by Louisa Bacio
“Why would I tell you that?” Teresa said. “Everyone knows that she's known to inhabit more than one crypt, but I don't think that's where she is. Since you were alive when she died, I figured you would be one of the few with the knowledge of her final resting place. And, you're going to tell me.”
“I don't think she'd like having her grave disturbed,” Trevor said, shaking his head. “People get jacked up all the time just from swiping wine left at her tomb, forget about snatching her bones.”
As Teresa's smile spread once again, a leaden thud built in Lily's gut.
“It will take some time,” Lawrence said.
“No problem,” Teresa said. “Take the time you need, but don't forget that you owe me.”
A shrill scream of laughter echoed from the bar across the way, and an onslaught of tunes shattered the silence of the negotiations. The air smelled like simmering jambalaya—hot and spicy and Lily's stomach growled at the intoxicating scent. She willed her appetite to be patient. Around them, the life of humanity pulsed and continued on.
“Let's go,” Trevor said, “the night's not getting any younger, and we all have other things we should be doing.”
“Where do you think you're going?” Lawrence asked Madame Teresa as she settled her bag once again.
“You're going to need my help down there,” she said, “and afterward, I'll need to help with Lily's mom.”
“We don't want any more favors from you,” Lawrence seethed. “You're already made us promise too much.”
“They'll be no charge from any of you,” Teresa said, “and if she's going to survive, Lily's mom will need me.”
The unlikely foursome approached the canals. While three of them climbed down the ladder—Lily again amazed at the lithe quality of Madame Teresa—Lawrence ran down the sloped cement side.
“Show off,” she muttered to him when they met at the bottom of the ditch. She took in a few long gulps of air to catch her breath.
“If you got it, use it,” Lawrence said.
The sound of a cat howling broke through the silence. Fog curled over the canal, cloaking the mouth of the tunnel. The light from their flashlights diffused, only illuminating a soft glow around them.
Trevor and Lawrence stood on either side of her. If she thought about it, she could still feel the tender reminder of their lovemaking pulsing between her legs. Strength poured into her body, and her senses tingled. Evil so dark the mind barely could comprehend existed, and she was willingly going toward it.
Lawrence unsheathed his weapon, and hoisted it over his shoulder.
With a clicking of disagreement, Madame Teresa said, “You know you can't kill him, right?”
“So he's immortal,” Law said, his voice falling flat in the atmosphere. “We all have our weaknesses, look at me.”
“He's not alive, though,” Teresa explained. “He doesn't live like us. It's not the same thing.”
“So he's already dead?” Trevor asked.
“No, not dead. Not alive. He simply exists within the world,” Teresa said. “Like you can't kill a god, you can't kill a demon like him.”
“Well, he can be hurt, then,” Law said. “And if he can be hurt, then I can slow him down.”
Lily thought of the other planes of existence that Teresa hinted at. All that they didn't know. Levels of being previously unexplored.
“Remind me, what are you doing here again?” Lawrence asked Madame Teresa.
“Protecting my investments,” she mumbled.
“Let's get going,” Trevor said. “The night's not getting any younger.”
Chapter Thirty-One
Lily
Inside the tunnel, their footsteps echoed, and Lily instantly mentally transported back to her escape, a few short days ago. She'd left the tunnel with nothing and had gained so much since then. As the minutes passed, panic pooled in her stomach. What were they doing? Potentially risking everything for the unknown of her mother? She refused to leave the demon before, what would make this time any different?
All too soon, though, there was no choice. Up ahead, light brightened the end of the tunnel. Even if the demon wasn't where she last left him, he would be near. Lawrence held out his arm to stop their movement, and he stepped out into the room first, and then beckoned them forward.
Immediately, Lily went to her mother, who slept on a cot. A thin gray blanket covered her still body, and from underneath Lily could see a chain leading to the metal frame. She touched Julia's shoulder lightly, and said, “Mom, wake up.”
