“Fine! I’ll go, but I’m waiting until you’re better,” I insisted. “You didn’t tell me when I had to go.”
As if on cue, Miles entered the room, smiling, holding a bouquet of yellow roses in one hand and his black case in the other. Again, I felt guilty for showing up empty handed. He put the bouquet next to Lucas’ white daisies and then kissed Clothilde on the forehead. “Hello, my dear lady,” he murmured. As he bent down, the harsh fluorescent light revealed he had considerably more silver in his dark hair than he did earlier this year. For a second I caught myself wondering if my hair would turn out silver like his or white like Clothilde’s.
She seemed content with him being there.
He nodded at me and smiled. “Hello, Leigh.”
“Hey.” I felt awkward, remembering how I spoke to him the last time I saw him. “Um, I’m kind of glad you’re here. I decided to go with you. To Paris.”
He didn’t seem at all surprised and maintained a pleasant disposition. “Splendid. We can leave tomorrow.”
“Wait. No. Not tomorrow. Are you kidding? She just had major surgery. It’ll probably take weeks for her to heal.”
A smile worked the corners of his mouth. “Well, perhaps we can speed that up a little.” He set his case on the table in front of the bed and, opening it, took out a vial of holy water. He sprinkled some on Clothilde’s forehead and then put a few drops in his hands which he then placed over her lungs and heart. Clothilde calmly closed her eyes.
“Are you serious?” I said. “She won’t even let me heal a bruise on my niece’s cheek because she hates that I’m a dark paladin, but she’s letting you—”
“Shhh,” he said gently with his eyes closed in concentration.
I let him work, watching him pray and watching her chest rise and fall steadily. When he was done he said, “There. That should speed up the healing time enough so as we don’t arouse suspicion. Cee Cee will be staying with her until she’s better.”
Clothilde thanked him with her eyes and then looked at me. All the thankfulness had left, and she had that same look of urgency and the arched eyebrows.
“Okay! You win. I’ll go tomorrow.”
6
The Glamorous Life
Carrie volunteered to drive me to the Lafayette airport. She picked me up at Clothilde’s house in her green Prius. Before we left, Lucas stopped by to drop off Jonathan. Clothilde usually sat for him on weekends when Lucas was working a case. Cee Cee said she’d be glad to take care of him. I hugged Lyla too hard and kissed her head and then hugged Jonathan, too, before they ran into the house to play. Then it was Cee Cee’s turn. She nearly crushed me, but it was welcomed and soothing.
“Don’t worry about a thing, my baby! We gonna be all right. Just clear your head and relax. I put something in your bag to help you.” She winked at me, and I smiled politely, secretly cringing at what she could have possibly put in my bag. I just hoped it didn’t smell bad. She went in the house and closed the door.
Carrie got in her car and pretended not to listen to me arguing with Lucas, which started when she was out of earshot and Lucas gave me a look that said I can’t believe you’re really leaving.
“It’s what Clo wants,” I told him. “I didn’t want to go, but she made me promise.”
“Hell, Leigh! She doesn’t know what she wants!”
“I’m pretty sure she does.”
He looked like he wanted to hit something. He just shook his head. “You are one stubborn heifer, you know that?”
I was too stunned to say anything, so I just watched him walk away, get in his truck and peel out of the driveway.
When I got in Carrie’s car, I slammed the door.
“Hey, take it easy,” she said, rubbing the dashboard. “Sir Froggert is very sensitive. He doesn’t like being slammed.”
“Sorry, but I’m just so pissed right now.”
“Yeah, I heard that. ‘Heifer.’” She laughed.
“It’s not funny!”
“Calm down, girly. He’s just letting off some steam. Everything is going to be fine. Miss Cee Cee is gonna see about Miss Clo. I’ll spend the night tonight, which by the way I’m thrilled because Lyla and I are going to have so much fun. We’re going to try on clothes, makeup and—”
“Care, you’re not going to make her look like a hooker, are you? I mean, she’s only eleven.”
“C’mon! You know me better than that.”
