by Meagan Hill
“Oh, Malcolm. I’m so glad we weren’t faced with that problem, though my heart hurts for our son. Do you think they’ll test the fates soon?”
Malcolm chuckled under his breath a moment before responding, “I’m surprised they’ve managed to hold out this long. The passion they feel for each other is very strong.”
“Yeah, I noticed. I’m surprised the whole plane wasn’t humping like bunnies with the lust streaming off of them when they disembarked. I wonder what they were up to in there.”
“Knowing our son, plenty,” Malcolm replied, laughing softly with his long-beloved wife.
* * * *
An hour had passed, and Miranda was getting frustrated. She’d stayed on her knees the first half hour before turning to sit back against the altar with her legs wrapped in a tight pretzel position and her arms wrapped around her chest, effectively hiding her nakedness. Mitch did his best to keep focused on the task at hand but found himself distracted by brief glimpses of her body.
“I don’t get it, Mitch. Why haven’t the stones glowed yet? It’s not like I have anything that is holding me to them other than hatred. I’ve thought perhaps I needed to try to forgive them, but I just don’t know that I’ll be able to do that. That’s a lot to ask of a person after five plus years.”
Mitch reached over and took Miranda’s small hand, cradling it between his large ones. “I know, Miranda. I agree. I was actually a little surprised they didn’t react immediately, even with the warning from Nina. Is there any thing or person you might regret leaving behind or miss? A friend, maybe?”
“No, not at all. I would like to free the latents in training, but that would be it. I brought with me anything I would want to keep because I knew better than to think it would be there when I returned. They won’t let anyone take any tools, but there was nothing I felt a particular affinity for. I’m beginning to think it’s not me hanging on to them as much as them hanging on to me.”
“Yeah, I’m starting to think you’re right. It’s almost like their possession of you is ingrained into your bones, it’s so powerful.”
Miranda was quiet for a moment, pondering Mitch’s observation. Something in his words was circling in her head, like the answer was there and was trying to break through. Suddenly, she jerked her head up and sat up straight, her eyes wide in realization. “That’s it! You’re right! It’s the…” she began before her throat closed up, refusing to allow her to finish the thought. The injunction had been triggered much more strongly than she’d ever felt it.
Mitch immediately grabbed Miranda’s shoulders, concerned. He could see Miranda had the answer and that the injunction wasn’t going to let her say it or even hint around it. “Baby, stop. Stop trying to talk. We’ll figure it out!”
Miranda continued to struggle for breath, even though she had stopped attempting to talk. She moved her mouth, forming the alphabet, trying to get the squeezing to lighten up, but the injunction seemed intent on punishing her for figuring out how to perhaps overcome it. She was lying limp in Mitch’s arms by the time her throat opened up and allowed her to gasp for air. Malcolm and Nina had hurried over to kneel next to her, alerted by Mitch’s concerned voice. The remainder of the coven silently watched on, their own conversations forgotten.
Once Miranda had caught her breath, she sat up, though she held Mitch’s hand tightly. She was thinking fiercely on how to tell Mitch what she’d realized when he queried, “You figured it out, didn’t you?” Miranda nodded her answer. “Is it their hold over you?” Again she nodded. Mitch sighed, frustrated. He began mumbling under his breath.
“What are you mumbling about, Mitch? Talk to me.” Miranda tugged on his hand, bringing his gaze back to hers.
“Huh? Oh, I was just wishing we were both asleep and in your happy place. I’m pretty sure the injunction doesn’t work there,” he replied before looking away, racking his brain, searching for what Miranda might have discovered. His attention was diverted for only a moment before he could feel Miranda’s body go limp next to him. His arms reached out to catch her reflexively before his mind had even comprehended she was no longer conscious. He pulled her body into his lap, his arms cradling her limp form as he called her name. “Miranda? Miranda! What’s going on, baby? Wake up, Miranda! Miran—” was as far as he got before he too became limp and collapsed to the side. Malcolm and Nina were only just able to catch both of them before they could be injured.
