Only in Her Dreams (26 page)

My Marie. My beautiful, compassionate, understanding Marie. Time and distance hasn’t diminished my love for you!

Look at what he’d reduced her to. Staring, unseeing out a window. She hadn’t a care in the world, but with that relief she no longer knew how to care.

He leaned his head against the door jamb and blinked back the tears that threatened to overtake him. How he missed her. They’d both been so carefree. Against his father’s wishes, but with his consent, Guy had left Erebos-–never to return. He chose love over his father’s people. At the time, it was worth the sacrifice. He’d gotten a job, bought a home for Marie and himself, and then after ten years together they’d been surprised with a child. Something neither of them thought possible.

Guy remembered holding Lucessa for the first time and the happiness on Marie’s face. Their first Christmas was magical. They didn’t have much in the way of material things, but they’d had a roof over their heads, food in their bellies and love.

Yes, most of all love.

As the years passed, he’d been able to make a better living, taking his family on vacations to the mountains and the beach. They were always together, his little family.

He liked to think his father was proud of the way he’d lived his life, carving a way without the privilege of power or position. Marie came from an Italian family who owned a local restaurant. She’d been raised as a hard worker, spending many days, nights, and holidays in the kitchen alongside her mother, cooking. Marie had instilled in him a sense of accomplishment and a passion for life.

As he watched, Marie lifted her hand from the armrest and began rubbing the base of her ring finger, the same spot where Guy had placed a small emerald ring forty years ago. She caressed the spot as if she knew something was out of place, missing.

Guy was here to fix that. Erebos be damned!

“Marie,” he whispered and walked in to the room.

He proceeded slowly, so as not to frighten her. Shock coursed through his body when she turned her head toward him, her blue eyes leveling him with a questioning glare. He saw a hint of recognition cross her face, but it disappeared just as quickly, replaced with confusion. Her skin was paler than he remembered, but still as flawless, with not one wrinkle.

“Marie, it’s me...Guy. Do you remember me, love?” He held his breath in anticipation of her answer.

She shifted her body toward him. The years had been good to her. Her body had filled out in all the right spots. She was no longer the young woman he’d left to fend for herself and their daughter, but a mature woman.

“Where’ve you been? I’ve waited so long for you.”

Her answer was nothing he’d expected, but all he’d hoped for. Maybe she wasn’t as damaged as Lucessa and Maxim thought. “May I have a seat?”

“Of course.” She gestured to the chair next to her. “I always knew you’d return for me.”

“I only heard you’ve been sick. I am sorry I didn’t come sooner.”

“I understand, Guy. You’ve many responsibilities, but you’re here now and everything will be okay.”

“Yes, I’m here. Would you like to go see Lucessa? I have yet to see her.”

His stomach fell when confusion clouded her face. “Who is Lucessa?”

“Our daughter Marie...you must remember her,” he pleaded.

“Our daughter? We couldn’t have children, but I knew that from the start. I’m okay with that.”

“But we did have a child, Marie. She’s thirty years old now and she looks exactly like you. Please think hard, you must remember her,” he said. “We were overjoyed to bring her into our family.” He reached out and took her hands in his. His finger rubbed the spot where her wedding ring once rested, the same spot she’d caressed just moments earlier.

She stared at him blankly.

“Please, you must remember her. She is beautiful, smart, and compassionate. Just like her mother.” Her expression didn’t change and Guy was afraid he may have frightened her. She would retreat into the shell she’d called home for so many years.

“I just want to go home, Guy. My garden must be in a dreadful state after all this time.”

How can I break her heart again and tell her we don’t have a home to go to?
It was time he heal her, and hopefully return all her missing memories. He detangled his hands from hers and reached for her face, caressing his thumbs over her brows as his palms moved against the sides of her head. His fingers entwined in her mahogany hair.

“Marie, I have missed you so much. Not a day has passed that I did not long for you...and our family.” Guy closed his eyes and concentrated on her.

