True Fate (41 page)

The girls decided
to make a break for it but they were thankfully stopped along the way by Eric.
Once he came for her and Rhea there was only a slight relief. Nia was happy he
was safe but she would be better when she saw that Aaron and Adam were okay
too. The fact that Eric wasn’t talking much was nerve wracking but what could
she do but go along for the ride. She had a churning in the pit of her stomach
telling her something was off. The closer they got to their destination which turned
out to be the ranch they were headed for, the more uneasy Nia felt.

What she found
when they got there rocked her world shattering it to the ground. The moment
she saw him she lost it and slipped into darkness.
 
She hoped to never wake up from the nightmare
that had quickly become her life.

Chapter 23

Nia’s
nose burned as she was awakening, the smell of bleach was thick in the air. She
covered her face with the fluffy comforter hoping to staunch the urge to gag.

Her mom must be
cleaning her bathroom again, she thought, stretching. Easing her eyes open she
was assaulted by the intruding sunlight. So she sat up but stilled when she
felt a pounding in her head, looking around slowly what she now knew was not
her home she rubbed at her eyes.

The mauve walls
mocked her with their hideous hue, she always did hate that color.

“Oh my God! Aaron!”
She gasped and stood but fell directly on her butt with a loud thud. Her legs
felt like rubber and her mouth was dry, she rubbed her scratchy throat as she sat
on the tacky rug and cried. Letting the full on sobs rack her entire body she
remembered his bloody state.

Aaron. Her Aaron,
she had never seen so much blood before. Her vision blurred and she felt arms
wrap around her and lift her from the floor.

“Aaron.” She
sobbed into the strong shoulder connected to a sweet smelling stranger, he was
dead he had to be. Surely no one lost that amount of blood and lived to tell
the tale.

Eric sat on the
bed and pulled her gently onto his lap as a woman with raven dark hair rushed
in and set a cup in Eric’s hand giving Nia a stiff smile before exiting as
quickly as she came.

“Nia, drink this.”
He said in a soothing tone.

She turned
wondering who brought the delicious smelling beverage only to see her back and
hair swaying behind her in a long braid on her way out the door. She held the
cup tightly and sipped at first then wolfed down the rest of the liquid heaven quite
greedily, she recognized it as the same sweet goodness from before.

Her shaking
steadied and she began to feel only a little calmer. “Eric, where’s Aaron?” she
asked trying to be brave and biting down hard on her lip tasting her own
coppery blood.

“Once you are able
to stand, I will take you to him.” He told her setting her on the bed and
placing the cup on a small table.

Nia’s eyes went
wide. “What! He’s alive?” she asked with disbelief etched in her voice as much
as her features. “But all the blood, there was so much blood.” She stuttered
out in a daze shaking her head slowly.

 
“Yes, he is… but Nia, look at me, please.” He
said gently turning her from staring at the door to looking him in the eye.

“He’s not doing too
good they have tried everything. Rowen even sent a healer from his people and
we can’t get him to wake up. He’s healing even slower than Isabel.” He said
scratching his head.

Nia tried to stand
and Eric helped her. He knew that if it were Avery he would crawl to her if
need be, so he relented and helped Nia out the door and through the hall.

The door was
closed on the room Nia had collapsed in. Savannah came out shutting the door
behind her looking drained. She looked at Nia and spoke softly. “He’s still not
awake kiddo and don’t you dare go passing out on us again.” She said as she
shuffled down the hall hopefully to get some much needed rest.

Eric opened the
door and the smell of bleach drifted to Nia making her stomach turn. Aaron lay
motionless with just a shallow rise and fall of his chest indicating his
existence in her world was true. Eric helped Nia to the other side of the king
sized bed and propped the pillows there. She laid on her side and brushed a hair
off of Aaron’s forehead.

Eric brought the
blankets up over her and headed for the door. “If you need anything just send it
through the bond.” He said, then he clicked the door shut lightly.

