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There was a party going on downstairs and as usual or as expected, Nathan and Alice were there. They were all waiting for the names to be given. Unfortunately, Sidney was demanding that Wendy be present which stunned other people. She was to be the godmother to the child but she was not there. First Amber was sent to find her, but when she asked the guards upstairs where she had disappeared to they pointed to Victor's room. She almost budged in but she remembered the time that Wendy had gone up claiming to be tired. She turned around and went back to report that she didn't find her.
Ken was sent next and like Amber, she came back and reported that he didn't find her. Sidney was getting frustrated and therefore sent Jared and he couldn't come back until he had found her. Jared unlike the other when he was pointed to where Wendy had headed to, he went and opened the door. He stopped short in surprise, then amazement then he was hit with unbelief. On the bed was Victor with his body facing upward and over half his body was obviously Wendy with the white hair spread over her bare back. There was no guessing what had happened because it was so obvious.
Wendy stirred slightly then she settled down again. Jared closed the door and went back downstairs.
He now knew why the others were coming back and saying that they didn't find her.
As he approached Sidney, she looked at him expectantly. `Well?'
Jared leaned down to her. `She is busy Mrs. Storm.'
`What do you mean by she is busy?' she asked in a normal voice.
`She is with Victor.' he could see the next question in her eyes. `In bed!'
It dawned on her what he was talking about then the stubborn nature came back. `I don't care whether you have to drag her out but she better be down here in the next fifteen minute.'
Gorham heard the commotion and came to inquire what was happening. `Has Wendy refused to join the party?'
`I wish it was as simple as that,' she was saying in the same normal voice. `But everybody I send doesn't have the guts to tell her to come down.'
`Then I'll go.' Jared stared at him then back to Sidney.
She smiled, `Do tell her to hurry up then.'
Something had aroused Wendy from her sleep and knew she had to go downstairs. She had completely forgotten about the party that Sidney and Martin had planned. She slipped her skirt on and put on her blouse but she didn't do up the ribbons. She just held it closed and ran out of the room. She slipped into her room and went to pour some cold water on herself. There was a knock at the door just as she was finishing up.
`Yes,' she called out.
`Wendy,' Gorham's voice. She stopped short. `Are you coming to join us in the party or not?' `I'll be there in a minute.'
`Hurry up. Sidney is losing her patience.'
She hurried up and ran out of the room. She skidded to a halt just as she entered the room. Everyone stared at her. She straightened her wet hair then walked calmly into the room. She went up to Sidney.
`I'm sorry, I completely forgot,' she said as she picked up the boy.
`We made these plans yesterday. How can you forget?' `I don't know,' she tickled the baby. `I must be getting old.' `Where's Victor?' she asked without any warning.
`Asleep,' she answered then realized her mistake. She looked at Sidney and saw that she knew. So much for having a secret affair. `So what are their names?' She changed the subject.
`Julius and Jane.'
`No last name?' they had the others attention.
`We talked and came to an agreement that the one who doesn't take the crown will have the last name of Storm.'
`So Gorham agreed to have a girl inherit his throne.'
`If she's bright and she wants to, of course but he'd rather have the boy takes it.'
`It will be a tough choice with the both of you bright; your children will be brilliant.' `They'd better be.'
`So they will called Julius and Jane Storm.'
`And their godmother is called Wendy Summer.'
`Oh!' she exclaimed. `I read about that. I get to be like their cool second mother?' `Yes.'
Wendy twirled the baby before realizing that the crowd was watching her. She was about to return him when she saw him smile. `I think this one will be a guard in the royal army.'
`Then the girl will be the first female king?'
`Or you can just call her Queen Jane and the boy will be Julius Storm.' `Is that a prophesy?' someone asked in the crowd. `No, I'm just giving my opinion.'
`Which she shouldn't give in public,' Gorham said. He put a hand on her shoulder and she felt her energy drain away. Step back wide eyed at Gorham then collapsed on the ground. The people's eyes turned to her and the soft murmurs began. Sidney put the baby down without taking her eyes off Wendy who started to sob.
