Chapter seventeen (Mael)

It was the damnedest thing I had ever experienced and I had lived a damn long time and experienced a damn lot of things! First I had to deal with the irritation of Lillith and Ailo bickering, only to have Ailo tumble down the stairs of his quarters and dislocate his shoulder, then accuse Lillith of stealing my clothes!
Now this… was this the work of the creatures living in the walls or was my nose telling me something else? I could have sworn I smelled her before my blanket vanished. Here I lay completely naked, the blanket missing, Daring nowhere to be found and the Duchess' scent hovering over the bed. I scanned the room, my eyes still heavy with sleep, and noticed that the door was ajar and the drawings on the desk had been moved. I climbed from the bed and approached the disturbed scene, finding one of the finished pieces teetering on the edge of the desk. With no draft in the room I could not imagine how this occurred, I was sure the door was firmly shut and the windows tightly closed before I retired. What the hell was going on here? In my sleep dazed mind I swore I saw Daring flying with my blanket attached to his feet. And though I had seen the little daredevil fly about after bugs and all manner of string, I had not seen him levitate or open doors!
"Master?!" I heard Ailo cry as he descended the stairs of his quarters. "What on earth are you doing?" I rubbed the bridge of my nose and shook my head. "I'm trying to figure out how my door managed to open itself, steal my blanket and take a cat!" I snapped. Ailo must have drunk bad blood earlier in the night because his face was bright red. "Uh… Master you… you are uh… without clothing…What if lady Lillith was to walk in..." He stammered. Ah I had forgotten… "Oh stop acting like a virgin girl. It is not like you haven't seen a naked man before." I remarked dryly and made for my wardrobe. I dressed quickly with a thought after looking over the selection. My mind was still buzzing over the blanket and the fact that Cossette's scent was in the room right as I awakened.
Could she have… could she have come in and…? Why on earth was she stealing my blanket though? I could imagine she might have looked over the sketches now, perhaps coming in, thinking I was awake, seeing the drawings and rustling through them with average human-woman, curiosity. But why she would steal my blanket was beyond me…
My eyebrows rose slightly as a thought occurred to me.

