by C. A. Bleu
Peeking through the glass by the door Aaron assessed Erebus’s guards. They were still stationed at their posts and did not seem to be heading in their direction yet. He knew they would have to take out the guards nearby if they were going to have a chance to make it off the property. Aaron looked at Dimitri holding tight to Zara and was surprised by the level of concern he saw there. When Dimitri looked up, Aaron nodded, motioning toward the guards. With a quick fluid motion Aaron stepped through the door, arm outstretched, shooting first one guard then the other, both direct hits to the head. Dimitri followed in his wake, moving toward the car.
Aaron opened the back door of the car and helped lay Zara down, then hopped into the driver’s seat while Dimitri got in the passenger seat. Slamming on the gas, hoping to gain enough speed to ram through the thick iron gate, the tires spun. As the gate approached Dimitri and Aaron stared in disbelief, watching as huge vines of thick green leafy ivy grew and stretched from out of nowhere, reaching out to grab the gate. The ivy wrapped around the bars like hands and fists, pulling until the gate parted just in time for their car to race through and off the property. Aaron glanced at Dimitri after they turned onto the main road.
“What was that?” Aaron asked more to himself than to anyone.
Slowly shaking his head, there were no words, he could not understand it himself. Either Zara was still aware of her surroundings and was helping them out or she was so connected to nature that it reached out a helping hand to get her out of harm’s way. Dimitri turned and looked at her beautiful angelic sleeping face. Reaching back, he gently caressed her fiery red hair, sending up a silent prayer that she would be okay. It worried him that she did not have that golden glow surrounding her while she slept, her face somewhat ashen in color.
“She’ll be okay, we’ll go somewhere safe, somewhere I know she can gain her strength back,” Aaron said. Dimitri nodded but didn’t seem convinced. Aaron drove long into the night and all the next day. They stopped only for gas and food, but Zara never woke. Dimitri’s heart was frozen in fear. He could not bear the thought of losing her.
Dimitri jerked awake, feeling the car slow and turn onto a gravel drive. Aaron was punching in a code at a gated entry. Pulling up the drive, Dimitri recognized the cabin where he first saw Zara practicing with her grandmother; where it all began, he thought. Immediately, worry shot through him, Erebus knew about this location. Relaxing, he remembered Erebus would not be an issue now. Dimitri and Aaron gently got Zara out of the car and carried her up to her bedroom.
“She’s had nothing to eat or drink for two days Aaron, this cannot be good, we have to do something.” Kneeling beside her bed, Dimitri held her hand.
Concern clouded Aaron’s features as he moved to stand on the other side of her bed. “Let’s give her until morning and we’ll go from there. Try to get some rest.” He said patting Dimitri on the shoulder.
Holding the bedroom door open for Dimitri, Aaron noticed the way he hesitated, not wanting to leave her. Watching as he leaned down and kissed her forehead Aaron found new respect forming for Dimitri. After showing him the room next door where he could sleep, Aaron stood in the hall alone. Fighting tears, he sent up a silent plea for Zara, he prayed for Isabella to watch over her and to help her heal in any way she could.
Chapter 27
The next morning Zara awoke to warm sunlight on her face and the sound of birds chirping. With a faint smile she rolled over only to find her limbs heavy and exhausted. So sore she could barely move when she tried to stretch. Peeling her eyes open she saw Dimitri asleep, seated in a chair next to the bed. Looking around the room it took her only a moment to recognize they were back in her room at the cabin. She saw the antique dresser and mirror near the bed and noticed Dimitri was using her favorite quilt to cover up. Her heart soared at the thought of being back. Sitting up too quickly, a wave of dizziness sent her back down to the bed.
Hearing movement, Dimitri quickly jumped out of the chair to check on her. Kneeling beside the bed he took her hand in his. Heart racing with excitement and relief to see her awake.
“How are you feeling? I have been so worried,” he said, lowering his head to place a soft kiss on her hand.
