"This is my special blend. You must drink it all." She leaned over to help Keelin sit up and tucked pillows behind her. Keelin could barely lift her arms so Fiona held the bowl to her lips. Keelin blew on the hot mixture and, suddenly ravenous, she took large sips of the broth, not caring if she burned her tongue. She was so happy to feel anything – even if it was pain. She didn't want to be back in that gray place where everything was numb.
"I saw Grace," Keelin said as she felt the medicine of the broth slowly work through her body. Energy spikes started to twitch in her arms and legs and she began to slowly wiggle her fingers and toes.
"You…you saw Grace? When?" Fiona stopped spooning her the broth and stared at her. Keelin saw concern flash across her weathered cheeks.
"I was in the veil. I wasn't here but I wasn't there either. I could see you and Flynn and…and…myself. On the bed. She was in the corner and spoke to me."
"Oh my. Oh, Keelin. How scary. And, what an incredible gift." Fiona smoothed the hair from Keelin's brow and smiled at her. "She gave you back to me, didn't she?"
"Yes. On the contingency that I give Flynn my whole soul or live a life of unhappiness." Keelin started as Fiona huffed out a small laugh.
"Oh, I love the spunk of that woman. I'd heard she always drove a hard bargain."
"Flynn, he hates me. He was disgusted by me." Tears threatened to well up in Keelin's eyes again and she hurriedly took another sip of the broth.
"He most certainly does not. You should have seen that man. I've never seen anyone run across the hills like that. He carried you over his shoulder, shouting the whole way, while he ran like the wind." Fiona smoothed the sheets around Keelin.
"Well, I know he doesn’t want me to die but that doesn't mean he isn't disgusted by what I am."
Fiona opened her mouth to speak and stopped. She took the empty bowl from Keelin's hands.
"I guess that is for you to find out, isn't it?" Fiona said gently.
Annoyance whipped through Keelin. She wanted Fiona to tell her that Flynn loved her and that he would do anything for her. She heaved a big sigh as she realized that those were questions that only she could answer for herself.
"Okay. I will."
"You're a good girl. I love you so much. Later, you'll have to tell me about today. For now, you must sleep. Doctor's orders. I'll leave Ronan with you."
Keelin smiled at her and grasped the old woman's hand between her own. "Thank you for saving me. I love you too." Fiona smiled and cleared the dishes before she pulled the shades and closed the door to the room quietly. She curled herself around Ronan's warm body and immediately fell into the deep sleep of sheer exhaustion.
Chapter 27
Sharp hunger pains woke Keelin. She groaned and rolled over, dreaming of French toast. She sat up quickly as the events of the day before washed over her. It all felt like a weird dream. Keelin gingerly reached out her arms and then swung her legs off of the bed. Though she was a little unsteady when she stood, she felt good. She felt alive, she reminded herself. Keelin shuddered in a breath as she realized how close she had come to dying.
She stumbled into the bathroom and flicked the light on. She met her eyes in the mirror. Her face looked different. It looked older somehow. Not in age lines, but in wisdom. She imagined it was how a soldier's face looked after a battle. There seemed to be a new power to her – a knowledge – that came from being so close to the edge. Everything had shifted for her yesterday. Keelin had to decide what that would mean for her. Would the pain of this experience casually fade with time or would the lessons learned change her very core? She suspected it was the latter of the two. She already felt like a different person.
Keelin pulled a demure one-piece bathing suit on and threw a loose dress over her head. From habit, she braided her hair as she walked into the kitchen to find Fiona bustling over the stove. She started when Keelin padded silently behind her and laid a kiss on her cheek.
"Oh! You're up. Let me look at you." Fiona turned and held Keelin's face in her hands and looked deep into her eyes. Keelin smiled at the old woman, drinking in all of the age lines and wisdom her face held. "You look better. You've changed, haven't you?" Fiona gestured to the table and Keelin gratefully sat in front of a plate that held warm blueberry scones and fresh cream.
"Mm, this looks delicious." Keelin nodded at Fiona with her mouth full as she placed a rasher of bacon by her plate. "Yes, I feel like I've changed. I don't know how yet. But it seems like I have a choice to make. Either I embrace everything I am or lose everything I have."
