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Finally, he said, This may sound off, but it’s like fresh cut grass.
Good. That’s exactly what I needed to know. Now, I have one final question, and it’s very important: How much time have you got?
~ ~ ~
Rez felt light-headed, almost euphoric, probably from the blood loss. How much time have I got?
Yes. A minute? Two? Mastyr, pay attention. Focus. Can you last two minutes? I need to know.
He chuckled. I can last longer than that. You should try me.
Sweet, Goddess, are you flirting with me? You’re dying and you’re flirting with me?
He sighed. Every cell in his body burned from the poison now. Foolish to waste time. But he was a man. Some drives wouldn’t be denied.
He took a moment to evaluate his blood level. Odd, being a vampire and the things you could know. Like he knew exactly how much blood he’d lost, half his supply and still pouring out of him. He also knew the hour, just past eleven. I’ve got about three minutes. No more.
I have to see the battle. I’ll be with you in two.
He couldn’t make sense of what she’d said. How could she get to him in two minutes unless she was closer than he thought? What did she mean, she had to see the battle? The Invictus lay at his feet. What was there to see?
He must have misunderstood her. Nothing more to be done now, except wait.
The building opposite him still shot flames high in the sky. He was close enough that the heat kept the dying chill from overtaking him.
The couple had lost their home but he’d saved their lives. They were a lovely troll family with five children. He could see the woman in the distance, beyond the strange mist. She held an infant in her arms. He could hear the baby crying, but it was a wonderful sound, full of hope and life.
He’d had a family once.
They were gone now.
But he wouldn’t think about that.
Although, if Holly didn’t arrive soon with a miracle antidote in hand, he’d be joining them tonight.
A pain drove through his heart, a sharp jagged thing. He couldn’t leave Tannisford Realm. He hadn’t found his teenage daughter, Isobel, yet.
Two years ago, while he’d been out patrolling with the Vampire Guard, several Invictus pairs had invaded his small farm. They’d slaughtered his wife and two young sons, but his daughter had been abducted. One of the neighbors had seen her held captive by the vicious wraith-pairs.
He’d hunted for her since, but still hadn’t found her.
So, no, he couldn’t die yet.
Not yet.
Not until he’d brought Isobel safely back to his home in Boylbury.
~ ~ ~
Holly had spent the last two years studying time travel with Vojalie, the most powerful fae in the Nine Realms. She had prepared for exactly this kind of situation, to breach time through the time-path in order to extract sufficient information to save another realm-person’s life.
She was on deck and frightened out of her mind. Her heart beat like it was a thoroughbred running the last quarter mile of a critical race.
Knowing she had only two minutes, she took a deep breath and sent up a prayer. Goddess, be with me. Help me to keep everyone safe as I enter the continuum.
It was her own prayer, not something Vojalie had taught her. More than anything, she feared by her actions she would cause a serious disturbance and alter the future. By carelessness, she might initiate waves of change that could end in the deaths of innocent people.
Despite her fears, she had to move into the time-path. Otherwise, Rez would die.
