The Gathering (78 page)

"Shhh, she hasn't slept much."

The raven nodded, but Hannah slowly opened her eyes and looked up at the bird.

"How did you get in here?"

"Sorry.
 
He woke you?"

Hannah sat up and yawned.

"No… I was having dreams."

She too reached out for the bird, which allowed the girls to stroke his satin feathers.
 
He stayed with them for what seemed like hours, and then he hopped back up to the window.

A loud clang came from their cell door as it began to open.
 
Chelsea looked back at the window, but the raven was gone.
 
She sighed, but then saw a single feather on the floor.
 
As the door swung open wider, she quickly slipped it under her mattress.
 

A Horde guard stood in the doorway.

"Get up, the Master needs more of your blood."

The girls sat holding one another, neither trying to get up.
 
The guard sighed and stepped out as two other Hordesmen marched into the cell and dragged them apart and out the door.

As the cell door closed, the raven appeared back on the windowsill.
 
It again cawed gently and then flew away.

122

Alia was asleep when she heard the heavy wooden door slam against the stone wall.
 
Her eyes struggled to see as additional light poured in through the doorway.
 
She felt a hand clench around her upper arm and yank her up.
 
Her back connected with the cold hard rock of the wall and a sharp pain shot through her shoulder.
 
She heard laughing, that same laugh.
 
Thomas.
 
Tommy.
 

“Creepy little cocksucker,”
she thought
.

She felt the sting of his hand against her face, then the dull tingling throb of his fist to her mouth.
 
He continued to strike, over and over, her face, then her gut, open handed and closed fist.
 
She felt like she wanted to throw up and then laughed as she realized she didn't have anything to throw up.
 
He dropped her and she continued to laugh as blood rolled down her face.
 

Blaylock turned back to the Shape and shrugged.

"I'm sure you can think of something more creative, Thomas.
 
Make her angry."

Angry?
 
They wanted her to call to the goddess.
 
She pushed herself back and spit blood on the floor, then wiped her mouth.
 
Screw them; they'd have to wait.
 
She smiled.

Blaylock turned back to Alia and grabbed her by the throat.
 
He lifted her up and pulled her face into his own.

“You seem to be enjoying this.
 
Let me see what else I can come up with, Party Girl.”

Alia continued to smile as he tightened his grip.
 
She remained completely still, never dropping her gaze.
 
She could feel her lungs beg for air as Blaylock’s grip got tighter and tighter.
 
Her face was hot, but she still didn’t flinch and her smile never wavered.

Blaylock's eyes narrowed, she should have been struggling by now.
 
Her face was beginning to pale and her eyes were getting heavy.
 
Suddenly, he threw her against the wall in frustration and she breathed deeply, but never gasped or choked.
 
Her head was throbbing, but she stood up and looked him squarely in the eye.

Blaylock cocked his head.
 
She could see his frustration and she started to laugh.
 
He nodded and grinned at her.

“Fine, you want it?
 
You got it.”

He moved towards her and pulled his arm up hard and fast, again hitting her across the face with the back of his hand.
 
Alia slowly raised her head and again stared.
 
The warm stickiness of fresh blood trickled down her face.
 
Her breathing never changed and his assault came again, but she didn’t waiver.

He pushed her face first over the cot and ripped her pants from her body.
 
He held her face hard against the mattress.
 
She could smell the damp moldiness of the mattress and feel the dirt against the sticky wet skin of her face.
 
Then she felt him enter her.
 
She felt nauseous and dirty.
 
Then she felt her anger growing with each thrust, but she still made no sound.
 
She turned her head towards him.

"Is that it?
 
Is that all you've got?
 
Hey, does needle dick, the bug-fucker mean anything to you?"

He sneered at her as the sweat beaded around his forehead.
 
Then he struck her again, punching her in the back.

"Ugh!
 
I asked if that was all you had, Tommy!"
 

He gritted his teeth, feeling all of his strength leave him.
 
There he stood, flaccid and ineffective.
 
He grabbed Alia and spun her around.
 