The woman startled awake, eyes wide and flailing her arms.
“Shhh,” Lily said, tears starting at the sides of her own eyes. What would it be like to live in constant fear, knowing that every interaction came from one's captor? “It's all right. We've come to get you out of here.”
At the mention of “we,” Julia took in her daughter's traveling companions, acknowledging, “Teresa” when she saw the Voodoo priestess.
“You keep some odd mates,” Julia said. “What do you have in mind?”
“Well first, let me get these chains off you,” Lily said. The metal in hand, she wound the way down to the section connected to the frame, and visualized the links separating, freeing her mother. Previously, she'd heated the chain into breaking but she didn't want to cause Julia any extra pain. She'd already been through enough. A screeching of metal twisting and turning rent the room … and then with a pop, it was done.
“Easy enough,” Lily said. “Now let's get out of here.”
She turned to look toward the way they came in. Arimanius blocked the exit of the cavern with his bulk. They had gotten in, but how would they get out?
“That wasn't the hard part,” Teresa said.
With a guttural roar, Lawrence launched himself at the demon. The battle-ax glinted off the demon's skin with a resounding thunk, as if it struck rock rather than flesh. Lawrence's body reverberated back, and then Trevor shifted into a shape of beauty.
Only once before, in the other battle, had Lily seen Trevor transformed into his werewolf shape: his short golden hair shimmered even in the shadows of the cave. He'd grown taller by at least another foot and his muscular chest ripped through the confines of his shirt while his pants grew even tighter. She'd have to ask him about his dual-nature, later, at a more quiet time. Trevor grabbed one of Ari's arms and pulled, knocking the demon off balance and out of the doorway. Roaring, Ari swung out at Trevor, who quickly ducked and got out of the way. Lawrence dashed in, ramming the demon against the wall with a force so hard, some debris shifted down from above.
Lily led her mom around the fighting threesome, catching Teresa's eye, and slipping into the tunnel. Once there, Teresa took Julia's hand, and a look passed between the two women like they shared history.
Monstrous fury streamed from Arimanius's eyes, but after being defeated once Trevor and Lawrence would not be overtaken again. The two worked in unison, beating back the demon, until finally Lawrence held him against the wall and Trevor got Ari's own shackles around his wrists.
“How long do you think these will hold me?” he yelled, spittle flying from his mouth.
“Long enough,” Lawrence said. The vampire moved toward the tunnel with a sleek gracefulness about him. While Trevor's clothes hung in tatters, Lawrence merely smoothed down his shirt and ran his fingers through his hair, re-creating perfection.
“Julia!” Arimanius called. “I'll find you. Do you hear me? You know you can't hide from me.”
Beside Lily, her mother trembled. “I'll take my chances,” Julia said. “It's time to live.”
Madame Teresa put her arm around Julia, and the other woman stepped into her embrace, accepting the comfort. Teresa looked over Julia's shoulder and addressed Lily. “It's up to you now. Use your powers.”
Lily spent a moment thinking about what she needed to do. Stop Arimanius from following them. “Lawrence, Trevor, move back,” she instructed. The two passed by her, and she concentrated.
“Witch.
You should know better,” Arimanius said, leaving Lily wondering if he meant Julia, the Voodoo priestess Teresa, or herself. “I'll seek you out, and you'll be sorry.”
Hands on either side of the passageway, Lily felt the power of the earth and beyond flow through her body. Her synapses sizzled with the energy.
“You can do it, Lily,” her mother said. “Your power is pure and untainted with his evil.”
Her mind flickered to that moment of release, of being filled by both Lawrence and Trevor and letting out all that pent-up passion, the climax soared through her spirit as she directed all that out through her palms into the surrounding structure.
The earth shook, rumbling the tunnel but it held together. In the cavern, though, more rocks fell and an avalanche of debris covered the entranceway to the demonic dungeon. Arimanius screamed out in pain and fury, and Lily removed her hands and studied her handiwork. Ari might be able to dig himself out, but it would take a while … a long while.