“Right. You’ll probably just make her look like a drag queen.”
“Now that might happen, actually.”
By the time she dropped me off at the airport, I was in a good mood again. She gave me a huge bear hug before she left. Miles had prepaid my ticket. I took a small plane to New Orleans and then expected to transfer to a larger carrier. When I got off the plane, there was a man in a black pilot uniform holding a sign with my name on it. He led me outside to one of those little golf carts and drove around to a row of planes waiting for takeoff. At the end of the row was a private jet with the Knighten Oil logo.
The pilot helped me into the jet where I saw a large cabin with plenty of head space, big, super-comfortable seats and plush carpeting.
“Oh, Carrie,” I whispered to myself, “I wish you were here right now.” I took out my phone and snapped a picture and sent it to her.
Miles spotted me from the front of the cabin and motioned me over to him. He was standing with a drink in his hand.
“Noah will be here soon, and the flight crew should have your bags here in a few minutes.”
“Thanks.”
“Just get comfortable in the meantime. Any seat is fine.”
“Hey, I … um, I wanted to apologize to you. About what I said the other day. Thank you for paying off my student loans. I really appreciate it.’
He smiled gently. “You’re welcome.”
“There’s something I wanted to talk to you about. I notice that when I heal someone now, I don’t get tired or feel drained anymore.”
He raised his eyebrows. “Really?” He grinned. “Remarkable. When did you start noticing this?”
“When I healed my friend the other day.”
He thought about this for a minute. “Was your friend the first person you healed since you turned?”
I nodded. “Yeah.”
“Amazing,” he marveled. “It seems your family is full of surprises.”
I scrunched my brows.
“Your niece can self heal, something the rest of us cannot do. And you … you know how you were born both light and dark?”
“Yeah.”
“You know that when paladins walk the line, they are given an extra or extended ability. Well, since you were partially dark to start with, when you became a line walker, it seems you were given an extra ability. Your energy isn’t depleted when you heal. I’ve only heard about this happening a few times with paladins who are born light and dark. You’re quite powerful.”
“Oh. Um … cool. I guess.”
“Don’t underestimate yourself, Leigh.”
“So … is it just going to be the three of us? Is Ruby coming?”
“Cee Cee forbade her from coming. She doesn’t want her tempted by the dark side again like she was with Mulogo. All these dreams we’ve been having show signs of something brewing. It was best Ruby take it easy for now.”
Noah entered, grinning. “How awesome is this?”
“Pretty awesome,” I said, taking a seat.
He stored his luggage bag in an overhead bin, tossed his duffle bag on the floor by the seats and parked himself next to me. “I’ve always wanted to fly in this thing.” He nudged me with his elbow. “Glad you’re here.”
I smiled. “Yeah, well …” I trailed off and settled in for a long flight.
Shortly before takeoff, my phone vibrated. I had a text from Carrie: I hate you.
I laughed, and Noah peeked at my phone.
“Having a spat with your friend?” he said.
“No, she’s just kidding. By the way, if you’
re interested, she’s available.”
He shrugged. “She’s cute, but I’m not really looking.”
“Oh? Then why’d you kissed me last winter?”
He fake smiled and took out his iPod and headphones from his duffle bag. I faintly heard some old Pearl Jam song. I grinned with smug satisfaction.
***
Charmagne’s house was a glorious, two-story château on a fifteen acre estate out in the country, about twenty miles from Paris. It was isolated with no other homes around for at least seven miles in either direction and accessible via a small bridge over a creek that ran through the forest. Once over the bridge, a long, winding path led to her home.
The house did not look like a grand palace, but it was beautiful nonetheless, with its French-Country appeal and stone walls with a matching gray stone horseshoe driveway and five-car garage which contained two cars: a silver Bentley Continental and a black Rolls Royce Phantom, both late models. A beautiful tiered fountain with stone fish sat in the middle of the walkway leading up to the huge, double doors of dark wood adorned with swans etched in glass. Behind the glass, warm lights glowed, promising more beauty on the other side of the magnificent portal.
