“I can’t. I need a little more time at home. You understand, don’t you?”
“Yes, I understand.” She looked at me with sadness in her eyes.
“Thank you for not arguing.” I said.
She smiled and said, “It probably wouldn’t do me any good, anyway.” Phillip chuckled and added, “I know that to be true.” I smiled a little, knowing he was right and took their hands appreciatively.
We walked up to the front porch. The families were visiting with each other. I sat on one of the wicker chairs, when I sensed a presence I had never felt before. I noticed that Madame Cecilia seemed to be in a trance. Angel came out the front door. I could sense she was upset. She went directly to Madame Cecilia and whispered something in French.
They both turned to me, and Angel spoke out first. “Alixia, we have been summoned to the High Dominion.”
“What? Why?”
“Alixia.” She said nervously. “They are calling us to come because of Charlotte. The Dark Realm is questioning her death.”
“Why would they question that? She went after our family; I did what I was supposed to do, protect the family!”
Madame Cecilia spoke softly, trying to keep control of the situation, “Remember, she was an Ambrosine and you are accountable for what happened to her. Just explain to them that you didn’t act out of vengeance. You destroyed her to protect, right?”
Phillip got into my mind.
Don’t say anything, Alixia, about—
I knew he was warning me.
I answered him before he could finish his thought.
I won’t, don’t worry.
I squeezed his hand while looking at Madame Cecilia and Angel.
“Yes, I was just protecting the family, that’s all.”
“Good.” Madame Cecilia said. “We’ll just explain what happened and hopefully the Dominion will agree. Then the Dark Realm—”
I couldn’t keep quiet. I put my hands up to stop her from saying any more and asked harshly, “Why am I being judged for taking out Charlotte? What about Mother? Doesn’t anyone have to be accountable for her death?”
Angel spoke up, saying, “Yes, the Ambrosines.”
I glared at her and said with loathing, “But, Charlotte took her soul. She was the one who actually took her from us.”
Madame Cecilia sighed heavily and said, “I know this is frustrating, Alixia, but you have to abide by our laws.” I shook my head and guarded my thoughts.
Maybe Marcus is right not to be part of any Realm…
“Alixia.”
“What?” Phillip put his arm around my shoulder. “Alixia, let’s go for a walk.” I knew he was trying to calm the situation before it got out of hand. I looked at Madame Cecilia. She shooed me with her hands and said, “Yes, go and calm down. We will discuss this later before we have to head back to New Orleans.”
Phillip and I walked down the road. I did most of the talking, letting him know how angry I was about having to defend myself when it came to Charlotte. In fact, I released all the anger that had built up in me since Mother’s death. I finished getting it all out and he squeezed my hand and asked, “Do you feel better now?”
“Yes, I do.”
“Good.”
The cool morning air felt good against my skin as we left the road and took a path through the trees. We stopped and sat on log. I kicked off my shoes and Phillip grinned. “What? I hate wearing shoes, okay?”
He put his arm around me, turned me toward him and kissed me tenderly. I put my hand on his chest. “Phillip, we have to talk.”
“Okay, what do we need to talk about?”
“I want to know if you will watch over Millie for me while I am gone.”
“Of course, I will. Why would you even ask that?”
“Mother’s death…I am having a sense there’s more to come from Marcel. I think he’s going strike back with vengeance. I am also going to try to get a hold of Marcus to help us.” Phillip stood up abruptly and glared at me. “Why do we need him?”
“Phillip, you said it would be good to have Marcus help us. What’s the problem now?”
He kicked at some dirt and looked out toward the trees. “Well, I’ve changed my mind.”
“You’re not making sense. Why would you change your mind?”
“Because he wants you back, Alixia.”
“What are you talking about?”
“Marcus. He told me that he was going to do anything he could to get you back.”
“Phillip, I think that would be my decision, right? You’re being silly.” I blocked Phillip quickly from my thoughts.
He is right. I know in my heart, I’m still drawn to Marcus.
Phillip looked at me, frustrated. “I’m not being foolish. I know you care for me, but I can tell you still have a lot of feelings for him.” I stood and put my arms around his neck. “Yes, I do care about Marcus, but I’m here with you now, right?”
He slipped his arms around my waist and held me close. “Well, I’m keeping my eye on him when it comes to you.” He kissed me softly and added, “You are right, though, we do need his help, he can keep us informed of any movement with the Dark Ones. So go ahead and contact him.”
“Thank you, Phillip. Who knows? You might even become good friends.”
“Okay, Alixia, I think you may be stretching your expectations a bit on that one. Now, enough of Marcus.” He leaned in and kissed me passionately.
We talked for a while then went back to the house. Charles was coming out the front door as he asked, “Are you ready to leave, Phillip?”
“Now?”
“Yes, Phillip.” Charles turned to me and said, “I am sorry, Alixia. We must leave to get there before the guests start arriving for the Gathering.”
“I understand.”
The driver opened the car door. Charles kissed my cheek and said, “I will miss her, Alixia.”
“I know, Charles.” He got into the car without saying another word. Phillip put his arms around my waist. “I guess the next time we see each other will be when you return from your trip.”