Fiona settled onto the stool across from Keelin and sipped her tea. She paused for a moment before she spoke. "I don't know if it is all or nothing like you think. But I do know that when you heal someone like that and you take it into you, you'll forever know your true power as a healer. You've pushed yourself as far as you can go. Because of that, your limits are now defined. In some respects, this makes you a far better and more efficient healer."
"That makes sense. I wasn't even thinking about what I was doing. I was so distraught that I just went into autopilot. It was a stupid move."
"Why did you allow that energy into your body? Why didn't you send it away? Tell me what happened."
Keelin filled Fiona in on the whole scenario up until when Flynn's leg had healed and he had stared at her with such anger. A small sob caught in her throat and her hand shook as she took a quick sip of her tea. "He…he hated me, Fiona. His face was so full of anger. It wasn't even gratitude. I was so startled that I never finished the healing session because I swear my heart just broke when I saw his face." Keelin shredded the rest of the scone on her plate, nervously picking the bits into small crumbs.
"So you didn't get a chance to talk to him before he hurt himself?" Fiona asked, and slid a new scone onto Keelin's plate.
"I was going to. We were just having fun and I was going to tell him at the top of the climb. It is kind of a weird thing to talk about when you are hiking and not looking at each other face to face."
"He doesn't hate you. But you do need to make this right with him," Fiona said.
"Why do I need to make it right? Why do I have to be ashamed of what I am?" Keelin demanded furiously. "I saved his damn life and he walked away. You healed me and he took one look to make sure that I was alive and stormed out the door. I'm so furious with him that I don't even know if I want to see him!" She slammed her mug on the table and Ronan whined softly from under her chair. Keelin slipped her hand down and rubbed his silky ears between her fingers.
"I understand that you are hurt. Of course you are hurt. But, you also have to see it from his side. He views this as a betrayal. You have this whole other life that you didn't tell him about. And, no, you should never be ashamed of what you are. I'm not suggesting you apologize to him for that. I suggest you apologize for not sharing your whole self with him."
"Hmpf. Like I'll even get to see him anytime soon," Keelin said morosely.
"Don't give him a choice. Go to the cove. Don't forget that you met Grace. Which, by the way, I plan to pick your head about later. Go to the cove, Keelin. You need to finish this one way or the other." Fiona got up and handed her a pen and paper. "Tie a note to Ronan's collar. He'll know what to do."
Keelin stared at the small notepad for a moment. She wasn't entirely sure what to say. What would be convincing enough to have him meet her there?
"It is said that when a person saves another's life – that they are forever indebted to that person. I ask of you a favor. Meet me at the cove. I will wait until sundown."
Keelin tied the note up and wrapped it around Ronan's collar. Fiona packed her a bag of food and wine and gave her a long hug. Keelin leaned into her and smelled her neck, which smelled faintly of lavender and moss. Warmth surrounded them as they hugged.
"Thank you for my life. I will love you always," Keelin whispered to her.
Fiona nodded against her and held her tight.
"You are my blood." Fiona reached up and s
lipped Grace's amulet around Keelin's neck. "You forgot this."
"Thank you, I thought it was gone!" Keelin looked down at the stone nestled on her chest.
"No, you still had it on when Flynn carried you here. It was covered in his blood," Fiona said meaningfully, and ushered her out the door.
Keelin's stomach felt like it was tied in knots. She glanced down at Ronan and then up to the hills. Flynn's dog sat up on the ridge.
"Ronan, go to Flynn." She whistled and Teagan ran down to collect Ronan. "Go home, go on now." She waited as she watched the two dogs race up the hill and out of sight. Taking a deep breath, Keelin turned to the cove, her future at its shores.
Chapter 28
At the base of the path to the cove, Keelin stopped. Here was where she would traditionally say a small prayer and give an offering. Bending over, she unstrapped her sandals and kicked them aside. Keelin walked briskly to the edge of the water and let the waves lap over her feet. Reaching into her pack, she pulled out a small knife. Without hesitation, she used the sharp blade to slice a small cut into her palm. Clenching her fist, she held her hand over the water. A small rivulet of blood squeezed from the cut in her hand. She watched, hypnotized, as the blood hit the water in small drops of red, quickly dissipating.
