CHAPTER TWENTY
I bitterly threw the pebble across the lake. It was a beautiful lake in England by a wide open feild full of wild flowers. Milenia wouuld love it here; the space, the peace, the beauty. Athena wouldn't know what to do, she'd want to be in the town with the men, plotting some sort of battle or fight.
Me? I wanted to be able to go into the lake and not come out alive. But, considering I had been alive for 2754 years and died several times and I was still alive, that wasn't going to happen.
"I don't know what that lake did to you, but I'm sure it doesn't deserve having rocks thrown at it." A feminine voice spoke and I spun, I had been too caught up in my thoughts, in my depression, to notice the beautiful woman on horseback aproach. In over 2700 years I had learned to be constantly aware of my surroundings, but I had been too at ease, to wrapped up in myself to be aware. It was a mistake that could get me tortured in some times and places. Not killed, I would technically die, but I would always come back and that was the torture.
"Sorry." I mumbled, getting up and dusting myself off. "Nice horse." I muttered on my way past, but she stopped my from leaving with a small, warm hand on my wrist.
"I want to know why you're abusing my lake, and you're not leaving until you either tell me or go fetch every rock you threw." The woman said demandingly.
"Fine, whatever." I rolled my eyes, turning and stripping my shirt and pants off, diving gracefully into the lake and swimming down. To be honest, neither of us had any way of knowing which rocks were because of me so I just swam to the middle and grabbed a handfull of pebbles and rocks. "Here." I threw the stones on the ground when I walked out of the lake and grabbed my clothes, pulling them roughly on my wet body.
"I wanted you to tell me why you were brooding." The woman pouted and just kept walking. "Hey, come back, I order you." I just kept walking and she let out aggrivated sounds before she stomped after me. "Stop, this is my lake, I can have you beheaded for being on my land." I stopped, in over two and a half thousand years I hadn't been beheaded, I'm pretty sure that that's something that I wouldn't heal from. I may have regrown my dick two and a half thousand years ago, but I'm possitive I wouldn't regrow my head.
"What do you want?" I growled lowly, turning and I finally got a good look at the woman. She had a cute little pout, blonde hair and big hazel green eyes. "Sorry." I mumbled for the second time, embarassed at my own behaviour. I felt my heart jump at the sight of her and I felt horrified. The same feeling I had had when I met Milenia, and when I met Athena. The exact same feeling; my heart was stuttering, my palms were sweaty, my mouth was dry. It felt like the love I felt for Milenia and Athena crashed together in one and blindsided me. She was a beautiful woman with slightly tanned, flawless skin, and I could see generous curves under the fabric of her dress.
"That's better." The woman said with an air of superiority and a triumphant grin. "Now. What are you doing on my land?" In truth I had been drawn to the beautiful field overlooking the crystaline lake, I didn't know why, all I knew was I had to be here.
"I didn't know it was your land." I spoke my answer and she huffed.
"I cannot stand here and talk to a beggar when you look like that." She wrinkled her nose and I felt affronted, I could afford many riches and spoils, but I was here today in an old, dirty pair of pants and a ripped, dirty white top. Both of which were now wet from my imprompt swim in the lake. "Come back to the manor and dress properly, then you can explain why I shouldn't have you beheaded for being on my land." I rolled my eyes at her back when she turned from me, back to her white stallion. "Are you going to help me up or not?" She huffed and I hurried over to give her a hand in mounting her steed. "Your manners need work, now follow me." The woman said, starting to ride her horse at a slow walk back through the field.
Eternity
"Love, Honor, and Protect." Shane whispered, fingering the pendant he'd given me the other. "For Eternity." He kissed me gently, cupping my cheek and cradling my body against his.
"Eternity." I repeated with a sad smile when he pulled away. "I'm gonna hold you to that."
"I love you." He pressed a lingering kiss on my forehead. I closed my eyes, savouring the feel of Shane still being close to me, of me still knowing where he was, of still being in his arms. I felt him release me slowly and I squeezed my eyes shut, I didn't want to see him walk away. By the time I opened my eyes Shane was out of sight and I felt empty without him. It was odd, I'd spent over 19 years not even knowing he existed and now in less than two weeks I never wanted to let him out of my sight.
"Miley, I'm not accepting this Elixir of Life nonsense." Dad said when I closed the door.
"Just drop it, Dad." I sighed, sinking down to sit on the floor with my back to the door. I'd explained everything to Dad and Jackson about, the Soul connection, and me being re-incarnated, and Shane being 5000 years old. Shane had even cut his arm open again despite my protest and Dad still didn't believe him. "Mom trustted him, I trust him, why can't you?"
"I don't know what he did to brainwash, but you have to realise he's only using you, Miley." Dad shook his head and I groaned.
"Fine, you don't want to trust your wife, who talked to Shane when he was exactly the same ten years ago, and your daughter who has the memories of knowing him in past lives, then fine." I stood up and brushed imaginary dirt off myself. "But, I'm not going to hang around anymore to convince you." I walked through to the back door and slammed it on my way out.
"You always trusted Miley before, Dad, why not now?" I heard Jackson say through the open window as I went back to the barn. Back in my room I looked around and I saw Shane in the last couple of days we'd spent here; fighting in the middle of the room, brooding on Lilly's old bed, kissing me against the door, researching at the desk, being hot and steamy together on the bed. I squeazed my eyes shut to try and block the memories out. I'd only known Shane less than two weeks and he'd already taken over my life.
I moved over and laid down on my bed, inhaling the musky, sexy scent Shane left on them and hoping I would get to see him again. If I got my way he'd find a way to be mortal and we could be together, and grow old together and neither of us would have to leave ever again. If Shane got his way I'd make it to my 20th birthday... But, he might not. That was what scared me, that'd he'd do anything - even kill himself - to make sure I'd live.
