Alexander was my teacher for ten years. He showed me how to use my magic and not be noticed and how to make spectacles that would overwhelm the senses of most men. Alexander was equally quick with praise and criticism of everything I did. I grew to love the man as an older brother or uncle. I was never really sure which he most reminded me of. I found that my magic helped with everyday chores. Skinning game and cleaning the house became fast and easy with a simple exercise of will.

I was sure to do my chores in the mundane way of ordinary folk as much as I used magic, to become over-reliant upon my magic was a recipe for disaster, according to my teacher. I saw both sides of the coin. I needed to practice controlling the arcane forces I could pull, while also maintaining my simple skills should I need them.

My world came to a horrible ending on a crisp winter day during our eleventh year together. The day started relatively quietly. I went out and hunted, bringing home a fat buck to replenish our meat stores, and was skinning and prepping the carcass when the palisade gate burst open.

I looked to see Rasmus fall off his horse, and Galia crying on the horse she was sitting astride. I ran for the entrance, shoved the gate closed, but could also feel that someone had breached our wards; this meant that our home was visible to any who were looking.

I assisted Galia off her horse. The girl never did learn to mount or dismount properly, then turned to where Rasmus lay on the ground. Father was covered in blood, cuts, and punctures, bloody injuries riddling his body. I called for Alexander telling him I needed assistance.

Alexander, I had learned over the years, was not as helpless as he originally played. His magic was strong enough to move him where he needed and to manipulate eating utensils. The demands from our early days were all about me learning to do as he told me without argument.

Alexander came out of the door, and before he had floated two feet from our home, he was struck by an arrow. I gasped as he collapsed, the feather fletching the only thing showing of the deadly projectile. I told Galia to help me lift our father, but she was staring at the top of the palisade. I looked in the same direction to see men climbing over the wall.

Galia and I were grabbed and dragged to the post where I had hung the buck. The attackers flung the carcass to the ground and tied Galia and me to the post, making sure to bind our hands and gag us both. These men knew Witches and believed by binding hands and mouths that we would remain helpless.

The invaders opened the palisade gate, and their leader rode into the yard. The invaders killed Father’s horses, for it was a well-known fact that the pair of equines would listen to none but Rasmus and those he designated. I watched as two of the soldiers picked Rasmus up off the ground and, using massive spikes, pinned father to the palisade wall. Two others grabbed Alexander and repeated the process as they found he still lived despite the arrow.

I tried to scream out my objections to the treatment of my father and Alexander, but the men continued as though Galia and I were not present. Alexander caught my eye, and a surge of awareness came to me. I did not need words or hand motions to make my magic work. In my panic, I had forgotten what I was.

Calming and centering myself, I pulled arcane forces to me, and from the ground, the roots of the trees outside our walls began to erupt and grab our attackers. I had drawn several men beneath the earth when a sharp pain took my breath. I looked, and there before me stood the commander, a dagger in his hand now buried in my stomach. I caught my breath, and with a look, he was flung across the yard, slamming into the palisade. I then used my power to pick up the dead buck and drove its antlers into the man’s gut.

I disintegrated the ropes holding Galia and myself, and began stalking and killing my enemies when another sharp pain brought me to a halt. Someone had struck me in the back of the head. I turned to see Galia standing there with a billet of firewood in her hand.

“I cannot allow you to keep killing with your power; the balance must be maintained; you must stop.” Galia then began a chant, and lightning fell from the sky, but it only chased the men away. She did not kill anyone. My sister then placed a hand over the wound in my stomach, and I felt her power flow to heal the puncture.

I looked around the now empty courtyard, the bodies of those I had killed pulled beneath the earth as my spell played out. “You have doomed us, Galia. Those men will tell others, and larger forces will come. I can recast the wards around our home, but those men will know where we are and guide others. You should have allowed me to destroy them.”

Galia shook her head sadly. “I am sorry, Aryanna, but I could not bide slaughtering those who were only following the orders of their commander.”

I turned an angry face to my sister. “They would have raped and murdered us ‘on command,’ and you preach mercy!” I stood from the ground and ran to Alexander and Father.

Rasmus died that night, his wounds beyond anything Galia or I could conjure to try and heal him. Alexander lasted three days.

Before he died, Alexander called me to him. “Aryanna, you must leave this place. Rasmus originally intended for you to join him in the Middle Kingdom, where Huiling was from. All the houses have been destroyed. This house was one of the furthest and last of Rasmus’ holdings. You must leave here, but I do not have any advice about where you should go. I am sorry you and Galia will be on your own. Do not fault her for stopping you in the yard; Witches tend to be fickle about taking life.”

