Southern Secrets

by Shelley Stringer

  “He has always been obsessed with the half-breeds,” Olivia replied.

  “That is why he wanted our mother,” Patrick added. “But he killed her when he found out she couldn’t have any more children.”

  “I’m so sorry he did that to your mother,” I said, sickened. “So he just wants someone who he can have a child with?”

  “No, there is more. He wants the faders…the fertile,” she replied.

  “What?” I asked, glancing at Constance.

  “You are the fertile. You have a gift…you are more likely to breed, and to carry twins. Your offspring, if you mate with an Aldon or Orco, would be able to fade. Just any Sange-Mele would have a harder time conceiving, even with an Aldon mate. We don’t know why he is obsessed with twins, but he is. If he were to find out about your babies, you and your babies would be in even more danger,” she stopped, and glanced at Everett’s horrified expression.

  “He even performed a ritual once,” Patrick began. Olivia shook her head furiously at him to warn him to be quiet.

  “What? What were you going to say?” Constance urged as Patrick shook his head as he carefully watched my expression.

  “We shouldn’t say anymore. Just know we have to do something more to keep you safe. Dante must be destroyed if we are to keep you and your babies from harm,” Olivia began to wring her hands and stood to pace.

  “Patrick, you have to tell me what you were about to say,” I said quietly, but firmly.

  He glanced at his sister, and then over to Everett as Everett placed his hand on my shoulder.

  “Dante…Dante discovered there was a human woman in a nearby village with twins. Human twin boys, about a year old,” Patrick’s voice began to shake as he forced himself to talk. “He had the babies brought to him, and then had one of his Orco priests perform a sort of ritual with them. We don’t know what the outcome was supposed to be, but he…severed…he severed the head off of one baby, and then…,” he gulped as his eyes conveyed the terror of the scene in his memories. Olivia began to cry.

  “Go on…” I whispered, barely able to find my voice.

  “And then he drank the blood of the slain baby boy. When he was finished, there was silence, and evidently whatever he expected didn’t happen. He became enraged and broke the neck of the other baby, and then broke the mother’s neck as well. He then stabbed the Voocuu priest and went on a rampage. The villagers scattered, and he dragged us back out to his ship. We cowered there for days until he calmed down, and then that is when we sailed for your shores.” Patrick became silent as you could hear a pin drop in the room.

  I held my abdomen protectively, horrified at the thoughts running through my mind. My heartbeat was racing as I longed for Banton’s return.

  “Patrick should not have told you this. I’m so sorry, Sweet Chandler. Try not to let this upset you. But you do need to be aware of his obsession, and whatever is driving him he won’t give up, not until he is dead.” Olivia came over to sit down beside me and took my hands in hers.

  “We won’t let him get close, ever. I promise you, Bebe…I need to talk to the other Aldon. I need to make some phone calls.” Everett patted me on the shoulder, leaving the room as he pulled his cell phone from his pocket.

  I rose to climb the stairs to my room. I felt the need to be safe, and no place felt safe now. I paced back and forth across the room for an hour or more, pausing now and again to sit at the window seat and gaze out at the alleyway behind the house. Everything seemed so peaceful, but I had a strange nausea in the pit of my stomach. It was a quiet evening and as twilight approached, the early spring breeze drifting through the thin curtains at the window turned chilly. I shut the window just as my door opened.

  “Bebe, I’m sorry I left you alone for so long. I wanted to make some phone calls and arrange for a meeting. I think it is time to involve those in power.”

  “Everett, what are you talking about?” I asked wonderingly.

  “There are those in our circle of influence awaiting an outcome to all of this unpleasantness, but they have not involved themselves. I think now, in light of this new information, they will want to be involved. Dante and Lucian have to be stopped, and an end put to this Somali business. We will have to go to the source, but it will take more than our small force.” He pulled me into his arms, and stroked my upper arms as he continued to hold me. “I’m so, so sorry you’re upset by this, you didn’t need this right now. Try not to think about what he did to those other babies. We won’t let him get close to you ever again!”

  I pulled back to look at him. “And how many more have to die, those around us, and standing between us? How many more innocent lives will be lost before he is satisfied? Everett, even you can’t make that promise,” I admonished him.

