She stared into her empty home. Juliska was gone. And Arnon seemed so certain that she was at the core of the problems. It was hard to believe really. Juliska Blackwell being capable of such an insidious thing.
Kanda stepped inside and looked around. There wasn’t anything out of the ordinary at first glance. She tiptoed into the kitchen and then the living room. Nothing strange. She noticed another room down the hall and decided to take a quick look.
Just as she put her hand on the doorknob, she gasped, letting go and jumping back.
The door opened.
The smell of mothballs almost made her gag.
“Vian Chase,” she stammered, seeing the woman coming out of the room.
The woman eyed her coldly. She forced them both forward and shut the door behind her. “Can I help you?” she asked Kanda flatly.
“No. Sorry. I didn’t realize anyone was here. I was looking for Juliska.”
“She’s not here.”
“Right. Well then… excuse me.” She turned to leave and remembered she was still holding the letter. She spun around and handed it to Tanzea. “Please tell Juliska how sorry I am for her loss. Losses…” she rephrased.
The woman nodded curtly but said nothing.
Kanda skedaddled out of the house. What a strange woman. She’d dealt with Tanzea a few times as she was a member of the Viancourt. But what was she doing in Juliska’s house? Was she hiding in that room the entire time? How bizarre. Regardless, Kanda had not found out anything of value. And had almost been caught.
Back inside the house, Tanzea let out a long, irritated sigh.
“Too close.”
She went back to the room she’d just exited and opened the door.
“Good thing I put protections in this place for intruders…”
The room was filled with things for the baby. She closed the door and waved her palm over it. A lock formed, securing the room. She left, wondering just what Kanda Macawi had really been searching for inside Juliska’s house.
CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR
“I brought you some company, Mother,” called out Jurekai Fazendiin.
His mother’s frame waited silently in the stained glass, wondering what he was up to now. A very pregnant woman waddled into the room.
“Isabella,” she assumed.
“Um, hello.” Isabella had been warned about Aloyna in the glass, but to see it was something out of a story. Even with all she’d seen as a Firemancer.
“I decided that Isabella will remain in the house with us until she’s ready to give birth. The house at the back of the estate is just too far away.”
“You mean my prison?” Isabella jested dryly.
Aloyna chuckled. She liked this woman. Although she knew she would, long before the woman had even been born. Here she was, finally standing in front of her, pregnant with the children who would set the course of the future. Of course, Aloyna could say nothing.
She just smiled and welcomed her to the house.
“You volunteered, remember?” Fazendiin reminded Isabella. He laughed. “Tell her, tell my mother what foolish thing you’ve done.”
“It’s not foolish. Simply preserving my life.” She looked up at Aloyna. “I cast a spell, one even your son cannot undue. Sorry, I don’t mean to offend, Ma’am. But I do not trust him. You see, I put a spell on my child. If I should die of anything other than natural causes before our child’s eighteenth birthday, the child dies. Immortal or not. Their life is tied to mine.”
Aloyna wanted to laugh, loudly. Her son, outsmarted. And Aloyna knew exactly where she’d gotten this magical potion. So much of what she’d been told so many long years ago was finally coming to pass.
“Yes. Isabella thinks she is very clever. However, it is of no matter,” insisted Fazendiin. He looked Isabella in the eye. “You may think by this little stunt of yours that you’ve gained some upper hand. I can tell you right now you have not. You will have no sway over the child’s life. You will raise him until I deem him old enough.”
“Old enough for what?” asked Isabella.
“That he no longer needs a mother.”
She hardened her gaze.
“Now, I recommend you rest. Our baby needs strength. I’ll call you for dinner in a couple hours.”
He left the room.
Isabella let out a breath and rubbed her back. She ached all over. Carrying twins was so much harder than one child. Her other child… little Ivan. To think of him made her heart want to shatter. She desired to hold him in her arms so badly. But to think on such things would do no good. She was here for a reason.
She looked and listened closely to make sure that Fazendiin was not close, and when satisfied, stepped up very close to Aloyna and whispered into her ear.
“I know what really happened to you.”
Aloyna’s gaze narrowed.
“Jasper Thorndike came to me. I don’t know how he did it, but he came to me in a vision. A lot of them. He showed me, everything.”
Aloyna let out a start.
“He sends his love, and explained what happened to you. And all I needed to do. I don’t pretend to understand it all. And I fear for them, greatly.” Isabella rubbed her belly, speaking of her unborn children.
“She’s in here too. Little Meghan. And Colby. It’s such a strange thing to know the names of your children before you even know you’re going to have them.” She let out an uneven breath. A mixture of angst and relief.
“Jasper gave me the potion, to protect myself. Says he’s almost done with everything else… whatever that is. I’m sure it’s safer as a secret.”
Aloyna smiled, she’d already known all this would happen. And yet hearing it, seeing this woman… it validated everything. Made it easier to bear the burden.
Isabella let out a sniffle. “I just wanted you to know that it wasn’t all in vain. The time is close, when fate and its creators, finally meet.”
She looked up at Aloyna, to glass tears streaming down her face. Isabella reached up and placed her hand over where the woman’s heart should be.
