The storyline, new character development, new events, and new characters are my intellectual property. Glorioux
Learning to love
Jak had to hold a grin. The Lord loved his child, and perhaps, playing games. First falling in love after such a long life, and now, giving his heart to his daughter, who would believe it. The Lord had many lovers, and they gave him a few sons, but this was different. William, his sister's family, was lucky beyond his dreams. After Elizabeth's husband's murder, the Lord would never leave anything to chance, never again. William would be safe.
"Why are you standing, let's go," she pulled Jak's hand with the eagerness of a young child, she was nearly one after all. George was behind them, Fergus followed. But Hurst was having a heated discussion with Louisa, or it looked that way.
Elizabeth ran as much as she could. She wasn't looking at anywhere, just rushing. Mr. Bennet's heart twisted, Lizzie's father made her face light up. Nevertheless, he looked out the window; maybe Penny was there.
The very tall man, taller than Jak, dressed in a hooded soft leather coat lined with fur; the buttons seemed made out of silver and gems. He opened his arms. "My child," he held her. His wild hair went out in every direction. His nearly colorless eyes checked around the area.
The shadow went to hide right away, scared; this was a danger nobody would be willing to face.
"The baby has grown in a couple of days, soon I won't be able to hold you, my arms won't be long enough." Her father teased her.
Elizabeth laughed joyously. "Come in. Yes, the baby has grown, I can no longer see my feet. Come stay awhile."
"No, not here. When you are in your home." Her father kissed Elizabeth's head and leaned his head over hers, breathing her scent. It made him happy, his sweet child.
"My dear, you have to be careful, don't be alone for one second. Here," Her father pulled a pouch from inside the satchel he carried, "These are for William and you. And inside here, there is a knife inside the sheath, for George. Jak will explain how to use them."
He placed his hand on her belly. His eyes opened in wonderment. "So it is true, an old soul, he will have a long life. He has many of your gifts. After the child comes, I will bring you for a visit. Many want to see you, they are anxious. Work with Jak, you need to learn to defend yourself. Now I must go."
"Don't go, stay for a little."
"I stayed too long already." He looked at the house, Caroline was looking at him. Like Jak, their physical beauty attracted many.
Caroline was sour, who was that? It made all others look like nothing. Why was he holding the ugly cow?
"Remember, don't be sad, just call me, I will be here." He spoke louder, "Those who hurt either you or your loved ones in any way, should fear for their lives. I won't tolerate it." He kissed her twice, whistled, and a horse came. Elizabeth stood crying, seeing him ride away.
Her sisters stood by the door, "Who was that? A prince?" Mary asked. "He looked like one in a fairy tale.
Jak grinned, "A prince? He might be insulted." He didn't elaborate.
"He is my mother's first husband, she thought he had died at war. He is staying near London. Now, I have two loving fathers, I am lucky." Elizabeth stopped and looked around, "where are my babies?" She panicked when she realized the dogs weren't with her.
"They are with your husband, taking a nap. Your hawk is still outside." Jak told her, taking the pouches from her. "Let's go and check them, I need to show you how to use your gifts. George, this is for you. Wait to take the knife out."
George was already talking to Jane and Mary, Elizabeth noticed.
Before it was dark, Mr. Bennet left with Jane and Mary. Elizabeth had asked him to demand Kitty and Lydia, they would be ruined. Should they stay with Mrs. Bennet, it would be bad for her sisters and herself. "Father, with part of their dowry, they can attend a young lady's finishing school. They would benefit from some manners and better comportment."
He nodded.
"I love you, you will always be my father, thanks for loving me. I hope we can see my mother again."
"Is Penny with him?" He couldn't say, with your father.
"I asked, but no answer was forthcoming. Frederick is arriving any day, he wants me to go back with him. He has a document allowing him to do so."
"That is preposterous. Darling, what is going on? I cannot bear to lose you. You are all I have left from Penny. "
"My husband will not allow it, I feel safe with him. Bring your luggage tomorrow, stay here; I want you around. We can visit my aunts and Lucas."
"We will do that. Your Uncle Gardiner accepted your invitation. Your aunt wrote that she knows the Darcy; she said you did well. Be careful at all times. We can make an arrangement for the girls, I wasn't thinking. They deserve a chance."
After they left, Elizabeth went to the library, followed by Jak and Fergus. Her animal court stayed by her. The servants were talking, Mrs. Darcy, already famous, was now revered. They were saying her father was the fairy king or someone like it. The also knew that the new Miss was nasty to Mrs. Darcy. Everyone was afraid that they would be punished for working for her. Since that moment on, it was decided, stay away from the Miss, and do whatever they could for Elizabeth.
