Chapter Twenty-One: An Elemental Has Come

 Upstairs Mrs. Tremeur and Collette had settled Katherine in the master bedroom, and she was resting peacefully. They made sure she was comfortable, then both women left. Vanderau stood in the doorway between his bedroom and private offices. He looked over at the sleeping form in his bed. The thought of Katherine in his bed disturbed him! He had not been present during the demonstration, but he had felt the surge of power. He had seen the electricity flow throughout the mansion and the glow of an otherworldly fire! There were contractors everywhere on the property, replacing burned-out fuses, melted and fused cables, electric lines, and blown generators. She had done all that! And she had nearly destroyed Pierre Sauvageon! As he continued to stand in between the rooms, he thought how Katherine had almost defied him, but she had listened to him and obeyed his command even while in the throes of the attack.

 He entered the bedroom and came to look at Katherine. She was peacefully asleep, a relaxed smile on her lips. As he was studying her, she opened her eyes and looked up at him. "Is everything all right?" she asked.

 Vanderau sat on the edge of the bed next to her, "Everything is fine, mon coeur. You should rest for a little while longer."

 "Will you still be leaving?" she asked.

 "No, I am staying for a while longer," he replied.

 "I'm glad you're staying," she murmured sleepily.

 "Wild horses could not drag me away from you, Katherine." He told her.

 She smiled and fell asleep, "Good." She whispered.

 Mrs. Tremeur had her staff bring up dinner and set places for four. Vincent collected Sauvageon and the old gladio seemed fully recovered to his same lethal self. Though he was a bit slower in answering the door. "I'm glad I don't have to travel so far for dinner tonight! Having Katherine sequestered upstairs has its perks!"

 "It makes my job more difficult!" Vincent growled.

 "Perhaps not," Sauvageon murmured. "Roles have changed, Indago."

 "What do you mean?" Vincent asked.

 "It is not for me to say," Sauvageon replied. "The Dominus will explain."

 Vincent shook his head at the old man. "You are enjoying this!"

 "Do you know how long I've been waiting for a blade like Katherine? Finally, the Vanderau family will sit supreme once again over the Seven!"

 In the elevator, Sauvageon studied Vincent. "You are right not to trust them, I saw you circulating among the representatives, they say they are allied, but what they saw in Katherine today will make them greedy for more!"

 "What happened today will have repercussions throughout the Sept!" Vincent replied. "They will be as terrified of Katherine as they were of you." The elevator doors opened, and he held them open for Sauvageon.

 The old gladio stepped out of the elevator and turned to Vincent, "My reputation pales in comparison to what Katherine did today!" 

 Vanderau met them in his living room. It was just as luxurious as the rest of the mansion but much smaller and more intimate. Vincent looked around, to be included in the inner sanctum of his employer was a special honor. Sauvageon sat in a comfortable chair near the fireplace. There was a low-banked fire burning. The evenings were beginning to be cooler now that September had come. 

 "How do you feel, Pierre?" Vanderau asked as he handed Sauvageon a snifter of brandy and then in turn handed Vincent another snifter. 

 Sauvageon looked over at Vanderau, "I am recovered. What happens next is up to you. Have you spoken to the Chamberlain?"

 "Not yet," Vanderau said, "I must not endanger Katherine's testing. Not now."

 Sauvageon grunted. "You still think what happened was a fluke?"

 "I don't know what to think," Vanderau said, "But I will not jeopardize the testing!"

 Sauvageon sighed in resignation and pointed a gnarled finger at Vanderau, "What you need to do is be careful and not get in the way. Wait until she has pushed them all out and then let her come to you, otherwise, you will end up too weak to even claim her."

 "Gallego Matsouka is crafty enough to hang back and make a claim," Vanderau replied. "I will need to watch him."

 "He has made overtures in support of you," Vincent reminded. "You do not trust him?"

 "I do not even trust those that were here at lunch!" Vanderau exclaimed. He got to his feet and began to pace the room.

 "There is no use in agitating yourself, Nicklaus," Sauvageon called to him. "Your blade is committed to you!"

 "You know how?" Vincent asked.

 Vanderau returned to anxiously sit in the chair again. "How do you know this?"

 Sauvageon chuckled sagely. "You two are so busy trying to avoid the obvious that you cannot see what is before you. Katherine Elena Van Dermeer is your blade, Nicklaus. She is the most powerful instrument since Rayne, the first blade! Unlike you, I know my history!"

