Toil And Trouble

  “Mathilda, please stand beside Rand,” she requested.

  Mathilda nodded and approached Rand, holding his hand in her own. She smiled up at him, seeming to say she understood what he was going through, that she was there for him. I could only wonder if Mathilda knew what would happen to him after my departure. Since she was the all-knowing fairy, I imagined she must’ve been very familiar with what happened when one bonded party was forever separated from the other. Yes, Rand would have someone to look after him, someone powerful who truly cared for him. I was leaving him in the best possible hands.

  Mercedes glanced at the moon and I followed her gaze, watching the clouds eclipse the great orb. With the wind blowing through the skeletal trees, and scattering the light snowfall that had just started, I had to wonder why I wasn’t cold. It was probably my own raw nerves keeping me warm.

  “We must hurry,” Mercedes said, looking back at us. “Rand and Mathilda, at the very moment I approach Jolie with the blade, you must envision the portal to Jolie’s time opening wide. We must time it exactly or it will not work.”

  Mathilda nodded but Rand said nothing. His face was expressionless but I could feel his pain, it practically handicapped me.

  “We will only have one chance to do this properly,” Mercedes continued and stood behind me. “Are we ready?”

  I nodded and turned away from her, facing Rand. I offered him a small smile and didn’t miss the way his eyes filled with tears or how tight his jaw was. I memorized every detail of his face, how young and innocent he looked. How beautiful…

  I love you, Rand.

  And I you. He closed his eyes and I could see his grip on Mathilda’s hand tightening as tears coursed down his face. I will love you always.

  I gritted my teeth, wanting only to run to him and tell him I wouldn’t go through with this, that I would stay with him forever.

  But, I never had the chance. Instead, my ears caught the sound of snow crunching behind me and I watched Rand’s eyes open wide in alarm.

  “Jolie!” he yelled, surging forward.

  I whirled around at the same instant Mercedes plunged the dagger’s blade into my stomach.

  #

  It was like time was standing still, only to go into fast forward. There was a bright flash of light and then utter blackness. I opened my eyes and blinked against the garish display of moonlight accompanied by the incessant twinkling of stars.

  “Jolie!” It was Rand’s voice screaming at me.

  I turned to him in shock, noticing the familiar standing stones behind him, the cairns beyond the stones. We were back in the alcove of trees; Sinjin was standing there, staring at me. He looked as shocked as Rand. Wondering what the hell was going on, I spotted Mercedes standing just beside Rand.

  And then it dawned on me.

  Gwynn…

  I whirled around and caught only the ire in her eyes, the anger in her tight-lipped expression. Then I felt myself thrust backward as an incredible burning in my stomach overcame me. I glanced down and screamed at the sight of her blade buried in my gut. It seemed like slow motion as I hit the ground.

  A cacophony of voices sounded over the pounding of my heartbeat as it reverberated through my head. Rand was yelling, punctuated by the raucous sound of metal on metal and whooping of war calls. The battle still raged around me.

  I’d hit the ground hard but never felt it. I was too consumed with the burning in the middle of my stomach. My heartbeat was suddenly slowing. I saw Gwynn standing over me and before I had the chance to do anything, Sinjin leapt on her, his fangs exposed. He tore into her neck like an outraged animal. Gwynn dropped and in an instant Siinjin grasped her by the hair and ripped her head off. Her carcass exploded into ash, her head dangling in Sinjin’s grip. A few seconds later her head exploded just as her body had. I pulled my attention from Gwynn’s ashes that now sailed on the wind and found Sinjin. His eyes were full of an emotion I’d never seen on him before—pain, it was the look of extreme loss.

  And that was when I realized I was dying. Mercedes had lied to me. She’d promised I wouldn’t die but it looked like that’s exactly what was happening.

  I felt the touch of warm, soft hands on my hairline and glanced up. Rand’s face met my eyes. He looked like an angel, even with his hair mussed and the dirt mixed with blood that speckled his forehead and cheeks.

  “Jolie, can you hear me?” he demanded. Tears fell helplessly down his cheeks, making tiny rivers through the dirt.

