by Arial Burnz
“The marriage was annulled,” Evangeline responded and looked pointedly at Broderick, who nodded.
The beautiful woman doubled over in pain, and Broderick rushed to her side, comforting her through the wave of what Evangeline recognized as the Blood Slave condition. Through the soft whispers of Broderick’s soothing words, she learned her name was Davina. Evangeline had a curse on her soul, carried through the years of not being able to save Broderick from this damned life of becoming a Vamsyrian. Now she would be the agent of sending another innocent soul to hell—or of taking her away from Broderick if this woman chose to go with the Army of Light. Have I not devoted my life to you to make up for my sins, Father? Was that not enough?
Davina recovered from the pain and turned her eyes to Evangeline. “I understand you’re to explain to me the other side of my choice. Please do so.”
Evangeline nodded and swallowed. “You have become a Blood Slave. If you choose to come with the Army of Light, God will heal you. But if you choose to come with me, you will…” She hesitated, knowing the impact this may cause on Davina and Broderick. “You will never see Broderick again.”
Davina gazed back at Broderick, who stood by her side like a sentinel, anguish in his eyes. “And if I choose to become a Vamsyrian? What will this mean other than the immortality and this life at night I’ve seen for Broderick?”
With all the gravity and truth she could muster, in hopes of saving this woman’s soul, Evangeline said, “You will be turning your back on God, child. Vamsyrians rarely elaborate on the details of this choice, but they’re creations of Satan because—”
“What?” Broderick took a faltering step forward. “Vamsyrians are no such thing!”
“Broderick!” Evangeline was aghast. “How can you lie to this woman? I see you care a great deal for her, but are you bringing her here to give her immortality for your own selfish reasons? I thought at least you would have told her the truth!”
“You never said this on that night I was faced with this choice! You only said I would be turning my back on God.”
“What did you think that meant, Broderick?” Evangeline’s mind went back to that night she faced him. Broderick had been filled with so much rage, grief, and betrayal at seeing her—redeemed from her sins and with the chosen few of God—and he suffered from his condition and loss of his family. “What I tell you is true, Broderick, and I’m amazed they never explained this to you after all these years. Even if I had finished my explanations, you wouldn’t have listened to me. You had made up your mind.”
Broderick glared at her, searching her face, and the anger and accusation in his eyes faded to resignation. He nodded. “Aye, you’re right, Evangeline. Continue.”
“Davina, Vamsyrians are Satan’s revenge against God. In his eternal hatred of man—God’s special creation with free will—Satan struck a bargain that would trap man’s soul for eternity. Satan’s new creations developed a thirst for blood so they would slay innocent lives for their immortality, thus adding a never-ending list of sins against their trapped souls.” Evangeline hesitated at the horror on Davina’s face, but she pushed on. “They are a mockery of Christ’s salvation, my child. They gain immortality for the shedding of innocent blood. Humanity gained eternal life for the shedding of Jesus’ innocent blood. What the Tzava Ha’or—the Army of Light—offers is a chance at a new life, and protection from the Vamsyrians. They’re not permitted to harm us or anyone we take with us or they’ll incur God’s wrath. Choose to come with me and you can also be healed. This is what I set before you.” She sat back on her heels, waiting for Davina’s decision with hope in her heart.
Davina looked to Broderick and back to Evangeline, who could see the struggle of this young woman’s heart deep in her tear-filled eyes. Fighting another wave of pain, Davina clutched the chair as Broderick kissed her sweaty brow, encouraging her to make her choice. Davina nodded and gained her breath. “I choose to become a Vamsyrian.”
“Davina, nay!” Broderick grabbed her by the shoulders as he knelt before her. “Nay, you must choose to go with Evangeline!”
“This is the choice you wanted me to make all along?” Davina’s bottom lip trembled with a new flow of tears. “Why did you not tell me this is what you wanted?”
Broderick bowed his head into her lap. “Because I feared you wouldn’t come with me. I didn’t want you to transform, but I couldn’t bear to see you suffer the death before you.” He lifted his head. “This is the only way. You won’t be turning your back on God and you can still be with your daughter.”
