Immortal of Darkness Read online

  "Gwen," he said, "think long and hard about this. We dinna want to lose ye."

  Gwen smiled and made a small nod, before heading to the stables.

  * * * * *

  "Father?" Gwen said as she walked into the stable, seeing him brush down a chocolate colored gelding. Grimmly glanced up and smiled, wiping the sweat away from his brow with his arm.

  "Ah, Gwendolyn," he said stepping forward, setting the brush down on a small stool. "What's fash'n ye, lass?" he asked when her smile didn't reach her eyes.

  Gwen let out a long breath. "I wanted to let you know that I have one last chance to help Cain."

  He placed his hands on his hips. "Ulrick told me what happened to ye last night, what he turned into."

  "I found a spell that could change him back to the man I knew ten years ago," she said quickly.

  Grimmly's mouth turned into a narrow line. He turned, picking up the brush once again and began brushing the horse. "Are ye here to tell me goodbye then?" he said from behind the horse.

  Gwen walked around the gelding and placed her hand on Grimmly's, stilling it. "You know?" she asked softly.

  He turned toward her. "I was about to enter the library this morn and heard voices." He frowned. "I heard everything."

  "Oh."

  "Gwendolyn, as your father I willna forbid ye, but I will beg ye to reconsider." Grimmly walked past Gwen and sat down on a bench. "Sit," he said, patting the seat next to him. Gwen sat down next to the man she was proud to call her father.

  "Is this where you make me feel guilty about what I'm going to do?" she said with a sad smile.

  Grimmly smiled. "No," he said quietly, "'Tis where I tell ye that when I first laid eyes on your mother I knew I loved her. I was her personal knight for ten years before she married Ramsey. Since Ramsey treated her more like a prisoner than his wife, I had much time to spend with her. I'd like to think I helped her get through those tough times. We eventually began having trysts when Ramsey would leave, and then she became with child...ye. Ramsey knew he couldn't sire a child. We were found out, and ye ken what happened after that."

  "I hate Ramsey more and more every time I hear his name," Gwen gritted out. "Why are you telling me this?"

  "Because," he said turning to her, "I never fought for our love. I never became the hero for my damsel in distress. I have regretted my cowardice every single day."

  "But you said-"

  "-I ken what I said! I know I told ye there was no other way, but what-. What if I tried, Gwendolyn? What if I slayed the monster and your mother was alive? What I'm trying to say, is slay the beast, become the hero, and fight for the person ye canna live without." He leaned down and lightly kissed her forehead. "I'll be by your side...always."

  "I love you, da." After a long hug, Gwen pulled back. "Speaking of Ramsey, have you heard what happened to him? Do you know where he ran to?"

  "Nay. I would like to think he is far away from here. I pray we've seen the last of him." Grimmly smiled and then quickly cleared his throat. "Now, when is this going to happen to ye? Where is Cain?"

  Gwen's shoulders sagged. "I would like to cast the spell as soon as possible, but I think on the morrow everything will be ready. I know Julianna had said she needed to meditate to gather all of her energy and clear her head before casting a big spell. I'll do the same tonight, and tomorrow, hopefully Cain will take the bait."

  Grimmly stood and walked over to the horse, continuing to brush it. "Then ye best prepare yourself."

  Gwen rose, ready to leave. "Are you coming?"

  "Nay," he said with a smile, "I'll finish brushing down the horses. 'Tis the only thing I do that relieves me of my worries."

  * * * * *

  Ulrick, Gwen, and Grimmly stood on the steps leading down into the great hall of Ulrick's home. The bright, morning sun shone through the windows, making the dust specs visible as they floated through the air of the great hall.

  "Do ye think Cain will come?" Ulrick asked.

  "I hope so," Gwen said. "The spell of immortality is the only thing I can think of that will draw him back." She glanced back over the busy hall.

  Ulrick's men moved tables out of the room and into storage areas, creating a large arena of sorts, an area for one hell of a battle. They had all agreed that the great hall was the best place for this fight. All exits had doors that could be locked, so only one door would be open into the room. When Cain showed up, Brogden would wait outside the hall and close the door, only after Cain had entered. Ulrick would then cast a spell that would forbid anyone to leave the room, therefore, hopefully keeping Cain contained.

