>Branded (Mercy Book 2)

Cain replied to the LORD, “My punishment is too great for me to bear! You have banished me from the land and from your presence; you have made me a homeless wanderer. Anyone who finds me will kill me!”

Brand:

I went inside the flying building and seem them both.

And I can't help but stare.

Vantier. A legend from my ancestor’s time, reborn. Then she was known as a warrior, a leader. Today? She’s become a healer, and teacher.

And Faith. A girl who is just beginning to scratch the surface of her potential, and yet has already accomplished miracles. She not only saved me, she did something even more impossible.

She forgave me.

Me.

The one who enslaved a hell hound to track her down. The one who hurt her friends, and threatened her life.

The one who caused her mother’s death, and her father’s imprisonment.

And yet instead of insisting I be punished, she forgave me.

Now, if only I could forgive myself ...

For a moment I simply watched them, struggling with the desire to run away before they saw me.

But then it was too late to run ...

****

Faith:

I cought Brand looking at me, and I struggle to control a storm of emotions. I have learned that our people were passionate in many ways, including sex, so the fact he’s attracted to me doesn’t surprise me.

The fact I find him attractive as well is something I’m ... still working on coming to grips with.

And then there is the complicating factor.

Even without my mental abilities, I’d probably be able to tell what Brand is dealing with. He feel awful for being controlled by Vendetta, and all the things Vendetta made him do.

Including killing my mother.

Maybe it seems weird, but I dont blame him for what happened.

Now, if only I could get him to stop blaming himself ...

I smiled, and wave to Brand to come up and join us.

He hesitated, and I worried he was going to turn the offer down.

Then he flew up to us.

And did something really strange.

He landed on the platform beside us, knelt in front of Vantier, and said “My lady.”

She touched him on the shoulder, and said, “Be at peace, Brand. The old ways and the old titles ... belong in the past.”

Having said this, she launched herself into the air, shouting “Come! Let us fly!”

I giggled, and followed her as best I could, and then glanced behind me to see Brand doing the same.

Even in Whately, where wonders are commonplace, it was something to see (and thanks to a student who had come into the pavilion and recorded our flight, I did get to watch it). We were soaring, spinning, dancing in the air like a trio of angels taking time off from being counted by philosophers.

At the time, however, I found myself distracted by ... more carnal thoughts.

I hadn’t done much research on the mating rituals of my ancestors, but that it involved showing off one’s flight skills was obvious from my body’s reaction to Brand’s flying.

Honestly, I think that if Vantier had not been there acting as a kind of chaperone, the chances are good Brand and I would had started doing some things that would have put the video into a whole other category of film.

Eventually, the time we had scheduled ran out, and I landed and went to a small change area that included lockers and a shower.

I put the water on as cold as I could stand it, and stayed under for several minutes before feeling like I could face the world again.

I came out, and found Vantier waiting for me.
“You want to talk about it?” she asked, gently.

I stammered, and looked down at the ground.

Then she said, “Perhaps not with me, but you have your dreamscape. Seek the counsel of those who know you best - and love you most.”

I nodded, and started back towards my dorm room. Then a thought occurred to me. As bad as i was struggling, at least I didn’t have to be alone. But who would Brand have?

“Me.” I said to myself, and went to get him.

*****

It wasn’t hard to find him. In fact it was scary easy. I realized we were ... connected, and I just played “hot and cold” until I found him.

I felt a little like I was trying to approach a very skittish animal, but I focused on my compassion for him, and after a few moments, he took my hand.

I led him back to Poe, and if anybody thought it strange that I was taking a boy into my room, they thankfully remained silent.

Technically I could slip into my dreamscape anywhere, but as it was explained to me, it’s best to do it in a place that is both safe and comfortable, and the only other place that met both those criteria was the magic building, and since it was temporarily closed because of an accident involving one of the other students, and I didn’t want to wait, my room was the only option left.

I sat him on the bed, pulled up the chair so we could link hands, told him to focus and follow me, and with a deep breath ...

We were there.

My understanding is that my ancestor's area was nowhere near as large or as beautiful as the area Vantier had come from, but to me, it was beautiful beyond anything I had ever seen in the waking world.

I held Brand’s hand as we flew to Ava’s home.

I was greeted at the door by Fido, and at that moment realized I had not thought this all the way through.

The last time Fido saw Brand, Brand had enslaved him while under the influence of Vendetta.

I made a signal to Brand to hold back while I approached Fido. I “downloaded” everything that had happened to Brand, being possessed by Vendetta.and how with help from my friends I had freed him. I also broadcasted an appeal to forgive him.

Fido surprised me though. Fido just smelled him, and then gave a three-headed lick to his face, before walking back into the house.

“I guess Fido has forgiven you.” I said, smiling.

I looked inside the door, and behind Fido my mom and Ava were smiling, offering a welcome to Brand.

Brand had put a hand to his face where Fido had licked him, and looked at my mother and Ava.

Then he started crying.

I went back to him, and tried to take his hand, but he shook my hand hand away, and sobbing said, “I ... cant ...”

Then he vanished.

I woke myself out of my dreamstate, only to realize he had already had left my room.

I swore.

“Dam it!” ...

To be continued ...