Surviving Prophesy: The Immortals

by Frances Howitt

  ‘Your wonder ointment works like a charm,’ Zacharias said whilst making sure the bottle of blood was kept aloft. Once he was done, he laid a kiss on her brow. She smiled faintly, then her eyes closed and she went completely limp.

  ‘Is she asleep?’ Schubert asked and Zacharias nodded. ‘Good, she needs it. I do too actually,’ he added, slowly and awkwardly rising from the edge of the bed. Yolanda assisted him without a word and he gladly wrapped his better arm around her and they left.

  ‘Come on Zach, let her rest,’ Julius urged. ‘The horses aren’t going to take care of themselves, nor are the chickens.’

  Megan didn’t wake for lunch. Even wafting food under her nose didn’t rouse her so they let her be. Zacharias threw himself into chores to divert his mind from dwelling on what might or might not be happening to her. He found he kept going inside to check on her. Julius might rib him for it, but he understood the need and often went with him to peer into her room.

  They shovelled up and barrowed the bonfire ash into the forest, spreading it out so it would naturally dissipate without being left in a very obvious pile. They were certainly glad there were no obvious bones left in the ash. The fire had done its job, burning very hot and cleaning up the remains. They could do without that village peacekeeper returning and becoming suspicious of what might have gone on that necessitated a large bonfire dangerously close to both house and trees.

  10

  Megan woke with her mouth already watering from savoury smells. She felt surprisingly rested and really good for a change. She sat up to get out of bed and abruptly realised something was radically different. She swallowed bitter disappointment, realising her senses didn’t seem to be working again. All she could see was a dark grey blurry incomprehensible mess. She’d held out such hope that Schubert knew what he was doing and that his reading of her situation was correct. Now she felt completely gutted. She could hear movement outside of her room, the clatter of pans in the kitchen and banter from the others. She longed to join them, but how could she face them knowing her body had rejected the precious gift of three immortal’s blood? They had held such hope and confidence that this would work, too. Sobs racked her body and she curled in on herself in abject misery.

  Zacharias opened the door on the dark room, and in the light spilling from the hallway, he noticed many things all at once. ‘Meg love, what’s wrong?’

  Megan leapt up and threw herself into his arms sobbing for a while. ‘How could I be so stupid,’ she muttered. ‘No light was on.’

  Zacharias pulled back to look into her face. She blinked up at him, tears still welling from her eyes. ‘You can see?’

  ‘Not clearly, but yes,’ she affirmed, smiling at him and hugging him tightly again.

  ‘You were crying because you thought it hadn’t worked?’ he asked gently and she nodded. ‘Oh sweetheart,’ he murmured and held her closely. ‘We all knew it would work. Come on, dry your eyes. This is momentous news. Let’s go and celebrate!’

  ‘Ok,’ she agreed but first she wrapped her arms around him tighter and kissed him deeply.

  ‘So, someone’s feeling better then?’ Julius asked from the doorway.

  ‘Yes. Thank you Julius,’ she said seriously and whirled from Zacharias to give Julius a quick kiss on the cheek. Then she grabbed Zacharias’s hand and led him into the brightly lit kitchen. For the first time she could tell Schubert eyed them all keenly, his pale blue gaze returning to her quizzically. He sat perched on one of the high stools while Yolanda was laying the table.

  ‘It’s started working Schubert,’ she told him and he smiled broadly. She went to him and gave him a quick kiss on the cheek. ‘Thank you Schubert, all of you,’ she added and sat in her usual place. She gazed at these dear friends who’d made her dream a reality. She was so happy she felt like she was about to burst. Absently she glanced around her, still trying to figure out what all the objects were that she now could see.

  ‘This is fantastic news,’ Schubert declared and disappeared into his larder, returning with a bottle of wine. While Yolanda dished up, Schubert poured each of them a glass of rich ruby red wine.