Rolling toward him, she used what little strength she had to caress his cheek. “I’m okay, I’m just really sore and starving… and I have to pee,” she said in a dry scratchy voice.
“Aaron said you would probably be hungry. He went yesterday and got a ton of food. Zara, there is something I need to tell you.” Pausing to gather his thoughts, Zara looked worried, wondering what he was trying to say.
“I thought I had lost you. I was so afraid you would think I betrayed you, but I never did. The moment I thought you were lost to me, I realized I never want you out of my life. Zara, I love you.” Dimitri barely spoke his last words before a tear fell from his eye.
Leaning onto her elbow, the best she could to see him better. Her heart raced, she felt the exact same way. Wiping away his tear, she said, “Dimitri, I know, I feel it too. I didn’t realize how much I cared about you until I was faced with the thought of never seeing you again, it was unbearable.” She leaned up and kissed his cheek.
“I really do have to pee though,” she said with a pained smile.
Tenderly, he helped her to the bathroom and then to change her clothes, she was so weak. Dimitri filled her in about their escape from Erebus’s estate and the ivy that grew to help them. She could hear the worry in every word as he retold the story and explained about the drive to the cabin. That was three days ago, how could she have been out for so long?
Declining his offer to bring her food, she insisted on going downstairs. Leaning on him for support she made her way down the stairs to the kitchen table. Sitting next to Dimitri, holding his hand, she watched Aaron place the food on the table. Overwhelmed with the love she felt for these two men, a tingling warmth suddenly spread over her entire body. Aaron gasped beside her.
“What?” she asked as she shoved a large bite of scrambled eggs into her mouth.
“Zara, you are literally glowing a bright golden color. Can’t you see it?” Dimitri was looking at her now too, in awe.
Looking at her hands and arms, she did not see anything. There was warmth pulsing all over her body though. “What’s happening now?” She asked, seeing Dimitri, who was now gaping wide-eyed at her arm.
Turning her shoulder to get a better look she saw that her tattoo was changing again. Another word was appearing sideways down the right side of the Trinity symbol, Love. Zara smiled looking back at Dimitri and Aaron, her family. After Zara’s golden glow faded, they sat silent for a moment unsure of what to say and in awe of what had happened. Zara spoke first, she couldn’t eat another bite without voicing what was on her heart.
“Aaron, thank you for coming. Thank you for always being there for me. I know we never say it, but I want you to know that I love you.”
Blinking back tears, Aaron cleared his throat, shocked and moved by her words. “Me too kiddo, and I’ll always be there for you,” he said, patting her head like he did when she was little before leaving the room.
Knowing he hated to show emotion, she didn’t press him, but he loved her too, she knew. Finishing her plate, she glanced at Dimitri, still holding her left hand. “I really want to go outside Dimitri, will you sit with me?” She wanted, needed, to see the land she so loved.
Zara and Dimitri sat in the two wooden rocking chairs side by side on the back porch. Rocking in comfortable silence, staring out into the forest, she inhaled, basking in the lavender and sandalwood scents she loved. Tall magnolia trees swayed gently in the breeze, their large white flowers full and welcoming. With peace in her heart, content for the first time in a while Zara took in a deep healing breath.
Dimitri was also feeling more relaxed, but knew he needed to share his story with Zara. Reaching in his pocket he released the breath he was holding. “Zara, I wasn’t always like this. Before I met Erebus, before all the foster homes and fi
ghting, I had wonderful loving parents. They were killed in a car wreck when I was young, and I completely lost my way. My grief and my anger really sent my world out of control, I just could not cope with it at all. I had no one else, no other family and it was then that I met Erebus.” He paused, considering his next words.
“With nothing left to live for I just didn’t care anymore so I stayed with him. I did everything he ever wanted. I’ve hurt so many people, killed so many people, how can I ever live with the things that I have done?” Turning to Zara with tear-filled eyes, he continued, “You’ve changed something inside of me, or found something, something I thought was lost forever. Zara, you mean everything to me and when I thought you might be dead or dying, all I could think to do was pray. I prayed with all my heart and soul to find a way to help you. After my parents died, I stopped believing in God, but there is something in you Zara that makes me believe again.”
