Lore

by Sandra R Neeley

  “I’m so sorry,” Phrygia whispered to the male hanging before her. “I’d give my own soul to save you if I had one left to give.”

  She dipped the cloth into the bowl of water on the floor beside her and gently applied it to the raw flesh the whip left behind on the smooth, black chest of the Gargoyle. She lifted one hand and cupped his jaw, smoothing her thumb across his lip, where he’d been struck so hard his own fang had sliced through his lip.

  Phrygia allowed a small sob to escape her throat as she bathed the blood from his lip as well.

  Terrus and Lore misted beneath the door and took shape just inside of the cell Murder was held in. The first thing they saw was a guard bathing his wounds. Trying to bring him ‘round, no doubt, so he’d have to endure another beating.

  Lore snarled and rushed the guard.

  The guard turned to face whoever was charging toward them, and threw her hands out, as though to take the brunt of the attack and protect Murder from further harm.

  Just at the last moment, Lore realized the guard meant to protect Murder from him. He stopped his attack and stood watching the guard curiously. Something about this guard was very familiar. Then he knew — this was the same guard he’d watched bringing food and water to Evangeline when he’d been watching her memories. This was the guard that had tried to soothe her. He would not kill this guard.

  “Move away from Murder,” he commanded.

  The guard looked at him, a confused look on his face.

  “Terrus, can you release these chains?” Lore asked, without looking toward Terrus.

  “I believe so. They are spelled, but together we can break them.”

  Lore stepped toward Murder.

  The guard stayed between them.

  “Move!” he snarled. “He is going home this day!”

  The guard bowed his head and moved aside.

  Terrus placed one hand on the chains binding Murder’s right leg, and Lore knelt wrapping his own hand around Terrus’s. The chains began to hum, then finally dropped away, clattering to the stone floor. They repeated this action on the left. Murder’s feet were now just inches above the floor, his entire body weight hanging from the chains binding his arms.

  Lore stepped up in front of Murder and positioned himself so that when Murder fell, his weight would fall on him, and he could lift him up in his arms. Terrus wrapped his hands around the chain holding Murder’s right arm; Lore did the same, and again the chain hummed before giving way and falling to the floor. Murder partially fell against Lore.

  Lore caught him, then, reached up with his right hand to meet Terrus’ where he was trying to remove the last chain holding Murder captive. Moments later the last chain fell to the floor, and Murder fell, still completely unconscious into Lore’s arms.

  Lore lifted him, tears pooling in his own eyes. “It’s alright, Murder. We’re taking you home, my brother.”

  The guard, who’d kept her eyes cast downward, suddenly raised her head and looked at Lore questioningly.

  He knew this guard was not like the others. He’d seen his kindness for himself.

  “Thank you for caring for my Mate and for my brother.”

  The guard nodded. “The Angel?” she asked.

  “Has already been freed.”

  The guard nodded, then cast her eyes downward again.

  “We must away, Lore!” Terrus hissed.

  Lore nodded and turned to follow him to the door.

  Terrus turned the key in the door and pulled it open for Lore to walk through, knowing they’d all mist away one final time together.

  Just before the door opened, Lore turned to the guard once more. This guard seemed so familiar! And it was more than just having seen him be kind to Evangeline in her memories.

  “Come with us?” he asked, still cradling Murder against himself.

  The guard shook his head sadly. “I cannot.”

  “Come with us!” Lore demanded.

  The guard stepped back and shook his helmeted head.

  The door opened fully, and Lore turned to face Carnage, who’d seen Murder’s condition and was rushing forward to get to him.

  Carnage was pressing his hands against Murder’s chest, checking for a heartbeat.

  “He breathes still, Carnage.”

  Carnage looked into Lore’s face, Lore’s tears clearly visible.

  “Here, you take Murder, I’ll take Evangeline, and we shall all leave this godforsaken place forever!”

