Lost Wanderer Awakened - Book One of the Airendell Chronicles (52 page)

Valiant had become enamored of our mother,
and had impregnated her one night while our father, Neill was out
on a hunting trip. Mother denied any of knowledge of this, but I
didn’t believe her. I think she knew fully who Valiant was at the
time Morna was conceived. Needless to say father was devastated by
this news, he adored Morna. And Morna adored him. It was Father
that had chosen the name, Morna, because Father said she was to be
much beloved by all. Mother was angered by all of this, because she
knew her daughter would be far greater than she ever could be.”

Luca interrupts to ask, “Do you mean Morna is
descended from a Norse God and a giant?” When Breena nods, he asks,
“But what does a half Norse God’s offspring have to do with people
in Ireland?”

“Valiant came with the Vikings that invaded
Ireland and established settlements at Waterford in 914. Airendell
gateway is near Waterford. Valiant has adopted Ireland and Wales as
his home,” answers Breena. “Shall I continue?”

When Luca nods, she resumes: “I don’t know
the details of the rest of ceremony because everyone else had to
leave at that point. One time I asked Morna about it, and she said
she did not remember it. But when the ceremony was over, Morna
emerged and the physical embodiments of the talismans were gone.
Morna was changed that day, her previous devotion to duty was
enhanced, focused, sharpened. Her duties had been expanded to
defend upper-world against invaders from middle-world. Morna‘s
official title is truly a mouthful. She is a Spell Weaver of the
First Order of Airendell, First Warrior of the First Order of
Airendell, and all of Ireland and Wales, and (I believe now it
includes the New World), and First Protector of the Gateways from
the Middle-World and the Talismans of Airendell. Apparently,
Airendell was always destined to be the chief protector of the
Gateways.”

Luca’s eyes widen in surprise at this. He
wonders why Morna never told him any of this. But he remains
silent, listening to Breena.

“But a physical change had also occurred.
Before the ceremony her eyes were the same pale blue color as mine.
But when she emerged, her eyes were the beautiful emerald green
that they still are today.”

Luca gasps at this because those beautiful
green eyes, and the unmistakable scent of her blood, have always
enabled him to find her in her various incarnations.

“The same eyes that have marked every one of
her incarnations. The same color eyes as your daughter, Aideen. I
don’t know if the eye color in Aideen has any special significance,
but in Morna is does. They represent the talismans. She is now the
very embodiment of our power to heal, and defend by magic.”

“Luca, I do not know this for certain, but I
suspect that the reason Morna has been under attack for all these
many, many years is to destroy our Guild’s, our clan’s talisman.
Without our talismans, we can not protect the gateways.”

“The attacks have taken many forms, but I
suspect they all have the same source. I don’t believe mother is
the source; someone or something is just taking advantage of
mother’s jealousy over Morna’s power and prestige. I think the
attacks will continue to escalate. The ancient writings that I have
researched over the years mention some sort of huge confrontation.
I told you a little bit about it once, that morning after Morna had
established the first connection with me. There is to be some sort
of gathering of magical and supernatural beings, all of them from
the fair side who will confront a gathering of magical and
supernatural beings, from the dark side. Whoever, whatever is at
the head of that gathering is the source of these attacks on
Morna.” Breena takes a deep breath and pours more scotch.

“Have you ever noticed that in every
incarnation Morna is reborn near a gateway to our middle-world? I
observed Morna in a few of these incarnations. She would defend
those gateways. But she did not seem to be aware that she was doing
it. When she was Gigi, you took her to London, but she kept going
back to France. She was going back on Protector Business, I am
certain of it. But I don’t think she was aware of it when she was
in her mortal form. I also believe that when she was in what you
call limbo between incarnations, I believe during those times she
was working in middle-world, probably doing battle to protect the
upper-world. I know our talismans remained intact because the
Guild‘s powers never waver when she dies in one of her mortal
incarnations. So she must still exist in the magical realms when
her mortal body dies.”

