‘All I am asking is that you recogise your daughter.’
For the first time Tomasina turned to Lilah. Just for a moment her stern furrowed bow relaxed before again returning to aversion.
‘Very well,’ she said. ‘If I agree to talk, you must promise me that you will not harm my son and that this will be the last and only time we discuss this.’
I nodded and she led us through a narrow laneway towards a private residence. We entered by a side door up narrow stairs and into a small foyer.
Two servants attended to her coat and we sat on sofas. The room was opulent with stained glass sheet windows, high backed plush chairs and vases from the east. There were no refreshments requested, which suggested she was not planning to host a lengthy discussion.
‘Talk,’ she commanded and I looked to Lilah who had requested this audience.
Lilah pulled at her fingers in her lap nervously, a trait she had owned since childhood. She had always been bold and for the first time I saw her vulnerability.
‘Tomasina,’ she began. ‘Until recently I did not know of my parents. I have recently learnt that my father is dead, and though you do not regard me as your daughter, I would very much like it if we were to be friends.’
‘Mother?’ said Andrew questioningly.
‘Be quiet,’ she scolded and Andrew pouted. He had been swaddled by his protective mother since birth. Then Tomasina did something unexpected. She rubbed her eyes and sighed with an almost defeated resignation. With some of the anger gone, I could see clearly the pain of her decisions etched across her face. Andrew sat on the edge of the chair bewildered and she gently touched her son’s leg to calm: ‘This girl is your twin sister but that is all you need to know right now.’
‘My sister?’
‘She was sent to a convent by your father as a child.’
‘Why?’
‘It does not matter why,’ she said, swatting the question away with her hand. ‘That decision is dead and buried with him.’
The boy had been kept from the knowledge of his witch ancestry.
Andrew turned to Lilah. ‘What is your name?’
‘Lilah…’
‘That was not always your name,’ his mother interrupted. ‘That is the dreadful name your grandmother wanted. Stephen named you Marissa but perhaps it is best you leave that in the past also.’
‘We must have some sort of celebration,’ said Andrew, with an excited edge to his voice.
‘No,’ said Tomasina firmly. ‘Please sit down Andrew. I am pleased that you are looking well…Lilah, but you must know that this meeting is quite a shock, and that we can never have the relationship you are seeking. It is too late to turn back the clock and it is best that you live your life the way you know it.’
I could see that tears were building in Lilah’s eyes. I had seen her distraught before but the sight of heartache from rejection made me wish we had never come.
‘Tomasina, you will have your wish but you must remember that this is your own blood, your daughter. Circumstances should not have allowed a child to be discarded no matter how good the intentions. You have the chance to mend a bridge.’
‘No, Gabriel. You made a promise and you have broken it. I do not need to mend a bridge. Stephen would be saddened by your betrayal. I will be loyal to him till the end even if you can’t.’
She was right of course…there was no turning back. But, I would always fight for Lilah. Even leaving the castle with Arianne was for Lilah and I had to mend the regretful past that had come between us.
‘Can you tell me about my father?’ Lilah asked
Tomasina visibly weakened at the mention of him, a man she had truly loved. Her shoulders slumped and her hair loosened from their clasps. It was as if all the years in upholding the secret had kept her severe and controlled. Finally, she could find some release from her conscience.
‘Stephen was a good man but with a tortured soul. He turned his back on his strigoi family and such knowledge of himself killed his spirit. If there are any regrets it is that we could have run away from everything and brought up our two children in another place where birthrights did not count for anything, not for the crown and not for your kind.’ She looked to me.
Andrew sat confused gazing upon his mother as if he had never heard such loving words coming form her mouth.
‘He loved you beyond anything, which was why you were left. You can never know that giving you up eventually killed him. Not a day went by when he did not think of you. His spirit finally broke along with his heart. I had him buried far away where he will rest in peace, away from your grandmother who might have had other ideas for his body. And not even you should know the whereabouts in case you are tempted.’
Lilah did not flinch from such a remark; witches could be brought back with magic. I did not know the methods. Lewis held such secrets, guarded somewhere in his vast library, and I wondered then how much Lilah knew of such. I also knew that Tomasina would keep her husband’s burial a secret for eternity.
She stood then and walked towards her daughter taking both her hands in each of her own and bringing her to her feet. She embraced Lilah who cried softly into her shoulder like a small child.
Tomasina’s own eyes were now filled with tears. ‘You must go my dear. There are other paths for you than here and it is important for Andrew’s future that you do not enter into any correspondence with him. I owe it to my husband to do as he asked. You must stay out of sight and safe wherever you are. If you were to suddenly appear now, people would talk. I have Andrew’s reputation to think of.’
‘I have a child…’ but then Lilah broke off. Tomasina would be shattered to learn who and what her husband was. ‘And what of Andrew? How do you explain to him?’
‘I will tell him what he needs to know.’
‘When he is used to the idea, perhaps he can come and see me.’
‘Perhaps.’
