by Cherrie Mack
Julien thrust his balcony doors open and gust of cool air rushed inside the warm room. His eyes narrowed in disbelief as he stared out at the grounds of his estate.
Walking out onto the balcony for a good look, Julien couldn’t believe his eyes. The alley of oaks danced gloriously in the wind, their branches no longer drooping toward earth, but standing tall, in salute. His eyes scanned the grass, noticing its deep green hue. Shoots of honeysuckle could be seen making their way up toward the sun. As if the flowers knew what he was thinking, a soft breeze carried with it their scent. A smile, true and confident, emerged on his face. It was her presence. It had to be.
As he took in the beauty of a long dead past, he caught a glimmer of the dark-haired beauty walking on the path to Chantilly’s garden. Hmm. What’s she up to? He went back inside and changed into jeans. He slipped a white cotton tee-shirt over his head and headed down the stairs. Looking around his once decaying home, he realized it had been rejuvenated. Julien ran his fingers over the railing, the wood felt smooth and rich. There were no holes in the walls, no peeling paint, no cobwebs. The silver shined so bright, he could see his own reflection. Two days later and it was good as new? It has to be her.
Outside, he took in his surroundings. Were his eyes deceiving him? Anxious now to see Giselle, he walked toward Chantilly’s garden. Along the way, he heard her humming. It was a beautiful melody filled with warmth and joy. And it renewed his hope, for he now believed Giselle was indeed, the tenth power.
If only she believed it.
Standing in the gardens, he watched her lean over, inhaling the fragrance of each blossom. When she got close, the blooms stood taller, more vibrant in her presence. He couldn’t help but smile at her innocence as it hit him square in the gut. She really doesn’t see it. He watched her run a finger over an old wooden sign, its words unreadable.
Julien cleared his throat. “My sister’s garden.”
Her head snapped up, eyes wide. He jerked his chin toward the sign. “It’s supposed to say, my sister’s garden.”
Giselle cast her eyes away. “I’m so sorry about Joyal.”
Just hearing her name fired up his nerves, but he remained steady, discarding the unwelcome reminder. “No, I meant my sister, Chantilly. This garden was her gift to me.”
She smiled and he realized it was the first time he saw her show happiness.
Beautiful.
She tucked her hair behind her ear. “It’s enchanted.”
He chuckled. “Yes, it is.”
Her expression took on a serious guise. “I’m sorry to have intruded. She might not like it.”
“The garden is for me to enjoy. Chantilly denounced her witch-hood years ago. This garden was one of her last incantations. She chose this spot because her lover was murdered here. And it was here she swore her devotion to never love another. The last time I saw her was in this beautiful place.”
Giselle was quiet, solemn. “Do you miss her?”
“Every day. But life goes on, doesn’t it?” The thought of both sisters came to mind, making him choke out the words.
“And what about finding her?”
He shook his head. “She knows the way home.”
Giselle walked closer, and Julien straightened his posture.
“Sometimes,” she said. “When a witch feels lost, she needs someone to care about her, to bring her back to her rightful place. It could be that she knows no other way to deal with her grief, other than to run from it.”
“Like you run from your fear?”
She tilted her head. “Fear? Of what? The most powerful warlock of all time hunting me down for the tenth power, so he can wipe out the covens and the human race, too? Unless, of course, I use that power to stop him, a power I haven’t a clue how to use.” She waved her hand in the air. “Nah, that’s not it. Could it be my fear of dying? Nah, that’s not it, either. Wanna know why I’m not afraid to die?”
She got close to him, so close Julien could smell the cleanliness of her skin, her mint tea shampoo, and her womanly scent that drove his desire into the stratosphere. He blinked. “Why are you not afraid to die?”
“Because— I’ve never truly lived.” She offered him a sad smile and stepped around him to examine a red iFulva flower.
