Dark Carousel

by Christine Feehan

  Lourdes turned around and looked at her. She tugged at her hand until Tariq let her go and then she flung her arms wide and ran to Charlotte. "Auntie, I love it here. And I love Bella. She's my best friend."

  Charlotte couldn't help but marvel at how perfectly Lourdes enunciated each word. There was no baby talk. Her father had called Charlotte constantly with anecdotes about how verbal and precocious Lourdes was. Charlotte found it to be true. It hadn't been her brother's wishful thinking; Lourdes really was extremely verbal and her comprehension blew Charlotte away.

  She caught the little girl and swung her around. "I love it here, too, baby. And Bella is the best." What could she say? It was all true.

  "Can we stay? I want to stay."

  She glanced at Genevieve, who had gone very still, and then at Tariq, who was striding toward them, Bella on his shoulders. He was tall and powerful although he wore his suit like a model. Perfection. She had committed to him. It felt like that, as if she was totally bonded to him. Connected.

  You gave me your word that you would try us. That we had a beginning.

  She nodded. She wanted that beginning with him. She hoped for a future with him. Right here, on this amazing piece of property. Genevieve's face told her it was too soon. Too fast. But that she'd support Charlotte's decision.

  "Yes, honey, I think we're going to stay for a while."

  "Bella has a cool house and a brother and two sisters. When am I going to get a brother or sister?"

  "That may take a little time," Charlotte hedged, blushing for no reason. If she was going to continue to burn in paradise with Tariq, she needed to be responsible and get on birth control. Not that she would mind having his baby. A child with his hair and eyes. She could go for that. Just not now. Not when their beginning was so new.

  But a child would be with her long after he left her, a little voice whispered to her. She knew she would have him for a while. Maybe even a long while, but eventually, he would leave her and find another woman. One that suited him better. A woman like Genevieve. Tall. Model thin. Glossy straight hair. A face that any photographer would fall to his knees and worship.

  I prefer short with lots of soft curves. I love long, wild hair that goes on forever and shows me just how wild my woman can be. I love every single thing about you, although we need to work a little on your confidence. You are my woman. My choice. I am your man. Your choice. You never have to worry that I will leave you. At this point, I don't have that same assurance. Your fear that you may be making a mistake actually makes me feel off-balance and vulnerable. Both emotions I have never felt.

  He stood in front of her, Bella on his shoulders, the child waving and shouting at Lourdes, her face lit up and happy. Tariq smiled at Lourdes. "I thank you for being a good friend to Bella. She was very sad for a while and now you have made her happy again. See . . ." He gestured toward the gatehouse where Bella's brother, Danny, and her two sisters, Amelia and Liv, had come out and were working their way toward them. "Her brother and sisters cannot believe she is once again laughing. We thought, for a short time, we had lost that."

  Lourdes frowned, trying to process what he said. "Bella likes to laugh. So do I."

  "We like to hear you laugh," he assured her.

  Lourdes, Genevieve and Charlotte had slept all day. Charlotte had put it down to the fact that they'd been up all night, but the three older children approaching them looked as if they'd just gotten up and showered. Maybe because Tariq was so charismatic those on his property kept his hours.

  Tariq reached for her hand as the three siblings arrived. "I'd like you to meet Charlotte and Genevieve, Charlotte's good friend. You've already met Lourdes this evening. Danny, did you eat? I sent dinner for the four of you, but Bella said she didn't eat." Tariq's voice was man-to-man.

  Clearly Tariq regarded Danny as the head of his family. The boy was fifteen years old, the girls younger, so Charlotte was going to give Tariq that for the moment, but why were they living in a house by themselves? Why weren't they in the main house with Tariq? They were too young to be without supervision. She was going to address that as soon as possible. It wasn't even legal.

  "It's been difficult to get Bella to eat anything at all, Tariq," Danny said, rubbing his thumb across his forehead in a gesture of distress. "She's been so quiet, and she's still having very bad dreams."

  "Not as many," Amelia added hastily when Tariq frowned. She was fourteen. "But it's only been a couple of weeks. I'm surprised with everything she went through that she's not having more."

