by Unknown
“Much more than you realize.” Jaouen’s response was in such a low voice that Kalaan could not make out the words.
“What did you say?” he asked.
“Oh, nothing important. But you can rely on us as well as on your devoted chief mate,” Jaouen replied, nodding in Lil’ Louis’ direction “To keep a watchful eye on your soulmate.”
Kalaan’s jaw dropped. The druid called Virginie his soulmate and coming from him, this was a revelation, for Jaouen was clairvoyant. Everything started to make sense. He and Virginie were predestined for one another; there could be no doubt.
The four men decided to set up a surveillance plan and then took leave of each other, or almost. Kalaan and Lil’ Louis, along with Skedaddle were at the door when the count noticed that Salam hadn’t moved.
“Are you not returning with me to the longhouse?”
“No, my brother. I moved in here this morning,” the Tuareg answered. “It is more practical for our... research.” Jaouen nodded in agreement.
“All right, until tomorrow then.”
“Kenavo[62], Kalaan! And be on your guard. The outcome is nigh,” cautioned the druid.
On these mysterious words, Kalaan turned to face the clammy darkness of the fog. His chief mate followed close behind with a lantern in his hand and the husky trotted happily behind the two of them.
“’Tis an odd bod, that druid… D’ye understand what he was talkin’ aboot with da outcome?”
“No, I don’t. But to understand his words, we must first understand who Jaouen really is. I have no idea what he and Salam are up to, but I’m fairly sure it has nothing to do with the curse. We will have to keep an eye on them as well.” Kalaan sounded very determined.
“Ya fer sure,” grunted Lil’ Louis.
Suddenly, the sound of someone running breathlessly stopped them in their tracks. It came from somewhere straight ahead of them and, if Kalaan wasn’t mistaken, the person was running in direction of the broken circle and the cliff. If the fog hadn’t been so thick, he could have seen who it was.
“Return to the village, don’t wait for me. I want to see what that noise was.”
“In that case, take this, lad,” Lil’ Louis said, handing him a gun.
“Trugarez[63]!”
Kalaan took off running; Skedaddle was at his side at first, but soon the dog ran ahead disappearing through the thick damp curtain of the fog. A few seconds later, a woman’s screams of terror urged him on. Kalaan’s heart started pounding painfully when he realized that the person he was chasing was Virginie.
Finally, he saw her. The husky was holding her by the hem of her skirt as she was lying with the upper part of her body hanging over the edge of the cliff, into the void. The animal had just caught her in time and Kalaan hurried to pull her back by the legs in a most unceremonious manner. Once she was safe on solid ground, he knelt next to her and took her in his arms.
“Virginie, ma kariadez[64], don’t cry, I’m here,” he whispered gently in her ear, repeating the words over and over, until she calmed down.
“Ka… Kalaan?” She gasped his name, clinging to his shirt with trembling fingers. “I... I was so… so frightened.”
“It’s all right, you’re safe now.”
Moved by a primal urge, the count leaned his head down and took Virginie’s lips in a tender kiss that quickly became passionate. He thrust his tongue into her mouth and was bewitched by its sweet aphrodisiac taste. Virginie was still gripping his shirt and offered herself to him with an ardor that mystified Kalaan, and lit him with a blazing, and compelling desire.
Forgetting their surroundings, the night, the fog and the dampness in their clothes, he laid her on the knoll in the middle of the broken circle. With his knee he spread her legs and lay partially on top of her, so she could feel the magnitude of his desire when he pushed his turgid masculinity against her hip.
She moaned and let out a little cry. Kalaan did not want to hurt her, nor did he want to move too fast. He tried to pull away slightly, but Virginie held him back by sliding one of her legs around his hips.
