by S. N. Hunt
Antony waved his hand and dismissed the lich’s concerns.
“I have a problem that I need your help with.”
“Most certainly, my liege. What is it that troubles you?”
“They captured a witch outside of the castle. She was trying to dispel the sun barrier.”
“If she has been captured, what need do you have of me? Torture is Bangdor’s department.”
“I need you to look at this.” Antony handed him a vial of Cora’s blood.
“It is blood. Is there something I am looking for specifically?”
“There is something about this girl. I have her chained in my room. What I say here does not leave this room? Is that understood?”
Ugmidh nodded, “I will tell no one, my lord.”
“When I drank her blood, I felt my heart beat. Then a pain settled in my chest, so painful it doubled me over. I want to know what is so special about her.”
“I would have more success with the whole specimen. Is it possible to examine the girl? Perhaps keep her here to study.”
Antony snarled and clenched his fists to his side. Rage filled him and he ground his teeth. He took a deep breath.
“No, the girl will remain in my room. If you need more blood, ask, I will provide more on request.”
She is mine, and no one will touch her but me.
“My lord, is there more to this than just your heart beat? Are you attached to her?”
“Yes. Just the thought of someone else touching her makes me want to rip their head off. What of it?”
“I will have to do some research, but this sounds familiar. I don’t want to say anything til I am certain.”
Antony nodded and walked from the room. He blindly walked and found himself in his room. He was looking down at her sleeping form on the floor. She lay upon the dog bed that he'd brought in for her. A blanket was thrown over her haphazardly. He sat on the edge of the bed.
“What are you to me, little witch?”
∞∞∞
The doctor declared Sarah a miracle and gave her a clean bill of health. Micheal and her quickly bathed and packed. Angel and Lucifer had run right up to her excitedly. They acted like dogs that hadn’t seen their owners in months. She stroked their coats and kissed their snouts. They mounted up and prepared to head out of town.
Movar met them as they passed the village limits. He smiled at them both. He shifted into his dragon form.
“Be safe in your travels. Perhaps someday we will meet again. I wish you luck in your quest.”
“You be safe as well, Movar. Thank you for everything. Please give Queen Lyris my regards.”
He bowed to them and flew off into the air. Micheal rode ahead of her and Sarah stared at his back. He had not asked about what she had seen while she was asleep. She couldn’t bring herself to tell him about the vision of Antony and her. What the fates had said swirled around her head.
“His love is what will ground you.”
Chapter Twenty Two
They had left the settlement behind and fell into a silence. Micheal wanted to ask Sarah about her time asleep. What she had seen and how she met the fates? Looking back at her, he saw she was deep in thought. He wasn’t sure how to broach the topic, so instead he said nothing.
They were about halfway to Zlorta. Even with the delay in the village, they were making good time. A part of him didn’t want to leave her in Zlorta, knowing he’d not be able to follow her. That part tried desperately to convince him to take her and run. Hide away somewhere and never leave.
A larger part of him, though, knew she would always be on the run as long as Antony was out there. Antony would continue to slaughter her people, the Guardians, and even all the Veil if he wasn’t stopped. His brother was a parasite on the face of the world.
He realized now that he loved her. It had seemed like his heart was being torn out during her sleep. The fear of her never waking haunted him. He knew that if she died; his death would come quickly after. He would not have to live without her. But the thought of her life being snuffed out tore him apart.
“How far are we from Zlorta?”
He turned in the saddle and looked at her, “We have about a week, maybe more. If the weather holds and we have no more delays, it could be less.”
She nodded and went back to her thoughts. He watched her for a moment and then turned back in his saddle. Something had changed, and he didn’t know what it was.
∞∞∞
The days faded into each other as they continued to ride. Sarah kept replaying the scene with Antony in her head. She couldn’t figure out what would make her turn to him. She found him attractive; he looked like Micheal after all. But he was a murderer. In her vision, though, she had been too.
“Micheal?”
He turned swiftly in his saddle. He wasn’t used to her being so silent.
“Yes?”
“I met my mother while I was asleep. She told me how Antony won against her.”
He slowed Lucifer down and came beside her.
“He has Merlin’s grimoire. She wasn’t sure how he got it, but that is how he subdued her. He used a spell to paralyze her. She could do nothing.”
“He said nothing about having it. I wonder how it made its way to him.”
“My mother did not know. She also said you were doing all you could to help me. Thank you for watching over me.”
“I will always protect you, Sarah.”
Sarah smiled sadly at him and said no more.
∞∞∞
They rode for the next three days in silence. Each night she slept next to him, and each night she was more distant. Micheal was more than frustrated, he was furious.
“Have I angered you somehow?”
Sarah looked up at him.
“No, why do you ask?”
“You are distant. And grow more each day. What happened while you were asleep? What did you see?”
He watched as she nibbled on her bottom lip.
“I saw Ollsrion burning. It was burning by my hand. I saw myself walking through the trees, setting fire with my hands. Then a man rode into the clearing. He looked just like you, but with white hair. The other Sarah and he embraced and kissed. He said we won, my love. She replied with yes, Antony, we have.”
