The Moreau Witches Trilogy
Part One
The Legacy
by Julien Gregg
Copyright © 2025 by Julien Gregg
All rights reserved.
No part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means, including photocopying, recording, or other electronic or mechanical methods, without the prior written permission of the publisher, except as permitted by U.S. copyright law. For permission requests, contact the author by email. The link is below.
The story, all names, characters, and incidents portrayed in this production are fictitious. No identification with actual persons (living or deceased), places, buildings, and products is intended or should be inferred.
Five
Author’s Note:
To those of you who speak French, please don’t murder me for my attempt at the language. I barely know French and used a lot of English to French dictionaries to help me with this chapter.
Sunday finally came and Pierre came to Angelique’s with a ritual bag and a potion. He told Quinn to put the contents of the bag in his bath water and to soak until the water turned cold. He told him to drink the potion first so he could evacuate before the bath. Then he left to do the same thing at his mother’s.
Quinn drank he potion and almost instantly had to use the facilities. He spent the better part of two hours in he bathroom. He was thoroughly cleaned out by the third hour. He drew his bath water and dumped the bag of spell ingredients into the water. He could feel he magic in he air. He climbed into the tub and sat there until the water turned cold. Then he got out strained the tub and drained it. He dressed in cotton clothing like Pierre had instructed.
He drove himself, Charlie, Revanche and Giselle to he marina. They went straight to Pierre’s boat and found him lighting candles all over the deck of he boat. He welcomed them and told Quinn to sit on he deck in front of him as he sat down. He put his fingers of both hands on Quinn’s temples and told Quinn to do the same. Then he said, “Que les deux ne fassent qu'un. Laissons les esprits s'entrelacer. Que les souvenirs viennent.”
Then it was as if Quinn was standing in a field of golden flowers. He saw Pierre standing in the distance motioning for him to come forward. He did that and the memories began to rush over him. He felt the happiness that Pierre felt when he gained his power. He felt the joy at holding Revanche in his arms for the first time and his love for Lisette. He saw his novice classes and learned right along side him. Then it was plants which Pierre loved so much. He learned to make them grow the hard way but he had potions and herbs that made them grow a bit better.
He learned all of the advanced spells with him and saw how Pierre performed them, felt his joy when they worked and his disappointment when they didn’t. He learned about runes and tarot cards, spell books and tomes of knowledge, books that Pierre loved and movies that he felt something about, and he got to know Pierre on a level he’d never reached with people before. He knew what Pierre’s goals were, what he waned out of life. He was shocked to learn that Pierre had a bit of a crush on Charlie but was overjoyed because Pierre was so happy that Charlie and Quinn were together. He really loved Quinn that was evident from the golden veins that surrounded Quinn in his memories. They were the same for Revanche and Giselle. Pierre loved them all.
Then they were sitting on the deck of the boat with their fingers on each other’s temples with tears running down their faces. Pierre sat back, removing his fingers. Quinn did the same.
“Oh, Quinn,” Pierre said and started to sob. “I felt it all. The self hatred, the fear, and the loathing. You really hate to kill.”
“Of course I do,” he said.
“Oh, and I was there with you when Constance stabbed you,” he said. “How betrayed you felt. And you feared that Bart knew and couldn’t face you. Then you learned that not only did he know but that he was proud of you for surviving.”
“You saw all of that?” Quinn asked.
“I was there with you for all of it,” he said. “You forget I saw what you saw just about you while you saw me.”
“It was amazing,” Quinn said with a smile. “I don’t know why I’m crying but I feel amazing. All of your memories are settling into my head. I was with you as you held baby Revanche in your arms and while you shared the secret of his name with Lisette. Oh how you loved her.”
“I loved her more than my mother,” he said.
“I felt that,” Quinn replied. “I felt your disappointment with Maria and your horror at what she’d done to your father. I felt it all. I was there with you for so much.”
“I know,” he said, grinning.
Quinn suddenly realized that the sun had gone all the way down. It was only starting to set when they started the spell. How long had they been under? He wasn’t sure but Pierre had to be helped up by Revanche. Charlie helped Quinn up. His limbs resisted and there was pain in his joints as if he’d been sitting for a very long time.
“What time is it?” Pierre asked Revanche.
“About three in he morning,” he said. “I’m going to be no good at school tomorrow.”
“You’re not going to school tomorrow,” Quinn said.
“Thanks,” he said back.
“We were under for nine hours,” he said. “It was fast as that spell goes. Everything I’ve read about it says to expect twelve to fourteen hours for the spell to play out. I guess because we’re both young men it took less time.”
“Yeah, but I got what I needed,” Quinn said.
“You sure did,” Pierre said. “You know runes, and tarot, spells and rituals. In fact you’re now a bit further along than my advanced class but you have to study for a year and a day to be initiated.”
“Yeah,” Quinn said. “Plus I need a robe and tools.”
