Chapter 11

Igniting the Flare

Baldwin had no idea how long he'd lain still next to Athena, who was still fast asleep and curled up on her side facing him. He turned over to face her, her scent now mingled with his and the musky scent of their previous antics. He leant down to inhale, brushing his nose against the warm skin of her neck. Without warning, his cock twitched. He huffed in exasperation that he could be so easily affected by her mere presence, and rolled out of bed, discarding his ripped shirt, and replacing it with another.

He left her sleeping after starting a fire in his long disused fireplace, and went to Philippe's study. He made no attempt to answer emails he knew would be piling up. He stood and stared out of the window, wondering how he'd gotten himself into this predicament. It wasn't a lack of sex driving him, as he had a number of lovers he could call upon if the mood struck him. He'd had plenty of girlfriends over the years, both human and vampire. Had she bewitched him? Even as he thought it, he knew it wasn't true.

"Christ, Baldwin, you reek of sex," Matthew exclaimed from the doorway. "When did you find time to visit an old flame?"

Baldwin gave him a look, and Matthew instantly understood.

"Ah. I thought I recognised her scent. So, you finally gave in?"

"It's not like that at all. It was a mistake. I know better than to give in to such base feelings." He was irritated.

"That's utter crap and you know it. It's no longer a crime, you realise?" Matthew stated.

"It's got fuck all to do with the Congregation!" Baldwin yelled. "She's an injured woman. She's far too stubborn and reckless, and..."

"She's perfect for you. And you're afraid. You've never mated with anyone. Not human, not vampire. Who is to say you weren't meant to mate with a witch?"

"I'm not you, Matthew. She isn't Diana," Baldwin stated.

"Of course not. But with the Covenant forbidding such a match for over a millennia, who is to say more vampires and witches wouldn't have gotten together? I don't believe for a second that keeping the species apart was ever the right thing to do. Our survival is reliant on intermingling."

"Yes, Yes. So you've told me since the Covenant was repealed. That doesn't mean we should all go looking for witch mates."

"You didn't go looking for her. Fate led you to her," Matthew replied.

"Fate? You think fate had anything to do with this? The only reason I went with Diana was because she begged me to. Verin wasn't available, and she's the only one with tracking skills equal to mine." Baldwin was trying to rationalise his involvement, but even he knew it was a stretch.

"You're the believer in the old Gods. In oracles and foresight. Athena's sister and mother were both seers. We have no way of knowing what they saw in regards to all this. Actually, her mother has said precious little. I highly doubt she hasn't seen anything."

"Do you suspect something?" Baldwin asked.

"I'm not sure. It's just strange that a seer as powerful as Delphine, according to both Athena, and her mother, would find herself in such a situation in the first place. Such a kidnapping is carefully planned. She'd have seen it coming, if she really was so powerful."

"Maybe she hoped she could change the outcome. It wouldn't be the first time a seer tried to change their future."

"It's too specific to be a random act of madness from Satu, spellbound or not. Binding can make a witch do crazy things to get herself unbound, but what she did to Delphine and Athena seemed... personal. Like she was with Diana. It was obsessive..." Matthew mused.

"You think she was ordered to do it? She doesn't seem the type to take orders. Even Peter Knox couldn't keep her under control."

"I think there's more to this than meets the eye. And I think Athena is still in danger."

"That I do agree with. She needs to stay here, though I doubt she'll be happy with it," Baldwin replied with a sigh.

"We can't force her to stay, Baldwin," Matthew warned.

"I realise that. But maybe she'll agree to it if she knows it's the safest option."

"Safety of self doesn't seem to be her primary concern." Matthew replied, giving Baldwin a look.

"Not. She'd fearless. Dangerously so. As impressive as her power is, she could have been hurt. Satu was like Diana. Fortunately for Athena, she didn't know how to wield her weaver's abilities as well as Diana does."

"You're worried about her," Matthew realised.

"I'm worried about what this could mean for us. Once again, we're drawn into witches problems. We're not the saviours of all creature kind!" Baldwin yelled, in a vain attempt to deflect.

"Maybe we should be! Our survival depends on our openess and acceptance of others. And your acceptance that you are clearly attracted to a witch!"

Baldwin's head whipped around so fast, it would have given a warm blood whiplash.

"I can hear the rush of blood when you speak of her. How your heart rate increases, and your breathing deepens."

Baldwin said nothing and turned back to the window, glowering quietly. He regretted not going back to New York when he'd had the chance earlier. He didn't have to check to see Matthew leave. He was frustrated and confused. He wasn't used to being so out of control of his body or his mind. He was 2000 years old! He was behaving like a lusty teenager. Even as he tried to shake thoughts of her, the look on her face as she'd climaxed had him groaning all over again.

Athena had awoken to an empty bed beside her, the sheets pulled over her partially naked body. The room smelled of their pleasure, so much so even she could smell it. She wondered where he'd gone, and further wondered how she'd get back to her room with half-torn clothing. She pulled one of the sheets around herself and tiptoed out of his room. It was pointless. It wasn't as though she wouldn't be heard with three or more vampires about the place.

