Wilde's Meadow (Darkness Falls #3) (39 page)

The man rushes toward the strange mix of Ground Dwellers, Light Lovers and Sea Dwellers, scaring them with his flames, pushing them back with only a threat of his potential powers.

“Cheilt an maireachtáil leis an dúlra,” Anna whispers, voice shaking. “Marcus, say the Concealment spell.”

He repeats her ingenious words, and so do I, drawing the attention of the magic.

Sprites abandon their attempts to control the fire and encircle me, Anna, and Marcus, glowing with bright golden light.

The cursed Draíochtans stop their forward progress and glance around, confused. Whispers and curses fill the air. I imagine some of those hungry for a fight are now disappointed.

I take a deep breath, my throat still achy from being strangled. “They can’t see us.”

Anna shivers. “What are we going to do? And where is Arland?”

My heart stutters, and I stare behind us. Orange flames consume the dry leaves on the ground. The fire grows closer and closer to killing the tree of life, the tree somehow containing my husband. “He’s in the chestnut, trapped in time.”

Marcus tugs us toward it. “I will keep watch while you work to save the tree.”

Do I even know what to do? How do I bring someone out from behind a veil of time? I wish there was a step-by-step guide for “Saving Your Loved Ones From Curses of the Gods”.

Step-by-step
. My mom’s letter for bringing Gary out of his time lock was written in four parts, four steps.

“Stay close.” I release the children’s hands, then reach into my armor pocket. Pulling out the sandwich bag, my fingers shake and my insides tremble.

Please let this work
.

The second flap says ‘Hold the world in its graceful slumber, maintaining this permanent summer, but free those who Katriona needs, and release the animals so the girl they can feed’.

This won’t help me.

Only the line about freeing those who I need seems worthwhile. I sigh. “Free Arland from his tomb in time. Bring him to me, so I can be his and him mine.”

Puffy, white smoke billows from the tree’s roots, like the fire is laughing at me for being so dense. I’m running out of time, and I’m running out of hope.

Marcus and Anna stamp out the flames surrounding us, but their efforts are no use. I don’t know what I’m doing, and Mom’s letter certainly isn’t going to provide answers.

I fall to my knees, allowing the paper to drift to the ground and go up in flames, then close my eyes. “I’ve never been able to stop any of this. I’ve only been able to do what any normal Draíochtan should be able to do; the only difference has been my connection with you, Griandor. I’m not special. I’m not smart or powerful. I’m Katriona, first daughter born to Brian and Saraid Wilde, sister to Brites Wilde, wife to Arland Maher, great-granddaughter a few times over to your sister Morgandy Domhnaill … .”

The children place their hands on my shoulders, squeezing, but I’m not ready to stop complaining, I’m not ready to walk away from Arland, this tree, this world, or these people.

“No, I’m much different.” I clench my fists and glare up at the dark sky. “I grew up on Earth, I made friends with Ground Dwellers, I fell in love with a man who filled my nightmares every night. Your brother stole my best friend’s life, his childhood, his future. You used me. You
all
used me. Dughbal may have been many horrible things, but he was right. I’m just a pawn, but I don’t have to be.” I get to my feet, anger boiling inside. “I have command of nature, of life and light, and I’m not afraid to use any of it.”

I need you, more now than ever. Wake up. Fill this world with light, reveal Arland to me, stop these burning flames, break Foghlad’s curse, make time normal, make
everything
normal again
!

Fire ripples across my arms, spreading to Anna and Marcus, engulfing the three of us in blue. My skin warms as the power moves down my chest and legs then along the ground toward the tree.

Like blood speeding through veins, streaks of bright light race up the lines in the bark and spread into the dead leaves. The tree’s crooked trunk straightens. Life returns, casting a cool glow on the ground and platform, and illuminates Arland lying motionless on his side.

He’s covered in blood, dirt, cuts … .

My chest tightens. “Arland?”

I start forward, but someone grabs the back of my tunic and pulls me away.

“What are you doing? I have to go to him! Let. Go. Of. Me!” I turn around and find Perth.

Figures.

