by Holly Kelly
“Lavinia,” he gasped, his eyes wide as he dropped his blade. “No, it can’t be.”
Dark clouds billowed above and darkened the sun as she grew and expanded. She had to be at least fifteen feet tall! Her face transformed from beautiful to grotesque. Just the sight of her could give a grown man nightmares!
“You not only severed my head from my body,” she continued, “you allowed my flesh to be devoured. While I was still alive!”
Nick covered his ears. Her voice bellowed so loud he thought his eardrums might burst.
“Now, you will get what you deserve. Death. But as the saying goes, ‘Death is only the beginning.’ For you, my dear Lafayette, I will make your eternal existence an unending nightmare from which there is no escape.”
Lafayette turned and ran. He’d only made it two steps before he was swept off the ground by an unseen force. He screamed and flailed as he floated above the well. Fae pulled herself up and reached for him.
“Please,” he wailed, “let me go!”
“As you wish,” Lavinia said as she dropped him into Fae’s arms. “See you on the other side.”
Lafayette and Fae sank down. He surfaced again quickly, coughing and sputtering, clawing at the side of the well. He splashed down again.
Nick grabbed the knife still embedded in his stomach and yanked it out. He felt immediate relief. Ignoring the lingering pain, he rushed to the well and reached down to pull Lafayette from the water. He didn’t want this man anywhere close to Fae. When Lafayette looked up, Nick was shocked to see his face. It aged right in front of his eyes—the twenty-two-year-old man who had faced him just moments before now looked deep into his forties, and growing older. Fifty. Sixty. Seventy. And then it stopped.
Lafayette gasped. “She stopped. Oh, please, Fontaine, no more.”
Nick hauled him from the water as Lavinia screamed at their backs. He shoved Lafayette face down on the ground and slapped handcuffs on him.
“Finish him!” Lavinia snarled.
Fae’s hand slapped over the side of the well as she pulled herself up from the water. Nick rushed to her and dragged her from the water. She coughed as she expelled the fluid from her lungs.
“Why won’t you destroy this man? He would destroy you and everyone you love,” Lavinia said, confusion on her face.
“Because,” Fae said, her rasping voice barely above a whisper. “I’m not like him. I’ve taken back the youth he stole from me, and now he’ll face the justice system for the lives he took.”
Nick’s heart swelled with pride.
“Well, I’m not like you either,” Lavinia said. Nick saw a flash of movement from Lafayette. His head turned sharply, and Nick heard a snap. Lafayette slumped to the ground and lay still. Lavinia had broken his neck.
“I’ll give the Order today to clean up this mess,” Lavinia said. “But, after that, I will not tolerate anyone else on my land. Any human or supernatural creature that ventures here will face my wrath. I’ve lived a long life; I’m ready to rest. Do not let anyone disturb me. Is that clear?”
Nick nodded. “Yes.”
“Oh, and keep Conall away.”
Nick wondered what kind of history Conall had with Lavinia. Everyone was so tight-lipped about it. He dismissed the thought. He had much better things to focus on. He held Fae safely in his arms. Lafayette couldn’t hurt her ever again.
“I can’t believe it’s over.” Fae pressed her cheek against his chest. Nick kissed the top of her head. Fae looked up. Her face still glowed as she smiled. He blinked at her radiance as she pulled him down for a kiss.
Nick closed his eyes and savored the taste, the touch, and the feel of Fae. He could feel power surging through him and wiping away all the worry and the pain of his injuries. In moments, he felt completely whole again. But the most incredible thing—Fae was here, she was his, and he would never again let her go.
When they finally pulled away from each other, he couldn’t contain his smile.
“You don’t know how happy I am that this is over,” she said.
Nick laughed. “I think I may have an idea.”
Fae looked around, avoiding looking at Lafayette. “Did you come here alone?”
Nick swore. “I forgot. Thomas is here.” He grabbed her hand, and they took off running.
