24. The Fallen
The Fallen
Eliza
E liza pulled the blanket aside, trying to find relief from the heat that seemed to be burning her up from inside out. Looking out the window, she could see the sky was dark. Slipping from the bed, she walked into the bathroom. Taking a quick shower and getting dressed in a dress Morgan had loaned her, she stepped outside. She’d spent the whole day sleeping, so it was time she got out and enjoyed the festivities.
She could hear the music as people gathered around the bonfire that rose near the lake. She couldn’t shake the feeling of adrenaline rushing through her veins.
“Eliza.” She turned in time to see Lilly running towards her. Her blonde hair was down, and a ring of flowers circled her head. “I didn’t think you’d be feeling better so early,” she said as she hugged her.
“I wasn’t thinking I would come out, but I was getting tired of being so cooped up inside.” She pulled back and looked around. “Everyone’s energy is so high; I couldn’t stay inside when you all look like you’re having so much fun.”
“Great,” Morgan said, coming to her side with a cup. “I’m glad you came; finally, someone else can be the voice of reason.” She handed her the cup, shooting a look at Lilly. “She seems to think the Maitland over there would be perfect mating material.”
Eliza looked from Morgan to Lilly, who sighed, “You’re no fun. That man has muscles that scream for me to touch. He would give me pretty babies.”
“And where is this man?” Eliza asked as she glanced around.
Lilly came to her side and pointed across from them.
Eliza had to give it to the girl. She wasn’t wrong; the man’s muscles fairly breathed. He wasn’t lacking in the looks department either, with high cheekbones, thick lips, and a smile that put a crack in her shell. “Well, Henry Cavill, eat your heart out.”
“Henry? Who’s Henry?” Morgan asked, hearing her muttered words.
Seeing that both Morgan and Lilly were confused, Eliza sighed. “Never mind, I’m just saying he’s a looker. I can’t see why she shouldn’t shoot her shot.”
“He’s a Maitland,” Morgan repeated; Eliza stared at her. Seeing this, Morgan sighed. “Maitland’s tend to mate with human women, so their blood is weak. And it’s known that they create children who aren’t able to change.”
Lilly groaned, “Right, and my dad spends more time talking about bloodlines than is healthy. If he even thought I’d contemplate mating with a Maitland wolf, he’d kill me…” she trailed off, looking at the man with despair. “He’s already bent out of shape enough for having to let me go to school and work in Clarksville, but if I married a Maitland, he’d keel over.”
“Right, and her father happens to be Haggis. The man fairly screams ancestor obsessed; he even hunts with a spear still,” Morgan said, shaking her head. “If you bring a Maitland to him, he’ll probably go to your mom and complain.”
Lilly's entire body cringed. “Ugh, don’t curse me like that.”
Eliza looked between the two women. “Okay, I’m completely confused.”
Morgan laughed, shooting Lilly a humorous look. “Well, see, her dad went roaming during his younger days, and he invaded the Northern Packs Ceilidh and mated with a Norse Wolf. And the Norse Wolves are very, very particular about their mates as the power is with the woman. So, her mother is sort of a Pack Alpha herself. Also, note Norse female wolves tend to have multiple partners.”
“Ugh, please stop,” Lilly groaned. “I’ve been avoiding her calls for about a week. I can almost feel the random visit coming any day now.”
Eliza couldn’t help laughing. “Your family sounds more complicated than mine.”
“Well, Pop swears he loves her, and she swears the same thing; I’m the only pup allowed to stay with their father. My other siblings remain with my mom.” Lilly said thoughtfully, still eyeing the male across from them. “Well, I’ll let Nefer have her way this night.”
“Yep, she’s pretty much the best at picking our partners; after all, she is a goddess,” Morgan said, but Eliza noticed the sadness in her eyes before quickly covering it up. “I’m craving another hot meat pie. Let’s eat, drink, and be merry because it’s back to work after tomorrow.”
“Ugh, don’t remind me. I can’t believe Agnes abandoned us to enjoy alone time with Harry,” Lilly groaned as they were dragged away. “Traitor.”
