The vampire and the mistress

Chapter 14

Dorian took my hand and led me to a gate at the side of the cottage. He opened it and gestured for me to go first. I walked through and then waited for him to stand next to me again.

"She's in the garden, and it doesn't surprise me with it being a warm, clear night." Dorian took my hand again after closing the gate and then led me down the side of the cottage and into a large open garden. A table was sat on the patio close to a fire, and a woman was sitting down looking at something on the table. I couldn't see what she was looking at to begin with.

"It's been a while, Dorian." The woman didn't even look up at us as we got closer. I glanced around the garden to notice that it had tubs and baskets of things growing.

"Herbs and things for my work, Rosa." I turned to find her icy blue eyes fixed on me for a moment. "Such a beautiful child. I understand why they picked you now. It's easy to get close, as they'll trust you. Is that what happened with Lord Xander?"

"Let's not go digging that up tonight, Cordelia. She's going to have enough trauma to deal with after this, let alone having to relive that as well." Dorian pulled out a chair for me, then pulled out his own chair and sat down. "Rosa, Cordelia."

I sat down feeling a little on edge, having her ice blue eyes watch me intently as if she could see into every single inch of my soul and knew everything about me.

"No... I... Ummm..." I began to stutter a little, as if the answer was being pulled out of me.

"Dorian is right as always; we do not need to be bringing that up tonight; you came here because you want answers about your past and Liam." Cordelia broke eye contact with me and looked up at the stars as I felt relief wash over me. How had the woman done that? How did she know so much?

"I used to be the High Priestess of the witches and warlocks of Mirror's Edge, until I told them my vision." She turned her attention to me again, but this time her look had a sad quality to it. "I told them all that this was going to happen. I told them that six young people would help break the seal of Mirror's Edge and release the demons from under the city. They laughed and exiled me. Do you think my crime of warning them fits the punishment?"

"No." I told her honestly. "You were trying to help them and protect your people."

She laughed softly and looked up at the stars again. "They told me to lapagna (Lap-ag-na/ shut up) as I didn't know what I was talking about, yet here we are. The Order of Blood did exactly what I told them they would do. Innocent people lost their lives because the witches and warlocks did not heed my warning and did not act to put the measures in place to keep the demons sealed."

"Why, though?" I asked lightly.

Cordelia turned her head towards me and looked at me again. "Because there was a change in them. The Order of Blood got to them, or someone got to them."

"Why did you not take this to Viktor? You know he would have listened to you and acted." Dorian told her. "Any of the Elders would have listened."

"The others would not listen to me, Dorian. Viktor was the only one who would listen to me. He was the one who believed me. The rest said I was nothing but ttorai (tto-ra-i/nut job)." I heard a slight crackle from the fire, and I turned to see it had changed colour and the air around us had become tense as well. Was this all Cordelia's doing? Was this what it meant to be a witch or warlock?

"How did you get out? I mean, usually when the witches and warlocks exile someone, they strip them of their powers."

"Viktor smuggled me out of Mirror's Edge and gave me a safe haven to stay. I stayed in his human house for a while, hidden. I saw Xander when he was first turned." She looked at me. "He was not a happy vampire, and he hasn't been a happy vampire for many, many centuries. What you see now, Rosa, is all you."

My heart skipped a beat as I heard her mention Xander and what he'd been like. I looked over at Dorian as if I didn't believe it, but his face was like stone as he seemed to refuse to give anything away to me.

"Anyway, I am getting off topic about all of this. It was the chaos you wished to know about." Cordelia looked at me as I looked at her. I didn't trust my voice, as I simply nodded at her. She waved her hand as two cups of what looked like water with ice appeared on the table in front of her and I. "The uprising is it's name, sweet child." She took the cup, took a sip from the glass, and then put it down. "Ice cold water on a hot night, nothing better."

I took the glass and took a small sip, too, and was thankful for how cold it was in the blistering heat that felt like it wasn't dying down anytime soon.