Julien pursed his lips. Her honest reply took him by surprise. And what it made him feel was as unexpected as her answer. Could a crack in his icy demeanor be to blame? Taking a deep breath, he felt a wave of emotion the likes of which he hadn’t felt in years. Compassion seared his skin from the inside out, warming his cold, lonely heart.
Julien questioned her again, hoping this time for a different answer. “Can you trust me enough to tell me what you’re afraid of? I can help you.”
“Oh, how I want to believe that.”
“You—” He stopped and glared to the east. “Someone has arrived. And she’s not alone. Stay here.”
Chapter Fourteen
Desiree and Simon argued as they arrived at Beaumont Plantation. “We must announce ourselves, Desiree. We cannot barge in on them like a couple of scoundrels.”
She stared at him, her mouth quirked up in amusement. “Scoundrels? How old are you?”
Simon opened the car door and stepped out. “Let me handle this. I can make do without your modern techniques.”
She rolled her eyes and watched him study something not visible to the human eye. She found it fascinating that he could read a spell simply by looking at it in thin air. He had explained that he had been doing it for far too many years, and it was a very simple process.
After a few minutes, her impatience flared to life. She got out of the car and leaned against the door. “Hey, I thought you were an expert at unraveling protective spells.”
“I am. However, this one has been erected by a fellow traveler. It makes it more difficult.”
“Uh, huh. So, what do you plan on doing?”
“Silence—I’m sending a telepathic signal.”
Desiree offered a sarcastic laugh and grabbed her bag. “Oh, for fucks sake!” She dug down into her purse.
“What could you possibly possess inside that bag of tricks to—”
She pulled out a cell phone and held it up. Finding the listing, Beaumont Plantation, she smirked. “In order to get past this invisible dog fence, we use our cell. That’s how we modern day witches do it.”
Simon jerked his head in the direction of the main entrance.
Desiree’s mouth dropped open when Julien Beaumont strode down the path. The heavily muscled traveler was as good looking a man as she’d ever seen.
She stared at Julien, watching the rough and ready traveler gracefully lift his arms, waving them as a dancer would perform a ballet. When she let out a little squeak of awe, she immediately felt Simon’s eyes on her, watching her, gauging her reaction. Overbearing brute!
****
All four walked the grounds of the estate, coming to rest on the back porch. Desiree looked around. “It sure is quiet. I’m not used to the silence.”
“Because you’re always talking,” Simon said.
Desiree shot him an irritated look. “I’ve seen enough grass, Giselle, show me to your room. I want to freshen up.”
“Oh—of course.” Giselle turned around. “It’s this way.”
“It’s amazing—a house in the middle of nowhere, complete with a protection spell, and still you lock the back door?”
Giselle giggled. “No. I don’t stay in the main house.”
Desiree reached out, pulling her friend to a stop. Angry, she glanced over at Julien for an explanation. He offered her nothing but a shoulder shrug. With her hands on her hips, she turned back to Giselle. “You mean to tell me, you sleep in the servant’s quarters? He hasn’t even let you in the main house?”
Julien interjected. “It’s not what you think—the house was, it was—well it...”
“You are mumbling, Mr. Beaumont.” She turned back to Giselle. “Have you been inside at all?”
&n
bsp; “Well, no, but—”
“But nothing. You are the tenth power and mister personality here decides to put you in the—the maid’s quarters? You deserve better than that. A traveler should kneel before you. Not this, ‘do as I say’ crap he’s dishing out.”
Julien chuckled at her zealous rant. “Hold on just a minute, Miss Mercier. You haven’t the faintest idea what’s been going on. The tenth power? Let me ask you this, why is she afraid to tap into her power? I’ve been trying to teach her for the last two days. She doesn’t try. And what of her true calling? She says she hasn’t discovered it, yet something holds her back. How can I help her fight the most powerful warlock of our time if she refuses to help herself?”