  Gwen would then try and keep Cain engrossed with the missing page, that way, Ulrick and Grimmly could ambush and capture him while she cast the spell. And then, after Cain turned back to normal, and she dead, Ulrick would give Cain the spell for immortality, Gwen's last gift to Cain.

  Gwen took a deep breath. The plan had more holes than some of the old crofter cottages surrounding the keep. If this worked, it would be a miracle. Either way, she'd be dead. But she felt as though she had come to terms with that. As she had meditated the night before, her mind cleared, and the power within had focused. She would die knowing Cain would have his immortality back, and that Grimmly gave her his blessings, and that she'd be joining her mother and Julianna. She had to keep those thoughts in mind, or else she would fall apart. She tried not to think about missing out on seeing Cain "normal" again, otherwise she'd change her mind about the entire plan.

  Gwen quickly cleared her throat. "And your men know to stay away while the fighting is happening?" asked Gwen.

  "Aye," Ulrick said. "They will stay in the barracks on the far side of my lands. No one else should get hurt or pulled into the fight but us."

  "Good."

  "Although, all my men said they would be here for ye," Ulrick said, looking solemnly at Gwen, "especially after ye healed them yesterday."

  "I know, but...I won't be here to help them after this fight."

  Grimmly rested his hand on her shoulder. Gwen made a weak smile and turned to look out over the hall. The last of the tables had been removed. It was now a huge, empty room.

  As Brogden walked out, he stopped next to Ulrick, placing one hand on his shoulder and the other in a friendly grip. "I'll be waiting for ye outside."

  Ulrick gripped his hand. "Brogden, remember, if anything should happen...."

  "Aye, but nothing weel. I'll see ye when this is over," he said strongly. As Brogden passed Gwen, he nodded, and to Grimmly, he shook his hand, and then silently walked out, taking his hiding spot behind the one open door.

  Abruptly, loud bangs sounded as all exits from the room slammed closed except for one. The three made their way down the steps to the center of the room. Ulrick glanced around. "Weel, everything is set." He looked at Gwen and Grimmly. "I'll give ye a moment."

  Grimmly turned and took Gwen's hands in his. "Are ye sure?" he asked softly, tears in his eyes.

  Gwen made a quivering smile. "I have to."

  "Then, ken that I love ye." Grimmly pulled her into him and he squeezed her tightly, showing her his love in their last embrace. Grimmly pulled back and placed a kiss on her forehead, then walked over to his spot in the far corner in the shadows.

  Ulrick turned back around from his spot on the other side of the room. He came up to Gwen, holding out his arms. With tears close to running over, Gwen fell into his embrace, returning his hug. "I'll miss ye," he whispered by her ear. Ulrick turned, kissing her softly on the cheek. "Remember, focus on the positive energy, try to forget the dark energy that will pull at ye." He gripped her wrist. "You're strong, lass, and ye have one hell of a storm inside ye. Ye can do this."

  Gwen nodded, smiling sadly. She knew Ulrick only tried to be optimistic for her sake. This was what she had to do. She believed it was her destiny. It would explain why she had so much magic inside her. She was blessed with the power to save the one man she loved. Her days with Ulrick, Grimmly, her grandmother, and Cain wer
e gone. Gwen stood rooted to the spot as she watched Ulrick walk over to his position, which was in the opposite corner from Grimmly. They hoped Cain would not notice them, and then they could ambush him, holding him down, so Gwen could cast the spell over him.

  When Ulrick reached his corner, she heard both of the men unsheathe their swords.

  It was time.

  Gwen closed her eyes and held out her hands, trying to get the flow of energy circulating. She focused on the brief advice her grandmother had given her right before Gwen had entered the hall. "Remember," she had said, "'tis all in your heart. Focus on that feeling of love and the darkness will ne'er touch ye."

  Gwen concentrated on her grandmother's words. She had to somehow visualize Cain and call to him, hoping he would hear her summons, and come retrieve the spell he wanted. As she stood in the center of the silent hall, she pushed herself deeper into the white ball of energy, pulsating at her core.

  At first, she couldn't break through, but she persisted and suddenly, it was as if she flew alongside the energy, long streams of white stardust fluttering from her fingertips as she soared through another dimension.

