by R Murray
“Go and find him and the girl; bring them both back here, I want to get to the bottom of this. I want the truth.”
Conan growled in frustration, but did as he was told stepping out of the lodge. Transforming into the deep brown beast that he was, he went in search of his brother. Yet again he was having to hunt down Maccon and help clean up the mess the idiot had gotten himself into.
Chapter Fourteen
“What do you think you are doing back here?” Thanatos demanded as Melaina stepped back into her room. She was still angered by what had happened earlier that day, she would have gotten Emilie to tell her the truth about her daughter had that dog not interrupted them. The voice of the vampire only angered her more.
“I live here. It should be me asking you why you are here again. You can leave, I am not in the mood for your games tonight Thanatos,” Melaina snapped in reply. She felt a cold hand grab her arm and before she had a chance to fight him off, she found herself pinned against the wall. Thanatos glared at her with dead red eyes.
“You did not get the answers we need, so you go back to your sister and you get her to tell you where the child is, and I do not care how you do it,” he snarled.
“Best let me go then; I cannot torture her if I am pinned up against a wall by you, while you attempt to scare me,” Melaina felt the icy grip on her loosen as Thanatos let her go. She felt his cool breath against her ear as he whispered a very real warning,
“You know what happens to people who fail me, and you are no exception Melaina.”
Melaina did not have a chance to respond. Thanatos had gone, he was good at that, simply vanishing. Slamming her clenched fist against the wall in frustration, she knew she could not ignore Thanatos and his threats. He would kill her if she did not do as he commanded. Turning she exited the door she had only moments ago entered through. Quickly, she made her way through the corridors of the palace and back out on to the streets of Paris. Stopping, she closed her eyes reaching her mind out to her sister; to her relief she found that Emilie was still in her house and the wolf did not seem to be anywhere near at the moment. It did not take long before she arrived at the worn building, this time she did not knock, a simple mumbled spell and the door opened. Melaina stood for a few moments. She could feel her sister’s fear as she sensed a presence. Melaina grinned darkly as she thought what she could do to convince Emilie to give her what she wanted. She did not want to kill her sister. Not yet anyway. No, she would remind her just what happens when she ignores the demands of Thanatos. Clenching and unclenching her fists a few times, to loosen them, she made her way towards the room her sister was in. This was going to be fun.
Emilie watched the clock on the mantel. It had been nearly four hours since Maccon had left and she was starting to wonder if he would keep his word and return for her. She did not blame him if he went to Raff and Conan and relayed to them everything that she had told him. Emilie cursed herself for the hundredth time for being so foolish as to tell him the truth about who she was. She had put everything at risk by doing so and now she had to figure out a way to fix it. The front door flying open and banging against the wall startled her.
“Maccon? Is that you?” The voice that respond sent her blood running cold.
“Emilie! We need to talk and this time I am not leaving until you tell me where the girl is!” Melaina threatened.
“Melaina I have told you I do not know where my daughter is, I do not even know her name,” Emilie replied, looking up as Melaina entered the room, the look in her sister's eyes scared her, they were so cold and calculating. A steady glow of black light shimmered around Melaina, the glow of dark magic.
“And I do not believe you,” Melaina replied as Emilie found herself once more bound to the chair; this time the ropes were visible and Emilie could feel a heat pulsing through them. Fighting against the hold, a searing pain pulsed through her burning her skin; she could not help but whimper.
“Melaina please,” she begged, “I must tell you something. I found out why the wolves are here. They are planning a revolt. The wolf Maccon, he is the one they have chosen to take the blood of the Lamia first. They will get it this time Melaina! We must stop them!” Emilie cried desperately, hoping to distract her sister from her current vendetta. The laugh that escaped her sister's lips shocked Emilie.
