by CJ England
"Yes. No.” The witch sighed. “I don't know. I just know I can't leave her."
"Are you tempted, High Priest, to bring her back to life?"
His body stiffened. “Tempted, yes ... it is within my power. But, no matter what I feel, she is gone. I will not disrespect the Heavens for my own selfish wishes."
"And would you trade your life for hers?"
"Without hesitation,” he answered, his eyes narrowing at the questions she was asking. “Is it possible?"
"And if it was?” the Power queried. “What would Brianna say to that?"
Danolas couldn't help the chuckle that escaped, though he'd never thought he'd laugh again. “Before or after she laid into me with that double edged tongue of hers?” He shook his head and sighed. “She'd be furious."
"You know her well."
His eyes burned. “Too little, too late. She's beyond me now, where what I know won't matter."
"Ahhh, High Priest, your grief has made you slow. Do you not know what day it is?"
"Day?” Danolas shook his head. “I have no idea what week it is."
"It is the day of the Autumnal Equinox. One of the few times where the veil between this plain and the next is at its thinnest."
Danolas rubbed his eyes again as he struggled to think. “So what? I don't understand. What does that have to do with me?"
"Do you love her, Danolas? Do you love this woman?"
His heart twisted, and he closed his eyes to battle back the wave of emotion that shot through him. When he opened them again, they glowed sapphire with passion and love. “More than my own life. I would give anything to be able to tell her what she means to me."
"Would you go after her, High Priest? If you had the chance, would you slip between and seek your love beyond the veil?"
He leaped from his seat. “Can I do that? Can I go to her?” He gave Brianna's cold hand a squeeze and took a deep breath. He forced himself to think ... not just react. “But Power, why? Just to tell her how I feel?"
"A true immortal never really dies, Danolas. This you know. They go beyond the veil and find a place to exist for the rest of eternity. Your Brianna is special, not only to you, but to us all. Her destiny is not yet complete."
His chest felt like it was being squeezed in a huge fist. “What ... what are you saying?"
The Power smiled. “I am asking if you want her back."
* * * *
Twenty minutes later, he was ready. The Power had given him her instructions and he was eager to go. He looked down at Brianna's still face and prayed he would be successful.
"Sometimes, it is not easy to find the immortal you seek,” the Power had warned. “Things are not as they seem. You must keep an open mind, High Priest. And hold fast to what you know is true, or you may be lost yourself."
Danolas smiled as he stroked Brianna's cool, pale cheek. “I'd go beyond Hell itself to have a chance to win you back. I love you, leannan ... and I swear by the Power, I will find you.” He bent and pressed a kiss to her unresponsive lips, then closing his eyes and gathering his will, he stepped beyond the veil.
* * * *
He didn't know how long the journey took. He could have been between for a minute, or a century. Time stood still in that deadened space. His first impression was of warmth. Not heat, as if from the sun, but the sort of warmth you feel when you wrap a warmed towel around you after a long bath. A comforting sort of feeling, one you wish would never end. Then, it faded away and he couldn't feel anything at all. It was an eerie feeling, one that made the hair on the back of his neck lift. Danolas concentrated harder and after a moment, he saw images start to take form. At first they were faded, like those seen in a blurry photograph. Then, as they became sharper, he looked around in awe. He'd made it. He was beyond the veil.
Of course, he'd been here before. Had traversed this place many times in his visions. But this was real. For the first time he was actually standing on the psychic plain. An area or pathway, as some thought, for the storage and transference of energy ... it had no substance of its own. It was only the reflection of the energies passing through it. Now it was dormant ... no magick was being released, and it showed. He gazed at the landscape around him. Flat and absolutely barren, there was nothing. No life, no buildings or trees. Just empty space ... a true plain. The only movement at all was the breeze that lifted his long hair, and teased at his clothes. He held his hand to his eyes and looked off into the distance.
Still nothing.
Danolas sighed. So much for it being easy. The Power had warned him it could take eons to even find Brianna. He only had the twenty-four hour span that signaled the equinox. He grasped his staff in determination. He'd been given this chance ... he would not fail.
