by Lara Nance
Shana scrambled from underneath him and stared at the knife. A wail erupted from her and she fell over him. “No, no, no. Marc. Marc!”
Cara’s knees gave out and Tor put an arm around her waist. Tears streamed down her face and she held onto Tor. Fog consumed her brain at the unreality of this situation. Marc, her friend. One of the best people she knew.
Amber rushed down the steps to Shana, and Nicki stepped through the doorway. Her eyes were round, staring at Marc. She yanked the knife out and backed away. Cara motioned for her to leave and mouthed a ‘thank you.’ Nicki gave a stiff nod, then turned and ran down the street.
Shouts from upstairs yanked Cara back into the moment. “We have to help Rolf!”
Tor released her. He rushed up the steps, and she ran close behind. Alistair backed down the hall, clutching the light blue stone in both hands. As they reached the opening to the library, Rolf and Desmond tumbled onto the landing.
The group retreated down the hall, away from the steps, forced back by the two men locked in their deadly struggle. Cara crouched, ready to help. The others stood with arms out, poised as well, but the men threw wild punches, kicks, and moved so fast no one could make a move to assist.
Desmond launched Rolf backward, and he crashed into Tor. Desmond’s eyes darted to Alistair and the stone. His lips curled in a sinister grin, and he reached out with one hand. Before anyone could move, the stone emitted a white glow. Alistair’s body trembled and his eyes bulged out. The stone tumbled from his hands and rolled across the floor toward Desmond.
“No!” Cara yelled.
Alistair’s mouth fell open, and he stood frozen, staring at the stone.
Cara launched herself and fell on top of the opal. An incomprehensible coldness ate into her bones.
“Rolf.” She reached out a hand to where he’d landed on the floor beside Tor. If she could just reach him and form the shield, they’d be able to stop Desmond’s power over the stone. Rolf crawled, throwing his body forward, hand outstretched.
Too late. A white flash enveloped her and the world went black.
Chapter Thirty-Nine
Three days later, Rolf stood on the side deck, gazing at the marina in their new location: St. Michael’s, Maryland. Under the bright sunshine, a couple strolled down the dock holding hands, and a knife of pain sliced through his heart. Dusty whimpered and pressed his head against Rolf’s knee.
Too late, Rolf had realized the depth of his love for Cara, and what he had wasted with his foolish fears. They could have had more days of happiness if he’d only trusted his heart as Sakhet had urged. “Cara,” he whispered and the breeze carried her name away, lost in the cry of gulls and the splash of water against the hull.
He hung his head and, after a few seconds, entered the salon. Everyone stopped talking as he paused on the threshold. Amber’s eyelids appeared puffy and red. She leaned against Tor, and Shana sat on the couch beside Alistair, a droopy figure of grief. At least they helped each other through this tragedy. They all stared at him with sympathetic eyes, but none could ease his pain. Especially Shana, who still struggled with her own disturbing loss. His only companion, Dusty, shared his grief and followed at his heels night and day, a lost glaze over his big brown eyes.
“Hey, man,” Tor said. “You okay?”
“Do you want something to eat?” Amber leaned forward. “Tea?”
“I’m fine.” He closed the door behind him as he faced the room.
Shana shifted in her seat. “Rolf, what are we going to do now?”
“We can’t just sit here at the dock forever.” Tor rose from his chair and crossed to Rolf. “We’ve been talking. We can help you clean up the rest of Desmond’s followers if you like. It needs to be done.”
It was something to do. They only wanted to break him out of the fog he’d lived in since Cara’s destruction, but he had no heart for anything yet.
“You’re welcome to stay here as long as you like.” He forced a half-smile. “But I can’t make a decision about anything right now.”
Tor pressed his lips together and put a hand on Rolf’s should. “I’m sorry, man. We all loved her.”
Rolf nodded and headed down the stairs, Dusty close behind.
It was only four o’clock, but exhaustion overwhelmed him, and he fell across his bed engulfed at once in a deep sleep. Dusty curled up by his side, a warm and comforting presence.
###
Cara stood naked in a field of reeds. The plants rustled in the soft breeze to brush her thighs. A bright sun in the distance cast soothing warmth on her skin. It seemed perfectly natural for her to be standing here without clothes. Am I dead? She gazed about her, but only reeds stretched out forever. Not exactly how she’d pictured Heaven.
Walking was like wading upstream. Her leg movements felt rusty. But with each step, her stride smoothed and lengthened. She strolled forward, her arms stretched out to the sides so her fingers trailed the tops of the reeds. How long have I been here?
