Pomegranate Seeds ~ Editing in Progress

Chapter VIII

AUTHOR’S NOTE: This chapter took me the best part of two hours to write, which seems quite surprising given what it is. However, one must remember that it was written whilst listening to eighties rock music (yes, I am that sad) and trying to fend of three cats desperate for my attention. Dedicated to GeoMagneticActivity for being so sweet and supportive to me.

“Don’t move.” Titus’ voice is the barest hint of a whisper, as quiet as a gentle breeze tenderly caressing the fresh, green leaves of Spring. I hate to obey his imperatives, but foolish as I am, I’m not stupid enough to ignore an order given in that tone. Reining in my mare, I draw to a halt beneath the shadow of a towering pin tree.

“I said: don’t move.” He reprimands me, as I lean forward in my saddle to see the cause of these sudden commands. His tone is just as soft as before but there is almost unnoticeable tightening to his inflections, as though the wind were surreptitiously pinching the leaves of the trees as it glides over their delicate surfaces. I wonder how he could sense my slight movement, as he sits stock still with his back to me, upon his stationary mount.

Swallowing my resentful reply, I return to my previous position. My heart is in my mouth now, my blood frozen in my veins; my fear of the unseen threat gradually paralyzing me. Sensing my change of mood, Garaeli gives the smallest of whimpers, like the mewing of a tiny kitten. My hand automatically moves to comfort and to soothe it, my maternal instinct and motherly love instantly thawing the ice that has settled throughout my body.

Titus moves his head, a fraction at a time, to face me.

“Can’t you keep that damn thing silent?” He hisses through gritted teeth. His jaw muscles are clenched and tense, a common indication of fearful fury, but as usual his eyes are placid, practically free of emotion.

I feel anger flare up within me at the injustice of his cruel terminology.

“How dare you?” The urge to yell is strong, but as I strongly to resist it, I somehow manage to stick to the required hushed tones. “Thing? Thing?” I can barely stand it. Tears prick at my eyes, as sharp and painful as pins.

Breaking all his own rules, Titus wheels his stallion round until he is head and head with me, and for the first time I see definite anger flickering faintly in the endless abyss of his pale irises. 

For a few brief seconds I am transfixed by the manner in which his eyes have suddenly lit up. Then I spot something much more worthy of my gaze. A gigantic, emerald serpent, with the massive hood of a spitting cobra and the crushing body a constrictor, has begun to unwind its glistening coils and to glide smoothly over the carpet of rotting vegetation and skeleton leaves. I stifle an involuntary scream of terror, and, dropping my reins completely, wrap both arms around Garaeli, creating a feeble barricade. Titus, however, seems oblivious to the oncoming danger.

“How can you defend it? That thing has ruined whatever debris of your life was left after you’d finished destroying as much of it as you could! It has completely isolated you from normal society, for God’s sake! And yes, it is a monster. Don’t deny it, I know that you have been thinking the same. But perhaps its monstrous side comes from you, its mother, rather than from Him. Ever considered that?”

Each word finds its target, as excruciatingly painful as an arrow loaded with poison. As each tip pierces my heart with fatal accuracy, all anger fades leaving me with an empty, hollow feeling of lifelessness. It’s not the venom in the words that hurts, but the truthfulness of them.

My mare suddenly rears up as the snake slithers ever closer, poised ready to strike. With my arms engaged in task of protecting Garaeli, I have no chance to maintain my balance and find myself plummeting towards the advancing ground. The serpent wastes no time. While I am still re-gathering my dazed senses it leers in my face, baring fangs as sharp and deadly as sabers.

A spell suddenly surfaces from the suffocating chaos of my mind. It’s simple enough; a basic charm for repelling unwanted creatures. I begin to mutter the components under my breath, praying silently that I can remember it all correctly. It seems to have no effect upon my attacker, but my horse, which is standing directly behind it, immediately turns and gallops off into the distance. I muster all strength, but somehow cannot find the power to attempt the spell again. The serpent’s fangs are inches from my exposed neck, when it opens its lashless, green lids to reveal the most impenetrable eyes I have ever seen, blazing with the endless passion and madness that I crave so desperately. And then I lose all power to resist.

Titus vaults off his steed and sprints over to where I lie. A flash of bronze, the slash of a blade, and the snake vanishes, engulfed by a torrent of golden flames. It takes several minutes for me to collect my scattered wits.

“You… you killed him?” I ask, in complete disbelief.

Titus shakes his head grimly.

“Hardly. You can’t kill the Devil. He chose to depart. What about that spell you used to try and repel him? Are you a witch, as well as a satanic whore?”

“You saved my life.” I state simply, ignoring his prying questions. Then it strikes me. He saved Garaeli’s life too. My tongue struggles to form the two words that come next; they seem utterly foreign to the context. “Thank you.”