The Legacy (Ambrosine Book 2)

by Noreen Harrison

  She faced Correa.

  “Where is he?”

  “In the village.”

  “Alixia, go to him.” I started to leave.

  “Kiarah,” I asked. “Can Phillip enter your realm freely?” She looked at Correa and then said, “Oui.”

  “Merci.”

  Going back into the jungle, I moved fast as I sensed my way to the village. It was as if I had a homing device in me, knowing exactly where to go. As I left the trees and entered a narrow valley, the sun was already rising over the mountains to the east. It brought out the lush green color all around me. Morning dew glistened like diamonds on every leaf and blade of grass.

  There’s a passage near here, but where exactly?

  Moving through the underbrush, I sensed Angel behind me.

  “Alixia, Madame Correa warned me that you were coming.”

  “I knew she would. I don’t want to get into a fight with you. I came to talk to Phillip. Where is he?”

  “He’s in the village.”

  “Will you take me to him, please ?”

  She hesitated.

  “Follow me.” She walked to some heavy vines draped over the rocks. Pulling them back, she said, “After you.”

  I walked past her into a tunnel. She came up behind me. “So, you are coming to get Phillip? He won’t go with you, you know?“

  She was in my head, so I blocked her.

  “It’s too late,” she said. “I know what you’re thinking, and you’re a fool if you believe that you can control the outcome of this ritual.”

  “I’m not the fool here,” I said heatedly. “Maybe you should go ask…” I stopped short before telling her what I now knew about the relationship between Marcel and Correa. She probably wouldn’t have believed it anyway. She was too brainwashed to see the truth.

  “Fille stupide,”she said.

  She turned into another entrance to the open area, and this time there was no mist. I could see everything around me, and it was Utopia. This was the kind of beauty that one only sees in paintings. Flora of every kind spread out in a vast array of colors all through the valley, perfuming the air around us. Birds sang in the sun-glistened trees, and to our left I watched as a waterfall washed over rocks and rushed down the hillside, landing in a clear blue stream.

  “This is so beautiful, Angel,” I said, standing there in abject reverence. She nodded. Then she broke the spell with an arrogant comment.

  “Yes, it’s too bad you want to change it all!”

  Heaving a sigh at her bitterness, I followed her down a sandy path for another half a mile, to a village. It was primitive and simple. There were grass lean-tos and open fires pits that swirled gray smoke into the morning air. Goats and chickens ran freely, along with a few pigs that grunted at us as we passed. The villagers and their children were scantily dressed. They interrupted their customary morning routines, making a path to greet us and bowing as we passed.

  Walking on, we passed a very old woman hiding in the morning shadow by a grass dwelling. As I walked by, she called out my name.

  I turned to go back to her.

  “Alixia, don’t!” Angel called out. Ignoring her, I looked down at the old woman. She reached up for me. I knelt down, noticing the blackbird tattoo on the side of her neck. She touched my face. Her hand was cold and leathery. I looked into her tired eyes as she said something to me in her native language, which I didn’t understand. Angel took my arm, moving me quickly away from her.

  “Angel, what did she say?”

  “Nothing! “

  “Angel!”

  “She said, ‘Be aware’.”

  “What’s that supposed to mean?” I stopped, even as she kept moving.

  “Angel what does it mean?”

  She finally turned.

  “She probably meant for you to be watchful. Come on now, do you want to see Phillip or not?”

  “Yes,” I said, not wanting to irritate her any more. And suddenly I remembered the old man playing the saxophone. I was in a limousine, supposedly on the way to a flight bound for France. We stopped at a traffic light and gave him coins. And when I read his thought, that’s what was in his head too. Be watchful.

  I turned back to look at the old woman, but she was gone. It was as if she had never been.

  “Angel,” I said, catching up to her. “That old woman that I was just talking to. How did she…”

  “…vanish? She’s a Pure One from the very beginning, an apparition.”

  She turned into a cave entrance.