  Tariq turned to Liv. The child was ten, and she was deathly pale. Her eyes were sunken in and she had both arms as well as part of her torso swathed in gauze. She looked terrified. Tariq reached down and slowly extended his hand toward her face. Her eyes widened and her body shuddered.

  "I'm just going to touch you, csecsemo, just your face. You will feel better. Remember my touch, Liv? It makes you feel better and chases the nightmares away."

  She nodded but didn't take her eyes from him, her entire body shuddering, much like a wild animal cornered and ready to fight--or flee. Charlotte wanted to gather her into her arms and hold her close. Clearly the child had been terribly traumatized. Charlotte looked at Danny. The look in his eyes was far too old for a boy his age. He wasn't jumping around with pent-up energy, or cracking jokes; he was watching his younger sister with an expression close to tears.

  She turned her attention to Amelia. She also was not an ordinary young teen. She was very subdued and far too much the mother, hovering close to her younger sister while keeping an eye on Bella, who was still on Tariq's shoulder.

  Fascinated, Charlotte watched Tariq's hand cup the side of Liv's face, featherlight. A gentle caress. At the same time, he closed his eyes and went very still. She could almost feel the heat emanating from him, moving through his body and into Liv's. She visibly relaxed. Some of the terrible tension drained out of her face. Her body stopped shuddering and stood still beneath his touch. Clearly Tariq's gift was far greater than he'd made it out to be. He had a way of bringing peace and healing to those needing it, and these children clearly did.

  Charlotte found it telling that the children, even Bella, made no sound while Tariq's hand was on Liv. Even Lourdes fell silent, something that rarely happened. Genevieve watched from a short distance away, not moving or speaking. It was as if Tariq had them all under his spell--and it was spellbinding to watch him work his healing magic.

  She fell harder for him in that moment. It was the way he was so gentle when he touched the children or spoke to them. It was the way he crouched down in front of Bella and Lourdes when he talked to them. The way he showed patience for and interest in everything the two little girls had to say. She admired the way he spoke to Danny, making him feel as if he was on the same level. Watching over the family together.

  "Better, csitri?"

  Liv nodded. "It doesn't burn as much."

  "Are you sleeping at all?"

  Charlotte loved the complete focus he gave the child, and more, she loved that the other children clearly were happy with her getting his complete attention. There didn't seem to be jealousy or any vying for Tariq's attention.

  "A little. I read. Thank you for the iPad. It helps when I can't sleep. I read the books you put on there for me."

  "Good girl. I do want you to sleep, though, so we're going to have another healing session. I am going to bring in a counselor, someone for you to talk to . . ."

  Liv gasped and shook her head, stepping back. "No. No, Tariq. I don't want to talk to anyone else. Just you. Only you. I can't talk about it unless you're there to make it all go away."

  Charlotte's heart turned over. Clearly the trauma was very, very bad. The child needed help, but she didn't think pressuring her was the way to go. She's terrified, Tariq. Don't make her go yet. She needs you to be her rock until she can get some relief.

  She won't get relief without talking to a professional.

  What happened to her?

&nbs
p; Fridrick and his friends happened to her. They had Amelia, Liv and Bella. They were holding them underground and experimenting, torturing them. They weren't the only ones. One of my friends had been taken prisoner as well. I cannot begin to describe the horror they've been through.

  Instinctively she knew that was why the children were with him and not in other foster homes. Most likely they would have been separated, and no one else was going to understand what they'd gone through.

  How can I help?

  "Liv, this is Lourdes's aunt Charlotte. Like you, she has had a brush with a killer. He took her brother, Lourdes's father, and a friend. Genevieve"--he indicated Charlotte's friend--"lost her grandmother and a boyfriend. It isn't the same, but they know how bad it can be. Charlotte, Genevieve and Lourdes will be staying with us."

  Liv was silent for what seemed a very long moment and then her lashes lifted and she looked Charlotte directly in the eyes. "It's safe here. He makes it safe." She stepped closer to Tariq and wrapped her arm around his leg. He can help you sleep, and he'll help Lourdes. Bella's nightmares aren't as bad."

