by Teri Barnett
“But I don’t see anything, Connor.” Bethany pushed his arms out of his jacket and pulled it out from under him, hoping to find the cause of his distress. Nothing. She looked closer at Connor. His eyes were wide and glazed and he was sweating profusely.
Bethany closed her eyes and murmured a short prayer. When she opened them, she was in the Knowing. Quickly she scanned his entire body. “Oh no,” she whispered. “What have you done to yourself, Connor Jessup?”
She focused on his aura, finding large gaps and tears in the various layers, most especially near his heart center. It was going to take a lot to cure this man, and part of her doubted if she even could.
She stretched her arms out straight over Connor and began moving them from head to toe. This motion would work the poison from his head, down through his body, and out the bottom of his feet. But just as Bethany was getting started, Connor again took hold of her. He wrapped his arms tightly around her, holding her hard against his chest.
“Elizabeth. I’ve missed you.” He grabbed the back of Bethany’s head and forced her mouth to his. Bethany shoved against him, punching and struggling to get away.
“Stop it, Connor!” she shouted. Finally, he broke the embrace, a deep shudder going through his body.
Bethany wiped her mouth roughly with the back of her hand. “Don’t ever do that again!”
“Wh-what’s the matter, Angel? Oh God, I’m so cold.” Connor pulled his legs against his chest and wrapped his arms around them.
He’s delirious.
Bethany fought to steady her nerves. This was going to be difficult. Once again, she went into the Knowing. “Connor? You’ve got to lay out flat on your back for me. Connor? Can you hear me?”
“I can’t lay flat. If’n I stretch out the bugs’ll come back. They can’t find me if I’m all curled up tight like this.” He looked into the darkness of the cave beyond the fire. “There they are, waiting,” he whispered. Connor started to wave his arms again. “Go on home to the cornfields, locust. You won’t feast on Connor Jessup today.”
Bethany put a hand on each of Connor’s upper arms and steadied him. She looked into his face, forcing him to turn over onto his back. “Connor. Look at me.”
“No, no. You want to hurt me too.” He thrashed from side to side. “Leave me alone!”
“I’m not going to hurt you. I want to help.” She gripped his shoulders more forcefully. “Now, look at me,” she demanded.
Slowly, Connor turned his eyes to meet hers. His dark brown gaze met her azure one and he began to calm down. “Breathe with me,” Bethany instructed, taking one deep breath after another. He followed along and the muscles in his arms began to relax. “There now, that’s much better.” As Bethany kept his gaze steady, she placed her left hand on Connor’s solar plexus. Slowly, she began to knead the area, working out the pain of his heart center.
When she was satisfied he’d calmed down, Bethany let her gaze once again scan his aura. Using both arms, she moved them over and over Connor as he lay still, his eyes closed. She started from his head and swept to his feet, leaving a long trail of bright green healing light. It settled like a fine smoke around him.
She took a deep breath and exhaled it out of her mouth. The breath glowed magenta, the color of the Great Mother, and swirled and circled Connor’s body, working to close the gaps his aura had developed in this lifetime.
For almost two hours Bethany worked, patching his heartache and repairing the tears he had endured. Nearing the end of the healing, she placed her hands on his feet and kept them there until they were enveloped with a black mist for grounding. Continuing upward, she activated each and every energy point until Connor glowed with the renewed life force he now possessed from within. Yellow, orange, red, pink, green, blue, indigo, white—all the essences were in perfect balance.
Connor was finally sleeping peacefully, his breathing deep and even. She wiped the sweat from her face with a corner of her shawl. She hugged her arms around her waist, trying to keep from shaking. Bethany stood, then fell to her knees. She lowered her head and held it in her hands for a moment, until the wave of dizziness had passed. She tried to stand again but stumbled forward. Giving up, she crawled to the side of the fire opposite Connor. Watching the smoke rise to the ceiling of the altar room and drifting out through the entrance of the cave, Bethany fell into an exhausted sleep.
Part Two
Chapter 17
Connor opened his eyes and stared at the rough-hewn stone ceiling of the cave. He blinked, bringing his sight into focus. Slowly, he raised himself on his elbows; something wasn’t right. His arms didn’t hurt. Connor sat upright and held his hands out in front of him. They didn’t shake anymore. He stretched his upper body from the waist, savoring the feeling of being without pain. Lord, but he had forgotten how good it was not to suffer. For the last year or so, every bone and muscle had seemed to ache without end.
He’d assumed it was a sign he was dying, but now that it didn’t hurt anymore, he wasn’t so sure. Standing, Connor was surprised at how easily he moved. He spun around in a circle, his boots making a soft scraping noise against the dirt.
Connor clapped his hands together. What was this magical place that it could take away his pain? Elizabeth’s face crossed through his mind’s eye and he waited for the certain response he knew was coming–a sense of intense sadness followed by a need for whiskey. But, to his amazement, he didn’t feel either one. And what was even more surprising was that he didn’t care. He grinned.
I’ll be damned.
Lord, thank you for liberating me from my pain.
He caught sight of Bethany where she lay near the smoldering fire. Curled up tight, she looked more like a girl than the angel he had taken her for.
