Stolen Soul

In the library Maddison sat in between her mother and Marcus, the tension almost unbearable and she cleared her throat to try and get things moving.

“So…what do you have?”, Marianne asked and Maddison groaned.

“I need my books, they’re in my room though”, she said, not wanting to leave Marcus alone with her mother more for Marcus’ safety than for her mother’s.

Marianne clicked her fingers and Maddison’s bag with her books inside appeared on the table before them.

“Very impressive”, Marcus murmured and Marianne glared at him.

Maddison sent Marcus a reproachful look before digging inside the bag.

She opened the books on the correct pages and shoved them under her mother’s nose.

“Start from the beginning”, Marianne said and Maddison nodded and taking a deep breath, explained everything that had happened so far.

--

The council meeting over, Claudette hung behind, wanting to speak with the head vampire from her native France.

“I think we have a problem”, she told him when they were alone.

“What is it Claudette?”, he asked.

“Marcus Baker and his little Watcher, Maddison”, she replied and the head vampire, whose name was Vincent Moreau raised an eyebrow and looked at her, his interest piqued.

“Marcus Baker…I haven’t heard that name for some time”, he said and Claudette folded her arms.

“I have been on a constant look out for him for many, many years after what he did and he has always eluded me, until now”, she said.

“I understand your need for revenge Claudette but you must be careful, Marcus will have become quite strong by now. What is he doing consorting with a watcher?”, Vincent said and Claudette snorted derisively.

“You will love this”, she said and Vincent regarded her coolly, waiting for her to continue.

“The watcher has told Marcus that she can return his soul to him and make him human again”.

As Claudette laughed, Vincent frowned.

“Really…is that so…?”, he murmured and eventually Claudette realised that Vincent was not laughing along with her and her face straightened.

“There is no way that she can do it though...right?”, she asked but Vincent ignored her question to ask one of his own.

“How did you discover this information?”.

“I was in a club, about to kill Marcus when the watcher approached us. I attacked her and probed her mind…her little plan was all laid out in there for me to see…she is young and stupid and I thought that she was wrong about what she thought she could achieve. I was going to kill her too but Marcus stopped me and disappeared with her. Vincent, are you telling me that this watcher could actually return Marcus’ soul to him?”, Claudette replied, her face going a shade paler than normal as Vincent stared at her.

“We need to return to France…”, he said.

--

“So what do you think?”, Maddison asked as she finished off telling her mother the story so far.

Marianne looked at her daughter and then at Marcus. She could see why her daughter was so taken with him. He was very attractive and could easily charm a woman with or without his vampire powers.

“I think that the pair of you must be mad to attempt something like this…but”, and she held up her hand to stop Maddison’s impending outburst and Maddison closed her mouth as Marianne continued,

“I am proud that I have brought up my daughter to have such an honourable disposition. For you to want to put right what our ancestor did wrong is very admirable despite the dangers involved and so, with that in mind I will do all that I can to help you”.

“Thanks mum”, Maddison said, launching herself at her mother for a hug and Marianne looked at Marcus over her daughter’s shoulder.

“I will of course come with you. I know a member of the French Watcher’s Sect who might be willing to help us. I will contact her and see if she will put us up”.

“With all due respect, you will understand if I make my own sleeping arrangements…I need to know that I will not be ‘disposed of’ during the daytime”, Marcus said and Marianne had to smile.

“As you wish”, she said as Maddison sat back down.

“I could stay with you”, she said to him but Marcus shook his head as he took her hand.

“It would be better if even you did not know where my resting place shall be…just in case anything goes wrong”, he said and Marianne agreed.

“Obviously it is too late for us to move tonight so shall we arrange to go tomorrow night?”, Maddison asked and Marcus nodded.

“The sooner the better”, he said.

“How soon can you rise?”, Marianne asked and Marcus looked at her.

“The moment that the sun dips below the horizon”, he replied and she nodded.

“Maddison and I will arrange the flight to Paris and meet you at the airport”.

“Thank you”, Marcus said, “I will reimburse you”.

