrounding wood, with the pup and a lunch stored in a sack, Aura marked her trail so she could find her way back. She was thoroughly convinced by now that she was no longer in the place where she had slept the night before. The terrain around her was different and the forest, where there had been none before, was green and lush. The land looked young and fresh and so alive. Nor was there the sensation of history that there had been before. History, her inner senses told her, had yet to be written here.
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