“Please Emilie, you think that it matters now. The Lamia cannot change a wolf, even if they wanted to. They would never allow the vermin to have the Gift. All that matters right now is that you tell me where your daughter is,” Melaina snarled, flicking her wrist only slightly but enough that a wire weaved its way through the rope keeping Emilie in place and slicing open her flesh. Emilie screamed, there was a poison in the jagged edges of the wire and Emilie felt it burn into her blood.
“Melaina please, I swear to you sister, I am not lying! I do not know where my daughter is, no one does. Please, just look into my mind you will see I speak the truth. You do not have to do this. Let me stop the wolves, let me stop them from taking what is ours,” she begged. She felt Melaina close her wrist, knitting the broken flesh back together and stopping the torture; but the damage had been done, Emilie could feel herself weaken, feel the poison work its way through her.
“It will not kill you, but it will weaken you for a good few days, long enough for me to decide what I am going to do with you,” Melaina smirked darkly, “Well I lie, I mean what Thanatos will do to you. It is not me you are angering Emilie, it is him. By keeping this from him you are playing with fire and you know that.”
Emilie felt the ropes and wire vanish but she did not have the energy to move, nor any power to retaliate. There was no point now. Melaina had made her mark on her and had delivered her threat.
“I will come back for you in a few days, so you had best figure out where the child is by then. Otherwise you will suffer a far deadlier fate at the hands of Thanatos,” Melaina sneered in repugnance.
Emilie could feel the look of disgust her sister sent her as she left the room. Dragging herself from the chair to the sofa she dropped down on it. She did not know how she would be able to give them what is was they wanted; and she did not understand why her daughter was suddenly so important to them. She longed for Maccon to return to her side. She needed to tell him what it was Melaina had spoken to her about, that the wolves could not be turned by the Lamia, that this fight they had planned was worthless.
Chapter Fifteen
Maccon stalked through the streets heading to Emilie's home. He had promised her he would return and he was not about to break his promise to the only person he could trust in this world. He was still reeling from Raff's confession and he was surprised that Emilie had been right in her suspicions. Reaching her house his senses screamed out that something was wrong, there was the potent smell of poison in the air and the scent of Melaina lingered. Panic and anger surged through Maccon as he barged into the house not caring that he had sent the door off its hinges. If his fears were confirmed, Emilie would not be returning to this house. He moved quickly to the lounge, finding Emilie slumped on the sofa. Her eyes shut, her face almost transparent where what little colour she had, had drained from her. Maccon dropped down by her side and let his eyes scan over her tiny body; her arms were covered in burns and slices that were weeping the almost black blood that ran through the veins of an immortal. Maccon placed a hand to her damp forehead feeling the heat of a fever burning her, it was the poison that was still in her. Stroking a curl from her face he lent down and brushed his lips softly against hers.
“Emilie. Come back to me,” he called quietly to her. To his relief her blue eyes fluttered open fixing on him. Confusion flashed in them as she spoke.
“You came back? I did not think you would.” Her voice was barely a whisper and Maccon could only just hear what she said, he thanked his wolf hearing for that.
“Of course I did. Did your sister do this to you? Did she return?” he questioned her. Emilie could only manage a small nod before her eyes closed o
nce again. Maccon stood to his full height; his eyes darting around the room as he tried to figure out what to do. All he knew was that they could not stay here. Melaina would be back soon enough and no doubt this time the blood drinkers would be with her, but he was not so sure he was ready to return to the lodge and face Raff; yet it was clear that that was the safest place for them for now. Making the decision, he grabbed Emilie's red cloak and carefully wrapped it around her before lifting her into his strong arms. He would go back to the lodge with his tail between his legs, apologise and seek protection; but he knew that by doing this Emilie was now theirs and he had picked her side for her. This way she would be protected, and in some respect, so would the child she so desperately hid.
It did not take him long to leave Paris behind, his patrols as a wolf had proved useful and he had managed to find the alley ways that kept them hidden as they left the city walls. He was just about to step into the forest when a flash of colour caught his eyes and before long a brown wolf was walking beside them. Maccon bristled at the sudden intrusion.
