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Chapters
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Chapter 11
Chapter 12
Chapter 13
Chapter 14
Chapter 15
Chapter 16
 
 
 

April Witch - REVIEW THIS STORY

Written by Stella
Last updated: 01/02/2007 02:01:11 AM

Chapter 14

Henri, Mercy an’ Bella had lit a fire in the fireplace by the time Remy an’ Ah walked in the front door. Ah was half afraid that his kiss would be a mark on my face, that they’d look an’ know exactly what we’d been up ta out there in the rain, and then they’d see exactly how much Ah wanted ta do it again.

“Guess Jean-Luc hasn’t been here in a while,” Mercy observed, shakin’ out a blanket and dislodgin’ a cloud o’ dust. “There’s no electricity and an army o’ mice in de kitchen cabinets. Here, put dis on an’ toss me your clothes. Not exactly de best way t’ get t’ know one another, but dey’ll dry better in front of th’ fire dan on you.”

Julien was slumped on a couch, nearly buried in more covers. Mercy tossed me the blanket and Ah draped it over my shoulders before roundin’ on the boy on the couch.

“Maybe ya’d like ta explain everythin’ again now that we’re all here an’ outta the rain.”

Julien closed his eyes. There were tears on his cheeks that stood out in the firelight. “I’m sorry.”

“Dat’s fine for later, Julien,” Bella said viciously. Ah looked at her in surprise. Who woulda thought she’d have such a bite? Ah held the blanket with one hand and worked my pants off with the other, tryin’ not ta make eye contact. That accomplished, Ah managed ta get outta my shirt. Hung them both by the fire where they steamed. Ah was standin’ there in my bra, underwear an’ a mouse-chewed blanket. Never let it be said that my friendship with Remy LeBeau wasn’t filled with interestin’ situations.

“Look, it was crazy o’ me t’ deal wit’ Essex. Obviously I know dat now. But haven’t y’ ever wanted somet’ing so bad dat y’ can’t t’ink straight? Seem t’ recall some of your ‘late night chats’ wit’ father when he and Jean-Luc were arranging your engagement t’ Remy.” He snorted. “Shameless begging is more like it.”

Bella looked uncomfortable. “Dat’s not the same t’ing an’ you know it! Besides, I’ve moved past dat.” She looked sidelong at Remy who busied himself with removin’ his shirt. Ah peeked at him from under my lashes. “We both have,” Bella finished. “Doesn’t change what you did. He was only a kid.”

“Wasn’t supposed t’ go like dat at all,” Julien protested.

“Tell me how it was supposed t’ go,” Bella replied sharply. She had an ax ta grind no question an’ Ah guess everyone was gonna let her grind it, me included. Julien set his mouth in a thin line. “Tell me!” she insisted.

“‘t was supposed t’ be Remy!” he sobbed. A deadly silence settled on th’ house. Ah could hear the quiet hiss as water evaporated from all our clothes. Ah went cold all over.

“Why?” Bella’s voice was strangled.

“He needed someone,” Julien began helplessly. “He came t’ me because he knows about me. Seems like everyone does. He knows I’m de weak one.” He caught at Bella’s hand, but she shook him away roughly.

“I can’t believe you.” Without realizin’, Ah’d moved in front o’ Remy as if Ah could defend him from what Julien an’ Essex had planned. He touched my shoulder through the blanket, rubbin’ his hand down my arm.

“He threatened Marius,” Julien said. “He threatened you. What else could I do?”

“Dere father. Head of de Assassins Guild,” Remy whispered in my ear, an’ Ah was grateful for his prompting.

“Tell him ‘no,’” Bella spat back. “Marius doesn’t need your protection. An’ neither do I.”

“I didn’t see it dat way. An’ if I got rid of Remy in de process of saving you both...mais (well)...” He paused, but then continued in an exasperated rush, as if we couldn’t possibly understand the situation. “He wants him! He’s always wanted him, ever since he was a little baby. At first it was de Velvet Ministry, but now it’s somet’ing much bigger. Didn’t t’ink I could stop him from getting what he wanted in de end and if it could keep you and father safe...”

Behind me, Remy stiffened. “Essex is...”

“De Antiquary,” Julien said helplessly. He glared at Bella. “How you gonna say no t’ de devil?”

Bella turned her back on Julien, but she didn’t have an answer ta his question either.

“At the risk o’ bringin’ up more bad feelin’s, who’s The Antiquary?” Ah asked Henri.

He sighed and rubbed his face with his hand. “No one knows, or no one did know. He hired de T’ieves Guild t’ steal Remy from de hospital when he was just a baby. He wanted him for somet’ing called de Velvet Ministry. He stole lots of children, mutants, for it, but Jean-Luc saved Remy and exiled De Antiquary to Russia. Guess y’ know he’d be none too pleased ‘bout dat.”

“Jean-Luc said dere was a rumor he was back in town,” Remy added.

“What’s in de needle, Julien?” Emil asked.

“Ah could get my friend--Mr. McCoy--ta look at it. It’d be no problem ta...”

Henri cut me off with a shake o’ his head an’ Ah couldn’t help feelin’ stung. “We appreciate de offer, but it’s better t’ keep dis in de family for now. Theo could...”

“You crazy?” Mercy cut in. “Theo’s Etienne’s brother. We can’t ask him t’ do dis for us.”

“I know a couple guys in de Quarter could do it quick an’ quiet. It’d cost us, of course.”

“Ah don’t understand why ya won’t let me take it ta Mr. McCoy.” We were all talkin’ now, filled with ideas ta reach the same end.

“It’s a virus,” Julien said quietly. Somehow that one word was able ta cut through the whole room.

“What?” Emil’s voice was pained.

“C’est vrai ça (is that true)?” Bella breathed.

“A virus,” Julien said again. “Something t’ kill mutants.” He looked pointedly at Remy. “Y’ wouldn’t join wit’ him. Y’ forced Essex into exile. He’s crazy an’ he hates you all. Etienne’s his Typhoid Mary. He’s like a bomb for him an’ sooner or later he’ll go off.”

 

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