by Alanea Alder
To make living in Storm Keep easier she took her mother's maiden name of Meadowsweet forgoing fae tradition. No matter what rules she bent or broke growing up she always had her parents full support. She could only hope they wouldn't be too upset at her for going against council dictates.
"Zach! Put me down," she laughed. No matter how long they were ever apart he always greeted her this way. He set her down on her feet, his face turning serious.
"Are you sure about going? I don't want to you falling ill."
"From what the queen told me so far it's only affecting shifters and vampires. Many witch unit warriors have been helping the sick and none of them have been infected. They need our help. It's what we've studied for," she answered.
He rubbed his chin. "I don't like it."
"You don't have to, you just have to open the portal."
"Even though we're twins you can't open a portal and I can," he shook his head. "Genetics are weird."
"I can split a river and you can't," she countered.
He grinned. "You've improved. When we were kids you had problems with mud puddles," he teased.
She gave him a flat look. "I am a temple head now."
"Yes mistress temple head, anything you say mistress temple head," Zach bowed low, his fingertips brushing the floor.
Serenity rolled her eyes. "You're impossible!"
Zach looked up and winked. "But you love me anyway." He straightened then turned to Laelia. "And how is my second favorite lady?"
Laelia blushed. "I am well."
Radclyffe shook his head. He was used to Zach's teasing. "You never greet me like that."
Zach looked surprised for a moment then leered at both of them. "If I didn't know how in love the two of you were I'd seduce you both."
"Zach!" Serenity screeched.
He turned to her frowning. "Have you been studying with a banshee?"
"Open the damn portal then go home!" she pointed to the blank wall of her chambers.
"I am never appreciated," he sighed. "I may hide out in Storm Keep for a bit. Allia Li'Aerlin wants to 'train'. She's been a bear to work with since she wasn't able to send her brother any troops, if she finds out I opened a portal to Noctem Falls she'll attack me in my sleep," he groused.
Laelia and Radclyffe were fighting back laughter as they walked over to stand next to Serenity.
"Allia and Ailain both spoil you since we're the next set of twins born after them in Eiré Danu," Serenity pointed out.
He rolled his eyes. "Being nearly three hundred isn't very old in the paranormal world, but in Eiré Danu it's a thousand times worse. I feel like a damn toddler."
"You are one of the youngest in a city of immortals," Serenity teased.
Zach gave her a flat look before opening the pouch at his waist to pull out a silver ring. "Her Majesty appreciates your attempts to protect her by keeping her out of this venture. That being said, she lent me this ring. It should open a portal directly to the Ledge of Noctem Falls. When the portal opens it will also bypass the spell that hides the door and open it for you. To pass through the portal you have to be a witch. I think it scans for magic to prove you're a healer." His handsome face sobered. "Be careful Seri. Don't hesitate to call if you need help. I'll chance going through the portal with my meager magical abilities to get to you."
Serenity hugged her brother tightly. "Love you."
He gave her one last squeeze and stepped back. "Love you too. Have fun breaking the law."
She gave him a salute then turned to face the wall. Zach slipped on the ring and opened the portal. "Gods' blessings be on you all," he whispered as they walked through.
*****
Micah thought that if Pip's eyes widened anymore they would simply fall out of his head. The poor boy had no idea how to take Meryn. Currently she was trying to get him to sit next to her in a chair. Micah looked around the dining room. "Where's Sebastian?"
Ryuu lifted Pip from where he was kneeling on the floor and sat him next to Meryn. "He is checking on Magnus." He looked down at the young vampire. "Sit next to Meryn if you would please. It would hurt her back to keep leaning down to look at you," he explained gently.
Pip's eyes filled with understanding. "I would not want to hurt Meryn." Of course he would sit next to Meryn for her own sake, not because he wanted to sit on the furniture. "The servants in my father's home usually put my bowl on the floor," he explained.
"They what?" a terribly cold voice asked. Micah was shocked to see that the question came from the normally pleasant Sebastian.
The Rioux squire walked into the room to stand behind Meryn and Pip. "Who is this?" he asked.
