by Rye Hart
"But she is the final piece!" the witch mocked. "The death of someone who loved ye is what had protected ye, but the death of someone ye love will undo the enchantment," she revealed.
Bhradain froze. "It ken nae be," he breathed.
In a moment, the witch had an arm banded around Eva's throat and the cool steel of the dagger resting against it. Eva struggled against the bind, but when she felt the sharp prick of the edge of the blade she stopped.
"Never," Bhradain spoke menacingly a moment before all hell broke loose. In a second the two druids were on the ground, the blade was whipped away from Eva's neck, and Bhradain had the witch pushed against the mantle, his hand slowly closing around her throat.
"Ye are making a mistake," the witch threatened Bhradain between strained gasps for air.
"I think the tables have turned," Bhradain mocked back.
The witch began to laugh. "Oh dearie," she mocked before she raised her hand to point behind him. "Just look."
Eva felt the chilling hands of a druid grasp her arm, but before she could register what had happened, the world around her shifted and began to fade away. She watched in horror as Bhradain faded from view and the world slowly went dark.
Eva knew that she wasn't dead, as she could hear herself breathing.
At least she didn't think she was dead.
"Bhradain," she called out into the darkness, but there was no response. She knew she had failed Bhradain, that it was too late. The witch had won and there was nothing either one of them could do.
Eva shut her eyes tightly, trying to banish the pain from her heart. When she finally did open them, she was surprised by what she saw.
She was back in her room. The door was propped ajar, her hand still gripping the handle. Grief overwhelmed her and she sunk to her knees, defeated.
Eva shook her head. "I failed you Bhradain," she said, "and I'm so sorry."
Chapter Ten
In the few weeks following Eva's return, she tried her best to conceal her grief. The last think she needed was her aunt and uncle becoming concerned over her sudden change — especially since they had no idea what Eva had gone through. While time had barely passed for them, Eva had met and lost her soul mate.
At first she felt like a zombie, just barely living. She didn't want to return to his world, didn't want to think about him, and didn’t want to acknowledge that she was the reason why he was gone.
A week had passed before Eva finally allowed her mind to start to process all that had happened. When she had returned, she must have died in that room. And if she had passed on, her death would have broken the protection curse and have left Bhradain - and his kingdom - vulnerable. That is, if she had actually died. If her time had simply been up and whatever magic had brought her there had simply returned her to this world, then perhaps there is still a chance that she could return to Bhradain and help him defeat the witch.
Eva began to spend all of her free time at the local library, reading as much material as she could gather on curses and witches. Slowly, Eva began to piece together the information she had gleaned from Bhradain's world, while taking in whatever knowledge she could find on the subject in her own.
Lady Drummond's imposter had insisted that Eva was a witch, and that was why she was able to cross into a different reality to respond to the druid summons. Eva began to do some digging into her family history and discovered that several relatives had been referred to as witches. Before her journey, Eva would have chalked up those claims as unfounded gossip. But Eva had learned that reality was not always as it seemed, and sometimes the rational answer, wasn't the right one. She took the information she gleaned on the subject and tucked it away for further consideration.
But while Eva had learned a few things about her family history, she did not find anything that might help her return to Bhradain. Slowly, Eva began to come to terms with the fact that even if Bhradain was still alive in his world, she would never be able to replicate the circumstances that had allowed her to cross the veil of worlds to be with him.
One bittersweet morning, Eva discovered that she was pregnant with Bhradain's child. While the thought of raising his child without him grieved her, she was still thankful to carry a part of him with her.
Eva knew that she could no longer rely on her aunt and uncle's generosity. Although she knew that they wouldn't consider her a burden, Eva still felt that it wouldn't be right of her to continue to rely upon them once the child was born. It was time that she moved out on her own, so she found a decent job as a receptionist and packed her bags.
"Are you sure you want to do this?" her Uncle Mark asked as he aided Eva in the move to her own apartment.
"This is something I need to do, for myself," she said. She had yet to tell any of her friends and family about her pregnancy. Eva figured she would only cause others to worry about her so until she could work up the courage to break the news she would keep things to herself.
"You are welcome to come visit anytime," Aunt Marie offered, as she placed a box of kitchen stuff on the dining room table. "Do you want us to stay and help unpack?"
"No, no," Eva waved them off. "You both have done enough and I am forever grateful," she smiled. "But I am exhausted and would like to rest," she explained.
Her aunt and uncle nodded their understanding.
"I'll go take these empty boxes to the car," Uncle Mark said as he left the small apartment.
Eva's aunt lingered a moment, "Okay honey," Aunt Marie added, "if you need anything don't hesitate to ask."
"I won't," Eva smiled.
"Come here," Marie held her arms and enveloped Eva in a tight hug. As Marie walked away, she suddenly stopped just short of the door. She turned back around and sent Eva a serious look. "And Eva, just remember, we are always here for you," she paused for the briefest moment, as if debating her next words, "and the baby." And with those final words, she left Eva alone in her new place.
