My life goes on in endless song
above earth's lamentations,
I hear the real, though far-off hymn
that hails a new creation.
Through all the tumult and the strife
I hear its music ringing,
It sounds an echo in my soul.
How can I keep from singing?
While though the tempest loudly roars,
I hear the truth, it liveth.
And though the darkness 'round me close,
songs in the night it giveth.
No storm can shake my inmost calm,
while to that rock I'm clinging.
Since love is lord of heaven and earth
how can I keep from singing?
When tyrants tremble in their fear
and hear their death knell ringing,
when friends rejoice both far and near
how can I keep from singing?
In prison cell and dungeon vile
our thoughts to them are winging,
when friends by shame are undefiled
how can I keep from singing?
How Can I Keep From Singing: Enya
Part Twelve: Death
Vlad was sitting in his office, staring at the painting he'd had commissioned on the eve of their wedding. It was of Evangeline…she was dressed in a flowing gown of deep green with gold thread accents throughout that sparkled in the sunlight. The setting of the painting was his solarium, and she was holding a gorgeous Painted Lady butterfly that had come to see if she were a flower…or a faerie that stepped out of a dream and into mortal life. The look on her face was priceless…wonder and delight, innocence and laughter.
Her hair hung down, wild and free in cinnamon rivulets, cascading nearly to her knees. Her face lay bare of any artifice, and her loveliness shown through like a raw diamond when polished to gleaming brilliance.
As he sat and contemplated, eyes on his love, he became aware of a growing malady…an uneasiness…a nameless fear…something was very wrong. He rose quickly and set off to find his wife. He was only halfway across the room when he heard her desperate plea…
"My darling, I am taken! Please, help me… te iubesc, I love you…"
With a roar of rage and anguish, he followed her inner pathway, instinctively reading it and knowing where she had been when she was snatched. Reaching the gardens, he saw a picture of the maze wall in his mind, and knew she had given it to him. He looked very closely and found what he sought. Wolf hairs.
His canines burst forth and he snarled. This time, it was open season on wolves.
I woke in a cave, rank and dirty…and with an odor so foul that I rolled instantly and lost everything I had eaten that day. Wiping my mouth on my shirt sleeve, I glanced about trying to discover where I was in relation to the mouth of the cavern. The monster didn't seem to be about, nonetheless, I tried to move as silently as possible toward the only source of light. When I made the attempt to stand up, a sharp pain pierced my abdomen…and I doubled over in agony.
Vladislav must've heard me, I felt…no heard…no, it's hard to explain for those who have never experienced total communication. He called my name hoarsely, demanding to know if I was being hurt…and I assured him that I wasn't.
"The baby, Vlad…something is happening…my womb is tightening. And…OH! Oh gods…Vlad! Something is pouring down my legs! Help me!"
Sheer panic rose in my voice as my water broke. This was my first baby and I did not know what to expect, the pain was a given…but not THIS much… And what was this liquid? Was it natural to do that?
I leaned against the wall and strove to calm my thoughts as Vlad had commanded. He was begging me now to send him pictures of the last places I remember before passing out from a sharp blow to the head. I concentrated and was able to send him a rough map to my location. I was so focused, I didn't hear the animal return until a sharp yank on my loose curls burned my scalp and I put my hands up to my head and yelled out. A voice, deep…gravely and nearly unintelligible forced its way into my thoughts, leaving me feeling battered…bruised…violated and mentally raped.
"mineminemine…youaremine…iwantyou iwant…wantwant…mine…"
It seemed as if something inside the creature had broken, and the foul evil had been given free reign at last. It shoved a blood-stained snout into my hair and snuffed, stirring the loathing I felt into vile sickness and I feared a repeat of the wretched nausea. The stench of blood was overpowering, yet strangely compelling…it wasn't the smell of it that bothered me…no…rather the miasma of evil that hovered over this horror-filled place, that was what affected me so abominably. As the man-wolf caressed my breasts and whispered his mindless chant in my ear, another contraction gripped my womb…this time it meant business. I doubled over, sweating and screaming, and he growled as he caught the scent of bloody fluid.
"moremoremore…moreforme…yesyesyes…comecomemoreforme"
He tried to pull my legs apart, his intentions clear…dear heaven, he was going to rip my baby from me…and devour it…
I screamed Vlad's name before the beast backhanded me and I knew no more.
He flew into action once he'd calmed her down enough to discover their route. In the foothills of that mountain chain, there were only a few habitable caverns and she had unknowingly given him precise directions to the one she was in. He waited impatiently for some of his kind to help. Gregori was the first to arrive, along with his mate Giselle.
"Have you told her then? Does she know the creature must be destroyed before the babe is born…or she and the babe could perish?" Gregori stalked up to Vlad, sparing no time on pleasantries.
"And how would you propose I do this? She was nearly hysterical from fear, I could not put this burden on her as well…" Vlad's voice held infinite weariness. Gregori opened his mouth to protest when he was interrupted by the sweet voice of his wife.
"Let us waste no more time then. Come Vladislav, tell us what your lifemate was able to send, that we may assist you in finding her…"
He shot her a thankful look and they sat at the table in his study, before them lay a map of the area where she described using pictures. As he spoke, the pictures formed in the other two minds as well, until a mental map grew and solidified.
They set off, choosing their animal forms…each unique, each suited to the personality of its host. Gregori was a hawk, brave…swift…daring…with eyes that saw everything. Giselle was a panther…beautiful and deadly, with paws that could strike a lethal blow in but a heartbeat. And Vladislav…was a dragon. Enormous, protective, his body covered with an iridescent hide that shone like fire in the late afternoon sunlight. Within moments, they were scouring the landscape for signs of the man-wolf.
It was a nightmare of agony which I awoke to…sweating, screaming as my body labored out of my control to bring my child into this world. The creature paced in agitation, howling every now and then in pure frustration at the wait it must endure…stopping to breath deep the smell of blood and panting in excitement. By this time, I was too far gone to feel fear…I was in some sort of place where the only purpose was to bear down…bear down until our child was born.
Hours pass…
Another contraction rolled through my womb, and I clutched my front, so tired now that I could only moan in protest…sweat dripping and blood pouring from between my thighs…something isn't right…Vladislav, our baby…I'm…so…sorry…
My voice seemed to fade into the twilight of the cave, and I heard his whisper as it seemed to come from a long way off… my darling…do not let go, please…I am coming for you…do not leave me beloved…
My eyesight faded as another ripple made its way through my middle and I finally succumbed to eternal rest.