Chillin After the Battle
#52 of The Moonrise Chronicles
When Maggie regained consciousness, she was mostly aware of the darkness. There were no stars within her vision, or a moon. There was no sound, no wind; nothing. On a good note, she wasn't in pain. The only real sensation she had was with her nose. But that was only marginally helpful. All she could smell was dankness and dirt. Unintentionally, she spoke out loud. "I guess I died and they buried me." Nothing happened right away, but then a little light came into view. She heard Emile's voice. "Détendez-vous Maggie, vous êtes très bien." Her eyes adjusted to the lantern he was holding. "Where am I?" Then she squeezed her internal muscles. "And where are the rings?" "Tout va bien. Vous devez vous détendre et venir avec moi." He held out his hand to her. She leaned up for just a moment. She felt like she had been run over by a steamroller. There was no pain, but she felt drained and squished. But she was alive. Remembering Edward, she felt that living wasn't something she wanted anymore. She was beginning to understand how he had felt when he thought he had lost her. She fell back against the board where she had been sleeping. "Leave me alone. I just want to die!" "Nul n'est autorisé à être mourir aujourd'hui. Les commandes de Maître de Vinci." Another voice came to her ears, and while his words made no sense, she was still glad the master remained alive. Then she felt something slip onto her finger. It was one of the rings. "You did very well young lady, but at a cost." She didn't bother to try sitting up. "Yes. I lost part of my soul." "Tsk tsk! You only lose the parts you let go of. I was referring to the stab wounds. One does not simply suffer an attack by weapons devised by Giovanni Angelo Missaglias. Especially when they were designed by yours truly." Maggie felt a little spark take hold inside her. "You! I am beginning to think that bringing you back to life was a mistake!" He patted her hand. "You may be right. We can never tell what the future will bring. So now you're stuck with me." "I'd rather have Edward back." "Was he ever gone?" Leonardo's eyes sparkled. "What's up, you old fakir?" She was suddenly suspicious of him and his intentions. "Fakir? I take exception to that. Come. Come." He held out his hand. She took it and put her feet on the floor. "Where are we, by the way?" "In my workshop. It's not as comfy and hospitable as I would have liked, but apparently there have been changes over the years to destroy some of my workings. So for now, I feel we must remain in the dark. What I wouldn't give to have your magic lantern." "You don't believe in magic." She said deadpan. "Neither do you. So we know automatically that it must be something else. But come." He was growing insistent. They moved back to the main room, where there were a few lanterns and candles flickering. The casket was closed, and there were a few diagrams and charts lying on top. Corinne smiled from a corner, where she was sitting quietly. Emile was there a head of them, walking rather stiffly. "What happened to him?" "He broke his back when he hit the metal vehicles. He is just learning to use his legs again." "And what of me?" "I can't say for certain, but from what I could determine, you broke your chest. And I think you will always have the scars from the daggers. I apologize about that." "I don't give a fuck. What about Edward? Where is his body?" She heard a tap on come from the casket and a faint voice. "Close by." She jumped back. "What the hell did you do to him?!" "Relax my dear. I had to freeze him to remove the sword without completely killing him. So I have given him three of the rings to speed his healing. Remember, he was, for all intents and purposes, dead. That takes a lot of healing to reverse. The other ring I gave to Emile. I borrowed it back to show you that you were still among friends." She shook her head. This was a lot to take in. She slipped off the ring and handed to the boy. "Take it." Emile looked confused. "But you need it." "Take it, before I change my mind." He frowned, but took it and slipped it on his finger. "Open the lid!" Leonardo opened the top. Inside, looking a bit frosty was Edward. He opened his eyes. "Hey Mags. How's it going?" She startled everyone by climbing right in with him. "Look you stupid, jackass of a man. If you hadn't already died on me, I would so kill you right now for worrying me so!" "Careful!" he cried. "My chest is still pretty tender. I had a sword stuck in me from my sternum, all the way through my heart and out my spine. I shouldn't be alive, much less talking right now." "Then shut the fuck up and kiss me!" She pressed her lips against his, and while the rest of him was twenty degrees below normal, his lips went warm in no time. So did other parts of him. She noticed the three rings, each one on different fingers. She turned to the master. "Why do you persist in lying about the rings?" She couldn't understand his reply until she pulled one off and placed it on her own finger. "Because sometimes the truth is too much for people to handle. Yes, you are correct in assuming that gathering them all together would make one of the kind very powerful. I was the only one who knew the power they contained. Back in my day, I sent them away. All scraps of the stone were also hidden away, except for some I sent to Giovanni. He was able to get the metal and silver to bond. Of course, that armor and weaponry were never meant to be used by the kind. It was too dangerous. It was to go to another, someone who was to police our activities. But it seems that, over the years that purpose was corroded and abused. "Where are the other rings then?" "I cannot say after all this time." "I think you're lying. But luckily for you, I don't care. I trust to you keep the facts secret. The damn things have been more of a curse than a boon." "You don't want yours back?" "Leo, I like you, but right now I have what I want. So shut the fuck up. When Emile is healed, I'll take it back. But I would never purposely take something when I don't need it." Edward smiled. "Not even two million dollars?" She pressed her thumb against his chest, but she didn't push. "Say something smart again, wise-guy and I'll make you wish you hadn't!" He grinned. "You are too worked up right now. Besides, that money has come in handy, now hasn't it?" "You had better believe it!" Leonardo was shaking his head. "Some things never change. Couples still argue I see." "Couple?" This was Maggie, and there was surprise in her voice. "You heard me. I don't know what your standards are today, but your ages are no different from those in my day. And you are lucky enough to be in love. Relish it." "But he's already married!" "And since when has that ever stopped anyone?" "Are you saying that we should sin?" This time there was as slight grin on her face.
"You may call it what you wish. Love is love, and transcends all other boundaries. The pope had children of his own, after all." She giggled. "Yeah, I know. I have a feeling that sits pretty poorly with modern religious scholars." He shrugged. "It was what it was. If God invented love, who are we to argue against it?" Edward smiled. "Who indeed?" "Not I. And with that decision, you can either watch or find somewhere else to be." "I beg your pardon?" "I'm going to show this stupid man how much I love him. So if you wish to watch how it's done, you may stay. Otherwise, I'd suggest you find somewhere to be for the time being." Edward began to protest. She had no patience for it. "Shut up. I may never be able to call you husband, but you are my father and my lover. So, under those auspices, how dare you counter any suggestion I make in regards to matters of family or of love?" "I guess I can't." "Smart man." She turned to Leonardo. "And don't think that I'm done with my questions for you, old man. You have a lot to answer for. Such as the rings. I intend to know as much as you do about these damn things. Especially what happens when they are all worn together. So I would suggest you get your thoughts sorted out, because I do not take no for an answer." Edward snorted. "She's right you know, she doesn't." She turned on him and placed her thumb against his chest again. "What were you saying?" "I was just telling the great master Leonardo how accommodating you were." "Oh shut up! We all know how I am. Get over it." Edward stifled a smile. "How about I just get into it?" "I thought you'd never make the offer!" She turned her attention to him, ignoring the others in the room. They in turn drifted off into another chamber, granting the reunited couple a little privacy.