Chapter Twenty
The screech of a seagull woke him. It was such a normal sound, a sound he heard every day of his life. He had almost drifted back to sleep when the gull screeched again.
"Make it go away," CC mumbled, and snuggled more securely against his chest.
Dylan's eyes shot open, and he was instantly awake. His heart pounded painfully in his chest until his mind registered that the room was still cast in the darkness of predawn. He forced his panic to subside.
The gull screeched again.
CC's eyes cracked open. The bird was perched on the window ledge.
"What is it doing?" she grumbled. Then she kissed Dylan's chest and nuzzled him.
"I believe it is a messenger from your mother, reminding me that my time is limited."
"Do you have to go?" she asked sleepily.
Dylan kissed the top of her head. "If I do not, I will not live," he said simply.
"What?" CC's eyes sprang open. She read the truth on her lover's face. "You should have told me!" She lunged out of bed, pulling him after her. "When do you have to return?"
"Before light touches the land."
CC ran to the window. Dylan moved behind her, looking over her shoulder. Predawn was already beginning to gray the night-darkened ocean. His stomach contracted.
"You can't take the time to leave through the monastery." Her eyes darted to his masculine body, gauging his size. "I think you can fit if you squeeze."
He lifted his brows in a question.
"Through the window," she said, pointing. "The cliffside is right outside there. Hurry!"
Dylan nodded and bent to kiss her quickly. Then he hoisted his naked body up to the windowsill. It was a tight fit, and rock scraped his skin painfully, but it took him only a moment to pop through like a cork to the surface of a pool of water. On her toes, CC peered out the window. His smile flashed in the darkness.
"I have enjoyed being a man, Christine." His grin was endearingly male.
Even through her worry, CC smiled. "Hurry, silly."
"I will wait for you tonight," Dylan said. "And for all of eternity."
Then he turned and sprinted towards the cliff. CC's mouth opened in a soundless scream when she saw his naked muscles bunch powerfully. Before she could shout a warning, he reached the edge of the cliff and leapt from its impossibly steep side. His body arched in a spectacular dive, and in the moment before the sun touched the land CC saw the flash of fire that signaled his change from human to merman. She stood at the window for a very long time, struggling against the painful desire to follow him.
Dawn had shifted from gray to mauve when she finally turned from the window. All sight of Dylan was gone. Slowly, with movements that might have belonged to a woman Isabel's age, she pulled on her robe and belted it. Rolling up the sleeves she pushed open the door, almost causing the monk who knelt outside in the hall to fall over.
"Good morning, I didn't mean to startle you," CC said.
The monk stood. CC noticed that his face was flushed and he looked woozy, like he had just awakened from a delicious, goddess-induced dream.
"The abbot asked that I bring you to him upon your waking." The monk's voice cracked with sleep.
CC shook her head. Dylan's absence was a raw wound, and it left her in no mood to deal with Abbot William's sly questioning. "Please tell the abbot that I am honored by his invitation, but that I must get to work immediately on my restoration of the Holy Mother."
The monk's mouth opened and closed compulsively. CC thought it made him look like a bizarre species of land flounder.
"I'm sure the abbot will understand. He, of all people, knows the importance of honoring the Holy Mother. Have a blessed day, Brother, and thank you for watching over me last night."
CC hurried down the hall. When she glanced over her shoulder at the monk, he was still standing in front of her door. And his mouth was still open.
The way through the dining room which led to the servant's entrance to the kitchen felt like a familiar friend, and CC's leather slippers made soft little padding noises as she circumvented the courtyard and the silently watching well. Peeking into the dining room she let out a relieved breath. It was empty except for Isabel, who was clearing the last of the dishes from one of the tables.
"Good morning," CC said.
"That stubborn look tells me that no matter how weary you are, you will still be about the Virgin's business," Isabel stated with frustrated concern.
"Stubborn? I'm not stubborn."
Isabel's answer was a rude noise in the back of her throat, which almost made CC laugh.
They both headed into the kitchen, which was a wonderful mixture of busy women and delicious smells. Each woman greeted CC with a smile and a warm hello.
"Already had your bucket and such taken to the chapel," Lynelle said in her gruff voice.
"Thank you, but you didn't need to go to any trouble for me. You already have enough to do," CC said.
"We did not do it," Gwenyth said. "We asked some of the Brothers to gather and carry the things."
CC blinked in surprise.
"There are those among the Brothers who are pleased that the Holy Mother is being restored," Isabel explained.
"And a little water fetching does not take them long from tending their precious sheep and gardens," Lynelle grumbled.
"I made this for you," Bronwyn slurred softly, handing CC a mug of warm tea.
"Eat this on the way to the chapel. You must not allow yourself to weaken. The Holy Mother needs you strong and healthy." Gwenyth gave her a hard roll with a hunk of cheese and meat inside of it.
"You have no idea how much this means to me this morning," CC said, suddenly feeling near tears. "Thank you. I appreciate all of you."
The four women made scoffing noises, waving off her thanks, but CC could see the pleasure that flushed their wizened faces.
"Go on with you," Isabel said. "Today we will make certain that you eat."
On impulse, CC leaned down and kissed the old woman's cheek before hurrying out the door.
It must have rained sometime during the night, because the gardens were still wet and sparkling. CC breathed deeply, enjoying the damp smells of grass and flower as they mixed with the ever-present salt tang of the nearby ocean. Chewing the last of the breakfast roll, she strolled slowly through the twisting paths, taking the long way to the chapel. She passed several monks already busy pruning and weeding and was pleasantly surprised when two of them met her gaze and nodded shy good mornings.
The chapel was dim and still filled with an oppressive layer of incense from dawn mass, but as CC made her way to the Virgin's statue, she felt her spirit lighten. The Blessed Mother was lit by dozens of white candles, and the statue glowed like a golden beacon of hope. Yesterday, CC had left six candles burning around the base of the statue.
Someone, perhaps even several someones, had already begun visiting the Virgin.
Placed in a neat row to one side of the niche that held the statue were three buckets of clean water, a hunk of soap, a pile of clean rags and a large straw broom.
"Time to get to work," she told Gaea's serene face.
"Ugh!" CC scooped up another pile of rancid-smelling mess while she muttered to herself. "I have no way of being certain, but I think that this is poo from a giant squirrel."
"Actually, it is from a raccoon, but a giant squirrel is an excellent guess." Gaea had materialized in front of the statue, her blue and gold silk wrap mirroring the soft colors in the Virgin's robes.
"I should have known that even a giant squirrel wouldn't be giant enough to make this nasty mess." CC smiled at the goddess. "Good morning, it's nice to see a clean face."
"Good afternoon to you, daughter. You have worked the morning away." Gaea returned her smile and clicked her fingers. In a shower of silver sparks a wet towel appeared in one hand and a goblet appeared in the other. She gestured for CC to join her.
"Come, sit and refresh yourself. I have news."