The Baron and his Lady

Twenty-one: Collier

 "Kristaaaaa! Come back! Krista!"

"Enough Tristane!"

The forest no longer lay quiet, dawn was rising and the animals were waking. The lone peach tree hovered over the witches, the passage closed. Tristane's fists battled the sturdy trunk in total futility.

"Bring her back! Bring her back!"

Emma raised her hand and slapped her descendant. The sound was ear breaking. Tristane's face turned sideways, caught unprepared.

"Shut your yodelling. There's nothing you can do anymore. She chose him not you!"

"No, no..."

After using his magic several times in one night, his body has gone limp. He laid his head against the tree where the passage appeared awhile ago. When he stared at it the trunk it was just an ordinary trunk, part of the tree and nothing magical at all.

"She's gone. And even if you try to reopen the passage you can't. You're too weak, I've enclosed my own spell this time. They cannot reach out to anyone anymore."

"Why did you have to come back? Why did you have to ruin our lives?"

Emma exhaled, all night they asked her why she was doing this, why she came back, why, why, why. Its growing on her and she didn't like it.

"I am not in the mood to play twenty questions with you. Stand up and we'll go somewhere far, I'll teach you how to properly use your magic. And one day, you'll forget all about this."

"I love her..."

Tristane's voice was really small, the shock was too much for him. How could Krista be gone? She didn't want to go through, she only wanted to help him. Why did she leave him here?

"Love will get you nowhere. Believe me, I've been there. I thought Clayton loved me, afterall he showered me with gifts and attention. But still at the end of the day, he'd come crawling back to his wife."

"I don't care about you. Leave me alone.." He bowed his head fighting back the tears.

"You are my blood, Tristane. The same kind of magic flows into your veins. I cannot let you go to waste."

Emma bent over and touched his face, careful not to brush his injuries she cupped his jaw.

"We are family and family does not leave each other behind. I am not making the same mistake like before, I thought leaving my children and husband was for the best. I roamed the earth for many, many years before learning that I could never find another family than the one I already had. I'll take care of you Tristane, you'll find someone else. I promise you."

She caught his brown eyes and saw her reflection against the clear orbs. How sad he looked, hurt, so broken and so weak. 

"I am not like you."

He found his voice again, never will he stoop down to her level. His father taught him everything to use his powers for the good only. He didn't care if he was weak so as long as he did not hurt someone with his gift.

"Don't deny your fate. If you succumbed to weakness your powers will diminish. Our kind is different. We are meant to grow strong. We embrace the darkness like it was our lifeline, we do not let our feelings rule us. I will guide you to greatness."

Emma touched her necklace that glowed eerily. She showed it to Tristane.

"My aunt gave this to me, she was not a wand waving kind of witch. She held her power in her collier and I did too. This way you will not be weakened immdiately after using you powers. I can help you get one, just follow me child. That is all I ask."

Tristane stared at the gemstone, it was beautiful. Enticing and solid. His eyes were caught in a trance as if the necklace itself had bewitched him.

"Will I learn spells," he gulped, "powerful spells?"

Emma smiled, "Not just powerful ones, dangerous and delicious ones as well."

He shook his head, "I want powerful ones. I don't care for love spells and petty healing spells."

"You'll learn them, I promise."

Emma touched his hand and began chanting in ancient language, Tristane felt his palm heat up. Suddenly he saw smoke on the back of his hand and felt the pain. He tried not to squirm, Emma was branding him. The smoke finally dissapated and she smiled at her work. He stared at it and saw the Pentacle burned on his skin.

"Now you are protected from my magic and other elements that tend to harm you."

"Does this mean you cannot harm me?"

"Yes," she offered another sweet smile, "I do not really plan to Tristane. You are basically my child and a mother always protects her child."

"So even if you use your magic on me, it won't work?"

Her brows furrowed, "That's the way I designed it, yes."

He regarded her for a second as he was weighing her words. Is she telling the truth? He hoped so. If not, it would be dangerous to go against her.

"What if the Pentacle fails?"

"It won't."

"But what if?"

Emma's face turned acrid, "You doubt my ability to cast a spell?"

"No. I want to make sure I won't end up skewered at all."