“Yes, you do,” he said. “Come with Charlie and Giselle to Moondance tomorrow and pick out your tools. I’ll sell you fabric that you’ll use to make your robe. You know how to sew now, too.”
“I sure do,” Quinn laughed. He saw Charlie yawn. “I’ve got to get these guys home to bed.”
“Yeah,” said Pierre. “Come by the store, Quinn.”
“I will,” he said.
Then they all climbed into his rental car which he was now sure he didn’t want to buy but he did need a car. That was something else to do tomorrow. He drove them back to Angelique’s and they went straight to bed.
Morning came too early for Quinn but he got up and had breakfast with the family. They talked about their coming day and Quinn told them he had to take Charlie and Giselle to Moondance so they could all get their material for their robes and tools. Angelique smiled at this. Josephine stared at him the whole time.
He told Revanche to bring his Jeep because he was taking the car back to the rental place. They went there and Quinn waited while they inspected the car then he signed on the dotted line to pay for the use of the car and told them to charge his credit card. Then he had Revanche take him to the car lot.
He paid for a Nissan Frontier King Cab in black with all the bells and whistles. Revanche was impressed and Charlie was envious. Then he drove it to get plates and insurance. He got all of that taken care of and drove to Moondance behind Revanche’s Jeep.
Pierre was waiting for them and showed them the tools they’d need for rituals. Quinn selected a sterling silver set with the cauldron, athame, the candle stick, and the wand. For his fabric he chose a green fabric the color of hunter green. He also bought black thread for it. He bought a sewing kit with it. Then they all picked out their tools and he bought them all. Then they left for lunch. They ate at The Moonlight Diner. Leah waited on them and chatted with Revanche for a few minutes and then brought their food. She had other customers to take care of so she left them alone.
“I really like your truck,” Charlie said.
“I do too,” said Giselle.
“I think I’ll like it,” Quinn said. “It drives real nice.”
“When can I learn to drive?” Giselle asked.
“Any time you want,” Quinn said. “I or Rev will teach you.”
“Thank you,” she said. “I’ll let you know when I’m ready.”
She was already going to class thee times a week at Ashdon to get her GED. Why not let her learn to drive. She was over eighteen and he’d already helped her get her photo ID and he had her birth certificate thanks to the county. She excelled in all she did and she was planning to do the meld mentale herself soon. For hers she’d be with Quinn and they’d do the spell together.
They went back to Angelique’s and Quinn was happy that Josephine was in school. He wasn’t ready for another round of the staring. They put their tools and fabric in their rooms. Then they sat in the living room chatting about this and that. He had no idea where Angelique was.
He hadn’t heard a thing out of Lorette either. He was wondering about her when she came through the door. She told him that there were papers for him to sign about the takeover of a company in France. He signed those and asked her what she had been up to.
“I have a case that I’m working on,” she said. “How are things here?”
“Just fine, although I feel like a fish in a bowl with Josephine staring at me constantly,” he said. “Did the meld mentale spell with Pierre last night.”
“How did that go?” she asked.
“It went flawlessly,” he replied. “Powerful magic though.”
“So powerful that witches rarely use it for fear it will backfire,” she said. “Congratulations on your success.”
“Thank you,” he said. “I also finally took that rental car back to the company and bought myself a truck.”
“I saw it on my way in,” she said. “Nice truck.”
“Thank you,” he said. “The construction crew started on the manor today and I got a call from the grad students about the first round of journals. They’ve been transcribed and are ready for the publisher.”
“That’s awesome,” she said. “You’re just moving right along.”
“I’m trying to,” he said with a smile.
“Wynn is up to his neck in real estate cases with all of the letters of intent that you sent to late payers,” she said. “He’s in pig heaven.”
“Glad I could help him out,” laughed Quinn.
“Well I have to get back,” she said. “I brought the papers just so I could check in with you.”
“Well I’m glad you stopped by,” he said.
“We’ll get together this weekend if I don’t have more work to do on this case,” she said. “I’ve got investigators all over Santa Barbara running around today.”
“Sounds exciting,” he said.
“Oh you don’t know the half of it,” she laughed. “I’ll see you this weekend for the circle.”
“See you,” he said as she got up and left.
Angelique appeared as Joseph and Josephine came in. They had a quiet dinner together that night. Josephine went back to staring at Quinn and he pretended not to notice. He did notice that Charlie was paying attention though. He sighed at that.
The week went by. He met with publishers about producing fifty copies of each transcribed journal as well as an ebook format. He was told that this could be done in no time. He reminded them that there were hundreds of journals and he wanted the same treatment for each. They told him to bring it on.
He went out to the manor to watch construction and noticed that witches were kneeling around the property casting the spells to help with building silently. What the construction company thought about this he didn’t know.
Revanche went back to school on Tuesday and Giselle went to the college on Tuesday. Quinn drove by the house where Maria lived but she was still not back. He drove back to Angelique’s and sat in the living room reading the paperwork for the publication of the journals.
