“Alixia,” she said, beyond tears now. “You have to get ahold of Madame Cecilia. She will have to arrange for Marguerite’s safe return.”
“Millie, I don’t know if…”
“Just do it!”
“Okay. I’m sorry. Anything you want.”
Ashen Smoke
The limousine turned onto a dirt road into the swamp on Marguerite’s property. Millie and Madame Cecilia sat across from me. I watched as Millie wept in her arms and lovingly talked about her Henry. Madame Cecilia glanced over at me every now and then, pained and shaking her head in regret.
Feeling wet tears on my face, I turned from them and looked out the side window. Lightning streaked wildly through the night sky. I closed my eyes, and saw images of the past few days – Henry on a wooden slab at the morgue; Millie pulling the sheet from his cold, lifeless body; Millie crying out wrenchingly, and then fainting in my arms.
Holding her, I had gone to my knees. His death had flashed through my mind as if I were there. I watched Henry getting off the plane at our private airstrip in New Orleans, walking with his killers toward his car, unaware that two Dominions were going to end him that night. His death was quick and merciful. They broke his neck, leaving him on the road for the police to find. It was done just to appease Angel, because of Millie’s threats toward her.
After talking with the police about Henry’s murder, I left with Millie and had Henry’s body transported to Madame Cecilia’s, on her insistence. Arriving there, Madame Cecilia let us know that she was trying to find a way for Marguerite to be able to return. She said Marguerite sent threatening words of Black Death too, after hearing of Henry’s death.
There was another Pure One, whom Michael thought was an Outsider, lying dead behind her shop. She wanted Angel to be stopped. She ordered the Pure Ones, along with Marcus and his Family, to go after her, with no interference from the Families. Madame Cecilia agreed with her out of fear, knowing that if any of them tried to save Angel, they would end up dead alongside her.
Gabriel shut his car door, bringing me out of my thoughts. I watched as he walked around the car cautiously, and then opened the door for us. He took Madame Cecilia’s hand first as she stepped out, putting her hood up.
“Gabriel,” she said. “You will guide the others when they arrive?“
He nodded.
“I’ll take care of it.”
“Thank you.”
Millie and I got out. Madame Cecilia took Millie’s hand and spoke softly to her.
“This way my dear. And remember to hold back your anger with the Families tonight, so that your baby stays safe.”
Millie nodded, with no emotion on her face.
“Yes, I understand,” she said, but thinking only of revenge.
Our robes dragged heavily on the wet swamp ground as we walked into the trees. I looked up to see that the lightning was intensifying around us, illuminating our path to the ritual ground.
We entered a clearing.
Dead blackbirds and lit lanterns hung from the trees that encircled Henry’s body. His coffin lay on a bed of dried timber, waiting for the flame.
Millie walked up to him, reached into the casket and touched his face adoringly. She rubbed her hand against his cheek.
“I will always love you,” she said. Then she leaned down and kissed his lips tenderly one last time, before wiping the tears from her face. Michael came up behind, her placing his hand on her shoulder.
“It’s time for the Families to pay their respects,” he said, dropping a black feather into the casket. He took her hand, moved her to one side and motioned to them. I watched as the Pure Ones came, one by one walking over to Millie and kissing her cheek, and then placing a black feather in the coffin.
I reached for Madame Cecilia’s hand, sensing her anxiety as Marcus and Phillip came out from either side of the swamp.
“It will be okay,” I said.
They joined the other Family members in paying their respects. Madame Cecilia leaned over and whispered to me in disbelief.
“I never thought I would see this.”
I just squeezed her hand, watching Marcus smiling as he came toward me. He took my hand and nodded at Madame Cecilia.
“Madame Cecilia,” Phillip said. “We need to talk.”
“Afterward,” she said, and walked over to Millie.
Phillip moved closer to me brushing my hand.
We still need to talk, too.
We will.
Marcus wrapped his arm around me protectively, and spoke in an angered tone as he bared his teeth.
