Blood Of Fire (The Blood Burden Series) (33 page)

After a few weeks of trial and error
Nicole finally opened the lost gateway to the fae burial grounds so power could
be restored to generations to come.  The magic of her dreams did not disappoint
her as she physically stood in the graveyard for the first time.  The brittle
headstones, the wild vines, and the great willow tree towering in the center
were all just as she remembered.  She stepped out from under the limbs of the
willow and took a deep breath filling her lungs with the salt kissed air from
the sea.  Walking along the path she found Titania's grave.  She traced her
grandmother's name in the rough stone and whispered, "Thank you for
everything, grandmother.  I never would have found my strength without
you."  Sitting in silence she listened to the birds singing in the trees. 
The magical feeling she felt in her dreams was just as strong now as she stood
in the once hidden realm.

Following the smell of the sea she
climbed the green hill behind the resting ground and found herself standing on
the edge of a cliff.  The waves rolled in as the seagulls flew overhead on wide
stretched wings.  "I'd forgotten how beautiful the sea was."  Titania
spoke as she appeared beside Nicole.  She was young again with long brown hair
that matched Nicole's curls and skin so clear it was translucent.  Nicole
smiled, "So now what?  Do you pass on to the next world?"

"Normally, that is how it would
work but I've decided to stay a little longer."

Nicole's brows pressed together,
"This has been your prison.  What would make you want to stay a second
longer?"

"To pass my powers on to a
deserving child," she smiled widely then drifted away on the breeze.

"Nicole…" Luke spoke as he
jogged up to her.  He kissed her cheek then wrapped his hands around her waist
pulling her back against his chest.  "Everyone is here."

"Have they started the work?"

"Yes.  We'll have this place back
to the beautiful paradise it used to be soon."

"Wonderful."  She smiled up at
him kissing him gently.  She let her eyes drift back out to the sea.  "Do
you think it's too late for Sage's soul to return to the spirit tree?"  In
the weeks since the war had ended Nicole had spent a lot of time thinking about
Sage.  She missed her so bad it hurt and she could see the same sadness in
Slade's eyes.  He may have made some bad choices in life but he truly loved his
sister.  They both agreed that when Nicole found a way to open the gateway to
the sacred resting ground that they would move Sage's body there.  Though they
had never spoken the words she knew he hoped just as much as she did that her
spirit and power would be reborn.

"I don't doubt anything
anymore…especially when you're involved."  He took her hand and kissed the
ring on her finger then spun her in his arms, "Have faith.  Everything
will work out."

She giggled, "You're just happy
because you tied me down with this ring."  There was no doubt for Nicole
that she belonged to him and he belonged to her.  Life was wrong when they were
apart.  A piece of her heart had been missing all her life and Luke held that
piece beating in his chest.  Together they would rule the kingdom of warriors
and fae and live out their immortal lives together.

"I'll be happy when your barefoot
and
—
"

"Don't say it," she laughed, 
"There are a lot of things I want to take care of before we make that leap."

"Like what?"

"I don't know….maybe I'd like to go
back to police work for a while."

"The Queen taking on a day
job?"  Luke snorted.  "I don't see the General letting you slip that
past him."

"We'll see," Nicole winked. 
"Come on, we've got work to do."

The following day the graveyard was
filled with fae and warriors who came to say their final goodbyes to Sage.  The
whole kingdom knew Sage had made the ultimate sacrifice to ensure that Nicole
became Queen of the Fae and Warriors.  Nicole's heart ached as she ran her
fingers along the engravings of Sage's coffin.  The beauty of the intricate
designs and the detail of the birds sitting on elaborate vines didn't ease her
desire to have her friend back at her side.  Nothing could ever replace the
wonderful person who was enclosed inside and there would never be a way for
Nicole to prove to Sage how much she loved her.  At least she could give her a
traditional burial in the sacred lands of her people
—s
he deserved all
of that and more.

"Are you okay?"  Slade asked
as he placed an arm around her shoulders and a hand on his sister's casket.

Nicole nodded taking a shaky breath
before responding, "I should be asking you that question."  With
everything that had happened no one had been able to properly mourn the loss of
Sage.  Too much had happened so shortly after her death from the war, to Nicole
taking the crown and then to her wedding only days after that.  And they had
the problem of finding and re-opening the portal so Sage could be in her final
resting place.  But now, as Slade and Nicole stood next to Sage's body,
everything else seemed so insignificant.

Slade looked from the casket to Nicole,
"I wish I would have apologized to her but I was too head-strong.  I
wasn't the best brother to her but she always forgave me."  He gave a weak
smile as he traced the lines of a dove in the wood.  "I guess everyone has
regrets when someone passes too soon."

Nicole nodded.  Sage had passed too
soon.  "Well, we are going to give her a chance to be reborn in some
form."  She didn't say it aloud but she was praying that the chance hadn't
already slipped past them as she fumbled around trying to unlock the gateway.

The sound of singing pulled Nicole from
her thoughts.  It started off very faint at first then, as the seconds ticked
by, more voices joined in until all were singing.  The melody was soft as a
lullaby drifting on the wind.

Lay your head on
the green moss

Rest your soul
in the great tree

Though you're
gone from us now

Forever it will
not be

Time is no more

Bonds set free

Our love dances
beside you

As you sleep
beneath the tree

As the words were repeated, blurring
into a spell like hum, the ground began to rumble.  Just lightly at first then
enough to cause Nicole to take a startled step back.  Luke stepped to her side
and took her hand while Slade took her other hand.  "It's happening,"
Luke whispered with a smile.

Nicole was confused but when she glanced
at Slade he was smiling too.  A single tear rolled down his face as he watched
his sister's casket slowly become wrapped in roots and gently tugged down into
the earth.  The ground closed over the hole as she watched in awe.  What
happened next was beyond anything Nicole had ever dreamed.  The great willow
lit up with a vibrant blue glow and Sage's bell like laughter played on the
breeze all around them.  Nicole could feel her friend's hands on her face and
smell the scent of her perfume.  She closed her eyes and took a deep breath as
she placed her hands on her own cheeks.

Thank you,
Sage's voice
whispered in Nicole's mind
.
  Before Nicole could speak she felt Sage
drift away from her.  She selfishly wanted to reach for her and beg Sage not to
leave but instead she watched as Slade closed his eyes.  Tears rolled down his
face as he silently cried.  She was sure he was saying farewell to his little
sister because when he opened his eyes again the sadness was gone.  A joy lit
his face that Nicole had never seen in him before.

Slade pulled Nicole in a hug that
surprised her, "Thank you." He whispered into her hair as he held her
tight.

"No, it was all of us.  I couldn't
have done any of this without you," she turned to Luke and held his hands
in hers. "Without all of us this would have never happened.  Life is how
it should be for everyone now."  Nicole smiled when she looked down at the
grave that cradled Sage.  Bright yellow flowers, the same ones that had guided
her path the day she found this magical place in her dreams, had covered the
ground like a beautiful quilt tucking Sage in for a restful sleep.  "Sleep
well," Nicole whispered.

Author Wenona Hulsey is
an avid reader who writes in her spare time.  She currently lives in Alabama
where she grew up surrounded by family and friends who remain her greatest
supporters and motivator.  When she's not working you can find her enjoying the
outdoors with sand between her toes, a fishing pole in her hand and sleeping
under the stars.

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Website:
http://www.wenonahulsey.com