“Why would you think I would know?” He snapped.
“Well don’t you?” I barked right back at him.
Alec glanced over to where I pointed and sighed, “Looks like they're making St. Brigid's crosses. People hang them in their kitchens to protect their homes.”
“Seriously?”
He finally smirked and elbowed me playfully, “You of all people, are going to question old superstitions?”
I blushed, “I guess not.”
He smiled, his bad mood fading slightly, “We used to have one hanging up in our kitchen that my grandma made. I made the mistake of asking my grandpa about it and he of course told the whole story.”
It was an amusing story, making me smile and forget about how cold I was until he passed another group of girls in white dresses. I turned to watch as they lifted a strange doll made of the same green stocks is the crosses and covered in white cloth. It was a morbid sight, reminding me of what was at stake.
I turned back to Alec, “What if we can’t find them?”
“We will,” Alec said while keeping his face straight ahead. “The Mileans were certain that they’d be here.”
We walked row after row of tents where there were more people weaving and more beautiful girls in white. Every time we went down another row, I prayed we’d see Kieran or his family.
Where were they? What if the millions were already here and found Kieran and his family first?
I didn’t want to think about that possibility, but I could feel my panic rising as we weaved through the crowd. What if we didn’t find them? How was I supposed to live with that? We couldn’t fail... We just couldn’t.
Oh Kieran...Where are you?
As I pushed through another group of people amid hissing complaints about my oversized backpack and my ragged appearance, I heard it.
Gorger...
I knew that word! That was the phrase that the travellers used to describe non-travellers. I looked around wildly, searching for the person that spoke that word.
The crowd seemed to grow in that moment, bumping into me and pushing me from side to side.
“The day is ripe with gorgers to be sure.”
Oh my God! I knew that voice. That voice belonged to him. I tiptoed and peered around people until, just across the way, I saw him.
It was Kieran. He was really there. All the dreams and fantasies over the past months were nothing compared to the reality of him in the flesh. His hair looked even darker, his skin now pale, but it was him.
Kieran didn’t see me. He stood near an open tent, talking and laughing with a man in a blue wool coat. I watched them talk for a long moment, savoring the sound of his voice and the soft rumble of his laughter. I didn’t care what they were saying; I just wanted to keep listening to him.
It was such sweet pleasure to see him with my own eyes, the object of my every fantasy, but that was nothing compared to the rush of emotions when he turned those green eyes on me.
Kieran...
I pushed through the crowd, mumbling apologies and leaving Alec behind.
Kieran had me in his arms and everything else just faded away. He was raining kisses over my face, asking questions, but kissing me again before I could answer.
“Harmony, I can’t believe you’re really here,” he murmured against my lips. “I’ve missed you so much. What are you doing here? How did you ever find us?”
I knew that I should explain, that I should warn him about the Mileans, but it just felt so good to be of his arms that I didn’t want to ruin it.
Just hold me...Never let me go...
Kieran stroked my hair and kissed me again and again, “I never should’ve left. I’m so sorry... Say that you forgive me.”
“So you didn’t forget about me?” I whispered, needing to hear him actually say the words.
Kieran took my face in his hands, his long fingers tangling in my hair, “Saints preserve us, I thought about you every day.”
“But you didn’t call or write—“
He was kissing me again and pulling me close. I could feel him trembling under my fingers.
“I didn’t think it was safe,” he mumbled over my lips. “The Mileans...I wanted to keep you safe.”
The Mileans...
“Kieran...”
He kissed my forehead, “I’ll never let you go again, I promise.”
“Kieran...”
“I tried to do as you wanted," he said. "To give you time, but I can’t keep living without you. I love you...I need you.”
His words reached inside of me and squeezed my very soul. It was everything that I wanted to hear, the exact words I dreamed he would say, but at last I found my voice.
“Kieran,” I said and pulled away. “The Mileans... They’re coming. They know you got away before... They know where you are!”
I heard footsteps behind me, familiar and intrusive. I buried my face into Kieran’s chest.
Go away...Go away...
Kieran stiffened, “Is this true?”
“Yes,” Alec said before I could answer.
I bit my lip, ashamed that I’d forgotten all about Alec until that moment.
Kieran looked from Alec to me and then back to Alec. Was he sensing something?
“Why should I believe you?” Kieran asked with a distrustful glare.
Alec glanced at me and then met Kieran’s glare with his own icy stare. “Do you have a choice?”
Chapter 17
Kieran guided us through the crowds easily, covering more ground in a matter of minutes than we managed all morning. I didn’t know where we were going, but people seemed to sense Kieran’s and get out of our way.
I clutched at his hand, afraid to let go even for a minute. I still couldn’t believe he was really here and we were finally together. I was afraid of where we were going, afraid to take my eyes off his broad back with my backpack slung over his shoulder. I was afraid if I looked away for even a minute, he would disappear.
Alec followed behind us, struggling to keep up. I looked back again and again, asking if he was okay. He nodded, but said nothing, seeming almost angry but I pointed out his weakness.