“My God Ginny,” he said in moaning growl, breaking off the kiss. She was breathing heavily and it was enchanting music to his ears. “Don’t tempt me anymore or…”
But she took his head between her hands and hushed him with a passionate kiss. It was too much for Kalaan to resist and the gentleman he wanted to be, gave way to the rake he had always been, with one difference. There at that precise moment, in Virginie’s arms, he was not a man, seeking his own pleasure and who would leave after a few hours of trifling with her. No, Kalaan wanted to share everything with her; he thought of nothing but her and what she was feeling. He trembled with the fear of being too brutal and losing control in the storm of desire that was the strongest he had ever known.
“Kalaan,” Virginie moaned his name as she moved beneath him.
She instinctively rocked her body back and forth against his in such a way that made him clench his teeth. He was so close to losing control, just like a teenager, during his first night of sensual delight.
The woman was driving him insane! He could usually spend hours during foreplay, and enjoyed taking his time, but here... if Virginie continued he would erupt in his trousers.
With one hand he lifted her skirt to her waist and greedily ran his fingers up her leg, past the bottom of her bloomers. When he found his way to where her legs joined, he ripped the cloth away. All the while he was exploring, he reclaimed her mouth with ardor thrusting his tongue relentlessly. His fingers finally found her warm and moist intimacy.
He could have taken her right then, for she was ready to receive him, but Kalaan delved into his will power to hold back longer. Moaning, he nibbled her neck, where her blood pulsed frenetically in the jugular. Before long, wanting more of her uniquely captivating mouth, he returned to her lips swollen from his previous kisses.
Virginie let out a long, blissful sigh and trembled as he began caressing her. She was on fire and Kalaan felt like he was the god of lava, wanting to make her his, to consume her with delectation, and watch her be reborn in his arms.
She held him even tighter, arching her hips moving slowly, then more and more languorously responding to his caress, which was growing more insistent. He lifted himself a little so that, using his night vision, he could see her, while she could only touch and feel him.
Her pale skin was luminous, almost supernatural and her gray eyes, dilated by passion, shone as bright as the morning star. Her long hair looked like copper laid out on the bed of green grass that was theirs.
“My little goddess,” murmured Kalaan, his heart swelling with love, before kissing her again, but more tenderly. “Where are we going?”
“To paradise, Kalaan. Take me there,” she whispered breathlessly.
“Is it what you truly wish for?”
“More than anything…”
Kalaan kissed her again; and then continued, following an invisible line from her lips to her chin and down her slender neck to her plump breasts partially uncovered by their lovemaking.
He gently nibbled a nipple and Virginie cried out in pleasure, and, writhing even more beneath him, slid her hands under his shirt to caress his back. Kalaan’s intimate caresses continued until she was so taut, he knew she was on the verge of ecstasy. This was how he wanted her, at the summit of pleasure, drunk with sensuality.
Kalaan unbuttoned his trousers, freeing his hardened member and shifted so he was between her slender legs. When he could no long hold back, he slowly entered her. At first Virginie stiffened at the intrusion, her eyes opened wide in surprise, and she gripped his tight biceps as he braced himself above her. Trembling from head to toe, he waited, giving her the time to pull away if she wanted, but she began to undulate, rolling her hips to welcome him and he thrust his member deep inside her, in one graceful movement.
He remained in her, up to the base in the burning vise that was gripping him, slowly thrusting and rubbing against Virginie.
Whimpering, she quivered and arched her body. But this was not how Kalaan wanted to see her release. Still inside her warm passionate body, he got on his knees and, holding her hips he began moving inside her, thrusting faster and harder, until ecstasy carried them off together to a world of exquisite pleasure where nothing could reach them.
There, in the broken circle, the love song of the soulmates melded together, resonated and floated up to the Sidhes, under the watchful eyes of the benevolent gods.
Virginie did not regret giving herself to Kalaan, for it was what she had always wanted. He has been in her thoughts and in her heart ever since she could remember. He hadn’t wooed her; romance had nothing to do with what happened between them and Virginie knew that this would not end in marriage. She did not want a wedding anyway. Destiny had taken charge of everything and put Kalaan in her path at a time when her world was falling apart.