“She doesn’t need to talk you!”
“Get out of my head, Marcus!” Phillip said. “This doesn’t concern you!”
Marcus reached out for him.
“Yes, it does!”
“Enough!” I said, sandwiched between them. “We will talk about this later!”
Jerk! Marcus said getting into Phillip’s head again.
You’re the jerk!
I jumped into both their heads, spoiling their fight.
You are both being jerks, so stop it now!
Phillip walked away, grumbling. I looked back at Marcus in irritation.
We watched as the last mourner paid his respects and moved away. Then a sudden hush came over the Families. The Pure Ones bowed, seeing Marguerite coming out of the trees into the light that encircled Henry’s coffin. I leaned over to Marcus, utterly surprised.
“She came back?”
“Yeah, I see that,” he said, as stunned as I was. She walked over to Millie and took her hands. She kissed both of her cheeks, and then whispered softly to her in French for a few moments. Millie sucked in a breath as if she were relieved, and hugged her. Marguerite then turned to Madame Cecilia, saying something in French. Madame Cecilia bowed, taking Millie’s hand and stepping away from the coffin.
Marguerite looked down at Henry, her face saddened with grief as she placed her own black feather in his coffin. She lowered her hood as Michael gave her a lit torch, and then raising her arms above her head she spoke in a commanding voice.
“Les âmes des Purs venu prennent votre frère.”
She put the torch to the dry wood, igniting it. Flames engulfed Henry quickly, illuminating the swamp with an ocher glow. Then, in seconds, the flames extinguished and left white pure smoke that swirled into an open, wide circle. She went to her knees, looking up into the sky in a trancelike state, and began weaving back and forth as she chanted under her breath. Then, bringing her arms up, she clapped twice.
Suddenly, a screeching explosion of blackbirds surrounded us. Hundreds of them came flying out of the trees, following the path of smoke, circling with it, and going straight up into the lightning-streaked sky. Swirling ever higher, they flew upward until a loud crash of thunder rumbled and scattered the blackbirds back into the trees.
Complete silence followed, as we stood there in reverence.
Marguerite got up with help from the Pure Ones, slowly recovering from her trance. She reached up and removed her blackbird pendant. Walking over to Millie, she placed it around her neck and spoke with affection.
“Henry has peace now.”
“Thank you, Marguerite, I am in your debt.”
Millie hugged her.
Marguerite kissed her cheek and then turned to Madame Cecilia, moving her away from Millie to talk privately.
I watched Millie walk over to the burned ash. She went to her knees, lowering her head. I rushed to her side, wrapping my arm around her compassionately and sensing her despair. She was without Henry, and still feared for her baby.
“Didn’t James come back with her?” I asked.
She looked at me with a creased brow, knowing I was in her head.
“No, Alixia, my baby didn’t come back with her. He’s still in the West Indies.”
I looked over at Marguerite.
“Why not?”
She reached down into the black ash, scooping some up and putting it into a silver urn. She closed the lid.
“Marguerite won’t let him return until Angel is destroyed. It still isn’t safe for him.”
“So he…” I stopped in mid-sentence, looking up and feeling drops. Then the sky suddenly opened, pouring rain down on us in buckets, drenching us immediately. I took Millie’s hand and helped her up as I watched Marguerite and the other Pure Ones walk through gray sheets of rain back into the swamp.
I pulled on Millie’s arm, wanting to talk to Marguerite.
“Come on,” I said, dragging her through the trees with me, but I was too late. They had disappeared.
“Marguerite!” I called out. Nothing.
“Alixia,” Millie said, pushing drenched hair back from her eyes in annoyance. “Let’s just go to the Mansion. She will probably be there.”
“You’re right. I ‘m sorry. Let’s get you dry,” I said, putting my arm around her.
“Alixia! Millie!” Madame Cecilia called out. We headed back to the ritual ground. She was standing with Phillip.