“But if I choose to become a Vamsyrian, I can have both you and Cailin in my life. Why are you doing this to me? How can you expect me to give up the one true love I have with you?” Davina clutched Broderick to her, and Evangeline’s heart ached for them.
What has Broderick done to be cursed like this, Lord? Why have you asked me to be the one to deliver your judgment? Evangeline wiped the tears spilling down her face.
The first sign will be the sacrifice of a troubled heart. This sacrifice will spawn the forgiveness needed to release this heart trapped by guilt and heal.
The words floated through her mind, causing a peace to settle upon her soul. “The prophecy,” she whispered. Only now did she understand what it meant. Evangeline burst forth with tears of joy. Thank you for making me your instrument of peace!
“Broderick…Davina…there is another way.”
They both turned hopeful eyes to her. “Come to me, child.” Evangeline rose and encouraged Davina to stand before her. She embraced Davina, who doubled over from another wave of pain. Easing Davina down onto the floor, cradling her in her lap, Evangeline searched the high ceiling for the next instructions from God. Davina trembled with her knees bent, curled into a ball. Evangeline bunched part of her cloak as a cushion for Davina’s head and arranged Davina’s skirts to be sure they covered her legs…and noticed the dagger sheathed in Davina’s boot.
The first sign will be the sacrifice of a troubled heart.
Evangeline nodded, peaceful with this path chosen for her. Slipping the knife out of its sheath, Evangeline plunged the blade into her own troubled heart before Broderick could do anything to stop her. Evangeline’s hand—holding tight to Davina—burned and Davina arched her back, screaming. A surge of healing energy flowed through Evangeline from the crown of her head through her limbs and into Davina. The pain Evangeline expected in her heart never came. She pulled the knife from her chest. The blade gleamed with no blood. She sat confused, uncertain why she didn’t die. Did she misunderstand?
Broderick rushed to their side, examining them, frantic eyes searching Evangeline’s face. “Why would you do that? What have you done?”
“Broderick?” Davina sat up, perplexed. “‘Tis gone. The pain in my body from the blood is gone.”
Evangeline touched Davina’s face. The burning of the fever was gone as well. “But the prophecy said my sacrifice would…” She realized at that moment God spared her from death. She had made the sacrifice in her heart, forgiving herself for how she had betrayed Broderick, freeing her heart from the prison of guilt she created over these three decades. God never wanted her to kill herself. All she had to do was let go of the guilt…sacrifice her troubled heart…and He would do the healing through her hands. Spying the dagger when she heard the words of the prophecy were a coincidence. Thank you, Lord, for sparing my life in my rash decision! Evangeline’s grin nearly split her face and she laughed. “He is a loving God, thank the Lord!” Evangeline gave Davina back her dagger.
Broderick helped both women to their feet and crushed Evangeline in his embrace. “Fool woman.”
She laughed in his chest and pushed away from him. “Aye! And I thank the Lord He took pity on me. I thought I was about to meet him.”
“What in Hades made you do such a thing?”
She marveled that her healthy heart beat rapidly at her narrow escape. “There is a prophecy, Broderick, that speaks of redemption for your kind.
I do not know but one line of text from the ancient scripts. It speaks of signs, and I recalled this particular line: ‘The first sign will be the sacrifice of a troubled heart. This sacrifice will spawn the forgiveness needed to release this heart trapped by guilt and heal.’ This one line became revealed to me only a year after you had been transformed. I didn’t know what it meant until this moment.”
“Yours was the troubled heart you thought to sacrifice?”
Evangeline nodded at Broderick’s question.
“How did you know it would cure Davina’s condition?”
“Because the words came to my mind when I asked God why this was happening, why I was here again to face you. These assignments are few and far between, and I’ve had only two such assignments. Both times, Broderick, have been with you and me in this room.”
The two Vamsyrians standing at the back of the room exited with haste, leaving the three of them to ponder this new development.
“They are not going to let us leave this place alive,” Broderick grumbled.
