Chapter Thirty-Two: Winifred Drake

Present day

Outskirts of Albemarle, NC

When Stef woke to the sound of a threat outside, a few things didn't register. It didn't register that she had been blissfully snuggled against Raid's body while asleep on the couch at gone eight o'clock in the morning. It didn't register that Flick was awake and giggling loudly at a few vampire tricks Phoenix was demonstrating to her across the room – specifically how to break his fingers, reset them, and heal them back into place. It didn't register that Adam was in the kitchen cooking makhlama for Zara and, in doing so, had unlocked the secret for getting her to stop insulting him for the past twenty minutes. What did register was that Gabe had opened the front door.

And Winifred had just stepped inside.

Stef stood on the couch, jumped over the armrest, and flew towards her at vampire speed, pinning her up against the wall in the entrance hall. But, to her surprise, Gabe reacted just as fast, pulling Stef off of her, whirling her around, and shoving her own back against the wall.

"How did she get inside?" Stef snapped at Gabe, her bed hair flying in her face as she tried to break free. "It's warded from witches!"

Winifred placed a palm lightly on Gabe's shoulder to gain his attention, then swept her hand backwards, urging him to release her. "I'm not a witch anymore, dear," she said calmly. "You did fine work of that."

Stef huffed indignantly at the regal grace Winifred was displaying, knowing she had Gabe's sympathy for her new, vulnerable human condition. She narrowed her eyes at him. "Traitor!"

"Stop overreacting," Gabe chided, as Winifred strolled leisurely past them both, casting her eyes around their temporary home. "She's not a danger to us. She has no powers."

Stef emitted a short dry chuckle. "No powers?" She glared into Gabe's face before she left him to follow Winifred. "She can still bat her eyelashes at you, can't she?"

Hearing the comment, Winifred turned. It was the kind of turn that stopped others in their tracks. Which it did. She looked first at Stef – the discloser – then at Gabe – the surprising subject. When her eyes softened at him, she quickly concealed this by looking back at Stef. "I hear you are in possession of my talisman."

Stef lowered herself into a curtsy. "Yes, your majesty," she quipped tartly. It wasn't the oddest of responses, considering Winifred both behaved and looked like royalty most of the time. At the moment she was wearing an ankle-length, wine-coloured, cotton coat with embroidered lapels, which was elegant but unnecessary for the current warm weather, and her thick hair was in a high bun above her head, making her appear the same height as Gabe.

Winifred's lips flicked upwards in amusement. "Good, keep it." She turned and continued walking towards the living area, giving a smile and nod towards Flick and Phoenix, the latter taking one look at her and swiftly leading Flick into the library.

Stef remained in the hall, stunned; though not quite as stunned as Gabe. Winifred wasn't here for the talisman?

Gabe strode forward. "In my message, Winifred, I told you that you might be able to use the talisman to regain your powers." It was both a question and not a question.

"I'm aware." She watched Raid rising to his feet cautiously, with the same dishevelled look Stef had after a night cramped together on the couch. Feeling like she had just wandered into a tenement, Winifred decided to head towards the dining area to take a seat. "While it might be possible, I've decided I don't want my powers to return."

Stef was suspicious. "Why?"

Winifred sighed contentedly as she sat down. "I once longed for immortality, but that was during a time when I was happy. I have not been happy for a long time. Even my own children – the many that I have had over the centuries – I watched them grow old and die before me. I have hardened over the years from having lost so much..." She paused, looking directly at Gabe. "So very much." She broke eye-contact with him, blinking the memories away. "And now I am very tired, and what you have done, Stefanie, is release me not just from my magic, but from my immortal curse."

Stef didn't know what to say. She felt herself understanding the sympathy Gabe had towards her. She hadn't lived long enough to know how Winifred was feeling, but she knew she eventually would. One day she would lose others too. She would lose her parents. She would lose Raid.

"The witches of the Hanging Fields are now at peace, and so am I. They have finally forgiven me," Winifred continued. "You have done us a great favor. So in return, I informed the Coven that all the powers you demonstrated were your own. They are terrified that you will do the same to them as you did to me. They would like to meet at the Halfway House – the council chambers – to call a truce between witches and vampires."

Gabe couldn't believe it. "Really?"

Winifred chuckled at his astonished expression. "Yes, Gideon is delighted, of course. He had about as much control over the High Coven as a parent does over a brood of destructive toddlers."

Overhearing the news, Zara entered from the kitchen, with Adam close behind her. "Stef's no longer at risk? She doesn't need to run from them?"

"Likely not," Winifred replied, turning her attention to Zara. "But, as you and Gabe both know, the Halfway House is a place of negotiation, not retaliation. You are all guaranteed safety for the duration of the meeting. After that, depends on the outcome." She turned her head back towards Stef. "I would still advise you, however, not to bring the talisman to the meeting. If the Coven see it, they will become aware of what it means to you now."

"What does it mean to me?" Stef asked, still unsure why she was in possession of it.

