Authors: Quinn Loftis
∞
Jewel’s mind was a chaotic mess. Pain was pulsing through her arm where the blade had cut her. Even though she had managed to heal herself, the pain didn’t go away. Lorelle’s rancid breath blew across her face as the words left her mouth, only it wasn’t Lorelle speaking, it was the one she had called Volcan. The dry, hoarse sound that shaped into words somehow grated against her skin like coarse sandpaper. Up until that point she had been holding back most of the tears, though she couldn’t bite back the screams when she was cut. The pain from the slice radiated to every nerve in her arm, not just at the location of the wound.
Volcan’s words were her undoing. The tears flowed freely even as she squeezed her eyes closed unable to watch what was happening to her. She felt another cut and then the nauseating feel of
Lorelle’s mouth against her flesh. The sucking noises and lapping of her wet tongue made her gut clench and she had to swallow back bile. It was harder to focus this time because her fear had increased, but she slowed her breathing and once again closed the wound. Volcan snarled at her and cut her again, deeper this time so it took a little longer for her to heal it.
She didn’t know how long it went on like that. Cut after cut, only for her to heal them again and again, in an attempt to slow him down.
Why,
she thought to herself and cringed when she felt the cool blade begin on her other arm.
Why am I trying to slow him down there by increasing my own suffering? Why not just let myself bleed until the agony stops along with my heart?
Slowly Jewel began to relax and quit fighting the pain. She quit healing the wounds, and for the first time that she could remember, she stopped thinking all together.
She was drifting, her mind unable to bear the pain any longer
, slipped her into darkness. It didn’t last long. A faint glow began to form and Jewel felt herself blinking, though she was pretty sure she wasn’t awake. Her once cold sweat coated body was now warm and dry. She sat up and was met face to face with a woman who radiated peace. It flowed off of her in waves and her elegant white gown rippled around her. She was beautiful, but that wasn’t what Jewel found herself focusing on. Jewel was engrossed by the compassion she saw in her eyes. This woman cared deeply for her, she could see it plain as day, but she didn’t understand why.
“I am the Great Luna, mother of the wolves.
Even the sound of her voice brought a measure of harmony to Jewel.
“I created them and love them, and I do care for you, Jewel Stone, daughter of Gem, knowledge seeker and gypsy healer to the Canis lupis. You are precious to me, and you are also beloved to one of my wolves. I know you are tired, I know you are in pain and feel that there is no hope, but I have not abandoned you. I will not leave you to this fate, for I have a purpose for you, daughter of mine. Don’t give up Jewel. They are coming for you, he is with them and together you will prevail. Use the power inside of you to do what you were created to do―heal. Use the knowledge that comes so easily to you and outsmart your adversary. Remember that the smallest bead of light can illuminate the darkest shadow. Use your light.”
Jewel gasped as she felt the pain return full force. She blinked several times attempting
to clear her eyes from the tears. She could feel Lorelle/Volcan still sucking at the wound and she immediately healed it. She tried to focus on what the Great Luna had told her, tried to grasp at every word but only a few remained in her weak state. Don’t give up. They are coming. Heal. Use your light. She wanted to cry out in relief, to somehow let the others know that they were going to be rescued, that this wasn’t the end.
The next cut that Volcan made, now that both arms were covered in healed wounds that wouldn’t reopen, was just below her left collar bone.
Lorelle’s hands had ripped part of her shirt open, allowing access to the flesh there. He cut deep, so deep that she wondered if he was attempting to carve out her heart. When she felt the lips on her skin right above her breast she gagged, jerking herself just a little up from the table. Volcan didn’t notice, he was too intent on her blood. Jewel attempted to wiggle her toes and felt her lips draw up when she realized that she could. For some reason whatever spell Lorelle had used to keep them immobile was beginning to fail. This only increased her courage even more. She pulled the light and power from inside her soul up and began to heal the deep wound over her heart. She would keep healing the wounds Volcan made, keep attempting to slow him in his progress to drain her. He had already taken enough that she was feeling somewhat dizzy, but she couldn’t do anything about that now. She pushed that worry aside and focused on what she could do.
Just hold on
, Kara and Heather,
” she thought to herself. And as another laceration was made the words of one of her favorite quotes came to mind.
"A hero is no braver than an ordinary man, but he is brave five minutes longer."
Over and over she whispered
just five minutes longer, just five minutes longer.
And though it sometimes came out in pants of anguish, she refused to stop saying it. Help was coming; she just had to hold out five minutes longer.