Eva was determined to face her current world and all the challenges ahead of her with courage. She knew that it wouldn't be easy, but the fear of the challenge no longer intimidated her. The old Eva would have never been strong enough to be where she was right now. And although she sorely missed Bhradain, their short journey had tested Eva's strengths and taught her to put trust in her own abilities.
Chapter Eleven
Eva had been at work when the contractions had started. She had been helping one of the other admins photo copy a set of papers when all of a sudden she felt a gush of water pool at her feet.
"Sweetie," the elderly admin looked at the floor and then back at Eva, "I think your water just broke.
"Yes, I should probably get to the hospital." Eva said sarcastically as a contraction rippled through her and caused her to double over in pain. "Call an ambulance," she said through panted breaths.
"Tsk tsk," the woman teased as she made her way toward the office in search of a phone. As she walked, she started absently telling Eva about the birth of her fifth child, and how he had come so quickly that she ended up giving birth to him in a restaurant. "I gave birth during the second and third course, cleaned him up, and then returned to the table to finish by dessert," she said as she started to dial the emergency line.
"I'm sure you did," Eva said through gritted teeth. She wasn't in the mood to argue with old Mrs. Matthews about the factuality of her story, as she had a well-known tendency to exaggerate.
"Annddd," Mrs. Matthews continued, "only after I finished my dessert did I go to the hospital."
"Great story Mrs. Matthews, but is the ambulance on its way?" Eva asked desperately. Her contractions had subsided for the moment, but she knew that at any second they would return.
"I'm on the phone with them right now sweetie," she called to Eva from across the room.
At this rate, Eva feared she would never make it. Come on Eva, you are stronger than this, she encouraged herself. She gritted her teeth and set her jaw with determination. She was going to be just fine.
****
Eva looked down at the sleeping babe in her arms, her and Bhradain's little baby boy. He had a full head of thick black hair and intense brown eyes, just like his father.
"Drummond," she echoed softly, "I'll name you Drummond, after your father." She pressed a soft kiss on the baby's forehead and gently began to rock him while she hummed a lullaby.
Eva stopped humming the moment she sensed another presence in the room — a presence that caused her body to respond in an instinctual way. She didn't need to look up to know who was standing in the doorway.
"Bhradain," she gasped as she brought her eyes up to meet his with fierce intensity.
Heavy emotions played out on Bhradain's face as he looked down upon the image of Eva holding the babe.
"He's ours," she said softly.
"I ken," his voice wavered on the last word.
Eva smiled at the sound of Bhradain's heavy brogue. She had missed it greatly. "How did you … I mean, where did you?" she had so many questions, but she was too overwhelmed by the surprise to think clearly.
Bhradain walked slowly toward Eva and baby Drummond, his eyes glistening with the hint of tears. "I cannae believe he is ours," he said gruffly.
Eva nodded. Her own eyes stung with tears of joy, her mind still taking its time to fully process that Bhradain had returned to her.
Bhradain leaned closer and brushed his thumb gently against baby Drummond's cheek. "He is beautiful," Bhradain breathed. He turned his gaze back on Eva. "And ye make a radiating mother," he smiled as he spoke.
"Would you like to hold him?" Eva asked Bhradain. He looked surprised, but eager.
"Aye, I would," he said softly. He carefully lifted the sleeping baby out of Eva's arms and brought him close to his chest, cradling him gently.
Eva enjoyed the site of her intense highlander gently rocking their sleeping babe. Her heart ached with the joy of seeing him, while her mind continued to try and wrap itself around the concept that he was indeed here.
"I thought you were gone!" Eva said as she was wiping the tears from her eyes. She wasn't sure how Bhradain had returned to her, and she wanted to know what had happened to him these past few months.
Bhradain looked up from where he had been gazing at their sleeping infant; his eyes locked with hers. "The curse is broken Eva," he said with pure happiness. "Ye broke the curse."
Eva felt even more bewildered. "But the witch said that it was too late," she added.
"Nae," Bhradain said. "Ye remember the night when little Drummond was conceived," he shot Eva a heated look. "Ye said ye were willing to pay the price to help me break the curse," he continued. "Our love and the conception of our little babe broke the witches curse and re-enforced the kingdoms protection long before we ever entered that room."
Eva's eyes widened. "But where were you all these months?" she tried to clarify.
Bhradain laughed. "Aye, the curse was broken in part that night, but it was not complete until little Drummond was born," he explained. "Until then, I could nae come for ye."
"But how did you get here?" Eva asked. Her mind kept racing with questions.
"There are some perks to being a son of a witch," he winked.
Eva threw her hands up in the air in exasperation, "Well I've officially seen it all," she exclaimed. When she looked back up at Bhradain, she couldn't help but giggle. "I can't believe you are back," she sighed. "Are you here for good?" she asked nervously. She suddenly was filled with the fear that he might leave her.
"I will stay as long as ye want me here," he said gently. "Although with ye being a witch, it seems that ye too have the ability to return. I can show ye how," he teased.
Eva nodded as tears welled up in her eyes. "I would Bhradain," she sighed.
