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Chapters
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Chapter 11
Chapter 12
Chapter 13
Chapter 14
Chapter 15
Chapter 16
 
 
 

April Witch - REVIEW THIS STORY

Written by Stella
Last updated: 01/02/2007 02:01:11 AM

Chapter 13

Essex was as fast as he looked, no more, no less. Figured dat he’d be quick and he didn’t disappoint. Was still tired from de trip up de chimney and it wasn’t too long before my arms and legs burned wit’ de strain o’ keeping up wit’ him. He wasn’t interested in hurting me or vraisemblablement (most likely) he would have. All his moves were defensive, but he had no problems blocking every one of my blows. Was like fighting a shadow. He mirrored each of my moves, but did not’ing t’ strike back. By dat time, de rain had soaked me completely, but dat’s not what raised de freesons (goosebumps) on my arms.

Caught sight o’ de figure from de corner of my eye. A pale flash in de darkness under de trees.

Etienne. Bon Dieu.

He shuffled off in de direction of de road. I was so focused on watching him dat I practically tripped over my own feet. Landed hard on my zinzin (ass).

“Merde.”

Dat was all de time Essex needed. He slipped back into de inky shadows, scooping Etienne wit’ him as he went. I opened my mouth to protest, but could get not’ing out but a hoarse yell.

By dat time, Mercy, Henri and Emil had made dere way down from de roof.

“Y’ okay, Remy?” Emil asked anxiously.

“Etienne,” I gasped. “Did you see?”

Dey nodded tensely. Thunder growled. Branches lashed in de wind. Rogue and Julien were last t’ join de group. She had him by de collar, but he wasn’t making any attempts t’ get away. Each flash of lightning revealed de face I’d once known so well. We’d played t’gether as children. We weren’t children anymore.

“Someone should go after him,” Henri said. His voice weak wit’ horror at what had just happened.

Mercy laid a hand on his shoulder. “Soon,” she soothed.

“Where’s that syringe?” Rogue cut in. “Did ya find it?” Wit’out waiting for me t’ answer, she handed Julien t’ Emil and flew out across de lawn.

“Careful!” I cried after her. My voice was swallowed into de storm.

“Rogue, I assume,” Emil said. “I like her.”

“So do I,” I said grimly.

She was back moments later. “Found it.” She’d stripped off her outer layer of clothing to bundle ‘round de syringe and so was only wearing a black tank top. Tried hard not t’ stare. De water had pulled at de material in lots of interesting ways. Her pale skin shone like marble. Mercy must have noticed me looking because she elbowed me in de ribs. “Julien said he left Bella on th’ road.”

“It’s just a big ol’ reunion, ain’t it?” Emil drawled in my ear. “Girlfriends popping up outta de woodwork.”

I gritted my teeth and ignored him. “What’s she doing here? For dat matter...”

“Ah’ll explain everythin’ later, although Ah don’t know much.” She jerked her thumb at Julien. “But he does and Ah’m willin’ ta bet he’ll spill it.”

Shook my head. Was amazing how far she’d managed t’ come into dis world in such a short time. Scared me a little t’ have someone come dat close. Guess all Jean-Luc’s talk ‘bout family had rubbed off more dan I t’ought it would. Felt so strange t’ have an outsider know us. Didn’t want t’ call her an outsider. Didn’t want t’ t’ink about her dat way, but den I didn’t want t’ drag her into de world either. She didn’t know what she was in for. Looked at de stubborn set of her chin and de way she’d clenched her hands into fists an’ figured I didn’t know what I was in for either.

We found Bella on de road where Rogue said she’d be, propped up against a tree, woozy, wet an’ mad as hell but otherwise fine. Was all we could do t’ keep her from Julien’s throat.

“Fils de pute (son of a bitch)!” she snarled, lunging forward. Emil caught her around de waist, but her nails raked trails across Julien’s cheek anyway.

“Time for dat later,” Emil snapped. He’d developed a bit of a temper since I’d been gone I realized, remembering his outburst from before. De ugly name he’d called Rogue. He wasn’t exactly de easy-going guy I’d known. No one ever stayed de same.

“Etienne’s dead,” I said. Her face relaxed immediately.

“Oh no.”

“He don’t seem t’ know dat yet,” Emil added.

“Francois Chicault,” she breathed.

“What?” Henri asked.

“He’s...was...one of de assassins. Obsessed wit’ living forever. He found a way t’ turn himself into a vampire.”

“Etienne’s no vampire,” Rogue put in, “although it’s nice ta know ya’ve dealt with this kinda thing before. That guy...”

“Essex,” I supplied.

“Essex and your brother, stuck him with somethin’.” She shot a freezing look at Julien.

Bella covered her mouth wit’ her hand and shook her head. “Co faire (why)? What the hell’s gotten into you, Julien? It’s like you’ve gone crazy all of a sudden.”

Julien just hung his head and refused t’ look at any of us.

