In All of Infinity (19 page)

“You do have a wonderful figure,” Luella
sighed, gently raising the edge of the woman’s white gown. She
admired Esme’s panties, and then pressed her hand upon her mound to
feel her warmth.

“What are you doing?” Esme declared and sat
up. She quickly threw her gown over her legs, ashamed of the
younger woman’s actions. A strap fell off her shoulder but Luella’s
hand drew to it before hers could.

“Anything I damn well please,” Luella
assured her, lowering both straps then the front of it, revealing
her enemy’s milky-white breasts. “God! You’re gorgeous!”

As she shivered, Esme knew Luella would do
anything she wanted. She recalled earlier that day while she was
bathing. Luella demanded her servants to do the task, which became
passionate and violent in almost the same instant. Although she was
a fast healer, the moment was still fresh on her mind, as were the
many cruel moments since meeting Luella.

Luella saw the strain on Esme’s face and
laughed, then pressed her nails into the dark pink nipples, causing
them to bleed. Esme winced and Luella drew closer, licking the
blood.

“What do I owe this pleasure?” Esme asked as
she ran her hands through Luella’s hair. She wanted to pull it out.
Luella must have sensed this and pulled herself away, adjusting
Esme’s gown.

“Well, first of all, I will tell you that
your husband is dead,” she said with a smile. The expression on
Esme’s face was wonderful, because she wanted to doubt it but knew
it was true.

Luella sat beside her, touched the single
rose in the vase on the bedside table, and watched as it withered
and died. She loved death, but not everything about it. After all,
who liked the idea of their own demise? She sure as hell
didn’t!

Esme felt her hands on the collar that
controlled her powers, wishing she could rip it off. She always
wished she could remove it, but knew that wasn’t about to happen.
She was a slave.

“I hate you,” Esme started. She had said the
same over and over, but knew Luella knew what she was trying to do.
It was what she’d done to make Nadia change, which had taken almost
fourteen years.

“I know, precious,” Luella said and trailed
her finger across her enemy’s lips. “I cannot wait to meet your
daughter, though.” She smiled again at the bewilderment on Esme’s
face. “Surely I told you? She’s coming to save you. I believe I did
tell you, but perhaps you weren’t listening? Oh, you know how much
I hate it when you don’t listen.”

“No. She’s not coming.”

“Yes. She is. I only hope she’s as beautiful
as you. A little bird told me that she looks even better. In a few
months, we’ll be parting. I am dreading it, but the Ancient Ones
are coming. They’ll choose me as the first and only Summoner
because I’ll be the only one. I won’t have any opposition. Don’t
worry: I’ll take good care of her.”

“They’ll figure it out,” Esme said
assuredly. “They will. They aren’t as stupid as you think.”

Luella pressed her lips to Esme’s, then
crawled on top of her, changing into Emmanuel as she did. It was
another way Esme could tell that he was gone. Luella could only
morph into those who were dead. She cried as hands that were once
familiar began touching her skin, whispering tender words in her
ears. While they made love, she let the tears pour.

Esme looked towards the moon, wishing for
Emmanuel. She saw a single star sparkle brightly and smiled. She
saw hope, and knew that, sometimes, hope was all anyone ever needed
to survive.

***

The next day dawned with everyone already on
their horses, where they had been for several hours already.
Although they hadn’t had the experience of dealing with the enemy
last night, they were well aware of what to expect. Most of them
didn’t have experience, especially the ones who were as young as
(or younger than) Reverie and Isaac. Some weren’t necessarily
soldiers, but local men and women who were simply willing to stand
for the cause. They were trained by Windrew, when he wasn’t away on
another mission. Brornar had taught them a few things yesterday,
but his battalion hadn’t learned enough techniques to defend
themselves, and would never since he was dead, so they reverted
back to Windrew’s methods. After all, he was alive and the only
remaining commander in Peniolea.

