by Cherrie Mack
The woman sounded desperate, begging him to reconsider. “Julien, please. I’ve been waiting for you. I will marry another if you reject me.”
“I’ve tried not to lead you on, but you refuse to listen. I guess I have to spell it out for you. I have no intention of marrying you, nor will I impregnate you.”
“Why not? I’m pretty and smart. I’m a very talented witch. You would be lucky to have me.”
“I don’t want to be cruel, but you are not—for me. I have been with plenty of witches and none of them are—her.”
“Her? What type do you prefer, Julien? Stupid? Meek? Brunette? I can be all those things with a mere snap of my fingers.”
“I appreciate the effort, but I am made for one witch only, and I have yet to find her. Marry someone else, Selena. I am not the one for you.”
“Julien! Wait. Don’t walk away from me!”
Desiree squeezed her eyes shut and listened intently to the woman’s cries of anguish. She shivered as she heard a strangled, angry wail swathed in the newness of a hatred just born. Unable to move a muscle after hearing the disturbing sound, Desiree felt the burning in her ears increase. It was then she heard it, the low fervent mumbling sounds of a witch seeking retaliation. A spell, evil in nature was cast over Julien, blocking his ability to feel romantic love, and leaving him void of an emotional connection.
Dizzy with the effects of her aural vision, Desiree tried not to move. She wasn’t powerless to help, but she would need assistance. And going to Simon was her only option. Seeking out Selena Lovell was at the top of her to do list. Smiling at her good fortune, Desiree silently thanked the gods because she knew just where to find her evil highness. And she didn’t have to go far.
Desiree burst into Simon’s bedroom, flipping on the light switch. When she eyed the traveler’s position, she giggled. “Get up. We have to talk.”
He slept on his stomach, his body half off the bed, his hand grazing the floor. “Huh? What—what has happened?”
“I’ve discovered my true calling.”
He lifted himself up. “That is wonderful news. Tell me what it is, and we will celebrate until the dawn.”
His smile sent waves of delight through her. Truly excited, Simon sat up, putting his legs on the floor beside the bed. Her eyes came to rest on his scars, and she looked away. “I believe I’m an auditory clairvoyant.”
Simon stood up and grabbed a tee-shirt. He pulled it over his head and ran his fingers through his dark hair. He sat back down on the bed, facing her, and tipped up her chin. His expression was serious when he looked into her eyes. “This is an ancient calling, Desiree. You must be sure.”
“I know what I heard. You were in my mind tonight. You must’ve had a suspicion.”
He looked away, but his hand lingered on her cheek. “I was focused on ... other things. I’m afraid I pulled out too soon.”
She cocked her head. “I hope that doesn’t happen too often.” She giggled at the sexual innuendo, not wanting to shake him loose.
As he caressed her cheek with his thumb, Desiree leaned forward, her breasts rubbing against his hard chest. Simon leaned down to whisper in her ear. “I want to hook up with you, Desiree Mercier.”
Yes! Yes, take me.
His breath, his voice, his body screamed out to hers. On the verge of giving in to her most forbidden fantasy, Simon pushed her back. “But I think it would be a mistake. Yes?”
Desiree swallowed hard and nodded. Pulling away, she gathered her strength, clearing her thoughts. “We have much more important things to discuss. . This may take a while.”
Chapter Twenty
Giselle stood by the river, across from Beaumont Plantation. The cool breeze blew her hair away from her face while she focused on the water’s surface. Julien broke her concentration for the third time. “Any day, Little Witch. We’ve been at this for hours now.”
“You keep interrupting me. You’re making me nervous, hovering over there. I can’t focus.”
“It shouldn’t take you this long. You’re not trying.”
“I am trying. Don’t tell me I’m not trying.”
“Stop acting like a child. You are a royal. Act like it.”
“I don’t know what a royal is supposed to act like. Just stand over there out of the way and let me try to do this.”
“Fine.”
Giselle focused on the water again. Her mind was swirling with confusion and her ability felt stifled. Why did Desiree leave, today of all days? I need to talk to her. Turning around to face him, she put her hands on her hips. “When did Desiree say she would return?”