  “They only come to you when you’re in danger, or somebody close to you is.”

  I followed her into the mouth of the cave.

  “Alixia!” I heard Phillip yell. I looked past her, seeing him coming toward me. I ran into his arms.

  “You’re okay?” I asked.

  “Yes, why wouldn’t I be? What’s the matter?”

  “Nothing,” I said, wondering if I should tell him of Correa’s threat to me. Knowing that Angel would probably argue in their defense anyway, I decided against it.

  “Come with me,” I said.

  “Where?”

  “To the Ancients’ realm.”

  “No!” Angel said, anxiously.

  “Angel, he’s in danger here. Just let him go!”

  “He’s not in danger here.”

  Phillip glared at her and took hold of my arms, turning me around to him. I sensed his fear.

  “Is this about the visions you had?”

  “Visions! What visions?” Angel blurted out.

  “She’s been having visions of danger. So, let her answer.”

  I moved apprehensively out of his arms.

  “No, it’s not the visions. I just need you to come with me, please. I will explain everything to you when we’re safely out of this realm.“

  “Phillip, don’t let her manipulate you into a trap.”

  “Angel, do you really believe that I would intentionally take Phillip into danger?”

  “ Yes,” she said, looking over at Phillip pleadingly. “That is exactly what you’re doing. You’re planning on going through with the ritual, aren’t you?”

  I was annoyed with her. She was making me out to be the evil one here. I looked at Phillip, sensing his agitation.

  “Phillip, I have to help Marcus.”

  “So, you are going through with it?”

  “He will die if I don’t.”

  “Alixia, you know the consequences of doing this.”

  “Yes. He will be able to defend himself without fearing Ambrosine blood.”

  “Alixia,” Angel said angrily. “You’re giving this Dark One an advantage over us. You will never be forgiven for doing this.”

  “I’m not looking for forgiveness, and I’m not giving Marcus an advantage, either. It will just be an equal fight now between him and the Ambrosines.”

  Phillip grabbed her as she came at me.

  “Never has there been an Ambrosine that was willing to help a Dark One destroy us!” She tried pulling away from him. “Let go of me, Phillip!”

  I shook my head, knowing it was time to reveal what I knew.

  “Really? Well, you’d better take a look at Madame Correa then.” Philip let go of her. They stood there staring at me, with their eyes wide.

  “What are you saying, Alixia?” Phillip asked.

  “What I’m saying is that Correa and Marcel have worked together many times to go after Family members!“

  They both looked at me as if I were insane.

  “No, you’re lying,” Angel scoffed. “Madame Correa would never work with a Dark One.“

  “It’s time you and Phillip see the truth,” I said. So, I took their hands and showed them the images in my mind of Correa and Marcel in each other’s arms. Then I let them see the evil this pair continually brought down on Family members, and even Outsiders who got in their way. Angel stepped back, her face void of emotion.

  “Phillip, take Alixia back to the Ancients‘ realm.”
r />   “Come with us, Angel.” I begged. “They can’t be trusted.”

  “No, I have to talk to her.” She started for the tunnel, and then turned and gave me one last, long look before she disappeared. There was great sadness in her heart.

  “Come on, Alixia,” Phillip grabbed my arm. We accelerated through the jungle and stopped at the wall of mist. I took his hand, sensing his concern.

  “Phillip, it’s alright. You’re welcome here. I asked.”

  “I’m not coming in with you, Alixia .”

  “Why?”

  “After seeing your images, I’m going back to New Orleans to warn our Families about Correa’s intentions.“

  I wrapped my arms around him.

  “If anything happens to you…”

  “Alixia!” I heard Marcus calling from the mist.

  Phillip stepped out of my embrace, putting his finger to my lips and touching them lightly.

  “I will see you in two days,” he said. Then he kissed me and ran back into the jungle.

  Walking into the mist, I knew now that I had made the right decision. Marcel and Correa needed to be stopped. But I have to make sure that Marcus…

  I felt his touch.

