Chapter 64

It felt as though a lifetime had passed by the time they arrived back at the manor. All the while, Seraphina had been calling out to Achilles in her mind, hoping and praying she would hear from him. A response, a whisper, a cough, anything…but nothing came.

As the courtyard came into sights, she came to a halt as she hovered in the air, gently allowing herself to descend onto the ground.

Cheers erupted as soon as they landed and she was immediately surrounded by anxious and tearful faces.

As the mages dismounted with the children, Matteo came rushing over to Seraphina holding a robe open in his arms. Nodding her head at him, she shifted back and shrugged her arms into the robe before tying it in place.

“Thank you, Matteo,” Seraphina gave him a soft smile before heading off to see the children with the doctors.

As she approached, she could see Isobella stood talking with Raven as she tended to one of the younger girls.

“How are they?”

Isobella turned to face Seraphina and pulled her into a hug.

“They’re fine, all things considered. A few scrapes and bruises, though they’re from their own tumbles. Thanks to your protection spell, no one was able to harm them. They’re only ever so slightly underweight and dehydrated, all in all, they just need to feel loved again…”

Isobella cast her eyes down, a frown marred her face.

Placing a soft hand on her shoulder, Seraphina ducked her head down so she could see Isobella’s face.

“What is it?” Seraphina couldn’t hide the worry in her voice.

She bit onto her lip as she cast a sideways glance before looking up to meet Seraphina’s gaze.

“I just… we are so lucky we got to them when we did. Eloise was talking to one of the older girls, Sophia… She said she overheard a woman say that she was going to be sacrificing them on the next full moon,” her voice was barely a whisper as she gripped Seraphina’s hand in her own.

Seraphina’s eyes widened as a gasp caught in her throat.

“That’s only 2 days away…”

Isobella nodded her head slowly as she blew out a long sigh.

“Seraphina, there’s something else we need to talk about-,”

“I can’t right now Isobella, I’m really sorry but, I need to get back to Achilles. I tried calling to him whilst we were flying back but I didn’t get any response. Now that I know the girls are okay, I need to make sure my son still has a father. Can you tell me how to perform the transportation spell please?”

Seraphina’s eyes glistened as tears threatened to spill. An unexplainable weight was settling in her stomach making her somehow feel full yet hollow at the same time.

Shaking her head from side to side, Isobella opened and closed her mouth but her words continued to escape her.

“S-Seraphina…you can’t go back there, Leo needs a mother-,”

“What- what do you mean? Has something happened? Have you had a vision?! TELL ME ISOBELLA! TELL ME!” Seraphina grew more frantic by the second until she was gripping Isobella by the shoulders shaking her as her eyes searched her face desperately seeking an answer.

Placing her hands over Seraphina’s, she pried them away from her shoulders and placed a kiss on the back of her hands before looking up to meet Seraphina’s red rimmed, tear filled eyes.

“Seraphina, you must calm down. I don’t have the gift of premonition though I can see other things…Seraphina, sweetheart. You can’t go back because you would be risking to much-,”

“I am risking too much by staying…” Seraphina’s voice trailed off as she looked down to see Isobella’s hand resting over her stomach.

Raising her head, she saw tears glisten in Isobella’s eyes, a small but genuine smile on her face.

“I’m pregnant?” she couldn’t help but laugh as the words tumbled from her mouth.

Isobella joined her laughter as she nodded her head.

“Yes, it is early but, this little one is very powerful, I can feel it. She may very well be the first vampire mage,” she smiled up at Seraphina, her hand still resting on her stomach.

“She?..”

Isobella chuckled as she shook her head.

“I don’t know for certain, it’s just a feeling.”

Seraphina smoothed a hand over her stomach, a small smile playing around her lips as a tear trailed down her cheek.

Though her moment of bliss was over far too soon as she was dragged back to her harsh reality.

“We still need to go Isobella, we need to get everyone back here, to hell with the interrogations, their lives are more important. Both of my children need their father and their aunt. Please, keep this between you and me for now,” Seraphina’s eyes pleaded with her.

Taking in a deep breath, Isobella closed her eyes and blew out a small sigh before opening her eyes.

“I have sent word to Seamus and Oisin, they are going to gather up some of our older boys and bring everyone back here now. This stays between the two of us… Though it won’t be long before the others can sense it. Seraphina, no matter what happens, you need to think of Leo and the life within you before anything else, can you promise me that?”

Seraphina frowned and tilted her head slightly.