He walked over to her and knelt down.
I’ll be damned. My joints don’t ache.
He shook his head. This truly was a miracle. Gently, Connor pushed back the long strands of golden hair covering Bethany’s face. He studied the spray of brown lashes that brushed her cheek and the small, slightly upturned nose. He sucked in his breath. He could clearly see her now for what she was and, though as beautiful as any angel he would have imagined, she wasn’t a spirit, but flesh and blood. He reached out and caressed her cheek with his fingertips and, as he touched her, something stirred deep inside and Connor remembered.
“Thank you, Bethany,” he murmured.
Chapter 18
The smell of roasting meat filled the kiyolo, invading Bethany’s sleep. She opened her eyes and tried to ask Connor what he was cooking, but the words wouldn’t come. Pushing herself up on one arm, she fell back down, still exhausted from last night’s healing.
“I shot a rabbit,” Connor explained from the other side of the fire where he was roasting the animal. “At least, that’s what it looked like, except its ears were bobbed.” He grinned. “It’s hard telling just exactly what kind of critter I’m cookin’, I just hope it’s edible.”
Bethany managed a weak smile. “Could I have a drink, please?” she asked, her voice raspy. Connor hurried to the fountain and returned with a cupful of the cool liquid. He supported her head as she took a sip. “Thank you.”
“Are you going to be all right?” Connor’s face was lined with concern. “Is there anything I can do?”
She shook her head, closing her eyes. “No, I’ll be fine.” This was the worst she had ever felt after a healing. Usually she might be a bit dizzy or nauseous. Then, she’d never dealt with someone as distressed as Connor Jessup. Although it warmed her spirit to know she’d succeeded, it had taken all of her strength to see him through the healing.
“I’ll be fine,” she said again with a smile and drifted off to sleep.
“Bethany?”
She opened her eyes.
“You’ve been asleep a few hours.” Connor was crouched beside her. “I was getting worried.”
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br /> “Mmm, I think I’m feeling better. Really,” she added quickly when Connor shot her a skeptical look. “I always have a reaction when I do a healing. This one was just more intense than what I’m used to.” She rubbed her eyes.
“I’m sorry I put you through this.”
“It’s all right, Connor. I had to help you. It’s what I do.” She smiled. “It’s what I am.” Pushing herself up, Bethany propped her back against the wall of the altar room. “How late is it?”
“Well, I was outside a few minutes ago and it’s starting to get dark. The sun was about halfway down.”
“It’s sundown already?” She’d slept the entire day. Frustrated, Bethany let her head fall back and stared at the ceiling. “Why did you let me sleep so long? You know we needed to be going.” She leveled her gaze on him.
“I understand you want to find your daughter as soon as possible, but you were in no condition to travel today.” He took her hand and squeezed it gently. “I’m sorry for causing you this delay. It’s all my fault. Please forgive me. If I do nothing else with my remaining time in this life, I’ll seek redemption by helping you find Sarah.”
“Thank you, Connor,” she whispered, squeezing his hand in return. “We’ll stay one more night, then be on our way at sunrise. We’ll need daylight for the journey to the next kiyolo anyway.”
“Are we going to another of these places?”
Bethany nodded. “When you were resting, I discovered that the answer to destroying the Priestess lies in another structure, the Kiyolo of the Night.” She explained the information she had gleaned from the statue. “It’s not far from here, but the terrain is difficult to cross.”
“You lead the way and I’ll be right behind you.” He laughed, shaking his head.
“What’s the matter?” Bethany asked.
“Don’t get mad, but I’m not used to having a woman make all the decisions for me.”
“I beg your pardon?” Bethany squared her shoulders, getting angry anyway.
Connor held up a hand. “Calm down, now. I don’t want to get into an argument. I understand this is a different place and I just need to learn your ways.”
Well, at least he was receptive to change, she’d give him that. Deciding to drop the matter for the time being, Bethany spied what remained of the bob-ear skewered on a stick across the fire. “Could I have some of that? I’m famished.”
Connor laughed. “Well, then, you must be feeling better.”
Bethany smiled her thanks as he handed her a slice of the juicy dark meat. Connor sat by her side as she ate. “Thank you for taking care of me,” she said.
“I’m the one who should be thanking you. When you offered to heal me, I had no idea.” He shook his head. “Absolutely no idea how it would be. Here, take a look.” He held out his hands in front of him. “I can’t believe they don’t shake anymore. And I don’t crave whiskey.”
“I’m glad you’re feeling better.” Bethany took another bite of the tender meat and glanced at him out of the corner of her eye. He must have cleaned himself up while she was sleeping. It was the first time she’d seen him without a layer of grime on his person. “If nothing else, your looks have certainly improved since the healing,” she teased.
“Yeah, well, when you drink the amount I did you don’t worry about much else except where the next bottle’s coming from.” He ran a hand through his thick black hair and it shone a midnight blue in the firelight. “I found a stream near here and bathed. It was cold but it did the trick. I hope that was all right. I don’t know the rules you play by in this world.”
So, he had indeed accepted the fact he was on another plane and not in that Hell place of his he was so anxious to visit. “Are you disappointed, then, that you’re not dead? You seemed so intent on it.”
