by Mia Fox
His hand ran down her back, holding her closely. The kiss wasn’t like any he shared with Raven. It wasn’t based on lust, but of love. True, he still felt a need with Charlotte, but it wasn’t strictly a need of passion as much as it was to feel close to her and to show her comfort and tenderness. The reality struck him that with Raven he was wrapped up in his own desires, but with Charlotte her every whim and pleasure was at the forefront of his mind.
As they kissed, she leaned back letting her body lay down upon the ground and pulling Phineas on top of her as she went. He wrapped his arm underneath her, not wanting to lose one inch of their contact. It had been too long and he knew how closely he had come to losing her. The thought of being without her made him bury his head into her neck, inhaling her scent as he let his lips travel over her.
He stopped to press himself up, hovering over her. “I want a future with you. Please Charlotte, tell me you want it too?”
“I do, Phin. More than anything.”
His lips met hers again, tentatively and gently. He smiled and spoke directly into her mouth, not wanting to release from her kisses, but unable to stop his words. “You are so...amazing,” was punctuated by a kiss. “I am never going to let anything happen to you,” followed another.
Finally, Charlotte laughed and placed her hands on Phineas’ cheeks, holding him in place. “If you don’t kiss me properly, I might just bite those irresistible lips of yours.”
“Really?” Phineas leered, liking where this was going. He was used to a demure Charlotte, but her bold words made him realize how much a person could change particularly when faced with death. Admiration filled his mind when he thought of how much Charlotte had risked unselfishly for those around her. She was everything that Raven wasn’t and he knew that what he was feeling was something new, something he had never experienced before. Raven had restored his life and given him an everlasting life when he wasn’t even twenty. She had been his only lover and while Raven was exciting and experienced, he craved what he was feeling for Charlotte.
Although he had lived for over 130 years, he had never felt this before. This is what it was like to be human, to be in touch with his own lost humanity. “You’ve made me feel again,” he said in amazement. “I thought that Raven had stripped me of every human emotion, but...” he let his words trail off, knowing that he could never fully express his appreciation for Charlotte. Instead, new found passion stirred within him and he couldn’t help the desire to press his hips forward, letting them rest against Charlotte. And to his amazement, she responded.
They kissed again, the passion growing as Charlotte wrapped her legs around his waist. He groaned feeling her pull himself toward her even closer, but in spite of how much he wanted her, there was something he wanted more. Her love.
“Phineas?”
He stopped suddenly, worried that he had somehow hurt her or she had changed her mind about him. “What is it?”
She shook her head, but a single tear fell from her eye. Phineas wiped it away immediately. “Charlotte, please tell me.”
“I’m just happy. It’s crazy and I’m acting like such a girl,” she said wiping another runaway tear away.
Phineas sat up and pulled her up as well. “It’s not crazy. Listen to me...Your necklace...the Amulet of Pollox...with it you can see all of the secrets from every Releasor that Suki has been beholden to.”
Charlotte nodded. “Scientists, politicians, artists...”
“All that knowledge is yours for the taking, and is what Raven so desperately wants,” he added gravely. “But there’s one piece of information that you don’t have.”
Phineas got down on one knee, and stared up at Charlotte. Her hair shone like spun gold in the sunlight, her ice blue eyes smiled down at him and he knew beyond any doubt that he was capable of real love, that Raven could never take away what remained of his humanity.
“Charlotte Bloom, would you marry me?”
A little squeal escaped her as she clapped her hands in joy.
“You so know I will...yes. Yes!”
Phineas stood up and wrapped his arms around Charlotte, twirling her until her feet lifted from the ground. When he finally put her back down, he kissed her once more. “I wasn’t sure you would say ‘yes,’ you know, given the situation. I really must be the happiest man alive.”
