Eden's Charms

by Jaclyn Tracey

  “Oh come on, Cherié, that was supposed to make you smile, not snarl.”

  “Enough already, Mum,” Savanah entered the kitchen. “Don’t go getting your knickers in a knot at Papa. You’re just going to have to get to know him.”

  Jovan threw her hands in the air. “Why does everyone think I still wear knickers? Oh and you think you do know him after a week?”

  “You did with Papa after three days.”

  “That was different.”

  “Why, Mum?”

  Jovan’s silence filled the room.

  Savanah got in her face. “What? No oh-so-brilliant comeback?”

  Pushing her growing belly up from the chair, she grabbed André’s hand and led him toward the back staircase.

  “I thought you were going to give me a massage.”

  André looked back to Savanah and shrugged his shoulders. “Ah, guess we’ll see you at dinner, Peanut.” André followed Jovan’s heels.

  Savanah mouthed the words, “I love you,” to him and went after Ethan.

  Back at the main entry, Savanah found she was alone. Her heart raced until Ethan peered over the edge of the balcony.

  “Come up. Julian just gave me a room to hang my hat so to speak.”

  “Where?” she hollered upward.

  Ethan crooked his finger to her. “Not down there, silly.”

  Taking the stairs three at a time, Savanah met him without even losing her breath. However, inside the room her jaw dropped.

  “This is so much better than you passing out on me,” he teased as he tapped her mouth shut.

  “I’d forgotten this room existed. This is my mother’s handy-work. Is she or isn’t she the most talented artist alive?” Upset with her mother or not she loved her and proudly showed off her talents.

  “Savage, look at the back wall. It’s you all grown up, in a wedding dress. Half the wall is covered with a sheet. Oh, is it bad luck to see the bride before the wedding?”

  “Doesn’t count, Eth. This is my Mum’s dress. I climbed into it one day and she caught me. For penance she made me stand there for hours,” Savanah fanned herself feigning weariness, “as she painted me. But she did it on a canvas. I don’t know when she did this one. The canvas is actually hanging in the Louvre under a penname.”

  “What’s under the cloth beside your painting?”

  “Dunno. I was alone in the original painting. Shall we peek?”

  About to rip the cover from the wall, Serina stuck her head into the bedroom.

  “Unless you’re both sitting, you might want to wait to see what’s under there.”

  “Hey, Auntie. Who is it?” Savanah asked.

  Serina crooked her head to one side and lifted an eyebrow toward Ethan.

  “Auntie, out with it. How long has she known?”

  Ethan looked between the women. “Known what? Why do I feel like I’m the last one getting the punch line to a joke?”

  Not mincing words, Serina answered, “You are the punch line, Ethan. And it’s no joke.” Serina lifted the tarp. Ethan’s jaw now dropped.

  Painted next to Savanah’s portrait was Ethan, wearing a black linen jacket with tails. A black silk tie, done in a double Windsor knot loose around his neck. His untucked white shirt left his portrait rugged. Casual. His loose curls brushed the top of his shoulders. Gawking between Savanah’s real hand and the hand in the painting, he realized his soon to be mother-in-law might just be the one person on the planet to predict Armageddon. The engagement ring in the picture happened to be identical to the one Ethan had in his pocket ready to give to her. He’d seen it in New Orleans and knew he had to buy it. A one and half carat princess-cut diamond sat nestled inside an antique platinum setting, surrounded by two trillion diamonds.

  Ethan glanced at Serina. “How does she know this stuff?”

  “We are born with these abilities,” Savanah answered. “Aunt Serina can heal people without medicines or surgery. My Mum can see into the future and do all the things I can. I cannot see the future, which is fine by me.”

  “Jovan allowed herself the one luxury of seeing her daughter’s wedding day, because she became a wee bit leery that it wouldn’t come in the next millennium, and she saw you, Ethan.”

  “Aunt Serina!”

  Serina blew Savanah a kiss. “Maybe now you understand where her hostility comes from. You come traipsing in here trying to kidnap a child, tell us it’s a Sinclair and then run off to New Orleans with our baby. By the goddess, you totally snookered all of us. You’re damned lucky I haven’t tried any of my spells on you.”

