“I’m still angry, Phrygia. You have no idea how angry I am, how betrayed I feel. There is so much to tell you…” Murder said softly. “I just don’t know where to start.” He got up and walked toward the back door. “I’m going to go outside for a while,” he said, opening the door, offering her a halfhearted smile and walking outside, pulling the door closed behind himself.
Phrygia puttered around the house for a while before deciding to take another bath and relax with her book and another glass of the bourbon Murder had shown her kept in a bottom cabinet. She did so appreciate a good bath since she’d been back. She’d read a chapter and finished her glass of bourbon when Murder banged on the bathroom door, almost making her drop her book into the water.
“What?!” she snapped out, irritated at the surge of adrenalin.
“I’m leaving for a while, okay?” he called through the door.
“Okay, but wait, How long will you be gone?” Phrygia asked, stepping out of the bath and wrapping a towel around herself. She hurried to the door and pulled it open, but Murder was not there. She hurried down the hallway and toward the living room calling after him.
“Wait! Murder?” she called as she heard him open the back door.
“Murder?!” she yelled.
“We need to talk, but I can’t wait. I’m as responsible. I have to speak to Lucitari! I’ll be back, we’ll talk then,” he promised, then she heard the door close just as she entered the living room.
Frustrated she huffed, then went back to the bathroom and drained the tub. She picked up her glass and cleaned up after herself, determined not to be a burden to Murder. He’d be back. He’d promised he would be. And then, as he said, they’d talk.
Lying in bed later, just on the verge of falling asleep, her mind provided the face and smile of a male that made her feel like no other ever had. Gaston. She smiled, thinking of the male she thought of all the time since she’d met him. And she fell asleep that way, happy, warm, dreaming that he was there with her, just as he was supposed to be.
<<<<<<<>>>>>>>
After dark Murder finally wandered into a clearing in the Cypress and Cedar trees with a house raised amidst their branches. He stood below and looked up at the railing. He knew the family who lived there was most likely in for the night, but he needed to disturb them anyway. He looked over at the bell, mounted for any who visited to ring to alert the family inside that someone waited below for permission to come up, but he didn’t ring it. He simply lifted his wings and raised himself on a current of air to land silently on the deck of the home.
Carnage and Lily were kneeling on the floor, their rears up in the air as they leaned their chests close to the floor to get a better shot with the marbles they were angling to shoot at one another. They’d drawn a chalk circle on the floor and were trying to knock the other’s marbles out of the circle — last one in the circle won the game.
Lily closed one eye as she aimed the marble balanced on her forefinger, her thumb bent behind it in preparation of shooting it at her father’s marble. She didn’t miss a beat as she flicked the marble off her finger, a tiny wisp of lavender mist trailing after it, and at the same time announced Murder’s arrival. “Uncle Murder’s here.”
Carnage sat back on his rump. “Ohhh! Leelee cheeeet! Nooo misssss,” he said, slapping his thigh.
“I didn’t! The mist just happens,” Lily claimed, giggling.
“Nooooo faaaar,” Carnage claimed, getting to his feet to go look for Murder though he’d not even knocked yet.
Lily was laughing. “It is fair! I didn’t cheat!”
Carnage opened the door and stuck his head outside. Sure enough, there was Murder considering knocking, but he hadn’t yet.
“’Mon,” Carnage said, swinging the door wide for Murder to enter.
Murder nodded and followed Carnage back into his home.
“Sit,” Carnage said, waving his hand toward the sofa.
Murder didn’t sit, instead he squatted down beside Lily on the floor, his forearms resting on his bent knee, while he balanced himself with his other knee on the floor. “Lily, where is Lucitari?”
Lily was admiring all the pretty marbles she’d just won from her Papa.
“Gone,” she answered as she lifted another marble to look at, holding it up to see it in the light from the oil lamps placed strategically around the room.
“I know. I’ve looked for her everywhere today, and she’s not here.”
“Nope,” Lily answered, agreeing.
“Can you call her for me? She’s your special friend, isn’t she?” Murder asked.
