I've Been Waiting for You (11 page)

Modern Day
Ireland

Seven Months
After the Twins’ Birth

Katherine stood with Colum holding onto her from behind. She was crying, remembering the last time a
family wedding had taken place in this castle where they were at; how her father, the High King of all of Ireland, Brian Boru, had given her away to the man who now held her tightly against his chest. She leaned her head back and felt his lips skim over her hair. “It’s been a long time luv, hasn’t it?”

“Yes
,” she turned into his arms and laid her head on his chest. “Oh, how I wish you could have changed him. He would have made a wonderful vampire, and I’d be able to see him now.”

Colum held Katherine extra tight. He remembered the day of Clontarf, the carnage, the bloodshed on both sides. When someone yelled that the
High King had been killed, the High King’s brother and Slaine had gone berserk. Colum had raced into the King’s tent but knew as soon as he had seen the King lying in a pool of blood, there was nothing even he could do for the man who had become his father-in-law. His head lay next to his body.

“If I could have done anything
...”

Katherine looked up, tears spilling from her eyes, the color of rubies. “I know
.”

She sighed. Then
looking up, she smiled. “But, we are here and have the castle again for an entire month.”

Colum smiled down at her
, “Yes, and we will make this a wonderful wedding for Sally and Odin.”

They both turned as the sun set over the pond. Both watching as the swans swam around one more time.

“Yes, it’s going to be a lovely time here.”

Katherine walked around the rose garden of the castle. It was just before the sun was due to break the horizon. Since she didn’t need sleep, she took advantage of the quiet before her human family members were awake. Her parents, along with her brother and his wife, Issy, and their children had arrived yesterday. She smiled as she bent to inhale the fragrance of the beauty in front of her. Early birds were calling and singing. This was a perfect time of day.

She walked with no purpose but to relax. She was well fed and felt better than she had in years.

She stood, just listening to the sounds, and then she sensed something or someone nearby. As she turned calmly she saw nothing or anyone.
Funny, I know I heard something.
She decided she would walk to the front where the bailey used to be. She was in the area where the chapel and outer curtain wall once was. Now, it was just gardens. As she walked she felt a breeze go by her. She stopped. She could almost catch a scent with the breeze. Looking around, though, she saw none of the tree’s leaves moving. It was a still morning.
Why am I feeling a breeze?
She stood absolutely still and tried to let her senses take over. Nothing. She walked slowly, like she was interested in her surroundings, but now all she cared about was what was going on around her.

She felt a small touch on her hand.
Looking down she saw nothing and then she saw a faint shimmer.

Katherine now knew she must have one of the many spirits trying to communicate with her.

“I can see you, barely. Show yourself.”

She felt the breeze pick up again, felt the touch on her hand but it lasted only a second and then it was gone.

Katherine was still standing there when Colum found her about an hour later.

Colum had searched the castle grounds high and low. He finally guessed she must be out in the gardens. He had started a small garden for her after her father’s passing at the battle of Clontarf in 1014. She would sit there for hours in the good weather.
As he came around the corner, there she stood, still as a statue. He walked up slowly.

“I heard you come crashing around the corner Colum.”

Colum came up to Katherine and wrapped his arms around her. Drinking in her scent and the roses at the same time was a heady experience. He felt her mold herself to him, pressing in, purring as she did. Then she stilled herself again.

“I sense something Colum. Something or someone was here with me, touched my hand.”

Colum knew it would happen eventually. People who came to this castle said they saw numerous ghosts. It would stand to reason though that the ghosts would show themselves to Katherine, after all, at least two of the spirits were probably her sons. Thor had been fourteen at the time of his death, and had been killed when he’d tried to defend his mother. Her younger son, Olaf, had also been killed. Gormflaith had been a wicked woman. Elsabet had visited her soon after the deaths of Slaine and the boys. Thor and Little Olaf had never stood a chance. Elsabet had said that, though she hated to take a life, Gormflaith’s death had been a very satisfying kill.

