Angels Blood (61 page)

He nodded in a gathering understanding.  She felt no guilt and she had total trust in his ongoing love.  She was also showing him she wouldn't betray that trust by keeping secrets.

All of a sudden he felt small compared to her.  He couldn't return that openness.  He felt the guilt of what he had done with Madeira even now after Dark had been totally open with him.  All he wanted to do was curl up and hide now for being weaker than she. That man he had been almost four hundred years ago was still there deep down and he was ashamed. Three hundred and fifty years of this life's journey and he still had so far to go.  Would he ever earn the right to enter the afterlife?

Night sat with Solynne at the fireplace.  She was talking with her friend about those times before the war, how things had turned out so differently. Here they were seven months on, Solynne five months pregnant and so dependent on others around her now.  Night smiled at her out of the blue. 

“
You are lovely Solynne, I am so happy for you.” Solynne looked into Night's eyes then she held out her hand and took Night's into her own. 

“
What is it Night?” She shook her head. 

“
You know for over a year now we have been so busy that there hasn't been time to just sit back and think about things, look at one's life and such. Loranda is back in Port Volarus recuperating.”

Night paused and Solynne urged her on. 

“
There is something you aren't telling me.”

“
I don't know why but I was so glad to take this mission with Wollfen and leave Loranda behind.  I felt like if I stayed I would be tied down to her future life.  You know how I love my wandering ways.  I should have been a nomad. But I love Loranda so, I am having trouble dealing with those two important things in my life.” Solynne wasn't really sure she understood. 

“
I thought Loranda would be fine? She can still continue on normally with only one kidney can't she?” Night nodded.

“
Yes, but for some reason I see her as weak now, oh Solynne what is wrong with me?”

Solynne didn't spend much time thinking about it at all. 

“
Do you think you feel your freedom to roam or maybe escape from something is threatened if the possibility of having to stay in one place comes to fruition?”

Night thought about that, is that what she been doing all her adult life? Running? 

“
I guess that's a possibility.  I can't be sure.”

“
You can't think of anything?” Night shook her head not looking, thinking about it.

“
Nothing comes to mind.”

She couldn't open up to Solynne now that she was talking to her. Solynne followed up with a simple statement. 

“
There is one person here who will be able to get to the bottom of your problem rather quickly.  You need to have a heart to heart with Wollfen, you know he loves you and will do what he can to set things right.”

Nodding, Night decided she might try that. She would try again with him.

Night reached forward to Solynne's belly. 

“
May I feel?” Solynne grinned and lifted her shirt in response, she was very proud of her growing bump. Night felt over it now, the skin was firm and smooth. Solynne placed her hand over Nights. 

“
We started off as the eight of Wollfen's pack and while I am saddened to know that Justin and Keera are dead I am still glad I know all of you. All of you are the most important people in the world to me bar none. I would die for any of you, you understand that don't you?” Night nodded in reply. 

“
As I would for you Solynne.”

“
Yes and I know it too, any of us would do so, we are a special group of friends and I think I am so lucky to be a part of it.”

Night was warmed by that thought.  She had left her family far behind a long time ago and it was these people here that were deepest in her heart. To her these five were her real family.

Wollfen awoke again later that afternoon as Nightwing slid in next to him in bed.  Dark was asleep on his other side and he was curious as to what Night was doing. 

“
Hey, what's up?”

Night snuggled into him and lay there for a bit without answering so he put his arm around her.  This wasn't normal behavior from her at all. Then she took in a deep breath and sighed. 

“
I need some real direction in my life Wolf. I have been spending the last couple of hours with Solynne and her unborn baby. I realized I have a yearning for what she has.  Well I think I do, but I also know it can't be for me either.” Wollfen thought that a bit strange. 

“
Okay, I understand that you aren't interested in men like other women, but you know, that doesn't have to stop you from being with one to have a child.” Night shook her head. 

“
I never told you why I have no interest in men.  It isn't something I just found out one day.”

Night stopped talking and stared off into space for a bit and Wollfen waited patiently.  He knew not to press her. She turned back to him and he could see tears were starting in her eyes.

“
I haven't spoken of these things with anyone ever.  I tried with Solynne but I couldn't get it out. She said I should try with you. What I am going to tell you will be the first time I have managed to speak of it.  Please be patient, this is going to take a lot.”

“
Take whatever time you need, I will not pressure you.” She nodded and went on. 

“
When I was 14-years-old, I was being escorted back to our estate having been to some meeting held in another shire. My father had gone on ahead on some important matter and he had left me with a contingent of his trusted guard.”

Night stopped again and she swallowed hard. Wollfen half guessed what was coming next. 

“
It was a two day ride back to our estate and that evening we made camp.  The men spent the evening drinking and having a good time. I was on my own and I confined myself to my tent.”

Night stopped again, he could tell the hardest part of all was coming up for her, she pushed out a breath and then continued. 

“
Later that night when I was asleep, some of the guard came into my tent.  They, they took me, all of them. I was pack raped by my own father's guard.”

Night started sobbing quietly into Wollfen's chest and he put both arms around her squeezing gently.  He leaned down and kissed her on the forehead. He had always wondered why she had stayed on the move for so many years, now he was getting an understanding.

