Niall ordered everyone to look for another way in, he took the radio from his waist, “I need some pickaxes immediately.” And they waited. Gris kept pounding the wall, determined to break it down by will alone. Finally, he fell to the ground, accepting that he would not be able to reach her.
Five men came around the corner, each built like a tank, their arms bulging with each flex of their arms. “Sir, let us,” one of them said and Gris stepped back. They started swinging the pickaxes, dust flying. Slowly holes opened in the wall and light twinkled out. It was all Gris could do to not jump in front of them as he anxiously awaited an opening large enough to squeeze through. Niall kept a hand on his shoulder, silently holding him back. The men stepped back, holding their axes as Gris ran through the opening. He stopped and looked in shock, tears coursing down his face. Niall followed behind and gasped, then walked forward, removing his shirt and laying it over Rose.
She lay still as death, her pale skin stained red, lines criss crossing all over her body. The table was red and slick with blood, seeping into the shirt that lay over her. Her face was the only place that was not covered in blood, the sewn lips the only thing marrying her beauty. Gris ran to her crying. She opened her eyes, a whimper escaping. He stroked her face.
“Shh. It’s alright we are here now,” he soothed, peace and comfort overwhelmed the bond, both feeding from the love that was felt through the bond. Gris looked up and saw Keyne, tears glistening in his eyes.
“I stayed with her. I couldn’t do anything,” Keyne said, despair weighing him down.
“I know, Brother. You were here, that is more than I was. We will hold her through this. She will recover.”
A medic came and set a hand on Gris’ shoulder. “Sir, let us look at her please.” Gently moving him to stand at her head. The medic pulled out a syringe. “This will make her more comfortable.” He plunged the needle into her arm, and her eyes fluttered shut.
One of the men who had opened the wall walked over, a large pair of wire cutters in his hand. He worked at cutting the rings away from her leg. Not an easy task, sweat beaded on his head. Niall looked on, disgust on his face. “There were rumors of metal that could stop a Guardian. No one believed them, but now . . . ” The ring broke with a loud snap that flung the man across the room. Another man stepped forward taking the wire cutters to work on the next ring. Magic flared, a wave of energy inundating the room and raising the hair on the back of each person’s neck as each of the rings were broken.
Gently, two medics picked Rose up and set her on a gurney that had been brought in. Gris took her hand and walked beside the gurney. Niall stopped him, “Gris, Keyne, I need you here. You are the only ones that knows what happened here.”
Gris looked at him, “I’m not leaving her. Adda and Opaline can help you sort things, they know more than me.”
Keyne placed his hand on Gris’ shoulder, “Brother, I will go with her. She is safe, and you do what needs to be done here.” Gris looked at him and then at Rose and nodded his head. And he watched as Rose was wheeled through the opening that had been made in the wall, Keyne’s hand never leaving her side.
Chapter Twenty-Five
Whimpering, she found herself suddenly suffocating under the weight of the blankets. She pushed herself through to fresh air to see Gris and Keyne far above her. “Little Mouse, you’re safe.” She knew she was and closed her eyes, her body returning to its normal size and shape. Gris ran a hand over her hair sending healing to her, wishing he could heal her mind. The cuts had healed, leaving silvery lines over her body, the bruises had disappeared, the sore muscles had followed. Keyne kissed her cheek, offering his love, praying it was enough.
A hand gently touched Gris, and he looked up. His mirror image stood behind him. “How is she? Her body is healed, but her mind is not. She wakes and remembers then forces herself to sleep to forget, yet her nightmares wake her.”
“I’m sorry, brother. It will take time. The mess has been cleaned up, all the people have been placed in different houses around the country. Integrating them, thankfully, is not my job.” Niall paused. “We destroyed the compound. Beforehand, we removed all the Angiron and put it in the Vault. We also found the collars that were used and destroyed them.”
Gris couldn’t make himself care about the people or the compound. All that mattered lay before him, fractured and broken. He didn’t know how to heal her, or if he could. All he wanted to do was give her the justice she deserved with the broken body of that demon laid at her feet.
His anger infused their bond, and she opened her eyes. “Gris” she whispered, he bent down to hear her better. Her hand reached up to touch his face. Tears filled his eyes. He gently touched her face and leaned down and kissed her cheek, tears dripping into her hair. “I’m sorry. I should have been stronger, been there to stop him. I thought I had lost you.”
Rose touched her fingers to his lips, silencing him. “Love you” she said, and her eyes drifted shut.
“I love you, too,” he whispered.
* * *
It had been a week since Rose, Keyne, and Gris had left the safe house. Rose sat in the passenger seat nervously. They were finally leaving Mobley behind. She jumped at shadows still, unsure of how she should act. Her mind fractured, and at times, she acted like Zera, unable to speak, subservient to others, then the confident Rose would step forward, righteous anger filling her. “Gris, where are we going?”