Perhaps she was curious…

Yes, curious little virgin after the day we had spent together. It was a dreadfully stressful and wonderful day. I felt with every ounce of my being she wanted more but was afraid, so I stopped, being the gentleman that I am. The rest of the day was very pleasant and calm however. Touring the country side was one of my favorite parts of the day because Cossette couldn't quite contain herself when she described her home and the beauty therein. We saw many beautiful places, had many beautiful quiet moments together. I honestly would never have thought the Duchess capable of coming into my room and removing my blanket so she could observe me in a defenseless, naked, state… until I saw her bare feet and exposed thigh when we rode. I could not judge her anymore than I could judge myself at this point.
She had a wild heart inside that shell of hers and I had every intention of bringing it out. I think that farce with the beetle was a good example of her nearly allowing herself freedom… She wanted freedom and I would bring it to her, I simply had to prove to her that my intentions were true and that… I loved her. I couldn't believe I was saying it again. I never thought it would happened again but I knew in the deepest part of my heart that I loved who she was, even the parts she tried to hide. I might not be able to read her mind but I could see in her eyes and in her actions the woman she was and I liked it. Now if I could only convince her to feel the same about me.
"Master, shouldn't we be concentrating on the rogue? Perhaps go to another region?" Ailo asked, derailing my train of thought. "No, the rogue or rogues… whatever the hell you might call these things, are after Cossette. Why? I have no idea but they meant that family as a trap to catch her. Obviously they did not suspect that I would be joining her, otherwise I might have hoped they would put up a better fight." I told him smugly. "Sire… you were nearly drained of blood and were delusional when you arrived here! You are lucky to be alive after the wounds they dealt you!" Ailo fussed.
"It wasn't their wounds that had me nearly drain and delusional. I hadn't been eating correctly and I accidentally got a bit of the Duchess' blood on my hand and licked it. She is a virgin obviously and it was potent." I said, brushing it off as if it was nothing, though I was nearly mad with wanting another taste of her for a while. Perhaps I was still a little mad with wanting another taste… just a little. "Master?" I blinked and looked at Ailo who was frowning. "At any rate, we simply wait here for the next attack, it's unlikely we will find the rogue's hiding place. God knows where they are, but, if we wait here we will surely run into them again, in fact when the sun goes down I plan to patrol the area and you are going to help me." I decided. Ailo nodded in agreement. "Very well, Master." He said and started out. "Wait, Ailo. We have a while before sundown and I want you to do something for me. Go to the nearest nursery and purchase some seeds for me." Ailo looked at me as if I were mad. "Seeds… Master?" He repeated. "Ask the person there what the Duchess' favorite flower is and get the seeds for it." I explained. Irritated, Ailo nodded and then left. I walked over to the box full of oil paints and brushes and all sorts of goodies and began piling them out on to the desk. I had purchased a stretched bit of canvas, not too large, a fourteen by eighteen standard, good for portraits and such. But now I was wishing I had bought an easel. I leaned the canvas at a slight angle against the back of the desk, where there were drawers, and placed a paper weight at the bottom to hold it in place. I wasn't worried about covering anything because I never drip or missed a stroke, not even my clothes were in any danger of being soiled. I prepared my pallet with red, blue, yellow, black and white paint, selected a brush from the few necessary ones I bought and began. I referenced the sketches I had done and searched my memory for points in close meetings where Cossette had betrayed her true self. Those were the things that would bring the painting to life.
I took great care in painting each strand of hair, each lash, each mole or freckle that was exposed. I knew her by sight so well, had pondered over her visage so much that the sketches I had done were nearly worthless. Her vision was imprinted in my mind forever. What I had when I was finished was what I saw in her as we traveled together, what she was inside herself. Despite all the places she had taken me, I chose to paint the place she loved to go to be her self and let go; the grove where I saw her lying naked and free as the beasts of the forest. In the painting she was sitting in the grass, not a thing between her dress and the green blades she sat on, her feet bare, one foot dangling in the water as the other braced her on the bank. Her head was thrown back, a private smile on her lips as she took in the forest around her. The sun bathing her in its light. The earth cradled her as its most beloved child. This was what I saw as she rode hard with me, as her eyes lit with amusement and how she so wished to be free. It was most evident when we were together under the Oak tree that she wanted to be free, desperately sought to let go but could not.
I wanted so much to see her happy and free that I thought I might do anything to make it so. If only I could convince her that I only wanted her and her alone.
I signed the painting and collected my things to be cleaned, every once in a while, as I cleaned the brushes, I found myself looking at the painting and smiling.
I wasn't sure if I could hold myself back much longer, the words I so often declared in my head were ready to come out. I love you. How would she react? What would she think? I should have been shaken to the core admitting it to myself but I wasn't, it was oddly right in my heart, now I only had to make it right in hers.

Ailo returned shortly after I had finished cleaning up and handed me a basket of… "What are these?" I asked in bewilderment. "Bulbs, my Lord. The shopkeeper told me that her favorite flower is an Iris which is not a seed but a bulb." Ailo informed me. I took the basket from him and observed the content. They looked like a dead roots but… Marguerite had said Cossette would like seeds and if these things were like seeds then that was what she was going to get. "Thank you, Ailo." I murmured and sat them back in the basket. "You are to keep them in a cool dark place until you give them to her grace, my Lord. Otherwise they will sprout or dry out." Ailo said folding his arms behind him. I raised an eyebrow at him. "The shopkeeper was very informative…" He said dismissively. "Of course… I imagine they must have been a pretty young thing too, to keep you so long." I deduced and slid the basket of bulbs under my bed.
Ailo cleared his throat and forcibly shifted his gaze away from mine. "You are not to drink in Espoir, do not forget this. Cossette's trust is very important to me, if you ruin it I swear I'll pull your fangs out with my bare hands and replace your eyes with them." I wasn't jesting either and he knew it. "Yes, my Lord." He said. "The sun is nearly down." I observed and manifested a cloak about my shoulders. "Let us begin our patrol of Espoir first and move on toward the other townships." I checked my pocket to make sure this was the coat that had the little charm Cossette had given me and started toward the door.
Ailo fell inline like a good manservant and we were off to maintain the peace of this remote and mysterious little sanctuary.  How odd it felt to be actively trying to protect something again… rather than being the one that was protected from.

