“I wear it always,” Solange said, pulling the small, gold cross hanging from its golden chain from her cleavage and displaying it to her great grandmother.
Marceline approached Solange slowly, using her walking cane to assist her. She hated the cane and resented the image of a weakened old woman it portrayed, but without it, she just couldn’t get around as well as she once did. Solange held still, patiently waiting for Marceline to reach her.
Marceline reached out toward the cross that Solange wore, taking it gently in her hands and running her long, still elegant fingers, with an ever impeccable manicure across it over and over, ‘reenergizing’ it with the protection spell she first put on it all those years ago when Solange first went through puberty. Finally, satisfied that it was as strong and protective as it had ever been, she let it drop back to Solange’s chest.
“I am very proud of you, Solange. Others may think that I’ve been too hard on you, steered you in the direction I thought you should go rather than allowing you to choose your own.” Marceline stood, regarding Solange, and a shadow of regret passed briefly over her face. “Perhaps I did. But it was not without reason. You will need these gifts, these skills I’ve insisted you learn. You will need to be stronger than anyone, more adept at reading people than anyone, more sure of yourself than anyone. These things will keep you safe, they’ll keep you alive. No matter what happens, be sure to keep up with your studies, your training. Do not ever stop learning and improving. Each time you best yourself, set a new goal, then do what is necessary to exceed that one as well.”
“I understand, Grandmama. I will.”
Marceline watched her quietly for a moment. “Very well, then. It’s time to get dressed for dinner. Tonight we will have guests.”
“Yes, ma’am. I’ll dress appropriately.”
“I’m sure you will,” Marceline answered, watching Solange as she gathered her things and began to exit the room.
Just as she got almost to the door Marceline spoke again. “I do love you, Solange. I always have.”
Solange stopped, but she didn’t turn around. She knew that her great grandmother loved her, but it had always been a strained relationship. After all, it was her birth that heralded the end of her mother, Marceline’s granddaughter’s life. Solange’s existence was bittersweet at best, and she’d always been aware of it. “I know, Grandmama. And I you.”
~~~
As Solange approached the dining room, she heard conversation of only four voices. She realized that only Marceline, Pauline, and their guests were mingling in the dining room. The rest of the coven must have been asked to dine elsewhere this evening, or in their rooms, so that Grandmama would have some privacy with their guests.
Solange looked down at herself, hoping that she was dressed appropriately. She smoothed her hands down the classic, little black dress she’d donned for this evening’s dinner. It was simple, rayon, with scalloped capped sleeves, a scalloped scoop neckline, and a matching scalloped hem that fell just at the knee. She’d paired it with simple black flats and wore tiny stud crosses for her earrings that matched the ever-present, bespelled golden cross at her neck. She let her dark hair fall loosely below her shoulders and caught the top back with a clip that was as dark as her hair.
Solange stepped into the dining room and paused, planning to wait for them to notice her from where they stood visiting with Grandmama. The anticipation of a wait wasn’t necessary. The eyes of both their guests snapped to attention and looked directly at her the moment she entered. She smiled hesitantly. “Hello.”
“Hello,” both of them answered.
“Solange, this is Ms. Gillian Laurant and Mr. Jude Reyes. They’ve asked to meet with you, and I thought that perhaps it would be more comfortable for you if you were in your own home, with your family to support you. Hence, tonight’s dinner.”
Solange watched her grandmama as she explained, and it was clear Grandmama would rather not be having this conversation or this dinner, but she was enduring it. So, it must be something that though she didn’t like it, had to be worth the time Grandmama was allowing it.
Jude spoke first. “Solange, we are thrilled to be given the chance to speak with you. It’s a pleasure to finally meet you.” He stepped forward and reached out presumably to shake Solange’s hand, but when Solange put her hand out to shake, Jude enveloped it in both of his and held her hand warmly between his hands, almost as though his hands were hugging hers.
A little put off, but not overly alarmed, Solange put a little effort behind it and took her hand back.
Solange’s eyes wandered over to Gillian, a pretty, yet business type, with light auburn hair cut in a bob that brushed the tops of her shoulders.
“Solange, thank you for allowing us to come to speak with you. I know this is a surprise to you, but I hope that by the end of the evening, you’ll understand why we’ve wanted to meet with you for such a long time.”
“It’s nice to meet you both,” Solange answered.
“Why don’t we have a seat and allow dinner to be served?” Marceline asked, indicating with a wave of her arm that they should take their seats.
Marceline moved toward her seat at the head of the very long table and spoke to Solange as she did. “Solange, you will take your regular seat. Pauline, you will sit beside Solange. Please, Mr. Reyes and Ms. Laurant, take your places to my left. I believe this arrangement will make conversation easier as Solange will be across from you and can easily make eye contact while you speak.”
Solange lowered her head and looked down at the floor as she followed her grandmama to their places at the table. She was doing her best to cover the smile she couldn’t fight as Grandmama very clearly made it known that she’d effectively separated their guests from Solange, even though Solange was their main reason for being there.
Through the salad and appetizer courses, Solange listened halfheartedly as both Mr. Reyes and Ms. Laurant made small talk with Pauline and Grandmama. Finally, as the main course was served, cornish hens on a bed of wild rice and seared green beans, Grandmama turned the conversation to Solange.
“It is my understanding that you wish to recruit my great granddaughter for your organization,” Marceline said matter-of-factly.
“We do. But it is more than that,” Mr. Reyes said. “We are a network of people, a family if you will, of those who are aware of and attuned to, those who are at the very core of evil in this world.”
Solange placed a small bite of food in her mouth and chewed thoughtfully as she watched Mr. Reyes try to captivate her with the dramatic flare he placed on his revelation, while at the same time, sitting next to him, Ms. Laurant tried to control the roll of her eyes that she just couldn't stop in reaction to his presentation.
“And what kind of evil would that be?” Solange asked.
“Vampirism. We are part of an organization of those who have dedicated their lives to the elimination of vampiric influences. In fact, our name is derived from the very thing we do.”
“Really?” Solange asked, feigning ignorance. The moment he’d said vampires were the ultimate evil, she’d known exactly who they were. Her grandmama had schooled her well in their mission and focus, as she had with other such organizations who thought to rid the world of any they considered other. But this one was of particular interest to herself and her grandmama.