“Not in the least, Angel.”
He leaned closer and Bethany caught her breath. Connor’s spirit had returned—he now exuded a strength that had been buried under self-loathing and drink.
She let her gaze wander over his dark brown eyes, straight nose, and slightly parted lips. Again, she realized just how affected she was by his presence.
Why am I so attracted to this man?
She didn’t know the answer to that. Where matters of the heart were concerned, she was better off trusting her instincts rather than searching for reasons.
Connor reached out and caressed her cheek with the back of his hand. “So soft,” he murmured.
Bethany’s eyes held his as he leaned even closer. She licked her lips without thinking and watched the reflection of the fire in his eyes. His lips touched hers and Bethany closed her eyes and let her head fall back as he traced a damp trail of kisses along her throat. Kisses as light as a butterfly’s touch, stirred feelings she’d thought had departed forever after Joseph’s death.
It’s been so long…
Bethany slipped her hand behind Connor’s head and brought his mouth to hers, hungrily meeting his need with her own.
Don’t do this! He loves another. He’s only being grateful for the healing. And you are far too vulnerable and exhausted because of what you did for him.
Bethany struggled to push the thoughts away. She was exhausted. The healing had taken its toll on her and cost her a day.
Remember your quest to find Sarah.
Tears sprang to her eyes. How could she even think of making love with Connor, knowing that her daughter was out there, somewhere, afraid and possibly hurt…
“We can’t do this, Connor.”
“Why not? I care for you, Angel.” He held out his hand. “Let me show you.”
Bethany shook her head, tears spilling down her cheeks. “What about Elizabeth? After all, she’s the reason you agreed to come with me.” Her eyes met his. “You still love her.”
Connor frowned as he let his hand drop. “That was true before. But everything about her became clear when I woke up after the healing. I loved a memory, Angel, and mourned a future that might have been. That’s all.”
“Please, understand. I need to rest. I need your help to find Sarah.”
He took Bethany in his arms and brushed the tears away. She lay with her head against his chest for a long time, listening to the steady beat of his heart.
“I understand, and it’s all right. I promise, we’ll find Sarah. I promise.”
Chapter 19
The next morning ushered in the first of the winter ice storms to hit Paran, awakening both Bethany and Connor with the sounds of hail pounding against rock.
Bethany jumped up and rushed to the entrance of the cave, worried they would have to lose another day in their search. Peering outside, she saw the worst of it was almost over. Good. It wouldn’t impede their progress to the Kiyolo of the Night.
“The sky’s starting to clear,” she called over her shoulder. “We’re lucky we’re not traveling any later in the year—the first storms are usually the shortest and mildest.”
Connor walked up behind her as the sun came up over the horizon, breaking through the dark cloud cover. The light reflected on the ice shards and they glittered like prisms, each with its own rainbow of color. The ground was fast becoming saturated as the ice began to melt. “Your world is beautiful, Angel,” he whispered in her ear. He pulled her back against his chest. “Just like you.”
“Thank you,” she murmured, enjoying the warmth of his embrace against the wind’s chill. “We need to get going. I can’t waste any more time.” Bethany shook her head. “It’s been so long since Sarah disappeared, I’m beginning to lose count of the days. It seems like forever to me. I’ve got to find her.”
Connor turned Bethany around to face him. “We will, Bethany. I promise.”
“And what about Elizabeth? Tell me, Connor, what are you going to do if we find her in the process?” Bethany asked, not sure she really wanted to know the answer.
“I’m not afraid of seeing her, if she’s still alive. As a matter of fact, I look forward to the opportunity so I can tell her good-bye once and for all.”
Bethany reached up on her tiptoes and placed a light kiss on his cheek. “Thank you.”
“Whoa, what was that?” An eyebrow shot up. “I seem to remember sharing less chaste kisses last night.”
“And you would discuss this in the light of day?” Bethany teased.
“I’ve spent far too long living in a gray cloud of my own dark thoughts. From now on, I’m going to speak my mind,” Connor replied with a wink.
Bethany chuckled as she made her way back into the cave to retrieve her belongings. Connor followed closely behind.
Bethany wrapped her shawl tightly around her arms, knotting it in front.
“Don’t you have anything heavier to wear?” he asked, scooping up his jacket.
“No.” She shook her head. “When I left home, I wasn’t planning on being gone so long. This is all I brought with me, but I’ll be fine.”
Connor walked over to her and untied the knot. “What do you think you’re doing?” she asked. “You know we need to get out of here.”
“And you need to keep warm.” He slipped his coat over her and placed the shawl on top of it.
“I couldn’t. You’ll need it.”
“My shirt is heavy, and I’m used to being out when the weather’s bad.” He grinned. “You think I had a nice cozy jacket every time I wandered off drunk?” He snorted. “I spent more nights on the cold hard ground than I can remember. So, this little ice storm and wintry wind should be easy to handle.”
Bethany eyed him skeptically. “Well, all right. But promise me you’ll say something if you need it back.”
Connor made a cross on his chest with a forefinger. “Cross my heart.”
“What was that you just did?”
“Made a promise. That’s how we do it sometimes.”