Simon spoke. “Desiree, this is between—”
“Stop talking about me like I’m not here!” When Giselle shouted, the winds picked up. The trees danced in the glory of the wind, and a bolt of lightning crackled in the distance. The change in the atmosphere was immediate. “I am standing right here. All three of you are arguing about me, over me, at me. I get it! I’m of no use to anyone.” There was more lightning, more wind.
Desiree watched Julien go to Giselle, taking her gently by the hand. “You’re right. Let’s talk about this inside. All of us.” Giselle responded with a small smile, causing Desiree to roll her eyes. Really?
Julien held the door open for her and Giselle walked inside. Desiree watched as Julien glanced up at the tree tops. Following his eyes, she, too, noticed the tranquility. The trees were still, and the electricity buzzing through the air was no more. Julien followed behind Giselle.
Desiree noticed Simon studying the atmosphere as well. She got closer to him and his posture stiffened. “Don’t worry. It’s me, Desiree. I’m not gonna try to hook up with you,” she snapped.
His shoulders relaxed. “Hook up? What does this mean, hook up?”
She shook her head at his obvious lack of modern language and leaned over to whisper in his ear. “Just so you know, I’m not leaving this house until I am confident this jackass does the right thing by Giselle. And if you don’t want me to go to Cottonwood Landing, then you will just have to stay here with me.”
Desiree pulled the door open with force. As she walked in, she glanced back at him. “By the way, hook up? It means fucking. Or do you not know that word, either?”
****
When the screen door slammed behind her, Simon stayed in the same spot, unmoving. The feel of her breath on his ear made his loins ache. And her use of language caught him somewhere between amusement and shock. Simon bowed his head when he realized his simple plan had backfired. He must remain with Desiree until Giselle was ready to fight or he was ready to live.
Chapter Fifteen
Night came quickly as Simon and Julien laughed like old friends. Desiree was quiet, almost reflective while she helped Giselle clear the table. In the kitchen, Desiree prodded her friend. “Why do you act human, Giselle? Among us, I mean. I know the importance of keeping up appearances, but here, we are all supernatural. Hell, I don’t even know how old Simon is. But dishes? Really? I haven’t washed a dish in years.”
Giselle piled the dirty dishes in the sink. “It was how I was raised. My mother made me do all the things humans did. I don’t ever recall her practicing magic in the early years. And Angelique wanted to be supportive. When I refused to practice, she didn’t push. I never even went to spiritual class. I guess she thought it best, since I could go, one way or the other—if you know what I mean.”
Giselle turned the water on. Soaping up a sponge, she cleaned each dish.
Desiree stood beside her, towel in hand.
As she handed Desiree a clean plate, she giggled. “Boy, you certainly look like a fish out of water.”
“I feel like one too. I—”
“Spit it out, Desiree. What else do you wanna know?”
“I wanna know why you haven’t told Julien your true calling?”
She handed Desiree another plate. “Besides my supposed tenth power, I don’t know what it is.”
“Yes, you do.”
“I don’t wanna talk about it, Desiree.”
Desiree reached over and shut off the water faucet. Within seconds, each dish was washed and dried.
“Really? I wanted to—”
“What? Play house?”
****
Giselle puckered her lips in an attempt to suppress her emotions. Although Desiree’s words were hurtful, they were true. “Okay—and why not? Can’t I just make believe? Can’t I pretend to have a man like Julien interested in me, the woman, and not me, the tenth power? I’m very well aware of my future. It’s not like yours, filled with love and happiness. It’s dark and filled with the blood of witches everywhere. The ugly stench of death owns my subconscious mind, and pretending it doesn’t exist is the only way I can stay sane.”
Giselle turned and left Desiree standing alone in the kitchen. She forced herself to smile as she joined Julien and Simon at the dining table. A few minutes later, when Desiree walked in, the men fell silent. The tension was thick, the unease obvious. Giselle cast her eyes away. “Desiree, I’m sorry about before. I think I’ll go to bed now. I’ll see you all in the morning.”