  “She isn’t kidding. Her juju ain’t what it used to be!”

  “Savanah!”

  Savanah returned the devilish wink.

  “If you two would excuse me, I’m headed down to the wine cellar. You’ll hear a knock at your door and there will be a tray for you in the hallway. I think you two might like to be alone.” Serina curtsied and left.

  “So, do you like your room so far?”

  “I get to look at you when I close my eyes and when I open them. What’s not to like?” Ethan pulled Savanah into his arms, a breath away from his lips. “Savanah?”

  “Yes?”

  “Sit down on that antique of a thing for a sec. Probably squeaks to the heavens. That’s why they put me in here,” he mused. “Savvy, when I asked you to marry me this morning, there was something missing.”

  “What?” she asked a serious expression etched on her face. “I loved your proposal.”

  “No, Pip—this.” Ethan got down on his knee in front of her and pulled a tiny black velvet box from his jacket pocket.

  Opening the box with trembling fingers, Savanah let out a little, “Holy cow,” and started to giggle. “How? How—uhm—did my Mum know or you? Eth, this is the most precious ring I’ve ever seen. You sure you never met my Mum before this? It’s identical to the one in the portrait.”

  “Will you wear it?” Ethan raised his voice above the chatter of her teeth.

  “No. I just thought I’d put it storage with the rest of the Crown Jewels.”

  “Savanah, I don’t know what I’ve done to deserve you, but I promise to do right by you and your family. And in saying that, there’s something I have to do.”

  “I’m thinking I might not like this conversation. You sound way too serious.”

  “I have to cut my ties with the Maestro.”

  “How?”

  “Come on, Savage, you’ve seen the movies, you live this life. It’s the only way I know I can keep you safe.”

  “Not alone, Eth. You’re a part of this family now which means you’ve got people to watch your back.”

  Feeling bad for taking away their special moment he changed the subject. “And I’ve got you right where I want you. Shall we give this thing a run for its money?” He pat the mattress next to her.

  “In a bit. I heard footsteps a second ago. Let’s go see what goodies we’ve got at our fingertips.”

  In the hallway a tray with a vase of yellow roses, a bottle of very expensive champagne, two glasses and a bowl of strawberries, raspberries and pineapple with melted chocolate sat by the door. Frozen sugar-coated grapes and some Cabot cheese slices outlined the tray. Ethan looked at Savanah and back at the tray.

  “Why are they being so nice to me now? Well, except your mom.”

  “This is their way of welcoming you to the family. If you get Payton’s specialty, chocolate amaretto cookies with orange glaze then you hit the lottery. Payton rarely makes them.”

  “Savanah, the day I met you, I won the lottery. Now, shall we find out if the springs on this thing need some oil?”

  “Let’s bounce.” Savanah climbed on the mattress and started jumping up and down like a little kid.

  “What are you doing,” Ethan asked as he watched her carefree attitude, and lust for life and wondered how she’d lived this long and never lost it. “You’re too…”

  “Don’t you dare. Don’t you dare tell me I’m too old to bou
nce.”

  “Pippy, I’m smarter than that. You’re too tall. You’ll bump the ceiling.”

  Savanah kicked her feet out and with a hard thump on her bottom, caught air and landed next to Ethan. “Join me.”

  So bounce they did. First standing, then lying. For three days food was delivered. For three days, laughter and squeaky springs filtered down through the home. On day four, André and Julian lugged a new king-sized mattress up the three flights of stairs. That night, almost everyone slept like babies. Savanah and Ethan? The Sand man could have dropped a truckload of his finest granules to knock them out and rest would not come.

  ****

  “Who’s got the Sunday newspaper? Just once I’d like to read it, Duncan, before you maul it for the comics,” Raven protested.

  “Come here, Beauty. You’ve gotta see this,” Payton called. “I’ve got the paper not the old man.”

  “I heard that,” Duncan grumbled, as he glanced over the top of the comics through huge magnified glasses. The specs made his eyes appear ten times bigger.

  Julian walked past Duncan and swat the back of his head. “Mister Magoo, in the flesh.” Julian added, “There is an ad in the paper someone paid dearly for. If the PEON’s see it, it could very well cost the person their life.”

