Haeven (46 page)

I couldn't find any words to express all the
emotions that were washing over me.

"You don't need to say anything. I see it,
here," he kissed me, "in your eyes, and feel it here," he laid his
hand over my heart. "Nothing will ever come between us again."

Then everything around us just melted away.
We were still in Herrik's bedroom but suddenly it was bright and
soft and beautiful. There were flowers tucked into elaborate vases
on every free surface and soft music playing in the background. The
bed was spread with white linens that were so soft and cool and
smooth that I couldn't resist running my toes back and forth across
them while marveling at the sensation.

Herrik was smiling as I laid my hands on the
downy comforter and they disappeared as they plunged into its
depths. Then I noticed that I was no longer in the dingy hospital
scrubs I had returned to Haeven in but I was draped in a gauzy,
fitted gown that clung to my figure from my shoulders on down.
Herrik had changed, too. He wasn't the gaunt, unkempt mourner he
had been a moment ago but was a clean-shaven, well-dressed rogue
with an impish gleam in his eye.

I shuffled towards him but when I tried to
kiss him he laid his fingers over my lips. "Not like this, not this
time."

I frowned and shook my head not
understanding.

"Let me," he said, "let me show you how much
you mean to me, how much I love you."

He held his hand out and helped me up from
the bed. I was reluctant but only because of my own yearning. His
fingertips caressed my face and neck while his lips traced the
rounds of my cheeks and the curve of my throat. I felt him take a
little nip and it sent a shockwave of pleasure rippling through
me.

"Herrik," I moaned.

By then he had me completely under his spell
and my will to resist was demolished by my desire to feel and savor
his touch. It was so different than the other times we had been
together, so striking that even the lightest of caresses were
utterly satisfying. My arms wound around his neck as he brought his
lips to mine. I felt him rake his tongue across my teeth when he
kissed me and then the delirious taste of him went flooding down my
throat.

Every moment he roamed over a different part
of my body, tasting, touching and awakening new and miraculous
sensations. I tried to reciprocate but I was too captivated by what
he was doing to me to respond with anything more than a sigh of
pleasure or a gasp of ecstasy.

Before l realized it Herrik had undressed me
and was urging me back to the bed. He tucked me on top of the
covers and sat down on the edge near my feet. From there he worked
his way upwards stroking my legs with his lips, hands and tongue. I
grasped handfuls of the comforter and clenched my teeth to keep
from crying out with the desperate need I felt.

He teased me for what seemed an eternity, his
tongue moving expertly in and out and over the soft flesh between
my thighs. Somehow he had managed to undress himself and just when
my will was about to break from the need to feel him inside me he
was there, long and full and hard. It was more exquisite than I
remembered, the way Herrik felt, the way he moved.

I couldn't resist or restrain myself any
longer. One of my legs tangled itself around him and I matched my
efforts to his. I clutched at his chest and his back, ran my hands
over the sinewy muscles of his arms. It was too much for either of
us and our passion erupted in a seemingly endless wave of
satisfaction. Eventually the tide of pleasure subsided and we just
lay together catching our breath and softly running our fingertips
over each other's bare flesh.

An indefinite amount of time passed then
Herrik surprised me by saying, "I think you just helped me find my
will."

"Oh," I said confusedly.

"You are my will, Emily. I can’t imagine what
would happen to you if I let Haeven go, what would become of you. I
can’t let you live that way,” he sighed and kissed my cheek, “the
way so many of us once did. I must make it work…for you and for
Penny and for everyone here now and all those who may happen to
come after you.”

It filled me with happiness, knowing how deep
his concern was for me, “I’ll help you, Herrik, however I can. I’ll
be by your side every step of the way.”

