Chapter 20, Signs and Visions

Jill took one last look in the full length mirror in the bathroom. She had dressed herself in a long wool brown skirt, a simple off white long sleeved shirt, and a matching long-line wool flared jacket. Dark brown riding boots complimented her outfit. Even though the flared jacket hid the holster and gun well, it did not make it any more comfortable. It was heavy and felt awkward. The boy scout motto is to be prepared, right? She thought to herself; trying to drum up some self-encouragement. As she smoothed a few unruly hairs in to place she knew that no matter how many gung-ho mottos she remembered, it was not going to make it any easier. Jill, what are you turning in to?

She took a deep breath, and emerged from the bathroom. Cain got up and looked at her.

"Elsie told me that it's a winter riding habit but I think that it looks alright to wear there." She added quietly, "Besides the jacket will cover up the holster."

Cain nodded his head in agreement and tried to sound encouraging, "You look just fine."

They left her chamber and were stopped again by the same military cadet who had questioned Cain earlier in the evening.

"Sir, where are you taking Miss Wilkins?" the young cadet asked with a slight pitchiness to his voice.

"We're going out," gruffly replied Cain.

The cadet nodded to his companion and made yet another attempt to sound tough, "One of us must accompany her at all times."

Cain let his thin lips form a condescending smile, "No. You don't. As long as she's with me, she's escorted. The Queen's direct orders to me were that Miss Wilkins is either escorted by me or with a guard. Not both. Is that understood? Cadet."

The young cadet faltered under Cain's steely stare and could only meekly nod his head in concurrence.

As Cain and Jill walked down the hallway, the young cadet regained his self-control and told his companion, "Alert Captain Bower that Major Cain has taken Miss Wilkins from her chamber."

As they exited the palace grounds they saw Jeb across the street. Cain waved his arm and yelled, "Jeb!" He turned, saw his father and Jill, and ran across the street; dodging traffic. Horns blared as he ran around the automobiles that slowed down to avoid hitting him.

Jeb caught his breath and asked, "Where are you guys going?"

"I was getting ready to ask you the same thing," replied Cain. He noticed that his son had his uniform jacket unbuttoned, "Are you done for the night?"

They started walking down the sidewalk. Jeb answered, "Yeah, one of the guys asked me if I would switch shifts with him. I have tonight off and then will work for the next couple. So… just where are you guys going?"

As they walked down the sidewalk, Cain told Jeb of his conversation with the Queen and then with Jill. However, he left out the part where the Queen told him to leave DG alone. That was for him and him alone. Jeb was mostly silent through the entire story but occasionally looked at Jill and just shook his head.

When Cain was finished, he asked his son, "So, do you want to go to the Wolfsangel Tavern with us?" He let his hand drift down to his side and added, "I'm sure we could use the company."

Jeb knew what his father was implying and the seriousness of the situation. Without missing a beat he put his hand on his father's shoulder and said, "I could go for a pint of ale."

DG was alone in her chamber. The fire burned low in the fireplace and only the moon light shone in the room.

She was in her bed, her fleece blanket pulled tightly around her. She had been softly crying in to her pillow but then drifted off to a fitful sleep. Her body twitched and she moaned; she silently mouthed "No Cain no."

The beginning of her nightmare was interrupted by a blood curdling scream.

She rose up startled and confused. She was not sure where she was or what had woken her.

There was another blood curdling scream.

She jumped up and quickly put on her shoes that were lying near the edge of her bed. As she ran to her door she thought, "Oh god! Not again!"

The Wolfsangel Tavern sign creaked in the slight wind as Cain held the door open for Jeb and Jill to enter. As he held the door open they were struck by the noisy bustling of people and conversation.

All three stood slightly inside the doorway. The tavern was crowded and all of the long, family-style tables were filled. Jeb started to make his way towards the bar. Jill felt a hand near the small of her back and she jumped out of surprise. A familiar voice whispered in her ear, "You can't be so jumpy if you're going to be my date." Jill turned her head slightly and smartly whispered back, "Just because you gave me a gun doesn't mean that you can get to first base." And with that she made her way through the crowd after Jeb.

Electric lamps with simple pale green glass shades hung from the ceiling and gave off a muted light. Two large field stone fireplaces lined the far wall. A wide staircase leading up to the second floor was also against the same far wall. Large dark wooden beams lined the ceiling. The tables and bar were made out of the same dark wood and all were intentionally rough-cut. It all gave the tavern a rustic lodge feel.