“Ugh. Not again. She and Simon will be back tonight. She said she had something important to take care of in New Orleans. Giselle—the water?”
She sighed loudly and turned around to focus on the water. Unable to make anything happen, she flipped around again. “And she didn’t tell you what it was?”
He threw his hands in the air, his frustration evident. “If I wasn’t assigned to protect you, I’d throw you over my knee. No. She didn’t tell me, okay!”
She pursed her lips. “You don’t have to shout at me.”
Giselle looked out over the water and tried again. Although she thought it strange for Desiree to leave in the night without telling her, she also knew she, herself, was stalling. Her powers would not surface.
Was it because she was outside the gates of Beaumont plantation? I do feel a great connection with that land. Okay. Concentrate Giselle. You just need a little movement.
A loud, annoyed, huff came from Julien, making her lose her temper. She glared at him.
“Damn it! You did it again!”
Julien stood with his arms crossed over his chest, tapping his foot with impatience. “Get your head in the game, Giselle. You are stressing over something, and I’m just about to lose it. We don’t have time for this.”
“You don’t think I know that?” She marched away from him. Heading across the road to toward Beaumont Plantation, she shouted back to him. “I need some air.”
He retorted. “You’re already outside.”
“Well, then I need some alone time.”
****
Julien ran his hand through his hair and moaned in frustration as he watched her walk away. Bending down he scooped up some rocks to throw. Anything to rid him of his frustration, sexual or otherwise. Before he could toss his first pebble, he heard the sounds of a waterfall. Up from the river’s surface was a shooting geyser of water at least ten feet high. Shouting out to Giselle, he noticed she was too far away already, walking at a maddening pace. Her anger caused the large flute of water to appear.
Julien glanced at his wristwatch. He would note the amount of time the water reacted, giving them both some much needed time alone. Then he would shift, take flight over the grounds and check the perimeters. Unable to think of anything other than the kiss from the night before, he fought with his good sense. He longed to go after her and gather her in his arms. He wanted to make love to her and be the first to give her the ultimate in satisfaction.
But he learned his lesson with Selena. The sex between them had been passionate, but for Julien, something was amiss. Breaking Selena’s heart and rejecting her had its consequence. The death of Thomas Montclair, and Chantilly’s departure, was his punishment, his burden to bear.
The large cascading jut of water stopped. Looking at the time, he glanced in the direction of the house. Giselle was out of sight. He had proof now that her anger and emotion controlled her power. That was when she had the least amount of restraint. She’d blocked her power for so long, it had become second nature. Giselle must embrace her abilities. And until she was convinced her power was a gift, not a curse, she would continue to stifle its magnificence.
Chapter Twenty-One
Desiree scanned the homes on Canal Street. The rundown section of New Orleans was in dire need of repair. Addresses were scarce as she tried to read the faded numbers, but Desiree kept her focus searching for o
ne home in particular. Having heard the stories of the dark lady, Desiree knew she must keep her wits about her. Good witches don’t mess with black magic. And the ones that do are the ones to avoid.
She’d heard of Selena Lovell. The witch had a reputation for seeking out weak-minded humans, offering them a chance at love or success, all through the art of fortune-telling. Guiding the misguided was her calling card, taking their money was her business. According to the locals, Selena was in the habit of conducting appointments at home, which is exactly where Desiree hoped to find her.
When she found the house, she wasn’t surprised by its appearance. The rickety home, with its rusty fence, was the perfect locale for Selena’s kind of business. Maybe she should’ve told Simon where she was going, but her need for him confused her. She needed space. Desiree opened the latch on the broken gate, leaving it hanging open, a quick exit on her mind. Walking up the path to the front door, she noticed discolored grass, withered flowers, and potted plants crackled with age. The windows were covered with grime, the frames warped and swollen. She stepped to the front door, knocking with just enough force to be heard.
