Gods and Mortals: Fourteen Free Urban Fantasy & Paranormal Novels Featuring Thor, Loki, Greek Gods, Native American Spirits, Vampires, Werewolves, & More (214 page)

“
U
riah
,” my mother cried, “oh thank goodness you’re safe.” Propped in a chair, she watched us carry Daniel into the room. Her face paled at the sight of him, but she remained quiet.

“Uriah, Cole, let me help you,” Sarah Brant said, rushing toward us.

“We’re fine, just get him some pillows. Is Sophia here?”

A clatter from the kitchen preceded her answer. “Yes, she is,” Sarah said. “She’s not in a very good mood. Quaile forbid us to leave the house after you got back, and Sophia has never taken well to following Quaile’s orders. She’s getting everything ready for the antidote.” Sarah placed a few pillows on the floor and backed away. Sophia bustled into the room. The antidote was ready, just waiting for Claire’s Twin Soul to give it to her. I had brought him so far.

“What happened?” she asked. She glanced at my cuts and bruises, but there was no time for any of that right now. Her eyes turned to Daniel, then, and she repeated her question.

I didn’t know how to explain what had actually happened to him, so I kept the answer simple. “A snake bit him,” I said. Sophia rushed over to Daniel and stripped away his bandages. Her breath caught in her throat at the sight of his wound. No ordinary snake could have made those punctures.

“A snake did this?”

“It was a really big snake,” Cole said, his face serious.

“Apparently,” Sophia muttered. “What have you given him already?”

“Just some aspirin. It was all we had,” Cole said. “I let it bleed for a few seconds in case of poison, but I didn’t know what to do about the infection. He had a really bad fever, but it finally broke earlier this afternoon.”

“He’s been unconscious almost all day,” I said. I wondered if he could administer the antidote if he wouldn’t wake up.

“We’ll deal with the infection first,” Sophia said. “I’ll be right back.”

No longer as concerned with Daniel now that he was in Sophia’s care, my eyes found Claire. My feet were quick to follow. Carefully, I sat beside her on the bed and took her hand in mine. As soon as I touched her, color flooded to her cheeks. My heart nearly lost its rhythm. She could feel me. I kissed her forehead as I lifted her head and cradled it in my lap. She had changed so much since I had left her.

Her skin was looser, her hair duller, her eyelids ringed with deep purple. The fragile bones in her hands were more visible than they had been before. Whatever it was doing to her, she was fighting it. I had been so worried the poison would take her before I could get back, but I shouldn’t have doubted Claire’s strength. I should have known she would fight against the potion’s effects. She held on long enough for me to reach her.

Sophia hurried back into the room, her arms full of supplies. I turned away, my attention fixed on Claire’s beautiful face. How many times had I kissed her, ran my fingers along her jaw, held her warm body against mine? Would I ever do those things again? With every stroke of my fingers a soft breath escaped Claire’s mouth. I closed my eyes, focusing on her beating heart. I prayed it still beat for me.

“Cole?”

The sound of Daniel’s voice drained the feeling from my body. My stiff fingers stopped mid stroke. My gaze fell on Sophia. She woke him up. My eyes were wide, filled with fear. My time with Claire was running out. I wasn’t ready to let her go. Would she remember my love for her?

“He’s awake,” I whispered.

“Why are you staring at me like that, Uriah? I woke him up with smelling salts,” she said. “He wasn’t in a coma. He was just exhausted from the fever.”

Cole came to my side and put a gentle hand on my shoulder. “It’s okay, Uriah. It’s almost over now.” His words slammed the breath out of my chest.

“It is, isn’t it?” I said. “It’s almost over.”

Realizing how I had taken his words, Cole hurried to add something comforting. “You don’t know that for sure, Uriah. She’s strong. She loves you. Maybe she’ll still remember.”

“Maybe,” was all I could say.

“What are you two carrying on about?” Sophia demanded. “I need some help moving him. Now let’s get on with it. Cole, help him into a chair while I get the herbs for him.”

Cole squeezed my shoulder before moving to obey Sophia’s command. Daniel blinked his bleary eyes as Cole pulled him into a standing position and helped him stumble over to a hard backed chair. Cole turned the chair to face away from Claire before setting Daniel down in it. I thanked him silently for his thoughtfulness. Probably sensing Claire, Daniel struggled to turn and find her. It was already starting.