A tear streaked down her cheek. Micheal stopped the horses and pulled her from her saddle. He situated her on his thighs and held her close.
“I am so confused. The fates said I absorbed some magic from the fountain. That now I can see things. I don’t want to be that girl. I don’t want to burn Ollsrion down. Or love Antony.”
“Sarah, it was just a possibility. Nothing is set in stone. Everything hinges on choice. You know that you do not want to be that person. Choose not to be.”
She sobbed against his chest. He held her tight and stroked her back. When her tears dried, he set her back on Angel. This time, instead of riding ahead of her, he rode beside her.
“If anything happens to me, run. Run as far as you can. Don’t let Antony get you. Run to Queen Lyris, to Shae, or even back through the gate. I can only believe that he corrupts you and that is how you grow to love him. Don’t let him get the chance.”
∞∞∞
Sarah was back in Ollsrion. She danced in Micheal’s arms in the grand hall. Queen Lyris sat upon her throne with Dyrinn at her side. Micheal and her were the only ones on the dance floor. He twirled her around and around. She laughed and clung to him.
As the room spun around her, she noticed flames licking up the walls behind the elves. She cried out at them and tried to pull out of Micheal’s arms. He tightened his grip around her waist and her feet left the floor. He spun them faster.
“Micheal, stop! It’s burning them! Put me down we have to help them.”
She beat at his arms that held her like a vise. She heard laughter and looked around. All the elves were laughing as they burned. Their flesh melting off their bones til their bones danced in flames. Queen Lyris stood up from her thron
e. She pointed and laughed at the burning elves. Dyrinn stood stoically by her side.
The laughter roared in her ears. She clamped her hands to her ears, but the sound grew louder. She screamed and squeezed her eyes shut. The noise suddenly stopped.
Opening her eyes, she found herself face to face with Micheal. He wore his hood and cloak. His hands cupped her face and wiped at her tears. She glanced around them and found the grand hall was now charred and black. Bones lay all around her on the ground.
“Are you okay, princess?”
“Micheal, they are all dead.”
He reached up and removed his hood.
“Wasn’t that the point?”
White hair flowed around his face as Antony smiled down at her. He grabbed her up in his arms and started dancing around the burned hall. She screamed and fought against him.
He started laughing. It echoed off the walls. He stopped dancing and shook her hard. His face melted, his flesh slid off the muscles and plopped at her feet with a squish. Even as the muscle disintegrated, he continued to laugh. Sarah pulled away from him and landed on her hands and knees. His laughter died, and she looked up.
She no longer stood in the grand hall. All around her homes burned, but the air was eerily quiet. No cries, no screams of pain, just silence. The ground and sky were grey with soot. Tears streamed down her soot covered face, and the air burned her lungs. Sarah moved aimlessly through the homes. She came to the town square. There in the center lay a black-cloaked figure.
A part of her wanted to rush towards it, in case it was Micheal. The other part was cautious, it might be Antony. She walked up warily and saw that he laid on his front. His face turned away from her. She swallowed the lump in her throat and turned him. Sightless eyes stared up at her. Her tears fell in rivers down her face. Black hair framed a handsome face. Micheal lay in a pool of his own blood. She cradled his head in her lap. Her grief threatened to overwhelm her. As it crested in her, she opened her mouth and screamed out her anguish.
“Sarah, wake up. It’s just a dream. Wake up, princess.”
Sarah felt arms gripping her. She stiffened, then the smell of cool nights and the ocean enveloped her. She fell against Micheal’s chest and the sobs racked her body. The horror and grief of the dream overwhelmed her. Micheal rubbed her back and whispered comforting words.
“It was just a dream. You are okay. I am here.”
He repeated it over and over till her tears dried.
“Do you want to talk about it?” He asked.
Sarah quickly shook her head no and snuggled into his chest. He held her against him and eventually his breathing evened out. She looked up into his face, seeing he was sound asleep again.
Had it been a vision or just a dream?
She knew one thing, though. She would do anything to prevent the latter part of her dream from coming true. Even if she had to kill Antony herself, Micheal would always live.
∞∞∞
Micheal and Sarah rode into the oasis. Palm trees and brush grew around the teal blue waters. Sarah couldn’t wait to dive into the water. She could see little fish of various colors swimming close to the surface.
Sarah hurriedly dismounted and stripped. She dove into the cool water and resurfaced. She sighed and floated to the top. Near her, she heard Micheal splash into the water. He handed her the soap, and they quickly washed each other. Once done, he gathered her into his arms and walked to the bank of the pool. He had laid out their cloaks, and he laid her on top of them.
His lips glided across her skin, trailing a path of fire. Between her exhaustion and Movar giving them no privacy, they hadn’t had a moment to love each other. She was starved for his attention. He sank into her hungrily. Taking her quick and rough, she held onto him tightly. They came together and filled the oasis with their cries.
They laid tangled together for a few moments. Micheal raised up on his knees and looked down at her. His eyes had changed to a dark grey, no crimson lingered. She could still see the tips of his fangs as he smiled at her.
“Your eyes are grey. Are you human now?” She asked.
“Not completely. I still have my fangs.” He said as he leaned down and sucked on her breast.