Miles rang the bell, and, a few moments later, a lovely woman with short and wavy dark hair and big eyes the color of cognac, opened the door to reveal a foyer that could put Miles’ to shame. It was lit with an extravagant chandelier with cascading crystals that trapped and refracted every bit of light.
Miles greeted her warmly. “Charmagne!”
“Hello, Miles,” she said, hugging him. “Come, come in. Noah! How are you, my boy?” A strong French accent poured from her lips.
It was Noah’s turn to get a hug as he said, “It’s good to see you again.”
She released him and then studied me for moment. “Miles, she is quite lovely. Tall, excellent posture, and a beautiful smile.”
I felt myself blush a little.
She extended her hand. “I am Charmagne, and you are Leigh, no?”
“Yes, nice to meet you,” I said.
“Come in, everyone! I have dinner prepared! You can leave your bags here for now. You must all be so hungry. Follow me.”
From what I could see of the house so far, it seemed a throwback to 1920’s Paris bourgeoisie, or as Carrie would say, “Girl, this house so bourgie!” The dining room was wallpapered in a pink-and-gold color scheme with a mural on the long wall depicting a vineyard from decades ago. There was another chandelier, but this one more modest than the one in the foyer. When no one was looking, I took out my phone, snapped a picture of the dining room and sent it to Carrie with the caption: High society. Don’t you wish you were here?
“Danielle!” Charmagne called. “Miles, you will not believe how much she’s grown.”
He smiled. “It’s only been a year.”
“Yes,” she said, “but she’s shot up a bit. And out.”
Miles blushed slightly.
“I imagine I’ll be fighting off the young men any day now,” she said.
Miles politely laughed, but I could tell that he felt awkward. I felt that way, too. Hearing parent-daughter talk would most likely be awkward with us for a good while.
“Has her ability presented itself yet?” said Miles.
“Not yet,” said Charmagne. “And I prefer it that way, at least for now. She still gets to be a child.”
A young girl with long, flowing brown hair and brown eyes and freckles entered the foyer. Beside her was a ruggedly-handsome man in his thirties with a shaved head. He was built like a light heavyweight boxer and had intelligent, violet eyes.
When he saw the man, Noah bristled and clinched his jaw. The man took notice of Noah, and it seemed that he also bristled.
Danielle grinned, ran up to Miles and Noah and hugged them. Noah put on a happy face. “Hi, kiddo!” he said, lifting her off the ground before gently setting her back. The man watched this with guarded eyes.
“You were right!” said Miles. “I can’t believe how much she’s grown in a year.”
“I haven’t grown that much,” said Danielle.
“You have,” said Miles. “You’re only fourteen. By the time you’re seventeen, I’ll bet you’ll be taller than I am.”
Danielle giggled.
“Everyone, I’d like you to meet Ridge,” said Charmagne, gesturing toward the man, who nodded politely. “Ridge is from the United Kingdom. I’m sorry, where did you say you were from, Ridge? Scotland or Ireland?”
“Scotland. Aberdeen.”
“Yes, that’s it. Right on the coast of the North Sea. He will be staying with us for a while. I hope that’s okay with you, Miles?”
“Of course,” he replied, but I noticed the confused look on his face.
“Ridge is Danielle’s guardian. He’s also a nephil.”
Noah didn’t seem surprised, and I supposed he could smell what Ridge was and vice versa. Miles and I were both shocked, however.
“Charmagne—” started Miles.
“He’s perfectly all right,” she said, smiling. I trust him with Danielle’s life.” When she still noticed the apprehensive looks on our faces, she further explained: “He came to me. He said he was being called to protect her, that he heard the voice of God. I believe him, Miles.”
Ridge stared at the floor, his jaw locked. Miles nodded. “All right, then.”
We ate dinner together in the dining room. Charmagne and Miles sat at either end of the table while I sat with Noah on one side, and Danielle and Ridge on the other. She barely touched her food, and Ridge never volunteered conversation, only answered when spoken to, and even those were short, to-the-point answers. He kept his eyes on his plate, only lifting his gaze a few times to look at Noah, who mostly stared at him during dinner.