Charlotte laughed in spite of the situation. “You’re not just any man and as a demon, I’m not sure you qualify for ‘alive’ status, but yes, I would be with you even if this didn’t happen.” She indicated where they stood. Although the lake was placid and calm and the sun was shining, they had been through harrowing terrain and situations. Charlotte looked out to the water where Shadow still bounded in the form of a dolphin. Upon seeing her, she waved and Shadow splashed the water in response.
“About...Shadow,” Phineas said gently, unsure how to broach the subject. He was thrilled that Charlotte was back in his life and he didn’t want to rock the boat by pointing out that she was hanging out with an Encantado.
“Charlotte, I’m sorry that I brought this upon your life -- what happened with Samantha, Suki...all of it. But we’ll get out of here and you need to put this place behind you.”
Charlotte hesitated oddly as if that were the last thing she would want. She simply said, “Things happen for a reason.”
Phineas watched her carefully, noting how she was staring out at Shadow’s dolphin form as if she were keeping a protective eye on her. But she reached for his hand and suddenly all of his worry about her mental well-being melted away. “I know we belong together. Otherwise, you wouldn’t have been drawn to me when Raven ordered you...” her words drifted off and Phineas winced. He knew she was recalling how Raven had wanted him to kill her and Samantha. But he couldn’t have even back then. He loved her from the moment he saw her.
Taking her in his arms, he pressed his mouth to hers once more, willing her never to change her mind about him and also not wanting to hear or accept the truth of how they met.
“Are you okay?” she asked.
“Yeah. I just...it’s unrealistic to think that Raven is going to simply give up. The Buraqs will tell her you’re alive, and she’ll want to get rid of you so she can form the Triad with me.” He let his finger drape down her neck and then he gently held the Amulet of Pollox around her neck. “She’s not going to stop trying to get this beauty.”
“Let her try. This whole place made me realize...we have a purpose together. So what do you say?”
She looked at him seductively, narrowing her eyes and biting her lip. She moved into him slowly, one side of her mouth curling up into a sly smile. Phin reached for her and pulled her closer, narrowing any gap or daylight between their bodies, holding her against himself so that he could press his mouth upon hers. His tongue intertwined with hers, his hands roamed down her back and settled upon her hips. His mouth left hers only to trail more kisses down her neck and when he felt her knees buckle slightly from her arousal, he easily held her steady.
“I love you, Charlotte.”
“I love you, too.”
They were the most intoxicating words he had ever heard. He bent his head and touched his forehead to hers. “When I think of what you’ve been through...” he shook his head.
“Shh, I’m okay now.”
“Charlotte, I want to take you back to my home where you would never experience discomfort again. I would carry you into my bedroom, lie you down on a beautiful, four-poster bed and cover you in a down comforter. You would never be cold for I would light a fire both in the hearth and in your heart.”
“There’s one more need that you haven’t mentioned...” she said coyly.
He smiled, relishing where her mind was going. “The idea that I am worthy of making love to you is more than I ever could have hoped for in my life.”
“So, do we still have time before James and Suki get back?”
“Charlotte, I want your first time to be special -- not here. Not with memories of why we’r
e here. I want you to know what love feels like and it’s not something to hurry...at least it’s not going to be with me.”
Charlotte giggled and held onto Phineas tightly. Her laugh was intoxicating and he wanted to hear that sound for the rest of his life. He tickled her mercilessly, relishing the sounds of happiness, until they were interrupted.
“What’s so funny?”
At the sound of Shadow’s voice, Charlotte jumped back as if caught doing something she shouldn’t be doing.
“Come here, sweetie,” she called and held her hand out to Shadow. The little girl eyed Phineas cautiously, her hair shifting back and forth between curls and snakes, her eyes doing the same -- one minute appearing like dark, empty caverns and the next, icy light blue, just like Charlotte’s.
Phineas looked completely baffled as Charlotte welcomed what he could only imagine was some sort of demon into her arms. It was one thing for him to hold Charlotte because for all intents and purposes, he appeared human, but Shadow? “Charlotte, she’s not human. You should be...”
