Page 15 of The Darkest Knight (The Cursed Kingdom #3)

Chapter Fifteen

“ Y ou’re back!” Gwen’s voice was the first thing Tammie heard as they appeared inside the McRainey estate. “Thank God.” Her sister and husband rushed to them.

Everyone moved to the library where Padriag lay Erin down on the coach. The girl started to come to, and Padriag kissed her face, relieved. The young knight looked around the room. “She’s okay, just took a knock to the head.”

Gwen frowned at Tammie. “I think both of you need to see a doctor. You have bruises on your face.”

Tammie touched her jaw. It did hurt, and she reached for a throw and wrapped it around her shoulders as the coldness of Atlandia lingered in her body.

Niall had moved away from her and stood next to the fireplace. She sensed him distancing himself.

They answered as many questions as they could, each taking turns to talk. Tammie did most of the talking, while Niall sulked and Padriag hovered over Erin, who was slowly coming to. She blinked in confusion, remaining silent as Tammie told the others all that had happened after being taken by Gunther.

Gavin walked in with beers and handed one to Tristan, Padriag, and the still-sullen Niall. Sabrina poured wine for the women, and they drank whilst discussing the situation. If it weren’t for the situation, one would think it was a normal night with friends hanging out.

Padriag lowered himself to the couch to sit next to Erin. He seemed to have taken his role as her protector very seriously.

“What about Liam?” Tammie asked not looking at Niall.

“I am going to return to check on him,” Niall replied. Of course he’d be the first to volunteer to go back. Tammie bit her lip to keep from asking if he planned to come back.

“I can go,” Padriag told them, I have to see what happens there. Soon the three moons will be high in the sky.

“What does that mean?” Erin asked.

“They have been trapped in that world. Each has a specific curse that must be broken,” Gwen explained.

“Three lives rescued, upon three moons high. Two hearts restored. One must die.” Tammie said out loud. “There were three lives rescued today. The three moons were there. I don’t know about the rest.”

“Or who must die,” Niall finished for her. “Either Liam or I will return with news.” His eyes remained trained on her, but he didn’t move any closer.

“Padriag will return with news,” Tammie interrupted, but he was already gone.

Indeed the knight had vanished.

Tristan placed a hand on Niall’s shoulder. “You should wait, Niall. Remain here tonight. Let’s wait and see what news Padriag brings.

What about Niall’s curse? How would it be broken? The more Tammie pondered the words of his spell, the more confused she became.

The hours passed with no news. Tristan and Gwen had gone to the kitchen to make more coffee. Tammie nodded but jerked awake at the silence of the room.

Where was Niall?

Erin was on the love seat reading the spell book. Her eyes constantly darting to the doorway.

Tammie stood and stretched. “Did you see where Niall went?”

“No,” Erin replied. “But he was yawning earlier. He may be asleep somewhere.” She stretched. “The groundskeeper, Miles, is taking me home. I need to sleep, and then I will return to see what I can do to help. If I was taken to the other realm, it must mean I am connected to this.”

Tammie went to the woman. “I am grateful that you were there, that we were able to help each other.”

“I am packing in the morning and going to stay with my aunt and uncle. They live not too far from here. I feel safer not to be in my flat alone.”

“Good idea,” Tammie said. “Make sure you rest.”

Erin hugged her just as Miles, appeared in the driveway. “Are you ready Miss?”

Deciding to find Niall, Tammie walked with Erin and Miles to the front door. Once they left, she went to the kitchen where only Tristan and Gwen sat at the table. They were playing cards. Both looked up as she approached.

“Just walking around, don’t want to go to sleep.”

Gwen smiled at her warmly. “Tammie go lie down. When Padriag and Liam appear, I will come and wake you. Tristan and I got plenty of rest, we’ll remain awake.”

It was true, she was exhausted. Tammie climbed to the second floor, deciding that once she found Niall, she’d sleep for a couple hours.

From the hallway, she peeked into one of the spare bedrooms. Hearing noises, she darted into the next room and found Niall on the bed. He was asleep, his head tossed from side to side. He seemed to be dreaming. She touched his shoulder. “Niall? Are you all right?”

He jerked, but did not wake. When he mumbled incoherently, she became alarmed and shook him. “Niall wake up.”

Again he jerked, but did not wake. Tammie touched his forehead, it was hot, feverish. At her touch he turned his face into her hand. She stroked his face in an attempt to sooth him.

Was he in Devina’s realm? Tammie lowered to sit on the edge of the bed and closed her eyes, attempting to seek answers.

One minute he’d been in the library, the next he’d found himself in a bedroom. He’d fought against whatever force drove him there, but it was strong. When he’d been flung on the bed and held down. He continued to fight. But finally, the fatigue and lack of sleep was too much of an invincible foe and he succumbed.

Now, as expected, he was back in Devina’s dungeon. The vile woman standing in front of him holding a dagger she’d heated over the fire.

Chained to the wall he could only wait to see what creative methods of torture she’d use this time.

“I won’t heal your wounds this time, Niall,” Devina told him, holding the dagger against his stomach. He clenched his teeth at the pain. The smell of his own burning flesh made his stomach turn. Devina stepped back. “Did that hurt lover?”

As usual, he refused to speak to her. What did it matter? Many years, no matter what he did or said, because he refused to give himself to her, he’d still been tortured. She got pleasure from seeing him beaten.

“You knew that if you fucked that bitch, you’d pay. Yet you did it anyway,” Devina told him, her voice laced with venom. “I’m going to make you wish you were dead. Then I’m going to kill her.”

He’d die before allowing Devina to hurt Tamara. Rage surged, and he fought not to react. She’d enjoy it too much.

