Gypsy Designs Ch. 08

"Phillip must have been mistaken when he told me how taken with you the girl was," he laughed. "Or could it have been the other way around and he just told me wrong?" he chuckled nodding to let Caydn know Gypsy was much further ahead of them than was good.

"Damn it," Caydn muttered running across the street, moving quickly until he caught up with her. Settling into her pace he and Lucien flanked her while they finished walking back to his estate.

"My god if I thought anything like this could've happened I would've never goaded Caydn into letting the two of you go along," Sophie was telling Megan when Gypsy stormed in the back door.

Seeing her Sophie grabbed Gypsy spinning her around so she could look at her. "That's it you're not leaving the house or the grounds until Barton's been put in a box some damn where," she said her voice shaking, reaching up brushing her finger over a deep scratch on Gypsy's check from the broken glass.

Gypsy sighed wrapping her arms around the woman, "Sophie I'm okay I promise. Caydn and Christian made sure we were safe,' she said hugging her aunt tightly.

"Sophie if nothing else the shots hitting the car were my fault. I wasn't aware these morons had taken the women out with them," Lucien said stepping into the kitchen.

Wiping the tears from her eyes Sophie looked up, "Lucien you of all people, how did you let that happen?" she asked quickly stepping toward him taking his out stretched hand.

"Sophie you know if I'd known I would've made them my first priority, letting these two whelps to fend for them selves," he laughed hugging the trembling woman to him.

"I'm glad you're here," Vince said from the table, "I'm just now becoming mobile. It's driving me crazy not being able to do anything to help protect them," he explained taking the large man's hand in a friendly hand shake.

Caydn nodded to Christian who motioned for a drink, "What brings you here Lucien other than a call to Phillip?" Caydn asked leaning back against the counter his arms crossed over his muscled chest meeting the larger man's gaze.

Taking the seat at the table Sophie pointed to, Lucien sat down before looking back at Caydn. "I actually received a call from Victor. I think the same night you spoke with him Vince. He told me what was happening or what he thought was happening. I called Phillip the following day confirming much of what Victor has said," he explained. "Victor asked if I'd come and see if I could be of some use since he's afraid Damone's still alive and some where in the states with Barton. He wanted to make sure his granddaughter was protected," he said glancing at Gypsy who still had her back turned, fussing over a tea kettle.

"Why's everyone so sure that I can't take care of myself?" she said turning around slowly looking at each of them one by one. "Even if I need help, who's to say Caydn couldn't help me and that he'd need everyone's help?" she said shaking her head at Christian when he offered her a brandy.

Lucien rubbed his brow frowning, "Is all that chatter you?" he asked Gypsy staring right at her. "Please tell me that bombardment of thoughts is intentional to drive me crazy and not simply an every day occurrence." He glanced at Caydn who'd started to laugh when he heard her huff of indignation.

Gypsy immediately slammed her blocks up shutting herself off from everyone. Dropping her eyes to the tea she'd made she poured it in the sink. "Christian can I please have that drink?" she asked, "I can already see that living here with all these rude obnoxious people is going to drive me to drink," she snorted thanking him for the glass.

Sophie looked around the room seeing all the different expressions. "Would now be a good time to tell you that Phillip and Jazleen should be landing right about now with Micah and Samantha? Or should I just let that be a surprise also?" she sighed.

Vince patted her hand when Caydn snorted, turned and walked out of the room without a word. "I think we might want to move to the study so everyone can be comfortable. Then they can tell us what they found out," he said slowly rising from his chair reaching for the cane he was now walking with.

Gypsy still stood against the sink while Vince and Sophie led everyone toward the study. Glancing up she saw Megan motion for Christian to follow, she'd be along in a minute.

"Are you okay?" Megan said coming to stand beside her.

Gypsy raised her glass to her before tossing back the remainder of the brandy. "I'll answer that only if you tell me if you could ever forgive me for getting you involved in all of this. If it hadn't been for visiting me you'd still have your normal life. Classes, work and all of the things you always loved to do," she said softly meeting her best friend's eyes.