“Phin, there’s no reason to worry,” she said speaking in a soothing voice and gently smoothing down Shadow’s snakes until only curls and ringlets remained. The little girl visibly relaxed and held onto Charlotte, wrapping her arms around her waist and burying her head into Charlotte’s stomach.
She leaned down and whispered something in Shadow’s ear and the little girl stepped aside, now looking at Phineas with open curiosity.
“Phin, there’s someone I’d like you to meet,” Charlotte said properly.
Shadow stepped forward and did a little curtsy. If Phineas hadn’t seen what she could shift into, he would have to admit that it was rather cute. He waited expectantly for whatever Charlotte had to say, but nothing could have prepared him for her words.
“Phineas, I’d like you to meet our daughter.”
* * *
Chapter Twenty-One
Just moments later, when James and I emerged from the caves, we found the scene in front of us quite curious. Charlotte was encouraging Shadow to approach Phineas, and when she did, he gingerly stroked her hair, looking up at Charlotte with an expression that was a definite mixture of apprehension and amazement.
“James, I’m a dad!”
We turned to each other, our eyes wide with a has-he-lost-it look on their faces.
“Errr Phineas, am I supposed to congratulate you?” James asked, looking disgusted at the sight of Shadow’s hair and how the snakes were trying to nip at Phineas’ hands and arms, which he would quickly move when one got too close.
Charlotte immediately went to Shadow and placed a hand on her shoulder, calming the small girl and settling her fears about the new arrivals. Instantly, the girl’s image shifted into one of a sweet, blonde nine-year-old. It made it easier for Phineas to accept her closer into his arms and for the first time, he saw her the way Charlotte did. He looked down into her face and as she met his gaze, he saw himself in her features.
He smiled and reached out to touch her chin. “You really are the spitting image of your mom and me.”
“Are you really my dad?”
Her voice was so small and innocent without a trace of malice. Only hope that she would find love and acceptance came through, and Phineas had no choice but to fall in love with her as Charlotte had done. Perhaps it was the instantaneous bond that happens between parent and child, or maybe it was the mysticism of the Romani Realms, but at that moment Phineas felt the Celtic Knot he wore around his neck heat with undeniable strength.
He leaned down and opened his arms wide. No words were necessary. Shadow walked into his arms, placed her small head on Phineas’ shoulder and he squeezed her in close. Charlotte stood behind Phineas and wrapped her arms over his shoulders. She looked up and smiled happily.
“Charlotte, your Amulet!” I pointed to the necklace and Phineas turned to look over his shoulder at what drew my attention. He also drew his breath in at the sight...the Amulet glowed a vivid hue that shifted from blue to green and then settled on purple.
“You’ve formed the Triad,” I stated excitedly.
“So, we can leave?” Phineas looked at Charlotte expectantly. “You hear that? We’re going home.”
“But what about...”
Charlotte didn’t have to finish her thought. Instantly, Phineas realized what he had said. “I’m sorry, guys...I didn’t mean that we would leave you,” he said to us. “I guess it’s just new father jitters,” he laughed nervously, although the reality was still painfully serious.
“Don’t worry about it,” James answered with raised eyebrows. “Congratulations, by the way.”
I moved to Charlotte and took her into my arms. “Thank you for what you did for me. You shouldn’t have, you know.”
“Suki, you mean everything to me. You came here...I owed you.”
“No more of that sort of talk.”
The sentimentality of the moment was affecting us all. Phineas shook James’ hand only to have him pull him in for an unexpected, but manly hug. “There’s just one problem,” he said after giving Phineas a strong, pat on the back. He lowered his voice, speaking directly into Phineas’ ear. “She’s an Encantado and tied to her own kind and the Selkies here -- all the souls who are trapped as dolphins and seals.”
“And?” Phineas asked.