  “Bebe, let’s change the subject, for now.” He stroked my forehead with his thumb, and pushed a stray strand of my hair behind my ear. “I’ve spoken with Astrid, and she’s been working with Brie, as have Patrick and Olivia. Her tremors and irritability are under control, but we don’t know what level of control she has around humans.”

  I pulled away to look at him, enthusiastic. “How can I help? Can I help to test her?” I asked anxiously.

  “Well, yes…maybe. But we have to be cautious. We will all be present to control her if she lunges for you. If you were alone, she could kill you in a second, not even meaning to. You’re the only human I know already transformed, who we can test her with. We don’t want to put Constance in jeopardy, and I don’t know if she could keep our secret.”

  “Please, I want to. She will be all right, I know she will. Can we go tonight?” I was so excited; I couldn’t wait to aid in her progress.

  “Yes, I think so. As long as we have enough Aldon here to protect Constance, you and Mr. Philippe and I will take Patrick and Olivia with us,” he answered. I grabbed a jacket off the chair and then followed him down the staircase.

  “When is Banton supposed to be back?”

  “I don’t expect him back before nine o’clock,” I answered.

  “Where are y’all off to?” Constance called, descending the staircase behind us.

  “Oh, I just wanted to get Chandler out for a bit, she was so upset from Patrick’s story…I want to get her mind off everything,” Everett answered.

  “Great! Let me get my jacket and I’ll join you.” She hurriedly rounded the bottom of the staircase.

  “Um, I need to talk to her alone, if it’s all right. You stay here with Stephan and the other Aldon. We won’t be too long,” Everett shot back as he closed the front door in her surprised face.

  We walked out to his car, and I glanced over at Everett. “You know that won’t fly. She’ll be miffed, and she’ll want to know where we went without her,” I called across the roof of his car.

  “She’ll just have to get over it, sister. Let’s go,” he answered as we climbed in. Mr. Philippe, Patrick and Olivia were already in the back seat.

  I was full of questions, excited about Brie’s progress. “So tell me, what exactly has Brie been able to do?” I asked, glancing at Everett.

  “Well, she’s doing amazingly well. Her thirst seems better, and she seems satisfied with animal blood. She still can’t stomach raw meat, but we are trying. It takes a while for our systems to adjust to anything but liquid. We have to almost force ourselves to consume solid food, but it will become easier.

  “And so she just…drinks raw blood?” I asked.

  “No, it’s not that simple,” Mr. Philippe spoke up from the backseat. “She has to hunt, it’s part of the animal instinct. It will fade with time. We have to give her live animals.”

  I shuddered. The mental image of Brie picking a small animal up and biting it was too much. Everett patted my hand encouragingly.

  “What else? You said her irritability is better.”

  “Yes, much. She can sit and have a conversation with us, but she is crazy emotional. Knowing what is at stake makes her impatient. Her emotions are all over the plac
e, worrying about her parents and John. The mention of his name brings her to tears, and she is torn between wanting to see him and being afraid she won’t be able to control herself. She asks about you often, Bebe. Whatever her reaction, she will be glad to see you.” He smiled at me in the darkness.

  “Olivia, does Sam know about Brie?” I asked her abruptly.

  “No, we haven’t told him. But I think he has his suspicions. He has questioned Everett about Brie’s body and her condition when Lucien disappeared with her. He knows I know more than I’ve told him. He keeps asking me where Patrick and I have been, and what happens when you fully transform,” Olivia finished. Mr. Philippe considered her intently.

  “You cannot let him know, under any circumstances. This whole situation, what the SEALs know, the human involvement in our world, it is distressing. The old ones won’t be pleased, and won’t tolerate any more exposure!” Mr. Philippe exploded as Everett cautioned him to calm down from the front seat.

  I suspected whoever Everett was enlisting to help us was already irritated about the situation with the Orcos and Somalis, and our having involved the Aldon. I shuddered, remembering Grant’s warning the day I found out about the Aldon. He’d warned me about those in their world who would have us killed just for knowing about their existence. Ours was a dangerous place, caught in between.

  After we arrived at the safe house, Everett left us upstairs while he went down to check on Brie. After several minutes he returned for us.

