Secrets of Sealgaire, Chapter 10 part A
Welcome to Chapter Ten of the Secrets of Sealgaire. It's been a long time coming, but I'll do better with my updates, I promise!. I thought chapter 10 would be the last, but it grew so long that I realized I easily had two chapters, not the one I considered it to be. As it turns out, this chapter was too long & had to be divided to post, so forgive the awkward break in the chapter.
When we last left Bella Donna Cove, Sebastian was at death's door after saving his brother's life. He bit the Zombie Marta Glencoe while in wolf form, and became infected from her blood. Did saving his brother's life cost him his own?
Without further ado, I bring you...
Back at the Drake’s clinic, Herb Goodie settled in to his boys’ room for the night. Outside in the waiting room, Heather stood with her hand open, waiting for Cyd to return Midir’s ring to her.
“Heather, we don’t really know what will happen if you put that ring back on. We never figured out if Bruno was psycho all on his own or if the magic in that ring did it to him.” Cyd argued. “It’s bad enough you wore it at all, and I think we were lucky that you took it off when you did. You said you didn’t like the way it made you feel, remember?”
“I don’t like you putting it back on.” Niall spoke up from behind her. “I won’t risk it.”
Heather turned to face them both and stood her ground. “I don’t know enough to know what I’m doing, and I don’t have the time to learn it. But Cyd and Polina are right here if something goes wrong. They can stop it in time.”
“Let me try something first.” Polina suggested. “Let me go to Frances. Maybe she hasn’t left town yet and she’s at her house right now. Let me see if I can get her to come and help with the whole zombie thing. No one in Bella Donna Cove knows more about them, and she might like the chance to get in your good graces, if only to get close enough to try and get that ring back.”
Heather was furious, but Niall nodded his approval. Cyd and Polina left immediately.
“Sebastian doesn’t have that kind of time!” Heather told Niall, the anger in her voice close to the surface. “We might lose him while we’re waiting! And who are you to say what I can and can’t do?”
“I am the King.” Niall responded quietly. “Sebastian is my responsibility. The safety of my pack from that ring is my responsibility. The safety of my Queen,” He said, caressing her face, “is my responsibility.”
That brought Heather back to herself. “Oh, Niall. I’m so sorry. I don’t know why I said that. That’s not how I feel!” Tears formed in her eyes. “I think I’m just wrung out with everything that’s happened.”
“I’m sure that’s all it is.” Niall said, taking her into his arms. “But, we have to consider that it might be more than that. You cast a spell with that ring, unintentionally, but none the less, it happened. You wore it the whole time, until you were in the waiting room. Heather my lass, we just don’t know what it might do. And, we don’t know what kind of magic he put in that ring that might be geared towards you in particular. Remember, it’s that ring that showed you to Bruno in the first place.” He held her face in his hands. “I won’t lose you again.”
“Never. Never again.” Heather agreed, falling into Niall’s embrace.
“Come, Love. Let’s get comfortable until Cyd and Polina get back.” Niall wrapped his arm around Heather and guided her to the waiting room’s chairs. “The doc will let us know if anything changes before then.”
Sitting down, they found themselves looking at the room’s blank TV screen. Neither one wanted to turn it on. Niall had a better idea. He started slowly, first pulling her close as they sat. Then, he began to tell her a story about King Niall and Queen Angelica and the pirate ship that sailed to their beach. The story they’d started together back at Bruno’s but never got to finish. As he spoke, he guided her head to his shoulder, and before she knew it, she rested her head on his lap. From there, she was fast asleep. He caressed her gently as she slept, calming her each time an unpleasant dream crossed her face.
He longed to catch a nap himself, but wouldn’t risk it. The thought of Frances creeping up on Heather while he slept kept him more awake than the coffee that Julie Drake brought quietly to him. Frances might show up to ‘make nice’, but he wasn’t buying it for a minute.
Once he knew Heather was out, he dug out his cell phone and called Cyd. When he was sure Cyd would do as he asked, he clicked off.
