Battle of Forces: Sera Toujours

by Ali Vali

  “At first I thought it was some misguided attempt to exhaust me to the point I couldn’t fight if needed, but it didn’t make any sense. Julius knew better, and the Romans had nothing to fear from me.”

  “What was it then?”

  Northern Italy, AD 452

  The taste of dawn was in the air, and Asra stretched out next to the woman still in her tent. She kept her eyes closed and pretended to be asleep to see if the woman had any other plans. If she was an assassin she’d make her move soon; she was now in a kneeling position next to Asra but was dead still.

  The woman started chanting in a language Asra didn’t understand and moved her fingers methodically over Asra’s lower abdomen right above her thigh. The sensation was magical and Asra kept her eyes closed to enjoy it, but after a few more moments, it stopped and the woman laid her hand over her heart.

  “One day the story of the sword will be revealed to you, and until it comes to pass, you’ll wear my mark. The sea serpent will only uncoil for its true master, and when it does it will change your life forever if you choose wisely.” The woman kissed her again and whispered her final message close to her ear: “Take care and know I’ll always look over you and those you love.”

  Oakgrove, Present Day

  “For the second time in less than a day I opened my eyes and the woman was gone, and I felt almost drunk when I moved. That was why I missed the vivid detail of what she’d done, and I’ve always wished I’d focused sooner.”

  Piper stood and knelt between her legs. “Focused on what?”

  “I left that out of the story because I thought no one would believe me, but when I opened my eyes I could’ve sworn I saw…” She let her voice fade away, still somewhat convinced the woman and all of it were caused by some form of madness.

  Piper put her hands on Kendal’s thighs and rubbed them softly. “Whatever you saw was real, so don’t doubt yourself. I certainly don’t.”

  Kendal pointed to the spot where the woman had concentrated her touch. “I saw a tattoo of a dragon right here, but it faded fast. I thought maybe she was a witch sent from one of the nearby tribes to curse me, but in my heart I couldn’t believe that.” She still thought of that encounter and the dragon the woman had somehow drawn, but nothing like it had happened again. “When I sat up the sword lay next to me, and the dragon coiled at the end of the pommel exactly matched my tattoo.”

  “And you never saw the woman again?”

  She shook her head as she helped Piper to her feet. “She and the tattoo disappeared that morning, but the sword has been mine since then. It looked a little dainty, but I wore it the next day even though we didn’t fight. With the extra help the Romans didn’t exactly win, but they did stop Attila’s advance, and since he died the next winter, the Hun threat died with him.”

  “How so?”

  “He had sons, but none of them had enough support to rule outright, so Attila’s empire crumbled when it fractured into different warring tribes. The only thing that’s important to us about all this is that your vision showed the day after my visit from the mysterious woman.”

  Piper stood on her toes and softly bit her chin. “Lucky for you it was the day after.”

  She laughed, enjoying Piper’s playful side. “Lucky how?”

  “Erik Wolver would’ve had to explain her black eye this morning,” Piper said before she kissed her. “Thanks for the story, and now that you’ve finished, we have something to do.”

  “Run up and try out the bed this time?”

  Piper kissed her again and laughed. “What a one-track mind you have, which is something I’m grateful for, but hold that nasty thought.” She took Piper’s hands and followed her out of the room. “Let’s find Morgaine and Lenore and compare your story to what they know about this.”

  “You think they withheld something?” That had never happened, to her recollection.

  “I might or might not be this great seer everyone’s been waiting for, but I don’t need a gift like that to know they did.”

  “Why are you so sure?”

  “Call it women’s intuition,” Piper said as she closed the room back up. “Stories are never as easy as they met and they lived happily ever after. We’ve got some lumps coming and I want to know how bad it’s going to be.”

  “I never thought of it that way.”

  “That’s why you hooked up with the sarcastic boatbuilder from New Orleans.”

  “Well,” she said, and wiggled her eyebrows.

  “Such a one-track mind.”

