“Hear me, Adramelechk.” She spoke with a shortness of breath that disturbed him. “I don’t know what’s wrong. I feel as though I’m drunk, but I’ve only had coffee. I’m truly trying to do as you ask. I just can’t see where I’m going. Help me. Please, help me!” she cried.
Adramelechk tightened his mist around her, encompassing her whole body, making a shroud of thick blue concealment that nothing could enter.
Mairi’s eyes popped open in surprise when she saw a figure waving to her in the distance, beckoning her. She moved in the direction of the figure, but Adramelechk held her still. “Where do you go, child?” he asked seriously.
“Can’t you see him, Adram?”
“See whom, child? I am just mist, and you are my eyes. I am just protection to your sight. Tell me whom you see.”
“It looks like my Uncle Callum. He’s lost, Adram. We must go and help, please take me to him.”
“I cannot, child. We must return you home to Appoloin. He will worry if you do not appear at the allotted time. We cannot have him losing himself in mistdream trying to find you because you think you have seen your uncle, can we?”
“But…” She hesitated. “It’s the first time we’ve seen him. We must help him.”
“Child,” he said patiently, “tell me what else it is you see, and then we can make the appropriate decision, what say you?” His voice was like a soft breeze, with gentle fingers of calm flowing through her hair, and she relaxed into the sound.
“I can see him waving,” she said slowly. The fog that had been winding its way through her mind was beginning to diminish. “But I can see a large space. It’s very dark.”
“I’m not sure I understand. Look closely, Mistdreamer. Say exactly what you see.”
Mairi shook her head again, now completely focussed on the mistdream. “I see a large, dark pit, and in the centre of it, an island. On the island there is a man, who looks very like my uncle, and he is waving to me. He is beckoning me to—oh no!” she said sadly. “He’s disappeared now, and so has the island. It’s all gone. All that’s left is a dark mass of nothingness.”
“You are looking at Betwixt,” Adramelechk said as dispassionately as he was able. “Come, let us return you to the safety of Appoloin. I fear he will already have sent out an army to find you.”
Mairi laughed nervously, still shaken by the images she had seen, and frustrated at her inability to save her uncle.
Callum’s frame lay in his home, guarded by Angels, while his mistdream had disappeared. No one had been able to locate him and return his mistdream form to his body, and so those on Earth, the medical profession, declared that he was in a coma.
Adramelechk suddenly let out a small cry, as though he had struck something. Mairi took in all around her, but they had remained in the dark abyss. She searched around for that which may have caused him pain and saw a disappearing light going in the direction she had seen her uncle waving.
“What happened?” she asked Adramelechk.
“I am unsure, Mistdreamer, but something flew into me just now. We must hurry and get you away from here. I fear your safety has been compromised and that you may have been found.”
Mairi tended to agree with his assessment, although she was unsure. Her uncle would never have harmed her, in any way.
“You may be right, Adram. Let’s get back to Appoloin. I’m sure he’ll make sense of this.”
“Then, Mistdreamer,” he said directly, “focus on where you are to go and where you should be, and who it is you want at your side.”
That was a no-brainer, she thought, as Appoloin’s beautiful face appeared in her mind.
Adramelechk laughed softly to himself, but kept his thoughts to himself. These thoughts he would voice when the Infidelibus met in the Cavernis to discuss the Mistdreamers’ progress.
“Let us get you back to him, then, my little Mistdreamer. Let us fly you home.”
Chapter Eleven
“Did you enjoy your venture into mistdream, Princess?”
Mairi slowly opened her eyes. She had laughed so hard with Elemiah and Ambriel she had been unaware of her body transastralising, turning into a myriad of tiny stars, taking her on the blue cloud of her protector’s mist and returning her into the awaiting frame, which lay beside a very frustrated Appoloin.
She smiled lazily, drowning in the blue of his eyes, and stroked his worried face.
“It was heavenly,” she managed to whisper.