"Yesterday, I almost gave my life because I refused to fully accept myself. I come here today to step into my birthright. I offer my blood to the cove, as a descendant of Grace O'Malley, as a promise to both myself and to her. I promise to protect the cove and I promise to never stand ashamed of what I am." Keelin squeezed extra hard and a long rivulet of blood dripped into the cove. A crack like a lightning bolt hit the water and for an instant it glowed a bright white. Keelin felt the hair on the back of her neck stand up. She knew Flynn was behind her.
Slowly, she turned, her hand still bloody.
Flynn stood at the end of the path, his hands tucked loosely into his pants pockets. A chambray shirt hung loose on him and dark circles marred his eyes. His shoulders were hunched. He eyed her, clearly on guard.
Keelin felt her heart clench. She slowly walked to him, her bleeding hand in front of her.
"Jesus, Keelin. What did you do?" Flynn automatically stepped forward to take her hand. She stepped back quickly and evaded his reach.
"No. Watch." Flynn eyed her warily as she opened her palm to reveal the long slice across her skin. She heard his small intake of breath as he realized that she had done this to herself. Keelin met his eyes. She looked down at her bloody hand and covered it with her other. She closed her eyes briefly and focused on the pain and sent her light down to heal it. The amulet warmed against her chest. Feeling the light gather, she sent the ball of pain into a small bush nearby. Slowly, Keelin opened her eyes to look at Flynn. She held both palms open, her pretty skin free of cuts. Flynn took a step back, anger on his face.
"I won't deal with witches, Keelin. I'm sorry, but I just won't," Flynn said angrily. He crossed his arms in front of his chest, a storm of emotions in his eyes.
"This is me, Flynn. This is all of me. I can heal people with my hands. I'm not a witch. I'm a descendant of Grace O'Malley." Keelin spoke quietly but proudly. The amulet at her neck began to grow warmer.
"I don't understand. I mean, I know that Fiona heals people with herbs and whatnot, but this? This hand stuff? It's crazy." Flynn dragged a hand through his hair.
"It is crazy. I wish that I could explain it to you any more than I can understand it myself. I don't know how it works, I just know that I can do it. I've run from this gift my entire life and it wasn't until I came here that I realized running was futile. This is me. All of me." Keelin stared at him as her stomach turned. "I'm…I'm sorry that I didn't tell you. I am just getting used to it myself. And, I was scared you would hate me. Which you do anyway," she said morosely as she put her hands down by her sides.
"I don't…I don't hate you. But, Jesus, Keelin. I was dying. I felt it! Blood was everywhere! And I sat there and watched you knit my bone back together. You put my artery back together! I could walk. It was terrifying! I didn't even know who you were at that point or what was happening. And then all of a sudden, you're dying on me!" Flynn was shouting at this point and pacing the beach. His shouts echoed off the rocky walls of the cove.
Anger flashed through Keelin. Vaguely, Keelin registered a small rumble and saw the waves beginning to pick up.
"Well, I'm just so sorry. Was I supposed to leave you there to die? I'm sorry that you can't handle this but maybe you could, oh I don’t know, thank me for saving your stubborn life? Had you not been so damn angry at me I would have been able to complete the healing and send the energy elsewhere. Instead I took it into me because you…you broke my heart." On a sob, Keelin turned and ran from Flynn. She was stupid to come here with him. He would never accept her for what she was.
Keelin let out a whoosh of breath as she was tackled from behind and flipped over. "Ooof!" she shrieked out as she landed on top of Flynn. He had turned to cushion her from the fall. Quickly, he rolled and pinned her underneath him.
"What do you mean that I broke your heart?" Flynn demanded.
"Nothing. I meant nothing. You are just a big jerk and I don't need someone like that in my life." Keelin avoided his eyes and stuck her chin out. Small fissures of heat curled through her where their bodies touched and she tried not to squirm under him. Keelin gasped as a huge wave crashed over them and shocked their bodies. Flynn sputtered out salt water and stared, aghast, at the beach. The shoreline was too far away for a wave to have hit them.
