Jackie would never forget that night.
It had been necessary to shake Faith so that she would abandon the sudden hysteria that enveloped her when she saw Michael fall into his arms, completely bloody. She had a terrible cut from her right shoulder to hip level across her back. It was almost a blessing that the boy passed out so they could get help from Madame Lili's tavern.
It had not taken long for Richard to be called aboard the ship when a boy had been brought seriously injured. The doctor had many doubts that an ugly cut like that and deep would not cost him his life. It wasn't going to be the help of a human who would save his life. They needed the help and intervention of the healers in the gypsy village and a wolf had been sent to Vladimir with the task and in the tavern room, they were looking forward to it.
Lili brought chamomile tea to calm Faith. The girl had not slept all night standing at the head of her cousin, corroded with remorse.It was only at dawn that a faint knock on the door awoke the dead silence that was there. Richard drew his pistol, ordering the rest to be ready when the door opened.No one expected the other travelers who arrived there, traveling hidden by the protection of the dark and moonless night. It was the shape of a very tall and tall man.
Sara was the first to enter with a weak and apprehensive smile carrying herbs.Philip Morgan lowered his head slightly as he crossed the doorframe and faced his brother in absolute silence.
An army was waiting for him to command sentries at the border. His face showed tension and concern.
Soon afterward, a young woman in a travel jacket came into everyone's amazement. Faith let out an astonished cry as the newcomer lowered her hood suspiciously with red hair. The green eyes were apprehensive looking at everyone.
The silence fell deadly there. Nobody spoke. Nobody even breathed. Morgan displayed an intimidating look that no one dared question when he took the girl by the hand, putting his arms possessively and protectively over her shoulders. Taking a deep breath, Cassie wished a hole would open under her feet and let herself lean on her husband's body. She was too aware of the questioning glances that were thrown at him as he tugged uncertainly at the cloak covering her body. The subtle movement would have passed perhaps imperceptibly.
Except that Jackie disgusted an expletive.
It was Cassie. His eyes fell on her most delicate silhouette. There was a slight volume in her belly revealing an even more unexpected pregnancy.Morgan held the gaze of the man who had been his friend for years, understanding his barely contained fury and shook his head.-
-Lili, we arrived as soon as possible. The road is full of bandits to follow with a cart. - Morgan explained slowly all the time staring with total firmness in the look of an angry Jackie. - It was a tiring journey for my wife. - He now stressed the word in all letters as if he dared someone there to say the opposite. Could you please fix a room so Cassie could rest. I think you and your sister have a lot of conversation while I work out some issues, okay?
He addressed the woman and did not pass indifferently to Richard as the hostile look softened in front of the girl. God loved! Was she pregnant?
-Faith! - Richard agreed with an imperceptible nod to the girl to leave the sudden lethargy.
-Of course! -Faith sighed, still not believing. Cassie's hands when they found hers were cold and sweaty. - Let's fix a place. I think you'll want to rest.
-Are you going to behave without fights? -Cassie sighed.
Morgan nodded with an encouraging smile as his wife walked away mortified by his brother's furious expression.
-Try to rest, little one.- Jackie finally found his voice. - I look forward to hearing the news after you are rested. -Very low, he beside the man, who had been his friend, ruminated the words by clenching his fists while mumbling livid: I will kill you. Miserable. You bet.
Away from Cassie's gaze, Morgan let out a tired sigh. It had been a miserable trip after everything had happened. The girl was recovering relatively well. A lich had surprised them. He had seen the girl dominated by one of his damn shadows in horror before Vladimir managed to break the link and break the brief call.
-You can kill me later for sure. I'll give you the damn pistol myself, Jackie. Only I need help first. We had unwelcome visitors. It was Jackwill. God, Rick, I saw it. It was him. A lich, believe me?-Ah, you bet I believe. Richard cursed the answer. Gaia could have been shipwrecked. It was not a memory he liked.
-Ah, let me guess .... it was after the Pieces of Four- Jackie grunted.
-How's Michael? My blood can help you recover from your injuries.-It was what I expected! - Rick grunted. - Want to explain to me how the hell the girl is pregnant?Morgan's gaze was mocked and decided.