  As Liv circled Tariq's leg with her arm, Danny and Amelia gasped.

  It is the first time she has voluntarily touched me herself. It is a good sign.

  Poor baby. You are going to have to tell me exactly what happened to her. My friend Grace actually has studied to be a child psychologist. She chose not to stay, but it's possible she would come back if I asked.

  "But she isn't eating," Charlotte said gently, keeping the attention on Liv. She was instantly worried about her. Something in her eyes made Charlotte afraid for her. She was only ten, but she looked as if she'd seen too much and didn't want to see anything else ever again. "Are you?" Charlotte hadn't eaten that evening, either, and the thought of food made her stomach churn. She pressed her hand in deep and breathed away the nausea.

  Liv looked up at Tariq and then down to the ground, shaking her head. "I can't. It makes me sick to eat."

  Charlotte's gaze jumped to Tariq's. She isn't going to make it if something isn't done soon, Tariq. I think she's contemplating . . .

  Throwing herself in the lake. I know. I can read minds, remember?

  What are you going to do? Something had to be done to save the child. A hospital? A good doctor might help.

  Not for this. When we're alone, I'll tell you what happened to her and how I intend to help her. For now, I'm just giving her little boosts. But I need her to eat. She needs to get her strength up. They all do, all four of them. None of them are really eating. I tried to distance them from the memory of what happened, but they're all resistant, especially Liv.

  "Sometimes I feel sick when I think about food, too," Charlotte admitted. "Still, I have to eat in order to be strong and take care of Lourdes. Bella, Amelia and Danny need you to be strong."

  Liv shook her head. "Danny and Amelia can take care of Bella."

  "Not without you," Amelia said, panic in her voice.

  They all knew. Charlotte glanced up at Tariq. These children had a psychic connection. She had gifts. Genevieve did. Tariq did as well. She remembered Emeline telling her about going for testing at a psychic center in the United States with her "sister" Blaze. She was obviously gifted as well.

  Tariq nodded, encouraging her to connect the dots.

  Is everyone living on this property gifted in some way? Even the older couple? The Waltons?

  He nodded again, his eyes cool, watching her. All the while he stroked Liv's hair, murmuring softly to her. The little girl clung tighter and Bella screeched and tried to get him to take her for a "horsey" ride.

  Charlotte looked around again. The property was beautiful, rolling and green, an oasis surrounded by a very high fence. It wasn't the fence that kept danger out, she was certain of that. At first glance that's what it appeared, but she was learning to see with more than her eyes. She felt a ripple of power anytime she came close to the fence. She glanced at Tariq again, raising her eyebrow in question.

  Safeguards. I've placed them all along the lakefront as well so that if Liv or any of the children get too close without someone watching them--and we want eyes on them at all times--then the safeguards come into play and warn them off.

  She didn't altogether understand how that would work. An alarm?

  Anyone trying to penetrate the safeguards will run into a shield and yes, we will be alerted.

  Around her, Genevieve and Lourdes talked with Danny and Amelia. Liv didn't look at anyone other than Tariq, with the exception of the occasional quick look at Charlotte. The little girl took a deep breath. "Are you Tariq's girlfriend?"

  Instantly everyone went silent and stared at her. She opened her mouth to answer in the negative. She didn't really know what she was to him. His lover? What would she call herself?

  "In my country, with my people, Charlotte would be called avio palafertiilam, which means my lifemate. She is more than a girlfriend to me. Much more." Tariq caught Bella in both hands and swung her expertly to the ground. It was clear he'd done that maneuver more than once.

  "Does that mean you like her . . . a lot?" Liv persisted.

  "Yes," Tariq answered.

  "If she doesn't like us, do we have to leave?" That was from Danny, who studiously avoided looking at her.

  Charlotte's breath caught in her throat. They were all worried about losing their home and Tariq, their safety net. Because of her. She shook her head. "First, I like all of you already. Bella has made my Lourdes laugh and be happy again, something I couldn't do for her. I would never want you to lose your home, nor can I imagine Tariq turning his back on you for a woman. If a woman asked him to do that, she wouldn't be worth anything to him and I would hope he'd dump her immediately. More, if Tariq told you that you were part of his family and he has given you a place to live under his protection, he would never be anything but loyal to you."