For the next few days I kept to Herrik's
apartment. It was hard to accept that I was actually one of them
and I was terribly nervous about how the people of Haeven would
react. Herrik was very understanding and did whatever he could to
make sure that I was comfortable and had everything I needed.
During his free time he would patiently teach me to control my new
abilities and all the strange sensations that came along with them.
 We spent nearly all our time together the only exceptions
being when he was needed to settle some concern or other.
 Then he would slip out and while he was gone I would spend
the time practicing and getting used to what I was.

Occasionally I had spells of grief and regret
for all that had happened but Herrik would inevitably find some way
to lift me up; usually by saying something like, "We must learn
from the past, not live in it. Otherwise we will miss out on all
the things that are right here in front of us," then he would smile
and kiss me and his loving touch would whisk away whatever sorrows
were burdening me.

If we happened to be apart during these
spells Herrik would be sure to open his mind to me so it felt like
he was still with me, like a shadow or a phantom. I would feel him
loving me, encouraging me and bolstering me against all of the
inevitable sadnesses and endless worries that came along with such
a drastic change.

Eventually, Artur, Avery and the others came
back. I sensed that they were coming a day or so before they
actually arrived and when they returned it finally made Haeven feel
like my home again. Herrik went to meet them at the elevator and
invited them all to his apartment once they had each gotten a
chance to get settled.

Within a day or so they all came, almost as
if they were summoned. First Artur then Daemon and Penny arrived.
Davit came alone as did Avery then not long after Wyatt and Merry
showed up as well. Colin was the last to arrive and though I sensed
that he was alone, he actually had someone with him.  Once
they were all gathered Herrik brought me out to meet them all anew.
I saw them before any of them saw me, sitting around the expansive
fireplace and talking quietly amongst themselves. As I drew near
whatever they were saying to one another died on their lips.

Ares leapt up and bounded towards me nearly
knocking me over with his exuberance. Almost collectively they
turned to me and I met their eyes one by one but spoke to Ares
first, "Oh! I never thought I would see you again!" I buried my
face in his fur.

"He's one tough cookie!" Colin chuckled. "It
took some," he cleared his throat, "coaxing but he's as good as
new, aren't you buddy?" Ares pulled away and returned to Colin's
side.

It grew immensely quiet and for the longest
time I just stood there smiling, waiting for someone, any one of
them to say something or to throw their arms around me and make me
feel less like a stranger to them all.

"My goodness, Emily!" Artur was the first to
exclaim his eyes bright and keen. "It's...oh! You look...clearly
this is what you were meant to be!" he quickly stood up and came to
me. Artur took my hands and held them wide and studied me from head
to toe. "Amazing," he smiled then leaned in and kissed my cheeks
first one then the other.

I felt tears spring into my eyes I was so
happy to see him and despite my wishes that Artur would do it first
I was the one who threw my arms around him.

"Oh," I realized, "they are...afraid," I
thought, "but why?" I couldn't imagine.

"There, there," I could feel Artur's smile
against my cheek. "It's not that, Emily! No one
believed...and...It's just too good to be true that you have
survived so much!"

I opened my eyes and looked over his shoulder
and the others had gotten up and moved closer. They were all
nodding their assent. Artur stepped aside and one after the other
they came to me and told me with words and thoughts how grateful
they were to see me again especially Penny and Avery who had been a
part of my life since the moment I arrived in Haeven. I thought my
heart would burst from all the love I felt from them and for them.
Herrik watched as the scene unfolded and once he was satisfied that
the initial shock was over he came up behind me and put his hands
on my shoulders. He kissed my cheek and motioned me to a chair
where we could both sit close but comfortably.

"Thank you all for coming," Herrik said.

"Yes. Yes! Thank you for everything," I
looked pointedly at Artur knowing all the trouble he had gone
through to take care of my family and to bring Herrik and I back
together. Artur shook his head and though I saw a hint of a smile
refused to let me say anything more about it.

We had plenty of other things to discuss
anyway and while Herrik and I listened intently each of them told
their stories both individually as well as collectively. It was
unimaginable what we had all been through, Herrik especially. I
thought my heart would break when he confessed all that he was
forced to witness and endure under Freya’s power.

