“I will, Stephen.” She smiled, her broad face flushed with happiness. “Thank you for being so good to Herman.”
Stephen stood and put his arm around Herman’s waist. “We’re getting married!” he shouted. He kissed her one more time and looked into her eyes.
“I love you,” he said, his words almost drowned out by the applause.
“I love you too, Stephen.” She grinned widely, and every one of his fears melted away with the warmth of her smile. He nuzzled her nose with his.
With joy in his heart, he turned to the audience and said, “Let’s try that trick again, shall we?”
Again, Herman stepped into the box and, with his back to the audience, he raised it up into the air. He tapped the floor twice with his cane and the door closed; a moment later the door opened to reveal that the box was empty. He bowed low to polite applause and spun around to face the box again.
He raised his cane high in the air: this time it came down with a resounding thud. Once, twice, and on the third, the door opened to reveal Stephen. On the stage, Herman turned to face the audience wearing a tux and holding the cane. As the audience rose to a standing ovation, the box came back down, and Stephen stepped up to Herman. Together they bowed; the best show of Stephen’s career, to date, was over.
Backstage, their families came to join them and to congratulate them both, and it was there that Stephen told his parents that they were to have a new granddaughter; one who would be born from love and commitment.
For all his past experiences, life had never been better for Stephen Dagmar. In love with the woman with whom he would share the rest of his days, his own child on the way, he was living the life he had always dreamed of. And nothing was ever going to take it away.
CHAPTER 41
It took two weeks to get a fake passport, another day to book seats on a flight to Canada for herself and Skye, and finally, Nina was packing. Her hands shaking with excitement, she mentally rehearsed the words she would say when she came face to face with her Master. She imagined the look on all of their faces when she walked in the Dagmar’s front door on New Year’s Eve, baby in her arms. Master’s parents might be upset, but her Master would be thrilled to see his little girl—so thrilled, that he was sure to forgive her.
She had foreseen the complication of being discovered missing before she even arrived in Kingston, so she had expressly told the silly girl who had been left in charge of watching her not to tell Mr. and Mrs. Dagmar that she was taking time for a tryst with her new lover, Will. Doing so had guaranteed that word would get back to the Dagmars not to expect her to be around. They were happy she’d found someone new; there was no way they would disturb her. Little did they know, she had only been having sex with the man—a janitor she’d met at the hospital—in order to ensure he would get a passport made for her. He had been rough with her and hadn’t allowed her to use any protection, but it was a small sacrifice considering what she had to gain. It was Will’s rough treatment that had once and for all helped her to decide not to use the man to get Master jealous. Now that she had Skye, she could see that was an unnecessary complication.
When Master saw her and his daughter again and fell in love with them both, Nina would forgive the Master’s little bitch for keeping him to herself for so long. After Miss Anderson looked into Skye’s eyes, the bitch would break down, seeing Master there. Knowing she could never achieve such perfection herself, she would back off, leaving Master alone and Nina to pick up the pieces. She would get her hysterectomy right away, so that if she happened to be pregnant with Will’s baby, no one would be the wiser. Then, dare she even think it? Stephen … would be free.
By the time the rest of the staff realized she had left Antigua, she would already be with her Master. The father of her baby. The man she would soon marry.
CHAPTER 42
Margaret sighed as she transferred the last of Herman’s sweaters from the dresser in Aunt Beryl’s guest room to her suitcase on the bed. “Back to work tomorrow,” she said.
The first show wasn’t until January fourth—two days away—but Margaret’s job preceded the performance.
The week had flown by in a haze of dancing, parties, and rubbing elbows with local celebrities who were friends of Tarmien. Herman had found a sister in Daphne, which was a wonderful surprise for both girls. Daphne, though younger by two months, had taken Herman under her wing, teaching her how to survive life with the rich and charming Dagmar men. Doreen stayed at home with her sister, Chad, and George for the week. Herman’s father had confided almost guiltily that he was sad to be leaving.
Now, Stephen’s family—along with two of Doreen’s nurses, who had spent their working vacation in luxury at the Dagmar’s expense—were at their hotel, getting themselves ready to make their way to the airport. Mark, at last sighting, was downstairs chatting with Aunt Beryl. In two hours, all but Aunt Beryl and Chad would board a rented private jet, to travel together as far as Ottawa. There they would part company: Mark had to return to work in Kingston; Doreen and her entourage would go back to the home; George planned to take an overnight flight to Florida and meet up with Paul; and Tarmien and the family had booked a connecting flight to Antigua. Herman, Stephen, and Margaret would meet Charlotte in Ottawa and carry on to Newfoundland in the jet.
“Maybe it will be better to stay busy,” Herman said, immediately unsure whether she’d been wrong in believing her friend was contemplating time spent away from Mark.
Margaret nodded.
Herman crossed to the dresser to get her underwear. Margaret was looking at her when she turned back to the bed.
“I think he’s going to ask me to marry him.” She was tentative, unsure.
“Is that what you want?”
Margaret nodded again. “I think so.” Her expression was lopsided, as though she might either smile or cry.
Herman held out her arms, and Margaret stepped forward for a hug.
