Page 2 of Blooms of Darkness

“We must go. Right now. We have to get the babe to the king,” Vivienne said. “Elisabeth, they could return.”

Her words seemed to snap the healer from her shock, and she rose from the ground with Vivienne’s hand to guide her.

“Can you ride with the babe?” Vivienne asked.

Elisabeth nodded once more. “I’ll protect her with my life.” A faint glow surrounded the baby and burned slightly brighter at the healer’s words. Although she spoke in a mere whisper, the determination in Elisabeth’s eyes gave Vivienne no concern as they fled from the cottage.

Vivienne rushed to the small stable at the back of the home, as quickly as her feet would take her, praying to find an additional horse. Noticing one had remained, she cried in relief, sending a prayer of thanks up to the Fates for the gift. By the time she rounded the cottage, Elisabeth and the baby sat perched upon the mare, ready and waiting.

A shriek sounded from behind them.

From the rear of the barn, one of the Fae from earlier came into view.

“Here!” he shouted, pulling his fingers to his mouth, whistling shrilly.

“We don’t stop,” Vivienne commanded, clicking her tongue at her horse.

Into the night they fled for the safety of the palace walls. The safety only the king could provide. The safety of never having to relive a night of blood and terror again.

They rode hard, Vivienne glancing behind them as Fae ran and followed on horseback.

“Faster, my friend,” she shouted.

They pressed on, galloping over hills through the muddy terrain the storm created. Eventually, those following gave way, but it didn’t stop their desperate escape.

When the city walls came into view, only a few miles from the palace, the storm subsided. Nature, it seemed, had been soothed. Vivienne now knew for certain nature’s vengeful response revealed its anger at the horrors around the babe.

She was important.

The kingdom needed her, even if they didn’t understand exactly what the Fates had in store.

Vivienne helped Elisabeth dismount. “You need rest, my old friend,” she said. “I’ll take her to the king and queen. Rest, and then I’ll bring her back to you.”

Elisabeth hesitated, but eventually conceded, handing Vivienne the beautiful baby girl. The glow extinguished as Elisabeth carefully relinquished her to Vivienne.

Vivienne moved quickly from the courtyard toward the king and queen’s chambers.

The babe didn’t shed a tear. No, instead when Vivienne gazed upon her face, she gave her a smile and cooed.

Danger hadn’t dampened this little one’s spirits.

Before Vivienne and the babe reached the doors to the royal chambers, they flew open. The queen let out a cry, and the king, with tears in his eyes, looked at Vivienne. “They’re gone.”

It wasn’t a question. Vivienne pulled the blanket from the baby girl’s face and handed her to the king.

As soon as Illiana rested solely in the king’s arms, Vivienne tensed. The flow of ancient magic crawled through her veins, taking over her body.

When she spoke, an eerie white clouded her vision as a prophecy came into existence.

Void of magic, a heroine born,

Destiny calls, though faint and torn.

Many will come from across the land,

Yet only the strongest will win her hand.

With lover’s touch, she shall ignite,

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