Sacrafice Of Love

                                                                         Chapter 11

Trace went down to get some breakfast. Half hour later Oded and Tanith came down. Oded looked tired and didn’t want anything to eat.
“How is he?” Arnold whispered to Tanith.
“Not sure, he doesn’t say much and I don’t want to keep asking. He slept about 4 hours then sat and read for a while”
He sighed and walked out of the door, he heard Oded coming down and he didn’t want him to see him like this. He couldn’t just sit and watch his friend die like this and know there was nothing he could do.
Trace went out to find Arnold, he was sitting on the porch. As she stood in front of him, he wrapped his arms round her and buried his face in her dress.
“Shh it’s ok, I love you Arnold”
“You love me?” he asked searching her face.
“Yes, is that so hard to believe babe, I think I fell for you the first time I saw you”
“Oh Trace, I love you too but I never said anything because I didn’t believe anyone could love me back for just being Arnold and not the famous actor”
“I told you, I wasn’t going anywhere didn’t I, now I’m definitely not leaving”
Later that day Oded decided to go out on his Harley but he wanted to go alone. Arnold tried to persuade him not to but he insisted. Tanith was in the library when Arnold came in and told her.
“Will he be alright?”
“Yes should be, he often goes out alone, it’s the only way he really gets to be on his own”
“Good I need to talk to you Arnold, I want your help”
“Anything you know that”
“Tonight I want to try and help Oded with his illness. I don’t know what relief I can give but I want to try”
She knew what she was going to do but couldn’t tell them yet.
“What do you want me to do?” asked Arnold.
“Well Oded is still sceptical about healing, I know he has seen what Trace did to your back and I have helped him with his knee. But to help him with his illness I need him to be completely out of it”
“What do you mean?”
“I need something that he doesn’t know about, to knock him out. But it must be harmless and must only last for a couple of hours. Can you get something?”
“Yes, that’s no problem but how do you give it to him?”
“In a drink about 20 minutes before I need to do anything. The sofa in the den will be ok. Then once he is out, I want you and Trace to go somewhere, anywhere from the house, come back when the 2 hours is up”
“Ok I’ll sort it out. What time do you want to give it too him?”
“Let’s say about 6.30, then you and Trace can come back about 9pm. That will give it time to work”
“You are sure it’s the only way?”
“Yes, he’ll try and stop me if he is awake”
Oded came back about 4pm and wanted something to eat. It was the first time he asked for something. So they had dinner early. He didn’t eat much but it was better than nothing. Arnold had told Trace what was going to happen and she told Tan to be careful.
About 6.15 they went into the den, to watch TV then Arnold said he would make some coffee. Oded was sitting on the sofa with Tanith, he was tired and said he would have to lie down after the coffee.
Arnold returned and gave Tanith hers, then Oded and finally Trace. No one did anything to make Oded think something was up. About 15 minutes later, he stood up to put his cup down and go upstairs. He had to grab the fireplace as a wave of dizziness hit him.
“Oh shit” he said holding his head with his other hand.
“Oded, what’s wrong, you ok?” asked Arnold getting up.
“I don’t know, I feel so dizzy”
“Come on, sit down a minute” said Tanith.
But before he could sit down, he collapsed on the floor. Arnold and Tanith got him onto the sofa.
“Will he be alright?” asked Tanith.
“Course he will” replied Arnold “Well he should be out for about an hour and a half. I gave him enough but not too much”
“Thanks Arnold, now you two go and enjoy yourselves.”
They left, Tanith checked on Oded, he was out cold. She got her stuff ready and called upon the God and Goddess for their help. The bright light appeared that she seen in the attic.
“Welcome my Lady” said Tanith.
“Blessings be Tanith, I know why you have called me, you are still going through with this?”
“Yes my Lady, I am”
“And you are aware of the consequences”
“I am my Lady”
The white Lady moved over to Oded.
“This is the man you love?”
“It is My Lady”
“He is very handsome Tanith, I can understand why you love him. You know his illness will become yours, if you do this?”
“I do my Lady and I am willing to give my life for him, I love him very much”
“Then Mote it be so Tanith and blessings to you for your sacrifice”
“Thank you my Lady”
She left and Tanith began her healing. She laid next to Oded and wrapped her legs and arms round him. She concentrated on the leukaemia for about an hour, then a bright light surrounded them for a full 5 minutes. Tanith felt a tingling in her then this pain, tiredness and nausea, knowing he was cured she stood up.
The Lady was back.
“You have achieved your goal Tanith, he is healed and you have taken on the illness. You will have the same time span to live as he did, which is 6 months. Live your life as best you can. Remember we will help you all we can”
“Thank you my Lady and goodbye”
Tanith closed the circle and packed her things away. She went over to Oded and kissed him gently, tears streaming down her face. He looked better, wasn’t pale and she hoped he wouldn’t be annoyed at what she had done.
Covering him with a blanket, she kissed him again, left the black book on the table with a letter. Then she grabbed the rucksack she had packed and went out to get Odeds bike. It was the 3 wheeler harley that he sometimes used. She couldn’t drive a car but could handle a trike. She had to leave, when they read the letter they would understand.
With a last look at the house, she left. As she turned left out of the lane, she stopped and waited till she saw Arnold and Trace come back from the other direction.
“God bless you all” she whispered through tears and drove away.

