Part 45 (1/2)

”Ah, but I have come to collect my child,” Leandro said. ”I am duty bound to train her in our ways.”

”I will train her!” Marcello yelled, his body rigid.

”Ah, that I can't allow. As she said, her human life was mine, her body yours. Come, Tatiana, you know what I say is true.

Marcello can't be the one to train you. He is too attached to you. He will allow your weaknesses whereas I will not.”

Tatiana closed her eyes and nodded. She waved him away with an arch of her hand. Leandro bowed and backed from the room.

”You will find gowns in the wardrobe,bella donna ,” Leandro said, before shutting the chamber door.

”He is right,” Tatiana said. ”You will make allowances for me because you can feel as I feel. Leandro must be the one to train me in my new vampiric ways. And, when the time comes, I will be trained as a witch and by the lycans. It is the only way I can be strong enough. My ancestors were many. I am merely one. If the evil comes back, I will fight it alone.”

”You are not alone,” Marcello answered. He set her down gently and took his body from hers. Turning, he walked to the wardrobe to get her clothing. ”For, as long as I walk this accursed earth, you will have me.”

Chapter Eighteen.

Spoleti Castle, Fall 1899

Leandro walked beside Tatiana through the fairytale gardens of Spoleti Castle. Many nights had pa.s.sed since her changing, though none who lived within the walls bothered to count them. Their immortal lives fell into a routine, like that of a family-- Marcello, her lover and Leandro, her teacher. Both were her friends--dark and twisted as their friends.h.i.+ps were.

The brothers still fought their ancient battle, but they did so silently. No words were settled between them. Tatiana knew old feelings were deeply buried and she did not force them into each other's company too often.

She knew Leandro well enough to feel his pain beneath his smiles and cruel remarks. She felt his anger and jealousy each night she came from Marcello only to leave for him again with the dawn. Marcello had dreams with her, vague impressions of the past. Hers were more real--sometimes riddled with meanings they couldn't interpret and sometimes clear in their message of death.

”It is time,” Tatiana said. ”We must go to England.”

Leandro nodded as they strolled through the garden. ”I know.”

”I have seen the future of my line through Henry's child. I must go to save the boy,” Tatiana said. ”Henry's son is weak and is dying. I must give my nephew my blood to make him strong, to connect the mortal line to me.”

”Do you think it wise?” Leandro asked. ”Your blood is potent--too potent for mortals and he is only a young one at that.”

”I have seen it,” she said quietly. ”I have seen more of it than I wish. There is no choice. If I don't do it now, the line could be lost. I must connect myself to it. If the boy dies, the line dies with him.”

”Your brother may have more children,” Leandro said.

Tatiana looked up at the stars and sighed. Clouds dotted over the heavens, blanketing beneath a bright moon. Over the months she'd come to see the night as she had the day. Its faces were many, ever changing, always beautiful and mysterious.

”How many are there, do you think? The stars?”

Leandro nodded, not prying more. He knew well that Tatiana's visions were her own. He turned to the heavens. ”I have thought often of counting them, studying them, learning their names. But, in the end, I never do. I prefer to have them unknown to me. I would see my own pictures in their depths, not some ancient Greek's imaginings.”

”Domin spoke to me last night. All is well with the lycans. The last have gone into sopor. Only Domin and a handful remain awake to guard the others,” Tatiana said. ”Domin is weary and wishes to find his rest, but will stay awake, hidden from the world. He agrees that I should go to London.”

”Are you asking me to release you?” Leandro asked. A sadness pa.s.sed over him to her.

”No, I am not asking to be released. We will never be free of each other,” Tatiana said. ”My only hope is that you will make peace with Marcello. You are of the same blood. Don't discount that.”

It wasn't the first time she'd tried to bury what was between them, and it wouldn't be the last.

”You know I don't want him to have you,bella donna ,” Leandro said touching her cheek in brotherly affection. ”But, I would give you to him ifyou asked it of me.”