“You know Kat
, it could be your father but I’m thinking it’s either little Thor or little Olaf. They are the most frequent ghosts here.”

Katherine turned in Colum’s arms.
Looking up into his violet eyes, she saw the love that had followed her down through the ages. “My sons?” she said in a whisper.

“I’m sure of it. It’s morning
, so their spirits are weak. You won’t see them till night time now.”

Katherine could feel tears spill. She wiped at her face and saw a light red tear on the back of her hand. “Tears of joy and sorrow
.”

“Yes
, luv. You know they have waited a long time to see you. Maybe this will put them to rest once they see you. Little Olaf probably never knew what hit him. He was knocked on the head and drowned by someone working here at the castle, who was really from Gormflaith’s camp. That wicked woman had spies all over the country side.”

Katherine wished the spirit would come back, she couldn’t wait for nightfall. “What happened to her?”

Colum smiled. “Elsabet got her. She did exactly what Gormflaith did, except she went herself instead of sending someone. She made herself to look like an old woman and asked for work. She worked at Gormflaith’s castle for a month. One morning, when she was cleaning the solar, Gormflaith was alone. Elsabet made sure she did something wrong so your ex-mother-in-law had to reprimand her. And she did. She started to hit her, and that’s when Elsabet pounced on her. It was then that Gormflaith had met her match, and her end. She ripped her open and left her to die a slow death. Mother left a note of warning.”

Kath
erine held on tight to Colum. “I didn’t know.” She took a deep breath. “How did I die, that time?”

Colum had been out hunting for a stag. It was thought that
, perhaps, Slaine was with child. She had been sick for a while and had just seen the midwife. The midwife had confirmed their suspicions. They had been married ten years, never believing they would have a babe of their own. A carnival had come, but they later found out Gormflaith had used that as a ruse to get Slaine outside the castle walls. She had been gathering herbs to make tinctures and had turned as her name was being called, her maid had later told him. When she turned a man stabbed her in the heart. She had died instantly. Screaming had brought Thor, who at age fourteen, had stood over six foot tall. He had little Olaf with him. He grabbed his dagger and went after the assassin. Poor little Olaf had fallen over his dead mother’s body trying to protect her, not realizing she was dead already. Thor never stood a chance with the hired, ruthless assassin. He was stabbed also, but didn’t die right away. His body was carried back to the castle. The maid said one minute Olaf was with her, the next moment he was following one of the servants. They found his body in the pond, his skull smashed in and his body floating in the water. They found one more of Gormflaith’s spies before they all had a chance to escape. He spilled everything, before his blood was spilled.

“Let
’s not worry about that now, Kat. Let me love you now.” He scooped her up and walked towards one of the big castle doors.

* * * * * * * *

Sally stretched and felt Odin’s body curled up next to her. Turning in his arms she saw his smile. “Good, you are finally awake. I thought I was going to have to nibble on your ear to wake you up.”

Sally leaned in to catch Odin’s lips. “Mmm, you taste like chocolate
.”

Odin’s head went back as he laughed.
“I was down in the kitchen helping the cooks try out different cake batters. They are experimenting to find just the right flavor.”

Sally was up and pushing Odin down.
“And you thought to yourself, “Self, since Sally is sleeping so well I might as well go see what’s going on in the kitchen,”” She kissed his lips and licked into his mouth. “Mmm, I detect a hint of raspberry too.”

“Raspberries were in a bowl, I had to taste them also.”

Sally felt Odin’s arms wrapping around her, pulling her down and on top of him tightly. She felt heat spread as he moved inside of her ever so slowly.

“You are distracting me
, Odin.”

Odin kissed her lips
, “Yes, and it’s fun.”

Sally smiled. “You enjoy eating as much as my little sister and Olivia
, when she was alive the last time.”