-What do you think? - he straightened up. - I assure you the child is mine.- How? She seems to be almost four months older. - Jackie tried not to scream. I could strangle Morgan. - If you were meeting her hidden from everyone before, I swear ... By God, Morgan! I swear I'll kill you!
Morgan shot him with eyes full of contempt.
-Is that what you think I did? I thought you knew me ... It's like a curse. Pieces of Four. Pregnancy is faster than expected. There is a ritual for the Pieces to be put together. Mercy, Jackie. Need help. Do you really think it wouldn't have appeared before with the war declared by the sorcerers?
Richard sat down with a groan.-What kind of ritual?Morgan cursed an entire agonized rosary.- The blood of a mixed race. And the blood of an ancient lineage of wolves ... - Morgan spoke as if a death sentence weighed on his head.
-And I thought I had problems with Michael before. Richard grunted at the height of his irritation.
Jackie howled like a furious animal as he drew his pistol without anyone waiting.-You sentenced the girl to death! he shouted, altered.
Richard hadn't expected The shot was fired at close range. Cassie from the top of the stairs screamed wildly before losing consciousness.
Philip Morgan was dead before he even hit the ground with the bullet through the skull.
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A lich could almost be seen as a demon. They were cursed beings who had refused death.
She seemed to be returning to her body again, still without a sense of time or space.
Her eyes dropped in desperate horror to the pulse that burned with unpleasant numbness.
The feeling of panic made her stomach contract as the air returned to her lungs. This time she could make out the dread that the figure in front of her aroused. A pact? She touched her dazed, numb forehead, struggling to escape the torpor that invaded her body.
The vision gradually disappeared ...
-The blood in your veins ...- that spoke and smiled.
She was breathing hard, at last, free of the awful sight.
-I am not interested. You're a devil. You will not collect the Pieces. - She guaranteed with a lump in her throat. - What do you intend? Change our reality?
-And wouldn't you have enough incentive for that, my dear?
She tensed, trying to put what she had seen out of her mind.
He was dead
. Simply dead.
It was just a goddamn sight. None of that had yet happened. It wasn't going to happen if she could stop it. The future was in constant motion.
-I can guarantee you the realization of your most secret dreams. Anything else you want- he smiled as he held out his hand. The view now was different on the table floor.
Morgan.
He was lying in a pool of blood. Dead. He was no longer on the deck of a ship.
- A happy life, a family. A life with the one who loves. I don't ask that much to guarantee happiness for the blessed ones like you...
She stumbled to her feet, struggling to hold her breath. Most talented sorcerers dominated the gift of Sight. It was the latent awakening in her blood. They could dazzle alternative futures, as the future was always in constant motion. She was practically on the verge of a hysterical crisis.
Pieces of 4 changed the reality they knew. They changed the course of history and its natural course. It wasn't real. None of that had happened yet! I wasn't going to cry at all. I wasn't going to let it happen!
-You won't get what you want. You'll never have the blood of an alpha firstborn. - Guaranteed crazy, throwing the tray on the floor, not caring about the broken glasses I had to get out of there.
Exit anyway. He wouldn't belong in coming. Monsieur was on the second floor with the merchants. There were witch hunters in the tavern.God loved. Morgan was due to arrive at any moment. Her heart was beating wildly in the chest. She had never before experienced such fear.
-Never ... - spoke with difficulty swallowing the devastating cry.
Stepping back, totally white, Cassie grabbed the hem of her dress, desperately advancing on her clientele, forcing her way. She needed to escape, she didn't know where ...
Dieu!
JackWill carelessly held the staff between his fingers with a very satisfied smile. Just wait ... The staff still exuded power from the pieces of 4. Just a faint dazzle. The rise of a race. Once again, Graves would walk among them dominant and strong, enslaving wolves and sorcerers.
-I already got what I came for, my child.- he was delighted to taste her blood on his fingertips.- I blessed you with a fertile womb to conceive the firstborn that I need so much. Run. That's right, run desperately through the woods. He will find you as soon as you leave the gypsy village. You carry an alpha mark on your skin. He will find you. It is the law of Destiny. With some help from me, I must confess. I need you to show an alpha of the power of love. Its powerful magic will guarantee the Endless Power of the Pieces once they are restored. Only then will I return to pick you up. And the blood of a pure heir. It is necessary to wait until the taxes are collected for the Harvest.