A Loyal Companion
THIRTEEN: Alone

“She’s your purpose?” I asked her, but without a word, she dissolved into a ball of energy and went into Chloe’s little mouth, as if the young woman was inhaling Peta’s essence. Chloe’s body glowed as Peta filled her. When it disappeared, what I saw lying on the bed wasn’t the thirteen year old Chloe, it was a full grown woman. Chloe had grown into her real age, a beautiful almost twenty-five-year-old-witch, and I hoped that her attitude would grow too.

I waited in anticipation for Chloe to wake. She fluttered her eyes open, her light green eyes met mine, I noticed her blond hair had gained streaks of auburn shades.

“Ondine?” her voice was coarse, and I briefly wondered if she would have Peta’s beautiful singing voice. Not waiting for her to ask anything, I ran to her side and pulled her into a tight hug.

“Oh gods, I’m glad you’re okay” I felt her arms tightened around me and she broke into tears

“I remembered what happened. Thank you for your rescue”

“What hap…” Margaret stood by the door and her words trailed away as she saw the new Chloe.

“Chloe?”

I let go of my hug and faced Margaret, I gave her a short version of the story.

“Thank gods. Finally it happened” Margaret gave a relieved sigh. She planted a motherly kiss on Chloe’s forehead and broke into a hug.

“You knew?” I asked.

“Yes and we’ve been waiting long for it to happen. We figured it out when Chloe stopped aging at the age of thirteen, but we didn’t know when or how it would happen”

Margaret took my hand in her and squeezed it as if she couldn’t say enough thank yous. I turned my gaze to Chloe.

“Do you remember everything? Even Peta’s memories?” She nodded weakly.

“Everything. Centuries of memories flowed in my veins, the singing, the children, everything. Even Aidan’s incident. Thank you again, if you hadn’t called on the spirits, I wouldn’t be here now” the way she spoke made me wonder if it was Peta talking.

I just gave the two women a nod and excused myself out of the room. I started walking towards the great hall, only to bump into Aranthias who came bursting into the hallway. I was knocked back a few steps until he had a firm grip on the side of my arms.

“I came as soon as possible. The bastard had put a shield thick enough that I couldn’t sense anything. I’m sorry” he held on to me, his eyes were apologetic, guilt ran pass those pair of golden eyes. I couldn’t stare any longer at those eyes, I flung my arms to pull him into a hug.

“I’m glad you’re here” I whispered as I buried my face in his chest, where I found comfort and home.

“I couldn’t find you when I got back” I told him as his arms embraced me.

“I knew Naal took you from the battlefield, I thought she’d at least have the decency of taking you here safely instead of sending you back to the battlefield” he gave out a relieved sigh.

We clung to each other for awhile, as if we hadn’t seen each other for years. I was truly glad he was here with me, and I had a moment of guilt as I remembered my dream where I was with Antheon. I knew he felt me with him, and I was glad that he still accepted me afterwards.

“I’m sorry” I whispered, but he shook his head frantically.

“No matter what happened there, it meant to happen, don’t apologize” his hug went tighter, I wanted to be like this forever, in his arms, at home.

We broke our hug when Deirdra came upstairs, her face was filled with grief and horror after she had learnt that Gin had been taken.

“I’m sorry about Gin” I offered as she approached and placed one hand on my arm. I swallowed hard.

“Me too” Her eyes said thank you. I grabbed her arm as she walked pass.

“He’s a strong man, he’ll come back”.

“I know" she paused, then added, "As for what you want to know about Gin, it’s something you’ll find out for yourself when the time is right” I let go of her arm and let myself being lost in Aranthias’ arms again.

“Let’s leave everyone to have some rest, we all need it”

“What about the army? We cannot go into battle without an army”

“Not to worry. There will be a way” he answered as he led me into the bedroom.

He stood leaning against the door after closing it behind him. He didn’t take his eyes off me. I wondered if he was searching my mind for what I had felt for Antheon earlier this morning. I knew it was real, and I knew that I did touch Antheon as I touched him. I waited for the disgust on his face to appear, but it never did. He looked at me as if he was home again, where he belonged. I couldn’t endure one more second of that stare, I didn’t deserve it. I sat at the edge of the bed and started to take my boots off.

“Allow me” he stopped me in mid motion, and started taking my boots and socks off gently. He put the shoes aside and started to work on my pants. Not a word was said between us, but the action spoke louder than words. I started to feel the hunger for him and beneath that black faded denim, he was eager too. His sensual touch undid the buttons and started to slowly slip the pants off my legs. He tossed the pants on the chair next to the bedside cabinet. My shirt and bra soon followed. With only my black panties left, he dipped his tongue on my navel while slowly taking my panties off, his short nails scrapped my skin. I hissed as his tongue went South.

