Chapter 22

Brindle woke to the feel of strong arms around her, “Marcus,” she whispered softly.  A slight smile graced her face, a face that showed little strength at that moment as it seemed leeched of all colour… all life.  Brindle looked like a ghost of who she really was and even though she felt that way too, she also felt loved and protected.

She heard a sigh and someone say, “I think she’s alright.”  Then she opened her eyes and blinked until she could see properly.  She realised she was on the couch in her living room a cushion under her head and a light rug thrown over her body.  She wasn’t exactly sure how she’d gotten there as the last thing she remembered…

“Marcus!” she all but screamed and flew to a sitting position.  Her head turning from side to side as if looking for something or someone.  She let out a sob as she realised her Guardian wasn’t there, he’d been taken away from her.  Sadness and anger welled up within her and as she closed her eyes she could swear she could still feel him holding her. “Marcus,” she whispered again and tears ran feeling down her face.

Brae lifted her so he could sit on the couch and pulled her into his lap holding her close.  “I have you My Lady, I know I’m not your Marcus, but I am here and will do what I can to ease your pain.”  Then he stroked her back, her hair and even kissed her gently on the top of her head.  He was comforting her in the only ways he knew how.  And thankfully she was responding.

Several minutes later she looked up into Brae’s face and he smiled down at her, “It will be alright My Lady, whatever it was that did this to you, we will make it right.”  She just nodded and rested her head on his shoulder not wanting to talk, not wanting to even think about what she had just experienced.

It was then that she heard him deep within her mind, “Brindle, my little one, I am here with you – always.”  This soothed her even more and she could feel calm engulfing her slowly, bringing her breathing back to normal and easing the tenseness she had been holding in her muscles.

She sighed and opened her eyes again.  Brae was still holding her and she turned her head and saw Arias kneeling beside the couch, a look of great concern on his face.  She smiled at him wanting to let him know she was alright, she wasn’t ready to speak as yet, because she knew she would have to re-visit what has happened and she was nowhere near ready to do that just yet.

Brae brushed her hair off her face and kissed her forehead, “When you are ready My Lady, we would have you tell us what happened.  Arias watched you while I was eating, he said you looked as if dazed and your eyes glowed white as if you had been taken over by something.”

Arias took up the story from there, “You stood as a Warrior ready for battle and then your body froze as if you were unable to move.  I came forward and put my arm around you to prevent you for falling, but you remained as you were unmoving for a time.”

Arias sighed and ran a hand through his dishevelled hair, “The expression on your face changed little one, it changed to that of anguish and pain.  I called Brae to us and we lay you on the grass and watched over you.  I called to Marcus, to ask him what to do… if he had any idea of what was happening to you, but he did not answer.”  He looked at her then, “He was with you, keeping you safe, holding you to this world… was he not?”

Brindle nodded at Arias, “Yes,” she whispered then took a long slow breath letting it out and letting the memories flood back a little at a time.  But she realised, this time she felt no pain and she could distance herself from the situation enough to sort through what had happened.  “Marcus was with me Arias and as you said he held me here, he wouldn’t let me go.”

Both Arias and Brae seemed to know there was a great deal more that she needed to say, but neither pushed her knowing she would tell them what happened in when she was ready.  But Arias had a feeling she would not be telling them everything.  He kept this to himself however as he didn’t want to alarm Brae or make Brindle think he was trying to make her tell all.

She wiggled and Brae set her down next to him and she smiled at him gratefully.  He still had his arm around her and she patted his hand holding loosely in her own.  She closed her eyes for a moment not wanting to do this but knowing she had no choice.

“I had a vision of the past!”  She began and she heard Brae’s intake of breath and saw surprise on Arias’ face.  “Yeah I was surprised too, but what I saw, “she shook her head as if trying to clear it. “I was there, where this all began, I saw Lucifer being driven from the Heavens, I saw the battle that ensued.” Her heart beat picked up slightly as she continued, “I didn’t just see the ‘Keeper’ of that time I was the ‘Keeper’!   It was as if I were in her skin, I felt everything she did, knew everything she did… even the lash from Lucifer that brought her down.”

