Mariana had not been surprised at Pierre's abrupt departure. The girls having overheard wisely avoided asking questions and had eaten their supper then gone to bed without protest.
Pierre had most likely found a hot meal and sympathetic ear among his drunkard friends at the local tavern, where he often went when angry and as long as he kept his oafish hands off that insufferable wench Philippa, Mariana did not particularly care when he decided to return.
Convinced of this theory, Mariana had gone to bed after cleaning up only to be awakened a short while later by the sound of the door being slammed against the wall admitting a very frantic Pierre. Bria and Yvette were instantly awakened by the noise as well.
"Papa! What's wrong?" Bria demanded from the loft above.
"Nothing, sweetheart. I just need to talk with your mother. Go back to sleep now."
"But…"
Mariana rose from her pallet as quickly as her advanced condition would allow.
Forcing herself to keep a calm face for her daughters Mariana locked eyes with an upset Bria and said, "Everything will be all right, girls. I'll be back in a moment."
Both girls appeared to settle down as Mariana stepped outside. Pierre quickly shut the door behind her. The scent of ale assaulted her senses as Pierre spoke.
"Philippa is dead."
Mariana's brow merely perked in response, "For this you wake me up and frighten the girls? Could this not have waited until morning?"
"She has been murdered, Mariana. In the same way as the others her throat was torn to pieces!" Pierre snapped.
"Sounds like she displeased a patron."
"This is serious, Mariana! I found her! I saw the man that killed her! The same man who at this very moment is in the company of your sweet sister! I saw him leave and wipe Philippa's blood from his own damned lips! He is a demon! A demon summoned by none other than your own flesh and blood!"
"And I suppose you told everyone what you saw like the drunken lout that you are." Mariana growled her ire slowly rising.
Pierre continued unaware of the glow forming in Mariana's amber eyes, "They will kill her this time, Mariana. They'll burn her like the witch that she is! Finally we will be rid…"
Before Pierre could say anymore a sudden gust of wind propelled him backwards and into the side wall of the barn. Pierre let out a pained groan before the impact and the drink sent him spiraling into blessed darkness.
"Stupid bastard." Mariana hissed as she coaxed her power under control.
"Mama?" two small voices called out from the doorway.
Bria and Yvette poked their heads out their eyes wide with fear when they saw their father.
"Is Papa all right? What happened?" a timid Yvette asked.
"He is fine, girls. Let him sleep it off. I'll deal with him in the morning." Mariana remarked bitterly as she hurried back inside.
"Is it about Tante Magdalena? Did she do something bad?" Bria demanded.
"No, Bria, you know that your tante is a good woman. You both would've died if not for her. But if the villagers think that she has done something bad they will surely hurt her." Mariana said sternly.
"How can we help her?"
"Don't worry, girls. Yvette, I need you to help me put together some food and supplies. Bria, run to Magdalena's hovel as fast as you can and bring her here. Go now!" Mariana ordered.
The little girl nodded and hurried out towards her tante's home.
Magdalena and LaCroix sat around the freshly stoked fire this time Magdalena (at LaCroix's behest) was explaining the uses of the various herbs on her drying rack. In the midst of her explanation Magdalena noticed that her guest seemed preoccupied.
Magdalena smirked, "Am I boring you, Monsieur LaCroix?"
"No not at all."
"Sure and that glazed look over your eye is one of keen interest. And don't say that it is one of admiration or even lust." Magdalena countered stiffly.
"I suppose you have heard it before?"
"Far too many times but not anymore."
"Because of the life you have chosen?"
Magdalena nodded, "Besides my older sister Mariana was always the more pleasing of the two of us with her agreeable temper and looks."
"An agreeable temper has its advantages but I have always preferred a woman who is more outspoken and fiery. I find these traits make interaction more stimulating. I encourage such things in my own daughter."
Magdalena's brows shot up, "You have a daughter?"
"By bite not birth."
"So the legends are true. Your kind can take life but not create life."
"It is a minor annoyance that I have learned to deal with."
"Truly? To never have an heir? A minor annoyance?"
"I will live forever. An heir is rather pointless."
"Pointless only because you believe that it is impossible."
"What do you mean?"
Before Magdalena could reply there was a frantic knocking on the door.
"Come in."
The door flew open admitting a little girl with long plaited dark hair and wide dark eyes. She immediately dashed towards Magdalena and threw her arms around the older woman.
"Tante! Thank goodness you are here!" the little girl cried sobbing into Magdalena's arms.
"Shhhhh calm down, Bria. What's the matter? Is it your mother? Is she feeling labor pains?"
"No Maman sent me to get you. She thinks you're in trouble. Papa said that girl Philippa is dead and the people in town think its you."
LaCroix suddenly became very interested in the earth floor.
Magdalena's heart began to race, 'Uh-oh.'
Quickly regaining her composure Magdalena turned to her niece.
"Thank you for telling me, Bria. We will leave immediately. Now be a good girl and go fetch my hens."
The little girl nodded and darted outside to grab the old hens from their place in a shallow burrow beneath the house. As Magdalena raced up to her loft LaCroix shook his head in disbelief.
"Your life may be in danger and your first concern is your chickens?"
Magdalena shrugged, "Shame to let them be killed needlessly when the townsfolk set fire to this place."
"Where will you go?" LaCroix asked as Magdalena climbed down this time holding a small sack.
"My mother will put up with me for a few days while the coven finds a safe place for me to go. There are havens set up for this sort of thing."
"I can protect you far better than they can."
"You have done quite enough."
"I insist. It is my fault you are in this predicament. I am in your debt, Magdalena de Sang, please allow me to repay you."
Magdalena was silent as she thought. Somehow she knew that once she started on this path with Lucien LaCroix she would not be able to leave even if she wanted to.
Thrusting her destiny into whoever was deemed to direct it Magdalena nodded, "Very well but I must see my sister first. Mariana will need to know that I'm going somewhere safe and she will pass it on to my mother."
"Of course." LaCroix replied just as the little girl called Bria appeared with a hen under each arm.
"I'll take those, young lady." LaCroix said relieving Bria of her burdens.
Magdalena patted her niece's shoulder reassuringly, "Come now, Bria. Let us make haste."