“That’s yet to be seen, Broderick MacDougal,” Evangeline said with the conviction of her faith. “God wouldn’t save this woman to have her killed, and I’m certain you’re meant for a greater purpose than either of us know.” Evangeline turned and knocked on the door behind her. The bolt slammed and the door opened. “Come with me. They cannot come through this way.”
Ushering them through the door, Evangeline met her mentor standing in the stone corridor, eyes wide and mouth open.
“Hurry!” Evangeline urged. “Lock the door! We must make haste!”
The woman did as instructed and led them down the hallway toward their only entrance into the Vamsyrian Fortress. “Praise be to God, sister!” she exclaimed over her shoulder. No one has made the choice to join the Army of Light in over a century! You saved—” She stopped and stared at Broderick, and then Davina. “There are two of them? How can there be two? I thought they only—”
“Walk, Sister Elspeth!” Evangeline encouraged her mentor forward. “Though we have the protection of the scriptural incantations, and the Vamsyrians dare not do us any harm for fear of God’s wrath, I do not wish to invite risk. ‘Tis best we all get as far from this place as we can manage.”
They stepped into the cold night and scrambled for the waiting horses, but Evangeline blanched as she remembered they only had two beasts on which to travel. Turning to Broderick, she opened her mouth to voice her concerns, but he held up his hand.
“Go, now! Davina and I traveled on foot. I can take her from here.”
“On foot! How are you—?”
“Evangeline!” His warning glance stopped her protests. “Do you forget what I am so quickly?”
She shook her head, feeling foolish. “God be with you, Broderick MacDougal. And you, Davina.”
Broderick stepped forward and embraced Evangeline once more, but with warmth instead of admonishment. “Thank you, Evangeline.” He hesitated, and then knelt before her small frame. “‘Tis a long time coming, but I’ve forgiven you and I hope you can forgive me.”
Evangeline placed a trembling hand upon his cheek. “Aye, Broderick.” She kissed his brow and patted his face. She also hugged Davina. “Now go! You are not so protected. Please make good your escape.”
Broderick nodded and swept Davina into his arms. With a speed that took Evangeline’s breath away, he dashed off into the night, proving the essence of his supernatural existence.
“You have a lot to tell me on the trip back, it seems,” Sister Elspeth muttered and mounted her horse.
Evangeline nodded. “That I do, sister.” She mounted her own horse and stared off in the distance to where Broderick and Davina had disappeared. “We have some research to attend to, my old friend. It seems the prophecy has begun.”
Ammon stopped his pacing as Rasheed marched into the Grand Hall of the Vamsyrian Fortress, Mikhail storming in after him.
Mikhail grabbed Rasheed’s shoulder and spun him around. “You cannot let them leave this place alive!”
“Are you mad?” Rasheed pointed to the front entrance, where they had watched Broderick and Davina make a hasty retreat. “He has already completed a small measure of the prophecy with this incident. It has already begun. We do not know enough about the prophecy. Killing him may destroy us.”
Ammon stepped toward them and gritted his teeth. “Then what do you suggest we do? We cannot let him walk away to do his own bidding.”
“We will watch him and keep a close account of both him and his brother.” Rasheed paced, his hands clenched behind his back.
Ammon dared to mention, “Rasheed, the Creator cannot know that—“
“I know!” Rasheed closed his eyes, raking his fingers through his jet-black hair. “I was a fool not to see what that woman was up to. Cordelia has obviously learned of the prophecy and has manipulated it to begin.”
“Surely, you are not saying that half-wit of a woman knew what she was doing in bringing these two brothers before us.” Mikhail punched his hands into his hips.
“Have a care, Mikhail! Cordelia Harley is not the fool she pretends to be, and she has tricked us all into starting this chain of events. She is the one we must hunt down and eliminate or the Creator will take great pleasure in torturing us.” Rasheed paced across the stone floor, arms crossed, eyes lost in his thoughts. After moments of silent pondering and agitation, he turned to Mikhail and Ammon. “No one else must know about this. Watch these two brothers closely. Be sure they do not do anything else to bring about our destruction. And we must delve deeper into the prophecy to find those missing pieces or their conflict will be the annihilation of our entire race!”
