by Amy Miles
Fane’s eyes were closed as he leaned against the cool wall. Already the blood had begun to clot, sealing off the wound, skin beginning to knit back together. His Immortal blood would soon seal over the lesion, forever hiding the evidence of his injury. It would be a long and painful healing, but he would survive.
Sadie’s color had returned slightly, her breathing much less labored than before. William cuddled up to her, holding her limply in his arms. His face was streaked with blood. His tears cleaning away winding trails of grime from his face.
Gabriel’s heart still beat at a snails pace but Roseline had no idea why or even how. Each breath he took was a miracle.
“Rose…” Sadie whispered weakly, struggling to lift her hand.
Roseline carefully settled Nicolae next to Fane, propping him up on his good side. Despite her great care to not jostle him, Nicolae still cried out in pain. “William, throw me your shirt.”
Without thinking, William stripped, his skin pimpling against the frigid draft pouring from the open tunnel. “Hold this tightly over the wound,” she commanded Nicolae before hurrying away.
“Sadie. I’m here,” Roseline whispered, dropping low so her friend could see her. “How do you feel?”
“Like I’ve been run over by an elephant.” Roseline laughed, brushing back her flattened hair. “I’ve been thinking…” Sadie trailed off, wincing as she pushed herself up. “I’d like to go blond next.”
William stared at his sister in amazement. “You nearly died and all you can think about is your next hair color? Unbelievable!”
Roseline smirked, shaking her head. “What’s the theme this time?”
Sadie grinned mischievously, a faint glimmer of her former self. “I’m thinking of going Christian.”
William spluttered, glancing at Roseline to see her reaction. When all he saw was her good natured humor he reprimanded Sadie. “You can’t just ‘go Christian’. It’s a whole faith thing you know.”
Sadie shrugged. “I’m thinking I might give God a try...just in case,” she whispered. Roseline didn’t want to think of what might have happened if Fane hadn’t stopped her in time. Maybe Sadie was right. Getting on good terms with God was a great idea if she was going to spend any more time around Roseline.
Roseline patted her best friend’s hand, grateful to feel warmth returning to her skin. “I think your mother would be proud.”
Sadie grinned, nodding weakly. Her smile faded as her eyes rolled towards Gabriel. “Is he dead?”
“No. Not yet,” Roseline sighed, her heart shattering at the thought of losing him. “But it won’t be long.”
“Can you save him?” William asked. He might not have liked Gabriel much before they’d gone on this harebrained adventure, but the guy had kinda grown on him. If donating his blood for a transfusion could save his life, then William was all for it.
A tear slipped down Roseline’s cheek as she shook her head. “He’s too far gone. He shouldn’t even be alive.” Roseline’s voice cracked as pain rippled through her chest.
Fane slipped an arm around her, pulling her close. Roseline buried her face in his chest, sobbing over the boy she’d grown to love. How could she go on without him? He’d given meaning to her life; a reason to live that she hadn’t had for over 300 years. Losing Gabriel would destroy her…and Fane understood that.
“Turn him,” he whispered, his gaze fixed on the boy over Roseline’s shoulder.
Roseline reared back, horrified at the thought. “I would never do that to him!” William and Sadie watched the two Immortals, confused by the intensity of their emotions. “I would rather die than let him suffer as we do.”
Fane’s handsome face melted into a resigned smile. “You’ve only suffered because you didn’t have love.”
“No,” she whispered, grasping his hand. “We did have love...a long time ago.”
Nodding, Fane swiped away his tears. “I will always love you.” He pulled Roseline into his arms and passionately kissed her, sharing every ounce of his devotion in that one last kiss. He broke away and rose unsteadily to his feet, unable to linger a moment longer. The pain was too raw. With one final glance at his beloved, Fane leaped from the cell, disappearing into the shadows.
“He’s gone,” Sadie whispered.
William pulled Sadie to her feet. Wrapping his arm behind her back, he gently helped her navigate the slippery floor, leaving Roseline in peace. Neither one of them knew what decision Roseline would make, but they knew she needed to make it on her own.
Nicolae struggled to stand, moving gingerly, pressing firmly on his wound. He followed Sadie and William, darting one last torn glance at Roseline. After all he’d seen that night, he couldn’t decide if his heart wanted Roseline to save Gabriel. Surely his uncle had been wrong…about some Immortals. Maybe they weren’t all damned.
He watched as William helped Sadie to the tunnel that led into the forest surrounding his home. He wanted to follow, to be near Sadie but there was something he had to do first.
Nicole knelt at his uncle’s side. He ignored the congealing blood and stared into the face of the man that’d been the only family he’d truly known. “I will avenge your death uncle. I swear it!”
