The Reckoning

by S. L. Morgan

  “Nothing,” Levi responded.

  Reece looked over at Levi with sympathy. “I’m so sorry.”

  “There is nothing to be sorry over, love. It is a gift for you to have such a beautiful connection with your daughter. She can show you everything that you may have missed as she grew. I would be lying if I said that I did not long to see it with my own eyes, but I believe I am more grateful that you can.”

  Reece hugged Levi. “You are the most selfless man I have ever known.”

  Levi smiled in response. “Shall we return to you informing us about how you learned of your time traveling abilities, Marian?”

  Reece placed her hand over Marian’s. “I’m ready when you are.”

  SIX YEARS EARLIER

  Shalleck’s Village

  As Lady Allestaine continued to speak positively to Marian and Elizabeth about their family returning to them, Marian’s mind started to drift off.

  I just want to know! she thought with frustration. Why can’t I just see the future and know?

  As soon as the thought came into her mind, Marian was transported from where she sat in conversation with her grandmother and aunt in the middle of the day to the dark of night, with cheerful voices echoing throughout the forest.

  “Did I fall asleep? Am I dreaming?” she said to herself as she tried to get her bearings.

  She stepped out, and the leaves that crunched beneath her feet startled her so greatly that she nearly tripped over her own feet. She stopped and looked toward the village. The lanterns that surrounded her revealed that she was in her favorite location, one where she and Elizabeth took evening walks together.

  “Aunt Lizzy isn’t with me, so I have to be dreaming,” she whispered.

  “Marian?” Galleta said from across the forest.

  The woman marched in her direction. “Child, what are you doing out here alone? We thought you were with Normila?”

  As Marian took Galleta’s offered hand, she looked up at her. “Why would I be with Normila?”

  Galleta laughed aloud. “Dear one, Lizzy is having her baby at this very moment. As soon as she began laboring, Normila offered to care for you and the children.” Galleta sighed. “I understand that you are concerned over your aunt, but you should know not to run off unattended. Normila must be sick with worry.”

  Marian stopped dead in her tracks, forcing her hand from Galleta’s.

  Galleta looked back in concern. “Marian? Are you feeling unwell?”

  Marian stared up into Galleta’s eyes. “You have told me many tales about different supernatural abilities, but I must know if—” She paused. “Have you ever heard of someone with the ability to jump ahead in time?”

  Galleta studied Marian in silence. Her eyes widened some. “Why would you ask such a question?”

  “Because I believe I have done precisely that.”

  “What makes you think so?”

  Marian looked around. “Moments ago, I was sitting and having lunch with Grandmother and Aunt Lizzy. Grandmother was telling us that our families would return, and—” she stammered.

  Galleta knelt down, now eye level with Marian. “That was yesterday afternoon.”

  “What?”

  Galleta smiled and ran her hand over Marian’s head. “Dearest Marian, we should have known that your mother and father would have given birth to such a unique child.” She softly laughed. “Has anything like this ever happened to you before?”

  Marian shook her head as tears filled her eyes. “No. I am quite frightened, Queen Galleta. I do not know how it happened. What if this keeps happening?”

  Galleta hugged her. “You have every reason to be wary, my dear. You are but ten years of age and such abilities can be startling when they manifest.” She leaned back and blotted Marian’s tears with a cloth. “Allow me to help you figure out how this talent works so you can learn to manage it. You must know that all abilities are a gift, and I am here to help you. Now, what happened before you left the time you were previously in?”

  “As I said, I was listening to grandmother, and then my mind began to wander.” She sniffed, heart racing and still terrified by what had happened.

  “Go on,” Galleta softly encouraged her.

  “I wanted to know the future. I wanted to know if there really was hope. The next thing I knew, I was here.”

  “So you thought deeply about answers in the future, and it forced you a day into it,” she said pensively. “That is very intriguing.”

  “What do I do now?” Marian asked. “Am I stuck here?”