When they came to the clearing around the house, they saw Thomas looking a bit worse for wear and holding Morgan by the throat. The bear lay dead at his feet. His throat had been ripped out.
“Please, Nick,” Morgan said, her eyes frantic. “You have to save me.”
Nick pursed his lips as he stepped toward her.
“She has no pulse,” Thomas said. “And she reeks of decay.”
“What’s the protocol for this situation?” Nick asked.
“There’s nothing we can do for her.” Thomas shook his head.
The spinning of gravel caught their attention. They turned to see Avira’s car speeding toward them. She braked and the car slid, stopping inches from them.
She opened the door and jumped out, stopping short when she saw there was no danger. Nick wondered about the danger of sunlight for a second until he saw she was completely covered in a wide-brimmed hat, trench coat, and gloves.
“I got your message, love,” she said, looking at Thomas.
“I can’t tell you how good it is to see you alive,” Thomas said, relief evident on his face.
“Looks like I should have been more worried about you than I was,” she said. “You look like you’ve been put through a shredder.”
“Nope. Just had a run-in with an old friend.” He glanced over at the dead bear.
“Is that Hunter?” she asked with surprise on her face.
“It was Hunter,” he answered.
“And who’s that you’re holding?” She eyed Morgan.
“This was Fae’s friend.”
Avira’s expression saddened as she approached.
“Is there anything you can do?” Fae asked, her voice shaky.
“I’m not sure,” she answered. She stopped just out of reach as Morgan squirmed in Thomas’s grip. “How did you die, Morgan?”
“I don’t want to talk about it.” She frowned.
“I may be able to help you, but I need to know how you died.”
Morgan’s eyes darted from face to face, distrust in her expression. Finally, her focus rested on Avira. “He got angry when I wouldn’t stop talking. Then he…”
“Go on,” Avira said.
“Suffocated me with a pillow.”
Avira sighed with a hint of a smile. She turned to Fae. “I think we can help her.”
“We?” Fae said with disbelief.
“Physical trauma would have made it hopeless, but suffocation…that we can work with.”
“What do you want me to do?”
“You need to turn back the clock for her, so to speak, and then I can return her spirit to her body.”
“You can do that?”
“If her spirit hasn’t moved on.”
“I don’t think it has. I’ve seen her.”
“Where?”
“By the well,” Fae sighed. “She was there. She helped me. But I haven’t seen her for a while. What if she’s gone?”
“Let’s just go back there and see,” Avira said.
Fae led the way. They all followed her—including Thomas, who still had Morgan in his grip. Nick could tell Fae was worried. She squeezed his hand so tightly it cut off his circulation.
When they got to the well, Avira looked at the dead body.
“Looks like you handled Lafayette.”
Nick shook his head. “That wasn’t us, it was Lavinia. Well, her ghost, actually.”
Avira raised her eyebrows. “That’s convenient.” She pressed her hands against the well. “Limestone. No wonder you could see her.” She waved her hand in a circular motion and Morgan’s transparent form appeared alongside a woman who looked eerily like Olivia Harris. Nick frowned. Looks like they were too late to
save her sister.
“Morgan,” Avira said, “it’s good to meet you.” She turned to the second ghost. “And I haven’t met you either.
Thomas stepped forward. “You’re Jenny, aren’t you?”
The woman’s eyes widened. “You know who I am?”
Thomas nodded. “Your sister is looking for you.”
Jenny’s face saddened. “I figured she was.”
“Can we help Jenny too?” Fae asked.
“I’m not sure,” Avira said, and then turned to Jenny. “Hello, Jenny. I’m Avira. I know it’s painful to recall, but I need to ask you. Do you remember how you died?”
She nodded, her eyes haunted. “He broke my neck.”
“I’m sorry to hear that,” Avira said, looking truly saddened. “I’m afraid there’s nothing we can do for her.”
“But I healed Nick,” Fae said.
“Nick is part Fae, and the power you healed him with is faery magic. Jenny is human.”