* * * *
Again, time seemed to flow without meaning. The landscape never changed. Everywhere he looked, all he could see was emptiness. Danolas searched for sign of Brianna physically and with his magick, but found nothing. Minutes passed, and then hours, as he trudged over the barren plain.
Finally, he stopped in disgust. “This is getting me nowhere,” he said aloud. “And I don't have the time to waste.” He leaned his staff in front of him and closing his eyes, pressed his forehead against the crystal. “What am I missing?"
A picture of Brianna formed in his head. It was so vivid, so sudden, his eyes snapped open, expecting her to be standing right in front of him. When he found he was alone, the pain was like a knife to the heart.
"Damn it!” he shouted. “Why can't I find you? Where are you?” He paced back and forth. “I can't find you, and my magick doesn't seem to work here. What else is there?” Thinking furiously, he went over all the times they'd been together. Abruptly, a memory appeared.
He'd been working in his office and an awareness had come over him. Without seeing her, Danolas had felt Brianna was in The Keep. In fact, he'd been furious because she was in flirting with Louie, begging him for her favorite French pastries. “I knew she was there,” he muttered. “How?” He stared out over the plain. Without warning, the answer slipped into his mind.
The connection.
That ethereal feeling both of them got when they were near each other. It was why she could link with him and the Chosen, why Cyric's visions had been seen by them both. It was why they felt each other's pleasure as well as the pain. It had been a wonderful gift that, like her love, he'd squandered. Danolas held on to his staff tightly. Well ... not any more. This time he would embrace the connection. This time he would use it to find the woman he loved.
It was easy really, much simpler than he expected. All he had to do was open his heart to remember the special tie between them. The bonding that defied explanation. He thought of Brianna and how he felt about her. He pictured her aura of soft violet and whispered her name.
Suddenly, everything whirled around him. He was tossed about, dizzy and disoriented. Danolas struggled to stay upright, but to no avail. His body spun along with his mind.
Then, just as quickly, it was over. He found himself standing, not on the barren plain of before, but in a meadow, right next to a copse of tall trees. Danolas gazed around him, shocked and curious at the difference. It was like an oasis. Beautiful grasses, bushes and trees. Off to the left was a fast rushing stream, and in the distance, he could see what looked to be a castle. On the far side of the meadow was a cottage. Painted a pale, pale violet, with a thatched roof and gingerbread type windows, smoke curled lazily out of the chimney. He shook his head in wonder. It was as if he'd stepped back in time. This meadow of green shouldn't have existed, yet it did, surrounded on all sides by the desolate psychic plain.
Danolas jerked to attention when the door of the cottage opened. He froze ... his heart stopping in his chest when a small red-headed woman stepped out. She was singing, her voice lifting to the heavens as she swung a water bucket at her side. Her long hair reached her hips and she was dressed in a long pale dress with a darker over-apron covering it.
He took an invol
untary step toward her and as if he'd surprised her, the woman turned to look his way. Her face lit up with such joy, Danolas’ eyes burned with emotion. It was her. He'd found her.
Brianna.
She gasped and then gave a glad cry. Dropping the pail and lifting her skirts, she ran pell-mell across the meadow. Danolas’ immobility was broken and he strode towards her, tossing his staff to the ground when she reached him. Brianna leapt into his arms, wrapping her arms and legs around him, and laughingly covered his face with kisses.
"You're back! You're back!” she cried. Her violet eyes shone with happy tears. “I've missed you so much."
Danolas barely heard. The feel of her in his arms again triggered all the need and desire he'd buried since her death. Wrapping her hair around a fist, he jerked her head back and crushed her mouth beneath his. After the first stunned instant, she answered him in kind. Fully and passionately, with a kind of desperation that left him shaken. Her mouth was avid on his and her mobile tongue gave as good as it got. Her body trembled and he felt the need she didn't bother to hide from him.