“Yes, I guess so.” He kissed me and then said, “Promise me that you won’t challenge them too much while you’re there.” I smiled. “Don’t worry, Phillip. I have Madame Cecilia and Angel to keep me under control.”
He laughed and got into the car. “I don’t think even those two have enough power between them to stop you when you set your mind to something.”
“I’m not that bad. I know how to compromise…a little.” I leaned in and kissed him quickly before he could respond and said, “I’ll be good. See you when I get back.” I closed the car door.
The driver started the car, and as they drove down the road, Phillip shouted from the window, “Don’t do anything foolish!” I stood there, shaking my head as I watched them disappear down the road.
Back in the house, Madame Cecilia and Angel were in the living room visiting with a couple of family members. I sat down on the sofa, waiting for them to finish their conversation.
Angel looked my way. She smiled and came over to sit down beside me. I could sense her nervousness as she said, “Alixia we will be leaving soon. Are you sure you don’t want to return with us?”
“No, Angel, I just want to stay here, especially now that I’m being taken away again from my home. I need these few days to grieve and come to terms with a lot of different things.”
“I know.” She didn’t say another word.
I looked directly at her, wondering why she was being so accommodating.
“Alixia.” Madame Cecilia brought the family members over to say goodbye. I stood as each one kissed my cheek and gave their condolences for my loss. As the last one left the room, Madame Cecilia said, “So we better get going, too.”
“You have to leave right now?”
“Yes, but I’ll be back in two days to pick you up for our trip to France.”
“In two days?” I sighed. “Okay, but how long do we have to stay befo
re we can return home?”
She looked over at Angel. “Alixia, I am not coming back with you.”
“You’re not coming back? Why?”
“It’s time for me to leave New Orleans and return to the Dominion.”
“You can’t leave me, too!” I wrapped my arms around her and hugged her tightly.
“I am so sorry I’ve upset you, I don’t want to leave you, either, but this is my destiny and you have to start fulfilling yours.” She stepped back a little and handed me Mother’s journal. “You will be taking my place in New Orleans until I can return again.”
“I don’t want to take your place.”
She smiled as she looked down at the journal in my hands. “You will. There is no choice.” She said. Angel touched Madame Cecilia’s shoulder and said, “It’s getting late. We have to leave now to prepare for tonight.”
“All right, Angel. Alixia, we will finish this conversation on our trip.” We walked out onto the porch.
The driver was waiting for them by the car. Angel said goodbye first and went to the car. Madame Cecilia put her arm around me and said, “I know you weren’t raised Ambrosine, and many of our beliefs are hard for you to follow; however, by the time you are ready to return home from France, you will have no doubt of who you are and the family lineage you came from.” She kissed my cheek and walked down to the car. Before she got in she said, “I will see you in two days.”
“All right.” I said. She got in the car and I watched them drive off.
The house was quiet again. I sat down on the porch swing, holding Mother’s journal. I looked out toward the garden, thinking of her. Right now, she would have been out there getting things ready to plant.
I heard the phone ring. Anna came out and said, “It’s Robert Blondeau on the phone for you, Alixia.”
How did he know I was here?
I walked into the house and picked up the phone. “Hello, Robert.”
“Alixia, finally. I have been trying to reach you since early yesterday afternoon. They told me you were back in Baton Rouge. Are you and your mother staying for a while?” I quickly said, “No, Mother didn’t come back with me. I came here to pick up a few extra clothes. We’re planning a trip to Paris.”
“You’re going to Paris?”
“Yes, we leave in a couple of days.”
He was silent for a moment. I heard him mumbling something. Then he said, “I was wondering, I mean…Marcus, he needs to see you tonight.”
“Okay, I need to see him, too.”
“You do? Uh, okay, is eight o’clock good for you?”
“Yes, that will be fine. See you then.”
“All right, until tonight. Bye, Alixia.”
“Bye, Robert.”
I hung up and looked down at Mother’s journal. I opened it and started flipping through the pages. It was all in French. Millie would have to translate this for me. But, when I was ready to close it, I flipped toward the back of the journal and noticed it was in English. I closed the journal to find a more private place to read it. As I passed the kitchen, I saw Anna reading the paper. She looked up at me and asked, “Alixia, is there something you need?”
“No, I just wanted to tell you I will be going out later this evening with a friend.”
She put the paper down and asked, “Do you need Gabriel to drive you?”
I looked at her, puzzled. “No, Robert Blondeau will be picking me up. But how did Gabriel become our driver when he’s Madame Ambrosine’s? Where’s our driver?”
Her cheeks reddened. “Alixia, didn’t Madame Ambrosine tell you? She traded drivers. She left Gabriel here to be your driver and to watch over you.” I grimaced.
“I don’t need a driver tonight and I certainly don’t need anyone watching over me.”
“Alixia, all the Ambrosines have someone watching over them, and, until Millie is better, Gabriel is yours.”
I felt like a fool jumping to conclusions. “I am sorry.” Her face softened. “That’s okay, just be more mindful, please.”
“I will.” I left the kitchen.
I’ve got to stop thinking everything is a conspiracy.
