“Alixia…”
I glared at him.
“Stay out of this, Phillip. Charles, tell me! I will find out the truth, I swear I will!”
He sat down in the leather chair, lowering his eyes.
“Your father wasn’t killed in a train wreck.”
The room began to spin.
“What?”
“Alixia, please sit down.”
“No, I don’t want to sit down. Just tell me, how he did die?”
A pause, and then…
“Your father died at the hands of the Ambrosines.”
I sat down, hard.
My body suddenly felt weak. I stared at him, not able to say anything. Did Mother lie to me about the way my father died? No, she wouldn’t do that …
“You’re lying!” I yelled. “My mother would never have brought me into her Family if she knew they had killed my Father!”
“Alixia, please try to understand. You hadn’t changed yet. She had to keep it from you. And when you did come into your destiny, the Dominions thought it was best you were never told. So, your Mother obeyed them.”
“They thought it was best!” I said angrily.
”Why did they kill him? And I want the truth!”
He rubbed his hands together nervously.
“He threatened to expose us if we took you. So, his punishment was swift. Marcel attacked first, and then the Ambrosines finished it.”
“Wait,” I said confused. “Marcel was part of it? They worked together?”
He just nodded.
I sat there staring at him in disbelief.
“I’m out of here.”
This is some kind of horrible dream.
I was reaching for the car door when Phillip grabbed me.
“Alixia, wait.”
“Get away from me!”
“Please, Alixia.”
I pulled away from him angrily.
“Did you know about my father?”
“No, I swear.”
“I have to get out of here.”
“Where are you going?”
“I don’t know. But they’re not going to get away with this! I’ll make sure of it!”
He grabbed my keys. “We need to talk about this, before you do anything foolish.”
“I don’t want to talk. Give me the keys!”
He pulled his hand back.
“No! You have to listen!”
“Fine, I don’t need them.”
I turned angrily, feeling the heat start to build throughout my body. Accelerating rapidly, I ran down the dirt road leading out of their estate. Turning toward the main highway, I felt Phillip’s arms go around me tightly, pulling me into a grove of trees. I tried breaking away as we fell backwards onto the ground. Rolling down a slope in each other’s arms, we finally came to a stop. I looked up at him on top of me.
”Phillip, let me up!”
“No, not until you listen!”
“I said, let me go!”
He held on even tighter as I struggled.
“Phillip, I’m not kidding. Get off me before I hurt you!”
“Alixia, you’re going to calm down first...”
“No!” I pushed, and he landed a few feet away, hitting a tree and splitting the bark. I walked over to him.
“Phillip, you will not…”
He grabbed my legs, bringing me down to him.
“So, are you ready to listen?”
“Really, Phillip.” I felt my anger deflate, and knew that we could go on like this all day.
“Fine, I’ll listen to you. But let go of me.”
“You promise?”
“What do you need to tell me?”
He loosened his grip.
“What I wanted to say is this. First, before you go off halfcocked and hell-bent on revenge, let me find out more about what happened. We need to talk to my uncle.”
“Are you insane?”
“Alixia, you need to find out everything that happened leading up to it.”
“Leading up to it? I don’t care what led up to it. They killed him!”
“Yes, I know. But what I’m saying is there may be more to it.”
“Phillip,” I said, feeling the tears well in my eyes. “More to what, how he died? It all makes sense to me now. Never getting to see him in his casket. Mother making up the excuse that he was unrecognizable. And he probably was. Being a pile of dust, after the Ambrosines were through with him. Unless...”
“What?“
“Phillip, maybe he wasn’t even in the casket.”
He looked at me, baffled.
“What are you saying?”
“My mother, she was crazy after my father died. She stayed in her den, talking to herself night and day. But now, I wonder if she was talking to him? I remember one night, she yelled out, ‘I wished you had listened to me!’ and then there was a loud thump. Could it have been him I heard that night? Do you think that’s when they took him?”
He wrapped his arm around me.
“I don’t know, Alixia. But I promise you I’ll find out.”
He kissed me softly on my brow.
“Phillip, I can’t be part of this anymore. I really do need to get out of here. Please just let me go.”
He made a gesture of surrender.
“Fine, but I’m going with you to make sure you don’t do anything stupid.”
“I don’t care. Let’s just get out of here!”
We walked back to the car, seeing Charles and a few of his staff coming out onto the front porch. Phillip opened the door on the passenger’s side of the car.
“Hop in.”
“No,” I said glaring at Charles. “I have a few more words for your uncle!”
“Alixia, please just get in and leave it alone for now.”
“Phillip!” Charles called out angrily. “Where are you going with her?” Phillip walked around the other side of the car.
“Uncle Charles, I’ll be back soon and then we’ll talk!”
“Phillip, don’t do this!”
Phillip got into the car, ignoring Charles. He looked over at me, turning the key.
“Where to?”
” I don’t care. Anywhere but here.”
