Chapter 38

Lily and I ride to Romani village with four of the castle guard. I would not leave anything to chance, River could be lurking anywhere. The rain was coming down hard; it stung my face as we rode. Lily had her hood up over her head, a scarf about her face. I told she looked more like a bandit than a lady.

Approaching the entrance to the village I could see a figure waiting in the rain with a lantern swinging back and forth. We pull our horse up, the pudding making them slide a bit. Summer lowers her hood, her silver white hair flowing out from it.

"My Queen, Lady Hammond, I have been waiting for you." She brings the lantern closer, giving us enough light to tie up our horses.

"How could you have known we were coming Summer?" I watch her face, a hint of a smile showing.

"The spirits are strong with me; I have Romani magic my Queen. Come in out of the rain, rest and have some hot tea. I have so much to tell you both." She walks ahead of us, the castle guard behind.

Kellan holds the door open; he looks very pleased to see us. "Good day Queen, my Lady."

We take a seat by the fireplace, the guard waiting by the door. I share a concerned look with Lily, her brow creasing together.

"If you don't mind Summer, we need answers and we need them now." Lily's patience was all but gone.

"Of course Lady Hammond." Summer hands us two cups of tea, the heat of it feeling good in my hand.

Summer pulls a chair up to the fireplace, Kellan looking on. "The night you found your Liam dead is when the spirits of the old ones came to me. They are very angry that our magic is being used for such dark deeds. I ran to River's, hoping to keep him from finding his sister but he was out looking for her. That night the old ones came to me again, they showed me Rain's body and how River would take her and hide her away. At first I was confused till I spoke to River the next day. When I looked into his eyes I didn't see the bright spirit that usual lies there but a black soulless emptiness. That's when I knew Rain had taken him, his body. She had casted a spell on River so long ago, binding them together. That was how she was able to conceive a child with him and that is how her soul shares his body. Rain has possessed River and controls him even now. I have been searching for her body, we must find her body."

"Why is it important to find her body Summer?" I take another sip of the honey tea, my eyes never leaving hers.

"You can try to kill River but Rain will always control him. Not until Rain is truly dead can River be free. I know he is strong and is fighting to free himself from her but her dark magic is strong. I beg that you bring no harm to River, you will only cause him to parish once we have purged Rain form his body. If we can find Rain's body and burn it on a Romani pyre then she will truly die, it will end her forever." Kellan takes Summer's hand, they both stare at us.

"Romani pyre, what is that?" Lily sits her cup on the hearth, her curiosity burning.

"We have olive branches from the old country and special herbs that must be laced between the wood. We will lay the olive branches over her body and say a Romani blessing before we lit the pyre. Once she is burnt we will scatter her ashes to the four corners, separating her essences forever." Kellan points to some dry branches behind me in the corner.

"What do you need from me and my people Summer, name it and it is yours." I rise, calling to my guard.

"Find her body, I believe your son Lady Hammond can tell you where to look. He has seen this vision but hides it from you. The night you grieved for your baby the dream came to him." I look at Lily her eyes beginning to water up.

"Thank you Summer, as soon as we find her body we will bring it her." Summer bows to us both as we leave.

I send two of the guards back to give a message to Eric, he must know about Rain's body and what she has done to River. Suddenly I remember that I told Eric to kill River and my blood goes cold. I halt the guard sending word that River Bassett was not to be harmed.

Lily and I go straight for the castle, she was concerned that Hunter had a dream and didn't tell her.

We walk with a purpose to Lily's chamber, Clara going over the day's lessons. Hunter looks up at his mother, Iris studying hard at her parchment.

"Hunter son, come here." He slowly walks to his mother, his bottom lip trembling.

"Did I do something wrong Mum?" Lily kneels down to him, taking his hands in hers.

"Tell Mum about the dream you had, the one you had the night we lost Liam." He shakes his head, tears pooling in his eyes.

"Why Mum?" Lily lowers her voice, trying again.

"It is very important you tell Mum, so try Hunter." He nods his head, looking up from his long dark lashes.

