RBC06.50 - Marcella, Vampire Mage (22 page)

“Yes,” said someone in front, whom I could hear but not see. “Who is to go on this first expedition?”

“Not everyone wants to be away for almost a year,” said Father, “so I will need to have volunteers.”

After much discussion it was decided. Philepe agreed to go, since Gerhardt could manage his estate; and since their daughters would be staying with us anyway, Ricardo, Edward, and Michael also agreed to go. Others in banking, law, and accounting would also be going. Assignments were given and accepted, final business was discussed further, questions were answered and disputes were settled, after which the meeting was adjourned and all were invited to the dinner and ball. Departures would begin the following morning for the long journeys home.

I was relieved that no one had brought up the new arrivals, even though their visit really was no one else’s business. My mother—the thought still shocked me—and sister—that thought shocked me more—had wisely stayed out of sight so far that afternoon.

“Katrina,” called out three voices together. They rushed toward me, pushing through the crowd that was leaving the opposite way.

“We were so worried. Sarah said you fainted! You look recovered? In fact you look… glowing,” said El as she eyed me suspiciously.

“Physically, I’m fine. I’m just still in shock from learning that I have a Mother I thought all these years was dead, twin sister that I didn’t know existed, both of whom showed up this morning. It’s a bit overwhelming that’s all.”

They gave me a hug and I told them I would tell them all about it as we got ready for the festivities to be held that night, but I had to go over to Father’s and spend some time with my newly enlarged family.

Thomas was waiting outside, looking concerned.

“I’m all right,” I said before he could ask.

“I knew you would be. You’re strong, Katrina, and if you can handle yourself in battle you can handle this,” he said with conviction.

“You’re right, Thomas, thank you.”

He
was
right. I could and would be fine; I had no choice, I decided. I nodded to Thomas, shrugged my shoulders, and we continued on. My apprehension was gone by the time we reached Father’s quarters. As Thomas opened the door for me, I took a deep breath and walked in. Father wasn’t there yet; I knew that because Gunter wasn’t outside. Mother and Katherine were out on the balcony and I saw them turn as they heard the door.

“Katrina, I’m so glad you’re here at last. Katherine, come, let’s sit and get acquainted. How was the talk with your father? Do you have any questions for us?” as she spoke I noticed the look of concern on her face.

It was so odd to look into the faces of two people that looked so much like me. Of course, as I looked at Katherine I realized that she looked
exactly
like me, except that our hair naturally parted on opposite sides. She was my mirror image, which would mean that she was left-handed while I was right-handed.

“He explained why you left and why he didn’t tell me. I know that he kept the secret because he thought he was protecting me. And while I understand his reasons, I have a question for you. Didn’t you ever wonder how I was doing?”

“Oh Katrina, of course I did, but I had my spies,” a conspiratorial smile flashed and she patted my hand. “They told me you were doing well. Besides, I knew your father loved you so much that he would make sure you thrived.”

“He also said that you, Katherine, were the main reason you came back. Is that true?”

“Yes, I wanted a chance to know both you and Father, as I’m sure you would like to know Mother. I felt this was the time, Mother recognized and took my urgency seriously, and well, here we are.”

“Well, as I thought that Mother had died, I often wished that I had had the chance to know her. Now that I know you exist, I can’t wait to know you better. How long are you going to stay Katherine?” Although, I addressed my sister, I looked to my mother for the answer.

“We haven’t decided yet,” Mother said. “We’ll just have to see how it goes. Seeing your father again brings back wonderful memories for me, and I realize the two of you deserve a chance to have the closeness most other twins have. Katrina.” She took my hand, a range of emotion played across her face as she continued, “What seemed like the right decision all those years ago just makes me sad now.” The emotional moment drew out and then she brightened. “But what’s done is done; I can’t take it back, so I’ll concentrate on what we have now. We have time, and as you know, time is on our side. We live for centuries, after all.”

Father came through the door then. “Oh, good, you’re all here,” he said. “My family as it should be.”

He seemed as happy as I’d ever seen him. Could it be? Would they reconcile? Too much to ask for, I supposed. Still, Mother was right, time
was
on our side. When I looked at her, she was beaming. Katherine and I exchanged a look, realizing it really could be true. We grinned at each other and I motioned for us to leave and give them some privacy.

“Father, I’m going to take Katherine to meet the girls. May we take her things, so we can all get ready together, Mother?”

“Mother, that sounds delightful. May I, please?” Katherine asked politely.

“Of course you may, but come back here when you’re dressed, and we’ll all go together. The others will want to enter with their fathers too.”

“Very well,” we said in unison, then laughed and walked out.

“Is it as strange to you as it is to me to have another person that looks just like you?” I asked Katherine as we walked down the corridor. I had to laugh as I saw the double-takes from the people we passed.

“Not really, because I lived with Mother and she looks so much like me—like
us.
I suppose I’m used to it.”

“Hmmm, I never thought of that. Where are your trunks?”

“Downstairs, I think.”

As we headed down the stairs we could see Thomas and Gunter talking near the bottom. They stopped and looked over as we approached.

“Well, fancy that. And we thought one was a handful,” Gunter said, and we all laughed.

“Katherine this is my Watcher, Thomas, and his brother, Gunter.”

“Do you have Watchers with you my Lady?”  Thomas asked.

“No, we don’t. We only have vampire guards.”

“Well, you will have to have a personal Watcher while you’re here. I’ll see to it myself,” Gunter said.

“As you wish.”

Katherine pointed out her trunks and we pulled out her things for the night’s ball. They were beautiful –“just purchased in Paris”, she told me as we set out for the common room. She couldn’t tell us where they had traveled from, only that it had been a long trip and she was tired. When we got to our complex, I saw Quinn standing by the door and I felt my spirits soar.

