I've Been Waiting for You (16 page)

Katherine held onto Sally, who strained against her hold and Odin’s. “Yes, but he is like any baby his age. He eats, sleeps
, and poops. He shows no signs of becoming yet like our Olivia.”

Everyone had gathered around
Fatima as she wrapped her arms around Sally and Odin’s leg.

“This is what we will do
,” Emma said as she had everyone take hands of those next to them.

Madison stood on her balcony and let the smoke rings spiral up to the heavens. She waved her hand and a basket formed.
Good, now to cast this basket as a trap, catch the brats and then hurl them to the moon.

Spirits floated above her and watched with keen fascination to see what the witch was up to.

Deirdre motioned silently to the boys, her two grandsons whom she had never known until now, but would have been so proud of. She pointed to the Great Tower and knew that would be where the witch would head eventually. Beckoning the boys, they moved out of earshot of the witch.

“Listen
, go tell the others we must form a net around the great tower. Odin and Thor and the other blood feeders are to be at the base. They can catch the children should she hurl them or we spirits can’t catch them.”

Olaf the younger looked up at the beautiful spirit who looked so much like his Mama. “Where will you be?”

Deirdre took the young one’s hand. He was shaking. “No fears little one, I will be with you always. Now that I have found you I will never be far.”

Olaf smiled up at the beautiful lady. “We will meet you at the tower.” He took Thor’s hand and they floated into the night.

Madison stubbed out her cigarette. Stood for a moment longer and then heard a cry. She leaned over the balcony but realized it wasn’t coming from below but from out in the hall. It had an odd quality to it. As she moved towards the door of her suite she could hear it more plainly. Opening up her door she spied a child, the dark one, sitting on the floor with what looked like a doll on her lap.

Looking
both ways she smiled a wicked smile.
One of the children, and she is all by herself
.

Venturing out and closing her door she walked up to the child who seemed to be lost in her woe.

“What a bad, bad Livee. Ripping my doll. My first dollie,” she let out a wail and cried at the top of her lungs.

Madison didn’t like children and this would make it easier to sacrifice at least one of the brats of those vampires
, it would also bring Katherine out of the woodwork.

“What’s the matter
, dearie, with your doll?”

Fatima smiled before raising her head.
Looking up at the pretty blonde lady who she knew was bad, she gave an inner shudder. She knew she was safe, though. Spirits were all around her. She also knew the rest of the family was close by.

Raising her d
oll up for the witch to inspect, she cried, “My first doll and it’s been ruined. Mama Sally said it’s my fault and I shouldn’t have let Livee play with it. I never had a doll before and now it’s broke.” She let out a wail and started crying in earnest. Sally had said when they had ripped the doll that she would buy her a toy store after, for her performance now. She didn’t know what a performance was but she didn’t care. She wanted to help her family.

“My doll is broke, my doll is broke and no one cares
.”

Madison thought she would go mad if she heard that wailing much longer. She now knew why she had never wanted children when she was born this time. That’s why she had always had help with the squalling brats in the past.

“Let me see, maybe we can fix it, but let’s talk first.” She saw she had the girl’s attention. “What’s your name?”

Fatima looked up at her. “I’m not suppose
d to talk to people I don’t know.”

Madison turned on her famous smile. “Oh, but I know your parents, they are my friends. I have bought the castle
.”

Fatima looked up and smiled. “Oh,
OK.” She got up and stood in front of Madison. “My name is Fatima. Do you want to see my nephew and niece, they are sleeping right now. They are right down the hall in the next wing.”

Madison smiled as she took Fatima’s hand.
This was going to be like taking candy from a baby. “I would love to see the babies, I just love babies.”

She walked with the dark little girl and smiled an evil smile, knowing she would have to act quickly, getting out of here before all hell rained down on this castle. She would somehow get the little girl to get Katherine to come all by herself.
They turned the corner and walked down the passageway. She remembered this passageway from a long time ago.

