The Gathering (91 page)

Sam then held his hands out over Quinn's face and mumbled something under his breath.
 
From under his hands the purple glow appeared and Quinn's wounds began to heal.
 
Within moments, he was well.

"Better?"

"Yeah, Gingerbread Man… thanks."

Sam laughed as Quinn nodded and stood up, then looked over at Molly.

"Thanks, Creegan."

"Anytime, Dork Twin."

Quinn rubbed his head and smiled.
 
Then Alia and Sam helped Tanner heal the wounded.
 
Where were Myron and Vance?
 
As Alia healed the wounded, she heard the ravens.
 
Hundreds had gathered around them.
 
Tanner walked up to his mother.

"I don't think the Shape was in the blast.
 
I think he got away."

Alia nodded.

"I think so, too."

"Rona didn't."

Alia turned and looked at her son.
 
His eyes blazed.

"You killed her?"

Tanner looked at his mother and shook his head.

"No… Vance."

Alia nodded.

"Good."

"Speaking of, have you seen him?"

Alia shook her head.

"Myron?"

Tanner shook his head.
 
Grant, Larry and Sam walked towards them.

"Who are we missing?"

"Myron and Vance, anyone else?" Alia Asked.

Grant shook his head.

"Not that we're aware of.
 
If they didn't check in, we've found them… you know."

Alia turned to the ravens.

"Where did they go?"

One of the largest ravens looked at Alia and cocked its head.
 
Then it jumped from its branch and flew to another set of trees.
 
Alia watched and then began walking, following where it flew.
 

The others followed as well.
 
Soon, they were moving through a clearing and Grant saw a foot sticking out from under some brush.
 
Alia ran and threw out her hand.

A red light flew from her hand and when the light hit the brush, the foliage curled and pulled back.
 
Under the brush were Myron and Vance, along with several Fail soldiers.

"Myron!
 
Vance!!
 
Please…"

Alia threw out her hands and spoke the healing charm.
 
The purple glow emanated from her and completely encompassed the two men and the other soldiers.
 
They didn’t stir.
 
Then Tanner and Sam joined in.
 
The purple now contained bits of silver that spread like a web through the men's skin and hair.

Then the sky cracked and lightning crashed around them.
 
The purple glow grew larger and larger, then exploded around them.
 
All three of them fell to their knees, unable to continue.
 
Alia, her breathing labored, looked at the men.
 
They still didn't stir.

"Please… oh, please…"

"Oh, Lord, my head…"

Myron rolled over and held his head as he sat up.
 
He looked over at Vance and shoved him.

"Get up, Boy, no nap time."

Vance groaned.

"I feel like I've been hit by horse."

Alia laughed.

"You two just scared the hell out of me."

"Sorry."

The remaining soldiers also stirred and sat up.
 
Alia and the others helped the men up and looked at what was left of the castle.
 
There were fires all around them and black stone littered the forest.
 
Alia turned to Tanner and Sam.

"Gather everyone together… we're going home."

They nodded as Alia turned back to where the raven had been.
 
It was still there, watching.

"Thank you."

“You're welcome.”

Alia smiled as she watched the bird fly away.
 
She then walked towards her troops.
 
They had a long way to go.

138

It had been several days since the unicorns had brought the girls home, but the others had still not returned.
 
Coeli stood on the eastern wall and stared beyond the trees.

Sean stood at the top of the stairs and sighed.
 
He walked over to her and put his arm around her shoulder as she leaned against him.

“You've been up here a while.”

“I know.
 
I can't seem to focus on anything else.”

Coeli heard Sean clear his throat and she turned to look at him.

“I’m so sorry, Sean.
 
I didn’t even think…
 
I’m so selfish sometimes.”

She put her face in her hands and Sean held her, rocking her as Alia often would.

“Shhh, none of that.
 
I'm ok, Sweetheart.
 
You're not selfish.”

Coeli raised her head and wiped away her tears as she shook away the moment of weakness.
 

“I am… I never asked how you’re doing?”