Meryn pointed to her new friend. "This is Pip, DeLaFontaine was his sperm donor. As you heard, he's done a bang up job of taking care of him." She looked up at the squire her eyes pleading. "He's hungry Sebastian."
Sebastian inhaled and looked down at the innocent face staring up at him. "Well, we cannot have that can we? Give me a few minutes to throw something together."
Meryn gave him a thumbs up. Pip held up his hand and curled his fingers down to give the squire a thumbs up sign as well. Sebastian patted them both on the head and quickly headed to the kitchen.
Meryn sighed. "Being hungry sucks."
Micah had a feeling she wasn't just referring to the annoying rumbling you get between breakfast and lunch. The look in her eye told a darker story.
Pip nodded. "It makes it hard to sleep."
"Even though you're tired and want to sleep your body keeps telling you to eat," Nigel said quietly.
Meryn looked at the twins that sat on her other side. "You too?"
Neil smiled weakly. "Sometimes there wasn't a lot of food at the orphanage, so we gave ours to the little kids."
Micah could only stare. His childhood hadn't been all roses and puppies but his grandmother made sure he had never gone without.
Meryn shook her head as if to chase away her thoughts. "Yup. But we don't have to worry about that now. We have Ryuu and Sebastian to feed us."
The twins smiled. "They rock!"
Pip turned to the witches. "Do you belong to Meryn too?"
Nigel laughed. "She adopted us as her brothers."
"Brothers? Not servants?" Pip tilted his head.
"What?" Meryn asked frowning.
"Did you not bring me here for me to serve you?" Pip asked.
"No! I wasn't kidding when I said I just wanted you to keep me company. If that's not what you want, you can do whatever. I don't see you as a servant." She jerked her thumb toward Ryuu. "I can barely handle having one."
Pip twisted his hand nervously. "I do not understand. What am I supposed to do to earn my food?"
Meryn's mouth opened and closed. "Ryuu? I need some help here."
Ryuu stepped closer to stand behind Meryn and Pip. "Master Pip, my charge views you as someone to be protected. She does not require payment for things such as clothes and food. You bring her happiness by simply accepting her kindness. If you feel you must do something in return, help me watch over her and keep her safe."
Pip nodded quickly. "I can do that. Meryn is nice. Bad things should not happen to her."
"You will do very well here," Ryuu said smiling.
"Are we keeping him?" Nigel asked his eyes filled with tears.
Meryn nodded. "He's one of us now."
"This is awesome! We now have another brother!"
"What?" a deep voice asked.
Aiden strode into the room scowling. Immediately Pip popped out of his chair to stand in front of Meryn. He stretched out his arms. "You will not hurt her."
Aiden stopped dead in his tracks and stared down at the young man who was about the size of one of his legs. "Huh?"
Meryn giggled. "Pip that's my mate Aiden McKenzie. He would never hurt me, I have access to his unconscious body."
Aiden rolled his eyes. "And you love me."
"And I love you," she added.
Behind Aiden everyone else began to fi
le in for lunch.
Pip eyed Aiden suspiciously. He made a 'V' with his fingers and pointed to his eyes. "I will keep an eye on you." He sat back down in his chair and scooted closer to Meryn.
Aiden's mouth dropped as Colton burst into laughter. "Better sleep with one eye open tonight."
Aiden snarled at his best friend then realized that Pip was in his chair. Grumbling he sat down next to the odd vampire and one seat down from his mate.
"Who's the cutie?" Anne asked.
"Anne, everyone, this is Pip Maverick, my newest brother. DeLaFontaine is his sperm donor," Meryn announced.
Aiden inhaled and began to choke on his breadstick. "What? Again?"
"Yup." Meryn gave a single decisive nod.
"But you already have Jaxon, Noah, Nigel and Neil," Aiden stuttered.
"And? I can't have another brother?" Meryn asked.
"I think he is absolutely adorable," Bethy added.
Meryn turned to Pip. "Beth adopted me as her sister, so technically y'all are related too."
Pip turned his large liquid-like blue eyes to Bethy. "She's so pretty."
"Oh!" Bethy blushed then blinked. "DeLaFontaine?"