Slowing just a little, Kieran glanced back, “So, the Mileans wanted you to represent your family line?”
“Yes,” Alec huffed. “But I refused.”
Kieran nodded, “But not before they conveniently told you their plans.”
Suddenly Alec pushed past me and shoved Kieran roughly. The two of them stood toe to toe, glaring at each other with clenched fists.
“Listen to me gypsy,” Alec snapped. “I don’t care if you trust me or not, but I promised Harmony that I would help you and that's all that matters. Otherwise, you and your unnatural clan could be wiped off the face of the earth and I wouldn’t care.”
Kieran flinched; I didn’t know if it was from the insult or the sound of my name on Alec’s lips. He gripped my hand tighter, “You know it won’t change anything.”
Alec glanced back at me, “I know.”
“All right then,” Kieran said and offered his other hand Alec. “A truce.”
They shook hands cautiously, as if both expected an attack from the other despite their claim of peace.
It was a brief exchange and then we were back on her way through the crowd. It should have made me feel better, but I could still feel the tension radiating from each of them.
“How did they know where we would be?” Kieran asked after we went a little further.
“They said it was something to do with planets.”
“Aye.”
“Well,” Alec said breathlessly as he limped along behind me. “They said when this happens your family is always at this festival.”
“Not just my family,” Kieran mattered. “All of us.”
I didn’t understand, but before I could ask any questions, he was grilling Alec for more information. His brow furrowed deeper with every answer.
“What exactly is their plan?” Kieran asked.
“They w
anted to wait until all of you were together and then attack. Their goal is to take each of you down however they can and –“
Alec paused. I was already terrified, but I jerked Kieran to stop and turned back to Alec.
“And what?” I demanded.
He looked from me to Kieran and then back to me. I began to tremble even before I heard the words.
Don’t say it...Don’t say it...
“And then behead you or tear you apart in some way and burn your bodies in the Imbolc bonfires,” Alec said quickly.
“Bonfires?”
Alec nodded, “The bonfires are part of the festival later tonight. They plan to use them to erase any evidence of the Tuatha De Danann.
I didn’t remember falling to my knees. I just remember Kieran pulling me up off the ground and into his arms.
“Tis alright,” he said. “We’ll warn the others and it will be all right.”
I tried believing him even as my icy tears with my cheeks. I just held onto the hope that this would all just work out and go away. I wanted so badly to believe that is what would happen.
We’ll be okay...We’ll be okay...
As we stood there, from each direction and through the rows of tents, came the rest of Kieran’s family.
The Tuatha De Danann were amazing to see up close, graceful and beautiful in a way that couldn’t exist without magic. Megan’s ebony hair was as vivid a contrast to the snowy landscape as Alana’s fiery tresses and while both of them wore the seasonal clothes of winter, it seemed the garments were more for fashion than for warmth. Kieran’s father Niall was the same as before, a tall think figure in all black. The grey at his temples seemed more silver, but perhaps that was due to the snow falling into his hair.
All of them turned their too green eyes and looked at us expectantly.
“So, it is true then?” Megan asked.
“Tis,” Kieran replied.
Niall stepped forward and motioned to the festival crowd, “We can’t put our friends in danger.”
“We could lead them away into the forest,” Megan suggested as she shoved her hands back into her coat pockets.
Kieran nodded and backed out of my arms, “That is a fine idea.”
“How do we know they would follow?” Niall asked.
Alana stepped forward, her eyes glittering, “We could stay and fight.”
Niall shook his head, “It is no time to settle old scores.”
Megan turned away from all of us and squared her thin shoulders, “They’re here.”
We all turned to the direction that she faced. A large group of men pushed through the crowd and came to stand only feet from where we stood.
The Mileans looked like any other group of farmers or tradesmen, they all looked strong and had their jaws set with determination. There were so many of them, each one glaring at us hatefully. How would we ever escape?
There was movement within their ranks as one of them pushed himself to the front. I recognized him as one of the four men I had seen in America. How did he get back to Ireland so quickly?
Kieran pushed me slightly behind him as his family came in close. Even Alec moved closer as if he was preparing for an attack.
“Well, well, what do we have here?” The Irishman said as he looked us over, stopping when he came to me peeking out at him from around Kieran’s shoulder.
“FraochÚn de na Tuatha Dé Danann...”
Niall took a single step forward, possibly only a few inches, and spread his long hands wide. “We have no quarrel with you.”
“Perhaps not, but it is us that has a quarrel with the Tuatha De Danann.” The man’s eyes narrowed as he glared at Kieran and me, “It seems that some of you still crave the pleasures of human flesh.”
I shrank back behind Kieran’s shoulder and clutched his arm. The man then turned his attention to Alec, curling his lip in disgust.
“And you,” he said and pointed a finger at Alec. “You have brought nothing but shame to your family.”
Alec balled his hands into fists and stood his ground, “I’m where I belonged.”
“Then I hope you are prepared to die with them.”
Alec pulled a large hunting knife from his coat, “I am.”