Reaching out, he handed her something as he said, “These are my parents. Even through all these years, I have kept this picture with me. I think that lost little boy was always there inside of me, not willing to completely let them go.”
Taking the folded picture from him, it looked fragile and worn, likely from the many times he had opened and closed it over the years. Carefully, she opened the faded photo and her heart skipped a beat, tears filled her eyes. “Oh Dimitri, I have seen your parents.”
“What?” he said in disbelief. Looking at her with confusion and pain in his eyes.
“Dimitri, there is another power I have that I have not told you about. I can also see and talk to those who have died. When I was in that underground cell I nearly died, in fact, I think I did die. There was hardly enough air to breathe and I had a severely broken leg. I gave up, I thought I had no way out and I thought you had betrayed me.”
Closing her eyes, she remembered that profound heartbreak. Exhaling a shuddering breath she opened her eyes. “I suddenly found myself in the most beautiful place surrounded by angels. Most of them were women I recognized from the Trinity family, but there were some I did not know.”
Zara looked at the picture again and then back to Dimitri. “These two, your parents, they spoke to me there. The woman, your mom, she said I did not know them, but it was through the power of prayer that they were able to see me.”
Zara looked closer at the picture of Dimitri’s father, she realized when she had seen him, she thought she had recognized him, but it was his crystal ice-blue eyes that had spoken to her, Dimitri’s eyes. Gazing lovingly at Dimitri, she said, “They told me not to give up on my faith and my love. They told me I had to go back, and they hugged me.”
Dimitri let his tears fall freely while he listened. Reaching out, Zara held him in a warm embrace as he bathed his soul with the lost tears of his childhood. After a few deep shaky breaths trying to regain his composure, he could not believe how much better he felt. Like a weight had been lifted, he felt free. For so long he had yearned to see them or talk to them, it meant the world to have this reassurance from her and his parents.
Chapter 28
They spent the day sharing stories and relaxing, by nightfall Zara had already regained nearly all of her strength. She had also eaten nearly two dozen eggs and over half the meat Aaron had purchased which had blown their minds, but they kept the food coming. For the first time in as long as she could remember Zara felt at peace with herself, more open. Aaron had agreed they could stay at the cabin for a while which made her even more ecstatic.
With Erebus now gone, Aaron felt they would be okay, at least for a little while. He didn’t want to upset Zara right now as she was doing so much better, but he knew that this would not last long. There would likely be someone to take Erebus’s place, if not now, then soon. Preparations had to be in place should anything happen to him. Taking precautions, Aaron had already changed their gated entry code and dispatched a team to bring Carson in, though he chose to keep this information from Zara.
In the cool summer night, Dimitri, Aaron, and Zara sat around a small bonfire both reminiscing and enjoying comfortable silences with one another. Zara had something she was hoping to be able to give to Dimitri and Aaron. Watching the fire crackling in front of them, Zara began to tap into her powers, feeling the slow hum of electric power refilling her veins. Breathing in the lavender and sandalwood she closed her eyes, letting the earth strengthen her power. Smiling, she made swirls and designs with the flames in the fire, testing out her power since it had been so depleted. This did not go unnoticed by Aaron and Dimitri who began to watch her a bit more closely, worried she should not be using her powers yet.
Calling on her grandmother and her mother, immediately two small glowing balls of light appeared, taking shape into her family. Zara stood and they both hugged her tightly. Without words, Zara could feel how happy and proud they were. Looking toward Dimitri, without speaking aloud she asked a question to her mother and grandmother. Receiving the bit of advice she had hoped for, Zara nodded, turning to face both Dimitri and Aaron.
“Would you both please come stand with me?” She asked holding out her hands to each of them.
