Stunned and quiet, she stood in place and turned around slowly to survey. It felt different too. Somehow, she knew that she wasn’t in her current time and space but rather, back in time. Then she watched a woman appear in the dining room and tend to the dining table.
Somehow Tess knew the woman couldn’t see her.
She was elegantly dressed and wearing clothing from a long time ago. If Tess had to guess, it was from the turn of the century, nineteen hundred.
Tess turned to look at the portraits on the wall, and recognized the woman from one of them. It was Clay’s last wife. His last koiaa bride. The one who’d passed away during the holiday season.
Mesmerized, she continued watching and realized that the dining room table was being prepared for a holiday meal, for Christmas. She admired the decorations and the way the food was displayed for those who would be dining. Festive, rich in colors and tones, it was all lovingly done to invoke the holiday spirit. Traditional and classic.
Tess heard someone enter the dining room and just like a bubble, the time-spell she was inside of, burst. Coming back to present day time and reality, she found the maid observing her, as if not wanting to interrupt.
“Everything okay, Miss?”
Tess noticed the intrigued look on the maid’s face. Again, she also noticed that although the woman looked young in appearance, her true age came through. This woman was very old. Ancient maybe, like Clay.
“Yes, thank you.”
“Is there anything I can help you with or get for you?” the maid asked.
Tess shook her head. She was beginning to feel uncomfortable around the maid. She was being overly attentive. As if she had another motive for wanting to know Tess’s whereabouts in Clay’s home. Her gut nagged at her. Tugged at her.
Something was off. But what?
Just as the maid was about to exit the dining room, Tess realized she had a question. She blurted it out. “Did you know Mr. Emmerick’s former wife? Did you work for him then?”
The maid turned around, assessing Tess carefully. “Yes, I knew her. I’ve worked for Mr. Emmerick for a long time.”
“May I ask how long?”
“Longer than you would understand…”
Tess wasn’t sure but she sensed something beneath the maid’s answer. Was it resentment? Or anger? All she knew, there was more to this dynamic than was immediately obvious.
“I see, thank you. Can you tell me about the portraits?” Tess said, pointing towards the wall. “Are you allowed?”
The maid tilted her head, “There isn’t much to say except for that they are, what they are. Pictures of those from his life, over the years. Not much more to it than that.”
Tess knew to read between the lines with a response such as this one and decided to leave it be. “Thank you, I understand. You believe it’s not your place to share or discuss?”
The maid nodded, smiled weakly and then left the room.
Perplexed, Tess sat down on one of the dining chairs and studied the wall of portraits. There was so much history alive in those images, in those pictures. She really was intrigued by them. For now, it would remain a mystery. She knew the answers were in the volumes, which made her wonder if Clay would mind her reading from them again, once she was done with the day’s work and decorating.
***
Clay sensed it before his security manager informed him. He put down his phone and sighed. Something was afoot. He felt it as the day moved on and by evening, he knew to be on extra alert. Something foreboding and ominous was in the air.
Done with the workday, he decided to check in on Tess. Just as he was about to open the door, he heard a knock from the other side. He knew who it was before he opened it.
Tess smiled, “I hope I’m not bothering you?”
“No, not at all. In fact, I was just about to check in on you.”
“Oh, good. Perfect, actually. I was hoping to read more of one of the volumes, if that is okay?” she asked.
He indicated for her to enter the room and then opened the cabinet that held the volumes. He observed her as she perused which volume she would select to read.
She selected one, and then sat down, opening the pages as if it were a rare museum collectible. With great care, she turned the page to the beginning. Clay couldn’t help but peer over her shoulder to see what she was reading.
As usual, he couldn’t see anything. To him, the pages always appeared blank. He shook his head in amused defeat. It was as it should be. He should have known. He let out a small sigh which made Tess look up, almost causing their faces to meet.
The energy between them was electric.
Her reaction was charming, she blushed furiously and look away, shyly.
Not one to overwhelm, but also not one to miss an opportunity, he had to fight his inner dragon to keep from coming forward.
Enough time had passed, right?
His loyalty between wives had always been a struggle for him. Every time, he wrestled with it. Working his way through his feelings from the past and that part of him who needed to move forward into the present.
“Tell me a bit about your maid?” Tess asked, out of the blue, looking back up at him.
Clay found this to be a curious question.
“What would you like to know?”
Tess seemed unsure what to ask specifically, but made her way to it eventually. “This may sound strange, but is she old? Older than she appears?”
This surprised Clay. It was uncanny that Tess had figured it out.
“Yes, she’s quite a bit older than she appears. She’s been under my employ for centuries.”
Tess nodded, acknowledging his answer. She seemed hesitant to ask or say more.
“Is there something you want to share, Tess?” Clay asked.
“Well…”
Clay gave her an encouraging look, “It’s okay.”
“I sensed that she doesn’t like me. That she feels I’m intrusive being here… but I could just be imagining it.”
