The Legacy (Ambrosine Book 2) Read online

  The Legacy

  Ambrosine

  By

  Noreen Harrison

  Copyright 2014 Noreen Harrison

  All rights reserved. Any reproduction, in whole or in part, by any means, without the express written permission of the author, is a violation of United States federal copyright laws.

  ISBN-13: 978-1496029539

  ISBN-10: 1496029534

  This book was created in the United States.

  Prelude

  We are born innocent.

  The lies and secrets that hide within our lineage are unknown until they are brought forward, leaving us no choice, no way out.

  This is my legacy.

  I must accept it, no matter how dark it is.

  The Diversion

  I got into the limousine with Madame Cecilia. Gabriel put it in gear and moved slowly past our house. Looking out the window, I saw Anna, our cook, on the front porch. Her arms were folded across her chest as she watched fretfully. She had reason to be worried: I was on my way to northern France to meet the rest of my lineage, and she didn’t know what awaited me.

  Neither did I.

  We turned toward the Baton Rouge airport. My breath on the car window twisted the morning countryside into a hazy gray silhouette. In the watery vapor, I wrote the name Ambrosine.

  It had only been a couple days since Mother’s funeral and I knew if I griped again about not going, it wouldn’t do me any good. In Madame Cecilia’s mind, that debate was finished. Still, I wished she had let me stay home instead of insisting on this senseless trip to France. And for what? Just to defend myself to the Ambrosines? I couldn’t care less about Charlotte – she had deserved to die. I’ll never regret that. She took Mother from me. Marcus was right when he said I did them all a favor.

  As I wiped the window clear, tears welled in my eyes. I thought of Mother’s last breaths, helpless as she begged the Ambrosines to release her from her body. I could still hear her piercing screams as they engulfed her that night, and then the horrible silence that followed.

  I’ll never forget.

  Such visions had been tormenting me lately. Mother wasn’t the only one I would lose. There was someone else that I couldn’t see clearly yet, but she would be taken away from me as Mother had been.

  The vision faded as the limousine entered Baton Rouge. Madame Cecilia, sitting across from me, sniffed the scent of a flowery perfume as she applied it to her wrist. Her hair was up in a French braid. A few dark curls hung softly around her face, emphasizing her green eyes even more. Looking at her, I still couldn‘t believe she was my grandmother.

  She hadn’t accepted her birthright of immortality until her early thirties. Not as I had done, at seventeen…

  “Alixia, roll down your window.” She reached over, touching my leg and bringing me out of my thoughts.

  “I’m sorry?”

  “The window.”

  As she pointed, I turned my head to see an old, thin man with clouded eyes in a worn-out, tattered black suit, playing a saxophone. I let down the window as she handed me loose coins. He nodded at us with a slight smile, took the money and peered into the car.

  “Thank you kindly, ladies.”

  Looking at him, I sensed disquiet. He stepped back, lifted his saxophone and began playing. Curious about what I sensed, I jumped into his head to read his thoughts. But all I heard was the phrase: “Be watchful.”

  “So, Alixia.” Madame Cecilia shifted in her seat. “What’s preoccupying you? You’ve been very quiet since we left the house.”

  “You don’t want to know,” I said, rolling the window up and shaking off the old man’s thoughts.

  “Try me.”

  “Okay. If you have to know, it’s this trip.”

  “The trip?”

  “Yes, I just…” I hesitated for second. Why am I doing this? I already know what she’s going to say.

  “You know what, forget it. I don’t want to talk about it.”

  “Listen, if something is bothering you, tell me now before we get there. I don’t want any trouble. We have enough explaining to do as it is to the High Council of the Dominions.”

  I looked over at her, annoyed. Did I want to go through the debate again?

  “Alixia, are you going to tell me?”

  “Alright. It’s Charlotte.”

  “Charlotte? Really Alixia, can’t you get past this?”

  “See, I told you! Why did you even ask?”

  She reached out for me. “I didn’t mean to upset you, but we have already discussed Charlotte.”

  “I’m sorry I brought her up again. As I said, just forget it.”

  She looked at me in exasperation.

  “No, go ahead if there is something else you need to say. I’m listening.

  “Are you sure? “

  “Yes. Let’s hear it.” I could tell she was getting aggravated, but she did ask.

  “Alright. First, I think it’s unreasonable that I’m being forced to go halfway around the world just to defend myself. We all know how she died, and for what reasons.”

  “Alixia, I ‘m just tired of this.” She pinched her brow, glaring at me with displeasure. “She was Ambrosine, and we are accountable for her death. It’s something we must do, so please just accept it. ”

  “ Fine,” I said, frustrated. “You win. I’m not going to debate it anymore. As I said, I shouldn’t have even brought it up. But could you answer one thing for me, before we end this conversation?”

  “And what’s that?”

  “ It’s Mother. Who’s going to be accountable for her death, or doesn’t that matter? All I have heard is that Charlotte’s death has to be justified. Well, Mother died that night, too!”

  She was quiet for a second.

  “You can trust me about Lucida. I’ll find that person and deal with them. I’ll make sure of that.”

