by Audra Hart
“Speaking of powerful beings from ancient times,” says Ari. “Luca it is time that you understand your true heritage. Your father was a mortal, an Italian soldier named Brutus. He fell in love with a lovely girl and conceived a child with her. He did not know she was a Roman goddess. Your mother is Bellona, a goddess of war. The name she gave you at birth was Lucian Invictus Bellona, man of light, invincible, victorious at war.”
“Her father Mars did not approve of the association and forced Bellona to abandon you at that orphanage when you were three years old. She had managed to keep you hidden that long. But it is very difficult to keep secrets from one as powerful as Mars.”
“It broke Bellona’s heart, but she continues to watch over you. She loves you very much and approves of your mate and how you live your life. Your mother is the reason why your eyes are that strange luminescent blue. She bestowed the moonlight blessing on you immediately after your change to vampire. She knew your heart and understood your desire to not be a monster. The blessing is to give you added strength to resist human blood, to be a better man, and to give freedom to move about in sunlight. However, I got a good look at who you truly are the other night on the ridge, I don‘t think you would have ever hunted humans even without that blessing. It just made it a little bit easier for you,” Ari informs Luca.
Luca is gratified by Ari’s confidence in him. And he is glad to know where his magic comes from. He knew he was not of the same heritage as the other Spell Weavers. He had been raised at an orphanage somewhere in Italy until his twelfth year. Then Father Michael recognized the magic in the boy and urged him to flee the orphanage before some of the narrow minded and superstitious clergy there recognized his magic and started to fear he was evil. Luca had known his name was Lucian but he also assumed the surname Michaels as an homage his mentor and savior.
He had wandered Europe as Lucian Michaels for seven years when he stumbled through the gateway at Airendell. Morna had challenged him, but recognized his magic and his pure heart. She had allowed him to remain and fought for him with her mother and the Elders. Eventually, she took on the role as his lore mother and ascension guide. They fell in love. Luca was an excellent student and ascended ten years later at age 29. He served as warrior under Morna in the Airendell Warriors, as they protected the gateway and their Guild. Soon he became her second in command. He and Morna married forty-six years later after a very passionate romance. It had taken decades to gain the consent of the Guild Elders for them to marry.
Ari says, “Luca, I tell you this so that you can understand that you are indeed a fitting and equal mate to Morna.”
Morna squeezes Luca’s hand, “Indeed! I have always known that,” she breathes.
Ari looks at Morna and says, “You know that his goodness and compassion actually surpass your own, but you are the leader in the battle ahead because you do not temper your sense of duty and devotion to accomplish your duty with considerations for your loved ones. Luca would put your wellbeing first in all decisions he made, and that is not what is needed now.”
Morna is stricken when she realizes the truth of Ari’s words. “Morna, do not feel bad about that. You are older than Luca; you have lived with your sense of duty longer than Luca has even been alive. Your sense of duty is one of the dominant foundations of whom and what you are.”
Morna and Luca are digesting Ari’s words when there is another knock at the door. Almeda looks at Luca and Morna and asks, “May I?” The both nod their assent. Almeda opens the door to Brigid. She embraces the tiny Spell Weaver. “Brigid, it is so good to see you dear one. Welcome. Please sit here by me.”
Once everyone is seated again Almeda speaks to Brigid. “Morna has undergone a transformation of sorts. I want you to take her to your practice and do a full work up on her. Do not share any of your findings with Aideen. Do you understand?”
“I think I know what this is about,” says Brigid. “I will do as you ask. Do you want us to go now?” At Almeda’s nod she stands and looks at Morna.
Morna rises and says, “Let me get my bag.” She looks to Luca to ask him wordlessly to follow her into the other room. He follows her through the door. She leads the way to the bathroom and shuts the door behind them. They look at each other. Both are concerned that everything is changing so rapidly around them. They clasp each other in a desperate embrace. They find each other’s mouths in a passionate, eager kiss. When they finally part, Morna’s heart is racing, her body is trembling, and every inch of her is on fire for her mate. She desperately wishes they did not have sitting room full of guests.
