Let it go.
Chicken.
You’re right.
He came up behind, me taking my hand.
“Lucida, the wedding.”
“Follow me, and see what I have planned for you.”
“You’ve already planned it?”
“Yes, you only have a few days. After you…”
Why was I surprised, I thought as we walked. This was Mother’s area of expertise.
We walked into a ballroom, seeing a huge crystal chandelier hanging low from the ceiling with glistening tiny lights all over it. There were bare wooden tables set around a dance floor. Marcus and I stood there listening, and looking everywhere she pointed. She told us where the band would be playing, described the table décor, discussed which guests should be seated where, and with whom, and ran through the music. She had it all covered. I only had one question.
“Mother, the wedding? Where is that going to be?”
She smiled at Marcus and walked over to French doors where she stretched out her hands and turned two brass handles. Pushing outward, we followed her onto a round balcony overlooking acres of moonlit gardens. It was beautiful and serene, every tree and shrub manicured perfectly. A white gazebo in the center sat by a walkway that led back to the chalet. It was a perfect path for us to walk down for the wedding.
“Mother, it’s perfect. Let’s take a better look.” I jumped over the rail and landed on the walkway. Marcus followed, picking me up in his arms and swinging me round.
“Mother, come on down.”
She looked down at us with a smile.
“No, you two go ahead. I will see you tomorrow night.” She turned to go back in. I jumped back onto the balcony, taking her into my arms.
“Thank you,” I said.
“You’re welcome. Now, go back to Marcus before I get emotional.” She kissed my cheek and went back inside. I looked back over the railing, seeing Marcus looking up at me.
“Are you coming down?”
I jumped into his arms giving him a quick kiss as he put me down, we walked to gazebo.
“Marcus…”
“Yes?”
I leaned against a white post.
“Something concerns me about the wedding.”
“If it’s the Pure Ones, they would be reckless to show up here.”
“It’s not about them.”
“Then, what?” he asked, leaning into me and kissing my neck. “Mmm, you smell so good.”
“Marcus, listen. This is serious. ” I said putting my hands on his chest.
“Okay. You have my full attention.”
“It’s about Libby, Davis, Claire and your brother Robert. They will all be part of our wedding. But, will they be safe? I mean, did you see my mother tonight and some of the others, when it came to James?”
“You don’t have worry about that. The Family members here can control themselves. And as for your mother,” he winked, “we have a little of Marguerite’s powdery substance to take the edge off her during the wedding.”
He smiled lasciviously.
“Now, come here…”
Libby and Claire
I sniffed the mid-morning air, not sensing any danger. I sat waiting for the girls at an outside café in Paris. Even with Marcus’s assurance that both Families here were being watchful, my mind was not at ease when it came to girls. They were my normalcy.
I looked across the street seeing the girls waving and calling out to me. I couldn’t contain myself. I ran over to them, embracing them in the middle of the street. People in their cars honked and yelled at us as we moved slowly back to the café.
Libby didn’t waste any time taking over my wedding.
“So, we have to go shopping for dresses.” She reached out for my hand. “I just can’t believe you’re here, and you’re getting married.”
I smiled. I was excited as she was, seeing them again and being Marcus’s bride.
“I know. Can you believe it?” I said, squeezing her hands. “And I think you will have to fight Mother about my wedding plans. She has already gotten pretty much everything done.”
“Speaking of her, where is she? I thought she would be with you.”
She did, but there was no overcast, just bright sun, so I had to lie.
“Oh, she’s at the chalet making lists, but she thought maybe all of us could get together tomorrow night for dinner?”
“That’s fine with me.”
Claire motioned to the waiter.
“And let her know if she needs another pair of hands, I will be there.”
“Sure, I will let her know.”
“Oui?” The waiter said, coming to the table.
“I am famished. I will have two chocolate éclairs and a coffee. Girls?” she asked, looking out over the top of her sunglasses.
“I’m good,” I said, covering my glass.
“I’ll have a coffee,” Libby said. He bowed and left.
“Two?” Libby scolded.
“Hey, I’m eating for two now.”
I leaned back in my chair.
“What! You’re having a baby?”
“Yes.” She touched her abdomen. “I’m going to be a mother.” She looked over at me with so much happiness. “Can you believe it?”
I reached for her hand.
“I’m so happy for you and Robert.”
“Thank you.” I turned to Libby.
“Um… are you?”
“No, not yet.” I sensed a little distress as she looked over at Claire. “But, we’re trying.”
Claire reached across the table, patting her hand. All Libby had ever wanted was to be was a wife and mother.
“It will happen soon.”
“I know,“ she said with a slight smile. “Anyway, today is supposed to be about Alixia.”
The waiter brought Claire her pastries, and placed them in front of her.
“Merci beaucoup,” she said, picking up her fork. Then she forgot about the conversation as she cut into a pastry.
“What?” she asked, looking at us with a mouthful.
