returned smartly.
“ An alliance?” she mocked, yet humor glinted in her shining eyes. “Surely reciprocity is a more apt term, Malcolm. Or would you prefer we enter into a more permanent agreement?”
Malcolm caught her innuendo, breathing deeply. He would make no reply. It was safer that way.
She sighed, the corners of her mouth lifting ever so slightly.
“ As you wish,” she stated, neither disappointment nor relief evident in her tone. “Now explain to me what it is I am to hide for you.”
Malcolm returned to the beginning, telling of Agnes, their love, and her eventual refusal to see him. At the time he hadn’t known that she carried his child, and their separation had devastated him. After learning of her death and of the child, he understood. Agnes had been protecting him. If she had only trusted him things may have turned out differently, for he would have turned her at once. But for Agnes, the thought that he would be disdained for taking a turned mate because of his being a natural born vampire strengthened her resolve to be no hindrance to him in his world.
Pilar listened silently, allowing him to finish before turning the conversation to strategy; Malcolm would not forget the kindness.
“ I will weave an enchantment the Fates themselves will admire, if ever they discover it. But you must trust me completely, Malcolm. For the enchantment to stand firm in the face of the Council, it must contain nothing of you.”
“ I understand, Pilar. Too well. That is why it is you who are here.”
Malcolm dared not say more.
“ Then we must begin at once.”
Casting her brocade cloak to the floor carelessly, Pilar began her work. Her long, slender hands cupped his temples, easing him to the chair as she closed her own eyes and sought the memories she would mask. Long moments allowed doubt to creep into Malcolm’s mind that even she would be unable to successfully cloak his mind from the Council. Pilar ignored his worry, if she sensed it, continuing on in quiet inspection. After prolonged study, her lips began their first, soft incantations, slowly weaving the layers of protection that would hide his daughter’s existence away from those who may seek to destroy her. Twisting and turning the memories in his mind, closing off portals to the past and hiding the pathways which led to them, Pilar Michaels practiced her craft in expert fashion.
In rapid succession the Druid priestess repeated her charms, reinforcing their bonds in her mind’s eye, suddenly slumping to the floor in front of him, exhausted.
“ It is finished,” she whispered weakly.
Malcolm was beside her instantly.
“ This was too great a risk for you! I should never have summoned you!”
His voice was strained with emotion, both joy in knowing that his daughter would be protected – at least for now - and worry for the woman in his arms. He was a fool for inviting her. Her presence reminded him of what he could not have.
Scooping her into his arms, Malcolm carried her to the suite of rooms prepared for her stay. Being under the same roof with Pilar frightened him almost as much as facing the Council.
“ Malcolm,” she said softly, her hand reaching up to graze his bearded cheek, “Your daughter will be safe…”
Brushing his hand over her dark hair, Malcolm looked his fill of her perfection. The sleep of exhaustion claimed her, and he tucked her into the lonely bed.
The Council awaited him.
Chapter Five
“ You’re seeing him again this evening?” Lara asked incredulously. “Getting serious about this guy?”
“ I don’t know,” Paige answered honestly. “I feel a connection with him I can’t explain.”
They continued weeding Sissy’s herb garden, a square three meter area which held various potted plants in the tenement building’s backyard. No one complained since Sissy shared with anyone who asked. The potted earth steamed as Paige turned it over in the cool, evening air.
“ I can’t believe these are
“ An alliance?” she mocked, yet humor glinted in her shining eyes. “Surely reciprocity is a more apt term, Malcolm. Or would you prefer we enter into a more permanent agreement?”
Malcolm caught her innuendo, breathing deeply. He would make no reply. It was safer that way.
She sighed, the corners of her mouth lifting ever so slightly.
“ As you wish,” she stated, neither disappointment nor relief evident in her tone. “Now explain to me what it is I am to hide for you.”
Malcolm returned to the beginning, telling of Agnes, their love, and her eventual refusal to see him. At the time he hadn’t known that she carried his child, and their separation had devastated him. After learning of her death and of the child, he understood. Agnes had been protecting him. If she had only trusted him things may have turned out differently, for he would have turned her at once. But for Agnes, the thought that he would be disdained for taking a turned mate because of his being a natural born vampire strengthened her resolve to be no hindrance to him in his world.
Pilar listened silently, allowing him to finish before turning the conversation to strategy; Malcolm would not forget the kindness.
“ I will weave an enchantment the Fates themselves will admire, if ever they discover it. But you must trust me completely, Malcolm. For the enchantment to stand firm in the face of the Council, it must contain nothing of you.”
“ I understand, Pilar. Too well. That is why it is you who are here.”
Malcolm dared not say more.
“ Then we must begin at once.”
Casting her brocade cloak to the floor carelessly, Pilar began her work. Her long, slender hands cupped his temples, easing him to the chair as she closed her own eyes and sought the memories she would mask. Long moments allowed doubt to creep into Malcolm’s mind that even she would be unable to successfully cloak his mind from the Council. Pilar ignored his worry, if she sensed it, continuing on in quiet inspection. After prolonged study, her lips began their first, soft incantations, slowly weaving the layers of protection that would hide his daughter’s existence away from those who may seek to destroy her. Twisting and turning the memories in his mind, closing off portals to the past and hiding the pathways which led to them, Pilar Michaels practiced her craft in expert fashion.
In rapid succession the Druid priestess repeated her charms, reinforcing their bonds in her mind’s eye, suddenly slumping to the floor in front of him, exhausted.
“ It is finished,” she whispered weakly.
Malcolm was beside her instantly.
“ This was too great a risk for you! I should never have summoned you!”
His voice was strained with emotion, both joy in knowing that his daughter would be protected – at least for now - and worry for the woman in his arms. He was a fool for inviting her. Her presence reminded him of what he could not have.
Scooping her into his arms, Malcolm carried her to the suite of rooms prepared for her stay. Being under the same roof with Pilar frightened him almost as much as facing the Council.
“ Malcolm,” she said softly, her hand reaching up to graze his bearded cheek, “Your daughter will be safe…”
Brushing his hand over her dark hair, Malcolm looked his fill of her perfection. The sleep of exhaustion claimed her, and he tucked her into the lonely bed.
The Council awaited him.
Chapter Five
“ You’re seeing him again this evening?” Lara asked incredulously. “Getting serious about this guy?”
“ I don’t know,” Paige answered honestly. “I feel a connection with him I can’t explain.”
They continued weeding Sissy’s herb garden, a square three meter area which held various potted plants in the tenement building’s backyard. No one complained since Sissy shared with anyone who asked. The potted earth steamed as Paige turned it over in the cool, evening air.
“ I can’t believe these are
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