Chapter Nine

I came back to Loire Valley a year later, after wandering around the lands of France aimlessly. I'd worked on mind-tricks in my isolation. After tricking many a barkeep to pour me free drinks, free inn stays, and many a beautiful woman into my bed for a night, I could easily say I felt comfortable in my skills. It was gluttonous; because I couldn't feel anything, I felt this urge to indulge as much as possible. It should have made me feel better to know that, could I have felt, I would have had a life that many men would envy. Still, I didn't have enough. I was cursed; it would never be enough.

In the time I'd been missing, poor Francis had died, and the town was still full of speculation about what had happened to "poor Katharine Lowry". Fools. Surprisingly, the town had remained unscathed by the political battles raging outside of its hills. It was always a shame to me that its innocence wouldn't last too much longer.

Pondering these things in the cold graveyard, on top of Francis' gravestone, I heard a strange noise. I turned to see Chauncey walking towards me. To be fair, it was more like dragging his unwilling feet towards me. He fell onto his knees a few feet away from me.

"Please…let us reconsider this…" he plead. I rose my eyebrows. Pleading? That wasn't the Duc's style.

"It was an oath sworn under Heaven and Hell, Chauncey. There is no reconsidering." I said quietly.

"I have a wife now." He stated.

"That's not a concern of mine."

"She's newly a mother; she has my son to watch over." He tried again.

"Hooray, a baby half-Nephil brat." I said, sneering. At my words, Chauncey's face paled, and he changed course.

"I saw it. I saw what you did to Katharine. It was monstrous, demonic! Worse yet, no one knew who you were! I searched the entire valley! But, coward, you slunk away!" he hissed.

I'd heard nothing after his accusation of my actions.

"It was no worse than…"what she did to me! I shrugged, bringing myself into the control. "If anything, you should be happy. I saved you from the whore that she was. She simply wanted your bed for your money. She was a murderer, and a harlot, and you should thank me for ridding the world of her presence."

Chauncey had no words. He simply stared at me, and I drank in the horrified expression on his face. Then, I looked up. There was no moon. Something in me knew that it was time, and I faced him, determination etched onto my face. I charged towards Chauncey, hungry for his body. In fear, he turned to run away, but I ran right through him.

It was like wearing someone else's skin. My body began to fuse with his, and we fell to our knees. Chauncey's body was bulky, and ungraceful, in comparison to mine. Still, I was willing to accept it, because I could feel again. The wind that I'd taken for granted, I could feel it across my new skin.

Let me go! Chauncey yelled from inside of us. We jerked back as he tried to fight his way back into control.

Chauncey, if you fight anymore, I'll have to do something I really don't want to. That wife, and that new child? I'll bash both of their heads in if you don't sit back and take this quietly. I threatened evilly. It was wrong, and some part of me knew how sadistic I sounded, but I was so happy to feel again that I refused to let it go. As expected, Chauncey fell silent. Moments passed, and I was near the Chateau when he spoke again.

I'll kill you. He whispered. I reminded myself that I'd have to learn how to shut out his body and thoughts when I possessed him for next time.

You will regret every single moment of this. I smirked as I walked into the home. There was a marvelous mirror that hung on one of the walls in the great foyer. It was silver, and it stood about six feet tall. I looked at "my" reflection; Chauncey stared back, a look of wild contentment in his eyes.

I wonder if your wife will notice the better lover you are, I spoke back, deflecting his pointless threats.

Chauncey began to howl in agony as we looked up and noticed his little wife, the Duchess, come down the stairs. She wasn't much in beauty, but as her clothes bespoke, she'd brought with her one hell of a dowry.

"Where have you been, ma Cherie?" she asked me. "I've missed you!" I grabbed the dumpy little woman, and I held her close, making sure that Chauncey could see every moment of it. She looked up at me, and I suppose I didn't hide the avarice on my face well enough, because her own creased in worry.

"Chauncey? Are you well? Ma Cherie? Wake up!"

"Wake up!"

I opened my eyes as Nora leaned over me.

"Come on, sleepy! We're supposed to be going shopping today for this event tonight, remember? Wake up!" she said. Her face was crossed between amusement and annoyance.

"Right, Angel. Sorry." I got up and I smiled at her. Sighing in exasperation, she walked out of the room. I shook my head, trying to rid myself of the memories that had weighed on my mind for so long.