We saw no sign of Lillith as we headed out, nor did we see the Duchess. The castle was quiet, the windows aglow with the last remainders of the sun, the orange light casting a warm yet haunting shade to the stone of the walls and floor. Stepping outside allowed us the view of the sun setting behind the trees and the sounds of the animals settling down for the night's rest, though many others were just beginning their day. The trees and bushes rustle with mice and birds still foraging for seeds and berries as we made our way toward the bridge. I would have loved to share a night with Cossette… one that was not filled with blood and random attempts on her life. To show her the magic it held, to let her see it in a different light.
Many humans often thought that the loss of day light was one of the worst things about converting. It was not. I had the privilege of being able to go into both and I still preferred the night. It was quiet and you could see the stars. The sun blinded one to the truth of the universe beyond… night was truth; silent, uncomplicated truth.

I wondered what her skin would look like covered only in moonlight…  

People were hurrying to get done with their chores before the light completely slipped away as we reached Espoir. Even the children were still out busy with their own chores. All were smiling, happy. I thought of Marguerite and I wondered how she was fairing today. As my mind wondered on the young woman and her fate, a little girl passed us by. She was no more that eight or nine years old. Auburn hair and freckles dusting her cheeks and nose and a basket atop her head filled with fine garments. I smiled as she gingerly hopped by with her burden… only to then realize that her burden was my burden! "Pardon me… little girl?" I said, stopping and turn to her. "Oui, Monsieur...?" She said and faced me, her eyes large and curious. I should not have been taken aback, knowing the mixed species of the Duchy but still, her black corneas around dual colored eyes surprised me. She was a Volven.  "Those clothes you have, where did you get them?" I asked gently so not to sound accusing. How in the world did she get them though? They were my cloak and coat… and pants! "From the Duchess Delacroix, Monsieur.  They belong to a guest of hers and she mended them for him, probably because they were very ratty and poorly managed." She babbled. I was slightly stunned for a moment. Cossette had seen to having my clothes mended? But why? She owed me nothing, if anything I owed her… "I see, so the Duchess wanted the clothes mended..." I muttered to myself aloud. Ailo was rolling his eyes impatiently but thankfully did not speak. The little girl, or should I say, Prue, that was her name, nodded gently. Her thoughts were wildly un-kept and there were no barriers at all to protect her mind from invasion so reading her thoughts or finding her name, was child's play. It spoke volumes for this place and how peacefully they lived however.  "I don't think she wanted him looking shabby and homeless, sir -- but I also don't think she wants him to know that she fixed his garments for him without asking him, so if you see him please don't tell!" Prue said. Homeless… shabby… "Of course not, thank you, Madam." I said and bowed slightly. "You're welcome, sir!  Good evening!"  She said and turned to go about her business but then quickly turned back. "Excuse me, Monsieurs...!" She called. "Yes, Madam?" She stepped a bit closer and looked Ailo and myself up and down warily. "You don't look like you're from around these parts...what are you doing so far from home...?" She asked. It was then that I noticed the silk tied in a bow and pinned to the girl's skirt. It was the silk I had bought for Cossette… or at least, a small swatch of it. "We are not from here, we are here on business." I told her and paused, studying the silk. "Might I ask where you got that swatch of silk? It's very pretty." I ventured. Prue seemed to take a deep breath before answering me. "The Duchess gave it to me.  When I go to leave the guest's mending at his door, I'm supposed to get the rest of the cloth.  The Duchess gave me her swatch of it so I could find it and bring the rest back.  