Megan set the brandy glass on the counter, taking Gypsy's hands. "There's nothing for me to forgive," she smiled when Gypsy looked up meeting her eyes. "I can't say or am even going to pretend I understand it all myself, but you know I'd mentioned before I always felt like I was searching for something," she said gently seeing Gypsy nod. "Well I don't feel like I'm searching anymore. If it hadn't been for you I wouldn't have met Christian. I'm not going to say that everything's been smooth," she laughed, "because they haven't been. I never liked restrictions in my life, now I just have different ones to get use to," she grinned. "I'm happy Gypsy, really happy," she said squeezing her hands.

Gypsy wrapped her arms around Megan, "I'm glad you are," she giggled. "At least one of us can say this has put their life into perspective, mine seems to have a long way to go," they both laughed.

The two women walked into the study arm and arm. Gypsy walked to Christian, leaning down she brushed a kiss on his cheek. "She's my best friend in the world, take care of her," she said just above a whisper, putting Megan's hand in his.

Christian nodded, "You know I will," he smiled pulling Megan down to sit in his lap.

Turning she walked over to stand in front of the fire passing Caydn's chair, not looking at anyone nor acknowledging they were even there. Rubbing her hands in front of the fire she glanced back over her shoulder at Lucien.

"How's my grandfather?" she asked quietly, "it's been years since I've had a chance to visit him, I always did that with my father," she said her voice sounding sad as it faded.

Lucien looked at Caydn who met his gaze then shrugged. "Victor's wonderful. He asked that I send his love and regards, if we had a chance to meet. He also told me a visit was long over due." He smiled when she nodded and turned back around to face the room.

Caydn turned his hand over on the arm of the chair, without reaching his hand out, he waited for her to step toward him threading her fingers with his. Pulling her down into his lap he wrapped his arm casually around her after she settled herself.

"Jaz called and they should be here in the next thirty minutes or so. She said they did have some things to tell us if you think you're up to staying awake to hear them." Caydn said gently meeting her eyes when she looked at him.

She sighed, "Do I have much of a choice?" she asked. "It seems like all I've done since I've been here is disrupt the lives of everyone on not only this continent but all the others," she laughed bitterly. "What's some more bad news to add to the mix?"

Sophie sat forward on the couch, "Gypsy that's enough right now," she said sharply. "I know all of this has to be overwhelming but that's also no reason to start feeling sorry for your self. I've seen you stand up tall and take on the burdens of the world when your parents were killed. You didn't once sit down and play the 'oh woe is me' act, it's less than appealing now," she said looking at her niece.

Gypsy knew Sophie was speaking the truth but that didn't stop the feeling of embarrassment that flashed over her. Pushing up from Caydn's lap she shook her head, "If you'll excuse me," she said clearing her throat, "I have some work to get done. I'd like to apologize to each of you though, I'm sorry," she said before walking out of the study, going upstairs to her room, closing the door behind her.

Vince held Sophie's hand, "Leave her be, she'll be fine and no you weren't wrong in what you said either," he assured her. "She's strong willed and as hard headed as any Chordane that's ever been born is all. She'll be down when she's ready," he said with a smile.

Caydn leaned his head back on the chair closing his eyes. Gypsy had blocked herself completely as he knew she would. She needed some time to sort through everything that was going on around her. Hearing a chuckle he looked up meeting Lucien's stare, shaking his own head while he fought to not laugh.

"I always knew that one day you'd find the perfect one to make you pay for everything you'd done in life," Lucien laughed when Caydn rolled his eyes. "I'm just thankful fate hasn't delivered to me the hellion that'll make me pay for my long list of sins yet," he silently toasted Caydn before tossing back his drink.

"Now if you'll excuse me I'm going to try and talk to her and see if maybe she'll understand things a little clearer," Lucien said looking at Caydn to see if he'd allow it. At his nod he stood and took his leave.

**************************

She kept stabbing the thread at the needle trying to thread it, her eyes blurred with tears. Sighing she wished she could climb out the window and escape into the woods. Taking a deep breath when she felt Lucien stop outside her door, she had to admit that wasn't an option.