                                                                        ~*~*~*~*~

                                                                         Chapter 12

Arnold and Trace went into the house and straight into the den. Oded was starting to wake up. Arnold went over to him.
“Oded are you ok?”
“Yeah, what happened, last thing I remember is putting my cup down”
“I’ll explain in a minute, where’s Tanith?”
They looked for her but she was nowhere to be found. Then Trace found the letter and the book. Arnold gave Oded a drink and asked how he felt.
“I feel great, better than I have for a long time, what’s going on Arnold?”
Arnold explained what he had done and why. That Tanith wanted to try and help him but couldn’t do it with him awake.
“So where is she now?” he asked.
“She’s gone” said Trace with tears falling.
“What do you mean gone, gone where?” asked Arnold.
“It’s all in this letter, I knew she was up to something but I didn’t know it was this”
Arnold took the letter and sitting down read it to them.

“To the people I love, by the time you read this letter I will be gone. It is nothing what any of you have done, I love you all. Arnold I want you and Tracy to love each other and look after each other. Oded, I have healed you. You don’t have leukaemia anymore. I had to do it while you were out of it, it wouldn’t have worked otherwise. If you don’t believe it, have tests done, you’ll find out you are fit and well and will live for many years, well into old age.
I had the help of the White Lady but there was a price for healing you. I have taken the illness, it was the only way, so in 6 months or a bit longer I will die in your place. I love you too much to see you die when I had the ability to stop it. Don’t worry about me, I have a friend over here I can stay with. Enjoy your life Oded and think of me sometimes. I love you all, goodbye, Tanith”
PS God bless you Arnold for loving Tracy.

Oded had tears running down his face, he was angry, why had she done it.
“What the hell did she do this for, what have I ever done to deserve a second chance when she has to die”
“Because she loved you Oded, you will never know how much” said Trace putting her arms round him.
Suddenly a bright light appeared and Arnold and Oded looked shocked. Trace knew who it was.
“My Lady welcome”
“My child, Arnold, Oded. You all know what has happened”
“Yes my Lady but why did she do it?”
Walking over to Oded, she placed a hand on his shoulder.
“Because of her love for this man, she was willing to give her life”
“I am not worthy of this” said Oded putting his head down.
“She thought you were, this sort of healing is not normally allowed but she would have done it anyway. So we helped her. She is right Oded, you are no longer ill”
“But what about Tanith, can’t anything be done to help her?”
“No she will be looked after by me, I will be with her till the end”
She told them she was leaving but she had one more thing to say to Oded.
“The luckiest man who walks this earth, is the one who finds true love” remember that Oded and do not forget her”
“Thank you my Lady and goodbye” said Trace.
They sat in silence after she had gone, then Oded went outside, in the dark he needed to be alone. Trace ran to Arnold who held her as she sobbed.
“I’m going to miss Tan, I’m glad I have you. I’ll be back in a minute, I’m going to talk to Oded”
Arnold said he would make something to eat, he was hungry. Trace found Oded on the porch, his head in his hands.
“Oded can I sit with you?”
“Sure but I don’t know what to say to you, it’s because of me, Tan has gone”
Trace wrapped her arms round his shoulders and lifted his face to hers.
“Don’t blame yourself, ever, it was her love that made her do it. No-one would have stopped her. That is why she got Arnold to knock you out, she knew you, us would have forbidden her to do it if we had know”
“But where has she gone, she doesn’t know anyone in the states, she’s out there on her own and ill, I have to find her”
“I don’t know but if she doesn’t want you to find her, you won’t”
He cried on her shoulder. No-one had ever made such a sacrifice for him before and he didn’t know how to handle it.
“Go on Oded, go to bed, you need some sleep, this will be the first time for ages you will be able to get a good nights sleep. We can’t do anything tonight”
After some persuading from Arnold, he relented and went upstairs. Trace started to go through Tanith’s paperwork and books to try and find out where she might have gone.