Nia clasped Aaron’s
hand lightly and stared at him trying off and on to breach his mind. She
drifted to sleep thinking perhaps she needed to be stronger to help him but she
wouldn’t leave his side.

###

Five days had
passed and Nia was only pried from his side once to bathe and she took her
meals in the room moving from the chair to the bed and back again. She tried
talking to him and singing to him and she prayed, a lot too.

Savannah and the
raven haired woman who was named Celia hooked up monitors to Aaron’s heart and
brought in other medical supplies since their ways weren’t working.

When his breathing
was so shallow that he needed oxygen and his heart rate was almost non-existent
the whispers began.

“Maybe it was time
to let him go” they’d say to anyone but Nia. Rhea pleaded with her to get out
of that room for a little while but she refused.

She hadn’t eaten
much since he took a turn for the worse and she wasn’t doing much better when
Savannah and Darragh entered the room on the fifth day.

“We have decided
to bring Amarie to you.” Savannah said.

“That’s up to you.
I’m not leaving him.” She said without tearing her eyes away from his chest
watching it rise and fall.

“I know.” Darragh
said. “But Nia, you really do need to eat, you need your strength to help him.”
Savannah pleaded with her.

“Fine.” was Nia’s
clipped response.

It was four hours
there and back to get her Great Aunt so she had plenty of time to eat and
shower and prepare herself for whatever Aunt Amarie had to do with all of this.
Having done all that she said she would and eating like a normal person at the
table with Adam and Rhea, she went back to her room and snuggled to Aaron’s
side and fell into a deep sleep thinking of the person she wanted to see the
most besides him.

Nia woke up to
pitch black frustrated that she didn’t dream about Deirdre. She flicked on the
lamp, stretched and stomped off to the restroom to brush her teeth and wash her
face.

Opening the door
she turned off the light and when she looked up she clutched her chest Aaron
was sitting up, propped on pillows, eyes open and groggy, sipping a drink.

She rushed to his
side and hugged him nearly spilling the warm liquid on them both.

“Aaron!” she
exclaimed kissing his cheek. “But how?”

“Nia?” She heard
her before she noticed her standing in the doorway.

“Aunt Amarie?” she
asked looking at the old woman with her pink jogging suit and orthopedic shoes.
Her face was wrinkled and her hair was white but styled beautifully and shoulder
length. Her eyes were a bit cloudy and she looked tired but it was definitely
her.

Aunt Amarie nodded
and Nia bolted out of the bed to wrap her Great Aunt in a hug.

Chapter 24

Aunt
Amarie looked exactly as she remembered. From what she knew the woman was at
least eighty years old. She released her aunt and went back to Aaron’s side and
just stared at him in awe.

“I am so glad you
are okay. But how? How are you okay?” she asked hugging him tight again.

“Ow. I missed you
beautiful.” he replied wincing but so happy to see Nia’s face.

“Honey I am sure
he is sore and plenty stiff from being under for five days.” Her aunt told her.

She loosened her
grip wiping the tears from her eyes.

“Sorry.” She said
apologetically.

“Now that he is
awake we should let Savannah and Celia come work their magick. Huh?” Aunt
Amarie suggested.

Nia made a sad
face and turned to Aaron.

“Baby, I’m not
going anywhere and you two need to talk.” he said kissing Nia lightly on the
lips.

 
“Okay, but not long, I will be back soon, I
promise.” She told him kissing him one last time before following her Aunt out
of the room.

“He is awake now
ladies go do what you can for the poor boy.” She said to Savannah and Celia who
left the room quickly.

“Come and have a
seat princess.” Aunt Amarie told Nia patting the spot on the sofa next to her.

“I expected you
last year Nia but I suppose no one has prepared you for any of this.” She said
shaking her head in disapproval.

“That’s an
understatement.” Nia scoffed.

Aunt Amarie placed
her hand over Nia’s “We have much to discuss but first I need to see your
journey thus far. May I?” she asked politely.

Nia just nodded
and she closed her eyes and slipped into a flashback like you assume you have
when you are about to die. Highlighting every super natural event that Nia
experienced and there were more than she had realized starting from her
infancy.