"Caught that did you?" Micah asked raising an eyebrow.
Bethy turned to Gavriel. "I thought you said he didn't have any heirs."
Gavriel stared at Pip frowning. "He does not. Pip's name is not in the DeLaFontaine Book of Life."
"Because I am broken," Pip whispered.
"You are not!" Bethy said indignantly.
Pip raised his head and looked around. "Really? Everyone in my father's home said I was good for nothing."
"That's why you don't live there anymore remember?" Meryn pointed out.
Pip's face contorted in confusion. "Then why did they say such things? Why did they do bad things?"
"Because they are assholes. Trust me, the world is full of them," Meryn said sagely.
Pip looked around nervously. "If you say bad things the men will take you away."
Meryn shook her head. "Not down here."
"I would like to see them try to take you or Miss Meryn away," Sebastian said darkly as he wheeled in a huge cart piled high with food. He steered it over to Pip first. "I did not know what you liked so I made bit of everything. Sandwiches, soup, finger foods, and even a pizza." He leaned down. "Save room for dessert," he said winking.
Pip's eyes locked on the cart. "I do not get served first," he said in a panicked voice. "I get the leftovers in my bowl on the floor." Pip looked as if he was fighting his body's knee jerk reaction to drop to the floor.
Everyone turned silent before the sound of groaning metal echoed through the dining room. Sebastian snapped the towel bar off his serving cart. "We do not do that here," Sebastian said softly. He picked up a pair of serving tongs and stacked sandwiches on Pip's plate. "Let me know which ones you like best."
Pip turned to Meryn. "I cannot eat all of this," he confessed.
Meryn smiled. "I think that sometimes too, but then poof, it's so good I eat it all."
Pip picked up a sandwich with a trembling hand and bit into it. "So this is what fresh bread tastes like!" he exclaimed with child-like glee. Meryn handed him a soft roll and Pip hummed with satisfaction.
Another snapping sound came from Sebastian at his cart. This time, the serving tongs, bent in half, were the object of his frustration. Micah turned his head to hide his smile. He had a feeling Sebastian would be having a few choice words with the DeLaFontaine squire.
Bethy spun in her chair to face Gavriel. "You..."
He raised her hand and kissed it gently. "Consider this situation taken care of. Warrick requested a meeting after lunch and I have a feeling I know what it may be about." He inclined his head toward Pip.
Warrick grunted and nodded. Avery rubbed his mate's back soothingly.
"I've never in my life been more ashamed to call Noctem Falls my home," Bethy whispered.
Adriel covered her other hand with his. "We must trust in Fate. A lot of wonderful things have come about in our darkest hours of late."
"He is right," Pip agreed. "I did not know what would happen when father went to the detention cells. But now we have Warrick to help us on Level Five and he looks huge like he can protect us. And I got to meet Meryn who introduced me to soft bread!" Pip bounced excitedly.
Warrick smiled at the way Pip described him. "I will do my best."
Aiden pushed over his bowl of soup. "Try dipping it in the chicken noodle soup, then eating it."
Pip tentatively reached out his precious soft roll and dipped it into the soup. When he took a bite his eyes rolled back in his head. "It is like magic!" he whispered in a reverent tone.
Aiden scooted the bowl so that it was squarely in front of Pip. "You work on that one."
"You're a good man Aiden McKenzie," Rheia said smiling.
Aiden blushed and shrugged his shoulders. "It's just soup."
"Wait until you try Magic Pudding, then dinner, then coffee, then breakfast, then tomorrow's lunch, plus snacks!" Meryn exclaimed.
Pip turned to her. "There's more?"
She grinned. "You have no idea."
"Let's take it one meal at a time denka. That way he can be surprised and enjoy each new discovery," Ryuu suggested.
"Good point," she agreed.
"Maybe we should introduce everyone," Micah suggested.
"That's a wonderful idea," Ellie agreed. She held up Benji. "Hello Pip, my name is Benji, pleased to meet you," she said in a squeaky voice.
Pip giggled. "Hello Benji," he said waving. Ellie went up and down the table introducing everyone and explaining who they were and what they did.
