Curse of Innock: Dragon Legacy Book I

by R. G. Porter

  "I can't. It's not possible.” Gabriel wasn't sure if he was trying to convince Alayia or himself.

  "Gabriel what if she speaks the truth? How can you above anyone else deny the possibility?” Talon's rationalization didn't help his fears. He'd been trying for months to put Danielle's memory to rest. Now she was back. “Hear her out before you jump to conclusions man. You owe her that much.” His words whipped across his soul.

  "Gabriel whether you choose to believe this or not, the fact of what is remains the same. Now go if you wish but I have to finish this.” Gabriel's head turned in her direction his eyes watching as she moved across to the very tree that Danielle had been tied to. His stomach knotted with each breath he took. Seconds passed slower than he could have imaged, his attention never leaving Alayia as she reached the tree.

  Her head turned back in his direction, a solemn look on her face. “I'm sorry Gabriel.” The moment her fingers touched the bark, a loud roar echoed through the woods. Winds from the east began to howl and blow with such a force that Gabriel found it difficult to remain standing. His hand to his face, he caught sight of Alayia still at the tree, the wind whipping around her like a living being.

  Fear pooled in his stomach like acid. “Alayia get back! Please.” He couldn't stand the thought of losing her, not like he'd lost Danielle. Try as he might he couldn't find the strength to push toward the tree, his feet like lead weights secured to the ground. “Let go of the tree.” He pleaded with her though he knew the wind was only carrying his words away from them.

  The roar of the wind increased in volume as the sky above began to take on an ominous feel. Thick clouds moved in from the east as lightning arched above. Gabriel's hair raised on the back of his neck a clear indication that power was brewing in the area. He tilted his head to the side trying to get a better view of Alayia and what was going on. His eyes caught sight of her face, the vibrant green glow of her eyes as she stared back at him. Gabriel couldn't believe what he saw as he watched her body lift into the air the wind wrapped tightly around her. What was happening? What kind of magick was going on? Lions and wolves emerged from the forest to circle around Alayia their heads lifted as they roared out into the night sky.

  "What is going on Gabriel? I can hear the creatures. Is she ok?” Talon was concerned. Too bad he wasn't the only one. No matter how hard he tried he couldn't gain an inch toward her. The sheer force of the power that continued to funnel into the area keeping him at bay was beyond comprehension.

  "I don't know what is happening. There is strong magick at work here.” His throat felt dry in the wake of what he was witnessing. One foot in front of the other he felt he would never reach her side. Not sure whether it was rain that had begun to fall or something else but he felt his skin become wet. A need to get to her side coursed through his blood like a compulsion he couldn't deny.

  "All will be righted in the end Gabriel. You must trust in me.” Her words sounded strange, as if a combination of voices echoed together, drawing his attention back to her face. Shimmers of red and gold flickered before him, her eyes drawing to a deep emerald green. “I swore to you I would never forget. I told you it might just take a bit of time to remember.” The moment her words registered Gabriel fell to his knees, the magnitude of what she was saying nearly impossible to believe.

  "It's not possible.” His hands covered his face, tears he'd not realized he'd shed fresh on the palms of his hands. “How can this be?” Only Danielle would have known that and he'd never spoken of it since her death. So into his thoughts Gabriel noticed the ground beneath him give way as he was hoisted up into the air.

  "Come to me Gabriel. I need you to understand."

  "You aren't real. How is this possible?” So many questions pounded his mind yet no answers were to be found. “How did you know what Danielle had said?” Closer and closer he found his body move toward hers.

  Alayia's hand reached out to touch his face, the instant contact sending heat waves rippling across his skin. “I never left you Gabriel."

  A rush of sadness lodged in his throat as he remembered the vision of Danielle plummeting to the ground. “You died Danni. I saw it.” As much as he'd loved her he couldn't believe she was back. It wasn't possible.

  "Remember what I asked you that day, the question that had been in my mind for so long?"

  "Of course I do.” He'd remembered everything from that day. It was a scar that never left his dreams.