“And once we get out of this hellhole,” Teresa said, “you're going to do that all over again to seal this tunnel.”
The way out always seemed to pass much faster, and with lighter hearts, the foursome—now turned to five—soon exited the tunnel. Lily gave a whoop of happiness for freedom fought and gained, and launched herself into Trevor's arms, giving the now-in-human-form man a wolfish kiss. Her hands glided across his bare back, feeling the sweaty musculature. Then Lawrence was there behind her, turning her around, and kissing Lily with a fervor of his own.
“Ahem,” Julia said, “You'll have to introduce me to those two special men in your life.”
Lily saw her mom glance up at the sky, taking in the stars. Julia closed her eyes and let out a sigh.
“Thank you,” Julia said, looking at each one of them. “All of you.”
“You're welcome,” Trevor said. “And I'm sure we'll be getting to know each other much better. You're welcome to come stay with us.”
“She'll be staying with me,” Madame Teresa said, stepping forward. “Arimanius can find her, but I know of ways of hiding her trail. There'll be plenty of time for visiting in the future, when he's grown tired of looking for his plaything and decides to pick up another one.”
“Are you sure that's what you want?” Lily asked her mother.
Julia nodded her ascent. “It would be best for all.”
“And what about Lily, will she be safe from him?” Lawrence asked.
“He shouldn't bother her again,” Teresa said, smiling. “He seems to have met his match in the power of three.”
Lily crept onto her tiptoes again for another kiss from Lawrence. She gave Trevor's hand a brief squeeze, and said, “Take me home.”
Chapter Thirty-Two
Lily
After the rescue, hope filled Lily. The three of them returned home, and to bed.
“My gorgeous Lily. You came to us so pure and white, and like your name, with a bit of passion you flush a golden hue so beautiful,” Law said, wooing her all over again. “Like the infamous flower, your name means ‘purity’ and you've shown us a purity of your heart and soul.”
As Lawrence continued to talk, his words caressed her body and lightened that very soul that he mentioned.
“And like your last name ‘Anima,’ what soul you have. As a full-fledged witch with special powers, you should live quite a long time on your own,” Lawrence explained. “And, now that you've fully realized your true nature, and your added powers, the visible aging process should slow down.”
“I'm not sure what you're saying,” Lily said, confusion taking over the sense of calmness. “Am I like you? Am I an immortal?”
“Not quite an immortal, and certainly not cursed like me,” Lawrence said. “You don't need the life force of others in order to sustain yourself, but you will be long living. Already, you've shown the propensity to be able to heal yourself quickly.”
He lifted up one of her bare feet, which had been cut roaming the underground caves, and kissed the new tender skin of her instep. Desire shot through her body.
“How long?” she pressed. “How long could I live?”
“Oh, a few hundred years at least,” Lawrence retorted, “and on that note, Happy birthday. It's official now, isn't it?”
He was right, Lily realized. She'd been waiting for the moment of her thirtieth birthday for so long, and yet, it had passed without much fanfare, well except for battling the demon.
As if finally taking in all that had been said, Trevor spoke up. “So she doesn't have to choose?”
“Choose what?” Lily asked, looking back and forth between her two men.
A knowing look passed between them, and she had the sudden thought that she'd forever be playing catch-up, and she pushed it aside.
“We had talked, Trev and I, about the possibility of turning you,” Lawrence explained, “into a vampire or a shifter, in order to provide you with a longer life.”
“And so you could stay with us,” Trev said.
“I don't tend to do short-term relationships well,” Lawrence teased, taking Lily's hand.
With his touch, the meaning behind their discussion became even clearer. They wanted her to stay, with them, and with her own long-living ability, she could for live for a potentially very long time.
“The werewolf, the vampire and the witch,” she said, processing the sound of the threesome in her mind as she spoke the phrase. “I think we might need a bigger bed.”