“We must be brave just a little longer.”
CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVE
Juliska wished the meeting would end. The little one in her belly had been kicking at her insides for an hour. Hiding the fact that she was pregnant was getting harder, the longer it went on. She was almost eight months now.
The Banon was arranging a meeting between himself and Amelia. They needed to settle things once and for all. Juliska’s move had slowed them down a little, put a pause on things, but it would not last for long.
Just as things were finally winding down, and she was free to leave, a messenger arrived and stopped her.
“Sorry to interrupt, Ma’am. But I have an urgent request for you, from PanSofia.”
Juliska eyed the young man. What did her old mentor want now?
“She requests an immediate audience with you, in regards to a vision she’s had. She says it’s of grave importance to current events.”
“Why didn’t she come herself?”
“She’s not feeling so well. She asked that you come to her, just this once.”
“Fine. I’ll come. Let her know I’ll be there as soon as possible.”
The messenger strode away. Juliska puffed out her cheeks, annoyed. Her mentor meant well, but she just wanted to go home, put her feet up and have a cool tea. Regardless, she’d oblige the request.
It took her a few minutes to get out of her office and out of the building. She could not go anywhere now without someone stopping her and thanking her for all her hard work and effort in the crisis with Amelia.
Juliska would just smile and play nice. But it was getting tiresome. Couldn’t they find someone new to gawk at and admire? She had a carriage come for her and drive her to PanSofia’s house. Thank goodness the carriage drivers were well mannered and always got down to assist her. It would have looked very suspicious, trying to pull her way inside on her own, since no one could see her pregnant
belly.
This man was no different. She recognized him though, and her heart stammered for a minute. Ian Crane. She hadn’t seen him since she’d returned home. Juliska hadn’t even thought about her vision of the woman, Isabella, since leaving Fazendiin’s estate. She’d had no more visions about her and it confused her to no end, wondering what could possess a woman to leave her husband and small child and fake her own death.
Everyone always noted how happy they were… and how tragic it was when she died.
She let out a snide huff as the carriage lurched forward. Happiness can be deceiving… there was obviously something more to the story.
But Ian seemed like a quiet, caring, simple man.
The carriage was open allowing the cool evening air in, which relaxed her. The ride was smooth considering the cobblestone they rolled over. It was a solid thirty minutes to reach her mentor’s home.
It was a grand palace for here on the island. Situated on a road with a row of such type homes. Even though the island was crowded, this particular road did not feel so. The estates were spacious and private. Old money… it’s what most Svoda called these folks. They’d been in the family since the island’s inception, passed along generation to generation. But there were a couple, like her mentor, that had been gifted these spacious homes in thanks for their lifetime of service. After their deaths, they’d be gifted to another deserving Svoda. Perhaps one day, Juliska herself.
The first estate belonged to Viancourt member Darius Hadrian and his wife Hannelore. A fairly dull couple, but Darius was well respected and had been on the Court for a few years now. His wife had recently given birth to a daughter, Dulcy. The Scraggs family had the estate next to them… they’d also just had a daughter, Darcy.
It seemed having children was wildly popular… for a moment Juliska was saddened that she could not share hers with anyone. No one would ever know. She smiled down at her belly, the strangest sense of guilt and empathy coming over her.
“It doesn’t matter, little one. As long as you’re healthy and happy, it doesn’t matter.” She had a sudden need to comfort the baby almost ready to come into the world. The sadness lifted.
What a powerful little being she was bringing into the world. To understand a thing like emotions before even experiencing the world yet.
She looked up as the carriage drove by another estate. The home of a rather eccentric couple, Garner and Ravana Sadorus. They liked to make an entrance at public events and were notorious for fashionably just-in-time arrivals. But they were well liked and took interest in current events. Garner was even showing an interest in politics. She’d overhead him hinting at a seat on the Viancourt.
And at last, PanSofia’s home. It was a mansion with the backside of the estate falling down over a cliff overlooking the ocean. The house had been a gift years ago for all her years of service, even though she put in many more after. It was hard to imagine a more serene setting to spend one’s retirement.
Her estate was quiet, other than the distant sloshing of waves or chirps and calls from birds. Too late in the day for any groundkeepers to be working. The air was refreshing though. Ian waited for the gate to open so he could take Juliska right to the front door, but it never did.
“Sorry, Ma’am. If you want, I can walk in and see what’s taking so long.”
“No,” Juliska told him. “It’s fine. I’ll walk. And I’m sorry to make you have to wait, and take such a long trip so late in the day.”
“Oh no worries at all.” He assisted her out of the carriage. “Take as long as you need. I don’t mind in the least.”
“You’re very gracious, thank you.”
“Think nothing of it.” He hopped back up onto the carriage and pulled up off the side of the road to wait.
Juliska left him at the end of the long drive and stepped through a small walkway. How odd, for PanSofia to ask her here, and then not even open the gate. Even exhausted and with a belly sticking out, the sea air was welcoming and the short walk felt good. There was just something about the sea air that soothed her aches and pains.
