IMPORTANT A/N: In case you didn't read the two prequels, Trusting Danger and Unexpected Danger, then let me explain a little something. Marguerite had met a sorcerer – Klorichieneremic the Mystical Sorcerer of Malia – who haunted her, tormenting her with visions and nightmares. At the end of T.D., Klor– the sorcerer – convinced Marguerite to leap off a cliff. Roxton jumped in after her and saved her. Veronica showed up and Klor suddenly grew very frightened and vanished.
In U.D., Marguerite learns she is pregnant. After giving birth, Klor returns and kidnaps Lillian. The explorers go to Malia to rescue Lillian. We find that Marguerite and Veronica have the same mother, but different fathers. Also, Marguerite is a sorceress and Veronica a witch. This is why Klor needs Lillian. Only someone from their mother's bloodline can undo the spell that cast Klor's people to Malia. His plan was to raise Lillian as his own, teaching her how to use her magic in order to free him from his curse. At the end of the story, Klor has the explorers ready for their execution when Marguerite's power intervenes. Yet, she has no control over it. Veronica kills Klor and they all escape.
KDC & Panda & Clux: Heeheehee…the suspense and mind torment begin. Lol. I can't help but have my stories be full of mystery.
ChosenOne: What? There's no reason to be jealous of my crap. You write marvelous stories. I enjoy every single one.
Kat: I'm letting the readers decide what it meant. Yet, trust me, their powers will be expanding.
Taya: Thank you so much. I really appreciate it.
Fab: Why thank you very much. I guess you didn't need to waste your time with the summary. Lol.
Zeus: Always a pleasure to hear from you.
Keys: I hope the summary up top helped you out. I figured the background would come in handy. Anyway, thanks for the review!
Chapter Three
What You Are
Part One
"Marguerite," Roxton exclaimed. "Slow down." He hurried after her quickly retreating form, her arms full of their belongings. "Here, darling, let me carry some of that." Roxton reached for the picnic basket, but she tugged it away from his grasp. "And this from the woman who complained about carrying it on the way," he teased.
Marguerite flashed her passionate green eyes at him, never breaking her rapid strides. "You can't fire your rifle while holding the basket," she retorted sternly.
"Marguerite, no one is after us." Roxton grabbed her arm and gently swung her around to face him. "Will you please talk to me," he pleaded.
"Damn it, Roxton, will you just trust me?"
"Well, I know you're serious when you start calling me 'Roxton'," he said lightly. Then he sighed, peering into her earnest face. "All right. If it'll make you feel better, but I want to know about what happened at the waterfall. You said someone was going to kill me. And that they'd be after us."
Marguerite huffed, harshly blowing air from her nose. Caving in, she answered briskly: "I don't know, ok. I just had a…a…gut instinct. Or…or something. I can't explain it. I don't know what it was, but it was real. I can assure you of that."
"Well, who was after us?"
"I don't know."
"Who was going to kill me?"
"I don't know. I don't even know if it was someone or a something that was going to kill you. I just knew that you would die."
Roxton titled his head, eyeing her perplexingly. "Marguerite, you have to admit that this sounds a little bizarre."
"Don't you think I know that, John," Marguerite snapped, her fear of her own power causing her to lash out. "I don't understand it, but it's real."
"It's ok, love," Roxton soothed, wrapping his arms around her. "Calm down. We'll figure it out. Do you suppose that this could have something to do with you being a sorceress?"
Marguerite vehemently shook her head. "No. We don't even know if I truly am one."
"Denial won't make it go away, Marguerite. We know for a fact that you have some sort of gift. It's how you saved us at our execution." Roxton pulled back slightly to gaze into her delicate, but stubborn face. "Darling, it's all right to call it what it is: magic."
"It's not magic!" Marguerite yanked away from him and stormed off, shouting over her shoulder: "And I don't ever want to discuss this again!"
Part Two
In the nursery, Malone bounced William on his knee, keeping an eye on Lillian as she crawled around the freshly cleaned rug. Challenger poked his head in, beaming at the two smaller additions of their tree house family. "You handle them exceptionally well, Malone," Challenger commented.
Malone grunted, giving Professor George Challenger a pointed look. "But it wouldn't hurt for their grandpa to watch them for awhile now would it?"
"Ah, you know I would love to, but I'm rather busy with this new invention of mine." Challenger looked genuinely disappointed. He loved the twins just as if they were his own flesh-and-blood grandchildren. Yet, sometimes work had to come first. "But I'll take over as soon as I finish a round of tests." Challenger disappeared from the room, leaving Malone alone with the babies.
"Well, guys, it looks like it's just you and me for the day." He set William on the floor and then sat Indian-style beside the young children.
Veronica had gone out to work in the garden. Malone had wanted to help her, but someone had to watch the babies. And it wasn't that Malone minded spending time with his niece and nephew, but it had been awhile since he was alone with Veronica. They hadn't had any of their long conversations for while and he was beginning to miss their quiet walks.
Suddenly, Lillian stopped her attempts to chew through the rubber toy Challenger had given her. She glanced up at Malone, her eyes soft and reflective. She allowed her elbows to give out, flopping onto her stomach against the floor. She rolled around, pushing herself up to be in a sitting position. And then she pointed towards the window, mumbling some baby-gibberish.
"Yeah," Malone smiled, urging her to continue even though he didn't have a clue as to what she was trying to show him.
Lillian turned her attention towards the window, staring up at it. It took Malone completely surprise when she abruptly burst into tears. He reached across the floor and scooped her up into his arms. "Shh, it's ok Lillian." He kissed the top of her head.
Lillian pointed towards the window again, this time with conviction.
William stared at Lillian, seemingly trying to gauge the reason for his sister's distress.
Malone stood up, curious as to what set her off. Had she seen a snake? A month ago, one had slithered into her crib and bit her. Luckily it hadn't been a poisonous snake, but maybe that experience had taught her to fear them.
Malone peered out of the window. He glanced down and gasped. "Veronica," he yelled.
The jungle girl was sprawled across the dirt, unmoving.
Malone snatched up William and raced out of the room. "Challenger! Come take the twins! Something's wrong with Veronica!"
Challenger dashed up the stairs, abandoning his laboratory. He stole the babies from Malone, frantically inquiring: "What's wrong?"
"I don't know," Malone exclaimed, rushing into the elevator.
At the bottom, Malone fell into a sprint, racing to Veronica's side. He knelt beside her, cradling her head in his arms. "Veronica? Veronica, can you hear me?"
She murmured, but didn't stir.
Malone examined her, searching for injury. Instead, he found a dart protruding from the back of her neck. One of the headhunters must've been there.
Malone scooped her up and carried her back to the tree house.
--
Challenger quietly left Veronica's room, coming to stand by Malone out on the balcony. "She'll be all right. She just needs to rest."
Malone turned to his older friend, his expression curious and confused. "It's weird, Challenger. It's like Lillian knew there was something wrong."
"That's absurd, Malone. There's no way she could have, especially from her disadvantaged point on the floor." Challenger slapped Malone's back in a fatherly gesture. "I'll watch the twins. Why don't you rest awhile?"
Malone hesitated and then walked away, convinced that Lillian had somehow known.
End Chapter Three
Yikes! And the fun begins!
Thanks for reading!