She cried and begged me to stop. She reminded me that I’d professed my love for her, that we belonged to each other. Her words forced me to face who I was, who I wasn’t, and who she was. And it made me angry. So I stormed from the room, leaving her there. I was out of my mind, not thinking, just reacting, spiraling into my own self-made abyss. I should have known she’d not be alone long. I’m still not sure I didn’t know. I remember hearing them there. They waited for their turn. I always gave them their turn when I was done. But still I left her.”
“Who?!” Murder demanded.
“Those that served me. Some call them sprites, demons, still others call them imps or gremlins. They are known by many names. I had fallen so low, they were the only creatures that would keep my company and do my bidding. Ugly little creatures, small and compact. Some as tall as my knee, others no larger than my hand, but all anxious to serve me. They knew my origin. They knew my power, and the darkness I now carried inside me called to them. They served willingly and happily. They were bound to my fortress and unable to leave there. They protected all my wealth, all that belonged to me in that fortress.”
“You let them have Evangeline?” Murder asked, rising to his feet.
Lore raised his eyes to Murder’s. Murder was glaring down at him. “I was as dark as they, as evil. By this time, I had let it consume me.”
Murder didn’t answer. He just stood there, looming over Lore, waiting for him to admit what he’d allowed to happen to a female. To his own female.
“I was struggling, fighting my own demons. Fighting to convince myself that the only way we could be together was to make her as dark as I was.” He looked up at Murder again. “I never once thought to make myself as good as she.”
“What happened to her?”
“I was stalking the halls of the fortress, loathing myself, half insane. Angry at her for being too good for me, as if that was anyone’s fault but my own. My shouts, ramblings screamed to the empty rooms and hallways I stalked. And then, I could hear her screaming, begging for me to return to her. I heard her screaming for someone to leave her alone. Suddenly I knew, I saw it clearly, I’d left her at their mercy. Then I heard nothing. I panicked. I ran back down the hallway and burst into the bedroom. They were descending on her. One held a pillow over her face to smother her screaming. Another had torn her bodice and was suckling her breast.” Lore stopped talking, his hands trembling, his voice cracking.
“Go on,” Murder spat. “She lived it, the least you can do is acknowledge it.”
“Two had torn her skirts and one was between her legs, preparing to… another used his hands to stroke her, and he leaned over to taste her.”
“And you did nothing?” Murder roared.
“I destroyed them. It was too late, but I destroyed them. I lost my mind. All I know is that when I came to, I was sitting on the bed in a different room. She was in my arms, and I was covered in blood. At first I thought it was hers, but it wasn’t. She was not bleeding. She was completely nude, clinging to me, cowering in to me. I held her and whispered to her. Telling her that she was safe, that I loved her and would never allow her to come to harm.
I took her down to the hot baths and bathed us both. I coaxed her into opening her eyes and seeing that there was no one there but us. I promised that I’d killed all who dared to touch her. I promised that no one but I would ever touch her. I cared for her as though she were an infant that night, I cleansed her, I fed her. I held her all night. Then the next morning, she was different.”
Murder had taken his seat again. “Different how?” he asked.
“She remembered none of it. She didn’t remember me. She didn’t know who or what she was or where she came from. We stayed there for weeks, and every so often, she’d forget again, and I’d have to remind her that I was her love. Her husband, her mate. That I’d die for her. That I’d love her forever.”
“Did you make her yours, claim her as your own?” Murder asked.
“Yes. And she claimed me, too.”
“How can she have claimed you if she didn’t know who she was or who you were?”
Lore shrugged. “She had moments, long moments of clarity. It was when I’d leave her alone for any length of time that her memory would leave her. Then we’d have to start all over again.” Lore shrugged again. “I broke her heart,” he whispered. “And in so doing I broke her spirit. I broke her mind. And every time I found her she was a little more lost. Then suddenly, there’d be a moment of clarity, then she’d be lost again. She doesn’t know me anymore. She may never know me again. But I have to bring her back here. Even if I never see her again afterward, I have to free her and allow her to live life with pleasures and joy. She deserves happy. I took that from her. I did it. I have to fix it. I have to give her the opportunity to be happy.”
