Part 29
With the threat of evil gone, the morning dawned bright and cheerful and the ‘air’ of danger that had enshrouded the château the previous night was replaced by a charge of excitement. Today was the day of the celebration and everyone was eager for it to begin.
The three lords had respectfully left Samantha with her family to prepare for the ceremony and were now in the library.
“What happens now that the Source is dead?” asked Alex.
“I expect another higher level demon will try to take over,” speculated Kevin. “And I’m sure they’ll come after us to gain our powers….or to get our children.”
“What about the dagger?” asked Howard.
“It’s safely tucked away. I do NOT want anyone trying to harm Samantha with it.” Looking closely at Howard, Kevin smiled, “You look nervous.”
“Just anxious for the ceremony.”
“Relax….not much longer.”
“I want today to be perfect for Samantha. She’s brought us so much light and after what happened with Brian and her father…..” his voice trailed off as a soft knock sounded at the door.
The butler entered. “Lady Bennington requests an audience with you, my lord.”
“Tell her we will see her,” replied Kevin.
As the door closed, Alex said, “This could be a problem…her husband disappearing and Brian.”
“We’ll handle it. So far, Samantha hasn’t said anything about her mother having powers.”
The door opened once more. “Lady Bennington,” announced the butler.
All three men looked to the door as a beautiful woman swept into the room. Alex recognized her immediately.
“Lady Bennington,” greeted Kevin. “Welcome to ‘Eternity’.”
“Thank you but please, call me….”
“Melinda,” interrupted Alex as he took her hand in his placing a light kiss on the back.
Confused, Howard asked, “How did you know her name?”
Without breaking his gaze with Melinda, Alex said, “We met the other night…in the woods.”
“I see you have learned of Samantha’s healing powers. I wish I could have spared you but it had to happen.” Turning to Howard, she smiled, “You must be Howard. Samantha has told me so much about you….and most of it this morning.”
Smiling, Howard bowed as he said, “It’s a pleasure to meet you.”
Melinda turned now to Kevin giving him a gracious curtsey. “Lord Kevin, thank you for your gracious invitation.”
“You’re most welcome, Melinda.” Motioning to a chair, he asked, “Would you care for some tea?”
“Please,” answered Melinda as she took a seat with Howard. As Kevin poured the tea, she explained, “I am more than Samantha’s mother. I’m also her seer…I give her guidance as her powers grow.”
“So you’re the one she went to find the other night?” questioned Kevin. “Why not just wait until you arrived to tell her?”
“It would have been too late for you to defeat the Source.”
“How long have you known that Lord Bennington was the Source?” asked Howard.
“From the very
beginning. My husband wasn’t always evil…in fact, he was a very kind and loving
man…a devoted husband and father.”
”What happened?” asked Kevin as he handed her the cup of tea.
“And how can Samantha be his daughter? She’s so pure and good,” said Alex.
“And he loved her beyond reason. She was his first born, his joy.” Melinda took a sip of tea and as she remembered that time, sadness dulled her eyes. “When Samantha was first coming into her powers, a warlock lured her away from our castle. To save her, my husband made a deal…his soul for Samantha’s life. She never knew what he gave up for her well-being.”
“His love for her really did destroy him,” mused Kevin.
“Yes, it did. He couldn’t stand the fact that to get his powers back from you he had to hurt her.”
“That’s why he
sent Brian?” asked Howard.
”Yes. All he ever wanted was for her to be safe and by marrying Brian, she
wouldn’t be with you and in harm’s way. She pleaded with him right up to the
very moment that she wed him too. She had seen you…in her visions…and she had
felt your love for her. She knew she wouldn’t be happy with Brian but Edward
gave her no choice. He shamed her into the marriage telling her that she had
disgraced the family name by walking with Brian unchaperoned. She couldn’t
stand the hurt he convinced her he felt.”
“Did he know about
Samantha…and you?” asked Kevin.
”No, and we had to be extremely careful around him.”
”What about his powers? What happened to them?”
“The one who destroyed him gained them.”
All three looked at each other and then Alex said, “That was Samantha.”
“Won’t it turn her evil now?” asked Howard.
“No,” smiled Melinda, “but it will make her a target for all the other demons trying to take over the Dark World.”
“She’s safe now,” reassured Kevin. “We all plan to take good care of her.”
“Thank all of you.”
From the doorway, Nickolas said, “It’s time, my lords.”