Luca chuckles and gently sets her away from him. “It is very hard, is it not?” She looks at him questioningly. “To have such heightened senses that the merest contact from the object of your passion engulfs you totally in a vast sea of want and need.”
She looks deeply into his eyes, gulps and nods wordlessly. Then she takes a deep breath and asks, “You have felt this way ever since you were changed into a vampire?” He smiles. “How do you find any balance when you are around me? All I have wanted to do since I awoke is… well, you know. How do you do it?”
Luca laughs, “Practice love. Balance will come,” he assures her.
She looks at him very seriously and says, “Don’t ever let me hear you say that your control is tenuous again? Do you hear me? I certainly know better now.” They laugh and embrace again.
Luca nuzzles her neck and nibbles her earlobe gently with his teeth. He revels in her reaction to him and whispers into her ear, “Just wait until we can finally come together as physical equals. I suspect it will be more than amazing.” He runs his hands down her back over her butt and pulls her to him tightly. He chuckles when she quickly wraps her body around his in a reflexive response, stiffens and shudders. He laughs richly, and says, “Okay, now I am flattered! Amazing! Did you just…? She looks away shyly and nods, bright crimson blush coloring her cheeks. He kisses her softly on the forehead. “You are amazing, my mate, my life,” he whispers, “But now we duties to attend to.” Morna can only nod and smile wryly at herself.
He walks out of the bathroom. “Did you want to take “monster purse” or the clutch you used the other night?
“I better take “monster purse. I may need my laptop and planner. I need to contact Sharon and tell her I need an extended leave of absence due to health issues. She knows I am here in Chicago to see a neurosurgeon. Hopefully she will accept my explanation without being too nosy, I don‘t really want to have to be rude with her, but I just don‘t have time for any of that. But I think I will need more freedom, and not to be distracted by IEPs and meetings, and portfolios. I am sure I will have time to kill between tests and what not at Brigid’s clinic.”
“I will send some emails, call to check on the kids back home, and try to remember some things. I think all my memories are there, just waiting for me to pick them up and look at them. It just takes something to prod me in the right direction. I think talking with Brigid will spark some memories too.” She slings her purse over her shoulder, then giggles, because she is still barefooted. She grabs a pair of brown leather pumps out of the suitcase and slides into them. She turns to Luca and asks, “Am I presentable?”
“Lusciously so,” he favors her with the lopsided grin she loves. She kisses him quickly, shivers at the delicious fire the quick kiss ignites. Then she looks him the eyes and says sincerely, “I know I am being silly. I will only be gone a few hours, but I will miss you horribly,” she confesses.
“It’s not silly love, I feel the same way,” he admits and kisses her again. Then they turn and walk as one back to the sitting room to join their guests.
Breena raises an eyebrow at them when they return. Then says, “Almeda and Ari have already given me my instructions. Basically, I am to give you a crash course in Spell Weaver lore. In two days’ time, the other weavers in this area will meet us at your home so we can perform the ascension rite.”
Morna gasps, “Two days to prepare to ascend?”
Almeda says, “Morna, it is basically a formality. You only need be reminded of the lore. We believe Brigid’s exam will reveal you are already fully immortal. You were probably immortal before… Well anyway, you are surely one of the strongest immortals to ever be a Spell Weaver. Oh yes, and we think Damian, should be there for the teachings. He cannot ascend, but he will be better prepared for what may be ahead if he has the knowledge of the lore.”
Morna nods her agreement. That thought had occurred to her also. “What about Aideen?” she asks, “Where will she be?”
Ari speaks now, “We think we should take her to Alfheim. She needs to know what is at stake. She is too immature right now. Perhaps we can prepare her better in the home world. Fear not, she will be there for your ascension rite. We will personally see to her transport.”
Morna wonders what will happen to Aideen at Alfheim. Elvish magic is a mysterious thing, even to Spell Weavers and other immortals. But she trusts Almeda and Ari to look after her daughter. She looks at Luca and suspects his thoughts are much the same.