When the door opened, Desiree’s first impression of Selena Lovell was surprise. The young woman stood five-foot-nine. Her straight blond hair hung lifeless. A slight part, zigzagging along her scalp, failed to hide the true ash brown color of her roots. The witch was far from ugly, but the permanent scowl on her face made her look old. And, by the looks of her, Desiree understood why she was feared in her inner circle. Standing in the doorway disheveled, Selena still managed to dismiss her.
“I don’t take walk-ins.”
As she attempted to close the door, Desiree put her hand out. “I’m looking for Selena Lovell.”
Selena scowled at her. “Well, you found her. Like I said, I don’t take walk-ins.”
Desiree pushed herself inside. “I’m not here for an appointment.”
“What are you here for?”
“My name is Desiree Mercier, I’m a friend of Julien Beaumont.”
Noticing Selena’s demeanor change from relaxed to rigid, Desiree continued. “I won’t take up much of your time so I’ll make this short. I am here to inform you that the curse you placed on Julien Beaumont has been discovered.”
“Curse? I have no idea what you’re talking about.”
“Indeed.” Desiree stared at her. “You will remove the curse, Selena, or pay the price for your desecration.”
“What could you possibly do to me?”
“Hmm. Unlike you, I don’t announce my talents with a shingle outside my home. But don’t underestimate me. Or, if you prefer, I can tell Julien of your treachery, leave you to his discretion.”
Selena’s tone was sarcastic. “His power is no match for mine.”
“You’re right, it’s not. Julien Beaumont is much stronger.”
Selena’s eyes gave away her trepidation. She looked away.
“We’ve all suffered a broken heart in our lifetime,” Desiree said. “We move on and try to come to terms with it. There is no reason to let our disappointment morph into hate. I came here to appeal to you as a woman. You know I can get the curse removed through other avenues but if I have to do that, I will call a council.”
When Selena raised her eyes, Desiree had to look away. The seething fury hidden behind those black eyes penetrated right through to Desiree’s bones. Suddenly pinned to the wall, held prisoner by a dark energy, Desiree watched Selena as she got closer, tilting her head, examining her. “You come into my home? My domain? And demand a cessation? You’re a joke. I should kill you right here and put you out with the trash.”
Desiree struggled to free herself while yelling out in pain.
Selena continued her venomous tirade. “Hurts, huh? You think you can disrupt my life because you want Julien Beaumont? You will not have him. No one will!”
Sweat beaded on Desiree’s forehead. Selena laughed, a maniacal sound from a woman deranged and consumed with rage. “Poor Desiree—Mercier, was it? I’ll remember that.” She spat. Without looking, Selena ducked as a lamp flew over her head crashing into the wall.
“I’m impressed. Wanna try again?”
Suddenly, Selena was thrust back by an unseen force, hitting the wall with a loud thud. Though her vision was blurry, Desiree knew the moment Simon arrived. Struggling to focus, she watched another blow send Selena to her knees. And, all at once, Desiree was free from pain and no longer held to the wall. Simon stood tall as he grinned at someone on the other side of the room.
Desiree caught her breath and scanned the room to find an old woman standing a few feet away. Simon leaned against the wall. As he held one hand down toward the floor, keeping Selena at bay, he relaxed. “It is good to see you, Clementine.”
Walking with a slight limp, the woman hobbled closer and narrowed her eyes at him. A hump protruded from her right shoulder, and her long, skinny fingers prominently showed off the rounded bulbous shape of her knuckles. Leaning on her walking stick for strength, she pointed at Simon. Recognition lit her features and she smiled, showing beautiful, white teeth. “Why, Simon Granvil, I do declare.”
Returning her smile with one of his own, he shook his head. “How did a beautiful witch such as you end up here?”
“It’s a very long story, Mr. Granvil. One which I’d like to forget. If, when I die, I have a chance to return to the land of the living, I hope to undo my wrongs. But, before it’s too late, I’d like to try to set my niece on the straight and narrow.”