As they reached the bar they found that Jeb had already ordered their drinks and was waiting on the barkeep to draw them out of the tap. Somehow he also managed to find an empty stool. Cain motioned for Jill to sit down and he and Jeb stood on either side of her; shielding her from the other patrons.

Jill coughed and cleared her throat. Some of the patrons near her were smoking. As she looked around she saw that the tavern was further decorated with stuffed heads of bears, deer, and some she did not recognize, coats of arms, and various medieval looking weapons mounted on the walls. Her attention then turned to the two wrought iron symbols mounted above the fireplaces. One was a vertical line branching at the top in to three smaller lines. The other was a diamond on top of an upside down vee.

The barkeep brought over three frothy steins of beer and set them down in front of Jeb. He paid and passed one down to his father. He was ready to pass the other one to Jill and saw her looking away from them, over at the fire places.

Jeb tapped Jill on the shoulder with one hand and held the stein of beer out to her with the other. "Jill?"

Cain looked down at her. She still had not acknowledged Jeb. "Jill, what is it?"

Jill reached for the beer from Jeb. "I think that we need to try to find some history books from my world."

The young cadet that had attempted to stand up to Cain heard the blood curdling scream. He ran down the hallway; attempting to find the source. He heard it again and then realized that it was coming from Azkadellia's private chamber.

He and another guard that had arrived at the same got ready to enter the chamber.

DG came running around the corner down the far end of the hallway. She saw the two guards. She screamed out, "WAIT!"

It was too late.

The guards opened the door and took a step inside Azkadellia's chamber.

DG heard the shattering of glass and the screams of the guards in terror. Then she saw large shards of glass bounce off the wall across from Az's chamber door.

She continued running until she reached the chamber door and it was there that she stopped in horror. A pool of blood began to form around the broken glass underneath her feet.

The bodies of the guards were crumpled on the floor. Their eyes were wide open and their faces were contorted in silent horror. Large shards of the broken windows stuck out from their bodies.

The heavy curtains rustled from the slight breeze that now entered the room. The fire was blown out and the only light in the room came from the moonlight. Azkadellia stood near one of the windows, running her fingers gently over top of one of the broken panes. She was dressed only in her white nightgown. She cut her finger and cocked her head as she watched the blood slowly drip on to the pane.

DG took a step around the bodies and the glass crunched underneath her foot. Azkadellia stopped and looked up, but did not turn around.

DG took another few steps and the glass continued to crunch underneath her feet. "Az?" Oh god Az, please turn around.

Azkadellia turned around and took a few steps towards DG. She was bare foot and seemed totally oblivious to the shards of glass underneath her feet. Blood began to ooze from the cuts.

"Az…. please….please sit down on your bed with me," DG begged of her sister.

Azkadellia slowly shook her head no. "She's still with me you know," she said in a hauntingly seductive voice.

DG turned white and said in the strongest voice she could, "Az, no she's not. She's not part of you any more." She then tried to clear her thoughts and will her magic. In her mind she cried out, Mother!, and as she did so a faint glow came out of her clenched fist.

Azkadellia took a few more steps towards DG. The glass cut deeper in to her feet but yet she did not cry out. "I can see her savior DG." She paused and then added, "I see him. He's holding his hands out to me." Her eyes faded out of focus.

DG grew alarmed at the vision that Azkadellia was having. "Az! Who do you see?!"

"She will reward him… I will reward him," she replied. Her eyes suddenly flamed in anger. "YOU KILLED ME!"

Azkadellia raised her hands. Before DG could react, Azkadellia willed her magic and it took a hold of DG; binding her in its invisible power. An eerily pale green light engulfed her and it lifted her a few inches off of the floor.

DG struggled against the unseen force. She gagged as the force closed tighter around her throat. Azkadellia began giggling. Then it grew maniacal as she watched her sister struggle to breathe.

DG could hear footsteps running down the hallway. The murmured voices became louder and she recognized her mother's and father's voices, and then the voices of men.

She tried to remain calm. She recalled a new memory of her and Az at Fanaqqua, late last summer, walking hand in hand near the shore. She called forth the light to come as she remembered how Az laughed as they skipped stones across the lake. Az was happy and it was like old times again.

The magic erupted from within her. The force that had closed around her throat disappeared and the pale green light that had engulfed her vanished. She stretched out her arms and let the soft warmth run through them.

The light hit Azkadellia and she was thrown backwards. She stumbled towards the broken window.