Chapter 19

Witchfire and Brimstone

Routine was helping to keep Athena's mind occupied. She worked at Tamsin's shop most mornings when she didn't have any classes or fittings, and rehearsed in the afternoons. She hadn't landed a principle role just yet given how new she was to the company, having secured a place after the second round of auditions, but she was an understudy to the lead for the upcoming Easter performances in less than two months. It was normality for her, though not having her sister around to support her would be difficult.

It was still a little strange being in Baldwin's apartment alone. She'd gotten used to him being a presence there, especially given she'd lived with her sister since she turned 18. Being alone after so long was probably the hardest thing to get used to. Dwelling on her feelings, complicated as they were, was a luxury she convinced herself she didn't have time for.

"You're singeing the roots again," Tamsin warned as she looked over Athena's shoulder.

Athena huffed and pulled her hands away, grabbing for the spelled gloves. "Sorry. I should have remembered the gloves."

Tamsin knew better than to pry, but she could tell something deeper was going on. She assumed it had to do with her sister's death as Athena hadn't disclosed her brief affair with Baldwin. Many witches wouldn't understand, despite the repeal of the Covenant. Old prejudices were hard to let go of for some people.

"We've had some very good feedback on those lotions you made. Several people have described them as almost like an aphrodisiac," Tamsin remarked, changing the subject.

"Oh, they have? I didn't realise I'd put quite so much of my fire into them. I hope it's not had any adverse effects?"

"Not at all. We've had requests for more!"

"I hope I remember what I did," Athena mumbled, biting her lip.

In truth, she was a little concerned that she'd managed to make them without realising. She certainly didn't have attraction on her mind. She had no one to use such a lotion for. She'd heard nothing from Baldwin. She honestly didn't think she would. The fact that it both kept infuriating and upsetting her was starting to become a source of frustration.

Later that day, she threw herself into her dancing, taking time to work on her moves for the show, even if she never actually got to perform.

Too engrossed in her movements, she had no idea that she was being watched from the dark of the back of the theatre. She'd also neglected to use a glamour and had had a few glowy moments as she worked through her piece. If anyone noticed, they didn't say.

Baldwin had actually listened to his assistant and had thoroughly sated himself with several donors. Far better than a stag, though a little less satisfying on the hunting front.

What he hadn't done was take anyone home with him. He had considered it, but he simply couldn't force himself to feel any interest for any of the women he'd met in the donor house. He refused to acknowledge the real reason why and decided to just ignore it, striding into his office the next morning with renewed purpose and a little less grumpy.

That was until he opened his email and saw the video of Athena dancing.

A sorrowful sigh threatened to escape his lips as he watched how she glowed. The memory of her scent flooded his senses and it was as though she was in the room with him.

So of course, he was back to being grumpy and short-tempered. It was a mood that soured a prospective takeover deal later that day and the company lost the deal. This in turn soured Baldwin's mood further.

Sorcha wasn't usually one to pry into his personal life, but she knew whatever had gone on back in England, it had left a lasting dent in his usual unflappable persona. Baldwin had never lost such an easy deal before, and whilst it wouldn't really harm the company, it could snowball into something much bigger. Baldwin wouldn't suffer, but everyone else who worked for him would.

She rarely dealt with the other de Clermonts, but needs must, and if anyone could shed some light, it would be Matthew.

Over the coming weeks, Athena made several batches of her accidental seduction lotion, glad she could help Tamsin's business. Tamsin was even good enough to give her a commission for her work, which was a nice surprise as they'd never spoken about ad hoc payments.

One particularly sunny morning, Athena felt the tingle of a vampire. It wasn't the first time she'd felt it, and it was starting to make her a little paranoid.

When she caught someone holding a phone up through the window, she raced to the door to confront them. A tall and robustly built blond in a biker jacket was sauntering away, giving the impression of just strolling idly by.

Athena knew better.

"Perhaps you should introduce yourself properly before taking pictures," she called after him.

He stopped and seemed to be considering whether to just keep walking or not. When he turned around, she didn't recognise him, but it was the same tingle.

"Sorry. It must seem a bit creepy," he answered, moving back towards her.

"It's a little beyond that. This wasn't the first time, was it?"

"Uh, no. Not exactly."

"Then why?" she demanded.

"Baldwin asked me to check up on you from time to time," he responded.

Athena blinked. He sent a vampire to watch over her? "Why? He left and went back to his life. Job done."

It was hard for him not to wince at her tone, but he could hear the slight pain in her voice. "He told me what happened to you. It was just in case anything else happened."

"I see. And how do you know him? Has he paid you to do this?"

"Paid me? No, no. He's… my uncle. I'm Gallowglass," he explained.

She couldn't recall if she'd heard the name, but she had been aware that there were more vampires in Baldwin's family that she hadn't met.

"Well, I'd prefer it if you didn't skulk around outside the window. It's a public high street. Humans will become suspicious."

"Aye, you're right. I'll leave you to it," he responded, moving to walk away.

"Just… come inside next time," Athena called after him.