Clementine hobbled toward the couch and rested her weight against an old sofa. She lifted her walking stick and pointed in the direction of her niece. “You placed a curse on a man with the noble name of Beaumont? A fellow witch? You’ve been lying to me, Selena. You’re dabbling in dark arts and I want you out. You will remove the curse you placed on Julien Beaumont or I will bring the full wrath of the Lovell name down on you.”
Selena was silent as she wiped at the spittle running down the side of her mouth. Clementine returned her gaze to Simon and Desiree, putting them at ease. “I will make sure it is done. When Julien kisses the one he is destined for, the love will rush into his heart and fill him with light.”
Simon nodded. “Thank you, Clementine.”
She smiled at them. “It was nice to see you both again.”
Desiree smiled back. Both?
Outside, Desiree defended her actions to Simon. “I told you Simon, this was the best tactic. Seeking to remove the curse another way would have taken more time. Julien and Giselle don’t have that luxury.”
“Desiree, I told you I would accompany you. Going behind my back is not something I take lightly. If I didn’t show up when I did, something bad could’ve happened.”
“I would’ve taken care of it.”
“I saw how you were taking care of it! You said she dabbled in black magic. That witch had the power of voodoo, or even the occult behind her. You put yourself in danger. Witches like that don’t go away so easily.”
“You are crowding me, Mr. Granvil. I’m not a little girl.” Desiree turned her back when Simon grabbed her by the arm.
“But you are my assignment.” Simon took a deep controlled breath. “Come. We can get back to Beaumont Plantation by the setting sun, get in the car.”
Chapter Twenty-Two
Giselle spent the rest of the day alone. Practicing her ability to harness the water in the magic gardens was sweet relief after the mishap this afternoon. And now, at her most favorite time of day, she relaxed with a walk along the great tunnel of oaks. Breathing in the perfumed scent of honeysuckle, she admired the large, protruding roots of the one hundred year old trees. They stood mighty and proud, inviting her into their protective arms as the cicadas sang in the glory of the twilight. She marveled at how peaceful and alive she felt here, in this place.
As the sun spun golden ribbons of light through the trees, the cicada’s song grew louder. A tremor of power flowed through her body, until her fingertips buzzed
with sensation. Taking direction from her arms, she lifted them in imitation of a great conductor. With precise movements, Giselle began to command the cicada’s song. And with the wonderment of a child, she happily looked on, astounded by her own power as hundreds of insects flew from their perches.
With her right hand moving up and down, her left hand moved side to side. An army of cicada’s danced in a perpendicular movement and their song grew louder. The insects dipped and cut through the trees performing a ballet of sorts, just for her. Not the least bit frightened or nervous by such a sight, she felt exalted by her own ability.
Commanding the very essence of nature was exhilarating. Giselle lifted both hands high in the air, straight up to the sky. Quickly bringing her arms down in front of her body, past her hips until they jutted out behind her, she directed the cicada’s do the same. In an instant they flew in masses toward the woods behind Beaumont plantation.
Out of breath, she turned toward the main house, watching the dark mass of insects make their exit. Up ahead, she caught a glimpse of Julien, Simon and Desiree standing, looking like they’d seen a miracle.
They saw? Yes! They saw! But, before Giselle could celebrate, the shroud of the veil blurred her sight. Stopping in her tracks, her mind’s eye searched through the darkness.
No. Not now. Please. Seeking the strength of a great oak to help keep her steady, she leaned against the massive bark. A horrible sight came into focus, making her tremble. Reaching up to hold the satchel around her neck, she heard the sound of Julien’s voice as it faded into oblivion.
Clutching her necklace, she watched in horror as a warlock clawed at a man. The man stood tall and proud and unafraid, scoffing at the indescribable beast. The man’s great speed did nothing to inhibit his fluid movement. Instinctively, she knew the man held the knowledge and experience of a centuries-old traveler. While the man played with the monster, goading it into an attack, the moment came when the warlock lunged towards the traveler. Slicing his arm from elbow to wrist with its razor sharp fingers, the traveler didn’t flinch or take his eyes from the creature. Its yellowed fangs dripped with thick, sticky ooze and the warlock licked its lips at the sight of blood from its opponent. Then it went in for the kill.