Amber approached her, `what is it Wendy?'
`He's going to die,' she answered before the flood of tears burst from the large hazel eyes.
Sidney got up from her chair and spoke directly to Amber, `Take her to her room. She is going to spoil the party for everyone else.'
Amber pulled Wendy up and turned her to lead her to her room but she suddenly turned back to Sidney. `Don't you understand, he's going to die.'
`Who?' the former walked towards the other.
`Victor,' she whispered. Sidney faltered in her step.
`You cannot be sure that it is him that is going to die.'
Wendy wiped the tears from her cheeks before she answered, `Who else would you have Gorham preside a funeral over if not for your...'
But before she finished, Sidney stopped her by putting her finger on her lips. `I believe you.' she went and put her hand over her shoulders, `but you have to go to your room now.' She signaled to Amber again and the latter came to take Wendy's hand. The former stared unbelievably at her then started to scream in frustration.
She pushed Amber away from her but the small gesture which was supposed to enable her escape from her clutch turned to be a combination of her strength and the wind attribute which pushed Amber a greater distance than anybody would have thought possible. She went back to where Sidney was standing.
She ordered, `You are not going to let him die.'
`There is nothing that I can do.'
`And what can you do?'
`Nothing...'
`Don't you dare lie to me,' she shouted. `When Madison died I saw her powers part to you too, as well as Victor. So, don't you dare tell me that there's nothing that you can do!' Her eyes widened in rage.
`There is nothing...' Wendy turned and tried to slap her but she caught the former's hand and pulled her to her body. Their bodies barely touching, she finished her statement. `I can do.' She pushed her back and with a combination of a blow and a kick. Wendy fell back weak. Sidney stood up straight from the posture she had attained. The whole hall was quiet. `Take her to her room until I say otherwise.'
`But your highness, she has unimaginable power. How can we possibly restrain he...?’
`Until I say otherwise,' she ordered and stared at Ken who had seemed to be reluctant but quickly opted to obey her. Wendy was led away from the hall which had been descended upon by silence. She turned to Jared who was standing close by throughout the whole thing. `Send everyone home, I need to talk to my husband.'
She stood there in silence as the groups exited the hall until only half of them remained who were uneager to leave. She went and sat by Gorham who had been watching in silence. `I'm sorry.'
`For what?'
`They know now that I'm a wizard.'
`It wasn't your fault. Wendy gave you away before you did.'
`But I acted rash.'
Gorham looked at his son who seemed to have witnessed the exchange then he looked back at Sidney. `Is Victor really going to die?'
`I don't think that there is any doubt now,' then she gave in to the grief and went to her knees putting her head on Gorham's knees. `
I'm going to lose my only family.'
`That's not true,' he brushed her hair to the back. `I am also your family and we have two adorable children and not to forget Martin and Joel.'
`But he's been my brother for the last two hundred years. There's nothing that can replace that.'
`I'm not trying to replace him.' He kept quiet as he thought. `You can't be sure that what
Wendy says is true. Victor can't surely be dying.'
Sidney looked up at him with tears in her eyes. `She just slept with him. She now has a strong connection to him.' she ignored the surprise on Gorham's face at the frankness of the talk. `Whatever she felt, heard or saw was because of the connection. Whether it will happen the possibility has been narrowed because I know that he has accepted it.'
`But why then did you send Wendy away if you knew she was right?'
`Because if she'd seen me crying like this it would have destroyed her. I am nothing to her but I am also something great in her eyes.' she paused then sat back on her bent legs. `Wendy needs someone she can share her pain with but she also need to see someone rise from that pain and move on with life. For that I will cry only when my brother dies.'
`Why do that when the pain you have is so great?'
`Because I now take my brother's place in caring for Henry's daughter. I have no choice in that matter.' She wiped the tears away. `I have to give her hope for the moment and comfort her when all hope is gone.' She stood up and went to the crib and picked up the girl. One of her nurses went to pick the boy. `God knows I also need the hope!' she said as she passed him.