Page 27

Elizabeth

P atiently, I waited. This was a goodbye I’d feared and dreaded. This world had been a part of my life for years, and the end had arrived. Three lives hung in the balance, each special in their own way.

Drake, the man who’d started it all and wormed his way into everyone’s heart. Calamity, the prospect who’d been so amazing, nobody could know him and not love him. And Grey, the guy who came from the shadows to emulate everything Rage yearned to be. The one I waited for would arrive. This meeting had been ordained from the moment I first wrote his name down.

Events had unfolded differently than I planned. This ending hadn’t been predicted until Calamity came into his own, and Fate spoke to me. And I hated what Fate required .

Yet even I realised the scales had to be balanced. Blood needed cleansing from wounded souls, and the piper demanded payment one way or another.

So many years and journeys we’d travelled together. And at the end, we at last met in person.

Stoically, I wiped tears from my eyes because if I could save him from this, I would.

Three lives. And the decision had been made.

It hadn’t been my choice what happened. Their stories had played out in a way that I’d never foreseen, and now I waited quietly.

Finally, Drake emerged from the darkness surrounding me and gazed around. His eyes found me, and recognition flared. Drake smirked at the swing I was sitting on, hanging from a huge oak tree under a sunny light in a field of wildflowers.

“Sweetness and light? That ain’t you,” he murmured as he approached and stopped a short distance away.

Drake glanced around in trepidation, though. He realised something was amiss, even if he couldn’t guess what. He looked healthy and…well… not like his physical body battling a code blue in the world we’d both left.

“A cliché, Elizabeth?” Drake asked with a grin as he got close.

“Beauty amidst the darkness.”

“That was the point, wasn’t it? Did they understand? The readers? That no matter how bleak the times get, there is always a tiny beacon flickering, leading them to the light. But they have to work for it, earn it, and once they find it, embrace it. That was your message, wasn’t it? Seek the beauty in life and cling fuckin’ tight to it,” Drake said astutely.

“You were mine, Drake.”

“Yeah, I understand that. Because no matter how much I fucked up, you always discovered a path forward. Didn’t deserve that,” Drake replied.

“I disagree; you deserved beauty.”

“So, this is it, my death?” Drake asked as he walked towards the small area I swung back and forth in. Long legs ate up the distance, and even now, Drake took my breath away.

Tears formed in my eyes at the beauty of the biker before me. I didn’t mean his looks; yes, he was gorgeous, but it was Drake’s inner spirit that had always captivated me.

“I can’t answer that,” I replied as Drake sat down at my feet as I swung back and forth.

“Don’t mess with me, Elizabeth. Honestly, I expected this.”

“Did you?” I asked, intrigued.

“Rage got clean but never paid the penance for our crimes in the past. I’m the payment for the dark times,” Drake said, picking a blade of grass.

“This wasn’t supposed to happen. You weren’t meant to be part of the balance. But even though I know the outcome because Fate spoke to me, I can’t say much.”

“Then what can you offer, Elizabeth?” Drake demanded, leaning elbows on his knees .

“You lived up to everything I hoped you’d be. You were my perfect ideal, and when things were dark, I guessed you’d find a way out. That as long as you were alive, there was hope and beauty, and you gave me that. You, Drake, offered a reason to believe again,” I whispered.

Drake sat back and contemplated my words. He reached out and took one of my hands, stroking the knuckles gently.

“You poured him into me, just like you did James. As you did with most men in the Rage world. Everyone had some part of him ,” Drake said. That wasn’t a question.

Briefly, I hated how Drake understood me as well as he did.

“Yes, but some of you, James, Chance, Magic, Inglorious, yourself, had more than a few aspects.”

“I’m honoured.” Drake meant that.

My heart shattered. Drake was so stoic about accepting this.

“You did me proud,” I admitted.

“Did I do him proud?” Drake asked, holding my gaze.

I looked out over the flowers. It was rare I spoke of the man who’d loved me in spite of my faults. But all these years later, his memory lived on in me and Drake, James, Inglorious, and everyone else.

“Yes. I think so. He’d have laughed at your antics, that’s for sure. He’d have even encouraged them.”

“Stubborn Irish bastard,” Drake said with a short laugh .

“Oh, definitely.” I agreed, smiling at happy memories.