“What did Ambriel have to say to you?”
“The usual. What kind of coffee would you like? Did you know Elemiah? This is the line to wait in for coffee… and I’m in danger.”
Appoloin huffed and threw the covers off himself and rose from the bed. He had waited patiently for her return. He had conferred with Ariel and Harviel about the possibility of crossing into the Heavens to ensure her safety, but they had convinced him that it was a very bad idea and that she might not hear what was necessary if he was there to distract her.
She had to go to mistdream herself. This was her quest and not his, the Angels had insisted.
It didn’t stop his frustration or concern for her safety. He had been left behind! How could he be a protector if there was no one to protect?
“Why have you got such a grump on, Appoloin? Stop with the damned moods! It’s totally boring, especially after having laughed so much. You know how to break a great mojo, don’t you?” she said crossly and flounced out the bed, standing on the Aubusson rug, readying herself to make her way towards the tiny bathroom, which was most definitely not of the nineteenth century!
She had merely lifted her toe to take her first step, when he stood before her, his powerful hands gripping her arms.
“You’re hurting me, Appoloin,” she said in a frightened whisper.
Appoloin relaxed his grip and apologised. Was it possible he was unaware of the strength he had? Or was she more fragile than those he was used to managing?
“I was worried,” he began.
“I’m sure you were, but you know I mistdream, and you know I am on a mission. Surely there was something you could do here whilst I was away?”
His grip tightened when she spoke, but he immediately relaxed. “I am sorry, again. I cannot believe I—a superior Angel—am left in abject misery when I don’t know where you are or if you are safe. My job, Mairi, is to keep you safe.”
“Your job, you big lout, is to be my husband and love me till the end of time.” She smiled tenderly at him. “Now, if you don’t mind, I’m going to use that wonderful out-of-century bathroom you magically installed and clean some of the Angel dust off of me. I’m covered in the blue mist this time. I don’t know how that happened, as it’s a first.” With that, she turned from him and entered the small room, leaving Appoloin to puzzle over her last comment.
“Ariel.” His thoughts spoke to his guard, who crept out from the dark corner of the room, like a whisper in the wind.
“I heard, sire. I was not eavesdropping, just doing my duty.”
“Think nothing of it. You are here as am I, to protect. What think you of her last comment?” Appoloin was still watching the door Mairi had closed behind her.
“I already have Harviel contacting Adramelechk. It would not happen. He would not leave any of his essence behind. She is mistaken.”
“She is so certain. How can she be that wrong?”
“We’ll have to find out, sire. We will search to discover, but I fear she may have been followed to mistdream.”
Appoloin turned sharply, his eyes dark with anger. “We are here to be her guardsmen. How say you that Elemiah and Ambriel were unaware of this? They were with her every moment she was in mistdream. You think they are part of some unholy alliance, one hellbent on destroying my wife?”
Ariel sent calming waves. “You must find inner quiet, sir, or our lady will become aware of your concerns.”
Appoloin’s long legs paced the room, as he strode back and forth. “I will try, Ariel,” he assured
the guard, “but this is most definitely a new concern, and one we could definitely do without at this time.
“I must return to the Cavernis and speak with Xaphan. He will have better understanding of this matter.”
“What matter would that be?” asked Mairi as she walked into the bedroom and took note of the looks of concern on each of her Angel guardians’ faces. Not this time, she thought; you won’t brush me off with some stupid reasoning.
Appoloin was immediately at her side, pulling her into his arms, searching her eyes for any sign of harm and losing himself in her eyes in the bargain.
“Mairi, I must return to the Cavernis to discuss the latest events with the Infidelibus.”
“You are being deliberately evasive. What is it you are avoiding telling me, Appoloin?” she said angrily, attempting to push away from his vice-like hold. “What events are so important that must have you away so suddenly?” She stopped pushing. It was useless trying to break free of his muscles, and she felt traitorously comfortable ensconced in his powerful arms.
