In My Mother's Footsteps

In My Mother’s Footsteps
Part 8
By Entervixen

I woke up bit by bit, sleep clinging to me like delicate cobwebs made of liquid steel. Eventually, though, I could no longer fool myself and tossed the covers back with a sigh. I didn’t want to be awake, especially since Michael had risen sometime earlier, but there was too much for me to do to be slacking off now. The thought of Thomas lying there, asleep and helpless made my chest ache. As much as I wanted a little sister, I didn’t want her at the sake of my brother’s life. Dragons were long lived, but that just meant that heartaches lasted an eternity.

I forced myself off of that morbid train of thought and picked up the bag that Michael had brought to me. Surprisingly, it was empty, but a quick glance at the closet showed that he had taken the time to hang up clothes at some point while I slept. It was a kind gesture, one that made me feel slightly ashamed because I had done nothing to earn it, besides be the one to escape my brother’s fate. Just one more morbid thought that would precede even more, I suppose. Adriel hadn’t packed any of my dresses, but rather a few pant suits that I happened to be quite fond of. I reminded myself to thank him later, as I was sure that I would need to look presentable and businesslike at some point within the next few days, and selected the burgundy one. It was double-breasted and tailored to fit with a matching lightly boned bustier in a slightly darker shade. It happened to make my skin and hair glow and offset my pale green eyes. Nothing like a good power suit to help you feel like yourself.

There was just something about being well-dressed and presentable that helps to lift anyone’s spirits, so when I finally opened the bedroom door and strolled out, I was the model of perfection and ready to handle anything. Well, that’s what I told myself. The room was occupied by Eric, Urk, and Liam, but Michael was nowhere to be seen. Liam’s presence didn’t surprise me, as he treated me as his daughter and was at least more openly affectionate than Mourn, but I knew that he wanted to be here in case something happened. He always had been an early riser.

The twins stood and bowed from the shoulders as I came into the room, Urk’s expression slightly more deviant than Eric’s neutral but pleasant one, but Liam came to where I was, taking my hand in his and smiling warmly.

“Good morning, Judith. How did you sleep?’

I gave his hand a small squeeze and let it go. “Just fine,” I said, leaving off the insomnia. After all, there were no dreams I remembered, and if that bitch had visited me again it would have surely been noticed.

He nodded and sat again, the epitome of masculine grace as he folded himself to sit in the armchair. Mourn would have draped himself like a cat in it; Liam’s grace was more careful, more controlled, but just as unconscious and pretty to watch. “Michael is with your mother and Mourn; they are trying to figure out some of the more difficult details of their plan, but Michael promised to return soon.”

I nodded as I moved over to the small kitchenette almost hidden in one corner. I took out a bottle of grape juice and took a seat as well, trying to find a way to ask what I wanted to know without betraying much emotion about it. “And Gideon?” I finally asked, smoothing my face of all emotion and meeting Liam’s gaze.

“No change.” I nodded, but before I could ask my next question, Liam continued, “Your mother and Michael felt it best that you don’t see him right now, at least until we can find out more. The only people allowed to see him right now, at least, are Gideon and the healer.”

I snarled and crossed my arms over my chest. It was petty and childish, but right then I didn’t care. “So Gideon can see our brother, but I am banned? What if he dies, Liam? What if I don’t get to say goodbye? Did any of you think of that?”

Liam’s face aged before me, and my anger died. There wasn’t even any room for it to smolder inside me, for looking at his face, his words truly hit me. Only Gideon and the healer. One was soul bound to him, and the other was keeping him alive. Not even Mother or Liam could see their son. Liam and Mother wouldn’t get to say goodbye either. I suppressed a scream of rage that welled up inside me and put my face in my hands, my emotions doing summersaults as it sank in, really sank in. I wasn’t the only one who would lose someone dear. Thomas was my brother, but he was also Liam’s son. Liam and Mother’s loss would be greater than my own. “Forgive me, Liam, Father of my brother. I forgot that I am not the only one who may lose a loved one in this.”

Liam sighed and stood, sitting next to me on the chaise where I was sitting. “There is no need to beg forgiveness, Judith. It is easy to forget such things when faced with such loss.”

I sighed but did not look up. I couldn’t meet his eyes just then, I just couldn’t. I had deeply wounded him, no matter what his pretty words said, and I couldn’t forgive myself that transgression just then. It was unthinkable.

The whole time Eric and Urk had stayed silent, but rustling noises preceded one of them clearing his throat. “Someone approaches, my Lady, my Lord.”

I looked up to see which of them had spoken. It was Urk. Eric had moved to the door, fingertips not quite touching the ornately carved wood. He gave me a small, kind smile, probably the only reassurace he could give at the moment, and stood, one hand on his sword hilt. “Ease down, brother, it is Michael. He is bringing someone, that is all.” Both of them visibly relaxed, Eric even going to the kitchenette and getting a bottle of water. That was when I noticed the empty coffee cup in front of Urk. So Eric didn’t drink coffee, huh? It was useless knowledge, something that I would probably never find a use for, but I needed to focus on something other than what was going on just then.