I held Alexander, his head in my lap, as he took his last breath.

**************

I came back to the room, pulling myself from the painful memories. Melody was hugging me, and Dani was crying on Johan’s shoulder. Dani and Johan were my descendants but were so far removed that they shared no blood relation. I had seen the two growing closer over the last year.

I pulled myself together and smiled at everyone. “Sorry, kinda got caught up there.”

Melody held me in a way that made it clear; she was not letting go. I looked her in the eye and then kissed her, lightly on the lips. “Thank you. I know that is a weak reaction, but I mean it. I tend to get lost when I think back, and having you here is making this bearable.”

“Maybe together we can help you heal at last. I know that something from your past is why you go after child abusers. I want to understand and help you get to a place where we have a chance. I have searched for you for many years. I don’t want to lose you now.” Melody finished by placing her hand on my cheek. “You are my Mate, and I will fight for that connection, no matter what.”

I stared fixedly into Melody’s eyes and could see nothing but a blossoming love. No deceit or deception lived in her gaze. I found myself beginning to have hope that something in my life might have an optimistic outcome. I kissed her again, this time both of us lingered a bit longer.

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I sat up and looked over at Dani and Johan and found them smiling. “Your mother and grandmother will be happy, Dani. They can stop harping on me to search for my Mate. I kept telling them this would happen when it was time and not a moment sooner for their lectures. It has been a long time coming.”

Dani let a laugh escape. “Mom will be thrilled, but you know as well as I do that gran will not be happy until you two have gone ahead and tied the knot.”

Johan suddenly chuckled, “And before you think that will stop the nagging, the pair of them will just move on to you producing children.”

I narrowed my eyes at my nephew. “You can walk away now, or Dani can drag you out of here after I kick your ass for that line of thinking.”

Johan laughed loudly at me, “Sure, sure, just reminding you that Dani’s mother and grandmother are not going to stop harping ‘til you are settled and raising a family instead of traipsing around the globe going after the child abusers of the world.”

“And we will now move on to a new subject. Dani, what did you find out about information Benedict Andross gave us?” I gave the pair a look that made it clear the previous subject was closed.

“Andross Relief Services has been doing work in South America for nearly thirty-five years. Benedict Andross began his career when an old army buddy of his stumbled on a village being exploited by one of the drug cartels. After the cartel wars ended, the village was left on its own, and everyone would have died without some form of aid. Benedict set up the Relief Services Foundation to bring food and medicine to that village and several others surrounding it.” Dani brought out her tablet and turned it so Melody and I could see a map of the region. Para, Brazil, was a wet region.

“The villages that Andross Relief Services were concerned with all lie on along the Amazon River. The drug cartels used the villages as easy access to the riverway to transport their product to the coast. The villagers were turned into slave labor and given very little compensation or even necessities. Once the cartels left, the villages had no way of supporting themselves. Their fishing equipment had been destroyed or stolen, and the people had no training in how to make new. Hell, I would be surprised if they remembered how to use the equipment if they had it. Andross sent in people and supplies to teach the villagers how to fend for themselves.”

I put the tablet down and frowned. “What about the priest that Andross is claiming is engaging in child trafficking?”

“Father Eulália Pascua has been a member of the Jesuit Order for forty-six years. He joined Andross Relief Services to act as a spiritual advisor and teacher. Father became a leader in the organization after three years, taking over daily operations. He has been instrumental in locating villages that would have been overlooked. The locals trust the priest and are willing to tell him of remote areas that would be impossible to identify without aid. His personal finances show that the man lives within humble means. I am still tracking other accounts that may belong to the priest. Needless to say, they are all overseas accounts and buried under shell upon shell. ‘Turtles all the way down.’”

I smiled at Dani, “Geek.” She stuck her tongue out at me. The tension in the room relaxed. Johan kissed Dani on the cheek and then moved to the dining room to start making calls. Johan was my point man on moving Bondevik Securities, ensuring that our people were safe and moved with minimal disruption to daily services. Dani would be working with me to do as much background work on the job at hand, and I would be making a trip to Brazil to get a first-hand look at the region and logistics.

“Anna, where do you want the new office located? I know you talked about getting out of the States but never confirmed where you wanted our new corporate offices to be.” Johan was now booting up his laptop and waiting for me to give him a location to search. I looked at Dani and Melody.

