Falling Into Place (3 page)

Her lids fell shut, but she fought for
consciousness. Someone scooped her up as she slid to the side.
Their body was soft, and she assumed it was Joslyn, but Liz
couldn’t pry her eyes open.

“No, please no,” she managed to whimper.

“Joslyn,” Tremaine pleaded, “please, don’t
hurt her.”

“Don’t worry, Trem. We’ll take care of her.”
Joslyn promised.

Liz felt movement and then she was laid down
on a hard mattress. Her breath quickened into great pants. She felt
someone’s hands on her legs and her eyes bolted open as she started
screaming, trying to push everyone away with flailing limbs. Four
more women entered the room and took her arms and legs as the
chanting began.

* * * *

Tremaine followed, but didn’t step through
the door. His heart pounded against his ribs as guilt knifed
through him. He knew Liz was hiding whatever was wrong with her.
The only solution he could come up with was to take her to healers
who could help where he couldn’t. So here they were, and he dreaded
every second of it.

Her screams filled the hall, and four more
women pushed past him to enter the room. Tears slid down his face
as he squeezed his eyes shut. He prayed Liz would forgive him for
betraying her. He only had her health in mind.

After what seemed like hours, four women
left the room. It couldn’t have been that long, but they all looked
worn out. Several of their robes were torn, the smell of burnt hair
was strong.

“Shit,” he whispered as Joslyn came out.

Her eyes glistened with tears as she touched
his face. “Sinclair hurt her badly. She was still bleeding from the
damage, but I healed her. She may hate me for it, but she is no
longer physically harmed.” Joslyn took a breath. “I left clothing
for her, but she refuses to wear anything but the clothes she came
in, and your jacket which is wound tightly around her.”

He nodded slowly.

“She trusts you. Go to her,” Joslyn
whispered before walking down the hall.

Tremaine stepped into the room and walked
toward Liz. He stayed out of reach. Tears still leaked down his
face. “I am so sorry, Elizandra. Please forgive me.”

Her eyes widened as she met his gaze.
“There’s nothing to forgive. I understand why you brought me here,
but can we go? I don’t want to stay here.”

He nodded, ready to carry her if he needed
to in order to grant her wish to be away from there.

She stood slowly, and seemed to move with
more ease. He knew she’d been stiff, but hadn’t realized how much
so. She stepped closer and tentatively wrapped her arms around his
waist as she laid her face against his chest.

“Thank you,” she whispered. “They did
help.”

His arms wrapped around her gently, and he
held her for a moment. She was forgiving him, and he wasn’t sure he
deserved it. He should have explained better, made her understand
first.

He prayed he made the right choice in taking
her to Wilhelm’s family. They could provide a good life, where he
could not.

Tremaine led Liz on foot, traveling through
forests, and country, always staying away from civilization. He
spent hours teaching her to properly use her magic. He even helped
her come up with a vague story about her previous guardian.

Liz never wanted to speak about her past.
His story gave her enough details that no one should pry. All
anyone had to know was that she was an orphan, left with a man who
had harmed her. If anyone asked, she could simply tell them that
she was too traumatized to talk about it, and that was the honest
truth.

She saw the gates and froze. The wrought
iron fence was beautiful. The house beyond majestic. She had been
raised in a sprawling estate in the Louisiana bayou. It had been
creepy and uninviting even to someone who knew nothing else.

White brick framed the house, there were
large picture windows that gave a welcoming feel. Even the lawn was
perfectly manicured, everything in its place.

Liz didn’t belong here. She felt out of
place. She still wore the clothes he gave her the night he took her
from her own personal hell. She only once tried taking off
Tremaine’s coat, the morning after leaving the druid compound. The
memory was still fresh in her mind.

It was cold when she had realized she still
wore his coat. Elizandra tried to take it off.

He covered her hands and shook his head.
“Keep it, Liz, the jacket is yours.”

“
Won’t you need it?” she asked softly,
when all she wanted to do was to burrow into the jacket. It had
become a symbol that not everyone was as evil and cruel as Sinclair
had been. It was something of her savior’s that she could hold on
to.