A name came to her, “Miriam, her name was Miriam wasn’t it Arias?”  She looked at the Guardian instinctively know that although she hadn’t seen him, he had been there.  She was the first ‘Keeper’ wasn’t she?”

Arias nodded and a deep sadness swept over his features.  “Yes little one, she was the first.  She was very brave, but arrogant enough to believe she was invincible, that was her undoing.”  He looked at Brindle and sighed unsure if he should go on.

Brindle stared in right in the eye and he saw what he thought were questions there, “Yes, Marcus was her Guardian, they had a bond between them that no one could understand, not even the Arch’s.  It would seem that history is repeating itself in that respect.”

Then Brindle asked him something he never expected, “What happened to Chamuels?  I need to speak to him.”  She waited patiently for Arias to answer her, but he seemed somewhat stunned that she’d mentioned the Arch’s name.

“What?”  She said, “He was there at the end Arias, he was with Marcus and Miriam when she passed over.  He did something and I need to ask him what.”

Arias looked a little confused that she’d ask this; he paused as if deep in thought, “Chamuels went into self-imposed isolation right after that battle.  No one has either heard from or seen him since that very day.”

Brindle wracked her brain trying to figure out where he might be hidden and why he’d chosen isolation.  She opened her mind to the memory of the ‘Keepers’ death, she desperately tried to focus on those around her at the time.  “Son of a bitch!”  She all but screamed, then got up off the couch and started pacing.

Brae looked on wondering what the hell had got her so fired up.  But Arias sat next to Brae and tried to remain calm, he knew she had figured something out about that fateful day and he wanted to know, he just didn’t want to have to demand she tell him.

After several minutes of pacing and mumbling to herself Brindle turned to Arias.  “I need to go see Obanab!”  She watched him and when he didn’t respond, “The Spirit Man, I need to speak with him now!”

“That is not possible little one, Marcus is there and he is not to be with you right now.”  Brindle glared at Arias and before he could stop her she took herself to where she felt Obanab to be.

Arias jumped up in fright and followed her leaving a frustrated Brae standing in the middle of her living room all alone.  He growled and almost shifted in his frustration, but brought himself under control at the last moment.

Obanab sensed his visitors and while he let Brindle come to him, he re-directed Arias to where Marcus was by his encampment.  Then he turned just as Brindle arrived.  “Child welcome to my realm, what brings you here so suddenly?”

Brindle looked around at her surroundings, she wasn’t by the campfire as she assumed she would be, she was in some kind of cave and from the feel of the air they were high up probably in a mountain top.  There were torches lit at interval around the cave giving enough light for you to see.  To one side there was what looked like a great slab of sandstone, but on closer inspection looked more like a huge work bench.  There were scrolls scattered across it and on open in the centre that the Spirit Man had obviously been working on.

He looked upon Brindle with as serene smile on his face, a smile that for once didn’t meet his eyes.  She bowed to him in respect then stood her ground with her hands on her hips trying desperately to stay in control.  She needed him to talk to him and she needed to do so in a calm respectful manner.

“I apologise for not sending word of my visit beforehand Old One.” She smiled at him hoping to god it didn’t look like a grimace.  The memories you gave me at our first meeting… they have come in handy.” She looked at him closely watching for any reaction, “They seem to have set off the ability for me to have visions.”  She waited, but he remained silent.  “I saw the first battle Old One, I was there when Lucifer was driven from the Heavens…” again silence.

Brindle could feel anger and so much more heating her blood.  “I know you were there old man!  I saw you over Chamuel’s shoulder.  You know what he did to me, to Marcus don’t you, that’s why you gave me the memories, why you gave me your essence.  You knew that I would eventually discover what happened that day, you wanted me to learn the truth of what happened to the first ‘Keeper’… the truth about me!”

The Spirit Man nodded his head and swept his hand out offering her a seat near a small fire that just appeared across from the work bench.  She followed him as he walked over and sat silently waiting for her.