“Where do I go from here, Elizabeth?” Drake inquired.

I sighed heavily. Straight to the point, typical Drake.

“I tried to pre-ordain everything. The person who was meant to die, wouldn’t. The one I created after him also couldn’t. They had too much of him inside them. The goodness, loyalty, honour, and humour. People fell in love with them like I loved my man. In the end, it came down to you, Grey, and Calamity.

“And out of those, one must die. Despite my own ideas, it appears death chose its victim before you and I met. I thought I knew the outcome, but I was wrong, and Fate will have her way. Even if the person hadn’t been introduced when I wrote your name for the first time, this was always his destiny.”

“Pick me, Elizabeth, I’ll die to save my brothers,” Drake said hoarsely.

“I wish I could, Drake. I cannot reveal the sacrifice’s identity. Hell, it may still be you,” I cried, stopping the swing.

“Change whatever is about to happen, I beg you! Ensure I die,” Drake yelled, rising and pacing.

“Oh, I can’t alter who dies. If it is you, then it’s you, but if it’s Grey or Calamity, then it’s them. The future has been written.”

“You have the power to re-write this. Elizabeth, make sure I’m the one who pays!”

“Who says you don’t, Drake? Look around, is there anyone else here? Who says you’re not the price the piper demanded?” I asked, wiping tears away.

Drake froze and looked at me. His mind worked furiously, and I saw Drake believed it was him who would die. After all, that would be justice. But I couldn’t give Drake the answer he wanted. Drake needed to return to see who died. Even during our meeting, the ever-changing future moved forward.

“Don’t cry, I don’t want our time together ruined by tears,” Drake said gruffly.

“This encounter was set in stone the moment you heard a woman laughing and spotted her standing on a balcony staring at people dancing in the street. You lost your heart then, Drake, and ever since, you knew, being the man you are, that Rage would eventually pay the piper. But once paid, the scales of justice are level again,” I explained as tears trickled down my cheeks.

Drake sighed. “Elizabeth, stop crying.”

“Trying to!”

“Try harder!”

“Shut up!” I retorted, and Drake chuckled.

“If it’s me, you’ll look after Phoe?”

“Phoe will always be loved. She’s who I once was, Drake. Phoe’s the me I wish I could reclaim,” I said, sighing.

This was too painful. It hurt too much.

“Elizabeth! That girl is still there inside you, she just shows herself differently,” Drake murmured.

“Time marches on, and we change. Some of us for the better like you, and others become Fury. ”

“There’s truth in that.”

“I love you all, Drake. Do you understand? But there must be justice. The universe cries out for balance. I can’t explain this, I’m struggling to articulate this. How ironic, an author lost for words. You got clean, legal, but Rage committed crimes. How many times did I say, I don’t create your stories, you do. It never mattered what I planned your stories to be, Rage marched to the beat of your own damn drum.

“Each of you wrote yourselves, and the crimes still happened. Murder, assault, torture; they may have taken out evil assholes, but who made you judge and jury? I tried to stop you all, but it never worked. You walked your own paths. Chance, James, Inglorious, you shaped your own futures. But the piper must invariably be paid. A balance must always be found. And a price paid.”

Tears flowed freely as I hoped Drake would understand why. I saw understanding in his eyes. He did understand. But it hurt Drake as much as me. Kindness and forgiveness shone in his face.

“Life taught you that, Elizabeth. For every action, there is a reaction. Elizabeth, that’s a tale as old as time,” Drake drawled.

“Yes. With this sacrifice, the slate shall be wiped clean. And we’ll begin again,” I replied.

“An eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth, a life for… dozens,” Drake murmured as he sat by my feet and held my hands.

“They were evil, those that were taken. You were never in the wrong to stop evil. Evil should be stopped and challenged. But when killing evil, something good also perishes in a soul because murder was committed. That action stains a soul. I wish I could articulate this more clearly. The best I can say was that even with good intentions, you acted against the laws of God and the land,” I cried, distraught.

This was so much harder than I imagined.

“You gave me a beautiful life, Elizabeth, and if this is the end, know I died happy and loved.”

“You were always loved.”

“Because I had a part of him ,” Drake stated, and I couldn’t deny it.

I may have, long ago, placed him on a pedestal. Who dare judge me for doing so? But each of those wonderful, special men carried a spark I’d given them to keep memories alive.