His whole body tensed and a pain grew in his gut, radiating up and extending through his arms. An electrical current shot into Marie’s mind from his fingertips. Bits and piece of their shared life flashed through his mind. He saw himself as the young college student who’d roamed the campus, looking for a place to fit in. Another memory replaced it...he gazed at himself in a tuxedo surrounded by beautiful roses, waiting at the end of the aisle. Their wedding day!

Marie’s memories rushed through his mind, returning to her.

She struggled in his grasp at the overload of information entering her fragile mind. A sharp intake of breath and the fight drained from her body. Guy straightened and opened his eyes, staring into Marie’s unguarded ones. He saw hurt, pain, and confusion mirrored back at him.

“There was a car wreck...” her eyes widened as the memories flooded her mind. “We have a daughter...lights filled the car...I heard the sound of breaking glass.”

She was remembering. Everything.

“You were bleeding and I couldn’t get to you...a man came and took Lucessa from the car.”

Again, she paused. A faraway look entered her eyes.

“Lucessa! I remember her. She was so young. We loved her so much.
I
loved her so much!”

“We still love her very much. She’s alive and a wonderful young woman.”

“I know! She visits me often. Every time she was here I felt, deep down, that I knew her...that I know her still,” Marie said with excitement.

“She did, Marie. All these years she has loved you as much as I have loved you.” Hope for their future filled him.

“Take me to her, Guy.”

Chapter 36

Maxim finished his second bottle of wine as the sun reached its zenith. He’d been unable to sleep or even calm his nerves through the night and into the morning. He opened his first bottle of wine not long after the sun crested over the horizon. There was still no contact or demands from Darius.
What is he waiting for?

He paced from the living room to the kitchen and upstairs, over and over. The wait for news was killing him. He had to check in with Guy by the end of the day. After he blew off their meeting last night, his brother would be mad. And probably sensed things were out of control.

His boot steps echoed though the empty house, Goosey right on his heels. The dog hung her head. She sensed the dire circumstances. He’d gone over and over all his options and unfortunately he only had one. Wait.

A sound on the front porch drew his attention from his pacing.
My imagination must be working overtime.
Goosey took off for the front door, barking wildly as she went. His heart jumped.

His twin must be ready to negotiate. What Darius didn’t realize is there would be no negotiating where Lucessa was concerned. He’d release her or die.

Again, his boots echoed purposefully through the empty house. The time had come for him to bring Lucessa home and fulfill his promise to Guy, once and for all.

His hand flew forward, nearly ripping the front door off its hinges. His hope was that his twin stood on the other side of the door. Red hot rage had overtaken his body and his fist itched to connect with Darius’s face. But his brother wouldn’t be stupid enough to come himself, leaving Lucessa unattended with his Melas Oneiroi. Even Alexander could not be trusted with her.

As the door swung open, his eyes alighted on a familiar looking woman, an expectant smile on her face. It slowly faded. “It’s you! The dreams...”

Marie.
Maxim took a step back. His eldest brother stood next to the woman. He held her lovingly by the hand.

“Brother mine, please come in.” Maxim stepped aside to allow them entrance.

“Where’s Lucessa?” Guy pushed the door wider.

His brother was dressed in black cargo pants and a matching black sweater. Maxim couldn’t remember the last time his brother hadn’t worn his large fur coat. Lucessa’s mother wore a long skirt and floral print blouse under a warm winter jacket.

“Unfortunately, she is not here at the moment.”

“Not here at the moment? Where is she?”
            “I’m not exactly sure...” Maxim stalled Guy.

“You’re here to watch her, protect her. And you’re telling me you do not know where she is?” His brother was right.

“Please, introduce me, Guy.”

Maxim and Guy looked at the woman between them.

His brother, always being polite, took over the introductions.

“Marie, may I introduce you to my youngest brother, Maxim Lucas. Maxim, this is my beloved Marie. Marie Sarcona.”

Bowing low, Maxim addressed Marie. “It’s a pleasure to finally meet the woman who filled by brother’s heart.”

“This is not our first introduction, as you may remember. You rescued Lucessa and then took my memories.” Her glare pinned him in his spot.

“My apologies, Mrs. Sarcona. I’ve made many mistakes,” Maxim said rising from his bow.