“We thought we could go see Thea and stay with her for a while.” Thea, just the thought was like a warm blanket over her mind, calming her. “Why don’t you sleep while I drive?” Her eyes drifted shut and she slept peacefully, lulled by the movement of the car. Gris and Keyne spent the drive deep in thought, glancing at their mate.
* * *
She woke as the car slowed and pulled into the black warehouse. She never used to sleep this much. The medics had said it was her body’s way of healing. Gris parked the car and got out, then walked around the car, opening the door for her. She stepped out, and the door into the house opened. Thea stood there, arms open to give her a hug. She ran to Thea, falling to her knees and sobbing as the Brownie held her. After a while, her tears spent, she stood, and Thea led her into the house.
The next few weeks passed with Thea caring for Rose, much of the time Rose slept. Gris came and went, spending his time trying to find where Esson had gone, but there was no sign of him. Keyne stayed in the house just being there for Rose and filling Thea in on what had happened to them over the year. The Guardians were all in a uproar, now that the Reditus Coelus was confirmed, they searched for references in other cities and countries.
Thea brought Rose a cup of mint tea. Her stomach had been bothering her of late and she still slept a lot. Thea sat down next to her. “When you first came here I told you it was not my place to tell you what you were. I can guide you, but the discovery must be your own. Your journey is not over and your story not finished. Through fire you grew wings and burned those who threatened you. But now you need to think, examine your heart and your body.” She sat back and watched Rose expectantly.
Rose looked at her then sat and thought. So much had gone on over the past year. Her body had been abused, her mind fractured. But, Thea was right, she needed to evaluate herself. She shouldn’t sleep as much as she was. The medics that she had seen were confused why she still slept and now her stomach turned so easily. Her eyes sprang to Thea and widened. Thea nodded as tears sprang to Rose’s eyes, horror filling them.
Gris and Keyne ran into the room, feeling the fear in the bond. “What did you do to her, Thea?”
Thea stood and walked out of the room, “I just helped her on her journey” she turned and looked at Rose. “I’m sorry, and I will be here for you.”
Rose placed her hand on her stomach, tears filling her eyes. Gris looked at her as understanding and compassion caused him to hold her, offering her comfort. “What happens now?” she asked. Keyne sat next to them, his hand holding hers.
; “It has never happened before. I do not know what to expect, but we will stand with you.” Gris held her, placing his hand over hers, protecting both her and the life within. The room swirled with the scent of pine, peppermint, maple syrup, honey, and fire.
About the Author
K.B. Wheelock is a stay at home mom of 6 children, 2 dogs and married to a IT techie. When her chaotic life allows, she enjoys reading (on average a book a day) and sewing quilts and clothes.
She has no particular genre she enjoys reading (though non-fiction and horror are rarely ever touched) and has been inspired by many authors. She also enjoys playing with different writing styles.
She was tired of the stories, playing in her mind
like a memory left behind.
So while she lamented to friends, ideas percolated.
And without hesitation, they suggested:
“If you like Amaretto in the moonlight
and basking in the sunlight.
If you want adventure and a feather bed,
If you like exploring worlds, in the pages you’ve read
It’s the story you’ve dreamed of, so write and escape”
She didn’t think for long, she needed a new landscape.
The stories took shape, creating a new land.
She sent the story on its way, to the reader’s hand.
And though not of Tolkien quality, she didn’t think it was mundane.
She hopes you enjoyed her foray into the literary domain.
Sanctify
Allowing himself to fade into the wall, he watched her twist and turn as she looked in the mirror. Her pale face contrasted starkly with her auburn curls. Green eyes clouded in pain as she touched her slightly rounded stomach. How he wished he could comfort her, change the past 16 months. But there was nothing he could do, and their secret was beyond hiding now.
* * *
She touched her stomach where a slight round bump was forming. It’s there. I can feel it moving. See the protrusion that is becoming larger each day. I see the looks I get when I meet other Guardians. I know it is not long until they ask, until we have to tell. Her eyes filled with tears. The last 16 months had taken her life, turned it upside down, trampled it, buried it, and now she was rebuilding.
A noise caused her to look up and smile. In the mirror, she could see Gris entering the room. A look of love shown in his eyes as he looked at her. He came up behind her, trapping her in his embrace and kissing her neck. His hands covered her abdomen.
“Hello, Muisje.” He rubbed his hand over her stomach and caught her gaze in the mirror. “What has you saw upset?”
Tears filled her eyes, “It’s moving. I can feel it.”
Gris turned her into his arms and pulled her into a hug as Keyne floated over and sandwiched her between the two men, Gris’ wing unfolding to surround them. Their love and protection flowing through the bond that they shared. “Oh, Muisje, it will be okay. We will protect you, with our lives if we must.”