He grasped his uncle’s hand, pledging his oath. Tears fell unashamedly as he pulled his uncle’s sword from his stiff hands. It was the sword that Sorin had used to kill Lucien and to avenge his parent’s death. “Vladimir is next.”
Without another word, Nicolae turned his back on the gruesome scene in the dungeon. He knew he’d never step foot in the room again for as long as he lived. He would have it sealed off, burying his uncle in an eternal tomb. It was what he would have wanted.
***
Warm tears streamed from Roseline’s blood shot eyes. Her heart was broken and bleeding, torn in two directions. One was racing away from her, desperate to flee his self inflicted agony after releasing her to love another. The second lay with only seconds left of life. Roseline could hear the final beats of his heart approaching.
Roseline dipped low, brushing against Gabriel’s cold lips. “I’m so sorry, my love.”
Epilogue
Gabriel wandered in the dark, wishing the shadows would part so he could see. There was something he was supposed to be doing. Someone he was supposed to be looking for. Someone that needed him.
Rose.
Her name echoed through the dark, taunting him cruelly as he raced ahead. His hands splayed before him, desperately searching for a door that would lead him into the light. It had to be there, somewhere.
The pain from his wounds had receded long ago. How long he couldn’t remember. Time was meaningless here. Wherever here was?
Gabriel stopped, listening. He could hear something. The sound was muffled, as if he were listening to it from under water. It was someone crying.
No! Please don’t cry.
He wanted to console the person. To tell them that everything would be ok. That he was ok. But she couldn’t hear him.
Rose!
Yes. It was her. He was sure of it. Even her heart wrenching sobs were delightful to his ears. He thought he’d never see her again. And now he’d found her. At last!
The sound changed. Something was happening. Oh why couldn’t he see her?
“I’m so sorry, my love.”
Wait! What’s wrong? There’s nothing to be sorry for!
Gabriel whirled around and around, searching for her, but there was only darkness.
Rose!
His nose pricked. Something smelled sweet. His mouth watered, saliva swirling in his mouth. What was that smell?
Gabriel felt something different. He could feel his body. Not the body that was trapped in this hell dimension. His real body. Real flesh and blood. Probably more flesh than blood at the moment.
Something pressed against his mouth. He fought to move his lips, to loosen his frozen tongue but nothing happened. Then something wonderful dripped into his mouth, oozing down the ridge of his tongue. He coul
d hear Roseline’s voice, speaking enchanting words. He could feel a stirring in his soul.
The blood burned a trail down his throat, winding its fiery tendrils all the way to his belly. The warmth spread, searing his skin as it shot through his veins, into the recesses of his body. His toes began to tingle. His fingers cramped, aching to move. Gabriel’s mind whirled into action, frantically struggling to comprehend the changes in his body.
And then…the pain began.
The End
Thank you so much for reading Forbidden, Part 1 of The Arotas Trilogy. Here is a sneak peak of Part 2, Arotas.
Arotas
The Arotas Trilogy
Prologue
“We will only have one chance to get the girl, so make every shot count.”
Heads bobbed in the shadows, faces grim with fierce determination. Each man knew the risks. The consequences of failing their mission went beyond death. Humanity’s survival depended on their success.
“The last one just left, sir.”
Hawk like eyes narrowed in on the shadow emerging from the tunnel. Already they’d watched the monster escape, fleeing across the hills to the security of his castle. Another fled towards the road, his blood staining the snow crimson. Then two more emerged, a young girl leaning heavily on a boy as they headed up to the house.
Finally the last appeared. His head hung with a sorrow that Silas could understand. Death was never easy.
“Let’s move,” Silas whispered, emerging from the darkened trees.
They moved stealthily across the snow, unconcerned with covering their tracks in the storm. Icy winds pierced through their cloaks, but they did not slow. The snow did not matter. The frost nipping at their toes did not matter. Only the boy.
As they approached the tunnel entrance, Silas held up his hand. The small group halted. “Ready your darts. She will be fast. Do not underestimate her.”
Their feet whispered against the dirt floor, shuffling forward single file. Silas prayed that Roseline would not hear their beating hearts over the howling winds funneling through the passage. Perhaps luck would be on their side this night.
A dim light appeared at the end of the tunnel. The group huddled closer, alert and cautious. No one knew what they were walking into. Obviously there had been a battle. The blood stained snow and labored limping had been testimony to that.
The tunnel widened out at the end. Flickering candle light illuminated the war torn room. Blood splattered the walls and floor, staining the ancient stones. A body lay nearby, it’s head cut cleanly away. Another body lay slain on the floor near the center of the room.
Congealing blood oozed slowly from the man’s fatal wound. Silas averted his eyes. He did not fear death, but he was not fool enough to think himself unaffected by its presence.
As one the group moved forward, eyes scanning for a surprise attack that never came. The room was eerily quiet. Silas glanced back at his men, seeing his own doubt mirrored on their faces. Something was very wrong.
