Time Cursed

CHAPTER 8

  Cole reached his cabin and quickly went inside. He closed the door, bolted it, and leaned against it. He felt like he needed to hurry but he knew that if he didn't pause a moment to think things through he might forget something important. His eyes slowly scanned across the room. It was sparsely furnished with only a bed, desk, and dresser. He considered what he should wear, Diokles was clear that he could only bring the clothes on his back. He thought he would layer his clothes up and wear his jacket so that he could bring as much as possible. He walked towards his dresser and opened the top drawer. He didn't have much from his life before living at the camp as a protector but he did keep a few treasures in a hidden wooden compartment towards the back of the drawer. He reached inside and pulled the box out. When he opened it he saw the Luckenbooth ring and brooch that his mother had given him.

  Cole was originally from Scotland. As a mortal he had always worn the brooch. His mother kept it pinned on his tartan. It had intertwined hearts in silver with Scottish thistle in the middle and a crown on top. His mother wore the ring which had a matching design except that hers was gold. Cole's mother gave him the ring when he was going to propose to a girl he had loved very much. His mother told him that if she wore the ring and he had the brooch that he would always be able to find her. Cole's mother was gifted in enchanting things and making medicines. She was well known throughout the village where they lived and beyond. As Cole grew up he trained and became a fierce warrior for their village. When he had finally gained the position he desired he felt that he could provide well for his potential bride and that she might find him worthy of her love. Before he could ever ask her to become his bride he was intercepted by Marika and that ring never did reach his beloveds finger. For the first time in so many centuries he had found someone that he wanted to give the ring to.

  Cole put on his thermals, pants and shirt, hat and gloves. He stuffed what few coins he had into his pockets. He then placed the brooch and ring in his jacket along with a picture of him and Arlana that Sven had taken at the Christmas banquet the year before. He finished by wearing double socks and lacing on his best pair of boots then headed towards Arlana's cabin.

  Arlana sat on her bed and held a picture of her and Avalynn together. She rubbed her thumb along the side of the picture and then pressed it against her heart. This was the only goodbye she would likely get. When she went to see her sister she wasn't in her cabin, and there was no trace of her or Kellam anywhere. Her heart tore up inside her. She never wanted any of this to happen and she wondered if her sister believed that or if she believed the lies Marika was telling her. She thought of her mother being gone, the way her father looked at her with disgust and the hurt deepened. Maybe it will be a blessing to forget she thought, then she wouldn't have to feel this pain anymore. Just then there was a knock at the door. She raced towards it and threw the door open. It was Cole. He slowly brushed past her and closed the door. He placed his arms on her shoulders and slowly rubbed them while staring into her eyes, he pulled her into his embrace and stroked her hair as she placed her head against his chest. They stayed like that for a while. When she looked up again Cole leaned down and kissed her lips. This kiss wasn't like the first one. It was fierce and urgent like they wanted to meld into one another, grasping onto something that they wanted so badly to last. Cole pulled back from Arlana a little and stroked her cheek with his hand. “Never forget this deep inside,” he said, “I will never forget you and I will find you. A curse will never destroy the love I have for you.”

  She nodded her head, “Can the love I have for you be forgotten?” She asked hesitantly.

  Cole pulled her close and held her tight not knowing how to answer. He pulled back from her remembering why he came.

  “I have something for you,” Cole said taking the ring from his pocket. “This is going to help me find you; it will shine out to my heart like a beacon and pull me towards you.” Cole placed the ring on Arlana's finger.

  She looked down at it and a faint smile touched her lips, “It’s beautiful.”

  Cole than pulled out the brooch. He took the point and pricked his finger with it. Arlana started to protest but then he pulled out her finger and pricked it with the same brooch.

  “Put your finger to my finger Arlana, trust me.”

  Arlana did what he said, she did trust him fully, he had been there for her when no one else was and he was still with her even now in her banishment.

  Cole spoke, “Diokles has his curses and magic but I have a little something of my own. Though Diokles knows many things he doesn't know everything about me. He took me because I was a mighty warrior, he took me from the only family I knew and the ones I loved to protect the ones that he loved. If he would have looked further though he would have known that my mother was a soothsayer and what she knew she passed down to me. Now we share blood and I claim you. When I find you, you will know me when your eyes meet my eyes when your skin touches my skin. With our kiss you will remember all. Diokles called me out and I sacrificed all. Now Diokles throws out like trash his greatest treasure and I claim you, Diokles vengeful curse will be broken by our love.” Cole then bent down and kissed Arlana one more time.

  As Arlana listened to Coles' words she felt a shimmer of hope shoot through her heart. She smiled up towards Cole. He had been offering all the encouragement to her but she knew that even though he seemed unbreakable he needed encouragement too. “I can hardly wait until you find me, I know you will.”

  Cole appraised what Arlana was wearing and nodded with satisfaction. “You have on your ring and your necklace; those are the most important things. The necklace will change your clothes to match whatever time he is sending you to.”

  “Cole, will you bring this picture of Avalynn, my mom, and I with you?”

  “Of course I will,” Cole put the picture into his pocket. “Let’s not worry about anything else, let's just enjoy this time we have together while we still have it.” They held each other and talked softly of their love until sleep overtook them.