“Okay, I’ll get dressed.”
I shut the door and looked back at Marcus standing there, his face showing exasperation.
“Come on now, you know he can’t handle long periods of time here.”
“Hey, the feeling is mutual. I can’t stand having him around either, hearing his disgusting thoughts against my Family, and then his lascivious thoughts of you.”
I ran over, jumping into his arms.
“Oh, you know your Family is safe, and you have nothing to worry about with me.”
“I know, but it just drives me crazy that he still thinks he is going to be with you.”
“You have to get past his thoughts, Marcus. He will always love me. I have that affect on all men.”
He laughed, and kissed my forehead.
“Well, when we’re married, he’d better keep his thoughts to himself.”
I laughed.
“I think he does already.”
“Well, you know what I mean.”
“Yes, I know what you mean.”
I walked to the closet, reaching for my white cotton sundress.
“Just don’t let him get to you anymore.”
“That’s easier said than done.”
”Just try.” There was a small silence.
“I have someone else I need to talk to you about.”
“What’s that?” I kept my back to him as I let my nightgown slip to the floor.
“It’s Millie. I think you should talk to her. She wants to take her child back from the Pure Ones.”
“Why would she want to do that? I thought she didn’t feel safe around James?”
I stepped into my dress and brought it up to my shoulders.
“She doesn’t trust them, since they used her as bait.”
“Zip me, please,” I asked, holding my hair up. “I can see her point.”
He took his time with the zipper. I didn’t object. When he was done, I turned around to face him.
“Millie has been better at controlling her urges lately. Maybe she could have her child back.”
“She is not that controlled. And I doubt if the Pure Ones would even give her child back to her, until she is. He is one of them, and they will protect him.”
“Well, I think we should give her a chance anyway. We can watch over her.”
“Even so, there are others here still learning to control their urges. It would not be safe for him here.”
I walked over to the dresser, picking up the hairbrush.
“Did you talk to her about that?”
“Yes. She told me she wasn’t planning on staying here anyway. She wants to go up north, and find her own sanctuary.”
“By herself? I mean, can she and James be safe traveling alone, without a Family?”
“I don’t know. You need to talk to her. You know as well I do, there is danger out there.”
I put down my hairbrush, worried.
“You’re right. Tell her I want to talk to her. We have to find a way to keep her here.”
“Hopefully, she will listen to you. “Are you ready to go downstairs?”
“Yes.”
He opened the bedroom door. I walked past him, thinking of Millie.
Would the Pure Ones release her child back to her without conflict, now that my decree had been made?
I stepped into the foyer, not seeing Anna or any of the familiar staff that had been around me my whole life. It was weird. Now it was Dark Ones and a few half souls in transition to becoming Dark Ones who were taking care of my home.
“Marcus,” A young woman came up to him, bowing. “Excuse me. Richard is in the study. He needs to see you. He is back from the North.”
He took my hand.
“Go,” I said. “I will see you tonight.”
“No, he can wait. I’ll walk you out.”
Opening the front door, we saw Phillip leaning against the car.
“Ready?” he asked, standing up straight and reaching for the door handle.
“Yes, I will be right there.”
Marcus took me in his arms and kissed me passionately, with one eye on Phillip.
“Okay, then,” I said breathlessly. “I’d better get going.” I walked down the porch steps to Phillip. He smiled up at Marcus, opening the car door for me, and then kissed my cheek.
“You look beautiful,” he said.
“Thank you.” I slid into the car, turning to see Marcus glaring at him. “We’d better get going.”
”Yes, we should.” He shut the door and walked around. I could hear his thoughts, taunting Marcus about wanting me. Opening the door, he got in.
”Phillip, you need to stop that.”
“What?” he asked with a snide smile, putting the key in the ignition.
“You know what. Stop antagonizing him.”
“Keep him out of my head, then.”
He shifted gears and we headed down the road.
When we arrived at the mansion, Charles was standing on the veranda.
“They’re back!” I looked at Phillip, who was still annoyed with me for preaching at him all the way here about Marcus. He was delighted to see his uncle, but there was another emotion, too.
“Are you okay?” I asked, seeing his face suddenly twist into anguish.
“I don’t know if I will be able to let him go.”
Charles opened my door.
“Are you two going to sit in here all day?”
“No, we’re coming,” I said, looking at Phillip trying to compose himself.
Charles reached for my hand, helping me out of the car.
“Where’s Mother?” I asked, not sensing her.
“She will be returning tonight with the Pure Ones from their High Council.”
“What! Why are they coming here?” Phillip interrupted angrily, coming around the car.
“Excuse me,” Charles said, and walked over to him, speaking in French. I stood there listening, hearing only a few words that I knew, and one that I understood clearly.
La mort. Death.
“Charles, what is going on? I want you to speak in English.”
“Right, I apologize.” His face was somber. “They are coming here to help end me.”
“What? I said, upset. “I thought you were going to have time?”
