No, Vivienne. The past should only be observed, never interfered with.
“Yes, but to a greater extent. Do you remember the stories I told you about Zeus, and how he created humans?” When the child nodded, the woman continued, “Well, after he did this, Luna, his favorite, begged him for the power of creation, and when he gave it to her, she created her own people, the witches. Zeus was impressed with them because unlike his humans, they had some of the powers of gods and the stretch of immortality. Zeus was so pleased with Luna that he left the power of creation with her.”
“What about vampires and werewolves?”
“After Luna created the witches, her sister, Aphrodite, who was jealous of Zeus’s affection for Luna, begged Zeus for the power of creation as well, and when he gave it, she created the vampires. They were as beautiful as gods and immortal. Zeus showed her his favor by calling her the most beautiful of his daughters, but still he favored Luna. Because she was jealous, Aphrodite sent an army of vampires after the witches.” She paused when the girl’s eyes grew wide, and placed a graceful hand against her cheek. “But fear not, my little darling. Luna saw what was happening to her people and went to her twin brother, Apollo, for help—”
“Apollo is the God of the Sun?” The child sounded excited to remember that information, and from the tone of voice the older woman used, Vivienne could tell the mother was proud.
“Yes, my love. When he saw what the vampires were doing to his sister’s creation, Apollo turned his rays against them, driving them to the night. He cursed them, saying that anything touched by his rays would be poison to their bodies.”
“And what of the werewolves like my papa?”
“Despite Apollo’s curses, the vampires continued to terrorize the witches at night, so Luna created another race to protect them. They were immortal too, and as flawless as vampires, but they could change at will into powerful animals. Wolves, and tigers, and lions, even dragons. Because the weres protected the witches, the vampires left them alone.”
“Are you a witch, Maman?”
Another light laugh and then Vivienne heard childish giggles as the woman leaned forward and tickled the girl’s belly.
“Yes, my sweet, but my mother was druide.”
The child’s brows furrowed. “What’s druide?”
“You are very inquisitive tonight, my Aveline,” the woman teased softly, leaning forward to place a kiss on the girl’s forehead. Vivienne gasped. Aveline was the distinctly French pronunciation of Evelyn. Was the girl on the bed her mother?
The woman turned suddenly and stared at her. Vivienne found herself looking at a thinner, paler version of her mother. Instead of Evelyn’s black hair, the woman had bone-straight blond hair; instead of her mother’s golden eyes, she possessed startling green eyes, but their bone structure was the same. Evelyn’s face was a bit fuller, but Vivienne had no doubt this was the grandmother that her mother always spoke of.
“What’s druide, Maman?”
Dark blond brows lifted in Vivienne’s direction, and her eyes narrowed slightly before Annabel turned back to the child.
“Ah, les druide were the children of gods.”
“So why aren’t they gods?”
“Because they are human, too.”
“Where is your mother, Maman?”
The woman’s voice was sad as she replied, “In my heart.”
The child giggled and the mother laughed, though it lacked enthusiasm.
“Shall I carry you in my heart too, Maman?”
“If you want. I always carry you in mine.”
“I will carry you in my heart, too, because then I’ll always have you with me.”
Vivienne blinked as the image slipped away from her, leaving her back in her own bedroom with Evelyn. Slowly, her mother lowered her hands to her lap, and Vivienne caught sight of pitch-black eyes before the color shifted to liquid honey.
“You’re Aveline?” Although stated as a question, Vivienne knew the answer. The woman had been too familiar in features to be unrelated to her mother, the name too similar to Evelyn.
“Yes, mon coeur. That is the name my mother gave me.” When Vivienne only stared at her, Evelyn added, “I changed my name when I left France.”
“And the woman with the green eyes was your mother?”
Evelyn grew sad for a moment, but she nodded. “Yes.”
“You really are a witch.” Even Vivienne was surprised by the calmness of her voice.
“My mother was a witch and a druid, my father a werewolf. Inside of me are all three, but I am strongest as a witch.”
Vivienne nodded, and sighed, accepting that there was no other explanation for her being able to see what she had seen without her mother being something that was distinctly nonhuman. Witch.