Where did that knife come from? I knew he didn’t have it when we went through security at the airport. Where ever he got it from, Alec made an imposing figure as he turned the knife on the man.
The man shrugged as if all this talk of murder was nothing to him, “Then I will offer my prayer for your soul.”
The other Mileans took their knives and guns from their coats. The festival crowd panicked the sight of the weapons and a sort of chaos ensued, people running in every direction and mothers snatching up their children.
Through it all, our two groups remained motionless. I could feel the centuries-old hate radiating off the Mileans and a sort of static charge emanating from Kieran and the others.
Out of the corner of my eye, I could see groups of Irish Travellers ready to step between the Tuatha De Danann and harm. Even in the face of near certain death, they were willing to go on protecting the secret.
Niall raised his hand, signaling for the travelers to remain where they were.
Kieran stepped forward, “Let these two mortals go. Your quarrel is with us, not them.”
No...No...
“No,” I cried out in a week whisper. “I won’t leave you.”
The Mileans laughed as if the display of my agony amused them. The one that seemed to be the leader shook his head.
“No,” he said as he loaded the ammunition clip into his gun. “They’re both traitors to their own kind and deserve to die with you.”
I heard the sliding action of the gun as he chambered a round. The rest of the group raised their weapons and took aim.
I closed my eyes. I knew there was no magic to save me this time. This was it. This was the end. It was all for nothing...It didn’t matter how hard I tried...It didn’t matter...It was over...
I held my breath and just waited to die.
Chapter 18
Nothing happened. There was no gunshot. There was no pain.
I opened my eyes slowly, expecting to see the bodies of the dead scattered about on one side or the other, but everyone was still standing in the exact same places. No one was harmed and no one was dying.
What was this? Why aren’t we dead?
I looked to Kieran, confused and hoping he would tell me what was happening, but something off to the side held his attention. Leaning forward, I looked in the direction Kieran was staring.
Between the two groups came a single slim figure in faded blue jeans and a black hoodie. Everyone’s eyes were fixed on the single person, walking alone in the snow.
The figure reached up and pushed back the hood, allowing a mass of fiery red hair to tumble down. The lone stranger was a woman!
“Kieran,” I whispered softly, barely allowing my lips to move. “Who is that?”
He didn’t answer. Kieran just stared at this woman as if he was just as dumbfounded as everyone else.
The woman was really no more than a girl, still boyishly slender and almost frail. She turned to gaze at us, revealing a beautiful face, burned and scarred on one side.
“What is all this?” She asked with green eyes blazing
No one answered. Both the Mileans and the travellers to the side raised their hands and made the sign of the cross. Who was this woman?
She turned from us and took a few steps toward the Mileans. They matched her movements by moving backwards. Why were they all so frightened?
“Are you daring to attack the flesh of my flesh?” She asked them as she stepped forward slowly with purpose. “What gives you that right?”
She walked the long line of our enemy, looking in the eye each man.
“You want to eliminate all of us,” she accused and spread her arms wide. “Well what are you waiting for?”
The Mileans remained motionless, watching her fearfully
as she moved past each of them. Each of her steps made a crunching sound in the snow and echoed over the frozen pasture.
She smirked, stretching the scarred side of her face, and turned away from them to face us.
“Cowards,” she declared.
The Mileans surged to life, “Now!”
It happened so suddenly, Kieran pulled both Alec and me off to the side and behind the nearest tent.
“Stay down!” Kieran ordered
I peeked around the edge of the tent just in time to see the strange woman throwing what seemed to be balls of fire at the Mileans. I tried to keep watching, but a thick fog rolled in and obscured everything.
The fight was all around us. I caught shadow glimpses of Megan and Alana fighting, snapping the necks of their attackers. Niall was close enough that I could make out his black clothes and the blood of his victims splattered over me as he tore his knife across the victims’ throat.
I cowered on the ground, too terrified to move. Kieran grabbed Alec’s harm, “Take Harmony and run. Go to the woods behind us. You’ll be safe there.”
“No,” I argued in a panic. “I won’t leave you!”
“It’s the only way,” Kieran soothed.
I shook my head, “I won’t leave you!”
Kieran took my face in his hands and stared down into my eyes, “But I need you to live.”
No...No...
The breath left my body in a rush; I didn’t hear the fighting all around us anymore and the world began to spin. My trembling hands clutched at his coat, his neck, his hair, anything just so I could keep touching him.
No Kieran...No...
Kieran pulled me to him, holding my head against his chest. “Shh...Harmony...I need you to listen to me...Look at me...Look at me...”
I looked up at him, my vision blurry from too many tears. “Please don’t say goodbye...Please don’t.”
“Okay, I won’t say it,” Kieran said, his voice cracking ever so slightly. “But I will say that I have loved you with everything I ever was or ever could be, and I very much wanted a forever with you.”
I was sobbing then, horrible sobs that racked my body. “No...No...”
Suddenly someone was on top of us, pulling Kieran to his feet as Alec pulled me away. I fought against him until I heard the snap the bones through the mist.
Far Away (Gypsy Fairy Tale Book Two) Page 7