  Megan wasn’t sure what to do. She felt too excited to eat, yet there was no denying she was hungry, so she concentrated on her food. Everyone was appreciating Zacharias’s rich casserole. They were also watching her, which was rather disconcerting, so she watched Zacharias. His face was alive with thoughts and emotions and he smiled often, especially at her. She felt starved for sight of him. Her sight spells had seemed different somehow and less clear. They’d been so difficult to maintain, that sitting here watching him without effort, was a real treat, even if her vision was blurry.

  ‘Let’s have a toast,’ Schubert said picking up his wineglass and getting everyone’s attention. ‘To our most capable ladies; may they not scare the crap out of us ever again!’ Schubert said raising his glass and enjoying everyone’s surprise at his choice of toast.

  Megan watched Schubert tip his glass to Yolanda and then to her and she returned the elegant gesture smiling.

  ‘A better toast,’ Megan said. ‘To the best friends anyone could ever wish for,’ she said meeting the rather left out Julius’s eyes in a salute that brightened him considerably. Then she turned to salute Schubert and Yolanda before returning to properly include Zacharias.

  ‘Well said,’ Schubert agreed, polishing off the last of his wine and reaching for a new bottle.

  ‘Schubert,’ Megan said after they’d finished eating. ‘Would you mind if I used your shower?’

  ‘Not at all,’ Schubert said amiably. ‘Now?’

  ‘Preferably. For some reason, I seem to smell of vinegar,’ she said and glanced pointedly at Zacharias.

  Schubert burst out laughing and got up. ‘It’ll probably still be warm in there. Come on, I’ll show you how it works,’ he offered glancing at Zacharias.

  ‘Shall I come with you?’ Zacharias decided to ask. Megan paused, seeming surprised he would ask.

  ‘Of course you can. Handling this kind of kit is your forte. Besides, you really need a shower too.’

  ‘Thanks! I did clean up a bit earlier after you categorically told me I was stinking.’

  ‘Sorry Zach, I didn’t mean to be so rude,’ she said aghast at being insensitive. ‘Would you go with Schubert and find out how it works, while I fetch my pots?’

  ‘Room for three in that shower?’ Julius asked, after she’d left the room.

  ‘No,’ Zacharias said immediately. ‘Don’t even think about it,’ he added. Then as Julius started grinning, he realised how that had sounded.

  ‘Think you’re going to get lucky?’

  ‘She isn’t comfortable being naked where other people can see her,’ Zacharias explained, avoiding the cheeky question that mirrored his own thoughts too closely.

  ‘Had she been crying?’ Schubert asked Zacharias while he filled the indoor water tank from the larger cold one outside and stoked up the fire so it would begin heating the water.

  ‘Yes,’ Zacharias admitted. ‘She opened her eyes to darkness and thought it hadn’t worked. I should have left the light on in there for her after nightfall. It just didn’t occur to me.’

  ‘It wouldn’t; we’re so used to our sight and its limitations. Poor girl, that must have been horrible,’ Schubert murmured.

  ‘It was,’ Megan said from behind them and noticed they both jumped. ‘Schubert, do you think it will last? Or only as long as your blood is still in my system?’

  ‘I hadn’t even considered it might not be permanent,’ he admitted. ‘Why, do you think it might go?’

  ‘The day I met you and Julius I’d had Zacharias’s blood for the first time the night before. Initially it made me dizzy and nauseous but then I saw vague outlines for the first time. But later it went away and I saw people’s auras more clearly instead. It’s most unsettling. I don’t know how I’m going to change from day to day. I don’t even know if the way I’m seeing at this moment, is the same as the way you s
ee. I’ve no idea what normal vision is.’

  ‘Take my hand,’ Schubert said, hearing the beginnings of panic in her voice. ‘Through this contact you can make a link to my mind. A temporary one please.’

  ‘Link minds?’ Zacharias interrupted. ‘Wouldn’t it be better to try that with me? She’s already spoken to me in my head before. Is that what you mean?’

  ‘Not exactly,’ Schubert said while putting the hand he was holding into Zacharias’s. ‘That was just talking. However, in the same way she sent words to you, she should be able to give you a view of what she’s looking at.’

