“Brown eyes.” He sang the nickname, which was now tainted to her. “Look down at your wrist, baby. You miss me so badly you’ll even pretend it was the bracelet that made you give yourself tome.”
Sally glanced down at her arm. Sure enough, the damn bracelet he had given her was there. She pushed at it furiously, attempting to get the offending thing off of her wrist, but it wouldn’t budge. “I didn’t give myself to you, you stupid flea bag! You took what wasn’t yours. You… you are toblame.”
“I don’t remember it that way. Should I remind you? I remember you saying my name, making sounds that drove me crazy. I remember you quite enjoying yourself.” He sounded smug, and she wanted to smack that haughtiness out of him with a brickbat.
“I wish Costin could rip you apart again,” she said as angry tearsfell.
“But he can’t, Sally. I’m yours, safe and protected in your beautiful mind. You will never be rid of me. You became one with me. That is an unbreakable bond. You’re mine, brown eyes, and I amyours.”
“NO!” She screamed at the top of her lungs. Her hands were balled into fist at her sides, and she shook her head hard, as if that would make the word truer. “No, no, I amCostin’s.”
“You are mine first,child.”
Sally’s eyes snapped open, and she fell to her knees in relief. “Great Luna.” She breathed out the name as a prayer. Sally bowed her head, and her shoulders shook as her body responded to the adrenaline seeping from hersystem.
“What is the truth, Sally? You must compare the things that confuse you to what you know to betrue.”
“But itistrue that making love to someone is to become one with them,” she blubbered out like a brokenchild.
“Did you give yourself freely to Jericho, thedeceiver?”
“It feels like Idid.”
“The truth, Sally. No more lies. Did you knowingly, and of your own free will, give yourself tohim?”
“No,” she answered and wished she could say it with moreconviction.
“You did not. He took what was not his to take. You were not one flesh with him because your spirit and body weren’t truly willing to be joined with him. Hear me now, Sally Miklos. You have to stand firm. You cannot believe the lies that evil wants you to believe. Shine the light into the darkness, and reveal the deception that has been planted in yourmind.”
“Great Luna,” Sally said, “I can’t do this withoutyou.”
“You arecorrect.”
“Will you be with me? With me andCostin?”
“I will. Stand firm against the enemy’s schemes and lies. I will not let them have you. For you are my child. And your time on this earth is not done.” Sally felt warmth flow over her. “Peace be still, Sally. Rest thisnight.”
There were no more dreams. Simply sleep. Deep, restorativesleep.
Chapter Eight
“There is no greater battle than the ones we face in our own minds. To be your own worst enemy, to be unable to escape, retreat, or surrender, is a form of hell. But when we arise victorious by winning that battle, by refusing to bow down to the lies that plague us, there is no greater victory.” ~Sally
“It has been too longsince you have visited us, Cindira,” the forest sprite queen said in a surprisingly warmvoice.
“I apologize I have not come sooner,” Cindy said as she bowed her head to the queen of herpeople.
“I will admit I was disappointed when you left. But, then, we all do strange things in the name of love. How is your human mate and youroffspring?”
“My husband is well, thank you for asking. My daughter, however, is the reason I have come. She is far from well and in great need of help. I’ve come to petition you and ask that you allow any luminous sprite willing to help to doso.”
“You are a healer, and for our kind, quite powerful. Why do you need the luminous?” the queen asked as she rested her elbows on the arms of her chair and steepled her hands beneath herchin.
“Sally is beyond my ability to help. She needs the light of the luminous sprites. She was accosted by the Order. What they did to her is sick, and their magic is still at work in her mind. It’s dark, darker than I’ve ever seen. I tried, but I couldn’t drive it out. I will beg if I must. Please helpme.”
“The Order,” the queen’s voice was ice cold as she spoke. “They have crawled out of theirhole?”
“It seems so,” Cindy answered. “They’re on the move to gain supporters. They’ve already askedme.”