“What the hell is going on?” Malcolm growled, speaking to no one in particular. He and Nina adjusted Mitch and Miranda’s bodies to a more comfortable position before attempting to wake them up. Nothing seemed to work as they tried tapping their cheeks and bathing their faces in cool, wet clothes. Not even smelling salts worked. Malcolm’s eyes were very frightened when he looked into Nina’s worried ones.
Suddenly, a deep resonating voice spoke from a dark corner of the room. “Do not worry. They are unharmed. She has taken their consciousnesses to a different plane. They will return when they have completed what they went there to do.” Silence reigned over the entire assembly before the figure from which the voice came stepped out of the shadows. Immediately, people began dropping to their knees and bowing their heads. The all-powerful Merlin had joined them.
Malcolm scrambled for his thoughts before gathering himself enough to bow low before his master. He’d known it was possible for the Merlin to join them for the ceremony, but he hadn’t known that he’d arrived. “Master Merlin, thank you for joining us today. You bless us with your presence. And thank you for the reassurance regarding Mitch and Mandy.”
Merlin chuckled to himself, seating himself in a chair just off the dais that a considerate coven member had brought for him. “You’re quite welcome. She is powerful. Much more powerful than anyone has yet perceived. Yet, she was quite right in the belief that if she fell to evil during this time, she would be destroyed.”
Nina could not prevent herself from asking, “Master Merlin, will we be able to complete the allegiance ceremony?” She was clearly concerned for both Miranda and Mitch.
“Yes, though not without difficulty. Have faith, my daughter. All will turn out well.”
“Thank you, Master,” Nina replied, bowing deeply before him before returning to hover over her son’s inert body.
“I cannot say more until after the ceremony is complete. We will wait together,” pronounced the Merlin. Everyone bowed their head in acknowledgement and returned to waiting, this time silently, gazing at the still bodies.
Chapter 5
It took Mitch several moments to recognize where he was once he regained his senses. Once he did, he glanced around quickly, looking for Miranda. His entire body relaxed when he found her sitting with her back against a tree, twiddling with the stems of some wildflowers. She seemed to be patiently waiting for something.
Mitch arose from his spot and moved to sit down next to her. “You changed your happy place again,” he commented, taking a moment to look around. They were in a beautiful meadow bursting with spring grasses and tufts of wildflowers in a myriad of colors. A dense forest circled the meadow, making it still and peaceful, protected from the outside world. Mitch could hear a small stream trickling nearby, along with songs from several birds. The air was rich with the scent of growing things, clear of the taint of human habitation. The temperature was just a touch cool, but the sun beating down on them from a clear blue sky warmed them gently.
“Yes, this is another one of my favorite places. It’s just so peaceful and protected. I always feel safe here.”
“How did we get here? We weren’t asleep. Or am I hallucinating?”
Miranda smiled gently at him before reaching over to take his hand. “No, not hallucinating. I am able to withdraw my consciousness from the tactile plane at will now. It took years of concerted effort to achieve that. I didn’t know, however, that I could pull you in whenever I wished. I just took a chance at it.”
Mitch cupped Miranda’s face, stroking along her cheekbone with h
is thumb. “You’re amazing, Miranda. I am in awe of you. I love being here with you, away from all the stress and danger of the real world. I just love being with you. You make me feel so complete,” he whispered huskily, his heart showing in his eyes before he leaned in to press his lips to hers. “I love you, Miranda.”
“I love you, Mitch,” Miranda murmured in reply before pressing her lips back against his. They continued kissing for several moments before they pulled apart with a sigh. They’d stolen too much time for themselves as it was. They needed to return to the problem at hand.
“So, does the injunction work here?”
“I don’t know. We’ll have to test it.” Mitch could see Miranda cast around in her mind for something to say before settling on something. Miranda’s eyes returned to gaze into Mitch’s, before saying, “Cabela likes to hurt people. He is a murderer. He is evil and must be removed from this earth.” She broke into a wide grin at the proof the injunction was unable to touch her in their private sanctuary.