The total number of soldiers in this legion
was over six hundred; they would be joined by others as they made
their march. Still, though, the number wasn’t as great as it could
be. Most of the townspeople were fueled by their own greed and
anger, both bred of darkness, and unable to see the big picture.
There were some that were simply too old to fight, such as
Windrew’s close friends, and were doing what they could for the
cause that didn’t involve fighting. When there was a great battle,
there was always plenty to get done.

Anekaya was disappointed in not being able
to gather more, and busied herself around the encampment to avoid
thinking about her sons. When they extended their condolences to
her, she would merely nod and ride further on. She didn’t want
pity. She wanted blood. Since she was able to do even the most
forbidden magic, Windrew kept an eye on her and tried to keep
everyone’s spirits up. He didn’t want to, since he felt terrible
himself, but there was no one else the soldiers would listen
to.

“I don’t know why he thinks I can’t take his
place so he can get some sleep,” Isaac said as he rode alongside
Reverie beside one of many wagons. “I mean, I am able bodied and
definitely a people person. You remember high school.”

Reverie smiled, nodded, and yawned at the
same time. She watched as the sun cast itself over the mountains
and across the field to her right, thinking about those who she
hadn’t seen in years. Since she didn’t know many people, her mind
went from the Brevard twins and their father, to Mary Smith, the
teacher who had given her a bag, and even to Penelope. Although
she’d wanted to meet Aunt Camie, the old woman was probably dead
and never knew she existed anyway. Reverie realized she didn’t even
know what had become of her cats. She wondered if anyone remembered
her, if they thought she’d dropped off the end of the earth and
died. They would surely be able to get on with their lives without
her. She had never meant much to anyone, except her father, who
searched for her even when he couldn’t see, and Isaac, who probably
just looked for her because he liked the “chase.”

“I missed you, you know that, right?” Isaac
asked sincerely. She turned and looked at him, wondered if he could
read her mind. “I can’t name a battle I fought without your name in
my heart and on my mind. Even though you might think I came for you
because I loved you, I will tell you this: I came for you because
you’re a good friend.” Although he was in love with her, he
couldn’t find it in himself to tell her, not when war and death
surrounded them. “I hope we can remain friends, Rev. I really
do.”

“Why does it sound like your breaking up
with me?” she asked, trying to remain serious. She couldn’t and
began laughing. “I’m so sorry, Isaac. I don’t mean to laugh at
you.” Even though he was serious, she kept smiling and pressed on.
“We would have to date before you can dump me.”

Isaac rode closer to her so that their legs
were touching. Leaning across his saddle, he held onto hers and
looked into her face. He wanted to seem intimidating and tell her
that he was serious. Instead, she kissed his cheek and every
barrier he’d ever held crumbled to the ground. Reverie was his
weakness and she always had been. He pulled away and looked into
her eyes, searching them to make sure she wanted him.

“We can definitely remain friends, if that’s
what you want,” she teased and pulled away from him.

He was about to pursue her but felt a
strange sensation up his spine and sensed that he was being
watched. The next thing he knew, he was flying through the air and
his horse somersaulted, almost landing on top of him. He felt as if
his left ear was on fire and swatted at it as he looked up at the
burning wagon. The passengers leapt off, consumed by flames, and
began rolling around on the ground.

He saw a shadow and strained his neck to
look above him, where he saw the scaly stomachs of dragons. The
only dragons he knew of existed in Idenia. What were they doing in
Peniolea? Reverie! Of course! Without a moment to lose, he stood up
and looked wildly for her, hearing roaring flames, screams of
agony, and Windrew’s straining voice as he commanded the
soldiers.

“Reverie!”

He drew out his weapon and charged towards
the front while he looked frantically for her and prepared himself
for an attack. He didn’t have to go far. The horse she was riding
had been burnt to a crisp and she lay beside it, looking as if
she’d suffered the same fate. As he knelt beside her, though, she
opened her eyes and coughed.

“Watch out!”

