“Good evening, Philippa. I hope I’m not intruding.”
She recognized the cultured voice instantly. “Of course not, Reuben. Is there something I can do for you?”
“I have a confession—I’m a thief.”
Philippa smiled. “Of course you’re a thief. You steal our hearts with your loving manner and your fashions.”
“It’s worse than that. Are you missing a water glass?”
“I don’t think so. Why?” Philippa scowled, wondering what this beloved gentleman was leading her toward.
“Because I took one from the table on my visit.”
“Why would you do that?” Philippa looked at Paolo and raised her eyebrows.
“Because I wanted to determine who Avery is.”
“Whatever do you mean?”
“I think you know, Philippa. Her appearance is just too—what am I trying to say—more than coincidental. There’s so much that suggests she’s more than she seems.”
Philippa hesitated. Softly she said, “I feel the same way. We both know that Gaia guides us and speaks to us through intuition, and my intuitions about Avery have gained my attention. I believe she was led to be here.”
Now Paolo was leaning forward with a furrowed brow. Philippa reached out and put her hand on his.
“I took the glass because we needed to know,” Reuben said. “Getting a reading on DNA is now so much faster than it used to be.” He pressed. “Avery is your daughter.”
Philippa burst into tears and struggled for composure. Between sobs, all she could get out was, “Avery.”
Paolo knelt in front of her, holding her hand. “What is it, Philippa? Did something happen to Avery?”
She smiled through her tears. “Avery is our daughter.”
She returned to Reuben. “Thank you. I suspected, but I didn’t have the courage to find out.”
Reuben insisted, “Philippa, there’s one more thing.”
Philippa held her breath.
“I think we’re both clear things are becoming more and more dangerous.”
Philippa leaned forward, eyes narrowed. “Yes?”
“We’ll need to be in a position to protect Avery.” He hesitated. “You understand I serve as a chameleon not just in how I transform women with my fashions, but how, when needed, I help our people disappear and take on new lives.” Reuben continued. “We’ll see to it that Andromeda is attentive but she may also need a haven at a moment’s notice. I’ll take account of who she is, her needs and what her talents are. There’ll be something in place for her. You merely need to contact me.”
“Thank you. I’ll rest more easily knowing Avery…our daughter will be safe.”
“After all this time, she’s returned to our lives,” Paolo whispered.
Philippa descended into tears. “Oh Paolo, I didn’t dare to hope. We missed most of her infancy and all of her childhood.”
Paolo looked angry. “Why now, Philippa? We were forced to give her up and then when her adoptive parents died, we had to keep our distance. Now just like that she’s back? It feels cruel.”
Philippa choked back sobs. “I don’t know what to think. She may be here for a reason we don’t understand.”
Then Philippa noted the tears in Paolo’s eyes. “I’m sorry. I know you suffered, as well.” Slowly she turned her head from side to side as she drew in a sharp breath. “I think we’re going to have to overcome the sense of loss and look at what’s found.”
Paolo looked hard at her for a moment, then softened. “There’s so much pain, but of course you’re right. I think we agree Avery’s return isn’t a random event. But the questions remain, why now and for what purpose?”
Silence fell between them. Philippa turned to him. “There’s another question, Paolo. When do we tell her?”
Chapter 25
Banshee!
Miami, Florida
Evan Covel’s security personnel had researched Brigid Lynch’s background and what they thought was the reality of her life. Andromeda had taken great pains to construct a world and a life which did not exist. Brigid delighted in the fact that her true identity had been skillfully hidden. Her assignment had given her a useful view of Overlord activities. But today her role was to take a dramatic change.
The town car delivered her to the building where Evan maintained his penthouse. As she exited the car, she could not resist looking up toward the lofty perch. She hesitated. The implications of what was about to happen could not be foreseen. But she had her instructions from Gaia. The blood from the murder of Martine in Paris was deemed to be on his hands. Just as with Sergey, there was justice that had to be served. And Gaia’s instructions were clear and to be followed. The choice of the particular form suited Brigid well.
The concierge alerted Evan of her arrival. He was waiting by the elevator when she stepped off and kissed her tenderly. She pretended to return his affection.
The smile on Evan’s face let Brigid know that the colorful dress with a short skirt, which enhanced and displayed her figure, had been the right choice as well as her decision to let her glowing red hair cascade over her shoulders. With grace Evan seated her at the table. Brigid managed to hide her amusement. They were both clear about their roles, but there was so much hidden.
Evan poured himself a martini from a pitcher and presented Brigid with a glass of her favorite Irish whiskey. She smiled. “You take good care of me, Evan.”
Later they engaged in small talk as the meal of scallops and shrimp with a filet on the side was brought by the butler. After the meal, Brigid returned to the master bedroom to change into something even more alluring. Evan was relishing what he thought was to come and poured himself a serving of Rémy Martin VSOP. His cell phone sounded.
From the bedroom Brigid could hear his side of the conversation. She divined the caller to be someone close to Evan at work, and from the nature of the conversation she could understand generally what was at issue. She did not like what she heard.
Brigid waited until the call was over, and then came out and nestled in next to him.
