by CJ England
Now it was Gallegar who smiled. “He told us what we needed to know.” He swallowed tightly and bending, gathered Kira into his powerful arms. “I think we have a chance now."
The other Chosen came over to where Gallegar sat, holding the limp Kira in his arms. He stared up at them, uncertainty filling his face.
"We will follow your lead in this, Gallegar.” Danolas put his hand on the vampire's arm. “We trust you."
"You were partially right when you said my life force was needed to heal Kira,” Gallegar assured Danolas. “But what we all missed was the simple fact no one of us can protect her."
"The wagon wheel,” Koran breathed, his eyes filling with understanding.
"Yes, the wagon wheel. As our joining was necessary to Kira's well-being, so are we all needed for her healing. Each must be a part. Each must share their life force."
Danolas shook his head. “That is so easy. Why didn't I think of it?"
Gallegar gave his Gaelic shrug. “It wouldn't have mattered if you did. It was the timing that was crucial. If you had tried to heal her earlier, it would have failed because I wasn't there. We all need to participate. That was why the spell was so clever. As you deduced, Adrian knew I would be resting during the day. Even if you were able to bring the rest of you together in time, I could not have been there, so you wouldn't have succeeded."
"So what really messed him up was Danolas getting Kira back to the Keep before it was too late. The wardings kept her alive. He hadn't put that into the mix when he thought the curse up.” Lucas’ grin filled his face. “You saved Kira's life, Danolas. Your quick thinking saved her."
"And your sacrifice made it possible to find a cure.” Koran laid a hand on Gallegar's strong back. “You have both done my sister proud tonight."
"Congratulate me after we bring her back,” Gallegar said, embarrassed. “Then I will feel like I have done something worthy of your thanks."
"What do we do?” Patrick asked. “How do we bring her back?"
"I don't have all the answers,” Gallegar admitted, as he looked at his brethren. “If the curse was crafted to defeat each one of us, then logically, we each have a special power or strength it wants to destroy."
"We were all brought into the circle for different reasons. I'll bet the curse has something to do with that.” Danolas nodded his head in understanding.
"We each gave Kira something different when we joined with her. We should use those things to fight the curse.” Koran took his sisters hand. “I was the last to join with her. I'll go first now."
"But what if we're wrong?” Lucas’ jaw tensed in concern.
"We have to try.” Gallegar held Kira against his body as if to warm her. “Her heart is slowing down. I can feel it. We're out of time."
The Chosen all nodded their agreement. Koran took a deep breath and willed himself into Kira's body. Once he found the horrible slime that infected her, he spoke to Kira, telling her everything was going to be all right. He thought back to the joining and gritting his teeth, he grabbed onto the poison as he said the words that made his and Kira's power one.
"You have given me companionship. I have given you my wisdom. Together we will break down all barriers."
Koran's power burst out of him and sliced into the poison. It flinched away from him and Koran felt its pain as he fought it, but then it attacked him with horrific speed. Koran's strength drained from him. Just before he lapsed into unconsciousness, he sent a mind burst to his brethren.
"It works ... Use the linking words and attack with the power. Quickly, now. Don't give up!"
The Chosen watched as Koran slid to the ground, hardly breathing. He was as limp as before Gallegar had given him his blood for strength. Danolas went to his knees to check him out, as Benjamin next used his power to go inside of Kira.
Benjamin didn't have the knowledge of magick Danolas or Koran did. All he could do was follow his power as it searched for Kira's. He was amazed as he slid through Kira's body. Even though he was terrified of what he might find at the end of his journey, he couldn't help but admire the beauty of creation. Organ by organ he traveled, until he came to the base of the problem ... Kira's heart.
Glaring at the ugly green poison, Benjamin switched into his extra strength enhancement. After seeing Koran's battle, he knew he would need all the help he could get. He lunged forward and squeezed the undulating miasma between his strong fingers as he shouted his own power words.
"She has given me control. I have given her my strength. Together we will conquer our enemies."