                                                                    ~*~*~*~*~

                                                                     Chapter 13

Oded was asleep as soon as his head hit the pillow. Arnold looked in on him and turning out the light, shut the door and went down to Trace.
“Found anything?”
“Nothing much, but I have found a name, Lanny”
“Who is he?” asked Arnold.
“I’ve no idea, she’s never mentioned anyone called Lanny before”
“Look leave it for now, we’ll have another look in the morning. Let’s go to bed, I’m tired.”
When they got up the next day, Oded was in the kitchen cooking the biggest breakfast they had ever seen.
“You are feeling better” said Arnold.
“I feel great” replied Oded then saw Trace behind Arnold. “Sorry I didn’t….”
“Stop apologising, enjoy your health” she said.
Oded dished up and they all sat down to eat.
“Oded do you know anyone called Lanny?”
“Lanny, not off hand why?”
“Because that’s a name that I found in Tanith’s book, I’d never heard of him either”
Tanith got back on the trike and headed off down the road. It was over 1800 miles to Florida but she would leave the trike at the airport and take a flight there. It was quicker.
Lanny didn’t know she was going there but his dad did and was going to meet Tanith from the airport. He was in his 80’s but had always liked Tanith. When she rang him and asked if she could come down, he was only too pleased to help.
“I’ll explain when I get there, Angelo and thank you”
The plane took off and would arrive in Tampa in about 5 hours. She had parked the trike and left the keys and a note with the carpark attendant to have it returned to Oded. She paid him to do it with some of the money she had borrowed from Arnold.
When she arrived, Angelo picked her up. He gave her a hug and they got into the car and he drove back to his house. His wife welcomed Tanith.
“I’ve heard a lot about you” she said.
“It’s very kind of you to help” said Tanith
“I’ve made a room up for you, it’s late and you be tired”
“Yes I am, thank you”
“We’ll talk in the morning” said Angelo.
The next morning Tanith was up early, she felt lousy but she knew why. She would have to put up with this now. Dressing she walked down the steps at the back of the house to the beach and sat close to the waves. Angelo spotted her when he got up and went down to her.
“So, Tanith, what is this all about” he asked
It took nearly an hour for her to explain to him what had gone over the years and what had occurred during the last month.
“I know it’s hard for you to believe”
“It isn’t actually, I’ve heard about healing and how it works. But you mean you have literally given your life for Oded’s?”
“Yes, he is no longer ill but I am and I will die in about 6 months. He has so much to live for, I haven’t, some of my kids are grown up and have their own lives, the others I have no idea where they are. I have done nothing I can be proud of in my life until now”
“But to sacrifice your life for someone else, you must love him a lot”
“I do, but I had to leave. He would have hated me for what I did and felt sorry for me and I don’t want that. If he ever finds out I am here, please deny you have ever seen me”
“I’ll agree but I don’t understand why but it’s your decision. What about a doctor, you will have to keep a check on the illness”
“I will, shall we go in”
Angelo told his wife about what she had told him.
“Do you believe her, I’m not so sure”
“I don’t know, I want to but I will make some inquiries later”
Later that day, his son Lanny turned up.
“You’ll never guess who rang me today, Oded, the guy from the mummy films. He was under the impression that Tanith was here, you remember her, from London”
“What did you say?”
“Well I told him she wasn’t, I haven’t spoke to her for ages either. Hang on, what do you know?”
“She is here, she arrived last night. What did Oded tell you?”
“Nothing much, her friend Trace is with Arnold and Oded and they want to find her”
“You mustn’t tell him she is here, not yet. I’ll tell you why”
He told Lanny what Tanith had told him then he went to see her.
“Lanny how lovely to see you” she said.
“I got a phone call from Oded this morning looking for you”
“Oh no, Trace must have seen my book with your name in it and told Oded. I’ll have to leave.”
“Tanith you can’t, not if you are ill”
“I can’t stay Lanny, if Oded knows about you, he’ll be here. I can’t see him, I have to do this alone”
“Look tomorrow you’ve an appointment at the hospital for all the tests. I made it just now” said Angelo coming in.
“Ok but then I’ll have to leave before Oded comes here. He mustn’t find me”
She went upstairs to lay down, she was feeling really tired and sick. She fell
asleep straight away, at least for a while.
“Lanny, what do we do?” asked Angelo. “She can’t leave if she is as ill as she says she is”
“I have an idea, Oded left me his number, I’ll ring and see if I can speak to Arnold or her friend”
With that he left, leaving Angelo gazing out to sea.