“Yes, we’ve talked about that.” Marie cast a small smile in Guy’s direction. “All is forgiven. Guy has explained the promise you made to him and I’d like to thank you for looking after Lucessa during our absence.”

“Don’t thank me just yet,” Maxim said.
She is as regal as any queen.
It was time to come clean.

“What’s going on, Maxim?” Guy stepped into the conversation, his face showing concern.

“I think Darius took her.”

“Well, go get her!”

“Problem with that is I can’t find him.”

“Why not?” Marie chimed in, her head moving back and forth between the two men as she spoke.

“Since we share our twin bond, normally I can concentrate on him and travel to where he is, but I’ve been unable to sense him since last night.”

“So what do we do now?” Marie asked anxiously.

“I’ve been waiting here for any word from him. He has to want something, he’ll make his demands soon. I’m sure of it.” Maxim turned and headed for the living room, his brother and Marie following closely. “You know it is very dangerous for you to be here, right?”

“Obviously I came just in time. When were you going to tell me my daughter had been taken?”

“During my evening report?”

“Do not test me, Maxim. You will not like what happens,” Guy threatened. “Tell me everything you know.”

Maxim started by telling Guy about returning from Erebos the previous night and going in search of Darius. His brother interrupted, to point out that Maxim hadn’t been to Erebos last night and that was one of the reasons Guy was on earth now. He took Guy, with Marie sitting quietly nearby, through his search of Darius’s current lodging and the Melas telling him that Darius had left earlier with Alexander and with three others in tow. Guy asked several questions as Maxim retold the events of the last eighteen hours.

Yes, two of the people with Darius were Lucessa and her husband, Greg.

No, he didn’t know who the third person, a female, was.

No, Darius hadn’t made any contact with demands for the recovery of Lucessa.

No, he had no idea how Darius was blocking their connection.

Yes, I will
kill
him when I find him!

“He will make contact soon. He wants something bad enough to jeopardize his life by taking your daughter.” His heart ached for Marie, as the grimace passed over her face. “Now I have a few questions while we wait.”

“You know I don’t take kindly to questions, Maxim.”

“Oh, let him speak, Guy,” Marie chimed in with a small smirk.

Maxim saw why Guy was so taken with Marie--enough to give up his position in Erebos. He suddenly understood why he found Lucessa so attractive, both physically and intellectually. She was her mother’s daughter. He brought himself back to the present as Guy and Marie stared at him, waiting for him to speak.

“It is not really a question. From what I gather here, you were able to reverse the effects of the mind wipe.” Maxim addressed his comment to Guy, but never took his eyes off Marie. She appeared younger by the minute.

From the corner of his eye, Maxim watched Guy look him up and down. He wondered if Guy blamed him for the many hard years Lucessa and Marie suffered through.
Hell, I blame myself.
He should’ve known that wiping the mind of a person so embedded in the secrets of Erebos and married to the abdicated leader would affect a disaster. He’d been so stupid.

Lucessa and Marie had paid the price.

How will I ever repay her for all those years she lost with her parents?
He’d start by bringing her home, safe and sound to her mother, who had missed her without even knowing it. His weakness had caused the destruction of a family. He’d thought for years that the needs of Erebos far outweighed the family unit. He now knew it wasn’t true--not then and definitely not now. His weakness had ruined Lucessa’s childhood.

“Everything went as anticipated,” Guy said.

Why is Guy being so uptight and unemotional?
His attitude completely baffled Maxim. After all these years of pining for--and staring at pictures of Marie--he should be overjoyed at being reunited with her. Maybe it was the stress over Lucessa’s disappearance that weighed on him.

Maxim decided not to pressure his brother on the issue and he changed the subject. “What’s our next move? I’ve been waiting, but patience eludes me.”

# # #

What the fuck is going on!
Darius had sat at the kitchen table for over three hours...and nothing. They shared blood, but he couldn’t connect with his twin. How was he supposed to let his brothers know he held all the cards in their game of war? They knew he had the girl, but he wanted to flaunt his position and show them who held the power.