Charlotte placed a hand on her Amulet, already knowing the answer. She looked at James, and instantly, he also knew that she was aware of the problem. “Phineas...” she said softly, placing a hand on his arm. “The Encantado are tied to these Realms by dark magic. The only way to fully separate Shadow is to also perform a dark magic rite.”
“How do you know this?”
Charlotte turned to me, before answering. “Aleister Crowley.”
“Please don’t say his name,” I implored. “He’s the only dark person in my past, someone who should never have been granted wishes, nor one who I would want you to access his mind.”
Charlotte nodded, understanding. “Your Releasors are said to have great potential.” She turned to Phineas and added, “And sometimes that potential is not for greatness, but for despair and wrong doing.”
“Charlotte, it’s my past and I want to leave it there. Just because you’ve been privy to it, doesn’t mean you have to respond to it.”
“I’m so sorry, Suki,” Charlotte answered. “But you’ve given me a gift and with this Amulet I can see into the minds of all of your Releasors -- the good...and the bad.”
Phineas turned to both of us. “What did he do that was so terrible?”
“The press called him ‘the wickedest man in the world’ and for good reason,” James answered, this time surprising me.
“You knew about him?”
“I was watching over you even then. How could I not? He was a drug-user, followed the occult, and was even vain enough to start his own religion.”
“Thelema,” Charlotte said knowingly. “It spawned other modern day religious sects who prey on the unsuspecting and those in need of guidance.”
I stepped up and took Charlotte’s hand. “Whatever you’re thinking of doing, please know that you can’t perform dark magic without it affecting you.”
“Perhaps...” Phineas started.
“Don’t...don’t justify this,” I scolded. “We all want to get out of here, but this isn’t the way. What will she be like when she’s on the other side?”
Phineas took Charlotte in his arms and kissed her gently on the forehead. Shadow squeezed in between them, not wanting to be left out. “She’ll be fine, Suki. You have to trust that.”
He spoke aloud, but stared directly into Charlotte’s eyes. “She’ll be fine because of who she is -- pure and good. Hey, if someone like me can separate from Raven, even when she is influencing me, then this will be a snap for Charlotte.”
James took my hand. “There is no choice here. Charlotte needs to separate Shadow from the Realms...or they won’t form the Triad.”
We stood silent for
a moment until Charlotte got down to business. “Come on. We’re all here. Let’s do this.”
She leaned down and found a grey flint stone, sharp and perfect for her intended use. Charlotte met Phineas’ eyes and then, when he nodded his support, she sliced her wrist with one fast motion. Instantly, her blood appeared and she repeated the words used by Aleister Crowley to attract his many followers. “Do what thou wilt shall be the whole of the law.”
Instantly, the wind started to stir and Shadow shivered in response. She looked at Charlotte and smiled, feeling the bond to the Romani Realms shrink away, and her connection to Charlotte grow simultaneously.
“It’s working,” Phineas encouraged. “Keep going.”
But the clouds opened up as if daring her to do as he said. The rain poured down and coinciding with the arrival of the threatening weather was Raven.
She swooped down in bird form and materialized in front of them, her eyes as angry as the weather. “Quoting my dear friend Aleister?” she asked with raised eyebrows. “Bring it on, Charlotte. You aren’t coming out of this alive, at least not with a happy family to boot.”
Raven turned to me and her animosity was palpable. “It was bad enough that you thought the Triad was meant for you and two teenage girls, but now to encourage Charlotte to form it with my intended,” she said pointedly looking at Phineas, “that’s just plain stupid.”
“Ignore her, Charlotte,” Phineas guided her. “Focus your mind on Shadow and we’ll still get out of here.”
Charlotte continued her incantation, but was momentarily halted when she saw Shadow’s eyes return to their hollow black form and then shift back to their clear blue again. Practicing dark magic to separate the bond was an alien endeavor for someone as pure as Charlotte and as a result, Shadow’s form kept shifting between human and Encantado, weakening Charlotte in the process.