Odin grabbed her ass. “Yes
, and there are other things I enjoy feasting on.” He had her over on her back quickly. He started kissing her neck and working his way down to her belly. Hearing her moans of pleasure, he knew he was on the right track. Looking up into her beautiful eyes, he said, “Yes, there are other things I love to feast upon.”

Sally moaned as Odin found what he was so fond of eating.

Katherine sat on one of the stools while the cooks worked around her. Sally was out riding with Odin. Colum said he had an appointment in Dublin and would be home later. So Katherine sat listening to the cooks talk. Maggie Ahearn turned and grabbed the flour. She was making rolls for dinner. She glanced up at Katherine and wondered about her. She knew a bit about the family that was renting the castle. That they were rich beyond anything she would ever have to worry about. The times they had come to this castle and asked for extra help she knew she would get well paid. She also knew she was to ask no questions.

“Maggie
?”

Maggie wiped her brow and looked up at Katherine.

“Yes?”

Katherine wasn’t sure what she should ask. She knew the Irish loved a good ghost story but didn’t want to have the extra hired help running if this wasn’t their cup of tea.
“How long have you worked here?”

Maggie wiped her hands on an extra tea towel and put the bowl on the back burner of the giant coo
king range. She wet a tea towel, placed it over the bread dough. Then turning her attention to Katherine she sighed. “I’ve lived in this village all my life. I work here at the castle as has everyone in my family for centuries. All of us can tell you whatever you want to know.”

Katherine picked up the mug of tea that sat in front of her untouched. “I think one of the ghost
s was walking with me today in the rose garden.”

Maggie laughed “Is that all
. You must have been where they say the Wee One likes to walk. He is looking for his mother, they say. Some people have said they have heard him cry.”

Katherine sat up straight. “Really
, have you ever seen him or felt him?”

“No. I don’t have time to be wal
king the garden paths. When I’m here at the castle it’s to work, not for relaxing. Now you would probably want to be asking my Uncle Tom, him being the gardener.”

They both turned as Maggie’s
younger sister Fiona came into the room laughing. “Tom’s drunk most days but he does say even in the early morning hours on certain days, he sees a mist hang over the rose bed. Says he’s seen visions of a wee boy. Uncle Tom named him Wee One,” Fiona said as she approached Katherine.

Katherine got up and went to put the kettle on. “How does he know it’s a boy?” Katherine asked as she lit the burner.

Maggie the cook took the kettle out of Katherine’s hand. “I’ll be doing that, Ma’am.”

“He says he knows because he has seen
them, as full bodied ghosts.”

Fiona
walked up and rested her hand on Katherine’s arm. She knew about Katherine’s family so she wasn’t startled by the coolness of her skin. She was one of those who had come back from the dead and would no longer die.

“If you can catch him early enough
, he’s in the stable with the horses. He says that’s another favorite haunt of the two ghosts. He thinks they were brothers because they hold onto one another most of the time, like the older one is watching over for the younger one.”

Katherine patted Fiona’s hand. “Thank you.” Then she really looked into Fiona’s eyes.
Do you know what I am, what Colum, his parents and Odin are?

Fiona felt a bolt of electricity course through her
.
Yes, Ma’am and I have no fear. Your family has always been good to us. Maggie suspects but says nothing.

Katherine smiled. “I will talk with your brother tomorrow morning.”

* * * * * * * *

Sally sat in the library tal
king with the wedding planner. She was showing her volumes of flower designs and bands who could be hired. If she had to look at one more bouquet design she was going to go and hurl herself off the tallest rampart of the castle. She looked up and saw Odin passing by. “Ah, the groom. Odin, come here and help me.”

The last thing Odin wanted to do was be involved with wedding planning. This was to be Sally’s day. He didn’t care if she came to the wedding naked and there were no flowers or guest as long as at the end of the ceremony she was his wife. Then he would worry about the forever part.