Ari continues, “Now Luca will escort you, Brigid and Breena to the clinic.”
“Escort?” asks Morna.
“Yes,” answers Ari. “Since they can no longer attack you from afar, we suspect they may attack you physically. Breena has already placed a buffer spell on the rental car Luca has procured. Luca and Breena will weave a buffer spell around the clinic to protect you while Brigid does her examinations. When you are finished, call Luca and he will escort you back here.”
“I can just wait there,” offers Luca. “I need to arrange flights and such anyway; I can do that on my cell phone while Brigid is working.”
“No Luca, you need to come back here and talk to your daughter with us,” says Almeda gently.
“Yes, right.” Luca says. “Will Breena stay with Morna or come back with me? I think she may be helpful with Aideen, she was her lore mother after all.”
“Good point,” agrees Almeda. She looks at her son, he nods. “Yes, she should come back here with you.”
Morna is anxious to get this separation from Luca over with. She really doesn’t see the point of the physical exam, but she is sure the Elves have their reasons. “Well, are we ready?” she asks.
Brigid and Morna have been at the clinic for hours. Morna is frustrated because her cell phone doesn’t have a strong enough signal in the building; she is starving and overly eager to get back to Luca. “I hate to whine like a child, but are you finished yet?” she asks Brigid.
Brigid chuckles, “Yes, I was just organizing my notes before we go back to your hotel suite. Why don’t you call Luca and tell him to meet us out front in 20 minutes.
Morna picks up the phone on Brigid’s desk and calls Luca. “Darling, Brigid is finally finished. She says to meet us out front in 20 minutes. …. I know love, me too. … See you soon. I love you. Good bye.” She hangs he phone up and sighs.
Brigid looks up from her computer and says, “Would you mind answering a few personal questions?”
Morna sits in the chair in front of Brigid’s desk, and says, “I probably would not mind that…”
“Morna, Luca said that he bit you, accidentally. And it‘s obvious that you have been exposed to venom, but you are not a vampire… at least not like Luca,” Brigid hesitates when she sees Morna blush, then decides to plow ahead. “How did you get exposed? Did Luca actually bite you? Was he trying to turn you? Or trying to feed? Or did it happen some other way….? I don’t understand.”
“Hell no he wasn’t trying have me for dinner!” Morna snaps, “He would never do that. And he wasn’t trying to turn me. It was an accident…” Morna blushes and looks at her hands in silence for several moments. “We were being very, very intimate, shall we say. It was an accident, at least on his part. Some part of me was desperate for him to change me. I urged him to…”
Brigid giggles like a school girl and says, “You mean he was… he had his mouth… Didn’t it hurt? Every vampire I have ever spoken to said exposure to the venom is horribly painful.”
“When the venom got injected, and entered my bloodstream, I felt like I was on fire. Like I was being broken down and reconstructed and burned to a cinder at the same time. It was very, very painful. I am glad I took the lortabs and valium; I guess that is what put me under. Luca said I was unconscious for two, writhing and murmuring in pain.”
“I know about that part. He called me to come over to check on you. I kept you hydrated and administered pain meds and sedatives. He was in hell when that was going on I can tell you. But I was too afraid to ask him any questions. He may be as accommodating as a pussy cat for you, but he is still a very dangerous vampire to the rest of us,” says Brigid.
“Nonsense, he would never hurt you,” insists Morna.
“Probably not, unless I was harming you or Aideen, Then I would be toast, no doubt about it,” asserts Brigid.
Morna can’t argue with that, Brigid probably has that part right.
“But Morna, you misunderstood my question. Didn’t his venom hurt? I mean I assume he was performing oral sex on you. Didn’t the venom hurt there? There is venom in his mouth right? Not just his teeth?”
Morna laughs quietly and says, “I can’t believe I am discussing this. No it doesn‘t hurt, exactly. It is amazing! Yes, it stings and burns slightly, but it’s an indescribable feeling. The first time I talked him into it, I achieved the most amazing orgasm in a just few short minutes.”