  “Absolutely not,” Galleta responded. “I need you to try something again. Are you brave enough?”

  “I do not want to go into a different time again,” Marian returned.

  “No, dearest,” Galleta laughed. “I am asking you to go back. If you can jump a day ahead in time, perhaps there is a chance that you can return to the moment you departed?”

  “And if it does not work?”

  “Then we will have two Marians in this time period with us.” She became more serious. “Do not fear. I am quite confident that if you are able to will yourself into another time, you can bring yourself back. Now, I want you to focus on returning to lunch yesterday. When you return, you must inform me immediately of what has taken place here right now.”

  Marian nodded and closed her eyes. I want to be back with grandmother and Aunt Lizzy again! When she opened her eyes, nothing had happened. Galleta looked at her expectantly.

  “It didn’t work,” Marian gasped.

  “Are you mentally yearning to return with the same eagerness as you did when you wanted to know the future?”

  “Let me try again.” She closed her eyes, feeling more of a desire to return to her normal time period again.

  When her eyes reopened, she heard Lady Allestaine shriek. “My sweet girl!” She hugged her from behind. Marian was at the lunch table, but she did not understand why her grandmother was hugging her from behind.

  Marian abruptly stood, turned, and melted into the safety of her grandmother’s embrace. “You must tell me immediately what has happened,” Allestaine intoned frantically.

  Marian stepped and saw that the entire room, along with Queen Galleta, had been watching her with concern. “I must talk with you and Queen Galleta alone.”

  “Very well,” Lady Allestaine said as she rose up, took Marian’s hand, and nodded toward Galleta.

  They walked briskly out of the dining area and up into the home that she shared with Lady Allestaine up in the trees.

  Once inside the room, Marian looked up at Lady Allestaine. “Did you see anything unusual happen to me?”

  Lady Allestaine’s eyes widened. “Darling, we were having lunch, and as I was talking you just vanished.”

  “How long was I gone?”

  “You were gone long enough for me to question if a mystical force entered this realm and snatched you away,” Lady Allestaine answered with concern. “Is that what happened? Did something take you?”

  Marian shook her head. “Grandmother, you must sit down.” She looked at Galleta. “You told me to talk to you immediately about this after I got back.”

  “Got back?” Lady Allestaine questioned.

  Galleta sat next to Lady Allestaine on the sofa.

  “I traveled a day ahead in time, grandmother.” She smiled at Lady Allestaine’s blank expression. “Lizzy will be going into labor tomorrow evening.”

  “Have you ever heard of such a thing?” Lady Allestaine looked at Galleta with astonishment.

  Galleta nodded but said nothing.

  Allestaine reached her arm out to Marian, inviting her to sit at her side.

  “Yes,” Galleta finally answered as Marian leaned into her grandmother’s side. “We should have known that Levi and Reece’s combined genetics would create a unique child.”

  “That is what you said when you realized what I had done,” Marian added sheepishly. “I was terrified out of my mind that it had taken place, yet you were very
proud of my ability.”

  Lady Allestaine ran her hand over Marian’s hair. “I am so dreadfully sorry that this experience frightened you,” she said as she kissed the top of her head. “However, Galleta is correct. It should come as no surprise that you should be so incredibly gifted. After all, your parents possess very unique and powerful genetics.”

  “One who can travel through time?” Galleta responded. “How were you able to manage it? What occurred?”

  Marian explained everything that took place, from her conversation with Galleta to her willing herself to arrive back to the time period she had left.

  “We must continue to work on this ability,” Galleta started. “I will help you hone and master it.”

  Marian buried her face into Lady Allestaine’s side, fighting back her tears.

  Allestaine rubbed along her arm. “Sweetheart, what is wrong?”

  Marian peered up at Lady Allestaine staring down at her. “I am too scared to try it again. What if I end up somewhere far away and all alone? Grandmother, please,” she begged.