The miasma clung to him, smothering his voice with foul smelling fog, but Benjamin's power stabbed into the evil thing. He held on as long as he could and felt the poison cringe away from his strength. Eventually, he too fell unconscious.
Danolas caught Benjamin as he fell. He laid him next to Koran, who was turning the same gray as his sister. “Keep going!” Danolas said hoarsely, who was watching the battle on the psychic plain. “It is working. The poison is losing its strength."
Patrick stepped up and brought Kira's cold hand to his cheek. “Okay, sweetheart,” he murmured softly. “Let's give it a dose of faith and hope ... shall we?"
He closed his eyes and following his own power, chased the horrible poison fog back to Kira's heart. Without waiting a beat, he flung himself on it, clasping it to his own body. He wanted as much contact as possible with the fog when he said his words.
"She has given me hope. I have given her my faith. Together these virtues will triumph."
The fog gave a sharp cry as it undulated in pain at Patrick's words. Patrick held on as his power fought the fog, his breath becoming shallower and his arms weaker and weaker.
After several minutes, the poison gave a giant heave and threw Patrick's body off. But the poison was weakening. It was smaller than before.
Just before Patrick lost his grasp on reality, he muttered, “Don't stop. We are defeating it."
Lucas’ eyes glowed silver as he stepped up to take his turn. He looked down at his fallen brethren, then over at Danolas and Gallegar. He tried to speak, but the words caught in his throat. Instead, he clasped both their hands, his regard for them both clear in his face.
Bending down, he kissed Kira's cold lips. “I love you, honey,” he whispered. Then putting his hand on the breast he had branded with his claws, he slipped inside.
Lucas didn't even try to sneak up on the poison. He was so full of rage at the stuff, he stalked it, like a beast would stalk its prey. He could sense the poison's nervousness. It was sentient and aware, which was why it was so hard to defeat. Lucas growled steadily as he tracked it back to Kira's heart. The poison was still strong, but he could tell it was diminished by the fight.
Lucas stalked over next to the poison, unafraid and putting out his large hands, willed his claws out of his fingers. With a roar of rage, he leapt upon the green ooze, slashing it to ribbons with his lethal claws as he recited...
"She has given me purpose. I have given her my passion. Together we give meaning to our existence."
His power struck at the poison. It writhed and screamed as it tried to get away, but Lucas just kept coming after it. It was only when Lucas slowed for a breather, the poison was able to regroup and fight back. Still, it was a long time before Lucas dropped to the ground, broken with exhaustion and pain.
"It is your turn, my friend.” Gallegar looked at Danolas, whose face had hardened as he watched each of the other Chosen go down.
"And then you will finish it.” Danolas reached over and put his hand on Gallegar's shoulder. “The rest of us are here to weaken its power. But it will be your love for her that will defeat this thing.” Danolas cupped Kira's cheek against his palm, and his eyes misted.
"She told me when we joined she wasn't for me. That someone else was coming. Even though I knew what she was saying was the truth, it infuriated me, because she is so beautiful. I wanted her to be mine."
Gallegar was silent. He listened in surprise as his fri
end told him of the flame-haired woman with purple eyes that would be his witch mate.
Danolas looked up and his blue eyes were blazing with emotion. “You and Kira are meant for each other. You and she will someday be together. That is why it is your life force that will save her."
"Why are you telling me this?” Gallegar asked hoarsely.
"Because, the poison will defeat me as it has done the other Chosen. It will be your turn to fight, but if you allow anything to get in your way, doubt or jealousy, the poison may win instead. Be strong in the knowledge of your love for Kira and her love for you. Love is the only thing that can defeat the curse."
"I'll remember. Be careful, my friend. I don't want to lose you either."
Danolas nodded, then placing his hands on Kira's cool forehead, he took himself inside. He found himself immediately at the source of the poison. It was much smaller now and Danolas took heart in that fact. He watched as the green sludge rose up to meet him.
"You have no power over me,” he told it with a sneer. “We will defeat you. You are nothing but leftover hate and anger."