I couldn't stay here, the memories of the last couple of days and the thought that I may never get to see Shane's handsome face again was suffocating. I jumped up and grabbed my backpack, throwing random things in it, getting ready to leave, to go back to Stanford. School would be a nice distraction for me. I paused when I reached the nightstand next to my bed; the gun. Shane had just about begged me to keep it with me at all times. I slipped the gun into the back and pushed it down to the bottom.
That's when I had the idea; when I was younger I had a bodyguard, up until I was sixteen when Dad felt that I was smart enough to go out as Hannah alone without needing a chaperone every time. I don't know why Dad let her go, I loved Roxy, she was part of the family. She was also the best bodyguard in the world; good enough to be in the Secret Service to protect the President of the United States. I picked up my phone and dialled her old number, I hoped it was still her number, I hoped she would answer.
"Roxy?" I asked nervously when the line picked up.
"Miley?" Roxy's family voice filtered through the speaker and I smiled. "Is that you, Sugar?"
"It's me, Roxy." I confirmed, biting my lip. I know Shane said to always be cautious and not trust anybody, but that was because of the unkown third part of the reincarnation cycle. But, that was always a man, Roxy wasn't a man, and Roxy would protect me from anything and anyone. "Hey, I was wondering if you wanted to... If you wanted get together?... Maybe-maybe talk about coming back?" I felt nervous, Dad usually handled all the Hannah stuff or anything business related, I was just a kid back then and I had school and a whole normal life to deal with as well, it was just easier to let Dad do it all.
"Just say when and where, Baby Girl." Roxy agreed and I grinned.
"How 'bout tomorrow?" I suggested happily.
Eternity
"Servents, clean this hoodlum up and make him presentable enough for tea." I ordered, walking into the manor and waving Shane off to a group of maids. "And someone draw me a bath, it is very hot out." I demanded, walking up the stairs to my quarters as the maids hurried into a flurry of activity at my words.
"Clarice!" Father called right when I was getting out of my relaxing bath.
"Yes, Father?" I called back, allowing my hand-maid to slip my robe over me and I tied it as I pattered out of the bathroom.
"Why is there a man in the tea room?" Father asked with a raised eyebrow and I sighed.
"He was tresspassing at my lake and I refused to talk to him the way he was so I had him cleaned and dressed for tea." I explained and Father nodded as if this was a regular occurance. "Join us?" I offered lightly.
"Of course, Dear." Father agreed with a smile, stepping forward and kissing my forehead. An hour later Father and the stranger man both rose when I entered the tea room as gentlemen should and the strange man even held me chair out for me. "What is your name?" Father asked of the man when he took his seat and without the distraction of his ratty clothes and dirty features I was struck with how handsome the man was.
"Shane, Sir." The man answered with a slight bow of his head that made his hair fall in his light brown eyes, "Shane Gray."
"Ah." Father smiled and I frowned, feeling like I was missing something. "Yes, I heard you were new in town, rather wealthy too, I believe?"
"Yes, Sir." Shane confirmed and I scrutinised him.
"Then, what could possibly possess you to tresspass on my lake?" I demanded, if this man really was wealthy then he would certainly be able to afford his own lake to throw rocks in.
"I appologise, Miss, I did not know it was your lake." Shane said humbly and I frowned at him. "I just saw it and was struck by the beauty of it."
"Yes, it is a beautiful lake, is it not?" Father agreed, buttering a scone. "Of course, everything pales in beautu compared to my Clarice."
"A beautiful woman if I ever have seen one." Shane nodded, his cheeks coloring lightly in a way that endeared him.
"Flattery will get you nowhere." I sniffed in indignation.
"Flattery was not my intent, Miss, it was simply the truth." Shane Gray replied and I narrowed my eyes at him. "You are an exceptionally beautiful woman." I felt my cheeks heat up and color at the compliment. However true I knew it to be, it was still flattering to hear from someone new every now and then.
"Why were you dressed like a beggar if you are wealthy? Surely you can afford propper clothes." I was determind that this man not have an excuse for everything.
"I did not wish to unnecessarily soil my clothes for a simple stroll, especially when I did not want to draw unwanted attention to myself." Shane explained and I huffed.
"Why did you not want attention?" Father asked curriously and I perked up when Shane looked uneasy.
"I have suffered a great loss and I only wanted to mourn alone."
"What loss?" I demanded to know.
"Now, now, Clarice, the man doesn't have to say." Father reprimanded me lightly and I frowned at him.
"He was throwing rocks in my lake, Father, he was damaging its beauty, the least he could do is say why." I whined at him and he sighed in the way I knew meant I was getting my way.
"The woman I was courting died, a lovely woman by the name of Athena." The Shane man provided with a sad sigh. "I came to this town for a fresh start, but it was proving harder than I expected."
"How did she die?" I wondered curriously.
"She was killed, the town we were in was under attack, and when I had my back turned to protect her from oncoming assault a friend who had no control over his sword took her life from her." Shane looked down at his untouched scone and sighed. "With all due respect, Sir, Miss." He bowed his head at both Father and myself. "I would like to take my leave now."
"Do feel free to visit should you get lonely." Father offered as Shane made a hastey retreat.
"Hmm." I sipped my tea. "A rather currious accent, don't you think? Where is he from?"
"I do not know." Father answered, tasting his scone. "Lord Aroot simply said he was from abroad." Father provided and I frowned again. I didn't like not knowing things. "Rather sad of him to lose his betrothed like that."
"I suppose, but really, what was she doing out if they were under attack? I would hope he would take better care of a woman." I said haughtilly and Father sighed.
Okay, I literally just finished writing this right now :)
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