  Chapter Eight

  “All recovered from last night?” Molly asked when Kendal and Piper joined everyone in the front parlor.

  “Hey, Gran.” Piper kissed her grandparents as Morgaine smiled at Kendal from her seat. “We slept in since we had so much fun last night, so I hope we didn’t keep you waiting long?”

  “You know your grandfather. We were thirty minutes early, but it did give us a chance to meet some of Kendal’s colleagues.” The way Molly said it made Kendal glance at Morgaine and Lenore again to see what, if anything, they were up to. “And it gave me the chance to appreciate this most authentic copy of The Ninth Wave.” Molly walked to the painting over the mantel. “I saw the original in St. Petersburg when we toured Russia. I forget the artist’s name.”

  “Ivan Aivazovsky,” Kendal said, and was glad for Molly’s faulty attention to minute detail. The painting wasn’t a copy and wasn’t the one she thought, but it was one of Ivan’s. “I’d tell you more about its history, but I’m sure someone in the family picked it up somewhere because they thought it’d look good up there.”

  Piper shook her head and laughed at the obvious lie, but art usually was cheap when the artist was young and starving, and you had the time to shop during the day while vampires slept. “Would you like a tour?”

  Molly accepted Kendal’s arm and asked numerous questions as they walked through the house. Piper took Mac’s and followed, but Morgaine and Lenore disappeared outside. Kendal wanted to know if they’d contacted Rolla, and how it’d gone, but putting Piper’s family at ease was a priority, especially if they accepted her invitation.

  “Except for running water and electricity, everything in here seems to be original to the house.” Molly ran her hand over the carvings on the desk in Kendal’s study. “That’s extraordinary. Even the wealthiest families lose pieces to marriage and inheritance eventually.”

  “Oakgrove’s been lucky, then, that no one’s thought to take anything away.” Kendal opened the doors to the formal dining room. It was too cold to eat outside, and the staff Morgaine and Lenore had brought loved to show off for people who appreciated the effort. “Mrs. Marmande.” She pulled out Molly’s chair.

  “I taught for years but still consider myself a student of history, so thank you for the tour. You have a wonderful delivery of the facts that’d be a wonder in the classroom. Once you get tired of the corporate world, you should think about an encore in education.” Molly smiled at the young woman who served the seafood gumbo as their first course.

  “I’d like you to return the favor and join us for a trip I have to take for business. Piper’s agreed to join me, but we’d love for you both to come too.”

  Morgaine stared at Kendal as if she’d gone mad, but Lenore nodded and slapped her hands together as if she couldn’t wait to get started.

  “With the contracts we’ve got lined up, this might not be a good time for both Piper and me to leave town,” Mac said, making Molly lose her smile.

  “That’s why we have a management team, Pops.” Piper shook her finger at him. “Besides, I’m sure Kendal’s country house has a phone and Internet service.”

  “Country home where?” Mac asked.

  “Outside London, and there’s room for everyone, so don’t disappoint the Marmande girls,” she said, and Mac nodded, but not enthusiastically. “Great, we’d like to leave tomorrow if you can swing it.”

  “We’ll be ready, don’t worry,” Molly said, followe
d by a muffled thump, which Kendal guessed was Molly kicking Mac under the table.

  “Tomorrow’s fine.” Mac smiled.

  The rest of lunch was uneventful and leisurely, but once they were done, the Marmandes left to pack with a promise they’d be ready by ten the next morning. Morgaine was right behind Kendal with her hands on her hips as she closed the door.

  “Do you think that’s wise?”

  “You can argue with me later about anything else, but they’re coming. We don’t know who to trust, and they’ll be in danger as soon as every enemy I’ve made figures out what Piper means to me. I won’t leave them here with no idea of how to defend themselves.”

  “We’re going to pick up a sword, not search for all the hidden vampire lairs in England.”

  “What haven’t you and Lenore said about all this?” Kendal asked when Lenore joined them.