He wanted to toss her to the grass and take her there, with the smell of wood smoke and the scent of wild flowers all around them. He needed to hear her say his name, to watch her eyes go dark as he touched her. It could be now. She would allow it. He felt it in every fiber of his being.
But as much as he wanted her ... as much as he needed her, this wasn't what he'd come for. He drew in a shaky breath, and pushing her away, let her feet slide to the ground. He kept his hands on her hips as he stared down at her. “Leannan ... I never thought I'd see you again."
Her gaze moved over him and she lifted a hand to touch his cheek. “Your face ... My Lord, your poor face. Did you earn it in the battle?"
He touched his scars. “I had forgotten about them."
"They are signs of a warrior and they honor you. You should be proud of them.” Her face softened and she snuggled back against him in a comforting embrace. “Ahhhh, well, you're here now and we're together. Put the war out of your mind. You're home again."
He frowned at her last words. “Are you all right?"
She leaned back and cocked her head. “I'm fine, High Priest. Healthy and waiting for my lover to come to me.” She pulled away and grabbed his hand. “Come on. Let us spend the rest of this beautiful day together. I've supper on the fire. You must be famished."
Snatching up his staff, Danolas allowed her to drag him across the meadow towards the small house. He could see the power glowing from it now, just as he could see it shining from the rest of the oasis. She had created this place; he was sure. A home for herself in the middle of emptiness.
"Come inside. I've a pot of rabbit stew and fresh bread for you to eat.” She grinned up at him. “And I've been saving the rest of the special brew for you."
The door jam to the cottage was so low; he had to duck to step inside. His eyes widened in surprise at what he saw. The building was small, only a small living area with a sleeping chamber built onto the back. It was homey, filled with herbs hanging from the rafters, and colorful weavings on the walls. But it was so old fashioned Danolas felt like he'd stepped into a crofter's cottage from Ireland's past.
He watched as Brianna bustled around the room putting together a bowl of stew and a plate of bread for him. She kept casting happy looks over at him that made him narrow his eyes in confusion. Finally, he had to say something.
"You don't seem surprised to see me."
Her brow went up. She put the food on a table and motioned him to sit down. “And why would I be? You might have been worried about yourself in battle, but I wasn't. I knew you'd come back to me."
Danolas sat gingerly on the old wooden bench. The stew smelled wonderful and he suddenly realized he was hungry. He hadn't eaten since ... Shaking his head, he realized he was unable to remember the last time he'd had a meal. Looking around the bowl, he could see no utensils.
Brianna chuckled. “Did you lose your knife, then?” She shook her head. “Ahhh, Saints preserve us. The wealthy are always more stingy than the poor.” She pulled a small knife out of her belt. “Here, my Lord ... use mine."
He took the dagger from her and examined it. It was beautifully wrought, but again ... the crafting was something from the past. His confusion increased. Brianna wasn't acting like she was dead. What was going on?
"Are you going to use it, then? Or stare at it?"
Danolas managed a smile and stabbed into a piece of rabbit meat. Popping it into his mouth, he chewed, savoring the delicious taste. Either Brianna was a damn good cook, or she knew her way around a kitchen spell. He took another bite. “It's good."
She poured him a pale golden drink that smelled both sweet and rich. Sitting down next to him, she nibbled on his chin. “When did you get back?"
He frowned again. “I've been here all day searching for you."
Brianna tossed her head. “Well, I don't know why you'd be looking. I haven't moved anywhere.” A brief sadness moved across her face. “But sure, and I'm glad you found the time to come to me on the first day you arrived here."
"Brianna.” Danolas turned and took her by the shoulders. “I think we're talking at cross purposes here. I've come for you. I want you to come back to the castle with me."
She froze and her purple eyes went huge in her face. “You'd be wanting me to do ... what?"
"I want you to come back with me."
"To the castle?"
He nodded. “Yes. That is why I came. To take you home again."
She stared at him. “I am home."
"No, you're not,” he finally exploded. “Your home is with me."