Where Caroline is not chosen by her sister-
Louisa had begged her husband for a second chance. He didn't want to, he wanted his home. His cousins went to London for a few days, if any; he agreed, he didn't like the filthy city.
Louisa told him she liked the country life. "With your sister in tow? No thanks, I married you, not her."
Louisa knew she had to choose, "I knew that she can find her own life. Short visits if you allow it. I don't want you to go."
"I will be here for some days, we can see what happens. I have no confidence that you will stand up to Caroline. You can start by apologizing to Mrs. Darcy. I hold her in high regard. Darcy to keep you away from me. The first time that happens, it is over. She spied on Mr. Darcy while he was with his wife, did you know that?"
Louisa blushed, "I will tell Caroline, let me stay."
"I will talk to Charles and to Darcy, I cannot promise. I am not certain that I can trust you."
Louisa went to talk to Caroline, the conversation lasted but a couple of minutes. Louisa slammed the door on her way out, she dried her eyes, then went to her room to give instructions to her lady's maid to stop packing and wait for her instructions. She looked for a peignoir and the matching robe she had bought for her trousseau. Caroline had called it cheap and wanton. Then chose a very risqué gown for tonight, Reginald would like it.
Who is who?
Jak asked Darcy and Elizabeth to meet in the receiving room in their suite.
"First things first," he pulled out the two pouches. Inside, each bag, there were two bracelets, thin and translucent. All around them were four short narrow cylinders spaced out, with a broader cylinder in the center. He snapped one on each of their wrists. Once on, they seemed invisible.
These are concentrators, the humans called the larger ones, magic wands. They aren't. The know-how to use them is inside you. Just point them, you will know the combination of words and gestures to access the forces around you; forces like life, love, happiness, living plants, etc. You can point them right now if you want to use them as a defense weapon, look them at the person, and think of them unable to move. It will give you enough time to get away. They only work for us.
Elizabeth realized that was Jak did when he pointed. They went over other simple orders to get warm, get water, food, light, and how to obscure your presence
After one hour, Elizabeth sent for tea. Jak told them about the enemy.
"So about the enemy, it started long ago. You asked who my parents are. We have a supreme ruler, the great Lord and Lady' I think the equivalent is an emperor and an empress, they share the command. Then there are several kings. They form a council, with one presiding over the other Lords; that would be my Lady's father. He has one second, my father. They are the right hands of our great Lord.
My father and yours were unattached for centuries. They had lovers, and both had several sons. But the day love found them, all others ceased to exist.
A spoiled princess that liked to use forbidden energies such as hate, pain, and suffering, was one of my father's lovers. We fight against those you dwell within the dark, they are evil, but she hid her practices. I think my father cared for her, although he thought she was dangerous. She was with child, but something went wrong with one of her practices and lost it.
My father met my mother soon after that, she came from a distant place. Soon, they were formally united. Sil, the former lover, child to a High Lord, was beyond angry. She tried to hurt my mother several times, but it cannot be verified.
She married a rich prince, who was also accused of accessing forbidden energies. When she was unable to conceive, she lied and blamed my father. The council has often tried to find proof of their practices.
It was the day when my sister was born that she went crazy. A daughter, what everyone wants. She attacked my mother while sitting outside with my baby sister. She stole the baby, you know the rest. Both husband and wife still plot, but we have no evidence.
They manipulate others to do their bidding. I have another sister, she is young. Always surrounded by guards, not a good life. It would be good to stop Sil."
Darcy worried, "I have a sister."
"She must stay away. The only advantage is that they don't have easy access, but they have ways to pay for illegal entrances." Jak looked worried.
"She morphs into animals like many of us, though she is limited to felines and some lower forms. Her husband doesn't risk coming, but neither will stop. After all this time, we have no proof. We cannot kill Sil unless there's no other choice." Jak sighed, frustrated.
"William, how did your father die?"
"My father and the others all died of one form of poison or another."
"Yes, a poison lethal to us."
"But I was drowning, it wasn't the same."
"No, it was the same because the poison stops breathing. I am here, nothing will happen to either of you."
Both dogs barked agreeing.
"Is the Hawk one of you?" William asked.
"Of course, but it is best to keep that form. We have other enemies, we are hard to trace in animal form, at least from far away. We found traces of one of us. A bird saw the feline jumping out a window and going int the shadows. Neither one of you should be alone."
"Where are you from?" Elizabeth asked.
"You will see it soon. It is difficult to explain."
"I wish my father had stayed for a while."
A storm prevented Caroline from leaving. She went looking for Louisa, but she wasn't in her room. The lady's maid was organizing Louisa's clothes.
"Where is Mrs. Hurst?"