Isaac picked her up and darted towards the
field and rolled into a trench, barely missing the flames of the
dragon as it came swooping in. He waited for the heat to subside
and turned to her, finding her eyes more haunting than anyone he’d
ever seen in battle.

“I need you to stay here,” he said and gave
her his sword. “They aren’t here to kill you. They’re here to
capture you. I’d feel much better about fighting if you’re
safe.”

“Why did they try to—”

“Rev, this is no time for questions,” he
said. “Stay.”

Isaac stood and got back on the main road,
finding his way to one of the wagons where he opened a case of
swords and pulled out two. He wiped sweat from his brow and ran to
the front where Windrew was standing alongside his wife. As he
looked around him at the carnage, he wondered how many men and
women were dead; how many families were shattered. He felt even
more anger surge through his soul as he thought about Reverie and
what the beasts had tried to do. They would pay!

“Glad you could join us,” Anekaya said.
Isaac realized she was carrying swords of her own and knew
immediately that the dragons weren’t affected by her magic. She
looked at him and smiled. “We think it has to do with those collars
they’re wearing.”

Isaac looked towards the dragons, watching
as the three of them made u-turns in the air in front of the sun.
He could have sworn there were more, with as much damage as they
were causing, and he thought they were larger. After he shook out
the tension from his shoulders, he brought himself into a runner’s
position and waited. Although the amber sheen of the dragons’
scales made his eyes burn, he couldn’t turn away. He had to remain
focused. Even if his closest friends thought he was crazy, he knew
he had to call upon all the powers that lie within him if he were
to destroy his enemy. Nadia had given him her powers and he was
going to put them to good use.

“What are you doing?” Windrew asked.

“Watch,” Isaac said.

He started running, kicking up dirt. They
shouted at him, told him to come back, but he pressed on. Isaac
didn’t turn around for a second; he didn’t have the option. Kill or
be killed was the only choice he saw, and he wasn’t going to be
killed.

The dragon nearest him opened his mouth and
began burning the ground while making its way to him. As the flame
grew closer to him, sweat began pouring down his face and back.
Isaac tore around it and used his swords as scissors and cut into
the dragon’s neck, which drenched him in blood.

He continued running until he reached the
next two dragons, both of which were side by side. When he stared
hard into their yellow eyes, his own became black and he could
sense Nadia’s power filling him. They stopped flying towards him
and instead landed, bowing to him with their heads low.

“I am ashamed of your behavior!” They
wailed, but he snapped his fingers and they stopped. “I want you to
collect your brethren and attack the Peniolea palace. If anyone
within the palace has evil intentions, I want them dead. Go.
Now!”

As he watched them disappear, his eyes
returned to their normal shade and he turned around to look at
Windrew and Anekaya as they approached. He could tell by their
expressions as well as the other soldiers that they thought what
happened was the worst evil. When he saw Reverie arise from her
hiding place, he realized that he didn’t care what others thought.
He only cared what she thought and that she was safe.

Before he could make his way to her, he saw
a black puff of smoke behind her. A brunette emerged from the smoke
and wrapped her arms around Reverie, pulling her in. He ran towards
them but caught only the remnants of the smoke. Without a doubt, he
knew that Luella was the woman who’d captured Reverie.

“What will she do to Reverie?” he asked. He
didn’t have to turn to Windrew to sense that he was walking towards
him. “The Black Moon isn’t for months now, right?”

Windrew didn’t answer for a second, which
caused Isaac to look at him. He could tell by the lines of worry in
the wizard’s face that there was something he didn’t want to say.
In an instant, Isaac was holding Windrew by his shirt, staring into
his eyes with his black.

“She didn’t leave you, did she?” Windrew
asked. “Nadia?”

Isaac released him and looked at the ground.
“I’m sorry. No. She didn’t. I’m left with her powers, Windrew,
that’s all. I’m not evil.” He turned to his old friend. “Please
tell me what you know.”