 "If that is true," Vincent said looking at Vanderau, "You had better watch your back and stay as far away from the Oculus and the other families as possible – until the testing."

 "And you Indago," Sauvageon looked over at Vincent. "You must be as close to Katherine as possible!" Sauvageon told him. "She needs protection even from Nicklaus!"

 Vincent jumped to his feet, full of rage and indignation, "How dare you!"

 "He is right, Vincent," Vanderau said wearily. "I am just as drawn to her as the others – more so because she is my Potential. But I must be present during the testing." Vanderau asked. He looked over at the old gladio. "I will be fighting them to get to Katherine and claim her for my own."

 "You do not have to wait," Sauvageon told him. "You are the Dominus, take command!"

 Vanderau laughed and sat back. "This is the 21st century, Pierre."

 "Do you think that playing the businessman as Dominus is going to secure your role for another term? The families in the Oculus will not be executing a boardroom take-over, Nicklaus!" Sauvageon told him. "This opportunity is your family's last opportunity for another fifty years!"

 Vanderau got to his feet. "And you Vincent? What say you?"

 "Father contacted me, Renault is watching this place. He saw what happened," Vincent said glancing at the old gladio, "He will report to Hennigan-Orden. And today, Rares and his son were just as enthralled."

 "They will all be watching this place," Sauvageon said. "I am not surprised. If I had seen Katherine's display at lunch, I would have immediately hired more guards for this place."

 "I have," Vanderau said. "And they will be here until the testing."

 Mrs. Tremeur opened the pocket doors between the sitting room and the dining room. "Dinner is served."

 "Is Katherine well enough to come to dinner?" Vanderau asked Mrs. Tremeur.

 She smiled. "Yes, Collette has gone to her, and madame will be in shortly." She made the announcement and turned to coordinate the servers.

 The door from the other end of the sitting room opened and Katherine stepped in. She was dressed in a long maxi dress that had floating layers of silk in a blue that nearly matched the color of her eyes. The men in the room got to their feet as she joined him. Vincent was at her side, offering his arm. "I am glad to see you are feeling better."

 "I'm fine, now." She said as she slipped her hand into the bend of Vincent's arm. "Although the drake nearly had me," Katherine said her eyes catching Sauvageon's glance. "But I figured him out."

 "So, you know his name now do you?" Sauvageon said touching a hand briefly to his heart. 

 Vincent escorted her to the dining room, and Vanderau walked with Sauvageon where they all took their seats. Dinner was served and they chatted through dinner about everything except what had happened earlier that day. After dessert was finished and cleared away, Sauvageon asked Vincent to help him down to his room. He took Katherine's hand in his own before he left, "Tomorrow we'll do some light work, but you'll not need to meet Drake again."

 "Bless you!" Katherine sighed. Sauvageon chuckled, she rolled her eyes at him, and that made him laugh more. 

 Vanderau motioned to the Indago, "Vincent, a word please." 

 Katherine and Sauvageon continued to talk about their day tomorrow and Vincent stepped over to Vanderau. "Stay nearby tonight. Katherine will stay here tonight. I will take the couch. Until you have a chance to make certain no one can breach the security, she stays here where she can be protected."

 Vincent studied Vanderau closely. Vanderau smiled, "I will keep my promise, Vincent." With those few words, he was to keep his distance and honor the pact. Katherine walked with Sauvageon to the elevator and Vincent took her hand in his, "See you in the morning." 

 "Good night, Vincent," Katherine said and watched as Vincent and Sauvageon were safely in the elevator. Vincent pressed the down button in the elevator and the doors closed. 

 Now she was alone with Vanderau. She turned and went back into the living room. She found him staring into the fire burning in the grate. Katherine under normal conditions knew how to have light conversations, but this man did not appreciate idle chit-chat. She looked around the room. It was a man's room, full of masculine items from the paintings on the wall to the furniture and pillows on the couch. Expensive, opulent, flavors of Tuscany and warmer climes of Europe. 

 He turned and faced her where she sat on the couch. "I can hear your questions, Katherine."

 She laughed, her smile lopsided. "Well, yes, I do have a lot of questions, but I'm not sure how to even begin."

 "Ask me anything," Vanderau replied. "But I think you can start first calling me by my Christian name – at least when we are alone."

 "All right," Katherine said. "I think I can manage that, Nicklaus."