She's making a new gown, but I don't think she wants anyone to know about it so don't tell anyone about that either or she'll get upset and I'll get in trouble!" She burst out. What a darling little thing she was, completely laying out Cossette's plans and secrets without even the slightest clue of who I was. I couldn't help but smile. "Really... well, don't you worry, little one. I swear I will not tell a soul." I assured her. "Its getting rather dark... perhaps we should walk you to the castle and back." I offered. After all, she had given me wonderful information for later and I couldn't let that go without offering something in return. …And honestly, I didn't like the idea of such sweet thing walking around in the dark with monsters on the loose. Ailo glared at me, yes, I was throwing our patrol off but… "Alright!" She cried brightly and grabbed my hand as she started walking. Actually she took a finger. Her hand was so small it was lost in mine. The idea made me smile. Such a small innocent hand, so trusting and without fear, how I always pictured it to be if I had my own child. "Goodness." I uttered as she pressed on. "How long have you and your family lived here Prue?" I asked without thinking. Ailo raised his eyebrows at me but it was too late. Prue looked up at me, her eyes without fear or shock at my blunder. "How did you know my name, sir...?  Did you look inside my head...?" She asked as if it were as normal as could be. "...I...yes, you know what I am, Prue?" I ventured. She smiled… "Of course!  I know lots of other Vampires here!  Is that why you're here, sir?" She asked. "Actually, yes. You see, some vampires are not nice and I have to punish them. There is a bad vampire around here somewhere and I am trying to find them so you and your friends will be safe." I told her. It sounded so much nobler now than it did when I first began this adventure. It was work before, now there was a reason, many reasons, to destroy these things. I heard Ailo mutter something about remaining in town, that was fine, likely the best idea. Prue didn't seem to notice or care that he left but she did seem confused at my reasons for being here in Forêt en Chêne. "How is there a bad Vampire somewhere...?  I thought they were all kind and polite -- like the Duchess' lady-in-waiting.  She's really pretty...I hope I grow up like her one day!" Prue said brightly. I hoped that she did not grow up to be entirely like Lillith… though the girl did have many fine qualities, there were some that would simply be thought… improper. "Well... sometimes people aren't very nice, but you don't have to worry about it." I told her and smiled. "If you ride piggyback we could run to the castle and be back before the light is gone, what do you think?" I asked her. "Really, sir?  What about the basket?" She asked. "I will carry it for you, here, give it to me." I said and took the basket. I kneeled down, uncaring that my knees were now covered in dust, and motioned for her to climb up. What was I doing? I had never in my life done such a thing… and yet, I loved it. I loved how she did not even hesitate to hop on my back and fasten her little arms around my neck. Trust, she trusted me and… for the first time, I felt she could trust me and I could trust myself.
I rarely ever used this method of travel because it wasn't good if you wished your hair to remain in a semblance of order. But to amuse a child, there was nothing better. It took literally less than five whole seconds to reach the castle. Upon stopping, the wind that was ultimately sucked along with us as we moved, hit and whipped Prue's dress and my cloak around us in a wild flurry of loose leave and dust. Prue laughed breathlessly as I kneeled and steadied her wobbling body. "Are you alright?" I asked, rising and turning to face her. "Wheeeee...!  That was fun...!" She cheered with bright eyes. I couldn't help but smile at her innocence. "Haha be careful, you might be dizzy for a monent." I warned and steadied her by the shoulders. Her shoulders were so small in comparison to my hands that I could have touched my thumbs together easily. "....who are you supposed to give these to?" I asked, remembering I hadn't seen Lillith at home when we left. "The Duchess said I could just leave them at the guest's door -- she told me where to find it.  After that I'm supposed to go to her chambers and find the silk she wants me to bring to her." Prue explained as she headed for the front door. I followed her slowly but she turned and stopped me as we reached the entrance. "Please wait here, Monsieur -- I don't think the Duchess knows who you are and she probably doesn't want a stranger in her home." It took everything in me not to laugh. How naïve and precious she was. Little did she know that it was my room she delivered the basket too. I'd let her believe that she had done her job well and I was simply a kind passerby. "Oh, of course, I will wait right here for you, I promise." I told her and smiled. She slipped inside with her basket and closed the door behind her. Now that I thought about it, I might have seen this girl in Ailo's memory when I asked him to watch over Cossette while I was gone… yes, one of Cossette's students.