“Well, maybe your life,” Keyne said with a grin. “My life is already forfeit.”
16 months ago, Rose had worked in the TOMBS a magical repository of books and items that were deemed unsafe to be around the general public. She had had the pleasure of being able to research for the various patrons of the library, finding information that few others had access to. It also allowed her to research her favorite topic, Angels and the cities they had inhabited and visited.
But this had also led her to a fight for her life and taken her job. When an innocuous request had been made via email for some information, Rose had been attacked, forcing the Guardians to expose themselves in order to protect her and get to the bottom of that email. It had taken them on a journey that had left its scars. For Gris, it was the mental and physical torture he had had to endure, watching his friend sacrifice his life to save his own. Keyne, lost his life to return as a Ghost. But by far, Rose had endured the most. She had been forced into the role of a slave and then wife to the head of an organization called the Reditus Coelus, a secret organization that was said to originate from the Angels’ who had built their underground city. Women in this society were no more than slaves to feed the desires of the men. They soon learned that the only way to advance their position, and sometimes even just to survive, was to encourage every bit of hedonism they could from the men and the privileged women who were "married" to them. The experience had left physical and mental scars on Rose, and it had left her pregnant with the child of a demon.
Gris scowled at Keyne, “Go away, ghost boy, if you’re not going to help.”
“Feeling a little defensive? Rose knows that I would do anything for her.” He pushed his body to become more corporeal and warm, running his hands over her arms, and nuzzling her neck. Rose let herself relax into his chest, relishing in the feel of him and those short times that he could be there in a more physical sense. Not to be outdone, Gris took her mouth in a sensual kiss and slowly guided the trio towards the bed.
It had taken a while for them to figure the bond between them out, to seal it, and to be able to accept each other. For many humans, they talked about being soulmates and just knowing. Most of the time that was something that they just said, having read about it in a story and it would explain that instant attraction.
But in the magical community, it had a much stronger meaning. When a magical being met their soulmate, they would feel a desire to be near that person, to have protective thoughts that they couldn’t quite understand. When they physically touched it would send a physical shock, alight their senses in such a way that they couldn’t deny the bond. With every physical act that lead up to the mating bond sealing, they would begin to sense each other’s emotions, be able to sense the other’s location.
Keyne had been the first. He had been assigned to guard Rose when she had come up in the convoluted system that the Guardians used to identify those who would be a catalyst for change. Her green eyes, curly auburn hair, and elf-like features had captivated him and when he had caressed her back while she had been in her mouse form, the bond had started to form.
Gris had come second when he had joined Keyne to protect Rose from the organization that had later captured and killed Keyne. Gris had fought the bond, not accepting that he would be mated with someone who was not a Guardian, little did he know the twists life would bring him.
After they had finally escaped from the Reditus Coelus, the three had spent the past four months sequestered in the safe house with a housekeeper Brownie named Thea. During that time only, Gris had left to go the meetings and search out the High Lord Esson from Reditus Coelus. But now, it was time for the three to go out together.
Rose looked up at Gris, “They’ll know as soon as they see me.”
“No, they won’t. It doesn’t show that much and even if they say something we can say that it is mine. They all know about our bond. The bigger surprise will be Keyne. Niall kept it quite that Keyne is . . . alive?”
Keyne chuckled darkly. “Alive, is it? I can’t even stay semi corporeal unless I am touching Rose.” To prove his point, he ran his hand down Roses bare back. She arched into him, and he laughed.
A dark look came into Gris’ eyes, “The fact that you are twice bonded will be the bigger surprise. That is another never happen before.”
“That is true. Guardians are traditionally monogamous and bond for life. I do not remember anywhere in history that we have had a record of more than one bond.” Keyne said. “It just proves that they were right in sending me to protect you. You are a catalyst for change.”
“Yeah but what kind of change? Did you forget that this…thing in me is part demon? How am I supposed to reconcile with that?” Tears fell down her cheeks. Shh my Little Mouse. It will be ok, you will love it and remember that it is not biology that matters but the love that is given that does. Keyne said through their bond. But would she be able to accept this child? It was conceived in violence, alien in DNA, and yet, something in it tugged at her, drawing her i
n.
“We really do need to get to the meeting,” Gris said. As much as I enjoy our times together, Niall cannot stall any longer. The directors have to have our full report and ask their questions.” He rose from the bed and went to the bathroom.
Keyne eyed Rose. “You’d better get up, Rose. I think I will just sit here since all I have to do is think about changing, and oh yeah, I am stuck in this horrid outfit they had me in.” He looked down in disgust at his bare chest and the loin cloth that covered him. The Reditus Coelus sure knew how to make a man either feel really good or really bad, and how to prevent escape. Running through their halls in this get up had been a good way to get beaten or worse.
Rose looked at him, and giggled. “Have you heard me asking you to put more on? I haven’t exactly minded the view.”
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