  Lady Allestaine nodded and looked over at Galleta. “Even though I wish for Marian to expand upon this ability, I will not allow her to do so unwillingly. Surely, we understand that this is a frightening experience for anyone to endure, much less a ten-year-old child.”

  “I understand, Your Majesty, but what if Marian’s ability could help us?” Galleta leaned forward. “Marian, you may be able to save us, all of us. Perhaps you could go back to a place in time and help prevent any of this from happening. You will see your mother—”

  “Enough!” Lady Allestaine snapped.

  Marian trembled as she listened to Galleta. She knew her grandmother would never have ordered Galleta to be silenced so brazenly had she not known that she was scaring her granddaughter.

  “Forgive me, Lady Allestaine and Miss Marian,” Galleta returned. “I meant no harm by my words.”

  “It is okay,” Marian answered.

  “Queen Galleta, would you please give Marian and me a moment alone?”

  Galleta stood. “As you wish.”

  Marian said nothing as she watched Galleta turn and leave the home.

  “Darling?” Lady Allestaine asked kindly.

  Marian looked up. “Yes, grandmother?”

  “You must know that I will never allow anything or anyone to hurt or frighten you in any way.” Lady Allestaine smiled at her. “I believe the queen’s excitement got the best of her manners. She spoke out of turn.”

  “I know what she was saying, and I want nothing more than to see my mother and father with my very own eyes. I long to sit on my father’s lap and fall asleep while my mother plays with my hair and reads to me, as you and Aunt Lizzy do for me every night.”

  A tear slipped down Lady Allestaine’s cheek, and she brushed her finger over Marian’s nose. “The moment your mother so bravely placed you in my arms before we left to come to this village, I promised that I would care for you in the same manner as she would have and love you with every ounce of might that I have. Your parents wanted you to be unconditionally loved and happy beyond measure. I can assure you that not a day has passed that they have not longed to be with you as much as you long to be with them.”

  “They have not returned after all these years,” Marian started. “Do you believe they ever will?”

  Lady Allestaine’s eyes grew more distant than Marian had ever seen them. “Yes,” she somberly returned. “Hope is all we have, and I will never let go of it. They are the bravest souls in all the galaxies, and we will all be together again. We have to be.”

  Chapter Twenty-Six

  PRESENT DAY

  Reece clung to Marian and sobbed at the memories she was shown. She felt Marian crying along with her as a sturdy hand ran over Reece’s back in a soothing motion.

  “It is getting late,” Levi said in a low voice. “Perhaps we should retire for the evening. It appears as though you both could use some rest.”

  Reece withdrew from Marian. “I’m so sorry. It is so hard to see you be so scared, and your father and I weren’t there to support you or make you feel safe.”

  Marian took the handkerchief that Levi offered her and blotted her eyes. “I do not wish for my memories to upset you, Mother.”

  “I know we can’t take back the sixteen years we lost with you.” She smiled through her sadness. “All we can do now is start making new memories. Obviously, your father and I want to know more about your abilities, but that can wait until tomorrow evening.”

  “Perhaps after we are done meeting with everyone in my father’s study tomorrow, you can take Marian on a tour of your favorite places to visit at Pasidian,” Levi kindly suggested. “I am quite confident that you will find your mother’s colt, Arrow, truly delightful, Marian.”

  “I’m thrilled to meet Arrow,” she said delightfully. “I have heard many stories about his taking to mother as he did.”

  They all stood from the sofa, and Levi kissed Reece on her head. “I will show Marian to her rooms and ensure she is perfectly comfortable with them and her maiden,” he said with a warm smile.

  As badly as Reece wanted Marian to stay close to her, she knew that her daughter would be as comfortable as she was the first night she stayed in Pemdas. “I want nothing more than for you to stay with me, but I know you have to go,” Reece said, hugging Marian once more. “Sleep well, my angel.”

  “Thank you, Mother, I will.” Marian stepped back and took Levi’s offered arm. “I look forward to spending more time with you tomorrow.”

