Surviving Prophesy: The Immortals

by Frances Howitt

  ‘I do. We have spent much time together.’

  ‘Very well, let them in,’ Megan said, sitting more upright and trying to appear alert. Brendon nodded at her, a faint smile touching his lips, obviously approving her appearance even though he’d know it was but a pretence of strength. In addition to the six animus newcomers, Alistair and Tarquin also came in.

  ‘Ah, before you get to your introductions,’ Alistair said quickly. ‘Can you release Tony, you know, the one you’ve imprisoned on the fourth floor,’ he added noticing her frown.

  ‘That’s his name is it? You’ve got someone up there standing ready?’ Megan asked.

  ‘Yes. That was a remarkably efficient prison Megan. You’ll have to tell me what you did; another time of course,’ Alistair added. He watched Megan close her eyes and a small flow of power appeared around her then was absorbed almost immediately. She straightened, appearing to have gained some strength, which wasn’t at all surprising if she’d been using power to contain her adversary.

  ‘Thank you. We’ll take it from here,’ Tarquin told her. ‘Make sure you get some rest Megan.’

  ‘I will. Thank you sir,’ she said and they left, closing the door behind them. She turned her attention to the silent animus men. ‘Hi Tommy,’ she greeted remembering him as their guide on their first day. ‘I’m sorry, I don’t know any of your names,’ she added glancing around. While each introduced himself she scanned them lightly, checking for any feelings of guilt, vindictiveness or duplicity. She needed to know none wished Zach harm.

  ‘Lady Megan,’ Tommy began.

  ‘Just Megan, please. I’m a crofter’s daughter and no lady,’ she told him striving to ease his nervousness.

  ‘I appreciate the gesture but my father would be horrified to hear us call you so simply. He’d think we were not according you due respect.’

  ‘Oh! Who’s your father?’

  ‘Master Tarquin,’ he told her and knew she was surprised. She then glanced over him appraisingly again before nodding.

  ‘I’m usually called healer or wizard if you’re looking to pin a title of some sort on me. Take your pick.’

  ‘How is he?’ Tommy asked. ‘May we approach?’

  ‘He’s in a bad way,’ Megan admitted, stroking back Zach’s hair gently. She watched the men come closer and stare at Zach. It was clear they were upset and angry to see him brought down like this.

  ‘We heard he’d broken both arms and legs and had many internal injuries,’ Tommy said noticing splints were indeed visible on the exposed arms, but with the sheet up to his chest, little was visible. What they could see of Zach’s skin however was mottled with deep bruises, though the unmarked areas like his face were ashen.

  ‘Yes. The main problem now is that he lost a great deal of blood; it’s made him very weak. I’ve repaired as many injuries as I can, but he’s fighting for his life,’ she admitted, trying hard not to cry. She felt so helpless, just when Zach needed her.

  ‘You need to rest,’ Brendon told her gently. ‘We will guard him for you. Although he should eat too, shouldn’t he, if he needs help to get his strength back? It’s always the best cure for us,’ he added.

  ‘You’re right, I’m not thinking clearly. Broth would be good, a thin one so he doesn’t have to chew.’

  ‘We’ll get some and see if we can get him to drink it,’ Brendon said glancing at Zach’s motionless figure for a moment.

  ‘I’d better help with that,’ Megan told him picking up his uncertainty on how to accomplish that with someone unconscious. ‘I’ll be back in a minute,’ she told them and reluctantly left the room to answer her own call of nature. At least she did feel she could risk leaving him for short periods now. When she returned, one of the men was missing and the others were busy manoeuvring in a trolley bed from another room. At least now, she, or indeed anyone guarding Zach could rest properly. The real guard on duty would remain outside the room and this was where having a team was going to be so useful since they’d already planned to work shifts on guard.

  They managed to get Zach to swallow some soup. He didn’t really seem to wake properly, but did swallow rather eagerly.

  ‘His body knows it needs food,’ Brendon remarked, although it was disconcerting Zach seemed able to eat in his sleep. Brendon made Megan sit and eat the other bowl of soup they’d brought. He suspected, by the absent way she was acting that she was far too tired to think about looking after herself. Now however, he felt he could send her off to rest with something a little more substantial than sandwiches in her stomach. ‘Come on, I’ll take you back to your quarters so you can rest properly.’

  ‘Stay with her Brendon,’ Tommy suggested quietly as he left.

