The storyline, new character development, new events, and new characters are my intellectual property. Glorioux
a/n The next part. Two short chapter, one today, one tomorrow. The chapter before has a short cast list.
Darcy
I look at Louisa, her eyes are not human. They look different. Richard looks at her. Her eyes are yellowish, and maybe glowing, but that is not it, "Her eyes look like the eyes of a reptile; and her lips are green; I'll be." Von Stern looks at her as well.
Louisa just continues rubbing Lizzie's neck. She doesn't answer. We all see the same: small blue flames seem to touch Lizzie. Flames from where, not from Louisa, or are they? Louisa is sitting on the bed. Her head is now bent; nobody can see her eyes. Her pretty long hair is not tied and obscures her face. She wears her dressing gown; the Hurst was in bed; thus, her hair falls down her back.
The dogs wait anxiously. I have Cleo on my lap, distraught looking at Lizzie, and whining softly. Once again, I pet her, "My good, good girl, don't be sad, Mommy will be well," I sure hope so.
Cleo jumps and gets closer to Lizzie. I do the same and what I see makes me recoil in surprise. Louisa is blowing licks of a blue flame that she rubs on Lizzie's brand. The brand is now a faint outline. Lizzie seems better, smiling at Louisa, she says, "Thanks."
Reggie is worried and taps Louisa's shoulder. She lifts her head, and she is Louisa, the eyes back to normal. She is thoughtful. "I am not so sure what just happened. Someone was sending warm flames I could rub against Lizzie's neck. I just knew what had to be done."
Von Stern approaches Louisa, "May I? I mean, may I touch your head, face, and hands? I might know what is happening; if so, well, let's wait."
Louisa nods eagerly. Von Stern runs his hand thru her face, head, and hands and chuckles. "We all thought there were none left, not even a trace."
"A trace of what?" Reggie asks.
I look at Richard. He saw it first, now I know. I answer, with some trepidation, because this means Caroline also has the same blood. That was one of the original guesses about Charles, but it seemed far fetched. His extra friendly manners; his being able to see us, I couldn't wipe his memory with one pass, and more. Traveling with him in the wintertime is pleasant; he seems to warm up the carriage. He is agile, and I have seen him leaping extraordinary distances. Caroline is just spoiled and rotten, that is all, but with possible Dragon blood, she could be dangerous. Albert should be warned if she gets pregnant.
"Louisa has blood from the Dragon people. Many books talk about them. Whereas they don't have another form, their eyes, mouth, and hands change. Their fire can heal and kill. It was said their fire could remove sickness, burning out tumors, and such. They can leap great distances, some said they could glide, maybe." I tell everyone, and Von Sterns agrees.
Reggie is excited, "But why now?'
"Same than you, being around us in our natural forms," he looks at Louisa, "maybe you are carrying a little Hunter, and the babe is awaking you. I think your dragon ancestor is not recent. I don't even know if it will manifest itself again. We must wait." Richard explained.
I agree. There are some like us; we have found them in many places. They can only call their shadow form occasionally. But the more it happens, the stronger their shadow-self becomes. When we find them, they become tenants in one of the estates. We take care of our people. They all make a decent living, are educated, and I make sure they are all right.
"Are Charles, and," I shudder, "Caroline the same? I have sensed something in Charles, but I was wrong. It wasn't what I suspected, but this could be right. We thought dragon people were a myth, but I guess not, "Thank you." I tell Louisa.
Ian makes a troubling remark. "The branding is faint, but the colors are still there. You might not see them, but they glow on and off. Maybe keeping her tied to whoever."
Louisa agrees, "The colors do. I can try again, but I am ti..." with those words, she lays on the bed, asleep.
Hurst worries, coming to take her in his arms. Richard says, "She is tired; she 'healed' our lady; healing drains the healer. A night of good night sleep should make her feel better. Now let's go to bed. I want guards around this room. No windows open until we can do something to protect them."
I thank our Ian, wondering about his talents. I will send it to his family. They can live in the wing where Mrs. Reynolds and my cousins stay. I would like them nearby. We need to find out more about the intruder. I seem to remember a book about the fallen. Many worlds were punished for participating in a rebellion against their creator. Many were not bad but misled. I think there are prophesies, maybe Lizzie's parents will know more.
The Demon King
He was just outside Darcy's window. The small, fierce drag-dog had taken a piece of his arm; it was healing but still hurt like hell. His tunic was torn, not that he cared. They had a Shadow Wanderer, the one kind that could see them. Ironically, they used to be his people, but they refused to follow him in their rebellion. Over time, females married Wanderers, and before the uprising, all Wanderers had his people's blood.
He thought they were all gone. He wondered if there were females, but if so, they had little of his blood. In any case, the young lad could see thru the darkness, which would make it difficult.
He had made mistakes too bad, one of them was Catherine, she was evil and twisted. Moreover, she was dangerous since she had many of his gifts. Catherine was the result of his union with her mother, a beauty, but cruel and cold. Catherine was an aberration, an actual demon. He heard how she wanted to use humans as cattle.
He needed to show his goodwill. He would return a few of the females, the younger ones. Not she was yet given to one of his people. Then take care of Catherine and his grandchild. She would destroy this world and their chance for families; plus, he would be blamed for her acts. He needed to find a way to take Catherine and send her away.
He wasn't a demon; the moniker was undeserved. His looks were not that different from others. Many females from different worlds admired his looks. He had sensors like the Shadow Dwellers; he liked blood just like them, but only during a battle or lovemaking. They called his people demons because of him; after the fall, he went on a rampage for a while. His former domains were stripped, and they turned into mercenaries. In no time, his coffers were full; his riches were legendary.
After a long time, his domains were returned but stayed abandoned; because neither he, nor his people could access them. To his shame, darkness clung onto them from the mercenary work. He wanted to be whole again. He wanted children as it was required, but with the right one.
Now, how to get close to the King? How to take Catherine away? He needed to think, Abduction was out of the question. The drac- dogs could see him. Even his former people helped Lady Elizabeth. He realized he missed everyone. The harsh punishment was painful. They had their females, and little ones suddenly disappear.
He would show his goodwill by getting rid of Catherine. He also knew how to bring some loved by the Shadow King back from across the far lands; it should help. Then he might have a chance to talk to the Shadow King and make him a proposal.
While hiding in the darkness, he saw at least three more hiding and waiting. He came close and heard them. They were planning an attack to free Catherine, take Lady Elizabeth, and try to kill the Shadow King. They were not humans; they fed on the blood of young ones when possible. They were despicable loved his daughter, but she needed to go.
He tried calling the young Wanderer, not to harm him, to show him a few things. Meanwhile, he s end the young Wanderer a gift, maybe it would help.
Ian had odd dreams. He saw many people coming in and out of the dark, just like him. They could do magic, or it seemed that way. They traveled over the strange countryside. He saw one, doing something it looked handy. In his dreams, someone was calling him.
Going Home
Lizzie
We sleep fitfully; I wake up, poor Cleo she is stuck to me. I pet her, "Cleo, I will be fine." Poor girl, she is shaking. She whines, not convinced. I am about to say something when we can see my father clearly. I long to hug him, to see my mother.
"How is our baby, Liz'be? Your new name is hard to say," he chuckles. My brother Re'jl is also here, though they float above me, they look solid. I want to see them, to heal my mother. I am ready.
a/n hmm. I am still trying to move my work to my site.