  "I found the answer.” His head jolted up, his black eyes meeting her green ones. “Reincarnation does happen. That moment when I was tied to the tree the knowledge seeped into me."

  "How is that possible? Why didn't you tell me?” Denial moved through his body. He'd been through hell for so long thinking he'd never see her again.

  "What could I say? At the time I didn't know when it would happen.” Her words held truth he couldn't deny. “Aside from that I didn't want to impart that knowledge to Elroy.” The mention of the High Lord's name drew anger to boil in his blood. A fleeting thought pushed into his mind.

  "Does he know?” The idea terrified him if it was true. At the same time it answered many questions as to why he was pursuing Alayia.

  A sigh escaped Alayia's lips as she drew closer to Gabriel, her hands a light caress on his face. “I fear I don't know. It may be that he is just after Alayia because he felt drawn.” Somehow that answer didn't feel right. “Or it may be that there is an eternal bond that has to be dealt with in order to release his hold on our spirit. Either way, he is a force that has to be dealt with.” The idea of dealing with Elroy drew Gabriel's interest. For too long the man had been allowed to roam free, the evil inside him never being held accountable for his actions.

  His head shot up to Alayia a slow smile crossing his face. “The time of reckoning is upon him my love. He will pay for the evil he has done.” Gabriel reached out to Alayia and pulled her into his embrace, the warmth of their bodies mingled in the ferocity of the storm above. “I will never lose you again my love. How this has happened or why I don't know, but I thank the gods for bringing you back to me."

  Never in his life could he have prayed for more than the ability to have a second chance with his one true love. So many things made sense now. Why he'd felt drawn to Alayia at the inn, the feel of her in his arms almost as natural as breathing. Never had he felt so protective of someone before except for Danielle. Now he knew why. She'd come back to him and they were given a second chance. He refused to let it slip by this time. Dragon, Innok or Elroy be damned he would never let her go this time.

  "Gabriel there is more."

  "What is it love?"

  "I think I can break the curse, but it won't be easy.” She was holding something back. He could tell as she'd begun to twist one of her strands of hair again.

  "Whatever it is, we can figure it out. But there is more to it than it being a simple curse. I'm not entirely sure it is a curse at all."

  "What? What is it then?"

  Another look around and Gabriel realized they were still high above the ground. “We can go over it later. Now, um, do you mind putting us back on the ground? Not that I don't mind holding you close... I would just rather do it with both feet on the ground.” A chuckle broke from his throat, a release of the tension that had been building in the air.

  A snicker escaped Alayia's lips as she closed her eyes. “Storm's winds high and mighty release your hold on those in flight. Let the ones that remain high above the ground be returned back down to mother earth.” Her voice increased with each breath that came. “Calm the winds restore the night, release your hold as is right.” Her words drifted up on the wind, the ease of the roar of the storm letting up as they descended back to the forest below. Awed at the sheer power of her words, Gabriel wanted nothing more than to hold her for the rest of the night. He needed to make sure she was real.

  "Alayia.” His arms held tight as their feet found the ground. “Is it really you? I mean are you really her?” He didn't know what to ask
. It was all so hard to grasp.

  "Yes Gabriel. There have been so many things I've seen and felt for so long that I just didn't understand. Voices I'd never heard before urging me to prepare.” He felt her move closer into his arms her head leaning against his chest.

  "I guess I never truly believed it was possible.” His heart began to beat out an erratic rhythm. “I thought I'd lost you forever."

  "I told you that I'd find you. Nothing can keep us apart. Time is just a nuisance once in awhile."

  "I won't ever let you go now. Not in a million years.” His arms tightened around her, his soul finally found the peace it had searched for. Even the dragon didn't stir. Could it have known?

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  CHAPTER: 9

  * * * *

  Realization of the magnitude of what she'd uncovered slowly crept into Alayia's mind. The voices and visions hadn't been from someone else. They'd been her from another life. No wonder they'd had a familiar feeling to them. All she could remember from the moment she'd touched the tree was the vivid memory of all that had happened to Danielle. Every blow she'd gone back through. Fear like nothing else had coursed through her blood till that moment she'd understood. For so long she'd fought the voice, believing that it was an annoyance she could disregard. She'd been wrong, so very wrong.