"I really don't want to talk about anything right now," she said softly knowing he'd be able to hear her.

Lucien opened the door shaking his head with a grin, "I'd been told you were talented but I think even Victor underestimates your skills," he said closing the door behind him quietly.

He knew without her looking up she was close to tears, her body language spoke volumes as she continued trying to thread the needle she held. Looking around the room he laughed softly. "Yes I was going to comment on the chaos your sitting in the middle of," he said when she lowered her blocks letting him hear what she was thinking.

Wiping her eyes, tossing the thread to the table she looked at him as he leaned against the door. "Okay what do you want to talk to me about? Or if you'd prefer just let me hear it for myself and we can get this over with as quickly as possible. Then you can get back down stairs to the war planning room," she sighed.

Lucien looked around, walking over lowering himself into one of the larger chairs, stretching his long legs out in front of him he met her eyes. "Is it true mental influencing does nothing but make your mind tickle?" he asked with a chuckle. "Has no one been able to push beyond those barriers to make it effective?" He said his voice dropping to a vibrating smoothness, deeper than Caydn's voice.

Frowning she rubbed her forehead before she could stop herself. "Damn it I wish all of you would stop that. No it doesn't work and yes as you can see all it does is tickle and annoy the hell out of me." She looked at him, her amber eyes flaring when he threw his head back laughing.

"Once again I'm so glad I can provide amusement. Now was there anything else or did you just have to come and try and test your skills along with everyone else who's tried it?" she said propping her elbows on her knees, putting her face in her hands.

"What do you mean calling Christian and Caydn 'young whelps' and that they're no where near as skilled or powerful as you are? They can't be much younger than you. Hell you all look to be with in months of one another," she said sitting up seeing his eyes flash to her. "Yes I can hear things people don't want me to hear especially if they're close to me," she answered his thoughts.

"Let me speed this along for you," she laughed, "Yes you already know about all of the testing and things that were done when I was a child by my mother and Barton. Grandpa Victor told you," she sighed. "You also know about what's taken place since I've been here. Both with Roland, then the other night with that dark coldness and the shattered windows at my new shop," she said rolling her eyes. "Of course Barton's coming into the shop and my being knocked across the room some how, so what else is there to tell you since you seem to know it all already?" she asked.

Lucien leaned forward in the chair watching her closely, "Your father and I were good friends when he was growing up. Did you know that?" He asked quietly, "the scar Elliot had on his arm, from falling off a horse did he ever tell you I was with him when that happened and it was me who healed the wound for him?" He watched her face while she remembered flashes of her father and stories he'd told her.

"Why did you leave out the fact you're the reason he fell from the horse?" she laughed. "Yes he told me, but he never mentioned your name or if he did I didn't remember it," she said quickly.

"Your father and I had a connection that wasn't what ordinary friends would have or what most people think of as ordinary," he told her.

"A blood connection?" she asked looking up quickly, hearing the words in his thoughts. "I'm not sure what you mean. You donated blood when he needed it at the hospital or something?"

Lucien leaned back in the chair watching her closely, feeling her wandering through the memories he was opening for her. He and Elliot going into the mountains on horse back, camping near the river that came down from the top of the mountain. The water high and raging after the spring rains and winter snows had begun melting.

"Do you know anything about what it means for someone of my race to exchange blood with someone from yours?" he asked gently.

She shook her head slightly, "I know there was something of a blood exchange between Megan and Christian when she was hurt and dying. Because of that she was changed or converted or what ever the right phrase is," she said looking up at him. Her mind filed with the image of her father laying along the edge of the river his arm badly broken the bone through the skin and his blood soaking into the soft ground beneath him.

"Did my father become like you when that happened?" she asked seeing the silver of his eyes flash when he smiled.

"No Gypsy he didn't," he chuckled. "He would've allowed it but I knew it wasn't in his best interest to convert him. I gave him enough to make him stronger and also to heal rapidly since there was no way of getting him down the mountain and saving his life with as much blood as he'd lost," he explained. "But what that connection does, is it allows for a strong mental connection and bond to be between the two for as long as they're both alive."