Together, they made their way to a table covered with food of all kinds. An older woman handed out food and drink to those who walked by, and Eliza was eager to try some.
Malcolm
A roar rose from the crowd of drunken men as he tossed another challenger into the packed sand. Breathing hard, Malcolm staggered back only to be caught by Jamie. “You’re crazy; that’s your fifth one. I’ve already bet on you; please tell me you will run through the rest?”
He laughed as he took the cup of ale from his friend. “I don’t have any intention of stopping now.”
“Well, I don’t think Iver would let you off anyway,” Archie said from where he crouched, watching the other clansmen slapping the larger male on the back. “All the other guardsmen are betting on you; last I overheard, two barrels of some whiskey are on the line.”
Tossing the cup away, Malcolm laughed. “Then I guess I should go and win those barrels.”
“Of course,” his guards yelled as he approached a sandy arena. He crouched, facing the larger man across from him.
“Well, ain’t you a small thing,” his challenger taunted, crouching as well. He sneered at Malcolm, “Don’t forget it was Thomas O’Malley who beat your ass.”
“Oh, well, I can say I won’t forget your face, at least,” Malcolm jeered back right before the big ass slammed into him. Choking a bit, Malcolm felt himself get lifted off the ground. Gathering his hands together above Thomas’ head, he brought them down, forcing him to loosen his hold. Once his feet touched solid ground, he braced himself. Leaning forward, he wrapped his arms around Thomas’ waist. And with a grunt, he pulled.
As his tendons popped out from effort, he moved in a circle as the giant tried but failed to break his hold.
“Don’t bother; you can’t break it,” he yelled as he staggered back, using his weight to raise the man with all his strength, and fell backward.
The crowd of men went wild as he groaned, rolling away from the dazed Thomas. Lifting his head, he met a pair of wide brown eyes that looked from him to the male behind him. A sappy smile decorated his lips before his vision was blocked by the stupid fuckers he called his guard.
They grabbed him, threw him over their shoulders, and bounced him up and down. Cheering their win at the top of their lungs. He attempted to look behind him, but the idiots completely ignored his shouts for them to put him down.
“Put me down, you sonsofbitches!”
But they ignored him, and before he cursed again, they arrived at the river's edge and tossed him in head first. He broke the surface with a gasp. “You idiots.” He shouted, but it lacked heat as he couldn’t help feeling just as happy he’d won.
He shoved a few who refused to move out of his way as he walked towards the shore. Crawling on it, he released a tired sigh as he turned and laid on his back. With his eyes closed and breathing heavily, he almost missed the sensation of someone touching his shoulder.
He opened his eyes to find brown eyes staring down at him and soft lips stretched into a smile.
“Looks like you won,” Eliza teased.
He swallowed his tongue; she was a pretty sight for sore eyes. Her hair had been braided back, and her face was like an angel's. She smiled down at him, only to blink when he didn’t answer.
“Are you okay, Malcolm?”
God, he loved how she said his name. He pushed up, half-turning, and reached for the towel someone had left on the lake edge. “You’re feeling better?”
She nodded, looking away from him to the lake. “I didn’t want to miss out on everything, so I came outside.”
Turning, he sat down and wiped the water from his face. “It’s lively, but that’s because it’s the blue night. Tomorrow, everyone will sleep in,” he said as he quickly came to his feet.
“Blue night,” she repeated. “Is the name because of the moon?”
“No, the sky,” he answered, coming to her side. She hesitated for a second before he reached out and took her hand. “Come with me; I want to show you something.”
Eliza didn’t immediately follow him; he could see her complex emotions flit across her face.
“Don’t think so hard, just come with me.”
After a minute, she agreed, “Okay.”
Smiling, he led her away from the lake through the campsite. Many people yelled greetings, and some even tried to pull him away for another game, but Malcolm declined them all. Soon, they left the circle of cabins and were climbing the side of a hill.
They eventually left the campsite, and he led her up a hiking path and stopped. “This is what I wanted to show you,” he said.