  Carnage took Murder, easily handling his weight. Lore reached out for Evangeline who hurried into his arms. Lore and Terrus together began to swirl their mists around them all, and they slowly faded away as they heard the shouts and threats of the Dark One and his minions charging down the hall corridor toward them.

  The last thing Lore saw before they completely faded away was the guard standing in the doorway to the cell Murder had been held in. The guard removed his helmet. Lore’s eyes widened — her helmet — and she spoke. “Tell him I’m sorry. I did the best I could. Be sure he’s happy and well.”

  Then they were moving through realms, the cool, fresh air of many different worlds blowing across their skins as they made their way back to Lucitari and Lily.

  <<<<<<<>>>>>>>

  As soon as their feet hit a solid surface, and they became aware of the white fog surrounding them again, Lore released Evangeline. “Stay close, sweet,” he said.

  Evangeline nodded and followed closely behind him as he took Murder from Carnage and sat down, holding Murder against himself.

  Murder needed more than Lore could do for him.

  Lily jumped up from her place beside Lucitari and ran to her Papa. Carnage caught her up and hugged her tight. She looked down at the blood staining his shirt and ran her finger over it. “I can help Uncle Murder,” she said quietly.

  Carnage turned around and looked to Lore for input. He didn’t know of these things, but he knew Lore did.

  “No! I’ll help,” Lucitari said, saving the child from having to offer any more of herself. Striding past Carnage and Lily, she announced. “I can heal. Allow me.”

  Lucitari fell to her knees before Lore and Murder.

  Evangeline stayed close as Lore had instructed, but stayed out of the way.

  Carnage and Lily moved closer to watch, and Terrus stood to the side as well.

  Lucitari reached out, smoothing her hands over Murder, much the same way Phrygia did when he was still captive. She pressed her misty fingers to his open wounds, the deep blue of her mists permeating his flesh, knitting the wounds back together as stitches would. She repeated the process over and over until the worst of his injuries were healed.

  Then she pressed her hands to his head. She closed her eyes, then smiled.

  “You did well, Lily!” she exclaimed.

  Lily, still tucked in her Papa’s arms, grinned.

  “What did she do?” Terrus asked.

  “She layered him with protections, but she also gave his mind a safe place to go to when the pain became too much. This is where his consciousness shelters now.”

  Lucitari scooted closer and leaned over him, stroking his temples, rubbing her thumbs in small circles to coax him back.

  Suddenly Murder opened his eyes, and his body stiffened, preparing to defend himself again. He looked up into Lucitari’s eyes and sighed. “I am awake, Phrygia. You should not be here, they will find you,” he mumbled.

  “I’m not Phrygia,” Lucitari said softly, before quickly pulling her eyes away so that he couldn’t see them anymore.

  Murder looked around, realizing that he wasn’t where he thought he was. His eyes found Carnage holding Lily, both of them watching him. Carnage was beaming at him, a huge smile in place. Lily waved to him, a sweet smile on her own face.

  Murder managed a weak smile, then struggled to turn his head to see who was supporting his body.

  “Hello, my brother,” Lore said, his voice full of emotion.

  Murder lifted one hand and rested it on Lore�
�s shoulder. “I knew you’d come.”

  “Absolutely!” Lore said. “I just had to find a way.”

  “How fare you? Should I heal more?” Lucitari asked.

  Murder tried to move, stretching his body this way and that. “I believe I can do the rest on my own.”

  “If you find you have more injury than you know, call for me. I shall heal you further,” Lucitari offered.

  “Who are you?” Murder asked, struggling to sit up.

  Lucitari didn’t look up at him as she answered. “I am Lucitari, Lore’s sister.”

  Murder didn’t question her further, but his brows were bunched over his eyes as he listened to her explain who she was.

  “Thank you all for coming for me. I do not know how much longer I could have survived.”

  “Fam lee,” Carnage said, striking his arm across his chest.

  Lore looked around at the fog encasing them all. “Can we leave this horrible place now? I’ve had enough. I want to get home, want to get my friends home, my family home. Let us go. Now! Please!” he said, getting to his feet.