Stepping quickly, Sophia came back into the room with a small cup balanced in the palm of one hand and a small satchel in her other hand. “Here it is, Uriah,” Sophia said. “Daniel just needs to mix in the herbs and hold the cup as he gives her the tea, I think. Claire’s fading fast, though. She’s still unconscious, Uriah. I’m not sure how to get her to drink it.”

“Just give it to her,” I heard myself pleading, almost growling. She had to live, no matter what happened after.

“It will only take a few drops,” Quaile said quietly. She leaned heavily on a walking stick as she strode to the center of the room. “But it’s not quite that simple.”

“Enough with the riddles,” Sophia said venomously, tired of Quaile’s half-answers and veiled lies. The past few days must have worn on her patience greatly. I was completely sympathetic to her irritation. I had plenty of things to say to Quaile when Claire was finally safe again.

Quaile looked away, her fingers twisting her skirt nervously. The corner of her mouth twitched as she unsuccessfully tried to keep it from falling into a deep frown. Her eyes took on the glassy glaze of tears. “There is one more ingredient,” Quaile said with trembling lips.

Sophia stared at her, the look promising a heated response if she had to wait much longer.

My hands started to tremble. Quaile had hidden more from me. I clenched my jaw to hold my hatred for her inside. There was something else, something she knew would seal Claire’s fate. I felt my last particle of hope slip away.

“His blood,” Quaile blurted out. “The boy’s blood must be mixed in with the herbs.”

“What?” I exploded. Before I could stop myself, I was on my feet, my rage carrying me across the room. My hands gripped her frail shoulders roughly. She winced under my touch, but faced me regardless of her fear. “How could you?” I hissed. “You lied to me, Quaile! You told me there was hope, when all along you knew there wasn’t. How could you do that to me?”

Quaile’s frightened eyes pleaded with me for understanding. “I didn’t know if you would still go if I told you the truth,” she said. Double sounds of disgust came from my mother and Sophia. Quaile glanced at them, begging for forgiveness. “I’m sorry, Uriah. I’m so sorry. I shouldn’t have doubted you. I was just trying to protect Claire.”

I shoved her away from me, too angry to even look at her. My breath came in gasping chunks. My vision blurred and I suddenly couldn’t find my footing. I sank to my knees. I thought I had prepared myself for this, but now that I was truly facing reality, my heart shattered. His blood. She was lost to me forever. “I can’t lose her, not now, not after everything we’ve been through. I don’t know if I can live without her.” I wasn’t sure whether I was speaking aloud or not. I had lost all feeling except for the crippling pain in my chest.

Soft shaking hands touched my face and pulled my head up. Sarah Brant’s face was inches in front of mine. Her cheeks were red and tear streaked, but filled with desperation. “Uriah,” she pleaded, “if we don’t give Claire the antidote, she’ll die. I’m so sorry.”

I knew she was right, but all I could think about was how impossible life would be without Claire. Stumbling to my feet, I rushed to her, gathering her body into my arms. I needed just a few more seconds with her before I lost her forever. Her contented sigh was crystalline music. She had fought against the Shaxoa’s poison, but I couldn’t expect her to resist this as well. I had to let her go. Tears slipped down my cheeks, splashing on Claire’s forehead. I brushed them away, relishing the gentle warmth of her skin.

“I’m sorry, Claire,” I whispered, my body sinking back onto the couch.

Sounds of a struggle pushed toward me. “Wait, what’s going on?” Daniel asked as he was pushed toward Claire.

“Put the herbs in the tea,” Sophia instructed.

Daniel hesitated.

“Now!”

Daniel hurriedly tipped the satchel, spilling the powder into the hot water.

“I’m going to prick your finger, Daniel,” Sophia said, grabbing his hand roughly. “I only need a few drops.”

“No, wait, I promised Uriah. Wait, I…ouch!” Daniel exclaimed. He hissed as Sophia held his finger tightly, squeezing his blood into the cup. I shut out the sounds around me, unable to bear the scene.

My mom’s touch was slight and hesitant, but it was enough. Cole helped her sit down next to me and then moved away. My mom’s arm slid around me, her head resting against my shoulder. “It will be all right, Uriah. No matter what happens, it will work out for the best.” Her voice gave away the lie in her words.

“Mom, what will I do without her,” I whispered. Tears I had struggled to keep hidden flooded out with my admission. “She’s my life. How do I walk away?”

“Shhh,” my mother crooned. “Claire is strong and so are you. You can both fight this. Have faith, son.”