 He smiled as she said his name for the first time. "Good. Now, what is your first question?"

 "How long have you been Dominus?" 

 "I was first a member of the Seven, I was nineteen nearly twenty." He said and came to sit in the chair that was positioned closest to where she sat on the couch. "I began taking my father's seat when he grew too ill to attend. When he passed away I was seated as the Vanderau representative. The Dominus at the time was Jean-Luc Rares. You spoke at length with him at lunch."

 She nodded. "How is the Dominus chosen?"

 He sat back in the chair and stretched his legs out and propped them on the low wooden coffee table. "Each member of the Seven – the Sept as they are called – all have abilities. A term of Dominus lasts seven years. At the end of every seven years, members can apply or be nominated. We are elected once we have proven our – abilities."

 "The same way a gladio is chosen?" Katherine guessed.

 "In a similar way," Nicklaus answered. "But it is based on the member's ability to control the path of the Sept, channel their collective abilities as one, and direct them. Without a Dominus the families would dissolve into chaos and there would be terrible things set free into the world."

 "Like what?" she wanted to know.

 "There is a balance between the light and the dark, between good and evil, there are things – people I should say, in this world that if given the opportunity would manipulate that delicate balance for their gain. The world of the Sept is to make sure that balance is always in place." He set his feet on the floor and got up to poke at the fire that had burned down low. "I challenged and defeated Jean-Luc Rares three years ago and was made Dominus by the Sept. The gladio belonged to another of the families, but he served us all well. Last year he announced he would be stepping down and that a search would be called," Nicklaus paused in his task of building up the fire in the grate and looked over his shoulder at Katherine. "None of us knew who would be called. There was a master list of the gladio divided among the Indago called to the search. I believe there were several hundred names and each Indago searched each one and studied each one for potential. Then one by one, Vincent's brethren brought two Potentials in, and they began to train with their families. The third was more difficult to locate."

 "Me?" Katherine said, "Was I that difficult to track down?"

 Nicklaus grinned at her and joined her on the couch. He sat at the other end of the couch, but she could sense his warmth and smell the smokiness of the fire he had been tending. "Did you know that all Potentials were born on the same day, at the same hour, in different places in the world? All are direct descendants of the Seven."

 "How did Vincent know it was me he was looking for?" Katherine wanted to know. "When he first approached me, I thought he was a scammer, kind of like the Nigerian Prince scam."

 Nicklaus laughed. It was a rich and warm sound that made Katherine smile and feel happy to have made him laugh. She guessed he did not laugh often, but when he did, he was very young and very handsome. "I'm sorry, Katherine!" he said still laughing and wiping the tears from his eyes. "But I will have to share this with Vincent! He was so flummoxed by you, that he did not know how to approach you – being American and trying to be delicate at the same time."

 She shook her head in dismay. "I threatened to have him arrested if he came to my door again."

 Nicklaus chuckled, "I know, he told me. He reported to the Sept, and we all were curious to know the family from which you were descended. Then we all heard your name for the first time. Katherine Elena Van Dermeer of my family." He sobered. "My family, Katherine. For the first time in close to ninety years."

 "You seem younger than at least the representatives of the families I met at lunch today. Are there younger members?"

 "Not many," Nicklaus replied. "Most range from mid-seventies to mid-forties. I am the youngest, at thirty-five."

 "A mere babe, then!" Katherine teased.

 Nicklaus' jaw tightened. He was offended. She started to reach out but drew back. "I'm sorry, Nicklaus, I didn't mean to open old wounds. I imagine you've had to deal with the elder family representatives holding that up against you."

 He met her concerned deep blue gaze, His black fathomless eyes roamed over her face and rested finally on her mouth. How he wanted to taste her! He looked away and gazed at the fire then back to Katherine. "I have proven myself and am Dominus for another four years. After that, I would not even hazard a guess."

 She looked at him. At that moment he looked very young and vulnerable. Something deep in her core wanted to protect him! "Nicklaus, I have to tell you, it will sound -- I don't care how silly it sounds – But I don't think I could belong to anyone else!" 

 His breath caught at her admission! "My God, Katherine you don't know what you are saying!"

 "Of course, I know what I'm saying, Nicklaus! I am yours!" she declared.