Luca sat quietly as he listened to Breena,
then he said, “Yes, she would disappear for days at a time, with no
explanation as to where she had been, I don‘t think she even knew.
I tried to follow her one time, but she disappeared, later I found
out that the place where I lost sight of her was near a gateway to
middle-world. I assumed that she was going through the Gateway.
Often she would be injured when she returned. I would perform the
healing spells for her. It was always a very troubling thing.”

“She doesn’t deliberately keep things from
me, unless she feels it will hurt me. For instance, she has never
told me about her association with a young man when she was in
college. I know she is ashamed of it. And she never wants to talk
about her relationship with her husband, Rolan, how she met him,
how she came to married to him I mean.” Luca stands and paces a few
steps before continuing; “If it weren’t for the children, I think
she would like to pretend the whole marriage never took place. But
she recently told me about something he had done to her, so I guess
I can understand why should would like to leave him in her
past.”

Breena can’t help herself; she has to ask
Luca, “How do you know about the young man from college?”

Luca would have blushed if he were physical
able to do so, as it is, he ducks his head, “Morna talks in her
sleep. When she knows that I am near, she can sleep soundly and she
talks freely. She will even answer questions. I know, I shouldn’t
take advantage of that, but with a woman like Morna, it helps to
know as much as possible. She needs a lot of looking after. Which
really sounds funny considering what a great warrior she is. But I
think you probably understand what I mean.”

“I must confess, I questioned her in her
sleep mostly because I was jealous, she mentioned another man’s
name in her sleep one night shortly after she left the hospital. I
had to know what he was to her.”

Breena nods. “Yes I do understand that Morna
takes a lot of looking out for because of the curse and that has
happened to her, and you for that matter. And that is why I am
going to tell you something my sister told me to never tell you.
Well actually, you already know. But she needs to know that you
know, apparently it hasn’t affected your feelings for her.”

“You mean about the young man from college?”
Luca asked.

“Yes, Luca. She really hates herself for
that. She had no feelings for the man, she was just trying to fill
up an emptiness in her life that she didn’t understand she had. I
think she was trying to fill the void left by your absence. If you
don’t hold it against her, she needs to know. However, if you do
resent it, please, please keep it to yourself. She can’t stand to
hurt or disappoint you, she has always been so,” says Breena
earnestly.

Luca’s only response is to nod. The pair sits
quietly for several minutes, and then Breena says, “Well I guess
our impromptu slumber party is over. I might as well go back to my
room. But before I go I must ask you something, it has been eating
at me all night. You probably won’t like me asking, but I have to,
I just can’t stand it.”

“It’s okay Breena; I think I know what this
about. Go ahead and ask,” says Luca.

Breena takes a deep breath and then says,
“Why were you feeling guilty earlier this evening? The feelings of
self-reproach coming from you was so very strong it was smacking me
in my face, figuratively, of course.”

Luca exhales between his teeth slowly, and
tries to think of the best way to explain this to his mate’s
sister. “Apparently the darker side of my nature is getting
stronger, or my commitment to controlling myself it is getting
weaker. I don’t know. But whatever the cause, the lure of Morna’s
blood is getting stronger for me, not weaker. Vile creature that I
am, there is a part of me that would love nothing better than to
drain my mate’s body dry, to feast on her blood. But the scent of
her blood doesn‘t just make me thirst… It excites raging passion in
me as well.” He admits, looking every bit the part of man that is
deeply afflicted and tortured by that affliction.

“I should be keeping my distance from her.
But Morna’s draw as a woman, as my lover, is irresistibly strong
for the part of me that is a man. It is stronger for me in this
incarnation that it has ever been. I feel guilty because the man
who can’t stand to be apart from Morna is winning at every turn. I
should keep her arm’s length. I should be keeping her safe at any
cost to me, instead I continue to satiate my passion for her, and
revel in her nearness. It‘s a true double edged sword for me. On
one side being with her is my heart‘s desire, on the other side,
being with her tortures me with a need to feed on her blood.” Luca
admits brokenly.