"In Mr. Hurst's room. I am taking her things there."
Caroline rushed to Hurst and found a locked door. At the dinner, Louisa sat by Hurst, who looked at Caroline smugly. "Louisa that dress, I told you it was, ahem."
"I like it." Hurst looked appreciative.
Louisa smiled, "Thank you." Others took notice, Caroline was cross during the entire dinner time
Nothing much happened, Charles was the only one trying to talk to Caroline. She barely answered
As soon as the door closed, Darcy called Elizabeth, "Come here, "he put his arms around her. "I missed you, I wish we were in Pemberley, we would stay for days in our room."
"Maybe not possible. It will be difficult to hold me, my father said so."
He chuckled, "He was playing with you. We will find the way. Now, may I help you undress?"
"You are a bad influence."
"No, I just love you. I want us to be happy," Darcy chuckled.
"Our dogs are gone; they know best, "he said,
\picking her up and carried her to bed.
Carline was fuming, she went to the balcony, the rain had stopped. She was talking to herself, angrily. "It is that woman's fault. I wish something bad happen to her."
Her hatred poured out of her. She was a shining beacon of dark energies.
At Longbourn, Mr. Bennet undressed for bed and saw his wife entered the room. "Out of here." He noticed her sleeping gown, he had gifted it to her. It was made of Indian silk.
"Out, I won't ever touch you again." He was tempted, but never more.
Mr. Bennet went to the door and pointed it out; Fanny Bennet knew that he had closed himself. It was Lizzie's fault. Thomas only loved the ugly girl, now all mighty and superior. Mrs. Bennet went to a balcony, perhaps of her beaus was around. She was raging aloud, cursing Elizabeth, saying that Lizzie had set her family against her. Now, she would kill her with her own hands, and so on. Thomas was still very handsome, and soon she would lose him.
The rat's eyes shone with malice. It had paid to follow the carriage earlier. Now, there were two chances. The only problem was that both wanted to hurt the Lord's daughter. That couldn't happen. Maybe something could be done.
At Netherfield, Caroline had a sudden idea, what would hurt the fat country cow? Caroline needed to think hard. She couldn't stand what was going on. Now, even Louisa had changed since Hurst seemed to be another; he had changed since the Darcys' arrival. She was confident that Elizabeth was a witch, she had to be, turning her family against her. Remembering Elizabeth's ugly fat body, without a stitch of clothes, being kissed by Mr. Darcy, made her stomach churn. If he liked his nasty wife so much, he deserved punishment.
The mouse appeared near Caroline. A tiny body, hard to detect, the hatred had called it. Although it arrived too late, it had just enough time to see a chance. An owl screeched, it had seen the mouse. Caroline went inside screaming, several large birds were coming towards her.
The mouse had barely time to get away. Jak heard the screams in seconds he was by the balcony, on time to see Miss Bingley running into the house. He waited until she ran into her room. He went outside, in the balcony, there were two of his people.
"She was here, a mouse. I felt her, but not soon enough."
"Who, where?"
The cloaked Warrior showed Jak, who pointed his wrist. "It was one of us, but heavily cloaked. I am sure it was Lady Sil. She is still nearby, but who knows what is planning. "Was she able to influence the nasty human? Keep an eye."
Seconds later, Jak was knocking at Darcy's door.
Darcy was kissing Elizabeth, still half-dressed. "William, open it is urgent."
Darcy sighed and got up. The dogs ran after him.
When Jak told him about the last intrusion, they heard a voice, 'close the door.'
What they saw resembled a ghost. It looked like Jak. "Father?"
"I am not here, but I have news. We found out that Lady Sil and her consort went thru a compromised gate. He has never come across before. If we can find them here, they can be dealt with. But there is much danger. Notify my Lord." The ghost looked at William, "Come soon, come. Just seeing you, I see my daughter on you. It makes the burden lighter. I must leave."
They were alone in the room.
"What was that?"
"A projection, you will see how it is done when you come. I didn't tell you all, Miss Bingley was in the balcony. You must leave. The rain won't stop us.
"I should be done in a day."
When Jak left, Elizabeth asked, "how is Jak going to tell my father?"
"Who knows, maybe a projection?"
Jak knocked again.
"We think it is a better idea that one of us stays in the room while you sleep. "
"But, the hawk is already here." Darcy didn't like the idea.
"The hawk goes outside at night, and it is not enough. Just while we are here. I am sorry it has to be so. I don't need much rest." He sat by the fire, opened a book he carried, and started reading. Elizabeth sighed. She was exhausted, she told herself. Darcy decided that reading was in order, he needed his body to quiet down. He could still feel her body next to his.