“
You need it, so it’s yours.” He smiled
and took a step back. “Now let’s eat before we head out. We still
have a long way to go.”

She stopped and looked up at him. “Are you
sure I’ll be welcome here?” She looked down at herself. “I don’t
belong here.”

He pressed one finger under her chin,
raising her gaze to his. “Wilhelm is a good man, he will care for
you. His son Robert will watch out for you. His daughter Emily will
be your friend.”

Her eyes drifted away. “I killed Wilhelm’s
brother.”

“They don’t know that, and they never will.
I already told you I would never speak a word of how I found you.
No one ever has to hear that story unless you choose to tell
it.”

There were a million questions swirling
through her mind. She settled on the biggest before accepting her
fate. “And what about Kathryn and James?” Liz asked softly. He
hadn’t had much good to say about Wilhelm’s wife, nor the youngest
son.

They were in the outskirts of Charleston,
and every estate on this road had been more impressive than the
last. She couldn’t help thinking the McCallister’s would take one
look at her and realize she was an orphaned nobody before sending
her away.

Tremaine smiled back at her. “Wilhelm isn’t
like most of the Council, Liz. He loves children. If I didn’t trust
this man with my life, I wouldn’t bring you to him now.”

“I trust you,” she answered dully. She
couldn’t muster hope. She had been through too much to have faith
where anyone but Tremaine was concerned.

“Come on, doll. You’ll find your home
here.”

She let out a sigh before following Tremaine
through the gate and down the path.

* * * *

Robert sat on his bed,
reading an old tome on dark mages. He was enrolled in the
accelerated program to become a Silver Council Enforcer. Every
lesson was meant to drill into his head the prejudice against all
manner of
abomination
.

He had a hard time believing that anything
not mage or human was evil. He’d heard too many tales from Tremaine
proving otherwise. In fact, he could hardly wait for Tremaine’s
next visit, which should be any time.

The bells chimed and Robert perked up. He
had a feeling something important was about to happen. He wondered
what. Robert hurried to his bedroom door and opened it a crack. He
heard Tremaine’s deep voice.

“I trust you received my message,
Wilhelm.”

“Of course. And this is Elizandra, I
presume?”

“Yes, sir,” a feminine voice with a strength
of iron replied.

Curiosity ran rampant, Robert slipped
through the door and hurried down the stairs. He paused as his gaze
locked on the girl in his foyer.

She stood next to Tremaine, but not close
enough to touch. Her big haunted hazel eyes quickly took in her
surroundings. Waves of unruly hair fell around her shoulders in
reds, browns and blonds. Her full pink lips were set in a line. She
wore boy’s pants and Tremaine’s jacket which were far too large on
her thin frame.

His whole world came to a stop and he felt
an instant flood of emotion he couldn’t quite place. He wanted to
know everything about the girl who stole his breath away.

Robert took the rest of the stairs two at a
time. Her big mesmerizing eyes locked on his and narrowed in
challenge. He came to a stop a polite distance away, but couldn’t
contain his smile.

His father warmly told him, “Ah, Robert, you
have perfect timing. Please meet Elizandra Delacroix.”

“A pleasure.” He held out his hand.

Her brows drew together as she cast a
nervous glance at Tremaine.

Smiling softly, Tremaine gave her a slight
nod.

Elizandra’s expression smoothed out and she
held out her hand. Her magic shot up his arm like an electric
shock, but he refused to break contact.

Robert gave her a gentle push of magic and
hers responded, easing to brush over his senses instead of attack.
One corner of her mouth lifted as her head tipped to the side.

“Well then, Robert. Would you do the honor
of showing this young lady around her new home?”

She was staying?
His heart hammered in his chest, as he nodded
dumbly.

His father squeezed his shoulder and Robert
looked over at him. “Go on, son. I need to speak with Tremaine. I
trust you won’t scare Elizandra off.”

“No, sir, I won’t.” He nodded and held out
his hand for hers. She drew Tremaine’s coat tighter around her
shoulders as a frown pulled at her mouth.