  I tried to answer but had no voice. So, I nodded, suddenly feeling like I was choking. I tried to inhale but couldn’t take in any air. Panic started a slow twist up my body, amplified by the feeling of liquid rising up my throat. I tasted hot, metallic blood gurgling out of my throat and dribbling down my cheek into the moist earth below. Breathing in a wispy breath, I felt my lungs filling with liquid, with blood. The panic was little by little fading into oblivion and my eyelids were becoming so heavy.

  “No,” Rand cried and cradled my head in his lap. His tears flowed unrestrained and I wanted to reach out to him, to tell him it was okay, that I was not afraid. But, I couldn’t. I couldn’t even feel my body anymore.

  Rand hugged me tightly. As I lay in the warmth of his embrace, I took one last glance at the battlefield, hating the violence and carnage. Now I would never know the outcome of our battle. My thoughts were interrupted by a woman screaming. She was pinned by a tree behind her and in front of her, a snarling wolf. Her face was familiar. Her long dark hair and wide dark eyes tore at my memory. Anne. I had seen this vision once before, right down to the wolf growling at her. Behind this wolf, another wolf with a reddish coat suddenly leapt up and buried its teeth into the wolf threatening Anne. The creature fell to the ground while the attacking wolf bit into its throat, gnashing its teeth while the wolf bled out and died. The victorious wolf shape-shifted back into a man and I recognized him as Trent, my ex. Anne ran to him and he embraced her.

  I couldn’t help my smile. I felt a kind of lightweight happiness, the feeling of warmth penetrated me and I knew everything would work out. Just in watching Trent defend Anne, it was enough for me to trust in providence, to trust that everything would go as it had to go. And, suddenly, I was okay with the fact that I’d played my part, the fact that I’d been a pawn in a game I’d had no control over. Rand…and Sinjin were safe. That was really all that mattered.

  Rand pulled me away from him and cradled my head between his large hands. I caught the image of Sinjin standing behind him. Blood stained his face and his mouth was set in a tight line. He gazed down at me with love and sadness in his eyes, extreme sadness.

  I blinked and Sinjin was gone. He’d disappeared into thin air.

  “Jolie?” Rand called. “Use whatever magic you have left and help me heal you.”

  I wanted to hug Rand and tell him it was okay, that he had to let me go. He knew I was dying—he just couldn’t admit it. He closed his eyes and hovered his hands above my wound but it was no good. I was too far gone.

  I tried to speak but no sounds came out. Then I attempted to use our mental telepathy but I was too weak even to form the words in my head. I suddenly felt very cold and so tired. I closed my eyes.

  “Jolie!” Rand shook me.

  I was too weak to fight. Instead, I melted into the black of my eyelids and was suddenly met with a stream of images—my mother’s face when I’d fallen off my bike and skinned my knee. My seventh grade teacher. Anderson Lake in Washington State, my favorite vacation spot as a kid. And Christa… Christa in her pigtails in the third grade when we’d met. Christa and I getting ready for Homecoming. Saying goodbye at the airport to my closest friend in all the world.

  Then there was Rand.

  Rand walking into my shop and introducing himself with his dimpled smile. Rand teaching me to assume the likeness of a fox. Rand slow dancing with me. Rand’s lips so soft and full against mine. Rand laughing. Rand sliding his mother’s ring on my finger. A ring that was still in the same place.
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  I could feel the smile spreading across my lips and knew I could let go now. I could say goodbye.

  I tried to tell him how much he meant to me, how I loved him and would always love him. I would wait for him, wherever I ended up, I would always wait for him.

  #

  I felt a jolt and it was like I’d been wading in the balmiest sea, warm water surrounding me. Then I was thrust into ice. A bolt of pain shot through me at the change in temperature. The sounds of screams and clanking metal accosted my ears. My head ached as I opened my eyes frantically.

  Rand was right above me, tears freely flowing from his eyes. And next to him, Mercedes. Her expression was stoic, her lips tight. Her hand was on my forearm, with a viselike grip.

  “Jolie, can you hear me?” she demanded.

