“Ethan! I interrupted him. “He’s alive?”
“Yes, he was the one who took me to safety that night, when Correa attacked Marista and the others.” He went somber for a moment. I sensed his torment at their being gone. Then he continued, breathing in and clearing his mind.
“Anyway, Ethan was helping me keep watch tonight, to make sure she wouldn’t interfere with my brother’s wedding.”
I looked over at Madame Cecilia.
“Did she say anything to you, Marcus?”
“No. In fact, when your mother sensed us, she took off and left a couple of Marcel’s Family members behind for us to deal with.”
Madame Cecilia pinched her brow in concern.
“You can go after your own kind?”
“Yes, now that my blood is mixed, I can enter either realm. “
She shook her head.
“So, you can go after both sides?”
“Yes,” he nodded, tight-jawed. “If I’m threatened, I’m now able to defend myself against most threats.”
She moved closer to him, tapping her lips with her fingertips. I couldn’t tell if she was reading his thoughts, or thinking about the words he had used.
“You were thinking, if ‘we’ are threatened. Marcus, you have already started a new Family! This worries me. “
“It shouldn’t,” he said with a halfcocked smile. “It doesn’t worry Marguerite. She’s the one who wanted me to start right away, bringing in a new realm. Ethan was my first.”
I stepped up to him.
“Marcus, you changed him! Are you crazy? He didn’t have free will!”
I was terrified about what he had done.
“He saved me. I owed him a lot.”
“But Marcus, he could be dangerous.”
“I will keep him under control, don’t worry.”
Madame Cecilia walked over to my car, mumbling under her breath. I only heard ‘irresponsible’.
“Alixia, we should go,” she said aloud.
“No, I need to talk to Marcus a little longer. Would you mind taking my car home? The keys are in the ignition.”
She eyed me with suspicion.
“I can stay until you are ready to leave.”
“No, go. I’ll be an hour or so.” I moved over by Marcus and he put his arm around me.
“Madame Ambrosine, I love her. You don’t have to worry.”
“That’s why I‘m worried.” She shut the door and left.
I turned to Marcus. He took my hand.
“Come on.”
“Where are we going?”
“To the cavern. They can’t get into our heads, or find us there.“
“That’s sounds good to me.”
“Ready?” he smiled.
“Yes.”
We landed at the cave entrance. Going down the shaft, all the voices in my head dissipated as we hit the bottom, giving me silence once again from the outside world.
Marcus walked to the other side of the cavern, sitting down at the table and lighting a candle. I walked over, joining him.
“Okay,” I said looking across at him. “I want to explain about Phillip.”
“You love him?”
“Yes, and I will never stop loving him. But it’s different from what we have.”
“Different, how? Should I walk away now?”
I looked up into his eyes, sensing his torment, and his pain pierced my heart.
“Marcus, our love belongs together. I love Phillip, too, and he does have an effect on me.”
“Do you want to be with him?”
“No, I want to be with you. But I still want him in my life.”
He came up behind me, turning me around. I felt his cool, sweet breath on my face.
“So, what is it you want now?”
“You.”
Goodbye
“This has to be what Hell feels like,” I mumbled, fanning myself. We were waiting for the Baton Rouge fireworks to start and the July heat was a little too much for my warm Ambrosine blood. Even though the sun was setting, I felt boiled alive. A skimpy halter-top and cutoff jeans weren’t even helping.
I gazed over at the park’s concession stand. Libby and Claire were still in line, waiting to get our iced sodas. Since they’d come back from their honeymoons, we had been inseparable. However, that would end tonight. They would be leaving for Europe tomorrow, to join Robert and Davis in Paris. I knew I would miss them terribly, but it was a bit of a relief, too. I don’t know how much longer I would have been able to protect them. Marcel and Mother had been taking souls in both Baton Rouge and New Orleans, bringing more Dark Ones into their Family.
The Dominions had been monitoring the situation, now that the Outsiders were aggressively questioning all of the disappearances in the two Parishes. Police investigations had been reaching close to our hidden societies, creating the danger of discovery for everyone concerned.
I leaned back on my elbows, staring past the crowds into the darkness of the park. I was conscious of Marcus and Phillip, who were both out there watching over us and making sure that my friends stayed safe until I could get them on that plane the next day. I was thankful that they were still willing to work together in taking out the Dark Ones. However, their fighting was driving me crazy. They had been at each other throats, off and on, since Libby and Claire’s wedding. I wished they would stop.
“Alixia, here you go,” Claire said, handing me an ice-cold soda.
“What?” I said, sitting up and looking at her. “Oh, thanks.”
“Boy, you were deep in thought, weren’t you?” she said, sitting down on the blanket and watching the couple next to us making out.
“Yeah, I guess,” I said, taking a sip of the soda and then bringing the bottle to my cheek to feel the coolness of it. “Where’s Libby?”
“She’s over there.” She pointed. ”Talking to Davis’s parents.” I looked over to where she pointed, seeing Libby giving them a hug.
“So,” Claire said. “How is it having two guys after you?” I turned back to her, frowning.
“Very funny, Claire. I don’t want to talk about it.”
