Chapter 1

June 24, 1314

The Battle of Bannockburn

     Lying on the rain soaked battlefield, Darius MacLeod looked up at the tall, young man staring down at him with piercing green eyes.  Dear God, was this the Angel of Death he’d heard folktales about as a lad?  For some reason Darius had never envisioned an angel to look so——human——or so finely dressed in expensive European clothing. 

     “Who are ye?” Darius asked, the words coming out a ragged whisper, and with great effort since every inch of his body vibrated with pain.

      The tall, blond smiled softly, flashing straight white teeth, two of which were more prominent than the rest.   Going down on his haunches, the man brushed the hair back from Darius’s face with a gentle hand.  “Fear not, my friend, I mean you no harm.”

     Uneasiness worked its way up Darius’s spine as he stared at the man’s face, noticing strange, faint purple lines which looked like tiny veins.  His skin seemed oddly pale, and his green eyes seemed to glow from within.

     The frozen ground enveloped Darius, sinking into his bones, making him shiver.  Even his teeth chattered and he could do nothing to stop it.  Death had its hold on him. 

     “Are you in great pain?” the man asked, looking down at Darius’s belly and the deep wound that would send him to an early grave. 

     “I can no longer feel my legs.”  Darius had been injured many times throughout the years, and had the scars to prove it.  Such wounds could not be avoided in turbulent times of war, but he’d never before received such a punishing blow, and in such a deceitful way.  The English solider had played dead, laying still among his fallen comrades——that is until Darius had walked past, on his way to camp to celebrate their victory.

     The English soldier’s blade sank into belly, and Darius had retaliated, slitting the man’s throat.   

     Aye, he would die this night.  Overwhelming sadness filled him, and he closed his eyes for a moment, remembering his beloved’s face.  Rose, with her long golden hair and beautiful green eyes.  How delicate her features; so fragile, like the rest of her.  Now, five months pregnant with their first child, she would have to raise the babe without him.  Tears burned his eyes as he silently wept for the son or daughter he would never know.  For the years he would never experience with the woman he loved more than life itself. 

     “Darius, my name is Remont,” the man said, his thumb brushing along Darius’s jaw.  “I am a friend of your brother’s.”

     Darius opened his eyes, trying hard to focus.  “Where is he?”

     The blond smiled reassuringly.  “He is coming as we speak.”

     Thank God his brother lived.

     “Listen to me, Darius.  I can help you.”

     “Remont, no man can save me.  My fate is sealed.” 

     A deadly chill rushed along Darius’s spine and he clamped his teeth together as pain sliced through him.  He was moments from death; could feel the life leaving him and the blood seeping from his body, into the ground.  “I am not ready to die, Remont,” he said, his eyelids growing heavier by the second.

     “Darius, I can help you.  I can save you.”

     “No man has the power to spare my life, Remont.  Only God can choose my fate.”

     “I speak of another life, Darius.  A life where you will never die.  A life where you can stay as you are now; young, strong and beautiful.  Just think … you will never age and you will never die.”

     Darius would have laughed had he the strength.  “Ye have the power to do this?  To make me immortal?”

     “Yes, I do.”

     “If only it were true.  I would give anything to see the birth of my child and to hold my wife in my arms again.” 

     “Darius, I can end your pain.  A single word is all I need,” Remont urged, his voice soft.   “Say yes.”

     “Darius!”

     Demetri appeared beyond Remont’s shoulder, his gaze moving from Darius’s, to the wound.  His stricken expression said more than words ever could. 

     Darius forced a smile, noting the blood that stained his brother’s hands and arms.  “Are ye hurt?”

     “Nay.  Who did this?”

     Darius nodded to the English man who lay nearby; in the same place he had fallen.  “Dead, just as I will soon be.  Our parents are calling me home, brother.”

     A nerve in Demetri’s jaw flinched.  “Do not say that.  Ye shall live.”

     Darius knew his twin better than he knew himself, and Demetri never gave up or accepted no for an answer.  “Trust Remont, brother.  He will help ye.”

     Demetri sat on the ground, resting Darius’s head on his lap.  Darius looked up at the familiar face and noticed something odd about his brother.  Something he had noted about Remont’s appearance.   They both shared the same pale complexion and even more, his brother’s eyes were odd, more brilliant than he recalled.  “Let me die in peace, Demetri.”

     “I will not let ye die,” Demetri said firmly, his pale face full of fury and fear.  Darius and Demetri had never been apart in all their thirty years.  Though Darius was younger than his brother by a few minutes, he had always taken on the paternal role of his more adventurous and daring twin brother.  It had been that way since they’d lost their parents a decade before.

     “Listen to me, brother,” Darius said firmly.  “Take care of Rose and the babe.  Promise me this.”

     “Remont, change him.”  Demetri’s voice held an edge Darius had never before heard.

     And what in god’s name did he mean change him?

     Tears brimmed his brother’s fierce blue eyes.  “Do not leave me, Darius.  We have worked too hard and too long to see our country free from tyranny.  Ye shall live to savor the freedom——”

     “Tell Rose I love her.”  Darius winced as pain wracked his entire body.  “Tell her to make a good life for our son.”

     “Ye will not die.  I will not allow it.”  Demetri looked at Remont.  “Do it now!”

     Remont’s brows furrowed.  “I have not heard his consent.”

     “Ye have my consent,” Demetri said through gritted teeth.

     Remont nodded.  “As you wish.” 

     Darius felt his heart slowing and his other organs followed suit.  Even his vision dimmed, and Demetri and Remont blurred as a bright light filled his vision.

     Demetri’s voice faded as well, and a loud humming began to intensify.  Oddly enough, a sense of peace washed over him, followed by images of his life——scene after scene, like pages in a book.  He saw himself as he came from his mother’s body, as an infant suckling at her breast, and again as a toddler playing with his brother.  On and on the visions flashed all the stages of his life.

    He smiled as he relived the moment he first met Rose, the rush of excitement he’d felt the first time they had kissed, the softness of her lips——

     And the memory faded as smooth lips touched his neck.  He tried to open his eyes, but the lids were so heavy.  A sudden, sharp pain made him curse.  He had no strength to push his attacker off, and seconds later the desire to do so fled as strange sensations rushed through his body.  The intense cold left Darius, replaced by liquid fire which coursed through his veins; starting at the top of his head and rushing to his feet.

     “It is done,” Remont said, sounding pleased. 

                           

“Thank ye, my friend,” Demetri replied, his hand resting on Darius’s forehead.  “I shall never forget what ye have done for me this day.”