Coffin Girls (Elegantly Undead: Book 1 of the Coffin Girls Witch Vampire Series) (32 page)

“The pleasure is all mine, my child,” Yves responded, “to
find you part of such a pleasant scene.” Yves took in the activity and
atmosphere. “I see that you have your charges in hand. Good. Good,” he
repeated, glancing at the other vampire women who nodded in greeting.

“Are you by yourself?” Anais asked. “Where’s Claude?”

“I’m here, Madame,” Claude came in and kissed her extended
hand.

“Please, come in,” Anais invited. “Join us for dinner.”

“We’d love to, Anais,” responded Yves, “but we have some
grave business to discuss. I’m afraid that it might affect the witch vampire
alliance.”

“Oh?” responded Anais, baffled.

“Good evening, ladies,” Conall greeted, followed by Niul and
Sylvain. Conall handed Yves a bottle. “I kept one to show you,” he stated.

Yves took the bottle, sombrely regarding it as he turned it
around in his hands. “This is atrocious, friend,” Yves commented. “No apology
from me or the rest of the vampire council can suffice. I only hope it won’t
negatively affect future relations between us.”

“What is that?” asked Anais peering over Yves shoulder.

“Nothing you need concern yourself with, child,” Yves turned
towards her, handing Conall the bottle, then patted her head like a doting
parent.

“Anais,” Yves stated, “Conall and I will be in the library.
We have some business to discuss.”

“Of course, Yves,” responded Anais docilely. “If there’s
anything you need, please let me know. We’ll wait for you to have dinner.”

“No, no,” Yves repeated again. He must be very troubled to
not be his usual articulate self. “You go ahead. Claude will join you and so
will Conall’s guards. I’m leaving when I finish discussing business with
Conall.”

“That’s fine,” responded Anais, “we’d love to have you
another evening when you’re free.”

“That won’t be possible for a while, my dear,” Yves said,
“I’m afraid that Claude and I are leaving for Greece tonight.”

“Greece?” asked Anais. “Are Akeldonna and Akhilleus going
too?”

Yves looked at her, studying her closely. He must’ve been
satisfied by what he saw as he replied, “No, my dear. I’m afraid that Akeldonna
has passed away.”

Anais gasped in shock, “I’m so sorry, Yves. I know what a
loss this must be for the council. If there’s anything I can do, for you, the
council or Akhilleus please let me know.”

“We’ve got it in hand, thanks to our witch friend,” Yves
inclined his head towards Conall. “So, don’t fret. You’re helping the council
by hosting Conall and by going to further relations with your visit to his home
in Ireland. I’d planned to join you there but the Greek vampire community needs
me right now.”

“I understand, Yves,” Anais stated empathetically. “I’ll do
my best to make you proud as the council’s ambassador in Ireland.”

Yves patted Anais’ head again. “I know you will, child,”
Yves stated and then followed Conall into the library. Anais heard the door
close, the click of the lock.

She caught Marie’s glance. Her trustworthy sister had ghosts
planted throughout the house. They’d get a blow by blow recount of the
conversation later.

--------

After Yves and Claude departed, they all sat around the
kitchen table while Conall ate and repeated the conversation he’d had with
Yves. The telling of the tale was stranger than the tale itself as Conall had
to battle three noisy ghosts who persisted in interrupting him with their
version of what they’d heard eavesdropping, despite Conall’s rising ire.

Anais admired his patience. She would’ve threatened to
exorcise them by now. “So, he bought it all?” she asked Conall.

“I don’t know if he truly bought it all,” responded Conall.
“But he played his part as predictably and as well as we did. But at least it
frees us to carry on with our mission.”

“Whatever that is,” quipped Marie.

“Yes,” replied Conall, “housing and teaching the young
witches, searching for their families and forging our own, real alliance and
whatever else our mission for the Goddess is.”

“That sounds like a lot to me,” offered Miss Suzette,
placing a plate of piping hot beignets and milky coffee on the table.

