Embracing Love and Power
Chapter 28 - Magic

Tillie jumped over the wall and ran straight towards the tumult. She saw Althea standing there surrounded, by a wall of fire. Soldiers had lined up around her all with sword drawn. The flames rose higher and higher. Tillie was out of breath as she tried to push through the crowd. She had to stop this, she had to save Althea. As Tillie approached the fire she shouted Althea’s name, but nothing happened instead she saw how Timber approached herself, he came right at her and attacked her. The most intense fight Tillie had ever fought ensued. She had a hard time keeping up with Timber’s hits, he delivered hit after hit. And then Tillie saw his sword near her head, everything around her went black. Next moment Tillie woke up in front of a cell, a girl lay there on the floor crying. Tillie tried to call her, the girl looked up and Tillie gasped, she felt how tears streamed down her face.

“Love, Love” Tillie felt how two big arms wrapped around her. “Tillie wake up, you are having a nightmare.” Timber’s soft voice filled her head as she awoke. “You are safe here.” He tried to comfort her. “Same nightmare again?” Tillie nodded her head, ever since she met Illmenni the three same nightmares continued to haunt her in her sleep. It started with Boris, trying to rape her, which she could do nothing about. The next dream was about a fight with Illmenni, it always ended with Timber’s death and the last dream always ended with the girl in the cell. And like every morning Tillie couldn’t remember her face. Timber had woken her up and she was laying on his chest as she studied his face. “Are you okay?” he asked. Tillie nodded her head.

After meeting the council, Timber had insisted that Tillie moved into his room. At first she had refused, but because she had spent every night with him, she finally agreed. Tillie felt empty and tired, the same series of nightmares appeared over and over in her dreams. She couldn’t decipher whether they were visions or something else. A shudder ran down her spine. Timber pressed a soft kiss to her lips. “I am sorry for everything you have been through.” Timber softly whispered. Tillie placed her hand on his chest as her fingers trailed over his abs. “I think it was all worth it.” She grinned. Timber smiled as he grabbed her closer and flipped her over. He immediately lay on top of her, placing kisses all over her body. The kisses quickly turned into full-blown passionate love making, leaving them both breathless.

Tillie had taken off her clothes as she dipped into the lake, she hoped the cool water could clear her mind after the long day it had been. She looked up at the stars and wondered when the trouble would begin. From the vividness of her dreams, she knew that things were about to change, that something was coming for her and it was coming fast. She let her fingers glide over the ring and looked at the memories of her parents and a soft smile played on her lips. “What are you doing?” Althea’s voice startled Tillie. “Thinking.” Tillie replied. Althea let her feet dangle in the water. “About my hot brother?” Tillie rolled her eyes at Althea. “Seriously is it because you are missing action?” Tillie asked as she raised her eyebrows. A blush formed on Althea’s cheeks. And then it clicked in Tillie’s head, Althea was a mage after all. “You are waiting for the right one to come along.” She smiled. “Yeah I do, it’s stupid isn’t it?” she asked. “No I did the same.” Tillie replied. “So my brother is the right one?” Althea asked surprised. Tillie shrugged. “I think so.” “I am so going to be the godmother of those beautiful babies.” Althea giggled. Tillie rolled her eyes. “Yeah of course, at least twelve.” she replied sarcastically.

As they walked back to the camp a strange feeling settled in Tillie’s stomach. Althea jumped over the wall as Tillie had taught her and Tillie followed. But to her surprise they were immediately cornered by four soldiers. “I told you they would be here.” One of them said. Tillie studied them for a few seconds, she hadn’t seen them before, they weren’t from her squad or Makin’s squad. “I could use some action.” The other replied. Althea gave Tillie a frightened look. “I will take the spoiled princess, she will be below me, fucked into oblivion.” Tillie took a step in front of Althea. She watched how she was struggling to keep her cool. “Althea breath, nothing will happen to us.” “Ooh you are wrong sweetheart. I am going to ride that pretty little ass of yours. You see, Timber is nothing compared to me.” One of the others answered as he tried to grab Tillie’s arm. “I am going to ask you politely, let go of me.” Tillie hissed through her teeth. Her arm went up behind her back to draw her sword. The soldier pulled hard on Tillie causing her to fall to the ground, Tillie hit her head and for a second the light went out. She quickly shot up as she watched how flames surrounded her and Althea.

Throughout the whole camp a loud signal sounded. Soldiers rushed towards them within seconds. “We saw her perform magic; she is one of them.” One of the attackers yelled. The soldiers formed a ring around the fire. Tillie got up and ran over towards Althea. “Calm down, the flames must disappear quickly. Concentrate on your breathing, count back with me.” When Tillie could calm Althea the flames disappeared. “Kill her, she has been more than long enough protected by her brother.” The other attacker yelled.

Tillie watched as more and more soldiers gathered around them at a dazzling speed. She pulled her sword out. “Step away Breaker, we have no beef with you. Why are you defending her? You know what needs to be done. We don’t want to hurt you” Tillie smirked. “A few seconds ago you were going to ride me. I don’t believe a word that comes out of your filthy mouth.” She replied.