Susan McNabb looked up at the groom. She had only seen him once before, so it took her some getting used to seeing a man as tall and big as him. Though, when she saw the rest of the family, the step-father of the bride and the groom’s brother, she gave up being too shocked.

“Odin, I really don’t know what kind of flowers to pick for the wedding. I know I want roses
, but what about around at the tables and on the seats during the ceremony?”

Odin could feel Sally’s frustration radiating off of her like waves. He didn’t have a clue but knew the standard
“Whatever you want dear,” wasn’t going to work.

He sat down on the sof
a next to Sally and pulled her towards him. He flipped through the pages while he let one of his arms drape around her waist. He saw the photo that he knew would make her happy. One thing down. “Roses. We will have the ceremony in the rose garden, with an arbor with a rainbow of roses over us as we say our vows. Your sister will carry roses of all colors and the same for the chairs and the tables.”

Sally smiled. “You’re brilliant, you know that don’t you?”

Odin gave Sally a quick kiss. “I know. It’s not just all brawn here. I do have brains too.”

Susan McNabb smiled and wrote down quick notes. “Good. That’s decided, now onto the cake.”

Odin smiled and looked straight into the wedding planner’s eyes, giving Sally a squeeze as he spoke. “Like this.” He picked up a pencil and sketched out a picture of a multi-tiered cake, then drew roses around it. “I have been experimenting with the cooks in the kitchen and I want two of Sally’s favorite flavors. Lemon with a raspberry filling.”

Sally kissed his cheek. “Two things down
.” She looked at the list. “Music.”

Odin stood, walked over to the stereo and picked out a CD.

Frank Sinatra’s
Fly Me to the Moon
came on. He walked up to Sally. “May I have this dance?”

Sally smiled and jumped up. “You’ll have to teach me
.”

Odin smiled. “Don’t worry about it. I’ll have you flying across the ballroom floor.

“I can arrange lessons,” said the wedding planner.

Odin smiled down at his girl. “I think that we will be fine.”

* * * * * * * *

The whole family sat in the large living room. A chill had come with the darkness. Colum sat on the floor with Katherine
, who held baby Olivia. As he sat, Colum tended the fireplace. Her parents, brother, and sister-in-law sat on one of the big couches. Thor walked in and walked over to where Katherine and Colum sat. Olivia reached up with her arms for him and squealed when he lifted her up.

Issy shook her head. “
I honestly don’t understand how you can wait for a baby to grow up. Wouldn’t you want to find someone closer to your age?”

Katherine smiled at Thor
, who had eyes only for Olivia. Olivia was slapping his face and giggling up a storm as he talked to her.

“I’ll address this Thor
.”

Katherine got up and went and sat next to her sister
-in-law. “Issy, I know it’s hard for you to grasp the whole other worldly world but, as you can see, even though Olivia is only seven months old, she acts as if she is about a year old. She is growing quickly. She will mature at such a speed that Thor won’t have to wait long. Even though this happens rarely, we do have a few examples to go by.”

Katherine’s father sat up. He had been lounging back, eyes closed. “This baby is a very special baby. She has Katherine’s side from when she was human, the Fae blood running through her veins. Then she has Colum’s family, vampire and fallen angel
. I don’t even begin to understand it, but I have always believed there was more in this world besides us. Seeing our Katherine alive and whole speaks volumes. Seeing little Olivia is another story in itself. Stop trying to figure it out and just believe, or just go with it.”

They all sat quietly watching Thor play with the baby.
Katherine’s father lounged back and closed his eyes again. He said he was not going shopping with the women to Dublin ever again. The younger cousins came in and lay on the floor. One brought out a board game that occupied them for a while. Katherine looked at the mantel clock and saw it was eleven. She wanted to roam the halls and grounds after everyone went to bed.

Colum could see Katherine was getting restless. He got up and pulled Katherine to her feet. Thor looked up. “Do you need someone to watch Olivia awhile?”