∞
In all the time that Kara had spent in the homes of those who didn’t truly want her, she had seen true pain. She had heard the cries of children enduring terrible things. But in all that time, she had never heard such sounds as the ones coming from Jewel. She didn’t consider the girl weak because of it. Kara knew from experience that strength was not measured by the ability to keep silent under torment. Rather, it was measured by those willing to persevere when the consequences of their actions reached beyond the little world they had built around themselves.
She could sense Jewel’s power, remembered the way it felt w
hen she had used it to heal her. Kara used that strength to give herself courage, to persevere. If only for the sake of wanting to be as brave as her friend beside her, she would be, but her bravery was rooted in a deeper desire. She would be courageous, she would fight back, and she would face this evil, for all the times in the past when she wanted to fight for those who needed her but couldn’t. For all the bruised faces, broken spirits, every loss of innocence she would endure. She would not go easily or quietly. If Lorelle and the one she called Volcan were going to take the power she barely understood, and the life she had longed for, then she would make them work for it and maybe, just maybe she would make them bleed for it.
∞
Heather didn’t understand colors. She couldn’t picture images in her mind, but she could feel. The depth of her feelings, the intensity with which she experienced situations in life was in no way hindered by her lack of sight. If anything, because she relied so heavily on her other senses, she could feel things more profoundly. Smells created recognition, whether positive or negative. Touch evoked sensations that captivated all of her attention all at once. Taste opened her mind to the beauty and pleasure of things her eyes would never let her see. Sound, sound was one that she sometimes wished she could turn off. When she heard things, she heard beyond the noise to the intent behind it. Laughter revealed not only joy, but what kind of joy. Weeping was not only sadness, it was also sorrow, relief, need, and so much more. Screams were not just the reaction to pain, but also determination to endure, anger from torment beyond control, or desperation for it to end.
The times when her disability frustrated her m
ost were not when she couldn’t find something, or make it to a location because she didn’t have help. They were the times when it truly mattered that she
not
be disabled, that regardless of everything she could sense, the only thing she could do was wait, withstand the helpless feelings, and hope. She lay on that stone, her face turned up to a sky that, though she had never seen, had read descriptions of—descriptions that inspired a sense of awe of its vastness. She imagined it was a sky too beautiful for something so horrific to be happening beneath it. Unable to “see” that beauty that might somehow nullify the ugliness, she had to reach deep for an immeasurable abundance of hope. And even though it was probably a vain act, she did it anyway, for in between Jewel’s cries and gasps for relief, she heard the young woman’s plea,
just five minutes longer.
For those four words uttered by one brilliant, but young soul, she too would hold on, for five minutes longer, and then the next, and the next.
“I have had those I cared for murdered right before my eyes. I have endured torture at the hands of indescribable evil. I have lived with the consequences of those experiences, and learned to deal in any way necessary. But even with those horrific things in my past, nothing could have prepared me for what we found this night. It will forever be burned into my memory and the only one who could heal it might never be mine.” ~Dalton
Lucian pulled Peri to the side after the entire group had been flashed to the dark forest. His skin crawled with the memories of his time in the malicious woods. His throat burned as though a match had lit it on fire as he tasted the foul air. He would not allow the past to keep him from doing what he had to. Peri was his to protect and he would not fail her.
“I need to know that you will not detest me if I slay
Lorelle,” he told her gently as he ran his thumb across her cheek. “I know that you desire to be the one to destroy her and I understand your reasons for that. But if I get even a remote chance to take her out, I will not hesitate.”
She looked up into his eyes and he saw the vulnerability that only
she shared with him. Her eyes began to moisten but she quickly bit her lip and stopped the tears. “She needs to be stopped, whether by your teeth or my magic shouldn’t be important. You are correct that because of all she has done, how she has betrayed her race, it is my right to snuff her pathetic excuse for a life out. But, if you get there first, I will not hold it against you.”
Lucian could see the internal struggle that his mate battled. Whatever her words might say,
Lorelle was still her sister, her flesh and blood. Regardless of the circumstances killing family is never, ever easy. He took her face in both his large hands and pulled her closer. He could feel the heat of her breath on his face and just by looking at her luscious mouth he could taste her. “Whatever happens this night, we will be together, in this life, or in the next. I love you, Perizada.” He closed his eyes briefly as he thought about all the centuries without her, all the unbearable nights roaming, wondering if he would ever see his family again or find his mate. When he opened his eyes he realized he was not any less surprised to see her before him, real, tangible, his. “It could not have been anyone else, beloved. Do you understand?” His words were desperate and his eyes implored her to understand. “Your light, your passion, your temper, your desire, your loyalty, your love, they are all for me, as mine are for you. Before I go against every instinct I have and allow you to go into battle without me near you I need you to know how incredibly honored I am to be the wolf chosen for you.” He closed the space between them and pressed his lips to hers. The familiar heat that flared every time they touched roared to life. Regardless of everything around them, of the looming danger ahead of them, he found himself lost in her taste, her scent, her touch. Only she could so fully command his attention, only she could soothe the beast in him that demanded their mate not fight. He felt her fingers run through his hair, felt her nails against his scalp and then down the back of his neck and he shuttered from the desire they invoked in him. As the kiss grew in intensity, so did his need of her, but now was not the time.