Tillie looked at Althea, she saw how the girl was crying. She had to do something. Althea was nowhere near capable of saving herself. She looked around, there were too many men to fight against even for her strength, she just stood there with her sword drawn looking at the soldiers in front of her. The soldiers of her squad had joined them and stood at the side watching and waiting for Tillie’s command, she could feel it. With her body she shielded Althea. Suddenly a voice boomed over the group. “Move.” Timber’s voice spread through the crowd and seconds later Tillie looked straight into Timbers blue eyes; his eyes were filled with fear. Makin and Valen were right behind him, Tillie looked for Ace but she couldn’t spot him anywhere. “Can someone explain what is happening here?” His loud voice commanded the crowd. “I am sorry boss, but it turns out that your sister is a mage.” One of the attackers said.

Timbers eyes filled with rage, and suddenly it became clear to Tillie what she had to do. Timber took a step closer, his eyes searched hers. “Move Tillie.” But Tillie stood her ground and looked him straight in the eye. The crowd became angry. “I can’t do that.” she said. “It’s a command” Tillie closed her eyes and took a deep breath, she knew what the result of her next words would be. “Althea isn’t the one you are looking for.”

And suddenly the silence was deafening, for the past few weeks the soldiers had grown fond of Tillie. They knew what was about to happen. Timber looked confused at Tillie. “Don’t do this.” She softly whispered so that only he could hear it. He closed his eyes for a few minutes to think. “Althea was just taking the blame for me.” Tillie stated loudly. Timber’s eyes flashed open and Tillie could see that darkness had taken over. “It’s over Tillie, hand me your weapon.” Timber commanded.

Tillie smiled at him. “It’s not going to be that easy.” She replied with a smile. “Please Timber, it was all a misunderstanding.” Althea pleaded. “Shut up Althea.” Timber silenced her. With one swift movement Timber had drawn his sword and he stood right in front of Tillie. She looked straight into the eyes of the man she loved. She knew he had to do this; he couldn’t sacrifice his little sister. He had sworn to protect her.

If Tillie had learned one thing, then it was how messy he was when he was mad. She had to take advantage of that. She waited patiently for him to make the first move. He was far too eager to attack her and she dodge his hit easily.

All the men were dead silent.

Her sword met blow after blow from his and she danced around him. She could feel how that made him even angrier. He attacked her again, but Tillie blocked him. He became so angry that he threw away his sword, standing with only his fists in front of her. She looked at him as a tear rolled down her cheek. “Come on what are you waiting for? You are obviously here to hurt me. To destroy me.” He yelled. “I am not.” Tillie replied. “Stop lying to me.” “I am not.” She said.

Tillie threw her sword aside and clenched her hands into fist. She studied the man in front of her, the man she fell so deeply in love with. She knew that this was the end of her time as squad leader in the black elite. Sadness filled her heart when she realized she was about to lose her new-found family. Tillie looked at Timber, he was ready to swing at her. She needed to throw the fight again. She couldn’t win. With her sword she was able to block his attack and not retaliate. But when he started throwing punches her body had to collect.

His left fist swung through the air Tillie blocked with her arms, but at a dazzling speed he threw his right one in. She heard her ribs crack under the impact. A groan went through the crowed. Tillie composed herself and looked at him. He swung back and punched her in the face, her eyebrow split open and blood started to trickle down her face. “HIT ME” Timber screamed at her when he caught on what she was doing. “No, I won’t.” Tillie replied. He hauled again, she dodged his punch and rotated away from him. “You are a coward” he spat. “If I were a coward, I would be running from you.” Tillie replied.

He hit her again right in the stomach and Tillie collapsed in his arms. When he bent down to drop her on the floor, she whispered so that only he could hear her. “I love you, please don’t forget that.” she whispered. Timber looked bewildered at the woman at his feet. He felt torn inside, but he knew what he had to do. “Throw her in the dungeon, I don’t want to look at that traitor’s face one more second.” He commanded. “Please Timber, calm down you are exaggerating.” Althea tried to reason with her brother. “Am I? Did she not betray us all? Did she not lie to all of us?” He asked Althea. “I never lied to you.” Tillie said as she spat out some blood.

“Yeah you did, you don’t want the same thing as us.” Timber replied after a few seconds. “Are you so sure you all want the same thing?” Tillie asked. She saw the doubt creep over Timber’s face as he looked around at the crowd that had gathered around them. Tillie’s soldiers looked all nervously at was happening in front of them. “Makin, Valen take her away.” Timber commanded stern. “Are you sure boss?” Valen asked. “It’s a command.” Timber replied shortly. Tillie knew that this wasn’t the battle she needed her strength for. She didn’t want to hurt the guys either. Valen and Makin grabbed her by the arms and dragged her away. She kept looking at Timber, the man she fell in love with. Even though she hatted everything he stood for and believed in.

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