Changing course, he shoved his hands into
his pockets. “Well then, let’s have a tour.” He took a step away
and she followed, keeping a couple of feet between them.

He watched as she glanced back at Tremaine.
All expression was erased from her face when she looked
forward.

“I’m Robert,” he said softly.

“Liz,” she answered in a dull voice.

He tilted his head. “What’s the matter?”

“Nothing. I’m fine.”

He didn’t buy it, but it was pretty obvious
he wouldn’t pry an answer out of her. He took her around the house
and the grounds, trying his best to coax a hint of a smile onto her
face.

* * * *

Tremaine stood there, watching as Robert
fell in love with Liz. The boy was only sixteen, but he saw the
same look in his eyes as Wilhelm had when he met his wife
Kathryn.

Liz kept her distance though. When she
wouldn’t take Robert’s hand a second time, the boy awkwardly led
her from the entryway, keeping a watchful eye on her.

It was sweet, and Tremaine knew this was the
right choice. She needed people who would welcome her, a family to
take care of her. He often had to travel as an enforcer, and go on
dangerous missions. His lifestyle couldn’t benefit her. She needed
stability and kids her age.

For one fleeting moment, Tremaine worried
that Robert may hurt Liz. It didn’t seem likely though. He was a
good kid, with a kind heart. He had already proven that he was more
interested in pleasing her than himself.

Wilhelm chuckled. “I have never seen my son
so taken with a girl.”

Tremaine looked up and drew in a breath. “I
trust him with her. He won’t ever hurt her.”

His old friend smiled broadly. “No, I don’t
imagine so. Come, we have much to talk about.”

Wilhelm took Tremaine up to his library. The
new maid greeted them with a curtsey.

Her face, Tremaine had seen it before, but
he couldn’t quite place it. Her mahogany hair was streaked with
steel grey, and her eyes were a brilliant shade of green. There
were deep creases on her face, giving her a wise appearance.

“Miss Murdock,” Wilhelm nodded to her.
“Please bring us some tea, and those pastries you made this
morning.”

“Yes, sir.” The woman answered. She turned
toward the door and winked at Tremaine before heading down the
hall.

Wilhelm sat down in his chair and smoothed
his hands down his lapels. “I take it you won’t tell me where you
found young Elizandra?” Wilhelm asked with an amused smile.

Tremaine pushed a hand through his hair
before shaking his head. “I’m sorry, old friend, but I can’t tell
you that. What I can say is that she is a mage and has been through
hell. Does it really matter where she came from if I made sure her
damned guardian can never harm her again?”

Wilhelm nodded thoughtfully. “No, it really
doesn’t. You know me. I like having all of the facts and I like
knowing all of the details, but I trust you. You can’t fault me for
trying.”

“Promise you won’t push her for answers she
can’t give you. She’s been through enough.”

“You have my word.” Wilhelm placed his hand
over his heart and bowed his head. “I will protect her as if she
were my own. You will always be welcome in my house to check on
her. It’s clear that her safety is important to you.”

“It is. She deserves a chance at a happy
life.”

“And she has that chance, thanks to
you.”

* * * *

Liz stared out over the river. Robert hadn’t
made another move to touch her, and his warm smile eased her
anxiety. She shifted her gaze to his. “Thank you for the tour.”

He nodded, his lips curving. His blond waves
were slicked back, his dusky blue eyes warm and enchanting. Robert
was very handsome in his jacket and slacks. She felt foolish for
even noticing.

“Anytime.” His voice was soft, gentle.

There was a flutter in her tummy and she
quickly looked away. She felt so out of place standing next to him,
but she didn’t want to disappoint Tremaine by asking to leave.

Closing her eyes, she shook her head.
Tremaine told her she could trust Robert, but she didn’t think she
could. His smile was too friendly, his gaze unwavering. He made her
nervous, and she wasn’t sure why.

“You don’t want to be here, do you?” He
sounded sad.

She shook her head slightly but didn’t say a
word.

“Well, I won’t ask, but if you ever want to
talk, I’ll listen.”