Page 28 of In Love With the Leshy

“Druids?”

“Druids have magical powers and a connection to the spirit and natural world,” Em explains.

“Baba had magic in her blood, but she needed more than that. Her mother and grandmother taught her spells and rituals. As she got older, she stopped using magic. Until my uncle died at the age of five, before my mother was born. Once his fever spiked and he drifted off into a coma, Baba collected and kept three vials of his blood.”

“Blood is part of the ritual to create a Leshy,” Em adds. “Her son’s blood contains Druid magic and keeps the Leshy connected to everyone in that bloodline.”

“Are you sure the Druids aren’t a satanic cult?”

“They’re a religion of their own, but they aren’t evil. At least they aren’t meant to be, and neither are their gods.”

“Gods?”

“Some people think Leshies are gods. Others think they are demons.” Em clarifies.

I watch him holding the young girl in his arms. The scene is precious and tugs at my heart. Em is no more a monster or demon than I am. Perhaps he is part god. He rescued me in the knick of time from Nikolai and company, as well as the hungry bear (because aren’t bears always hungry?). He’s sweet and gentle with his touch. I owe him a huge apology. I shift my weight to be closer to him so that our sides are touching.

“Baba used up the first vial when my mother was a baby. She wanted extra protection for Mama, but it didn’t work. I think she was too nervous to try again until Mama died. She became desperate and immersed herself in magic. Nikolai and I thought she was a magician and could pull a rabbit out of her hat. We wanted a pet so bad.” She smiles. “I never understood the depth of what she could do. Not until she introduced me to Em.”

“Irina and Masha visited from time to time. Irina made the best pies and tarts.” He says fondly.

“She told me you like pies.” I smile. Maybe Em is more man than Leshy.

“What about Nikolai? Did he ever visit?”

Em releases a long breath, and it feels like a breeze blows through the cottage. “He did, but by the time he was ten, there was a darkness in him. He tried to test me, to trick me into following his orders. He wanted me to confuse Masha so he could get rid of her. He got angry when I wouldn’t. That was the last time Irina brought him.”

“It’s probably the reason my brother never stepped foot in this forest until now.”

“That explains two vials; what happened to the third?”

“Six months after we moved, Nikolai found us. We weren’t exactly in hiding, but we didn’t think he’d look for us. He wasn’t satisfied with the money he got selling the egg. He wanted what was inside.”

“The last vial of blood?”

“Among other things.” Masha’s eyes fill with water. “I was pregnant with Ana when he broke into Michael’s apartment looking for us.” She wipes the tears streaming down her face. Her body racks with sobs. “We weren’t home. I was at the doctor’s with my grandmother.”

“That’s good. You didn’t have to face him.”

She shakes her head and stays silent as she pulls herself together. “He killed Michael. Anastasia’s father never got to see her or hold her in his arms.”

I peek at Em, who shakes his head disapprovingly and crosses the small space to rub Masha’s back and offer her comfort.

“At first, Nikolai was just after the jewels that Baba secured in here,” she holds up the funny little pincushion. “We moved again, further this time. Still, he found us. I don’t know how Nikolai learned about the blood,” she says, sniffling. “When he showed up demanding the vial of blood and Baba refused, he threatened to take Ana and drain her so he could create an army of Leshies.”

“Why Ana? Why didn’t he want your blood, or your grandmother’s?”

She shrugs. “I guess he found out that if he offers a sacrifice of purity, using the blood of an innocent, he can create a more powerful Leshy. Possibly stronger than Em since the blood would be fresher.”

“And if the innocent is murdered, it will spawn a dark Leshy,” Em adds. “One that will do his bidding.”

“That’s why you live here,” I cover my mouth. “So he can’t find you and get his hands on Ana.”

“Yes.” She nods.

“And I led him right to you.” Guilt bubbles in my chest. “He was never after the pincushion. He was after you and Ana.”

“He was after both.” She holds the pincushion at her chest so tight her knuckles turn white. He wants the blood, the jewels, and Ana’s blood. If it comes to it, I’ll kill him before letting him touch a hair on my daughter’s head.”

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