A Prophecy Fulfilled

Chapter Fifteen

A week passed by. Each day, the four of them began to realize that perhaps they had made a mistake. Or more, not a mistake; but they missed their children. And after they were gone, there would be no one to oversee the lands. So the two families met, and made a treaty for peace. Once all conditions of the treaty were agreed upon, it was declared to the people of both kingdoms that the Treaty of Families was rule of law from that day forward...

Vincent woke with hard stone beneath his back, and a cool draft all around him. His eyes focused, and he sat up. Candles set into the stone walls. The stone he had laid against was flat and smooth. Not like the table had had been restrained to. Vincent sat still, wondering what had happened. The last thing he remembered was that he was trying to reach for Andromeda's hand, and all was blackness. There was only one thing he could think of. Vincent knew he was in the family crypt. But how was it that he could still be alive? But how could he not be? Vincent could see his surroundings, feel the biting air around him; feel his clothes and was aware of his body. Then something else important came to mind. He reached into the breast pocket of his vest, and was astounded to find the handkerchief Andromeda had given him, still neatly folded. If he was still here, Vincent thought, maybe there was a possibility that Andromeda was alive too. If she was, Vincent knew exactly where she would be. He was right.

Andromeda was alive, and just as surprised to find herself so as Vincent had been. She also knew where to find Vincent if he were alive. She walked to the clearing where they had met so many times. She walked through the last cluster of trees, to see Vincent waiting for her. His back was to her, but she was overjoyed to see him. She could barely contain the scream that formed in her throat, but she did. Andromeda considered walking up from behind and covering his eyes as she had once before. They would be closer and Vincent would take her into his arms, and she desperately wanted him to. But somehow that didn't seem like the right thing to do. Very quietly, Andromeda simply walked up to him.

"Vincent." Andromeda whispered.

Vincent turned to see Andromeda's face smiling at him. Silently, he took her into his arms and kissed her hard. There were no words for how overjoyed he was to see her alive. But at last he did find some words to express how he felt.

"I never thought I would see you again." he murmured against her mouth. They kissed again, their tongues probing each other's mouth, tracing their lips.

"How did this happen?" Andromeda asked.

"I don't know, and right now, I don't care. I'm so glad to see you."

"As I am to see you." Andromeda replied. Vincent smiled and drew his handkerchief from his pocket.

"I still have your handkerchief, love. I guess they never found it after they bled us."

"And they didn't take the chain you gave me." Andromeda told him. The chain around her neck seemed so much a part of her now, that Andromeda hardly felt its weight. But it was still there. The two of them stood silently awhile, glad to know they were alive, though they didn't understand why.

In a flash, Vincent pushed Andromeda against a tree. He went down on his knees, putting his hands on her hips. His lips pressed hard against her stomach. Andromeda could feel the heat of his hands and lips through the thin material of the ragged dress she'd worn since the day she'd been brought to the cell. His touch was fire on her skin. It was heaven to touch each other again, to truly touch. Andromeda grinned to herself and closed her eyes as Vincent's hands slid upwards and cupped her breasts. As she looked into his eyes, she could see the love, trust, and a hint of confidence. She grinned back at him, taking his hands in hers.

"Come up to me."

Vincent stood up again, his mouth latching onto hers, his arms wrapped around her as if to possess her, body and soul.