Part 40 (1/2)

”Please, no offense, my sister, but we both know you are no mother. And you bear no responsibility for me. I brought myself to this world and it was my decision to stay. You had nothing to do with any of that.”

At Circe's mention of Valentine and ”mother” in the same sentence, strangely, disturbingly, and lastly, pleasantly, visions of little girls with lovely blue eyes and thick blonde hair danced in Valentine's head.

Her trifle, who somehow she'd allowed to turn into her companion, had lovely blue eyes and thick blond hair.

He'd once been simply a body.

Now he was...

Not.

Merde.

”And we both know with my magic restored, especially having that and being in this world where it isn't often wielded, I need no one taking care of me,” Circe continued.

”Is there something you don't wish me to see?” Valentine asked, forcing her mind from her thoughts back to their conversation.

”I simply don't wish the intrusion, and I have that right, as you know.”

She did.

Bother.

”Though, I might be moved to stop blocking you if I knew why you were suddenly watching me,” Circe went on with her own lie.

No witch, or non-witch for that matter, liked someone interfering in their lives.

Certainly not observing them.

It would not do to tell her she was watching in order to start meddling, doing this to magically maneuver a meeting with the future love Circe was destined to have, her aim to see them married, creating children, doing such enjoyably and living happily ever after.

Circe was fiercely independent, something of which Valentine approved, though the reasons life had given her to make her bent on protecting this trait at all costs was something Valentine despised.

A history where she had nothing like it. No independence. Not even free will.

Nearly her entire life she'd lived imprisoned and enslaved by a despotic ruler who took advantage of a beautiful young witch and her powers in every way he could.

G.o.ddess, she hoped this world's Dax Lahn could handle such a challenge.

Valentine's mind wandered to the fact that, interestingly, his first name was Dax in this world, Lahn his last, proof the Dax in the other world would hold his kingly t.i.tle as prophesied until he pa.s.sed it to his son on his death.

This meant the Circe and Dax of this world would likely name their son the same.

Lovely.

”Valentine?” Circe called and Valentine focused on her again, feeling her frame slightly tighten.

She'd just gone sentimental.

Hoping.

Caring.

Worrying.

And now being sentimental.

She s.h.i.+vered in revulsion.

Another s.h.i.+ver of revulsion followed at the very thought that she'd have to give up magical meddling and do something a mundane human would need to do in this situation when magic was not an option.

Fix the two of them up.

How revolting.

”It would seem you're holding an entire conversation to which I'm not privy since you're having it silently with yourself,” Circe observed.

At this, Valentine stood, dropping the cat gracefully to her feet as she did.

”Franka has decided to come to our world to start her life anew,” she declared, and went on further, sharing about Franka's growing connection with Noc and the friends.h.i.+ps she was making in the other world.

Circe looked astonished and moved to her couch, seating herself on the arm, her cat slinking elegantly to her momma, jumping on the seat and rubbing against Circe's thigh.

”This surprises me,” Circe stated.

”I see that. I have, of course, shared with you all that has occurred and the knowledge she's our sister. Thus this decision pleases me. She's also decided to accept my training. Unlike you,” Valentine stressed, ”it seems she has no qualms with using her magic for enjoyable purposes once she learns to wield it.”

”I've had my magic manipulated nearly all my life, Valentine,” Circe reminded her. ”I like it to be my own, to use it when I will, how I will.”

”That's understandable,” Valentine murmured, annoyed to have to concede that point.

”I'm pleased she's made this decision too,” Circe said. ”This is an odd realm, but it's a good one to make a new start. Very easy to get lost in the sheer numbers of people, and because of this you can focus on the person you wish to be.”

”There are nearly the same numbers in both worlds,” Valentine reminded her. ”With scant variation.”

”I've a.s.sessed that my old world has nearly twice the land ma.s.s as this one, which allows much more s.p.a.ce for people to spread out,” Circe returned.

Valentine knew this to be true.

She didn't concede that point.

She stated, ”She's awaiting her sister-in-law's safe delivery of a new child. I cannot a.s.sess when this will be, but calling up the woman and the little she's showing, my a.s.sumption would be that this will happen in five to six months' time.”

”I will welcome her and a.s.sist her in any way whenever she arrives, my sister.”

”That's good to hear,” Valentine replied.

”This is not why you're watching me.”