Despite having worked the three to eleven shift the night before, the hours usually the busiest in the ER, Sean awoke early and got up at once. He grabbed a quick breakfast, filled a travel mug with coffee, and got into his pickup to drive the book store. True, he had volunteered to be the person to call Daniel in an attempt to set up a meeting. After thinking over the situation, he hoped to talk to Steve a bit more before he made the call. Although the store didn’t open until nine, he found the two owners were already there, unpacking some new stock.
Melly let him in at the back door. “You’re an early bird! I thought you had to work last night.”
“I got off at eleven,” Sean explained. “This morning I got to thinking about that call. Mike and I are probably the least acquainted with Daniel but I think Mike would be too hostile. I’m glad he didn’t volunteer, but I’m not feeling real sure here. No,” he added quickly, “I’ll do it but I just want to get some input from you two first.”
Steve dragged a chair back from the main shop and invited Sean to sit. Okay, I can understand your concern. I can do it; maybe that would be best.”
“No. I want to, Let me explain first though. I’ve got an interest in Rob, in his situation. It sounds silly to say I have a crush on him, and not quite right, really. But I’ve got some feelings, a little confused right now, but I care about him. The guy has had a big ass load of shit dumped over him—almost all his life. Seems Daniel has added another big pile, in my view. The big thing I want to be sure is that Rob doesn’t get hurt.”
Melly and Steve both nodded. “We agree. We offered Rob a job here when we barely knew him and he has never disappointed us. The situation with Daniel has worried us for some time but we didn’t know how to intervene, what would be best.”
“Right now I want him out of Daniel’s house and out of his influence even more than I want Daniel out of the coven, but we should be able to accomplish both things if we handle this right. I’d sure rather meet with the man on neutral ground than in his home…” Sean paused, then went on. “Do you think he’ll agree to a meeting?”
The other two exchanged a long look. Finally Steve nodded. “I’m with you there and I think he will agree if there isn’t too strong a hint of a threat—that has to come in the face-to-face discussions. Can you be that non-committal?”
Drawing a deep breath, Sean hesitated. “I think so. I’ll just say a few of us want to discuss the coming solstice ritual and observance before we get into any real preparation, and that maybe the UU’s hall isn’t the best place to either discuss or conduct it.”
“I don’t see anything wrong with that,” Steve agreed. “I think he’s an early riser so why don’t we just get this out of the way?”
Sean took his phone from his shirt pocket and dialed. Of course Rob answered.
Although he didn’t try to disguise his voice, Sean only said, “Good morning. Is Daniel up?”
“We were just finishing breakfast,” Rob said. “Do you want to talk to him?”
Sean could hear a fine trace of uncertainty in Rob’s tone but it was very subtle.
He hoped Daniel wouldn’t pick it up. “If he’s free.”
There was perhaps half a minute of silence before he heard a thump, a click and then a voice.
“Cousteau here. What can I do for you?” The self-proclaimed arch mage sounded somewhat gruff or curt but not overly hostile.
Sean plunged right into his pitch rather than get sidetracked with idle chat.
“Some of us would like to get together with you as soon as possible about the solstice ceremony. We think we need to talk it over some more before we get into working on the arrangements. For one thing, we have doubts about the UU Hall being the best place to do it. Could you meet a few of us this afternoon, say at the bookstore or the coffee shop?”
He heard Daniel harrumph and grump a bit. Finally he said, “All right then, two o’clock at the coffee shop. I can let you have an hour although I have many responsibilities, as you should know.”
“That’s fine. Thank you so much,” Sean had to force the last words out, but he did it before he hit the disconnect icon.
Steve and Melly each gave him a high five and a big grin. “Well done!”
* * * *
Rob took the handset back and hung it in its holder. He wasn’t sure why but Daniel refused to use a mobile phone. All he said was it didn’t work with his status and image. Daniel really took his arch mage role seriously and played it to the hilt. Maybe he had a point. Gandalf or one of the instructors at Hogwarts would look foolish with a cell phone tucked into their sash or a pouch slung on their belt. They were clearly part of the paradigm Daniel emulated.
Although Rob hoped Daniel wouldn’t insist he go along to the meeting, of course he did. Rob sat silent as Daniel drove downtown and parked around the corner from the coffee shop. Anything he might say would only create problems, for he knew he couldn’t keep his anxiety and troubled feelings out of his speech. He’d been on pins and needles since Sean’s call.
They got out of the car and walked in together, Rob a half step behind. For once Daniel wasn’t wearing the purple cape. Perhaps he’d noticed how many people stared and not all with a look of respect.
The six delegates waited at tables they’d pulled together to accommodate the entire group. Sean later told Rob he was sure Rob would be there as of course he was.