  She knew with every cell in her body that was the truth about the man. She felt things now, especially anything to do with Tariq, as though they were connected; she knew him inside and out. He was a man of his word and he was extremely loyal. She wanted the children to know that much about him because it was clear they needed stability. She intended to ask Tariq a lot of questions.

  "Really, Tariq?" Amelia asked for confirmation.

  The children still looked as if they were holding their collective breath. Their fear beat at her. Tariq slipped his arm around her waist, still touching Liv, consoling her with one hand stroking caresses in her hair, a soothing action meant to keep her from bolting. He tugged at Charlotte until she was beneath his shoulder, her front tight against his side. Without warning, they were all connected. Tariq to Liv, Tariq to Charlotte, Tariq the conduit between them.

  Images arose, so terrible, so disturbing, at first Charlotte didn't believe they could be real. They were images from a really bad horror film. A monster of a creature crouched over Liv in a small room. There were cages in that room, cages where children were kept, a cage where a man was kept, a man bloody and tortured. Liv lay on the floor, and the thing with blazing red eyes and sharp, serrated teeth tore at her little body, ripping chunks of flesh from her, trying to devour her alive.

  It couldn't have happened. Not for real. Not to that beautiful child with the pale face and bandages everywhere. She hadn't screamed. Hadn't cried out. Her older sister was locked in a cage in the other room and if the monster didn't get Liv, he would go after Amelia. Bella was in another cage close by, but not close enough for the girls to touch. Liv was terrified, and she knew she would be eaten alive, but she refused to scream. She didn't want the baby to know monsters ate little girls.

  The monster's face was distorted. His skin on one side appeared to have melted and his flesh just sloughed off. One eye hung half in and half out of the socket. What was left of his hair fell in long, dank dreads. He had Liv's blood smeared all over his mouth and chin. Up this close she could see flesh in his teeth.

  Charlotte's stomach lurched. This was too real. It had to ha
ve happened. There were too many details. How did she get away? Tariq had shown her what had happened, shown her the terrible damage that had been done to this child both physically and psychologically. How could she possibly recover? How could any of the children? She could barely believe what she'd seen. She didn't want to believe it.

  Maksim's lifemate, Blaze, and Emeline went in after them. We were still a distance away and trying to get to them fast. Danny had the courage to take Blaze and Emeline down into the tunnels after them. Blaze fought the puppet and Liv got herself out, running when Blaze ordered her to. It was very hard on Liv. She was terrified and hurt. She'd lost a great deal of blood. The blood of a puppet is foul, and at first she wouldn't allow me to help her. She got an infection and I had no choice. I tried to build a relationship first, but in matters of safety or health, I had to just do what was necessary.

  Charlotte's fist bunched in his shirt. He was a good man. He'd taken on a lot when he'd given the children a home. The responsibility was enormous.

  They still need parents, Tariq. Someone to watch over them.

  They have parents. Me. And eventually, you.

  She gasped and then jammed her fist into her mouth to keep from shouting at him. Are you crazy? I've only had Lourdes a few weeks, and I don't know what to do with her. I have no idea what I'm doing. I don't know the first thing about children.

  You will be able to read their minds.

  He sounded calm and confident, as if it were normal to expect your lover to take on four traumatized children.

  You'll know what they need.

  Unlike you, I can't read minds. This is so far out of my wheelhouse I don't even know what to say to you right now.

  "You don't want us?" Liv asked aloud.

  Charlotte went very still. Genevieve had once again engaged the children in conversation, as if she knew something was going on between Charlotte and Tariq. At Liv's question, all voices ceased speaking.

  "Of course I want you," Charlotte assured, feeling trapped. She did want the children, but these children needed far more help than she could ever give them. "I'm not qualified . . ."

  "Yes you are," Liv said in a voice far too old for her age. "With Tariq connecting us, I see into your mind, and you can help us if you want to do it."