“No, don’t worry, I will have time. They are the ones that summon the Ancients, as Marguerite did when she was alive. When I’m ready, they will call the Ancients to end me.”
I looked over at Phillip, hearing him.
This can’t happen.
Charles wrapped his arm around him, hearing his thought.
“It will happen, so let’s enjoy the time we have left. I don’t want to discuss this anymore.”
In the library, Phillip and I sat on the couch discussing the next Gathering with Charles. I hoped this time that the Family would act with us. Charles paced nervously, adding a few words to the conversation every now and then.
“Charles?” I asked. “What is it? You seemed preoccupied.”
“Yes, uncle why are you so jumpy?”
“It’s nothing for you to be concerned with, so both of you get out of my head.”
“Charles, where are you going?”
He stared at me sternly.
“Alixia, I said get out of my head.”
“It’s too late, so tell us why are you leaving New Orleans?”
“I don’t want to leave, but the Pure Ones will be dogging me until I choose my death, and I think it’s best I leave New Orleans until that time comes.”
He hesitated, looking over at Phillip.
“Don’t you agree, Phillip? We wouldn’t want any more Pure Ones’ deaths to complicate things right now, would we?”
“I don’t agree.”
“Well,” Charles said, “I think it’s best I leave, before you do something stupid.”
Phillip shook his head.
“Charles is right to leave,” I said.
“Alixia, stay out of this!”
“Not if you are going to be idiot.”
“I’m an idiot because I want my uncle to live?”
“Phillip, stop it!” Charles said harshly. “Alixia is right, you are an idiot! I have made my choice, and you have to accept it.”
Phillip glared at us and walked out the door.
“I’d better go talk to him,” I said.
“Let him go. He needs time to cool off. And I wanted to talk to you in private anyway.”
“About what, Charles?”
“Your mother.”
He had my attention.
“Yes?”
“She’s coming with me. I wanted you to know.”
“Where?” He went over and sat down in the leather chair near the fireplace, looking up at the portrait.
“We will be going to France tonight, right after she returns. Your mother wants to start preparing for your wedding. After your wedding, we’ll stay for a few days, enjoying each other’s companionship. And then it will be time to return here, to say our goodbyes.”
“Marcus and I are planning to follow you in a couple of days.”
He leaned back in the chair, troubled.
“How is Phillip taking your leaving? “
”Not well,” I said. “He still wants to fight for me.”
“That’s not good.”
“I know, and I can’t change him either. I don’t want to lose him. I love him.”
“I know you do, and you’re right, wanting to keep him here. And the Gatherings will keep his mind occupied as they deal with concerns about the creed against the Pure Ones.”
“I’m hoping it will, until we return from Paris.”
“Paris?” Phillip said, walking back in.
Charles got up from his chair.
“Yes, Lucida and I will be there, and then return after Alixia’s wedding in a few days.”
Phillip interrupted, looking over at me.
“You are accepting Alixia’s marriage now? You are turning against the beliefs, being around that Dark One!”
“Phillip!”
“It’s alright, Alixia. Let me handle this. Phillip, I understand how you feel but...”
“There is nothing to understand. These are our beliefs! You know that!”
“I do not want to argue with you, but you have to accept the truth.”
“And what’s the truth?”
“That the sharing of the souls of Marcus and Alixia was destined to be.”
Phillip’s face turned hard.
“No, I will not accept that!”
“Phillip, compose yourself. Lucida showed me their fates. There is no doubt that they belong together. Marguerite was right. They are the ones who will bring Change to all the societies in the realms. We will intertwine with each other.”
“I don’t want to hear this!” he said, walking out of the room and hitting the doorframe hard with his fist.
“Phillip,” I went after him, taking hold of his arm.
He turned back to me, distraught with lost hope.
“I love you,” he said.
“I’m so sorry.”
The Promise
I waited on Millie and Marcus at my townhome in Baton Rouge. In the heat, I fanned myself and thought of Phillip. He had left the mansion telling me not to follow, and I didn’t. I stood there watching him fade into the woods, feeling his misery throughout my soul. Hearing of the plans for Paris, my marriage had finally become real to him. His fantasy about us being together had been shattered into a thousand pieces. Now, I wondered if there would ever be a way to fix our relationship.
“They’re coming,” I said under my breath, sensing them. I walked into the courtyard seeing Millie first, and then Marcus walked into the light.
“Millie.”
“Alixia,” She came over and kissed my cheek, whispering.
“I want my child.”
“I know. We will talk about it.” She stepped away from me, watching Marcus come to my side.
“There is no talking. I want my child. I do not want the Pure Ones to keep him any longer. ”
“Come into the house.”
She stood there with a scowl on her face.
“Millie,” I reached out for her.
“I’m coming.”
Walking in the back door toward the kitchen, my heart went out to her.
She had every right to be bitter.
I watched her scan the room.
“I’ve always wanted a yellow kitchen,” she said. “It smells like fresh paint.”