Julien stood up from his chair. “You may stay in the main house, Little Witch. There’s a beautiful room just at the top of the stairs.”
“No, thank you, Mr. Beaumont. I’ll stay in the cottage. It’s where I belong.”
****
Julien stared at the empty doorway. He felt something stir deep inside him, a sensation he couldn’t describe. He yearned to see Giselle smile once more. Turning to Desiree, he creased his brow.
“What was that about?”
Desiree pulled out a chair and sat down. Resting her elbows on the table, she cupped her face with her hands. “Merde. Where do I begin?” With her fingers pressed to her temples, she looked at Simon, then Julien. “Get comfortable boys. I’m about to tell you the story of Giselle Jareau, our tenth power.”
Desiree took a sip of water from her glass. “I might leave a lot of things out, but I will tell you what I can. I met Giselle when we were very young. As far back as I can remember, she didn’t know she was born a royal. At the age of about seven or eight, Giselle found out about her heritage. But she never acted like a princess and her coven never treated her that way. Her mother, Cecily, believed her to be what is called esprit scission, which means split spirit. She believes Giselle’s spirit splintered due to the bloodline of her father.”
Julien cocked his head. “Isn’t that the million dollar question? No one knows her bloodline. What did her mother say about the father?”
“Not much. Only that she had been impregnated by a cursed witch, and she believes Giselle carried that curse with her into the earthly realm when she was born. It was clear to the royals, when Cecily emerged from the cavern with her newborn baby, she was different. A little off, as they say. She never revealed the identity of Giselle’s father, leaving the coven to wonder about her aura and allegiance.”
Julien drummed his fingers on the tabletop. “So, Giselle thinks she carries a curse? Did her mother tell her she was cursed?”
Desiree lowered her eyes as the sadness of Giselle’s secrets tumbled out. “Yes. When Giselle was ten, her mother told her she had the blood of Natas running through her veins.”
Simon sighed. “Nice thing to tell an innocent.” He shook his head.
Julien realized in that moment how wrong he’d been. “So, it’s not her fault. She’s not purposely avoiding her calling, she’s afraid of it because she believes it is dangerous to the people she loves. Right?”
Desiree nodded in agreement. “Yes. I learned a lot when Giselle came to stay with me in the quarter. I don’t think I saw her smile but once on the first day she arrived, and the smile wasn’t for me, but for a little runt of a dog.”
Julien shifted in his chair, knowing all too well that dog was him.
“However, she does smile around you, Juli
en. A lot.”
Desiree took another sip of water. “Anyway, she told me of her life with Angelique, an old family friend. She was home-schooled, isolated. No one taught her magic for fear she would hone her power to destroy mankind. No one knew what to do with her since she discovered her true calling, which she does indeed believe is a curse.”
She held up her hands in a stop motion. “I will not tell you what her true calling is, Julien. I will not betray her by telling something I’ve held in confidence since I was ten years old. Let her tell you. Give her a little more time. And now, I heard that crazy bitch, Cecily, is back?”
Julien raised his brow. “Her mother? Back? From where?”
Desiree leaned over the table. “Nine years ago, Cecily Jareau took her daughter from the only life she knew and dragged her to the bayou, where she promptly dumped her off. No one has seen or heard from her since. Now, she’s back and wants a reunion?”
Julien stood up and paced the length of the table. “There is no curse, is there, Desiree?”
“I just think she’s so scared by her true calling, she’s afraid to use all her gifts, so she repels them.”
Julien stopped pacing. “Unless of course, she’s not thinking about it. She’s done a lot around here, subconsciously. Today, when her anger flared? Did you see how the elements reacted? I could feel the energy sizzle in the air. So I guess I have to piss her off to get her cooperation. Although that hasn’t worked to well either. No wonder she doesn’t answer back when I’m acting like an asshole.” Because she doesn’t want to hurt me.