“Niul and I are going back to Ireland tomorrow,” Conall
informed them. “Sylvain has agreed to stay in his New Orleans hollow until you
are all settled. I don’t know yet when I’m coming back - maybe in a few weeks.
I have to check on the search for the young girls’ families and I have to see
that all is well at home. Yves is also of the opinion that Akhilleus is in
Ireland where we’re trying to unbind the spell Ayden placed on him. I have to
go before you, Anais, to act as though I’m checking on that progress too. We
agreed that I’d get to keep Akhilleus as a prisoner as long as I continued to
try and break the spell. But,” he said, reaching for Anais, “I’ll see you in a
week in Ireland, as stipulated by Yves – well after I’ve ‘checked’ on Akhilleus
and the family search so that you remain in ignorance as Yves requested too. He
is as you said - a chauvinist that grossly underestimates you. We have to
maintain the pretence of the alliance he seeks.”

Anais felt her heart ache and knew that Conall was feeling
it to. They’d been constantly together since his arrival at the plantation and
it felt like losing part of her – even if it was only for a week.

Uncomfortable with the pain in her chest, Anais stiffened,
“It is better that you go”. She said it before thinking and inwardly winced at
the hurt reflected on his face. The rest at the table were silent, focused
intently on their beignets. “We have much to do to prepare for our future
coffin girls.”

Conall nodded and silently left the room. Anais’ appetite
for the food and company left with him and she excused herself. She barely made
it to her room before she broke down, her heart shattering at the loss. 

--------

Anais made her way towards the porthole, smiling poignantly
at the memory of her first visit to the hollow with Conall at her side. Her
heart smiled at the memory and broke at the loss. She had not heard a word from
him since he’d left. Initially she’d explained it away, telling herself that he
was miffed at the cold shoulder she’d given him. But, damn it, they had a blood
bond and he should’ve known she was being defensive. She then told herself that
he busy looking for the girls’ families and catching up on running the
monarchy. After a few days and a few more unreturned calls, she’d come to
accept that things were over between them.

Ignoring the stabbing pain, she squared her shoulders and
stepped through the porthole into the hollow. The signs of battle had been
cleaned away and it was as it was the first time she’d seen it. Only this time
around, young witches mingled with the fae, learning of their magick and ways.
Sylvain had made monumental strides in forging inter-species relations. Lips
curved in appreciation, she moved towards the hospital, something the fae had
had no need of before the arrival of the rescued girls. That the fae had
conjured the hospital and everything else needed for the girls’ recuperation
spoke of Sylvain’s leadership and the loyalty he commanded.

The object of her thoughts came towards her and she greeted
her new friend warmly. They toured the hospital, the training grounds and the
temporary school house. Anais was suitably impressed and commended Sylvain.
Testament to his regal blood, he shrugged it away as though it was nothing.

“Are you ready for your trip to Ireland?” Sylvain asked.

“Yes, all’s been arranged,” responded Anais.

“And to see Conall again?” Sylvain continued probing.

Anais shrugged nonchalantly, “I haven’t heard from him since
he left. Things are over between us. But I’m here now, not there. If anything,
the past few weeks have taught me to live for the moment.”

Anais could see why so many women, human and supernatural,
threw themselves at him. Feeling sore from Conall’s ignorance of her and
emotionally risky, she smiled seductively at Sylvain. “I’ve been wondering
about what V said about you.”

Sylvain frowned, confused by the siren that suddenly sprung
up. “What would that be, Anais?”

“You remember well enough, Sylvain,” she answered coyly.

“Ah,” he responded, “and you want to experience it too?”

She threw him a smile that went straight to his crotch.
Sylvain could see what had captivated Conall. He cleared his throat and smiled
at her, “You deserve that experience in private, my dear.”

Taking her hand, he led her to his bedroom, the most
private, yet well-warded, well-guarded space in the hollow. Anais pushed away
the guilt and trepidation that gnawed at her and pasted a seductive smile on
her face. She’d be darned if she’d feel nothing for this handsome man in front
of her.

She went towards Sylvain and gasped when he abruptly pulled
her hands away from his face, glaring at her. “I’m not a fool, Anais and I
won’t be used as re-bound material.”

It was the emotional slap she needed, he knew, as she broke
down, surprising herself and not him. Sylvain did what millennia of living had
taught him, he waited patiently and let her to cry it out. 

“Now,” said Sylvain, when the tears had subsided, “tell me
what really brings you here.”

“I wanted to be close to you because you’re close to him,”
Anais stated, tired of lying to herself.

