“Well, what are we waiting for?” Seth turned from everyone and started towards the door. We followed and walked outside to the eastern shore.
“We need to be careful. It’s a long way and we’ll have to do it in one breath.”
“But what about light?” Dirk asked. “How are we going to be able to see where we’re going? I’m sure it’s dark down there.”
“I’ll lead the way.” Rory drew his sword and his eyes glowed white.
“I still don’t understand how you can do that.” Dirk said. “We’ve lost our powers. How come you haven’t lost yours?”
Rory shrugged pompously. “Maybe it just didn’t think you were worth it.”
Dirk was about to hit him with whatever strength he could muster but I cut in before he could. “No. The sword is a part of the comet. It can’t take away its own power. Now, let’s go. We’re wasting time.” They let the bickering go and we all got into the water. “Okay, now there should be a drop off somewhere around here.”
Dirk fell and went under water just after I said it. Everyone looked over as he came back up and shook the water out of his hair. “Found it.”
I smiled and everyone approached him and stood on the edge. “Good. Now, remember, one deep breath and make it count. It has to get us all the way there.” Everyone nodded and got ready. “Okay. Here we go and watch out for sharks.”
“Sharks?” Seth wondered. “Great.”
“We’ll be fine. Dive on the count of three. Ready? One. Two. Three.”
Everyone took a deep breath and all jumped down off the ledge at the same time. I swam next to Rory in front of everyone and made sure we went the right way. We swam deep under the island and came upon the tunnel that would lead up to the air pocket. Shadows were moving all around us as we continued as quickly as we could.
I nudged Rory and pointed up to light above us. He nodded and we started to swim a little quicker. We surfaced first and took a few breaths as the others surfaced and did the same. The cave was lit up with torches and I saw the three reclined chairs in a circle that used to be in that back room.
“This is it.” I said.
“But what about the potions?” Ruby wondered.
Jinx approached a large chest sitting off to the side. “They might be in here but it’s locked.”
I walked over and kneeled down to it. “It’s a different key from before.”
“But we didn’t find another key.” Dirk explained. “How do we open it? I doubt I could break it being this weak.”
“Seth, your sword.” I said. “It can break through anything.” Seth nodded as he approached the chest and drew his sword. “Be gentle. You don’t want to break any of the bottles.”
Seth nodded again as he put the tip of his sword over the lock. He lifted it up and drove it down on it, breaking the lock clean off the chest.
I smiled while moving the broken pieces so I could open it. “Good. Now let’s see what we have.”
I opened up the chest and there were about a dozen bottles inside in a variety of colors.
“Whoa. That’s a lot.” Dirk muttered.
I picked up a letter that was sitting on top and opened it. “There’s one for everyone in here. She knew who was going to be at the palace.”
“Well, let’s take it and go.” Seth replied.
“No. We won’t make it in time.”
“So, what are we going to do?” Rory asked.
“We have to get there quickly.”
Everyone looked over at Seth and he took a step back. “No. I can’t. I mean, I don’t have—”
“This?” I held up a blue potion and gave it a little shake.
Seth sighed. “Well, yeah, that.”
“It will only take a couple of hours.”
“But I thought we didn’t have time to waste?”
“A couple of hours is worth taking if it means we’ll get back within a day rather than eleven.”
Seth sighed but he had to know I was right and took the bottle. “All right. What do I do with it? Do I drink it?”
Ruby laughed. “Goodness no. That would probably kill you.”
“Then how?”
She stepped aside and held out her hand to the three reclined chairs in a circle. “Sit and you’ll find out.”
“That worries me.”
“You’ll be fine. It doesn’t hurt, at first.” Seth’s eyes got wide. “There’s two left. Who wants to do it with him?”
There was a pause as the others looked around at each other.
“You do.” Seth said as he pulled Dirk forward by his arm.
“I do?”
“Well, you said you couldn’t survive if you’re normal. Just do it.”
Dirk sighed as he went over to one of the chairs. “All right, I’ll do it with him.”
“As will I.” Rory added as he stepped forward.
“Okay, good.” I took the potion back from Seth and led him over to one of the chairs. “Now, take off your shoes and sit with your feet up. We’ll have to make sure we get this right so there’s no mistakes.”
“Can’t have that.” Dirk replied as he slipped off his boots. “I don’t exactly want anyone else’s powers.”
I laughed and Jinx approached with five other potion bottles and set them on the small table in the middle of the chairs. “Here are the others and don’t worry, I double checked.”
“Good.” I said. “But let’s just do one at a time. I don’t want to risk anything by doing both.”
“Okay, so Dirk, which one do you want first?” Jinx asked as he held up both his potions. “Do you want the Touch of Death or Infinite Power?”
“Hmm. Sorry mother but I want to be strong again.”
Ruby laughed again. “It’s all right. You are like your father.”
“Okay, I’ll leave this one and put the others back.” Jinx place the Infinite Power potion back on the table and picked up Seth’s other two potions.
“Well, let’s get started shall we?” I picked up Seth’s Hastily Response potion and walked over to him.