  ***

  It felt strange to have a man in her room who wasn’t Zach. But Brendon refused to leave her alone and whilst he’d glanced at the double bed, he hadn’t made any attempt to join her on it. Instead, he moved the single chair against the door and sat down. Megan obliquely felt relieved, but also annoyed to be relying on an injured man to protect her. She kicked off her shoes, lay down and was asleep quickly.

  Megan felt much better when she woke. She surmised several hours had passed and whilst she wasn’t remotely recovered, concern for Zach had prodded her awake. Brendon slept on in the chair. He didn’t look particularly comfortable but she was glad he was sleeping; he needed it. Moving quietly she took the opportunity to change her clothes. She’d caught a glimpse of herself in the mirror and noticed Zach’s blood all over her. It was a grim and very worrying sight. When they got back to Zach and found all was still well, relief swept her that her trust had not been misplaced.

  ‘Go and get some proper rest Brendon. You’ve been a huge help. Thank you,’ she said and kissed his cheek.

  Brendon smiled at her, glanced at his fellows and left, feeling a real sense of pride. At dinner, he was surrounded by many people, and not just the animus students, all wanting to know exactly what had happened. He was a little wary of the wizard students, but he’d seen these particular men following Megan to the scene. He knew they were her classmates and that they’d cast the spell slowing Zach’s fall. Their actions had helped save his life, enabling Megan to get to him. He made sure he publicly thanked them, noticing them being pushed into the background as though they’d done nothing. Slighting a wizard was best avoided and was certainly not the way to gain allies. So he included them, much to some of his friends’ surprise. Through the wizards’ inclusion, the other half of the story, as witnessed by them of Megan, was told in more detail. A growing crowd gathered to listen. It was probably just as well Megan didn’t come into the dining hall for dinner, or she’d have been overwhelmed by people.

  In fact Megan stayed with Zach, relieving some of the guards so they could eat. A little at a time and over quite a long time she managed to get Zach to swallow another bowl of rich broth. He wasn’t really conscious and whilst his colour seemed a little better, he didn’t seem to be improving much and it was damn scary. So she made herself comfortable on the second bed and stayed there overnight caring for him.

  Next morning, on her return to sickbay after freshening up in her quarters, Megan felt an unusually powerful presence. Following the signature she realised it was familiar and coming from the Headmaster’s office. She knocked on the door and politely waited. Tarquin opened the door and she looked past him.

  ‘Schubert! I knew it was you,’ she cried and ran to hug him.

  ‘Megan,’ Schubert breathed in relief. ‘What’s happened?’

  ‘Zach’s badly hurt,’ she whimpered and burst into tears. Schubert held her, letting her vent her emotion. He met the Headmaster’s gaze with a raised brow, aware Megan wasn’t up to talking just at the moment.

  ‘That’s the first time I’ve seen her cry,’ Tarquin remarked quietly and noticed the big man’s lips thin. He quickly told him what had happened.

  ‘Take me to him Meg,’ Schubert asked peeling her from his chest gently.

  ‘Is Julius
with you?’ Megan asked leading him by the hand.

  ‘No. He was on his way home when you called me.’

  ‘I called you?’

  ‘Yes,’ Schubert said. The feeling of overpowering fear, anger and despair coming from her had shaken him. ‘I came as quickly as I could.’

  ‘Thank you Schubert. I’ve called Yolanda in,’ she added and glanced round to see Tarquin following. ‘Sir, can you ask someone to let her in?’

  ‘What are all these animus people doing here?’ Schubert asked her quietly as they went inside the sickbay wing.

  ‘Standing guard. They’re Zach’s classmates.’

  Schubert nodded to them, aware he was being closely scrutinised by very alert young men. He also noticed they eyed the wet patch on his shoulder and that Megan held his hand, leading him swiftly to Zach. Megan opened the door, he caught sight of Zacharias and his musings regarding the guards vanished to the back of his mind.

  ‘Damn, he does look a sight,’ Schubert remarked going to the bed. He pulled back the sheet. Zach wore underpants but that was all. The mottled bruising, splints on legs as well as arms together with the numerous raw wounds all over him told him just how badly injured he’d been. ‘He’s grey Megan.’

  ‘I know. He lost a great deal of blood. We’ve managed to get soup down him but he’s unconscious.’

  ‘He fell four stories onto stone? Why isn’t he dead?’

