Devil's Whore

5.

The days to follow were slightly awkward. James introduced Mary to the rest properly. But children made things less awkward. Lorna and Mary got to know eachother better, they shared a common thing actually, acting. Although Mary never made it as she did. Even Brace got used to her presence. James mostly on days was out, running at his duties. Slowly trying to explain to Mary about his dreadful plans of revenge. But as long as he was around, Mary had no fear.

Even the children got along with eachother. Winter and Robert were closer to age. Temple usually followed them around like a tail. But there was peace, at least for a while. All them could feel it. It was the peace before the storm.

There was one of many things, that James didn't share with Mary. Zilpha and their past. He came to England and yes, he had Zilpha on his mind. He found her married with husband following her like a shadow, killing Delaney with a glare. But for James everything changed, the day he met Mary. He let everything that was between him and his half-sister behind. Realizing, that it was mostly mind games, some sort of fighting for a power, that always brought them together. And yes, by claiming the heritage after his father James wanted to show her, that he always wins and gets, what he wants. Again locking Zilpha in a golden bird cage, that she was trapped in by Thorne. But after James met Mary, Zilpha stopped being important to him. Even after he thought, that Mary left, he didn't seek his sister's company and Lorna on a ball noticed the frustration and anger, that Zilpha had in her eyes, after James refused her to join her in the garden for a walk. He avoided her to not give her the slightest hint of hope, he felt a connection to her. No. Now he realized, he ran to her like a puppy in the past. And she always made him to come back. Blaming him one evening, that he marched away. "We are no longer the same. I am new person and you are married woman, sister," he told her and left, leaving her furious. After neverending torturing of her husband and James' refusal, Zilpha craved James' presence more and more. The more he was pushing her away, the more she wanted to get him again. To own him. To feel the control she had over him in the past. In desperate moment after humiliating seance with Thorne and priest, Zilpha decided to kill her husband. Blaming him for all her problems. Blaming him for James being distant.

And Thorne Geary was dead, lying on his bed. And Zilpha like a crazy woman was running from her house in nightgown in streets of London, till she reached James' house and knocked on its door in the middle of the night. Smiling. Yes. She felt relief and she was filled with hope. The sound woke them up. Mary opened up her eyes, trying to concentrate, if she heard a sound or it was just in her mind, when she heard it again. "James," she whispered. "I think someone's at the door." She poked on his shoulder.

Lifting carefully from the bed, James stood up and put on pants, taking weapon to his hand. "Mary, stay here, if something run away from a back door," he told her quietly and left the attic, closing the door behind him. Heavy rain was drumming on the windows and he froze and frowned, when he saw Zilpha through the window of the door. He opened it and in silence looked at her. For a moment looking behind her, pondering if she was alone.

Zilpha smiled the moment she saw him. Without a word, believing that it's over now, all the waiting. Believing, that Thorne's death would bring him close again. She hugged him and walked inside victoriously. She went by the dying fire and when she heard him coming back again, she ran to his arms once more and kissed his cheek. "I killed him," she whispered against his cheek.

He didn't have to ask who. Her words left him cold and he took two steps away from her. "Why did you do that?" He asked in flat voice, observing her with a vacant glare.

She was slightly taken aback from the question. "But to be with you, of course," she replied automatically surprised by his unmoved reaction. Now that nothing was holding them back.