  “’Es!” Carnage contributed loudly.

  “Indeed!” Terrus added.

  “I don’t know where my home is,” Evangeline said softly, looking slightly panicked. “And what if he comes for me again?” she asked, her fear clearly seen in her eyes.

  Lore turned to her, reaching his hands out toward her. “You mean Acaelo. The male who appears to take you from one place to another. He will not steal you away again. We have destroyed him — he is no more.”

  Relief washed over Evangeline. Her smile trembled, but was bright none-the-less. “Are you sure?” she asked.

  “I am. And your home is with me, love. I’m yours, and you’re mine. We are mated, Evangeline. Do you not remember?” he asked gently.

  Evangeline watched Lore as he spoke; though he was familiar, she had no memory of him. “No, I do not remember.”

  Lore was starting to get worried. He stepped closer to Evangeline, but she took a step back. “There is no need to fear. We have all the time in the world. It will come back to you.”

  Evangeline looked from Lore to the injured Gargoyle, still sitting on the ground, then to the other males and the little child all watching her. Waiting for her to speak or do something — anything other than just standing there watching them all. “I…” she started, but found she didn’t have anything else to say.

  “What is the last thing you remember, Evangeline?” Lucitari asked.

  “The meadow!” she said hurriedly. “I remember a meadow, with a gentle brook meandering through it. Oh! And my sisters! I remember them there with me!” she said excitedly. Her happiness at having remembered apparent on her face.

  Lore knew. Before he even asked, he knew. “Is that home?”

  “Yes,” Evangeline said. Though she knew it as home, she still felt she was missing something important. “I think it is,” she added hesitantly.

  “Lucitari?” Lore said quietly, using every ounce of his regained strength and power to keep from pouncing on Evangeline and forcing her to live out her days with him whether she liked it or not. He was not that male any longer. Every wrong he’d ever sown had been righted — almost. And he would not go down that selfish path again.

  “Yes, brother?” she asked.

  “Will you see Evangeline home? See to it that they blame me, not her. They must allow her home,” he asked in almost a whisper.

  Lucitari was suddenly beside Lore, her misty hand on his shoulder. “I will. All will be well, Lore. Give it time.”

  “If she’s happy, then all is well,” he responded.

  Lore raised his eyes to Evangeline’s once more as Lucitari went to stand beside her, gathering her mists in preparation to take her home to her brethren. “Be well, Evangeline. Be happy. Dance in the sunshine. I will miss you, but I will love you endlessly.”

  Midnight blue swirls sparkling with threads of silver began to encircle Evangeline, and then as Lore watched, his heart shattering, his soul ripping from his body as it followed Evangeline once more, but this time of his own free will, she faded away for the last time, on her way home.

  Chapter 22

  Terrus rested his hand on Lore’s shoulder. “You’ve truly grown.”

  Lore didn’t smile, but he nodded. “I can’t say I like the feeling so far.”

  Terrus patted Lore’s shoulder, then helped him lift Murder to his feet.

  Once Murder was stabilized, leaning on both Terrus and Lore, Lore called Carnage closer. “Come, Carnage,” he said, his voice sounding raw from holding back his own tears. “Let us get you and Lily home to Carolena before she comes after us and skins me alive,” he said, doing his best to seem as though he was completely in control to those who’d fought so hard to save him, his Evangeline, and Murder.

  Carnage hugged Lily as he moved to stand in front of Murder. Terrus and Lore each had an arm beneath Murder’s arms holding him up, and another around Carnage. They began to gather their mists, and so did Lily. Purple, silver and pale green mists swirled into a collage of color, carrying all of them home.

  <<<<<<<>>>>>>>

  Carolena nibbled on the sandwich Rowan had brought her. She knew she needed to eat — she just had no appetite. She stared at a spot behind the heads of Enthrall and his son. No thought at all in her consciousness, just allowing her mind to wander. To wonder what Carnage was doing, if Lily had been able to help. How much time had passed in whatever realm they were in, because to her, it seemed like forever. But Destroy had explained about the passage of time in other realms. She knew it was different for them wherever they were, than it was for her.