“How badly is this going to hurt?”
“Just a pinch. The bottle attaches to your skin to stay in place with these spikes.” I pointed to the bottle showing the five spikes around the top, keeping the cover sealed.
“Oh, great. Let’s do it.”
“You need to remain completely relaxed until you’re body absorbs all of the liquid.”
“How is it going to do that, exactly?”
“Like this.” I lifted up the front of his shirt, exposing his bellybutton. “I place it here and you have to stay still until it’s finished. It’s very important that you do that.”
“Okay.” Seth laid his head back and closed his eyes. “I’m relaxed.”
“Good. I’m doing it now. You’re going to feel the pinch and it will start to sting but it will go away.” I placed the bottle upside down over his stomach and the spikes popped open, attaching to his skin around his bellybutton. He flinched for a moment but it faded when his body started to absorb the liquid. “You must remain like this until I tell you you’re done.” Seth lightly nodded as I picked up Dirk’s Infinite Power potion and walked over to him. “Ready? Just relax.” I reached for his shirt and started pulling it up.
He laid there with his head back and took a relaxing breath. “You don’t know how long I’ve been waiting for this moment.” I looked up at him and lightly slapped him in the face but Dirk immediately looked down at me. “Hey, that’s not what I meant. Although, I’m starting to think about it now.”
“Dirk!” Ruby shouted from behind.
Dirk smiled and put his head back and closed his eyes again. “Sorry, mother. I’m relaxed now.”
“Are you sure?” I asked.
Dirk paused and took a deep breath. “Yes. Go ahead. I’m ready.”
I placed the bottle upside down over his stomach and the spikes popped open, attaching to his skin around his bellybutton. He flinched for a moment just like Seth but
it faded when his body started to absorb the liquid. I then turned back to the table and picked up Rory’s Mental Sound potion and walked over to him next. “Relaxed?”
“Yup and ready.” He had his eyes closed, ready to go.
I lifted up his shirt, placing the bottle upside down over his stomach and the spikes popped open, attaching to his skin around his bellybutton. He flinched for a moment too but it faded when his body started to absorb the liquid. “Okay, remember to stay relaxed and don’t move until we tell you. Try falling asleep. It helps.”
They were left sitting there while their bodies did all of the work and Ruby, Jinx and I waited a distance away with the chest of the potions.
“All we can do is wait now.” I said.
“And hope we’re not too late.” Ruby added.
“We may as well already be. We know what would happen if they didn’t wake up. We just didn’t want to say it.”
“It’s not Fate’s intent for them to end that way, I just know it isn’t.” Jinx said. “Naomi’s future has always been written to be with Bryce. It wouldn’t end this quickly. Not now. Not while she’s pregnant.”
“I hope you’re right.”
It’s all any of us could do; hope.
Chapter 72
Seth
Sitting here made me feel tired. Am I asleep right now or did this just feel like sleeping? I couldn’t fully know what was going on since I had to stay here like this but hours had to have passed before I felt something pull at my skin.
My eyes popped open and my mother had removed the bottle from my stomach. It was empty. “How do you feel?”
“Tired.” I answered, looking around to see Dirk and Rory in the same state as me. “Did it work?”
“Only you can tell us that.” Ruby replied. “Test it and find out.”
I got up out of my chair and moved myself to the other side of the cave.
“I guess it worked.” Jinx said.
“Much better.” I was smiling now and went back to them. “Shall we go now?”
“Yes, and we must hurry.” My mother went over to the chest and closed it up. “Take this topside then come and get us.”
I nodded and picked up the chest. “I’ll be right back.” I approached the water with it and jumped in. It was so much better to swim with my speed. It didn’t make me tired at all and I brought the chest to the surface then dove in again to get them. “Ready? Keep your eyes closed and it will be quick.”
My mother took my hand and she looked back at the others.
“Oh no.” Rory said. “Please don’t let it be quick.”
I had to laugh. “Just keep your eyes closed. It won’t be as long as last time.”
He sighed but approached with the others and completed the chain. We jumped into the water and I quickly took them back to the island surface.
“Well, I guess there’s only one thing left to do.” Ruby said as she looked north.
“In a second.” My mother walked back to Madam Carla’s cottage and kneeled down in front of the door. None of us were quite sure what she was doing until she had a little fire going and stood up with it in her hands. “For everything you’ve done.” She threw it up on the roof and it immediately caught fire on the dried straw. “Now there’s only one thing left to do. We have to make this quick. Dirk, you take the chest.”
“Yeah, got it.” He picked it up with no problem.
“Hang on everyone and keep your eyes closed.”
They all nodded as they held on to each other with Dirk last, holding the chest but Rory did so with the longest sigh. I ignored him and I made sure they all had their eyes closed so we could head to shore for our horses. Once we got them, I began the long trip back north towards Randal. We would be there in about twelve hours or so but I wouldn’t stop for breaks. Sorry, Rory. Our priority was to get back before it was too late.
