Battle of Forces: Sera Toujours Read online

  “The goddess has chosen her champion.” She moved so Kendal could ease her hand out of her slowly, making her shiver. “The mark is now a part of you.”

  Kendal ran her finger along the tattoo on Piper’s chest and seemed to study every part of it. “And what does this mark mean?”

  “In my vision, my guide said if I accepted, I’d be marked as well, and it’d mean I belong to you. Every great warrior needs a mate, especially if they are fighting for the right side, or in this case, the side of love and not the power of conquest.” Kendal laughed and Piper joined her. “I don’t think in this case it means the candies-and-flowers kind of love, but for the good in the world.”

  “I’m sorry. I promise I’m not making fun.” Kendal reclined against the tree again, putting both arms around Piper’s hips. “What else did you see?”

  “It was nice to have a spirit guide this time, but it would’ve been better if she’d told me what happens from this point to the end. How the sword fits into all this is still a mystery, but she did give me one warning.”

  “Take your time.”

  “Like it says in the prophecy, the sword will awaken on Halloween, but it has the ability to serve two masters.”

  “Two masters like love and evil?”

  She exhaled loudly and shook her head. “That’s what she wasn’t willing to give up, and I asked a few times as we memorized all the stuff I had to say. She refused and only showed me a glimpse of a great sex scene, gave me that warning, then left me hanging.” She felt Kendal’s chest moving as if she was trying not to laugh. “Laugh it up, Asra, but do you realize how hard it was not to ravish you somewhere over the Atlantic with my grandparents on the plane? So now that I can be more rational, what do you think it all means?”

  This time Kendal didn’t hold her laugh in, and it sounded so carefree it warmed her.

  “Let’s just concentrate on what she gave us for now. Tomorrow will come soon enough.”

  Chapter Seventeen

  “What do you think that was?” Morgaine asked as she stood by the window, looking out. She meant the yell they’d heard earlier, but Lenore was more interested in watching the shadows the moonlight painted on Morgaine’s body as the trees swayed in the wind outside.

  “See anything?”

  “Nothing out of the ordinary,” Morgaine said, but stayed put, and Lenore sensed she didn’t want to turn around.

  “Then come back over here.” Lenore lifted the blanket in invitation. “You don’t regret what happened, do you?”

  It’d been the strangest thing, considering nothing like it had ever happened with anyone before, but as they’d discussed some new passages she’d found in a few books from the Farthington library, something took hold. Whatever it was, they’d dropped to the bed and started ripping off their clothes like the world would end if they hadn’t made love. She wanted to find the right words to talk about it, since whatever had brought them together was still skittering around the room, ready to make her lose her mind again.

  “Not regret, no,” Morgaine said slowly. “I just find it interesting.”

  “I’ve been alive for a long time, and I’ve made love thousands of times, but ‘interesting’ usually translates to regret.” Lenore dropped the blanket and tried to hide her disappointment at Morgaine’s rejection. “If you want, you can leave. Go ahead. I’m sure you’ll feel better if you go out and look around.”

  “Don’t do that,” Morgaine said, and sat next to her. “It’s true that we’ve known each other for centuries, but we’ve always been occupied with other things, other interests, so it’s made me blind to a lot of things. That’s my fault, but I’ve been weighed down by my own collection of rejection and failures.” Lenore put her hand on Morgaine’s thigh and hoped she’d continue. “What did you tell me not that long ago? Love would find me the minute I stopped looking.”

  “Stop now if you don’t mean it.”

  “Listen to me. Tonight you stripped me bare of any pretense, and I welcomed you. I found something in you that no one before you has ever come close to having.”

  “Not even Asra?” she said as Morgaine moved over her. “She never wrote it in any of her chronicles, but I’ve always known how it was between the two of you.”

  “Asra was never mine, and I could never be hers, but this is something you and I can build on. Don’t punish me for being a complete idiot. You fit so well with me I want to cry from the pure joy of it.”