"When it was over," he said, "I swore I would
take Haeven apart brick by brick in order to prevent something like
this from ever happening again. It was a mistake, my
mistake..."

"No!" Artur stood up angrily and started
cursing at Herrik before he fully understood what Herrik was
actually saying.

The others looked equally dismayed until he
laughed and assured them all that that was no longer his plan, "But
we must do something. I asked you all here today hoping for your
thoughts and ideas; that together we could come up with a plan if
not a solution. Haeven is your home..." Herrik paused when he saw
the sudden change in Daemon's expression. "You're not staying," I
felt Herrik's disappointment as if it were my own.

There was no sense in trying to deny it,
"Penny and I are leaving. Eventually," he quickly added. "I'm
sorry. I didn't want to tell you like this. We...we need some
time...some time to ourselves," Daemon laid his hand on Penny's
knee, "We have a lot of catching up to do," he smiled suggestively
and his eyes were full of light as he spoke, "but we'll stay as
long as we can."

Wyatt shifted nervously and cleared his
throat, "I appreciate the opportunity, and man! This place is the
balls...uh...just incredible but I...uh...it's just not me," he
shook his head.

I looked at Merry and knowing they had a
relationship was aghast at the idea of losing her, too. We hardly
knew one another but I felt like we were destined to be friends. I
was deeply saddened to learn that I was wrong. Herrik took my hand
and absently began caressing it while I shook my head in
disbelief.

"We've been growing apart for a while now,"
Merry whispered but we all heard her soft voice.  I perked up
anxious to hear what would come next.

"Yeah," Wyatt mumbled. "Well, I guess I'll be
on my way."

"Just like that!" I thought.

I lifted my head and searched their faces but
there didn't seem to be any animosity between Wyatt and Merry. I
wondered if their parting had been predetermined before they even
got to Herrik's. It seemed like they may have anticipated the
reason for the visit and already discussed each other's sentiments
about whether or not to stay.

Merry stood up and they hugged briefly. Wyatt
brushed her hair back over her shoulder and kissed her cheek. He
looked around the room and though I couldn't have been sure it
seemed like his eyes lingered a long moment on Avery before turning
back to the group and saying, "Take good care of her."

Wyatt shook each of the men's hands, Herrik
asked him if there was anything we could do to repay him and let
him know that he was always welcome, any time, under any
circumstances. Wyatt just shrugged then nodded to myself and Penny,
he ruffled Ares ears then slowly walked away.

Everyone was so still and in the quiet they
each considered what had just happened. A moment ago I had been
filled with the joy of seeing all the people I loved most and now I
was heartbroken realizing that it was all so fleeting. I looked up
at Herrik who smiled weakly and sighed. I laid my head on his
shoulder and tried not to think about the future.

"I'm sorry Herrik. I don't see any other
options," Artur was the first to break the silence. "It has to be
you. It must be you. From the moment we started this you were the
only choice. You lured them here, you taught them a better way and
you gave them a means for absolution. You are the only one they
will trust to wield that kind of influence and power," Artur
insisted.

"No," Herrik shook his head in denial. "No
one alone should be trusted with so much and for so many."

"What would you suggest then?" Artur was
thoroughly confused.

"That we split it up," Herrik said simply
enough.

Like a flash I saw what he had in mind,
envisioned it so clearly, "Oh...yes...I see."

The others seemed to awaken to the idea and
as the understanding spread the room again grew eerily quiet.

"And how will we determine this division of
power?" Artur clearly wasn't sold on the idea.

"I'm not sure. There are many things we need
to focus on first but I think that once the healing process begins
and some semblance of normalcy returns to all of our lives..."

"What do you plan to do during the
interim?"

"Well, that's one of the reasons why you're
all here."

"Ah," Daemon narrowed his eyes and fixed them
on his father, "You want us to..."