So, the Present plot has detail that Patch can't know about, and as such, it was time to get Nora in here! The story is going to start switching back and forth a bit, so I'll make sure to start labeling it for you all so that you know the who's, whats and whens. Enjoy!

Chapter Fourteen

Nora's POV

"Oh, Vee! Don't be that way. You know Patch wouldn't. It's got to be something else. I know it is." I said, sighing. I was on my lunch break, and I was with Vee, who was in town from England on her holiday.

"Yeah…last time you thought he was cheating, we ended up snooping through the ho's diary. It wasn't your proudest time." Vee paused, taking a bite out of her donut. "Still, I think you should put your foot down about it. Trust is important in a relationship, and you deserve to know what you ask for. He certainly knows your entire past." I nodded eagerly.

"He knew about my destiny before I was even born!" I glared down, stabbing my pasta salad. "He makes sure I don't touch his scars either. I just…it's so irritating! You'd think he'd trust me by now; I mean, we've been together for five years at this point, and have an eternity to go! He may as well start now."

"That is strange." Vee mused. "How do you get around that? Touching his scars I mean? Especially during-"

"Vee!" I cried. She stopped, laughing behind her hands.

"Sorry, sorry." She said, still chortling. Blushing, I smiled. Then I leaned forward towards her.

"Creative work-arounds, by the way." I whispered wickedly. Vee threw her head back, laughing.

"Well, look at you, freak! I never thought you'd be the one on-" she cried, wiping her face. I shushed her, not wanting the world to know my business.

"I need to figure out what's going on. Asking Patch directly while blind…well, it's never been effective. He'll just turn away or maneuver out of the conversation. I need…I need something to approach him."

"Is knowing his job really so necessary? I mean, he brings you flowers and nice things and your life doesn't seem too crappy to me. Maybe he just wants to keep you safe." Vee suggested.

"It's not just his job, Vee! It's that he seems to know everything about me, including where I am at any time due to the chip he's placed in my wallet (that he doesn't think I know about), and I know nothing about him! What type of trust is that? I'm sorely tempted to just hit him in the scars myself!"

"Hm. I don't know about that, Nora. That will not go down well. Really. I can always…" Vee stopped, looking behind me. I began to turn.

What is it? What do you sense? I asked her.

I thought I saw…there, again! They want us to follow them. Here, follow me…Vee got up and began slowly walking. I followed suit. We eventually walked towards a shadier neighborhood, and a hooded figure turned down an alley. They stopped walking when they reached a dead end.

"Who are you, and what do you want?" Vee commanded. I stood quietly, confused as to why we'd followed some random person.

We gasped in shock when the hood came down.

Patch's POV (Past)

I was leaning on top of the farm's rafters, in the shadow, letting my legs hang down. It was a funny sensation; for a moment, I'd wanted to jump, and let my wings carry me away.

If only, I thought bitterly. I watched through the doors as Chauncey followed the little boy's every movement. He'd taken him on as a ward; as a "cousin". True to form, he'd never let Henry marry Elizabeth, but in return for her silence, she was being paid a handsome sum. I was sure that Henry still went to see her, although he was officially married. The boy kicked a ball into the farm, and raced to come get it. I pulled my legs onto the rafter, getting ready.

"Barnabas, boy! Get out of that dirty barn!" he shouted, following the boy. Barnabas Underwood was aged ten, with reddish-blonde hair and his mother's bright blue eyes. Rixon had liked him immediately. In his mind, Barnabas Underwood was perfect. He was a bastard child, which meant that he had the money and privileges of a duke, but not the duty that came with it. Because he was a Nephil, he'd live long enough to make much more. The best part, in Rixon's mind, was that the boy looked healthy. He'd grow into a "handsome and hearty lad, which means more ladies for me!"

Chauncey grabbed the ball and threw it out for the laughing boy to go catch. When the boy ran out, I cleared my throat. Chauncey froze, and began looking around himself wildly.

"I wish you hadn't lost faith in me, Chauncey! You didn't even run away from this area; in fact you've gotten quite comfortable. I'm a little hurt." I drawled. "I had to go away for a little while, but now I've returned, and I hope you don't mind if I've brought a friend with me."

He finally found me, standing in the rafters. "I…I thought…you were…"

I didn't let him finish. "No, Chauncey Langeais, I've returned. And to such good news! A position at court; profits increased tenfold; a trip to America? Best of all, Henry was able to bask in his love! Both with an official duchess, and with Elizabeth Underwood. I'd heard that a baby was born?" I looked down upon him, loving how he was forcing himself not to squirm with fear.

"Leave that child alone. He is innocent; he has done nothing wrong." Chauncey whispered.

"The child is a Nephil." Chauncey started at my words. "Haven't you sensed it?"

"But…Henry is not…which means…" he said, thinking hard. He was following the exact thoughts that I'd placed for him. I was solving two issues in one blow. One for Chauncey, to get my affairs in order. Another was dealing with Deirdre. It seemed, upon my return, that she didn't have the money that she'd promised. Because I hadn't actually "sworn" anything, she claimed, she was held to nothing. She said that she'd expected me to go to the commune, but never come back, and that I needed to "sod off" and leave her investments be. Rixon had wanted to fight her, but I held him back. We'd simply left in silence.

Investments, indeed. I'd left, and in the time I was gone, the lifestyle I'd left behind, like fine wine or cheese, had aged magnificently. I planned on taking it all back, including the new things. Deirdre had betrayed me; tried to take my things; still thought me the little boy that she'd fooled into a deal. She was wrong, and I'd make sure she lost it all.

"Elizabeth Underwood was possessed of a fallen angel. She made a deal with it, so that she could be with Henry Langeais, thus producing a half demon. She will continue to be possessed every Cheshvan, and will continue to bewitch him. Shame." I said nonchalantly, increasing his anger.

"I knew that girl was trouble, but this!" Chauncey sputtered angrily.

"She plans on murdering Henry, so that her son, Barnabas, can take the dukedom. The little boy knows nothing of his mother's plans; he might just be redeemable." I lied smoothly, making sure that he was beyond reason.

"She…she's a witch! Corrupted by the devil! I'll stop that bitch…I'll stop the bitch, and I'll stop you," he said, pointing accusingly at me, "from whatever plans you have! You will not touch that boy!"

I placed my hand over my heart dramatically. "Have you grown to care for the child? How sweet."

Seething, Chauncey ran from the barn. I shook my head, climbing from the rafters.

"Oh Chauncey," I murmured. "Witches don't exist. But the demons that will follow you; those are real and everlasting."

I walked from the barn to find Rixon.

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