Girl in the Red Hood (33 page)

"I knew you'd take the bait," Kurt said with
a sad smile. "You have a kind heart, and you do stupid things for
the ones you love, like wearing a red cape in a forest full of
danger."

"He lied to me," Liesel shook her head.

"I know, I know," Kurt soothed her as he
glared at his uncle, who sat just a few feet away. That only
released another barrage of tears from Liesel.

"I'm sorry," the priest interrupted. "But I
can't do this." When Lothur raised an eyebrow, the priest raised
his hands helplessly. "I can't marry this girl against her will.
It's not what the Maker ordained me to do."

"If you don't marry them," Lothur stood and
seethed, "You'll be responsible for all of these people around you
turning to wolves permanently with your town close by. Is that what
the Maker ordained you to allow?" As the priest stared at him,
speechless, Liesel turned back to Kurt in terror.

"I have to," she whispered. Kurt clenched
his jaw and swallowed hard as his eyes burned once again. Taking
Liesel's face in both of his hands, he rested his forehead against
hers.

"You're going to be fine, Liesel!"

"How do you know?" she whimpered.

"Do you trust me?"

Liesel thought back to all their days
together as children. When he saved her from Lothur the first time,
when he'd sent her to Tag against his father's wishes, when he'd
taken her word that they would find answers in Weit. When he'd sent
her away to make her free.

"Yes."

"Enough to marry me?"

"I do." Slowly, a small smile spread across
his face as he released her and took her hands once more. He closed
his eyes for a long moment, drew a deep breath, and when his eyes
opened once again, they were calm. Oddly, Liesel felt more peaceful
herself. She couldn't explain why, but the serenity that Kurt
exuded was palpable. It felt peculiar to smile, but Liesel knew one
rested on her own lips as she stared into the eyes of her dearest
companion.

"Go on," she said softly to the priest. "I'm
ready." When he hesitated a moment longer, she fixed her steady
gaze on him and nodded. Finally, he began reading from his large
leather book once more. As the words were spoken, Kurt's grip on
her hands tightened, and the fierce determination on his face was
nearly frightening, and grew more so as the ceremony neared its
end. Soon vows were exchanged, and just before the priest announced
them man and wife, Kurt suddenly drew her in and wrapped his arms
around her tightly, holding her close to his body.

"Now I need you to hold onto me," he
breathed into her hair. "Things are going to look a little strange
in a moment."

"How do you know that?" She whispered, fear
suddenly chasing away all the calm she'd carried moments
before.

"I can feel it. I've lived with magic all my
life." Liesel did as she was told. He'd never held her so close,
and the proximity made her head swim. It wasn't in any way
unpleasant, however. If this was the way she was to spend her last
moments, in the arms of her beloved, Liesel decided she would
choose no other way. "Now close your eyes," he instructed, "and
listen to my voice."

"What are you doing?"

"I'm not going to let you go." With those
words, he nodded to the priest.

"I now pronounce you man and wife." The
priest hadn't even finished uttering the words when a great wind
began to whirl around them. Liesel scrunched her eyes shut and
pressed her face into Kurt's chest. And although her eyes were
closed, Liesel sensed bright flashes of light exploding all around
them.

"Kurt?" As the wind blew harder, Liesel
began to feel a part of her trying to slip away, as though the
gales were going to snatch the soul from her body.

"I'm here, Liesel." His voice was strong and
warm, and when she heard it, her heart was strengthened. Not enough
though, to stop the raging tides that warred within her. A foreign
darkness began to burn inside her heart, and its beating rose and
fell in unusual rhythms.

"
Kurt?
" Liesel's call was frantic as
panic set in.

"Listen to my voice," he commanded. Liesel
nodded into his chest, so he continued. "Your grandfather was
right."

"How?" She breathed.

"I had to find peace with what I have in
life. And I found it." Liesel wanted to answer, but she was feeling
faint. Kurt tipped her head up so he could stare into her eyes.
Bright whirls of color swirled around them faster and faster, and
it was hard to focus as Kurt held her head up. "You came back for
me. Before that moment, I was sure I would never find my peace, but
when you came back, I knew for sure you loved me more than your
freedom, more than your family, more than life." The air began to
push in on them, and Liesel began to see spots.