He curled his arm protectively around a fitfully sleeping Heather and settled in to wait.
After a quick trip to the school to break into the personnel records for her address, Cyd and Polina were on their way to find Frances. Cyd tried to talk her into napping on the ride there, but Polina instead talked him into hitting an all-night gas station and getting two cups of the strongest coffee known to man.
“You probably know her better than I do. We need to be alert, and a nap is only going to make me sluggish.” She pointed out. “Blech!” she said, continuing to sip the coffee regardless of the taste.
Just then, Cyd’s cell phone went off. Seeing Niall’s number made him afraid they were too late, and he answered with dread.
“What’s happened?.....but……are you sure?.....Alright…..I’ll take care of it.”
“What’s happened?” Polina sat up straight with alarm.
“There’s no change with Herbie. Niall wants us to go home if we can’t get Frances to come back with us tonight.”
“But what about Heather -“
“Niall got her to sleep for a bit, and he’d like to keep it that way. Plus, we’re both concerned about her putting that ring back on until we know more about it.”
“But what about Sebastian? We have to do something to help him if Frances won’t!” Polina was dumbfounded that Cyd would even consider not going back to help him.
“The best way for us to help Sebastian is with Frances. If that’s not possible, then we need to go back to my place and hit the books. By not knowing what we’re dealing with, we are just as likely to make things worse than better.”
Cyd kept one hand on the steering wheel, and offered his other to her. He was afraid for a moment she wouldn’t take it, but she finally reached out to him, closing his hand into both of hers.
Once he knew she was seeing the sense in what he’d said, he continued. “We’re drained, Polina. Physically, emotionally, and magically, too. Just like any day when you’re tired, you’re more likely to make a stupid mistake. Magic works that way, too, except with magic, the mistake is likely to be much, much bigger. We just need to take a step back and make sure we know what we’re doing.”
“Cyd, I don’t know what we would do without you. What I would do without you.” Polina said gratefully.
He looked over at her and laughed. “It wasn’t my idea, it was Niall’s. But I’ll take the compliment if you take the same. I’d be lost without you, too.”
They continued the drive in a comfortable silence, holding hands the whole way.
Frances took advantage of the quiet in her house to plan, while her zombie, Agnes, got Marta settled in her room. She’d take Marta away, and no one would know she hadn’t been destroyed. Frances didn’t know if Marta could be saved, but she was going to try. Her first thought was to take Midir’s books and leave the country as soon as possible, however, she could not bring herself to leave the ring behind. ‘If I can befriend this Heather O’Roarke, get close to her somehow, I can find a weakness and get that ring back.’
Her thoughts were interrupted by a knock at her door.
Cyd wanted to go to the door alone, but Polina wouldn’t have it. Together, they knocked.
Frances put on her best innocent face and opened the door to her late-night guests. “Cyd! Polina! Come in - has something else happened?”
Polina spoke first, her voice filled with bitterness. “Maybe you remember the wolves in the kitchen? It turns out that one of them bit your zombie, Marta, and he’s not doing very well.”
Cyd put a hand on her arm to stop her tirade. “Frances, the boy is dying, and we don’t know enough about death magic to help him. We’d like you to come with us to the clinic and help us heal him.”
“What about the ring? Why doesn’t the heir just heal him with the ring?” Frances asked, watching their faces carefully.
“Is there no other way to heal him? You know more about zombies than anyone else we know. Don’t you have the knowledge that can help him?” Polina asked, reluctant to reveal that not only did they not know how to use the ring, but they were afraid to try.
‘Could this be more perfect?’ Frances thought. ‘The stupid girl needs me to show her how to use the ring!’ Frances allowed the smile to play across her lips, hoping it looked more friendly than victorious. “Of course. This is a very serious thing; I’ll have to see him to know what can be done, but I’ll be glad to help any way I can. Take me there.”
They piled into Cyd’s car and arrived outside the clinic as the sun was coming up. Frances was annoyed that they didn’t just apparate there, but she took the extra time of the drive to plan a course of action.