A few times Miles and Charmagne spoke French to each other, thinking that I couldn’t understand them, but my French was better since I had been helping Lyla with her homework over the last year. I could understand very well what they were saying.
Charmagne told Miles: “She’s beautiful, very much like her mother. And I see she has Clothilde’s Auburn hair.”
Miles thanked him and said, smiling, “And stubborn, too.”
She laughed and said, “And is she powerful, Miles? Did she turn out like we thought she would?”
Miles hesitated and then said, “I believe so. With a little more training, she will be very powerful.”
I pretended not to understand what they discussed, and when Charmagne said, “Leigh. Parlez-vous français?” I just smiled and shrugged my shoulders, trying to look embarrassed. She waved her hand away and said, “No matter. We speak good English in this house. Forgive us if we were being impolite.”
“Oh, no. You’re fine, thank you,” I said, forcing a smile.
“So,” said Miles to Charmagne, “Have you heard from Gretchen and Felix since they returned? They were both very helpful to us in Argentina.”
The atmosphere in the room became tense and quiet. Even the soft clatter of forks-to-plates ceased, and most everyone averted their eyes to the table cloth.
“I hated to tell you this after you just got here, but Gretchen is missing.”
Miles and Noah looked at her. “Since when?” said Miles.
“Since last night. She and Felix were going to stay here and welcome you all. We were all going to have dinner together tonight. He and I have been calling her all day. He went to her apartment, but she wasn’t there. The whole situation has been quite trying for us. Gretchen is a very dear friend of the family.”
“Just one day?” said Noah. “I guess it’s not like her to ignore phone calls, but I wouldn’t jump to any conclusions.”
Charmagne looked down at the table. “There is something I need to tell you. For the past two months, we’ve been trying to hunt down a turned coven somewhere in the area. Yesterday, Gretchen called to tell us that she may have found a connection in Brussels. It’s so far away from where we were looking. I told her she must
be mistaken, but she was persistent. She said she was driving there to check it out and if she found out anything, she’d tell us and we could take care of it together. She called last night, but … there was something very different about her. She said not to worry about the coven anymore, that we were wrong. She said everything was going to be fine now.” Her eyes lifted from the table and looked at us. “We think … she has made a terrible decision.”
After a few moments of stunned silence, Noah said, “Forgive me, but I find it very hard to believe that Gretchen would turn.”
Charmagne’s eyes subtly glinted with annoyance, but she quickly recovered with sympathy in her voice. “Please don’t misunderstand me, Noah. I do not mean to say that Gretchen took it upon herself to betray us, but rather this coven has somehow … conditioned her.”
“You believe she’s been brainwashed?” said Miles.
“Either that or strongly under their influence. We believe they are the ones controlling our dreams, like the ones you said you’ve been having. Felix has been searching for Gretchen today, but he’s come up with nothing so far.”
“And do you know anything about this coven? Who their leader is, where they practice?” said Miles.
Charmagne shook her head. “There have been several deaths in the area in the last few months. All of them are the work of dark magic.”
Danielle stole a quick, uneasy glance at Ridge. He remained stone-faced, staring at the table cloth. A few beads of sweat clung to her skin, just over her brows, and her eyes were unfocused with fatigue.
“As you are aware,” said Charmagne, “the number of Nephilim is quite alarming. You have managed to wipe out the rest of the Watchers, but their children are many. We know they are still planning an uprising. We’re trying to get any and all paladins to help as we can. Felix and Gretchen were helping to recruit for our side when they stumbled upon the damage this coven has done.”
“How many Nephilim do you suspect in this region?” said Miles.
Charmagne shrugged. “Hundreds, no doubt. Add that to everything else we battle and it’s overwhelming. That’s why we are thankful for any who come to our side, even if it is a nephil.” She gestured toward Ridge. “Danielle calls him her guardian angel. He’s very much like you, Noah.”
Nancy K. Duplechain - Dark Trilogy 03 - Dark Legacy Page 15