Her Rightful Place

73: The Wraith

PEACE, MIREILLE. PEACE. I DID NOT MEAN TO CAUSE YOU SUCH DISTRESS, Agnes's voice echoes through Mireille's head.

What could you possibly have thought your coming back would do to me, after everything you did to me while you were alive? Mireille asks silently, unable to verbalize while crying and hyperventilating on the floor of the Grand Ballroom.

I CAME TO PROTECT YOU.

How can I believe such a thing? You never protected me. It was you I needed protection from.

THAT WAS TRUE WHILE I WAS ALIVE. I REGRET IT NOW. YOU NEVER DESERVED ANY OF THE PAIN I INFLICTED UPON YOU. EXCEPT MAYBE THAT TIME WHEN I WAS SICK AND YOU BURNT MY TOAST.

Why would you care about protecting me now? I thought you were dead.

I AM. BUT THE SOUL LIVES ON, AND GOD FELT I NEEDED TO ATONE FOR WHAT I DID TO YOU WHILE I WAS LIVING. HE SENT ME TO PROTECT YOU, TO HELP YOU, WHENEVER LIFE GOT DIFFICULT.

The magic you left in that house constantly made life difficult. Where were you then?

ARGUING WITH GOD AND SPENDING A LOT OF TIME IN THE ETERNAL FIRE. IT WAS NOT UNTIL QUEEN BÊTEL CAME FOR YOU THAT I BEGAN TO DO AS HE ASKED OF ME.

Why then? I would have thought you found her a kindred spirit.

AT FIRST I WAS BEING TERRITORIAL. YOU WERE MINE TO ABUSE, AND I FELT THAT SHE WAS TRESPASSING ON MY TERRITORY. BUT I ADMIRED THE WAY YOU STOOD UP TO HER. YOU NEVER DARED TO STAND UP TO ME, BUT THERE SHE WAS, JUST AS SCARY AS I HAD BEEN TO YOU, AND YOU STOOD YOUR GROUND. SO I DECIDED I WOULD HELP A LITTLE, AND SEE HOW IT WENT. I MADE YOUR SPELL TO ENCHANT THE WEAPONS WORK. YOU HAVE NO POWER OF YOUR OWN.

I...thank you...for that.

I GAVE YOU WHAT YOU NEEDED TO LEARN YOUR LESSONS IN THE PALACE OF ROSES, TO BECOME THE PRINCESS YOU ARE. AND TONIGHT I HAVE SAVED YOU FROM QUEEN BÊTEL.

I thought it must have been supernatural help, to learn all I have learned in so short a time, and for that I thank you. But did you doubt my ability to defend myself from Queen Bêtel?

SHE HAS FAR MORE EXPERIENCE WITH HURTING AND KILLING PEOPLE THAN YOU DO. AND AT THAT POINT IT WAS PERSONAL. SHE WAS GIVING YOU CREDIT FOR WHAT I DID, FOR MY MAGIC. THAT WAS INEXCUSABLE.

You are still yourself, even when you are helping me.

NOT EVEN DEATH CHANGES THAT, MIREILLE.

How long does your penance last? Will you always be with me in this way?

THAT IS UP TO GOD, NOT TO ME. BUT I THINK YOU WILL NOT NEED MY HELP ANYMORE, NOW THAT THE GRAND CHANCELLOR AND QUEEN BÊTEL ARE DEAD. YOU HAVE GOOD FRIENDS AROUND YOU, AND A GOOD PRINCE WHO WOULD LOVE NOTHING MORE THAN TO TAKE MY PLACE AS YOUR PROTECTOR.

I do not want to be protected. I want to be allowed to take care of myself.

PERHAPS, RATHER THAN PROTECTOR, I SHOULD SAY HUSBAND.

He has only to ask me himself. I am sure my parents will not object. Wait. You said Queen Bêtel is dead?!

GOD SUMMONS ME TO HIS THRONE. I MUST GO. YOUR PRINCE NEEDS YOU NOW MORE THAN EVER. GO TO HIM.