As soon as she finished Pip stood and pointed to each person repeating each name and whatever information Ellie shared. When he was done he looked down to Meryn expectantly.
She beamed up at him. "You're not slow, you're a freaking genius. How'd you do that?"
Pip sat back down. "It is easy if I put the information away correctly." He frowned. "But sometimes I do not understand what people tell me, not like everyone else."
Avery gasped. "You're like me! It's called having a photographic memory. But I have a hard time understanding some social cues if they aren't explained to me."
Meryn nodded. "Yeah, they fuck me up too."
Pip looked down the table at Avery. "I am not broken?"
Avery shook his head emphatically. "No! In fact you're special." He turned to his sister. "I've learned that being different isn't such a bad thing after all."
Kari leaned over and kissed him on the top of his head. Meryn watched carefully then leaned over and kissed the top of Pip's head. Pip touched his hair a look of wonder on his face. "My first kiss."
Meryn smiled. "I thought it only counted if you got kissed on the lips."
Pip kept his hand on his head. "No. That is the first time anyone has ever kissed me."
"I am so going to fuck that douchebag up," Meryn whispered under her breath.
Rex cleared his throat. "I didn't hear anything."
Gavriel shrugged. "I have no idea what you are referring to."
Pip frowned and pointed to Meryn. "She said that..."
Aiden wrapped an arm around Pip and covered his mouth. He leaned in and in a clearly conspiratorial whisper said. "They know."
Pip blinked and Aiden removed his hand. "Oh!" he then shared an evil grin with Meryn. "I get it."
Meryn smiled back at Pip before she began to frown. She stood, then walked to stand between the twins' chairs. She kissed both of them on the head then returned to her seat. They exchanged the same poleaxed expression.
"Just in case," Meryn said reaching for a sandwich.
"Look at you! Amelia would be so proud," Rheia teased.
Meryn shrugged. "They're not so bad. They don't wrap themselves around me like an octopus the way Amelia does."
Micah knew in that moment that the twins would walk through fire for the tiny human. He had a feeling Pip would be n
o different. He was about to ask what she meant when a loud alarm interrupted their lunch. All eyes turned to Meryn.
"What is that?" Gavriel asked.
"The front door alarm," Meryn explained.
"Front door?"
"Yeah, you know, the only door into the city. The big ass door. If that's not the front door, what is?"
"What does the alarm mean," Bethy asked.
Meryn tapped her lips. "Either someone is sneaking in, or someone is sneaking out."
"Well, which one is it?" Aiden growled.
Meryn shrugged. "No idea."
"How do we find out?" Micah asked.
"Go look," she advised.
Aiden and Adriel left at a run.
Meryn shook her head. "Seriously, I hafta think for everyone sometimes." She pulled out her laptop from the bag by her chair and opened it up. Everyone watched as the alarm blared.
With a few taps of her fingers the loud alarm stopped. She stared at her screen. "Well, it's someone coming into the city. Three someones. It looks like they are explaining things to Adriel." She closed her laptop.
"Adriel is leading them toward the tunnel so they are probably coming here."
Micah exchanged looks with Declan, Etain and Grant. "How in the hell did they get here?"
"We're about to find out," Meryn said grinning.
CHAPTER TWO
Serenity followed behind the huge Unit Commander. She felt like an idiot. Of course they hadn't been expecting them, they moved so quickly after the Witch Council meeting that Noctem Falls hadn't been notified. It was a miracle they hadn't been shot.
She was surprised when they floated down to Level One. From everything she read about the vampire city, Level One was known as the Royal Level. Queen Aleksandra told her that Prince Magnus had taken a personal interest in curing the virus, but she assumed that meant he publicly supported any medical efforts. Why were they here?
As they pass a hallway Aiden pointed. "The infirmary and labs are down that way, along with the meeting room the doctors have been using. Magnus spared no expense when ordering equipment. Before he got sick he was working around the clock in an effort to help the children." Aiden stopped and looked at them. "I have a deep respect for him as a leader," he said quietly before continuing past the tunnel.