  ‘Ooh, now that’s weird,’ Zacharias commented a moment later. ‘Look at something else; the forest maybe. Schubert do you see the fox at the edge of the trees? There’s a pigeon roosting over in that tree,’ he added pointing. ‘She doesn’t see the way we do; she sees far more things, although everything is quite blurry. I now know what she means when she says she feels our presence. We glow like a bonfire Schubert. I can see the pattern of your wounds glowing weirdly through your clothes. Yet she sees you have blonde hair and the clothes you’re wearing. She sees the life in the plants we’re standing on, knows of the ants nest near the wood pile and even sees enough to know Julius and Yolanda are washing up in the kitchen. Damn, that’s a lot of information to take in all at once. I’m getting a headache already.’

  Megan released him and the bright glows vanished to be replaced by his suddenly very limited feeling sight.

  ‘So I do see differently. More details?’

  ‘Definitely. What you see is truly amazing,’ Zacharias told her trying to hide his concern. She came closer and he gave her a hug of reassurance.

  ‘Intriguing,’ Schubert commented. ‘You are of course still adapting and adjusting. I’d imagine your ability will settle down and be less strange as you get used to it. Something puzzles me. You said before, that when you were blind you saw living things in some way. This glow Zacharias mentions, is that how your sight was?’

  ‘Yes, although less clear. I think I’m still seeing that way, but now have your way too.’

  ‘Mm, both ways of seeing at the same time has got to be confusing,’ he shrugged not knowing what to suggest. ‘Anyway, the water should be almost warm enough by now. Go in and relax,’ Schubert said ushering them inside once more and closing the door behind them.

  Looking around her, Megan was struck by how differently it felt to be inside something made of stone. She was no longer being bombarded with the presence of living things pressing in on her awareness. The trees used for the roof rafters had died long ago and so whilst she could tell the difference between it and stone, it didn’t impose. Here there was only Zacharias’s presence. Nothing else came through the blanket of stone to intrude or divert her attention from him. The tension in her head that she hadn’t even been aware of, slowly melted.

  ‘Do you like what you see?’ Zacharias eventually had to ask. No-one had ever looked him over from head to toe so intently.

  ‘Yes, but there’s a problem.’

  ‘A problem?’

  ‘Yes, you’ve got too many clothes on,’ she told him and watched his anxiety immediately dissolve and he burst out laughing.

  ‘So have you,’ he told her. ‘We can’t exactly put the shower on like this.’

  ‘Of course we could, but then we’d have nothing dry to go back to the house in,’ she told him.

  ‘That would never do,’ he replied, grinning in delight.

  Megan was glad he was responding and keeping everything light-hearted. When he turned demanding he could be quite intimidating. She could tell there was so much pent up passion in him, she wondered what would happen if he lost control. She knew he hadn’t had a real relationship for over forty years. That was an unbelievably long time to be celibate. She’d thought six months was far too long! Yet she understood his assertion that casual sex with a stranger was a hollow thing. She suspected he’d resorted to that and found it caused its own heartache and rarely eased the underlying loneliness. She wondered if knowing from the prophesy that he would find love, he’d found it harder or easier to bear waiting to find her.

  She undressed him, savouring being able to see as well as feel what she was doing. She placed each item on the table top in the dressing area. She waited until he was bare before looking at him again. She even walked around him.

  ‘Do you need to see my teeth too?’ Zacharias asked feeling rather like he was a horse for sale.

  ‘I’m making you uncomfortable? Sorry. I’m just trying to recognise by sight what I only know by touch. I think you’re lovely Zacharias,’ she added softly and began unbuttoning her own blouse.

  ‘Hey,’ he complained stilling her hands, ‘don’t rob me of my turn.’

  ‘Rob you? You’ve undressed me more times than I know.’

  ‘It doesn’t count when you’re not conscious.’ Now when he brushed her skin she felt it and he could watch her reactions to his every touch. He wanted to watch her passion come alive in his arms.

  Megan took her skirt from him and put it on the side. ‘The water?’ she prompted and watched what he had to do to operate the shower controls. Then she followed him through to the shower room and noticed the stool was still there that Yolanda had sat on last time.

  ‘If you sit down I can reach to do your hair,’ she suggested.