“Whatever. Now…please…I must ask you to leave this house, it is not fair on the other sect members for you to remain here”, Marianne said, standing to signal that their discussion was over.

“Of course”, Marcus said and as he moved to the doorway, Maddison mouthed a ‘thank you’ at her mother before following him.

They moved through the foyer of the house and Marcus opened the front door.

“Are you staying here tonight?”, he asked and she nodded as she wrapped her arms around his neck.

“I think I have some major sucking up to do”, she said and he smiled.

“It is good of her to help us”, he said and Maddison nodded.

“I will miss being with you tonight”, she said and he pulled her close.

“All being well, soon I will be able to see you every the day as well as every night”, he said, kissing her and Maddison sighed.

“I cant wait”, she murmured against his mouth.

They kissed for a while longer until Marcus sensed that they were being watched and he growled as he saw Michael stood on the stairs still in his half wolf, half human state.

“You had better go. I will see you tomorrow”, Maddison said, sensing the tension building between the two men and she pushed at Marcus’ chest, forcing him down onto the mansion’s steps.

“Alright…see you at the airport”, Marcus said, sounding reluctant to leave but she smiled at him sweetly and waited until he turned to leave before closing the door to face Michael.

Suddenly Alexandria flew at Maddison from her position behind Michael, pinning the witch to the door.

“How dare you involve yourself with that creature”, Alexandria hissed but before Maddison could retaliate, Michael pulled Alexandria away and stood between them.

“Would you keep a leash on your girlfriend before I am forced to do something I will regret”, Maddison yelled and Michael glared at her.

“She is angry because whatever you have planned, I am your protector and am sworn to go with you wherever you go…it is my duty. She feels that you are leading us all into danger”, he said just as Marianne exited the library.

“Well, you don’t have to accompany me to Paris…you can stay here…with your girlfriend and be safe. I didn’t ask for you to be my protector”, Maddison retorted.

“Maddison! Do not sound so…ungracious…the werewolves have been our protectors for centuries…”, Marianne said and Maddison looked at Michael, marvelling at the change in his strong body.

It was amazing what the moon could do!

“I’m sorry…but really…I am not asking you to come with us. I can hardly see you wanting to help Marcus and I’m not sure that I could trust you to not try to kill him”, she said and Alexandria growled.

“You insult us once more with your distrust”, she growled and Maddison threw her arms up.

“I give up. I’m telling Michael to stay at home and I’m still not doing the right thing”, she cried and Marianne stepped closer.

“Forgive Maddison’s wording Alexandria. I would be indebted if you would both accompany us to Paris for we do not know what we will be facing”, she said and Alexandria sidled up to Marianne’s legs and weaved around them.

“You will be back to normal by then wont you?”, Maddison asked, uncertain as to how long their wolf status lasted.

“Yes”, Michael stated tightly.

He was annoyed with Maddison and wished that Marianne would forbid her daughter to leave but it looked like Marianne had been talked around. But if the pair of them were determined to help the vampire then he would protect them as best he could…if he could.

“Then its settled”, Marianne said, grabbing her daughter’s arm and pulling her toward the stairs.

Once alone in Maddison’s room, Marianne repaired the door lock with magic and then turned to her daughter.

“Do you love him?”, she asked and Maddison gasped at her mother’s directness.

When she remained silent, Marianne continued,

“I certainly hope that you do otherwise this whole thing could be for nothing…”.

“What do you mean?”, Maddison asked and Marianne regarded her.

“You must have more than a fleeting attraction to Marcus to be able to return his soul to him Maddison…there must be love between you otherwise the spell will not work”.

When Maddison only stared at her, Marianne covered her eyes and shook her head.

“You didn’t quite read everything in your research books did you?”, she asked and Maddison blushed.

“I will go and make the phone call to my contact in France. I suggest that you have a long hard think about your feelings and then sleep on it. I will see you in the morning”, Marianne said, leaving her alone.

Maddison sank down on her bed.

‘Love’. she thought. ‘Did she love Marcus?’.

The question went around and around in her head until she fell asleep.