When Thursday arrived Pierre told him that Camilla was in the novice class and circle and that meant that Maria was back. Quinn, Charlie, Giselle, Revanche, and Pierre went to the house and found Maria there. She looked at them and sighed. She looked at Giselle and shook her head.
“We’ve come to get explanations, Maria,” Quinn said.
“You want explanations? Well come then and let me explain my deeds for you,” she said.
They followed her into the dining room and they sat at the table. No one said a word for a long moment and then Quinn asked her why she’d done it. She looked at him for a long moment before she started to speak.
“I’ve loved Bartholomew Moreau for most of my life,” she said. “He seemed put off by my affections over the years and I knew that I had to have him so when I was seventeen I cast a love spell on him and then I had him. I got pregnant and Mother demanded to know who the father was so I presented Walter Breckenridge. She made us get married but I was carrying Bart’s child. I just couldn’t tell her how it was done. Love spells were frowned upon by Mother.
“I had the baby,” she said, going on. “I named him Pierre after a man in the family that died young. My Pierre was beautiful and I loved him because he was Bart’s son. Then Lisette sank her claws into Bart with their little love affair hiding in Fort Keller and then she was pregnant. I was beside myself with fury over having lost Bart to my little sister. A sister that everyone had pointed out was more beautiful than me, more at peace than me, a joy to be around unlike me. I hated her.
“Then the hunters came and they killed so many of us,” she said. “I brokered a deal with Hiram Durrington, the lead hunter. He wanted a child of the witches to mold and turn into a killing machine. I made a deal. He could have Lisette’s unborn son if he just turned his hunters away from Moonlight Bay. I forced Bart to marry Constance, Hiram’s youngest daughter and to take Quinn with him when they left the bay. It was important that they leave the bay. I didn’t want to see them. But Lisette was carrying twins. A boy and a girl. I had to decide what to do with the girl child. I wanted to kill her but Garland wouldn’t let me.
“He told me that Anna and Garrison wanted a baby,” she said. “I wanted to kill the little look alike but I took her to Anna and Garrison. Of course they called frantic wen she received her power. She made the kitchen gadgets attack them. I’d already taken my revenge on Lisette when she’d had Revanche with my husband though I didn’t love him. Giselle was easy to tame. We cast a series of spells on her and she was just as catatonic as I had made Lisette. We put her in that sanitarium but we had to spell Ina to keep her. Then I cast the spell to take down Bart for not loving me and I cast the spell that killed Lisette. Now here you all are again like accusations. Well you’ll get no tears from me. If I am to die for what I did then I know I died for love.”
“You aren’t dying today,” Quinn said. “What you are is moving out of this house. I’ve found a house for you in Keller Village. You’ll move your things there at once. You are no longer welcome in the house of Heirs and Heiresses.”
Then he looked into her head and found the lace. He let his power pool around it until it covered the lace. Then he ripped his power back and took the lace with it. She put her hand to her head. She looked at him with hatred.
“What have you don’t to me?” she demanded.
“I’ve taken your power,” Quinn said. “You’re no longer a magical witch.”
She screamed and got up. She ran from the dining room and Quinn noticed that Camilla was in the doorway listening to their conversation. She looked at Quinn with wide eyes. He didn’t say anything to give her away. He just looked back up in time to find Maria running toward him with a very large kitchen knife. He had flashes of Constance with her knife but this time he wasn’t confused. He lashed out with his power just before Maria reached him. He slammed his power into her head. She dropped the knife and went to her knees. She screamed as he needled his power into place. Then her pupils blew as he crushed her brain. Maria was dead.
The others looked at her but said nothing. They went back to looking at the table. Quinn got up and called the authorities. They came and took Maria’s body away. The coroner said that it looked like she’d had an aneurysm. Quinn didn’t care. They got their stuff together and Pierre told Camilla to come with him. Then they all left the house.
Quinn didn’t feel the least bit guilty about killing Maria. She’d charged at him with a kitchen knife. It was so like Constance but Maria hadn’t actually stabbed him. He didn’t think much of it though. He was worried about what Camilla thought about the death of her mother but there was nothing he could do about it.
He, Revanche, Charlie, and Giselle went back to Angelique’s house. She asked what was going on. Quinn told her that he’d killed Maria. She looked at him for a long moment and then nodded her head. If she had accepted it that was fine but he didn’t want her peppering him with questions about it either.
Joseph and Josephine looked at him with wide eyes. They were shocked. Well he was sort of shocked too. He’d taken her magic and had decided to move her out of the house. That was all he’d intended to do. Instead of going quietly she’d run to the kitchen to get a big knife and charge at him with it. He’d attacked her brain for that. It had killed her like he’d known it would. That was all there was to it.
He supposed there would be a funeral. He wasn’t sure he would attend it. After all he hadn’t attended Constance’s funeral. He just didn’t feel right attending the funeral of someone he’d killed. He didn’t know what he was going to do.