As it was, she managed to get back to her temporary domain without encountering anyone. The fire had been lit in the fireplace though, and her bed was made. Marthe. The perpetual vampire housekeeper. Athena stripped off and debated having a shower. But something stopped her. She could still smell his woody scent on her skin. Did vampires get all protective over such things? She decided to dress and go looking for him. He seemed to disappear right when she needed to talk to him. She wondered if he regretted his actions. She didn't think of him as someone who made rash decisions and she thought that he was struggling to reconcile what he'd done. It hadn't exactly been planned, but it had felt the right response to the tightly charged moment.

It didn't take long to find him in a study, still standing by the window, looking out over the same gardens he'd watched her dance in. She new he'd know she was there, but he didn't move a muscle.

Baldwin for his part was trying desperately to look unmoved by the presence, standing taut with his arms folded across his barrel chest, his muscles twitching from the effort not to turn and pull her into his embrace.

Athena smiled softly. She couldn't discern all the tiny muscle twitches, but she could see his jaw working. She approached him slowly, giving him time to react, not that he needed much if he decided to flee. She placed her hands lightly on his shoulder blades, smoothing her hands up over his shoulders and pressing her nose into the crook of his hairline, inhaling gently. She was becoming remarkably fond of his unique scent.

She chuckled softly. "I still want treacle toffee..."

Baldwin didn't respond. He was gritting his teeth. This was maddening! The scent of her, along with his scent that he could clearly smell, was still lingering on her skin, and the musky scent of their pleasure had utterly filled the room. Instinctively, he wanted to do nothing more than cover her in his scent all over again. He bit back a groan as her hands had moved from his shoulders to his arms, sliding under them and over his pecs. Her mouth was now at the nape of his neck pressing little kisses to the cool skin.

He let his hands slide over hers as they caressed his chest, fingers dipping occasionally between the buttons. His eyes slipped closed as he tried in vain to ignore the warmth against his neck. She was pressed bodily against his back, her leg brushing against his thigh.

When he could take no more, he spun around, delighting in the gasp she uttered as he embraced her, his hands pulling on her waist to bring her into him. He chuckled against her lips when she shoved against his chest, trying to push him back against the wall. He obliged by stepping backwards, his hands going to her behind, smoothing and caressing though her skirt.

She attacked his mouth with the same passion she had employed earlier, her hands threading though his copper locks, tugging a little before she dropped her hands, sliding them down his chest, slipping them firmly against his growing erection.

He grunted into her mouth, a little startled by her decisive nature. Given it had only been several hours, he was surprised by her appetite as she firmly massaged him. He was ever so tempted to turn them so he could pin her to the wall, but rushing wouldn't help his earlier confliction, and he didn't want to flee and be a coward.

He wrestled her hand away from his crotch and pushed on her shoulder to force her to step back. She was frowning in irritation, her jade eyes glowing softly as she breathed heavily.

"Why did you stop?" she demanded, her voice a little rough. "I know you want it..." she whispered, moving to reach for his lips again.

Baldwin chuckled and sidestepped out of her reach. "Want isn't the problem."

"We're not breaking any rules. The Covenant isn't an issue anymore."

"It's not the Covenant."

"Then what is it?" she asked, considering him a moment. "Is it because I'm a witch?"

"No," he answered immediately. "Athena, you went through a traumatic situation. You lost your sister. I don't want to be some temporary comfort, only for you to regret it later."

"For fuck's sake! I'm not made of glass! You won't break me!"

He resisted the urge to point out that he could very well break her. He'd broken many vampires in his time. A warm blood would be child's play for a vampire.

"I don't think you're made of glass." He sight. "Vampires don't feel the need to rush. We should know each other better. Please understand, I don't regret what happened. I would hope you don't."

"Of course I don't regret it."

He smirked. "Attraction aside, you don't know anything about me. Wouldn't it be so terrible to discover what each other likes outside of the bedroom?"

"Well, we didn't exactly make it to the bed," she replied, grinning.

"Well. Needs must..." he shrugged.

She folded her arms. "I wasn't complaining. So, what do you want to know?"

"Walk and talk?" he indicated at the door, waiting for her to lead the way.

He followed Athena out into the gardens, trying to single out a question from the myriad of thoughts spiralling around his head.

"I'm curious as to why you decided on dancing for a career."

"It came naturally. It's hard to explain. I could feel the fire flowing through my veins every time I danced as a child, and it responded almost as though it was hypnotised into submission. Fire doesn't like to be contained, but giving it flow and rhythm helps it to... simmer. It keeps it from becoming a raging inferno. Unless I want it to."

"It's an unusual vocation for a witch. But, I understand the appeal."

"I've never regretted what I do. Except on the night we were taken. If Della hadn't met me, she wouldn't have been there. She always insisted on seeing me when I performed, no matter the medium. Mum hated it," she explained, her tone turning bitter.

"She never came to see you?"

"Never. She wasn't interested."

"She sounds like a terrible mother. No offense," he added.