She was still smiling, her face covered in blood and dirt.

Again, he slowly put his hands around her throat and began to squeeze.
 
She started to laugh again, and as his hands grew tighter and tighter, he ground his teeth together.
 
He heard her laughter turn to wheezing as her air began to run out.

“Thomas.”

The Shape was now behind him and without another word, Blaylock released Alia’s throat and she once again breathed deeply, coughing, but not forgetting to laugh.
 
Blaylock turned slightly, but felt the fury rise up in him and he spun around and with full force, his fist hit Alia in the face, sending her flying against the wall.

She felt searing pain and then the cold stone, followed by more pain and then nothing.
 
Blaylock scowled at her limp form and then looked over at his Master, who appeared less than pleased.
 

"Sorry, she made me mad."

"Is she alive?"

Thomas averted his gaze, then turned and knelt down next to Alia.
 
He turned her over and checked her pulse, strong and steady.

"Yeah.
 
Sorry."

The Shape shook his head and sighed.

"You must remember that control is absolutely necessary, Thomas.
 
You can't kill her until after the Mourning Moon.
 
That is this evening, Thomas.
 
Just a few more hours."

Blaylock nodded and walked out of the cell.
 
The Shape turned and watched Alia's chest rise and fall.
 
He smiled.

"A few more hours, Mrs. Stark, then it will all be over."

He closed the door behind him.
 
Alia awoke as the metal key turned in the lock.
 
She held her head and groaned, then pushed herself back against the wall.
 
She wondered about Sam and Tanner.
 
Were they safe?
 
Had they been tortured again?
 
What about Coeli and the girls?
 
Were they ok?
 
She allowed her fingers to lightly trace the black metal now embedded in her skin.

She had been so stupid.
 
What had she been afraid of?
 
She heard a noise.
 
She looked up at her window and a raven hopped through the bars and landed on the cot.

Alia smiled and stared at the bird.
 
The bird stared back at her.
 
She felt as though it was there to help her.
 
She flinched as she moved towards it and then she noticed its feathers were changing.
 
The shiny black feathers were turning red and the bird was growing.
 
Alia felt her body lean back as the red feathers grew long and turned into hair.
 
The raven's face grew pale and more human.
 
Its wings grew long and hands appeared from under the now white feathers.

Alia stared, unable to move, for once again before her stood the warrior queen.
 
To Alia she seemed twenty feet tall, her black eyes glowing and her flaming tresses braided and leather-tied.
 
She looked down at Alia, who was crying.

"I'm so sorry.
 
I was afraid.
 
I…I…"

The goddess held up her hand and shook her head.
 
Her eyes softened and she laid her hand on her throat.

Alia looked down and touched the amulet.

"You know what this is?
 
He said there was no way to remove it."

The goddess smiled.

“Perhaps there is, Alia Stark.
 
Do what you do best and free yourself from his evil.”

Then the goddess winked at Alia and vanished.
 
Once again the raven was standing on her cot then it flew out the window.

Alia let her head fall gently against the stone wall.
 

"Do what I do best?
 
What, have kids?
 
Screw up?
 
What is that?
 
Dammit!"

Then her eyes closed and she nodded off to sleep.
 

123

Vance walked slowly through the trees of the forest.
 
The rough bark pinched the palm of his hand as he peered around the trunk.
 
A flash of red hair and then it was gone.
 
He smiled as he ran in the direction of his vision.

"I know you're here.
 
I'm gonna find you."

The bright sunlight seeped through the heavy leaves as thick columns of light descended to the forest floor.
 
He seemed to walk forever through the maze of trees.
 
Then he heard her.

"I'm here.
 
Over here."

Vance walked slowly out of the woods and into the clearing.
 
The grass was high and blew steadily in the soft breeze.
 
He walked towards her.
 
Her long auburn hair blowing against her soft, tanned shoulders.
 
Her eyes, large and brown.

"Alisha?"

"Hey, Babe."

"You left me."

She forced a smile as a tear slid down her cheek.