“ Why?” she continued. “They’re both really hot and they’re both chasing you, and you don’t want to talk about that? What kind of a girl are you, denying your best friends all the juicy details?”
“What don’t you want talk about, Alixia?” Libby asked, walking up to us. Claire answered wickedly.
“Phillip and Marcus. She’s trying to keep the details from us.”
“No, I’m not. There’s just nothing to talk about.”
Libby sat beside me.
“So, you haven’t made up your mind yet, which one of them you want?”
I know whom I want, but I’m not going to give up the other.
“Not yet, it’s just too hard. I care for both of them.”
“Well you’d better make up your mind soon, because you’re driving them both crazy right now.”
“I know,” I said, shrugging my shoulders. “I just can’t choose right now.”
Claire jumped in.
“Well, if it was me, I’d go for Phillip. I could stare into those eyes all day long. And his build… oh, my! When he danced with me, I just did not want that music to stop.”
She sighed deeply, remembering. And then her tone became mischievous.
“But, being around Marcus more now, I can see why you would want him, too. He has that same mysterious side, just like Phillip.”
“Yes,” Libby said excitedly, agreeing with her. “I noticed that, too. There’s something different about both of them. It’s really seductive.”
“Yes, that’s it!” Claire blurted out. I jumped into their thoughts, to see if they were seeing anything more suspicious. I was relieved to see nothing but their infatuations, although I did find the level of graphic detail in Claire’s mind a little disturbing.
We all looked up as the first firework went off.
Oh, good. Hopefully this will entertain them long enou
gh to forget about this conversation.
Each loud burst painted the night sky in red, white and blue. The town band played the same music it does every year. Clapping along to an old Ragtime beat, I stared up, waiting for the next display.
Phillip interrupted my thoughts.
He’s here!
“Girls,” I said getting up. “I’ll be right back.”
“Where are you going?” Libby asked.
”Just to get another soda.”
“I’ll come with you.”
“No, you watch the fireworks. The line’s still full, see?” She looked over, her face frowning. “Yeah, you’re right. But I’ll still come with you.”
“Libby, it’s okay.”
”Sure? You know, people have been disappearing right and left around here lately.”
“Don’t worry. I’ll be fine. ”
“Okay, if you think so,” she said as another firework went off, catching her attention. I walked away, smelling cordite in the air, and dropped my empty soda bottle in the trash near the concession stand. I stood there for a second, making sure the girls were still engrossed in the display. Then I slipped into the trees. Running quickly, I could sense Marcel, but his scent was faint.
“Alixia, over here,” Marcus called. I ran toward him, anxiously.
“He was here?”
“Yeah, he was after Ethan.” I looked to my left as Ethan stepped out, facing me.
“Bonjour, Alixia. It’s good to see you again.”
He walked over to me, taking my hand and kissing my cheek. He was much the same as Marcus in appearance, not too pale or too cold, and actually, he was a little nicer now than he had been in previous encounters. However, there was one difference. Marcel still had some control over him, so I wondered if Marcus had done the right thing in changing him.
“Where’s Phillip?”
“He went to New Orleans.”
“Why, is something wrong there? Is that where the danger is?”
“We don’t’ know. When Marcel got into Ethan’s head, he wanted him to go to New Orleans. But we don’t know why. The connection was broken between them when Marcel sensed Phillip. And me, of course. That’s why Phillip took off after warning you. He wanted to alert the others, just in case.”
I looked up and realized that the fireworks had stopped.
“I have to get back. I’m sorry, but I don’t want the girls coming to look for me. They have been paranoid about all these disappearances, you know?”
”Go.” He kissed me quickly. “We will stay close.”
“Thank you,” I said, giving him a better kiss, and then I ran quickly back to the girls. All the time, I was thinking of Marcel’s hold on Ethan, and the danger that represented.
“Alixia, there you are,” Libby scolded as she picked up the blanket. “Claire went looking for you.”
“She did? Where did she go?” I asked nervously, looking around for her.
“There she is.” Libby said, pointing into the crowd.
“Claire!” I yelled. She nodded, coming back to us.
“Where did you disappear to?” Libby asked me in her mothering tone.
“I ran into some of our high school friends. You remember Sarah Collins and James Myer?”
“Yes,” she said, looking at me a little suspiciously as she handed the blanket to me.
“Well, what should we do now?” I asked her, quickly changing the subject.
”I know what I’d like to do is go swimming. I need to cool off.”
“That sounds good to me, Libby,” Claire said. “I’ve been hot and sweaty all night. Let’s go!”
No, this isn’t good, having the water around me.
“Girls, are you sure you want to go out there?”
“Alixia,” Claire blurted out, taking the blanket from me. “What’s the matter with you, girl? If anyone complains about the heat all the time, it’s you. Come on, we’re going swimming.”
”Fine, let’s go, “ I said with apprehension, still trying to think of a way to get out of it.
Getting into my car, we headed out of town. We sang along to songs on the radio and gossiped about everyone. Then, the teasing started. For the most part, I was their target, but tonight I didn’t care. It was just the three of us again, and I was going to savor every moment of it.
