The
Masters stood not far from the healer’s home.
“Are
you sure she is in there?” asked Beast.
“Yes. She has a protective shield up but I can
feel her. Demon do you have the
amulet?” Starchild asked.
“Yes
I have it.”
Celestial
began giving instructions. “Remember,
do not let it touch Andrea or you will drain her energy again.”
“I
know.”
“As
long as you have the amulet and are touching her she cannot use her magic.”
“I
know Celestial. Just get me inside.”
“Okay,
here you go.”
Celestial
had found a weak spot in Andrea’s shield.
He transported Demon into the healer’s house without Andrea knowing he
was there. Andrea’s back was to Demon;
she was working at the table. He walked
up behind her and gently wrapped his hand around her arm.
“It
is time to go home my Lady.”
Andrea
froze. How could he have found
her? She had been so careful. Panic began to set in. She had to get away from him. She closed her eyes, bowed her head and
nothing happened. He had taken her
power yet again.
“It
is time to go home my Lady.”
Andrea
looked at Demon and tears rolled down her face. He gently wiped away her tears.
She did not speak to him. He
could see her pain in her eyes. He had
an overwhelming urge to take her in his arms and comfort her, to explain
everything, but he knew she would not listen, not now. Besides, he did not have the words to make
her listen and understand.
Keeping
his hand on her arm Demon walked Andrea out the door and over to The Masters.
Andrea
looked at Beast, Celestial, and Starchild then looked away. She no longer wanted to look at her captors.
“I
will take her back.” said Demon. They all looked at Demon questioningly.
Demon
handed Celestial the amulet and stepped away from them. Andrea knew they had taken her powers again
so she did not try to get away. There
was no place for her to go. She was
giving up.
Before
their eyes Demon became a dragon.
Andrea barely looked at him.
Celestial walked with Andrea to the dragon.
“He
will carry you back to the manor Andrea.”
Andrea
was silent. Demon took her in his arms,
spread his wings and took off.
“Did
we do the right thing by letting him take her?” asked Beast.
“I hope so.” was all Starchild could say as he watched Demon fly away with Andrea.
CHAPTER
38
Demon
landed in the meadow. He put Andrea down and then backed away to become human
again.
Demon
walked over to Andrea. “Can we start
again?”
Andrea
remained silent and refused to look at him.
She might be his prisoner but she would not make it easy for him.
“Andrea,
I am sorry. Please let me
explain.” Demon placed his hand under
her chin and lifted her face up to his.
He stared into her eyes. He
leaned down and gently kissed her lips.
Andrea was not expecting a kiss.
Questions raced through her mind.
‘What was he going to do to her now?’
Andrea
was no more surprised at this kiss than Demon.
His intention was to merely get her attention but when his lips touched
hers, brief though it was, a spark ignited in him. He had loved Miranda but this feeling toward Andrea was something
more.
“I
have not treated you very well. I am
sorry. Please forgive me. I want to start over. Will you let me do that?”
Andrea
did not trust him, not yet. After all
he had taken her power, not once but twice.
“I
know you do not trust me my Lady. Allow
me to try again?”
Andrea
looked at him, every emotion crossing her face. Demon lifted her hand to his lips and kissed it.
“My
Lady would you like to transport us back to the manor?”
“But
you have taken my power.”
Demon
smiled, “Try it now.”
Andrea
closed her eyes, bowed her head and took them to the great hall at the manor.
“I
could not do that before. What did you
do to me?”
“The
effect was only temporary.” Starchild told her. “All your powers are returned to you.”
“We
were worried when you disappeared.” Beast told her.
“So
you had to bring me back even if I do not want to be here?”
“You
had agreed to spend a day with each of us.
You still have to spend the day with Demon.” Starchild continued, “After that if you want to leave we will
send you home and we will not bother you again.”
“Starchild!!”
“Demon,
if she does not want to be here she cannot fulfill the prophecy. It must be her decision.”
The
Masters all looked at Andrea.
Hope
was returning to Andrea. Soon she could
go home and away from The Masters. “One
day. I will give you one more day.”
Andrea walked out of the great hall and into the garden.
"Do
not judge The Masters too harshly."
Andrea
was surprised at this new voice. She
turned and saw a young woman standing in front of her.
"Who
are you?"
The
young woman smiled very politely, "My name is Miranda. Do not judge The Masters too harshly. They are not sure how to explain things to
you."
"I
don’t think I want them to explain anything.
I don’t want to be here. I am
going home."
Miranda
grinned, "Let's sit down and we will talk."
They
sat down on the bench and Miranda started to explain about The Masters.
"You
see, I was supposed to be The Lady of the Manor, but I was not strong
enough. But you, you are much stronger
than I; you have many more powers than I ever thought about having. You are The Lady of the Manor."
Andrea
just stared at Miranda not quite comprehending what she was saying.
"Let
me tell you a little bit about The Masters.
Starchild is quite sensitive. He
would never hurt you and he would not let any of The Masters hurt you. Celestial, he likes to laugh and make
jokes. Beast he likes to cuddle as a
cat, but my dragon. I loved my dragon,
and he loved me, he still does, almost too much. I have told Demon he has to let go of me and he needs to love
you.”
Andrea
gasped, "Love me, he has to love me?
I don’t think so. I do not like
him."
Miranda
laughed. "Oh he's just a big
baby. He can be quite tender. He cares for you, I can tell. I have watched him with you and I have heard
him speak about you. There is something in his voice."
"What
do you mean you have watched him with me?
Who are you?"
Miranda
continued to smile, "That really is not important now. What is important is you understand The
Masters and you realize they need you.
They need you to be The Lady of the Manor."
"But
what is this prophecy they keep talking about?"
"The
prophecy says The Lady of the Manor must bear the child of The Masters. Which means The Lady must mate with all four
of The Masters on the night of her birthday."
Andrea
looked at Miranda with shock, "All four?"
“Yes,
and there is more."
"I
don’t think so, this is more than enough."
"There
is more."
“What
more can there be? To mate with all
four of them? At once?"
Miranda looked away, "After you mate with all four of The Masters then you must mate with my dragon."