Darkness of Time, page 34
“Come on. You know I’m strong. I survived ancient Rome, didn’t I?”
“Yes, and Roman kept watch on you at all times,” Marcellious said, the blood vessels in his neck throbbing.
“Except when he didn’t, like when you kidnapped me.” I leaned forward, crowding Marcellious.
Marcellious lifted his palms again. “That was a mistake. One I’ve apologized for.”
“Never mind that. I’m only saying you know how capable I am. I’m going with or without you.”
We just stood there, glaring at one another while a breeze blew across the plains, rippling the grasses.
Finally, Marcellious said, “It’s going to be a long journey.”
“But we’ll pursue a plan like you wanted,” I countered.
His jaw worked back and forth as he studied me. “All right. We’ll go. But Emily is coming with us.”
I was practically giddy, on the verge of hugging Marcellious. “Of course! I wouldn’t want to just leave her here. We’re family.”
“And I’ve got to marry her first,” Marcellious said. “I promised I would marry her after the battle.”
“Oh, come on. You don’t want to rush your wedding,” I said.
“Like hell, I don’t! We all know how quickly lives can be lost. Anything can happen to us at any time. I said I’ll go with you, but I have terms, too. And being married to Emily is one of them.” His jaw set into a block of iron. “I’ll only go on this journey if my wife is by my side.”
“Then, let’s go tell her that. She needs to weigh in on the decision.” I turned and headed toward her teepee, assuming Marcellious would follow.
We found her inside the teepee she shared with Leaping Deer.
She sat on the floor, plucking leaves from some herbs and placing them in a basket. Her face brightened when she saw us. “Olivia! You look better! What’s happened to put a smile on your face?”
I lowered to my knees before her. “We need to go on a journey together. It might be dangerous.”
I filled her in on the Malik story, and she listened intently, studying my face the entire time.
“And there’s one more thing,” Marcellious said, standing stiffly beside us. “I want us to get married, Emily, before we go.”
He fell to one knee and said, “Will you honor me by becoming my wife?”
Emily leaped to her feet. “Oh, Marcellious! I would be most honored to marry you right away. When shall we do it?”
“As soon as the chief is available,” Marcellious said, his cheeks red.
“Oh, I’m so happy!” Emily said in her usual enthusiastic manner. She turned to me. “Isn’t this wonderful? We’ll travel to find this Malik fellow as two married women. We’re going to find Roman. I know we are!”
She held out her hand to me, and I took it, rising to my feet. Then, she reached for her necklace.
“Oh!” I said. “We forgot to ask John James about your necklace!”
Emily’s expression fell, but she said, “That’s okay. You have other things to worry about.”
“No, no, it’s important,” I said. “Tell you what. When we leave, he’ll be our first stop. We’ll get the answers we need and head out on our trip to the Catskills.”
A shudder, like a foreboding, twisted my spine. I shoved the feeling aside, telling myself it was nothing. I was just paranoid. But I had every right to be afraid with a demon on my tail.
At any time, anything could happen.
Olivia
A light rain spattered across the plains, tap-dancing upon the hides of my teepee as I slept.
Emily burst into my dwelling before dawn. “Sister, get up! Today is the day I am to marry Marcellious!”
I yawned and gestured for her to sit next to me, so I could take my time in awakening.
But Emily wouldn’t hear of it.
“Olivia! Remember how nervous and excited you were to wed Roman? That’s how I am today!” She twirled in a circle like Cinderella might have done.
I pictured birds chirping overhead and forest animals helping her dress as I threw back my bison furs and prepared to greet the day.
A stone of wistfulness weighed down my heart. Of course, I was excited about Emily getting married. But the day’s significance drove home the knowledge that Roman was not by my side. I wanted nothing more than to head out and find Eyan Malik and, hopefully, my husband.
But, as Emily had said, today was her wedding day.
