I reached down to get his blanket, keeping my eye on the door. I adjusted James in my arms as two Pure Ones walked in, blocking the door. There was a woman and a man, both olive-skinned with jet-black hair, their eyes yellowish golden brown and almost cat like. Their tattoos were prominent on their necks.
They moved forward.
“Alixia, we need to talk before you do something foolish.”
“We don’t need to talk. I’m taking James.”
The birds started stirring again.
“Make them back off.”
They looked at each other.
“They are just protecting him,” the woman said. “But if they are making you uncomfortable…”
She clapped her hands and the birds flew up and left the room.
“Is that better? I want you to trust us.”
I felt James nestle into me.
“Trust Pure Ones?” I said, half smiling.
“Alixia, it’s alright. My name is Rosa, and this is Derek. We are not here to discuss your mistrust of the Pure Ones. We are just here for the child. He is unique, as you are. We’re his protectors until he becomes of age. He is our only concern.”
“And his mother?”
“I promise we are not here to cause harm to his mother, or keep him from her. But she needs to be watched. You knew she wasn’t in control, and that’s why you made her leave. You agree the child needs to be protected.”
“So, what are you asking?”
“Let’s sit.”
“Okay,” I said, looking down at James sucking on his fist. Derek spoke, his voice a deep baritone.
“We want to go with the child. The mother is a Dark One, and she still wants to feed.”
“She would never hurt her baby.”
“Derek shifted forward. “You can’t say that. You sensed her desire. She is a Dark One, and that’s why the birds stopped her. She has thoughts of thirst, and we need to stay with the child until she can completely control herself.”
I looked down at James.
“Marcus was worried about this.”
Rosa spoke.
“He should be. Bringing the child into his realm is not safe.”
“He wasn’t going to.”
They looked at me, perplexed.
“Where would she stay then?”
“At my townhome in Baton Rouge.”
Derek let out a grunt.
“No that is not the…” Rosa stopped talking, and looked toward the doorway. An old woman with dark leathery skin came in, carrying a baby bottle of milk. Rosa walked over to her, took it and then bowed. The old woman touched her shoulder, took a quick glance at James, and then left without saying a word.
“It’s time for his bottle, Alixia,” she said, reaching for him.
“I can do it.”
She handed it to me with a questioning look.
“Who was that women?”
“Nevaeh. She is of the High Council.”
They walked to the door, talking to each other in muffled voices, and then Rosa left.
“Derek, where is she going?”
“To bring Millie and Marcus back to us. We need all of you to understand that she needs to return to the Pure Ones sanctuary in the swamp, or she will not take her child from here.”
“No. She was used as bait there.”
James began crying and I put the bottle back in his mouth. I sat back down, comforting him, and glaring at Derek.
“We told you, that is not our concern. The child is.”
I looked down at James, shaking my head.
“Millie will never go back there. ”
“Well, there is no compromise here. The only safe place for the child will be at the Pure Ones Mansion.”
“Until someone wants to use them for revenge again,” I said sarcastically.
“Alixia, Millie need have no fear of anyone harming her child there.”
James finished his bottle. I put him over my shoulder to burp him.
“What about her?”
“She will be protected by us, too. I give you my word. But, only in the sanctuary. If she leaves, we will not…”
Millie and Marcus walked in.
“Millie,” I smiled, and got up to give her the baby. Derek stepped in front of me.
“No, Alixia.”
“What are you doing?”
James started crying and Mille yelled.
“Give me my baby.”
“Wait,” Rose said, coming into the room. Marcus turned to her.
“Let her have her child!” he said. I gritted my teeth, seeing Millie’s anguish.
“She will not hurt her baby,” I said, moving past Derek. Marcus came up behind Millie, putting his hand on her shoulder.
“Calm yourself.” He looked over at me and nodded.
“Millie, are you good?” I asked, watching her reach out, her lips quivering and showing the tips of her teeth.
“Yes. Please just let me hold him again.”
I moved slowly, hoping I was doing the right thing. Not hearing her thoughts, I was relying on her love for the child to keep her restrained. I placed James in her arms. She brought him in close to her, smelling him as if he were a fresh picked flower, savoring his scent.
“My little boy.”
He nuzzled into her, holding on to a strain of her hair that hung down over her shoulder, knowing her scent too. She looked up at me.
“Is it okay if I rock him?”
I kissed her cheek, and nodded. She walked past Rosa and Derek, their eyes fixated on her every move.
She sat down in the chair and rocked singing softly, with a peaceful look on her face, I hadn’t seen for a long time.
We watch the bonding of them for a few minutes, and then Marcus came close and whispered.
“What is this about? Why did she bring us back here?”
“Rosa didn’t tell you?”
“No, she just said that she wanted Millie and me to return for the child.”
“Derek?” He didn’t look my way. His eyes were only on Millie, watching her with apprehension.
“We need to discuss what we talked about,” I said.
“We will now.”