  ‘My classmates managed to cast a spell to slow his fall. I fixed a punctured lung, stopped him bleeding internally and set all his broken bones. There was so much damage.’

  Schubert hugged her briefly, then took off his coat and rolled up his sleeve whilst sitting in the chair by the bed. He looked at her expectantly, but it took her a minute to realise what he was offering. It told him just how traumatised she was by Zach’s condition. ‘Let’s see if my blood helps,’ he suggested gently.

  ‘Thank you Schubert, I’m sure it’s just what he needs,’ Megan said feeling the first practical hope since the attack. She quickly set about drawing some of Schubert’s precious blood. ‘Brendon, would you mind letting Yolanda in?’

  Brendon hopped up quickly from his chair near the door. He’d been so fascinated by the newcomer and what Megan was doing that he hadn’t noticed the faint sound of voices down the corridor outside the closed door. A tall woman stood talking to the men guarding the corridor. ‘Would you be Yolanda?’ Brendon asked her directly.

  ‘I am. Where’s Schubert?’

  ‘Follow me,’ he said.

  ‘Are you sure it’s ok?’ Yolanda paused to ask nervously. All these young men were animus and obviously on guard for a reason. Schubert too had been worried about what they might find here.

  ‘Stop dawdling, Yolanda,’ Schubert called. ‘We’re in here.’ A moment later she appeared, Brendon on her heels and who closed the door again.

  ‘You didn’t need to holler,’ Yolanda chided, but her gaze had quickly settled on an unconscious and very battered looking Zacharias. ‘Oh Meg, I see why you summoned Schubert. Where’s Julius?’

  ‘Did I actually summon you Schubert?’ Megan asked and he gave a small nod. ‘I’m sorry, I had no idea I’d done that.’

  ‘Your instinct was right. I’m very glad you did,’ Schubert insisted.

  ‘You think I’d have called Julius too?’

  ‘We were a team, but you’ve shared more with Julius than me,’ he added with a small smile.

  ‘Not really,’ Megan countered whilst pulling the needle from Schubert and placing his finger over the puncture. She wiped the needle and pushed it into Zacharias’s vein before looking at Schubert again. His pale blue eyes were always watchful but now she detected a little sadness and was that envy as he glanced over her? She wondered if he was dissatisfied with Yolanda. Yolanda had freely admitted she disliked sex. Had that changed yet? Was he frustrated? She didn’t know and wasn’t sure it was any of her business anyway. So she concentrated on Zach, watching as Schubert’s potent immortal blood soaked into him.

  ‘Megan, you must eat,’ Schubert said proffering a plate laden with sandwiches at her once she’d finished the transfusion. She’d been peripherally aware that Brendon had been out and had obviously organised a platter of food. He and Schubert had been idly chatting which had been a nice distraction. ‘You’ve lost weight again.’

  ‘I know. You should have seen me yesterday. Brendon has been making sure I eat,’ she added attempting a smile. ‘You’re a little pale now Schubert, are you eating?’

  ‘Yes, I’ve a sizeable portion too,’ Schubert said with a gesture to the plate on the countertop behind him. Now she was eating he took up his plate and joined her. Giving blood always left him a little weak and hungry, but he’d never donated as much before. ‘Is it wishful thinking, or does he have more colour now?’

  ‘You’re right; it’s obviously just what he needs,’ Megan said in relief.

  ‘Excuse me Megan,’ Brendon began. ‘I don’t understand. Why didn’t you tell us this was what he needed? I’d have gladly given him some of my blood.’

  ‘You’re a true friend,’ Megan said warmly. ‘I didn’t ask because there are many different blood types. If I gave him an incompatible sort it would act like poison. If he was fit and well he could probably handle it, but not when he’s so weak. Blood from another immortal is best. It’s also got amazing healing properties. He can use all the help we can give him right now.’

  Brendon eyed Schubert; like Zacharias there was that indefinable energy about him. He found he didn’t doubt that this Schubert was indeed also one of the rare immortals. ‘His breathing seems easier and stronger.’

  ‘Yes, it’s helping already,’ Megan agreed in relief.

  ‘What is it?’ Schubert asked a while later, aware Megan had a distant look on her face and seemed to be concentrating.

  ‘I think Julius has just arrived,’ she said slowly.

  Schubert opened the door and looked down the corridor. ‘I don’t see him Meg.’