“Yes, the whole house has been done over.”
“Really?”
I smiled, hearing her thoughts.
“Yes, Millie, this can be home to you and James, if you want it.”
“In my head again, Alixia? You know how I feel about that.”
“Oh, come on. Don’t get mad all the time. I just offered you a home.”
“But, I want to leave.”
“I think it would better if you stayed here.”
“I don’t know. Even with your offer, I just can’t stay here.”
Marcus, we need to discuss the child.
He nodded.
“Millie, what about your son’s safety? You know you’re not completely ready to be around him. It has only been a few weeks. “
“Marcus, are you trying to say you don’t think I should have my child?”
“No, of course not. But we can protect James here, if you have a setback. We can’t do that if you leave.”
“I will not end my child,” she growled back at him. “I love him. Why can’t you trust me?”
I put my hand on Marcus’s shoulder.
“Millie, we just want to make sure you’re ready. Even you have had doubts.”
I saw the worry in her eyes.
“It’s hard for me to trust anyone here anymore.”
“That’s not true, Millie. You trust us.”
She lowered her head and closed her eyes.
“I know, Alixia. But I just want to feel safe again, and have my child with me. I feel if I left all of this behind me, I might have that chance.”
I knew what she wanted. Normalcy. I hungered for it, too. Marcus reached across the table for her.
“Millie, you are free to leave us. But you also know that you need more time to adjust to what you are.”
She stood up heatedly.
”I told you Marcus, I can control it!”
He leaned back in his chair, baring his teeth with impatient at her defiance.
“I’m not saying you can’t. In fact, Alixia thinks you should have a chance. But to do so, you have to stay here under our supervision. The boy is a Pure One. We have to make sure that he stays safe. It was your request that he went with them. You told Marguerite you didn’t feel safe. Do you think they will return him to you, after that declaration?”
“He’s my child!”
“Millie,” I said. “We just want you to know it might not be that easy to get him, unless you stay here to show them that he will be safe.”
She stared at us for what seemed a long time.
“I will stay.”
“Millie, you are doing the right thing. The Pure Ones will be watching you.”
“Yes I understand. Well, if I’m going to live here, let’s see the rest of the house.”
“Come on.”
I took her through every room, and explained that we would provide staff. We stopped at the top of the staircase.
“Millie, I want you to come with us to Paris.”
“Sure, if we get my son back first.”
She started down the stairs.
“Millie…”
“Yes?” I looked at her face, sensing her excitement that she’d be holding her baby soon. I could not tell her that Marcus wanted to wait and get James after the wedding, just in case there was trouble.
“Alixia, did you want to tell me something?”
“No. Let’s go get your baby.”
Getting Jame
s
Millie was the first one to go down the shaft to the Ancients’ realm.
“Marcus,” I said, ready to jump behind her. “I sense them.”
“I do, too.”
“Be on your guard.”
“I will.”
I jumped.
Marcus landed close behind me and wrapped his arms around me. I could feel his cool breath on my neck.
“After this, we are on our way to Paris. No more Family business, agreed? ”
I turned back kissing him.
“I agree. Now, let’s get James.”
We walked into the heavy gray mist, but it was different this time as we made our way to open area. It was too quiet, I thought. There were no Ancients. I sensed them, but they were keeping their distance from us. The sweet flowery smell was thick in the air as we stepped through the stone entrance.
“Millie’s down here,” I said moving past the first two doors. We walked in the next open room, seeing Millie kneeling down outside the circle of blackbirds that were guarding her baby. She turned to us, her voice panicked.
“The birds won’t let me get close.”
“It’s okay, I’ll get him. Go over to Marcus.”
“Why?” she hissed, exposing her teeth.
“Just do it.”
She got up, keeping her eye on James. The birds started stirring, so she stopped moving.
“Marcus, take Millie out of here,” I said, having a premonition that something wasn’t right here.
“No!” she screamed, stepping toward me again. The birds took flight, squawking and spiraling in a circle around James.
”Millie, don’t! You’re not in control!“ I said, moving quickly toward her and pushing her back to Marcus.
“Come,” Marcus said, taking hold of her and dragging her from the room.
“I want my baby! He’s crying!”
“Hush, Millie,” I said, putting my hand over her mouth as I heard the birds squawking even more aggressively. “Stop this. I promise I will bring James to you. Now go with Marcus.”
I looked into her eyes, wishing I could read her thoughts as she backed away from me.
“Millie?”
“I’m going, but you keep your promise.”
“I will.”
I watched as they walked back into the mist.
Back inside the room, the birds were settling again. I moved slowly to James, stepping toward the circle and hearing his sobs.
“It’s okay,” I said, stepping past the birds into the circle. I reached down and picked him up, soothing him. “You will be with your mother soon, and I will keep you safe.” I brought him close to me, seeing two of the birds take flight and leave the room.
Path of Descent: Ambrosine Page 23