 "No, no, no, Katherine!" He got up and put even more distance between them. "Make no claim yet, if the others even catch wind of your feelings they will ban me from the testing! I will fight for you in the Oculus! And when you feel the power yielded to you, you can decide then. I hope to be worthy of you. It will be decided then."

 She nodded, tears stinging her eyes, "I've never felt this way before! I don't even really know you – but I do know you!" She was completely embarrassed by her admission. She got to her feet and stood with her hands clasped tightly together in front of her. "I should go." She murmured and started to step away.

 "No, you will be staying here tonight, mon coeur," Nicklaus told her. "Until I am certain of the security around the house and property, you are safest here, with me."

 "But isn't that compromising you?"

 "No, Vincent is stationed nearby and armed," Vanderau told her. "Anything happens and he will be instantly at your side."

 "I am putting you out of your bed!"

 "This is true," he teased, "But the couch in my office is quite comfortable. I have slept there as often as I have the bed. Now, do you need Collette?"

 "No, everything is still here from earlier." As they stood there a faint beeping sound was coming from his office. He sighed. "Duty calls. I will work a while in the office. I will be as quiet as I can. But if you need me I will be right next door."

 She nodded and smiled as brightly as she could. "All right, Nicklaus. Good night."

 "Good night, mon coeur." Nicklaus returned. He watched her walk down the hallway to his bedroom. She did not close the door but disappeared into the bathroom to change. He heard the water running. 

 Happily, he went into his office and closed the dividing doors between his bedroom and office, then changed his mind and opened the doors so he could hear if she called for him. This arrangement was to his liking, the only thing he did not like was not being in bed beside her! He pushed the compelling idea from his head! He sat down behind his desk and opened the laptop. Power had been restored and everything looked in order. He looked at the phone and saw several messages from the Chamberlain. He would want a report on Katherine's progress.

 He decided to call the Chamberlain. Vanderau picked up the cellphone and thumbed down his speed dial list and pressed the call button next to the word, 'Chamberlain'. It rang twice, "Good evening Dominus, you are well?"

 "Yes," Vanderau responded. "Do you have any information yet on the recording?"

 The Chamberlain sighed heavily, "The dialect is ancient, and it is from Alister of Madron's time. There are no journals or surviving records of Raine, the first Elemental Blade. I suspect what Miss Van Dermeer channeled was a duel arcane."

 "It would have been a rite between the Dominus and the challenger," Vanderau said, frowning in thought. "Why would Alister's blade have been in a duel?"

 "Unknown," The Chamberlain replied. "After today's exhibition between Pierre and your Potential, I am not sure we should pursue answers – not with the level of power that would be released."

 "Pierre seems to think she will be ready when the testing comes," Vanderau said glancing toward the bedroom where Katherine slept, "She is already saying she is committed to me, but I can't allow it!"

 "I'm sure Pierre has given his thoughts on this," The Chamberlain began, "Let me give you my thoughts, and whatever your decision, we will abide by it."

 "I'm listening," Vanderau said.

 "Katherine Van Dermeer is an 'elemental'. There have only been two in all of history. Raine of Branda'Noch was the most powerful elemental with a potential that surpassed the combined powers of blades from the beginning to the present time. It appears that your Potential may be as potent as Raine simply because the elementals have remained dormant for so many centuries."

 "Why now," Vanderau wanted to know, "Why Katherine?"

 "Something is coming," The Chamberlain said gravely. "Something terrible. There must be a powerful Dominus and Gladio to put down this evil."

 "You're talking legends and myths," Vanderau said, "Childhood stories."

 "There is no denying what we all heard," The Chamberlain replied, "I've transcribed the conversation, perhaps you should share it with Miss Van Dermeer and see if it triggers any kind of memory."

 "She had been through so much already," Vanderau said, "I do not want her to suffer any more than she already has endured." 

 "Your will, Dominus." The Chamberlain replied.

 Vanderau finished up his paperwork and made ready to retire. He decided to shower in one of the bathrooms in the main house to avoid disturbing Katherine. He slipped into his bedroom to pick up a change of clothes and a set of nightclothes. On his way out he paused to study Katherine. She slept undisturbed and peacefully, for all that had happened to her, she rested in a dreamless and restful sleep. 

 He left her and headed off to take his shower. When he returned he plopped down on the couch and considered everything he had seen and heard from the Chamberlain. When he could think no more, he pulled the thermal blanket from the back of the couch and lay back to stare up at the ceiling. Sleep finally came.