She then laid her hand on his heart and she watched his eyes start to fill.
 
He smiled.

“I’m ok, Kid.
 
I’m ok.”

She then laid her head against his chest and wrapped her arms around him.
 
He sighed again and held her.
 

“Room for one more?”

Chelsea Hearst was standing at the top of the steps nervously wringing her fingers.
 
Coeli smiled and put out her hand and Chelsea walked over and joined them.
 
Sean waited a few minutes and then gently ushered the girls to the steps.

“C’mon, Ladies, let's go eat.
 
The sentries will alert us if they see anything.”

Coeli shook her head.

“I'm not hungry.”

Sean took her chin in his hand and gently raised her eyes to his.

“You're lying.
 
You haven’t eaten, now let’s go downstairs.”

Coeli knew Sean was right and she looked at Chelsea, who nodded and they moved down the steps.
 
Sara, Scott, Chris and Corey were waiting at the bottom.
 
They all moved towards the Dining Hall, and just as they were about to enter the hall, the gates began to move.

Sean spun around and yelled to the guards.

“What is it?”

“Don’t know, Sir, a group of people in the distance.
 
They look like they’re walking this way.”

Coeli ran back toward the steps and climbed as quickly as she could.
 
She looked over the edge of the parapet, but they were too far out.
 
She turned and looked down at Sean, shaking her head.
 
Then she saw Madison.
 

She hadn’t left the side of the gate since Coeli had gotten back.
 
Coeli had to bring her food to her and that was the only time she would stand or move, was to eat.
 
Then she would lie back down and stare at the gate.
 
Only now, she had raised her head and she was wagging her tail.
 
Then she barked twice and stood up.

Coeli’s heart leapt in her chest.
 
She ran back down the steps and knelt down to hold Madison by the face.
 
Madison licked her and Coeli laughed, as she stood up.

“Can’t this thing go any faster?”

The minute she could slip through, she did.

“Coeli!”

Sean was about to pull her back when he felt it.
 

“Alia.”

He followed Coeli through the gate.
 
They ran towards the oncoming group, followed by Chelsea, Corey, Scott and Sara as the horns were sounded in the Fail.
 

Tanner was in front and Sean could see him running at them.
 
He leapt at his sister and held her tightly; swinging her around and then gently letting her go to embrace Sean.
 
Sean grabbed his face and looked into Tanner's eyes and then hugged him again.
 

"Outta my way!"

Sean let go of Tanner just as Chelsea threw herself into his arms and kissed him deeply.
 
He felt the world stop as he opened his eyes.

"Told you we'd be right behind you."

Chelsea laughed as she looked behind Tanner, then just past him.

"Daddy…"

Larry was now at the top of the hill and he looked over and smiled.
 
Tanner smiled as Chelsea ran to her father and leapt into his arms, then he looked back towards the castle.
 
Chris ran to his brother and Tanner began to laugh.

"Chris!"

The twins embraced.

"I thought you were dead, Man."

"I almost was."

Then Sam appeared over the hill.
 
He saw Coeli and he ran to her.
 
All he could think about was holding her. Coeli began to slow, but Sam didn’t.
 
His legs pounding against the earth, every muscle straining to get to her, he grabbed her into his arms and pressed his lips to hers.
 
She kept her eyes open just to make sure she wasn’t dreaming, her hands against the stubble-strewn skin of his face.
 
He stopped and held his forehead to hers, crying.

“I’m sorry I’m late, we had to walk.”

She pulled back to look at him.

“It’s ok.”

Sam kissed her again until he felt something on his side.
 
He looked down to see his dog dancing excitedly at his feet, wagging her tail so hard her entire body was rocking back and forth.
 
Sam leaned down and hugged his dog as Coeli watched.
 
Then she looked up and saw Corey, Chelsea, Lily and Elena coming towards them.
 
Her mother.
 
She looked around frantically.
 
Her dreams.
 
Where was she?
 
Then she saw her.
 
She watched as Sean ran to her.