Niall and the other pack members had already changed back to human form with the coming light. He’d slipped away quietly and returned without Heather ever waking.
Hearing the doors open, he had Heather off his lap and was standing in front of her before anyone saw him move. Heather came awake behind him immediately, and Balin and Herb Goodie appeared to block the doorway to the back where the boys slept.
“She’s come to help!” Cyd said, holding up a hand to calm everyone.
“How do we know she’s really going to help him?” Herb Goodie asked, blocking the doorway to the boys’ room.
“Look, Bruno’s ideas were his own. I was only there to get my-“ Frances looked at Heather and amended, “Our ancestor’s things from him. Someone like him should never be exposed to that kind of power. As you can see, he wasn’t able to handle it.”
Cyd stepped in to mediate. “I know the practice of dark magic is something that most don’t feel comfortable with, but right now, she’s got a much better chance at helping Sebastian than we do. Bruno’s gone, and he was the only one who wanted to hurt anyone. We have to let Frances help Sebastian.”
“It was her dark magic that made the problem in the first place - she made the zombie that Sebastian bit to save his brother.” Balin growled from the doorway.
Niall, still keeping Heather behind him, settled the matter. “If we don’t move past that, Sebastian’s going to die. We have to let her try.” Inside, he was more concerned about Heather, and the lengths Frances would go to in getting Midir’s ring back. Sebastian was in no danger from Frances, but he thought Heather might be.
Frances looked around at the group. “So, what will it be?”
Everyone nodded their consent, Herb Goodie being the last. He stepped aside so Frances and the others could access the rooms in the back where his sons lay.
Once gathered at Sebastian’s bed, Frances reached her hand out to Heather. “I’ll need the ring for this. I know you don’t trust me, but there’s no magic strong enough to defeat death magic except for Midir’s.”
“I can’t let you have it.” Heather said plainly. “I’ve seen what it can do; I’ll wear it.”
Niall moved to stop Heather from taking the ring from Cyd, but she stayed him with his own words. “You said the safety of the pack is your responsibility. That ring is my responsibility. The pack, our pack, is my responsibility, too. To help the pack, I have to do this. Just like you told Normund back at the house, the leader has to look out for the good of the pack over those he loves. Now it’s time for you to do that, too.”
All eyes turned to Niall as his words came back to haunt him. He reached out his hand to caress her face, kissed her forehead, and stepped out of her way. He had to let her be the Queen that she was, no matter how much it hurt him to do so. He also readied himself for what might follow. If things went badly with that ring and she couldn't get it off, Niall knew he might have to take off her hand to save her life. He shared that thought with no one, and mentally prepared himself.
Cyd handed her the ring, and she slid it slowly back onto her finger.
As the ring slid home, a vacuum consumed the room, sucking the air out for just a second. Heather took a breath to steady herself, held her other hand out to Frances, and said, “I’m ready.”
Frances took her outstretched hand, and they both joined hands with Cyd at the foot of the bed.
Niall nodded at Balin, signaling him to stand at the door of the room. He knew if Frances tried a quick getaway, she’d most likely disappear into thin air, but he had to do something. He felt helpless, watching Heather make this sacrifice, and feared what it would cost her - what it would cost them both.
Frances looked at Heather and Cyd. “Heather, if the words sound familiar to you, join in. If not, just concentrate on the poison in his system. Picture it leaving his body through his mouth. Cyd, you should know most of this, but if not, the same goes for you. Visualize the zombie blood leaving him through his mouth. So we’re all thinking the same thing, we’re going to picture it as blue. Are we ready?”
“Yes.” Heather and Cyd said together.
Polina wanted to stand with Niall, but he was wound so tightly, she thought it best to stay back. She joined Herb Goodie instead.
Frances began, and once Cyd recognized the ancient words to an exorcism rite, he joined in. Magic began to flow through the ring as the words seemed to swirl around the room, coming from every direction. Once the ring began to glow red, its magical knowledge flowed through her, and Heather suddenly knew the words, too. She added her voice to the din.