Chapter 73
Naomi
I was sitting in our room next to Bryce as he slept but was getting worried because even though he was conscious now, he didn’t seem to be doing any better. The longer I sat here the more I started to think about it and tears formed in my eyes. I held them back for as long as I could until finally I just broke down and cried over him.
When I felt his hand on me, I quickly backed away and wiped my eyes.
“Were you crying again?” His voice was still very weak and he could barely keep his eyes open enough to look at me.
“Maybe.”
“I don’t want you to cry for me. You need to stay strong for what’s to come.”
I was worried and began to shake my head for what he was saying. “No. Don’t say that.”
“Someone has to. I don’t know how much longer I’ll be here.” I broke down in tears again. I couldn’t help it. “You still have much to live for and if I go, I need to know that you’ll be all right.”
“But I won’t be. I can’t lose you. I love you too much.”
“Then promise me one thing.” I wiped my eyes again and he took my hand. “You take that love and share it with our child. I want him to know who I was.”
“He will know you because you’ll still be here to show him. I won’t have to tell him.”
“Naomi. Just promise me, in case the worst should happen.”
“All right. I promise if you promise to stay with me.”
“You know I can’t do that. It’s not up to me.”
Another tear fell down my face and Bryce started coughing. When it finally settled, he took a few slow breaths with his hand on his head.
“You need to rest. I didn’t mean to wake you.”
“I know. Stay with me?” I nodded as I laid next to him and he quickly fell asleep.
I couldn’t leave him. I haven’t in a while. He was awake now but I was still worried. Even he thought he wasn’t going to make it. That tore at my heart and it took me much longer to get to sleep. Trying to think of something happy so I could find peace was the nightmare.
I woke up suddenly to Cadence and Lana entering the room with odd smiles. “What’s going on?”
“We have something for you.” Lana said.
I was still tired and rubbed my eyes. “What is it?”
“Hope.” Cadence stepped away from the door and Adele came in holding the Healing Heart potion in both hands.
I gasped in shock and quickly got out of bed and went over, hugging her. “You’re back!”
“Yes and it’s time.” I nodded and led Adele over to Bryce’s side. “He’s so pale. How long has he been conscious?”
“Six days but he’s been getting worse. Even he believes that he won’t make it through this.”
“Then let us fix that.”
I stood by as Adele placed the bottle upside down over his stomach and the spikes popped open, attaching to his skin around his bellybutton. He flinched in his sleep and there was an immediate light glow to his skin as his body started to take in the liquid. It was a good sign and I couldn’t hide my smile for seeing it. Even tears of joy started to shed from my eyes. I was just so relieved and sat in the chair next to him until the liquid was completely absorbed into his body.
That’s when he woke with a deep breath in and sat up. I was stunned to see him looking so much better and quickly hugged him. “Bryce!”
“Twins.”
“What?”
“It’s twins.” Bryce put his hand on my stomach while I backed away. “We’re going to have twins.”
I couldn’t believe it but smiled back and hugged him again. “I love you.”
“And I love you.”
I had a tight hold around him and began to think of everything that has happened. It basically meant that I was still crying. “I’ve missed you so much.”
“I know but I’m here now and I’m not going anywhere.”
I was happy to finally hear it from him and pulled away to kiss him.
“We should tell the others the news and so they can know you’re okay.”
“Wait.”
Bryce took my arm and stopped me from turning away. “First we should celebrate our own way.”
I smiled and stepped into him. “It has been a long time but only if you think you can.”
Bryce just smiled as he lifted me up by my thighs and turned to the bed. We started kissing as he lowered me down. I was so overwhelmed to see him healthy again and we expressed our love for each other with an afternoon of long-awaited lovemaking. I couldn’t want anything else. It has always been Bryce. He knew how to treat me and seeing his strength again worked out quite well. I wish we could have stayed with each other in this state of ecstasy forever but we still had something else to do.
Twins. I was still trying to imagine what that would be like. Knowing I was having one was one thing but two? This made everything change but I was happy Bryce was going to be with me through it all.
Chapter 74
Jaylyn
“I hope I’m not interrupting.”
Naomi and Bryce turned their head and smiled when they saw me enter.
“Mother!” Bryce got up and walked to me. “You’re all right!”
We hugged and I was happy to see him better as well. “I’ve brought you something. Are you ready for it?”
“In a minute, mother but first I want you to check something.”
“Okay, what?” He led me over towards the bed where Naomi was sitting but I didn’t have a clue to what this was about.
“Do you feel what I feel?”
I paused for a moment. When I realized what he was asking me, I locked into my senses and immediately smiled and looked at Naomi. “I don’t believe it. You’re having twins!”
We hugged. “I know. It was the first thing he said to me.”
“You should be proud. It’s seen as a wonder to have twins in the first place but to have one of each sex is even rarer.”
“You mean like a boy and a girl?” Bryce wondered.
“Yeah, didn’t you feel it?”
“No. I guess I was still in shock to know it was twins.”
“Well, here.” I took his hand and put it over Naomi’s stomach. “Visualize it.”
Despairing Tides (Fate's Intent Book 12) Page 32