“She is. But no, I’m not calling her,” Lily answered, finally putting down the marble and looking Murder directly in the eye.
“I need to speak with her, Lily,” Murder said, putting emphasis on the word need.
“No,” Lily answered.
Carnage had been standing back allowing the conversation until this point, but now he walked forward, standing beside Lily, where she still sat fully relaxed, staring down Murder as though he was her age and her size.
Murder shook his head, looked down at the floor, then back up at Lily. “Please. What do I have to do? I’ll do it. I need to speak to her, Lily. I need to see her!”
Lily looked at him for a few moments longer, then reached over gathering her marbles. She dropped them into the velvet bag Uncle Lore had given her when he brought her the special ones — the solid red ones, and blue ones, and green ones — then she got to her feet and headed toward her room.
“Lily! Please!” Murder called out, still squatting where he’d been the whole time.
Lily stopped walking and turned around to face him. “You hurt her. I’m not calling her for you.” Lily watched him as he sat heavily on the floor, frustration filling him. Then she turned her back on him and walked down the hall to her room, slamming her door behind her.
Murder looked up at Carnage, who still stood where Lily had been sitting. “I need to talk to her,” he said simply.
“Why?” Carnage said.
“I was wrong, Carnage. I was wrong. I was a fool. She was right in front of me, and I missed it. I missed it,” Murder said, only confusing Carnage further. “Then today I blamed her. I’ve been thinking about it over and over and over. The only reason she’d be angry was if it was me that missed it.”
“Huh?” Carnage said, lifting his arms in the air, palms up.
“Phrygia’s eyes are brown. Her eyes are brown! It’s Lucitari with the dark blue eyes. I should have known that long before now. I think it’s my fault,” Murder shouted.
Carnage raised an eyebrow and regarded Murder. The male had lost it. Carnage had no idea what the problem was.
Murder watched Carnage, waiting for him to agree or at the very least understand. When it became apparent that he wasn’t going to understand, Murder got to his feet. “I’ll just wait for her to come here. She does that every night doesn’t she?”
Carnage shook his head. “No mo’” he said. “No bluue aneee mo,” Carnage said, pointing to the sky.
Murder’s brow creased. “No blue anymore…” he repeated Carnage’s words, trying to figure out what he meant. Then he looked stricken. His face practically contorted. “She used her blue mists to light up your sky at night?” Murder practically yelled his question.
Carnage nodded. “Bluue miss po tek,” he said. “Saafe”
Murder’s heart stuttered. “Her blue mists protected you, kept you and your house safe?”
“’Es,” Carnage confirmed.
“I have to find her, Carnage,” Murder said, taking a step toward the hallway that led to Lily’s room.
Carnage growled, low and deadly and stepped in front of Murder.
“I would never hurt Lily, Carnage. I just need her to call Lucitari for me,” Murder explained, realizing he’d triggered Carnage’s protective instincts, which was never a good thing.
“Leelee say nooooo,” Carnage replied slowly.
Murder spun aw
ay and paced to the kitchen before facing Carnage again. “Then how can I find her?” Murder begged.
Carnage stood there, separating one of his best friends from his Leelee, and at the same time wanting to help Murder who so desperately needed to speak with Lucitari. Then suddenly it hit him. Carnage grinned. “Lore” he said.
Murder shook his head. “I can’t go through Lore. If I’m right, and Lore’s known all along like I accused today, I’ll hurt him.”
Carnage huffed a laugh. “Tryyyy,” he said.
Murder nodded. “I’m sure we’d both be injured.”
Carnage’s eyes narrowed and he waved his arm at Murder. “’Mon.”
Murder watched Carnage go over to the door and open it wide. Then he turned to Murder again.
“’Mon!” Carnage said more insistently.
Murder hesitantly followed Carnage.
Once they got out onto the deck, Carnage unfurled his wings and took to the sky, hovering, waiting for Murder.
Murder finally lifted into the air, following Carnage. Carnage flew only a few feet away from his home before lowering himself to the ground.
