Oriana and Eamon stood by the old Renault, beaming faces streaked with tears, arms held out to enfold them. This, thought Claudia, is love. This is home. She was bundled into the back seat, gentle hands cleaning her cuts, lips brushing her cheeks, cool touches soothing her brow.
Brishan’s arms circled her waist in a grip that was a little too tight and his emerald gaze fixed, still and unwavering, on hers. “How? What are you doing here?” he asked, his voice little more than a whisper.
Claudia’s eyes flicked from Oriana to Eamon and back again, nerves fluttering in her stomach.
“We’re saving your life, my nephew,” Oriana said. “But we didn’t think we might have to be bowling you over in the street.” She smiled, the cheeky twinkle of old returning to her eyes as she glanced at Claudia.
Like the sun peeping out from dark clouds, the corners of Brishan’s mouth tugged upwards and slowly, delightfully, his lopsided grin transformed his face.
“Bowling me over was the best thing you could have done. I thought I’d died when I fell, and that smack on my head…well, I thought it was heaven when I opened my eyes and saw you. Apart from the blood on your chin.” Brishan said, eyes wide with wonder, love.
Why can I feel his emotions? Almost taste them?
Claudia grazed his cheek with the back of her hand, trailing a path to his lips. One by one, he kissed her fingers, closing his eyes and inhaling deep through his nose.
Eamon stopped the car. They were in front of a row of public phone boxes.
“Hey! Can’t we just get her back home?” Brishan tapped his father on the back.
Eamon stepped out of the car and bent down to look through the window. “Steady on there, Casanova. We’ve managed to save you from killing yourself, so, hopefully, your little fairy here will keep you too occupied to get into any more trouble. And now, we’ll finish business my way.” He winked, almost strutting as he walked to the nearest phone.
Claudia looked up, and felt Brishan’s tears drop, one by one, onto her forehead.
No. No more. There’s been enough sorrow. I can’t take anymore. But her body tingled with the familiar foresight. Of danger. Of pain. I don’t want to know. Please.
“You know what he’s going to do, don’t you?” said Oriana, her breathing quick and her voice low. “He’s going to call the police. Every police station in the area and tell them about the secret entrance to the Lair. Not all of those officers can be corrupt. Someone will follow through. Someone has to.”
Oriana turned to look at Brishan, speaking directly to him of things Claudia was yet to understand. “And they can’t harm us now that he…now that we’re both out of there. To them, I am dead and no threat, and they have no way of finding out who you are, Brishan, even after the ruse is discovered…which it surely will be. That actor, Valentino, will deny it, and let’s just hope, for his sake, it doesn’t go public.” Oriana’s words tripped over themselves in her race to say it all, her face stretched in a forced smile.
What is she hiding? Claudia’s chest tightened as if she’d held her breath to long. “Where…where is Dane?” The question spilled from her mouth before fear froze her vocal cords.
Oriana’s eyes shone with unshed tears. She sighed, turning to nod at Brishan.
Brishan’s arms cradled her so tight that her ribs ached with the pressure. “I love you,” he whispered, his eyes scanning her face.
“I love you too.”
“I think, somewhere deep down, you already know what we have to tell you.”
Claudia gasped for air, the weight of realisation bearing down on her with unrelenting force.
Tears pooled in Brishan’s eyes as he stroked her cheek, her hair, murmuring her name over and over in a broken, grief stricken tone. “I’m so, so sorry…my beautiful girl…hold onto me, I’ve got you…Dane is…gone from this life.”
Gone. No…he can’t be…can’t breathe.
Take the words back.
Take it back.
Chapter Sixteen
The Treasure Trove
Claudia swam to the centre of the lake, her arms slicing the surface in powerful, even strokes. There, Brishan waited, his skin glowing under the twilight sky. Water lapped at his shoulders and she noticed how strong he was, how alert, always there to protect her.
She smiled, knowing there was no need, not now, not when her body grew stronger and stronger as the months flew by. She pushed forward to swim into his arms, watching his biceps clench as he pulled her close.