Making love with him was like coming back to life, like rising back out of a bottomless pit and finally feeling alive again. She had given him her virginity, but that didn’t matter; and if she had the choice, she would do it again. Kalaan, felt her shiver beneath him and quickly withdrew to put her skirt back in place and buttoned up his trousers. He helped her up and removed his coat to put it over her shoulders.
It is pitch black out here! How can he move so easily and be so precise in his actions? It’s as if he could see me clearly, when I can only guess he’s at my side. Virginie wondered.
“I’m carrying you back to the longhouse,” he murmured, kissing her gently on the forehead; then he picked her up in his powerful arms.
“How can you see in the dark?” she whispered, curious to understand. She rested her cheek against his shoulder and closed her eyes as he walked.
Kalaan laughed, and the sound of his voice had the effect of a sensual caress. Lord, how could it be? She desired him again!“Well, let’s just say I know the isle like the back of my hand.”
“Thank you,” Virginie whispered, unexpectedly. Kalaan, surprised by these words, slowed his pace.
“What for?”
“For everything. Tonight, you saved my life.”
“No, that’s not true. Skedaddle prevented you from falling over the edge of the cliff. I simply grabbed your pretty legs and brought you back to solid ground.”
The husky, who had been very unobtrusive until then, started yipping happily when he heard his name. It was as if he’d understood his master’s words.
All of a sudden Virginie realized something. The animal only followed Catherine since she’d subdued him before the duchess Delatour. What was he doing with Kalaan?
“He must have followed you this evening,” Kalaan said as if he was reading her mind. “Huskies are very sensitive and can feel things such as strong emotions in those around them. We’re arriving at the longhouse where you’ll be able to warm up and then you can tell me everything that has happened.”
Virginie relaxed, but part of her mind remained preoccupied by the dog’s strange behavior. There was something more bothering her, but she couldn’t quite put her finger on it. It was like looking for a word that was at the tip of her tongue, but she couldn’t find it.
Soon, the light from the longhouse windows cut through the fog, just as they reached its courtyard. With Virginie still in his arms, the count opened the door with ease and closed it again behind them. The husky went straight to a rug near the fire and lay down, while Kalaan put Virginie down in an armchair near the hearth where the warmth wrapped around her and she sighed in delight. Kalaan once again took advantage of her distraction to take the gloves he’d left on the table and put them on.
“Tell me what happened tonight Ginny. I think ’tis about time I knew.”
His tone was gentle, but the young woman stiffened and paled. There was a long moment of silence and Kalaan thought she’d never open up to him, but when she did start to speak her voice was trembling.
“Supper had just finished and we were all in the drawing room to finish the evening. Darius… was there as well, and true to character his eyes full of dark promises never left me. I had to take leave to… well… to powder my nose, but when I returned he was there in the hall waiting for me with that horrible sneer of his. And so it was impossible to return to your mother and sister in the drawing room. Nor could I go upstairs to lock myself in my room. So I escaped, through the servants’ quarters and the kitchen, and then I ran outside into the park. For the longest time I could hear him breathing behind me but I continued to run, finding my bearings by remembering my outings with Catherine, then using the walls to guide me until… I arrived at the broken circle. Luckily you… you were there,” she stammered as she nervously wiped away her tears, carefully avoiding his eyes.
Kalaan understood only too well why. She needed to keep her distance in order to tell her story; but there was still something missing.
“Who is Darius to you, Ginny?”
“The man who murdered my father,” she replied with bitter detachment.
Kalaan held his breath clenching his fists. This revelation was so shocking he felt he’d been punched will full force. Josephe had been an excellent friend from whom he’d taken his distance, just as he had done with everyone who ever counted for him. He couldn’t help but feel that if he’d remained in Paris, near his loved ones, Josephe de Macy would still be alive!