Ariel cleared his throat. “If you will excuse me, sire.” He then bowed to Mairi. “My lady.”
“Apologies, Ariel,” Appoloin said abruptly, dragging his eyes from Mairi’s. “Please, take no heed. You’re welcome to leave.”
“Sire,” he said once again, bowing to Appoloin before turning and leaving the room.
“Well, now that we are alone and you have decided to return from your mistdream holiday, what say you we make up for lost time?”
“I thought you were in a hurry to go to the Cavernis and meet with your Angel friends,” she said flirtatiously and managed to squirrel out of his arms.
“Not in that much of a hurry,” he said, flying them back into bed and stripping them of clothing before they hit the mattress.
Mairi slept soundly when Appoloin removed himself from their bed. His wings had begun to open just as his feet touched the cold, bare floor. He enjoyed the sensation of slate against his feet; everything on this plane was pleasurable, he pondered. He took a quick glance at Mairi to check she was still asleep—the thought of pleasure always steered back to her. She was his ultimate decadence, and all roads led to and from her, in himself.
“Why do you hide in the shadows, Harviel?” he asked. “She sleeps and will not wake for some time. What is it you require of me? Have you any information to share with me yet?”
“I do, sire, and none of it, I fear, you will want to hear, but you must, for the child’s sake.”
“She is not a child!” he all but roared. “She is my wife.”
“I beg pardon, sire. She is but a child to my years.”
Appoloin took a breath. “I find myself, yet again, having to apologise. I do believe when my fear for her takes hold, it renders me incapable of sensible thought.”
“Sire, if that was truly the case, the Infidelibus would have removed you from the task of her protector. Perhaps your fear is truly what keeps her safe. Your love for her will make you even more vigilant because of it.”
It wasn’t a question, but a simple statement, and Appoloin could only nod in agreement.
“She takes my breath away.” He sighed and stroked Mairi’s cheek. She responded with a brief smile, but was deep in sleep. Her eyelashes fanned across her cheeks. “I, an Angel of millions of years, am left like a blithering idiot when she is with me, and I am in torment whenever she is away. I cannot believe humans think this feeling, this love, is what makes the world go round. It brings me to a quivering mess.”
Harviel waited until it was clear Appoloin was able to compose and ready himself to leave before speaking again.
“Shall we adjourn to the breakfast room, sire? I will pass all the information we have uncovered.”
From the shadows of another corner, Ariel emerged, his body forming from the shadows. “I will be here with her, sire. I have already spoken with Harviel and know the concerns he must share with you. Leave, and be at peace while we protect your lady wife.”
Appoloin had a sense of dread. He hadn’t wanted this particular assignment, but once he was part of it, he had taken the role seriously, even when Mairi was at her most obstinate, in the early days of the Mistdreamers’ discovery of their objectives.
Lauren had almost fought Forcas tooth and nail, yet they had fallen in love, and with Omniel’s permission, he had blessed and performed their wedding service.
Valerie, he knew, was secure. She was in the safe care of Prince Seere, though he was unsure whereabouts they dwelt. She also had been stubborn to the need of protection and had firmly objected to Seere’s presence, but his Mairi—how easily that tripped from the tongue his Mairi—although she complained, she was more willing to accept that he was part of her life. They had shared bodies quite quickly, and that had surprised him, but she was a free spirit. It turned out, it was he who was not the free spirit, and that had come as a surprise to him.
She had walked away after their first joining, assuring him it was the first and last time they would “be together”, how the act had been quite wonderful… and thanked him. Leaving him completely speechless.
He had kept his composure. He had managed to keep his professionalism in regard to her protection, until the next time they came together. After the second joining he knew she was his. She would belong to no one, she would always retain her independence, which was, to her, as important as his role of protector, but she would eternally be his. He could hardly breathe when she was out of his sight, and when he sensed danger around her, wherever she was, he had to find her, to slay the enemy, because whoever was endangering her, was and always would be his enemy.