She made her way to the door and knocked. She was surprised when it opened without anyone answering it. She stepped through apprehensively.
“PanSofia?” she called out. No answer.
She took a few more steps. “Hello.” She stopped about ten feet in front of a water fountain, which was fed by the ocean water. Her mentor preferred salt water for her visions. Claimed it worked better than fresh.
Thwack.
Juliska swung around.
The door slammed behind her.
She spun around again with a gasp, no time to react. A tornado of water raged across the floor right at her. It rose over her head and fell down over her, imprisoning her in the cold liquid.
PanSofia stepped into view, her gaze fierce and determined.
“So my vision is true. You’re pregnant.”
Juliska’s chest heaved in pure fury.
The water had lifted Tanzea’s tonic spell and her mentor could see her pregnant.
“How dare you?”
“How dare I? You, my Dear, are the one that’s been lying to everyone. You’re a vampyre. And immortal. Carrying an immortal child…”
“And I suppose you’re planning on capturing me and turning me in…”
“You would be correct in that assumption. But not for what you’ve already done. For what I’ve seen you will do.”
Juliska eyed her mentor scathingly. This woman had been like a second mother; and now claimed some terrible deed was in her future. It did not matter. Only the safety of her child.
The water rushed around her, but never touching her, only ensnaring her.
“I do not want to hurt you,” Juliska warned PanSofia. “Please,” she begged. “I will do whatever I must to protect my child.”
“A son,” revealed her mentor. “Not just a son… a powerful and dangerous child that cannot be born.”
“You’re giving me no choice,” Juliska cried. She didn’t want to hurt her mentor, but she knew too much. She was a threat to her child… an innocent baby not a dangerous criminal. It wasn’t his fault he was immortal.
A son… she was having a boy. That felt right to her, almost like she’d known this all along.
“Will you come willingly?” PanSofia called out. Her arms were waving in front of her, tightening the grip of the water.
Juliska did not answer.
Her nostrils flared, her teeth clenching, rage building.
She was staring into her future; the future Eddy had left her to deal with when he betrayed her, and took his own life. This is what Fazendiin and Tanzea had warned her about repeatedly.
Only now was it sinking in. She’d never be safe. Her son would never be safe. No matter where she was on this earth, they’d always be hunting her and her son.
Juliska let out a primal cry, thrusting her arms out in front of her, into the water. Fire burst out her arms, the tornado encasing Juliska simultaneously splashing to the floor and evaporating with a sizzle.
They struck out at each other.
PanSofia flicked her arms grabbing water from the fountain, shooting it mercilessly at her ex-student.
Juliska shot a vortex of flame. Fire collided with water erupting into steam; the water doused the flame. She did not relent. She thrust her arms out in front of her, a fiery ball of destruction forming in her hands and shot it off. She did this three more times in quick succession.
PanSofia soaked the first one and it fizzled, but did not have time to block the others and had to dive to the floor.
It pained Juliska to see the woman who trained her sprawled on the floor. But even with her age, determination did not fail. As Juliska’s fireballs slammed into a wall, PanSofia thrust out her arm creating a walkway of water that led straight to her student. She touched it with both hands spread wide, and it crackled and froze instantly.
With a brisk almost unseen movement, she used it to slide across, arriving in fr
ont of Juliska on her feet. An icy grip wrapped around her throat.
“Water will always put out fire,” her mentor reminded sharply.
Juliska felt it building. The power of her unborn son. Like pure life and electric energy. It raced up through her body reaching her neck. PanSofia cried out as the current hit her hand forcing her grip to weaken.
“What is this?” she shouted. “This isn’t yours,” she spoke of the current.
“Apparently your visions didn’t show you the power of my unborn son.” Juliska pushed her away. She slid across the ice falling backwards into the fountain.
“And water may put out fire, but saltwater loves electricity.” The current lit out of Juliska hitting PanSofia. She’d been trying to drag herself out of the fountain but fell into the water. Her body convulsing.
A mere few seconds later, it was over.
Juliska withdrew the current.
PanSofia floated facedown.
Juliska fell to her knees. Sobbing.
Pain, fear, regret, relief… she didn’t know what to feel.
She wrapped her arms around her stomach and cried in the relief that her baby was safe. And she was not a captive of the Svoda. But even with Tanzea here, on her side, she was beginning to think it was no longer safe. There were other seers. What if one of them had a vision? Would she just kill them too?
She crawled over, her clothes getting wet and grabbed her dead mentor’s hand.
“Why? Why did you have to see my son? Why couldn’t you just forget it? And trust me…”
She hadn’t wanted to kill her but there was no other choice.
This was worse than Cornell. Or maybe it wasn’t. The man’s brain would never work properly again. PanSofia would never breathe again.
Juliska looked at her hands.
She had done this.
Taken her mentor’s life.
“It’s the only way. The only way to keep you safe.”
But now what? There was a dead woman lying here, with signs of a struggle. They’d be able to trace the magic if they discovered her too soon. And Juliska would have no choice but to flee as everyone would know she was a murderer.
Forsaken (Fated Saga Fantasy Series Book 8) Page 28