"What the heck was that?" Flynn demanded. "Did you do that?"
"Of course I didn't do that, you punk. I told you that I'm not a witch. The cove is mad at me is all. Probably you too. You should go," Keelin said spitefully. Another wave slammed into them both and they rolled from the impact. "Damn it. Fine!" Keelin shouted as she found herself pinned under Flynn again, soaking wet, her body wide awake.
"You broke my heart because I love you. I have no idea how or when it happened but I do. And when you stared at me like…like I was some kind of monster, I froze and forgot to heal the way that I was taught by Fiona. No big deal. It's fine. I can get over this. But I refuse to apologize for what I am. If there is anything that I have learned from this it is that you have to love me for me or not at all," Keelin spit out, and then stuck her chin in the air. Her heart was pounding against her chest and she shivered at the heat that was building in her most sensitive of spots.
"Damn it, Keelin. You died. I watched you die. I just, it was too much. I couldn't wrap my head around what happened and then you just…you died. I was terrified." Flynn brought his forehead to hers. Keelin's heart hiccupped.
Hope slid into her stomach.
"You left me. I came to and you just left," Keelin whispered. She felt tears prick her eyes. "You hurt me," she whispered.
"I'm sorry. I'm so sorry. I shouldn't have left. I didn't sleep at all last night. I planned to come today to apologize. It doesn't matter what you are, Keelin. Your heart is pure as gold. So is Fiona's. I could never look at what the both of you are and hate you. I love you. All of you. Every last stubborn bit." Flynn raised his eyes to hers as Keelin felt her whole body flare with a flash of heat.
"You do? You really do?" Keelin felt the heat rush over her in a wave and she began to cry thick, fat tears, and wrapped her arms around his broad shoulders.
"Yes, you difficult, strong, beautiful woman. I fell for you the moment that I saw you. I want you as much as I want my next breath." Flynn captured her mouth with his and swallowed Keelin's sobs.
Her body shuddered with emotion as her heart sang. She heard a loud crack and pulled back to stare at the cove. It glowed a brilliant blue and a small flash of white light beamed from a cave far out in the rocky wall of the cove. Almost indistinguishable from the other rocks, Keelin would never have seen the small tunnel.
"Flynn! Look!" He turned and she felt his body go rigid at the image of the gently pulsing light that emanated fr
om the cove and the cave.
"What…what is it?" Flynn said warily. He shifted to protect her.
"No, it's okay. It's said that the cove glows in the presence of true love. And, that tunnel must be where the chalice is. The cove is showing us her secrets. It trusts us." Keelin smiled at the cove and silently thanked Grace for the gift. She would be sure to honor it.
Flynn shook his head ruefully as the glow in the water subsided. He smiled a crooked smile down at her and Keelin's eyes pricked at how close she had come to losing this man.
"So, are our kids going to be witches too?"
Keelin laughed at him and smacked him on the arm before capturing his mouth in a kiss. Slowly, they lost themselves in each other. Excited barks broke through the fog around them and they were bombarded with puppy licks. Keelin giggled and Flynn helped her to her feet. Together, they pet their dogs and wrapped their arms around each other as they began the hike up out of the cove. Keelin glanced back to see the sun dipping on the horizon and a pale sliver of moon beginning to shine in the sky. She nodded silently at the cove and grasped her amulet as it pulsed gently against her heart.
It seemed that she got to live after all.
Epilogue
Keelin grasped the phone tightly in her hands and stared out across the fields towards the cove.
"Keelin, is that you?" Margaret's voice sounded tinny across the airwaves.
"It is, I'm here, Mom," Keelin said, and reached down to scratch Ronan's head.
"I haven't heard from you in almost two weeks. I was about to send out the guards," Margaret said stiffly.
"I know, I'm so sorry that I worried you, Mom. A lot has been going on." Keelin wondered where to begin. It wouldn't be right to attack her mother about Colin and Aislinn and she wasn't sure just how much she wanted to get into her newfound healing powers. She already knew how Margaret felt about those. With a sigh, she focused on the blue waters of the cove.
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