A great burden vanished from Mariana's shoulders when her door was opened to admit Magdalena with her daughter Bria close behind.
Magdalena found herself quickly seized by Mariana in a strong embrace.
"Oh, Magdalena, I am so sorry! I hope you can forgive me one day." Mariana cried through her tormented tears.
"Calm yourself, Mari. There is nothing to forgive." Magdalena tried to assure her.
Mariana shook her head, "Yes there is! If I had not quarreled with Pierre he never would have gone to that damn tavern and spewed such lies."
"We always knew that this day would come, Mari, it has just come sooner than we would have liked."
"This is not forever, Magdalena. I will not allow anyone else to deliver my baby."
Tears budded in Magdalena's eyes as she confessed, "I am honored but I can't promise you anything, Mariana."
Mariana nodded in weary agreement, "Yes I suppose the Elders will have to send you somewhere far away."
"The Coven will not be helping me."
"What do you mean?"
"Mama!" Yvette cried out before Magdalena could respond.
The women turned to see LaCroix pulling a groaning Pierre inside the house and following Mariana's silent directing proceeded to drop him on the couple's shared pallet.
"Mariana, this is Monsieur Lucien LaCroix. Monsieur LaCroix, this is my older sister Mariana Ledoux." Magdalena said quickly.
"A pleasure to make your acquaintance, Madame." LaCroix said cordially bowing to Mariana.
Mariana eyed LaCroix with barely concealed suspicion. His pallor was near deathly pale and though the man before her carried himself as a fine gentleman Mariana sensed that there was something odd and menacing about him.
"My husband mentioned that Magdalena had company. May I ask how you came to be acquainted with my sister?" Mariana asked.
"I was wounded after being robbed of my money and horse. Your good sister happened by after they had gone and came to my aid. I would have surely died had Magdalena not used her divine gift of healing to mend my wounds. I am eternally grateful to your sister for her aid and have nothing but the utmost respect for her character and skill."
Magdalena nervously glanced at her sister. Mariana was not one to easily fall for lies much less one as bald faced as the one LaCroix had just told, but it was a believable scenario.
The air of suspicion still radiated throughout Mariana's posture but she seemed willing to accept LaCroix's story. It didn't escape Magdalena that LaCroix was casting a very intense gaze directly into her sister's eyes.
Mariana's hand drifted to her face as if she were trying to banish a headache, "I thank you for your kind words, Monsieur LaCroix. Now, Magdalena, what do you mean that the Coven will not be helping you? The Elders have helped to hide people away before."
"Monsieur LaCroix has offered me protection in his household and I am inclined to take it. Besides you should know how eager I am to avoid asking the Elders for help. They have done enough." Magdalena said bluntly.
"Magdalena…"
"Maman! I smell smoke!" Yvette cried from her place at the door.
"There is no time to argue further. We must leave now." LaCroix ordered seizing Magdalena firmly by the hand and pulling her towards the door.
"At least tell me where you are taking her!" Mariana demanded storming behind them.
LaCroix sighed, "The Chateau Crepuscule. It is a two days ride from Paris. Your good sister will want for nothing."
"I promise I will send word once I have settled." Magdalena said quickly.
"I will hold you to it, Magdalena. Now go!" Mariana ordered thrusting a bundle into Magdalena's arms.
Magdalena blinked away tears as LaCroix all but dragged her into the shadows away from the house and into the forest that skirted the edge of Pierre and Mariana's vast fields. The vampire's grip on her smaller hand was tight causing the bones in her hand to cry out sharply in protest.
"Let go! Unless a broken hand is your method of repaying me." Magdalena hissed.
LaCroix released her and remained silent as Magdalena rubbed her hand.
"I assume you have some semblance of a plan, Monsieur LaCroix. It is more than three days to Paris by foot and the nearest inn is half a day from here." she snarled unaware of the smirk on the vampire's face or the fact that he was now standing directly behind her.
"I do have a plan, ma cherie." was all the warning Magdalena was given.
Before she knew it the soothsayer was literally swept off her feet and firm arms were holding Magdalena tight behind her shoulders and under her knees. Magdalena was unable to hold back a scream as LaCroix leapt into the air and easily darted above the tree tops.