“Nothing,” Libby said, as we both broke out laughing.
After watching Claire inhale the food, we went to a little dress shop that Libby suggested.
“Look at this, Alixia. The color is even right. This red is beautiful.” Libby held the dress against her.
“Let me see,” I said, catching Claire out of the corner of my eye going into one of the dressing rooms.
“So, what do you think?”
“It is nice.”
I sensed Rosa just as I heard the bell above the door.
“Libby, why don’t you go into the dressing room and try it on?”
“Sure.”
I walked to the door.
“Alixia, you need to step out. We need to talk.” I looked back, not seeing the girls.
“Fine.” I walked out the door.
“Let’s go over here, Alixia.”
We went around the building onto a side street. I pushed her up against the building.
“Why are you here?”
“As I said, to talk. So, let go of me!”
I stepped back from her.
“We have nothing to talk about anymore. The child will stay with Millie.”
“You cannot do this.”
“I’ve already told you not to threaten us.”
“I’m not threatening. I’m here to warn you, and show you.” I heard her thoughts.
“Where is Derik?”
“You’re in my head, so you can see where he is.”
She trembled as I took hold of her, looking deeper. Then I cried out, seeing Anna’s lifeless body on the ground.
“You killed her?”
“Yes, and more innocent ones will die until you return the child, along with Millie.”
I grabbed her in a rage, picking her straight up and accelerating with her back to the chalet as she screamed for her life. I dropped her hard in the vineyard, calling for the Family. She sat there, sta
ring at me, terrified and holding her right arm in pain.
“Please, I just came to warn you!”
“Quiet!”
Charles and the Family hit the ground, coming toward us.
“What is this, Alixia?” he asked, looking down at her.
“She killed Anna. I want her life, and then we will send her body back to them as a warning, just as she showed me Anna’s.”
“No,” she begged, getting on her knees. “You cannot kill me. There is more!”
Charles grabbed the back of her neck forcefully.
“Alixia, we need to hear her, first.”
I looked at her as she cried out in pain. I just didn’t care.
“I’ve already listened. Just end her!”
“Alixia, you’re the Supreme. You know there is protocol here.”
“Charles, enough! I don’t care. Have your little tribunal, and then end her. She killed Anna.”
I started to walk away.
“Where are you going?”
“I’m going back to Paris. I need to see my mother.”
I turned quickly not letting him see the tears welling in my eyes for Anna.
“Alixia, you should stay.”
“No,” I said, shaking my head with hate. “I don’t have the patience to listen to her justify the killing of Anna.” I took off running through the vineyard, wiping my tears.
I landed back in Paris, collecting myself and holding back my sorrow and rage for Anna. I walked around the corner and saw the girls standing outside the dress shop. I called out to them.
“Libby, Claire.” They looked my way, perplexed. I walked up to them, ready for Libby’s interrogation.
“Where did you go?”
“I just stepped outside for some air. I wasn’t feeling well.”
Claire looked at me.
“You do look flushed,” she said, touching my face.
“That’s why I went out for a walk. I thought it would make me feel better, but I don’t I think it worked. I’m going to have to go back to the chalet, girls.”
Libby put her arm around me.
“Yes, of course. We’ll walk you to your car.“
The driver got out, opening the door for me.
“I’m so sorry,” I said with a weak sigh.
“It’s okay. You just get better. It’s probably something you ate,” Claire said.
“Yes maybe that what it is. Well, hopefully I’ll be better by tomorrow.”
“We will call you,” Libby said as the driver closed the door.
I looked out the window as the car moved slowly into traffic, watching the girls walk back into the dress shop.
“Take me to my mother’s.”
I walked into her hotel thinking about Anna. I didn’t know how I could be without her. She had been with me my whole life, and now I would never see her again.
They will pay.
I wiped my tears and pushed the button on the elevator, stepping in.
“Alixia,” Charles said, pushing the elevator door back open. I folded into his arms, needing comfort. He pushed the button for my mother‘s floor without saying a word, still holding me.
The doors opened right into Mother’s suite.
“Alixia?” she said, taking me into her arms, looking at Charles. I held onto her as we walked into her dimly lit living room and sat down on the couch. She caressed my hair soothingly. I leaned into her, feeling the coolness of her body as my tears wet my face.
“Why did they take Anna? She was innocent.”
“It’s alright.”
I pushed away from her.
“No it isn’t. I can’t bear to lose anyone else!”
She reached for me.
“I’m sorry, I didn’t mean it to come out that way.” I look at her, seeing the hurt in her eyes.
“I know.”
“Lucida,” Charles said looking over at us, “we have to talk about Millie.”
I turned.
“What about her?” I sat up, sensing his edginess.
“Alixia, we have to give up Millie.”
“No, Charles.”
Mother touched my hand.
“She is going back. It is her choice.”
“No, I promised her we would keep her safe.”