  I stared at her. She knew who had killed my mother, although she would never admit it.

  “You know the person. It was Charlotte who caused Mother’s death.”

  She turned her head and looked out the window, as if she wanted to avoid my question.

  “Are you going to say anything?” I asked.

  “Yes,” she said, crossly. “However, it’s probably not what you want to hear, Alixia. I can’t believe Charlotte attacked your mother intentionally. It got out of control somehow, when they went after Millie. You do remember that there were other Dark Ones involved?”

  I stared at her in disbelief. She is still defending her.

  “You’re right,” I said shaking my head as I tried to hold back my anger. “There were others. But she led them, and she could have stopped them if she had wanted to. She didn’t.”

  “Alixia, you need to drop this vendetta against Charlotte. You’ll make things worse.”

  She reached over, putting her hand on mine. I sensed her worry for me.

  “Listen to me, my granddaughter. It’s not our place to judge. She was an Ambrosine. It will be discussed, I promise you. Your mother will not be forgotten. I think it’s best we end this conversation now.”

  “Sure. Why not…”

  I pulled my hand away from her.

  “Nobody wants to listen to the truth anyway.”

  She shook her head, picked up a book and began reading. I knew she loved me, but could I trust her?

  Gabriel stopped the car in front of a chain-link gate that led into the airport. He spoke into a small black box on a pole, and then returned to the car.

  “It’s going to be a while, he said. “The plane isn’t ready yet.”

  Madame Cecilia looked up from her book, agitated.

  “There shouldn’t be any delays. Did they say how
long it would be?”

  “About fifteen minutes.”

  “That’s not acceptable. Tell them to hurry!”

  “Very good.” He turned to leave.

  Madame Cecilia rolled down her window, calling out to him.

  “Gabriel! Find out if Angel is there.”

  He nodded and walked away. I reached for the door handle.

  “I need some air.”

  “Alixia!”

  I turned with a question in my eyes. She pointed to my feet.

  “Your shoes.”

  “Oh….”

  I reached down, slipped them on and got out of the car. Stretching, I pulled my hair up in a ponytail. The chill of the air hit the back of my neck, cooling the Ambrosine blood coursing through my veins. I walked a few steps away from the car, breathing in the morning air. My thoughts were of Millie, reflecting back to when the Dark Ones tried to take her. Is she the one in my visions?

  And then Marcus was in my head again, calling out anxiously as he did at my parents’ graves, warning me of danger.

  Gabriel touched my shoulder, breaking the connection.

  “We’re ready to leave now.”

  “What?”

  “Are you okay?”

  “No.“ I glanced toward the car. ”I mean, I can’t go.”

  He looked at me, baffled. Then he walked back to the car and spoke with Madame Cecilia through the open window.

  “Alixia!” she yelled franticly, getting out of the car and coming toward me. I stepped back from her charge, saying nervously. “I can’t go.”

  “What on earth is wrong with you?”

  “It’s Marcus. He needs me to come to him. He’s in danger.”

  Her face was grim, as if she knew.

  “Do you understand what’s going on?” She stared at me, knowing that she couldn’t hide her thoughts from me for long. Then she said in an unwavering voice: “I’m sorry, it’s time for him to be destroyed and for you…”

  “No!”

  She came toward me, taking my arm.

  “Calm down, now. You knew sooner or later that he would have to be dealt with. He can’t be controlled, and you know that’s a danger for the Families!”

  “Is this why we’re leaving? You’re taking me away so that the Family can kill Marcus?” I moved away from her. “I’m going to find him, before it’s too late!”

  “Alixia, you will not go to him.”

  “Try to stop me!’

  “Gabriel!” she shouted. I turned to see him running toward me. Madame Cecilia tried grabbing me again but I moved back, stepping right into Gabriel grasp. He wrapped his arms around me tightly.

  “We don’t have time for this,” he said. “Do what Madame Ambrosine wants. Get back in the car!”

  “No, I’m not leaving!”

  Madame Cecilia moved toward me, seething.

  “Alixia, stop being difficult. You are coming with me!”

  “You tell him to let go of me! I should never have trusted you!”

  “Don’t be foolish. This has nothing to do with trust. It just has to be done.”

  “It doesn’t!”

  “Alixia,” she said firmly. “I am not going to debate this with you. The High Council has already made the judgment. So, obey it!”

  “I’m not going to obey anything!”

  I felt power rush throughout my body. My heart pounded in my chest and blood ran hot through my veins, boiling toward anger. I knew there was no controlling it.

  Breaking away from Gabriel’s grip, I yelled “No!”

  Taking hold of him, I threw him into the air as if he were a rag doll and watched him land face down in the dirt. Madame Cecilia rushed passed me, yelling.

  “Alixia, enough of this! Gabriel, are you alright?”

  He moved slowly, trying to get up. I felt panic surge within me. I knew that I wasn’t going with them.

  I ran for the trees.

  Madame Cecilia cried out angrily, coming after me. I ran even faster, escaping her threats, darting in out of the trees and leaving only my shadow and scent. Out of the corner of my eye I saw a couple of deer rush into the refuge of the forest, sensing my presence as I passed them unseen.