This surprised Clay. His maid was always very hospitable to his guests. Always made them feel welcome and taken care of.
“Did something happen? Has she not been attentive?” he asked, concerned.
“No, nothing like that. She’s been great about that. Just something seemed off earlier today when I was in the dining area. I was studying the portraits for a closer look and I sensed that she was bothered by that. I might have been misreading her.”
He nodded. He would give Tess the benefit of the doubt. Maybe there was something beneath the surface that he hadn’t realized or noticed that Tess had. He’d look into the matter. At the very least, it might put his mind at ease if he did.
***
Another day and night came and went. Clay had insisted Tess continue to stay at his residence while he looked into any possible threats on her well-being and safety. Tess was beginning to wonder if there was still a threat, her thoughts going back to the strange incident at her place in Santa Monica.
Rather than providing any details, Clay had continued to be ambiguous about what his concerns were. She wasn’t sure if this was because he was being sensitive to the fact that everything about his world and way of life were new to her or if it was because he was using it as a reason to keep her close or some combination of both.
She admitted, it was nice to think that he was perhaps using it as a reason to keep her close, but she was beginning to miss her normal, everyday life. Simply, she wanted to go home. Be around her things, her belongings. Resume her life while continuing to get to know Clay better.
They were breakfasting and Tess decided to bring it up.
She sucked in a deep breath, “So, I’ve been at your residence for nearly a week… I’m hoping it will soon be okay for me to leave the safety of your home?”
Clay’s eyebrow arched high, a concerted look on his face. “Are you not comfortable here?”
“Of course I am, you’ve been overly gracious and welcoming with your home
. It’s just that I’m beginning to miss my place, my things, my life…”
She knew it was silly, having to explain herself, but it was how she felt.
Clay studied her face, causing her to feel self-conscious but also something wonderful. It was so nice to have his devoted, singular attention.
Was she crazy to want to leave?
“How about a compromise? Stay another day or two so I can rest easy. Would that work?”
Tess thought on his request while sipping at some coffee. It seemed fair, nothing extreme or too unusual. Her next project didn’t start for a few more days, so she didn’t see any harm in continuing to stay at his place.
“Okay, but just know that at some point, I have to resume my life…”
Clay smiled, a mischievous grin on his face. “You’re sure about that?”
Tess realized he was flirting with her and it made her blush even more furiously. Which must have had a stronger effect on Clay than she would have thought, considering how often he made her blush. The next thing she knew, he’d leaned over the table and placed a small, lingering kiss on her lips.
Paralyzed, but pleasantly surprised, she couldn’t believe the magnetism he left behind as he pulled away.
It nearly made her heart stop.
Let alone all the tingles and chills she felt through her body.
It was as if she’d never really been awake before and somehow, his touch snapped all of her senses awake. It was amazing…
Then, without a word, he got up and left the dining room, leaving Tess alone to wonder about what had just occurred.
***
Clay admitted to himself that it wasn’t fair to expect her to stay at his place indefinitely. Considering that only just a week prior, neither of them had even known the other, it was a tall order asking her to stay on without much in the way of updates.
However, the bad feeling in his gut lingered.
He still sensed a threat.
He hated this aspect of his life. His existence.
Why did it always have to be like this? It was the price he paid for being immortal and one of his kind.
He didn’t want to manipulate her, but he had to keep her safe. Somehow. Some way.
Meanwhile, he’d bide his time for a little longer. As it was, he had his security manager doing a review of his staff’s current comings and goings, just to be sure since the conversation he’d had with Tess about his maid had piqued his concern.
So far, Jeff wasn’t finding anything noteworthy or worrisome.
Clay decided to do something he hadn’t done in a while. He’d talk with her himself, see if he could sense what Tess had picked up on. Considering that most of their interaction was fairly innocuous and simple, he wasn’t entirely sure what he might uncover.
Nonetheless, he called her to his office and asked for some morning tea as an excuse to start the conversation.
“Everything going okay with our guest?” Clay asked casually, while she laid out the tray with the teapot and chinaware.
It was then that he saw it, that he noticed it.
Her energy shifted.
Although she caught herself quickly, perfectly poised as ever, he had sensed it.
Malice.
He watched her closely. And found himself disconcerted. Never, had his maid, in the entirety of her career, behaved in this very subtle manner.
“Yes, Mr. Emmerick,” she answered simply.
Clay, not one to beat around the bush, decided to be direct. “Why do I sense some angst within you about her?”
She appeared surprised, caught off-guard. She opened her mouth to answer, then promptly closed it again.
Clay waited. He figured she would speak to it eventually if he allowed for it. He studied her quietly, waiting.
Awkwardly, she shifted her stance and then chose to move to one of the chairs in front of his desk.
“May I sit, Sir?”
Clay nodded, she needn’t ask really. She’d been in his employ for so long that certain formalities weren’t necessary, any longer.She clasped her hands together, a look of frustration – even anger, on her face. Then she just came right out with it.