The sludge gave a high screeching sound as it jumped at him. Danolas met it with outstretched hands that lanced it with rainbow fire. Pieces of the poison fell around him as he shouted his power words.
"She has given me sight. I have given her my understanding. Together we will see the future."
The poison sludge tried to pick itself back up, but Danolas wouldn't allow it. He continued to speak the words over and over again, as his rainbow power struck at it. He was fighting so hard he didn't notice the tendril of green as it made its way behind him.
Danolas didn't know what hit him when the thing wrapped itself around his throat and began to squeeze the life from his body.
In the real world, Gallegar watched in shock as Danolas’ body danced in pain. The witch fell, clawing at his throat, in a way that was reminiscent of Adrian's demise.
Quickly he laid Kira down on the fur rug and crawled over to where Danolas lay, his body twitching in agony. Gallegar looked at the Chosen, all lying so still. It was up to him now. Just as it had been when he had walked into the room at sunset. But now at least he had a chance.
Gallegar moved over to Kira and took her in his arms. “You are my life,” he whispered to her, kissing her gently. “Without you, my existence is meaningless. Come back to me, A Ghra..."
Pressing his cheek to hers, he pictured himself on the psychic plain with Kira. She stood next to him, her eyes closed, her body totally motionless. He pictured Benjamin's knife in his hand, and with that same practiced gesture, sliced open his wrist. Red, life-giving blood poured out of it.
Gallegar pulled Kira to him and placed his bleeding wrist against her mouth.
"Kira, my beloved ... A Ghra...
You have shared with me your heart,
You have shared with me your blood.
I give back to you the blood which I took.
My life force to your own.
And...
Forever I will stand by your side
taking care of you, protecting you, loving you."
Kira's mouth moved against his wrist ... fighting him.
"A Ghra ... Take it ... please,” he begged. Slowly on the psychic plain, the image of Kira began to ingest his blood to strengthen her life force.
In reality, at the same time, Gallegar stretched himself out on top of her. Grasping her face in his hands, he pressed his lips to hers. He willed all his remaining strength ... all his love into her. He refused to have any doubt, or let any fear dissuade him.
Gallegar searched for her essence as he lay there kissing her with all the devotion and passion he had stored inside him. He called to her, beseeching her to come to him, but he got no answer. In desperation, he spoke the power words they had shared the night of their joining.
"She has given me her heart. I have given her my life. Together, in eternity forever."
Slowly, he felt the blood she was taking from him begin to arrest the poison's flow. Strength began to return.
Gallegar looked inside at Kira's heart and saw the poison writhing and wriggling as if in pain. He reached for it cautiously and this time when it grabbed at him, it was the thing that screamed in agony. Enraged anew, he sent his power piercing through it. Green met green in a fight to the death. The poison keened and screeched, undulating in frantic motions to escape, but Gallegar held tight, his power cutting it to pieces. He felt his own strength returning as he watched the poison turn in on itself and vanish from Kira's body.
The Chosen began to stir slowly around him. Kira didn't move.
Lucas pulled himself to his knees, shaking his head to clear it. He watched Gallegar, as he lay kissing Kira. “What is he doing?"
Danolas also struggled to his knees. He took a deep breath. “He shares his life force.” He looked at the psychic plain and paled. “On the psychic level he is giving her his blood. They shared it at their joining. They now share it again. The kiss symbolizes this."
As his own image of Kira faded, Gallegar continued to call to her without success. He knew the poison had been defeated, but Kira wasn't coming back from the oblivion she had fallen into. He began to worry he had understood too late what the Power had wanted him to do.
Suddenly he remembered how he had broken through the trance Kira had been caught in last night.
Again, he called to her. “A Ghra ... I need you. All of your Chosen need you. If you die, so do we. The poison has been defeated, but if you continue in this limbo, we all will cease to exist."
He listened. For a moment, he thought nothing had changed, but then ... so quietly he thought he may be imagining it, he heard the soft sound of weeping.
"Kira ... is that you? A Ghra ... Help me to find you. I can't see you.” Again he listened. The crying became louder. He looked around frantically.
