by Donna Grant
"Time to die,” someone whispered in her ear as he finished tying the rope that bound her wrist.
The rope cut painfully into her skin, but it was going to be nothing compared to being burned alive.
Death stared her in the face and there was no escaping it. She just wished she had been able to tell Val she loved him when she'd had the chance.
His gentle touch, passionate kisses and erotic claiming of her body and soul would last for many lifetimes to come. He had touched her as no other person could. She would have liked to have known what their future could have been had they met in another time and place.
She berated herself for leaving the cave. She should never have been tricked, and she couldn't help but worry over Val. She hadn't found a wound, but that didn't mean the evil hadn't gotten to him some other way.
And where was Gabriel? Had the evil gotten to him as well? It was the only explanation she could come up with for them leaving her alone.
She had hoped when she called to Aimery that he had heard her this time, but apparently she had done even that wrong. At least if he was there, he could see to Val and Gabriel. Nothing could be done for her now. The evil had indeed won, and all because she had left the cave.
"Forgive me, Val,” she whispered into the cold wind that had sprung up.
Her eyes rose to the sky where she saw dark clouds rolling in. Any other time she would say it was a storm, but she knew it was the evil that approached. A dark spot in the sky drew her attention, but she didn't have to look twice to know it was the Gryphon.
"The time has come,” a man said and stepped before her. He all but spit on her before he turned to the villagers. “For years we have protected and raised the evil behind me. Now, it is time for her to die. And with her death, prosperity for this village until the end of time!"
Nicole was amazed at the idiocy of the villagers. Did they really think she was the evil? Fear turned her blood to ice as she saw the people coming closer with the torches.
One woman pointed her gnarled finger at Nicole and scrunched up her old, haggard face. “She must die!"
"Please, listen!” Nicole shouted, but the villagers never heard her. They were yelling for her death and there would be no stopping them now.
The wind began to howl as it whipped about them. Nicole turned her head to the side as strands of her hair were pulled from her plait and stung her face. Her skirts bunched about her legs and the trees groaned in protest as they were slung from side to side.
And then just as suddenly as the wind appeared, it stopped. In the midst of the villagers facing Nicole stood a lone figure in a long, black hooded cloak that hid his face from view. She knew without having to be told it was the great evil, the man who had rescued her and brought her to this village only to bring about her death.
"Why?” she asked him.
He moved toward her as if his feet never touched the ground, and his voice, when he spoke, was hollow and cold. “Because with your death, not only will I have all the power I have always sought, but I can once more have my body."
She peered into the dark hood, but saw nothing. It was like he didn't have a face.
"I don't,” he said. “I am merely a spirit existing only because my magic is as great as it is."
"Why didn't you kill me as a baby? Why wait?"
"I had to,” he said. “The Fae had to see their power slipping from them, they have to know their mighty magic can do nothing to stop me."
Nicole blinked back her tears. “You will never win. The Shields and the Fae will win."
"Not this time, my dear. After today, the Shields will never be the same, and without them, the Fae cannot win."
Nicole shook her head. “You have me, leave the Shields alone. They are no match for your power."
"True,” he said. “However, they do have something that could very well alter the outcome if I hadn't seen to it before hand."
"Why are you telling me this?"
"I want you to know just how hopeless the situation is, Nicole,” he whispered as he moved closer. “No one will come for you. No one will save you."
She looked away. “I know."
"Good. Then don't fight your destiny."
Nicole's hands began to go numb as the cold penetrated her. Strangely though, her skin that was covered with the unique gown Aimery had given her was warm.
She leaned her head back against the thick wooden pool and closed her eyes. She thought of her loch during the spring and envisioned herself and Val swimming in the cool waters, then making slow, sweet love beneath the tall pines that lined the water's edge.
A smile pulled at her lips as she recalled his light green eyes and the way they darkened just before he kissed her. She imagined running her fingers through his silky shoulder length light brown hair or over his bulging muscles.
The chanting of the villagers had grown louder and closer. Nicole didn't have to open her eyes to know that they were about to set the bundles of wood afire.
"Val,” she whispered as she heard the first crackling of limbs as they caught fire.
Chapter Thirty-Three
Val stopped in his tracks when he saw the crowd that surrounded Nicole. She was strapped to what looked like a large cross while the villagers moved closer to her with torches in their hands. He didn't like the catch in his throat or the way his heart clenched painfully at seeing her so helpless.
All his fears of not being able to save her rushed to the surface. He tried to catch Nicole's gaze, but she had her eyes closed. Val glanced to his left as Gabriel came up beside him.
"This isn't good,” he said.
Val gripped his halberd tighter. “Nay."
"All right, general. What do you want to do?"
"We have the element of surprise. Let's use it to our full advantage."
"Two against fifty,” Gabriel murmured. “Not good odds."
"Recount,” the barmaid said as she walked to the other side of Val.
Val smiled at her and the bow in her hands. “Can you use that?"
She glanced at his halberd. “Can you use that?"
He looked over at Gabriel who shrugged. “Three is better than two."