Breena looks greatly relieved when she
replies, “You know what she would say to that. She would hate that,
if you kept her at arm’s length. She has always known the risks
ever since you were changed. It didn’t change anything for her. She
still needs you and would be devastated if you withheld yourself
from her. You know that Luca. You know how it hurt her when she
carried Aideen and you wouldn’t get near her. You are not being a
vile creature as you put it. You are being a devoted husband to a
devoted wife.”

“I know she feels that way Breena, she always
has. But I should do whatever it takes to protect her, at any cost
to myself,” insists Luca.

“Luca you do. You know that is true, I know
it, and most importantly, Morna knows it. I am so glad that is all
that was bugging you. Anyway, it’s almost 6:00 am. I am in room
1231, call me there or on my cell if you guys need anything. I will
come by in a few hours and take her to breakfast, if she’s up to
it.”

Luca hugs his sister in law before she goes.
He is glad Breena is back in Morna’s life, he believes she is going
to need all the support she can get before too long.

He can’t help but be amazed at how Breena
seems to accept the danger her sister is in everyday when she is
around him. Especially when they are intimate. It’s not that Breena
is cavalier about Morna’s wellbeing or that she doesn’t recognize
the possible threat her vampire brother in law poses to her sister,
it’s just that she accepts it, because Morna accepts it.

CHAPTER 21 - MORNA REBORN

Morna only slept for about ten minutes.
Shortly after Luca got up to go speak to Breena Morna was wide
awake with no hope of going back to sleep. She heard all Luca’s and
Breena’s conversation. At first she felt bad about being able to
hear them, but then she realized most of what they were talking
about was things about herself that she didn’t remember yet. And if
she were to go in there, they would stop talking so freely. So she
laid there in bed, and eavesdropped.

Actually, she is pretty surprised that Luca
doesn’t seem to realize she is awake. He is so in tuned to her
physical patterns. Surely he could hear that she was awake, that
her breathing pattern and heart rate had changed. After Breena
left, she lies there and listens to Luca pick up after Breena and
herself. “He’s probably not too thrilled about me smoking tonight,”
she thinks. “But that’s probably small fries compared to the
rest.”

Morna is lying there, trying to sort it all
out when Luca comes into the bedroom of their hotel suite. She
watches him undress in the dark and slide into bed with her. She
stops herself when she starts to reach for him. Finally, after a
few seconds he chuckles and draws her to him. “You little sneak, I
probably should have told your sister that you were awake and could
hear us. I don’t think she realizes how much you have gained in
physical abilities.”

“Sorry, I debated on whether or not to come
out there, but then I decided you two would probably not speak as
freely if I were in the room. But of course I realized you surely
had to know I was awake,” Morna confesses. “Forgive me for being an
eavesdropper?”

“Of course,” Luca assures her. “Besides, I
didn’t speak of anything to your sister that I would not speak of
to you.”

“Even that last bit?” she asks
skeptically.

“Even that last bit,” he confirms. “I know
Breena was right about it. I know how you feel. On one level I
think you’re right, but on another, I just can’t bear to think what
could happen when we are so close, so intimate. We obviously don’t
have any barriers between us most of the time. At least not in
physical side of our relationship.”

“And there never should be,” she affirms as
she snuggles into him.

“Well, my dear, what about barriers in the
emotional side of our relationship?” he asks softly.

“I can only assume you are referring to
things in my past I just don’t want to talk about?” she sighs, and
pulls back slightly.

“Yes, why not share that burden?” He tilts
her face up to his. “I already know the essence of it. What I
didn’t know before I got a pretty good look at tonight when you
linked with me,” he replies.

She exhales slowly. “You don’t think that it
is some sign of my poor character or something?” she asks
quietly.

Luca holds her closer, and says, “Of course
not. I know your character better than anyone. I also understand
what you were probably looking for. You even alluded to it
yourself. Even when you don’t know about me, early on in an
incarnation, I think a part of you realizes that I am missing. That
you belong with me. Does that make sense, or am I just being vain
to think there is something missing in your lives when I am not
with you?”