“When do you want to leave, Carolena?” Enthrall asked, doing his best to hide a smile at the two of them growling at each other.
“As soon as possible. The sooner I leave, the sooner I can get back. We’ll have to be gone at least several weeks, maybe a month. I thought we’d take the train. Get there the old fashioned way since I have no doubt Abraham’s lawyers will want to pick us up at the station. It will make us look more the part, rather than just turning up at home.”
Enthrall nodded, “You are right, it is the better way to travel in this case,” he said as he thought about things that would need to be done. He’d just completed a trip into town so most everyone had enough to hold them over for a while. There were a couple of inhabitants that appeared human and could go for supplies if anything was needed in an emergency. But he’d need to speak with them and make sure they wouldn’t mind handling that for him if he was away for as much as a month. “It shouldn’t be a problem. I’ll need to speak with Gaston — Anton’s father — and make sure he can make a trip for supplies if necessary before I get back. I’ll need to go into town and add some money on my account, so he can pick things up. And I’ll need to make sure that someone here will keep an eye on things while I’m gone.”
“I’ll do it!” Destroy shouted, jumping to his feet.
Enthrall regarded Destroy, a hopeful gleam in his eye, offering to help oversee Whispers while he was away. He knew Destroy had always wanted to run Whispers, for selfish reasons. But the Destroy he had been allowed to see lately was a much better male than the one he thought he was dealing with all this time. “The lives of all Whispers’ inhabitants would depend on your keeping them secure. Can you do that, Destroy?”
“Yes! I can do that. I will be the best leader they’ve ever seen!”
Enthrall raised his eyebrows, looking at Destroy questioningly.
“Well, except for you,” Destroy hurried to add, grinning.
“You have to watch over all of Whispers, not just Rowan,” Enthrall felt the need to state.
“I know that. I was a soldier. I know how to protect, how to oversee,” Destroy said, “Just ask Carnage, he knows, he trained me! He practically raised me!”
That comment left Enthrall speechless; the look on his face was pure shock. He turned to Carnage, who just grumbled at Destroy before making a disgusted sound and stomping out of Enthrall’s home, where he took a seat on the front porch steps.
Enthrall turned back to Destroy, “Truthfully? Why did you never tell me? Why has neither of you ever said anything?”
Destroy watched Carnage’s back as he sat alone on the porch, having left everyone else in Enthrall’s home. He shrugged, “He’s not very proud of me.” Then he shrugged again and said, “It’s okay. At least he doesn’t hate me anymore. We have made a truce.”
Destroy watched Carnage through the open front door for a moment before changing the subject again, “There will be others here if I need their help as well. So do not worry, I will take good care of Whispers.”
“There will be others here for you. But I have no doubt you can handle it, Destroy,” Enthrall said, seeing for the first time how Carnage’s disregard for him hurt him.
“Come, let us plan. Carolena, we shall plan to leave tomorrow evening, or the next at the latest if that is okay with you,” Enthrall said.
“That will be fine. Thank you, Enthrall. I really appreciate you,” Carolena said, hugging Enthrall.
“You know I’d never refuse you anything,” Enthrall said, hugging her tight. “Come sit with Destroy and me, let us work out the details.”
Rowan sat quietly nibbling on her breakfast as she watched everything unfold. She knew two things. She was going to find a way to go with Enthrall and Carolena when they returned to Philadelphia, and she was going to speak with Carnage before she left. Carnage she could take care of right now. She watched him through the door, while he sat on the porch watching Lily, who had followed him outside, chase the squirrels as they played about the base of the trees. Rowan got up from the table and took the platter of bacon in hand, quietly walked outside and took a seat beside Carnage on the steps.
Carnage looked at Destroy’s female as she took a seat beside him, then grinned at her when she handed him a platter still half-filled with bacon. He accepted the platter and started munching away as they watched Lily playing. “She’s beautiful,” Rowan said, watching the little girl play.
Carnage grunted and nodded his head.
“Do you mind if I speak to you about Destroy for a moment?” she asked.