Daniel paused for a few seconds when he saw the lack of smiles on the faces turned his way. Rob could see his mentor suddenly sensed all was not sunshine and blue skies. Steve stood and waved Daniel into a seat at the opposite end from where he sat.
“I took the liberty of ordering a chai for you,” Steve said. “Here it comes now.”
One of the counter girls carried over a large steaming mug and set it in front of Daniel.
Daniel glanced down at the cup and then lifted his gaze to sweep across the six faces.
Rob slipped into the empty chair at one side between Sean and Mike.
“We’re in agreement that our coven needs to make some changes,” Steve began.
“Before you arrived, we functioned very casually, members taking turns leading the rituals and no one seeking or wanting to be in charge. For most of us, this worked very well. That left a subtle vacuum which you advantage of.”
Daniel huffed. “No group can operate properly without a leader. I found the coven slothful and overly casual, almost irreverent in their observances. Seeing a need, I stepped forth to fill it. I felt it was a duty.”
“That may be,” Mike put in, “but many have found your leadership far too dictatorial, authoritarian and heavy handed. Haven’t many members left in the last year or so?”
“The factory closed, the economy has dropped, people had to…”
A new voice interrupted, ruthlessly. “All true but many of us former members are still here. We just didn’t want to continue under your dogmatic control.” That came from normally quiet Caroline who spoke very emphatically. “Three of my friends had attended for a while and they all left before I did. They didn’t even want to come today and have to deal with you!”
Daniel’s face had gone from rather pale to red. He snorted, gasped and started to stand. Then he seemed to think the better of it. “What a bunch of ignorant and ungrateful wretches the lot of you have turned out to be. Why should I cast pearls before swine and even attempt to lead you out of your self-imposed darkness? Leave if you wish. There will be others to take your places.”
“We’re trying to give you a graceful way out, Daniel,” Melly said. Her voice sounded gentle, calm and almost conciliatory. “The solstice is coming as we all know. A part of it is the ancient tradition that the dying Sun King departs and a new youthful or reborn version takes his place. We can make this part of the ceremony and to those outside of our small group here, you voluntarily choose to step aside, perhaps move on to another venue or whatever seems best. We would consider it a way for you to save face. You can consider it whatever you wish. If that’s not agreeable, starting Saturday you will be meeting alone for your sabbat since the rest of us will gather somewhere else.”
This time Daniel did stand. Anger radiated from him in fiery waves. His eyes almost shot sparks. He stood poker stiff, stretched to the fullest extent of his six feet or so of height. “I do not have to listen to this malarkey. Do as you please. I’m through.”
He turned and started for the door. Then he realized Rob wasn’t trailing him. He halted, turned back, with an imperious scowl. “Robbie, aren’t you coming?”
Under the edge of the table, Sean clasped Rob’s hand, almost holding him in place. “Not now,” Rob replied. “I need to be at work in just a few minutes. I’ll come home after that.”
With a swish of the invisible cape, so often a part of his presence, Daniel wheeled and stalked out. The whole group sighed, almost in unison.
“It went better than I feared,” Steve said, after a few moments. “I think the ties could be called severed. If we remain a coven, it will be without the presence of Daniel Cousteau.”
Melly looked at Rob. “What about you, Rob? Do you really intend to go back this evening? I don’t suppose he’d actually harm you but won’t he, well harangue and chastise you at the least?”
“I don’t think I’ll stay,” Rob admitted, “but I want to get my things and not just slink off or creep away. Perhaps after he calms down a bit I can do that without too much of a problem.”
“I will go with you this time,” Sean said. “I’m off tonight and I won’t let you face that alone.”
“Any one of us or even two or three would go with you,” Caroline said. “I can’t imagine how you’ve put up with his mean ways this long, but it won’t have to be due to your lack of options now.”
“I know that,” Rob replied,” and that’s what gives me the courage to make this move which I’ve put off far too long. From now on, I won’t let anyone make me feel inferior.”
They all stood then and put the tables and chairs back in place before heading off in their various directions. Steve, Melly and Rob went around to the store and took down the Temporarily Closed—Back By 3:00 P.M. sign.
Now that it was over, Rob felt a letdown but also a flood of relief. Sean had told him to wait before going back out to the house later and Rob agreed. It would help to use Sean’s truck to carry his things, even though there wasn’t that much. He’d collected some books and had more clothes than the few he’d stuffed in his backpack when he was homeless. He wasn’t sure yet but he’d probably stay at Sean’s at least for a night or two. Maybe it would end up being longer. If Sean didn’t become possessive and controlling…it might be much longer.