'Death is Only the Beginning', Chapter 8.3 from the Irish Fantasy novel: We Come Back: Vol. 1
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Death is Only the Beginning
When he walked into his bedroom,
my hair was down, and I was wearing a soft white nightgown. My hands laid by my side, on top of the covers. Lanterns were lit on either side of the bed, illuminating books, and maps pinned on the walls. He took a seat nearest his bed, and allowed Hoss to pour him a cup of tea. After a few moments, Hoss decided he’d better go check on everyone else. As he went to close the door, he stepped back in for a moment to say, “I know you don’t feel comfortable leaving her side for longer than a few moments at a time, and I wouldn’t expect you to, so what should we do about dinner?”
“Tell Fareus to prepare what we had planned, and he may send up two dinner trays. She might be awake by then. The rest of you should eat together downstairs.”
“Are you sure you don’t want us to save the planned meal for tomorrow and ask that sandwiches or something be brought up instead?”
Jack wanted to say that he hoped there would be a tomorrow dinner with me, but thought better of it, and instead said, “Yes, I am sure. Now go tend to our guests Hoss, make sure they aren’t shaken up too badly,” he half smiled at Hoss, as he closed the door behind him.
As soon as Hoss’ footsteps had faded, Jack set his tea down and fell apart. He had no idea what to do, and though he had never been one to pray much, it seemed it was the only choice left.
He reached out and held my hand.
My hands were much warmer than before, which felt like a good sign to him. As he rubbed them, he felt my fingers move just slightly, in his. He leaned forward and brushed my hair, with his fingers, away from my face. He whispered to me, “Rae, Rae can you hear me? Can you hear me, my love? Come back, come back to me. Do not leave me here without you, come back to me,” he silently wept on my hands.
In my consciousness I could see him;
he was so beautiful, standing in white trousers, paint spots across his chest. He came around from behind the canvas, reaching out to me all the while. I took his hand, and walked with him through the woods, to a beautiful meadow, where many wildflowers were growing, and a nearby brook could be heard babbling. Neither of us spoke, as we lay down in the flowers hand in hand. I had been so cold before I took his hand, but now as I lied there in the flowers, I felt myself getting warmer. The closer I was to him, the warmer I felt. We lay that way for days it seemed. I could see the light surrounding him change from sunshine to moonlight, over and over, until he sat his head up and leaned close to me and said very slowly, “Rae, Rae can…” I looked at him, only hearing the first few words. I leaned in closer and heard him say again, “Can you hear me, my love?”
I could hear him, though he sounded so far away.
I closed my eyes trying to listen. When I opened my eyes, he was walking away towards the brook. I stood up, and called to him. He stopped and waited for me saying, “Open your eyes my love, say something, anything, please…”
‘My eyes?’ I thought, they are open. Then suddenly everything disappeared and went black. I could feel someone holding my hand. I opened my eyes which seemed so heavy, and was so happy to see it was him. He felt me squeeze his hand before he saw me open my eyes.
I gave a weak smile.
He let out a few tears of relief, and kissed all over my face, saying, “Thank God, I feared I had lost you to the Etherian’s.”
He sat back down, not letting go of my hand. Just then, out of clear sky, a strike of lightening illuminated the room for a brief moment. It startled us both. He got up and went to look out his window.
“Strange, not a cloud in sight, though I could have sworn that was lightening.”
“It was…” he could hear the concern in my voice and rushed back over to me.
“What is it?”
“It’s my father, and quite possibly my best friend,”
I pulled myself into a sitting position and spoke quickly, “Jack they will be here any second. You must not let what they tell you determine your actions tonight. Promise me that you will only do what you feel in your heart is right, not what you think anyone else wants, not even me, promise me!” I started in a whisper, but by the end of it, was in a frantic shout.
“What are you talking about?” he could hear voices talking loudly down the stairs.
He went to get up, when I refused to let go of his hand.
“Promise me!” I had tears rolling down my cheeks.
I was terrified that if he left my sight then, I would never see him again.
“I promise you, my actions will be entirely my own. That is what I will promise,” he kissed my hand, and then my lips, and then broke free to meet his guests in the hall, closing the door behind him.
I struggled to get up, yelling at my body to move, but it refused, I was too weak, and it angered me beyond redemption. It seemed I had no control, not of my body, or my emotions.
As Jack approached, it appeared Mason, and Hoss were attempting to block two tall men from getting any closer to his room. Beathan was standing to the side, watching.
“Hoss, what is this? Who are these men?”
One of the men, the younger of the two, eyed him suspiciously before speaking.
“Are you Mr. Staun?”
He nodded, “Yes, I am Jack Staun,” he stood up fully, showing his well built size, lest his company forget who they were speaking to, “I do not believe we have had the pleasure of meeting.”
This time the older man spoke, placing a hand on the other’s shoulder.
“I am Jon, Miss Astraea’s father, and this is her closest friend, Aubrey,” He had noticed Beathan, but not entirely sure what he was doing there, ignored him.
Rae was right, they had come.
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Table of Contents
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