Carnage’s eyebrows crinkled down over his eyes as he regarded her.
“I’ll take that as a no, you don’t mind,” Rowan said as she smiled at him. She looked him straight in the eye and said, “You’re wrong about him.”
Carnage’s head jerked back like she’d slapped him.
“He didn’t desert you during battle. He saw that you all were outnumbered, you were gravely injured, and he went for Murder.”
Carnage stood, not wanting to discuss that night with anyone, much less a little human female that meant nothing to him.
Rowan reached out, grasping his hand, “Think about it. How did Murder just happen to appear along with all the males who followed him just when you needed him most? Didn’t you notice that Destroy came back, too?”
Carnage nodded, clearly upset at their topic of conversation. He said, “‘Es. Mur’er safe. ‘Stroy fight,’” with a snarl underlying his words.
Rowan shook her head, “He didn’t come back because it was safer with Murder. He came back with Murder because that was the reason he took flight to begin with. To save your stubborn hide by going for Murder and his males — knowing they’d be able and willing to join your fight.”
Carnage snatched his arm away from her light grip, but before he made it more than two steps she said, “He admired you so much. Still does. He didn’t desert you, Carnage. He saved you.” Then she stood and went back inside the house. One of the two things on her to do list having been completed, all she needed to do now was get her things together, so she’d be ready to travel when Enthrall and Carolena set out for the city. And why did her heart hurt at the thought of leaving Destroy behind? She watched him speaking excitedly with Enthrall and Carolena. He didn’t realize that she watched him, so she had a few moments to truly study him. Her heart pitter-patted a bit. He was a very beautiful male. And he oozed personality and sexuality. The problem was that he knew it, he had no doubt at all of his attributes — he was very proud to say the least. For just a moment she thought of staying here, seeing what, if anything, may develop between them. Then her past slapped her about the head and she remembered the reasons that she could never have anyone. It wasn’t her he wanted, it was her power. He just didn’t realize it yet. And it didn’t really matter anyway. As soon as he learned that she’d killed innocents, not only children, but their parents, too, he’d not want anything to do with her. He’d recoil in disgust. She admired him once more before she moved unnoticed back to her room to gather her things and prepare to travel.
Chapter 19
Carnage’s mind flew, could Rowan be right? Could he have misunderstood and unfairly held a grudge against Destroy all these years? A grudge with no foundation at all? He needed to think, he wanted some quiet time. He called to his daughter, “Leelee! Hoome?”
Lily stopped running after the squirrels, “No, Papa. I play.”
He knew what would get her, “Paant?” he asked with a lilt to his gruff voice, miming painting with a paintbrush with the hand he raised above his head.
Her eyes lit up, “Yes! I paint!” she shouted as she ran to him, throwing herself into his arms.
Carnage walked up the steps to Enthrall’s home, opened the door and went inside. He walked over to Carolena where she sat with Enthrall and Destroy. He leaned over and kissed the top of her head — he was angry that she was leaving him for a while, but that didn’t mean he didn’t love her… “Hoome,” he said.
<
br /> “Okay. I won’t be long,” she stood and hugged him, kissing first Lily’s cheek, then Carnage’s lips. “Love you both.”
“Carnage, I will take care of Carolena. I will protect her with my life,” Enthrall said, standing to face Carnage.
Carnage nodded and patted Enthrall on the back. Then he looked at Destroy sitting there, watching him without saying a word. Destroy offered him a smile, and for the first time in centuries, Carnage smiled back. Which made Destroy smile even bigger, then he offered, “I’ll bring Carolena back in a bit, if that’s okay with you.”
Carnage nodded, then turned and went back out the front door, headed home.
“I paint, Mama!” Lily called to her mother as Carnage walked out of the house with her.
“Paint something pretty, baby,” Carolena called back.
<<<<<<<>>>>>>>
A couple of hours later Destroy stood, stretching his back and arms after having sat for so long on the sofa as he, Enthrall and Carolena spoke of preparations for their trip. “You ready, Carolena? I’ll take you back home,” Destroy said.