The three of them kept their hands tightly clasped to each other’s, even though it became increasingly hard to do so. A wind swept up through the group, but instead of coming from the windows or doors, it was coming from Heather’s ring.
The others in the room didn’t realize what was happening, and kept their eyes on Sebastian, who was indeed spitting up blue blood in the midst of the raging winds.
Niall, however, kept his eyes on Heather as well. He was overwhelmed with fear for her when he saw her eyes turn black. “Heather? Heather!”
Frances felt her eyes grow wide as she looked at Heather and realized what was happening. It wasn’t just the zombie curse they were exorcising, it was Midir himself, being exorcised from that ring!
“Don’t stop!” Cyd yelled to be heard over the howl of the winds. “Frances, don’t stop!”
Polina was quick to catch on that something else was happening, but she didn’t know what. As her eyes travelled between the members of the chanting circle, she saw the look on Heather’s face, how her eyes were completely black, and was frightened to her core. ‘What’s happening to her?’
“Frances, don’t you dare stop!” Cyd continued to yell, as Frances paused in the chant. “Polina! Stop Niall!” he called, when he saw him rushing in to break the circle.
“Niall! Wait!” Polina yelled through the winds that were whipping through the room. “You have to help her - here!” Polina took his hands and placed them on Heather’s shoulders. “Just hold on to her! Let her know you’re here, but don’t break the circle!”
Frances continued the spell, mostly because Cyd urged her on. She needed time to process this! They should stop and take time to think this over! Still, the ancient words came forth, Cyd and Heather saying them, too.
Then they all saw it - the face of Midir, floating above Sebastian’s bed.
“Mine!” Midir thundered, looking at Heather.
Heather stopped chanting and raised her black eyes to his face. “No…no…”
“Mine!” Niall shouted from behind her, wrapping his arms around her. “Heather, I’m here, I’m right here! I’ve got you!” Niall said in her ear. “Fight him!”
“Damn it, Frances, Heather, keep chanting!” Cyd yelled.
Together, the three of them finished the chant, and the room went deadly still. They looked to Heather, who blinked, as her eyes came back to normal. They continued holding hands, but they were separated when a blast from the ring knocked them all backwards. Cyd and Frances hit the ground, but Niall caught Heather in his arms. A red mist swirled above them, and then disappeared as quickly as it had come.
“Did you know?” Frances demanded of Cyd as they got to their feet. “Did you know that an exorcism spell would take Midir’s magic from the ring?”
“It didn’t take his magic, it took him from the ring.” Heather said quietly. She turned in Niall’s arms and cried on his shoulder. “He was inside me, Niall. I felt him. He tried to take control, and I couldn’t fight him, but I kept hearing your voice. I heard you calling me; I felt your arms around me. You saved me.”
“There, Love. I’ve got you now. And look at Sebastian, see what you’ve done?” Niall said, turning her to see the boy in the bed.
Sebastian was moving beneath his covers, blue blood all around him; on his face, on the bed. As his father and Dr.Drake moved to wipe it away, they made sure he didn’t swallow any of it back down. Sebastian’s eyes fluttered, and he opened them.
He looked at his father, cleared his throat and said, “Da, can I have a Coke? Whatever they’ve been giving me to eat here left an awful taste in me mouth.”
Everyone laughed, except Frances, who was still angry. They left the boy to the doc and his father and went to the waiting room.
Frances tried to keep her anger down; she didn’t want to ruin any good will she had with Heather, especially if there was any magic left in that ring. “Can I speak privately with you?” she asked Cyd as sweetly as she could manage. Before they could move away from the group, they were interrupted by Heather, followed closely by Niall.
“Frances, before you leave, I wanted to thank you for what you did for Sebastian…and for me. I know that was a very big sacrifice for you, and I wanted you to know that we appreciate what it took for you to give up a chance to have Midir himself teach you his magic. I know he’s someone you would’ve liked to have spoken to. If it helps at all, he wouldn’t have shared any knowledge with you, me, or anyone. All he wanted was a slave. I can’t tell you the vile thoughts he put into my head. I almost feel bad for Bruno.”