* * * *
Warmth floated on the night breeze, surrounding Lily and embracing her skin. Her body filled with peace, rested and refreshed, as if she'd finally caught up on year's worth of missing sleep. As she stood on the balcony, she looked out over the gas lamps of the French Quarter, a glowing orange pillow of light emanating from each one. Such a simple difference than in other parts of the country, but it added such an inviting touch. She could live here. She could love it here.
All this time, she'd been searching for something and not quite sure what. Now that she'd found it, well at least most of it, the other missing pieces of the puzzle ached to be filled. Jagged edges slipped into home. Her heart filled with joy as she thought about her loves, both steady Lawrence and passionate Trevor, lying just inside the French doors in bed, waiting patiently for her to return.
After moving and running from her past, and her life, for as long as she could remember, the thought of settling down and standing still for a while called to her. She could breathe. She could make plans.
A world awaited outside this little microcosm. So much to do and explore beyond, and now she would have a lifetime—several lifetimes if what Lawrence said was true—in order to do exactly that. Still, there was something missing and she wasn't quite sure what the two men in her life were going to think. What if she scared them away?
She took one hand off the balcony's railing, and placed it on her stomach, pondering the possibilities of the future. A streak of light flashed across the sky, and she realized: falling star.
Shutting her eyes, she took it all in, let out a deep sigh and then made her wish.
The moment the thought left her mind to flow into the great beyond, wherever wishes may go, footsteps settled in behind her. Immediately, she thought Trevor, but it wasn't his voice she heard.
“Someone seems more than a bit pensive tonight,” Lawrence said, settling against the balcony next to her, and slipping his arm around her waist.
He wore only a pair of black silk lounge pants and nothing else. He looked just as good, and just as comfortable, in them as he did in a tuxedo. She, on the other hand, had to be a frumpy mess. She'd put on her old comfy robe in order to get some alone time outside.
“Just thinking,” she said, not ready to share more yet.
She ran a hand through her hair, absentmindedly finger-combing the locks into place. It was hopeless.
“You look beautiful,” he said, gently taking her chin within his palm and turning her face up to look him in the eyes. “Anything I can do
to help?”
She wondered how a man so strong could understand such emotions in-depth. She would think that he'd be done with all those human feelings by now. Not only with that, but also with what he said he had been, Trevor, and now she, had brought him back to life—figuratively and literally.
She might as well get it over with. Once she spoke, there would be no going back, and she didn't want to get in any deeper with them. As it was, she wouldn't be able to escape without losing her heart. Weeks, months, years from now, it would only be harder.
“I want to have a baby, someday.”
She grimaced. Lawrence didn't say anything, and she immediately expected the worst. She had a feeling that it wouldn't go over well. She should have given him more time to get used to her being around before she dumped that heavy load on him. He didn't have any children. In the more than 150 years that he had been undead, if he'd wanted to raise a bunch of rug rats, he probably would have.
“It's only natural that you'd feel that way,” Lawrence said, sounding a bit wary of the conversation. “You're a young, vibrant woman, and hopefully now you're also in love.”
He paused, looking back into the room at the figure of Trevor lounging on the bed. “I get that feeling. After Trev and I found each other, we wanted to share that love with others, and we've been helping out with a few shelters around the city. But we wouldn't feel comfortable bringing one of those kids home into our house, though. It would be too much for them to handle.”
Lily hadn't thought about that situation. What life with her, with them, would be like. All she knew was that she had a very physical calling to create life, to nurture another living being. She hadn't grown up with a family, so any family—even one as unconventional as theirs—would already be so much better.
A tear slid down her face, and she turned to the side so Lawrence wouldn't see that she was crying.
“And unfortunately, if you actually want to have a baby of your own, I can't help you there,” Lawrence said. “My time of being able to father a child died a long time ago. But, if you decide to stay with me you'll never have to use birth control. It's not like I could knock you up.”