“What do you want Conan? If you have come to find me and escort me back to Raff you do not have to worry, it is where we are headed.” Maccon stopped as Conan disappeared behind a bush, in no time at all he appeared fully clothed. His eyes fell on the bundle in Maccon's arms. Emilie had not stirred at all and the longer they were out in the open the more she was at risk. Maccon swore he could feel eyes watching their every move.
“What the hell happened?” Conan asked as they started walking again.
“Her sister attacked her, poisoned her, though I do not think she will die from it. But she is too sick to be alone; the only place I can bring her is the lodge. She needs our protection,” Maccon explained seeing the look in his brother's eyes he added, “I will explain it all later. Right now, getting Emilie out of the cold and well is my main concern. After all she did for you, it is the least we can do.”
“That may be Maccon, but Raff is not happy with you. He and I both believe Emilie is not telling us the complete truth as to who she is. He wants to know the truth and I do not think he will wait until she has recovered to get it,” Conan informed him.
“Well tough. He will have to wait because I will not have Emilie speak when she is not strong enough, like I said there is a lot to explain. He will just have to wait, and I do not care if he does not like it.” Maccon replied, sighing gratefully as the lodge came into view.
Raff paced up and down outside of the lodge, he wanted to be out and ready when Conan returned with Maccon and the girl. But he did not expect to be greeted by the sight that met his eyes when he turned towards them, when they emerged near the entrance of the forest.
“What the hell happened?” Raff demanded as he followed Maccon in. It did not escape his noticed how the young wolf did not look at him, instead kept his dark eyes ahead as he laid Emilie down on the bed.
“I will explain when I am ready to, now boil me some water and stew these for me,” Maccon ordered, throwing a bag of herbs towards Raff, not waiting to see if he caught them or not; he returned his attention to the pale girl laying on the bed. Raff passed the burlap bag to Conan and focused his concentration back to Maccon.
“No, you will tell me now Maccon,” he snapped, not believing Maccon had dared defy him.
“I will not Raff, because you need her to tell you the truth; to explain everything and she cannot do that while laying here half dead. So, let me treat her and then we will both happily explain what is going on,” Maccon replied, the ice-cold tone to his voice and the anger in his eyes stopped Raff from protesting. For the first time, he saw a glimmer of the alpha Maccon would one day become. Raff held up his hands in defence and went to assist Conan in preparing what had been asked of them.
They sat in silence for some hours while Maccon tended to Emilie. Raff watched him the entire time, he could see the care that he put into treating her, the tenderness of his touch and the way his eyes watched her so lovingly. The boy had fallen hard. Finally, Emilie stirred. Raff watched as she opened her eyes and let them dart around the room before falling first on Maccon and then on Raff. When she locked eyes with him a fear flashed in them and he was certain that if she was able, she would have fled faster than they could say her name. He was pleased that she was too weak to move.
“Looks like we meet again Emilie, only this time it is you that is needing our help. Well, so Maccon has informed us; but he has not told us why you do seek it. In fact, he has not really told us that much at all. He was waiting for you to wake, and now that you have we can talk,” Raff said flashing her a smile that did not quite meet his eyes. He was satisfied that she would answer any questions as he watched and saw her cower from him. Good, she was nervous, just as he had hoped. It meant that she would tell them the truth and if she did not, he would not let her live.
“You have our undivided attention. Though let me make this very clear: you lie to me and I will not let you leave here alive,” he said. Ignoring the challenging growl that came from Maccon, he knew that if he dared lay a hand to her Maccon would challenge him, but he was not yet strong enough to defeat Raff.
“Emilie if you do not feel like you are ready we can wait.” Maccon's gentle voice broke the tension, Raff saw Emilie look to him, then Conan till once more those ice blue eyes settled on him.
“No Maccon, she knows that she must speak now. Get her some more tea Conan and feed the fire,” Raff said, never breaking eye contact with the girl. Conan did as was asked and Emilie took the tea gratefully. She took a few small sips of it before she finally spoke. The fear that was rippling off her was intense and Raff almost felt sorry for her.