“
You never told your father?”

She shook her head and Wollfen noticed Dark had awakened, she was lying there listening quietly. He contemplated Night's words and realized as to why she had run away at such an early age. Night continued on still choked up by her emotions.

“
I didn't say anything or make a sound.  When we returned the next day to the estate I locked myself away in my room for a week till I healed and no one would know. I was so ashamed of what had happened, I couldn't face anyone. I only lasted six months, I ran away then and I haven't ever been back. I have visited my father from time to time whenever he was at Kassandrea or some such place, but I simply have never been able to set foot on home soil again.” Night continued to cry quietly.

Dark had been lying there listening, she had felt Wollfen stiffen and become tense during the story, she knew he was getting very angry.  Would he do something? 

“
I am so sorry and my heart goes out to you. I am angry too. Night look at me,” Night turned up her head to Wollfen her eyes red.  “You have no reason to be ashamed.  What happened is not your fault at all, do you hear me?”

Night nodded and fresh tears flowed. Wollfen encouraged it, she needed this, all of this had to come out.  He wondered how it would change her? This sort of blackness carried around for so long.  A dark secret that would eat away at a person never did any good.  Nightwing would be able to start healing with their support.  Dark swapped sides and held Night from behind and she appreciated it. Night was an emotional mess and all her defenses were down.  Sniffling, Night had her final say. 

“
Every man since then who has ever come near me has made my skin crawl.  The only person I have learned to be comfortable with is you Wollfen.  I trust you like no other. I have always known you to have a true heart.”

That caught Wollfen by surprise, he didn't know how to reply at all.  He leaned across and gave a soft kiss on the forehead again, it was lame but it was better than nothing. He got to thinking, getting it all out was just the first step, Night would also need to deal with what happened still. But for now he decided to let it rest, one major hurdle at a time was best. He would bring it up with her again sometime soon. He looked down at her and wiped her face. 

“
We all love you Night and you are safe here.”

“
Thank you, I hadn't thought about it in years. It only came to the front of my mind when I saw Solynne pregnant and I started thinking about it.  I was thinking about babies and such. I was going to discuss something else but that's what came out.”

“
Do you still want to discuss this other thing?” Night shook her head. 

“
No not right now, but I will, we have time right?”

Wollfen responded in the affirmative.  His energy levels were rather bad and he knew that a few more days of rest for him was needed. They would be here for awhile.

The next couple of days went by quietly. Wollfen and Dark sometimes stayed in the room to play but a lot of the time he spent near the fireside talking with Solynne and Kane.  He even managed to break the ice a little with Vaughn.  He was a funny one, it was almost like he had latched onto Dark like a puppy and was never far away. Time would tell how things went. Speaking to Kane, Wollfen had not come up with a plausible plan for getting into Kassandrea.

“
If we can somehow get you to the gates surely we can arrange for them to be opened for a bit?” Wollfen thought about that.

“
Actually if I can get to the gates up close I won't need to worry about them being open. I will be able to teleport that very short distance to inside without needing someone's beacon.” Kane picked up at that. 

“
Well then we just need a diversion really don't we?” 

“
Mm if by diversion you mean to attack them I don't think that we should throw away any lives just to get me inside.  That's too high a price to pay.”

They both went quiet again for a little while, both thinking it through, there must be a way. 

“
I have an idea, I will have to mind touch with Night again and this time project into Kassandrea and try to scan the population.  Maybe there is someone there I know that I haven't thought of, it has to be worth a try.”

Kane nodded, it was more than he had been able to come up with.

“
Alright, Solynne could you chase up Night for me and bring her here?” Solynne agreed and moved off.  “Kane, once I have done the scan if I find someone I think I will move quickly.  They may be on the move and I might lose them again.  Could you prepare supplies and clothing starting now?”

“
Yes that is no problem, how many people will you take?”

“
Lets see, Night, Dark, Vaughn and one other.  Ask Burkhard if he wishes to come.  If not then I will want a replacement, five will be the size of the party.”

Kane excused himself and made off.  At least something was going to happen now, winter could be so boring.

Solynne came back with Night in tow and Wollfen gestured for Night to sit before him.

“
Hey Night, I want to use your magics to compliment mine. I am going to try and do a scan, it's a long shot and probably wont work but I want to try. I know there aren't any strong magic users in Kassandrea but who knows?”

“
I agree it's better than not trying at all.”

Wollfen extended his hand and Night took it, there wasn't much preparation needed. Eyes closed and focused, Wollfen expanded his mind in the direction of Kassandrea and almost immediately he found a strong beacon, who could this be? Focusing more he closed in on it and found to his surprise a sorc, she was familiar too and then it hit him who she was, damn! He immediately withdrew and cut off all ties hoping he was fast enough.  He couldn't afford to give away his position to her and have everyone here put in danger.

Coming out of his state Wollfen immediately started barking orders,

“
Quickly! We must all prepare now! I may just have stirred up a hornet's nest. I found a beacon alright, it's the sorc who captured me in Port Cholandra and I am sure she will start searching for my beacon now too and if she finds me soon she will know the location of this eastern army.”