The Gathering (35 page)

Coeli sat looking at Sam.
 
He couldn't read the expression on her face, so he smiled and asked.

"What are you thinking?"

Coeli smiled.

"I think I love you."

She leaned in and kissed him and this time it was Sam who was taken aback, but it took him only second to recover and he pulled her close.
 
They parted and Sam touched her cheek and smiled.

"So you're sure you want me to stick around?"

Coeli nodded.
 

"C'mon, dance with me."

Sam stood up and held out his hand.
 
Coeli stood up and took it.
 
They moved close together and as Sam held Coeli against him, he let his hand move up her back and into the black curls of her hair.
 
She moved her cheek against his and felt the bristling of his stubble against her skin and his breath in her hair.
 
In that moment, she knew she would never again doubt how Sam Hearst felt about her.

Madison lay by the bench watching her master, occasionally raising her eyes to the sky.

44

Stephan Merganser walked quickly though the streets of the village, making his way towards the south end of the colony.
 
Before long he stood in front of a stable, he looked around and then entered.
 
He walked slowly past the horses to a door in the rear of the building.
 
As he approached, the door opened.

He entered the room and waiting next to a window was Rona Mason.
 
She had her back to him.

"I wasn't sure you would come, Mr. Merganser."

"Your note said it was urgent that we speak, Ms. Mason."

Rona turned and smiled at Stephan.
 
He was taken aback by her beauty as she stood and motioned to a chair.

"Can I offer you some water?
 
You look parched."

Stephan moved towards the chair and sat down as Rona poured him a glass of water.
 
She held the glass towards him, making every movement deliberate.
 
He took the glass and looked at her.

"What was this urgent matter?"

Rona sat down, leaned back and crossed her legs.
 
Stephan watched her, feeling his heart beat a little faster as she did.

"I believe, Mr. Merganser, that our queen has fallen victim to these evil intruders.
 
She hasn't been herself."

"I see, but why tell me?
 
Why not tell your healers or members of government?”

Rona looked around and shifted her eyes to the window.

"I'm afraid I'm no longer the head healer.
 
I've been demoted and now I'm made to run errands for the new head healer, Beverly Watson.
 
The queen believes I'm not able to handle the responsibility, but I believe she was coerced by the gypsy woman."

Stephan nodded and began to sip his water as she continued.
 
He noticed it was sweet and spiced, but soothing.

"I've long feared the old woman's potential influence over this village.
 
I've never trusted gypsies.
 
Their magic is charged with darkness.
 
Do you understand what I mean, Stephan?
 
It is alright that I call you Stephan, isn't it?"

He smiled and nodded and she reached over and touched his hand.
 
The spark made his skin tingle and he felt slightly dizzy.

"What would you have me do, Ms. Mason?"

"Please call me, Rona.
 
I believe that you can convince Mr. Roberts and several of the other leaders that this evil is spreading.
 
I believe the queen has been compromised by others in her circle, Stephan, the captain of her guard, for instance."

"Coerced how?
 
What do you believe Lantry has done?"

"I have no proof, of course, but I have it on good authority that he has drugged her and subsequently taken advantage of her many times.
 
He was a producer for a big studio before the War, did you know that?"

Stephan shook his head.
 
He again drank from the glass as he continued to listen.
 

"I heard he often used Rohypnol to get what he wanted before the War and I believe he is still using it and the poor queen is none the wiser.
 
Since the death of her husband, she has been so lost with no man to protect her."

Stephan shook his head and downed the last of the water.
 
He felt hot and light-headed as he set the empty glass on the table.

"I think if you could convince Mr. Roberts and the other dignitaries that the queen had been compromised, then we might be able to save her.
 
Don't you agree, Stephan?"

Rona moved towards Stephan, who had stood up and was leaning against the table.

"I knew that Alia was in some sort of turmoil, but I had no idea she had been infected.
 
I too have had my suspicions about Lantry, but I did not believe he could have stooped to such vile atrocities."

Rona again touched his forearm and moved her fingers lightly up the stretch of his arm to his shoulder. He again felt the tingling of his skin and looked at her.

"I know that you care for her deeply, Stephan."