                                                                    ~*~*~*~*~

                                                                     Chapter 14

Oded had discovered that Tanith had taken his trike. He didn’t mind but was worried as she knew nothing about the highways in America. Also he didn’t realise she could ride one.
“You know she has taken my trike” he said coming in “At least that will be a clue to finding her”
“You can’t report it stolen, that wouldn’t be fair” replied Arnold.
“Oh I wouldn’t, I’d get a private investigator to find it. When I find that, I’ll find Tanith”
“I hope you are right”
But later that day, a pickup pulled up at the house with the trike on the back.
“I have had instructions to bring this back here” said the driver.
“Where from?” asked Arnold answering the door.
“Bismarck airport, I’ve been paid and here are the keys”
“Thank you for bringing it back” replied Arnold handing him a $50 dollar bill.
“Thank you very much Sir” said the driver and left.
Arnold went and told Oded about the trike.
“Damn, I thought it would be easy, her on that. But the airport, maybe we can find out where she went. I’ll ring them” said Oded “But hang on, she didn’t have any money”
“She did” replied Arnold “I gave her $600 dollars two days ago. She said she wanted it for you”
“I wish he’d slow down” said Trace “He might be better but he needs to take it easy”
“He will, he’s just worried about Tanith”
She kissed Arnold tenderly and whispered that she loved him.
“I love you too Trace” he replied “I didn’t think anyone would ever love me, I’m so lucky”
Oded had gone for a walk, it had been snowing heavily and he couldn’t take the bike. It must have been about 2ft deep in places. He loved the snow, even though he was from Israel. Only wearing a jacket, he was quite cold. He wished he’d put something warmer on but her wasn’t going back to the house.
He had phoned the airport and found out that Tanith had bought a ticket to Tampa. So Lanny did know she was there, he thought. Going for a walk would calm him down. He didn’t know why he was so angry, was it at Tanith for curing him, or Lanny for lying to him or could it be he really did love her.
That was silly, he liked her but he had only just finished with the woman who took his money. It was too soon to think about another relationship. Ok he had slept with her, but that was more for him than love and having her there was nice. She did love him, he realised just how much when she took on his illness.
He still couldn’t understand how it had all worked, he’d never believed in magic or healing before, he believed in God but that was about it. But he knew he had to find her, knowing what she would be feeling and knowing she would only have 6 months to live. That was another reason why he didn’t want to fall in love with her, 6 months down the line and he would be alone again.
He walked for about 2 hours and he was getting tired plus he was freezing. Looking round he estimated he must be about 4 miles from the house, he had better get back, it was starting to get dark and snow again. Back at the house, Arnold and Trace were getting worried, he had been gone ages.
“It’ll be dark in another hour” said Arnold “And it’s snowing again, I hope he is alright?”
“We’ll start worrying when it is dark and he is not back, there isn’t anything we can do, we don’t know where he went”
“He gets rid of the leukaemia to die in the snow”
“Aren’t you being a little dramatic” asked Trace.
“You don’t know the winters here, when they are bad they are bad. With the snow we’ve had and are getting, it could be 4ft deep by morning even more in the
fields and open spaces.”
“Haven’t you any idea where he’d go for a walk, somewhere he’s been before, at least it would give us a start”
“Are you thinking of looking now?” asked Arnold.
“Yes, if it will stop you panicking, before it gets dark. We’ve got warm clothes, torches come on. If he is only up the road, great but if he isn’t. Neither of us really want to wait till it is dark”
They got ready and went out to look for him. Arnold had remembered a walk they did a few times and they took that route. The snow actually made it quite bright and they didn’t need the torches yet.

                                                                     ~*~*~*~*~

                                                                       Chapter 15

Oded had started making his way back but hadn’t reckoned on the depth of the snow when he took a short cut. He was annoyed with himself, he’d been this way lots of times but not in this sort of weather. Snow yes, but this was bad, he hadn’t realised how bad.
The cold was getting to him, he was feeling tired and he ached. Walking in deep snow wasn’t easy and he ached from the wrestling matches over the past few weeks. Climbing over a fence, he came to a hill and started to go down it, he could see the house from the top. He thought it wouldn’t take him long now.
As he went down, he slipped on some ice that was just below the surface. He slid all the way down, only stopping when he hit a tree stump at the bottom that stuck out of the snow about a foot.
Trying to get up, he fell back down in the snow. This was a dangerous situation to be in, it was almost dark and the temperature was dropping rapidly. He couldn’t stay there, he die if he didn’t get to the house. But he wasn’t going to have a choice, blackness took over and he passed out, blood coming from his head into the snow.
Arnold and Trace were walking by the trees on the path that Arnold said they had been before. As Trace looked up, she saw a white glow in the distance.
“What’s that?” she asked pointing to it.
“I have no idea, I’ve never seen that before. I suppose it could be Oded, let’s have a look”
As they got nearer, the glow seemed brighter, then Arnold saw Oded laying in the snow. They ran over to him and Arnold pulled him over onto his back.
“Oded can you hear me?”
“Look at the blood, he’s got a gash on his head” said Trace.
It was then they noticed the glow beside them. Looking, they saw it was the White Lady, she had guided them to Oded. They wouldn’t have found him otherwise, it was in the opposite direction that they were going.
“She protected him and showed us where he was” said Arnold.
They helped Oded to his feet, who was now semi-conscious and half carried him back to the house. It took about half hour and he was heavy. Trace ran ahead of Arnold and threw everything off the sofa so Arnold could lay Oded on that.
“We have to get these clothes off him and see to that gash” said Trace.
“I’ll get some blankets and clothes from upstairs” said Arnold running up.
Trace took the wet things off Oded and by the time Arnold came back, he only had his shorts on. They put the other stuff on and covered him up. Trace got some water and bathed his head. It could’ve done with her healing it but she didn’t have the strength at that moment. She would try later. At the moment she used a butterfly plaster to pull it together.
“Keep still Oded, let me do this”
“How did you find me?” he asked.
She told him about the White Lady leading them to him.
“Oded lay still and get warm, if you don’t get pneumonia from this I will be
surprised” said Arnold.
“Thanks for coming out and looking for me” he said.
“Whatever made you go that far in the snow?”
“I just kept walking then I realised how far I’d gone. Then coming down the hill, I slipped and hit that tree stump”
He tried to sit up to have the drink Trace gave him, his head hurt like hell.
“Take it easy, drink this and then try and go to sleep”
He couldn’t argue, he felt cold and his head hurt. Within minutes he was asleep. Trace tucked him in and sat beside him. Arnold stoked up the fire.
“I don’t know about him but I am froze” said Trace.
Arnold pulled her onto his lap on the other small sofa and cuddled her.
“We’ll stay down here tonight, just in case Oded needs us” he said.
They just got comfortable when the phone rang. Arnold reached over and picked it up.
“Lanny, what can I do for you”
“It’s about Tanith, she’s gone”
“So she was there with you, where has she gone?”
“I don’t know and when Oded rang me, I didn’t know she was here, she was at my dad’s”
Arnold explained to Lanny what had happened to Oded.
“I’m sorry, I hope he is alright. But after the hospital appointment, she went to lay down. She knew Oded had rung. About 4 hours later, I went to see her and she was gone. I don’t know where”
“Well thanks for letting us know, if you hear anything, ring us ok”
Tanith had packed her stuff and left by the beach entrance. They wouldn’t see her go. She just left a note to say thank you. Going along the beach, she got a taxi on the road at the top and that took her to the airport at Tampa.
She always bought return tickets for everything and decided to go back to Dakota. Oded wouldn’t think she had gone back. So she could get a cabin and stay there. When the time came, she would go to the hospital.
Back in Dakota, she managed to rent a cabin, about 6 miles from Arnolds house. At least she was near help if she needed it but only as a last resort. She bought food, everything she would need for the next 2 months. Lannys dad had given her some money. She tried to refuse but he insisted.
The snows would last for another month or two and she had the old car she bought for $150. It was not much, a wreck really but it would get her to the small town when necessary. Not being a very good driver and not having a licence for the States, she would have to be careful she didn’t get stopped by the police.
Really she should have gone back to England but she didn’t want to. Tracy was still here and she had nothing to go home for.
She settled herself in, it was cozy there and she didn’t feel too bad at the moment, sick, dizzy and tired a lot of the time but nothing to worry about yet. She turned one of the rooms into a wicca room, with circle, altar and things. At least she could call upon the God and Goddess for help and guidance.
She really wanted Oded but knew she couldn’t handle it, him knowing she was going to die instead of him. One thing she didn’t want and that was to spend xmas on her own but this year she would have no choice. There was only about 4 days to go but at least she had the TV and she was warm.