“I can tell part of you is far away, Evan. Has it been difficult recently?”
“Not really. I think I’ve missed your company,” he lied, focused on the turmoil within his business.
Evan would never know that Brigid possessed a special ability. As a child, into her teen years, she had been in the company of very special Andromeda women who came from the Magh Meall Tethys off the coast of Ireland. They bore both Celtic and Tethyan traditions and taught her some of the oldest means of defense a woman could muster. And that meant a woman like Brigid had the ability to stir the passions of a man in special ways.
What made her especially dangerous was that she could stir and direct the passions of the anima, the woman every man harbored within him. And that woman could drive him to unsavory consequences including death or madness. From this tradition, the legend of the Banshee was born.
Tenderly Brigid rubbed Evan’s temples and began to undo his shirt. Evan tossed down the last of his drink, and Brigid led him into the bedroom. She held him close and looked intently into his eyes drawing him into her in a way he had not experienced before. Brigid’s hands flew over him in specific rhythmic sequences that orchestrated his bodily energies. She kept his eyes locked with hers. Slowly he began to feel that he was slipping away to another place and another time. Briefly he wondered why he seemed to be dreaming.
Brigid was creating a living dream of frightful proportions. The central character was that woman who dwelled within Evan. Some men carry a loving companion. Evan carried a woman who was adept at spinning evil nightmares. As a living intimate within him she had the store of his fears and vulnerabilities to draw upon. And she was just as vengeful and powerful as the man who was Evan.
The woman who dwelled within him emerged and came toward him in a flowing scarlet robe. Wild raven curls framed her face enhancing the flames leaping from her eyes. T
here was rage in those eyes, as well, and she released a wail, the wail of the Banshee. Tradition said it foretold death.
Evan fled the bedroom and stumbled onto the terrace of the penthouse. He tripped over a small glass-topped table, sending it to the floor where it shattered, the jagged shards slicing into his hands and arms as he, too, crashed to the floor.
Brigid would leave him with a deeply impressed personal experience which he would carry with him—the fury of the woman within. Once stirred that woman would not be easily controlled. Brigid whispered, “Darlin’ Evan. Gaia and her servants do not serve Overlords.”
Quickly she assembled her belongings and left the building. She smiled sweetly at the concierge in the lobby. It would have been so easy to kill Evan but, just as with Sergey, a living hell was a more attractive option. She headed for Miami International Airport and booked her return to Europe. Since she had claimed to be recently in Ireland, she chose to disappear into Paris. They would surely be looking for her.
Chapter 26
Adelais Demands
Paris, France
Brigid was waiting in customs at Charles de Gaulle airport considering her next step. Perhaps she could have some time to be alone and consider possibilities for the future.
Just as she was exiting customs, her cell vibrated. “Brigid! How was your flight?”
Brigid recognized Luisa’s bright voice. “It was good, but—damn it, how did you know where I was?”
“You above all people should know we’re never alone.”
Brigid laughed. “Of course, Kitten, I truly should. But what’s the nature of your call?”
“Adelais wants to meet with you. She said it’s urgent.”
Brigid’s heart sank. “Is she in crisis again? Did our efforts with her fail?”
“I don’t think so. Her voice suggested resolve.”
~~~
Brigid met Adelais the next morning in a small café near La Sorbonne. The café was quiet but Brigid’s mind was humming. They sat and studied each other as they took their first sips of their espressos. Adelais wasted no time and informed Brigid of her decision to leave La Sorbonne.
“I think your grandmother would have been unhappy about your leaving the university.”
Adelais appeared to study Brigid’s face as she weighed her response. “I thought going back to university would keep me focussed, but it’s done just the opposite. Given my grandmother’s commitment, I think she would understand. Truly, Brigid, leaving is necessary. It’s become clear to me that your world is now my world. I find my mind isn’t on my studies. They seem so trivial, and I regard the battles you’re fighting as so much more important.” Adelais leaned forward. “And I take offense at objections, Brigid. I’m honoring the memory of my grandmother by making this decision.”
Brigid admired Adelais’s determination and commitment. “You can choose whatever future you wish, but I recommend you take some time to consider alternatives.”
Adelais’s face flushed as she slapped an open palm on the table. “You see what’s going on. You should understand what I feel. My future is with Andromeda, and I would like your help. And your blessing. These evil men are crushing our future, our dreams. You see the headlines. We’re all a part of it. Do you expect me to simply sit back and watch now that I have a fuller understanding of our people and our mission?”
Brigid tried to remain calm. “I’m just asking you to consider for a time. It’s not a simple matter. Our service means we give up our lives. And you have just started yours.”
“Luisa took me to a Tethys and showed me the world as it is, and you expect me to come back and simply resume my studies? Like it or not, this is my life course now.”
Brigid could not miss Adelais's clenched fists. “Were we mistaken to take you to the Tethys?”
“Absolutely not. I’ll be eternally grateful. You brought me back to a life when I was losing myself in grief and fear. But you also gave me important lessons. I want to serve with you, Brigid.”