“You got it, and I know just the perfect place to go.”
He shifted gears and we headed down the road. I looked over at him.
“Charles really wants you to keep away from me, doesn’t he?”
“ Don’t worry about it. He just thinks I’m being reckless, helping you right now.” I reached over and touched his hand.
“Maybe he’s right.”
“Well, that’s up to me, isn’t it?”
He reached over and turned on the radio.
”Let’s not talk about it.”
I could sense his torment. He was defying the Family, to protect me.
I looked out the window, listening to the music and thinking through what Charles had said about my father. It just doesn’t make sense.
“What doesn’t make sense?” Phillip asked, turning onto the highway to New Orleans.
“Phillip, really? In my mind again?”
“Just a little eavesdropping.”
I shook my head.
“So, are you going to tell me what doesn’t make sense?
“It’s about what your Uncle said.”
“What about it?”
“How they worked together to kill my father.”
“Who worked together?”
“You know, Marcel and the Ambrosines.”
His jaw stiffened.
“I don’t think my uncle meant that they actually came together to kill your father.”
“Yeah, maybe you’re right. However, it sure is odd your uncle would put it that way.”
He grimaced.
“Don’t worry about it. I’ll find out what took place.”
“Okay, but I still think it’s strange.”
I leaned back, letting the music block my thoughts from him. I was not convinced that they di
dn’t work together. Thinking back on Marguerite’s story made me wonder even more.
I need her to finish that story for me.
The car stopped in the Vieux Carré, the French Quarter. Phillip opened my door.
“Come on,” he said, grabbing his transistor radio.
“Where are we going?”
“To the river.”
Walking toward the waterfront, playing tourist and looking in shop windows, my mind was still on what Charles had said. I had so many questions, especially about my mother. How could she have let them kill Father?
“Alixia, this way,” Phillip said, taking my hand and bringing me back to reality.
When we reached the water, we stood on an old boat dock weathered by the river. Phillip picked up a few stones and we sat, enjoying a moment together, listening to the latest hits playing quietly on his radio. I watched a riverboat paddle slowly up the Mississippi. Phillip skipped his stones, making ripples in the water. It was the perfect setting, calm and peaceful – until two huge blackbirds decided to join us, squawking away. Phillip waved his arms and yelled, trying to scare them off. They didn’t move. They did stop squawking though, and watched us as if they were on guard.
“Alixia, can I ask why you came to see me about Marcus? Especially as you know how I feel?”
I put my hand on his shoulder.
“Because I need you to help me. I don’t know where else to turn, since Angel threatened me.”
“She threatened you? Why?”
“It’s Marcus. Angel is going after him, and it’s not about Charlotte anymore. She told me that he is starting his own Family, and I had better not interfere.”
“And is he?”
“No, he just has a few friends who are, well, the same as he is.”
“So, you’re sure he’s not starting a Family?”
He threw another stone.
“I don’t think so,” I said, watching it skip twice before sinking. “They’re just all friends. They have nothing to do with Marcel.”
He raised an eyebrow.
“Alixia, think. What does that tell you?”
“I don’t know,” I said in frustration. “Anyway, why would that be a problem, if he did start another Family?”
“The problem is, Alixia, that he can’t be controlled. It’s best you let the Ambrosines do what they have to do, without any interference from you.”
I looked at him strangely.
“That’s what Angel said to me.”
“She did? Well, she was right.”
“No, she’s not right. Phillip, he’s not guilty of anything. Actually, he’s the victim of both realms. First, he is tricked into one and now he’s being convicted in the other because they can’t control him. It doesn’t make any since to me. So, don’t you tell me not to interfere. It’s wrong, and you know it!”
He took a deep breath.
“You really love him, don’t you?”
I took his hand in mine.
“Yes, I do.”
He turned me toward him. Looking into his eyes, I sensed his loss as he kissed me softly.
“I will help,” he said.
“Are you sure?” I asked, sensing his apprehension.
“If it’s the only way we can be together, then yes.”
He smiled.
“And let’s face it, you need me. You know how good I am at fighting off the dark shadows.”
I leaned over and kissed him, saying. “Phillip, you will always be my protector.”
“And you, Alixia, will always have a place in my soul and in my heart, no matter what the outcome of all this.”
Marista
On my way back to Marguerite’s, I dropped Phillip off by Madame Cecilia’s driveway. I didn’t want to deal with Angel, if she was still there.
“I mean it Alixia,” he said. “Don’t do anything until you hear from me.”
“I will try.”
“Alixia!”
“Don’t worry. Just see what information you can get from Angel, please.” He shut the door and I drove away, watching him in the rearview mirror as he ran off into the trees towards Madame Cecilia’s.
Arriving at Marguerite’s, Michael met me at the door.
“Good evening, Alixia”
“Good evening, Michael. Is Marcus here?”
“Yes, he is in the study.” I walked in past him.
“Where is it?”
“You should know: you’ve already been in that room today.” I stood there, taken aback for a second.