She gasped and arched her back. Micheal swirled his tongue around her nipple and her core clench in response. He trailed his hands down her stomach and parted her lips. He circled a thumb around her sensitive nub. She shuddered and squirmed under him.
“You are an addiction. I can’t get enough of you.” Micheal said as he kissed her face.
Micheal kissed her eyelids, nose, and down her jawline. He licked and nibbled along her neck and collarbone. He lavished her breasts with his tongue. Sucking and nibbling gently at her nipples. The pressure built up inside her.
He kissed and licked down her abdomen. Dipping his tongue into her belly button, she twitched in his hands. He trailed down her hip bones and caressed down her inner thighs. Nipping at the back of her knees, he continued kissing down her calves. He kissed each toe. He leaned over her and replaced his thumb with his tongue on her pearl.
Sweat slicked down her body, her limbs shaking as he built the fire in her. She tangled her hands in his hair as he licked her folds. She spread her legs wide and moaned. He trailed his hands over her thighs and cupped her buttocks. He lifted her into his mouth, sucking hard. She cried out and clenched her thighs around his head. He chuckled, sending vibrations through her bud. She almost came at the sensation.
He sat back on his heels and looked down at her. She whimpered and gripped at his waist. He smiled lazily and hooked his arms around her legs. He pulled her down and slid into her wetness. She cried out, her womb clenching at him greedily. He slowly slid in and out of her.
She met his eyes and begged for more silently. His smile grew wider as he continued to pump into her slowly. He withdrew completely and entered her inch by inch. She squirmed and whimpered under him. Her release was just out of reach.
“Please, Micheal, please.” She begged him.
“What do you want, princess? Tell me what you want. Or I could just stop, if that is what you need.” His voice was thick with desire.
He slid out of her and stopped. The tip of his shaft twitching against her opening. She moaned and whimpered in despair.
“Micheal, please. I need.... Please… Oh, god… Please, I want your cock in me.”
Micheal slid back into her and stopped.
“Is what you want, princess? Just my cock inside you.”
She groaned and rocked on his manhood. He gripped her hips tightly, preventing her from moving. She felt him deep inside her, stretching her.
“Fuck me harder and faster. Make me cum.” She cried out.
Micheal smiled, “Good girl.”
He slid out of her quickly and slammed back in. Gripping her hips tightly, he lifted her bottom off the ground. He pumped in and out of her. She saw stars and screamed out as she orgasmed. Her entire body shook and twitched in the aftermath.
Micheal brought her knees together and pressed them to her chest. He pounded into her, going deeper and deeper. He roared as he spent himself inside her.
∞∞∞
Sarah sat next to the pool of water and threw breadcrumbs at the surface. Little fish swam up and nibbled at the bread. She sat naked in the sun, soaking up the rays.
“I won’t be able to enter the city of Zlorta.”
Sarah looked at Micheal as he lay in the sun. His now tan skin glistened in the rays. She had a hard time concentrating on the conversation with him lying there naked.
“Why?”
“They do not allow non casters in the city. I have no magic of my own. What flows through me is yours.”
“What about you? Will you revert?”
“Shamnus made me more elixir to get me through the time you are in the city. I will camp outside the walls till you are done.”
“What if Antony comes for me?”
“You know now how to use a sword, dagger, and bow. Y
ou can defend yourself. The witches and wizards won’t allow anything to happen to you as long as you are in the city. They have very strict rules about bloodshed inside the walls. Antony is not stupid enough to risk their ire.”
“I don’t want to leave you.”
He sat up and gathered her into his arms.
“I don’t want to leave you either. When you were struck by that arrow, I thought my world was ending. I couldn’t imagine you being gone. The only condolence I had was that I would not have to live without you. Your death is my death.”
Her dream flashed through her mind. The image of his sightless eyes made her shiver despite the hot desert air. Her chest ached at just the thought of being without him. She looked up into his eyes.
“I love you, Micheal.”
“I love you too, princess.” He said as he laid her on her back.
He kissed her passionately before making love to her one last time.
∞∞∞
The city of Zlorta stood before them. A massive gate bisected the tall walls. The right wall was black as night. The left wall was so bright white, it was hard to look at. Two doors made up the gate. The left door was black, while the right was white.
Micheal had explained that the city was built in sections. Each section, a different sect of magic. That you could find your way around by the color of the walls. There were eight schools of magic, and each was represented in the city as a color. Micheal couldn’t tell her what the colors were or the schools. Being a non caster, he had been denied any knowledge of the city.
As they approached the city, the ground shook. In front of the gate, an enormous plant grew. Angel and Lucifer neighed and pranced, backing up as vines coiled from the sands. The plant was a deep green color with blue stripes like a tiger. Bright blood red veins pulsed under its flesh. It formed a bud and as the bud opened, red liquid flowed from its petals. In the center of the petals, the plant had a mouth instead of a floral disc. The mouth opened and showed rows upon rows of jagged, sharp teeth.
It roared down at them, sending lime green spittle at them. The horses pranced around the spit and it hit the sands instead. It sizzled and burned the ground where it landed.