"You won't. Only I can disspell it, if someone else manages to do so, I highly doubt it. I haven't met anyone stronger than me."

"Alright, I believe you."

Tristane pushed himself up, despite the toll the magic had on him he was still physically able to handle himself.

"Let me heal you." 

"Haven't you used enough magic for one night?"

Emma laughed, "I can still manage, I'm no weakling. Come here."

Tristane stepped towards her quiet limping but she caught him. Emma raised her hand on his face and he had to look down because she was smaller.

His cheeks hurt when she touched them but soon he felt the heal spell working. His eyes no longer swelled, the throbbing pain on his lips were gone. Emma was no joke, she healed him fast. When his dad tried to it usually took them several minutes before closing a wound. Also they had to use their elements to properly conjure the spell.

He didn't know what Emma's element was but it was surely not needed for her to cast the spell for him. Her eyes didn't even falter, all night he tried to find her weakness but she was as calm as ever. It seemed like she wasn't getting drained at all.

"There, your pretty face is back."

Tristane knew it was, he felt thoroughly healed. Even his leg no longer hurt, his head felt normally light and his breathing wasn't ragged.

He smiled down at her then caught her wrist before she could pull it back.

"I believe thanks are in order."

Emma blushed and before she could say anything, Tristane bent down and kissed her.

Her lips were soft and sensual against his. Tristane found that she kissed good. With all those years she surely had a lot of practice. Her hands looped around his neck so he can deepen the kiss. He placed his hands on her hips, holding her in place. She was petite and short. Quiet small compared to his frame but she fitted perfectly.

Tristane ran his hands on her back that made her moan, great, she's distracted. He continued his way until he caught her breast, now that made her gasped. His mouth delved longer so she can't talk or worse, chant to cast a spell.

The Pentacle might protect him but he wasn't betting on it all. He must find another way to free Krista and bring her back. And right now, this is his best card.

He may have lived far from the city and barely dated but all his girlfriends knew how good he was at kissing and bed as well. Women's clothing have been an easy task to him, he knew how to pluck the buttons in a graceful pace that would leave the girl wanting and excited at the same time. Emma was wearing a button on shirt that hugged her frame, it accentuated her curves that was really sexy.

Tristane pried her mouth open so he could push his tongue inside and she was quick enough to catch on. If he didn't know she was a witch, he'd probably think she had bespelled him with her kisses. But she wasn't using magic, it was all her, raw and delicious.

His fingers found the first three buttons but paused on the fourth, Emma pressed herself to him urging him to continue. Tristane almost smiled and continued his way down. Soon, she was bared infront of him. She wore a sexy Victoria's Secret brassiere, the lacy design tickled his senses. He was aware that this was a mature living woman who craved his touch. It was almost addicting to push her down and have his way with her. He almost drove himself to that point. Until his hand touched her collier.

The heavy gemstone glowed against the morning sunlight, it sat on top of her mounds beckoning him to touch. The lace was covered with diamonds, a true work of art. And seeing it on a beautiful woman only to added to its attactiveness both to his eyes and male senses.

Emma's hand began to run through his hair, he couldn't help but groan with pleasure. She knew what ticked him and it was too exquisite to fight off. Acting in an impulse he cupped her breast so she arched her back giving him full access to her chest.

Their breath was coming short, soon she would have to step back. He had to act now. Pulling her hair back, Tristane deepened the kiss and grabbed her necklace with enough strength to hurt her.

His fingers enclosed on the precious gem, realizing he had successfully taken it off her, he pushed Emma back.

Her hand flew to her neck, the harsh gesture bruised her nape. Her blue eyes widened in shock, she hasn't groped what happened yet.

Tristane held her necklace and she froze.

"You!"

Her beautiful face turned red with rage totally masked in anger. The breeze blew mildy on her blonde curls making them sway, revealing her almost n***d form.

"I did enjoy it Emma." He said sarcastically.

"Give it to me!"

"Not until I get Krista back."

Her eyes darkened, "Like hell."

He fisted the gem, knuckles cracking. It was enough to hold her attention. Tristane allowed himself to smile.

"Now, why don't we get down to business?"