It was late by the time they got to the mansion and everyone was already asleep. Most of the lights inside had been turned off, leaving the mansion cloaked in shadow. They entered through the front door and quietly made their way upstairs to the third floor. After a quick shower together, they were soon in bed, both of them falling into a deep sleep. As the night wore on, giving way to the early hours of the morning, Merlin began to dream. ******************************She found herself back in the bar that they had visited earlier that night but this time it was empty except for the singer from the jazz band. Instead of the crimson sheath that she had been wearing, she was dressed in a sequined, black dress and feathered boa, reminiscent of the 1920s. Sitting alone at a table, smoking through a slender cigarette holder while humming to herself, she watched Merlin through the cigarette smoke with lazy interest. Merlin walked cautiously toward her, as she scanned the rest of bar, c
When Merlin woke up the next morning she found the bed empty, Zeke had already gone downstairs to his office. She lay in bed and stretched lazily, snuggling back down under the covers as a faint memory began to stir in the back of her mind. The smell of cigarette smoke seemed to hang around her like an invisible fog and the acrid stench of stale beer and spilt alcohol reminiscent of a smoky backroom bar. Her eyes closed and her brows furrowed in concentration as she tried to focus on the mental image buried somewhere in her subconscious. A strange feeling of disquiet crept stealthily into her heart and she struggled to find the haunting memory that seemed to float just out of her reach.Minutes passed but still nothing and she groaned loudly and throwing back the covers, climbed out of the warm, soft bed and padded barefoot across the floor to the bathroom. Once inside she stripped off her clothes and stood under the shower, allowing the hot water to cascade over her in the hope that
When Merlin eventually came to she found Zeke asleep beside her and faint moonlight spilling in through the open windows. Night had fallen while she had been passed out and she shuddered remembering what had occurred in the garden earlier that day. The images and voices from her head continued to swirl and dance filling her with dreaded anticipation for what was to come. Quietly getting out of bed so as not to wake him, she made her way to the bathroom and took a long, hot shower before returning to the bedroom.She was dressed and sitting at her dresser brushing her long, red hair when she saw in the mirror Zeke stirring and slowly open his eyes. He blinked and looked around before catching sight of her as a slow grin spread across his face. She knew that look and what it meant but right now she needed him to focus on something else but as he lifted the covers to reveal his throbbing desire for her, she couldn’t help but falter in her resolve.“Come back to bed babe”, his voice was w
Merlin and Zeke made their way through the cemetery with the moon hanging high in the sky, its pale light reflected off the stark white and grey of the tombstones while casting shadows under the overhanging branches of the trees. A slight breeze stirred and soughed softly through the trees, the sound almost like a breathless sigh that seemed to follow them as they weaved amongst the graves, making their way towards the tomb from their previous visit.The tomb loomed high above them, its white marble walls starkly visible in the darkened cemetery as the stone gargoyles peered down menacingly at them from the gabled roof. The temperature seemed to drop as they entered the tomb and Merlin shivered, glancing around at the smooth walls as Zeke moved assuredly ahead of her, his heightened senses enabling him to easily see in the semi-darkness inside the tomb. The walls gradually gave way to the ante chamber from earlier which was once again lit with burning torches that filled the chamber w
As they walked together through the endless fog that seemed, to Merlin, to be alive with movement and the soft sounds of whispering and sighs, Merlin gradually began to feel at ease and she relaxed in the other woman’s company. Their arms were still firmly linked together and the weight of the singer’s arm through her own was comforting and reassuring and allowed Merlin to feel lightness that she hadn’t felt for quite some time. She could no longer hear the voices of the Ancestors, the sound having faded away as they walked further into the dense and roiling fog. Although she had no idea where they were going she didn’t feel either tense or apprehensive but rather she enjoyed the feeling of being free from the responsibilities that had just been thrust upon her.“You are as enchanting as any Cottard witch but perhaps more so…….we have waited a long time for you Merlin Cottard”, the older woman spoke, finally breaking the companionable silence.“What is your name?” Merlin responded.“I
Her heart was pounding in her chest and she was gasping for breath as she ran through the forest, the shrubs and bushes whipping her face and body. The pain barely registered nor did she notice the blood oozing from the cuts on her hands and face. She could hear the sounds of her pursuers getting closer, the heavy breathing and growling steadily increasing as they closed the distance between her and them. Her mouth was open and along with her throat were dry and burning as she tried to stifle the screams that threatened to escape. She knew that she couldn't outrun them, it was impossible, but she had to keep going, had to find a way to escape, she couldn't allow herself to be caught.Suddenly the ground gave way beneath her and she tumbled head first down an embankment before hitting the water with a loud splash. The icy, cold water knocked the breath clean out of her and it was all she could do to prevent herself from screaming out loud. Her feet scrambled for purchase
Merlin scrambled up and tried to get out of bed but a low warning growl halted her movements and her body froze, stiff with tension."I'm a natural born predator, Merlin, any sudden movements are viewed as a threat", his voice was cold and measured but the warning was clear. Merlin turned to face him as every nerve and muscle in her body screamed in pain, she felt that she might collapse back onto the bed at any minute but she steeled herself against it. She could feel the hatred rolling off him in waves that threatened to suffocate her and before she knew it, the words had left her mouth, "Why do you hate me so much?""I hate all of your kind. Don't take it personally", he replied with a shrug of his shoulders."What do you want with me?", she asked, changing the subject."First you need to eat and regain your strength then we'll talk", he said, his tone, clearly not inviting further discussion. As if on cue, the door opened and a young
The next morning, after breakfast, there was a knock on the door and upon opening it, Merlin found herself face to face with a stunning blonde. She was petite with long legs and beautiful blue eyes while her strawberry blonde hair fell in cascading waves down her back. "Hi, I'm Sandrine, my mate is Zeke’s beta. Can I come in?", she said in a sweet, breathy voice. "I brought you some clothes", she added, almost as an afterthought. Merlin stepped back, wordlessly and opened the door wider to allow her entrance into the room, her gaze falling to the floor. Sandrine breezed into the room and moved to sit down on the bed, gesturing for Merlin to sit beside her. Merlin perched awkwardly beside her, her eyes glued to her hands which lay tightly clenched in her lap. Feeling her hand on her arm, Merlin looked up to meet Sandrine's eyes on her,"Hey don't look so worried, Zeke won't hurt you, he's just.......temperamental", she laughed, a soft tinkling sound that somewhat put Mer