"The uprising is still happening, Rosa; did you know this?"

"No, I thought it was finished." I rested my hands on the table, and Cordelia leaned across the table and took my hand lightly in hers.

"No, the uprising is just the beginning. The descent into chaos will soon arrive, and then madness will follow in this world. They tried and failed once to cause the madness, but they learned from it, Rosa, and they plan on not failing the next time." I noticed how the soft ice blue seemed to dark as she looked at me. If I were honest, I was terrified of what she was predicting, as I could see it right before my eyes the changes. I'd asked Xander about the restless vampires at Xander's home, but he'd told me simply that a storm was coming and some were itching to get into the middle of it.

"This world?" I asked and then remembered what I'd been told about Mirror's Edge and how Xander had explained it to me about the barrier, and I guessed those that had lived in Mirror's Edge had seen it as their world, not as part of our world.

"Yes, for as long as anyone can remember, the uprising has been contained, but we all know that once the uprising has begun, chaos and madness will soon follow. I must admit we do have the hunters to thank for doing their jobs and keeping so much of this under wraps and in control, as they have managed to contain the worst of what has happened, but even now, the war still continues and the war for control and power still sways back and forth."

Those damn hunters are at it again, blocking everything we do. Just wait till the mistress awakens, and then they'll pay for what they've done. It's only a matter of time.

I looked at Cordelia. "I remember when I was living with Liam over hearing him one day say something about a mistress?"

"That is what their true goal is, Rosa, to wake up the real demon that was sealed into the city. It would make sense that they would call her mistress, as they will probably follow her because she is pure chaos and madness. Her name is Lilith."

"Lilith as in..." I'd began.

"Yes, that Lilith Rosa. Every religion and person knows of her." I couldn't help myself and pulled my shawl tighter around me as I felt like I'd gone cold all over.

"I thought she was a thing of stories." I whispered.

"So am I, but I'm here and very real." Dorian's voice made me jump, as I'd completely forgotten he was even there as he'd been so silent listening to Cordelia and I. "Things in books and nightmares, Rosa, are very much true. You, of all people, should understand that. After all, Xander and everyone else in that house are walking proof of that. You lived through the chaos where you were visited by werewolves, which are things of stories, and demons came too, again a thing of stories and nightmares."

"She is completely true, and she is walking evil, Rosa. I wasn't around when she walked this earth to begin with, but I know it took a lot to seal her and stop her. Many lost their lives to her. It was a blood bath, and it was hard to keep it from the humans; however, at the time, there were no hunters, and the humans who helped to contain and seal her were the first hunters. It is their bloodline that still runs strong today, and their knowledge is passed down from generation to generation. I will admit that us creatures who are not hunters also help with their knowledge, and we are happy to help the hunters in their time of need as they have protected and served us well."

"So... do warlocks, witches, vampires, werewolves, and anything else join the hunters?"

"Once upon a time, that wasn't allowed." Dorian told me. "Times have changed, though, and they realise that just like us, they need our help as much as we need their help. So they opened their ranks to others who aren't human. I believe they have a lot of werewolves who fill the ranks, some very high-standing werewolves."

"I also know of a couple of witches and warlocks who are within their ranks, and I happen to know the head of around this area is a warlock, and his wife is a very talented witch. Who I owe my life too for not handing me over to the coven." Cordelia laughed softly. "But that is a story for another time."

"So... How did the Order of Blood break the seal then to allow the uprising?" I was curious, as I was swept up in the story. I wrapped my hand around the glass and watched Cordelia look at Dorian; unlike him, she couldn't mask her emotions the way he did, and that was when I saw fear coming from her.

"Do you want to tell her, or should I?"

"I am under an oath. I cannot break it." Dorian answered and then looked at me. "Please forgive me that I never told you. When I found out... I was worried for you, so I went to Xander, and Xander told me that we never speak of it. Marie was there too at the time, and we all agreed under oath. I went back to Xander to plead with him to tell you..."