As everyone let out a collective gasp, Heather amended, “I said, almost. Bruno chased after Midir’s magic, knowing how black it was. He was a willing participant and got what was coming to him. I just meant that it’s a really awful feeling to have someone trying to take control of you like that.” Then, in a move that surprised everyone, Heather went to remove the ring.
“Here. This can’t hurt you, or anyone now. It’s the least I can do to thank you for helping us save Sebastian.” The ring left Heather’s finger easily, and she handed it to Frances.
Frances shoved it onto her own finger and apparated home, before anyone changed their minds.
Niall wrapped Heather in his arms, kissing the top of her head. “How about we all head home and get some sleep?”
Everyone agreed, and the crew left in the dawning light to go back to their respective homes.
With Balin driving, Niall and Heather cuddled in the back seat.
Heather looked over at Niall, seeing the same, calm face she usually saw, but judging by the grip he had on her hand, she knew he was still very tense about something.
“Can I ask you a question?” she said in a low voice, even though she knew Balin could hear every word with his werewolf hearing.
“Of course. Anything.” Niall answered just as quietly.
“Is it true… is it true that you ate Bruno’s heart?”
Niall looked surprised, and almost didn’t answer, but he decided that she deserved to know. “Aye, lass. I did.”
“I see.” Heather responded. After a pause, she added, “That had to be the smallest meal known to man; you must be starving! Balin! Find us a drive-thru, quick!”
After a second of shocked silence, the three of them erupted into a fit of laughter that washed away most of the remaining tension, and lasted as giggles until they got home.
The second they stepped out of the car, Shioban launched herself out the front door where she’d been watching since Herb’s call. She wrapped herself around a very shocked Balin. Caught off guard, his lips found hers, and their kiss deepened.
Heather and Niall stood quietly behind them, waiting for them to break their embrace, but it soon became clear that it wasn’t going to happen. Heather began walking to the back door, intent on giving them some privacy, but Niall was not going to let a moment like this pass him by.
“I have to say, I’m sick to death of you both fighting like this all the time.” Niall remarked loudly from behind the kissing couple.
When he didn’t get a response from either one, he was about to try again, but Heather came back for him, and pulling him by his arm, led him to the back door.
Niall couldn’t resist calling out behind him. “Really, you two. Can’t we all just get along?”
Heather managed to drag him away, or closer to the truth was, Niall let himself be dragged away by her into the back door of the Goodie’s house.
“You are so bad!” she said, smacking him playfully in the chest.
“Well, you know he’d do the same for us. Besides, I think he had a good idea back there.” And he wrapped Heather up into a kiss of his own.
Faith Goodie met them in the kitchen, and Heather gave her a huge hug while she told them what happened with Sebastian. “I know Herb called already, but I just wanted to tell you that I saw Sebastian myself, and both of your boys are going to be just fine.”
Faith let out a sob of relief, then wiped her eyes and dropped to one knee. “My Queen. You saved my son, putting yourself at great risk. How can I ever thank you -“
Heather cut her off. “Please, don’t thank me. Get up! After all your family has done for me, I should be on my knees before you! Besides, I’m not even the Queen yet!”
“Oh, yes. You are most certainly the Queen, and have been from the second we met. What you did back there just confirms it, but everyone knows it in their hearts.”
Heather didn’t know what to say; she was so moved by that. Faith smiled, kissed Heather’s cheek, and set about getting them something to eat before Heather stopped her with a hand on her arm.
“Go to your boys. That’s where you should be now. I’ve got this. You go. Take Giselle, too. It’ll be good for her to see her brothers are going to be alright. I’ll hold down the fort.” Heather assured her.
Niall added. “And be sure to give them the good news; as soon as the doc gives the ‘all clear’ for travel, we’re going home to Sealgaire. I’m betting we’ll be back in Ireland in a day or two.”
************* continued in Part B ***************