  After a short departing kiss, Reece watched Levi escort Marian out of her bedchambers. She collapsed back onto the sofa and let the overwhelming emotions of losing all these years with Marian overtake her. She wept as the pain ripped through her, knowing that she wasn’t there for her daughter and the fact that she would never have the cherished memories of the milestones that Marian attained as she grew up. She knew she would lose sleep if she didn’t do something to try and ease her nerves.

  A hot shower sounds like the best plan, she thought as she stood and walked directly into her vanity room.

  Muscles that she didn’t realize were tense started to relax as the silky water ran over her skin. She lathered her hair, and little by little she was starting to unwind. When Reece stepped out of the hot, refreshing shower, she was shocked to see Levi approaching her with a warm, fluffy towel.

  She glanced around the area. “Levi?” she said, surprised he had returned to her rooms. “What are you doing here? What if Jasmeen shows up—or if someone saw you?” she asked as she quickly dried off.

  Levi held up a satin robe for her. “I grew up in this palace, you know. I know many secret passageways, and I can assure you that no one saw me enter your room through the servants’ door.” He turned her to face him and brought his lips to her neck. “After two days sleeping apart from my wife, I can no longer endure pretending as though I am not married. I have missed you sleeping at my side so desperately.”

  “You plan on sleeping here tonight?” she asked in a soft voice, offering more of her neck to Levi as he pressed her body firmly against his. With everything that had taken place over the last few days, she forgot how desirable it was to share these moments with her husband.

  “If you’ll have me.” His lips traced down the side of her neck and onto her shoulders.

  Reece speared her fingers through his hair, gripping it tightly. “I want this so badly, but what if Jasmeen—”

  Levi withdrew. “Your maiden will not find us together unless you send for her, and I will be gone before the sun rises in the morning.”

  Her emotions took a wild turn, and she couldn’t resist her husband. She needed him to love her in the strong and powerful way he always had, and she needed for him to give her the comfort and security she strongly desired at the moment.

  She let the robe drop to the ground and gazed into his hypnotic sapphire eyes. “What are you waiting for?”

  Levi answered her
with a crushing kiss as he scooped her into his arms and strode briskly toward her bed. It was exactly what she needed, and she could not be more grateful that Levi would risk their being together on this night.

  Their passionate tryst ended with both Levi and Reece fully satiated with each other’s love. Even though this served to help, Reece forget the emotions she was suffering from earlier, lying in silence with Levi breathing heavily at her side brought her grief of losing the years with Marian back. They had lost their baby, even though she was alive and well. She tried to remain positive about it and not ruin the moment she and Levi just shared, but she couldn’t. She softly sniffed, prompting Levi to bring his attention to her.

  “Sorry.” She forced a smile. “Everything about you being here is so wonderful, but I can’t stop thinking about Marian.”

  “Do not apologize.”

  “I am kind of ruining the moment.”

  Levi arched a brow at her. “None of this is easy for any of us. It is perfectly normal that you would feel heartbreak while trying to cope with everything.”

  “I know,” she sighed.

  Levi swept a tear from her cheek and was out of her bed before she could blink, returning to her with a brush. He slipped back into bed and encouraged her to sit in front of him as he started to bring the bristles of the brush through her damp hair.

  As her hair began to dry with each gentle pull of the brush, Levi spoke. “I know you are very upset, and I cannot imagine exactly how you must be feeling about everything that transpired between you and Marian,” Levi said with concern. “But I must request that you talk about this with me. Do not try to carry these burdens alone.”

  The gentle way that Levi had been brushing Reece’s hair helped calm the inexplicable pain she felt again. “I don’t even know how I can explain the feeling I have right now after seeing what we missed during those years of her life. I know we have our daughter back, but watching Marian’s memories tonight brought about a void in my heart. I suppose it is a feeling one would have if their newborn child went missing and came back sixteen years later.”