Foretell (27 page)

A few years ago, an older
barosan
from a wealthy tribe offered Kristoph a bride price for the young widow. The amount of money the
barosan
offered was a hefty sum. It would’ve provided for the tribe for at least two years. Kristoph had almost agreed to the trade. That was up until his mother found out about his dealings.

She threw a bigger fit than he’d expected. He’d never forget the day she confronted him. Serena took him by the ear just as she had when he was a young boy, thoroughly embarrassing him in front of other members of their tribe. “If you dare try to sell me off, boy, I swear you will not live to see it happen.”

“It was just an idea, Mama,” he said, wincing from the pain she was causing him. “I thought you might like to marry again. You know, find a new love and whatnot.”

She pulled harder, causing him to yelp loudly. “Your granddad sold me to your father when I was sixteen. I’m not a child anymore, Kris. And if I want to marry, I’ll marry whom I please this time around.”

“All right,
all right
,” he pleaded with her. “You can marry whomever you want to.”

She’d let go of his ear, but smacked him on the back of his head.
Hard, for good measure.
She’d stomped away furiously, leaving Kristoph to look around at the members of his tribe, shamefaced. They were practically choking back their amusement. He’d never been so humiliated in his life. Needless to say, it was the last time he’d ever attempt to handle any of his mother’s dealings again.

Serena bit her lip in anticipation as she read over the final page of her daughter’s letter,
then
smiled again.

“Good God, Mama.
Enough with the suspense already.
What does Lily’s note say?”

Serena promptly ignored her impatient son until she’d read the last of it. She then brought the letter to her chest and sighed. “It is a gift from the heavens. Lily and Eryn are both alive and well.”

“Clearly they’re alive, otherwise there would be no letter. Give me more details, Mama. When will they return?”

Serena lifted herself from her pillow and walked towards him, handing him the parchment. “It says that on their return from Paris, they were caught in a raid. Both she and Eryn were held prisoner and sold into slavery.”

Kristoph felt his stomach drop painfully, as if he’d been slammed into a wall. He knew a little about slave trade. Once someone was thrown into it, they usually didn’t come out. Not alive, anyway. He couldn’t believe his little sisters, his beautiful little
sisters.
. .what they must have endured.

“Oh, Kris,” his mother said, endearingly. “Are you too choked up for words?”

Not quite able to speak yet, Kristoph gestured for Serena to continue. She slyly smiled. “I suppose there are firsts for everything. But don’t worry,” she assured him. “They were rescued. And you’ll never believe this part-they were rescued by
Constantins
.”

Kristoph raised an inquiring brow, thankfully able to find his voice again. “You’re referring to those lecherous band of abandoners?”

Serena frowned. “I don’t care if they are abandoners, Kris. They rescued your sisters.” She pointed to the letter, tapping her finger against the words like they would come to life if she hit them enough. “Lily says that they’re good people. She’s even made friends with some of them.”

Kristoph waved that aside, moving onto the more important question lingering in his mind. “So when are they coming?”

Serena smiled happily. “They’re on their way here as we speak. It could be any day now. Lily sent the courier ahead because she knew it would be less time we’d spend worrying.”

Kristoph jumped up off the pillows, and clapped his mother’s arms excitedly. “I’ll break the news to the tribe today!”

Serena’s smile grew larger. “The people will be so relieved,” she sighed. “I’ve felt guilty for keeping them here this long.”

In truth, their people would be extremely thankful. Not only because Liliana and Eryn Moori were found alive, but also because the homecoming provided the chance to finally move on. The Moori tribe had camped in Redwood Forest for over a year, the longest amount of time they’d ever spent in one place. Serena had refused to leave upon first hearing about her daughters’ disappearance. Whatever trouble had befallen them, they would find a way back to her. And the first place they would think to look was Redwood Forest. This forest was the closest thing to a home that Liliana and Eryn had ever known.

Redwood Forest was sort of a refuge for all gypsy bands and tribes, a central meeting point for all fellow wanderers, and most importantly, it was a magical place hidden from the
gaje
and the rest of the world. It would only be natural for them to come here first, and by the evidence of their correspondence, Serena’s instinct proved to be correct.

Kristoph left Serena’s tent hastily, eager to share the news with the rest of their people.
Serena followed, wanting to see the joy on their faces as well.

Upon leaving her tent, she wasn’t, however, expecting to see the face she was met with. She stopped dead in her tracks.

Her heart almost gave out from the shock of seeing him standing
there,
looking exactly the same as he did the day she met him. She froze, nearly paralyzed, as he tipped his hat in greeting to her.

“Good morning, dear Serena,”

Marcellus said smoothly. “It’s so nice to see you again.”

“Won’t you invite me into your,” Marcellus paused to spare a derisive look at Serena’s tent. “Humble little dwelling,” he finished, with a smile that smacked of insincerity.

“Of course,” she replied nervously. Her voice was barely audible, but she
was amazed
she could speak at all around him.

She led Marcellus into her tent as her mind screamed frantically. Suddenly chilled, she wrapped her arms around her chest.

How did he find her?
Moreover, how did he find Redwood Forest? This place was supposed to be enchanted, hidden from the rest of the world.

But the most important question was: What did he want?

“You don’t seem very happy to see me,” Marcellus noted as Serena gestured to the pillows. He fluffed one, then slowly sat on it as if it might combust beneath him. “How quaint,” he commented dryly.

Serena sat across from him warily. “After all this time, I cannot help but wonder what you’ve finally come to ask me for,” she told him honestly. “It is not that I am unhappy to see you, I’m simply worried I may not have what you want.”

“Oh, you have something,” he told her. He looked around the large tent as he spoke. There was an obvious portrayal of distaste outlined in his features. Features, which Serena couldn’t help but notice hadn’t changed in over fifteen years.