I turned onto the dirt road leading to the swimming hole, actually feeling a cool breeze off the lake. I quickly glanced over at the girls, and panic began to set in. I still had no excuse to keep myself out of the water.
The girls got out and didn’t waste any time. Squealing in delight, they stripped off their clothes, leaving just their panties and bras on. They ran down toward the water.
“Come on, Alixia,“ Libby said, turning back and looking at me. I got out of the car and followed them reluctantly.
I jumped into Marcus’s thoughts.
You’d better have your back turned.
Claire and Libby were already in the water.
“Alixia, what are you waiting for?” Claire yelled, splashing water in my direction.
“I’m coming. Hold on.”
I unbuttoned my cutoffs and slid them down slowly. And then I smiled as a thought came to me. When my halter-top was almost off, I yelled.
“Alligator!” I pointed frantically to the right of the girls, and they screamed as they ran out of the water. “Where is it Alixia?”
“It was right there.” They both looked out.
“I don’t see it,” Claire said, looking across the moonlit water.
”It was right over there, I’m telling you!” I said, adding more panic to my voice.
“Well, I’m not getting back in there,” Libby said, going back to the car for her clothes. I slipped into my cut-offs as Claire mumbled in disappointment. I got into Marcus’s head again.
See you later.
“Alixia, come on,” Libby yelled. “That thing could be out of the water by now.”
“I’m coming,” I said with a quiet little chuckle.
After leaving the swimming hole, we went back into town and stopped at Bella’s café for pecan pie and iced tea. We just sat there for a couple of hours, reminiscing about all the fun and dumb things we had done throughout our friendship. As we were getting ready to leave, Claire put her hands in the middle of the table, palms up.
“Okay, you guys. We’re going to swear right now that we will meet once a year, no matter what.”
Libby and I looked at each other, smiling, and put our hands in hers.
I stared at them with sudden sadness, knowing that I would be the first to break the promise.
I dropped the girls off at their homes, telling them both that I would be at the airport the next day to see them off. Then I left the main highway out of Baton Rouge and took the back road to my house. I turned up the music and watched for Marcus, as we had planned to meet along here tonight. And I thought about Libby and Claire, and how much I was going to miss them.
“There you are!”
Marcus was standing on the side of the road, smiling at me. I stopped the car. He got in, reached over and kissed me.
“An alligator?” he said with a silly grin. “What was that all about?”
“Marcus, my body heats water.”
“Oh, yeah. That would have been difficult to explain.”
“Yes, it would have. But I wish I could have gone into that water. I’m ready to head up to Alaska, just to cool off.”
He laughed.
“Well, we can’t go to Alaska tonight, but we can certainly go swimming. Let’s go down to the river. I’m pretty sure you can’t heat up the whole Mississippi.“
“Funny, Marcus,” I said, turning the car back toward town.
“Have you heard from Phillip yet?”
“Yeah,” he said, rolling his eyes with the mere mention of his name. “Everything’s fine for now. But I did send Ethan back to New Orleans to check out things, too.”
“Good,” I said, shifting gears.
>
“Alixia, do you mind if I change this song?”
“No, go ahead.”
I turned onto the main road.
“So,” I said. “This Family you’ve started, when will I meet them?”
“Soon.” He leaned back, listening to the music. I watched as he closed his eyes, tapping his fingers on his jeans to the beat of a Wilson Pickett song.
“Marcus.” He turned his head toward me, smiling.
“I’m a little curious about something.”
“About what?”
“I know you have to take souls to start your Family, but how did you get an outsider to become…”
“Like me,” he said, sitting up in his seat and running his hands through his dark hair. He closed his eyes for a second, and I sensed his torment.
“The truth is that I didn’t want to go back to taking souls, but Marguerite insisted that I start my Family right away. She said there would be some on both sides who would try to come for me.”
“Well, I know she’s right. Just hearing the Families talk, I can see that they still don’t trust you.”
“Yeah, I know. Anyway, back to what you asked. Ethan was my first to change, and then I went after the others. Some were willing, and some I had to help make their choice.”
I glanced over at him.
“So, did you trick them, as Charlotte did to you?”
“No,” he said, shaking his head. “I’m nothing like her. I never gave anyone an ultimatum, as she did me. They had a choice, because the people I changed already wanted to give up their lives.”
“Marcus,” I said, stunned. I was in his thoughts, seeing it. “You took people that were going to commit suicide.”
“Yes,” he said, his eyes fixed on me. “I have no regrets, either. They wanted to end their lives, so I just offered them an alternative.”
“Like the young woman I just saw in your head?”
“You saw her? Damn, I wish I could get into your head as you can get into mine.”
“I know.” I said with a slight grin, thankful that he couldn’t. “Anyway, can you tell me about the girl?”
“Sure. Her name is Roxanne. She was the first Outsider I took, after the Change. But I wasn’t hunting her. I heard her cries. She was standing on the edge of the old Singing Bridge, looking down and ready to jump. Her face was streaked with tears. I moved toward her, reaching out for her. I asked what could be so bad that she would choose death. She just stared at me. Her eyes were empty, as if the life in her had already gone. She moved away from me.
The Legacy (Ambrosine Book 2) Page 29