                                                                     ~*~*~*~*~

                                                                       Chapter 16

It was nearly the end of March. Oded and Arnold were back on the film set and Trace was with them. Arnold had asked her to marry him and she had said yes but didn’t want the wedding till they had found her Tan.
When they weren’t on the road, they still searched for her. Oded had even got a private investigator looking but this had drawn a blank. Trace had phoned friends back in the UK but she hadn’t gone home and they assumed that she must be still in the States. But where? It was a massive place to get lost in, even more so if you didn’t want to be found.
Steven was very pleased with Odeds performances lately since Xmas he had got better. They would be going back to Morocco soon and he still had no idea how or where Tanith was.
“If the time scale is the same as mine, she only has about another 3 months” he said to Arnold when Trace wasn’t there.
“You can’t do any more than you already are, she doesn’t want to be found. You’ve searched hospitals, airports, everywhere. She hasn’t been back to Florida. Lanny had one call to say she was Ok but that was xmas. Maybe you’ll have to let go”
“Never, I’ve 3 months to find her and I will if it kills me”
“Look we’re going back to the house for 2 weeks before we leave for Morocco on the 18th April. Come back with us eh?”
“I was going to ask anyway” he said.
“Ask what?” said Trace walking in.
“He wanted to know if he could stay at our place” replied Arnold.
“Ask, you big lug, never ask, just turn up” she said giving him a hug.
Oded went to get some things, telling them he’d see them later.
“He’s still worried about Tan isn’t he?” she asked.
“Yes, I’m sorry Trace, but I don’t think we are going to find her.”
“I know, I’ve realised that but he won’t stop but I have an idea. When do we go to the house?”
“Two days time why?”
“I’m going to try and call up the White Lady. I’ve never done it before. Maybe she can help us. But say nothing to Oded”
“Ok but do you think she will be able to help?”
“I don’t know I hope so”
At the cabin, Tanith was getting thinner because she couldn’t eat much. It was only noticeable to her. She ached all over, as if she had flu but she knew it wasn’t. Surprisingly she had got on quite well on her own. She had kept up with what Oded and Arnold were doing by going on the net. And she knew Trace had said yes to Arnold because it was on one of the boards. She had found a computer in the shed and managed to get it working. So with the net she could keep in touch with things. .
She knew they were going back to Morocco but not for a few days, she wondered if they would be up at the house. She had found a way of watching the house. There was a hill near the cabin and from the top with a pair of binoculars she could see the house clearly across the lake. She hadn’t found that out till the snow had gone.
It took her a while to reach the top because of how she felt and she hadn’t asked the help of the Gods and Goddesses yet but soon she would have to. She hated asking for anything from anyone.
She had been to the hospital and they had given her some medication that would help her. She was supposed to go back but she hadn’t. Anyway she hadn’t used her real name, another way of stopping Oded finding her. She also missed her friend Tracy.
They had been at the house for a day and Oded had gone out on his bike. He said he would be gone a couple of hours.
“At least I don’t have to worry about snow this time” he laughed.
“Knowing you, you’ll find something” said Arnold.
After he had gone, Trace got Tanith’s books and took Arnold up to the attic. Most of the stuff was still there from when Tanith had used it.
“Right, sit over there Arnold and I will try and summon the White Lady. But as I said I have never done this before but I think I can remember how Tan did it”
“Be careful Trace, it might be dangerous”
She set up all the things she needed and invoked the Gods and Goddesses from the elements. Then she sat in the centre with her arms crossed over her chest and prayed to the White Lady to visit her. Suddenly the bright light filled the room and the White Lady appeared.
“Welcome My Lady”
“Blessings be Tracy, Arnold. Why have you called me?”
“I, we still can’t find my friend, we want to know if you can help us?”
“Why do you want to find her?”
“Because she needs us now, and because we love her and miss her”
“Anything else?” she added.
“Arnold and I want to marry, I want Tan to be there”
“What about Oded?”
“He has been looking for her too”
“Listen Tracy, Arnold, I will come to you tonight, when Oded is with you. I know where she is but I can’t say anything till I have spoken to him. Do you understand?”
“Yes my Lady and thank you. By the way my Lady, thank you for helping Oded at Xmas.
She smiled and left. Trace closed the circle and they went downstairs.
“Why does she want to speak to Oded?” asked Arnold.
“I don’t know but you do not question the Gods and Goddesses, they are all knowing. They know the answers before the question. You have to tell them the truth before they will help you”
“I think I understand, let’s hope Oded gives the right answers”
He hugged Trace and they kissed. Then they went to make some lunch. They wouldn’t tell Oded till the time was right.

