Dom felt the dark shift. It was different from the dark that had overtaken him upon his death. Compared with that all consuming pitch, this was a pale grey hue. Dom felt something wet on his chest, and the discomfort of being laid out on a hard lumpy surface.
He wanted to open his eyes, wanted to know where he was, but he couldn't move. His body was bone tired and he couldn't bring himself to break away from the sleep that was calling out to him. Drawing a deep breath, He let the dream world take him.
Kel had watched in a hazy catatonic state as Tomas pushed his way through the crowd and took control of the situation. Guards were ordered to lift the body and bring it into the palace. Kel was gently lifted from the ground and quietly lead inside behind Dom's still form. Lyric and Jack had joined them at some point, but Kel could hardly remember when. All she could think was how much she wanted to cry and she wanted to feel nothing.
This was not the first time this thought had occurred to her and she was sure that it wouldn't be the last. Despite her Yamani mask Kel had always felt too much. It was her curse she supposed, but like a good Yamani she kept her emotions closed inside and played the warrior stoic. She just didn't have the strength to do that this time. Her mask was laying in pieces back there in the street. Tomas had wanted to put Dom in the cold dark hole dug for preservation of bodies, but the thought of Dom disappearing into the dank hole with who knows who else broke her momentarily from her stupor. Screaming she demanded that the guards take him to her room. Tomas agreed and left her and the body alone. 'To grieve' he said as he closed the door behind himself.
Kel didn't know how to grieve… she didn't know how to say goodbye to the man she had loved. All the uncompleted parts of their relationship filled her eyes, waking up together, actually going on a date together, laughing together over Neal's face when he found out… living their lives together. She rested her head on Dom's chest and let exhaustion win, drifting to sleep even as tears streamed down her ghostly pale cheeks.
Kel woke a little later, the muscles in her neck screamed in protest as she sat up slightly. The room was dark and silent but it barely registered in Kel's mind. Her heart beat was slow and steady despite the pain that filled her from head to toe. She reached out with a trembling hand and ran her fingers gently from the crown of Dom's hair, right where his dark hair ended, down across his forehead, between his eye brows and over the bridge of his sharp nose. Finally she rested her hand on his lips. With a deep sigh she pulled her hand away and rested her lips on his for a moment. A single tear ran down her cheek and onto her lips. She started to pull back but a gentle hand on the side of her face shocked her.
"Dom…?" Her voice barely came out. She leaned back and her eyes met his.
"You were dead." Her eyes grew heavy and liquid filled them. Her mind was spinning and her heart was racing. Dom ran his fingers lovingly over face, a wide smile on his face.
"I wasn't dead. I just needed to talk to the Dark God. Beside, Love, I wouldn't leave you here alone." His smile was matched by her watery one. Dom leaned up and kissed her eye lids, then gently whipped the tears from her damp cheeks.
"We have all the time in the world together. I promise you." His face was right in front of her own and his hands gently framed her face. Kel sniffled and kissed the palms of Dom's hands.
"What did the Dark God say?" Kel's voice was light filled with renewed hope. Dom's eyes grew serious and he slid over so Kel could sit next to him on the bed. When she did, he turned to look her and spoke.
"We have a lot of work to do… and I don't think we have a lot of time…" Dom's eyebrows came together sharply. Kel reached up and smoothed them out gently.
"We'll do it together. You and me… and Jack and Lyric… All of us." Kel smiled.
Dom kissed her lightly on her lips and smiled.
"Sounds like a plan."
THAT'S ALL FOLKS!!!
LOOK for the Sequel: The Root of Courage
COMING SOON!!!!