  ‘He isn’t in the building yet, something’s holding him up,’ she said getting to her feet. She went down the corridor to the exit and felt Schubert and Brendon at either shoulder.

  ‘Julius,’ Schubert called and Julius looked up from the man talking to him. ‘Who is that with him?’

  ‘Wizard Alistair, my teacher,’ Megan said, watching him almost running to keep up with Julius now striding over to them. But then Julius swept her up into his arms hugging her closely and kissed her cheek.

  ‘I came as quickly as I could,’ Julius said glancing between Schubert and Megan. ‘Where is he?’ He followed Megan up a corridor guarded by animus men and into a small room where Yolanda sat with Zacharias. ‘Shit, he looks terrible. You’ve given him blood Schubert?’

  ‘Yes, about an hour ago.’

  ‘He obviously needs more,’ Julius commented shedding his coat and dropping into the chair by the bed whilst rolling up a sleeve. He watched Megan begin drawing his blood. ‘It’ll work Megan. He’ll be back to his annoying self in no time,’ he told her and felt better for that small smile. Her cry for help had terrified him. He’d ridden non-stop all night, pausing just long enough to swap his horse for another at an inn when he’d been forced to stop or risk killing the poor exhausted beast. ‘Thanks,’ he murmured as Schubert passed him a plate with a few remaining sandwiches on it. He watched his blood soaking into Zacharias. ‘Come on Zach lad, you’re scaring us, not to mention your lady,’ he said as the last was absorbed and Megan withdrew the needle.

  Megan cleaned the transfusion kit and set about making a fresh painkilling brew. She knew he would need that as soon as he woke, trying to think and prepare positively. Zach now had two pints of immortal blood in his system; it was what his body had been thirsting for and had to help. ‘Brendon, would you mind asking one of the others to get some more food?’ Megan asked. ‘He’s going to need something when he wakes.’

  ‘Something with plenty of cheese ideally,’ Julius added. ‘I wouldn’t m
ind something too, if there’s anything spare. I ate lunch yesterday, but after the call I don’t remember doing anything more than riding hard all night.’

  Brendon glanced at Julius, noticing how travel worn and tired he looked now he’d sat down. He suspected Schubert had not had to travel as far and with a lady along, hadn’t travelled as fast either.

  ‘Thank you so much Julius for coming. I don’t remember calling you both but I’m so glad you’re here. I was so scared.’

  ‘And furious,’ Julius added. He sat her on the arm of his chair and wrapped an arm around her. ‘We’re here now. We’ll look after you both,’ he said gently and as he’d hoped, she burst into tears and fell against him, sobbing into his shoulder. ‘That’s it, let it out. You’ll feel better once you’ve let it out. He’s tough, he’ll make it.’ He felt her nod and her tears eased, but she continued to hang on to his neck hiding her face for a few minutes more and he was sure she was scraping together her courage again.

  ‘Meg?’

  Megan spun round and over to the bed. Zacharias slowly opened his eyes and looked around him at all his friends.

  ‘Welcome back sweetheart,’ she said softly.

  ‘You were upset,’ he said slowly. He tried to move and hissed in pain.

  ‘Don’t move,’ Megan told him, leaping up to grab his medicine. ‘Drink this, it’ll help,’ she said putting a beaker to his lips and tilting it slowly for him.

  ‘Why?’ he asked.

  ‘She was upset because you’ve been lying here dying,’ Julius told him. ‘Fortunately it appears we got to you in time,’ he added. ‘Saving your skin is getting to be a habit Zach.’

  ‘I know,’ he murmured. ‘Sorry.’ Someone moved and he noticed Brendon over by the door. He held a tray of food. ‘Brendon, are you ok?’

  ‘I will be,’ Brendon said coming forward quickly. ‘It’s good to see you awake. You gave us all quite a scare. You must eat to regain your strength. This pie is still hot,’ he added, glad it was so.

  Megan took the plate and fed Zach without further ado, knowing Brendon was right, food was the other major thing that would aid Zach’s strength and therefore recovery. Once Zach had eaten as much as he could manage, she let his classmate guards in briefly to set eyes on him. She could feel their relief and also awe that within hours of his immortal friends coming to his aid, he was awake. She ushered them out again soon afterwards, allowing them a quick word or so with him before they went. Zach was tiring fast and was asleep again before the last of the guards had even left the room.