“Here we are
,” Fatima said. “Let me peek first.” She held up her little hand and opened the door. She peeked in, saw spirits floating round the cribs. Saw Livee sitting up. She smiled at the baby and Livee lay back down and scrunched her eyes shut. She saw Liam was playing with his toes, like any normal baby.

Fatima turned and took the witch’s hand. “Come, Liam is awake, Livee is asleep.”

Madison knew how dangerous this was but she was willing to risk it. She smiled down at the child.

Wal
king in, she noticed the nursery was very opulent. It had twin cribs, with canopies overhead that looked like something from a forest with fairies. Twinkling lights blinked off and on giving the room an otherworldly glow. For a brief moment Madison wished for a room like that. Then she shook her head.
I’m not here to get sentimental. I’ve been waiting far too long to catch that bitch, Katherine, and do her in once and for all. If I have to kill a brat or two, what of it
?

“Oh
, what an adorable baby.” She reached for the baby boy who looked up at her with wide eyes then screamed a scream of pure terror. Madison didn’t expect this. She waved her hand over the child to cast a spell but what she didn’t know was a witch stood cloaked in the shadows. Emma threw her hand through the air and stilled Madison’s spell and then pinched Liam again. She felt bad but it must be done.

Fatima went to Liam and picked him up which soothed him right away. “I don’t know what’s wrong, he is usually very friendly.” She held and cuddled Liam who snuggled closer to Fatima but peeked at Madison.

“Let me call Grammy Katherine and tell her. Maybe she should come to see what’s the matter.”

As Fatima picked up the phone an explosive sound erupted from the baby’s diaper.

“Oh no,” Fatima turned innocent eyes to the witch. “Do you know how to change diapers?”

Madison shuddered. “No dear, I don’t. I think you should tell his mother, have her come. But don’t tell her I’m here.
She will think I woke him.”

Fatima nodded like she understood. “Would you open that door
? It goes to the tower room and that leads to the tower. It will bring fresh air in. I will call.”

Madison smiled. “Of course
, dear. Go right ahead.”

She opened the door and felt a fresh draft of air rush down. She shuddered for a moment because it felt like more than just a breeze. She glanced about her but saw nothing.

Olaf, Thor and Deirdre floated into place. They watched over the children as the witch ascended the stairs of the tower. Deirdre smiled down at her grandsons. “It’s going as planned.”

Fatima picked up baby Liam. She whispered in his ear. “Do
n’t be frightened. You are safe.”

Madison came back down the stone stairs. Seeing Fatima holding the baby she frowned. “Isn’t his mother coming?”

Fatima shook her head. “Not for a few minutes. She told me to be a good girl and change the diaper myself, so I did.”

Madison smiled.
Built in little servant they have.
“Why don’t we go upstairs to the tower, the breeze is lovely and it will give the nursery a chance to air out.”

As if on cue Olivia sat up. She waved her little arms and smiled up at Madison.

“Oh, what a pretty baby you are.” Madison walked over to Olivia and reached out her arms to her. Olivia grabbed her arms and Madison had the baby girl in her arms. She had to admit, she was a beautiful child. But one thing she knew, this child would turn and become a vampire. So like her docile brother, they needed to be gotten rid of. Two less vampires in the world, and their mother, too. Then she would fly from here and be gone. They would never find her. Maybe she would take this poor child and raise her as a witch. She looked over at Fatima. She really was a beautiful little girl. Teach her the ways of the old ones. Bring her up. She would be a good one to train.

They came to the top of the tower room. Across the room lay the door and a short flight of stairs to the
top of the tower. The moon shone in the room, casting a beautiful glow. A perfect night to kill some vampires. “Let’s go to the top, it’s a beautiful night and the air is clear. Is their mother coming for them?”

Fatima for a moment hung back. She felt fear for the first time since the whole plan had been
made by her and the good lady witch with black, black hair. She didn’t fear for herself but for the babies. She didn’t want anything to happen to Livee and Liam. They were like her baby brother and sister. Looking up at the blonde witch, her mouth began to water. She saw the spirits in the background. She knew the good witch was somewhere there, waiting for the moment to whisper that special word that would unleash her and Livee. She felt hungry all of a sudden. She nodded yes to the witch.