Brianna pushed away from the table. “You're as mad as a box of frogs. What's gotten into you?"
"I came a long way to find you, Brianna. I'm not going back without you.” He dropped the knife on the table and stood. “I don't know what's so hard about that."
"Don't you? “Temper flashed in her eyes. “Last I heard, it wasn't considered fitting to take your mistress home with you."
Shock set him back on his heels. “Mistress?"
She rolled her eyes. “What else would you call me, then? You have your life and I have mine. When you can, you come and visit. I take care of your ... needs. What is that, if not a mistress?"
He could only stare at her. “You know you are much more than that. I would never treat you in such a way. I'm not asking you to come back with me just for sex.” His brow rose when she blushed. “Brianna ... I want you to marry me."
She took two steps backwards and her hand went to her throat. “Marry you?"
He cursed himself. Of course she didn't understand. The surroundings had distracted him enough so he hadn't done what he wanted to do most. Tell her how he felt. He went to her, ignoring the paleness of her face and pulled her into his arms.
"I should have said this long ago.” He cradled her face in his hands, feeling her tremble a little. “You are the most important thing in the world to me. Brianna, I love you."
She went so still, he frowned. He gave her a little shake. “I do love you. For a very long time, though I hadn't the courage to admit it to myself. I want to build a life with you. Come back to the castle with me. I don't want to be without you."
She just continued to stare at him. Then, very slowly, she leaned forward and sniffed his breath. “Have you been into the poitín, then?"
It was so unexpected; he had to laugh. “Damn it, Brianna. I'm not drunk. I love you. Did you hear me?"
Her eyes softened. “Aye ... I heard you, High Lord. And I'm thinking they're the best words anyone has ever said to me. But you know it's impossible. I'm not your kind."
Her quiet words knifed through him. “Don't say that. I was wrong before. You're exactly my kind."
She laughed sadly. “I am a peasant, in love with the master of the Keep. We live in two worlds, Lord Danolas. As much as I'd like to believe it differently ... I am not for you."
He frowned as he listen
ed, not just to the emotion, but the words she was saying. A cold finger of dread went down his spine as a thought hit him. Could it be?
"Brianna, who am I?"
Pushing away from him, she went back to the fire. He could see her fight to control herself. She sniffed loudly. “A game, my Lord? You go quickly from loving to teasing."
"Indulge me."
A roll of the eyes came his way. “'Tis a crazy thing to ask, but I'll answer you if you like. You're Danolas, son of Darius, Lord of Dunguaire Castle.” She turned to face him. “You're the man who makes me heart pound and my knees go weak. You're not only the Lord of the castle, but the Lord of my heart.” Brianna crossed back to him and touched his scarred cheek. “And ... ‘tis true enough, you're the one man I love beyond all else."
Danolas grabbed her hand and pressed it to his lips as he fought his emotions. Pain speared through him. Finally, he understood. The good news was Brianna still loved him. The bad news?
She'd forgotten who she was.
He closed his eyes and pulled her to him, breathing in her sweet scent. He knew exactly what had happened. The Power had warned him, but seeing Brianna again had driven the knowledge right out of his mind. It was this place, and her broken heart that had done it. This illusion, this perfectly crafted life was something Brianna had come up with to cope with the awareness of her death and the fact Danolas hadn't loved her. She'd built a nice little dream, one where he was a part of her life. But her innate honesty compelled her, even in the fantasy, to keep their lives separate, as she knew they had been when she was alive. And now, she was caught in it. An illusion made real, so her heart would be protected in this awful empty place.
"Brianna ... you don't understand."
She put her arms around him. “No ... but then, I'm just a simple maid, not used to the doings of the nobility."
"I want to marry you!"
Shaking her head, she spun away. “And what does your Lady Mother say about that, then? I can't imagine she'd welcome someone like me into her home."
Danolas gaped at her. “My mother?"
"Aye. You think she would welcome your mistress into the castle? To take her place as Lady of the Keep? Please, my Lord ... you aren't such a fool."