"Liesel?" Liesel gasped for air, but nothing
came out. "Liesel!" His voice rose. Still, she couldn't answer.
"Stay with me!" He shouted above the din of the storm. "I'm not
letting go, and neither can you!" But Liesel felt as though she
were being torn into another world, and her legs began to give way.
She could only just feel his vice grip on her and the warmth of his
chest as he crushed her against him. The other colors began to run,
giving way to the color of blood.

"It's taking me," she whispered.

"No it's not! I won't let it have you!" His
words were steel, an anchor in the storm. "Because of you, my soul
has escaped the spell." He bent and spoke in her ear, "So now we
have nothing to give each other but light." And with those words,
he turned her head and placed his lips against hers.

Kurt's kiss was the most powerful touch
Liesel had ever felt. Soft, and yet an act of war, it threw up
battlements around her soul. The purity that flowed from his heart
flooded her confusion, chasing away the blood red darkness with a
searing white light. The winds screamed louder than ever, but
instead of explosions, Liesel felt as though she was being wrapped
in the rainbow of a brilliant star. Then, in one fantastic burst of
light, the storm began to recede. Slowly, ever so slowly, the winds
began to fall, and the explosions that had surrounded them started
to fade.

Liesel had no desire to ever open her eyes
again. Kurt still held her as though he battled, and his kiss was
very much still warm and soft, and yet, triumphant. It wasn't until
Liesel heard cheering that she realized she stood completely human
before the rest of the pack. Except, the people before her no
longer acted the part of a pack, fearful and silent. Instead, they
clapped and cheered loudly, smiles on the faces of all. In
confusion, she looked back up at Kurt, who wore his own victorious
smile proudly.

"How?" Liesel shook her head in confusion.
It seemed too good to be true. "I shouldn't be here." She glanced
down at her body. "At least, not like this."

"Weren't you listening?" Kurt chuckled.

"I was a bit preoccupied," Liesel gave him
the slightest frown. Nodding his head in ascent, Kurt turned her to
face the still cheering crowd.

"Your grandfather was right when he said I
had to find peace with who I was. I couldn't find that peace the
way he did, however. I came close that evening on the mountain, but
it just wasn't enough. But today, when I saw what you were willing
to sacrifice for me, that you were willing to risk death for me, I
finally understood that I was enough, that you loved me just as I
am, and not for what I should be." He leaned down to place another
kiss on her lips when his eyes flicked up, and his body turned to
ice. Moving her aside, Kurt stalked into the trees. Liesel was
confused until she saw a second figure walking quickly just ahead
of Kurt. Realizing what he was about to do, Liesel took off after
them. When she found them, Kurt had his uncle by the neck,
squeezing harder every time Lothur tried to speak.

"I should kill you, and rid the world of one
more liar!" Lothur tried desperately to loosen his nephew's hold,
but Johan and Keegan were suddenly there at his side, holding him
in place.

"Kurt," Liesel cautioned, "think about this
before you do something-"

"If you had died, your blood would have been
on his hands!" Kurt thundered. "It would have been on all their
hands!" He waved angrily at the bubbling crowd through the
trees.

"I'm not excusing him," Liesel said. "I want
what's best for you. And killing your uncle in cold blood is not
it. And as for them," she looked back at the people. "You're right
about them, too. But can you really blame them? They wanted more
for their children." Kurt glared at the distant throng for a long
moment more, but Liesel saw his eyes soften just a little. Keegan
and Johan exchanged nervous glances. Finally, Kurt slowly loosened
his grip on his uncle's neck.

"It would have been worth it," Lothur rasped
as he clutched his neck. "All the deaths we've suffered in the last
two hundred years would be worth one more if she were to end it!"
Kurt made to move for him again, but Liesel held his arm.

"Just go," she ordered warily before shaking
her head and turning away. She suddenly couldn't stand to look at
him for one moment longer.