Murder sat forward. “So you’re not trying to free her to be your mate? You’re trying to free her for her own sake.”
“I’d be lying to you if I told you I don’t want her. I do. If she’d have me, I’d become human tomorrow if that is what it took.”
“Which is why you’ve been preparing Lily to take your powers. You’ll give up everything to be what Evangeline needs, even to the point of becoming human.”
“I will. But at the moment, all I want is her in the sunshine, to hear the birds, to see the flowers and to have friends. I want to hear her laughter and see her smiles. If she never remembers me, so be it. I earned it, and I deserve it. I’ll live with it if I have to. I make no excuses for what I did. But I’m not that male anymore. I just want to make it right for Evangeline, not myself.”
“You may have to face the past in order to get to the future. You know that?” Murder asked.
“I face it every day, and I’ve not slit my throat yet. Whatever it takes to give her a life she deserves is what I’ll do.”
Murder stood. “Alright, then. Where are we going?”
Lore stood. “Hell.”
“What?!” Murder asked, his brows shooting up to his forehead.
“Hell. They are hiding her in Hell.”
Chapter 5
Destroy and Rowan sat on their couch, Destroy holding her tightly in his arms. They’d spent the day making love, professing their forevers and what if’s. Later in the afternoon, Rowan had prepared a concoction of herbs and spices and made him drink it. Then, she’d taken him outside and called the winds to her husband. She’d asked them to hold him close, to shelter him from harm. She called the earth and fire and asked for the same favor. Next, she called the rains to pull them all together. It was just a little rain, a sprinkle really. But it was enough to extinguish her flame, muddy her earth and allow her to know that her spell had taken. Then she went inside and took a small glass vial down from her shelf and filled it with the wet earth she still clasped in her hand. She filled three more and whispered a few more words of protection over them. She looped one with a leather strip and tied it around Destroy’s neck. Then she looped leather around the others and left them on the counter top in the kitchen. Now she sat in his lap, tracing a protection symbol on his chest over and over again while they waited for Lore.
“I’ll be right back, Row. It won’t take long,” Destroy said quietly.
“How do you know? You don’t even know where he’s taking you.”
“Doesn’t matter. If we are stealing her, it’s not like he’s going to want to spend a little time there. He wants to get in, snatch her and get out.”
“Just be careful, Destroy. This,” she tapped the tiny glass bottle suspended around his neck, “will offer you some protection from magics, but it’s not foolproof. You can still be injured.”
“I know. I’ll be fine,” Destroy promised, dropping a kiss on her head.
“If you’re not, I will kick your ass. If you don’t come back, I will track you down, and I will beat you!” she said, a hitch in her voice.
“I would expect nothing less. But I will come back. I will be back. My life is here with you, a
nd I’m not ready for it to end yet.”
“Promise?”
“I promise. I will be back very soon.”
They sat like that, neither speaking, until finally, shortly after dark they heard voices. Destroy lifted an arm and shifted the curtain covering the window. “It’s Lore and Murder.”
Rowan stood, followed by Destroy, and together they walked outside hand in hand. They waited on the porch as they watched Lore and Murder approach.
“Destroy. You ready?” Lore asked, coming to a stop just in front of the porch steps.
Murder didn’t stop walking; he went right up the step and embraced Destroy. “Brother,” he said. “I am honored to fight beside you once more.”
Destroy embraced him back, noticing his blade strapped securely in his battle sheath at his waist. “And I you.”
“Fight? Nobody said anything about fighting! All you said was steal your woman and bring her back!” Rowan said, her voice rising steadily with each word.
“There will be no need for fighting if we are stealthy,” Lore assured.
“Where are you taking my mate?” she asked.