Sylvain nodded, “As convoluted as that sounds, it makes
perfect sense to me.”

Anais’ relief was obvious. “I can’t feel him anymore. He’s
learnt to shield his emotions, even from the blood bond.”

“That sounds like our Conall when he gets an idea into his
head,” Sylvain stated. At her confusion, he continued, explaining, “He’s as
stubborn as I’ve seen you be at times and as irritatingly self-righteous too.”
He stopped the defensive words Anais was about to utter with a finger on her
lips. “Don’t get me wrong,” he said, “he’s like a brother to me and my closest
friend. And you have become a dear friend to me too. The two of you are
honorable, loyal and fierce when required. But that doesn’t mean that I’m blind
to his faults – or yours.”

Anais waited, for him to continue as he made a study of
wiping her pink-stained cheeks with a warm, damp cloth. “Anais,” Sylvain said
seriously, “he loves you. He loves you as I’ve never seen him love another
before and it is that love that is making him push you away.”

“I don’t understand,” Anais responded. “At first he’s all
hot and over me, making promises, swearing we’d be together when I was
uncertain. Then, when I warm up to him, he cuts me off completely. What the
hell is that about?”

Sylvain regarded her as he contemplated his next words. “I
think he’s protecting you. The night that Yves and he were ensconced in the
library, he recounted their conversation but after you both left, the ghosts
added to the tale by recounting their behavior. Based on that and what I know
of Conall, which is a lot after all the time we’ve been together, I’d say that
he’s wanting to ensure that Yves knows  you’re in the dark by actually
keeping you in the dark.”

“God,” Anais said with exasperation, “as convoluted as that
sounds, it makes perfect sense.” She reiterated his earlier words. “So, what do
I do next?”

“That depends,” Sylvain answered.

“Enough of the cryptic shit, Sylvain,” Anais retorted
waspishly.

“Do you love him?” he asked.

“Yes,” Anais answered, clearly, firmly.

“Then I’ll help,” Sylvain responded. “He loves you, you know
– enough to lose you.”

“Again,” Anais stated, “convoluted but sensible.”

Anais sat with her mouth agape like the fish that must be
swimming below the boat she was in. Conall’s home was as impressive as the fae
hollow, yet different; magickal, but not fae magick – the magick of witches.
She felt the pull of the magick as it recognized the royal blood of her
ancestor. It felt strangely like coming home.

“Welcome to the Enchanted Island,” Niul said, grinning
appreciatively at her wonder.

“
Mon Dieu
!” Anais exclaimed. “I feel like Cinderella
going to Prince Charming’s castle or a knight at the first sight of Avalon.”

“You’re neither Cinderella nor a knight,” Niul responded,
“maybe a bit of both – warrior and lady.”

“
Merci
, friend,” Anais acknowledged the compliment.

Anais wanted to ask after Conall but bit her tongue. She’d
play the game she’d devised with Sylvain and she would score the goal. To
prevent thoughts of him, she focused on her surroundings. It was amazing. The
island, invisible from land or see to the human eye, came into view as they’d
drifted out on the Irish Sea and Niul said a bit of magick. Then, the magickal
mist parted to reveal an island where green vegetation met golden sands. 
Like in a fairytale, gleaming turrets and towers of marble and jewels denoted
the palace as it stood out amongst the idyllic cottages and homes of the
witches who chose to populate the island.

Anais found a bevy of beautiful ladies waiting for her, who
subsequently escorted her to her room. It was another page out of a fairy tale
book – all pastels, gold and silver, with a view to die for and a canopy bed
fit for a princess. Feeling exhausted, Anais succumbed to the lure of the
Egyptian cotton sheets, her last conscious thought being that he’d remembered
that she preferred them.

--------

She really was Cinderella at the ball. Anais thanked the Goddess
that she packed heavily and that the load included her vintage Valentino ball
gown. She wore red – vampire red, knowing that the color brought out the red of
her eyes, which she didn’t bother to mask. She needed to be accepted for who
she was. Her scarlet eyes picked out the red in her rouge noir mascara – so
red, it was black. She wore the same red on her lips. On her feet, her Jimmy
Choos gave her the added confidence she needed to go into the social battle of
winning the witches over.