“Why did you bring that?” Morgan’s ghost asked as she gestured toward her corpse. She avoided looking directly at it. The sight of her body obviously unnerved her.
“We may not be able to help Jenny, but I think we can help you,” Avira said.
“I’m dead,” Morgan said. “There’s nothing any of you can do.”
“But, there is,” Avira said. “Do you know why Lafayette wanted Fae?”
Morgan shook her head.
“She has the power to restore youth. She can turn back the clock. And me…I’m a succubus. I can send your spirit back into your body.”
“Are you saying I can be brought back to life?” She turned to the woman at her side. “But you can’t help Jenny?”
“I wish we could help her,” Avira said, “but we can’t. But I can help her move on.”
“To heaven?” Jenny asked. “Would I be able to see my mother again?”
Avira nodded. “Yes.”
Jenny smiled, looking truly happy, and then her face darkened again. “You’ll need to tell Olivia.”
“I’ll tell her,” Fae said.
“We’ll tell her,” Nick said, entwining his fingers with hers.
Fae looked over at him and nodded.
“Okay, Morgan, Fae,” Avira said. “It’s time.”
Fae nodded and stepped toward the well. She sat at the side and dipped her hand into the water. Thomas moved Morgan’s corpse to the water. She’d stopped struggling. Maybe she wanted to be restored.
Morgan reached her bloodied hand toward the water and dipped her fingertips in, clouding the water with red. The first thing Nick noticed was her skin flush with color, then her milky-white eyes cleared up and were bright again. In less than a minute, she looked like her old self.
“Okay, Morgan,” Avira said, looking at the glowing figure floating nearby. Avira reached out her hand, and Morgan’s image swirled into an unrecognizable mist. The mist swirled around Morgan’s now-healthy looking body and disappeared.
Morgan took a deep breath and reached her hands up to touch her own face. “It worked!” She started jumping up and down and shrieking. “It worked, it worked, it worked!” She turned and threw her arms around Fae. “Thank you, thank you! Oh, my gawd! I can’t believe I’m alive.” She looked from face to face, and then her expression fell when her eyes landed on Jenny. “I’m so sorry,” she said with tears in her eyes.
Jenny shook her head. “Don’t be. I knew it was hopeless for me. I’m just happy that monster didn’t take everything from you.”
“I’ll never forget you,” Morgan said, choking on her words.
“And I won’t forget you,” Jenny said.
“Are you ready?” Avira said, stepping up to Jenny.
Jenny nodded.
Avira reached out, and a bright light appeared just a few feet away from them.
“What do I do?” Jenny said.
“It’s simple,” Avira said. “Go toward the light.”
Jenny nodded, with a smile lighting her face. She stepped toward it and then turned back. “Wish me luck.”
Everyone nodded and said, “Good luck.”
And then she started to glow. She brightened so much that they couldn’t look directly at her. And then the light was gone.
Epilogue
Fae stood in front of the full-length mirror, amazed at her reflection. The wedding dress was perfect. Becca was right. With the capped sleeves, scalloped neck, fitted bodice, and full skirt, she looked like she had stepped out of a fairytale. She seriously felt like Cinderella after her wish was granted.
“Come on.” Morgan took her by the arm and pulled her forward.
“Morgan’s right,” Becca said. “It’s time to get that ball and chain shackled to your ankle.”
Fae frowned. “That ball and chain is your brother.”
“Yeah, so I should know what you’re getting yourself into. Did you know that when Nick is feeling down, he likes to listen to Hall and Oats?”
“Who are Hall and Oats?” Fae asked.
“Believe me, you don’t want to know!” Becca said with a sparkle in her eyes.
“Sorry, but nothing you say will change my mind.” Fae tried to hold back her smile. She didn’t succeed.
“Don’t say I didn’t warn you.” Becca smirked.
Fae didn’t know what she would have done without Becca or Morgan. She couldn’t believe they pulled off this wedding so quickly. They were miracle workers.