The old woman, Nevaeh, walked in and went over to Millie. She kneeled down in front of her, putting out her hands, not uttering a sound. Millie looked at her as Rosa spoke coldly.
“Millie, give the child to her now. We need to talk.”
I walked over to her ready, for a reaction, but she kissed James and handed him over without any quarrel. Getting up, the old woman walked over to the circle, stepped in and stood there, holding James. The squawking of birds turned our attention to the entrance. Flying through the door, they encircled James and the woman, and then landed in silence and watched our every move.
Millie came to my side. Marcus moved so that she stood between us.
“Please, let’s all sit,” Rosa said, sitting down. Derek remained standing, close to the circle.
“I’m hesitant about this,” Marcus whispered.
“Me, too.”
Rosa touched the pendent on her neck, breathing in through her nose and watching Millie.
“So, you are here for your child?”
“Yes. Are you going to release him to me?”
“Yes, we are.”
Millie started to get up.”
“Wait!” Rosa said. “Before we surrender the child to you, there is a stipulation.”
“What?” She stood up.
“Millie,” I took hold of her arm. Rosa leaned back in her chair and Derek moved toward us.
“It’s alright,” Marcus said putting his hand up to Derek. “Rosa, tell Millie what you want.”
“Millie you can either return to the Pure Ones’ mansion, or remain here.”
Millie shook her head.
“I can’t do that.”
“That is the only way you will be able to be with your child,” Derek said. “We know you’re not in control. ”
“
He is mine. You have no right to keep him.”
“He is a Pure One, and we have every right to him. You know the beliefs.”
She pushed away from me, trying to get to James. “This will not happen. He is not yours.”
“Millie, don’t!” I said, trying to get control of her again. Marcus moved in quickly, helping.
“Let me go. They will never let me have my child, can’t you see that?”
She turned to me.
“This is a ruse. I have a Dark soul, and they know that I will always have thoughts of taking mortals. I will never get my child.”
She went to her knees.
“I beg you!”
She took hold of my hands.
“Alixia, don’t let them do this!” Looking into her eyes, seeing her pain, I seethed with anger. They both sat there with self-satisfied looks on their faces.
“Is this true?”
Derek spoke up.
“The child is one of us, and she is right. She will never be trusted with him.” He curled the corner of his lips up into a smile. “So, Millie can beg all she wants, the child belong to us. “
I looked at Millie, and decided.
“You don’t have to beg for your child.”
I walked over to Nevaeh.
“Don’t do this, Alixia,” Rosa yelled out to me. I looked back at her, crossing into the circle.
“You can’t stop me.”
I reached out for James.
“Give him to me now.”
She stepped back.
“I will not hesitate, and you know it.”
She hesitated, and then handed him to me. I looked toward Millie, and stepped out of the circle.
“Come and get James.”
Suddenly the birds were up in the air, surrounding us in a black swirl.
All I could see were flashes of Millie, Derek and Marcus. Then, behind me, I heard an ear-piercing screech. I turned quickly and saw Nevaeh raise her hands.
The birds settled on the floor in silence.
Marcus was holding a couple of dead birds in his hands. Millie had Derek in her grip, her arm around his neck, and she was ready to tear is head off. Rosa was behind her, begging her to stop.
“Marcus, look at Millie!” I yelled.
“I see her. Millie, let him go. You don’t want to do that.”
“No, they will not take my child!”
“They won’t,” I said. “See, he is safe in my arms?”
She looked up.
“Now, let go of him, so that we can leave with James.”
She hesitated.
“Millie, I won’t let them stop us.”
She relented, and shoved him to the floor. Rosa went over to help him up. Marcus and Millie came over to me and Millie reached for her baby. I handed him to her, keeping an eye on all of them as we backed through the door. They moved toward us. Nevaeh pointed a bony, leathery finger at us, shouting something in her native tongue. I looked toward Rosa. She glared at me.
“If you take the child, you will pay dearly for your defiance of us.”
“Don’t threaten us. She did not hurt anyone, so no beliefs have been broken.”
“Wait,” Rosa cried out. “You’re right, we can’t stop you from leaving. But she has no right to her child. He was brought to us by Marguerite. She made a belief before her death that Millie, being a Dark One…”
The old woman, Nevaeh, put her hand up, stopping her from speaking any more. Then she said something to her in her native tongue.
“What did she say?” I asked.
“We have already warned you.”
“Come, Alixia,” Marcus called out.
Paris
Mother met us in front of a huge chalet just outside the city. Getting out of the car, Millie moved James close to her, sniffing the night air.
“It’s all right Millie. I don’t sense them,” I said, as Marcus put his arm around me.
“Neither do I.”
“She is safe here. This is a sanctuary now for all of us,” Mother said, getting the word of the Pure Ones threat against Millie. “Come inside, this place has been in Charles’s family for centuries. You will all be safe here.”
“This belongs to Charles?”
“Yes. Come along, now.”