But I can’t stay mad at him for keeping me from Arland. Perth just killed his father to save me and Encardia. I press my cheek to his shoulder and squeeze my arms around his, then back away just as quickly. “Are you okay?”

His face is sullen and gray, and his mouth presses into a grim line, his gaze landing anywhere but on me. “I will be when I know I did not kill my father in vain.”

“You didn’t. I need to help Arland now.”

“Not yet,” he says, closing his fingers around my biceps. “Give the magic more time to work.”

Tears fill my eyes, but I manage to nod. I turn around and plaster my attention on Arland, afraid to let him out of my sight for too long. “How did you find us?”

“I watched you disappear behind the Concealment spell, and then I watched the tree light up. You were not difficult
to
find.”

“How’d you get through the spell?”

“You were no longer conjuring it by the time I arrived.”

Anna tugs my left hand. “We released it when everyone went away.”

I risk a glance around, searching for the angry Draíochtans, but we’re alone. “Where did they go?”

“Not here, and that is all that matters. We have more important things to worry about.” Perth lets go of me, then stands on the other side of Anna. He takes her hand and meets my eyes, holding me captive in his serious gaze. “Use me, Griandor. Give Kate her happiness. Take my life if you must, but give her and Encardia what they deserve.”

I gasp. “What are you doing?”

Marcus grabs my right hand and squeezes. “Take me, too, Griandor. I would not be standing here if not for Katriona. Give her Arland. Give Encardia Light.”

I look at Marcus. His big brown eyes, so similar to his sister’s, are innocent, yet so mature, so much wiser than most boys’ his age. He should be climbing trees, fishing, reading books, playing in the dirt with his toys, not offering his soul to make me happy.

My chin quivers. I don’t deserve people like this in my life. “Take
me
, Griandor. Without Arland, without my sister, Flanna, Gary, Mr. Tanner, Brad, without so many who have lost their lives, I don’t want to be here.”

“No, ma’am.”

I startle and turn at the sound of Cadman’s voice. He approaches with Rhoswen, Mom, High Leader Maher, Leader Murchadha, and many other Draíochtans in tow. Tristan, Saidear, Kegan, Shay … people join us from all directions, exiting homes, the forest, riding in on horses.

Tristan runs to my side and presses his fist to his chest. “I am sorry for almost shooting your foot.”

“You weren’t under the spell?”

He shakes his head and then steps away, making room for Cadman.

“Arland would never forgive me if I allowed the gods to take your life,” he says, closing his hand around Marcus’s. “Bring Encardia’s second greatest Leader back from his prison in time. My life for his.”

“Second?” I ask.

“You are Encardia’s greatest Leader, Katriona.” Cadman ignites in flames, and his thoughts collide into mine.
Bring Light, bring the sun, bring peace
.

The others file in and form a small circle around the tree. Fire spreads to them in a domino effect as they take the hand of the Draíochtan next to them.

Hearts swell with confidence, with pride, with hope. Power flows through us, growing stronger with each passing second, making the light blinding.

I watch Arland through the display of fire, wait for him to show signs of life, wait for movement, for a twitch, a sigh, for his eyes to flutter, but nothing.

Mom breaks the line and walks over to me. She places her hands on my shoulders and searches my face, moisture streaming down her cheeks.

“Turn around,” she says, her voice strong.

Shaking my head, I keep my eyes on Arland, but Mom spins me to face away from the tree.

“I don’t know what I’m doing, but I know I have to focus on him, Mom. Why would you”—I catch sight of someone walking up behind her, someone familiar, someone I’ve known nearly forever, someone I killed not long ago—”
Brad
… ?”

Arms wide open, he jogs to me, wearing a huge smile, a pair of hiking shorts and a T-shirt. He looks the same as the day we left for the Moormans River trail.

“Is it really you?” I’m hesitant to launch myself into my best friend’s arms. So much has happened. So much has
changed
. Never mind the last time I saw him, a god owned his soul and body, and then I drove my sword through his chest.

His dazzling baby blues twinkle in the light of my fire. “Come on, Kate. You’ve known me since second grade. Do you really not recognize me?”

I stare at my feet, terrified to look him in the eyes too long. He loves me so much that he died for me. “I’m surprised you recognize
me
.”

