Chapter 23
David
David was trying not to stress. It had been three days since he had seen Stormy. He hadn’t even dreamed about her. It was like she was in complete radio silence. He missed her and her quiet reassuring presence. Time seemed to move at a snail’s pace when they were apart.
On the third night, David finally dreamed of Stormy. But this dream was different. It wasn’t a quick snapshot or soundless video in which he got a tiny glimpse into her life when they were apart. Instead it was a technicolor full surround sound experience.
Stormy was on her knees before a throne of light. Her body looked twisted and broken. Her hair was longer and her skin seemed to be even more radiant than normal. Tears streamed down her face making lines in the dirt that covered her cheeks.
A woman with a brilliant unnatural silver glow stood over Stormy. She was tall and regal, but her face was passive. “Do you love them?” The woman asked. He voice sounded layered like several voices all speaking the same thing all at the same time.
“Yes, I love them.” Stormy said in a clear and loud voice. Even though it was cracked and breaking with her heartbreak, it was the most beautiful sound David had ever heard.
“Do you love them enough to die for them?” The glowing woman asked Stormy. She placed her hand on Stormy’s head and she whimpered like she was suddenly in pain. She bit her lip and winced her face in agony.
Her teeth were gritted and her words sounded almost like a painful hiss. “Take my life in exchange.” He could hear her grinding her teeth because of whatever the woman was doing to her.
“Even if it’s excruciating? Would you volunteer to take their place, if it meant years of torture and the slowest death I can imagine. And believe me after millennia, I am nothing, if not creative.” The woman said with no hint of malice, compassion or fear. The woman looked like she was above whatever was happening, almost detached.
“I would give all I am to the last drop, to save them.” Stormy said, stronger this time and with conviction. She continued to bite her lip.
The woman removed her hand from Stormy’s body, and he could tell that the pain had stopped. The woman walked in a small circle around Stormy almost as if she were sizing her up. “Rise,” she ordered.
Stormy stumbled to her feet. But remained humbled before the woman. “Please, we must act or all will be lost.” Stormy begged.
“All is already lost.” The woman hissed in irritation. “What would you have me do?”
“I would beg you to save them. Please, My Queen, you have the power to prevent this.” Stormy pleaded. David wished he knew what horrible thing happened to distress her like this. He would ride out against the danger with all of his warriors and their swords.
“Not I. I cannot unbuild what was broken or mend what has not come to pass.” The Queen said as she went back to casually sit on her throne.
“Then who can? Please, My Queen, we cannot simply stand by and let it end.” Stormy said in astonishment.
“If you love them so much, why don’t you join them. Just be done with this life completely.” The Queen hissed in annoyance again.
“I would, I’ll gladly trade it all, if you save them.” Stormy said. She chewed her lip nervously as she held up her hands palms up and moved them towards the Queen like she was handing over her life.
“Do you think it would be that simple. That you simply come to me, beg, and all is forgotten?” The Queen said as she shook her head. “No, what you ask cannot be done. I cannot restore the balance now. The dead cannot live again.”
“There must be something that can be done. Hope is never completely lost.” Stormy said. David could hear the courage of her convictions and it made him proud. In life and in dreams she was still a heck of a woman.
“There is only one chance. To go forward, you must first go back. The journey will be hard and much will be lost. To make life, there must be death and true love come with the sting of betrayal. This all but the bond of brothers.” The Queen said cryptically.
“I don’t understand, I have given more questions than answers,” Stormy said. “You speak in riddles.”
“Nor are you meant to. The quest must unfold. The only question that matters is, Are you willing give up all that is, for what may be?” The Queen said.
“Yes, I will do whatever I have to do to save them.” Stormy whispered as she bit her lip again.
“There is a price.” The Queen said.
Stormy nodded in acknowledgment. The Queen reached up and wrapped her hand around Stormy’s throat. A light came out of the woman’s hand. The woman dropped her.
Stormy hit her knees and reached for her throat. She opened her mouth to speak but no sound came out. She tried to speak again but there was nothing. He could tell her voice was gone.
The Queen put her hand to Stormy’s head and light shot into her through her forehead. “I can give you the power, but you must journey towards the knowledge and go backwards to find the wisdom. Five into one.”
She leaned down to whisper in Stormy’s ear. “I will help you where I can but I cannot interfere.” It sounded like a warning instead of a kindness. She gently kissed Stormy on the forehead. “Good luck, my favored daughter.” She wiped her hand over Stormy’s face until her expression was passive.
“Forget,” The Queen said as Stormy collapsed into the floor.
David sat up in bed with his heart pounding out of his chest. He clutched the covers around him as he sat in a cold sweat. He struggled to catch his breath. He didn’t know if what he saw was the past or the future. It was hard to know if it was a dream or a memory. Yet, in his heart he knew he had seen something that could change everything.