As the day proceeded, I first summoned as much good cheer as possible, with the blessing ceremony in the creek, followed by the dancing and feasting. Ours was a sad little group, and only Leaping Deer, myself, and four other women performed the water prayer and the dancing. All the others had been slaughtered by the Kiowa. Still, I could see in the eyes of those who survived that all welcomed the celebration of love.
Once the marriage had been ordained, I escorted Emily to her and Marcellious’ sleeping quarters. There was no need to declare the teepee as “theirs” as we would all depart at sunrise tomorrow.
We walked silently as the remnants of a beautiful sunset faded into the gloaming.
When we were halfway there, Emily grabbed my sleeve. “Olivia!”
Her voice held such alarm I jerked.
“What is it?”
“I’m scared. I’ve never been with a man in that way…you know what I mean.” She blinked, eyes fixed on the horizon.
I stopped and placed my hands on her shoulders. “Don’t be scared. Let me talk to Marcellious, so he knows to be gentle with you.”
“Oh, would you?” The lines in her face eased somewhat. “He’s been so good to me. He hasn’t pushed me or pressured me to….”
She redirected her gaze toward the ground.
“You know…” Her pale blue eyes lifted to face me. “I want to please him. I want him to be happy.”
“It’s a two-way street, sweetheart.” I brushed a few errant curls away from her face. “He has to be good to you. I know he’s changed—we’ve all seen the shift in his demeanor. But don’t forget—he’s been dark before and can be dark again. You’ll need to stay mindful of his moods.”
I closed my mouth, realizing I wasn’t helping things much with my talk of doom and gloom. Yet, even the hope of finding Eyan Malik didn’t quash my paranoia.
Emily’s eyes pinched at the corners, and she blinked rapidly. “He’s changed, Olivia. He’s put those awful ways behind him.”
“Of course he has,” I said, forcing a smile. “I’m sorry I said anything. Please don’t listen to me.”
I drew her to me in a hug so she couldn’t see my lying eyes. “You’ll be fine tonight. I promise. Tonight should be about love and connection. Just let me talk to him, and then I’ll immediately escort you to his side.”
I pulled away and smiled at her. “I’m so happy you found love, Emily. Truly I am.”
“Thank you, Olivia,” she said, her eyelids fluttering to keep the tears at bay.
“Wait here.” I pointed to a huge boulder where she might sit and then approached the teepee.
Once I stood at his door, I called inside, “Marcellious. It’s me, Olivia. Can I speak with you for a moment?”
“You’re hardly the one I’m expecting, but if you must,” he said.
I lifted the door flap and entered.
Everything looked perfect for Emily. The bison furs had been arranged just so, and a fire burned brightly. Even Marcellious appeared eager-eyed and boyish—something I’d never seen on his face.
“What do you want, Olivia? Make it quick,” he said, sliding into his usual snarky demeanor with me.
“Emily’s scared. She’s never been with a man before.”
“Now, why did you think I wouldn’t assume that was so?” He glared at me. “Of course, I’ll be gentle with her. Coming from a different century, I suppose you had already experienced being with a man on your wedding night to Roman.”
“Times are different in the twenty-first century. People are free to explore with one another. And, yes, I had the misfortune of experiencing sex with a complete idiot—a lying, betraying asshole.” My cheeks reddened. “But this isn’t about me—it’s about you. I know the kind of depravity you’re capable of.”
“I’ve changed,” he said, his features wooden. “I vow to be good to my new wife. Do you think I don’t realize the gift I’ve been given at having a second chance at love? I’m not going to throw it away.”
“Good. Make sure of it. Because if you don’t, I’ll kill you with my own two hands,” I said, finding a glimmer of the old, fierce Olivia.
Instead of being offended, Marcellious threw back his head and laughed. “Always a pleasure, Olivia. Now please go fetch my wife so I can show her what I’m capable of as a kind and loving husband.”
A wicked twinkle danced in his eyes, hinting at primal pleasures.
“You’ve been warned,” I said, blushing.
“I have. But there was no need. Now, go!” He pointed at the door.