Don’t give me hope
, I pleaded silently. I had nothing left. For the past two days I had fueled every step with hope that somehow I would save Claire and keep her love for me intact. I didn’t think I could live without her, but my heart held itself together knowing she would survive. Nothing was more important than that.

Claire had been my source of joy even before the day she turned up on the riverbank. Every breath I took was for her. Every decision I made was for her happiness. What would my life mean without her in it? My mother was wrong. I wasn’t strong enough to survive losing Claire. But I knew Claire would live and be happy. At least I could give her that one last gift.

“Uriah, we’re ready,” Sarah said. A reluctant Daniel was being towed behind her. He was trying desperately to get away from her, but Sarah’s grip was firm. “Daniel, calm yourself. All you have to do is give her the tea.”

“But I promised Uriah. I can’t take her away from him,” Daniel said, his voice pleading. His eyes, though, were drinking Claire in hungrily.

“Daniel, if you don’t give her the tea, she’ll die,” Sophia said. “Either way you’ll be taking her away, but this way, she’ll still be alive. Give her the tea.”

Daniel looked at me, searching for guidance. “Do it, Daniel,” I said softly. “It’s okay.”

Still unsure, he hesitated. Sophia pulled his hand up and set the cup squarely on his palm. Holding the cup with both hands, Daniel stared at its contents. I watched him, knowing this was how it had to be.

With shaking hands, Daniel stepped closer to Claire. As he approached, I could feel Claire’s heartbeat quicken. Her shallow breathing became more labored. Her reaction brought tears to my eyes. Suddenly, I couldn’t catch my breath. My mother gripped my shoulders tightly, her nails digging painfully through my shirt.

Pain, it was the only sensation my mind seemed capable of registering. I embraced it. Daniel was at the bed now, lowering the cup to Claire’s lips. Gently, Daniel opened her mouth. Claire’s face flushed with color at his touch. Her heart was racing, begging for release. I couldn’t stop the chocking sob that erupted from me. I didn’t even try to hold back the hot tears now. Slowly, Daniel dripped the first few drops into Claire’s mouth.

A gasping breath was torn from the deepest part of Claire’s body. Startled by the reaction, Daniel pulled back, and then it hit. It was just the barest hint of feeling, but everyone in the room recognized it. Every second strengthened the intoxicating aura. I clenched my eyes shut, but I couldn’t stop it from permeating every particle of my body. Opening my eyes again, I watched the look on Daniel’s face change. Desire and longing washed away any doubt or fear, and any remembrance of promises made to me.

He brought the cup back to her lips, pouring the precious liquid into her mouth drop by drop. The transformation in Claire was astounding. Color returned to her skin. The sallow, sunken crevices were rejuvenated. Even her dark silky hair was revived, lustrous in the firelight. “Claire,” Daniel breathed, as if he had just seen her for the first time.

It was painful to hear him speak her name. Daniel’s hand came up, her glowing skin calling to him. “Don’t,” I whispered. I couldn’t watch him touch Claire in the same way I had. Daniel stared at me in confusion, but held his hand back. The pity on every face in the room was almost enough to break my hold, but I needed just a few more seconds.

“Uriah?” Her voice was soft and weak, but it pierced me to my soul.

“Claire,” I cried as her face turned to me. “Claire, I love you.”

She smiled and touched my face before her features clouded into a confused stupor. Slowly, she tore her gaze from me as my heart begged her not to. I wanted to grab her chin, force it back to my face, but in this, at least, I was able to restrain myself.

“Daniel?” Claire asked. The ache in her voice was palpable.

She knew his name. She knew Daniel was the source of her rescue, not me.
Why
, I screamed in silence,
why couldn’t it have been me?

“Oh, Daniel,” Claire said, her face lighting up. She gazed at him adoringly until a flash of pain darkened her features. She turned back to me in a panic. “No. Oh, no. Uriah, what’s going on? Why is he here?”

“I came to save you,” Daniel interrupted. His brows wrinkled, confused by why Claire would ask such an obvious question.

Her hand reached out to him, the desire to touch him too much to resist. But at his touch she pulled back. She shook her head. “No, Uriah was going to save me. Uriah will always be the one to save me,” she said, her head turning back to me with a question in her eyes. I couldn’t bear her gaze. “Uriah?”

“I couldn’t save you, Claire. I had to bring him here. I’m so sorry.” I buried my face in her hair, letting her silken locks soak up my tears.