Nia gasped as her
mind was released. Her aunt just sat there a few moments eyes closed.

“Do you have the
ruby ring my dear? It’s the only thing that will allow me to speak of the
things I need to share.”

Nia nodded and
made the ring visible when she removed it from her finger and her weapons
showed up as well. She handed her aunt the ring and the old woman slipped it on
her wrinkled finger.

Aunt Amarie’s
features shifted slowly to a woman of about twenty. The same amber eyes, with a
little more green, and the same long black hair as Nia too. She was slim and
quite tall at least five foot nine.

“Now that was
cool.” Nia said feeling ridiculous for saying it out loud. Her aunt got up and stretched
pacing as her clothes changed from frumpy old woman to chic and fashionable.

The long sleeved
dress length cashmere sweater was charcoal gray and ribbed. She wore black
leggings in high heeled, knee high, black boots. The gold jewelry shimmered on
her wrist and neck. Her hair hung loose and straight.

“That old body was
a glamour and I don’t want to wear it ever again.” Aunt Amarie said with a
shudder.

Nia’s jaw dropped
her Aunt Amarie was gorgeous! “Now then, I have much to tell you and a short
amount of time to prepare you for the things that are being set in motion as we
speak. I think Aaron needs to hear what I have to say as well but we will give
him a bit more time so I will stick to the basics.” She said with a nod.

She looked at Nia
to make sure she was paying attention and she definitely was. Nia had been
waiting for this for what seemed like forever.

###

Aaron was shocked
at the amount of time he had been unconscious. Vivid flashes of his first
battle played behind his eyelids as he lay there with Savannah’s hands working
feverishly at his side. He had glanced at his wound when they unwrapped it and
nearly vomited. Closing his eyes was only mildly better. The visions he saw
were not something he wanted to relive again.

He was so relieved
when Nia came into the room, the thought that he would fall in battle leaving
her without a guardian had wrecked him right before he blacked out.

Opening his eyes
Aaron saw that the woman who was introduced to him as Celia was now working on
his wound and Savannah was drinking something from a mug. She gave him a small
smile. “Nia is the most stubborn woman I have ever seen. Especially when it
comes to you.” She told him and Celia smiled then.

“Why do you say
that?” he asked gritting his teeth as a searing pain shot through his side.

“Well, she
wouldn’t leave your side, for one. Rhea had to physically make her bathe! She
was impossible. She kept draining her powers trying to heal you.” She told him
somberly.

Aaron thought
about that for a moment and any doubts he had about her feelings went out the
window. He just smiled as Savannah came to stand beside Celia they whispered
something he couldn’t understand then a light flashed. The pain that he had
been feeling was so dull it could now be called an ache. He sighed in relief
unclenching his jaw and moving to sit up.

Savannah started
to clean up the blood from his skin and he looked at the once jagged wound that
was a thick puffy scar now. He touched it gently and was relieved it was over
and done with. He changed clothes after showering and made his way to the
living room.

Nia stared into
the fireplace watching the flames dance, flames she could control if she wanted
to. She was dumbfounded and felt like she could be sick.

 
Aunt Amarie waited patiently as Nia dried her
tears and took a deep breath. She knew what she was now and she still couldn’t
believe it.

Relief flooded her
insides before he stepped into the room but she felt Aaron the second he was
close. She rushed to his side and wrapped him in a hug, he smelled like soap
and salve. She rested her head on his shoulder, no words were necessary for
this reunion.

They sat on the
love seat hand in hand, not willing to give up the contact. “Aunt Amarie this
is Aaron. I’m sure you two have met but I just want to be sure.” Nia said smiling,
happy to have him back.

“She was there
when I woke up.” Aaron said looking at Amarie.

“I didn’t
recognize you at first but I saw your eyes and I knew.” He said looking at her.
“Thank you.” He added.