The door swung open on silent hinges as Eric sat down, revealing Michael, Cuthbert, one of the dragon courts finest magicians, and, most surprising, my father. Michael and Cuthbert stayed at the door, now closed, as Father came over to me. I stood, at a loss for words, but he seemed to know how to handle the situation. His arms encircled me in a tight hug, and mine were quick to follow. My father was a warrior, not a magician, but somehow things seemed that much better with him here, as if he could fix things and make everything go back to the way they were. Maybe all daughters felt that way about their fathers. Maybe it was just me.

He said nothing, just pulled back after a few moments and gave me a small peck on the cheek. “I came home as soon as I could. Your mother has been keeping me updated on what’s been going on.” His look said that she had reported my behavior as well, but that he understood. After all, he had a few more centuries on me or even Mother. He knew how to control those…urges, I guess you could say. “I know there isn’t much I can do, but I felt that I should at least be here.”

I nodded, trying to school my face into a blank mask and failing horribly. That was the other thing with fathers; they made you feel like you wanted to throw yourself into their arms and cry as if your heart were breaking. I couldn’t tell if that was a blessing or a curse.

Looking for an out before I dissolved into a puddle of tears, I looked at Michael and the newly arrived Cuthbert. I knew him only vaguely, as Michael had long ago stripped him of the title of Ruler’s Magician and taken it for himself. It wasn’t certain how Cuthbert had taken it, but ever since he spent as little time at court as possible. Seems that an emergency with the royal family was enough to bring even him home. “Have you found anything out?”

Michael shook his head and sat. “Your mother is talking things over with Liana and Mourn right now, trying to decide if it would be wise to involve the Fey in this. They may want to know about what Aislin is doing, but it could be dangerous. We just don’t know if they are involved, or if they will do anything about it.” He closed his eyes and rubbed them, a somewhat surprising gesture, then looked at me again.” I’m sorry for leaving you so early this morning. I wanted to try and work on some things, get at least a little bit done.”

Michael was just full of surprises. Not knowing what to say, I shrugged and waved my hand. “It’s no big deal Michael.” It was partly true, but I didn’t want to get into that with him, especially with everyone here. There’s nothing like sounding like a scorned lover when the person in question isn’t even doing anything with you.

Michael’s expression said that he didn’t quite believe me, but he wouldn’t pursue an answer just then. That was fine with me. Until he did, I could pretend that I didn’t feel like a shafted lover. “Cuthbert thinks he may be able to do something, at least for now, though.” Wisely changing the subject, for there were enough people in the room that might have been able to guess at the plight Michael and I were in, he turned and looked at Cuthbert. “Perhaps you should explain.”

Cuthbert nodded and turned to me. He had always looked like one of the more plain dragons, with limp brown hair that hung to his shoulders and large watery brown eyes, but there was no mistaking the aura of power that surrounded him. It spoke volumes of his abilities, and gave credit to Michael for being able to take his place with seemingly little effort. “If I may ask, Princess Judith, for a lock of your hair and three drops of blood on a silk handkerchief, I may be able to devise a sort of…how would you put it? Dream double, so that at least for a few nights The fey Aislin will have difficulty telling you apart from the second set of dreams.”

It was an interesting idea, and had the chance of working, but I was confused as to why Michael would defer to Cuthbert on this. “It sounds like a good idea, but how does it work?”

Either Cuthbert didn’t hear my unasked question or he chose to ignore it. “It’s similar to a sending, your highness. What I will do is imbue the trinket with images, dream fragments, tied to you through your hair and blood, so that Aislin will either think that the dream double is you, or will have trouble telling the difference between the two of you if she is as good as people say.”

I still had my doubts. After all, it hadn’t been him to be fucked with. But I let that slide. There were other things to waste time on, and Michael’s warning look told me that he would fill me in on whatever Cuthbert left out if I behaved. Reason enough to still my tongue.

“Of course, Lord Cuthbert.” He seemed pleased that I used his title, even puffing up his chest a bit as if he now had the heir apparent’s favor. He didn’t, but at least for now that might come in handy.

“Of course, it will take a day or two to get to you, my Lady,” Cuthbert’s voice purred over the title, and his watery eyes looked like they would drown him, “but I will make it my utmost priority to get it to you as soon as I am able.”

I was willing to bet that no one missed him once Michael had taken his place. Their were toadies in court, but this man made them look sincere. “I understand.” I stood, wanting him away from me as soon as possible, and retrieved a pair of small scissors from the bathroom. I didn’t want to part with any of my hair, but I had a lot of it and a small lock taken from the nape of my neck wouldn’t be noticed. I brushed my thick fall of hair to one side and selected a small lock, watching myself in the mirror as I did so. It almost seemed that someone else controlled my hand as I laid the scissors on the nape of my neck, ready to cut. However, someone or something else had different plans as a shrill scream cut through the air and pierced my skull. As the gilded trimming shears slipped from my hands and my knees buckled, I prayed that my skull would miss the marble sink, then the world became black.