“I’m sure you’ll figure it out,” Herman said.
“Yeah, maybe a little time apart will help.”
They were still holding each other when Stephen came into the room.
“What’s wrong?” he asked.
“Just girl stuff,” Margaret said, releasing Herman. As she stepped away she looked down. “You’re really starting to get a bump.”
“I know,” Herman said, putting her hand to her belly. “I’m glad Charlotte’s coming for the rest of the tour. I don’t think I’m comfortable doing the ladder anymore, even though I know the baby isn’t going to fall out.”
“I’m glad that you’re comfortable with the idea of having Charlotte on stage with Stephen,” Margaret said.
“I’ll have to get used to her being around if she’s really going to move to Canada to be with Reed. Has she always been that impulsive?” Herman asked Stephen.
“Yes,” he said. “But I do think there’s something there. It’s just one of those things, you know? When you meet someone and instantly know they’re right for you?”
Taking his hand in hers, she kissed him on the lips. “I think I do, at that,” she said.
“And I think that’s my cue to go find my boyfriend,” Margaret said. “Don’t get too carried away, you two. We’re supposed to be leaving for the airport soon.”
“Yes, Mother,” Stephen said as Margaret closed the door behind her. “Always looking after me.”
“I know I’ve said it before, but you’re really going to miss her when your next tour starts.”
“Our next tour,” he said, holding her face with both hands. “That is if you still want to come with me after the baby is born.”
“Of course,” she said. “So what were you talking to my dad about?”
The last she had seen of him, an hour before, the two were deep in conversation in the kitchen.
“It’s something I wanted to talk to you about as well, but I needed to run it by George first,” he said. “Your dad told me he didn’t know
how much longer he was going to be able to afford to keep your mom in the home in Ottawa, so he was going to ask Beryl if she would look after her here. Rather than that, I want to do something for your mother, but I’d like your approval, now that I have your dad’s. I’d like to move her to Edmonton, to be closer to Beryl, but I want to pay for her to move to a home here.”
“Are you sure? Isn’t that a lot of money?”
“I can afford it. And soon she’ll be part of my family, too. Maybe she’ll be able to come out of full-time care one day, but for now you can see how much good it’s doing her.”
“And my dad agreed to it?”
“He’s desperate,” Stephen said. “I’m not sure he’d have let me do it otherwise. What’s your opinion?”
“It’s very generous of you. You’re a lovely man. Thank you.” She stood on her toes and wrapped her arms around his neck. “I owe you,” she said, looking deep into his eyes.
“I have everything I could ever ask for right here in my arms,” he said. He pulled her to the bed and sat. She stood in front of him, and he brushed his hands gently over her baby bump. “What shall we call you?” he asked, planting a tender kiss just above Herman’s belly button.
“We could always name her after Aunt Aggie.” Herman smiled, stroking his hair.
He looked up at her. “She’d probably come out kicking, screaming, and cussing.”
Herman laughed. “Good point.”
“I guess we have a few months to decide. In the meantime, little Peanut,” he said, looking directly at her belly, “I am going to put all of my efforts into loving your mother with every little bit of my heart and soul.”
“She’s going to have a wonderful daddy,” Herman said, bending to kiss him.
CHAPTER 43
The cold, windy tarmac had chilled Stephen to the bone. Having his family tucked into the warm and cozy jet cabin did little to ease the inexplicable shiver that began in the base of his spine and spread to his extremities. Tarmien, seated before him, popped open a bottle of champagne the moment the seatbelt lights went off. George graciously declined, having ginger ale instead; Herman had only a sip. Stephen lifted his glass to his future father-in-law and smiled. He looked around at the group of family and friends talking animatedly about the future, and he managed to convince himself that he was content.
Twenty minutes after they left the ground, he knew something was wrong. He exchanged a look with his father; Tarmien had felt it too. Seconds later, the phone beside Stephen rang. He looked at his father while he listened to the pilot on the other end and nodded his head.
“Are you absolutely positive?” Stephen asked. He didn’t need an answer. An earsplitting blast from the wing on the right side of the plane made him jump. He put a reassuring hand on Herman as he tried to speak over the screams, but the first explosion was followed by a deafening pop when the remaining engine burst into flames. Doreen and the three nurses were well on their way to a full-fledged panic. Herman tried to talk to her mother, and Stella attempted to calm the three nurses. The flight attendant hurried out of the passenger compartment to take a seat and buckle herself in.
“You’ll be safe, don’t worry,” Stephen assured her as she passed him. It all happened in slow motion.
He leaned forward to speak to his father. “Kingston?”
Tarmien nodded. “I can help.”
Stephen shook his head. “Redecorated. You put the nurses on the floor in the front foyer, then I’ll send you and the rest.”
He closed his eyes and heard one of the nurses scream over the roar of the plane going down, and then, more faintly, the whistle that reassured him the magic was working. He placed his mother and then Daphne in the spare bedroom. Without opening his eyes, he put Margaret and Mark on the futon in the playroom, and Doreen on the living room couch. He opened his eyes and glanced out the window at the rapidly approaching ground. George was gesturing and trying to say something to him, but the shriek of the earthbound plane was too loud for him to hear the man. Stephen closed his eyes and put George in the office half of his bedroom, and his father beside his mother on the spare bed. He opened his eyes one more time to look at Herman.