“Yes! Wonderful! I love being able to talk to you without that looming over us. Now you can tell me exactly what you really think, and not have to try to talk around the restrictions. So, what do you think is holding you back from completing the renouncement?”
“As I said, I think you’re right it is his hold on me, rather than my hold on him. I think he infused the allegiance oath, and therefore the injunction, into the brands he gave me. I think we’re going to have to remove the brands to remove the injunction and allow me to finish the renouncement.”
Mitch was quiet for several moments, looking away as he considered Miranda’s conclusion. As horrified as he was by the branding, he could see how Cabela had used it to permanently possess his coven. It would take someone extraordinarily strong and determined to break away, characteristics Cabela would not allow to flourish. Finally, Mitch returned his gaze to Miranda, who was patiently awaiting his conclusion. “I think you’re right. Especially considering how evil he is. I know a bit of the dark arts from my battles with them, and there are rites that could do that type of binding. I hate the idea of adding more pain to what you’ve already experienced, but I think you’re right. I think we’re going to have to cut them out before you can finish the ceremony.”
“Obviously I can’t reach them, so someone else is going to have to do it for me. Mitch, I trust you more than anyone I’ve ever met. Will you do it?”
Mitch was astounded at how calm Miranda was about the whole thing, but he knew what was coming was nothing compared to her past experiences . It was Mitch who had to steel himself to face the new development. “If that is what you wish, Miranda. You know I would do anything for you, though cutting pieces out of your flesh is really counter to anything I’d ever imagined. Are you nervous at all? You seem too calm.”
“Mitch, this is nothing compared to what I’ve dealt with. Plus, there is something positive resulting from the pain. You could compare it to childbirth, I suppose. It’s painful while it’s happening, but the results more than make up for the pain. I get a new family and a chance with the love of my life. Of course it’s worth it.”
“Okay then, Miranda. Let’s go back and get on with it. I imagine they’re probably getting worried. Just remember, baby, I love you,” he breathed out, before capturing her lips for a searing kiss.
Miranda’s heart was pounding before he released her from his sensual spell. Giving him one last small kiss, she replied, “I love you, Mitch. Let’s go set me free.”
* * * *
A moment later, Miranda’s eyelids fluttered open before focusing on Nina’s worried gaze. She sat up quickly, glancing around the room, her attention briefly snagged by a new face that seemed much more wizened than his physical appearance suggested, before refocusing on a still unmoving Mitch. Miranda moved to kneel over him, concerned that he hadn’t awoken yet.
“Mitch, wake up. You should have woken up before me.” Miranda shook his shoulder firmly but got no response.
“What do you mean he should have already been awake, Mandy?” Malcolm asked, a bit tersely.
“Well, it took him a couple of minutes to get there when I pulled him in, but he should have woken up before I did. I think. That’s the first time I’ve tried pulling in someone else who was awake.” They could see Miranda concentrating hard, trying to reason out the problem, before she suddenly burst out, “Oh shit! I left him there! I didn’t even know that was possible. Okay, baby, hang on, and I’ll come get you.”
Miranda didn’t bother to change her position, so when her consciousness left her body, it immediately plopped gracelessly on top of Mitch, narrowly missing his nose with her forehead. Less than a minute later, Mitch began to awaken, moaning slightly before wrapping his arms around Miranda as she, too, began to awaken.
“Oh, God, baby, don’t ever do that again! That was horrible!” Mitch croaked out, clearly shaken by what had happened.
“I’m so sorry, Mitch! I had no idea I could leave you behind like that. I just assumed when I released the plane you would come with me. Why are you so upset? Didn’t you just stay in the meadow?”
“No. God, how I wish I had. When you disappeared, everything started to shimmer and then suddenly went black. I couldn’t see, hear, feel, smell, or taste anything. Complete sensory block. How long was I there, because it felt like years.”
“A few minutes, at most, before I realized what I’d done. I’m so sorry, Mitch,” Miranda sobbed against his chest, aghast at what she’d just done. Mitch, who hadn’t released Miranda from his arms even as he moved to a sitting position, just held and rocked Miranda as she continued to cry.