Brigid laughs, “Why am I not surprised that you talked him into it? But I suspect it would hurt on a human, a normal human I mean. Not one descended from a Norse god and giant, with Elvish heritage and Spell Weaver magic thrown in just to make you interesting.” Both women laugh. “I am just being nosey, but why did you talk him into it?”
“Let’s just say that he missed certain aspects of our love life from before he was changed into a vampire. He has to hold himself back so much. I am only starting to get an inkling of hard it has been for him. And I haven’t made things any easier over the years. You know how I attack anything worth doing with everything I have.” Morna blushes.
Brigid laughs, “I have a friend, he’s a bull rider from Texas, and he would say that you go ‘balls to the wall’. He’s amazing; he reminds me a lot of you. Can I tell you something?” Morna nods. “He is more than a friend. I am desperately in love with him, his name is George Welborn. I met him after he was thrown and stomped by a bull, eight months ago. He was a patient of mine. He was damaged pretty badly when he came to me, but he is such an amazing soul, I couldn’t resist. I wove healing spells for him above and beyond the surgeries and treatments. He’s nearly recovered now.”
“I am happy for you Brigid,” says Morna. “But I assume he is mortal?”
“Yes I guess he is, sad but true. But it will be worth the heartache that’s in store, I think,” she says quietly. Brigid looks very deep in thought and Morna suspects that she is imagining the loss she will endure when her beloved mortal dies. “I need a favor from you. Breena met him the other night. She thinks he may have some magic in his blood. But you were always the best at detecting magic blood. Could you meet him? Please?”
“Brigid, I would love to meet him regardless,” assures Morna. “Anyone who captures your heart is worth meeting.”
“Great!” Brigid gushes. “Well, I have good news for you. In case you haven’t figured this on your own, Luca will not have to hold back any longer. You may have to hold back, in fact. You are very strong, in fact you damaged my equipment when I tried to test your strength.” Brigid just giggles when Morna apologizes for that.
“When I was taking your medical history you said that you had had your appendix removed when you were fifteen and that your uterus and ovaries was removed when your youngest child was born?”
“Yes, that’s right,” supplies Morna.
“Well, I am not sure how to say this, but you have an appendix and a uterus, and ovaries. I would estimate you have the body o
f a twenty-five year old, not a forty-nine year old.” Brigid says uncertainly.
“How is that possible? Did my body regenerate those organs?” asks Morna.
“Apparently so. But who knows for certain? How is it possible that you were exposed to vampire venom and are not a vampire? I think it’s your lineage, you know, your warrior persona, and being part Norse god and all that.” Brigid says with a shrug. “I have another theory; have you been exposed to minute traces of Luca’s venom before this life time?”
Morna blushes. “Yes. I always have enjoyed it and he’s missed how we could love before the change. I guess I am a bit of a mess aren’t I?”
“Not a mess, but astounding. Believe me I have done the tests. I know. Look I think that repeated exposure over time changed you, it‘s probably been making you stronger with each incarnation. I mean look at you… even before the vampire venom, Luca said you were very strong this time. Look what you survived!” laughs Brigid. “Plus I knew you for 260 odd years before you died that first time.”
Brigid suddenly looks devastated, “Oh Morna, I am so, so sorry I couldn’t save you! I tried so hard to figure out how to reverse the curse and then when Aideen was born, I just couldn’t do enough. I have never felt so helpless in my life. I hated it,” breathes Brigid.
Morna stands up and walks around the desk to her friend. She places her hands on her friend’s shoulders and looks Brigid in the eyes and says, “You have nothing to regret. I appreciate all you have done for me and mine then and since,” Morna assures her. “Well, if you have your notes organized, let’s go meet Luca out front, I am starving. I could roast a cow and eat it by myself!”
Brigid laughs and starts to rise. Her cell phone buzzes. She reads the text and laughs. “Guess who is waiting for me out front?” Brigid quickly types in a response, and drops her phone in her blazer pocket.