“Are you all right?” Charlie asked him.
“I’m fine,” he said. “I don’t feel guilty. I didn’t kill her for what she’d done. I took her magic for that. I killed her because she was hell bent on killing me.”
“I know,” Charlie said. “I just thought you might be feeling guilty and low.”
“I’m not though,” he said. “You were there to hear all that she had done.”
“Yes,” said Charlie. “I was shocked and sickened by all that she had done.”
“I was angry about all she had done,” Quinn breathed.
“So Pierre is your brother,” he said.
Quinn hadn’t thought about that part of what she’d said yet. Yes, Pierre was his brother and not Revanche’s. He didn’t think it made much difference. Pierre would continue to treat Revanche as he always had. So there was no reason to hash out the truth. He just nodded.
“That’s what she said,” Quinn replied finally.
“Wow,” Charlie said. “I’ve never even heard of a twisted plot like hers before.”
“I haven’t either,” he said. “But it explains so much about why Constance wanted to kill me. They couldn’t turn me into a killing machine because another group of witches killed almost all of the hunters.”
“How do you know that?” he asked.
“It’s in my father’s journals,” Quinn replied. “They should be arriving soon from New York. I’ll need someone to go through the house and find all of the journals of Maria and Lisette.”
“Wow,” Charlie said again.
That was all they said about the death of Maria. Quinn refused to answer any questions about her death or what she’d said before her death. He just sat there with them in silence. Angelique kept looking at him like she expected him to burst out with what happened but he didn’t.
The funeral for Maria was held on Saturday morning. Quinn told Pierre that he didn’t see any reason to stop the circle from happening that night. They could send up prayers for Maria if they wanted but he wanted the circle to happen. Pierre agreed. They gathered on he beach and began to cast the circle.
“I call upon the East, winged beasts of air and life in breath,” called Wynn as he stood at the eastern point of the circle.
“I call upon the South, the flame of hearth and heart of mouth,” said Revanche as he stood at the southern point of the circle.
“I call upon the West, of sacred rest and currents wide and vast,” said Pierre as he stood at the western point of the circle.
“I call upon the North, quiet bounty and eternal earthly source,” said Lorette as she stood at the northern point of the circle.
“Spirits of the Corners, we call to you, to bless this circle, this loving group, and the magic we now do,” they all said together.
Then the circle began to move in a clockwise direction as they called out, “Laissez entrer la lumière. Chantez aux arbres, à l'herbe et aux mers. Chantez au feu qui brûle cette nuit. Chante aux esprits qui sont avec nous ce soir.”
They chanted, “East, South, West, North.” Then when they said, “Spirit” really loudly they thrust their hands toward the sky and stopped moving.
Afterward many people sat in the sand to recover from the amount of energy invoked in the circle. Quinn knew that with his power joined with the powers of the others in the circle much more energy had moved through the circle than they were used to. He wasn’t even initiated and was this powerful. It was scary to think about.
They went to the Moonlight Bay Diner. They filled the place and even Leah was among the diners instead of the servers. The ordered food and talked quietly while they waited. When the food was brought to the table they ate heartily. They were replenishing their energy.
Many talked about the funeral and the fact that Quinn hadn’t attended. It was no secret among the witches that Quinn didn’t like Maria. No one said anything about him killing her and for that he was thankful. For all they knew she’d died of an aneurysm.
Several people stopped by his table to say hello. They’d all been respectful at the circle but now they wanted their few minutes with the heir. He was patient with all of them even though he wished that they’d leave him alone. They were used to knowing the heir so he didn’t say anything. He pretended to care about sore muscles and children doing poorly in school. He pretended to laugh at funny stories about this or that girl having made a mess in the kitchen. That’s what they needed. To feel a familiarity with the heir. That’s what he gave them. But enough was enough after about an hour of it. His food was gone and his truck was parked outside. He got up and paid for every meal. Then he went to his truck and drove back to Angelique’s. Charlie was waiting for him.
“How was the circle?” he asked as Quinn kissed him.
“Perfect,” Quinn said. “Angelique and the twins are still at the diner.”
“You had dinner at the diner?” he asked.
“Sure did,” Quinn said. “Needed the fuel after the energy zap of the circle ending.”
“Yeah, that’s a drag,” Charlie agreed.
“What have you been doing all evening?” Quinn asked.
“Making my robe,” he replied. “It’s upstairs with yours.”
“You finally sewed it together?”
“Yeah, finally,” laughed Charlie. “I don’t know all that much about sewing like you do now that you’ve cast that spell.”
“Upset that you can’t cast it?” Quinn asked.
“No not in he slightest,” said Charlie seriously. “Once Pierre told us how it can backfire we were all fine. I don’t even think Giselle wants to do it now.”
“She hasn’t said anything to me about it,” Quinn said.
“She’ll be home in about an hour,” Charlie said. “Did you know that she can take the GED next week?”