“What do you think, ladies? Any preferences on where Bondevik Securities should lay down new roots?” My gaze kept switching between their faces.

Dani’s face wore a look of confusion. “You want our opinion? Since when do you ever ask for us to chime in when it comes to business decisions? You have always been in such command for this sort of thing, Aunt Anna.”

“Dani, you are correct. I do generally not allow others to have an opinion on how the major decisions get made when it comes to my business holdings. I have spent too many years learning to rely on myself. This time is different. This decision is going to affect you and your family. It is going to affect Johan’s current girlfriend, and I am asking that it affect Melody.” I looked at the Witch that had become so important to me in such a short time. “You stand to lose the most, Melody. You have a career with the fire brigade. I am asking you to give that up for me, and I feel horrible for doing that. I have no choice. I must move my company’s primary location in order to protect those who work for me.”

Melody gave me her crooked little smile. “You are not asking me to do anything, Anna. I will follow you wherever you need to go. I told you already. I am in this for the long run. I have spent too many years searching for my Mate, and now that I have you, that is it for me.” She stepped forward and pulled me into a hug. “I say we find a friendly, quiet office complex in Brazil since that is where you need to go. I have a feeling that this situation is going to prove more complex than any other you have dealt with.”

Dani looked thoughtful. “You know, Brazil loves you, Aunt Anna. Bondevik Securities has provided services for many a politician in Brazil over the years. They would likely be delighted to have us relocate to their country.”

I looked over to Johan, and he waved his hand at me. “Don’t ask me to give an opinion. I yield to the wisdom of the Matriarch for these decisions, and you know it.”

I nodded, “Then let us begin. Johan, start the process of moving everything. Dani, start informing the employees, and let's get them started either packing up to move or finding them new jobs. Melody, you know what you need to do to make this move. If you want to assist in the process, give Dani a hand contacting our employees and getting them set.”

Dani headed for the dining room to join Johan in making phone calls. Melody pulled her phone out and turned towards the kitchen when she stopped and turned back towards me.

“And what are you going to be doing, my love?” She looked at me with a raised eyebrow.

“I am going to book a private flight to Brazil and begin observation of our priest. I have a private airline I use, very reliable and discrete. I also have the best people working on this move. I would only be in the way, micromanaging if I were to try and help either Dani or Johan.”

I pulled my laptop out and booked my flight while everyone else began making their calls. I looked up over the top of the screen at my family. A sigh escaped as I wondered if the decision all those centuries ago to keep my family close to me was worth the upheaval my selfishness was now causing them. A hand on my shoulder brought me out of my thoughts.

“Don’t let this worry you. I have seen the way your niece and nephew react to you. They would do anything for you, Anna. To them, this is simply a part of life. I know I haven’t heard all of your history, and I suspect that I will get more on the flight to Brazil.” My head shot up to look at Melody, “Yes, I am going with you. I will not insist on intruding when you are working, but I will be in Brazil with you. Get this through your thick skull, woman, I am here for the long run. You cannot scare me off or convince me that I should not be here. Unless you look me in the eye, tell me you don’t love me and do not want me with you, consider me glued to your side.”

I leaned back in my chair, resting my head on Melody’s stomach. “I can’t tell you either of those things. I would be lying. I can’t say that I love you, Melody, but you are critical to me. Alexander told me about Mates when he was training me. He told me that I would find my Mate during my lifetime, but I don’t think he ever expected me to become a Vampire, thus extending my life beyond anyone’s imaginings.” I looked up into Melody’s eyes. “Now you have come along and told me that we are Mates, but what kind of Mate are you? Are you my Sorcery Mate, my Witch Mate, or my Vampire Mate? I don’t know the answer to this, but I want to find out. I want to spend all the time we need to get to know each other. I will not be trying to get you to go away. I would be devastated if you left. No more talk or concern that I do not want you here. Please?”

Melody smiled that crooked little smile of hers and then kissed me on the cheek. “I need to pack.”

I smiled and then stepped closer and kissed Melody on the lips, “I will buy you whatever you need when we get there, I don’t want you out of my sight until we have finished relocating and you are as safe as can be.”

Turning to Dani and Johan, I gave my final orders, “Finish setting up the relocation and then get everyone who is going packed and moved. I will contact you when Melody and I have gotten situated at the hotel.”

Dani waved, and Johan just nodded ever so slightly. We got in the car and headed for the airport.