After
he told himself as he pulled back from the kiss with a final nip of her swollen bottom lip.
Peri stared up at the man that held her in his powerful arms. He held her so tightly against his body that she could feel his chest rise and fall as he tried to slow his breathing. He was convinced that
she
had saved him, that he needed her more that he loved her more, but he was wrong. Without Lucian she had simply been existing, nothing more. Life had lost its luster, surprises were very few and very far between, and loneliness was eating a hole inside of her that refused to be filled with useless things. If anybody had needed saving it had been her. He came out of nowhere, blindsiding her and causing her to question everything she had thought she wanted. He was relentless in his pursuit of her, and even when she refused him, he stayed, like the patient hunter he was. He held out until his prey was tired of running. When she finally fell, he had been there to catch her.
“Stay alive
, wolf,” she told him in her no nonsense voice as she tried to pull her emotions in check so she could do what she had to. “And try not to get injured too badly. Adam’s thirst for blood is becoming legendary; I wouldn’t put it past him to pounce on one of his allies just for the chance to kill something. I would hate for him to kill you because then I’d have to kill him and Crina would die, and then Vasile would flip his lid. It would just be a mess and you know how I feel about messes.”
His eyes glowed as his wolf rose to her teasing. She had learned that Lucian
’s wolf loved to play, especially with her.
He smiled and it was all wolf. “I will consider your request, but only if you promise to return to me without a scratch on your delectable body.”
Peri chuckled and patted his cheek. “You are such a funny male. Ridiculous, but funny.”
He took her hand and led her back to where the group gathered around Dillon listening intently to his instruction.
“Lucian and I will take the outside of the arc. Lucian will be on the far right and I will be on the far left. In between us starting on Lucian’s side will be Crina, Costin, and Elle. The next three wolves will be Sorin, Phillip, Lee and then Adam. Dalton and I will be to the left of Adam and Peri will be to my far left.” He turned to Costin and motioned to the right. “According to Lucian the slightly higher ground is about half a mile in that direction. Take the healers and then get to your position as quickly as possible. We will begin moving forward before you return so take that into consideration when you come back.”
Costin took Sally’s hand and Anna and Stella fell into step w
ith them as they headed toward the higher ground.
Sally looked at the tiny clearing where Costin had led them and frowned. “I thought he said it was higher ground. All I see is trees, and more trees. How am I supposed to know what to do if I can’t see what is happening?”
“Sally mine, you got this. Just do what you were born to do and let the elements do the rest. This land needs healing; there have not been enough healers to accomplish that in a very, very long time. I know you and your partners in crime can do this, I have faith in you.” He leaned forward and pressed a kiss to her forehead and she closed her eyes allowing his love for her to wash over her and chase away any doubts.
When he pulled away and turned to go the frown returned. “Is that all I get? A kiss on the forehead?”
Costin turned walking backwards as he gave her one of his heart stopping, dimple grins. “I want to make sure that we both have something to look forward to when this is over. Knowing you are waiting for me tends to make me move a lot quicker. Don’t dilly dally, love, I’ve got plans for you.” He winked and then turned, loping off into the trees and out of view.
“Wow,” Anna’s voice broke the silence.
Stella sighed. “I don’t even want a man but even I can’t deny that he is…,”
“Finger
licking good, drool worthy, breath taking,” Sally finished for Stella.
“I think that covers it,” Anna agreed as Stella nodded.
Sally let out a snort. “Just wait, one of these days you both will have your own fur balls to pant over, though it’s strictly forbidden to do it in front of them. They are nearly unbearable as it is so really stroking their ego is ill advised.”
“Do you always talk like that?” Stella eyes crinkled as her mouth quirked up on one side.
Sally shook her head and let out a sigh as she turned and started looking at their ground zero. “No, unfortunately it’s a side effect of being bff’s with a slightly crazy, possibly delusional, definitely nymphomaniac who likes military lingo during stressful situations.”
“Interesting,” said Anna as she stood with w
ide eyes looking a little shell shocked.