Madison took Fatima’s hand. “Come child, let
’s get some fresh air.”

Fatima followed two steps behind the witch. They reached the top and Fatima breathed in deep
ly. She didn’t know how it would end but she knew it wouldn’t be much longer. She heard a noise from below and knew the time had come.

“Fatima, Fatima, where are you girl?”

Madison smiled. This would be over before anyone even knew what happened. Vampire or not, Katherine was no match for her. She would hit her so fast. The spell she had would end the reincarnations of her thorn forever.

Madison put her back to the edge. She pulled Fatima with her. The baby Olivia squirmed in her arms.
I know you can understand me brat, hold still or I will send you over the side.
She saw the reaction she wanted. Olivia straightened up and stilled
.

Olivia looked past the door and saw a shimmer of light. She knew it was time. She let out a scream.

Katherine came to the top and saw Madison holding Olivia, Fatima holding Liam and her little hand was held tight by the witch. The moon shone brightly behind them, bathing the whole world in a bright, silver glow. She hoped to God everyone was ready.

“Fatima why are you up here with her?”

Fatima tried to pull away but was held fast. Looking at her hand and then up to the witch she saw wickedness come from her eyes. “She said she was your friend.”

Katherine reached out to take Fatima’s hand but was knocked back by a jolt of electricity. Then she felt her body come off the ground.

“You don’t think I would be stupid enough to let you retain your powers while I hold the keys to your Kingdom, do you?” Madison crowed. She felt pleased with herself. “It’s time you met your match Katherine or is it Slaine? I’ve forgotten how many times you have been on this earth but I’ve been waiting for you, a very long time. It’s time you met your Maker for good.”

She waved her hand and Katherine spun in the air.

Colum stood on the ground below the tower, waiting, hoping that it would all go as planned. Cormac and Elsabet were perched on other parts of the castle. Thor stood next to him, growling. Odin held Sally as she stood in the trees, they were back up. If it had been according to Sally’s wish, she would have gone and done in the witch already. Colum promised she would have the witch, eventually. Colum saw a shimmer and knew it was Uncle Wolfie and the good witch Emma. They floated off to the side, Emma having changed herself. She was letting Madison think she had the upper hand. What Madison didn’t know was Katherine was cocooned in a spell to protect her from any bodily harm.

Madison continued to spin her hand. “You see, I’m going to do away with your two brats here and there won’t be a thing you can do. You will watch and then I will do away with you once and for all. I’m sick to death with having to hunt you down, but only to find you have died before I could get to you
. You are so tiresome Katherine. I hated you in the beginning when you were Slaine, though I suspect that wasn’t your first incarnation.”

Katherine tried to see but the spinning was too fast. She caught glimpses of everyone. Saw her beloved vampire, Colum below. Felt the energy of the whole family.
“You will never get away with this, you know that don’t you. Colum will hunt you down and he will make sure you suffer.”

Madison sent a bolt of electricity to Katherine from her fingertips. She saw the red headed vampire’s body jolt with the massive shock. “Shut up
, you bitch. I’ve had to live in your shadow long enough. Too long in fact. Even when I was married to your pious father Brian. He always said what a good girl you were and a fine lady you would become, how beautiful. I wish he could have seen your death then, and again the time I poisoned you in 1777. Colum didn’t reach you then, either. It was brilliant. I only wish I had known then that you would keep coming back. I watched you writhe in pain as the poison moved through your body. Colum was too late, too late.” She said in a singsong voice.

Colum strained against the bands of constraint his parents held him with, howling and with despair.
Let her spout, she can’t harm anyone. Look past your own anger and see the power that is radiating from Olivia and Fatima, the witch doesn’t even realize what she is unleashing. They will do her in within seconds.