  “I’m still researching and have some other materials being delivered to Farthington,” Lenore said as she held both her and Morgaine’s hands. “Once I know everything, you will, but I want to be sure so we don’t make any mistakes.”

  “So you don’t know any more than what you’ve said about the sword or Piper?” Considering what Piper had said, her suspicion of being kept in the dark was starting to grow.

  “Kendal,” Lenore placed her hands on her chest and looked up at her, “Morgaine and I will never hurt you or Piper for any reason. We knew the moment Piper came to us after you left that if we put you back together, you’d give her the elixir if she agreed. We knew, and we were prepared to fight whoever tried to punish you because we thought you deserved love and happiness. Please don’t start to doubt our commitment and loyalty to both of you.”

  “Doubt in you has nothing to do with my question.” Kendal covered Lenore’s hands with hers. “But if you’re not telling me something, I need to know, especially if it has to do with Piper.”

  “Can you wait until I have all the facts?”

  “I have no choice,” she said, but smiled. “I trust you both, and I’m grateful you understood what Piper means to me.”

  “You love fiercely, and we might need that passion in the coming days,” Morgaine said. “Lenore woke Piper, but the prophecy come to life might’ve woken something else too.”

  *

  “If this was going to work, it should’ve by now.” Travis paced around the body lying naked in the sand.

  “Everything’s healed and his body’s filled out, so give it a few more days. You can’t expect instant results if he’s been asleep for over fifteen hundred years.” Bailey rubbed oil along the now-muscular body.

  Travis watched, amazed at the transformation. When they’d brought their prize here he’d resembled one of the mummies from the museum in Cairo, but the elixir had done its job and brought his body back to its original state. The power of the sun would really bring eternal life, of that he had no doubts now.

  “He’s breathing, but it could take months for him to wake up. If his brain was as shriveled as his dick, he might not be of any use to us.”

  “So much time with Rolla should’ve taught you to curb your crudeness, but if it’s all you understand, his dick seems fine to me.” Bailey slathered it with oil. The daily ritual had made the leathery skin start to appear healthy.

  “Take a good look and remember what he looked like when we found him, because it’ll give you a picture of what’ll happen to us if Rolla finds out.”

  “You’ve been good to Rolla.” Bailey lovingly stroked the man’s penis. “He’ll forgive you anything with time.”

  “If you think that, you weren’t paying attention to the story you read me. When I was a soldier this was considered treason.” Travis was about to head back and give Bailey up when a gasp came from the man, and he suddenly sat up and quickly drew his hands to his throat. When he made it to his feet, he was panting but was in a defensive position, as if to ward off any more harm.

  “Master.” Bailey dropped his hands and bowed his head. “You’ve come back to me.”

  “Asra.” The raspy voice made it hard to understand him, but Travis got the name.

  “She still lives and serves the Elders, but there are signs the prophecy has begun.”

  “Who is this?”

  “Tell him to speak in a language I understand,” Travis said, his hand on the pommel of his sword. He wasn’t about to lose control of Bailey now.

  “He just wants to know who you are,” Bailey said, but his eyes never left the man’s body.

  “I am Julius, Elder of the Genesis Clan,” Julius said in French.

  “Travis,” he said, and threw Julius a bag with clothes. “Are you okay to travel?”

  “After so much sleep I’m well rested enough for anything, so lead the way.”

  Travis had to laugh at the humor, and that Julius was this sharp this soon meant they might actually have a chance to pull this off. “Bailey will take care of you and get you to safety. I’ll meet both of you as soon as I put Rolla at ease.”

  He started back to the compound and saw Bailey and Julius kiss when he glanced back. Bailey’s devotion to the fallen Elder might become a problem, but he had no choice but to return to Rolla. They needed more information before they could snatch the prize Julius had tried to get with Attila’s help.

  “You’ll get to see the reality of it, Julius, but I’ll be the one wielding the power.”

  *

  Their plane arrived two days later with an extra unexpected guest, since Hill had accepted Kendal’s invitation after their follow-up meeting about the now-missing Leonardo. “Sit for a moment while I take care of these.” Kendal held up everyone’s passport.