  “How is she today?” Olivia asked him as he entered the room.

  “She is about the same. I’ve told her of our plan, and she doubts herself. She is afraid for Chandler.”

  “That is an excellent sign, yes?” Patrick asked.

  Everett held his hand up. “We will try this, but I want both of you behind me and Mr. Philippe, on either side of Chandler, ready to defend her and get her out of the room.” He warned. Upon entering the basement, I detected no noise. When we came closer to the two way glass I’d observed her through the last time I’d visited, I spotted her sitting at a table, her hands clasped together in front of her. She moved her hands to fidget in her lap, betraying her calm demeanor.

  As we approached the door to go in, Everett called out, “Gabriella, what do you smell?”

  Brie took a deep breath, and then let it out. She waited several seconds, and then answered him, “I smell you and other Aldon, and I can smell Chandler. She is wearing her perfume,” she answered hesitantly.

  “Are you all right? Do you want to proceed?” he asked her.

  “Yyeesss.” Her voice began to shake, higher in pitch than usual.

  Everett turned the doorknob, and motioned for us to follow him. Mr. Philippe stood just inside the doorway, and moved to stand beside Everett, blocking my view. We walked into the room for several feet, and came to within three feet or so of where Brie was seated.

  “Chandler?” Brie whispered.

  “Yes, I’m here. I’m so glad to finally get to see you!” I exclaimed softly. Everett and Mr. Philippe parted enough for me to watch her expressions.

  There were tears in her eyes, but the beautiful blue eyes I remembered were gone, replaced with the glow of a translucent green light. She looked down, and then back up at me with a tortured expression. I wanted to run to her so badly to embrace her, but I knew I couldn’t.

  “I’ve missed you. How…how are you? How are the babies?” she whispered again softly. It seemed as though she were looking through me, trying not to focus on me directly.

  “I’m good, and the babies are fine, Brie.”

  “I’m so glad…and how… how is John?” Brie’s voice broke on his name.

  “He misses you, Brie. He is grieving, but he is strong. We just have to work with you, to get you controlled enough to be reunited with him,” I encouraged her.

  She gripped the edge of the table tightly, and shoved her chair back away from the table, startling everyone. “It’s…time for…Andie to go now!” she almost spat the words out. “I’m not…ready for this!”

  Brie leapt up, launching herself at the back corner of the room and placing her hands on the walls as if holding them in place. Patrick grabbed my arm roughly and pulled me out of the room in one swift motion. I turned to glance at Brie one last time, to encourage her. Olivia was almost on top of me in a protective stance with Everett close behind, already shutting the door behind us. As they hurried me back toward the stairs, I heard Brie call out in a ragged, tortured voice, “Chandler, I love you! Don’t give up…”

  “Never!” I called back vehemently. When we were back in the living room, I let the tears fall. Everett pulled me into his chest, kissing my forehead.

  “Well, it could have been worse. She controlled herself, but not for long,” he said to Patrick and Olivia over my head.

  “But don’t you think she did well? She responded well to me and to our questions?” I asked anxiously.

  “Yes, she seems to be putting her emotions in order. But I am still alarmed at her lack of control for the short time we were there. We will try this experiment again in three or four days. We will work with some human blood between now and then, but it isn’t the same as a beating heart and warm human flesh,” he commented as we loaded up into the car.

  We rode in silence the rest of the way home. The babies were active. When I placed my hand across my baby-bump, I remembered the horrible story Patrick had told us this afternoon. Our little trip had taken my mind off of it for a time, just as Everett had hoped. But now I longed to talk to Banton, to hear his voice. I searched in my purse and realized I’d left my cell at home.

  “Drat. I couldn’t keep up with my phone if it were tattooed to my butt!” I complained.

  Everett chuckled. “Here, Bebe, use mine.”

  I shook my head. “No, Banton will wonder where mine is and I don’t want him knowing about our latest secret trip. He asked too many questions last time.”

  * * *

  As we pulled up to the house, car lights pulled directly in behind us in the driveway. My heart sank. It was Banton, John and Ty. I shot a glance over at Everett, and he nodded back at me as if to calm me.

  I opened the door and climbed out of the car just as Banton reached us.