  ”Marcus!”

  “Are you alright?” He hugged me tight.

  “Yes. Just hold me,” I said with a heavy sigh.

  “Sure. What happened?”

  “Phillip…”

  I felt tension in his body. I looked into his eyes.

  “Marcus, what is it?” I said, slipping out of his arms and wishing I could get into his head.

  “Phillip, did he hurt you?”

  “Of course not,” I said. “Why would you even think that?” I started walking away and he followed, hugging me from behind.

  “Listen, I’m sorry. It’s just that Marguerite told me they will stop at nothing to keep you from helping me.”

  “Well, she’s probably right about that. But it isn’t Phillip that you should be concerned about. It’s Correa and Marcel, and the revenge that they have planned for us after the ritual.“

  “I know they’re the ones I should focus on,” he said.

  Then he looked back to where I had just come from.

  “I can’t help myself though, when it comes to Phillip. I just don’t trust him. ”

  “Marcus, don’t confuse jealousy with trust. I promise you can rely on him.”

  “We’ll see.”

  We walked back to the village. I let him know every detail of my encounter with Correa, and her threats. Marguerite was standing at the stone entrance.

  “Alixia,” she said anxiously. “The Priestess told me what she witnessed. Where’s Phillip?”

  “He went to New Orleans to warn the Families after I showed him what Correa and Marcel were planning.”

  “You showed him?” she asked, as if I had done something wrong.

  “Yes, and Angel too. Why, shouldn’t I have?”

  “It’s alright. We’ll just have to move things along more quickly.”

  “Marguerite,” Marcus asked. “Will my family be safe?” Even though I couldn’t read her thoughts, I knew what she was thinking. Marcus’s family, and my friends too, were all in serious danger.

  “No,” she said. “That’s why we can’t delay anymore come.”

  She took us to a room that was almost identical to her healing room in New Orleans, even down to the dead bird in each corner. We sat at an old gnarled wooden table. There was a lit candle melting down, flickering yellow light through the room. She folded her hands. Her eyes were almost catlike as she stared at us.

  “Tomorrow night, the ritual will take place.”

  Marcus took my hand, squeezing it gently.

  “Good. I need to get back to Baton Rouge.”

  “Alixia,” she looked over at me, waiting for my response.

  “Yes, tomorrow night. I understand. And only Marcus will take part in the ritual, right?”

  “Yes, the rest will not.”

  “No!” Marcus said, letting go of my hand in utter disbelief.

  “Marguerite, you didn’t tell him?” I asked. She looked at him, distraught.

  “Marcus, they don’t have free will like you. They’re still under Marcel’s control. The Ancients won’t take the chance.”

  “We promised to protect them.”

  Marguerite got up and walked over to him.

  “This is hard on me, too. You know that.” He put his arm around her.

  “What do think Marista is going to do when she finds out?” he asked. “We did assure her.” I sat there listening to them, and began to wonder why they were only worried about her, and not the others.

  “Marguerite.”

  “Yes?”

  “Not that you shouldn’t be concerned about Marista, but you and Marcus haven’t mentioned the others at all.”

  “Marista is my daughter,” Marguerite said.

  I leaned back in the chair, stunned.

  “Why didn’t you tell me?”

  “Because I didn’t want you to think I was trying to save just her.” She came back and sat at the table, moving the candle around. I watched her eyes well up with tears. I reached over, taking her hands in mine.

  “I would never think that of you. I know that, if it weren’t for you, Marcus would be dead. “

  “Yes,” Marcus said, coming back to the table. I patted her hand.

  “Maybe there’s still some way they could be part of the ritual? We don’t really know if Marcel…”

  She pulled her hands away.

  “No!” she said with fear. “We can’t go against the Ancients.”

  “Then what are we supposed to do?” Marcus asked. “Just let the Ambrosines take them?”