Bhradain moved toward her and brought his lips to brush against hers. "I love ye," he breathed gently against her waiting mouth.
"I love you too," she echoed his words a moment before his mouth enveloped hers in an all-encompassing kiss.
TheEnd
Sara
Chapter One
My name is Sara Blanche and to say that I grew up a spoiled brat would be a bit of an understatement. I grew up in the upper crust of New York society. It wasn’t uncommon for my father to be invited to the mayor’s house for dinner or for him to meet dignitaries of foreign countries. We were a very wealthy and well-known family.
My father made his fortune in the investment industry before me or my sisters were born. He was a brilliant investor and had an eye for what kind goods and services were going to take off; it was one of his many skills. My father was a brilliant man and the apple didn’t fall far from the tree.
I was always interested in his business dealings. I watched him with a keen eye as I grew up, taking in the world of business, despite the fact that it was considered unladylike for women to meddle in these affairs. Business and money had no place in a woman’s mind. If I was interested in money, it should only be for shopping.
As a young girl, this mindset would upset me. I would beg father to take me to his office but he would just kiss me on the head and usher me back into the room where mother would sit and silently work on her needlepoint. 1866 was not the best time to be a woman, but I made it through. Well, not so much made it through, as I conformed to what was expected of me.
I grew into a young woman and I left my interest in father’s business behind. I even managed to convince myself that I wasn’t ever interested at all. I suppressed everything inside of me that went against the narrow definition of ‘ladylike’. Just like my mother and sisters, I took up needlepoint and exchanged my knowledge of accounting ledgers for knowledge of what the newest spring fashions were.
I put on the dresses, fancy hats, and all the trimmings of proper society, and soon the parents of young men began to notice me. I was young when they first started to look at me, but that’s how things were. Parents would more or less scout young women before they were of marrying age and start to plead their sons’ cases, trying to convince the fathers that their sons were worthy.
My sisters and I were prime candidates for marriage. We were beautiful, talented, and we came from one of the highest regarded families in New York. Everyone knew our names and our faces. I knew that as soon as my eighteenth birthday came around, I would be married off to the highest bidder. When I was young, this idea used to break my heart into pieces. The fact that I would eventually be sold off like cattle used to dig into my soul and squeeze my heart until I couldn’t breathe anymore.
I hated the way I felt when I considered the fact that one day I would be thrown to the wolves. I knew that I should have been looking forward to the day when a man would choose me to be his wife. I should have welcomed the idea of having children and caring for my husband’s home. These things should have made me happy, but when my sisters talked about them and giggled excitedly, all I could offer was a weak smile.
I had given up on the idea that one day I might be able to work with my father, but I hadn’t yet given up the idea of being an independent woman. Things were changing every day and I saw women taking control of their lives. I longed to be one of those women.
Women were moving out of their little farming towns and coming to cities like New York where they got jobs as seamstresses or started working in the mills. Mother considered this to be horrendous and she thought of the women as poor souls who’d had no other choice. In her mind, only poor women worked and only poor women wanted to work. The fact that they were looking for these jobs at all meant to her that they were unwed and destitute.
Mother considered them ‘poor souls’, but I considered them lucky; these women were free. I’m sure most of them would have considered me lucky, but if we were being honest, I would have killed for their lives. Sometimes I imagined what it would be like switching places with them. I dreamed of taking their place and exploring the city on my own without a chaperone. It all seemed so wonderful, but I knew that it would never happen; I was going to be married
off.
The reality of it all started to set in when my eldest sister was married to a banker in the city. He was twice her age and looked at her like she was a slab of meat. It made my skin crawl and it terrified me. When I looked at them, I saw my own fate and it scared me more than I could possibly express.
Soon after Margret was married, Chloe turned eighteen and a man took interest in her as well. Soon I was the only one left in the house and my eighteenth birthday was looming over my head like a storm cloud. I wasn’t ready to give up my life yet. I still had so much I wanted to do.
On the outside, I was a prissy princess wearing the fanciest clothes. My cheeks were rouged and my lips painted a light pink hue. I flirted and fluttered my eyelashes and did everything that was expected of me. On the outside I was a perfect woman, but on the inside I was screaming. In the months that led up to my birthday I began to be a bit petulant. I threw fits and started wearing older dresses, doing anything that might make a man look down on me and turn his nose up.
Soon enough, however, I wouldn’t even have to try to dissuade their interest.
Chapter Two
The Bad Deal. We called it that. Whenever we referred to the deal that brought my family to their knees we just said ‘The Bad Deal’. Everyone in the family knew exactly what we were talking about. My father’s business relied on investments and new inventions. He was always putting money into new machines and technologies that were designed to make life better. This was obviously a risky thing to do, but it had worked out for him so far.
It was a great business until it all went bad. My father put a large portion of his investment money into a quack medicine company. The company ran off with his money and left my father looking like an idiot. Because of this, many businesses didn’t want to work with him anymore. The reason people flocked to my father in the first place, was the fact that he seemed to be a genius when it came to trade. He always knew the deals to make and he knew which ones were going to fizzle and which ones were going to be successful.