  “Sweetheart, I called your cell a couple of times. Constance said you’d left it behind and she didn’t know where you’d gone,” he muttered as Everett came around the car to stand beside us. “I was worried about you.” He leaned down to place a kiss on my forehead.

  “I know…I forgot it. I’m sorry. Why did you call?” I asked, trying to form a story in my head about where we’d been.

  “I just wanted to let you know we were on our way home. Where did y’all go?” he asked. He glanced back at Everett.

  “Oh, Chandler was shaken by a story Patrick and Olivia told us this afternoon, and I wanted to distract her a little. We took a drive over close to campus, got some ice cream at that little place by the river, and watched the lights on the river from the patio,” Everett answered as I glanced back up at Banton. The muscle began to tick in his jaw and I knew it was never a good sign.

  “I am truly sorry, Dear Chandler, if our stories this afternoon upset you. Try to not let it worry you.” Olivia touched my arm.

  “What stories?” Banton asked, turning back to me.

  “Oh, I’ll tell you about it inside. I’m a little tired, I just want to take a bath and turn in,” I answered. I watched him carefully. I knew he suspected we weren’t being completely honest with him, but he followed me silently into the house.

  Once inside, Banton offered to draw me a bath upstairs. As he went up, I walked down the hallway to take my nightly dose of prenatal vitamins and a Tylenol p.m. I knew after the unsettling story Patrick had told us this afternoon, I’d have a hard time sleeping. I turned to go back down the hallway, and Constance met me.

  “Are you all right?” she asked in a concerned tone of voice.

  “Yes, I’m fine. Why?”

  “We
ll, you seemed extremely upset by the story Patrick told, but then you seemed excited when Ev took you out. Why couldn’t I go with you?” she asked, twirling the stem on the apple she’d picked up from the counter.

  “I…um…I’m not sure. He just drove us to the ice cream shop by the river, and we watched the lights. I don’t know why he didn’t take you with us, unless he intended to talk to me alone,” I fibbed as I downed the glass of water.

  “But you weren’t alone, where you? You took Mr. Philippe, Patrick and Olivia with you,” she reasoned. I fumbled for a better explanation.

  “Chandler, you’re a terrible liar. That’s all right, Darlin’. You’ll tell me when you’re ready. If it was anyone but Everett I’d think you were having an affair,” she paused, grinned, and then turned directly into Banton’s chest. He had a stunned expression on his face.

  Recovering quickly, she stammered, “I was just kidding, about the affair thing.” She beat a hasty retreat down the hallway.

  He turned back to look silently at me, and I made it worse by blushing so deeply, I could feel the heat coming off my cheeks. Nope, definitely not the world’s best liar, I thought.

  “I have your bath water ready,” Banton spoke softly, and in a measured tone.

  “Thank you.” I walked over and rose on my toes to kiss his lips. They were cold and unyielding.

  It was the first time he’d ever not responded to me physically, and it tore my heart open. I couldn’t imagine what he was thinking, but he knew I was lying to him about where we’d been, and Everett was lying too. And he was hurt.

  I lingered in the bath, dreading going back into the bedroom with him where I would have to talk to him. His unspoken accusation hung heavy in the air between us. I’d left the bathroom door open as I usually did, and most nights he would talk to me while I bathed. Tonight he was purposely silent.

  I decided the best line of defense was to be a simple one. I pulled my lingerie drawer open, and rifled through it until I found just the right nightie. I slid into the grey lingerie I’d worn on the first day of our honeymoon, but never got to show off for him. The push-up bra was solid lace, with just a hint of a shimmer to it. The thong panties had lace at the hips, and a soft satin triangle in front. My baby-bump was glaringly apparent over the top of the lace. Thankfully, there was also a thin transparent camisole with grey shimmery lace across the top. It helped to camouflage the babies. When I turned to look at myself in the mirror, I sucked in my breath. My hair curled in tendrils from the steam in the bathroom, and cascaded down between my shoulder blades, falling from the clip I’d pulled it up with. My skin shimmered in the dim light, from the lotion I’d just rubbed on. Having grown a full cup size in less than a month, my breasts seemed to tumble over the top of the camisole. I’m impressed, I thought, and I’m my greatest critic. Maybe I’ll get his attention.