"Tell me what?" I whispered.

"The barrier was originally made by twelve very powerful warlocks. They died a very long time ago; however, they had bloodlines; the magic in those who were descendants was watered down, if you will. The only way that the original barrier could fall was by the bloodlines being ended by innocent blood who had never shed or killed anyone."

My chest started to hurt as my memory of that night came back.

'I need you to go to the bar and buy Charlie a drink.' His voice had been low in whisper to me, despite the fact that Charlie had gone to use the bathroom. 'He really likes you Rosa and you have your purse, don't you?' I'd nodded as I went into my bag and took out my purse to show him, as I was terrified of what he'd do if I hadn't shown him. 'I can read that he really wants one but he's too shy to ask for one or to at least let me buy him one.' Liam had winked at me. 'Shall I go now?' I asked. 'Yeah, quick, before theres a queue and before he comes back.' I'd gotten up, gone to the bar, and bought him a drink. I'd bought him the exact same thing as what he'd been drinking while he'd been sitting with us, which had been lemon water as he'd been driving. I took it back to the table and set it down. 'Good girl.' He grinned, and then he went into his pocket and took out a tablet and handed it to me. 'When you'd gone to the bathroom, he'd told me he had a headache, and I went to offer him a headache tablet, but he wouldn't take it from me. If you give it to him, he'll take it. Here.' Liam had put the tablet in my hand. Liam then sat back up right next to me and smiled as Charlie came back to the table. 'Rosa went and got you a drink as I was telling her about how you'd said you'd got a headache.' 'Thanks Rosa.' He laughed quietly. 'Ummm, do you need a headache tablet to help?' 'If you've got one.' I handed over the tablet to Charlie and then watched as he drank the lemon water and took the tablet at the same time.

"Rosa?" It had been Dorian's voice that had pulled me from the memory. "Are you alright?" His hand came across to my face as he touched my face lightly as if he were trying to gauge my temperature, which I found a little funny considering any type of heat probably felt hot to him.

"I'm... I'm..."

"You remember that night don't you?" Cordelia cut me off as I looked at her as the tears had built up in my eyes. I couldn't trust my words in the slightest. "He used you didn't he to break the seal."

"Yes." I whispered. "I didn't know Cordelia." I began to sob as the tears ran down my face. "I didn't know until it was too late... I... I..."

"None of you knew." She finished. "You couldn't be innocent if you knew what you were doing." She told me casually. "How many until you knew?" She asked me softly.

"Two." I whispered. "Alexander and Charlie." I whispered as my hands trembled violently. "I'm to blame for that chaos..."

"It wasn't just you, there were five others Rosa. They didn't know either."

"Five?" I asked as I could feel the colour drain out my face and my chest began to hurt as I put a hand on my chest and lent down to try and breath, but I was struggling.

"Mariquil (Mar-e-quil/calm down) child. We do not blame you for this. You were one person tricked into playing your part of the story." I heard Cordelia's voice and then felt what I guessed was her hand as it was warm on my arm as the pain in chest began to subside and the panic I'd been feeling began to wash away as quickly as it came. I slowly sat up and looked at Cordelia as I felt much calmer.

"How did you do that?" I asked.

"Words are witches and warlocks friends." She said simply as she looked at me, then took my hand lightly. "What caused that moment? What triggered you to panic when I said that it was you and five others?" Her calm, ice-blue eyes looked at me as I felt my words just tumble out of my mouth.

"During the chaos, I met five people who all took shelter together." I told her.

"A little strange how out of the chaos you ran into five people and hardly anyone else?" She finished softly.

"At the time, I didn't think about it, it was survival, we had to live. I thought everyone else had got to shelter or something and we were the ones left behind." Cordelia nodded at me.