                                                                     ~*~*~*~*~

                                                                      Chapter 17

Tracy made Oded his favourite, chocolate layer cake, with loads of cream. She was just finishing it when he came in.
“Enjoy the ride?” she asked
“Brilliant, I love being out on the bike, I feel so free. Oh Trace is that for me?”
“Yes but hands off till later” she scolded.
Oded put on a sulk so she handed him the bowl with what was left of the cream. He smiled as he took it.
“You’re like a big kid” she joked, sticking her tongue out at him. He did the same back and sat at the table with the bowl. Arnold came in and looked at him and laughed.
“You never could resist chocolate and fresh cream” said Arnold.
“Should have been quicker” laughed Oded pulling a face at him.
“I’ll get you for that” said Arnold flicking some cream at his friend.
Trace thought it was nice to see them laughing for a change, even if it was over a bowl of cream.
“If you don’t behave, neither will get any cake” said Trace her hands on her hips.
They both sat there and folded their arms.
“We’ll be good promise” they said together.
“Men” said Trace aloud.
Later on, they were all sitting in the den, Trace looked at Arnold.
“Oded, while you were out earlier, me and Arnold tried to get in touch with the White Lady, who helped us before”
“Did you have any luck” he asked.
“Yes, she said she would come to see us tonight. She wanted to talk to you”
“Why me?” he asked looking worried.
“Remember, she knows the answers before you know the questions”
About half hour later, a bright light appeared in the doorway. They turned to see the White Lady standing there.
“Welcome my Lady”
“Blessings be Tracy, Arnold, Oded. It is you Oded I wanted to talk to. Why do you want to find Tanith?”
“Because of what she did for me and she needs someone with her now.”
“Is that the only reason?”
“Yes no other”
“Are you sure?”
“Yes, I want to thank her for what she did”
“Tracy, Arnold, would you leave us a moment”
“Yes my Lady” replied Trace.
They left Oded and the White Lady together. Arnold looked at her.
“Why doesn’t she want us there?”
“Because Oded isn’t telling her the real reason he wants to find Tan”
“Which is?”
“He is in love with her” said Trace smiling and leading him into the kitchen.
The White Lady stood in front of Oded.
“Now Oded, are you going to tell me the real reason you want to find her”
“I told you the reason, what more do you want” he asked getting slightly annoyed.
“I want the truth” she said softly.
He looked at her and swallowed hard. After a few minutes.
“Ok, I’m in love with her, I can’t face this new chance alone but what is the point when she is going to die. But I’m scared I’m going to get hurt again”
“Thank you, I knew this but I needed to hear it from you. I know where Tanith is and how she is”
“Where, how is she, please tell me”
“She is quite well considering, in pain, tired but medication she is taking helps. As to where she is, all I will say to you is this. Look for the hill where the silver trees and black bears grow”
“What does that mean?”
“That is all I can tell you, when you have found her, I will know. Goodbye Oded and blessings be”
With that she was gone, Oded went to find Arnold and Trace. They were sitting in the kitchen.
“Does she want us to go back in?” asked Trace.
“No, she has gone”
“What did she say Oded?” asked Arnold.
“What did she ask you?”
“She wanted to know if you loved her didn’t she?” asked Trace “And do you?”
“Oh Trace, I love her more than anything in the world, I tried not to after last time but I couldn’t help it, then when she did what she did, I knew I had to find her even if it was a short time, I wanted her to be with me”
He put his head in his hands and cried. Trace held him tight and Arnold put his hand on his shoulder.
“We’ll find her my friend, I promise”
Between sobs he told them what the lady had said.
“She said to find the hill where the silver trees and black bears grow. What and where is that?”
“Well, it means she is not in Florida. We have to find out where black bears live over here and what are silver trees?” asked Trace.
“Black bears live all over America” said Arnold “as for silver trees I was never any good with trees and flowers.”
“Arnold, I’m taking the jeep and going down to shop” said Trace “It’ll give you two a chance to be on your own, won’t be long”
She kissed him and grabbed the keys and left. Oded and Arnold went onto the porch and talked while she was gone.

