Thaddeus’s Plan – 1305
The Darkholme Gathering (Titus)
Anne glanced at me as I stepped into the room, before turning her attention back to the mirror, dress transforming. Of course she wasn’t ready. From the feel of the magic in the room she’d already tried multiple different options, searching for the perfect dress for the occasion, with that one being another failure from the look she gave it. Hence Thaddeus sending me up, because there was fashionably late and then there was rude. Rudeness was not an option when we were dealing with the Darkholmes.
The Darkholme Gathering (Anne)
Hands resting on my hips, love shining in his eyes, Titus smiled. He was more comfortable with me than he ever had been anyone else. The dress I wore was the one he’d created for my coming of age gathering in our last life, with some minor differences. It was the last time we’d danced together too, both of us attempting to rebuild a relationship I didn’t think could ever be the way it was in our first life, and I’d been wrong. As I curled my arms around his neck I studied him, certain the dress was one of his gentle ways to try to help my memories return. He’d been so careful.
The Darkholme Gathering (Titus)
Thaddeus drew me aside, as Anne stepped onto the dance floor with Jonas, her back tense. Once she enjoyed dancing. Life by life it faded, too many fathers viewing their only daughter as a tool. With Thaddeus it was different. He wanted all of us to fall in love the way he had, even knowing Marion had never felt the same way about him as he did about her.
The Darkholme Gathering (Anne)
The smile didn’t reach his eyes. Jonas studied me, in a way I knew all too well, because, of course, he believed he was the problem. Espen was the first. We were dancing at my coming of age. Our friendship would become more, certain I felt the same way. I’d said no, for reasons that had nothing to do with the ritual, unable to stop hoping. Lifetimes passed, I built a relationship with Elias and met my soulmate, but there was always Titus, the man who’d chosen to be my brother. No one could ever compare, even though I knew it wasn’t fair.
The Nightmare
He stood opposite me. I knew him, without truly understanding why. We’d never met before, but he’d be in Marren Vale, with the rest of his family. The Lockwoods. At some point the youngest girl slipped away, taking with her my brother Anton, they must have some kind of relationship, and the youngest Lockwood boy. The whole time his eyes were on mine, expectation within them, because he did know me. So did she. Yet she’d avoided me the entire time.
How The Truth Changes Things
Dante stared at his hand. I hoped he believed me, but my decision would affect the relationships I had with every member of my family. Even though I’d known it from the beginning I’d held on to the hope, as foolish as it turned out to be, my sons wouldn’t have magic. With Victor being magicless it was the more likely scenario, especially after I’d blocked my own power, only for my eldest to be a strong Seer, and the twins… they needed Marren Vale. Only Dante’s nightmare… I ran my tongue over my bottom lip.
Fixing Relationships
”Mama, I…”
“Focus on your relationship first.” Mama squeezed my hands. “Whatever happens I will be fine, Dante.” She gave me a smile, one that didn’t reach her eyes, so I wasn’t certain I believed her. “One way or another.”
Love Sometimes Helps
Footsteps came from behind me, ones I knew well, but I wasn’t ready for what came next. Even though I knew a conversation with Dante would have an effect I didn’t know how whether it would actually help when it came to our relationship. Victor was upset, because I’d hidden the biggest part of me from him, and that… I hoped he’d never learn I was from Marren Vale, and then our sons changed everything. Maybe it was inevitable, from what I’d learnt about Victor’s potentially bloodlines. Jacob surviving… I ran my tongue over my bottom lip.
Brunch (Anne)
The Lockwood house hadn’t changed, which wasn’t entirely unexpected. It was Titus who’d cared most about it, believing it a sign of the Lockwood power, and Emory clearly didn’t feel the same way. Neither did any of the generations before him. Em definitely wouldn’t have. Knowing him I didn’t think he’d have chosen to live there, preferring the home Maeve left him, but there were those who had, including Papa’s father, who’d learnt of the existence of Marren Vale from another Jasper. Very few of the family knew where the name came from, because another Emory, the first Thaddeus’s brother, told stories of an uncle to his sons, the name being passed on to a grandson he was never lucky enough to meet.
Brunch (Titus)
Hearing Georgina speak from the heart was interesting. Anne was the one who’d know if Georgina was being honest, but I had a feeling Emory didn’t believe it for a moment, shaking his head as we stood outside the door to the library. If we hadn’t been there I imagine him going straight into the room. Uncertain how making that choice would make him look he waited instead, because the way Georgina spoke made me think she wasn’t who I expected her to be. That wasn’t unusual. Yes, she’d made some terrible choices, because she’d been in love with the wrong person. Judging that wasn’t something I should do.