The count sat down near Virginie, his elbows resting on his knees and his eyes lost in the flames of the fire so well maintained before his return by his young helper Gerald.
“You must tell me absolutely everything Virginie. I can protect you and with me at your side no one can harm you.”
The young woman looked deep into his eyes and nodded. She even managed to give him a feeble smile before tucking her long hair behind her ears with her trembling hands.
“Yes, I know that now.”
Those simple words moved Kalaan to such a point that he wanted desperately to take her in his arms, but he was afraid to interrupt her story.
So, she told him everything, from the events at the ball and Darius’ inappropriate advances to his many visits to their home in Paris, the fact that her father had seemed particularly tense for several months, everything up to the night of the argument and her father’s death following horrible suffering.
She also told him about the doctor’s suspicious behavior when he heard his delirious patient ramble on about Darius and a guild and how he’d changed his opinion on Josephe’s cause of death, when he’d originally said he suspected poison.
Finally she told him about the detective Josephe had told her to contact in case something serious happened; but that at the time she was far from thinking it would be at her father’s demise.
She met the investigator several times at an inn just outside of Paris and the meeting was always very discreetly organized. He was friend of the famous Vidocq and a former policeman, whose name was Georges Maltinard. The man was solid and affable and Virginie trusted him immediately. He guaranteed her he would discover what had happened to her father and why. He also said he would obtain the necessary evidence to incriminate Darius Borgas. Monsieur Maltinard also confirmed that he knew that the loathsome man was involved in some very seamy business. However, the affair was complicated because Darius Borgas was a member of Charles X’s intimate circle.
“I stayed shut away at home for months and I received news from him regularly. In his last letter Monsieur Maltinard told me he was nearing the end and that they would soon be able to arrest Darius. He also urged me to leave Paris for my own safety and not to inform anyone but him of my destination. We agreed I would leave my address in a sealed envelope with the former abbess of Holy Sepulcher who still lives in Paris, despite the convent being closed. But…”
“You never heard from him again, because the man they found in the Seine by Vidocq and the police force was Maltinard.”
“Yes.” Virginie’s voice was a just a whisper as her head dropped forward with weariness.“When that hor
rible Duchess Delatour presented him at dinner, and Darius smiled at me so coldly, I realized he had killed Maltinard, just as he had murdered… my father.”
Kalaan stood up and lifted the young woman into his arms and then sat down in the armchair, holding her against him.
“I felt so confident Kalaan. Coming here to the isle with Amélie and Isabelle gave me back my strength. I felt wonderful. Then the days went by without any letters and I started to feel more and more discouraged. Yet I remained hopeful. The beauty of this island and the sea helped me so much. And then… you returned…”
Kalaan kissed her tenderly on her forehead and smiled. “How horrible!” he said joking. “You thought you would finally be at peace here on Croz, and the pirate reappears! That obnoxious character from your childhood who called you butterball.”
Virginie laughed gently, won over by the young man’s humor. She had no more resentment about the past. As for Kalaan he was surprised by the similar paths their lives had taken. He, too, thought he would find refuge here on the island, and in a way, he had, because he made peace with his demons and no longer wished to leave his family to go in search of adventure. But that was without taking the curse into account.
“Your return was... to say the least… unconventional.” Virginie murmured her response, her breath softly caressing his chest through the opening in his shirt. “Especially when I think of your cousin’s arrival. The first time I saw her I had an ax in my hand and her trousers fell off!”
They both laughed out loud, Virginie, remembering that unforgettable moment, thinking she was telling Kalaan something new, and Kalaan reliving the moment, but from a different perspective since he was in the wildcat’s skin at the time. It all happened only a short time ago, yet it seemed so far away.
“Life, during those few days, was… almost perfect.” Virginie continued, thinking of Catherine and the strange feelings she’d stirred up. “But ever since ….he… I cannot bring myself to say his name... arrived, ‘tis a living hell and I am worried that I may have put you all in danger as well.”