Beautiful, he’s so, so beautiful.
Her nose lifted to breathe in his scent. She let her hands graze his chest, loving the hard muscles beneath. “We should get back, you know how Margaret gets when we’re late for tea.” Claudia glanced over her shoulder towards the chateau, just visible in the dimming light.
“Hmm. No, I don’t want to leave…not just yet.” Brishan ran his fingers over her lips and she parted them, helpless under his gaze.
He sighed, lifting her chin to kiss her, feeding on her lips, her cheeks, her neck.
Her legs clenched his waist as he waded into the shallows. She laced her fingers through his dripping hair, sliding them over his ears, trailing a path from his nose to the edge of his jaw.
When her feet touched soft sand, she stood to face him. Brishan rubbed her shoulders, hooking his fingers under the straps of her swimsuit to slide them over her arms — so slowly that she ached for the moment the cloth left her body. Heavy with cool water, the swimsuit grazed her nipples as it fell away, leaving her bare under his gaze.
“You’re…” He cleared his throat, one hand reaching for her face. “You’re the most beautiful thing on earth.” His chest rose and fell, faster and faster as his emerald eyes feasted on her body.
Soft kisses followed his fingers across her collarbone, between her breasts, teasing her tightening stomach. He moaned, his breath hot on her skin as he curled one hand around her side and wove the other into her hair, pulling her closer; closer into him.
I could drown in this.
She gasped; her mouth opening on his, her mind relishing his sharp intake of breath as their tongues connected.
Then, he was picking her up, carrying her to the grassy bank, pushing her with urgency against the ancient oak tree. Their fingers entwined as he raised her arms above her head and gazed down at her naked body.
Her eyes fluttered closed; she could taste his desire in the air. One hand clasped her wrists, holding her captive against the rough bark of the tree. The other trailed down her arm, his hot palm leaving mini fires in its wake as he cupped her breast. She swayed, squirming and twisting against the rising tension as he rubbed one finger down the centre of her, circling and probing until she arched against him, her blood roaring through her veins.
“I love you,” he whispered, his voice husky in her ear.
She cried out; moaning as he pressed into her; changing her, claiming her as his own.
On this, her eighteenth birthday.
“Claudia!” Margaret’s voice competed with the dusk loving crickets as it echoed over the valley.
Claudia shivered, her nerve endings still exquisitely sensitive. She sat up within the circle of Brishan’s arms.
“I’ve wanted you, like that, for so long.” His eyes flicked back and forth over hers, to her lips, and up again.
“I know,” she whispered. “Me too.”
“Was it…are you…are you all right?”
“I’m in love.” Melting. I’m melting in his eyes. Do I feel different? She inspected her body, looking for physical marks of first time, passionate, all-encompassing sex. Stupid. There was only love.
“Oh no. Terrible infliction, being in love. But I know how you feel.” Brishan winked, finding her clothes, helping her dress. He kissed the tip of her nose, lifting her in his arms to carry her home. Home.
Lights burned bright in the kitchen. Brishan lowered her to the step at the back door, putting one finger to his mouth. They rested their ears against the
wood, laughing into their hands as they listened for Margaret. Claudia could hear footsteps in the kitchen, too many it seemed, but the sharp-tongued voice of the housekeeper was absent. She nodded, and Brishan turned the handle.
“Happy Birthday to you,
Happy Birthday to you,
Happy Birthday, dear Claudia,
Happy Birthday to you!”
Claudia’s hands flew to her cheeks. Her eyes widened at the sight of Margaret and Lenny, Oriana, Selina and Eamon, even Cosima, all singing at the top of their lungs, clapping, smiling and reaching to hug her.
A cake took pride of place in the middle of the table; three layers of chocolate dotted with delicate icing roses. Eighteen candles glowed, one in the middle of each rose.
“Margaret, it’s a masterpiece!” Claudia threw her arms around the housekeeper.
Margaret beamed. “You deserve a masterpiece for your special birthday, dear. Mind you, it took so long to make, I hardly want to eat it now.”