                                                                   ~*~*~*~*~

                                                                    Chapter 18

Trace went into the local hardware store, where you could buy almost anything. On the walls were maps and information about the States, national parks, lakes etc. The man who owned the place came over and asked if he could help.
“You might be able to. My friend and I are playing a game where we give a clue and then we have to find out where the place is in the states. And I am stuck on mine”
“Ok what’s the clue, I may know the answer” he said.
“well the clue I was given is Find the hill where the silver trees and black bears grow. But that could be anywhere. I come from England and I don’t know much about the wild side of America. What are silver trees?”
“Silver trees are silver birch trees” he laughed “We have millions of thTrace here”
“Oh great” said Trace “that helps a lot”
“Don’t panic, black bears love silver birch for scratching”
“Ok but black bears are found all over the place too”
“Yes, and they are found here. On the other side of Horsehead Lake are two hills with silver birch on the top. Black bears live there too although they are probably still hibernating at the moment, we have had a cold winter”
“Oh you wonderful man” yelled Trace and gave him a big kiss on the cheek and ran out of the shop. He touched his face and smiled, it had been a long time since a young girl had kissed him for no reason.
She jumped into the jeep and tore off back to the house. Arriving in record time, she burst into the den to find it empty. Then she heard voices outside.
“Arnold, Oded, I think I know where it is”
“Know where what is?” asked Arnold looking at her as she made thTrace both jump out of their skin.
“The hill where the silver trees and black bears are”
She told them about the man in the shop and what he had said.
“I know Mr Peterson, he’s been here since the beginning of time, he is that old” said Arnold.
“Shh, he said there are two hills on the other side of Horsehead lake, covered in Silver birch trees and black bears live there too”
“The other side of Horsehead Lake, that’s only about 6 mile, across the lake only 3” said Arnold.
“If that is the place, it means she has been near here all the time” replied Oded “Let’s go”
“Hang on Oded, it’s getting dark, we can’t go tonight, you know how dangerous it is out there at night. We will go in the morning”
Reluctantly he agreed but secretly he was going alone when the others were asleep.
“I hope she is up there” said Trace “I need her and so does Oded”
“I’ve just thought” said Arnold “if she is only across the lake, maybe she has been watching the house, you can see the hills from the back of the house”
“Then we had better go the long way round” replied Trace “if she sees us coming across the lake, she might leave”
“That’s a good idea” said Arnold “By the way where is Oded?”
They hadn’t noticed him leave but they heard a noise in the kitchen and going in, found him making some sandwiches.
“I was hungry, want anything?” he asked.
“I do” said Arnold “What have we got?”
“Chicken, ham, salad, the lot” he replied.
“Are you alright Oded?” asked Arnold “You haven’t said much since Trace came back”
“I’m scared that we won’t be able to find her, what if she is not there, I love her Arnold”
“I know, it’s taken long enough for you to admit it. I knew you felt more for her than you had let on”
“I tried so hard not to fall in love with her, with anyone for years”
“You do realise though, even if we find her, she only has about 2 months left”
“I was trying to forget that bit. If I can just make her comfortable for the last few weeks, it will be better than her being alone. After what she has been through.
Apart from that, Trace won’t admit it much but she is really missing her” replied Oded.
After they had eaten, Arnold and Trace went to bed but Oded sat in the library reading. He had done that a lot lately and the other didn’t question it. But it was a ploy so he could leave later.
When he knew they were sound asleep, he got his jacket and putting it on he quietly left the house. Going to the garage, he got his Harley out, it was the quietest one, but he still pushed it down the lane till he got to the road before firing it up.
He drove round the road to the other lane that led to the lake. He would ride round the edge of the lake till he reached the other side. Then he would walk up the hill where the birch trees were.
Tanith must be in a cabin over the hill, there were several round that area, which were rented out to people on vacation. All he had to do was find the right one.
Over the past couple of weeks, Tanith had spent a lot of time in bed, she had made it up in the lounge so she could watch TV and go on the computer. The pain was getting worse and she relied on the tablets a lot more.
She always thought of Oded and Trace and Arnold of course and wondered how they were. She had seen Oded on TV and saw him get an award for his acting. But she always saw a look of sadness in his eyes.
His eyes betrayed a host of feelings and she could tell, even on the TV how sad he was. She wished she could be with them but it wasn’t possible. That was the condition of healing Oded, that she never saw him again. As she sat there, a bright light appeared and the White Lady stood there.
“My Lady, I never summoned you”
“I know Tanith, I came of my own free will. I told you we would look after you and we have been doing”
“Thank you my Lady”
“I went to see Oded, Arnold and Tracy, your friend summoned me. They wanted to know how you were. They have been looking for you ever since the night your healed Oded”
“Why, they knew I couldn’t stay, I explained to them that night in the letter I left”
“I know that but they love and miss you and Oded confessed to me when I saw him that he was in love with you. Did you know that?”
“No my Lady, I thought he just put up with me, I know we slept together but people do as a one night stand and he did know I was trying to help him. Plus Tracy was going out with Arnold, he knew I wouldn’t let her come to the States alone. And Arnold asked me to help”
“It is for these reasons we are going to relax our decision and allow you and Oded to be together for the remainder of your life. He was given a clue as to where you were, it is up to him to work out the clue and find you”
“My Lady are you sure?”
“Yes Tanith, you need him and you can’t stay here alone any longer. Also Tracy won’t marry Arnold until you are there. For these reasons we have agreed”
“Thank you my Lady, there is nothing I can do to repay you”
“There is nothing to repay, your payment was when you healed Oded as the ultimate sacrifice of love”
Tanith was in tears when the White Lady left and went to sleep, happy for the first time in ages.