And then it happened. Screaming, blood curdling howls erupted through the room, echoing off the vaulted ceiling, curling their way up the winding staircase.
Silas held up his hand in warning. Something was moving in the small cell up ahead. In the dim light his eyes struggled to see. He crouched low and moved forward, as stealthy as a lion.
He paused, cocking his head to the side. A new sound approached his ear. Crying.
Hurrying forward, Silas’ eye widened with horror. What he saw before him made his blood run cold. They were too late!
“Now!” he shouted, leaping into the cell, his dart already spiraling through the air.
Roseline turned, her surprise shifting to rage. She threw herself sideways, dodging the dart at the last second. It embedded in the wall’s mortar.
Shouts rose around the room as Silas’ brothers spilled through the open cell door. Roseline snarled, her fingers clawing at her sides as she weaved in an out of the rain of darts.
“Got her!” a robed figure crowed, his face still showing signs of baby fat. He couldn’t have been more than seventeen years old!
Roseline’s legs quivered as she reached up to find a dart sticking out of her neck. Her aqua eyes glowed brightly as she gnashed her teeth at her attackers. Silas stood his ground, but noted from the corner of his eye that most of his men fought to remain in close proximity with her.
“We don’t want to hurt you. All we want is the boy.”
A feral growl tore past Roseline’s lips as she lunged for the man closest to her. Her hands wound around his neck as she yanked him over her shoulder. She felt his spine snap in two as he passed over her head. He fell to the ground in a broken pile of bones, lifeless.
Shouts of rage spurned Silas to action. He raised his hands, roaring his command to hold the line. But Odin was too far gone to obey. The sight of his younger blood-brother’s death pushed him beyond reason.
Odin sprang up into the air, his leg poised to knock Roseline to the ground. She waited, her eyes locked onto Odin as he approached. The instant his foot connected with her chest, Roseline’s hands wrapped around his knee and twisted, snapping his leg as she thrust him to the ground.
Silas’ eyes could barely keep up with her. Before he could yell his warning, Roseline slammed Odin’s dart launcher into his neck, releasing the toxin into his artery. He never stood a chance.
A single dart sailed through the air, slamming into Roseline’s heart. She stared down in disbelief. Roseline’s legs waivered, her vision fading to shadow as she slumped next to Gabriel’s writhing body. Her hand reached for him, but fell limply away.
The boy’s screams continued to pierce the air. Silas approached cautiously. Roseline’s glazed eyes stared up at him, marking his approach but unable to do anything to stop him.
“I’m truly sorry for this. I never wanted to hurt you.” Roseline snarled.
Silas reached for Gabriel but leapt back as Roseline’s finger nails dug into his hand. “Don’t touch him,” she growled around her labored breathing.
“I promise I won’t hurt him.” His face softened with compassion as he felt Roseline’s agony. Her eyes rolled back into her head as she succumbed to the toxins attacking her body. Her lips struggled to form her final words.
“He’s different.”
Silas crouched next to Roseline, puzzling over her words. How much did she really know about the boy? Why had she been able to fight so long after the first dart hit her? And how much did she know about the part that she would play in helping Gabriel fulfilling the prophecy?
“Grab the boy,” Silas ordered as he rose to his feet. “Leave the girl.”
“You’re just going to leave her?” a sallow faced man questioned. “She killed two of our brothers.”
Silas nodded sadly. “It was unavoidable. She was just protecting the man she loves.”
The man turned a critical eye on Roseline. “Does she know?”
Silas shrugged. “Only time will tell. Let’s go. We need to get Gabriel home before he wakes.”
The teenage boy approached, staring curiously down at Gabriel. His cries faded as a tranquilizer dart pierced his neck. His muscles relaxed as he fell into a deep sleep.
A strange longing crossed the young boy’s face. “I don’t understand Silas. Why did she turn Gabriel? I thought she loved him…”
Patting the boy on his shoulder, Silas led him out of the cell. “Perhaps this was her ultimate act of love.”
About the Author
Amy Miles lives in Southern Illinois with her husband and son, and is a proud stay-at-home mom. When she’s not writing, Amy can be found goofing off with family, cuddled up on the couch with a good book, or helping to remodel her home. She is also the author of a teen romance, Defiance Rising. Amy is currently working on the sequel in The Arotas Prophecy trilogy.
Contact Me Online
Blog:
http://www.AmyMilesBooks.blogspot.com
Facebook:
http://www.f
acebook.com/pages/Amy-Miles/155737767842585
Email: [email protected]
Photographer
KalenSoger does mostly portrait and nature photography work. She can be found on Facebook at: http://www.facebook.com/soggyphotos. She can also be reached by email at [email protected].
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