I went into the library, sat in Mothers’ chair and opened the journal to begin reading her last entry. It was dated the day before she died.
My Dearest Alixia,
I know I’m no longer with you.
“She knew.” I whispered softly.
I want you to know that my heart is breaking right now as I write this to you. But not knowing yet if my vision is true or not, I didn’t want to leave you without saying how much I love you and how much I am going to miss holding you. Keep your memories of me close to you, to help you through the emptiness you’re feeling right now. Trust your grandmother to guide you in the Ambrosines’ beliefs. She does love you very much.
I looked up from the page and toward the window.
Why didn’t she say something? I could have saved her.
I skimmed to the bottom of the page and read, Au revoir, my Alixia. I will take your love with me. I will miss you, my daughter. Mother
Tears filled my eyes. I closed the journal, thinking back on that night.
I remained in the library, as I sat there, holding on to her journal. The room became dark. I reached over and turned on the lamp. I noticed the clock on the mantel. It was already seven thirty. I jumped up, realizing I had to meet Robert. I ran upstairs hurriedly, slipped out of my dress and grabbed a pair of jeans and a sweater. I quickly brushed out my hair and went back downstairs, just in time to see Anna open the door.
“Robert, you’re right on time.” I said, a little out of breath.
“And you’re as beautiful as ever.”
“Oh, Robert, you don’t have to say that every time you see me, you know.”
“Why? It’s true.”
I smiled at him. “What am I going to do with you?” I asked. We walked out to the car.
“So, where is Marcus?” I asked as he opened the car door for me.
“Close by, waiting for us.”
“Where?”
“About a mile up the road.” He went around the car, got in and asked, “Do you know why Marcus is so fixed on seeing you tonight?”
“No.”
“Well, something is up. Yesterday, when I couldn’t reach you right away, he panicked. He begged me to keep trying until someone finally told me where you were.”
“Well, we will soon find out.” I saw Marcus up ahead of us, standing by his car. Robert pulled up alongside of him. “Stay here for a minute.” He said as he got out and went directly to Marcus. While he was talking to him, he angrily waved his hands around. I quickly read his thoughts. He was worried that Marcus was going to change me into what he was.
If he only knew the truth.
The car door opened, Marcus reached inside and took my hand, and then helped me out of the car as he said, “Alixia, tell Robert you will be okay and you’re not afraid to be with me.”
“Robert, please, as I told you before, Marcus would never hurt me. I can promise you that.”
“I am trying to believe that, but—”
“I would never hurt her!” Marcus butted in, shouting at Robert.
“Okay, I know, I know. I’m sorry. I just don’t see why you two are...never mind, I will be back in an hour to pick you up, Alixia.”
Robert got into his car and left. I could see the anger lingering on Marcus’ face as he said, “I wish I could make him understand. I just love you and would never let anyone hurt you.”
He put his arms around my waist. I leaned into him as I said, “I’m sorry, Marcus. I wish none of this had ever happened.” His lips brushed mine lightly and he said, “Me, too.” He looked out into the darkness and added, “We have to stay here. I don’t dare be seen in Baton Rouge yet.”
“What do you mean by yet?” I asked anxiously.
“It’s okay; I’m planning on visiting my parents, now that I have control of my urge—”
“Marcus,
you can’t!” I interrupted him, angrily. “The Ambrosines will be watching you. They could go after your family, too!”
“Don’t worry, Marguerite has a plan. It will be okay, I promise you. Come on, let’s walk. It’s a nice night.”
I took his hand. I was worried for him and his family. What was he thinking?
We took a path into the woods and stopped at a clearing to the right of us. We sat down on the grass. I brought my knees up to my chest, wrapped my arms around my legs and looked up at the stars. I thought of Robert, and then said, “I wish we could tell Robert who I really am so that he wouldn’t think you were out to turn me into a vampire every time we meet.”
“I know, but the less he knows, the safer he will be.”
“You’re right. I know.” He reached for my hand and said, “I am sorry about your Mother. Phillip told me what happened to her when he protected me from the Ambrosines last night. I wanted to see you so badly, to hold you and tell you how sorry I was for your loss. He lowered his eyes. “Then, when Robert couldn’t get a hold of you, I was terrified you didn’t want to see me anymore, because they took your mother and—”
I interrupted gently. “Marcus, it’s okay. I would never blame you for what they did. I just needed a little time alone, that’s all.” He put his arms around me and held me. He cooled my skin with his embrace. I moved in closer to him. Then he whispered, “I just don’t want to ever lose you.”
“You won’t.”
We held each other for a few minutes, and then Marcus broke our embrace. “Robert tells me you are leaving for Paris. Are you going to get away for a while?”
“Yes, I am leaving, but I’m not going for that reason.”
“You’re not?” He looked at me, perplexed. “Then why are you going to Paris?”
“Because I was summoned by the Dominion. They want to question me about Charlotte’s death.” He moved a little. “Why are they questioning you? You did them a favor.”
“I know, but evidently the Ambrosines don’t see it that way.”
He laughed. “So do you have to stay long?”
“I don’t know, but I do need a favor from you while I am gone.”
“What is it?”
Ambrosine Page 31