Lothur scrambled up to straighten himself
out. Liesel didn't miss the question in his eyes as he silently
begged for pity. No one spoke as he turned and started walking
towards Ward. The four of them stood there for a while even after
he was gone. Without his pipe, Johan fumbled with his hands for
want of something to do with them. Keegan looked miserable, and
Kurt continued to glare at the merry people through the trees. And
as much as Liesel just wanted to go back to the cabin and just take
a long, hard nap, it suddenly dawned on her that this was her
wedding day, and strange or not, she was never going to have
another one again.

It also occurred to her that the young man
standing beside her was now her husband. And, she decided, she was
going to celebrate that whether he felt like it or not. A small
smile suddenly playing on her lips, Liesel took both of his hands
in hers. She had to repeat his name a few times before he pulled
his gaze down to her level, his eyes brooding.

"I don't care what awful things your uncle
has done, nor do I care what
they
have done." Kurt still
frowned, but at least he was listening to her. "What I care about
right now is that this is my wedding, and my groom still has yet to
ask me to dance." Kurt stared at her blankly for a long minute
before the shadow of a grin crossed his face. Liesel stared into
his golden-brown depths until the smile was real.

"My apologies," he murmured, lifting one of
her hands to his lips and bowing his head. Holding her gaze, he
slowly led her back towards the music that had just begun to play.
The people cheered as they walked to the center of the crowd. And
as Kurt began to turn her in a circle in time to the music,
Liesel's head began to spin again. But this time, it had nothing to
do with the magic, and it had everything to do with the man who was
holding her in his arms.

Everything she'd ever asked of the Maker had
been given to her. She had married her best friend. They were free.
Just looking at Kurt, it was clear the darkness was gone from his
mind, the pieces of him that the wolf had stolen were back to stay.
He would never again stare blankly as he lost himself to the
animal, and everything the animal had once taken was hers now until
the day they died.

***

The rest of the day flew by in a blur of
dancing, singing, and laughter. Liesel didn't even realize she'd
fallen asleep until she felt Kurt nudge her awake in the middle of
the night.

"Liesel?" When she didn't respond
immediately, he softly kissed her temple and whispered her name
again. Liesel briefly considered not answering just so he would
kiss her again. He would have none of that though, letting out a
low chuckling when she faked a snore. "You're a terrible pretender.
I know you're awake."

"Fine," she yawned and stretched before
snuggling deeper into the covers. "You've found me out." Kurt gave
another throaty laugh, tapping her on the nose playfully.

"About what you said in the cave earlier,
that you couldn't understand why I love you...." Liesel had been
lightly tracing the contours of his face in the dark, but as he
uttered these words, she stopped, suddenly fully awake. "Do you
really believe that?"

"I guess...," she stuttered. "You just spent
so much time-"

"Would you stop?" Kurt gently covered her
mouth with his hand until she playfully shoved it off. "What I
meant
to say was that you don't understand what it meant
when you came into my life. I never saw you as a burden. Liesel,
you were
freedom
to me!"

"Why?" Liesel asked breathlessly.

"From the first time I saw you, you had a
spark in your eyes. You can't understand what growing up here was
like...how disorienting it could seem. But the light I saw in your
soul was an anchor. It pulled me out of the pack's constant
darkness, drew me toward the light of the life hoped for. And
Liesel?"

"Mm?" Liesel was wide awake, but she lay
quietly, drinking in the warmth of the moment. Being in his arms,
listening to the soothing rumble of his voice without the threat of
disaster looming above their heads constantly was intoxicating. She
could have stayed there forever.

"Do you know a spark does?" Smiling into the
dark, Liesel mumbled a no. He leaned closer, whispering right into
her ear. "It creates a flame. And today, that flame saved a
village."

"So," Liesel sat up on her elbows, giving up
on sleep for the moment. "What do we do now?"

"Well, I think your grandparents might be
interested in hearing how things turned out." At that, Liesel
bolted straight up.

"Really? Oh, Kurt! That would be...I can't
even describe how happy that makes me!" Kurt laughed.