  “Thanks for that, but if it’ll make you feel better, go outside and check the grounds.”

  “I don’t want to go outside,” Morgaine said, pressing her to the bed. “The only thing I want is you.” Morgaine moved her hand down the middle of Lenore’s chest. “I want to start the fire between us again, but how about a slow burn this time?”

  “Touch me,” she said, and opened her heart to Morgaine.

  *

  In the morning, despite whatever danger they were about to face, everyone at the table had a large smile except Hill. The Marmandes appeared well rested and happier than when they’d arrived. They all ate breakfast together, Kendal and Piper knowing it would be their last meal with them and Hill until they got back.

  “How about a walk?” Kendal asked the Marmandes after they were done.

  They took the same path she and Piper had taken the night before, and Kendal let Piper go ahead, holding Molly’s hand.

  “I know back in England we exchanged promises, but I want you to make me another one,” Mac said as he slowed down even more, so they were out of earshot.

  She held her hand out for him to shake. “I’ll promise whatever you like.”

  “I know you’re leaving Molly and me here to keep us safe, and that you tried to talk Piper into staying on with us,” Mac said as he kept his eyes on his family. “Piper is the image of her mother. She’s as stubborn as the day is long, and it’s what got my son all fired up about marrying her and what killed his spirit when she died.”

  “The first day I came to have lunch with you two was the day she grabbed me by the heart, and I pray she never lets go.” Kendal smiled and winked at Piper when she glanced back at them.

  “Just like her mama,” Mac said, and put his hand on her shoulder. “No matter where my son went or what he was into, my daughter-in-law was always right there, and vice versa.”

  “I don’t want you to think I’d put Piper in danger if I could avoid it.”

  “I know that, and that isn’t what I wanted to talk to you about. I want you to promise me you’ll go back to New Orleans and kick whoever’s ass you have to so you can come back here for us.”

  “You, Molly, and Hill will be on the first plane home as soon as we’re done.”

  “Think you can promise me one more thing?”

  She smiled and waved him on. “If I can, I’ll be happy to.”

  “Once you get back, I want to take another walk with you so you can tell me a story.” He slapped her on the back and laughed. “I have a feeling your story will be the most interesting spin I’m ever going to have the honor of hearing. You aren’t what you appear to be, Kendal Richoux, but goddamn if I don’t like you.”

  “Thank you, sir.” She stepped into his embrace when he held his arms out and smiled at the affection Mac was still willing to give.

  They finished their walk, and when they got back the staff had packed their bags. Hill held the locked box containing the Sea Serpent Sword and hesitated to hand it over when Kendal held her hands out for it.

  “Take me with you,” Hill said, gripping the box with white fingers.

  “You don’t know what you’re asking,” Kendal said, and squeezed Piper’s fingers as she took her hand. “You’re not equipped to handle this, and don’t take that as an insult.”

  “If whatever you’re going to face is anything like what we saw in England, you have to take me. Wouldn’t it be better if you have more than one person keeping an eye on Piper? If something happens to her—”

  “Wait a sec
ond, Hill, don’t do that,” Piper said as she held Kendal back.

  “I’ve known you longer than Kendal has, and I don’t care what you told us about the freaks that made us run here. Those things were real, and I’ve seen enough movies to know they’re vampires, as crazy as that sounds,” Hill screamed as she clutched the box against her chest. “Logically we all know they don’t exist, but those things were real.”

  “And Kendal took care of them, so hand that box over and calm down.” Piper let Kendal go and went to Hill. “Don’t fight us on this one.”

  “You can’t stop me from following you.”

  “If you’re smart, you won’t step foot in New Orleans until we’re done,” Kendal said as she forcibly took the sword away from Hill. “You can accept that or not, but know that we’ll have enough to worry about without you getting in the middle of something beyond your comprehension.”

  “Promise me you’ll stay here,” Piper said to Hill. “She’s right and I trust her with my life, no matter how short a time we’ve been together.”

