The Delacours: Part Deux

thirty-seven.

The next morning, the kids, Val, and Zane got ready for school and Chris and I got ready to head to the office. When I reached my office, I logged into my computer to find an e-mail from the Maine Sheriff.

'Good afternoon, Madame Magister. I hope you are doing well, but I may have a potential ripper in my jurisdiction. I'm looking into it, but I wanted to give you the heads-up. I found two bodies pretty mangled, but... this is Maine, so it's possible it's an animal as the human authorities believe. I'll keep you updated if I find out it's a ripper. Thanks. --Dean T, Sheriff (Maine), VSA'

Most Sheriffs knew how to handle rippers and I wasn't concerned, but I appreciated him letting me know, especially since the influx of new vampires that had come from overseas – some adjusted well and others weren't. I hoped it wasn't anything serious, but I replied anyway.

'Dean, thank you for letting me know the situation in Maine. I was out of the office for a few days, so I hope you have already taken care of the issue, but in either case, please keep me updated. If you require assistance, let me know what you need. Don't forget to fill out the proper paperwork regarding this matter in case we need to refer back to in the future. --Liz Delacour, Magister, VSA'

*****

It had been a few days with no news one way or the other from Dean, but I let it be. He sent through the paperwork of a few dead humans, but the results were ultimately inconclusive on whether it was a ripper or just a hungry animal. Celia had thought she may have found a way to destroy the rose bush, and Val was in fae realm for a day or so when she opened a portal to the living room, falling through it. I was just quick enough to catch her. Her hair was a mess and her sleeves were singed. She was covered in ash. I shook my head, and took a deep breath as I sat down on the ground letting Val down softly.

"Val... I'm nearly six months pregnant. I can't move that fast without feeling lightheaded..." She leaned against me. Her breath was heavy, her heart rate quick. "What happened? Is everything okay?"

"Yes. We figured it out!" she said, moving to her knees to stand. "I didn't mean to scare you. I just need you to come with me."

"You said you didn't want me anywhere near that thing! What do you need me for?" She reached her hand out to help me back to my feet.

"The key to destroying that stupid bush is something Rudella never thought would happen in the fae realm." She pulled me through the portal – we were at the rose garden. Celia had a bunch of herbs and ingredients spread out around the garden. There were candles and glasses all over. Celia's hair was tied back in a ponytail I'd never seen her wear, and her face was also covered in ash and dirt.

"Liz!" she said, turning to me. "Perfect. Can you stand here?" She positioned me in front of the rose bush – the rest of the roses in the area had been moved to another part of the garden.

"Yeah, sure. But what am I doing here?"

"Val and I can't get through the barrier – you have already once. I think there's a reason for that." I waited for her to continue speaking, but she just kept grinding herbs together in a bowl.

"Celia?" I asked.

"Right, sorry. She protected this rose bush from vampires and fae being able to touch it or get near it. But yet... you were."

"What Celia's trying to say," Val said, handing me the bowl, "is that you're something never thought to be possible – in a way... you're, albeit temporarily, part vampire and part fae. You have the strength of a vampire and the magic of a full fledged fae."