“Yes, I knew that,” Quinn said. “She told me about that yesterday.”
She came in a few minutes later. She was smiling and must have had a fun at her classes. She hugged Quinn and Charlie before she went upstairs. Then Angelique and the twins came in and Quinn steeled himself for more staring from Josephine.
“You left so quickly, Quinn,” said Angelique. “Did someone anger you?”
“No, I just wanted to come home to Charlie,” he said.
“What are you doing this coming week?” she asked.
“Casting spells at the house,” he said. “Pierre says I’m ready for those spells.”
“I can’t even cast those spells,” she said. “He showed them to me and they were beyond my ability.”
“He says I’m ready for them,” he said.
“Well that’s nice,” she said. “I’ve been tending to Josephine. She’s been sick lately.”
“Has she?” he asked. “I hadn’t noticed.”
“Well you’re always so busy,” she said. There was something in her voice that Quinn couldn’t identify. He didn’t remark on it. If something was bothering her she’d tell him eventually.
Josephine went upstairs to go to bed. That was just fine with Quinn. Charlie gave Angelique an odd look but said nothing. Revanche came in a few minutes later and went upstairs. He came back down a few minutes later and told them that he was going to The Family Fun Center to play pool with Gage and Calvin. Quinn told him to have a good time.
They went upstairs to bed a few minutes later. Quinn still didn’t know what was on Angelique’s mind. He wasn’t thinking about it a minute later when Charlie distracted him with his body. About an hour later they were both sated. The condom was now in the trash can and they cuddled up together and went to sleep.
The next day Quinn was at the house for most of the day with a spell bag between his knees muttering the spells that Pierre had marked for him. He didn’t know that time passed until Pierre returned for him when the sun was going down. He was amazed that he’d been there all day long.
“How do you feel?” Pierre asked him as they stood next to Quinn’s truck.
“Tired and hungry,” he said, stretching his tired muscles as he spoke.
“I can appreciate that,” Pierre said. “Wanna come to mine and let me fix you a bite?”
“Sure,” he said. “Lead the way.”
He got in his truck and drove behind Pierre’s SUV and they made their way back into town and down to the marina. They parked in the lot and Quinn followed Pierre to his boat. He went into the kitchen and began to put things together until Quinn’s stomach growled at the smell of it all cooking on his small stove.
“Have you had a chance to really think about what Maria said that night?” Pierre asked, flooring Quinn.
“Yes,” he said. “I’ve thought of not much else since that night.”
“So we’re brothers,” Pierre said. “Revanche took that one hard. He and I have thought we were brothers for all of his life.”
“Yeah, I thought of that too,” Quinn said. “Nothing really has to change between you and Revanche.”
“That’s what I told him,” Pierre said. “I’m not sorry to learn that your my brother though.”
“No, I’m not sorry about that either,” Quinn replied with a smile.
“In truth I already thought of you as a brother,” Pierre said.
“It was the same for me,” Quinn said. “Things don’t have to change there either.”
“Good,” he said as he plated up what he’d been cooking.
They sat and ate the meal in silence. Then Pierre told him that he didn’t have to go back to the house to cast any more spells because his spells had been more powerful than any of the others casting the spells.
“I’m done?” Quinn asked, amazed.
“We’re all done,” he said. “You didn’t look at the house today did you?”
“Not really,” Quinn said. “It’s always looked that way.”
“No it hasn’t,” Pierre said. “They’re about finished with the rebuild. Now they’re letting the interior decorator that you hired inside. Did you really order all of those antiques?”
“Of course I did,” he said. “But most of what he has was already in the house. It just had to be repaired and varnished again or whatever they had to do to it. I have all of the paintings at Angelique’s. I’m going to take them to the art department soon to have them restored. I want to put them back on the walls in the house.”
“That’s amazing,” he said. “I can’t wait to see it all finished and filled with furniture.”
“Well if it’s as done as you said it is that won’t be long at all,” Quinn said. “Maybe we’ll be in before Thanksgiving.”
“That is in a few weeks isn’t it?” Pierre asked.
“Yeah,” he said. “Charlie’s already shopping for a bird.”
“Of course he is,” Pierre said. “That boy can cook.”
“Yes he can,” Quinn agreed.
The next day Quinn took the paintings to the art department where they would be touched up and restored. He went to the house and sure enough he got a walk through of the bare rooms. They were putting up the paneling pieces in the dining room and hanging the chandelier. Instead of candles it had lights that were electric as he’d ordered. He loved what he’d seen and couldn’t wait to walk Charlie thought it.
He got back to the house in time to tell Angelique that the manor was almost finished. That they were putting finishing touches on the inside. She seemed relived about that for some reason.
“Have I don’t something that makes you want me out of here?” he asked.
“No, Quinn,” she said. “You haven’t done a thing. I’m just happy that your house is almost finished. I’m sure you’d like to be surrounded by your things instead of all of mine.”
