N. Walters - Pride of the Lion

Her hand was shaking as she hit the redial button. Kellsie’s number was the last one she’d called. “Please answer, please answer,” she breathed under her breath. She worried about Leander lying alone out back with only Percy for company. Was there still a chance for him or was she too late? She started back to the yard, but tripped over some debris and fell to her knees.

The phone only rang once before being answered. “What?” The voice was male and very disgruntled.

“Is this Marko?”

“Who wants to know?”

Tears continued to drip down her face, but she ignored them and pushed herself off the floor. “This is Araminta.” She heard the sudden shuffling of clothing as he shifted position.

“The curse is broken.” It was more a statement then a question, but she answered him anyway.

“Yes.” She glanced at her watch to confirm that it was indeed past midnight. It was almost one o’clock. “But something is wrong. Leander isn’t moving.”

“What do you mean he isn’t moving?”

Keeping the phone against her ear, she gave him a rundown on the events as she hurried back out into the yard, not wanting to be away from him any longer. Leander hadn’t moved. Neither had Percy. “He’s just lying here.”

“You’re sure his wounds are closed?”

She took a closer look at his bloodstained stomach and was relieved to see the wound had closed, leaving an extremely long, reddish scar, just like hers. The gash on his side was similarly healed. “Yes. Both wounds look like they’re several weeks old rather than minutes.”

“And you say that your injury was fatal?”

“I thought I was dead.” She paused and rephrased what she’d said. “No, I know I was dead. There’s no way I should have lived with the severity of that gash and the amount of blood I lost.” It made her queasy just thinking about it.

“He gave you his life force.” Marko was matter-of-fact, as though this was an everyday occurrence.

“He did what?” How could he? He was necessary to win the fight against Hades. The world needed a champion, a warrior like Leander. Plus, she loved him. How could he leave her alone?

“He gave you his life force, but he gave you too much.” Marko paused and she clutched the phone tighter, her knuckles turning white

“What can I do?” There had to be something. She wasn’t willing to give up, not without a fight, not until all hope was gone.

“Are you willing to die for him?”

No hesitation. “Yes.” After all, technically she thought she already had.

“Good. Then put the phone down, lay your hands on his chest and picture the energy inside your body leaving you and flowing into him. But be sure to hold back enough for yourself.”

“Okay.” Suddenly she knew what to do. After all, she’d written the damn books. She knew what had happened to the other warriors, how they’d shared their immortality with the women who’d saved them. Or at least she thought she knew.

Who knew what was fact and what was fiction since Hades had given her the stories through her dreams? But from what Marko was telling her, this part seemed to be true. And she needed to believe, needed to think there was some way to save Leander.

She put the phone down next to her, laid her hands on his chest, over his heart, and closed her eyes. She pictured the beautiful lights she’d seen, imagined them flowing from her into Leander. It was easier than she’d thought it would be.

Her entire body heated and warmth flowed down her arms, out the palms of her hands and into Leander. She willed him to live. “Open your eyes, goddammit.” The light began to dim and she started to panic. What if it wasn’t enough? She pushed harder, giving him all her love, giving him everything she was. The energy pulsed harder and ripped out of her control. Much like riding a runaway train, Araminta held on and prayed.

Leander floated in a sea of darkness, lost in time and space. He had no idea where he was, but that didn’t bother him. Araminta was alive, he was sure of it, and that was all that truly mattered.

He wished he could have been with her longer, spent the remainder of her life by her side. But it wasn’t to be. Sacrificing his life for her was a small price to pay. At least Hades didn’t have his soul. It seemed that no one did.

He felt a slight tug and frowned. What was that?

The tug grew greater and a wonderful warmth enveloped him. It felt comforting and loving and he automatically moved toward it. Was it the Lady come to claim him? While he was saddened at the thought of never seeing Araminta again, he was glad to be going home, ready to give whatever was left of his life essence to aid the Lady in the continuing war with Hades.

His lion stirred and then growled. Leander tuned into his senses, trying to understand what was happening. He sniffed the air and listened carefully, but he couldn’t smell or hear anything.

Suddenly, his entire body jolted as what felt like a million bolts of lightning shot through him. White light surrounded him, filled him, followed swiftly by a rainbow of colors.

“No,” he yelled, finally understanding what was happening. But there was no stopping the life force from returning to its rightful owner. It streamed into him, happy to be home once again. Leander sat upright just as Araminta slumped over him. He caught her limp body and clutched her to his chest. “What have you done?” he roared.

He turned her in his arms and lay her across his lap. He heard a voice yelling in the distance and swiveled his head, growling, ready to attack anyone who threatened his Araminta.

Percy meowed and Leander shot his gaze toward the cat. Beside him was a rectangular box, Araminta’s cell phone. The voice was coming from there. He almost ignored it, but his keen ears caught his name being called by a familiar voice. He grabbed the phone. “Marko?”

“It’s me. What happened to Araminta?”

He held her closer to his chest. “She gave my life force back to me.”

“Damn, I told her to hold some back.”

Leander frowned. “What are you talking about?”

“Listen up. You can share it with her, your immortality. Give her some of your life force, but not all of it. You still need most of it.”

“What will that do to her?”

“It will save her life and you can be together.”

Leander dropped the phone and gathered her close to his heart. He murmured under his breath, willing the light from within him into her once again. But this time he carefully controlled it, letting it flow a little at a time until he felt her stirring. Colors swirled around them, enveloping them as a slow, warm stream flowed from his hands into Araminta. When he felt she’d had enough, he stopped and hung his head as exhaustion and gratitude tugged at him.

Noise not far from him reminded him that Marko was still waiting on him. He grabbed the phone. “Thank you, my friend.” His heartfelt emotions made his voice quaver.

“My pleasure.” Marko chuckled. “I think you have other things to attend to now, but call me later. We have much to discuss together and with Roric.” The bear paused. “Love her and do not let her go. The woman in your arms is a miracle. She gave her life for you.”

“I know.” He thumbed off the phone and stood with Araminta safe in his arms. “Come on, Percy.” The cat ambled beside him as he went inside the house, pausing only to close and lock the door behind him. He dumped the phone on the counter, carried Araminta into her bedroom and gently set her down on the bed.

The loveliest warmth filled Araminta. It was like floating in a pool of warm water on a hot summer day. She sighed and stretched, but it wasn’t water beneath her. It was firmer than that.