“To another realm. We shall return him unscathed,” Lore promised.
Murder caught Lore’s eye and raised an eyebrow.
Lore ignored him, knowing that Murder had realized that they weren’t telling Rowan or Destroy exactly where they were headed.
“I must beg a favor, Rowan.”
“I think taking my husband to another realm to kidnap your mate is quite enough!” she snapped.
Lore smiled. “You would think so. Yet, I have another favor to ask. Should Destroy make it back, but I don’t, would you please be kind to my mate. Help her acclimate. Make her feel welcome. She will be quite lost, but anxious for a new start I have no doubt.”
Rowan’s mouth dropped open. “Of course, Lore. I would never be cold or mean to anyone who doesn’t provoke me. But you better come back, too. Or I’ll be hunting you down and beating you as well!”
“I’m ever grateful, Rowan. Thank you,” Lore said, his hand over his heart, performing a little bow.
“Hold on. I’ll be right back,” Rowan said, ducking back into the house. Moments later she was back, carrying Destroy’s scythe. “Here,” she said, tossing the scythe toward Destroy, who caught it expertly, “you may need this.”
Destroy grinned, testing out its balance in his hands.
Then, she stopped in front of Murder. “Lean down here so I can reach.”
Murder leaned down, and Rowan tied the thin leather strap around his neck. From the strap dangled a tiny bottle, filled with the same earth that she used to fill Destroy’s bottle. “Follow me,” she said, taking Murder’s hand and leading him off her porch.
She let go of Murder’s hand and approached Lore. “Lean over,” she said. Lore obliged, lifting his hair out of the way, so she could tie the leather strip around his neck as well. He let his hair fall down his back and fingered the tiny jar filled with dirt. “Thank you, Rowan. I’d hoped you would offer us protection, but didn’t dare ask.”
“I’m angry you’re taking my male. I’m not heartless. I don’t want anything to happen to any of you.” Then she lifted her arms in the air, calling the night winds.
“Destroy, come down here,” she said. She looked to be sure that all three males were standing behind her, then, she lifted her face to the night sky and began chanting. The winds began swirling, and one by one they teased the three men, lifting their clothing, flicking Lore’s hair. And each of the bottles around their necks was lifted and tossed to and fro. A sprinkle of rain fell on them and Rowan approached. She kissed Destroy right over his heart, then did the same with Murder and Lore. Then she handed Lore the fourth bottle suspended from a thin leather strap. “Put this on your mate when you find her. It will help protect her.”
Lore took the talisman into his hand and closed his fingers around it. “You honor me with this gift, Rowan. Thank you.”
“You’re welcome, Lore.”
Once she was done, Destroy pulled her in his arms. “Do not marry anybody else if I die. Do not ever have sex with anybody else if I die. I’ll be watching, and I will not be happy!” he said, swatting her rear.
Rowan rolled her eyes. “If you die, I’m coming to find you, so I can beat you, then kill you again.”
“He will return to you, Rowan. His job is to grab my angel and run for the exit. He will be back.”
Rowan held Destroy to her. “I love you, Destroy. Come back soon.”
“I will. Before you know it, I’ll be right back.” He hugged her to him tightly and kissed her again and again while Lore and Murder walked toward the tree line. She ran a few steps with him, kissing him again.
“Woman, you’re going to make me think you have no faith in me.”
“I’m just going to miss you.”
“He’ll be back, with my mate in tow. I give you my word, Rowan,” Lore promised.
“And I’ll watch over him. He will be fine,” Murder added.
“Okay, okay. But I want all of you back here! No excuses!” Rowan called after them as they finally went out of sight.
“Destroy will return soon!” Murder’s voice boomed at her from the darkness.
They walked a while in silence until finally Destroy spoke. “Where are we going?”
“To see Lily. I need to speak to her before we leave,” Lore explained.
<<<<<<<>>>>>>>
The bell sounded, letting Carnage and Carolena know someone was downstairs waiting. Carnage got up and went out to look over the deck and see who it was.