This was not the first pleading Brigid had heard from a young woman, and she knew it was done at great personal cost. Echoes of her own youth reverberated.
Brigid sat back and studied this girl who was displaying such strength and determination. So young. So intelligent. Her beautiful face was framed by her dark gamine-cut hair. She should be making plans with a lover, Brigid thought when the recognition came. Adelais was the image of a younger Luisa.
“I admire your dedication,” Brigid said, “but you can’t know what you’re giving up. It’s a deep and crushingly important choice. I made this decision early as well after a brush with death. A person dear to me died, and since then I have seen other friends die. You must understand I have given up almost everything else in my life.”
She rarely admitted this sadness, and the deep hurt she carried inside.
In return Adelais softened her tone. “Brigid, that means you understand why I have to do this. It gives me purpose. Are you telling me I should merely walk away from the vision of my grandmother’s blood and everything else I’ve come to know?”
Brigid studied her for a moment, then said, “This is not my decision alone. Your parents have to have a say and Philippa, as well. Such service means there’s a connection with our people, and they must be part of the decision.”
Adelais nodded her acceptance.
The next day Brigid sat with Adelais again. Her tone was grave. “Your parents have given their permission for you to join Andromeda.”
Adelais’s face lit up. “Thank you, Brigid. You have no idea how much this means to me.”
“Don’t be too quick to thank me. You’ll learn in time what you’re giving up. You must understand my course has cost me dearly. I believe in what I’m doing and what must be done, but it’s often painful, even wrenching. Sometimes there’s a terrible loneliness. At a young age you’re assuming burdens well beyond your years.”
“I appreciate your concern, but the burden was thrust upon me and I’m taking it up gladly.”
Brigid’s eyes were misty with unshed tears. “I ask only one thing of you. Women are rising to power at last, and I believe we’ll defeat the Overlords. But as we rise, I dream we’ll also find partnership.” She could not stifle a sigh of longing. “Please leave yourself open to rewards beyond your mission.”
Adelais was silent for a moment. “My feelings haven’t been crushed by what I’ve seen. In fact, the world has been opened to me. I’ll hold your hopes for me close.”
At that moment, Brigid’s concerns for Adelais’s future abated. But she wondered about her own.
Chapter 27
Can I Ever Be Alone?
Paris, France
Avery would have preferred to stay with Beck longer, but she had obligations. Microloans were being recognized as an important force worldwide, and she was due in Paris to represent her organization at a multi-national conference. So, with a deep sigh she said good-bye to Beck and boarded an Air France flight to Paris.
The presentation about her work in Brazil went well, which was a relief because her heart was elsewhere. Not that she didn’t love her work, but a life with Beck was opening for her. The work that had been the center of her life was taking second place.
The next day she was able to get away. She sought out a café on the Île de la Cité where she thought she would be undiscovered by the attendees at the conference. It was enclosed, modest in size, and dimly lit with numerous alcoves. Perfect for privacy. All she wanted just then was to be alone. She ordered a glass of wine, opened her iPad and began to read.
Just as her wine was served, Brigid and Adelais walked up.
“May we sit down, Avery?”
“Do I know you?” Avery asked, not acknowledging the request.
“We’re friends of Philippa.”
Avery’s eyes widened. Brigid looked around, assessing how close the other patrons were. She decided the alcove was suitable. “May we sit?�
�
Avery nodded.
“My name is Brigid. This is my friend Adelais.”
Avery’s reserve and suspicion were obvious. Brigid started to speak and Avery held up her hand. “First a question.” She leaned forward. “You show up out of nowhere and want to have a chat? I want to know how you found me.”
“We’re Andromeda,” Brigid said. “We understand Philippa has told you of our existence. We would not be in touch if it wasn’t important.” She pointed to Avery’s iPad. “Tracking people these days is not so difficult. We believe you and Beck Eriksen are in danger.”
Avery went on alert.
“You know who Evan Covel is at Beck’s company. We believe he was involved in the death of a prominent environmentalist. And we believe someone in the company is monitoring Beck’s activities.”
Avery didn’t notice the steely look in Adelais’s eyes.
“Beck needs to be very careful. And you, as well. At this point you don’t need to do anything specific,” Brigid continued, “other than to be watchful. However, we would recommend an escape plan.”
Avery stiffened.
Brigid hesitated to gauge Avery’s reaction, then continued.
“I was, shall I say, affiliated with Mr. Covel, but have relieved myself of my duties in ways he found unpleasant. I’m now keeping my distance since Mr. Covel is not a forgiving person.” Brigid laughed.
“I’m not finding this amusing,” Avery said.
“Of course not. I apologize. The reason for our contact is that the stakes are being raised quickly. We know of your interest in what happened at Laguna and know that you and Beck are close. As far as Covel is concerned, everyone is suspect, and these people can be brutal with minimal provocation. Adelais is working with me. We’ll be paying attention to your security.”
“You’ll be following me?” Avery could not decide if she found that comforting or invasive.
Brigid studied her for a moment. “I wouldn’t put it that way, but we’ll be available to you and will contact you from time to time.” Brigid now had her full attention.
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