She walked around him, and he watched as her eyes widened and her lips parted. “Wow.”
It was like she’d stepped into a save screen on her computer. In the distance, the moon looked as big as a planet; it appeared to be resting against the bright green land below. The lake's surface sparkled from the stars that dotted the sky; it was otherworldly.
And right where the Veil rose above the land, she could see something flying. A moon-like paradise lay at her feet; she didn’t think her words could do it justice.
“I wanted to show this to you,” he said, watching her reaction. “I hope it is enough.”
“Enough for what?” she said, absently still taking in the beauty.
“To offer you as your mate.”
Malcolm would’ve sworn she'd turned to stone if he hadn’t just watched her smile.
“I haven’t been completely honest with you,” she suddenly exclaimed, not facing him.
“I know.”
“For how long.” She eyed him.
He shrugged. “Since the first night.”
She searched his gaze before she turned away, a small smile coming to her lips. “Then why didn’t you call me out on it?”
“Because I was afraid.”
“You?” She shook her head. “What could you be afraid of?”
“That if I pushed you, you’d leave,” he bluntly confessed.
Even now, he was afraid she’d walked away from him.
“I probably would have,” she said, looking down at her hands. “But even if I did, I wouldn’t have left without saying goodbye. After all, you did save my life.”
“I am not as kind as you think. I would do anything to keep you by my side.” I should have demanded answers and helped you face your demons, but the idea of your leaving terrified me more.” Malcolm freely exposed himself to her, believing that if he didn’t tell her the truth, he’d hide it like a coward, never chancing her becoming disgusted with him.
Eliza stared at him thoughtfully when she said, “I can’t imagine you scared; it’s even harder to imagine you terrified of anything.”
“There are many things that scare me,” he said softly, looking away from her. “I fear you’ll realize how much a monster I am and leave.”
Gathering her hands behind her back, she chucked, “I thought we already covered this. If you’re a monster, so am I.”
“That’s different,” he said, his brow creased. “I wasn’t in your situation; everything I did was with my consent. Somewhere inside of myself, I wanted to do the things I needed to do for Tiller. You should hate me,” he said, staring at his hands.
“Do you want me to?” she asked. “I could resent you, you know. I could resent you, but for what? Not wanting to lose me. For not wanting to show me your ugly side?” She smiled. “Then wouldn’t I have to hate myself?” She motioned to her body, her disguise melting away. “I’ve been made into a living female version of Frankenstein, and I’m a witch, a double whammy of problems.”
“I could never hate you,” he said. “Your existence saved me.”
Eliza's gaze deepened with sadness.
Seeing it, Malcolm reached out and took her hand.
“What is it?”
“Nothing.” She smiled sadly. “You just reminded me of my mother for a second.”
Eager to know more about her past, Malcolm asked, “What was she like?”
Her gaze trailed off, and she stared ahead. “I think she was a woman who expected a lot out of life, and when it didn’t go her way, she did her best to fix it.”
“Did it work?” he couldn’t help asking.
“No, it didn’t,” Eliza said, with no emotion. “She adopted me to repair her marriage. You see, she couldn’t have children, and so she thought adopting me would fix them, but it didn’t. My existence just became another weight around her neck.”
“What happened to her?” he asked, touching her shoulder.
“I guess everything grew to be too much for her, and she drowned. I always think back to that day, you know. I’d spent so much time trying to hide my oddities because she’d always get this worried look on her face. Since the day I turned five, I would tell her about the things I could see. She would fret and worry; I hated that. I hated seeing my mother so worried. Some part of me feels like if I’d spent more time paying attention to her rather than trying to hide my abilities, I could have saved her.”
Malcolm couldn’t help himself and pulled her into his arms, wrapping his arms around her.
“After she did it, I couldn’t help but wonder if I had met Lanias earlier or known what I could do. I could’ve helped her. If only I’d accepted myself for my weirdness. I could have saved her somehow,” her voice grew thick with unshed tears. “Some way I could have protected her from loneliness. But now I don’t know if those memories are all mine.”