  “I can’t do that because I care about you too much to throw you to the wolves.”

  “There won’t be a wolf within a thousand miles of where we’re going.” Kendal pointed to the car.

  “Take care of yourself and call us if you need anything,” Molly said as she held Piper. “Come back to me.”

  “Gran, life always won’t be perfect, but you can count on me and Kendal being with you and Pops for years to come.”

  Mac hugged Piper next with the same words of advice, then treated Kendal to them too. Piper didn’t want to leave them behind, but this time she couldn’t avoid it. They boarded with Lenore and Morgaine holding hands, and Charlie and Bruik coming in last. Whatever All Hallows’ Eve held for them, it was upon them.

  *

  When they drove through the gates of Oakgrove, the house and the grounds looked quiet and peaceful, and they all headed for their rooms. They had one more night to make plans before it was too late.

  Kendal went down to talk to Charlie a few hours later about the idea she’d come up with, but he wasn’t at his place, though his bags sat in the front room of his house. She dialed the stables and the other spots on the grounds he might be, but she couldn’t locate a note or anything explaining his absence. Kendal walked through all the rooms looking for anything out of the ordinary, but aside from the luggage, it looked as if Charlie had stepped out for a while.

  “Did you find him?” Piper asked as she sat and listened to Lenore read from the book she’d first found on the sword. Once Kendal voiced a concern, Lenore and Morgaine came down.

  “Something’s not right.” She could feel it in her gut. Charlie’s place was too tidy, and the painting of his family didn’t hold the vase of flowers he always put out for them. “He knows how important tonight is, so he hasn’t just decided to take a drive or something.”

  “He’ll be back, honey.” Piper got up and took a piece of candy from the bowl close to the door. “Are we entertaining the little ones for Halloween?”

  “We get the occasional trick-or-treater, so the staff likes to be prepared. It’s the one time of year strangers can wander in from the road without the fear of being arrested for trespassing.” She accepted the chocolate from Piper and smiled. “I’m not sure why they’d put it out this year, since we’re not unlocking the gate.”

  “You mean I missed my chance to get in here all those years ago?”

  “If you’d shown up in some sexy costume, I would’ve insisted you come in, no matter what day of the year it was.”

  “Flatterer.”

  “On my oath as a soldier of Egypt, I tell only the truth when it comes to you.”

  Piper blushed and Morgaine made gagging noises when she came in with drinks for her and Lenore. “No comments from the peanut gallery, thank you.”

  Kendal reached for another piece of chocolate. “Did you spot Charlie?”

  “He’s not back, but I’m sure he knows we’re counting on him.” Morgaine sat and looked around the room.

  “You must forget Charlie for now,” Bruik said as he sat in a meditative pose by the fireplace.

  “What have you seen?” Piper asked.

  “He’s close but won’t be up for the fight. Asra and Morgaine, you can’t let that take your mind off what needs to be done,” Bruik said.

  “Have you seen anything else about what happens tomorrow?” Piper asked.

  “That vision belongs to you, child. Whatever there is to be seen, it’s for your sight, not mine.”

  “Where’d you put the sword?” Piper asked as she remembered the vision, which still hadn’t changed at all.

  “I locked it in the sword room. I’d rather see it sleep for another two thousand years than let it awaken something we can’t fight.”

  “I don’t have a clue, but I think you two will be up to fighting whatever’s awakened,” Lenore said. “I had my assistant drop off a few things for me.” She held up Bruik’s writings and he shook his head. “When you did have sight of this, you were certain this would be the year the dragon awoke. If we add that to what Piper has seen, we can safely say we can’t stop it.”

  “But my visions have changed when we worked to change them,” Piper said.