  Now, she had to focus on Cain. She squeezed her eyes shut tighter and saw his blue eyes, blond hair...nothing. She picked up not one piece of energy from him. Gwen tried again, but still she couldn't even see a glimpse of him. Perhaps, the monster had eaten him up entirely, she said to herself.

  Gwen sucked in a breath. That was it! She had been focusing on the wrong being. Cain no longer was in control, but the beast was. Gwen wrapped herself back into the white energy and began to picture Cain the way she had last seen him.

  First, his empty, soulless eyes appeared, and then the rest of his face, with the jet black hair, followed by his muscular shoulders, torso, and limbs. He stood there in her mind, surrounded with the white energy, his head down cast, his body hanging limply as if he were a puppet on strings. Gwen floated over to him. "I have your spell," she said in a sing song voice, sounding nothing like her normal one. No response. Slowly, she reached out. A hairbreadth away from touching his chin, his head snapped up and his arms reached out at her.

  His hands grasped her arms, but as soon as he made contact, she was forced out of her mind, landing harshly on her backside, in the great hall once again. Gwen shook her head and opened her eyes. She breathed rapidly. It had been so real. She had felt him touch her, felt the evil that had rushed into her the moment he had made contact with her. Gwen shivered. Without warning, a heavy wind gusted around the great hall, stirring up dust, debris, and hay from the rushes covering the stone floor.

  Cain had answered her summons.

  * * * * *

  CHAPTER TWENTY

  Gwen scrambled to her feet, grabbing hold of her locket, holding on tightly. She would have to be ready. Cain would act swiftly.

  "What do ye want human?" a horrible voice echoed around her, filling the great room. "Ye waste my time, and I'll kill ye," the voice snarled. "Give me something useful...and I'll still kill ye." Dark, evil laughter rumbled through the room.

  Gwen spun around. "S-show yourself!" she demanded. As she turned back around, she stopped abruptly. Cain, or the beast, stood in all his glory before her. She craned her neck upward to look at his face. He stood at least seven feet tall with his awful claw-like hands on his hips and a snarl escaping his mouth. Was there any part of Cain left to save? "I-I have the spell of Immortality," she said, trying to keep her voice from wavering.

  Cain immediately rushed over to her, stopping a hairbreadth away from her face. "Give-it-to-me!" he roared.

  Gwen closed her eyes as his hot breath blew across her face. Feeling him retreat a bit, she opened her eyes. The horrifying beast stared at her, his lip curled in a vicious snarl. "Sh-show me Cain," she said.

  "That puny human is gone," it growled.

  "Then you won't get the spell. I know he's still in there. Show me, and then I'll give you what you came here for."

  The beast narrowed his eyes at her. His sharp razor teeth bared. "Then, I'll take it," he said taking a step forward.

  "I have it hidden," Gwen rushed out, stopping him, "in a place you'll never find and only I can get to." The beast glared at her. He stilled, as though he made up his mind, and with a loud growl, he arched back, roaring as his body contorted and twisted...and then her Cain stood before her. He still had the black eyes. That's when Gwen realized the human before her was only a shell, that the beast had Cain hidden deep inside.

  Gwen reached out. "Cain?" she said softly with tears in her eyes. Even though she knew he was the beast in disguise, it still hurt to see the man she loved standing before her.

  "Give me the spell," he said in a grumbled voice unlike his own. Cain held out his hand.

  Gwen reached up to her necklace as she saw movement behind Cain. Ulrick and Grimmly were in the process of sneaking up on him, getting ready for the ambush, now that he became a size they could hopefully contain.

  Gwen slowly unhooked the necklace, leaving only the amber one on that Cain had made for her. "Here it is," she said softly, opening the locket.

  With his black eyes, Cain leaned forward in anticipation. He licked his lips as his hands opened and closed, ready to feel the parchment with the spell in his hands.

  The locket unlocked and a sprinkle of gold dust floated through the air between them. In mid-air, the speckles came together, forming a sheet of parchment, the missing page. It floated in the air a moment, before Cain grabbed out, snatching it into his fist. He stood there, his skin rippling with black veins, the beast close to resurfacing.

  "Now!" Gwen shouted as Ulrick and Grimmly jumped on him, holding him down with every bit of Ulrick's magic. The beast bucked and growled under its restraints, trying to reveal itself, but couldn't breech Ulrick's magic for the time being.