Confused, he pulled back and looked down at her. “Explain.”
She looked up at him now with regret: “The core of me is Eliza, which is the source of my Magic, but there are others with me now.” Her eyes brightened to a white color: “Their memories are here. One of a man named Ivan. Even though I’ve never met him, I know part of me loved him.”
“What happened to him?”
She pulled away from him, giving him her back.
“He died when they were in school. He got drunk and drove his car into a truck. He was someone she loved more than life itself; with her dying breath, she called for him.” Eliza said as she lifted the pale hand, “She loved him so much, and yet,” she sighed.
Malcolm felt like the despair in her voice stabbed him, especially since it was for another man. He knew she had no control over it, but his jealousy was stirred, nonetheless.
Eliza should only sound like that for him. Lowering his gaze, he quickly hid his emotions and suppressed the wretched envy filling him.
Eliza continued speaking, clueless to the jealous Malcolm behind her. “I feel her despair, the clinging feeling of knowing the one you loved is gone from this world, and there is nothing you can do to bring them back.”
Malcolm wanted to be the one who brought her comfort, but he felt as if his feet were stuck to the ground.
Her expression morphed, turning cold and emotionless. “I’m not her, though, not completely. There are other memories of battles and blood.” Her eyes narrowed. "This land is old, but in my mind's eyes, I see it before this time and this place.”
Inhaling deeply, she closed her eyes. “The wind is even familiar,” she reopened her eyes and looked at Malcolm. “I am the old her and not. She is here but also gone.” She reached up and placed a hand over her heart. “Those I killed are within me; a piece of their magic rests here. I’m the home for the forgotten and lost.”
Malcolm shuddered at the thought of what her words meant and how lucky he was that she’d managed to keep her sanity. Carrying other souls could damage one’s mind.
She stepped towards him, and the wind whipped up, lifting her hair and dress hem. “I’ve spent more than enough time being afraid of what is to come.” Her skin began to glow, and her hair became moon white. The script on her skin began to move: “This is me completely.” Her voice became soft while the volume increased. “Do you still desire me?”
He didn’t move.
Eliza's expressions were as calm as the surface of a lake. Power fell from her, causing changes in the air and earth. At her feet, the grass moved, and blossoms of ice blue sprouted. The sky above shifted, and the moon seemed to grow brighter.
Malcolm ignored her awesome show of power and met her stare head-on, seeing the truth in those deep, troubled eyes.
Fear of being rejected.
Her fear was his own.
How often had he feared she’d learn about his true nature and forsake him? She was a witch. The human world was her origin, yet he’d brought her to his land. He’d selfishly brought her with him to become his mate because of his fear of loneliness and the yawning abyss that had awaited his fall.
He took a step towards her. “I brought you here,” he said, taking another step. “I couldn’t see this world without you.”
She looked up at him when he stood a hand’s length away from her. “Even if I could destroy everything?”
“I would have everything destroyed before I lost you,” he said, reaching up and grasping the end of her moonlit hair, bringing it up to his lips. I claimed you, and that means I’m yours wholly.”
With no sound, the power that buzzed under her skin slowly melted, her hair returning to the dark brown, and her eyes bleeding a roasted toffee color he loved. The wind slowed as tears fell from her eyes. “I will be why they come to your door,” she whispered.
“That may be, but I willingly will fight not only my brothers but the world for you.” Letting go of her hair, he cupped her cheeks. “You are a perfect reason to fight for.”
She looked up at him as if to peer into his soul. “Malcolm?”
“Yes, love?” he said, lowering his head.
“Kiss me.”
“Gladly.”
His lips took her tenderly, the brush of his nose against hers.
He dropped his hands, wrapped her body in his arms, and pulled her closer. The feeling of her desire for him cut through him. The feeling of love poured out from every part of her. The brush of his tongue against hers broke her. She wanted this man and never wanted anything to tear them apart.
She pulled back, breathing hard, and gripped his shirt. Her eyes were bleary with passion.
“Claim me,” she begged. “Make me yours tonight.”