  Enthrall offered her a small smile, then, his brows furrowed. He became worried as he watched her. Her face took on a terrified appearance, her eyes rounded, filling with tears, and she dropped the sandwich to the deck.

  Enthrall rose to his feet. “Carolena! What is it? Are you well?”

  Then she was on her own feet, heading straight for him.

  Only, she didn't stop where he was standing; she hurried past. Enthrall turned to see where she was going, and he grinned, then laughed and yelled his excitement so loudly, he woke Zeke.

  There, behind him, were the images of Lore — his mists a deep purple with silver threads meandering throughout, another male — his mists a pale green with silver threads, Lily — her mists a pale lavender evenly mixed with silver. And as the mists cleared, they could see that Carnage was holding Lily, and Murder was there, too. He looked weak, but he was there, being supported by Lore and the other male.

  Enthrall rushed to give Zeke to Felicity then followed everyone else to greet their friends. Everyone hugged everyone, and tears and shouts of relief resounded from all.

  Carolena was in Carnage’s arms, holding Lily tightly to her, as Lily babbled about all the new things she could do now.

  Destroy had swept Boon up from the blanket he played on and shoved him at Rowan as he realized Murder had arrived with Lore and Carnage.

  He bulldozed his way to Murder and bear-hugged him. “Murder!” Destroy shouted. “Murder!”

  Murder looked up from the warm welcome they were receiving and saw Destroy headed straight for him. He smiled as best he could around his healing lip and welcomed Destroy as he embraced Murder for all he was worth.

  “I thought you were lost! I was so angry, so angry!” Destroy shouted. “I tried to come back for you. I swear I tried! I would never have left you there! Never!” Destroy rambled.

  “Destroy, you did exactly what you were ordered to do. You were ordered to leave me behind. You did well, Sentry. You followed your orders without hesitance,” Murder said, holding Destroy just as tightly as Destroy held him. He was so damn glad to be home again.

  “That order was bullshit! Don’t you ever order me to leave you in battle again!” Destroy commanded.

  “I don’t plan on it, my friend. Don’t plan on leaving home again for a very long time,” Murder said, tiredly.
<
br />   “Come, let’s sit. Are you hungry?” Destroy asked, leading Murder toward a chair.

  “Starving,” Murder answered.

  “I’ll be back!” Destroy said excitedly, turning back to the house having gotten Murder into a chair. Destroy was going to make the biggest plate he possibly could and bring a huge glass of lemonade as well. Murder had been trapped in Hell, and he needed to eat and drink and get his strength back. Any fool could see the scars and injuries across his body. He’d been tortured.

  “Destroy?”

  Destroy looked over his shoulder on his way into Carolena’s and Carnage’s home to get Murder some food. He realized it was Lore speaking to him. He stopped and waited for Lore to speak.

  “I’m sorry, Destroy. I hope you can forgive me.”

  “For what? Taking me into Hell to steal an Angel, or for leaving Murder behind?” Destroy snapped.

  Lore didn’t try to defend himself or to explain anything away. Instead he smiled sadly. “For being a selfish, undeserving male, who took advantage of his friends and exacted favors in return for things I should have offered simply because you are my friend.”

  Lore looked around at all of them. “I hope you all can forgive me. I shall endeavor to be a better friend.”

  Destroy was surprised. He regarded Lore for only a moment longer. “Done,” he nodded. “But I’m not going back to Hell for anybody, anytime, no how, no way!”

  “Wouldn’t ask it of you,” Lore said.

  “Then welcome home,” Destroy said, stepping forward to pat Lore on the back as he embraced him. Then he hugged Carnage and kissed Lily’s cheek.

  “I want my doll back, now,” Lily said, referring to the doll she’d loaned him to make him feel better while Murder was missing.