He didn't turn back but would remember her words. He was starting to understand why Baldwin was so taken with her, even if the brute wouldn't outwardly admit it. He'd been surprised by the request but intrigued. A witch able to turn Baldwin's head… He knew Baldwin respected Diana, but this was different. Deeper. Perhaps even primal. He wondered if Baldwin had felt the urge to mate…

It was underhanded and bordered on meddling with family politics that she certainly had no right to be doing, but if she had to smell the acrid scent of brimstone wafting through the office wherever Baldwin went, she just might do something final to the brooding idiot.

Sorcha penned an email to Matthew, directing him to call her at his earliest convenience regarding something critical and sensitive. The company had another deal on the table and a meeting was set for 48 hours from now. This one was bigger, and whilst again, it wouldn't cause a huge dent to the profitability of the company, it would start to set a precedent for what the company might be going through and harm public confidence. Image was everything with such a large company. Its history spanned more than decades, but a vampiric tantrum could potentially send the Congregation their way.

Matthew had thankfully responded to the email and had advised that he would call her at midday New York time. She excused herself with the promise of returning with decent coffee for him, and took the call in a local park.

"So, what's the problem? Baldwin threatening to reduce your pay?" Matthew quipped when she answered on the first ring.

"Hilarious. No. He's… brooding. The scent of hell is literally following him around. I swear I actually heard a faint whine come from his office after someone sent him a video. I couldn't see what it was, but I could hear classical music."

Matthew resisted the urge to chuckle. "As I'm sure you've deduced by now, he was briefly involved with someone until recently. I suspect he isn't dealing with the aftermath quite as he usually would."

"Dealing? Matthew, he lost a deal. He never loses a deal. Never. At least not in the two centuries I've worked for him. What the fuck happened to him?"

He sighed heavily. This really shouldn't be coming from him. "He was involved with a witch. It was… volatile. But, not in a bad way. In a lot of ways, we all thought she was perfect for him. Strong-willed. She wasn't afraid of him. Not in the slightest."

"How did he fuck it up?"

This time, Matthew did chuckle. "How did you guess? He did what Baldwin always does; tried to control everything by dictating the terms of their relationship."

"She was less than pleased, I take it?" Sorcha stated, rather than asked.

"He stated that he would be moving back to New York and she would be going with him, despite the fact that her life is in London. He gave no consideration for the fact that she didn't want to uproot her life and live in a different country."

"So, she dumped him?"

"In human terms, that might be adequate. But, he's a vampire and she is a witch. We were at dinner and when she told him no and tried to leave, he made the mistake of trying to stop her. She burned his arm to get him to let go."

"Fucking Christ, she's a Firewitch?" Sorcha exclaimed.

Matthew winced slightly at the cursing, but said nothing about it. "And powerful. I don't think it would have taken much to turn him to ash if he'd pushed the issue. He thankfully let go, but he'll carry the scar on his arm forever."

Now she understood why he hadn't been taking off his jacket and rolling up his sleeves as he would sometimes do around the office to give the appearance of being human.

"Well, this all explains a lot, but I've no fucking idea how I'm supposed to do anything about it. Do you think his mating instinct was triggered?" she asked, worried that he might say yes.

"You know only Baldwin can answer that question, but, he's never been this way with anyone he's been in a relationship before. There's certainly a possibility."

"This does not bode well. If he starts losing money because he can't get his shit together, I don't even want to think about what he'll do," Sorcha said, feeling the weight of the seriousness of the situation.

"No one can force them back together. Only they can figure things out for themselves. Baldwin might have to crash and burn a little for him to realise what he's missing from his life. All you can do is try to put out whatever fires he starts before they become an inferno."

Sorcha groaned. "I might have to invest in some air purifiers. I think even the humans will start to notice the hellfire stench he's giving off."

"Good luck. Keep me posted if anything volcanic happens," Matthew said, then ended the call.

Sorcha grabbed their coffees and actually pondered on the merit of perhaps getting him decaff. She was only dissuaded by the fact that he'd know the difference, and caffeine didn't really affect vampires in the same way.

She hoped whatever he was going through wouldn't take years. The company might not survive.

"Baldwin is in trouble," Matthew said as he entered the kitchen where Diana was feeding the twins.

"Baldwin is trouble. He doesn't get into trouble."

Matthew chuckled and pressed a kiss to her forehead. "His assistant contacted me to tell me he's beginning to slip up with his company. He lost a deal."

"I thought Baldwin never loses?" Diana said.

"Indeed."

"Should we do something?"

"No. This isn't for us to fix. It's for him to fix. He broke them apart with his usual lack of consideration for what others want. He has to undo the damage," Matthew advised. He could tell Diana had already considered some mild meddling.

"Well, I at least need to see Athena," she responded.

"Diana…"

"Baldwin emailed me. He wants me to give the deed to the apartment to her. He's signed it over to her," Diana stated.

Matthew sat down and sighed. That wasn't the best news. It felt rather final. It left no tie for Baldwin in London, other than the fact that he and Diana still lived there when they weren't in Les Revenants, or back in America.

"I suppose he wants her to have some security," Matthew tried to rationalise.

"Perhaps. I don't think it's necessarily a good sign."

"Even so, when you see her, try not to force the issue. I'm sure it's hard enough for her as it is," he said.

Diana nodded. She wanted desperately to help them, but even she knew only they could fix what was broken. Perhaps they never would.