The Gathering (61 page)

"Ok, what's the meaning of this?"

Molly stepped forward and handed her a pair of binoculars and then pointed at Father Leon.

"Sorry, Chancellor, but he says he's from St. Viviana's and we don’t know anyone from the KMC.
 
Can you look for us?"

Vivian had gone white.
 
A survivor?
 
What if more had survived?
 
She stepped forward and looked through the eyepiece, moving slowly over the landscape, finally resting on a man dressed in black.
 
She felt her breath intake sharply and she moved the binoculars away and then back in disbelief.

"Oh by the gods, its Father Leon!
 
Have them open the gate, Molly, hurry!"

Molly hollered down as several of the shepherds and cattle tenders moved towards the entrance, joined by three new shepherds.
 
Father Leon ran towards the open gate and tried to grab one of the guards.
 

"Please close the gate, quickly, close the gate."

"Huh?"

"Close it!!"

From the group of herders, Rona dropped her glamour and struck at the priest.
 
He screamed as Rona's sword ran him through.
 
The soldiers drew their weapons and the sentinels turned to see the commotion, leaving the entrance unwatched.
 
Rona banged her swords together and laughed.

"Well, come on then, little piggies.
 
It's time for Rona to go home."

86

Alia stood on the balcony off her room, watching the forest below.
 
She could feel Ferage and the others in the brush but something was amiss.
 
She breathed deeply and as she did she thought she sensed a familiar scent on the wind.
 

The hairs on the back of her neck rose to attention and she felt a chill.
 
She began to back away from the railing, but stopped as she stepped back into her room.

The air was cool, but Alia felt warm as though with fever.
 
She walked over to see the embers barely smoldering in her fireplace.
 
She dragged her hand across her forehead, dizzy and warm.

She looked back at the fireplace.
 
Suddenly great flames grew from the embers and turned green.
 
Alia stumbled back and caught herself on the chair.
 
The room was filled with the smoke of Benzoin and then she felt a presence behind her.
 
She slowly turned.
 
There, standing in the middle of the room was a woman.
 

She towered above Alia, dressed in leather, with a sword at her side and a bow and quiver slung over her shoulder.
 
She had daggers on both legs.
 
Her hair was like fire and her eyes black.
 
She was beautiful.
 
Alia felt herself drop to her knees, for she knew this woman.
 
The woman of her dreams, the great warrior queen of the Tuatha Du Danan.
 
The Morrighan.
 
The goddess reached out for Alia's hand, beckoning her to come to her.
 

Alia reached towards her, longing to feel the mother's touch.
 
Just as Alia was about to grasp the goddess’ hand, there was a great searing pain in Alia's head and a screaming, the likes of which she had never known.
 
In an instant the goddess was gone and Alia fell to the ground.
 

Her chest felt like fire and she couldn't breathe.
 
She didn't notice Janeen and Sean enter her room or run to her side.
 
She didn't hear them call for Beverly.
 
She was dying and she felt her blood draining away.
 
Her heartbeat grew slower and slower and finally stopped.

Alia opened her eyes and drew a long hard breath.

"NOOOOOOOOO!"

The tears fell from her eyes as she tried to stand.

"Ferage!!!
 
Ferage!!!!"
 

Sean looked at her and understood.
 
He looked down at the forest but could see no unicorns.
 
Then he looked over at the gate.
 
There were soldiers in black moving towards the open gate.

"No!! The gate…dammit!!
 
To arms!!!"

Sean knelt by Alia and kissed her before running out of the room.
 
Janeen continued to hold Alia.

"He's dead!!
 
He's dead!"
 
Alia screamed.

Janeen helped Alia get up and in that moment Alia could see what was happening.
 
She looked at Janeen.

"The children…save the children!!"

Janeen's eyes grew wide and she and Alia ran outside.
 
Alia prayed they weren't too late.

87

Blaylock ran full speed and slammed into a rookie who was trying to close the gate.
 
The young soldier was thrown off his feet and landed in the middle of the confusion.
 
Rona was fighting off two soldiers, as Darla tried to get Albie to run.

"Just go, Albie, she's tricked us both!"

"I can't, my mother!!"