Lenny chuckled, putting his arms around them both. “The little lass here and I’ll be happy to eat it for you.” He winked, a special wink just for her, and her stomach clenched with love for him.
Please let me keep this feeling forever.
“Come into the parlour, Claudia, while Margaret finishes the tea.” Oriana caught her elbow, leaning in close to her ear. “You’re positively glowing, precious.”
Claudia blushed under Oriana’s amused, sideways glance, ducking her head into the gypsy’s arm.
“I…um…” Snow-White and Rose-Red fluttered about her head, beckoning with dancing hands. Claudia welcomed the distraction.
“It’s okay, sweetheart. I promise I won’t joke about it…much.” Oriana laughed, pulling her in for a tight hug. “I’m just so thrilled for you both. But if you want to talk, you know you can tell me anything.” Oriana smiled, pushing the parlour door open and presenting the room with a sweeping hand.
Flowers, vines and miniature fairy statues decorated the red velvet walls, swayed from the ceiling and glistened in the light of hundreds of candles. Oriana nudged her forward, into the centre, her smile so radiant it took Claudia’s breath away.
A single, haunting note from a violin pierced her soul. She turned, gasping as Brishan stepped forward from the flickering shadows. The bow, in his hands, moved with heart-breaking grace as he teased Rimsky-Korsakov’s ‘Scheherazade’ from the strings. One by one, her loved ones drifted in to stand behind her, mesmerised by the music.
Above the sound, she heard Margaret sniffling and Lenny clearing his throat; embarrassed, no doubt, by the sentiment.
Then, only awed silence greeted Brishan as he lowered the bow, still gazing at her, the corners of his lips tugging upwards. Claudia cupped her hands over her mouth and blew him a kiss.
“Good heavens, Brishan, that is the most beautiful thing I’ve ever heard,” Margaret gushed, wiping her eyes with the corner of her apron. “Well, almost as good as hearing the news that Edward Spencer was hauled off to jail last week.”
“Shush, love, now’s not the time to bring that up,” Lenny covered Claudia’s ears with his hands, eyebrows raised high at the housekeeper.
Cosima clapped her hands together, a rare smile lighting her face. “You’re right, Lennard, let’s not defile the moment.” The master healer turned to Brishan. “Your talent defies even your own extraordinary heritage, my boy. Come, it is time.” Her gaze fixed on Claudia, darting around as the witch caught sight of Snow-White and Rose-Red. “Off with you, girls, she needs to focus.”
Margaret shuffled her feet. “Erm, I’ll just go back to getting the tea. I’ll be needing some help, please.”
Poor Margaret, still scared of what she can’t see — or understand. Claudia realised that maybe she was too.
Selina and Eamon hugged each other as they left with Margaret. Cosima and Lenny followed the couple, looking far too excited about the prospect of helping in the kitchen.
Claudia shivered with unexpected nerves.
“We have another gift for you, birthday fairy.” Brishan caught both her hands in his, pulling her down to sit on the floor.
Oriana already sat, cross-legged, before them. “To receive this gift, you need do nothing but close your eyes and concentrate. Concentrate on the thread to the astral plane. Catch hold of it and climb towards the sky, thinking of nothing but love.” Oriana placed her hands on top of theirs and closed her eyes.
Brishan swirled his fingers inside her palm. Be still, calm, relaxed. His voice filled her head. But how?
Silence arrived: warm, deep silence. The black behind her eyes soon filled with white and the gold thread dangled above, daring her to catch hold of it. Climbing was easy, she felt weightless, energetic, joyful. Higher and higher, one hand over the other, she moved towards the bright white.
Her fingers slipped from the end of the thread and her body relaxed into stillness. Thick tendrils of mist caressed her skin, bathed her body in gold and tickled her nose with the smell of spring. Her hands floated in the air of their own accord, stretching to wade through the mist.
The mist started to thin, to drift away, leaving in its wake a tranquillity that spread through her veins until she felt the subtle, golden glow transfuse with her blood.