Murder followed, looking at Carnage questioningly.
Carnage smiled. He stomped the ground, pointed to the pale green, swirling mists still covering the ground.
“Terrus!” Murder rushed out.
“’Es,” Carnage said, nodding.
“Terrus!” Murder bellowed as loudly as he could. “Terrus!” he called over and over again.
When there was no answer, he turned to Carnage. “I’m going to find Terrus, probably deeper in the woods. Thank you, Carnage.”
Carnage inclined his head and watched his friend wander away on foot, calling for Lore’s brother — Lucitari’s brother — hoping that whatever he wanted her for, she’d be able to help Murder.
<<<<<<<>>>>>>>
Lily sat on her bed, her eyes closed, she sat facing straight ahead, but in her mind, she stood beside Lucitari.
“Wake up,” Lily said, looking down at the sleeping woman. “Aunt Luci, wake up,” Lily begged.
Lucitari didn’t wake. She lay there as the white haze circled round and round her.
“You promised you’d come if I called for you,” Lily said softly.
Lucitari inhaled and held herself a little more tightly than she had been before.
Lily tried one more time. “Aunt Luci?” she said.
But Lucitari didn’t respond.
Back in Lily's room, Lily’s eyes blinked, and she slid off her bed to her feet. She walked over to her bedroom door, opening it slowly to be sure that Murder didn’t hear her. She crept down the hallway to be sure he was gone when she didn’t hear his voice. But her mama caught her.
“What are you doing, little girl?” Carolena asked from behind her.
Lily jumped and turned around to smile at her mama. “Nothing.”
“You are never doing nothing. Now what are you doing?” Carolena asked.
“Is Boon sleeping?” Lily asked.
“Yes, he is. You know I just put him to bed,” Carolena answered, fully aware her daughter was trying to change the subject.
“Is Uncle Murder gone?” Lily asked.
“I didn’t know he was here,” Carolena answered.
The front door opened and closed and Carnage entered the house, calling Lily’s name. “Leelee!”
Lily smiled at Carolena. “Papa wants me,” she said before running to the living room.
Carnage stood there, his arms crossed over his chest waiting for Lily to come to him.
“Hi, Papa!” Lily said brightly, running into the living room.
“Why Mur’er want Luceee?” he asked her.
Lily shrugged.
“Leelee…” he warned, raising an eyebrow.
“Her eyes are blue. Like late at night blue,” Lily finally said.
“And?” Carolena asked from her spot across the room.
“And the lady from Hell, she has brown eyes,” Lily added.
“Okay,” Carolena said. “What does that have to do with anything?”
“The lady used to have blue eyes. But now that Uncle Murder saved her, she’s got brown.”
“I don’t understand, Lily. You’ll have to explain it,” Carolena said.
“’Es! Now!” Carnage growled softly.
Lily sighed. “Okay. Uncle Murder’s mate has blue eyes, blue like at nighttime. He thought it was the lady from Hell. But now, her eyes are brown, and he doesn’t want her anymore. And he remembered that Aunt Luci’s eyes are blue like at nighttime. And he’s looking for her. But she won’t answer because she’s sad, because he picked the lady from Hell. And he wanted me to call her, but I said no. But then when I did she won’t answer, so I went to her, but she won’t wake up. And now I have to find Uncle Lore ‘cause Aunt Luci won’t wake up, and it’s all Uncle Murder’s fault because now his lady from Hell has brown eyes,” Lily finished, looking at them both like they should already know all this.
“Luci won’t wake up?” Carolena asked, alarmed, walking further into the room.
“No. I tried and I tried. She just lies there,” Lily answered.
“Lore!!!” Carolena screamed, looking up at the ceiling.
“Lore!” Carnage added his own voice.
They both screamed Lore’s name repeatedly until Carolena realized that Lily had gone into another realm in search of Lucitari alone. “And you are punished, young lady! You are not supposed to go anywhere here without us, and anywhere other than here without Uncle Lore!” Carolena said, stopping calling for Lore long enough to scold Lily before continuing to call Lore.