One of the Black Hordesmen ran past them and into the crowd of people who had been shopping.
 
They screamed and scattered.
 

"You took your sweet time opening the gate!"

"Shut up, Tommy!!
 
Next time I'm locked in a cell, I'll be sure to put you on the fucking list!!"

Blaylock grinned.
 
He had missed her.
 
He never thought he would ever miss a woman.
 
Together they fought off the soldiers.
 

Albion shook off Darla's grip and ran towards the open gate.
 

"Albie, No!!"

Elian had come around the corner and saw that Albion was running outside.
 
Without hesitation, Elian ran after Albion and just as he was about to pass through the gate, Elian grabbed his brother's arm.

"Albie, where are you going?"

Albion spun around and looked into Elian's eyes and saw that they were full of confusion.
 
Albion shook his head.

"I'm sorry, Elian, I didn't mean for it to happen like this."

Elian looked at his brother in disbelief then felt a sharp pain as a fist connected with his face.
 
The blow knocked him backward and Rona drew her dagger and smiled.

"No!! Stop it!!"
 
Albion cried.

Rona looked at Albion and shook her head.
 
Then she motioned for a Black Hordesman to take him.
 
The Hordesman grabbed the boy as he kicked and fought.

"No, Elian!!
 
Elian!!"

Elian got up and looked at Rona.

"Sorry, Kid, but mommy only wants one son."

Elian frowned and shook his head as he backed away from Rona.
 
She lunged at him, but was thrown backward from a white light.
 
She landed on her back several feet away, pushed herself up and looked over in the direction of the blast.

Darla stood in front of Elian, her daggers drawn.
 
The look in her eye was one Rona had never seen and it made her smile.

"Why, D, I've never seen this side of you.
 
Seems like that was a better kiss than I would have imagined."

"Stay away from him, Rona."

"Ah, I have my orders."

Rona shrugged and charged at Darla, who ran forward to meet her.
 
They clashed metal-to-metal for a few moments as Elian watched.
 
Darla moved to the right and then felt a sharp pain in her side.
 
Rona leaned in and sneered.

"You lose."

Rona pulled the blade out and let Darla drop to the ground as she turned back to Elian.
 
He looked around for a weapon, finding none.
 
She ran and jumped, but when her steel went to meet with flesh, she felt the clash of more steel and again she was thrown backwards.

She pushed herself up again to see Chris in front of her.
 
Rona shook her head and stood up.
 
As she did, she saw Rebecca and Hannah running towards the Dining Hall.

"Tommy, there!"

She pointed after them and Blaylock chased after them.

"No!"

Chris went to make chase, but Rona charged at him and he was forced to defend himself.
 
As he fought Rona, he could see Hannah and Rebecca.

The girls were almost clear of the melee when they were grabbed.
 
The Hordesman spun them around and held them for Blaylock to see.
 
He smiled and nodded.
 
The Hordesman was smiling and not paying attention.
 
Rebecca grabbed his dagger and stabbed him in the thigh.
 
He let go of both girls.

"Hannah, run!!!"

They both ran in different directions, but Blaylock watched and followed the blond hair.
 
Hannah ran and hid behind a barrel.
 
She slowed her breathing and waited a few moments.
 
She then peeked out from behind the barrel to see two large black feet in front of her.
 
Slowly her eyes turned upward as Blaylock leaned over and grabbed her arm.

"Going somewhere?"

His eyes were like ice.
 
Hannah screamed and kicked as he dragged her back to the gate.
 
Chris saw this and tried to go after her, but Rona was attacking him from all sides.

"Hannah!! No!!!"

Tanner and Ian had joined the fight and they both turned to see Blaylock throw Hannah to a Hordesman outside the gate.
 
Ian went after her and lunged at Blaylock.
 
Ian was out of practice but held his own as he saw his sister being dragged further away.

Chris left the fight to make chase, but Rona took her dagger and blew along the edge.
 
A blue flame encompassed the steel and she threw it at Chris.
 
It struck him in his side.
 
He yelled and Tanner spun around to see his brother fall to the ground.

Rona picked up a sword from ground and pressed towards him, but stopped when she felt a sharp pain.
 
She glanced over and saw blood flowing freely from her shoulder.