  “They won’t. We’ll take them off the island tomorrow, after the ritual. We’ll bring them to the sanctuary and keep watch over them until the Blood Moon Gathering is over.”

  “But…”

  “Marcus,” she said with exasperation. “It will work. Please don’t argue. I’m going to have enough to deal with when I tell Marista.”

  “Marguerite,” I said hesitantly, wondering if she would talk about it. “Can I ask how Marista was taken?”

  She closed her eyes as if the memory was too much for her.

  “I‘m sorry,” I said, wishing now that I hadn’t brought it up. “If you don’t want to talk about it, I understand.”

  “No, I will tell you. It happened two years ago in March, right after Mardi Grass. My husband Adam and Marista went to New York to pick out a wedding dress. I was coming the next day, to help.”

  “She was getting married?”

  “Yes, in June.” Her voice broke, but she dried her eyes and continued. “To a nice boy in the Aimeri Family, in the south. But I was one day too late to save them.”

  “What happened?”

  “Marcel happened!” she said vehemently. “He and some other Dark Ones went after my family, because I had protested to Correa about the taking of a Family member by him. He denied he had anything to do with it, and Correa accepted his plea of innocence. But I knew better. He led them that night. My husband and daughter were just leaving a restaurant and taking the subway back to their hotel. That’s where they were attacked. The Dark Ones dragged them down an abandoned tunnel.”

  She paused for a few seconds, the memory anguish for her.

  “My husband fought with everything he had, trying to save our daughter. But since neither of them bore the mark, it was futile. The Dark Ones’ strength overpowered them in seconds, leaving my husband ripped apart, his heart taken, but his soul left. Marista though, was bitten and saved for the Dark Realm. Her soul belongs to Marcel now. That was his revenge on me.”

  She lowered her head, and then spoke softly in French.

  ” Marcel payera.”

  “The Gathering will be our time,” she said. “We’re the Overseers, so we’re the ones who keep balance in the realms, not Marcel or Correa. They will be killed for their abhor
rent acts against each realm.”

  I just closed my eyes, troubled, as the vision of Marcus and Phillip played in my head again.

  Outraged

  I woke up the next day in the cave by the waterfall, in Marcus’s arms. We had talked and held each other through the night. Each of us knew that, if the ritual didn’t work, this would be our last time together. He was staring down at me, his deep blue eyes filled with passion as he caressed my skin with his cool fingertips. I moved closer to him, kissing his bare chest and moving up to his neck, until our lips met softly in a kiss.

  “Good morning.”

  “Good morning,” he grinned, looking at me hungrily and then kissing me passionately. He moved his hands over my body so that I almost lost control. We lay there, breathing deeply, exploring limits.

  “You know,” I said. “I don’t know how much longer I can resist you.”

  “Then don’t,” he said with a wicked smile. Taking me into his arms again, he rolled on top of me. Kissing my throat, he moved down…

  ”Marcus! Where are you?”

  “Marista!” I said, pushing him off me and buttoning up my blouse. We walked through the waterfall. She was waiting on the other side, glaring and hurt.

  “What’s this all about? You promised me we would be part of the ritual!” she cried.

  “I know, I’m sorry.” Marcus said with deep regret in his voice. “But you will be safe. We’re taking you to the sanctuary.”

  “Yes, Marguerite told me. But I’m not going. This isn’t the way it was supposed to be, and you know it.”

  He walked over to console her, which was probably a bad idea. She knocked him backwards into the waterfall.

  “Marista!” I yelled. She turned to me.

  “This is your fault. You’re just jealous.”

  “No, I’m not jealous. It’s because you don’t have free will. You are still under Marcel’s control, so he can still get into your mind!” Marcus climbed out of the waterfall, rubbing his chest.

  “She’s right, Marista.”

  “I’ve resisted him several times. You know that!”

  “Marista,” Marcus said with concern, not getting too close to her. “You know those times you can’t remember, like when you and Paul went after the young girl?”

  She thought about this for a few seconds, and then her eyes filled with tears.