“I am a witch, an immortal witch, I have the Dark Blood, but I am not like the blood drinkers. What I told you is true; I am a healer and I work in the hospital. As I said to Maccon, all I used on you Conan were herbs that I use on the people. There was no magic, it just helped keep the infection away as you healed, that was all. It was the least I could do when you saved my life,” Emilie explained quietly.
“You are a witch? I knew there was something not quite right about you; it was why I would not let you leave us, that you could not be trusted. You work for the Lamia do you not? Are you a spy within our camp?” Raff interrupted.
“Raff that is enough! She is no spy!” Maccon sneered, his teeth bared challenging Raff. Laying her hand gently on Maccon's arm, Emilie attempted to calm her wolf.
“It is alright Maccon, I understand his concern. I truly do; and he would be right in his assumptions. But I promise you all, I am not. In fact, by bringing me here after the attack I suffered at the hands of my sister, you have picked my side for me in this war. But it is a war that you will not win,” Emilie explained. Raff narrowed his eyes dangerously as her words.
“Why would you say that?”
“Because the Lamia cannot give you what it is you want, they cannot turn a wolf or pass the blood to you. Even if they could they would not. They are more powerful than you could ever imagine.”
“You seem to know an awful lot considering you do not work with the Lamia. Why should I believe what you say?” Raff questioned her.
“My sister told me, and she does work under them. She is the lover of Thanatos, the leader of the Lamia family. She did this to me because I would not tell her the whereabouts of my child. I do not know why the vampires want her, but they will never find her. The thing is, they will not stop torturing me until I am dead because I cannot give them what they want, and I refuse to help them find her. I sent her away to keep her safe from this world of danger,” Emilie explained as she fell heavily against the pillows when she finished. The room fell silent once more and Raff could sense all the emotions that lingered around them. Emilie was scared, no longer of them but of the safety of her daughter. Maccon was angry at Raff for forcing Emilie to tell him everything despite her weakness, but there was also concern and worry for the witch, and Conan was confused and uncertain at all he had heard. If Raff was honest wit
h himself; so was he. He wanted to trust Emilie, she was telling the truth there was no doubt about that, but that did not mean he had to trust her.
“You say that by bringing you here we have made the choice of what side you stand on in this war. You truly believe that?” he asked, this time his voice was softer. Emilie nodded.
“Yes, I do, and it is your side that I walk on now, especially knowing that my sister is once more involved with Thanatos. After what she did to me today, I am scared to be alone. I seek your protection, I just hope you will give it to me.”
Raff dared a look towards both Maccon and Conan, he knew that Maccon would not object to her staying with them, and he saw that neither did Conan.
“You are safe with us Emilie. You have nothing to fear now. Besides it is always helpful to have a witch on our side, and Maccon quite likes you. I would not be permitted to let you fend for yourself even if I wanted to,” Raff replied, flashing her a genuine smile. She returned it and he felt his heart soften as she did so.
“Well I am glad you two are all good, now we let Emilie rest. She will need a few days to recover and for once I will not complain about staying at the house,” Maccon said sitting beside Emilie and wrapping her in strong arms. Raff just shook his head at the couple as Emilie closed her eyes settling in her wolf's arms.
“I will go and hunt us dinner. I do not fancy returning to Paris tonight, and I could use the run to absorb all this information,” Conan piped up. Raff simply nodded in reply before making himself comfortable by the fire. He decided he would not tell Bardou of this latest development; he did not need to know.
Chapter Sixteen
“Melaina wait!” Nikolas called out to her as she went to climb the steps of the palace. He could tell by the look on her delicate features as she turned to face him that she was annoyed at being stopped; but he did not care. He had heard disturbing news from the guards that Melaina had been to visit her sister, and that she had tortured her. How the guard had come across this information Nikolas did not bother asking, but he wanted to find out the truth from the witch herself.