Outside the teepee, night had descended, and I had to pause to let my eyes adjust to the gloom. I found Emily hunched over her knees, nibbling her nails.
“He’s ready for you,” I said, extending my hand to her.
She grabbed it and rose to stand. “Is he?”
The eagerness in her eyes almost cast its own light.
“Absolutely. Marcellious promises to be gentle and kind and so much more,” I said, remembering the wicked twinkle in his eyes. I shook the image of Marcellious’ grin from my head and led her to her wedding chamber. Before she slipped inside, I hugged her tightly. “Have a wonderful night, and I’ll see you at dawn.”
We kissed one another’s cheeks, and then I headed toward my teepee.
Once inside, I lit a fire and meandered around the space, gathering all my belongings for tomorrow’s journey. It didn’t take much time to pack as I owned so little. Unlike in the twenty-first century, I understood the need to only possess essential items and nothing more.
When that was done, I lay down, gathering the bison furs around me and burying my face beneath the thick hides. The grief and fear in my body smothered me as I lay there, clotting my brain with dark thoughts. So much tragedy had occurred over these past two years. Since being thrust into the past, I have ridden an endless roller coaster of extreme highs and lows. It was markedly changed from life in Seattle, where I drove a cool car, had nice clothes, and trained people to defend themselves.
Now, every day was a fight for survival peppered with unexpected joy and heart-wrenching tragedy.
As fatigue captured my brain, I recalled straddling Roman, his thick cock buried inside me as we made love, creating new life and hope for the future. Then, I drifted to sleep, riding a waterfall of blood. My baby bobbed next to me, disappearing beneath the crimson when I tried to reach for it.
Amara surfaced, her face streaked with red.
“Oh, Amara,” I cried out in my dream. “How I wish you were here to comfort me. You were the only real mother I ever had.”
I tried to pull her toward me, but she disappeared into a scarlet whirlpool.
My tragic dreams continued throughout the night. Then, in the early pre-dawn, I dreamt of Roman and I in a different time, a home filled with children running about. My hair was black and long, unlike the flame-colored hair I now possessed. My clothing was unlike anything I’d seen before. And Roman and I were happy.
I lingered in this dream until the flute-like morning song of a bird announcing his territory called me back to life on Earth.
Groggy and muzzy-headed, I rose and prepared to depart.
Outside the teepee, the barest sliver of dawn spread a soft wash of rose-colored ink across the dusky sky. Ahead, Marcellious and Emily stood in a clearing, kissing one another passionately. Seeing them sent splintered shards of grief through my heart. Oh, where was my husband? Would I really ever see him again, or would I be a lonely widow, taking comfort only in memories?
I turned away from them and headed to Grey Feather’s domicile.
“Chief Grey Feather,” I whispered outside his door.
“Little Moon.”
The voice came from behind me, and I was startled, whirling around.
There stood the chief, his hair dripping wet. He’d probably been performing his morning ablutions in the creek.
“I came to say goodbye,” I said, as spider-web filaments of respect stretched toward this great man.
Grey Feather looked at me for a long time, his expression revealing nothing. At last, he extended his gnarled hands to me.
I clasped them in mine, sparking a sudden onslaught of tears.
“Don’t be sad, Little Moon. Your time here with us has passed.” He reached up one of his weathered fingers and wiped the tears from my cheeks.
His touch felt kind and comforting, as I imagined being caressed by a beloved grandparent.
“How can you know that?”
“I have consulted our Great Spirit. Wakan Tanka has told me that our journey is complete but that you will find the answers you seek. Only good things….”
I brightened, sniffling back my sorrow. “That would be welcome for a change.”
The chief nodded. “There are still twists and turns on your way, but you will find what you seek. Little Moon, remember one thing. Your dagger is the strongest weapon you have. It has the power to show you your past, your present, and your future. It can help you speak to the dead and will help you heal your soul. Use it wisely. Employ its good uses.”