"Bring it to me." Winifred held her arm out as Gabe took the talisman from his pocket, gave it to Stef, who then walked forward, handing it to Winifred. She pulled out the chair next to her, gesturing for Stef to sit. Once she did, Winifred continued, holding the talisman in front of her. "Each of these stones has a symbol. The symbol of the witch, the vampire, and the human. They once had meaning for a different spell. For you, for your spell, that meaning has changed. It places your destiny in your hands." She pointed towards the symbols of the witch and the vampire. "If you removed these two stones, you would instantly become human. The witch and the vampire would die on the spot, regardless of where they were, with no knowledge of what was happening to them. The lives of everyone who took part in the ritual is now literally..." She gave the talisman back to Stef, "in your hands."

Stef cupped the talisman carefully in her palms, whispering, "I have no intention of killing anyone. Not even to be human again."

"I know," Winifred whispered back, "and that is exactly why I'm not afraid for you to have it. You see, I know that Gabe is the vampire who turned you."

Stef wasn't surprised that she knew. Only surprised at how she could have found out. She glanced back at Gabe briefly, wondering if he had entrusted Winifred with that information. If he had, it would explain why she had lied to Cristian. She still wanted to protect Gabe. Winifred was trustworthy. If he could recognize that, maybe she should too.

Winifred's hand went tenderly to Stef's cheek as she returned to face her. "You look so much like dear Sorcha, you remember her from the vision, don't you?" She smiled in reminiscence as Stef nodded. Turning to look at Raid, Stef did the same. "And your young witch there looks so much like Zaif." She caused Stef to chuckle quietly as she leaned in, whispering, "But Raid is much more handsome, isn't he? Quite the upgrade." She then resumed her normal tone. "I see it now. Who you both once were in your past lives. You were so happy together."

This sparked Raid's interest. "Together?"

Winifred placed her hands on her knees and stood. "Yes, eventually. Gabe wasn't around to see it. Naturally Sorcha grieved for a while at the loss of Lana, but they later had quite the passionate marriage. If the fear of Zaif's alleged powers didn't keep the settlers away from their home, the sounds of their heated lovemaking certainly did."

No amount of squeezing his lips together could hide the grin Raid generated as Stef covered her eyes in mortification.

"Change of subject, please," Stef muffled into her hands.

"Don't worry, I won't embarrass you further, I need to be on my way," Winifred assured her, starting to make her way towards the hall. "I have a lot to do. I need to vacate my home and find somewhere else to live."

Gabe stepped in front of her, concerned. "Leave? I understood that you would be removed from the Coven, but Dimitri is leaving you?"

"No, I am leaving him," Winifred replied, side-stepping him to get past, not yet ready to have this conversation.

Gabe caught up with her in the entrance hall, rushing to stand in front of the door. She wasn't leaving until he had answers. "I don't understand. I thought you loved him?"

"Loved – past tense – is right." She said, avoiding his eyes.

"But when did that change?"

Winifred was starting to get flustered, eager to leave. "When the curse broke."

That wasn't enough information for Gabe, and Winifred knew it. He pressed on. "Winnie?"

Her old nickname triggered her. She stepped back, away from him, waving her arms in frustration. "Did you not hear me when I said the curse is broken? All of it. I'm no longer immortal. I'm no longer fertile. But perhaps I now have a new curse, because I'm back to being..." She stopped, turning to the side, her palm covering her eyes, unable to look at him, unable to face everything she had put him through. All the years wasted. "I'm back to being unavoidably in love with you."

Gabe couldn't speak. He wanted to say something, anything, but he couldn't. She'd frozen him, wide-eyed, heavy, all the air leaving his body. He couldn't even think.

Finally, Winifred took a heaving, shuddering breath, drying the tears on her sleeve, and composing herself. She faced him. Her wiping did nothing to cover the tears that were still building in her eyes. She tried to keep her tone neutral but there was an ache within it she couldn't hide. "I realize I hurt you and I hate myself for what you went through. It's been a long time. Long enough for you not to have the same feelings anymore. But for me those feelings are returning like it was only yesterday." She stepped closer to him. "Consider it divine retribution. As you once had to leave while in love with me, now I have to leave while in love with you. So, please, let me leave." She waved her hand weakly at him, encouraging him to step away from the door. She didn't know how long she could keep back her tears and she hated him seeing her like this.

Gabe couldn't think. He still couldn't think.

He didn't need to think.

He had to damn well act.

He suddenly had no self control, no composure, no knowledge of his surroundings as he charged up to her, taking her face in his hands and kissing her like there was nobody else in the world but them. It was the water needed in a drought, the rain needed in the desert, the thunder needed in a heatwave. He was exactly where he needed to be and yet not close enough. He lost all awareness of every other need except her. Perhaps he also lost awareness of his own strength as she stumbled in his arms, being backed forcefully against the wall, the impact making her emit a gasp but without breaking his kiss.

Winifred was shattering with relief, her tears released and wiped away by Gabe's hands. This was her happiness. He was her happiness. No number of lifetimes could compare to the one she needed with him.

Gabe stopped kissing her just long enough to make one demand. His hands still on either side of her face, he pressed his forehead against hers, closing his eyes in case he needed to stay in the dream he felt he was in. "Tell me you love me."