  “With training, eventually you’ll hone your talent,” Bruik said as he stood and came close to Piper. “Your visions are just that, a possibility of what can happen. I’ve been able to sort through the different scenarios of what I see and come to an absolute outcome.” He smiled, and the lines around his eyes became more pronounced. Bruik was the only Elder Kendal had ever met who actually appeared old. “It doesn’t mean your insights haven’t been important to us, sweet child. Long ago I may have seen you in a series of visions and written extensively of how important you’ll be to us. Of that I have always been certain, and even if you’re not sure of your gift, you have gotten all those you love to this point unscathed.”

  “Can we try again tonight? Maybe now that it’s so close, something else will come to me.”

  “Save your energy for what needs to be done,” Bruik said, and returned to his meditation after he kissed Piper’s cheek.

  “We have a starting place for tomorrow night, Piper, and together we’ll bend it to our will.”

  Chapter Eighteen

  The morning and afternoon were quiet, and as soon as the sun went down, Kendal sent everyone to their positions before she went out to the front porch alone to smoke a cigar. She watched the road but wasn’t really expecting Julius and his friends to drive up and announce themselves. If they were watching, though, she wanted to face the oncoming battle like any other lord protecting her domain, showing no fear.

  The temperature had gotten a little cooler, and she could feel the chill through the open collar of her shirt. Wearing her boots and soft buckskin pants, she looked very much like the ghost of Jacques St. Louis come to life once more.

  “Still no sign of him,” Morgaine said when she dropped into the rocker next to her. “I ran the perimeter of the house but there’s still no sign of Charlie.”

  “No, but if you look in the tree to my left you’ll find signs of someone else.”

  Morgaine’s face never turned from Kendal’s, but her eyes looked to where Kendal said. Kendal had spotted him the minute she came out, and whoever he was he was dressed in black, including the pommel of his sword, though she could still see the whiteness of his skin as he sat hidden in one of the high branches.

  “And if you look to your right, you’ll see he brought a friend.” She stayed still and closed her eyes to concentrate on the sounds around her. She heard faint whispering and the sounds of people climbing the walls and dropping onto the grounds. “He brought a few more as well.”

  “How many?” Morgaine asked as she stood and leaned on the banister.

  “I’m thinking six more at the wall, and the two in the tree.” The katana she’d used to fight Henri and Ora was lying across her lap, the Sea Serpent Sword locked
in the house. “Eight of them and two of us. I’ll take those odds,” she said in case the intruders could hear their conversation. Morgaine snorted, since they’d fought alongside each other enough times for her to know she was getting ready to engage and try to mess up whatever timeline Julius’s men had.

  “I tried to up our numbers,” Morgaine said, “but it was hard to know who to trust. If some power comes to light tonight with the capability to take over the world, I’d rather not tempt someone who’s on the fence as far as honor is concerned.”

  “True. After all, that’s what the Republicans are for.”

  Morgaine laughed. “Smart-ass. You keep saying things like that and eventually you’ll get audited.”

  “That might be a scarier thought than facing off against some evil bastards trying to take over the world.”

  “Do you really think we need reinforcements?”

  She nodded and smiled. “Remind me the next time we’re in the same situation to buy Lenore and Piper the latest issue of Swordplay for Dummies, to bolster our defenses.”

  “I’ll make a note of it, but tonight you’re going to have to be happy with me.”

  “I am happy, and for more reasons than that you’re here.” She stood as well and moved next to Morgaine so she could put her arm around her waist. “I’m glad to see what’s building between you and Lenore. I’ve only known that kind of love for a short time, but it does give me a renewed sense of something to fight for.” She stubbed out her cigar and walked down the steps to the front yard.

  “Let’s get this over with.”

  *

  Piper, Lenore, and Bruik watched from the windows in the front parlor, and Piper cringed when Kendal unsheathed her sword and descended the steps to the yard. Even through the double-paned glass they could hear the scraping noise as Kendal dragged the tip of her sword along the drive.

  “What’s she doing?” Piper asked.

  “I’m not sure, but I believe it’s what’s referred to as calling someone out.”