“Do you have many of her items?” Lucian asked.
“Yes, her furniture, favourite ornaments, stuff like that. I gave her clothing to charity. Mariah supported me with that. And Cole helped me sort through things I wouldn’t or couldn’t take with me,” Maggie replied.
Lucian bristled. Who was this Cole? Mariah’s name he recognised, but Cole? Was he her beau? Well, tough, Lucian was going to woo the socks off Maggie. This man is insignificant!
“Cole?” Lucian asked carefully, not allowing jealousy to show in his tone. Maggie’s face lit up with happiness and love, and Lucian swallowed hard.
“There’s six of us. Mariah, Stephanie, Tilly, Callie, Cole, and myself. Our mothers met when we were two years old, and we grew up together. We’re like siblings,” Maggie explained. Lucian understood then that Maggie still had a family. She had made her close friends her version of siblings and loved them. Lucian could see it written all over her face.
“Cole is the big brother?” Lucian asked.
“Cole is the much-beleaguered brother, with five sisters, all with unique personalities. He was an only child like me, so he grabbed hold tightly to us as we did him. Poor Cole has dealt with PMS, raging hormones, boyfriends, and break-ups. It wasn’t easy on him with us to manage,” Maggie replied and laughed.
“He sounds like a great sibling.” Lucian nodded, thinking of CeeCee, and sadness crossed him. Would she have said he’s a good brother? Where was CeeCee now? Lucian hoped she’d escaped that night, but somehow, he sensed, something had gone very wrong with his siblings.
“Cole is the best,” Maggie stated with a smile.
???
Lucian noticed the change as Margery swept down the stairs. Margery seemed more alert. While the bar looked the same, with no work being done on it yet, the kitchen and toilets were a mess as Mr Evans’ team worked hard on them. Margery spun in the bar and sniffed.
“A woman’s been here, Lucian, and frequently. I smell her perfume. Who is she?” Margery cooed, and Lucian shuddered. He loathed that tone. Margery twisted her head, and before Lucian could stop her, she dashed past him and into the kitchen. An outraged screech came from there, and Lucian ducked his head. Margery stormed out, her powers swelling around her. The eerie green glow swirled with her emotions.
“Someone works here! I demand answers!” Margery shouted.
Lucian rolled his non-existent eyes. As usual, Lucian had dissipated and surrounded the building with his essence. Margery’s gaze narrowed as she took in the bar’s cleanliness and the gleaming windows.
“Lucian,” Margery cooed, drawing out his name. “Is somebody moving in? Someone you can’t control?”
Lucian bristled and regretted it instantly. Margery would notice and, like a cat with a mouse, pounce.
“A woman?” Margery kept questioning. Lucian sensed her energy swelling and prepared himself for an attack.
“Why won’t you answer me, Lucian? Who is this girl you’re protecting?” Margery taunted and let rip with a blast of power. Lucian struggled as it hit and tried to absorb it. His essence flowed, trying to stop it from breaching his protective shield. Margery grinned and released several other blasts, one after another, as she dashed for the closest exit. Lucian slammed his weight behind the door while he worked to contain the magical blasts. He sensed the magic peeling away his protection, and he steadied his resolve. Margery shrieked and began two more blasts at the door. Lucian bounced those back harmlessly.
With a calculated glance, Margery launched several random attacks around the walls, and Lucian struggled to catch them. With a cry of triumph, Margery leapt towards the second door and attempted to blast her way through it. Lucian was weakening but determined not to allow her to flee into the night.
“I can track her; I shall tear her heart out and eat it in front of you!” Margery crowed. A surge of power soared through Lucian as he sensed his barrier weaken dramatically. Lucian didn’t question it but drew on it to lock the inn down completely. A second wave slammed into Margery, who was thrown from the doors and against the bar.
“How dare you!” Margery exploded and raised her hands again. A third blast shoved her to the portrait, and the final pushed her through it. Margery’s anger was noticed keenly by Lucian as he dropped his protection and materialised in the bar. He collapsed into a heap and stared at Margery’s picture. Tonight was the strongest she’d ever been. She’d been storing up her strength. That was why she walked to the portrait so quickly on previous nights. It meant Margery used less power to be here, and she had clearly been banking it.
“Wollscombe?” Lucian urged into the silence. He’d never felt so weary. A wave of love and refreshing power washed over him as his home expressed love in her way.
“Was that you who shored me up?”
Wollscombe sent a denial.
“Then who was it?” Lucian asked, puzzled.
A tentative force touched him, unsure of her welcome. She fired waves of reassurance at Lucian while keeping her distance from him. Maggie’s image appeared in his head, standing in the bar, and Lucian watched as the inn wrapped herself around Maggie. Dear Lord, above! His gut had been right. Somehow, Jekyll and Hyde had become sentient, and it was linked to Maggie. Jekyll pushed at him a little, and Lucian wondered what she needed. Wollscombe was watching patiently as the weaker power shoved at Lucian more strongly.
Taking a chance on what Jekyll wanted, Lucian opened himself up, and Jekyll surged straight in. Wollscombe trilled an alarm, but Jekyll wound herself around Lucian, and he sensed feelings of gratitude and love settle on him. Wollscombe let out an angry sound, but Lucian grinned as the little inn made a rude noise. Jekyll weaved images of Maggie through him, and he smiled. The inn was trying to tell him she had bonded to Maggie and would protect her. Lucian sent out a wave of approval, and Jekyll retreated, overjoyed her message had been understood. In the background, Wollscombe lurked like an overbearing parent.
Maggie
“What happened?” Maggie asked as she raced into the inn no earlier than six that morning. The sun had risen, and Lucian appeared half dressed as Maggie called his name.
“Margery knows you’re here,” Lucian said as he left his cravat undone.