"All right, you loop around to the right behind the buildings. Gabriel, you go left. I'm going to head right down the center. Right now, I want to get Nicole free. I'll need both of you to cover me."
Both Gabriel and the barmaid nodded to him before they branched off. Val stared at Nicole, willing her to open her eyes and see him, to know that he had come for her.
With his halberd in both hands, Val began to creep toward the villagers. When he was a few strides from them, he whistled and got a man's attention. As soon as the man turned, Val swung his halberd and knocked him in the jaw.
The villagers were chanting Nicole's death too loudly to hear the man cry out as he fell unconscious to the ground. Val used that to his advantage and began to clear a path to Nicole. He was able to walk amid the villagers without anyone paying him much attention since they were focused on Nicole.
It wasn't until he reached the front that he saw the cloaked figure standing in front of Nicole. Suddenly, the figure turned and he knew it was the evil.
The figure hissed and raised an arm toward him. The villagers grew quiet and turned to look at him. Val kept his gaze on the cloaked figure and waited. When nothing happened, he moved his eyes to Nicole to find her watching him.
"Now,” the figure bellowed.
Before Val could move, men had thrown torches onto the bundles of wood at Nicole's feet. He watched in horror as they caught fire. He tried to move towards her, but villagers began to pull at his arms.
With a hiss of frustration, Val swung his halberd and knocked the villagers away, but as soon as he was free, more attacked him. He heard a vicious whoosh by his ear and watched as a man fell to his knees, an arrow sticking from his throat.
Val never stopped fighting as he slowly moved toward Nicole. Every so often he would hear Gabriel and the barma
id release an arrow, but the villagers kept coming at him.
It was when he heard Nicole's screams that he knew he was going to lose her. He glanced over at her to see the fire licking at her feet. It was like his sisters all over again, and he refused to allow that to happen yet again.
He threw back his head and bellowed his rage as he threw two men off him and raced toward Nicole. He jumped onto the platform and reached for her ropes.
"You came,” she said through her tears.
"I gave you my word."
His fingers fumbled with the knots and before he could release her, he was jerked backward, his halberd flying from his hands. He landed on his back with a bone jarring thud. Bright lights flashed before his eyes and he couldn't catch his breath.
Val concentrated on taking a deep breath and was rewarded as air filled his lungs. He rolled onto his hands and knees, ignoring the pain that lanced through his back.
A loud thump jarred the ground, and Val raised his head to see the Gryphon standing before him. He glanced at Nicole over his shoulder and saw the resignation fill her beautiful violet eyes. Her long black tresses whipped about her face as the wind began to quicken.
"You should have stayed in your drunken stupor,” the creature said as he walked toward Val.
Val turned back to the creature and climbed to his feet. “Are you too afraid to face me without resorting to tricks?"
The Gryphon laughed and folded his wings against his great black body. “Afraid of you? I think not."
No sooner had the words left his mouth than a volley of arrows pierced him. The Gryphon reared back on his hind legs and pawed at the air as he roared in pain.
Val used the diversion to unsheathe his sword and watched in amazement as the Gryphon pulled out the arrows and tossed them to the ground. As Val looked on, the wounds inflicted by Gabriel and the barmaid rapidly healed.
He had expected this, but he had hoped that the creature would suffer longer. Val barely had time to spare Nicole a glance before the Gryphon charged him. He stood with feet apart, knees bent and his balance on the balls of his feet. He gripped his sword in his right hand and waited until the last possible moment before he dove to the side.
Val didn't come away unscathed, though. The Gryphon's talons had raked down Val's legs, leaving three gaping wounds. He ignored his now throbbing leg and rolled to his feet to see the flames about to reach Nicole's feet.
Fear wound its icy manacles around him and threatened to drag him down. He opened his mouth and took deep breaths, and then took a step toward her.
No sooner had he taken that step than something wrapped around his neck and squeezed painfully. Val clawed at the talon around him as his air was slowly and unmercifully cut off.
"How does it feel?” the creature asked. “Does it pain you to know that once again you will have failed the ones you love?"
Val closed his eyes against the Gryphon's words, but not before he saw the stark terror in Nicole's gaze. He knew he would die, he had just wanted to free Nicole before his time came.
He kicked back and connected with the Gryphon. The beast grunted and loosened his hold for just a moment. Val gulped in a tiny amount of air and opened his eyes to search out Gabriel. He managed to spot Gabriel in the chaos as the villagers ran about screaming. With the blackness beginning to encroach on his vision, Val knew he had precious little time in which to give Gabriel a signal. Val managed the barest of nods and prayed that Gabriel realized what it meant.
"I have no choice but to kill you,” the Gryphon said in Val's ear.
And then to his amazement, the Gryphon eased his grip again. “There must have been good in you at one time,” Val said through the pain in his throat. “Find it again and help us."
For a long moment there wasn't an answer, and then the Gryphon said, “I'm afraid that part of me is dead."
As the Gryphon's grip tightened once again, Val saw Gabriel notch three arrows and let them fly. The arrows hit the creature and he instantly released Val.