  I tried to sit up, but Rand held me down. Fear spiraled through me as I felt a scream building from the bottom of my stomach. My stomach…I ran my hand up and down my waist, feeling for the hilt of Gwynn’s blade but there was nothing there. My clothes were drenched with wet blood. I searched my stomach for any sign of the mortal wound but only felt my skin raised with goosebumps.

  “How?” I started, my voice thick and rough.

  “She brought you back,” Rand managed, cocking his head in Mercedes’ direction while he nearly choked on his tears.

  I glanced at Mercedes in amazement. “You reanimated me?”

  She nodded and her smile was broad. “Yes. Did I not promise you would not die?”

  I had been dead and Mercedes had brought me back to life. The tables had turned. And it felt so strange to be on the receiving end of my talent. Not only that, but to know there was someone else who possessed the same power. The thought struck me like a bolt of lightning and ricocheted through me. I wanted to cry at the same time I wanted to laugh.

  “Can you sit up?” Mercedes asked, her attention divided between me and the battle still roaring around us.

  I nodded as Rand slid his arm around my waist, helping me into a seated position. Grasping onto my waist, he pulled me back so I rested against one of the standing stones. I took a deep breath and tried to steady my shaking hands.

  “I feel okay,” I said in a small voice, rubbing the back of my head as I attempted to understand what had happened. The urge to cry overcame me; I had to stifle it in order to not become a blubbering mess.

  “Jolie, I need you to focus,” Mercedes demanded, pulling my attention from my inner thoughts. “We must bring this battle to an end.”

  I couldn’t help the confusion that warred through me. “End this battle?”

  She nodded emphatically, her attention returning to the battlefield again. I followed her gaze and watched bursts of magic light up the dark sky, accompanied by war calls and the agonized screams of creatures dying, cries that raised the fine hairs on my body.

  “Yes, you and I will do it together,” she started, her attention back to me. “I need your magic as well as my own.”

  She placed her hand on me and Rand grasped it, his expression hard. “Who are you and where did you come from?”

  I pulled away from him. “You mean you don’t know yet?” I assumed they must have already shared introductions. He shook his head.

  “Mercedes is the prophetess,” I said in a small voice.

  Rand’s eyes widened and Mercedes faced him with a small smile. “Hello, Rand.”

  He frowned and swallowed hard. “You know me?”

  I grasped his hand and his gaze followed. His eyes suddenly widened. “My mother’s ring?” he started.

  I’d forgotten about the ring. But, there was no time to explain. “There is so much to tell you, Rand. So much has happened. I barely know where to begin.”

  “Don’t concern yourself with it now, Jolie,” he said, shaking his head. “You need to recuperate.”

  “No,” Mercedes interrupted. “She can recuperate later. We must end this battle now.”

  “H…How will…” I started.

  Mercedes squeezed my hand and I noticed she’d already grasped Rand’s. She stood up as Rand gathered me in his arms and moved right beside her.

  Thunder suddenly deafened the night sky and lightning followed, casting an eeriness onto the battlefield. A thick curtain of rain began to fall, assaulting me with its coldness. I watched the dirt and blood wash away from Rand’s face. He caught my gaze and offered me a warm smile.

  “You must focus on me, Jolie,” Mercedes said, demanding my attention. “I need you to focus your magic and direct it toward me. Rand, you must do the same.”

  Rand pulled his attention from me and nodded toward Mercedes. I gulped as I wondered if I even had any magic remaining. Guess I’d have to give it an old fashioned try and see what happened.

  “Focus on me, Jolie,” Mercedes said, just before she faced the battlefield of Culloden. She closed her eyes while gripping my hand tightly. I imagined a tidal wave of magic growing to extreme heights and widths, power cresting and foaming at the top of the wave. When I couldn’t hold the wave of magic back any longer, I imagined it roaring into Mercedes, filling her up.

