by Amanda Paris
Damien smiled.
“Let’s just say I had a premonition that it could come in handy one day. I lost you once; I never want to lose you again,” he finished quietly.
I couldn’t argue with that.
“But Lamia? Where is she?” I wondered.
“That’s a very good question. It started to rain and thunder as I pulled you out of the river. I saw her head break the surface a few times and then not again. But I couldn’t imagine anyone actually swimming the river and surviving; the current was strong, and the storm was only growing.”
I couldn’t imagine it, either. I looked down at my hands, noticing for the first time that the emerald ring Ben had given to me was on my right hand, the diamond still, thankfully, on my left. I had no idea how Ben’s ring had gotten there, but I didn’t care. I was so grateful to be alive and to find out that Ben hadn’t actually died, that I didn’t worry about the details.
I hadn’t realized I’d been crying until Damien folded me up into his arms.
“Is it over?” I asked through the tears.
“I think so, Emmeline. If she did survive, which I doubt, she has to think that you died again in the river. I think that’s why she didn’t swim back. She wasn’t counting on me coming for you.”
“Wait a minute. We were headed to Sugar Hill to find you. That’s why I jerked the steering wheel.”
He pulled back from me.
“You crashed into the river on purpose?” he asked incredulously.
I looked a little sheepish and stared at my lap.
“Yes, but it was the only way,” I explained. “She was going to kill you too, Damien.”
“Emmeline,” he said in an exasperated voice, “what am I going to do with you? You just can’t stay out of trouble. I mean, of all things, water? And after what happened to you before?”
He pulled me to him, kissing the top of my head. I could hear the relief through the frustration.
“I know, I know,” I said, “but it really was the only way…I wonder,” I said, sitting up, alarmed “could she be at Sugar Hill right now waiting for you?”
“Emmeline, she’s dead.”
“But what if she isn’t? She’s incredibly strong, and if history is repeating itself, then you’re the next victim on her list.”
“I don’t know, Emmeline, but I’m not going to let anything happen to you or me. In fact, I’m not letting you out of my sight. You and your Aunt are moving up to Sugar Hill as soon as they let you out of here. I don’t care what anyone thinks—and marry me, don’t marry me—but I’m not listening to this nonsense that you’re safe on your own.”
I hid my smile. It was nice to be loved by someone so much.
“I’m not actually worried about me, Damien. You’ve just said that she thought she’d killed me—again. I’m more concerned about you and what she has planned.”
That made him thoughtful.
“I’m not afraid of her. I can handle it,” he said finally.
“No, you can’t. It takes a witch to fight a witch.”
He looked meaningfully at me.
“You didn’t seem to do such a good job on your own,” he said.
“Okay, point taken. But I have the ring back now, and I can use my power…”
It was the wrong thing to say. He stared down at my hand, a scowl on his face.
“Emmeline,” he began in that quiet voice that always made me quake a little, “why do you have that boy’s ring on your finger?”
“I honestly don’t know,” I said quickly.And I didn’t. It had just appeared on the third finger of my right hand.
“Lamia got it from Ben,” I continued, “and she was able to use it to take away my power.”
“And how would she be able to do that?”
“Because the ring means something to me. She can manipulate others through their emotions. It must be her power. Or powers, I should say.”
“What is it, Emmeline? What does it mean to you?” he asked, a quizzical look on his face.
I faltered. What did the ring mean to me? That I still loved Ben? I knew the answer to that question. I’d always love Ben. But Damien was part of me, was more than just part of me. He was my other half. I couldn’t imagine living my life without him. I didn’t want to.
“Ben is someone I still care for. Not like I love you. Nobody will ever take first place in my heart but you. But he was a huge part of my life for years. I left him when I first saw your face in my dreams and discovered who you were, but I can’t erase our memories together. And I guess his ring symbolizes the love that we shared once. It has nothing to do with you and me,” I said, hoping he could understand.
I could tell Damien wasn’t happy with my explanation, but that was how I felt. Ben could never alter my love for him. Damien nodded his head once in understanding, and the doctor came in to tell me I could go home if I felt up to it.
After they’d taken the IV out and I’d gotten dressed in the clothes Aunt Jo had brought from home, I told Damien I had one more stop to make.
“You’re seeing Ben, aren’t you?” he asked, a little resigned.
“Yes,” I said simply, kissing him and walking slowly down the hall. Damien might not be happy with my feelings for Ben, but I knew he’d accept that part of me because he loved me. He’d even once told me that he was glad Ben had been there to take care of me before him. For that, he said, he’d always be grateful.
“I’ll see you in a few minutes,” I promised, kissing him lightly.
I pushed open the door to Ben’s hospital room. His parents were just leaving when I entered. They smiled at me, looking tired. Ben was still hooked up to the machines, and his head was wrapped in bandages.
“Hey,” I began tentatively, not wanting to disturb him if he didn’t want to see me.
He looked at me but without the hatred I’d seen in his eyes the last time we’d spoken.
“Hey,” he said weakly, moving his hand as far as he could to indicate that I should sit in the space beside him on the bed. I went over and sat down, taking his hand in mine.
