Part 21 (1/2)
Valentine took in a delicate, displeased breath.
For years, she cared about very little. In fact, nothing.
But herself.
Then came her little G.o.ddess of love, Seoafin, Finnie.
Now, caring seemed to be all she did.
And not just about herself.
In fact, all the troubles were sorted in that other world, but was she quit of it?
No.
She was not only not quit of it, she was home in New Orleans and still checking in frequently to see how things progressed with not only Franka and Noctorno, but Seoafin and Frey, Circe and Lahn...
All of them.
This going so far as to wake her in the night so she'd seek her crystal just to make certain all was well.
She cared, there was no denying it.
This didn't mean she didn't lament doing just that.
Valentine studied the smoke, sighed and watched Noc laughing and Franka glowering as they sat together in Franka's chamber.
It was no surprise he'd made little headway. Not only Franka's history would inhibit things moving forward, she'd lost a lover in a dramatically sad way.
There were many wounds Franka Drakkar needed healed but only some of them Noc could a.s.sist in this effort.
The loss of her lover she'd have to come to terms with on her own.
Suddenly, Valentine tipped her head to the side as she felt it. Within seconds, the room turned green. Not Valentine's green, which shaded emerald to jade. No, Lavinia's green. The green of Lavinia's G.o.ddess of the other world, Alabasta, which was the color of a fertile meadow.
Every witch with any amount of power had their own color.
It represented their soul.
Thus Lavinia's was fresh and nurturing.
And Valentine's was rich and precious.
Valentine directed her eyes to the vortex forming and watched Lavinia appear.
”My friend,” Lavinia greeted when her feet were planted on Valentine's priceless Persian rug.
”It's late,” Valentine replied.
Lavinia, accustomed to Valentine, took no offense at her reply and smiled but looked to the sphere on the table.
Her eyes moved back to Valentine.
”The knight of your world is making progress,” she noted.
Valentine swept a hand to her crystal ball.
”This, I've noticed,” she drawled.
Lavinia nodded. ”What you may not have noticed is that her mother's magic was revealed, but Franka's was not. We both felt the swell of it that terrible night some days ago, but she has not come forward as a witch. No one else is aware of it, save perhaps Noctorno. This concerns me.”
”She's coping with a good deal, Lavinia, perhaps you'll give her more than a few days,” Valentine suggested.
”It's my duty to my country to share that I hold this knowledge, my friend,” Lavinia replied.
Valentine sighed a delicate, displeased sigh.
”It would be nice if you would come,” Lavinia urged. ”I do think she's of your...” her friend's lips tipped up, ”kind, and you will speak well together.” Her voice dipped quieter. ”In times such as these, she may need something just as that.”
”I'll return,” Valentine replied.
Lavinia nodded. She knew if Valentine said she would be there, she would be there.
Unfortunately, Lavinia knew Valentine would be there because she cared.
”You came to my world just for this?” Valentine asked.
Lavinia looked through the dark room but shook her head doing it, stating, ”I was curious.”
”Do be curious at another time,” she invited. ”When it's not the dead of night and I don't have a lovely body, not mine, obviously, currently warming my bed.”
Lavinia eyed Valentine. ”Now I see why you returned home.”
Valentine shook her head. ”You see nothing. He's just a body. A trifle. A useful one, but only that.”
Lavinia eyed her far more closely. ”No one is just a body, Valentine.”
”He is,” Valentine sniffed.
”Have you had another who meant more?” Lavinia asked.
”Ah,” Valentine breathed out. ”I see you've come in the middle of the night not only because you were curious, but to discuss my love life, which means you're not simply curious. You're nosy.”
”It's morn in my world,” Lavinia reminded her.
”I do know that, cherie,” Valentine sighed.
”I know you know. I also know you didn't answer my question,” Lavinia pressed.