No trace: Part Two of The Accidental Trilogy

Chapter Eight

For the next few months, I watched Rosa dance on the line, the one that divided the tightrope of dutiful and mindless wife from her true self that could crush the Comte in moments, in order not to be systemically abused by the little man.

On top of this, there were her duties as an Elder to be balanced.

It was a tense environment to be in, I could not intervene, I was but a child in the Comte's eyes, and it would have seemed ridiculous at best and impudent at worse.

And I could not intervene with any Khalinyne gifts, it was strictly forbidden, however, tempted I might have been, I would not upset Rosa in that manner.

Even so, with each passing 'incident' the temptation rose, along with my anger and frustration.

My fifteenth birthday came, Rosa organised a fine gathering and celebration for me. Andrea and Christophe made the journey from Paris and they made for refreshing and delightful company. A few female members of theirs and Rosa's clan came too, to be proper people of society.

Even more so, as they stayed for two weeks and the Comte's displeasure was quite breathtaking, he attempted to hide it but he did not do it as well as I could.

Of course, they all left and my two weeks of relaxed stasis ended. I threw myself into my education, learned more languages after the European ones ran dry, I tried my hand at Chinese.

Less information on the latter, so I thought of a small expedition to that country might be in order.

To make sure I wasn't constantly indoors, I practiced my horse-riding skills. Much simpler out here in the country, Paris was too crowded to properly ride, gallop and to test my limits and that of the horse I rode, a stallion I named Fae.

Rosa on occasion rode side-saddle with me until she confided in me that she was with child.

'Are you sure?' I asked after tentative congratulations did not seem to go so well.

'Yes, an old Khalinyne certainty. When a Khalinyne is with child, they become ill when they travel in speck form. Always happens.'

'Strange.'

'We are not like our completely immortal friends, present company excluded,' here she smiles at me, 'the vampires, we have more, subtle weaknesses to endure.'

'Fewer clan meetings then.'

'No clan meetings. No one is allowed to travel to them in human form.'

'You can't ask for assistance?'

'No. Louis and the others will report to me of anything that I need to know, but since I will not be sent out on missions, it will be very quiet on that front.'

'I suppose the Comte will want you locked up somewhere when he finds out.'

'Nothing so melodramatic, I assure you, Aimee.'

Rosa laughs and I join in, but there is something there, underneath the surface.

When Rosa makes the announcement to the Comte, he is overjoyed and organises great celebrations for the birth of his son. To the mother, he is polite, doting and almost, almost subservient towards her.

The woman herself basks in the attention, some of it is real, Rosa is born to be a mother, and the rest is fake, she is frustrated with the long process of being pregnant.

The Comte's extended family visits and the house is full of noise, everyone talking excitedly about the heir to be born soon.

Rosa is feted and pampered; I remain, as ever in the background. It is the safest place for me to be, lest I be noticed and people start to talk of my being courted.