“You were right. She was crazy,” he said.
“No kidding,” I replied.
“I’m glad you’re okay. I heard that you guys had driven off the bridge going up to Sugar Hill. Why did you get into the car with her?”
“It’s a long story. I’ll tell you about it later.”
“More secrets?” he asked. He sounded a little bitter, and I couldn’t blame him.
“No. It’s just difficult to explain.”
“Is it related to your being a witch?”
“I thought you didn’t believe me.”
“I honestly don’t know what to believe.”
“Neither do I some days. I’m just glad you’re okay. When I saw you lying there on the deck, my heart stopped. Ben, I’m so, so sorry.”
“What are you apologizing for? You tried to warn me. I just didn’t listen.”
I felt guilty. I couldn’t tell Ben that I was to blame, even indirectly. I’d been the one to pull Lamia through with Damien. If it hadn’t been for me, he’d never have gone through any of this.
“So what do the doctors say?” I asked him.
“Nothing too serious. I was really lucky.”
As usual, Ben downplayed his injuries, not wanting me to worry. From what I could see, though, they looked severe. His obviously had some kind of head injury, both of his arms were in casts, and they were monitoring his heart rate.
“What happened?” I asked softly.
“I’m not exactly sure. She picked me up after work, and we went to my house. We were just going to hang out, watch movies, maybe order pizza. She asked to see the deck, and when I turned around, she must have clubbed me with something heavy from behind. I’m not sure how I got all of the other injuries. The next memory I have is waking up here in the hospital.”
“I’m so glad that Damien found you.”
“Yeah. Tell him I said thanks. I owe him for my life… and
for yours.”
“I will,” I said, hoping that Ben and Damien could be friends, or, if not friends, then at least not enemies.
He looked tired, so I rose to leave. He happened to glance down at my right hand.
“How did you…?”
“Lam—I mean, Kirsten threw it at me before we drove off the bridge,” I made up. I couldn’t explain to Ben any better than to Damien how the ring had gotten on my finger. But I felt strongly that it belonged there, just as the diamond that Damien gave me belonged on my left hand.
“How did Kirsten get it?” I asked, hoping the answer wasn’t what I thought.
“I honestly don’t know,” he said. “I mentioned once to her that I’d given you a ring, but I kept it in Mom’s jewelry box. I didn’t even describe it to her. I don’t know how she could have stolen it or when.”
But I knew. She’d likely broken in and made a search of the house when everyone was gone or asleep. The ring itself was distinctive, and it wouldn’t have taken much for her to guess which one was the right one.
“I hope you’ll let me keep it,” I said, knowing it was probably the wrong decision. But I wasn’t able to give it back.
He looked at me long and hard.
“Sure,” he said and closed his eyes.
I bent to kiss him, tears forming in my eyes, and turned to leave. Before I could get to the door, his voice stopped me.
“Emily, please take care of yourself. You’re still precious to me.”
I looked back and nodded, not wanting him to hear my voice shake or see my tears.
Damien waited for me in the lobby, and we left the hospital, driving in silence. I felt exhausted, and as we made our way up the long drive to Sugar Hill, I took in the serene beauty of the gardens. Despite their calming beauty, I felt nervous, wondering if Lamia waited for us.
“What are we going to do about her? What if she didn’t die in the river?” I asked.
“Emmeline, you worry too much.”
“That still doesn’t answer my question.”
Damien reached over and took my hand into his.
“Whatever happens, we’ll face it together,” he assured me, kissing my hand.
He sounded so confident that I didn’t question him further. Maybe he was right. Lamia had always separated us before, so perhaps now that we were together we could overcome her.
Damien stopped the car in front of the house. I somehow expected to see Lamia there when we drove up, but there was no sign of her outside.
We got out and made our way inside. I was the first to see her, sitting in the library opposite to the front entrance. She was facing away from the door. I stopped in my tracks. Though I hadn’t been surprised that she was here, I still couldn’t believe my eyes. She looked exactly like me.
Damien looked as shaken as I felt. Lamia turned slowly around, her arms outstretched as she came forward into the grand foyer. I knew then what Damien had meant when he said she wouldn’t let him go so long ago. She might have severely punished him with torture for trying to escape with me, but she had never planned to kill him. She wanted to take my place. She hadn’t had the strength to kill me or change her shape when she’d first come through. She had to use a stranger’s life force, to inhabit his body to disguise herself as she approached us. And she needed to know where we were headed.Then she could go after us later. She was just waiting for the right time when she had regained her power, a time when we’d be least likely to suspect her. Then she could take her revenge, kill me again, and take my place with Damien.
Not expecting to find me alive, she lunged for me. I was quicker now and stronger. She no longer had my ring, and she couldn’t control my power. I mentally cut loose the massive chandelier overhead, which fell, splintering into a thousand pieces between us. I’d had more practice using my power, and I was able to block the crystals from shattering in our faces, concentrating my effort on directing the splintering shards towards Lamia, now buried under the tiny crystals, all individually stabbing her.