It was but a few minutes before Prue returned with the large and rather heavy bolt of fabric. She teetered with the length as it was twice as long as she was. I caught her just as she looked like she might fall. "Be careful, little one. My, my... the Duchess has good taste." I said and grinned to myself. "She always makes pretty dresses...sometimes to make new ones she takes apart an old one and refits the pieces to something newer so it looks different.  She doesn't really buy clothing anymore -- or shoes.  She's always barefoot." Prue informed me. I was almost completely sure Cossette would not have liked anyone to know this, not about being barefoot but the fact she had to refurbish clothing. It didn't seem fair that someone as kindhearted and giving should suffer what she had to suffer. It simply wasn't right. I might have complained about my life at times, even considered ending it if it were possible, but I could not deny that I likely deserved what I had gotten. Fine, I did deserve it but Cossette did not.
"I have noticed that..." I muttered more to myself. "Well, will you trust me to hold the bolt while we run back down the mountain?" I asked and raised my eyebrows in question. Prue hugged the fabric, debating whether to trust me with it or not. Finally she relented. "Don't get it dirty, please..." She said. I felt… a bit amazed. She trusted me with something that was very much important to her and she did it not even knowing who I was. I placed one hand over my heart and the other up with the palm facing out and said. "I swear on my life, I will protect it as if it were my own." Which it was… actually or rather, it had been. She eyed me for a moment then handed it over. I then knelt and offer my back to her to climb. "Come then, hop back on." I said. She obliged and settled herself right in. "Let's go!" She said, thrusting a small hand forward. Utterly darling. I wanted one, a child. I desperately wanted one and damned if Cossette would not be the mother! I tucked the bolt under my arm and dashed down the mountain road. The sun was now nearly gone, the last light almost faded completely. I was glad I helped little Prue deliver her goods, one, because she supplied me with much needed information and two, she was too young and innocent to be out in the dark alone. What if it had not been me to find her walking, what if it had been a rogue? The thought disturbed me more than it normally would have. Before I would not have care but since I came here, since I met Cossette, I was a different person. Actually, more like I had been in years passed. We stopped in front of the shop where the little girl had first appeared, it was a bakery. Leaves and dust swirled around us as Prue slid down my back. She fixed her skirts and hair and looked up at me with huge eyes. "Do all Vampire runs so fast?" She asked with astonishment. "Haha well... not all of them are as fast as me but they do very well." I said and handed her the bolt back. "Thank you, Monsieur -- will you be on your way, now?" She asked, clutching the silk to her. "Yes, Madam and I wish you goodnight and pleasant dreams." I said and bowed. She giggled and slipped inside the bakery.

It was a moment before I looked for Ailo. I wondered the area around the bakery for a moment longer, just looking at the little shops and such. I wondered if this was the same bakery that the basket of yesterday was from… after all, how many bakeries did one need in a single town.  I started walking, searching, hoping to find something and also hoping not to find anything. I wanted this place to be safe…perhaps that would be a service I could offer Cossette that she would find attractive.

It was later when I finally met up with Ailo. According to him, there was nothing, not even a beast wishing ill upon the town. That was good. We started back toward the castle to search the woods when a figure darted by. It was Lillith, running, her eyes frantic. Ailo and I ran after her and caught up to see what had her so frantic. "Lillith, what has you so excited?" I asked as we stopped her. She turned frantically toward me and said, "The baby! Marguerite is having the baby!"