Val hit the ground and rolled. As he climbed to his feet, he reached for the dagger at the back of his waist. He looked over his shoulder to see the Gryphon already healed and his eyes trained on him.
With time of the essence, Val jumped over the roaring fire and embedded the dagger beside Nicole's hand. He briefly met her gaze before he jumped down and raced for his halberd.
Nicole stared at the dagger protruding from the wood near her hand. She didn't hesitate to loop the rope over the blade and began to saw through the ropes. Her heart thudded in fear, but not for herself-for Val.
She watched in awe as he sheathed his sword and reached for his halberd, and then proceeded to use it to knock away villagers that tried to attack him. The villagers were no match for Val, but the Gryphon that lurked behind them was.
It had taken everything she had not to call out to Val when the Gryphon had choked him. As strong as Val was and as gifted he was with weapons, none of that could compare to the Gryphon's dark power.
She felt the rope around her wrist slacken, and she renewed her efforts to free herself. She tried not to pay attention to the ever approaching fire that licked at her feet, but the heat from the flames had the sweat running down her face and neck.
Suddenly, the rope gave way and her arm dropped. She reached up and tugged the dagger from the wood and moved to release her other hand when her arm was wrenched back against the wood.
Tears stung her eyes as pain erupted in her arm and she nearly dropped the dagger. She looked around to see who had stopped her and found the cloaked figure off to her right. She could all but see his power directed at her.
The flames swiftly rose and scorched the hem of her dress. Nicole cried out as the flames rose higher and higher. Then, as rapidly as they had grown, they were doused. And that's when she spotted Aimery.
"Stay out of it,” he yelled to the great evil.
The great evil turned his hooded head to Aimery. “Never."
"You know the rules,” Aimery said and advanced on him. “You cannot interfere."
"Neither can you."
"I am merely balancing the power,” Aimery said and raised his hands. “I will continue to do so as long as you continue to interfere."
The evil laughter reverberated around the village, making Nicole's skin crawl. “A Fae who has finally had enough. Does your king know of your intentions?"
Nicole moved her gaze to Aimery and waited for him to answer. When he didn't, she again heard the evil's laughter.
"Since you know the laws so well, then you will know what will happen to you now that you have broken one,” the evil said.
Aimery shrugged, his long, flaxen hair blowing behind him as the wind picked up again. “It is a chance I am willing to take."
"Then you are as foolish as I had hoped you were."
The arm that the evil had pinned back against the wood was freed, and Nicole hurried to cut through the ropes on her other hand.
She threw a glance at Aimery and the evil to see them advancing on each other. She had no idea what would happen if they began to fight, and she greatly feared what the outcome would be.
And then, just as Aimery raised his hand to attack, the evil disappeared and the wind died down again. With both hands now freed, Nicole reached down and began to free her feet. The village began to quiet as the villagers found their homes and hid.
Nicole cut through the ropes binding her feet. With the dagger still in hand, she lifted her skirts and quickly jumped over the smoldering wood. She landed heavily and steadied herself as she searched the area.
Her gaze sought Val's as he and the Gryphon fought. She stood rooted to the spot as Val used the tip of his halberd to cut open the creature's chest.
The creature roared and swung his large front talon at him. She sucked in a breath as Val jumped back just before a talon could cut open his torso.
Val needed help and she knew there was one person who could aide him as no one could—Gabriel. Nicole's gaze s
earched the village until she caught sight of Gabriel. He stood to her right, an arrow notched and sighted, yet he didn't release it.
Nicole waited with bated breath for Gabriel to help Val, yet he did nothing more than stand there. “Gabriel,” she yelled. When that didn't get his attention, she turned and ran towards him.
"Gabriel, help him,” she shouted again and again.
She pushed her way through a throng of frightened villagers and raced toward Gabriel. She didn't know what was stopping him, but she knew if he didn't help Val soon, Val could die.
"Gabriel,” she said when she reached him. “What is wrong with you? Why aren't you helping Val?” she cried.
Nicole glanced at Val and watched as the Gryphon tried to peck at him with his sharp beak.
"Gabriel, please,” she begged.
When it became obvious that Gabriel wasn't going to help, Nicole lifted her skirts and clutched the dagger as she ran towards Val.
She was just about to reach him when she stumbled over a dead body and fell to the ground. She watched in horror as the dagger tumbled from her hand to land several paces away. Tears stung her eyes as she struggled to her hands and knees and crawled to the weapon.
When it was once again in her hand, she turned to Val to find the Gryphon over Val.
"Nay,” she screamed as she found her feet. Her only thought was to save Val as she ran towards the Gryphon. She knew what the consequences were when she buried the dagger in the Gryphon's back.
She just hadn't expected to feel so much fear when he roared and turned to face her.
Chapter Thirty-Four
"Nicole?” the Gryphon asked, his eyes filled with sorrow. “Why?"
Nicole swallowed and backed away. “Just get it over with,” she said and let the tears fall. She didn't look at Val. She couldn't bear to see the love of her life watch her cower in fear.
The Gryphon reached around and pulled the dagger from his back, then stepped toward her. “I never expected this of you. You must care for him a great deal."