  "Alayia?” Gabriel's breath brushed across her skin. The warmth of his embrace ignited a firestorm of feelings she'd dammed up for far too long.

  Her arms wrapped tightly around his neck, Alayia lifted her head to his. “Gabriel I'm home. Finally I'm home.” His eyes held more emotion than he would let on, she knew that about him. Passion, fear, and awe all mixed together. “I don't ever want to lose you again. It's a pain having to refigure things out.” A hint of laughter escaped her lips as a growl emerged from his.

  "You are mine forever. I've always told you that.” His arms tightened around her waist as his head leaned down toward hers. Each breath she took felt like a lifetime in anticipation of his kiss. “I've never stopped loving you.” At that moment, his lips touched hers igniting a hunger like none she'd felt before. Heat moved throughout her body such that she swore they would burst into flames. Never had she felt such an intensity of sensations. She'd never wanted to feel the touch of another man. Gabriel was made just for her.

  "Gabriel.” Her breath felt ragged, her body sluggish. “We need to stop. We aren't exactly alone.” Her head turned toward their quiet friend, a smug smile plastered on his face.

  "Don't mind me you two. I'll just enjoy the sounds of the forest."

  "I'm sorry Talon. That was very rude of us.” Alayia pushed against Gabriel's chest the warmth from his body a beacon that continued to call to her.

  "Please. If I was him, I wouldn't care who was around.” A burst of laughter erupted from both the men. Alayia moved out of Gabriel's hold a smile of her own crossing her face.

  "Ok you two. Let's get out of here. I've seen all I need to.” A chill chased the warmth from her body. “This place is tainted by evil. No good can ever come from here.” Even though Alayia knew she would never have discovered the truth of her past without coming here it didn't mean she had to stay.

  Gabriel's hand reached out to hers, intertwining their fingers together. “You know from the moment I saw you back at the inn; I knew there was something familiar about you.” Alayia's mind drifted back to the first night she'd seen him, his eyes full of sadness she wanted to remove. “Something inside you called out to me that night, gave me no choice but to come near you."

  "I know what you mean. The familiarities that I found when I touched you and we danced where undeniable.” His fingers cupped her chin lifting her to face him.

  "I regret the time we've missed but I don't regret finding you again.” Gabriel's head leaned down, his lips a gentle whisper across her forehead.

  "We better go you two. This area makes me very uneasy.” Alayia couldn't miss the concern in Talon's voice. His senses were better than both of them and if he wanted to go it was probably a good idea.

  Alayia turned to face Gabriel, her fingers still laced with his. “Why not go back to the inn? We can rest and enjoy the evening for once. I'm tired of running through the forest."

  His smile brightened the darkness of the area. “I think that sounds like a brilliant idea. I don't think I've had a night of relaxation in a very long time.” There was a sensual undertone to his words that Alayia hadn't missed.

  "Let's go then.” Talon's voice rang out into the night as he ventured back into the forest, headed in the direction of the town. Alayia could hear his staff as it knocked back the overgrown foliage as he moved through the forest. The man was persistent when he wanted to be. She couldn't have asked for a better friend for her quest.

  "Are you ready, my dear?” Gabriel's voice pulled Alayia back to the present. My dear. Never had two words caused such a stir in her heart.

  A soft breath escaped her lips as she squeezed his hand, her mind full of endless dreams. “I do believe I am."

  They moved quickly in the direction Talon had left. As they continued through the forest and back to the village, everything around her took on a new view. The trees that surrounded them began to sway with the wind; the leaves a soft rustle against the silence of the night. The animals that had circled her earlier continued to follow behind, their movements quiet as their feet crossed the forest floor. Soon as they left the outskirts of the dead lands of the demon breach, the air that surrounded them eased up, the thickness dissipating till nothing remained.