“Dis isn’t de place for discussion,” Henri suggested.

“We’ll all think better when our shoes are dry,” Mercy added, and as awful as it seemed not t’ go after Essex an’ Etienne right away, I had t’ agree.

Anyone who’s ever followed de course of a hurricane, or any of de other ferocious storms dat come tearing t’rough de Gulf come fall, will know dat Nawlins is below sea level. One good night of rain and you’re swimmin’ de next morning. Jean-Luc was no fool and neither were his parents. Jaques an’ Rochelle LeBeau built demselves and de t’ieves a nice retreat ‘bout ten miles north o’ de city. Situated back in de woods t’ keep away from prying eyes. Rogue took us. All of us. Two and three at a time so no one would fall off.

Was somet’ing else t’ ride wit’ her as de rain-soaked landscape passed in a blur beneath us. I could feel de corded muscles in her arms shifting under my back. I was de last t’ arrive.

“Wait,” I told her, catching her forearm. Was careful t’ pull my long-sleeved shirt down over my hand first. She noticed dat, didn’t comment on it, but I hated her downward glance at my covered hand just de same.

“There’s no time ta wait,” she protested, pulling gently. “We’ve got ta find out what’s in that needle. Ah can go back. Mr. McCoy’ll be able ta find out for sure.” She was speaking quickly, running her free hand t’rough her hair, tucking it behind her ear again and again.

“Wait,” I said again, putting more emphasis on de word. Dat stopped her. “You okay?”

She let out a nervous little laugh. “Am Ah okay? Ah saw a kid fall an’ die an’ then get up again. Ah couldn’t save him.” She stared at her toes a moment before meeting my eyes wit’ an unflinching gaze. “Are you okay?”

Light from de house fell in bars across de lawn. It was still pouring. I couldn’t feel my toes. Wanted t’ laugh at de absurdity of de situation. “I’ll be fine if you are,” I said honestly. “Don’t blame yourself for what happened t’ Etienne.”

“Ah won’t if you won’t,” she returned quickly.

Pulled her closer t’ me, covered my other hand and smoothed it down her cheek. “Got t’ stop meeting dis way, beb.”

Dat got a tiny smile. “At least Ah get ta meet your family.”

“Yeah. Henri’s my adopted brother, Mercy his girlfriend and Emil my cousin.” Bit my lip. “Wanted t’ tell you all ‘bout dem, but...”

“It’s complicated?”

“Yeah.”

“Ah understand Ah guess. Ah mean, ya don’t owe me anythin’.” Her hands skimmed across de hem of my shirt. Heat bloomed in my stomach.

“Don’t say dat. You’re either in dis world or you’re not.”

“And ya don’t want me ta be.” She was deliberately misunderstanding me and dat should have made me angry, but right den she was using her index finger t’ trace curlicues across my chest. Co (wow).

“Not sure I want t’ be.”

“That because ya were engaged ta Belladonna?” Her hand wandered t’rough my hair, her nails scratching a little, sending sparks down my neck.

“Julien sure opened his big mouth, huh?” I asked ruefully.

She laughed aloud at dat. “Ya sound so pathetic.”

“And y’ sound like a tite pichouette (bad girl) t’ laugh at my misfortune.” We’d been holding each other loosely up t’ dat point, but I pulled her close and she gasped softly. I was going crazy. I opened my mouth and brushed my lower lip against her upper lip for de briefest of instants. I felt de familiar sucking sensation when her powers kicked in, but I pulled away before it could get bad. She touched de corner of my mouth wit’ her tongue and then brushed a kiss dere. “Rogue?” I whispered.

“Hmm?” her voice was raspy and god help me if dat didn’t make me feel amazing.

“Who’s Phillip?”

She stiffened in my arms and I was afraid again, dat I’d done de wrong t’ing. Dat it was too soon and she was going to fly out of my life and I’d never see her again. But after a moment she relaxed. “Ya remember Phillip Moreau? He was my boyfriend.”

“Jenny’s boyfriend?”

“But Ah’m Jenny now too. She’s in my head. Ah’ve got her powers, but parts o’ her are fadin’. Everythin’ except her memories. My memories.”

“Y’ seem awfully calm ‘bout dis.”

She shrugged. “What else can Ah do? Ah cain’t fight it. For awhile Ah think Ah was tryin’--sleepwalkin’, but all that’s over. Sometimes Ah get mixed up, but she’s a part o’ me now and Phillip was a part o’ her for a long time. Ah’ll understand if you cain’t handle that, but Ah cain’t change it either. Ah don’t want ta, ‘cause Jenny was a friend an’ this way it’s like some o’ her is still alive.”

Skated my finger down Rogue’s neckline and she shivered. “Was a shock is all. Not’ing I can’t handle.” Grinned at her and she rolled her eyes, but only a little. She was de bravest person I’d ever met and it broke my heart dat I couldn’t seem t’ find de words t’ tell her dat.

 

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