“But Aunt Luci wasn’t answering me and she promised!” Lily objected.
Finally, deep purple mists, highlighted with silver streaks began to swirl in their living room, followed by Lore taking shape. “What’s wrong?” he asked, scanning the room quickly before locking on Lily. “Are you okay, Lily?” he asked, stepping toward her.
“Yes, I’m okay.”
“Tell him,” Carolena instructed Lily.
“Aunt Luci won’t wake up.”
“What do you mean?” Lore asked Lily.
“Tell him the rest,” Carolena demanded.
Lily sighed. “Fine,” she said exasperatedly. And she gave Lore the entire scenario she’d just laid out for her parents.
Lore sat down on the sofa. “Murder is Lucitari’s mate?” he asked, stunned.
“She don’t want him,” Lily said. “He hurt her with the lady from Hell.”
“How do you know all this?” Lore asked Lily.
Lily shrugged. “Don’t know. I just do.”
“What else do you know?” Lore asked her, basically asking a rhetorical question, but he forgot that Lily was still a child, and took him literally.
“I know that Uncle Destroy and Aunt Rowan are having a boy baby. I know that Shane really, really likes Deaumanique and wants to marry her when he grows up but doesn’t know if she’ll want him if he’s not like Uncle Enthrall. I know that Aunt Rowan will have another baby that will be a girl and she’ll have more magic than Aunt Rowan does. I know that something really bad has come to where we live, but it’s not as bad as you think, but still it’s bad — for now anyway. I know that Evangeline…”
“Wait!” Lore cried. “Is whatever you are going to say about Evangeline bad?” he asked.
“No,” Lily answered.
“Then don’t tell me.”
Lily shrugged. “Okay.”
“Where is Lucitari?”
“She’s in the white,” Lily answered.
“The white?” Lore said, not realizing at first what she was trying to explain. “The white?” he asked looking up at Carolena and Carnage. Then it hit him. “The white?! Where I was?! Where we battled Acaelo?!” he asked, his worry growing and his voice rising with each word he spoke.
“Yes. That white. And she won’t wake up. She’s just lying there sleeping.”
“You went there?” Lore asked
incredulously.
“I wanted to make sure she was okay,” Lily said softly, peeking at him through her lashes.
“You never, NEVER, go there alone! Do you understand?!” Lore demanded.
“Exactly!” Carolena added.
“’Es!” Carnage chimed in, scowling at his daughter.
“Can you show me where she is?” Lore asked, moving to stand in front of Lily.
“I think so. I went straight to her before,” Lily answered.
“Can she?” Lore asked Carolena and Carnage.
“Lore…” Carolena said. “While I’m worried about Lucitari, I don’t know if purgatory is a place I want my daughter.”
“I’ll protect her with my life, Carolena. If Luci stays there too long, falls asleep and loses herself, she’ll become a part of it and cease to exist.”
Carolena looked over at Carnage. He nodded. Carolena turned and spoke to Lore. “Okay, but please hurry. I want Lily back here soon!”
Chapter 17
Murder spent much of the rest of the night marching across Whispers, and after he tired of that, flying over, calling for Terrus. He’d exhausted himself, and still there was no sign of Terrus. As the sun rose, he’d given up and started on his way home. He cut through the clearing where Carrik rested, and there, perched on what would have been Carrik’s shoulders had he still been a dragon, sat Terrus.
Murder came to a standstill. “I’ve been searching for you all night!” Murder said irritatedly.
“I know,” Terrus answered, not seemingly too concerned.
“Why didn’t you answer me? I need your help,” Murder asked.
“I know that, too.”
“Are you going to help me?” Murder asked, point blank.
“I haven’t decided yet.”
“I need to speak to Lucitari. Please. I need to find her,” Murder explained.
Terrus shook his head slowly. “She’s gone because of you.”
“I didn’t mean to hurt her. But she never gave me any indication either. I know I’m responsible. I’ll accept that, but so is she!” Murder answered.
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