“Well you’re right about that,” he said. “I can’t wait to take Charlie through the house to let him see what they’re doing. Oh, Angelique they’re really restoring it now.”
“That’s wonderful,” she said, smiling all shadow had left her face and voice.
“Thank you,” he said. “I took all of the paintings to the art department today they’ll touch them up and restore them. I have pictures of where they were so I can put them back on the walls when the house is finished.”
“That’s amazing,” she said. “I’d like to see those paintings.”
“When they’re in the house I’ll have you over,” he said.
“That will be nice,” she said. “So you and Charlie will live there with Revanche and Giselle?”
“Yes, that’s the plan,” he said.
“Well then you’ll have quite a household,” she said with a smile.
“The house is done?” Giselle asked as she came into the room.
“They’re putting the finishing touches on the inside,” he said, smiling at her.
“That’s exciting,” she said. “Our own house.”
“Yes,” he said. “Where’s Revanche?”
“With Pierre,” she said. “I was over there for my private class. I’ve decided I don’t want the Meld Mentale.”
“That’s fine,” he said. “You only need that it you decide to be high priestess.”
“Are you going to be the high priest?” she asked.
“I’m supposed to be,” he said.
“That’s exciting,” she said. “Then you’ll decide about classes and circles.”
“Pierre is still going to teach the classes and the circles will remain on the nights that they already are,” Quinn said.
“Oh,” she said. “I thought you would be doing that.”
“I will lead a circle when I need to,” Quinn said. “Right now Charlie and I are planning our handfasting.”
“You’re getting married?” Angelique asked, looking excited.
“We sure are,” Quinn said. “We know it won’t be legal but we’re going to do it anyway.”
“Who cares about legal when it’s binding by the Goddess,” she said. “Oh, Quinn I’m so happy for you.”
“We can just hope that Josephine is better by he wedding,” Giselle said.
“She will be,” she said excitedly. “She’ll be over the morning sickness when she gets out of the first trimester.”
“She’s pregnant?” Giselle said before Quinn could say a thing.
“Yes,” she said. “She’s pregnant.”
“Congratulations,” Quinn said.
“Thank you,” she said, smiling at him.
Quinn wondered who the father was. Josephine had no boyfriend that he knew of. He supposed it could be Joseph but he didn’t like to think that. Incest was a thing in the family but surely not brother and sister and twins at that. He looked at Angelique but she wasn’t looking back at him so he dismissed his thought.
She got up and left the living room and told them that dinner would be ready in a few minutes. They went to wash up and then Charlie came in. Giselle hugged him and said her congratulations. He smiled and hugged her back.
They got to the dining room just as the twins were sitting down. Josephine looked green already. Quinn felt sorry for her at first but then he saw Joseph glaring at him and wondered what that was about. Charlie noticed it too but it was Revanche that called him on it.
“Why are you glaring at Quinn?” he asked him.
“Look at my sister,” he said.
“What’s that got to do with Quinn?” Revanche asked.
Quinn noticed that Angelique looked nervous for some reason. Quinn thought he had it put together after that. The times he’d woken up thinking his door had been closed again. It had been. What had she done, stolen the condom?
“How did you do it?” Quinn asked, looking directly at Josephine.
“I took the condom out of the waste basket and got Mother to help me with magic,” she said.
“So you violated me by taking my used condom out of the trash can in the room I sleep in to impregnate yourself with my child?” he asked.
“Yes,” she said.
Charlie, Revanche, and Giselle were all open-mouthed with shock. He was roiling in anger at the thought of what they’d done. His conversation with Angelique about never say never made perfect sense now.
“Did you think this would make me love you?” Quinn asked, not bothering to hide the bite from his voice.
“You have to now,” she said. “I’m carrying your baby.”
“Oh, Josephine,” said Joseph. He looked at Quinn. “This was not what I thought.”
“It never is in this family, Joseph,” Quinn said. “I’m sorry to say that I had thought she was carrying your child.”
“No, Mother wanted that at first but then you showed up with the ring on your finger and an amazing power she shifted her focus,” he said.
“You did this?” Quinn asked Angelique.
“I did it for the power union,” she said, not sounding the least bit sorry for what she’d done.
“You helped her violate me?” he asked.
“She didn’t violate you,” snapped Angelique. “She walked into your room while you were sleeping and stole a condom.”
“That was a violation,” he said. “I’m the heir damn it. You can’t do things like this to people let alone the heir to the Legacy of your family.”
“She could be your wife,” Angelique said.
“You’re both fucking nuts,” he spat, making everyone flinch.
“You can’t kill her because she’s carrying your child,” said Angelique.
“I’m not going to kill her,” he said. “I’m not going to do anything to her while she’s pregnant but hear me now that child is mine.”
“We know the baby is yours, Quinn,” said Josephine.
“No, I mean that when she or he is born I’m taking the baby,” he said. “I’ll raise him or her my way and away from his crazy mother and conniving grandmother.”