“There you are. We’re leaving now. Come along.”
Phillip
In the library at the Ambrosine mansion, Phillip was trying to justify Angel’s actions. He was begging for her life, and wanting Millie to understand.
“I’m sorry about Henry, Millie. I don’t know why it was done. All I can say is that she had to have had a reason for what she did.”
“She killed him out of hatred. That was her reason!”
Madame rushed to her side.
“Calm down, now,” she said, taking her into her arms.
“No, I won’t!” Millie pushed away from her. “I am not going to forgive this! Alixia?”
“I need to talk to Phillip before we leave.”
She glared over at him and left the room.
“Phillip,” I said, going toward him angrily. “You’re wrong here. Angel needs to be destroyed, and quickly. I agree with Millie. Why wait?”
“I need to talk to her, to find out why.”
“This is all wrong.”
Phillip took hold of my arm.
“Just listen to me!” he said.
I jerked my arm away from him.
“Phillip, you’re insane. Why you are still defending her? She killed Henry.”
He stepped back and looked over at Madame Cecilia.
“I need to talk to her.”
“Why?”
“Because, as I said, I need to find out…”
“Phillip!” Madam Cecilia interrupted crossly. “There is nothing to find out. Understand this: Marguerite has made her demands clear. She wants Angel punished for what she has done.”
He eyed us coldly.
“Marcus, or his Family, will not touch her,” he said as he moved to the door. “Do you both understand me? A Dark One will never be allowed to take one of us.”
“Phillip, stop!”
He turned, glaring at her.
“Alixia, please leave,” she said to me. “I need to talk with Phillip privately.”
As I walked up to him, I sensed his rage about the Family turning on Angel.
“Phillip,” I said, “it has to be done.”
He looked coldly past me at Madame Cecilia.
“Let’s talk,” he said, dismissively.
I walked out of the room knowing that Phillip had chosen to protect Angel no matter what the cost. Getting into his head, I knew he wasn’t the only Family member who thought that way. He knew others would go against Marguerite and the Pure Ones’ powers.
Marcus is right.
There is a war coming.
“Alixia,” Millie said, getting my attention in the foyer. “Let’s just get out here. The driver is waiting for us.”
I looked back for a second, and felt tired.
“Okay,” I said.
The drive back to Marguerite’s was quiet. Millie hardly talked. She just stared out the window, but I was in her thoughts and she knew it.
“Millie, you are still thinking of letting Marcus change you?”
“Yes. I want my baby back, and that’s the only way I will have power to fight them.” She turned to me with tears running down her cheeks. “I don’t want you to interfere either.”
I reached over, gently wiping tears from her face.
“I won’t stop you.”
She touched the pendant around her neck.
“So, when I talk to Marcus, you will not stop him from taking me.”
“I said I wouldn’t.”
She smiled slightly and closed her eyes.
“Thank you.”
The car pulled into the driveway at Marguerite’s. Getting out, I heard Phillip calling out to me.
“Millie, go in,” I said, looking back into the swamp.
“What is it?”
“Phillip. He wants to talk to me.”
She shook her head, looking at me with loathing.
“Why? We just left him. We know where he stands in all of this, or I should say with whom.”
“Just go inside. I will be back in a while.”
“Tell Phillip for me that I will be coming for her.”
I lowered my eyes not wanting to argue. I waved her off, and started down the dirt road into the east end of the swamp.
“Phillip!” I called.
He came up behind me, touching my shoulder and turning me around.
“Come on with me. I want to talk, but not here.”
“Why?”
“You know why. I don’t want to fight with Marcus or Michael right now.”
He was right. They‘d probably be showing up.
“Fine. Let’s go.”
Taking his hand, we accelerated through the trees, keeping hidden from view and following back roads towards New Orleans. We landed on a gravel path and I could sense his anxiety.
“Okay,” I said, looking over at him. “I’m listening.”