Damien and I looked at each other in relief, but before we could investigate the rubble, she rose up, a glittering figure seemingly impossible to kill. She came at me again but turned at the last moment, lunging at Damien for a last deadly embrace. I looked in horror at the tiny shards, all cutting him at once. I immediately concentrated on pulling out each crystal, but the damage had been done. She’d not yet reached his face, but she was covering the rest of him with her body.
She must have had a death grip because Damien couldn’t pull her off of him, and he was bleeding profusely. I had to do something.I knew I’d never be able to overpower her physically, so instead I decided to channel all of my energy into using my power to break her hold.
I started to concentrate harder than I ever had before. Standing several feet away, I channeled all of my thoughts to uncurling her fingers, then worked on her arms and legs. It took all of my mental efforts, but I could tell that her hold lessened. Damien thrust her from him, and she staggered back, falling again into the remains of the chandelier. I concentrated on folding its arms around her, trapping her body, now weakened from the loss of blood.
She began to convulse in a fit that caused shards to fly everywhere, sending off a prism of colors as the sun streamed down, catching the glass that still stuck into her. I again created a protective shield over us, blocking the crystals from penetrating our skin.
She suddenly shriveled, and like a chameleon, revealed herself as an exotic serpent, with green, blue, yellow, and orange hues. The colors grew in intensity, burning our eyes. We heard a low moaning, then a low hissing voice. I was a woman, let me have once more a woman's shape, and charming as before. Give me my woman's form, and place me where he is!
I began to shake with the intensity of my effort, not knowing how much longer I could last.
The moaning finally subsided, the voice dissipating in a fume of silence. Writhing on the floor, she disappeared into a mist.
We heard a noise from above and jumped, but it was only Mrs. Arthur, the housekeeper, who’d come down to see if we were alright. Having heard the noises from upstairs, she’d come to investigate, a club in her hand.
“What happened here?” she asked, surveying the broken glass.
I took several deep breaths. It took a few moments to answer.
“Oh, just killing a snake,” I tried to say nonchalantly, unsuccessfully keeping the tremor out of my voice.
Then she saw Damien.
“Heaven help us! I’m calling 911,” she said, bolting upstairs.
Damien’s voice stopped her.
“No, Mrs. Arthur, I’m fine,” he said.
We both looked at him in surprise. Blood seemed to ooze from every pore of his body from the neck down.
“It’s like a thousand paper cuts, no more,” he explained. “I’ve experienced worse.”
I shook my head in disbelief then remembered the training he’d endured as a knife—the broken bones and gashing wounds were all just part of a day’s workout. Many knights returned from the field needing attention.And then there was the torture Lamia had likely inflicted on him.
“But how?” Mrs. Arthur asked, clearly perplexed at how one snake could wreak this much havoc.
“A minor technical malfunction,” I hastily explained.
“We’ll have to have the home inspected again, then. We can’t go round having chandeliers swinging and dropping down on us, now can we?” she said. “The next thing you know, it will be the wainscoting popping off the walls! Old houses! Who says they’re charming when you think about all the maintenance,” she said as she climbed the stairs again.
We breathed a sigh of relief.
She stopped and turned, a thoughtful look on her face.
“That snake wouldn’t happen to be a colorful one, now, would it?” she asked.
We both nodded, wondering how she would have known that Lamia was a snake.
“I thought so. I’d just gone to get this club after I spotted that
large pretty one downstairs. Nasty things, snakes,” she said. “ This one looked to be poisonous.”
Damien and I looked at each other.
“She was,” we both said in unison.
****
Later that evening, we lay curled up together on one of Damien’s large couches. Damien had needed lots of bandages, but the shards hadn’t penetrated too deeply. So he hadn’t downplayed his injuries, as I at first had thought. He really had only gotten a thousand small scratches—enough to draw blood and look horrible at first but easily cleaned up. The worst part was where they re-opened his earlier wounds. Fortunately, however, I’d prevented most of the damage by removing the shards so quickly.
Damien started laughing.
“What is it?” I asked. I couldn’t believe he could laugh at anything just now.
“I was just thinking…If one good thing has come out of this, it’s that I doubt they’ll make you take the swim test now,” he said, chuckling.
I laughed.
“I think a swim test is the least of my worries,” I said, reflecting on the traumas I’d experienced in this life and my past one. “But I’ve decided something,” I told him.
“What’s that?” he asked, stroking my hair.
“Maybe it really is time that I learned to swim,” I said.
Damien reached over to hold my hand.
“I hope it’s really over now,” I said, relieved that the swim test was the only concern I faced now that Lamia was dead, Ben was safe, and Damien was here with me.
Despite all the bandages, he took me into his arms, resting his head on mine.
“Whatever happens, Emmeline, you’re not by yourself anymore,” he said, kissing the top of my head.
I nodded. I knew what he meant—no more trying to fight alone. Whatever the future or the past held for us, we’d face it together.I looked up into his face and smiled, thinking of T. S. Eliot’s timeless lines, which I’d read in my English class:
Love is itself unmoving,
Only the cause and end of movement,
Timeless, and undesiring
Except in the aspect of time
Caught in the form of limitation
Between un-being and being.