“The love you once had in life, you’ve given to me and Phoe, to Chance and Clio, Ace and Artemis, Kate and James, and everyone else. You offered us what you lost. The happy ending that escaped you. That type of love is enduring. Whatever happens, I know I’ll be together forever with Phoe, even if I have to wait here alone. Because that is the gift you gave us from your heart.

“That boon, Elizabeth, I’ll never regret receiving, no matter if my time ends now. I understand what true love is. I recognise what you’re struggling to say. This sacrifice will wipe all misdeeds out. And the piper will be paid, the balance restored.

“Those living will have a pain that’ll remain forever. But they’ll have somebody to emulate, a good man. Someone who will serve as a role model and Rage can ask: what would he have done? They’ll also experience tremendous love. That will heal the hurt. The love and pain shall offset each other. And that is the greatest gift man can share. While this is the only time we’ll meet, know I’m grateful for the epic love story you gave me.”

“Yes, you do understand,” I sobbed, leaning my head on his shoulder.

Drake’s hand came up and cupped the back of my neck.

“Let the grief out, Elizabeth. Whoever pays shall always be loved and honoured because you gave the world that. I wish I knew who so I didn’t have to deal with the suspense.”

I didn’t want Drake to deal with uncertainty, but the end was drawing closer.

Drake and I had little time remaining, and I’d so much to say. And I wanted this precious time together. This time, a piece of Drake was meant for me. But then, Drake had always belonged to me, even if his love was Phoenix.

“And I wish I could tell you who, but I can’t. But do you regret anything, Drake? Did you have a good life?”

“Yes!” There was no hesitation. “I would die a thousand times over to have what I had with Phoe. My legacy is there, should I not return. My children, Rage, my brothers, and family. Everything was magical, and while sometimes blood-drenched, it was a good life. Never doubt that, Elizabeth. I’d not change a single thing because even in the unknown, beauty lives.”

“I wondered if there were regrets.”

“Not from me, baby girl. What you gave me and the others was a priceless gift. We live, and that can’t be erased. As said, different actions might have led to a different outcome. We wrote our own paths, made our own stories, and found soulmates. You offered Rage everything, and that’s something we treasure, Elizabeth,” Drake said.

“Good.”

“But… the Unwanted Bastards? Elizabeth, they were decimated!” Drake added, outraged.

“People die in war Drake. It wasn’t feasible to kill all those Fangs, and only one person die from the allies. The Unwanted Bastards story was set in stone the moment Inglorious saved Clio. They have a story to tell, and it’s going to be … no pun intended… glorious! The Unwanted Bastards story and legend is just beginning. And believe me, Inglorious is about to create a legend that will rival Rage MCs.”

“Elizabeth,” Drake sighed.

I couldn’t deny I liked the sound of my name on his lips. The paths we’d walked together, the dramas, horrors, and funny times came flooding back. I wanted to reminisce, but there wasn’t time.

“Elizabeth, will we meet again?”

I turned and smiled sweetly.

“Don’t you know, Drake? As he waits for me, I’ll always be there for you. ”

“That’s all I ask.”

Sadly, I reached out and cupped Drake’s face. We shared a bittersweet smile, and then I faded away, leaving Drake in the darkness. My heart breaking because what came next would break me all over again.

A choice taken from my hands by Fate, a path walked I could not dictate this time. Opportunities missed, and second chances given. A story written I didn’t control.

I left Drake Michaelson in the dark with his thoughts. As I was left alone with my own regrets and tears.

I realised deep down there’d be more stories, more heartache, more drama, and a lot more love. Because that is who I was. The one who gave them a voice.

The Hospital

Two pairs of eyes opened and stared into the worried gaze of their loved ones. A third pair did not open, and a woman collapsed onto his still chest and wept over his body.

The die had been cast, and Fate had chosen.

A legend had just been created with one man’s death.

Elizabeth

In the pure darkness, I watched as Drake ran a hand down his neck and faded from the field. The action was so familiar.

I looked around, seeking a sign of him, but Drake wasn’t here anymore. Drake’s story had been written. But we’d meet again. Because that was ordained, much like the stories I wrote about the men who honoured a special personal memory.

Love will always win, even if death separates you, love is waiting beyond the veil. You just need to be patient.