“Oh there’s no
need to thank me dear you are my family now. You two have a grand future though
it may prove to be a difficult one.” She said nodding at them. “But I assure
you there are plenty of those who will support the journey that you are about
to embark on.”

She told them
seriously and assured that once she returns to the realm everything will begin
to fall into motion. Her plan was to lay low until she contacted her allies
then she would indeed make her presence known.

The fact that she
was able to use the ring’s magick to remove her aging glamour meant that she
would have no problems entering the realms. She had much to do to make sure
that Nia was able to fulfill her fate with as little resistance as possible and
if not with as much help as possible. And then there was the issue of
Marguerite. She had to know the truth about Deirdre but all in due time.

. “You two are
destined to reunite the realms. We have been separated and at odds for nearly a
century. We will discuss this further but Nia I need to give you this before I
forget.” Aunt Amarie held out one of her hands palm up and raised the other to
snap her fingers.

A small black
velvet box sat in her hand and she walked towards Nia with a smile. She gave
her the box and Nia opened it slowly. It was a deep hot pink garnet set in
black gold and it was stunning. It was the unlike any other ring that Nia had
ever seen.

“What’s this for?”
Nia asked.

“Well sweetie, you
put it on.” Her aunt encouraged with a grin.

Aaron laughed as
Nia just stared at it for a moment longer and she laughed too even though she
felt odd just touching it.

Slipping it on
slowly she expected to be taken into a dreamscape. So she braced herself and
Aunt Amarie looked at her questioningly.

“Is something
wrong dear?” her aunt asked her finally. “Um no I just... oh, never mind.” Nia
said with a smile. “That ring will work for you just like this one.” Aunt
Amarie said and looked at the ruby on her finger.

Aunt Amarie took a
seat in a high back chair and crossed her legs looking regal in it. “Now there
is much to discuss such as your promise ceremony. I am thinking perhaps it
needs to happen when things stabilize a bit. They are going to be in an uproar
for a little while.” she said looking at each of them pointedly.

“But don’t worry I
will take care of things in the realm and you need to take care of each other.
I will speak with your father as soon as possible and in a month or so you and
Aaron will move into a home with Eric and Avery. Lilith cannot know that I have
released from my glamour. I have bound those I do not trust that have come with
you to silence on my being free.” She paused.

“Do you have any
questions?” she asked them.

Nia looked at
Aaron then at her great aunt. “This is a lot I’m not sure I know what to ask
first. I have a feeling this is going to be a long conversation.” She said to
Aunt Amarie who nodded then looked at Aaron, he smiled and squeezed her hand.

“Yes indeed.
Princess.” Amarie confirmed smiling lovingly at her great niece.

Their long conversation
had been so long that Savannah and Celia had come into the room and given them
all a pulse of relaxation and renewal. They talked and questioned and answered
until it got to be too much for one day.

Aunt Amarie
retired to bed for the night promising three more days at the safe house to
share as much with Nia and Aaron as possible. They told her goodnight and went
looking for the others.

They found them in
the kitchen all seated at a large table and Rhea bolted from her chair nearly
knocking it over. Nia thought for sure she was going to be tackled to the
ground but instead Rhea wrapped Aaron in a bear hug.

“I am so glad you
are okay, I thought Nia would never be okay again!” she said looking at her
best friend.

Nia rolled her
eyes. “Was I really that bad?” she asked and they all laughed.

After some dinner
and conversation Avery and Eric dismissed themselves from the room and Savannah
and Darragh left shortly after.

They were leaving
in a few days to head back to Texas and Aunt Amarie was going to meet with Nia
and Aaron every night until their curiosity about who they were was satisfied.

Rhea and Adam, who
were now bound to silence, were shocked at what Nia and Aaron were. It was
unbelievable, they never even thought that type of thing existed. Isabel left
the room last after helping Celia with the dishes. Celia was drying the last
dish and placing it in the cabinet when the four of them decided to turn in as
well.

Nia hadn’t
forgotten her promise to Isabel they would have to make plans to get Brennan
out soon so she needed to let Eric know so he could help.