"I love you," she replied, relief filling her with the ability to feel again. Knowing she had him again.

He opened his eyes. Once more. It wasn't enough. "Tell me you love me, Winnie."

She laughed with a smile he hadn't seen in centuries. "I love you."

Gabe said in a low breath, "I love you." He was both repeating her words as reassurance, and telling her he felt the same. He trailed kisses from her mouth, to her cheek, to her neck. There wasn't a part of her he didn't want to reacquaint himself with immediately. He knew they needed more privacy, but devil be damned, he couldn't stop. He grabbed underneath her backside, pulling her closer, into the hardness already building between his legs.

"Gabe," Winifred gasped quietly and reluctantly. "We have an audience."

Gabe raised and turned his head just long enough to see Stef and Zara standing at the entrance to the hall from the living area, grinning like Cheshire cats; Stef also biting her lip and raising her eyebrows, impressed at seeing this unrestrained side of him.

Fuck it. "I don't care," he said, returning his attention back to Winifred's neck.

"Woo-hoo, Gabey boy!" came Phoenix's call, joining Stef and Zara.

Gabe felt like his cock had just been shot with the antidote for passion. "Okay, now I care," he growled, irritated. But he was not about to stop. He picked Winifred up in his arms and carried her up to his bedroom at vampire speed, slamming the door loudly behind him. They were gone in the blink of an eye.

"Well done, Stef," Phoenix grinned. "You just got that old grouch laid."

"Gabe? Or Winifred?" Raid asked in amusement, coming towards them.

Phoenix considered this. "Good point," he replied. "Both."

"Who just got laid?" a voice asked.

Stef turned around to see Flick walking towards her from the library. "Oh my god, Flick," she said, rushing towards her, embracing her in a hug. "How do you feel? Are you okay? Are you hurt? Are you scared?" Stef stepped back to look her over. That's when she noticed the glass in Flick's hand. Her mood quickly turned to outrage. "Are you drinking my bourbon?"

Of course Flick was okay. Of course she wasn't scared. If you looked up 'nonchalant' in the dictionary, there would be a picture of Flick. And, of course, she was drinking Stef's bourbon.

Flicked laughed, rolling her eyes. "What's the big deal?"

"The big deal is that you're underage!" Stef snapped, grabbing the glass from her. "And there's hardly any bourbon left."

"There's four bottles!"

Stef shot her a baffled look. "That's what I just said! Besides, nobody should be drinking this early in the morning." A loud crash came from upstairs in the vicinity of Gabe's bedroom. Stef's eyebrows shot up in interest. "I stand corrected," she said, instantly knocking back the bourbon and making her way to the dining area.

Zara caught up with her and they both sat down at the table, facing the mezzanine. "You going to tune in?" she asked Stef eagerly.

"Of course I am," Stef replied with a grin. Then she looked towards Phoenix. "You haven't taught Flick about vampires' heightened hearing yet, have you?"

"No," he replied, confused.

"Good," Stef said, relieved, then put her finger to her lips, silencing everyone in the room. After a moment, she tapped Zara excitedly on the arm. "They're on the bed..."

"Please tell me that both of you aren't listening to Gabe having sex," Adam groaned.

Zara turned to him in her seat. "I would never do something so haram!" she cried indignantly, before Stef tapped her again, regaining her attention.

"Clothes are getting ripped..." Stef added.

"Right," Adam drawled dubiously, smirking and crossing his arms. "You just get the audio description instead."

Stef suddenly let out a squeal, clutching both hands over her mouth.

"What? What happened?" Zara asked impatiently.

Stef released her hands. "Winifred just asked him to do something."

Zara leaned in towards her. "What? Tell me!" As Stef whispered it into her ear, Zara let out a gasp. "She never! Have you ever done that?"

Stef shrugged. "Only to myself."

Raid shot towards the table, sitting down next to Stef. "Wait, what? What did you do to yourself?" he said, suddenly just as interested as Zara.

Stef didn't reply, just held up a finger, continuing to listen to the action upstairs. "He's still kissing her. A possible growl of approval, but he hasn't answered yet." She clenched her hand into a fist, and formed a pinched smile at Zara, prompting her to do the same.

Then they were both banging their fists rhythmically on the table. "Do it! Do it! Do it! Do it! Do it!" they chanted – and continued to chant – loudly.

Moments later there was a slam of the door, and Gabe stormed out onto the mezzanine wearing nothing but boxer shorts and holding a cushion in front of his groin, covering something that clearly required more than loose cotton to hide. Considering the slight upward tilt of the cushion, it was also almost failing its job. He glared down at Stef, unable to do the same to Zara since she immediately shrieked in laughter and turned away, covering her eyes. "I do not need fucking cheerleaders!"

Stef barely managed to speak through her laughter. "Okay, okay, we'll stop eavesdropping!" She was holding it together by a thread. "But just tell us one thing. Are you going to do it?"

Gabe growled angrily as he stormed back to the bedroom. "Of course I'm going to fucking do it!" he shouted, once again slamming the door as he went back inside.

Stef and Zara fell apart in hysterics.