"River was down by the lake, he had Rain with him and he laid her in the hollow tree." Lily turns to me, her lips showing the start of a smile.

"Snow, the hollow tree is the large tree at the edge of the lake. The children hide in there all the time." I knew exactly what tree she was speaking of. Eric had wanted to chop it down but I agreed to let it stand because the children loved it so.

Lily kisses Hunter's cheek making him beam a brilliant smile. She rises, grabbing her hood again. I stop her, shaking my head at her.

"No Lily, we must let Eric and William handles this." She glares at me, her lips pursed.

"No Snow, Rain killed my baby and I want to repay her the favor." Lily's jade eyes were back and I knew no amount of arguing was going to change her mind.

Lily and I walk out to the hallow tree after I send for a wagon. I watch as she reaches her hands inside and pulls Rain out by her hair. The storm shifts as if the deluge of rain had set over top us. The wind picks up as an eerie fog rolls in. Lily drags Rain's body to the clearing by the lake. The wagon pulls up and the guard helps us load the body.

I know something isn't right as we travel back to Romani village. The storm had changed and it was here for us. Rain knew we had her body; it would only be a matter of moments before she found us.

Lily suggests we split up; she would take on of the horse from the wagon and ride out toward the burnt forest while I take the other horse and take Rain's body to Summer.

I wasn't sure this would work so I take the locket around Rain's neck and place it around Lily's. "Ride Lily and don't stop till you find Eric or William."

She rides off, her green cloak flowing behind her. The guard helps me tie Rain to my horse and I command him to stay with the wagon. River may find me and I would not have his death on my hands.

The rain continues, it whips and bites at me. I could see the road marker for Romani village; I was only a few miles away. In the back of my mind I worried for Lily, hoping I did not send her off to her death, knowing I would never forgive myself if I did.

A glowing light burns ahead of me, growing larger as I get closer. It was the Romani pyre, the flames twisting and licking at the sky. The sun was almost gone and the moon greeted the stars as I enter the village.

Summer and Kellan take Rain's body from me, all of the village gathered around the fire. I watch as they lay her body on the pyre and begin to chant.

"Stop!" The scream freezes me to the spot but the Romani people keep chanting. I turn slowly to see River standing at the main gate. It appeared some enchantment had stopped him from entering.

"Please, don't do this. You will kill me." River was begging for his life but we knew it was actually Rain.

"Ignore her, continue." Summer gazes up at a few Romani maidens.

Kellan lays the last olive branch across her chest, the pyre reaching toward the heavens. "Din întunericul în lumină." With those words River collapses to the ground.

A thousand hooves ride over the ridge, Lily riding in front of them. I can see Eric, William and the guard. Lily jumps from her horse and throws her body over River.

Eric slows his horse as he calls out to Lily. "Lillian move!"

Lily shakes her head, her eyes pleading with Eric. "Rain had possessed River; I will not let you kill him."

William looks to me, his face showing his bewilderment. "Is this true?"

River stirs, his eyes his again. "My Lady you saved my life."

Lily takes his arms helping him off the ground. "You did not deserve this River, you are a good man."

William dismounts, walking toward Lily. I feel the storm shift again, this time a wild fierce wind blows down from the mountain.

Summer hurries to place more wood on the pyre, the fire starts to die. Samuel calls for the entire village to help, Kellan starting the chant again.

Lily looks at River, not sure what is happening. "River, are you free?"

"For now but she fights, she still lingers my Lady." River falls to the ground twitching and thrashing about.

William pulls an arrow from his quiver as Eric collects his hand ax from his belt. River crawls toward Lily, his eyes between blue and black. His voice didn't sound like his own, the sound of it more Rain than River. "I don't want to kill you Lady Lily but Rain wants me too."

William pulls back on his bow screaming for Lily to run to him. Before Lily can run River grabs her arm. "Please Lily."

She looks River in the eyes and kisses him. "Go."

William drops his bow, his body looking defeated. "Lily."

River runs toward the pyre, leaping on top of his sister's body. The flames roar again, consuming them both.