Destroy turned and caught Rowan standing in the kitchen watching him sadly.
“What’s wrong?” he asked.
Rowan shook her head, “Nothing. I’m just going to miss you,” she answered.
“I’m only taking Carolena home. I’ll be right back,” he said, smiling smugly that his woman was going to miss him even though he’d be gone just a little while.
“Huh?” Rowan asked, confused. Then she realized he meant right now this minute. She meant in general when she left Whispers altogether. “Oh, yes, of course. I know,” she answered. Not wanting to start a whole argument about her leaving any sooner than was absolutely necessary.
A bit later Destroy landed on the deck of Carolena’s home with her in his arms. Carnage had been sitting in the living room alone, having put Lily down for a nap just a bit earlier. Destroy hugged Carolena and she came inside, while Destroy took flight before Carnage could get outside to talk to him. He rushed past Carolena and out onto the deck, issuing a shrill, sharp whistle, once, twice, three times, as he watched Destroy moving steadily away from him. Destroy paused, looked back to Carnage where he stood on the deck, and waited, unsure that he’d heard what he thought he’d heard. Back when Carnage had been his friend, his mentor, that’s how he’d call Destroy if Destroy was too far away to see Carnage motion for him. Carnage whistled again, the same sharp repetitious sounds he’d let out before. Destroy took a deep breath, then slowly turned and headed back to Carnage.
Carnage watched as Destroy came back.
Destroy allowed himself to touch down lightly on the deck, just out of reach of Carnage.
Carnage smiled at Destroy, sadly. Then he patted his chest and said, “‘Arnge wrooong.”
Destroy’s heart pounded. “About what?”
“‘Stroy saave ‘Arnge.” Then he raised his eyebrows as though to say, “didn’t you?”
Destroy clenched his jaw, his eyes misted, but there was no way in hell he’d allow himself to cry in front of the male he admired most in life. He nodded his head sharply one single time.
Carnage reached out, grabbed Destroy and jerked him into his arms, patting him roughly on the back.
Destroy patted Carnage back, embracing him roughly.
Carnage let go of Destroy and shoved him back to where he was standing about two feet away, then he said, “‘Give ‘Arnge?”
Destroy nodded, “Yes. I forgive you. And I’m sorry I left you, but I had to go for Murder. I knew he’d fight with us, and we had no chance without him, you were already injured. But I’d never, ever leave you. Not in battle. Not while I followed your stubborn ass across the damn world to Whispers… not ever. Even when we fought each other, I was still loyal to you.”
Carnage reached out and cuffed the younger Goyle on the side of the head, smiling.
Destroy suddenly stood at attention, then he fisted his right hand and struck himself across the chest, bowing his head in deference to Carnage.
Carnage mimicked his behavior exactly. Then he stepped forward, taking Destroy’s face in his hands, nodding as he smiled. Then, “Eaaaat?” he said, as he guided Destroy into his home.
Carolena watched from the doorway, her heart overflowing as she watched two males she loved and admired making peace with their past, swearing their loyalty and fealty to one another all over again.
She stepped back to allow them to enter, “Would you like lunch or maybe something sweet? I have cobbler and cake.”
“Cake!” they both said enthusiastically.
She placed the cake on the table between them — the entire cake. Then she placed a plate in front of each one along with two forks and a knife to cut the cake with. She laughed when they both pushed their plates away and just dug into the cake in front of them with the forks she’d provided.
<<<<<<<>>>>>>>
The next day consisted of Enthrall making plans. He called for Lore and advised that he’d be away, then extracted a vague promise that he’d be there if Destroy floundered. Then he and Destroy visited his people and let them know he’d be away, and that Destroy would be watching over them. They weren’t all very receptive to Destroy, his reputation preceeding him, but they were all paranormals. None were so weak as to need to be defended. But they did depend on Enthrall to keep the peace. To bring their supplies or anything else they may need from town, as well as keep a glamour around their sanctuary to keep them from discovery. That was their main concern — the threat of discovery if he weren’t around to maintain the glamour that he always kept in place. They had become accustomed to the peace and quiet being able to settle in one place afforded them, unaccosted by any, able to raise their families in relative safety.