                                                                     ~*~*~*~*~

                                                                      Chapter 19

Oded saw a light on at one of the cabins he first came to and he knocked on the door. A man answered and Oded apologised for knocking that late but he was trying to find Tanith. He told him what she looked like and the man said there was a woman on her own in the cabin near the trees by the twin hills that led to the like.
“Thank you very much Sir, goodnight”
“Excuse me” said the man “but aren’t you the man who played the warrior in the Mummy films ?”
“Yes I am, I was hoping that no-one would recognise me”
“I’m sorry but I wondered if you would do me a favor”
“If I can” said Oded wondering what the man had in mind.
“My son is 13 and has been in a wheelchair since he was 10, from a car accident. He loves the mummy, in particular you and Arnold. He is watching it at the moment. Would you be kind enough to say hello to him. It would make his day”
Oded wanted to find Tanith but he could not ignore the plight of this young boy. They did a lot for some of the charities and it was people like this lad who kept them where they were.
“I’d be glad to” he replied walking in with the man.
“Julie we have company” he said going into the kitchen “This is the Oded, he has agreed to speak to Peter”
“It’s lovely to meet you” said his wife holding out her hand “Would you like a beer or anything”
“A beer would be great” he said.
“Peter I have a surprise for you” said the man leading Oded into the lounge.
What Oded saw brought tears to his eyes. Peter was in a wheelchair but he was also on oxygen, had scars over his face, all his hair had been burned away and nothing would grow there.
But as soon as he saw Oded, his eyes lit up and a sort of smile appeared across his damaged face. Oded spent an hour with this family and before leaving, he told them to bring Peter up to the house in a couple of days time, he could meet Arnold and spend the day with them.
“Thank you Oded, you have brought him a lot of happiness today, God bless you”
Oded couldn’t answer, he had tears in his eyes and a lump in his throat. He sat on his bike, his head in his hands, tears now running down his face. What he didn’t know was that the wife, Julie had seen him and quietly come out. She made him jump as she put her hand on his shoulder.
“Don’t be too upset Oded, you are a good man. Peter has accepted how he is now, it’s not easy but life has to go on as best as it can”
“Seeing him upset me more than I thought. Isn’t there anything that can be done for him?”
“There is one operation for his spine and skin grafts but we are unemployed and uninsured. So we will look after him as best we can. We will bring him up to the house, he doesn’t get out much, it’s too awkward with the wheelchair and oxygen. Goodbye Oded and thank you”
Oded fired up the bike and headed to the cabin where they said the woman lived. He pulled up outside and walked to the door. The light was on and he knocked at the door. But he got no answer so he looked in the window and saw Tanith asleep on the sofa.
He tried the door, it was unlocked and he went in. Walking over to the sofa, he knelt down beside her and took her hand in his. She woke up to see two soft green eyes looking down at her.
“Oded, oh Oded” she said putting he arms round his neck and sobbing on his
shoulder.
He held her tight, not saying a word, silent tears were all that were needed. When she stopped crying, he laid her back down and smiled.
“Are you coming home?”
“Yes, yes please”
Oded wrapped the blanket round her and picking her up, sat her in front of him on the bike. She held him tight and he fired the machine up and they rode to Arnolds house and parked the bike in the garage. Lifting her off, he carried her into the house, up the stairs and laid her on the bed.
No-one had heard him come back, so he closed the door. Laying beside her, he wrapped his arms round her and kissed her gently on the lips. She welcomed him in and her kiss was more demanding and her hand travelled down his back and held him tight, then they curled up together and went to sleep

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                                                Sacrafice Of Love - Chapters 20 - 25