But even I knew that this was a false promise, even as to how much she would really tell Andrew.
‘Gabriel, you have clearly taken care of her, and she has a good heart. Please make sure she does not have the change for the sake of her soul and for the sake of your promise.’
We left then but Lilah turned to speak once more. ‘One thing I must say to you. You should not return to Hungary. No good will come of it.
Tomasina frowned. ‘It is his royal birthright and it is where we belong. Eventually he must claim his royal throne.’
Once we were in the streets we walked in silence towards the canal. It was several minutes before she spoke
‘I had another vision back there. Neither will live long if they return to the kingdom of Hungary. And there will be an illegitimate daughter named after me, who will never know the use of her skill or who she is.’
‘There would be many hundreds of those in royal lines, unaware of what blood they carried.’
We returned to the piazza and approached the water. Gabriel paid another oarsman to take us back to the bridge. We sat there under a full moon, my skills and strength and desires heightened under its brilliance. The boat was well paid for and superior to others we had travelled with cushions on the seats and a canopy. We sat close to protect her from the breeze, while the oarsman behind us whistled softly over gently lapping water. I put my arms around her to kiss the top of her head and her hair smelt like roses.
When Lilah’s tears had finally dried, she whispered: ‘Thank you.’ Her warm breath touched my cheek and when I turned to respond I found that our mouths were touching. My heart began to pound and in time with hers. Something had changed between us in the moment. We were taken back in time to that first kiss I had stolen in the castle and suddenly it felt as it should. I could not control the urge to kiss her and she relaxed into my arms.
When I finally found the strength to end the embrace I instructed the boatman to go to Antonio’s house, and Lilah did not object. Neither of us wished to return to the carnival.
At the house our hosts were
not yet home and possibly would not arrive until daylight. We retreated to our bedroom and lit a candle.
Lilah stood there, and I undressed her for the second night. Her face glowed under candlelight and her eyes shone. Was it my imagination, I thought? Could she still be in love with me?
We lay in bed, experiencing the hours that we had missed together. I did not expect the intensity with which she could love me and, for the first time, my own love surpassed desire.
Chapter 16
Lewis
I sensed something had changed. The reborn were restless at our meeting. It was unusual for the reborn to sit around the large oak meeting table where strigoi had sat and discussed centuries of controversy and conspiracy. Such seating was usually reserved for the elders. Georgio was somewhere in the middle. He was not an elder nor was he so new, but because he had shown discretion and loyalty he had recently earned a place at our elders meetings. He had requested this interview on a subject unknown and I was intrigued.
We began by discussing the witches who had all asked for a pardon from the change. More and more were choosing this and I had obliged. Georgio asked that I rethink the position. I was at first taken aback by his suggestion; that they should think they had any sway on decisions made only by myself from counsel by the elders. In earlier years, I would have had him banished to the dungeon for such insolence. But I wished the meeting over quickly and informed him that the decision was final. I was keen to prepare for my wife’s return; to instruct new linen in our chamber and the cooks to prepare a feast.
Earlier that day I sensed that Gabriel was near to returning to the castle and as there was no word to the contrary, Lilah would safely be with him. Gabriel was like a restless puppy always in need of new adventures but he was still loyal and I trusted him like no other. I had already announced to an elders meeting several days earlier that I would go to ground in less than a decade, and that my daughter would take over as ruler when she came of age. However, in the years before Oleander’s ultimate rule, Lilah would have my authority within the castle. I had not made this decision lightly nor the fact that I did not choose a member from our circle. Another strigoi may not hold my daughter’s interests as firmly as my wife, and the possibility they could postpone Oleander’s reign when the time came. Oleander’s conversion and Lilah’s commitment to her well-being ensured her role as Master.
There was some minor disagreement on this decision, particularly by an elder, Pietro, who said that a witch in control, for any period, would make our castle vulnerable to seizures by other covens across the world seeking to expand their own. But as master, my decision on this was final, and the elders and the reborn must obey.
I could rest peacefully knowing that before I went to ground my daughter would also have effected the change. It was good to finally have an heir and one with abilities like Oleander. And I hoped that when I returned from my slumber, my wife would still be living and we would be of similar age so that we could continue together until her death. I was not completely without hope that during those years she may have reconsidered the gift of immortality that I could bestow.
I also decreed, though not yet announced to any, that the fate of the witches, would be decided by Lilah until Oleander turned twenty, then the decision would rest solely with our daughter. I could no longer vouch for their safety as Oleander had already shown signs of independent thought and potential for power. In her training she would be taught that all decisions must be made for the good and strength of the coven above all else. If she deemed that new blood was required then witches would once again be offered the choice of eternity or to take our secrets to their early graves. Lilah would not know of this decision until I was some time in the ground, and perhaps thirty years would be long enough for her to grow accustomed to the idea; at which time, I have requested to be awakened.
Towards the conclusion of the meeting, Nökeg advised that during a hunt earlier that day he had seen – though he could not be certain – several Brodnici grouped together in a town far away. I did not feel that Nökeg was very astute but could not ignore such a claim.