Her body was now only inches from his and he could smell the musk on her skin.
 
He turned to her.

"I do indeed, Rona."

Her hands now rested on his shoulders and her mouth was only inches from his.

"Perhaps you could care for me as well, Stephan."

She allowed her lips to hover in front of his, her breath hot and moist against his.
 
He was dizzy, hot and heady from the musk.
 
He closed his eyes and shook his head and when he reopened his eyes he was shocked to see Alia standing before him.

"How…I don't…"

She placed her fingers on his lips.

"I can be anyone you want, Stephan…anyone."

She pressed her mouth to his.
 
He tried to clear his mind, but all he could do was respond to her body and mouth.
 
It had been so long since he had felt the touch of a woman.
 
He had dreamt so long about being with Alia.
 
He opened his eyes again and saw her there.
 
She let go of his neck and reached behind her, undoing her dress and letting it fall to the floor.
 
He stared for only a few moments and then he pulled her to him and placed her on the table.

Within moments he had disrobed and had placed his head between her legs, tasting her.
 
She moaned and reached for his hair, thrusting towards his mouth as he devoured her.
 
He listened to her moans and waited until she was almost at climax and then he stood, kissing her torso and breasts.
 
He again consumed her mouth as he plunged into her.
 
He stopped briefly to contain himself.

Once he had regained control, he began again.
 
Pumping harder and harder filling her with every inch of him.
 
She shuddered and moaned under his weight as he finally released and he held her tightly as he tried not to collapse.

Rona smiled as the first part of her plan was now in motion.
 
It would only be a matter of time before they all fell in line.

From the window, Albion Merganser had watched the final act.
 
He stayed hidden until he saw his father leave, then he walked slowly back to Keystone House, from the top of the stables a raven watched.
 

45

Monsignor Klaus could no longer feel his feet and thought fleetingly of letting the wagon drag him to wherever they were going.
 
The pace had slowed slightly, but he felt dizzy and sick to his stomach.
 
He licked his dry, cracked lips, tasting his blood.
 
Just as he was about to collapse, the wagon stopped.
 
Monsignor Klaus looked over at Father Leon, who had staggered to the side of the wagon and looked beyond.

Father Leon's heart, already beating rapidly, flipped in his chest and his eyes grew wide.
 
Monsignor Klaus saw this, moved next to Father Leon, and then he looked beyond the wagon and breathed deeply.

There, looming before them, was a massive black castle.
 
The turrets rose five stories into the sky.
 
The black stone used to build the castle glistened like polished obsidian in the new moonlight of the evening.
 
Strange orange lights came from the lower windows and in the upper windows pale blue lights ebbed off and on.
 

Monsignor Klaus could feel the hair on his arms standing up.
 
This is where the evil had come from.
 
Then he saw them.
 
In the light of the moon, Monsignor Klaus saw hundreds of birds flying around the castle.
 
Not just any birds, but falcons.
 
They screeched and screamed and Father Leon tried to cover his ears.

The wagon lurched forward, once again pulling the prisoners behind it.
 
The women whimpered quietly as Father Leon continued desperately trying to cover his ears.
 
They trudged onward, walking under the great arch.
 
Carved into stone were strange beasts that danced with goblet in hand and naked maidens being forced to succumb to the demonic demands of the goat-like creatures.
 
The beasts offered drink and fruit to the women and many were fornicating.

Monsignor Klaus shook his head and looked away.
 
Blaylock was watching him as they walked through the archway.
 
He smiled to himself and kicked his horse forward, only stopping next to the prisoners when the march had concluded.

"What's the matter, Monsignor?
 
See somethin’ you disliked?"

Monsignor Klaus breathed heavily and raised his face to look at Blaylock, who was amused by the priest's demeanor.

"Only that you and your kind worship the dark prince, Mr. Blaylock."

Blaylock started to laugh and jumped off his horse.
 
He handed the reigns to a stable hand and began to remove his gloves.

"You priests always think you know everything.
 
The images on that arch aren't demons, they’re fauns, and the women are nymphs.
 
They were demigods, so I'm thinking you don't know shit, Padre.
 
No devil here…well, if you don't include me anyway."