“Nice to see you feeling better, Kat,” he said lovingly.

Then he looked at my companion.

“Katherine, this is my friend Quinn, Thomas and Gunter’s brother.”

“I am pleased to meet you, Quinn, and you may call me Kate.”

“I’m stunned. I had no idea you were identical twins.”

“Mirror twins,” we said again in unison and then giggled.

“What does that mean?” he said, still looking shocked.

“It means she’s left-handed and…” I said

“. . . she’s right-handed, and our hair naturally parts on the opposite side, that’s all,” Katherine finished.

“I see. Well, at least we can tell you apart that way. I wanted to let you know that your father has arranged for Vampire guards to be on duty tonight, so my brothers and I can attend the ball, except for Gunter, of course. He even kindly arranged for formal attire for all of us. You’re going to love him, Katherine.”

“I already do.”

“That’s great news, Quinn. Wait until you meet the rest of the brothers Kate, one of whom will become your Watcher, and another one will be Mother’s.”

“If they’re anything like these two, I can’t wait,” she said parting her lips in a smile.

Thomas laughed, “Double trouble.”

“Indeed,” Quinn added.

“Let’s go meet the other girls and tell them the news. We’ll see you both later.”

Then I clasped Kate’s hand and we rushed up the stairs together.

“Watch the dress,” I ordered, and in we went.

“Greetings, everyone! I want you to meet my sister, Katherine. Katherine, may I present Rosalinda, Arletta, and Eleanor.”

“She’s…
you,”
gasped Eleanor.

“I know. Isn’t it eerie?”

“Gracious, this is going to take some getting used to,” Arletta said.

Rosa added, “That’s an understatement.”

Sarah had, of course, everything well in hand. Snacks and Crimson were laid out so we could keep our strength up. Kate needed that, but of course thanks to Quinn, I was fine. I’d have to think more about the matter of his feeding me again later. While she ate and drank greedily, we told the girls that Mother might be staying and that she and Father seemed very happy to see each other. I informed Kate that there had been no other women in Father’s life since they left, as far as I knew. She told us that although there had been many suitors, Mother had also remained single. The girls insisted on telling Kate what a hero I was, and how we would all be training together from now on, at least until the envoy returned from the Americas. We had forgotten she didn’t know anything about that either, so we were quick to explain the situation, and added that we all hoped to be included in the colonization. She seemed very excited at that idea, adding that she intended to go wherever I went.

“Now to the important things,” El said, a devilish smile appearing on her lips. “Did Quinn or Thomas tell you the news about the ball tonight?”

“Yes, isn’t it enchanting? I’ll have to thank Father,” I said.

“You are in for a treat Katherine. All the brothers are gorgeous. Letta and I haven’t decided on which of them we like best, but those two are smitten with Thomas and Quinn,” said Rosa, pointing to El and me.

“Please, call me Kate, and I saw for myself just before we came up here how much Kat and Quinn meant each other.”

“She told them if the others were anything like them, she couldn’t wait to meet the rest.”

Letta laughed. “She fits right in already.”

“They’re calling us double trouble,” Kate said.

“If you ask me, they have no idea yet how true that’s going to be,” Rosa said.

“Do you want to move in with us?” El asked, excited she had thought of it.

“There’s an empty room. Oh, please say yes! It’ll give your parents some time to be alone, and we’ll make sure you both get time with them,” Letta said.

“How about it?” I asked, turning to Kate.

“I think it would be delightful. Thank you so much for making me feel so welcome. You don’t know how afraid I was that no one would accept me— including Kat and Father.” As she spoke her eyes filled with tears.

“Stop, you’ll make us all cry,” Letta said, and gave her a hug.

CHAPTER SEVEN

Kate’s gown was a sexy off-the-shoulder, blood-red silk taffeta, complemented by matching slippers. It showed a generous amount of cleavage, as did all of our gowns, our motto being: “Don’t hide your blessings.” We had Sarah put Kate’s hair up in a style similar to ours. Rubies and diamonds at her neck and ears completed her outfit. We all had on the gowns we had agreed on days before, and with Kate’s hair finished we had to admit if there were any five girls more fetching than us, well, there couldn’t be anyone more fetching that the five of us.

“Stunning,” said Sarah. “Jaws will be dropping, that’s for sure, and I bet the brothers are going to have to fight off a lot of competitors tonight. You’d better go, girls; it’s time for you to meet your fathers, so they can escort you to dinner. Does everyone have a handkerchief?”

“Yes,” we all chimed, pulling them out and waving them in the air.

“Just checking. Put them back up your sleeves and be off. Go, go on,” she said shooing us out the door. The girls went to find their fathers, and Katherine and I went to find ours.

Cedrik had joined Thomas to be our Watchers until we were delivered to dinner. Then they would be off duty.

“Cedrik,” I said, “this is my sister Katherine.”

“A pleasure to meet you, Katherine.”

“Likewise, but please call me Kate.”

Father was pacing when we arrived. Gunter was joined by Avery, who was to be Mother’s new Watcher. We introduced him to Katherine and entered the apartment.

“How many more brothers are there?” Kate said.

“Two, not a bad one in the bunch,” I laughed.

Father smiled. “You two look stunning, absolutely stunning. Will the two of you please see if you can rush your mother along? It’s getting late.”

“No need Fredrik, I’m ready,” we heard her say as she came into the room.

Now it was our turn to gasp. Her hair was up in ringlets; her dress was the color of a blush pearl, with hand-sewn iridescent crystals edging the sweetheart neckline. Sleeves, puffed at the shoulders, ended slightly past her wrist, also edged in the same crystal detail. The dress was corseted in the back and featured a full pleated skirt that flowed to the floor.