  ‘I can’t see you if you stand behind me,’ he complained.

  ‘That’s the idea,’ she said in his ear. ‘Close your eyes Zach. Just feel,’ she whispered. She massaged his scalp with the shampoo, knowing already it was something he liked. She then moved on to his shoulders working the muscles, feeling knots of tension loosen under her fingers. She was careful to avoid where he’d been injured. There were still lots of scabs and bruising, but the deep lacerations had at least sealed on the surface. It would be some days before he was properly healed and it would stop being painful. She moved around him, scooped up more soap and began washing his chest and down to his belly finally ridding him of the vinegar. Realising where she was headed she knelt and washed his feet, tugging each toe gently and kneading the soles of his feet. Then she worked slowly up each leg to the top. She met his gaze, it was dark and intent on her every move. He nodded permission even though he was already highly stimulated. Watching his reactions she slipped her fingers into his dark curls and caressed as much as washed, she couldn’t help it. He was beautiful and so responsive he was a complete joy to touch. He was breathing fast; she ruefully wondered how much control remained. She rather felt she was tempting a tiger. She reached for his chest instead, letting the water rinse her hands on the way up to his shoulders. She watched the suds flow off his body in the steady stream of water.

  She slowly leaned in and kissed him. His arms came around her immediately, clutching her tightly to him. Before she lost her nerve, and also the upper hand, she swung her leg over him and sat, straddling his thighs.

  Zacharias broke off their kiss feeling very ragged indeed. ‘Meg?’ But she didn’t speak, instead she kissed him again. Then he felt her hand between his legs, she shifted and they shared a gasp as she slowly impaled herself on him. He let her settle there, giving her body a chance to adjust, and for him to try and hold on to his control for her sake. But then she leaned forward and kissed him again. His last shred of control evaporated on that intimate wave of sensation. She’d chosen and he was grateful there was no ambiguity in her actions. He could finally let his thwarted passion loose. He rose to his feet, keeping her legs wrapped around his waist and took her to the table in the dressing area. There, he whirled them both into a tight knot of breathless and truly scorching passion.

  ‘The water’s going to be cold now,’ she commented lightly when she could speak again. She could hear it still hissing down in the other half of the room.

  ‘I suppose it will,’ he agreed, more interested in how she was going to treat him now. She met his gaze and smiled. There was no reservation or condemnation in her expression and his wo
rld was suddenly a sunny place. ‘I’ll go shut it off and put some more water on to heat,’ he said cheerfully and left her side. Once, many years ago, a woman had run from him, scared by his sudden sexual intensity and rather demanding touch. He’d been wary of letting go ever since. He knew part of the problem had been his desperate loneliness and the excessively long gaps between lovers. Tonight there had been no possibility of taking it slowly with Megan. Instead, he’d given her little option but to accept him as he truly was without once considering his pent up need might be too much too soon for her. He stared into the fire, worried that he’d shocked her and perhaps put her off. After waiting so many years for the one he wanted as his wife, he couldn’t believe he’d been selfish. A hand touched his shoulder and he jumped. Megan stood behind him a small frown of concern on her face.

  ‘It’s nice here in front of the fire,’ she commented wondering what was troubling him. The next instant she wondered if she’d imagined it. He stood, slowly wrapped his arms about her and kissed her. These kisses were slow and languid, nothing like the frantic ones of a few minutes before. His gentleness, like the change in pace, relaxed her nerves and she gladly matched him. Now she had time to explore and savour the feel of him, to touch his body and for him to caress her in return. This was a far cry from his earlier sensual onslaught, although she could feel that deep almost violent passion still simmered in the background. She’d never experienced such mind blowing ecstasy or felt the need to surrender completely to a lover. His dominance was a little scary and she had the feeling he was certainly capable of taking her well beyond her comfort zone.

  ‘Zach?’

  ‘Go away Julius.’

  ‘Are you coming out?’ Julius persisted through the closed door.

  ‘Of course.’

  ‘Any time soon?’

  ‘No. We’re not finished.’

  ‘There’s no water left in the tank out here,’ Julius said. ‘Have you used it all up?’