He finished stripping me naked and stood at the edge of the bed, eyeing me with hungry, lustful eyes. I spread my legs slowly, inviting him. I saw a satisfied smile on his face before he disrobed himself. He took my invitation to his mouth. I groaned wanting more of him, I wanted him to drive himself in mercilessly. He answered and slid his hardened member in me. Something about him that morning was fierce, demanding, and inpatient. He dug his fingers on my waist, urging his thrust and driving me down to meet his root as hard as he could, as deep as it could reach. A wave of painful pleasure started to form. His shaft was getting even harder than before as his breathing raged faster. I screamed his name in my release, clutching the bed sheet, he joined me three forceful thrusts later and laid himself on top of me. The sex was rough and quick, but it was what we needed, my hunger for him was triggered within a second after he bared me with his eyes, and there was nothing else I wanted but an instant fulfilment to my need.

We lied on the bed, both satisfied. My head was on his chest while his arm spilled over my shoulders. I savored the rhythm of his heartbeat as I drifted off to sleep.

I came awake only to find an empty space beside me. Aranthias’ scent invaded my head as I rolled over to stretch. I sneaked a peek to the windows, it was still daytime. The clock on the bedside cabinet showed it was only a little after four. I rolled off the bed and started to get ready.

Not knowing where Aranthias was, I went to check up on Aidan again. He still lied on his bed the way I left him. Only this time when I touched him, his body was at his normal temperature. I dropped my head closer to his ear.

“I'm not sure if you've heard about Chloe... She's all grown up now, and she’s gorgeous. Maybe she'll stop getting flustered everytime you walk past” I teased him, hoping it would show some reaction, but it didn’t. Disappointed, I squeezed his hand. I knew what I had to do.

I had decided to go to Antheon and retrieve Gin. I knew that I was walking into a trap, but at least I had a firm grip of what I would do about choosing out of the two men. I didn’t know whether it would work or not, but if it worked then we would win the war, but if it didn’t work, then I still have a choice to make, and I bloody hoped that I had enough time and guts to kill one of them, no matter how much pain it would cause me. At that moment though, my first priority was to get Gin out to safety, and when that happened the rest would unfold itself, hopefully according to how I planned it.

I stood in front of the portal for almost a full minute. The logical part of my brain screamed that it was a suicide, but the part that cared about Gin gave me the urge to go. I remembered what Ulyn had said about Gin, I never doubted Gin and I wasn’t about to start. It surprised me if Gin was able to do such cruel thing, but I kept telling myself that the Gin that I knew was the important one. He had taken me under his wings, and I wouldn’t discard him out of my life because something he did a long time ago, for whatever his reason was. All men would have done something bad, and if no one gave forgiveness then I wouldn’t have the friends I had now.

Taking a deep breath, I sat by the portal, meditating. I was trying something I hadn’t done before, when Aranthias mated with me the first time he had passed on knowledge to me, and that knowledge came with other perks. After successfully summoning Gin into my dream realm, I was certain I could reach him again.

My surrounding turned pitched black with only a faint of colorful energies dancing around. It would take me more concentration to pin point Gin’s wave of energy. So far, I could only differentiate between one being to another with my vision, but never actually identify the owner of that energy wave. I could feel sweat moist my palms and forehead. Just when I was about to give up and go inside without his exact location, a certain wave of energy took form. There, I saw him, unconscious, hung by his wrists that were bound by heavy chains, and another on his legs to bind him to the ground. His energy wave was weak, his aura was torn, and he was not moving a muscle, I could almost feel him breathing faintly. I called out to him, slipping inside his mind. It was something very rude to do, but I didn’t care. I needed to know what was happening, where he was and what he was seeing or feeling. I tried crossing dimension but somehow I found a thick invisible wall preventing me to go any further.

"Don’t come… it’s a trap” seemed like even Gin was unconscious, his mind was still active.

“I know, I come prepared. Tell me what happened, and I need to know if you can move at all”

“Faye’s tears combined with some kind of old magic I couldn’t break. I cannot move a muscle, or get any of my senses to work. Don’t get your hopes up with me, Ondine. I’ve been saving a little energy just enough to talk to you, because I knew if you couldn’t find me with your mind, you out of all people, would come rampaging the dark castle. It’s not something I want to happen. After this I would be as limp as a dead tree. So listen carefully, do what you have to do with Antheon, and do not worry about me”

"You made a promise to Teal, so don’t disappoint him now”

"I don’t intend to, but your safety comes first…”

"Deirdra was crushed to hear your capture” I cut in before Gin could finish his sentence. I knew what he was going to say anyway, he’d say I should leave him be, but that was not going to happen. Not while I still have a drop of life in me.

“And Gin… whatever you did in the past, I knew you’d do it for a reason, you told me to go with my instinct and my instinct say that you’re a good man, and you need my help. So don’t be such an ass telling me not to help”

“I’m glad to hear that, but about my past, you probably would regret saving me”

“Every man deserves a savior. You were mine for many times”

“I can’t hold it any longer, Ondine. Whatever you do, please be safe”I was thrown out of his mind, and lost him completely. I was tempted to try getting him back, but I knew it would be useless. I already knew where he was, although I couldn’t see the surrounding because Gin’s senses weren’t working. But it gave me enough information for me to get to him.

I opened my eyes to find the sunset was approaching. I said a little prayer of protection and hope as I took the first step into Absolon, waiting for the excruciating pain and horrible thoughts to corrupt my mind.

Gods help me, keep your sons and daughters safe. Show me a safe passage for me to take.

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