Seeing the confusion on her face he put his hands together closing his eyes for a second. "I was with your father when he died," he said slowly, "I heard his thoughts and felt his pain," he locked his eyes to hers. "He wanted me to make sure that you were safe and that Barton never had a chance to get his hands on you. The man was corrupt and evil and would do anything to increase his wealth and standings," he explained when her face turned white.

"You couldn't stop it but you had to experience it," she said her eyes welling with tears. "The day I got the call telling me they'd been killed, I didn't want to get out of bed," she said with a deep ragged sigh. "I was getting up when this rush of not physical pain but something else came over me. Sadness and sorrow was the only way I could've described it if I'd had to put it in words," she said looking up at him again. "I'm glad you were there with him on the mountain but I'm sorry you had to feel it that day."

"Did you know my mother and Barton?" she asked. Her cheeks flushed when images of her mother throwing herself at Lucien flashed into her mind. Barton sitting back toasting Evelyn and Lucien while he watched his own daughter propositioning what he thought would be a rich catch to add to the family tree. "That's disgusting," she snapped closing her eyes frowning. "You knew what the two of them were like but you stood back and let me father marry her anyway?" she accused.

Lucien chuckled, "I can honestly say stubborn and being hard headed is a family trait well engrained with all of the Chordane's," he laughed at her expression. "Your father thought he'd found the woman of his dreams. Satan himself couldn't have told him otherwise even knowing what he did, he simply found it easier to blame me and accuse me of trying to take her for myself. I knew right then that nothing I'd say or do would change his mind. For years he and I had no contact with one another until one of the many trips that you made with him to visit Victor," he explained.

"You met me when I was there?" she looked at him hoping he'd say no, but from his laughter she knew better.

"I can honestly say it was one of the highlights of my life when you tip toed out Victor's study so as to not be 'as loud'," he laughed when she closed her eyes and hung her head.

"Okay that's enough of that," she said shaking her head. "I could've gone the rest of my life without having to face someone who knew or was there when that happened," she grinned. "Now what do you know about Barton and what ever is happening with me?" she asked.

"Elliot was a great investment to Barton he found a few months after your parents married. Elliot didn't have the same ability you have to hear what people around him was thinking, but he had a gut instinct when he was right about something and almost one hundred percent of the time he was correct. This was a huge advantage in the business world of buy outs, mergers and take overs," he explained. "Barton made a few trips with Elliot when he went home before you were born and found a few less than savory characters to do business with. Along the way on one of his trips alone he met Damone."

"What would Barton need with visiting someone they refer to as a sorcerer?" she asked propping her chin in her hands again. "I just can't see how the two would even meet casually," she said shaking her head.

Lucien laughed, "Damone wasn't the 'black robe long white beard stirring a cauldron' type sorcerer," he chuckled. "He was a business man first and foremost so they met at a board meeting I think it was. They both had not only a thirst for power but a feeling of being highly superior to all other races and ethnicities. I honestly believe that that was what originally started the bond between the two."

"I remember Elliot telling Victor he was concerned when Evelyn sent you to all those different doctors and institutes to be tested. Some of the names he suspected had been given to Barton by Damone," he said with a frown. "See your skills would've been an oddity to most but to Damone it was a red flag that you'd either been converted or had some type of blood bond with our race," he said quietly waiting to see how much she understood.

Gypsy looked up quickly locking her eyes with his, "the bond came through my father from you didn't it?" she whispered already knowing the answer.

Lucien nodded, "It's never been unheard of for a bond to be made between us and those who've spent their lives as protectors or guardians. Some eventually go through the conversion for one reason or another. Only recently have we noticed many with the same talents and skills you possess have some form of bond way back along their lineage," he said solemnly.

She shook her head, standing and beginning to pace the room. "It's not your fault," she said glancing at him. "You're not the one who sent me to those people and took me to others when the first didn't give them the answers they wanted," she said softly. Stopping to stand in front of him she waited until he looked up.