“Why her? Why her kind?” the maid asked.
Clay was a bit surprised by her questions. He studied her closer. She was being very brave.
“Celeste, is there a reason you don’t like her or approve? Something you want to share?”
“Permission to be candid?” she asked.
Clay nodded, intrigued at what he would hear next.
“Why not another immortal? Someone you can be with for your life, your existence? Instead of cycling through mortals who will always pass away, leaving you lonesome and alone again?”
Clay was struck by what she said. He’d anticipated a few things, but certainly nothing this forward. Not that it bothered him. He got it. He did.
“Celeste,” he said softly, “you already know why. I don’t have the option of a dragon mate. Female dragon beings are incredibly rare. Believe me, if I had that option, I would have pursued it millennia ago.”
Celeste didn’t seem satisfied with his response. She shifted in her chair, chewing a bit on her lip. “Why not another immortal then? Even if not of your kind…”
Clay admitted, he’d pondered this himself over the years. It had just simply never worked out that he’d met another immortal he was drawn to, attracted to. Had wanted to marry and mate with. It was a somewhat lonely fate, yes. But one that the male of his kind accepted. It was always their plight. Their sorrow.
“If I could explain, Celeste, I would. It’s just not how we’re made. How it’s done within the dragon-shifter Queendoms. We learn to accept our fate very early in our existence.”
Clay knew there was precious little more that he could share or explain to his maid that might appease her concerns and worries. He was a wise man, he knew that the truth of the matter lie beneath the conversation, the dynamic.
Celeste was in love with him.
And he wondered for how long now…
Sometimes he cursed the male psyche. Not being as perceptive as the intuition that gifted female beings. He felt a bit foolish. Had she been suffering along, all these years, hoping to have her love returned?
It was Clay’s turn to shift uncomfortably.
“Does Tess’s presence here make you angry?” he asked, deciding to just get right down to it. Whatever her answer, he would be able to clue in.
There was no need, Celeste’s eyes flashed in irritation, a gaze of frustration colliding with his own.
“Yes,” she said, her voice shaking.
Clay let out a sigh. He gave her credit for being honest. How many would have in her circumstance? This was turning out to be one of the more awkward conversations he’d had in a long while.
It then occurred to Clay, would Celeste have had something to do with the man who’d attempted to accost Tess at her place in Santa Monica?
“Celeste, I hate to ask, but would you ever act on this frustration? This anger…” his voice drifted off, with him realizing he’d asked the question out loud, which hadn’t been his intention.
Nonetheless, it got him the answer he needed. A shadow passed over her face and a look of guilt.
Clay knew it, felt it. And it made him sad. Very sad. He’d valued her ongoing service and care in his life over the eras. She’d always done a great job and he never had to worry about the daily duties that were required of a large household such as his.
Clay sighed, wondering what to say or do next. He texted Jeff, asking him to follow up on the review of his home staff’s latest whereabouts and activities, alerting him that he was talking with Celeste and that there was reason for concern.
“Are you going to fire me?” Celeste asked, realizing she’d compromised herself.
Clay sighed, “Do I have reason to fire you, Celeste?”
She looked away and gazed out the window.
“I’d like to give you the benefit of the doubt,
but I’m not sure what to think…” His voice drifted off, as if hearing himself say it out loud confirmed what he needed to do next.
“No need. I quit,” Celeste said, then stood and untied the apron part to her outfit, laying it down on his desk. “I’m grateful for the years of service. I hope you can find it in your heart to provide a reference?”
Clay nodded. He relented and accepted her resignation. He hadn’t wanted to see such a valued member of his staff leave, but decided it was for the best.
“I’ll pack my things and be gone by morning.”
Clay watched her exit his office. He let Jeff know the outcome of the conversation and rested easy knowing that she’d be observed for as long as he needed. It wasn’t the outcome he wanted, but sometimes life had a way of resolving itself.
And it blew his mind, Tess had been right after-all.
***
Tess was in her guestroom, sitting on a loveseat, sipping some tea. She had one of the koiaa volumes open and resting on a pillow. She was absorbed by the fact that the bride whose life she was reading about had been from Paris, France.
Pulled back into the late seventeen hundreds, she was learning more history about Europe than she’d ever had while in school. And she found it fascinating. Engrossing, really.
She was pulled from her absorbed reading by a rap on the door. “Tess?” She heard Clay’s voice call out.
“Come in,” she hollered out.
Clay entered and gave her a heart-warming smile. He pulled up a chair and rested his elbows on his knees, leaning forward in an earnest manner that indicated he had something serious to discuss.
“Everything okay?”
He shook his head. “No, as it turns out – you were right.”
For a moment, Tess had forgotten about their conversation regarding his maid. Then she remembered, and took a deep breath.
“I was?”
“Yes, we spoke earlier today and she revealed her feelings about the matter, that situation at hand.”
Shifter Wonderland: Twelve BBW Paranormal Holiday Shape Shifter Romances Page 69