‘You should have brought this up sooner,’ I scolded.
I concluded the meeting and asked all those in attendance to leave the castle immediately to survey the town in question. A short time afterwards, I was surprised when Georgio and a number of the reborn returned to the library.
‘Why are you still here?’ I asked. ‘You should be out with the elders searching for the Brodnici.’
We were interrupted by a sharp knocking and though I called angrily that we were not to be disturbed, Arianne entered. I was curious at my inability to sense her. She was crafty and I scolded myself for allowing my skills to become so dormant that I could not read her at all.
She sauntered around the table, her long hair curling around her shoulders like a common peasant. I was ready to kill her if necessary.
‘Get out.’ With my forces I threw her against the door and she stood up holding her shoulder.
‘You’re obviously not pleased to see me,’ she said with a sneer. I was about to do it again but several strigoi stood in front of her including, to my surprise, Giorgio.
‘What are you doing?’ I demanded.
‘We have assumed control of the castle. Those who are loyal to you have been tricked into going to the town where they will find no Brodnici, while the strigoi in this room have opted to join together for a new life.’
‘This is a grave error of judgement. How dare you!’
‘You are weakening as a ruler and you have been listening to the foolish counsel of a witch who has had no experience of the strigoi struggle. And now you say she will rule over the coven in the years before your daughter. You no longer create strigoi. Humans grow in number and we must also. The coven will weaken to become easy prey by other covens who seek more control, or the Brodnici who have grown more cunning.’
‘Giorgio, I have always looked after you. What you talk about is something I am always considering. We are strong enough for now. If there are too many of us we could affect the balance of the species and we can rebuild that at any time. Yes, I admit that perhaps I have changed much here but I would not have agreed to include my wife to the detriment of our coven…’
‘You have allowed the witches to make their choices…to not convert to strigoi. That is considered detrimental by many of us. Did you not say many years ago that there are still insufficient numbers to allow us to rest longer, because of so few to watch over us while we sleep. And now most of the witches are choosing to live as they are. It will be harder to reduce the age of our material bodies without significant rest. I am tired of returning to middle age. We need more strigoi and there was no issue with you until Lilah came…’
‘Do not say her name again!’ he commanded. ‘What is it that you want? I am prepared to listen.’
‘And listen is all you do. Laszlo offered us positions as royal counsellors in court in exchange for his immortality. He will allow us to govern ourselves and form our own coven in his castle under his protection. From there, we will find and round up witches and convert them ourselves.’
‘Then you are a fool to believe it. Do you think with that sort of power he will want to share anything? He has been begging me for years to give that to him. I will not allow it. It must never happen.’
‘It is too late.’
‘What! How is that? Without me it was not possible.’
‘Arianne is now well informed. She will help us.’
I looked to Arianne who stood with head back proudly, a small smile of satisfaction on her lips and I knew what she had done.
‘Stolen information, no doubt!’ I thundered. ‘Do you not see her? I thought you were more intelligent than that. Look at her! She is out of control. And Laszlo has a temper! He will kill you all in a heartbeat.’
Papers on my desk began to swirl pushing everyone back against the wall. I could not contain my rage any longer. ‘You will pay!’ One of th
e strigoi burst into flames. Several strigoi shrieked, backing away from the fiery body.
‘No!’ shouted Giorgio. ‘Stop! Your daughter will be killed if you do any more harm; if we do not return to claim her.’
I stood rooted to the ground at the mention of Oleander. I could feel myself turn the colour of burning embers, and the rage within me threatened to burst through the shell. If I wanted I could burn them all before they knew what had happened.
‘Where is she?’
It was Arianne who stepped forward to throw a glass of liquid in my face. She pushed against me but it was no stronger than a fly upon my shoulder. I was about to send her through the glass window.
‘I am sending messages to my helpers and the moment they cease to hear anything she will die.’ Her eyes were narrowed, and I saw nothing but hate. I wiped the wine from my face and the sickly smell of her.
The rage was building again and Georgio stepped forward this time.
‘Nothing will happen to her if you give us what we want.’
‘And what is that?’
‘As much gold from the vault as we can carry, and your agreement inked in your blood that we have gained our freedom.’
‘And who will rule this new coven?’
‘I will.’
The idea was preposterous. Giorgio was not a leader. He had friends but not the strength of skill and character that could keep a large group under control. He would buckle the moment he had to decide the fate of another.
‘And what of it when Laszlo turns his back on you? You will have no coven to protect you.’
‘He has promised.’
I fiendishly laughed so loud it hurt their ears. Arianne cupped her ears with her hands and as much as I wanted to fight them all I was cornered.
‘Very well, I will give you the gold, and your freedom, but it is with a heavy heart and if you come within range of me you will feel every fibre of my force. And, if there is but one mark on Oleander, one dirty fingerprint, I will follow you to the end of the Earth to see that I finish you all.’
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