Fantasyland: Midnight Soul Part 34

Kristian appeared to be fighting his own amus.e.m.e.nt as he lifted his brows. "Fuming?"

"Don't pretend you don't know your dictatorial ways aren't especially welcome, brother."

His expression grew serious. "I'm looking out for you."

"And this is annoying too," I shared.

His amus.e.m.e.nt came back as he turned to the heated silver chafing dish filled with sausages, muttering, "You'll get used to it."

I sighed.

"Excellent, we thought we'd be late and miss company at breakfast."

This came from the direction of the doorway, words uttered by Circe as she and Lahn came into the room, Circe first, Lahn needing to duck his head to get through the door, such was his height.

"Too late for Brikitta, as she's off to see to our son," Kristian declared. "And Franka as well as she's off to fume."

Lahn and Circe both looked to me but it was Circe who asked, "Fume?"

"I'll allow my brother to explain as he feels free to discuss me and my activities and my future with just about anyone," I replied then arched a brow to my brother. "Would you like me to go round up the servants? Send them here so you can ask their opinion about what I should expect my next days and months to contain?"

Kristian started chuckling as he took his seat. Brikitta looked away and made no noise but her shoulders were shaking.

Lahn gave Circe a severe look that would be quite frightening if I had not seen him do it before, not to mention their many moments of open tenderness and affection, this look I took as his version of confusion even as she smiled brightly at me.

Truly, wouldn't anyone be annoyed by all this?

"I bid you all good day," I stated, turned and began to flounce from the room, and I felt no shame whatsoever flouncing.

If ever there was a flouncing moment, that was it.

"We'll see you at the sled to go for liquid chocolate," Kristian called as I continued to do just that.

I made no reply even if I fully intended to go with them.

I'd spent no time with my nephew at all since they'd arrived.

But it wasn't just that.

I had a strict life edict I never broke.

I didn't turn down chocolate in any form.

Ever.

Valentine Once bathed, attired and her hair arranged, Valentine nodded to her maid who left her and then she wasted no time moving through the house to her sphere resting on its bed of velvet. She called up a vision of Franka in its depths, ascertained her location and she spirited herself right there.

Sitting in a chair in her bedchamber, appearing like she was trying to read the book in front of her but her mind had wandered, Franka started in her seat as her eyes flew to Valentine.

"By the G.o.ds," she whispered, "you're here."

"I am," Valentine replied, smoothly moving to the chair that was angled opposite Franka in front of the toasty fire. Without invitation she sat, her eyes never leaving the lovely woman in the room with her. "I'm pleased to note you're in a much better state than when we last saw each other."

"I'm pleased as well," Franka replied, having swiftly gotten over her surprise at Valentine appearing, her regard was steady as she flipped shut her book with a snap.

"I've been informed that they're taking good care of you," Valentine noted.

"You would be correct, as annoying as it's been," Franka returned crisply.

Valentine smiled her small smile.

"Kindness is, of course, kind, even if it's often most irritating, that being when it's intrusive and unceasing."

A quickly hidden look of relief flashed through Franka's remarkable blue eyes, an indication she felt soothed to be in the presence of a kindred spirit. This came before she nodded smartly.

"I'm told you've been invited to journey to my world," Valentine remarked.

"I have," Franka confirmed.

"Have you made your decision to come?" Valentine asked.

"I have not."

Hmm.

"May I ask why not?" Valentine pressed.

"Because I fully intend to do it, but I also fully intend not to let on that's been my decision because everyone is being so d.a.m.nably insistent about me doing it. And you can take that to mean they feel the decision has been made without me making it, and I intend to make clear that when the decision is official, it was my decision that was made."

"I approve of this course of action," Valentine murmured and watched Franka lift her chin.

"With respect, I don't care if you do or don't."

"I approve of that too," Valentine replied and at that she watched Franka's lips twitch. With no ado, she then announced, "You have magic."

Franka was not able to hide her response to that, quickly or otherwise. She stiffened visibly and her expression went guarded.

"Calm, my sister," Valentine said softly. "It is your secret and as your sister, it's also mine."

Franka didn't calm immediately. She studied Valentine warily and it took her some time before she nodded her acceptance even if Valentine sensed she didn't fully give it.

"I have your mother's magic, as you know," Valentine continued.

"Pardon?" Franka asked.

"Your mother's magic. I have it," Valentine explained. "I could absorb it, such as it is. I don't need it, though one can never have enough magic. However, I've not done that. I'm waiting on you to tell me what you wish done with it."