  Gwen quickly kneeled beside Cain and the two struggling men. She reached into her cloak pocket and pulled out the torn page, with the sacred spell from Ulrick's spell book. She unfolded the paper and waited as the true spell showed itself. Within seconds, the Gaelic words had rearranged themselves, leaving the spell she had searched for.

  Gwen took a deep breath and began to recite the spell, just as the main door to the hall crashed open. Ramsey stood in the threshold, a bleeding Brogden lying at his feet. "Ye thought that was the end of me!" Ramsey roared. He stumbled down the steps as fury radiated from him. "I'm nay leaving until you're all dead," he seethed.

  At that moment, as Ulrick and Grimmly stared at Ramsey, Cain burst out of their hold.

  "No!" shouted Gwen.

  Cain panted as he stood, his chest heaving with rage. "Ye tricked me human," he growled to Gwen.

  "And ye!" Ramsey sputtered, pointing toward Cain. "I'll drive this dagger into your heart if 'tis the last thing I do."

  Cain didn't even look Ramsey's way. He turned and glared at Ulrick who now held the spell of immortality. Ulrick saw what Cain intended and began chanting a spell as he rose to his knees.

  Cain strode over and picked Ulrick up by the neck. He yanked the spell out of Ulrick's hand and flung him across the room. Grimmly charged Cain's back, but was tossed aside before he barely grabbed hold.

  "Stop!" Gwen cried. "Cain, don't do this! I know you're in there."

  Just then, rough hands wrapped from behind, around her waist, squeezing cruelly. "And ye," Ramsey growled close to her ear, "ye started all of this. I should have killed ye while ye were in your mother's womb."

  As Ramsey brought Cain's immortal dagger up to her throat, Grimmly charged them, but before he reached the pair, a horrible screech sounded. The floor shook and trembled, knocking everyone to their knees. The dagger dropped out of Ramsey's hand as he fell to the floor, with Gwen landing on her stomach next to him.

  All eyes glanced up to find Cain reciting the spell of immortality, but it wasn't Cain, it was the beast, back in all his glory. As he stood, chanting the spell, Ulrick's great hall shook with fury. Banners and torches fell off the walls, stone cr
umbled and the floor opened up.

  As the floor parted, with an eerie red glow shining up from the crevices, Grimmly scurried to Gwen's side. Ramsey had vanished for the time being, hopefully fallen into one of the huge cracks, but after a glimpse of Ramsey's red cape in the corner, Grimmly knew the coward hid.

  Ulrick sat up across the room from Gwen and Grimmly, confined to a small piece of floor, huge crevasses surrounding him.

  "What do we do?" Gwen yelled over to Ulrick.

  "Use the magic inside of ye, Gwendolyn. I'd help ye, but I'm completely tapped out."

  Suddenly, dark shadows crept out of the crevices as the beast roared the spell. A whirlwind of evil escaped from its prison below, from the pits of hell.

  "Ye have to stop him!" Ulrick yelled.

  Gwen hurriedly nodded and rose on unsteady legs. As she made her way over to Cain, she leapt over small cracks, and avoided the terrifying shapes of darkness that had a life of their own. Every now and then, pointy, black shadows, in the shape of hands would reach for her. Gwen approached Cain, just as a roar sounded, but it wasn't Cain's, it was Ramsey's.

  Gwen spun her gaze over to Ramsey. A dozen dark shadows tossed and turned his body in the air, holding him up above a huge pit of red, molten, bubbling lava. Ramsey screamed out in horror, but that only made the shadows laugh and growl, spinning him faster and faster. Soon, Ramsey spun so fast, that Gwen couldn't make out his features.

  Abruptly, the dark shadows fell back from Ramsey and a huge scream sounded. Ramsey was no longer a red bearded laird, but a demon from the deep. He now stood as tall as Cain, his skin glowing red, embracing the inferno of flames that leapt upon him. His eyes glowed a bright orange and his teeth were razor sharp spikes in his monstrous smile.

  At Ramsey's roar, Cain stopped chanting and spun around toward the new monster that occupied the room. "Now, you're no match for me!" Ramsey roared. "I finally have the power I've been waiting for, but there's only room for one king in this realm...me!" Without warning, Ramsey darted toward Cain, the immortal dagger gripped tightly in his large, red, beastly hand.