  Later, making my way home, I knew this wasn’t over yet.

  Mistrust

  I stepped inside the front door, slamming it behind me. I knew there wasn’t much time. I had to get into Marcus’s head before she got here. I started for the staircase, and heard Anna calling.

  “Alixia, what are you doing here?” she asked, coming into the foyer. “Where’s Madame Cecilia?”

  I hurried over to her, taking her hands and hoping she would be able to help me.

  “Anna, I need you to…”

  I turned, not finishing my plea. The front door had hit the wall, hard.

  “Alixia!” Madame Cecilia yelled, standing in the doorway. Her arms were stretched out on either side. Her face was twisted in outrage as she said: “You will listen!”

  I moved closer to Anna.

  “I’ve already listened to you!” I said. “Now, you are going to listen to me. I am not going to stand by and let the Ambrosines go after Marcus. He’s innocent.”

  She waved her arms, saying furiously: “Anna, leave! Alixia you come with me! “

  “No, Anna. Stay.”

  I held onto her arm. Her face was grave. She removed my hand and shook her head.

  “I can’t, Alixia.”

  I watched as she walked away, sensing her fear.

  “Alixia, we need to talk.”

  Madame Cecilia walked toward the living room and I reluctantly followed. There has to be someone that can help me. She sat on the couch, crossing her legs and straightening her posture. She motioned to a chair.

  “Sit.”

  I sat.

  I don’t want to be lectured any more. I just need to get away, and find Marcus.

  “Now,” she said with a biting tone in her voice. “Let’s get this resolved. You think you can protect him?”

  I moved forward in the chair.

  “I don’t know, but I’m going to try.”

  “The Families will not accept that.”

  ” I don’t care. I will not let anything happen to him.”

  She slammed her hand down on the arm of the sofa.

  “Alixia, you’re asking for trouble!”

  “I don’t want trouble, but I’m not giving in to this insanity either. This isn’t right, and you know it!”

  Her eyes closed as she sucked in a breath and then let it out slowly, trying to calm herself in the face of my defiance.

  “I know your life has been turned upside down since your seventeenth birthday, and you have been struggling to understand our beliefs and laws. However, this isn’t the time for you to go against them, especially after what happened to Charlotte.”

  “Charlotte again!”

  “Yes, Charlotte. And calm down. All I’m saying is that you should have been on the plane by now on your way to defend yourself, instead of trying to defend this Dark One. This obsession you have with him is not acceptable, especially after you have seen what their kind can do to the Families.”

  I looked at her in disbelief.

  “He never hurt anyone in our Family, and you know he wasn’t involved in taking Mother’s soul.”

  “Fine. He wasn’t involved in that, but it doesn’t mean that he wouldn’t go after someone else in the Families who is vulnerable.”

  “He won’t. He promised me.”

  Her face showed disappointment as she rubbed her temples.

  “Alixia, you know you can’t guarantee that. Why can’t you just separate yourself from him?”

  I pressed my lips together in frustration, trying to choose my words carefully.

  “I have always felt a gravitational pull – a need, a want for him. Now that we’re both immortal, it’s even stronger. It’s as if our fates are supposed to be joined.”

  She jumped up angrily, knocking over the coffee table and
startling me.

  “What on earth! You’re Ambrosine! Your fate doesn’t lie with the Dark Realm.”

  A pause, and then: “What about Phillip?”

  I stood as she turned the table right side up, and gathered the books that had fallen to the floor. A rush of regret ran through my mind, but not for what I had said about Marcus. I had forgotten about Phillip in all of this. I didn’t want to hurt him, but now it was time to be honest.

  “First, I’m not choosing the Dark Realm over the Ambrosines. That has nothing to do with it. And as for Phillip, I care deeply for him and there’s no question about that. However, I know in my soul that Marcus is the one I will share my…”

  “Careful, Alixia” she said, with ire in her voice. “You’re walking a dangerous line now.“

  “Well, I don’t see the danger in it.”

  She glared at me crossly.

  “Now you’re being foolish!”

  “Wanting to be with him is foolish? Why?”

  “Alixia, you know all too well why!”

  I shook my head. Why is she being so pigheaded about this?

  “Well, I’m not severing myself from him. I just wish you’d listen to me, and try to understand my feelings. Isn’t there some middle ground we can come to here?”

  She didn’t hesitate, screaming back at me.

  “I will not compromise here! You will give him up. Your commitment is to Phillip and you don’t have a choice in this. You belong to the Family now!”

  I sat there stunned. No choice again! I glared back at her with rebelliousness anger, clenching my fists to my sides. And then I blurted words that I already knew would change my destiny forever.

  “You can’t stop me. You and the Family will just have to accept what I want now, and I choose to be with Marcus!”

  She stood up, waving one hand in the air in a halting motion.

  “Stop!” she yelled. “You don’t know what you’re saying. I don’t want to hear any more of this idiocy from you. His immorality is of the Dark Realm and yours is of Ambrosine. You cannot mix those two worlds. This relationship ends now. Do you hear me?”

  “No!”