"None taken. She is. She's ridden the fame of her precognitive abilities for decades. But the truth is, she isn't that powerful. Her visions were almost always forced, and never that accurate. She held on to Della tightly because she knew that Della's visions were always right. She could see things so far in advance sometimes. She would draw pictures of things and people she saw. She kept them all in a ledger and away from mum. I worked a spell when I was a child so she wouldn't succumb to visions in her sleep. She'd asked um to do it, but she refused. Honestly, I don't think she knew how to do it."

"Such power in foresight is rare these days. No wonder no one questioned your other's powers," he observed.

"It runs in the family. All the way back to Salem, and likely beyond."

Baldwin took her arm and stopped them dead, surprise marring his features. "You're a descendent of a Salem witch?"

"Yes, of Sarah Solart."

Baldwin frowned. "I don't recall that name. Are you sure?"

"Sarah Good," she explained. "Solart was her maiden name. Her only surviving daughter, Dorothy, took it when she moved out of the country. She didn't want to be associated with Salem. She was the first seer in the family, so far as we know. She'd seen what would happen to her if she took this path or that path, so she changed her fate to survive. We kept the name. Most Salem survivors did. Like Diana."

"I had no idea."

"Almost no one does. Everyone knows the Good name. They don't know Solart."

"A wise precaution. Was your sister as... hot-headed as you?" he asked, smirking.

Athena chuckled, wiggling her glowing fingers as him. "No. She was quiet. Gentle. Kind. She found it difficult to stand up to mum when she demanded more visions. As soon as I was old enough to earn a wage to pay rent elsewhere, I moved us out. Mum tried to stop me taking Della, but she had no chance against my power. I don't think Della had ever felt so free." She shook her head. "I was supposed to protect her."

"I think you were right. I think she protected you. It's possible she knew what would happen."

"I tried so hard to will the fire... My limbs glowed, but no flame erupted..." She took a ragged breath.

"It doesn't do to dwell on things we can't change. I dwelled for too long on my father's death. I became bitter and cold. Well, more so than normal, if you asked Matthew."

"What happened to him?"

"He was tortured by witches working for the Nazis during the war. They drained him and broke his spirit." He looked as her honestly. "I hated your kind after he died."

"I'm sorry you lost him. I'd probably feel the same way if vampires had killed Della."

"It took a long time, but I had to come to terms with the fact that not all witches are the same."

"No. We're far more content with murdering each other," she spat.

"We will find out who it was who sent Satu after you," he tried to reassure.

Athena nodded and set off walking again. "What about you? All those sharp suits must be for some reason," she asked.

"I work in New York, in investments. Most of the de Clermont money is thanks to me over the centuries. I wield a pen more than a sword these days."

"When do you need to use a sword? It's hard to imagine any situation needing one these days."

"It's not often. Usually only during conflict. I used a sword to decapitate Vlad the Impaler."

Athena stared at him. "Wait, Dracula? He was real? He was a vampire?"

"Of course. Stoker didn't get it all wrong," he replied, inclining his head.

"How come you killed him?"

"He was hunting and torturing humans. Such thing are forbidden. It risks exposure to humans. We only feed from humans who give consent to it."

"So, you do feed on humans?"

"Occasionally. In New York, there was no end of willing donors. And we hunt animals when human blood isn't available."

"Is there anything you miss? From being human?" she asked, curious if he missed food.

Baldwin thought a moment. He rarely thought about his human past. He'd had no need to. "No really. Food wasn't what it is now, and sickness was rife. I was happy to be turned. I've never regretted it."

"Have you ever known a witch to be turned?"

"Not personally, no. I think it's rare. A witch would lose her power if she was turned, rather like Ysabeau lost her power of foresight," he explained.

"Ysabeau was a seer?" Athena said in surprise.

"Of a sort. She wasn't a witch, but humans have been known to have mild gifts. Most wouldn't want to give up that power."

Athena had to agree. She'd hated being spellbound. She could fully understand why witches went mad when their power was taken away. They'd walked around the gardens fully and ended up back where they'd started. Ysabeau was waiting for them.

"Your phone was ringing," she stated to Baldwin. "The Congregation are involved now."

"Involved how?" he asked.

"It seems your other has made a complaint that you're keeping your sister's body from her," she said to Athena.

"Crap. I knew she wouldn't let it go. What's going to happen?"

"Diana has left for Venice. She's the de Clermont on the Congregation, so she it going to try some damage control."

Athena dragged a hand over her face. "I need to go home. Mum will start snooping around if I don't. She doesn't have a key to the flat, but that won't keep her out."

"No, it's still not safe," Baldwin replied.

"I'm not going to hide away! What if it takes years to discover who was after us? I won't put my life on hold just in case someone comes after me again! I'm going home," she stated with finality.

Baldwin huffed. Damned stubbornness. "Alright. I'll go with you. I have a place in London I can use. We'll leave tomorrow first thing."

Athena nodded. She was content to go alone, but she'd had a feeling that he wouldn't like it. She wouldn't be hidden away like a stolen trinket. Whoever had taken them couldn't possibly do worse, and she would take her grimoire with her to study some protective spells. If she was surprised again, she wanted to be armed with countermeasures of the witch variety.