“I assure you that the glamour will remain, and should it begin to weaken, Lore will be here, he can mask our presence as well as, if not better than I. I shall return in a matter of a few short weeks. Destroy will keep watch, he knows how to contact Lore should he detect any threat. All will be well,” he assured all that were concerned with his impending absence. They didn’t trust Lore, but they knew that Enthrall did. And it was no secret to anyone who cared to notice that he’d become a protector and favored playmate of Carnage’s little girl. That, in itself, did wonders for his reputation among the people of Whispers. At least they no longer feared he’d eat their souls if they so much as murmured his name.
And so it came to pass, two mornings later Enthrall stood with Carolena in his yard. Carnage, Lily, and Destroy were there as well. Carnage had finally stopped grumbling at Carolena, having become resigned to the fact that she was going no matter how much he hated it. He wrapped her in his arms, “Lub Leenah,” he said, kissing her soundly.
“I love you, too. I’ll be back soon. If you need anything at all, send Lore. He knows where we’ll be staying and can come to us almost instantly,” she told him.
He nodded.
“And take care of my baby,” she said, holding Lily close, kissing her over and over again all over her little cheeks, making her giggle and squeal.
Carnage nodded, holding them both close. Then he reached into the waistband of his trousers and handed Carolena the copy of the book he so loved, ‘La Belle et la Bete.’
Carolena looked at the book and her eyes filled with tears, knowing why he was sending it with her, “I’m coming back, Carnage. You don’t have to send this with me to remind me. I know. I know you’re mine — my beast. I’ll be back as soon as I possibly can. I promise.” She leaned forward and kissed him deeply. “Here, keep this for me. We’ll read it again when I come back,” she told him, handing him the book.
“Miiinnne,” he growled at her.
“Always,” she said.
Enthrall picked up their suitcases and handed one of them to Carolena, then wrapped his arms around her to ghost them just outside of town where they could then walk to the train station to catch their train to travel to Philadelphia. Only they were interrupte
d by a female voice calling out, “Wait! Wait for me, I’m coming with you!”
Startled, Enthrall turned to see who it was. At the same time he saw that it was Rowan, Destroy bellowed, “Absolutely not!”
Immediately Rowan and Destroy started shouting at each other.
Enthrall bravely waded into the middle of their argument, so he could figure out what the hell was going on.
Finally he gave up trying to shush Rowan, who was full force ahead in her attempt to talk over Destroy, so he chose instead to emit that high-pitched sound that brought all paranormals up short, especially the more beastly of them. Carnage snarled, bending in on himself; Destroy lasted only a second or two longer before having to stop shouting at Rowan and curling in on himself as well.
“Now stop it, both of you!” Enthrall bellowed. “This is ridiculous!” Then he looked at Carnage, who was still hunching his shoulders and covering his ears, “I’m sorry, Carnage.”
“I’m coming with you,” Rowan said, as she watched Destroy with a concerned look on her face.
“Why?” Enthrall asked.
“It’s my home. I need to go back there. Let my family know that I’m alive. Find out if they are well, if they need anything.” She looked at Enthrall beseechingly, “It’s home. Family.”
Destroy had started to recover a bit and stumbled over to Rowan, “You can’t leave!”
“I have to, Destroy. My family is there. All they know is that I disappeared. I have to go.”
“No!” he shouted again, “Carolena can tell them, you belong here with me.”
Sadly Rowan shook her head, “No I don’t. I wish I did. But you’ll thank me later.”
“Thank you? Why would I thank you? You’re walking away from me! You never even gave me a chance! I’m a good male! And I’m yours, how can you just walk away?”
Rowan struggled hard to hold her tears in, her lip quivering, she said, “You don’t want me…”
Destroy, Book 2, Whispers From the Bayou Page 15