“I won’t be talked about that way in my own house,” said Angelique.
“You’re not taking my baby,” said Josephine.
“I’m the heir,” he replied. “You have no choice in this matter. You got pregnant with magic and I’m the head of the family. You violated me. Perhaps I should involve Lorette and Franklin.”
“That won’t be necessary, Quinn,” said Angelique. “But can’t you see the favor we’ve done for you. Men like you rarely have a gift like this.”
“Men like me?” he yelled. “You mean human? Gift? This wasn’t a gift. This was a pure violation. That’s all it was.”
“I agree,” said Joseph, looking at his sister like he’d never seen her before.
“Joseph you don’t talk to you sister with that tone,” Angelique said.
“You’re not fit to tell me what I can and cannot do,” said Joseph. “You’ve been grooming me for a pairing with Josephine since puberty. All you care about is the power. Well I’ll take my power and marry Leah.”
“You will not marry that woman,” Angelique said through clenched teeth.
“Mother, I’m about to turn nineteen,” he said. “You can’t control me or tell me what I can and cannot do.”
“Not under my roof,” she said.
“Well then it’s good that I got a job,” he said.
“What job?” she sneered.
“I work for Pierre at Moondance,” he said. “I spell the gardens of herbs and help with the store.”
“Will it be enough to pay rent?” she asked. “Because if you marry that woman you are no longer welcome here.”
“It pays well enough for him to rent from the Legacy,” Quinn said slowly.
“You mean you’d let me have one of the apartments on what Leah and I make?” he asked Quinn.
“When did you want to move?” Quinn asked.
“Stop this!” cried Angelique. “Joseph is going nowhere and he’s not marrying Leah Moreau. You aren’t taking the baby and Josephine did not violate you.”
“Are you stupid?” Quinn asked. “You I can kill.”
“You wouldn’t,” she snapped. “The family would never go for it.”
“And what can they do to stop me?” he asked.
“We’ll see what the family has to say about this,” she said.
“What? Me taking the baby or killing you?” Quinn asked.
“You don’t like to kill people,” she said.
“Yes, but I’ve made exceptions before,” he said, smiling at her coldly.
“Now I’m scared of you,” said Charlie. “Don’t let me get on your bad side, Quinn.”
“You would never do something like this to me,” Quinn replied. He never took his eyes off Angelique. “We will see what the family has to say about this though. I mean the pregnancy. You think I can’t take that baby but you forget who it is your fucking with here.”
“Don’t talk like that in this house,” she said.
“If you think I’m going to remain in this house you’re crazier than I thought,” Quinn said. “Charlie start packing, there are empty houses in Keller Village, or Maria’s dead and gone we can go back there until the house is done.”
“You’re just going to leave her?” Angelique asked.
“I have nothing for her,” he said. “I’m marrying Charlie on Sunday. You and your conniving daughter are not invited or welcome.”
“We would not come to that sham of a wedding,” Angelique said.
“Charlie, Giselle, Revanche start packing,” he said. “I don’t want to live in this house with the likes of her anymore.”
They got up and left the table. Angelique watched them go. Quinn was still staring at her. She pretended that nothing was wrong but she wouldn’t meet Quinn’s gaze. Quinn got up and went to the living room. He took the pictures of her and Josephine and found black paper and tape. He went back to the dining room and started the spell.
He turned the picture of Angelique face down on the black paper and then he said, “I bind you from doing harm Angelique, harm against other people and harm against yourself.” He said it over and over again until the whole thing was covered in black tape.
Then he did the same with Josephine’s picture. When the spells were complete he burned the pictures to seal them. Angelique was looking at him now. She was glaring at him. He just sat and calmly looked at her as Revanche came down with the first two boxes.
“Use your Jeep and my truck,” he said. “Take everything.”
“Where are we going?” asked Revanche.
“The house where Maria lived,” he said. “We still have keys.”
“All right,” Revanche said.
“You plan to just leave us bound?” screeched Angelique.
“Yes,” he said. “You used your magic for evil. This is my coven now and I won’t stand for what you’ve done.”
“You think you’re so smart,” she said.
“Be careful, Angelique you’re behind on loan payments,” he said.
“You wouldn’t,” she cried.
“I would actually,” he said. “You have thirty days to get flush with your payments or the Legacy will call in the loan.”
“How soon can I have that place in Keller Village?” asked Joseph.
“You can have it tonight,” Quinn said. “I’ll call Jean Luc and have him give you keys. You’d better call Leah.”
Now all three of them were coming down the stairs with boxes and bags. Quinn would wait until they packed the truck and Jeep. He wasn’t letting Angelique or Josephine out of his sight as long as he was in the house with them.
He pulled out his phone and called Jean Luc. He told him that Joseph would be coming for keys to one of the one bedroom apartments in Keller Village and to charge him the hardship amount they’d discussed. Then he told him that Angelique might need a house there because she had helped Josephine steal his sperm and impregnate herself with magic. Jean Luc cussed. Then Quinn got off he phone with him.