Thomas and Mason stepped into the room. Her would-be guardian didn’t even give her a passing glance. Mason’s eyes were on Becca and he was actually smiling! Becca smiled in return as a blush touched her cheeks. He approached her, leaned down, and whispered something in her ear. Becca’s face lit up as she nodded. Mason offered her his arm and they followed Morgan out the door. Fae wondered if Nick knew about this development in his sister’s love life.
Probably not. She’ll wait until after the honeymoon to enlighten him.
Everyone but Fae and Thomas filed out. Thomas stepped to her side, and she linked her arm in his. He grinned as he looked down at her. “You ready?”
Fae nodded and swallowed.
With Thomas on her arm and her bouquet clutched in her hand, Fae stepped into the cathedral. Light spilled in from the stained-glass window, blanketing the throng of guests—who were all looking at her. Her chest quivered in nervousness as she searched for the one person she wanted to see.
And there he was, smiling at her. Standing in his tux, Nick looked so handsome she could swear her heart stopped. Her nervousness evaporated as she focused only on him.
The music began, filling the cathedral, and Fae took her first step toward her new life.
The End
If you liked this book, you’ll love Holly’s other books. Rising ~ the first novel in the Rising series ~ is currently FREE!
You can find all her books on her website: AuthorHollyKelly.com
Coming 2017
The next installment in
The Unnatural States of America Series:
Beauty and the Horseman’s Head.
~A Sleepy Hollow Story
And here’s a sneak preview:
Chapter 1
The smell of musket powder mingled with sounds of cannon fire. Hope’s legs burned with exhaustion from the long journey. The British had arrived. She wrung her hands in her worn skirt as she stumbled to keep up. Her skirt was missing so much fabric it was nearly obscene. Her father promised her new cloth, but she doubted she would see it until the war’s end. For now, she’d have to hold it in place with her bare hands. Perhaps if she were lucky, one of the other nurses would let her have a few extra strands of thread—enough to sew up the holes.
It wasn’t that she didn’t have thread, but that thread was reserved for knitting together the wounds of the patriots. Mary thought her idea was ludicrous. But if stitching held fabric together, why not skin and flesh? The captain didn’t exactly forbid her to try, but he did have a look of disbelief on his face when she descr
ibed what she wanted to do.
It would work.
She was almost positive it would.
Shouting caused her heart to leap into her throat. The battle was close.
“Hold back,” Mary said at her side as she stopped.
The other camp followers did as they were told and scrambled behind wide trunks to block any stray musket balls. Hope hesitated a moment. Were they close enough to lend help?
A sharp crack accompanied a branch exploding above her. Splinters rained down on her head. Hope dove behind the nearest tree—her heart pounding as she sat with her back against the trunk.
“Hesitating will get you killed, Hope,” Mary hissed from a neighboring tree, her eyes narrowed. “And if you die, who will stitch up your patchwork soldiers?”
Hope frowned at the taunt. “You certainly won’t. You’ll be too busy watching them bleed and die.” Mary would eat crow before this was over. Hope would make certain she did.
Mary answered with a harrumph.
They sat in silence—listening to the sounds of battle. Hope tried not to think about father, there in the thick of battle. Each shout, each boom, each blood curdling cry, could be him.
Blinking back tears, she steeled herself. He raised her better than that. She was not brought up by a soft, maternal hand. Her mother died at birth. Her father taught her to be strong, to not give into her weaker female emotions. She was as tough as any man, and real men don’t cry.
Hope jumped at the next shout. That one was close. Is the battle moving toward us?
Hope looked over at Mary. Her jaw was tight, her fingers dug into the earth, as she sat motionless.
Shouldn’t they be running?
Another shout—even closer. It was coming toward them!
Mary didn’t move. She didn’t even have the sense to prepare to move. Her behavior made no sense. One minute she’s keeping them back, far away from battle. But now that the fighting was encroaching dangerously close, she sat, still as a stone statue.
Hope turned onto her knees.