"What are you thinking Rosa? Tell me." Her words were even softer as I felt compelled to tell her where my thoughts were going.

"I don't think we were suppose to survive." I told her honestly.

"No, I do not think you were. However you did because of Lucian and because of that silver dagger you had. Who gave you that?"

"Liam." I looked over at Dorian but he never moved or said a word to me.

"Look at me Rosa." I turned my attention back to Cordelia. "You do understand why Dorian kept this from you don't you?"

"Yes." I whispered.

"And you understand why the First Vampire Lord kept this from you as his mate?"

"Yes." I whispered again as the tears ran down my face. "They did it to protect me. They did it so I never found out that Liam was part of the Order of Blood and that he used me the way he did." I wiped away my tears.

"They did not want you to dwell on the past." Cordelia put her hand on my cheek lightly. "You cannot let the mistake in the past distract you from the person you want to be Rosa. They all did it out of love and to protect you. Marie as well."

I nodded as I now regretted kicking off about Marie and Dorian not telling me, and I'd felt like a spoilt brat who hadn't got her own way when I'd ran away with the girls to escape. I knew that they were simply protecting me, but I hadn't realised to what level they had all been watching my back.

"Xander has been trying to find Liam so that he can put a stop to all of this Rosa for you." Dorian finally spoke. "Xander is scared Liam will try and drag you back into that life again and he doesn't want it for you. He wants to you to live a happy life with him." I'd turned and looked at Dorian and then nodded.

"I'm sorry Dorian, I really am for what I did and said, I shouldn't have acted like the brat." I wiped my eyes again.

"And we shouldn't have treated you like the baby Rosa. You're not at all. You're a strong woman who deserves to have all the information but also needs to know we are all there for you. That was why I argued with Xander to tell you all of this. I didn't want you to hear it from Cordelia and certainly not from Liam if he ever caught up to you, and I'd hoped Xander did the right thing and told you, but I guess he was too scared to see you hurting all over again, because to him, when he see's you sad or upset, that is him failing you as his mate."

"Thank you, Cordelia." I turned and looked at her with a small smile as I wiped the last tear away. I didn't want to think about Dorian's words; it hurt to think of Xander hurting because he was worried about me.

"This won't be the end of this Rosa Crowe. This is just the beginning of a long road for you, but do not let this throw you. You know now and you need to move forward, not dwell on the past."

"Thank you." I whispered as Cordelia got up and pulled me up with her and hugged me.

"Posiflo (Poe-see-flow / positive energy/healing) amiqui (Am-ee-cui/New friend(s))" Cordelia whispered quietly. "Be safe my friend."

I pulled away and stood back as Dorian went and hugged Cordelia too, and then he came and stood next to me and took my hand. "Tell the girls I said hi." Dorian grinned.

"Safe journey to you both." Dorian led me back to the car as he opened the door and I got in. I felt exhausted and on edge, but I felt a little lighter knowing the truth, I knew that it would come back to bite me, but I had to just keep hold of it until it did.

"You look like your ready to fall asleep." Dorian laughed quietly. "Go to sleep on the drive back. I'll wake you before we get back in the house."

"But I don't want to waste my last bit of time with you."

"I'd rather you slept Rosa because that was a lot to take in." He laughed quietly.

"Dorian. Why were you so scared to tell me?" I asked as I yawned a little.

"Because I didn't want you taking the blame and blaming yourself. I know what your like." He laughed softly. "But for all Cordelia is strange and an interfering old bat, she has something about her that makes everything that little easier to deal with. It must be her High Priestess air." Dorian laughed again.

"Those words she used..."

"That's conversation for another day." Dorian laughed. "Maybe even phone conversation while I'm away?"

"Deal." I laughed as I yawned again and snuggled down into the corner of the car seat and door. "I really am sorry for what I said."

"I know you are, just next time trust me."

"I will and thank you." I whispered as I closed my eyes and drifted to sleep.