A shiver cascaded through me, and I felt I was granted a benediction of enormous importance. “Thank you, Grey Feather. That means a lot to me.”
I blinked back a few errant tears and then impulsively threw my arms around him.
Clad in his furry bison robes the way he was, I felt like I was embracing a gigantic shaggy beast, the kind that still roamed these great plains in vast numbers. Maybe our souls touched at that moment.
When I released him, he said, “Give my blessing to Emily and Hunting Wolf. You will always reside in my heart and prayers.”
“Thank you, chief. And you reside here also.” I pressed my palm to my chest. Then, before I dissolved into a blubbering mess, I spun on my heel and hurried toward Marcellious and Emily, eager to get on our way.
Olivia
I reined in my horse, hanging back on the journey to John James’ cottage.
Marcellious and Emily flirted and laughed like Roman and I used to. Marcellious kept leaning far to the right side of his steed for a kiss, which Emily obliged him. I fell back as far as I could get away with and did not lose sight of my companions. They were so distracted with one another that I was afraid I’d lose them if I were to pull into the lead. I was too frail to be out on my own.
I had to battle against my negative emotions and dark thoughts. If I lived in the twenty-first century, I’d be on some sort of anti-depressant prescription by now. Here I had nothing to remove the onslaught of words and thoughts vomiting from my mind, telling me I was a failure, I was weak, and I’d become a sub-life form who didn’t deserve to live.
The only thing that helped me escape this sad mental state was remembering times with Roman. The smell of him…the taste of him… His touch... The way he kissed me… How he drove his cock into me with furious passion…
I’d get lost in fantasies of the good times with Roman.
I felt joy over Marcellious and Emily’s union at those times. It seemed true love really had prevailed, and that love had transformed Marcellious’ demeanor. But would it last in the long run, or would he slide back into his despicable self?
“Jesus, Olivia,” I muttered. “Since when did you become the eternal reminder that life could be pathetic and miserable? You used to be the one to inspire and bring hope. Now, it’s like you have nothing good to say about anything.”
I shook the pessimism from my shoulders and urged my horse to a trot to catch up to the two lovebirds ahead.
As we headed up the hill to the cottage, with the friendly little creek to my left, a sense of unease mantled me. I tried to shrug off the feeling, but it grew with each clop of my horse’s hooves.
“Hey,” I called Marcellious and Emily, who were still engaged in their rabid flirt fest.
“What is it?” Emily called over her shoulder, a lilt to her voice.
The sunlight danced through the bare branches in front of her, giving her a magical fairy tale appearance.
I couldn’t spout more misery to her, so I said, “Oh, never mind. It’s nothing.”
“Silly girl,” Emily said, turning her attention back to Marcellious.
Up ahead lay the cottage. Gooseflesh broke out on my arms as we approached, and I couldn’t shake the feeling that something was very, very wrong. When I spied the door ajar, I was catapulted into my past.
That was how Papa’s door had looked on the day Tristan captured him. That was the day life as I knew it ended, and I was thrust into the past after witnessing Tristan kill my father.
A gasp left my throat.
Marcellious must have finally sensed something out of sorts as he pulled his head out of LaLa Land. “Hold up there, Em. I’m going to go check on the cabin. Something looks out of place.”
“Not without me, you’re not,” I said.
Thankfully I hadn’t lost all my nerves. I reined in my horse and slid from its back, then hurried through the debris covering the forest floor to catch up with Marcellious. I pushed past him and threw open the door.
I shrieked.
John James lay in a crumpled heap on the floor with his head on the other side of the room.
“Oh, good God!” I said, pressing my knuckles to my mouth to keep from vomiting. “Not again. Not another person I care about…”
Marcellious drew up behind me, looking over my shoulder.
“Fucking hell. Emily!” he snapped, glancing over his shoulder. “You stay put, there, you hear?”
“What is it?” she called back.
“Nothing you need to see,” Marcellious said before turning his attention back on John James. “What do you think happened?”