It took a moment for Franka to answer but then she did.

"In honesty, as I didn't know such could occur, I cannot say what you should do with it except that I want no part in whatever is done."

As Valentine suspected, Franka Drakkar held magic but she did not use it or even understand it.

"You have options, cherie," she began, deciding to ignore the last of what Franka said. "I could give it to you, augment the power you have. I sense your power is significant especially as you inherited it from your mother and haven't used it, so it grows inside you in great stores. Your mother's was used often, randomly and for ill. It wasn't meager but it is no match to yours."

This was not welcome news, clearly causing Franka to wonder if she knew how to use her power if she could have done so to save herself, her brother and her lover from harm.

Franka shared all of this with Valentine by looking to the fire.

"That wouldn't have helped," Valentine told her sympathetically. "It's an a.s.sumption but I've seen others of little experience make such attempts with much less at stake. They backfired and made matters far worse. So do not concern yourself with that, sister. There was nothing you could have done, not for you, your brother, but most particularly, for your lost lover."

Franka lifted her chin but said nothing.

Therefore Valentine carried on, "You should have been trained. It should have been something beautiful, something precious, time spent together with your mother that you didn't look on fondly, you looked on lovingly, remembering the beauty she shared with you as she taught you to harness and wield your power. Much like every moment I shared with my mother and my grandmother when they guided me in how to wield mine."

Franka turned back to her.

"This, she did not do."

"I know," Valentine replied. "But it would be my honor to do so, sister."

A flash of interest quickly buried before she returned, "I want nothing of hers."

"It's the only good she's given you," Valentine retorted. "And no woman should eschew any power she holds rightly, or that she's earned, or even that she's wrested from a defeated foe. Your mother was a waste to this world. But your magic should not be wasted, and magic is sacred, so what's left of hers shouldn't either."

"What are the other options for her magic?" Franka asked.

Although she admired the trait, at this moment Valentine found Franka's stubbornness frustrating.

"I could expel it into the earth," Valentine answered. "Close to an adela tree, which would a.s.sist all of them across Lunwyn in growing."

"As the adela were nearly made extinct during the war, they hold great beauty and provide the same when their power is used, and they take decades to grow, I think that's the better option, don't you?"

"Although it would hasten growth, it would not shave decades off, but only perhaps a few months," Valentine replied.

"A few months are just that and that's something."

Valentine was not pleased with how this conversation was going.

It was time to take another course with the willful witch.

With that in mind, abruptly, she declared, "In my world, when you are with me there, I not only wish to train you to use your magic, but I wish for you to join me as I perform the services I perform for my clients in order to eventually take on your own." She leaned closer to her witch-sister. "I can a.s.sure you, the intrigues in which I'm enlisted are often quite delicious."

Finally, she'd caught Franka's attention.

"Indeed?" she asked.

"Indeed," Valentine said as she sat back. "In fact, I have some meddling I intend to do. And it would a.s.sist me greatly if I had a partner."

Franka made no reply, she simply continued studying Valentine.

"I would like you in my world. I think it would suit you. I think you'd blossom there. And I hope you'll also blossom under my tutelage," Valentine coaxed.

"That decision has been made, as I've shared," Franka reminded her. "I'll be journeying to your world."

"It has, I'm talking about your magic and you absorbing your mother's."

Franka started to shake her head but Valentine spoke again.

"You are aware there are twins of nearly everyone in both worlds."

"Yes," Franka affirmed.

"And Dax Lahn's twin lives in New Orleans."

Valentine was satisfied to see a slight widening of Franka's eyes and a definite look of heightened attentiveness in them.

"As does this world's Circe, of course," Valentine carried on.

"My," Franka whispered, her sister-witch far from dim, Valentine had to explain no further.

Instead, she shared, "I've paid some attention to him. I've decided they'll suit."

It took a moment but after that moment Franka's lips curled in a way Valentine found very familiar for she'd felt that same curve on her own lips many a time.

"My," she repeated.

"It may take some time, it's important for you to be comfortable in your magic, but do you fancy some meddling?" Valentine invited.

Franka took another moment and this one was longer.

Valentine waited.

It was worth the wait when she received her answer.

"Absolutely."

Franka "I would like for you to put that down and come here," I said to the child.

My nephew looked up at me but did not do as I said.

Instead, he put what he was holding right in his mouth.

"I'll repeat," I carried on speaking to the child, "Please put that down and come here."