“’Mon!” he called over the side.
The three males walked their way up the stairs to the top of the landing, then stepped onto Carnage’s deck.
Carnage held Boon in his arms and watched them suspiciously — why were they walking? He pushed the gate opened for them to enter before closing it behind them.
“Thank you for inviting us up, Carnage. I’m going on a journey. I was hoping to speak with Lily for a moment before I go.”
“’Kay,” he answered. Carnage walked over to his front door and held it open, ushering them all inside. As Destroy walked past, he reached out and took Boon from Carnage. “Hello, little man! Come see Uncle Stoy.”
Carnage allowed Destroy to take Boon, then went right over to Lore. He stood in front of him and wiggled his fingers to indicate the mists that usually took Lore from one place to another, and made a wooing sound. “Nooo mis?” Carnage asked.
“Walking. Trying to save my strengths for the journey.”
A few minutes later Lily came running into the living room in her pajamas, her hair wet and her skin still pink from her bath. “Unca Lore! Unca Stoy! Unca Murder!” she screeched, running from one to the other to get hugs and kisses.
“Hello, sweet girl. We are going on a short journey, so I came by to say goodnight, and I’ll see you soon,” Lore said, kneeling beside her.
Lily nodded.
Carolena came into the living room. “Well, hello. How did I end up with a house full of men?” she joked,
“Sexy men,” Destroy added. “Armed sexy men,” he said, turning around to show her his scythe strapped to his back.
“Well, of course. Only sexy men allowed here,” she teased back.
“I’m taking a trip, and Destroy and Murder are going with me. I came by to let you know and to see Lily before I go.”
Lily tugged on Murder’s hand and raised her hands in the air. The universal sign all kids know for ‘pick me up’.
Murder lifted her, and she hugged him tight. “I gonna see you again,” she whispered.
“Of course you will. I won’t be gone long,” Murder said, kissing her cheek.
“Will you be away long?” Carolena asked.
“I think not. We should be back in a few days, but time passes differently in some realms. What seems to us like a short while, may be a little longer, or vice-versa.”
“Is there anything I can do fo
r you?” Carolena asked, sensing this was not just a regular journey.
“You can check on Row. She’s not happy that I’m leaving,” Destroy said, between bouncing Boon and tickling his chunky little feet.
“I will. I’ll make sure she’s okay every single day. If you get home and she’s not there, come check here,” Carolena said.
“Thank you, Carolena,” Destroy answered.
Lore looked pained, obviously he needed something, but was having a hard time asking for it.
“Lore, what is it?” Carolena finally asked.
“I wanted… I need to see…” he gave up.
“Just ask. There is not much we wouldn’t give you. You are family, remember?” Carolena said.
“’Es!” Carnage added.
“I would like, if it’s okay with you, to hug Lily. To try to strengthen myself a bit, by siphoning some of her powers. I’ve given her much of mine over the years, and I could use a boost to ensure the safety of all three of us. But if you’d rather I’d not, I completely understand.”
Carolena looked at Lily, who was already having Murder put her down. She hurried over to Lore, and he looked at Carolena and Carnage. “Huurrrt?” Carnage asked.
“Will it weaken her or make her ill?” Carolena asked.
“Not at all. Only weakens her powers for a little while, and she’s not supposed to be using them without me anyway. Right?” he asked, chucking her under the chin.
Lily giggled.
“If she’s alright with it, we are, too,” Carolena said.
Lore sat down on the floor, and Lily climbed into his lap. She hugged him just like she’d done Murder, and his mists surrounded them both, shrouding them and swirling until they went from a very pale lavender to a dark, stormy, dangerous looking purple. He closed his eyes and rested his head against hers. She closed her eyes for a few moments then opened them again and blew on his nose. He opened his eyes and looked at her while he scratched his nose with his finger. “You made my nose itch,” he said, tickling her ribs.
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