"Kira,” Gallegar spoke commandingly. “Speak to me..."
"Gall ... egar?"
"A Ghra...” Gallegar's voice called joyfully to her. “Come to me. Let me see you."
He searched the psychic plain and sensed something in the distance. Walking slowly, reeling from weakness, Kira finally came into view. Gallegar ran to her and she fell into his arms, sobbing with gratitude.
"Mo Chridhe...” Kira wrapped her arms around his waist. “I love you so..."
* * * *
Back in the bedroom, the others felt a rush of gladness as they watched Kira's arms shakily wrap around Gallegar's waist. The kiss continued for several long minutes, before Gallegar raised himself up on his elbows. He stared down at Kira searchingly and then grinned as her eyes flew open and she drew in a deep, life-giving breath.
"Gallegar..."
Danolas and Lucas laughed uproariously and pounded each other's backs. Koran grinned and sat back on his heels, while Patrick and Benjamin gave each other high fives in delight. Gallegar rolled off of Kira's prone body and lifted her into his lap as he sat up.
"A Ghra ... We thought we had lost you."
Lucas grinned happily and bending, gave her a hard kiss. “We thought we had lost ourselves too!"
"This joining had some side effects we didn't know about.” Patrick laughed softly.
"Just one more reason to protect our Lady,” Danolas quipped.
Koran reached for his sister. His hand cupped her cheek as he looked her over intently. “How do you feel?"
Kira smiled. She leaned against Gallegar, her small body trembling. “I am very tired, but feeling much better.” Her eyes teared as she looked around at them all. “I knew you gave me your own strength so I could live. I wanted to stop you, but I was too weak."
"We wanted you to survive, but we had selfish motivations too, sweetheart. We wanted all of us to live.” Benjamin gave her a kiss on the nose.
"If Gallegar had not come when he did...” her voice trailed off.
"But I did.” Gallegar looked over at Danolas. “Adrian miscalculated on this one. And we won't let this happen aga
in."
"Adrian?” Kira's face filled with confusion. Quickly they all filled her in on the wizard's curse and how she had inadvertently sprung it at the restaurant.
"One other thing, Danolas,” Gallegar put in. “Your acolyte deserves much praise. He did well getting me here."
"I will reward him.” Danolas stretched and then sat easily on the couch.
Koran joined him. “And I thought last night was a tough one.” Koran looked around the room. “We have learned something here tonight.” His gaze settled on Kira. “We now know if Kira is harmed, we too will feel a portion of the same pain."
"We may be able to counteract that in some way,” Danolas broke in. “We will have to look into that."
"But what about the opposite side of the same situation?"
Gallegar raised his eyebrow at Koran. “Explain."
"If we can be harmed when Kira is hurt, will Kira feel the same effects if we are? Can I be hurt, if someone tries to kill, say Patrick?"
The room went quiet. No one had considered that side of the problem. Were they each vulnerable when another was hurt? All thought ended when Kira struggled to her feet, almost falling on Benjamin in her hurry to get up.
"A Ghra ... What is wrong?” Gallegar stood up behind her.
Kira ran across the room before she turned to face them. “This is not right!” Her eyes were wild as she looked at their faces. “I did not come to you to put you in danger. I came to be of help to you. To protect you and your kind. How can I do this if you are at risk when something happens to me?"
Lucas walked toward her, his hand extended soothingly. “Honey, we knew it was a dangerous gig when we signed on."
Kira was not appeased. “Did you know about this?” She backed away from him. “Did you know your life would end if mine did?” She saw the answers in their faces. “I cannot allow this. You are too important to me and to your people to be put in this position."
Danolas shrugged. “What can you do, my Lady? The joinings are finished. Our circle is complete."
Kira's eyes hardened. “I will break the circle. I will dissolve the joinings."
"Like hell you will.” Gallegar's voice was hard as Kira's eyes. “You belong to us. We're now a part of each other. A team ... a family. Especially after what we went through tonight, there is no way in this world we will let you walk away from us."