“It’s okay, Miranda. I knew and still know you didn’t do it on purpose. We’ll just make sure from now on that I exit first. Baby, stop crying, I’m fine. I forgive you, Miranda. I’m okay. Shhh.” Finally, with more urging and rocking from Mitch, Miranda began to calm.
Everyone around them had continued to silently watch, taking their cue from the Merlin. They would patiently wait until the couple in front of them was ready.
Finally, Miranda lifted her head from Mitch’s chest after giving him a brief but strong hug. She looked him in the eye before saying, “I’m ready.”
Mitch closed his eyes and sighed before opening them to gaze down at her. “Okay, Miranda. Let’s get this done.” With Malcolm’s help, Mitch stood up, bringing Miranda with him. Mitch couldn’t bring himself to let go of her until he absolutely had to, no matter what the coven thought. Mitch addressed Malcolm, though the entire coven could hear him clearly as quiet as they were. “Miranda has come to the conclusion that her allegiance oath to the Cabela coven was imbedded in her brandings. I agree with her, due to what I know of the dark arts. We believe she will be released from their oath only after the branded flesh is removed from her body.” He waited quietly as everyone in the room reacted, mostly in gasps and murmurs.
Miranda took a small step away from him but kept her hand held tightly in his. She stood up straight, bravely facing Malcolm in front of the altar. “I cannot excise the flesh myself, so I have asked Mitch to do it for me. If we are correct in our conclusion and successful in my renouncement, I ask, Grand Master, that the wounds be used in the binding portion with you. Unlike the others, I will carry these scars with honor.”
Malcolm, still looking stunned by their revelation, took a moment to respond. “I must agree with your assessment and agree to use the wounds made in the eradication of evil’s hold on you in your oath-taking for our coven.”
With Malcolm’s words, a flurry of activity began as the healers gathered together. They were not entirely prepared for such an occasion as this because they had been preparing to heal old damage, but they would make do with what they had available.
At Mitch’s questioning glance, Malcolm gestured to the altar. With a last hug, Mitch lifted Miranda onto the altar. He stole a last quick kiss before helping her to lie down on her stomach, her body arrow straight, her face turned away from him. He wouldn’t be a
ble to continue doing what needed to be done if he caught the sight of pain on her face.
When everything was readied, Mitch took a few moments to center and calm himself. He found he was more nervous about doing this than he’d ever been going into battle. When he was ready, he held out his right hand to Malcolm, who placed the ceremonial knife into it.
Continuing his calming breathing, he placed his opposite hand on Miranda’s back, letting her know he was about to begin. She did not react at all. He realized she had returned to her sanctuary in her mind, easing his own tension greatly because he now knew she would not feel the pain as he worked. Focusing on the task at hand, he made the first incision. He kept the cuts as neat as possible, going only as deep as the branding required. It began to be difficult for him to see due to the blood that flowed from the wound, but his mother was there to dab it away as much as possible. He heaved a sigh of relief when the last of the ruined skin was removed, though there were now two roughly rectangular raw wounds bracketing Miranda’s spine. She continued to bleed steadily, though the healers worked over her, trying to slow it and induce the skin to close over.
Mitch moved to the end of the altar where Miranda’s head rested. Going to his knees, he leaned against the altar after taking her hands in his. They had discussed how she was to know when he was done, and they had agreed to a two-point strategy. If he finished in less than thirty minutes, Mitch would attempt to join her on the plane through meditation. They obviously hadn’t gotten a chance to test whether it would work, so they had agreed on the backup plan that she would wait for the thirty-minute mark and then pull out of it. Neither of them saw the procedure taking longer than that, and it wouldn’t be the first time she’d awoken to pain.
Mitch again centered his thoughts and slowed his breathing, moving easily into his meditative state. It only took a moment before he smelled the meadow again. He opened his eyes and found Miranda lying next to him, watching alertly. “It’s done, Miranda. Come back so we can finish this and get back to our room. I need to be alone with you.”