“That’s putting
it mildly,” Sally quipped. She pulled the backpack from her shoulders and knelt down to the ground to open it. Stella and Anna moved closer as she removed four stones. They pulsed with power, each emanating a soft glow of a different color.
“Were those in there when we left?” Anna asked. “I thought Peri said they show up whenever they want.”
Sally shrugged. “Really they show up for the good guys when they are needed. To answer your question, no they were not in my bag when we left.”
“So what would we have done had they not chose to make an appearance?”
“That’s where the dancing naked part Peri was talking about would come into play.”
“So glad they graced us with their presence,” Stella added as she let out a relieved sigh.
“Me too,” Sally admitted, but then added. “Because really, dancing naked would do nothing more than make things jiggle that just shouldn’t jiggle and expose you to poison ivy in places that were never meant to have rashes.” Not acknowledging their bewildered faces, she began to lay the stones out on the ground in a circle the way Peri had showed her. As she put each stone in its place she so named it. She laid down the white stone first. “Air, for the oxygen we breathe, the wind that cools our skin, and the destruction it can cause when necessary. Earth,” she continued as she pressed the green stone to the dirt. “For the life that shoots forth from it, for the fruit that it bears, for the home that it provides.” Next was the red stone. “Fire, for the heat it provides, for the ways it can be used to bring about change, and for keeping those safe who have wielded it for such a purpose. Last, water,” she laid down the final stone, which was blue. “For the life it sustains, for the thirst it quenches, and for the cleansing it provides. Air, earth, fire, water each on their own can cause destruction of unfathomable proportion, but together they not only destroy, they also purge, heal, restore, and renew.”
Sally motioned for the two girls to take their places in the tripod around the stones. “I know y’all aren’t familiar with your power, but it’s there,” she explained. “When you call it, the answer will rise up and fill you with energy, peace
, and light. Let it flow through you, become a part of you so that way you can learn to direct it. Tonight we need to concentrate pouring our power into the stones. The power within them, combined with our own, will hopefully cleanse this forest of the evil that has saturated it for too long.” She looked at both Anna and Stella and smiled using her own light to settle their fears. “Any questions?”
Stella’s head tilted to the side as her hand found her hip. “Seriously?”
Sally laughed and it felt good. “Okay, bad choice of words. How about, let’s do this.”
The two healers smiled at her as they reached for each other’s hands. Sally closed her eyes, focusing on her own magic, and hoped silently that Anna and Stella would step up and be what they needed them to be.
She felt the heat of her power flowing through her, surging forth as if it knew just how badly she needed it. Her mind moved quickly to give it direction and purpose. When her magic began pushing toward the stones lying before them, she opened her eyes and watched in fascination. They began to swirl and glow, each of them appearing as if their element was inside. Red burned with fire, blue tossed and rolled as if an ocean was teaming inside. White whipped and spun like the breeze on a windy day, and green looked plush and soft filled with grass and rich foliage. She looked up to see the other two healers, their eyes closed and faces tight with concentration. A small smile appeared on Sally’s face as she stared at the two girls who would soon share her fate. These were her people. The wolves were her pack, of course, but these healers were actually like her. She couldn’t help but find joy in knowing that she wouldn’t be doing this alone. Yes, she had Rachel, but that was so different because Rachel was from a whole different era. But these girls were like Sally. She could relate to them and she hadn’t known how badly she had needed that.
Her eyes closed once again and she continued to focus on pouring all of her energy into the stones. She had been in battles before where they had been victorious, and they would be again tonight. They had to be, because there was so much they all
had to learn and so much good they could do. And as Costin shared his power with her when he felt her growing tired, she realized that more importantly than those things, these healers had mates who needed them.
Stella didn’t really know what power Sally was talking about so instead she just focused on the part of her that always brought her comfort and peace.
She pulled it around her like her favorite fleece blanket, sheltering herself from the cold world. As she began to feel herself growing warm she saw a faint glow in her mind’s eye.
This must be it
, she thought. Now she had to get it into the stones. She didn’t know how the image came to her, but she imagined a tunnel from her body, linked to the stones with branches at the end that divided the tunnel into four spouts. She pictured the light sliding into the channel she’d created and then pushed with all her will. She felt the energy leaving her body, rushing out of her in a steady stream and into the stones. She didn’t know what was happening once the light reached the stones and she was scared that if she opened her eyes to peek then she would lose her concentration. So she would stand there as Sally had instructed, funneling this power until someone told her to shut it down. She felt the wind pick up around her, whipping her hair around her face, and heard thunder rolling in the distance, but still she did not open her eyes.