”Madame Cecilia wouldn’t compromise.”
“About what?”
“Marcus going after Angel. So I want you to stop him.”
“Phillip, I can’t stop him.” I was thinking that he was insane for still trying to save her. I let go of his hand and walked ahead of him.
“And I won’t ask him to.”
“Why not?” he asked, moving up to me.
“She killed Henry, and Millie’s baby could be next. Stop protecting her!”
He stared at me his eyes cold, not saying a word.
“Phillip?”
“Just go back, Alixia.”
“You’re wrong to protect her.”
“No, I’m not. So, you go back to Marcus and warn him that I will not let him take her.”
“Phillip, don’t do this!”
“She is part of the Family, and we protect each other. We don’t let the Dark Ones go after our Families!”
I glared at him.
“What are you talking about, Phillip? Correa let the Dark Ones come after Family members. Are you forgetting your parents, and mine!”
“Hell, no!” he said, clenching his jaw. “But, Angel isn’t Correa. She would never send a Dark One to kill one of our own, as Madame Cecilia wants to do now!”
I bit down on my lip, knowing where this was going. It was all about betrayal now.
“So, you think Madame Cecilia and I are being disloyal to the Family?”
“Just go!”
“I’m sorry you feel that way.”
I stepped up and kissed him, and then walked away.
“Alixia.”
“What?”
He came up to me.
“It’s about Millie. I got in her head, and I know what’s she is planning. And Madame Cecilia is aware of it, too. Make her change her mind. We won’t be merciful with her. I’m just warning you now. “
“Goodbye Phillip,” I said, shaking my head.
“Wait,” he said, taking me back in his arms. There was sadness in his voice. “Alixia, you have to understand Angel… ”
I put my hand up to his lips, stopping him.
&
nbsp; “Oh, I do understand,” I said.
Turning Point
Walking back to Marguerite’s, I saw morning light behind the cypress trees. A haunting haze rose from the swamp. I looked up when a barn owl screeched: it flew from its tree, disturbed that I was entering its refuge. I watched it circle protectively, thinking of Phillip protecting Angel, and knowing that he would never let Marcus take her.
I went up the steps to the house, hesitating before going in. I wondered what Marcus was going to do when I told him of Phillip’s warning.
Inside, Millie bounded down the stairs as I closed the door behind me.
“You’re back! I’ve been waiting for you.” She came over and took my hand. “So, what did Phillip want?”
I sighed heavily.
“Let me just freshen up first. Then we will talk.”
“Okay. I’ll be in the kitchen having breakfast.”
I squeezed her hand and headed upstairs. I closed the bedroom door behind me. The room was dark, so I walked over to open the heavy drapes and let some sunlight in. And then I sensed him.
“Marcus.”
He wrapped his arms around my waist, turning me toward him. I breathed him in, feeling the cool of his body against me. He brushed his lips teasingly against mine, making my body crave for him. I looked up into his ice blue eyes, smelling the sweetness of his breath. And then he killed the moment with his jealousy.
“So, why did Phillip want to see you?”
I just stared at him as all of the sensations coursing through my body deflated.
“Really? You want to talk about Phillip now?” I pushed him away and walked over to the chair. He put a serious look on his face, shaking his head.
“I’m sorry, but with everything going on, I need to know.”
I heaved a sigh and leaned forward in the chair.
“He wanted me to stop you from going after Angel.”
His eyes darkened.
“He what?”
“Marcus, he wants to protect her.”
“Fool,” he said, baring his teeth and pacing in front of me angrily. “Phillip can’t protect her. The Pure Ones won’t allow it. Marguerite went back to the West Indies to call a Gathering of them. He’s a dead man if he tries.”
Now fear for Phillip ran through my mind, as I read Marcus’ thoughts. Of course! It wasn’t Marcus that Phillip had to be worried about. It was the Pure Ones. They were the ones that were going to deal with Angel.
Path of Descent: Ambrosine Page 3