“Joseph you’re all set,” he said.
“Thanks Quinn,” Joseph said.
Joseph went to pack his things and then before he knew it the Jeep and Truck were packed. He got up and left with his siblings and Charlie. He drove to the house where Maria lived. For all intents and purposes it was his house now. He wouldn’t live in it long but he thought Joseph and Leah would like the house for a wedding present.
They pulled up at the house and the maid let him in. He asked her name and she told him her name was Donetta she and her husband Larry were the only ones who stayed on. He told her that they should consider themselves family. Then he helped them move the stuff into the house. He had to find a room for Giselle and found one room that was boarded shut. He asked Donetta about it.
“That’s Miss Lesette’s room,” she said. “Miss Maria had it boarded shut the day Miss Lisette died.”
“Have Larry take the boards down,” he said. “Please clean the room. My sister will sleep in there. Don’t take anything out of the room though.”
“Yes Mr. Quinn,” she said. Then she went off to get Larry.
They stacked Giselle’s boxes and garment bags outside the room. He promised that she would have the room a little bit later. Revanche and Quinn just moved back into the rooms they’d had before. Quinn found Maria’s journals in her room. He wanted this room stripped and cleaned thoroughly. He took the journals with him to his room.
“Well we’re all moved in,” Charlie said as he sat on the edge of the bed.
“That we are,” Quinn said. “I won’t go to bed until Giselle’s room is finished.”
“Wasn’t it your mother’s?” he asked.
“Yes, but Giselle can wear her clothes I can’t,” said Quinn. “She may as well be in her room. She didn’t seem to have a problem with it.”
“I’m all unpacked again,” Revanche said.
“We’re just going to have to pack up again when we move to the manor,” Quinn said.
“Yeah,” he sighed.
“Chin up,” he said. “You won’t have to pack for a while after that.”
“Yeah,” he said with a smile as Quinn’s phone rang.
“Hello?” he said into the phone.
“Mr. Quinn, you have to come home,” said Lilly on the other end. “Miss Vera is trying to take the house.”
“Lilly I’ll get a flight out tomorrow,” said Quinn, making Charlie and Revanche look at him.
“Thank you Mr. Quinn,” she said and hung up.
“Well we’re going to New York,” he sighed as he put his phone back in his pocket. “Vera is trying to steal my house there.”
“Merciful God,” said Charlie.
“Is this the hunter’s daughter?” Revanche asked.
“One of them,” Quinn said. “I killed the other one.”
“Right,” Revanche laughed.
“Well I have to call the airport,” he said. “I assume everyone is coming with me?”
“Of course we are,” said Revanche. Giselle nodded. “I’m gonna call Pierre. He might come too.”
So he waited until Rev got off the phone with Pierre. He gave him a thumbs up so Quinn called the airport, used his card, and booked a flight for six all in first class. Then he hung up and sighed as he leaned against Charlie.
“The bitches aren’t just in Moonlight Bay,” he said.
“No,” said Charlie. “What is Vera thinking?”
“I’m gone so she thinks it’s okay to pull this shit,” he said. “We’ll go deal with her and then we’ll get married and move into the manor. When the baby is born we’ll have a son or daughter.”
“About that,” Charlie said. “You’re making me very happy taking this baby.”
“There was no way I wasn’t going to,” Quinn said.
“I know that but I wanted you to know that I’m on board with your plan,” Charlie said.
“Oh, shit,” Quinn said, putting his hand to his forehead. “I didn’t even talk to you about it did I?”
“In your defense a lot was happening,” Charlie said.
“Yes, a lot was happening but I should have at least looked at you to get your approval,” he said. “I’m changing your life.”
“Quinn you’ve already changed my life,” Charlie said, smiling. “I’m learning witchcraft for you. I moved across the country for you. I’m going to marry you. Believe me, you’ve changed my life.”
“When you put it that way,” laughed Quinn. “I’m still sorry I didn’t get your approval.”
“Quinn you’d better come downstairs,” said Revanche. “There are cars pulling up.”
“Great,” sighed Quinn.
He got downstairs as the door opened and Lorette, Josette, and Franklin came in. He looked at them and understood what this was about. Either Jean Luc had called the or Angelique had.
“Which one called you?” he asked.
“Jean Luc,” said Lorette. “Did she really steal your sperm and get Angelique to help her with magic?”
“Yes she did,” he said. “And Franklin you should know that if Angelique isn’t flush with the loan in thirty days she’s out.”
“Noted,” he said. “Quinn I’m so sorry that this happened to you.”
“She actually told me that men like me are rarely given such a gift,” Quinn said.
“Was the gift her taking your desire out of the equation?” asked Josette.
“I bound them,” he said. “I bound both of them.”
“You did the right thing,” said Lorette. “I’m surprised you didn’t kill them.”
“I thought about it,” Quinn said.
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