  “Don’t we have to go through customs?” Mac looked out the window to the private hangar they’d taxied into.

  “They’ll come inside if that’s necessary, but no sense all of us standing out in the cold.” She took the stairs quickly and handed the stack of documents to the deputy, whose allegiance was first to the Elders and then to the British government.

  “Will you be in the country long, Lord Wallace?” the man asked as he stamped her British passport with the appropriate documentation.

  “About a week.” She took back each one as he finished with it.

  “Call me directly if you have any problems. Ming arranged transportation to the house whenever you’re ready.”

  The 1933 Rolls-Royce Phantom that sat near the door gleaming like it’d just been driven off the lot was one of her favorites, but the limo accommodated only two people comfortably. She and Piper could enjoy the ride and talk while the others traveled in the newer cars Ming had sent. She would have offered the prize of her British collection to the Marmandes, but Lord Wallace wanted to take Lady Wallace home in style.

  “What a beauty,” Mac said when they all deplaned.

  “I thought Piper would enjoy a bit of old England before I have to attend to my business.” The staff loaded the bags, but she and Piper took off before they finished so she could talk to Farthington House’s butler, Ming, before their guests arrived.

  The Phantom was old, but it was in perfect mechanical condition and kept up with traffic with no problem. As they left London, she pointed out things of interest as they made their way to Kent.

  “Where’s the house?” Piper asked when they turned and passed through the large gates.

  “It came with a bit of land, so patience, my love. You wouldn’t want your grandparents to think I can’t provide for you,” she said as a joke. “These fields have never looked the same since the families I brought from Oakgrove moved on, but for years they were happy to call this home. Most of the homes they built around the acreage still stand, while others make for interesting ruins.”

  Ten miles in, the house came into view and Piper let out a long whistle. “When you said country house, this isn’t what I pictured.”

  Farthington had fifteen bedrooms for guests, a grand ballroom, and enough art on its walls to fill a museum. Ming and three of his staff stood
outside ready to greet them. The Li family had come to work here in the mid-1800s, and every generation since had not only kept her secrets but stayed in her employ. Farthington was more their home than hers.

  “Welcome home, Lord Wallace. I hope your flight was satisfactory,” Ming said in Chinese.

  “Thank you for making all the arrangements. Your choice of cars almost makes up for all this rain and cold weather.” She answered him in Chinese and returned his bow. “I hope you don’t mind English for the rest of our stay.”

  “Certainly not,” he said with a perfect British accent.

  “Then let me introduce you to Piper Marmande, the new lady of Farthington.” She put her arm around Piper as Ming kissed her hand.

  “It’s my pleasure to meet you, Lady Wallace. The staff and I look forward to serving you.”

  “Piper, Ming is the butler and manager of the estate,” she said when Piper didn’t let Ming’s hand go.

  “Thank you for the welcome,” Piper said when Ming straightened up.

  “Is everyone ready for the mob we’ve got coming?”

  “Their rooms are ready, and we have a variety of meals planned we hope will be to everyone’s liking. We put all the books that arrived for Lenore in the grand library, along with a few letters from the Elders for Lenore, and some for you.”

  “Thanks, I’ll go through them later.” The other cars were close and more staff members had come out with umbrellas for the light rain that’d replaced the mist.

  “Will you require anything other than what we talked about for this evening?”

  “No, but remember one important thing.” Ming came closer as the cars stopped. “It’s Kendal Richoux who’s here for a visit.”

  “Lord Wallace?” Piper whispered. “How do you remember all these names?”

  “Years of practice,” she said as she held the large umbrella over both of them. “You’ll get the hang of it.”

  Piper nodded and stood smiling as her grandparents got out with Hill. One of the things she’d planned to do before dinner was to find out what was bothering her grandfather. He’d clammed up after the lunch at Oakgrove, and no amount of asking had made him talk.