“You knew I was here?”
He smirked at me, and then let out a chuckle.
“Yes, I knew you were here.”
I shook my head.
“I thought only the immortal’s could do that.”
“Well, it’s part of our legacy too. We’re able to sense any presence of the Dark Ones or the Ambrosines, in any of their forms, human, ghostly or even when they use animals or birds. We always know when they’re around. It’s like a sixth sense with us.”
“Really? I can’t believe there are so many things that I still don’t know.”
He moved his hands up and down his suspenders and then snapped them against his belly.
“You will learn. Now, you’re here to see Marcus?“
“Yes,” I said, noticing a small mustard stain on the front of his shirt. “I had better go find him. Is this the right way?” I pointed, and he grinned.
“Wait, not that it isn’t a pleasure seeing you, but may I ask what you’re doing back here? I know Millie had her baby, but I thought you were supposed to stay with her until Madame Cecilia and Marguerite returned?”
“Well, they didn’t return, but Henry and Angel did.”
I watched his anxiety grow.
“Henry came back without Marguerite?”
“Yes,” I said. “Is something wrong, Michael?”
“No. You should go see Marcus.”
“Okay” I said, quickly reaching into his mind. He’s worried about Marguerite.
“Are you sure there is nothing wrong?”
“I’m positive. Go find Marcus.”
Soft music played in the study where Marcus was sitting behind a desk, looking out the window.
“Alixia, you are here!”
He got up quickly, wrapped me in his arms and kissed my lips.
“I missed you so.”
“I missed you, too,” I said, breathing him in.
“Where is Marguerite?” he asked.
“She’s still in the West Indies, with Madame Cecilia.“
He leaned over to turn down the radio.
“So, they’re not back yet?” He didn’t seem concerned.
“No, but Angel showed up.”
“Who’s Angel?”
“She a spiteful, uncompromising Ambrosine who would really like to see you dead right now.”
“She sounds enchanting. Don’t bother introducing us.” I laughed.
“I wasn’t planning on it. Anyway, she came to tell me that the Dominions have another concern with you, and isn’t about Charlotte.”
“What is it?”
“They believe that you are building your own Family. Are you?”
“Yes, I am!”
“That’s it? No pretense about hiding it?”
“No, why?”
Phillip had better come up with the answers I need.
“Marcus, does Marguerite know about this?”
“Well, she is the one…”
“Wait, someone’s coming!” I turned to the door, sensing her. She was petite, and her dark hair was worn long, in soft curls. Her face had the same angelic look that Charlotte’s had, with the same icy blue eyes, too.
“Marista,” Marcus said. “Come in and meet Alixia.”
She walked over to me and I could sense her loathing for me right away. But it wasn’t because I was Ambrosine. It was because she cared for Marcus a little more than just being friends.
“Marista,” I offered my hand, which she
didn’t take.
Marcus wrapped his arm around my waist nervously.
“So, it’s nice that you two ladies finally get to meet.”
We stared at each other and her face took on a look of repulsion.
“Yes, Marcus has told me all about you.”
“I’m sorry, he must have forgotten to mention you to me,” I said in a sarcastic tone, looking straight at Marcus. He squeezed me.
“I didn’t mention her?”
“No.”
“I thought I had.”
We both stared at him.
“Okay,” he said, feeling the tension between us. “Now, what were we talking about? Oh, yes, Alixia was just asking me about Marguerite before you came in.”
“She was? Why?“
“I wanted to know if Marguerite was aware of the Family he had started.”
“ Yes, she is. Except that we all started it.”
“If you all started it together, then you are all in danger right now.”
Marcus let go of me and moved away, clapping his hands together.
“Good,” he said. “It’s happening. The Dominions are looking for us. Alixia, do you know when they will be in New Orleans?”
I stared at him, perplexed.
“I don’t know. When I was with Phillip today, he said that he’d try to find out what he could. But Marcus, what are you saying? Did you want them to come for you?”
He avoided my question and went right to his paranoia over Phillip.
“Phillip! You saw him?”
“Yes.”
“Who’s Phillip?” Marista asked.
“He’s just a friend of mine.” Why is she in this conversation? “Marista, can you give Marcus and I some privacy?”
“Marcus, do you want me to leave?”
Do you want me to leave! Are you kidding? What does she think I’m going to do to him?
“Yes, it’s okay.”
“Fine. If you need me, I’ll be right down the hall.” I waited for the door to close.
“She’s sure protective of you, huh? And she’s in love with you, too.”
“Yeah, I know. But she knows how I feel about you. Anyway, back to Phillip. How many times did you see him when you were at Madame Cecilia’s?”
“First of all, that doesn’t matter. And second, I told you that I was going to talk to him.”
He frowned.
”Well, I just wish I had been with you.”
“Why?”
“I don’t trust him.”
“Marcus!”
The Legacy (Ambrosine Book 2) Page 8