Glancing at each other with questioning looks, Aaron and Dimitri wondered what Zara was up to. They trusted her, so they stood, and each reached out to hold her hand. The hairs on their arms stood when they felt an electric current in the air around them. Dimitri looked over at Aaron again, eyebrows raised in question, but Aaron just shrugged his shoulders. Silently, they watched as Zara stood with her eyes closed, concentrating on her power.
Soon they saw glowing balls of light appear and attempted to take a step back, but Zara held their hands firm. The ball of golden light in front of Aaron slowly took the shape of Zara’s mother, Isabella. Aaron teared up immediately, taking a slow step toward her. Zara let his hand go, knowing that he could see her now. Watching as they embraced, she let a silent tear of joy fall. The way they looked at each other; there was more between them than she realized.
In front of Dimitri, two balls of golden light began to take shape as well. Dimitri’s body shook when he realized it was his mother and father standing before him. They grabbed him in a strong embrace as Zara let his hand go. Stepping back, she looked at the men she loved and was so grateful for the power to be able to give this gift to them.
Turning to walk off, Dimitri suddenly reached for her hand. Pulling her into the embrace with his parents. Dimitri cried, telling his parents how much he loved and missed them. How long had he wished for this moment? They shared how proud they were of him taking a stand against Erebus. Excusing herself to give Dimitri a moment alone with his parents, she told everyone this visit would not last long.
Watching from a distance, Zara saw their forms soon begin to disappear and then they were gone completely. After a moment, Dimitri and Aaron both looked at her with tear-filled eyes. They both came toward her, thanking her, hugging her. Each of them had spent so much time longing for one last embrace, one last conversation and she was able to give them that.
It meant the world to her and filled her heart to see them happy. With the day catching up to her, Zara was ready to go lay down. Saying good night to Aaron, she and Dimitri began walking back toward the cabin. Aaron told them he wanted to stay by the fire a little longer, but as he checked his watch, he knew his team would arrive shortly with Carson.
Holding Dimitri’s hand, they walked through the kitchen and up the stairs to her room. Pausing in her doorway, Dimitri was unsure if he should go in.
“Please stay and lie with me a while,” she asked, noticing his hesitance. Dimitri seemed worried, casting a glance toward the window in Aaron’s direction outside, but his desire to stay with Zara won out, they would deal with Aaron later.
After changing clothes, they climbed in Zara’s bed together. Their bodies gravitated toward each other immediately as Zara nestled into his chest with his protective arm around her. Dimitri gently stroked the side of her face as he held her, finally feeling reassured that she was ok
ay. He told her again how much she meant to him and thanked her for the gift of seeing his parents. For the first time that he could remember since his parents died, he felt whole again, he felt loved.
Zara leaned in to kiss him, a good night kiss, but as their lips met Dimitri felt an electric rush through his entire body and the kiss deepened. Zara’s body responded immediately with electric heat shooting through to her core. Pulling him closer, wrapping her hand around the back of his neck, she kissed him with all the love she felt.
Dimitri broke the kiss first and propped up on his elbow, leaning back to look down into her eyes, he whispered, “You saved me, Zara. I think I have been waiting for you, I think there was a part of me that knew you would come for me one day.” Bending down, he kissed her again. Tears filled her eyes, he had saved her too, she knew in her heart they were meant to find each other.
Softly, he ran his fingertips over her, tracing the neckline of her tank top, leaving kisses where he touched. He wanted her, all of her, but knew they should take things slow. Surprising him, Zara reached down and began pulling off her shirt. Dimitri was meant for her and she wanted to feel him, his skin, his warmth. She wanted to be as close as they could possibly be.
After helping with her shirt, they both reached down and began pulling his shirt off too. Laughing at their momentary entanglement, they continued until Dimitri’s shirt hit the floor. Leaning down over Zara, he felt her warm skin against his.
“Zara, you are the most amazing person I’ve ever met. I’m so glad I found you,” he said, on a whispered hope of what might be.
Chapter 29