Brad lifts my chin with his finger and pins me with his gaze, his warmth shooting through me. “I see you now, all of you, everything you are and will be. You have nothing to be ashamed of.”

“I’m married, Brad. Pregnant. I’m not even human—”

A flicker of pain twitches at the corner of his eyes, and he jerks his head toward the tree. “Arland, right? The guy you dreamed about all those years, the guy I was so jealous of I couldn’t listen to you talk about your feelings?”

“Yes.”

“And he makes you happy?”

I nod, my voice lost, the burden of his crushed heart weighing on my chest.

Brad kneels next to Anna and looks her right in the eyes. “May I cut in?”

She moves aside and trades places with Perth. My favorite child is clearly not ready to forget what Dughbal did
with
Brad, and I don’t blame her.

He takes my hand and flashes his award-winning smile. “After being in the Heavens and seeing you mourn for your husband, I realized there is no life for me here. My family is there, and a future I never imagined possible … life doesn’t end when you die, Kate. This is just the beginning.”

“Brad?”

He’s not making sense; his voice is small and far off, like he’s lost in his thoughts. “Did you know your sister loves me?”

“Not until recently, but what are you saying? What kind of future exists in the Heavens? What does it matter?”

“One day you will understand.” Brad looks up at the sky. “Take me, Griandor. My life for Arland’s.”

“No.
No
.
No
.” I drop Marcus’s hand, then wrap my arms around Brad. His touch is foreign and familiar at the same time, but he’s my best friend. He always will be. “I already lost you once. I can’t let you go again. You’re not even making sense.”

He pulls me tight, pushing the air from my lungs, and rests his cheek on the top of my head. “You aren’t losing me. Trust me; we’ll see each other again, and often.”

“How do you know? You’ll be … gone.”

“Remember what you learned, Kate.”

Part of me wants to stomp my foot like a toddler and scream at him for saying the same thing as everyone else, but I maintain control. “What have I learned, Brad? That life is too short, too easily stolen? That people, no matter what world we live in, will always fight for power that doesn’t belong to them? That I’m some magical descendant of a goddess who controls time, making me different than almost every other person here? That my mom somehow avoided a curse put in place by the gods’ father? Or should I remember that you, your father and mine, my stepfather, my sister, my best girl friend, my husband—”

Wait
! My mom didn’t avoid the curse. Dad died shortly after I was born. Technically, he should have died after
my
birth, preventing Mom from living with the true love of her life. She manipulated the curse so she could have two daughters.

A family bound to separate
…
sacrifice or they will lose
. “Brit broke the curse. She sacrificed herself, her inherited powers from Morgandy, to save me and Arland.”

Brad backs away, nodding.

“How do you know this?”

“Because I told him.” Everything around us lights with golden flames, not catching on fire but flickering with energy, with life, like the trees and wood and leaves and people all want to burst forward and hug Griandor. Even the sun cracks the eastern horizon, drawn to its master.

Draíochtans gasp and drop to their knees, but not me and Brad.

I smile at the god, not afraid of him, not angry with him, and certainly not about to show him the same respect as the others. “How are you here when Arland is there?”

“You remembered who you are when you became angry a few moments ago, when you lit this tree of life, one of three gifts my father gave to this planet on the day of its birth. You embraced who you are, thus accepting the blessing your sister gave you.” He laughs, caressing my cheek with the back of his soft, soft hand. “Come now, lower those eyebrows.”

“I don’t understand,” I say, leaning into his pleasant touch.

“You are a goddess, Katriona—”

“Three quarters at least.” Mom takes my hand and faces Griandor. “Your sister gave you half of her powers, and now you are as close to being an immortal as anyone else will ever be. You no longer need protection from Griandor or his brothers or sisters. You will sit beside them, be a part of the Heavens.”

I don’t care about being an immortal, or being close to one, or anything that’s involved with that. “Who has the other half?”

“Arland.” Griandor glances at my husband and cringes. “He does not deserve to be looked upon while in this condition. Your mother offered to give herself up to save Arland, and I accept. This will make you and your husband true equals. When you pass from this life into the next, you will be welcomed as family, you will be a part of my father’s council. Your new life will last forever.”