Far in the distance, a man walked towards her: a black silhouette with greens and purples and yellows surrounding it like a rainbow halo. Threads curled from his body, reaching out to her, connecting her body to his. She squeezed her eyes shut tighter, trying to focus on his red shirt, black jeans and tanned, bare feet. Black curls bounced as he started to run and dark, dark eyes crinkled at the corners with his smile.
She stretched her hand out, incapable of speech or movement.
“Claudia, my daughter.”
But…it’s not possible.
Dane opened his arms, his laughter feeding her soul. “Oh, but it is. In this realm, almost anything is. Happy Birthday, little lady of the glass house.”
She flew into his arms, grasping his back, smelling his shirt, resting her head against his chest to hear his heartbeat. Real, he’s real. I feel him. Am I dreaming?
Again, he laughed. “Not quite, but soon you will understand. That’s what I’ve come to tell you, my precious child, that your path, along the gypsy trail, has only just begun, and that’s the greatest gift that I…that all of us…can give you.”
The rush of love swelling her chest was too much to contain and Claudia opened her eyes. The vision was gone.
But Brishan’s green gaze was there, holding hers, safe in their emerald glow.
She blinked, pushing her hair back from her face, looking towards the ceiling as if Dane would be there, floating above them. “What…how…” She swallowed, caught between fear and awe.
“It’s okay, Claudia, nothing to be scared of. Your world will soon open to these mysteries, as you learn, as you grow. Dane can’t be with us…always…” Oriana glanced down at her own hands, a single tear tracing a path down her cheek. “But, he’s not gone in the way that you think he is. Our spirits are eternal, and eternally connected. Brishan?” She quirked a brow at her nephew, and Brishan blushed.
He’s blushing? Claudia sensed his discomfort, fear almost. She squeezed his hand and her spine tingled, sensing…what? Danger?
He took a deep breath, hiding his eyes beneath his black lashes. When he next looked up, the green burned with an unnatural, other-worldly glow. “Claudia, we…I…have something to tell you. Something you must know. It’s time for you to know.”
Claudia’s eyes darted from Brishan, to Selina, and back again.
“My precious fairy. You know I love you. I have loved you forever, thousands of years, in fact.”
A nervous giggle bubbled in her throat. “I feel like I’ve loved you forever too, maybe not thousands of years…” Her laugh erupted: a shallow, quivering mockery.
He gazed at her lips, then met her eyes with shocking intensity. “I speak the truth. I have loved you for thousands of years beca
use…”
Sweat trickled a path down her spine.
“You are my twin flame. The other half of my soul. Our paths are intrinsically linked, and yours, my fairy, blends with mine as a healer. It has been foretold that…our child”—again, he blushed—“will be a guiding light for humanity towards peace. A great spiritual leader, but…you must begin extensive training. That’s what Dane meant by the gypsy trail. It won’t be easy Claudia…and you must first swear an oath to follow the path. Forever. Will you do this?”
Claudia closed her eyes. Tasted the challenge in the air…the secret treasure trove of endless mystery opening before her. And she knew she belonged in its depths.
“Yes.”
And the wind whistled through the chateau’s turrets, gaining force, trapped and swirling in narrow crevices. A storm, dense clouds still forming in the distance, rumbled as lightening pierced the dark. Perched high on their ledges, the shadows of gargoyles stretched their talons, inching towards the storm and beyond, to the new light of morning.
Inside, the candles flickered, as if in response to the chaos outside…brewing with the promise of fires lit in the wake of the past.
About the Author
Information about Nicole Leigh West can be found at the author’s website, www.nicoleleighwest.com or www.facebook.com/nicoleleighwest
Lodestone Books is a new imprint, which offers a broad spectrum of subjects in YA/NA literature. Compelling reading, the Teen/Young/New Adult reader is sure to find something edgy, enticing and innovative. From dystopian societies, through a whole range of fantasy, horror, science fiction and paranormal fiction, all the way to the other end of the sphere, historical drama, steam-punk adventure, and everything in between. You’ll find stories of crime, coming of age and contemporary romance. Whatever your preference you will discover it here.
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