  "Ok, that's much better.” She couldn't help but agree with Gabriel. Even though she knew they weren't in danger back at the ritual spot she preferred to be back in the town and away from the area that had cursed Gabriel.

  "Do you think you two can move it a bit? If we hurry, we can get something to munch on back at the inn before they close the kitchen down.” Talon's voice echoed back toward them, his stride never slowing.

  Alayia studied Gabriel's face, lines she'd not seen before etched across his brow. “Soon we will be past all this and be able to get on with our lives.” She wanted to promise him so much more but till she could retrieve the missing page she didn't want to give more than she was sure of.

  "I have all the faith in the world in you Alayia. Never think any less than that.” The sincerity in his words touched her heart. How could she not have remembered him? Every part of her soul had known. Why did it take seeing the past to recall it? God, how she hated how life could be so elusive. At least she knew the answer to one of her questions. Reincarnation was definitely possible.

  "Gabriel.” One fear crossed her mind.

  "What is it?” His arms closed around her, encasing her in his warmth.

  "If Elroy figures this out, we are in for a lot of trouble.” Just the mention of the man's name sent chills across her soul. “I think he has an idea but doesn't fully understand. There is some kind of tie that has bound us all together."

  "I will destroy him if he ever tries to take you again.” Alayia couldn't miss the anger in his words, nor could she blame him.

  "No. To destroy him now would cause more problems than it would solve.” Confusion crossed Gabriel's face and it broke her heart. “I don't completely understand why but we have to break the curse the right way. If we don't something very bad will happen."

  "As I said, I'm not entirely sure this is a true curse. But beyond that what will happen?"

  "That I cannot say for sure but I can sense the need to leave him be for now. It's something that I can feel and when it's this strong I can't push it aside. Trust me to figure this out.” Alayia knew she was asking him for a leap of faith but she had no choice. Over the years she'd learned to trust the vibes as they came. This one was so powerful she would be foolish to dismiss it. “Gabriel, why do you think this isn't a curse."

  "I've been having a lot of visitors lately, and they aren't of this world. Needless to say they have shown me things that have been forgotten. One of w
hich is that what is happening to me may not truly be the cause of a curse, at least not as we think of it."

  "How is that possible? You're hiding something.” She could sense there was much more he wasn't saying. Still, what she'd read wasn't completely clear. It talked of removing the curse but that could mean so much.

  "I will tell you what I can soon. I need to figure out a few more things. Trust me please?” The honesty in his words she couldn't miss.

  "I will always trust in you, it's everyone else I worry about."

  Talon's hand smacked the back of Gabriel's shoulder breaking the tension. “I resent that remark thank you very much.” His voice held a hint of sarcasm which neither of them could miss.

  "Well you couldn't hurt a fly so you aren't included in that statement.” They were teasing each other. Alayia loved that they could get along so well. There were so many things that Talon did that reminded her of Robert that it made his loss bearable.

  As they emerged from the forest the inn came into view. “You two are incorrigible. Now behave and let's get inside and see if we can grab something to eat.” A round of laughter moved through the night. She couldn't help but enjoy the night and how wonderful it was to be alive and in the company of such good friends. Alayia couldn't have asked for more. Well except to have the page she needed without having to go home for it.

  They continued toward the village and the light of the inn beckoning them to its warmth. Fleeting images of the town moved through Alayia's mind, the memories of the family she'd once had coming back. How had her family handled the news of her death? What had they been told? Had she even been buried? Questions she wasn't even sure she wanted the answer to racked her brain.

  "Don't think about it Alayia.” Gabriel's deep voice drew her from her thoughts.

  "Think about what?” Try as she might she couldn't help but turn her thoughts back to the ‘what ifs'.

  "Asking yourself what happened to the past.” He still knew her and how she thought. She'd forgotten how well tuned they were with each other. “Even though there is much to be learned from what has happened in the past there is no benefit from wondering about things that cannot be changed.” His words held truth but it didn't make it any easier. Still, she couldn't help but wonder how her family had faired and what they'd been told.