  “Someone’s desperate,” Lucian continued, “Do you think it’s a set up?”

  “I get the feeling it’s very real,” Serina explained as she held her hands just above the paper, getting a psychic reading from it. “Do you remember hearing about the set of conjoined twins born the same day as Elyza? They vanished from a hospital in Tennessee. The news said that whoever stole them killed their mother.”

  “How awful,” Raven remarked as she shimmied in between her two brothers on the couch. “Ands!” Raven gasped seeing his cheeks bulging like a chipmunk. She pinched his cheeks together. “That’s the third muffin you’ve devoured.”

  André attempted a rebuttal, but with a full mouth, his manners kicked in. He jammed the remaining delicacy into his mouth and made little yummy sounds in her ear.

  “Imbecile!” Raven turned to Serina. “So, do you think this ad is about the babies?”

  “I’d bet my powers on it. I think we should call.”

  “Hence the compulsion! M’lady,” Lucian cautioned. “We need to do a little research first.”

  Serina began to interrupt, but Lucian stuffed a slice of the decadent roll into her mouth. “I’m not saying no. I’m saying let me check this ad out before you go committing yourself. You and I have way too much at stake. If the ad is real then we’ll make plans.”

  Entering mid-conversation, Molly asked, “What for? You’re not leaving now, are you?”

  Serina swallowed her treat. “Good morning, Molly. We were just discussing plans to separate a set of conjoined twins. The ad says they’re a cross between vamp and wolf. One of each. Poor little things. And they’re in Mexico.”

  Duncan nervously tapped his fingers on the table. “I’ve got a really bad feeling about this. It smells like a set up.”

  Julian offered, “If it is the real deal, Serina, I’ll help.”

  Lucian cleared his throat. “Slow down. Research. Decision. Fair enough?”

  Serina rubbed her hand across her husband’s chest in a seductive manner. “Fair enough, M’lord. Got any other treats you’d like to stuff in my mouth?”

  “You two just never stop!” Raven rolled her eyes.

  Serina giggled. “I meant muffin, Raven.”

  Waltzing into the room with Ethan in tow, Savanah announced, “Happy Sunday, everyone.”

  “Oh blimey!” Duncan chuckled. “She’s got it bad.”

  “Love you as well, old man.” Savanah skipped to him and kissed the bald patch atop his head. “What’s up? We haven’t all been gathered in the library together in ages. This is nice.” Hearing footsteps she turned into her mother.

  Savanah’s happy Sunday took a dismal plunge making it feel more like a dreaded Monday. Before her first tear fell Jovan hugged her. “Please give him a chance, Mum.”

  Jovan clung to her, trembling.

  “Mum, what is it?”

  “The future sometimes has bumps, baby. Sometimes we bounce back and sometimes we get lost in the crevices. I’m not willing to lose you.”

  Savanah tried to quell her fear. “Scrying can be tricky. You only see bits and pieces, not the whole picture. You saw your daughter happy and getting married, so whatever happens before that is null and void for the most part.” With a slight tilt of her head and a shift of her eyebrows, Savanah saw the return of her mother’s smile.

  “As your mother, I have the right to change my mind at any time I deem fit or his if the occasion arises.”

  “You’re talking about the blinkie thing again aren’t you?” Ethan asked.

  “Isn’t he cute?” Savanah ruffled Ethan’s curls.

  Jovan tried not to cringe.

  Savanah’s take on the morning: Bleakness gone. Day looking better by the second. “All right, since I have you all corralled, anyone interested in going back to London for a few days with us?”

  “We just got home.” André frowned. “Your aunt wants to go to Mexico, you want to go to England? What’s left, Disney?”

  “I’m in,” came from Duncan.

  Savanah butt in, “I want to see if it was really Draque that stole all his belongings back or if it was some other dead beat.”

  After one sharp inhalation, Jovan ordered, “You will not go there and chase that demon. Savanah St. James, have you lost your mind? André?” Jovan looked desperate.

  “Mum, that ghoul stole my life’s work. It’s not right.”

  “Peanut, you stole it from him. Did that thought ever occur to you? How would you feel if you had something you loved stolen from you?” Lucian asked, looking and sounding exactly like her father.