“Of course I can, I am a mother first Isobella, I have lost 2 of my children already, I will not lose another.”

“They should be back shortly; I am going to speak to some of the parents. You should eat and try and take a moments rest,” Isobella gave Seraphina’s hand a firm squeeze before turning and walking away.

Looking down at her still flat stomach, she couldn’t help but place a protective hand over it. Her heart swelling in her chest, she made a silent vow to do anything and everything within her power to ensure her children will never ever come into harms way, not by Briseis’ hand, not by anyone’s.

Taking Isobella’s advice, she made her way over to where Melanie and Rose were set up near the refreshments.

“Ah, here’s my 2 favourite deserters,” She announced as she joined them.

“If it isn’t my favourite pampered Princess,” Rose waggled her eyebrows as she smirked at her.

The three embraced, clutching onto each other tightly.

“How is the royal palace treating you?” Seraphina plucked a sable grape from a vine before placing the intensely sweet, juicy fruit into her mouth. Her stomach growled as the juices oozed into her mouth. She had been so preoccupied with everything that had been going on, she couldn’t remember the last time she had eaten anything.

Rose looked down as she fidgeted her hands.

“Um, well… My training with the Aurelia has been going really well…I’m actually joining the army, officially.”

Grasping her face between her palms, Seraphina pressed a kiss to Rose’s forehead before pulling back to look at her, her smile beaming her pride.

“I am so proud of you Rose! That is amazing!”

A faint blush spread across Rose’s face as she tried to free herself from Seraphina’s grasp. Seeing that she was reluctant to let go, she settled on just holding her hand.

“And what about you Melanie? Are you joining the army too?”

Rose clasped a hand over her mouth as she tried to hold back a chortle.

Melanie narrowed her eyes at Rose in a scowl before turning her attention back to Seraphina.

“No, I am happy to know how to defend myself but, fighting is not my calling.”

“The young master De-Bohun’s bed seems to be Melanie’s calling,” Rose snorted as she tried to cover her grin with a glass of wine.

Melanie’s face burnt a deep shade of red as she smacked Rose across her shoulder.

“You cheeky little…I am still a maid I’ll have you know; we are just… enjoying one another’s company.”

She rolled her eyes with a huff as she turned her attention back to Seraphina.

“Yes, I enjoy the young master De-Bohun’s company but, we are just friends, we couldn’t be anything more.” Melanie’s face dropped slightly as the words left her mouth and a melancholy pout settled on her lips.

Seraphina frowned as she titled her head to the side.

“Well why not? If you have feelings for one another, why can’t you be courting?”

Melanie rolled her eyes as though the answer was obvious.

“I am an ex slave, he is a noble! I’m not even fit to be his mistress Seraphina.”

“Then why don’t I take you as my Lady?”

“YES! That’s a brilliant idea Seraphina!” Rose jumped up and down giddily.

“I don’t understand,” Melanie frowned.

“Well, I am to be Queen. To be a Lady in waiting to the Queen will raise your station significantly. I will even offer a dowry, if you choose to marry that is.”

Tears brimmed Melanie’s eyes as she pulled Seraphina into a hug.

“You would really do that for me?” Melanie’s voice cracked as she tried to hold back her tears.

“I would do anything for you Melanie. And you Rose,” Seraphina opened her arm out to pull Rose into the hug as well. “And if and when you choose to marry Rose, you will have a dowry from me also, along with my unconditional blessing.”

As the three stood embracing, the air around them began to still and change. A vigorous wind picked up sending dishes and cups flying off of the tables. Seraphina’s head whipped around before looking up at where a vortex appeared to open in the air.

“MOVE! MOVE BACK!” Seraphina screamed over the thunder of the wind as she was met with the scent of pine and moss of the forest again.

A flash of magic washed over the area as the vortex closed, leaving in its place, an exhausted looking army and the mages.

Relief washed over Seraphina as saw none were seriously injured, a few cuts and bruises on the majority but, they looked no worse than they did after an intense training session.

An elated sob caught in her throat as she ran towards them.

“Achilles! Achilles!”

“Seraphina!”

Turning towards the sound of her name, Aurelia gripped her shoulders, her eyes bloodshot with the trace of dried tears on her cheeks.

“Au-Aurelia… Where is Achilles?” Seraphina’s voice trembled as the pit in her stomach opened up and threatened to swallow her whole.

“Seraphina, I-I’m so sorry. She took him. Briseis, she took him.”