“Keeper, and yes you are both the ‘First’ and the ‘Final Keeper’,” he smiled at her then, a smile that told her he was pleased with her efforts.  “I was correct in my assumption of you child, you are far more than any of us had either hoped for or expected.”  Then as if reading her mind, “No Marcus does not know the full extent what took place that day.  He will not until this is over, is that clear?”

Brindle knew he wasn’t asking a question, he was demanding compliance.  She nodded her head and said yes, because she felt deep inside that he was right, Marcus could not know what was done to them, not yet.  She looked at him knowing that he probably did know her thoughts and waited for him to say more.

“For now ‘Keeper’ I must say no more, but know this you will know all soon and you will understand why.”  His face lightened then and looked more human than she’d ever seen it.  He reminded her somewhat of her father and that confused her somewhat, but she pushed that thought aside.

“I trust you old man and that’s the only reason I’m not pushing for answers, but if they keep him from me, if they hurt him… then they hurt me!  And I won’t be happy.”

“Brindle,” the Spirit Man began, “You are wearing the crucifix?”  Brindle looked at him doubly confused, one she couldn’t ever remember him calling her Brindle and two, how the hell did he know about the cross. 

Her hand automatically went to the angelic cord around her neck and she pulled out the cross so he could see it.  For a moment he saw a look of surprised excitement on his face as he looked at the cross, then she quickly slipped it back under her shirt before turning to leave.

“All will be right with the world ‘Keeper’ you need only trust in yourself and in your true Guardian.  Now go I believe your Shifter is overly concerned for your safety.”

Brindle didn’t remember taking herself back to her home, in fact she was pretty damn sure Obanab had sent her back.  When she arrived strong arms engulfed her and she fell into them needing comfort once again. 

She had hoped she would have seen Marcus while she was there, but Obanab made sure she didn’t make any detours on her way home.  She sighed and wrapped her arms about Brae holding him close to her.  “I’m sorry Brae, I didn’t think I reacted and,” she grinned “that old man still knew I was coming.”

Brae ruffled her hair and laughed, “The Spirit Man is not one to be trifled with My Lady, he is all knowing and all seeing.”  He opened his mouth to speak again when Arias appeared before them.  Brae moved Brindle a little to his side not sure what Arias was going to do or say.  He needn’t have worried though as when he saw Brindle he just grinned and shook his head.

“Your Guardian bids you well little one, it seems he misses you just as much as you are missing him.  Marcus told me that you were with the Spirit Man in the cavernous halls of the great mountain.  No one goes there without his bidding, so thankfully he sent me to Marcus while you were with him.  I trust your visit was successful?”

Brindle grinned at Arias knowing full well that he was fishing for information.  “Obanab keeps his information pretty close.  He didn’t give me anything I didn’t already know.”  She could see a hint of frustration in his eyes, but ignored it, he’d find out everything right after she did.

A strange feeling came over her then, like a shadow crossing over you as you stand in full sunlight.  It made her shudder and Brae rubbed her arms thinking she was suddenly cold.  “Come My Lady, I know you do not need to take sustenance, but perhaps a cup of hot tea will be useful right now.”  She agreed and he led her to the kitchen where she watched him prepare a pot of tea.

Arias looked at her not taking his eyes off her; he was waiting for her to tell him something.  “It would seem I now have the ability to have visions and maybe even sense when things are about to happen.” She looked at them both before continuing.  “I felt a shadow passing over me, whatever is going to happen… I think it will be soon.”

The guys looked at each other knowing that if she felt this thing then it would be.  They tried to lighten the moment then not wanting her to worry too much, there would be time enough for that soon.  When the tea was ready all three took a mug of it and sat out in the garden, they preferred it there and Brindle felt more confident when she had easy access to her purest source of energy.

She could feel the nerves in her stomach starting to knot so she asked Brae and Arias to tell her stories about their lives.  She knew they had both lived long lives and would have a great many stories to tell.  This was a great idea as it got all three off the subject of what was to come and they all listened and laughed with each other as they told their stories.

Brindle sipped her tea enjoying the warmth it gave her; she smiled at her friends and did her best to hold back her fears.  This was the calm before the storm; she just hoped she was strong enough to come through that storm in one piece.