Epilogue
Broderick burst through the door, carrying Davina in his arms, and she clung to his neck, stifling her giggles over his eagerness to enter their wedding chamber.
“At last! I have you all to myself.” Placing her down on the floor, his mouth covered hers in a greedy kiss, sending flutters throughout her stomach.
She licked the tip of his nose playfully when he gave her a chance to breathe. “They may come pounding on our door once they have discovered we avoided the public bedding.”
“Nonsense! They have plenty of food and drink to keep them busy. Where we are will be the last thing on their minds. I won’t bide another moment to make love to you.”
Laughter from the hall caused both Broderick and Davina to turn and see Nicabar carrying Rosselyn past their doorway. “The way is blocked!” Rosselyn said through her laughter as Nicabar advanced up the stairs to the next floor, where their own wedding bed had been prepared.
Davina cast a puzzled look to Broderick as he closed the door and pulled her toward the large four-poster bed.
“A rather large group of Gypsy men of my acquaintance have orders not to let anyone pass.” He nuzzled her neck in a warm embrace. “Now, to the matter of bedding my wife.”
Her bosom bloomed with warmth at hearing Broderick’s words. “I shall never tire of hearing you call me that.”
“I do hope not,” he whispered, a trace of sadness on his face.
Davina touched Broderick’s brow and brought his head down to meet her lips, kissing away the furrowed lines. “I will never regret,” she said between kisses, “becoming your wife,” another kiss to his neck, “in spite of the world you belong to.” Pressing her hands to his shoulders, she urged him to sit on the edge of the bed and stood between his thighs. She floated her lips to his temple and feathered another kiss, then to his other cheek. Slowly, lovingly, she caressed Broderick’s face with her mouth. I adore you, my love. You are my protector, my champion, my husband, my sweet lover and I am eternally yours.
Possessing her mouth with his, Broderick returned her affections, his hands and mouth worshiping her flesh. And I adore you, blossom. I vow to protect you and all those you love with everything in my power, for all eternity.
The love Davina had harbored for years and the fantasies of their lovemaking since
she met Broderick, poured from her like a flood, and she couldn’t take everything that was Broderick into her fast enough. Her hands tore at his shirt, ripping the fastenings down the front and exposing his chest. Broderick removed the leather strap about his waist and tossed the garment aside, baring his torso to the golden light of the chamber.
Fumbling with the laced kirtle of her gown, both of their fingers danced around each other to work her dress off her body. Davina could feel frustration mounting as the dress created a barrier between them. Broderick stayed her hands. That adorable dimple emerged as he grinned and raised an eyebrow, then promptly ripped the dress open in one swift movement and tossed it aside, leaving her clad only in her chemise. She didn’t have a chance to smile, or even protest as Broderick’s hungry mouth was upon hers. Davina reached for the fastening of his breeches, but he stopped her. Pulling away from their kisses, he cupped his hands around her face.
“Nay,” he said breathlessly. “I have been yearning for this moment since you came back into my life and stepped out of my dreams. I want to savor every moment.” Broderick rose from the bed and stood back, still breathing heavy. He held her hands out to her sides, as if they were wings. Eyes flowing down her body, drinking in all he gazed through her chemise, they touched every inch of her flesh like flames tickling over her skin. Her nipples grew tight, drawing his eyes, which only made them more taut. Broderick brushed the back of his hand over her left nipple. Davina sighed. Then he caressed the other. She arched her back in anticipation, pushing her breast into his hand, causing him to moan. In an instant, he slipped his arm around the back of her and pulled her into him, bending forward to pull the material back and take the erect bud into his mouth. Davina gripped his silken hair, holding his head against her and using him for support, for surely she would faint from the pleasure surging through her body at the lapping and sucking of his hot mouth.
Breathing her name against her skin, Broderick suckled, licked, and nibbled his way over to her other breast. Her legs gave from under her at the same delicious ministrations of his mouth. Broderick swooped her from the floor and laid her on the bed, his mouth still devouring her flesh. The pulsing heat that formed between her legs increased when his knee parted her legs open. “Let me see you,” she breathed, and reached for his breeches again.