Devina continued. “First she will see you as deformed as I leave you, and she will be repelled by you. How will you deal with that?”

She went to a table and picked up a long steel rod. “I’m not sure what to do with this.” A guard stepped up and whispered to her. Devina laughed at whatever he said and studied the rod. “Broken knees are not that exciting.”

A whip got her attention; she held it up and smiled. “I do love the sound of a lashing.”

She raised the whip and swung, welts formed across his chest as the leather throngs tore into his flesh. He winced but did not cry out. Soon the pain would grow so large he’d become feverish, incoherent and not feel at all. He glared at Devina who swung again, this time she aimed for his face.

Suddenly the whip flew out of Devina’s hand.

Tamara stood in the room.

Surely this was an illusion.

Devina stumbled backward, surprised to see her there. “How are you here?” She grabbed a dagger from the table and flung it at Tamara. It bounced off an invisible protective shield.

Tamara lifted her hand and threw a fireball at Devina, sending the woman flying against a wall. The two guards present rushed toward Tamara but could not get close to her as a wall of blue fire came up from the floor blocking their path.

His chains fell off his wrists and ankles. Niall fell forward but caught himself before collapsing onto the ground.

Come .

He heard Tamara’s call and moved toward her, hesitating at the firewall.

“No!” Devina screamed tossing a knife in the air toward him, he dodged it and jumped through the fire.

Tamara grabbed his hand. “Now wake up.”

Niall jerked awake. He sprang up to see Tamara watching him from a chair next to the bed.

She didn’t say anything, but her eyes locked onto his chest.

The lash marks remained. Lifting the sheet, he saw that the red fresh burn mark on his stomach also stayed.

“I’ll go get something for that.” Tamara stood and went to the doorway.

“You are trapped in two cages. The one by Meliot and the one by Devina.”

She placed a paper on the bed and walked out.

He picked it up. It was a poem or a spell. He didn’t understand the words, so he read them again.

One of the valiant will once again live

Call to the end of the rising of darkness

The powers of evil diminishing

Lights of three moons shining above

The keys to two cages are sacrifice and love

He frowned at the words.

“John McMurray sent it.” Tristan leaned on the doorway. “He is Liam’s partner. Owns a bookstore in Edinburgh.”

“What does it have to do with me?” Niall asked, getting up from the bed, flinching at the pain it caused.

Tristan’s eyes locked to his. “Your enchantment called for a master of pages. Remember?”

Spell of ages from Master of pages. Sacrifice fate for the knight in two cages.

Niall shrugged. “I suppose so. How is this McMurray a master of any kind?”

“He is also a mystic. Liam’s love.”

His shoulders slumped, he should have left and returned to the other realm. Now he had to tell Tristan he would not allow his own rescue.

The laird went to stand by the window and gazed outside as if deep in thought. “It’s been over three hundred years, Niall. I have known you for over three centuries. I can almost read your thoughts.” Tristan’s troubled green eyes met his. “You have your reasons for not wanting to leave, for not giving us the chance to help free you. Until Tamara, I’d pretty much given up on trying to convince you to tell us the rules of breaking your enchantment. But you told her.”

His words cut through him, and he had a difficult time meeting his friend’s gaze.

Tristan continued. “A small part of you must have wanted to be saved if you did that.”

“It is only because I know how impossible it is that I told her. She kept asking. The lass is relentless.” He pressed his lips together to hold back the proud smile that threatened. “I can never be truly free Tristan.”

His friend shook his head. “Nothing is impossible, Niall. I will never give up. We will never give up. You’re my brother.”

A lump formed in his throat, and he wished he could give Tristan hope.

“It will break her heart. I hope you are prepared ...” Tristan stopped talking as Tammie entered the room. She held a small box under her arm.

She eyed each of them in turn. “What happens?

“He’ll tell you,” Tristan replied and gave Niall one last concerned look before walking out.

Tammie pushed him back onto the bed. She began to cleanse the wounds. Her face serene, she didn’t speak the entire time as she rubbed ointment on them and placed bandages over the deeper lash cuts. She put a cooling substance over the burn. “You should probably walk around shirtless for a while and allow it to get fresh air. Burns heal faster that way.” Her voice strained.

He grabbed her hand. “Tamara look at me.”

Her eyes glistened with unshed tears when they lifted to his. She sniffed and wiped at an errant tear with her arm. “How long has she been hurting you? I can’t believe someone can be so evil.”

He didn’t reply, instead pulled her into his arms and held her. Niall inhaled the lavender smell of her hair and closed his eyes. It would be hard to leave, but no matter what, he could not subject her to the horrible truth that was his life. “It’s not always so bad,” he lied.

She lifted her face to him. “I don’t think I believe you.”

Her lips parted and he covered them with his, lacking the power to keep from it. When she pushed her tongue into his mouth to explore, he cupped her face.

Her hands slid down his body, avoiding his injuries. Light yet firm caresses were a piece of heaven.

They held each other, not speaking. He had to tell her goodbye. It was probably better if he left sooner rather than later.

Tammie met his eyes. “Tell me what this means.” She lifted the paper with the spell and read it out loud. “ One of the valiant will once again live. Call to the end of the rising of darkness. The powers of evil diminishing. Lights of three moons shining above. The keys to the cages are sacrifice and love. ”

He lifted her face up to look at him. “Those words do not matter. I have to go.”

Shoulders slumping, Tammie nodded. “Fine. I won’t try to stop you Niall. I don’t know what else I can do.” Her voice was too calm. His chest squeezed at seeing her so defeated.

He got up and carefully dressed, not looking at her.

Without a word, she walked out of the room leaving him alone. Then he closed his eyes and willed himself back to the alter-world.

Nothing happened.