Acknowledging Ariel’s words and once again stroking his wife’s face—she made leaving almost impossible for him—he pulled himself away from her.
“Sire, we must go,” said Harviel urgently. “We must discuss things before you go to the Cavernis.”
He turned to leave, and as he did so, Mairi whispered in her sleep, “Appoloin, where are you? Help me.”
He stood stock still, his sense of dread overpowering. The hairs on the back of his neck stood up, something definitely felt wrong. Harviel beckoned him to move quickly, but Mairi again whispered, “Appoloin, where are you?”
“Why does she speak thus?” he asked Ariel, who sent a guarded look towards Harviel. “What is it you both seek to hide from me?”
Harviel stepped forward. “Nothing, sire. I promise you, we are not keeping secrets, and if you want to discuss all there is to know, here, then let us begin, but be aware your lady may wake and hear all that is being said. Is that your wish? I have no problem telling you what has been discovered; I only sought to keep my lady from what has been discovered.”
“Is it something you consider she should know?” Appoloin indicated the sleeping Mairi as he asked this in a concerned voice.
“At present, it is supposition, and I feel her having knowledge of such, could do more harm than good.”
“I trust your ‘supposition’ more than I do others’ their facts.” Appoloin frowned. “Come, let us go to the breakfasting room. We can eat, and perhaps my fraught nerves will allow the food to remain inside me before I venture to the Cavernis and discover what information they must share with me.”
When Appoloin sat at the large table where he had shared dinner with Mairi, this time, Harviel and Ariel did not serve him. Food was waiting for the three of them, and they helped themselves from the dishes set before them.
“Did our lady share anything of import that may shed light on what we also have discovered?” asked Ariel.
“Her mistdream was unusual,” Appoloin said, while biting into a slice of toast covered with butter and marmalade. It was a joy he did not wish to give up and had worked out details on how it may be possible to remove it to Heaven, should the need arise. “Sorry,” he said. “I lose myself in thoughts of food while at this table.” He nearly laughed out loud when his guardsmen closed their eyes in sheer delight as they bit into the warm,
buttered toast. Surely this had to be the confection of the Angels and Heaven!
“As I was saying,” he continued, when at last, the Angels were able to concentrate on his words, “she told me how, after spending time with Elemiah and Ambriel, she had left them, returning to mistdream and that she had felt strange, as though she had consumed alcohol.”
Harviel stopped eating from the mound of food on his plate, his fork in midair. “I think we can confirm that, sire. We now know she had been drugged whilst in the coffee shop.”
Appoloin threw down his napkin and pushed away from the table, causing his chair to hit the floor. “When did you determine this, and why did you not tell me sooner?”
“Sire,” Ariel spoke softly but resolutely, “as you lay in bed with my lady, we discovered all that we are about to share with you. We are only now able to piece together, with your help, of course, the meaning of everything.”
Appoloin stopped pacing and turned to the Angels, who were no longer interested in their food.
“Then let us share all information and work out the best plan of action, or endeavour between us what must be done.”
*
Mairi stretched her hand across the bed and sighed irritatedly upon discovering Appoloin was no longer beside her, and then remembered he had claimed he needed to confer with his Angel buddies about something. She was not stupid. That ‘something’ was no doubt herself, but as she lay in comfort, just for a luxurious moment, she couldn’t have cared less if they spoke about her. She knew she would eventually be told of the discussion, so she determined it would be best to wait before acting.
When was it I grew up? she thought as she playfully pulled her knees up, then dropped them again onto the cold sheet beneath her.
She was wide awake, her body still tingling from the effects of the lovemaking she and Appoloin had shared. Throwing her hands across the pillows, she giggled to herself. She had never felt so alive, so happy. Despite all the problems she was facing, her body had taken on a life of its own. It was alive and craving his touch again. Or it was needing something, perhaps food, but there was something important niggling at the back of her mind.
The Park Family: Mairi: Retribution Page 15