I stopped in the doorway in disbelief. The foyer was full of immortals from both sides.
“What is this? They are together,” I said, looking around the room in utter shock. “They are all in an alliance with each other. This what you meant about a safe refuge for all of us?”
“Yes,” she smiled. “We called on the Families that believe in the Change, and these are the members who have made the choice to fight alongside Marcus.”
Marcus moved away from us, going to a Family member and starting to speak with him. I took Mother’s arm.
“How did all of this take place?” I asked, utterly confused by it all. We moved through the Families, who bowed or nodded their heads.
“Wait, there’s Charles.” She motioned to him.
“She’s right,” Marcus said, shaking his head. “They have all joined with us, and she brought them here.”
“Alixia,” Charles interrupted, taking my hand and kissing my cheek. “And Millie!” He moved toward her. She stepped back from him.
“Lucida, I need to lay James down,” she said. “Where is our room?”
Mother looked at me, concerned.
“Yes, of course.” She called out to one of the Family members, who wasn’t a Dark One.
“Millie,” she said, introducing her to the young woman. “This is Julia. She will help you with James.”
Millie looked at the women contemptuously.
“I don’t need help with my child!”
“Millie,” I said, gritting my teeth and bringing her close to me. “Yes, you do. She is here just in case you need to step away, just as my mother is going to do right now.”
Mother and the other Dark Ones were picking up James’s human scent.
“Yes,” Mother said. “I need to step away from the child. The smell of his…”
“Mother, stop,” I said, as she leaned closer to Millie, transfixed on James. Marcus stepped between Millie and Lucida.
“Are you going to be okay having the child here?” I asked. “I know you don’t have the restraint we do with humans, still being of Marcel’s Family.”
“I will be fine. And I won’t be staying here anyway. I have other accommodations in Paris,” she said, looking at Charles.
“Well that’s good.”
So, I don’t have to think about taking her out before the wedding.
I looked back at Millie.
“You will let Julia help you. You understand why, right?”
“Yes, I understand,” she said with bitterness. “Now, can I be shown to my room, Lucida?”
“Yes. Julia, please take Millie upstairs.”
“This way.”
“Millie,” I said, as she stepped onto the staircase. She turned. “Keep it under control.”
“I will,” she said with a snarl, headed up the stairs with James and looking back at us over her shoulder. I saw his beautiful, innocent dark eyes, and a smile of contentment on his face.
“That didn’t go entirely well,” Charles said, watching her go up the stairs.
“It’s alright, Charles,” I said, taking hold of Marcus’ hand. “She just needs time to trust again, that’s all. And speaking of trust, how did you get these Family members to join with Marcus’ Family?”
He looked at Marcus.
“Come on, let’s go into the study for privacy.”
Nobody spoke in the hallway. There was only the sound of our footsteps tapping on the white marble floor. I got into Mother and Charles’s thoughts, but they were in French. They both looked at me as Charles stopped, opening a door to his left.
“Alixia, stop with the suspicions. You are as bad as Millie. We have nothing to hide from you.”
I sat next to Marcus on a
leather couch, looking around the room. There were no windows. The only light was from a couple of amber lamps and a glow from the fireplace, leaving the rest of the room’s interior in dark shadows. Mother and Charles stood in front us. Charles spoke up.
“Alright, I know you both are curious about how this all happened so quickly, especially with the Families’ aversion to, and distrust of Marcus and his Family.”
“Yes how did this happen?” Marcus asked, not in the least insulted.
“It was you, Marcus. I told them about you and Alixia getting married, but they had already made up their minds to amalgamate because of you and your Family. You helped them fight Marcel and his followers, and saved them from having their souls taken. They saw that you are different, which I wish now I could have seen in the beginning.”
He paused for a second.
“So, now I’m going to rectify that, Marcus. The Ambrosine Families here are going to start a new society with yours. Both will intertwine in protecting each other. That is our belief now.”
“So, Marguerite was right,” Marcus said, looking at me. “We will change the order of things.”
“Well, she wasn’t quite right,” Charles said, with a grin. “The Pure Ones thought by bringing on the change, we would end each other. However, now we will align with each other to end them!”
“No. We will not fight them,” I said.
I looked deep into his eyes and watched his upper lip twitch slightly.
“We will only fight them if they attack us first.”
“Alixia, we…”
Mother took my arm firmly.
“Okay, enough Family business. You are here to get married, so excuse us Charles. Come on, let me show you the rest of the chalet.”
“Mother, he needs to understand.”
“He does understand, right Charles? This is about their wedding, and not the Family.” He nodded, hiding his real sentiments, and walked out. Mother turned to Marcus.
“You understand, right?”
All he could do was nod. He knew not to get in the middle. She looked back at me.
”See, Alixia, they all understand. So, let’s move on.” She went to the door and waited for us.
“Mother,” I said, walking over to her but not finished with the debate. And then I heard Marcus in my head.
Path of Descent: Ambrosine Page 24