She continued on but distinguished no passing of time. Raising her hand, she shaded her eyes from the blinding sun. Suddenly, before her an oasis appeared and she halted. Palm trees encircled a patch of plush, green grass. A small stream bubbled out of the ground in a basin of rock. Beside the stream, an old woman sat in a wooden chair, knitting.
Emmie? Confusion warred with happiness in Cara’s breast.
A beautiful Egyptian woman in a white linen shift stood beside Emmie with one hand on the old woman’s shoulder. Lustrous black hair grazed the Egyptian’s shoulders and bangs brushed her dark eyebrows
“Miss Emmie?” Cara’s voice was raspy in her throat. Was it really her old friend? I must be dead.
Oh, God, Rolf!
Emmie raised her head and a warm smile spread over her face. “There you are, child, all reborn. I been waitin’ for you. Come on over here and let me get a look at you.” She waved Cara to her. The other woman gave her a warm smile, but her kohl-lined eyes studied Cara’s face intently.
Reborn? Cara slid her hands down her arms then brought her gaze back to Emmie. The old woman stood and her stooped figure became erect and tall. The old printed dress fell away and a pleated white linen sheath took its place. A jeweled collar circled her neck and a round golden disc topped the crown on her head. Her skin smoothed to a golden brown and dark kohl lined her eyes. Emmie dropped her battered black patent leather bag to the ground and a staff sprang to her hand, topped with a jeweled head-piece. The woman beside Emmie bowed her head in reverence.
Cara’s mind swirled with confusion. Am I dreaming or dead? “I—I don’t understand.”
“I know, child.” Although Emmie’s appearance had changed, her voice stayed the same, filled with gentle wisdom. “I gave you my power—the ability to block attacks from those who wanted to steal your Light. I did it so you and Rolf could destroy the stone and stop the evil.”
Cara shook her head, and she shifted her gaze between the two women. “Who are you?”
“I’m your Emmie, that’s for sure. But a long time ago, I was the mother of the gods. My children were my great joy, but they been disappearing from the Earth, and it made me sad. I created my children to be a balance in the world—the good to keep that ol’ evil at bay.”
Emmie’s eyes filled with sorrow. “Too many of my children have passed and the balance has been upset. I can no longer create. It was my time to leave the world and hand my power to another person to fight the evil and create more of my children.”
“Is Rolf…”
“Yes, yes. Atum and I created Rolf. My first, and I’m awful proud of him. I sent him to you. I love you, Cara. You’ve always been like my own child. You got the touch, and now you got to go back and use it to fight the evil.”
“I’m not dead?” Cara lifted her arms and flexed her fingers.
“Dead? Not anymore, girl. I put the gift of the gods in you. Now, you’re just beginning.” She lifted one hand and motioned to the beautiful woman at her side, beckoning her fo
rward.
“I am Sakhet.” The woman walked closer to Cara, head tilted to one side.
“Sakhet,” Cara whispered. The woman’s hips swayed, and her full red lips half parted as her brown eyes studied Cara. Rolf’s wife was so beautiful.
“Bes has chosen you, and I am glad. It is time for him to have love in his life again.”
Cara frowned. “But I’m not immortal, and it can only cause Rolf pain to be with me.”
Sakhet stood so close, the jasmine from her skin rose to Cara’s nostrils. Sakhet’s breath blew a sweet essence on her cheek as she lowered her head and pressed her lips to Cara’s. A warm air blew into Cara’s soul, and she imagined she could feel every cell in her body expand and glow.
Sakhet removed her lips and her eyes shone with tears. “Go to Bes and love him. Do not follow foolish desires and leave him as I did.” She placed a hand on Cara’s cheek and backed away, eyes sad but full of hope.
“You’ll live forever now.” Emmie strode forward and placed her hands on Cara’s shoulders. A filmy gown of white appeared on Cara, flowing out behind her like a cloud. “You go back now. Go back and help Rolf fight the evil. But, more importantly, make me some grandchildren so our race won’t die out. Evil must not be able to control the world or the earth will be destroyed, for all eternity.”
Emmie backed away, her benevolent smile glowing. She raised one hand in farewell, and her figure faded into the distance, Sakhet walking beside her. The oasis filled with mist and Cara’s eyes grew heavy. Then all became darkness.
###
“Rolf?” Cara’s heart soared at sight of him and she fought to keep from rushing to his side.
He sat up in the bed and rubbed his eyes, squinting.
Dusty barked and jumped off the bed, running up to sniff her.
“Rolf?”