  She kept her eyes shut and tilted her face upwards. With her clenched teeth, it looked like she was in pain. Within seconds a beam of light broke through the clouds and highlighted her face as the rain poured down on her, cementing her hair to her cheeks. But, she was impervious to the rain. And the rain was nothing compared to the beam of white light. It was as if the moon were radiating its milky rays to Mercedes alone. The pain in her features softened and she dropped her head back even further. The light penetrated her and after another few seconds, she began glowing—almost as if the moonlight had filled up a reservoir within until she was now overflowing.

  Her feet left the ground and she levitated a few feet in the air, eyes still closed. I heard Rand gasp but my attention was riveted to Mercedes. I continued projecting, sending all my magic into her.

  She dropped our hands and held hers skyward. Bringing her hands together, the light seemed to move out of her and into her hands, until the glare was so intense, I had to shield my eyes. Mercedes dropped her head and closed her eyes tightly again. She threw her arms wide and the glow left her, dispersing into a blinding light that ricocheted throughout the battlefield. Rand dropped me and I fell against the ground, but never felt any pain. Rand collapsed right next to me and I reached for him, needing his touch and reassurance. He grasped my hand and squeezed it, offering me a small smile before we both turned our attention to Mercedes again. I tried to stand but I was too weak. Instead I looked out over the battlefield, and noticed that all the warring creatures had fallen as well. It was difficult to separate the living from the dead.

  There wasn’t a sound and the rain had stopped.

  The light emanating from Mercedes’ hands went out and she collapsed next to me. I pulled myself toward her and grabbed her hand.

  “Are you okay, Mercedes?” I whispered.

  She nodded but she was trembling, her face pale. I gazed back out to the battlefield and watched as some of the soldiers started to get up and shook their heads quizzically. None of them reached for their weapons.

  “They are getting up,” I said, worry lacing my tone.

  Mercedes shook her head. “The fighting is over.”

  “How?” I demanded.

  She took a deep breath. “I have taken away their reason for fighting; I have instilled within them the Goddess’ message that there will be no more fighting.”

  I didn’t understand, but at the moment, it didn’t matter. All that mattered was the fact that I was here…Rand was here…we were safe.

  “Jolie, are you hurt?” Rand said, offering me a hand up. I took his proffered arm and he pulled me close to him. I was still too weak to stand and collapsed against him.

  I shook my head, a new round of tears starting in my eyes. “I’m okay.”

  “I thought I had lost you,” he whispered in my ear and I could feel his warm tears against my cheek.

  I wrappe
d my arms around his neck and held him as tears began streaming down my face.

  “You have been through too much, Jolie. We need to get you somewhere you can rest and heal.” He faced Mercedes. “The battle?”

  “Is over,” she finished. “And now we begin to rebuild.”

  “Rebuild?” I repeated.

  Mercedes nodded and scanned the battlefield again. I followed her gaze and saw all of the creatures of the Underworld caring for their dead. It would be a big job to reanimate the fallen.

  “Bella?” I asked, wondering what had become of the witch.

  “She lives,” Mercedes announced flatly.

  “Even though she is alive, is it still over?” I asked in a small voice.

  Mercedes merely nodded, her breathing ragged.

  Rand held me tightly and kissed the top of my head. “It’s over.”

  I glanced at Mercedes again. “Was this what providence wanted? Have we fulfilled our missions, our fate?”

  She nodded. “Yes, it is as providence dictated although your duties are not yet complete.”

  I shook my head as anger swelled up within me. I’d imagined my duties were done, that the war was over and I could return to my life at Pelham Manor to sleep off the next few weeks. “I’ve gone to hell and back in the name of providence and the Goddess,” I paused and glanced at Mercedes. “I’m done.”

  She faced me impatiently. “No, Jolie, your role is far from over.”

  I felt a new rush of tears stinging my eyes. “What else do I have to do?”

  A cold breeze lifted her hair as her cat’s eyes glowed in the moonlight. “We will rebuild our legion,” she started with a voice nearly lost on the wind. “I will help you.”

  She paused and seemed to be taking note of the survivors. When she faced me again, there was warmth in her smile. “Jolie, your fate, your destiny is to be Queen of the Underworld.”

  “What!” I said at the same time Rand did. I felt like my stomach was going to drop right on the ground. Queen?