  “What? Are you two practicing ventriloquism now!” Savanah exclaimed.

  “Savage? Isn’t what Lucian just said, written on the back of one of the little cards we got in New Orleans?” Ethan spun on his heels and fled the room. When he returned, he waved the small black cards under her nose. “Look. The card reads almost identically. ‘How does it feel to have something you love stolen from you?’”

  “Can I see the card?” Lucian asked.

  After handing it to him, Ethan stopped and read the ad in the paper. “Hey, who put the compulsion in the paper? Isn’t that a death warrant?”

  “Only if you get caught. How do you know of them, Ethan?” Jovan’s interest piqued enough to speak with the man in a civil tone.

  “I’ve picked up a few tricks living with the one guy whose name you don’t want repeated in this home.” Ethan would have sworn just then he saw Jovan smile.

  Jovan asked, “Food for thought, Ethan. You said Xavier’s child was born the same day Elyza was. If the ad’s the real deal and the babies are really half-vamp, half-lycan what are our chances that these two babies are the devil’s little spawns?”

  “Still want to go separate them, Doc?” Duncan asked.

  Serina answered, “Think about it, Duncan, how many babies are born each day? And with more and more of the population being turned, the chances are pretty good they’re just two babies who need our help.”

  “M’lady, even with all the ghosts and goblins in this world you refuse to see the possibilities that these two babies could have ties to Sinclair?”

  Serina scratched her head. “Lucian, that’s just it. They’re babies, they’re innocent. Whoever kidnapped them obviously wanted to keep them from either the science labs or Sinclair as well, if all this is true. If you didn’t tamper with Elyza’s labs we’d be in the same predicament! The PEON’s would be hunting her down. It is the age-old question, is it Neo-Darwinism—genetics or environment that makes a person do the things they do? Nature versus nurture. Here’s a quick tangent: Pit bulls. Beautiful, intelligent, loyal animals with a bad rap because some slimy, scum-of-the-earth bastards raise them to
kill and fight, so the innocent dogs get tagged a bad breed. They weren’t born like that. They were raised that way. We won’t have answers unless we go see for ourselves. Innocent until proven guilty.”

  Jovan spoke up. “Serina, last week I told you something bad was going to happen. Do you see where I’m headed with this? Between Savanah, Draque and Ethan and his ties to you-know-who and the possibility of the two babies, this isn’t trouble, this is the last chapter in the book without a sequel. This is not a good idea. This is a very, very bad idea. Please, I beg you, don’t go there. Let someone else do the surgery.”

  “Sis, if you’re so worried, scry. See what it brings.”

  “No.” Jovan offered no more, then left the room.

  “Why is your mother scared of her gift, Savvy?” Ethan asked.

  Julian answered, “When we were young Jovan used to rely on her foresight, but one day she played around and saw our mother on the couch, dead. A few weeks later her vision came true. She’s used it twice since then. Once, on the day she met Goliath, she cast a spell and scryed,” Julian bowed to André, “and two, to make sure Savanah was actually going to have a wedding. No offense, Savanah, but you’re maturing as we speak.”

  “I live with a group of really bad comedians.”

  “Ethan, has anyone taken into account that Draque is spelling his name differently these days? As long as I can remember it, the suffix was “cula”, not “que.” This guy’s a fraud. Yeah, he may be big and scary, but he’s not the Godfather. He’s more like an extended uncle three coffins over.” Lucian took the card without thinking, and stuffed it in his wallet.

  “Uncle Lucian, I stole Dracula’s casket and all his goodies. Trust me, it’s him. I need to get out. Anyone want to go shopping?”

  Raven perked up. “Oh, I hoped you’d say that. Serina, come on. Molly? Up and at ’em. Let’s go grab your mum and be gone.” Raven grabbed her wallet and headed out the door.

  Serina asked Lucian, “Should I introduce Elyza to shopping today or would you like to give her the finer points of relaxing with the boys?”

  “She’s mine. You go have fun.”

  “I’m going to check on Jovan before you steal her from me.” André kissed Serina’s head as he passed. He added, “Lucian, don’t we have tickets for the game today? Front row—third-base line?”