“What can I help you with, Marcellus? I gave you my word. You still have it.”

He smiled at her. “That’s good to know, my dear. You see, I’ve decided to move to the Americas, and start a new life there. It will be good for me. The people there will have never heard of me. They will not be afraid of my charms, so to speak.”

Serena nodded, understanding.

“I’m looking for a new life, but a respectable one,” he continued. “So I figured the perfect recipe for this little plan is to find myself a wife.”

“A wife?” Serena asked, surprised.

“Exactly. But not just any wife will do. I need a girl who is young, adaptable to change, and worldly.”

“You’re looking for a gypsy?” Serena surmised.

“Yes, but not just any gypsy. I’ll need a girl who is presentable on the surface, an intelligent female, practiced in the art of manners, etiquette, and other things suitable to my station.”

Serena swallowed, extremely fearful of what Marcellus was getting at.

“I’d heard your daughter, Liliana, was a raving beauty. I was passing through Paris and had the opportunity to witness it for myself during a charity event held for the school she attended. It is true what they say. She is simply exquisite, Serena. And she would make the perfect wife.”

Serena swallowed, disgusted.

She tried not to show her repulsion. Calmly, she said, “It is unfortunate that I must tell you this, both of my daughters have been missing for nearly a year. They left their school in Paris, but never returned to the tribe. We all fear my girls may be dead.”

Serena held her breath as she waited to find out whether or not Marcellus knew she was lying. It was just one, little lie amongst many truths.

After a moment, Marcellus asked, “Is that so?”

She hesitated, wondering why the witch possessed a knowing look in his eyes. “You can ask any member of this tribe,” Serena said calmly. “We’ve been camping here for months, praying the girls would return.”

“Strangely, I met a friendly courier on the way into Redwood Forest,” he commented.

Marcellus continued, “I asked the young man for directions, and he was chatty enough to tell me about a certain letter he’d just delivered. This letter supposedly gave word of your daughters’ pending arrival. The courier had been so ecstatic to deliver such good news.”

“He must’ve delivered it my son,” Serena said. She knew she’d been caught, and hardly attempted to feign surprise when she said, “Thank you for informing me. I’m overjoyed at the news.”

“Clearly,” Marcellus retorted irritably. “Now let’s stop toying with each other. I need a wife, Serena. You will give me Lily.”

“It’s not possible. Ask me for anything else.”

Marcellus’s jaw clenched. “Serena, my dear. I remember us having a conversation long ago regarding the definition of
anything
.”

“Yes, I remember that conversation quite well,” she said. “However, you cannot save my daughter’s life only to end it after the fact. That’s hardly fair.”

“Are you saying that marriage to me is practically death itself?” he asked angrily. “I’ll have you know, that a marriage to someone of my ranking and wealth would provide much more privilege than your daughter has ever known, I daresay, in any of her lives.”

“I don’t doubt it, sir,” Serena told him. “Yet it should be her decision.”

“So let her choose me then,” Marcellus offered. “Present me to her as your chosen suitor.”

Serena considered this, wondering if her daughter could ever be happy with a man like Marcellus de Clemente. She would never want for anything that much was certain. But there was something about the man that frightened Serena. Underneath his aristocratic exterior, there was something dark, something terrifying. She could never let her daughter marry a man like that.

“If you don’t,” Marcellus warned. “I will be forced to seek retribution. And should you deny my request, you can trust that you’ll be playing with fire.” His dark green eyes grew cold as they bore into hers. He meant every word he said.

“Lily can meet you,” Serena sullenly agreed.

He managed a tight smile. “Perfect.”

“But…what if she doesn’t agree to this marriage?” Serena asked as Marcellus stood up to leave.

“Then we’ll just have to persuade her, won’t we?”

Marcellus seemed to mean what he said. He was sticking around for a while, and Serena could think of no way to get out of this mess she’d created.

Ironically, Serena prayed for some sort of miracle that might delay her daughters’ arrival, wishing for more time to figure out what to do.

How could this happen today of all days?
Serena wondered bitterly. The morning had started off so wonderfully. Now, everything was shattering around her.

“Mama!” Eryn Moori squealed delightedly as she rushed into the comfort of her mother’s arms.

Serena hugged her daughter
tightly,
hardly able to believe this moment had finally come.

She held her daughter’s face and looked into Eryn’s warm green eyes. They were still the same shade as blades of grass on a summer’s day. Her cheeks were still rosy and her hair was as dark and vibrant as she remembered.

It was as if nothing ever happened.

Serena hugged her daughter again, thankful to see her looking so alive and healthy.

Soon after, Serena’s eldest daughter, Liliana, caught up to them, lifting her skirts as she ran.
She nearly

knocked Serena over, crashing into her at full-speed.

“Goodness,” Serena said breathlessly.

“You have no idea how wonderful it is to see you again,” Liliana cried.

“Oh, I’ve some idea,” Serena said.

“To say that I’ve worried endlessly about both of you would be an understatement.”

She stroked Liliana’s tousled
hair,
happy to see her complexion glowed just as radiantly as Eryn’s. Though she’d known the hardships they must’ve endured, it was a pleasant surprise to see they’d come out of it seemingly unscathed. They were still Serena’s lovely, vivacious daughters. She was immensely grateful for that.

Another form drew near, but lingered a few feet away. Serena glanced beyond the top of Liliana’s head to see a young man waiting patiently behind.

He was the Constantin boy Kristoph mentioned. Serena was sure of it. He definitely looked like one, with his dark hair and gray eyes. His body was lean, tapered at the torso. His jawline was strong and firm. He was certainly handsome, she thought to herself absently.