She sobbed uncontrollably, for what felt like hours. I watched her twitch for another half hour before, exhausted, she fell into a deep sleep. Louis was at my back, looking over us both. Since his return, his presence had been a welcome, calming influence on me.
“I’ll watch over her.” He said softly. I stopped at his side before I left the room and for a moment put a hand on his shoulder.
“Thank you.” I said, turning my mind to other matters. As I returned to the study walking past members of my, now considerable, coven I weighed the decision of asking them to stand with me in a battle against one of us. One who looked more like them and was actually defining their existence on the island, for better or worse. My concern however, is the safety of Ngozi and my new brood. Their decision to leave Winston and join me deserved my respect and loyalty.
I felt his presence before I entered the darkened room. A single boot was illuminated by moonlight as I entered. It quickly disappeared into shadow. I walked over to my desk and sat in my chair with my eyes closed.
“Have you come to talk or for some darker purpose.” I said evenly, my eyes still closed.
“Impressive.” He said with genuine admiration. “I’m sure none of the others know I’m here.”
“I made you.” I said.
“Ah yes. You can sense when I’m close, my feelings as well I suppose?”
“I can feel you.” I began slowly, opening my eyes. “And I suppose I shouldn’t be surprised that there is less in the way of feelings that I can sense than before I made you what you are.”
He laughed softly and walked into the moonlight so that I could admire his impressive stature. Impeccably dressed in a dark suit, elegant, enthralling…dangerous.
“You feel so much remorse for what you do. For making me what I am. What I saw as a strength before I became like you I now recognize as…well as something that would make this existence less than it should be.”
“I know. You are not the first to suggest that I should be more grateful for this gift. Is that what were calling it now? This bloodlust, this affliction.”
His smile disappeared, as he studied me considering his next words more carefully.
“I do not blame you Nicholas. I am grateful for what you have done for me.”
“Don’t you mean to you?”
He walked to the window and continued.
“Somebody has to lead Nicholas. One of us has too. For our kind there can be no room for doubt. They all need to know who that leader is.”
“So now you are an expert on what we are and what we need. So my silence is not enough. Our discretion is not enough. You need me to call you leader before all…to bow before you?”
“Please Nicholas. I want you to have your freedom, to lead your own coven as you have been doing…but they feel threatened and uncertain about who is the rightful leader. About who will lead us all if that time comes.” He turned to me, pleading with his eyes.
“Winston I am so sorry. But this does not end well, at least not the way you want it to. Too much has been done already.”
For a fleeting moment before he responded I did feel an emotion from him. Fear.
“I hope you reconsider Nicholas. I didn’t mean for Ngozi to be harmed in anyway…or her family. But, there are no easy decisions for the one who will lead us.” I heard the window open and then silence.
“No.” I said to the empty room. “There are no easy decisions…”
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