Katherine bent and kissed her daughter’s head. “Yes, for as long as you wish. Her nanny is up in the nursery with Liam, so if you want to relieve her that would be great. I’m going out for a while, alone.”

Colum and Katherine walked the halls
until they came to their wing where the nursery was also located. It was attached to their suite. “I will be here if you need me. Just let me know.”

Katherine turned and wrapped her arms around her husband. “Thank you for letting me do this on my own. If I make contact with them, then I will ask if you may be with me
, considering they knew you also.”

Colum pulled Katherine in. “It’s
OK, they have been searching for you, not me.” He bent his face and grazed her lips, letting his tongue lick inside her mouth until he heard her purr. “Don’t be gone too long.” He saw her look and laughed. “I’m kidding, I’m kidding.”

Katherine bit down on his lip and licked the blood that came out. She tasted arousal. “Hold that thought!”

* * * * * * * *

Katherine had been wal
king the halls and gardens of the castle for a few hours. She finally went back to the rose garden and sat down next to the pond. Gentle night sounds could be heard. She sat very still and let all her senses take over. She lost track of time as she sat still, waiting and hoping for her sons to appear. She found her body becoming still, like the air. She had been learning how to slow her body down since she had come out of the coma after her death and rebirth a little over two years ago. It was amazing. She could feel herself go into a state like Colum had done before she had been created and found it always scared her, fearing he was dead. Now she knew her kids felt the same way.

The two spirits watched the woman who sat by the water’s edge. She had been sitting still for so long. That wasn’t normal, not for a human anyway.

Olaf looked up at his big brother. “She looks so much like mama. Why won’t you let me see if she is? She is with that man who looks like our step-father.”

The bigger spirit shook his head. “No, not yet, I can’t bear to see you upset. If it’s not her, reincarnated
, and she were to laugh at you, at us, I don’t know what I would do.”

Olaf laughed. “I know what you would do, you would send things out the castle window like you did once before when the guest made fun of ghosts
.”

Katherine sat up. She heard something that sounded like light fairie bells.
Looking around, she saw a shimmer. “Are you there? I heard you, please show yourself. It’s me your mother Slaine, daughter of the High King and your father was Sigtrygg Silkbeard. Please show yourself.”

Olaf tried pulling from Thor, but Tho
r had always been stronger than him. “Please, she says she is Slaine, what more proof do you want?”

Thor watched her look
around wildly. She did look like their beloved mother, but he had to make sure. He looked down at his little brother. “Stay and wait.”

Thor floated up to her and stood so close to the woman who looked around, listening for the slightest sound. He whirled around her at a fast speed.

“I feel you, you know. I am no longer human but was reborn again about two years ago. You have probably seen your step-father, Colum O’Heachthanna. Don’t you recognize him? I know you are my children. I have so much to tell you.” She sat still and felt the wind stir up around her like a mini cyclone. So she sat still and calm, not wanting to frighten the one she was sure was Thor. He was checking her out. Then she heard a whisper.

“When I was a small child what did you tell me as you rocked me to sleep?”

Katherine was sure she could hear the older one whisper. She wasn’t quite sure of the full sentence. The words faded in and out with the breeze as he went around her.

“I think you were as
king me something only you and I would have known, and then I would tell little Olaf as he got older. I can’t quite hear you, even with my excellent hearing, it’s hard. I used to tell you stories of the fairies. My mother’s family was descended from the Fae. I used to tell you if you wanted something bad enough to wish for it and tell the fairies and they would bring it to you.”

Olaf jumped and squealed
.
“See I told you! It’s Mama. Mama, can you hear me?” He ran up to his brother and saw Thor had tears coursing down his cheeks.

Katherine reached her hand out to the two shimmers that hovered near her. “Come, let me hold you
.”

She was hit by such a force that even for being a vampire it felt strong. “Olaf, Thor, I’m your mother
.” She held the two shimmering bodies tightly and felt them as their presence grew stronger.