“I love you,” Stephen mouthed over the noise and through the specter of Aunt Aggie rushing at him, screaming like a banshee.
“I love you too,” he watched her say.
He closed his eyes and knew she was gone, to their own bed. With one last glance out the window, he focused on a clear patch of ground just below them. He closed his eyes and imagined the flight crew lying there. Finally, with the ground only a few feet away, he closed his eyes and saw himself home, resting peacefully beside Herman.
CHAPTER 44
Stephen awoke to the sound of keening. Unable to open his eyes, he could tell by the wavering voice that the person—the woman—was also rocking, and very close by. It couldn’t be any of the women he rescued from the plane because none of them were used to being transported. Other than himself, the only one who might already be conscious was his father, and even that was doubtful. So it could only be someone who was already in the house. A maid? Why would a maid be in his bedroom? Something deep within him told him it was Nina. But how could it be? She was safely in Antigua. Then he heard the far-off sound of a baby crying. Skye.
He forced a heavy breath from his throat, and Nina heard it.
“Master!” she screamed. “Oh, Master, thank God you’re awake!”
Stephen felt a faint movement under his scalp and knew that Nina was on the bed. On the bed where Herman was. Adrenaline spiked through his body and jolted feeling down his spinal cord, from his neck all the way to his toes. He opened his eyes wide, but his eyelids were still the only part of him that would move. He attempted to groan—even the vibration of his vocal chords would give him a sense of control—but there was nothing.
“Master!” Nina screamed again. “You have to get up and get this fucking bitch off me!”
His body bounced slightly on the surface of the bed. The sound that came next was like a hammer, tenderizing meat.
“No!” His voice came out in a rasp, but his face gave in to the expression of the panic he felt. A new surge of adrenaline pumped through his veins, enabling him to turn his head to the left. Nina was propped up on one arm on the far side of Herman’s body. He forced his neck to twist more and found Herman’s face, her beloved face, bruised, bleeding, and already puffy from whatever Nina had done to her.
“Get her off me, Master!” Nina screamed, eyes wide with panic and desperation. “Why didn’t you tell me she was pregnant?”
His baby. Rage coursed through him as his body bounced rhythmically on the bed, as he watched, helpless, while Nina savagely punched Herman in the stomach.
“NO!” he yelled, but still he could only manage to twitch his hand.
“Stop! For God’s sake, Nina, stop!” Tears of frustration fell as his face crumpled into an expression of sheer grief for the loss of his precious daughter. The sight made Nina pause. How long had she been beating Herman? Was she even alive?
The thought that he might have lost her too gave him the strength to move. He lifted his shoulders, and a scream rose from the back of his throat that he didn’t recognize as human. Herman, bloody and beaten, was fused together from the hip to the knee with Nina.
“Get her off me!” Nina cried, slapping at Herman, driven mad with fear and loathing at what she must have endured for at least an hour, and enraged that Herman was carrying Stephen’s child. Or had been.
Stephen reached across and gripped Nina’s hand—her left hand, which was wearing Herman’s engagement ring—so she wouldn’t run away. He gathered all of his concentration, closed his eyes, and envisioned what needed to happen: Herman’s hip and leg were whole and normal, and at the same time Nina was beside her—the women no longer fused together. He barely noticed Nina struggling as, with the other hand he felt Herman’s chest. She was still breathing.
Whe
n Stephen opened his eyes, Nina screamed at the sight of him. He bared his teeth and lunged at her, pinning her under him on the floor beside the bed. His urge to take her was equaled only by his desire to kill her, neither of which the ounce of human sense left in him would allow. And then he sensed the truth of Nina’s condition.
“No,” he whispered as he felt the blood drain from his face. “You’re … No.” He’d never been so confused in all his life. “You’re pregnant.”
“I’ll abort it,” she said, her eyes wide. “I’ll have the hysterectomy and we can be toge—” He cut her off with a backhand across the face.
In the instant his knuckles connected with her cheekbone, cracking it with a satisfying snap, the incubus in him decided her fate. She scrambled to get away, backing up to the wall, but he took her jaw in his hand, forcing her to look at him. The demon looked her in the eye and, like a switch was thrown, her body relaxed. She crooned to him in encouragement, thrusting her pelvis toward him, moaning with desire as their clothing vanished.
He had barely begun to follow in his grandfather’s footsteps—to remove the life in her and replace it with the cambion’s seed—when he realized that someone was repeatedly punching him in the head. When the hits got stronger, he pulled his bloody hand from between Nina’s legs to swat at the offending fist. His hand was caught, and he whipped around to see his father kneeling beside him, barely able to hold on to consciousness.
“Stephen, this isn’t the way,” he croaked.
“Fuck off!” Stephen yelled, and with a thought, the scenery changed. He shook his head to clear it and looked up from Nina’s face below him to see the Japanese bath tub. He smiled grotesquely. No one would find him in here. No one would interrupt what the cambion was about to do, as it entered its servant.
* * *
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