“Alixia,” Charles said, sitting down. “You have to listen now. Rosa came here to warn us.”
I glared at him in frustration.
“I know, she showed me her warning!”
He shook his head.
“Anna wasn’t the warning. She was the effect of the warning. The true warning is that Marguerite made a law before she died, saying that Dark immortals will have no rights to their children, especially the ones that are born Pure.”
He hesitated for a second, and then went on with regret in his voice.
“Their parents cannot have tainted blood. It is against their beliefs.”
“Millie will never let them take her child.”
He looked over at my mother.
“We can’t go against the belief. It’s out of our hands now. She is going back. Rosa will return her.”
“Rosa!” I said interrupting him angrily. “You let her live?”
“Alixia,” he said, his eyes dark with anger. “She wasn’t part of Anna’s death!”
“I’m don’t believe that. I’m going to Millie.”
I went toward the elevator.
“It’s Millie’s choice to go back,” Mother called out nervously. I turned, watching them shift close to each other.
“Her choice? Something’s not right here. She would never do…”
I stopped, stumbling back as I felt my heart pound out of my chest. I saw Phillip in their heads.
Mother reached her hand to me, her face showing regret.
“Yes, Millie is going back to free him by giving them what they want. Her child.”
“No, she can’t do that! Where is she?”
“She’s still at the chalet, but you can’t stop her. They will leave with Charles on our private jet, and fly back tonight to make the exchange.”
“I have to go.”
Trust
I smelled the sweet scent of Rosa as I entered the chalet.
“I can’t believe you let her in.”
Charles was at my heels, following me up the stairs.
“Alixia, she needed to see if the child was safe. There are Family members watching over her.”
“Oh, that really kept them from using their black magic last time.”
I pushed open her door. Rosa was standing by the basinet with Millie.
“Stop!” Millie was suddenly in front of me, helping Charles hold me back. The other two Family members in the room protected Rosa, standing in front of her.
“You can’t let her take your child!”
I heard Rosa’s quivering voice.
“It’s Millie’s choice. You can’t interfere.”
“I can’t what?”
“No,” Marcus yelled, coming up behind me, joining the others in holding me back.
“You can’t take her.”
Millie grabbed my face, making me look at her instead of Rosa.
“Come with me now!” she said, motioning to Charles and Marcus to let go of me. We went down the hall to another bedroom.
“It’s dark in here,” I said, going over to open the curtains.
“Just a little. You know we are sensitive to full sunlight.”
“I know,” I said, looking back at her move to the corner of the room, a few inches out of the light.
“Alixia, you have to let me do this. Phillip will die if I don’t return, just as Anna did.”
I shook my head, feeling weighed down.
“There’s got to be a way to stop them.”
She pushed her hair back, and then showed her teeth slightly through her lips.
“Not this time. Anna was our first warning, and the only one if I return. If I don’t, Phillip will die next. Rosa made that perfectly clear.”
I went over and sat on the bed, picking up one of the decorative pillows and holding it to my chest.
“I need to go back with you.”
“Alixia, don’t be foolish. They will kill Phillip, you know that.”
I put my head down.
“So that’s it.”
“Yes, it’s my choice. I will return to New Orleans and give James to them, in return for Phillip’s release. There is no reason for anyone else to die. I will just comply. My child will live.”
“I can’t let you give James to them.”
“Do you want Phillip to die?”
“No, but I don’t understand. Why would you trade James for Phillip? You hate him.”
She came over and sat next to me.
“I just want to end this. Rosa is right. Why let me or my child be the cause of more deaths?”
“Well, that was really insightful of her, when it’s actually them causing all of this.”
She looked at me with a slight sneer on her lips.
“I know, but these Pure Ones will not give up until my child is returned to them. Therefore, I will end this my way, and all you have to do is trust me. It will be resolved.”
We turned, hearing a knock. Marcus walked in. “They are ready to leave.”
Millie kissed my cheek.
“Alixia, stay here with Marcus.”
“Let us come with you, please. I don’t trust them.”
“No. If Derek sees you, he might take it as a threat. Just stay here. I know what I’m doing. Promise me you will not follow.”
Marcus put his arm around me.
“Alixia?”
I stood there, staring at Millie, remembering the dream of her in the swamp. Now I wondered if it was more than a dream.
I nodded my promise.
The Wedding Gifts
Mother was just finishing the last of our wedding preparations. I was looking out from her hotel window, lost in my own thoughts. Below, the city of Paris began to wake up to early morning sunshine.
“Alixia, are you listening?”
No, I wasn’t listening to her. My mind was on Millie. I shouldn’t have promised her that I would stay. All I could think about now was that their plane would be landing soon, and I wished that I were on it.
“Alixia…”
“What?”
“Did you try on my dress yet?”
“No, where is it?”
“It’s in my bedroom, remember? What’s wrong with you?”
Path of Descent: Ambrosine Page 25