“Cara,” he murmured, running a hand through his hair. Tears started to his eyes, and he pressed his eyelids together.
“My love.” She moved closer, knowing he thought her dead and the shock her sudden appearance was. She stood beside the bed, her gown of flowing white layers floating out beside her.
“Ahh, this is torture.” He shook his head. Sighing, he threw back the covers and a flash of gold and red in the bed beside him made his eyes go wide. “Wha—”
It was a beautiful gold chain with the golden ankh and ruby pendant. Rolf ran a hand over it then raised it into the air. He looked from her to the necklace, mouth open.
She reached out and, with the lightest stroke, her fingertips traced the outline of his face. “I’m here. I’m real.”
He slid from the bed, and faced her, searching her eyes. With one hand, he touched her shoulder, then her face.
“Cara,” he exclaimed on a sob and threw his arms around her, crushing her hard against his chest. “I don’t understand. I can’t believe it. You’re alive!”
“I’m not sure what exactly happened, but it was amazing. I left this world, and I think I died. I was in this sunny place, walking among the reeds.” She touched a kiss to his lips.
His gaze darted everywhere, devouring the sight of her. “Is this possible? You’re really alive?”
“Rolf, I saw Emmie, but she was different—younger and dressed like an Egyptian, a queen. I don’t really understand. But she said I had to return to you. She imparted not only her gift of protection, but also the gift of the gods.” She stroked his cheek. “And, Rolf, Sakhet was there. She gave me immortality.”
Rolf’s eyes softened, and he ran his hands over her arms. “I was a fool not to trust my love in the beginning.”
She smiled, and her heart swelled with blinding joy, a lightness of hope she’d not felt in a long time. “Ah, Rolf. All I wanted was to come back. My very being ached for you.”
He pressed his lips to hers. The sweet love of him infused her, expanding her soul. He buried his face in the curve of her neck. They stayed like that for a while, Cara absorbing what had occurred and their good fortune to be joined by fate.
“This belongs to you, along with my heart.” Rolf slipped Sakhet’s necklace over her head, and the pendant fell between her breasts. She put a hand to it and knew it was hers.
“Your friends are mourning, too,” Rolf said after a moment, holding her by the shoulders. “Do you remember what happened to Marc?”
Sadness stabbed her at mention of her friend. Poor Shana. “I’m so sorry they had to suffer. We should go to them. I want to mourn for Marc with my friends.” She held out a hand. He smiled and grabbed it, entwining his fingers with hers. They padded up the stairs where the others waited—still huddled and murmuring to each other.
Shana saw Cara first and turned gray, her eyes popping wide and her mouth falling open. Tor saw Shana’s face and followed her gaze.
“Cara.” He rocketed off the couch to his feet. “What the—”
The others joined in with exclamations and gathered close, laughing, crying and pressing her to them with warm arms. There was still grief over Marc, but Cara’s return helped ease their pain. They had to get through this as they did everything—together.
She glanced over at Rolf. He beamed, the biggest smile she’d ever seen on his face.
Amber still had her crushed in a hug. “I love you,” she whispered over Amber’s head.
He nodded and touched his lips in return.
Epilogue
Desmond sat in a darkened room of his house in Serbia, wallowing in the gloom of all he’d lost. The windows had been shuttered, muting the outside sounds, aided by the thick carpet and draperies. His head sank to his chest and blue flashed between his grasped fingers in his lap. Revenge rotted in his gut, sour and bitter. Soon he would draw it forth and scour away the putrid stench of defeat.
But not today…maybe tomorrow.
Maybe tomorrow.
THE END
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Lara Nance
Lara Nance grew up and lived in many cities throughout the South. She loves to write in a variety of genres within the scope of women’s fiction. But the basis of all her stories is a tale that will entertain and intrigue.
If you want to escape and lose yourself in a novel, you’ve come to the right place. Choose your genre and settle in to be entertained. From thrilling mysteries and steampunk tales, to paranormal romance and adventure, Lara’s willing to explore a variety of compelling stories full of danger and suspense, with a touch of romance.
Having been on the fencing team in college and now living on a sailboat convinces her that she was a pirate in another life, or possibly kin to Errol Flynn… However, due to the unfortunate demise of the romantic pirates of the past, she lives out her fantasies, thrills and adventures in her stories.
Currently docked in Norfolk, Virginia (until the wind changes) Lara enjoys living on her sailboat and spends time reading, of course writing, indulging a variety of artistic endeavors, cooking and sailing with her husband, Joe and their Yorkie, Rio.
You can visit her on her website, and learn about new books and exciting contests: www.laranance.com