P
A R T T W O
Torn by loyalties, plagued by
disbelief, drawn irrevocably to sensuality and desire, how would the twins
survive the promise of this ominous and fatefully dark day?
Kane…
In a black clearing, narrowed by the
corridors of night, a small fire cast flickers of orange illumination across
tired faces. Ten wretched visages, aged
with horror and weariness, stared silent, their eyes misted like worshippers in
a trance, at the dancing flames. An
expectant hush hung in the air, filled with ghosts of thoughts; vague,
scattered emotions.
Kane was dragged across the emptiness between
imprisonment and judgment, the earth raking his limbs; scraping, bruising his
body. He was heaved into their midst,
thumping uncontrollably to the hard ground; void of all dignity. Booted feet pushed, trod, kicked him into the
light beneath the benediction of his jailor’s disgust and bitterness – Jared
Strong-hand and his son Lucan.
His wrists were again bound, this time before
him so all could witness any struggle he might endeavour. Slowly he pushed
himself upright and glared at those who would accuse him.
“Where is she? Where do you keep her?” He instantly demanded. The temerity of them, these villagers, his
people; misguided, self-righteous. They
had taken her captive and Kane would not stand for it. Never!
Had he not returned to his home as soon as he
knew of their fate, that they had been attacked by a foe that had left them
desolate, wounded, and bleeding? But in
retribution they had thought to separate him from Melory. He had to see her, touch her, ensure she
remained unharmed. They denied him
sight, locking him behind solid granite in the food-store for hour upon hour,
his Mavishan sight useless; they left him without access, without the ability
to protect her…
Melory…
…And then Melory had nearly drowned.
Still the visions had the audacity to assault
her despite being surrounded by the chance of her own death; visions that
filled her with dread along with a cold and paralysing truth. She had seen him die! Kane - the one and only thing that kept her
here; kept her sane. His image filled
her mind, skin pale, grey and spattered with blood. Thick ropes of gore had tangled in his long
hair, that beautiful hair that she had run her fingers through so eagerly… now
coloured fatal crimson. His brilliant
blue eyes stared, vacant; seeing, knowing nothing…
No! No,
it wasn’t true! Without Ginny it was all
a lie. But grief and fear still dug at
her heart, hot waves of despair searing her.
Her cry of anguish was silent though she opened her mouth to wail but
she couldn’t breathe. She was abandoned,
parted from life and love and hope. Assaulted
by terror, she ached in heart and head and body. What would she do without him? She cried harder, her tears glistening even
as the strength of her emotion choked her.
And then she screamed.
Arms snaked from the darkness, solid,
strong. They pulled her into a fierce
embrace. After missing a beat Melory’s
heart hammered so hard she wondered it didn’t explode from her chest, until she
heard him… heard his wonderful voice whispering assurances softly in her head.
”You are safe, you are safe, now…”
“God! Kane!”…
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