Mark was tucked up in the George Gervin suite with my father’s doctor examining him. In addition to being beaten, Craig and his Wolfie buddies had injected Mark with something. The doctor was insisting that he rest for now. He refused until we set up an intercom, of sorts, using my phone, his, and FaceTime.
Cassie, too, had been given something and she was still sleeping it off in my bed. They were just across the hall from each other and since Mark could see her he agreed to be examined and to rest.
I didn’t fool myself that the conciliatory behavior would last long. If Mark felt a smidgen of the rage that I did, it would propel him out of bed and off to seek justice. The good news was that the alpha of the Celtic Clan had already done that. Part of me wanted to know how my father had handled Austin, Craig, and the others. Another part decided that the information could wait until a later date.
I wouldn't be at all surprised to learn that Craig had been incarcerated along with his team of Wolfies. My father was not above using his contacts in law enforcement to serve his purposes.
Austin, however, was still a big question mark. I knew my father wouldn’t do anything to harm his son. Not so much because of my brother, but because it would hurt my mother and he’d already demonstrated that he was willing to change his life drastically for her.
Whatever the punishment turned out to be, it wouldn’t be easy.
By the time we got back to San Antonio my father’s men had rescued Cassie. I’m not sure that “rescue” was a word I should use since she was with her aunt. Danielle hadn’t explained her part in luring Mark somewhere where he could be abducted. Nor did I know why she would use her own niece as a pawn.
Was it a case of her nose being out of joint? We’d find out eventually.
There was a floor beneath the Council chambers that we called simply B2. It was a series of suites — in a manner of speaking — that occasionally held Furries of interest. Each suite contained a small bedroom and bathroom, a reading area, and a view of a brick wall. Once inside, the guest was encouraged to linger by the locks on the doors and the bars on the windows. Oh, and the Were guards.
Danielle was a Were and what she’d done, using a Were child as bait, was frowned on in any clan. The fact that she’d done so while a member of the Perseus Clan in our territory was a definite no-no. She would be interrogated. If she came up with a good story, one that appeased the Council, she might be released.
I’ll bet she didn’t know that I was a Council member. I couldn’t wait to see her face when she figured that out. That would have to wait for a few days, however.
Right now there was just too much testosterone at Graystone. In addition to Mark, Douglas, Matthew, my father had arrived, accompanied by two friends who were also members of the Were Council. We greeted each other with a nod and they proceeded to follow my father around the house like twin shadows. I wouldn’t have thought anything about their behavior a few days ago. Now I couldn’t help but wonder if they were also my father’s bodyguards. Although the two men were older they both had builds that made them look like former wrestlers.
If my father needed bodyguards did it have anything to do with the Stone of Scone? Or vampires? One of these days I was just going to have to get all of my questions answered. Okay, I’d settle for a few of them.
I needed my blinders removed. Maybe I should do the seeing spell again, this time directed at myself. Hey, Torrance, here's what you never saw before. Here's what you overlooked. Here’s what you ignored. Now pay attention.
A few minutes after my father arrived, my mother and Sandy entered the porch. We were still outnumbered by the men, but it was nice to see them. My mother had a curious luminous look about her and when her eyes met my father's, I knew what had happened. They’d fallen in love all over again. Or the feeling had been renewed in those moments when he begged her to stay with him.
I kissed my mom, allowed a hug from her and from my sister. Sandy was most definitely a hugger, too. I wanted to ask where Dominique was but I didn’t get the chance. My attention was caught by the Brood who went racing up the stairs.
Had something happened to Mark?
I made it to the bottom of the staircase in record time only to see Cassie standing at the head, dressed only in a nightshirt with bright red hearts printed on it. She was backing away from the Brood who were trying to baptize her with their tongues. I climbed the stairs, calling them to me. Reluctantly, they left the curious young person behind and clambered down the steps to accompany me.
Cassie was tall for her age and too thin. Her blue eyes were wide behind the white framed glasses. Her black hair was long, falling to the middle of her back, giving her an Alice in Wonderland kind of look.
I approached her slowly, giving the Brood the command to stay behind me, and extended my hand. She reminded me of myself and at that age, I wasn't into letting perfect strangers hug me. Frankly, I’m still not.
She looked up at me and then extended her own hand. It was cool, almost cold, and so fragile that it made me want to weep.
“How do you feel?” I asked.
“Fine.” Her voice was faint but determined. I doubted if she’d tell me she felt awful. Furries don’t reveal their weaknesses to strangers.
"Your father's been hurt," I said, determined not to lie to her. "But he's going to be all right. I want you to know that. Would you like to see him now?”
She nodded solemnly, so I turned and led the way to Mark’s suite.
Cassie didn't make a sound. She didn't cry. In a very composed, almost adult manner, she walked calmly to the side of the bed where there was a straight chair and sat, putting her hand on the edge of the mattress.
"Daddy, I’m here.”
I think I fell in love with her at that moment. She was only nine years old and yet she had such strength, such force of will. Strange, to have respect for a nine year old child, but that's what it was, plus a deep and thorough understanding.
She was like me, yet she was herself. She was Mark's child, his offspring, someone to guard. I decided that I’d be her protector as well.
I left them alone after showing Cassie where the bell was in case she needed anything. With my super hearing, I would be able to hear where it rang in the kitchen.
I joined the rest of my guests who, with the exception of the two bodyguards/Council members were in the Sun Parlor. I noticed one of the men, Ben Harris, was standing at the front door. Was the other one guarding the back? I wouldn’t be surprised. As to my family, I wondered if they’d gravitated to the Sun Parlor on their own or if there had been some other force at work.
Everyone in the room already knew I was weird. After all, I’d levitated Craig in front of my new brothers. I’d communicated with Mark via telepathy. I’d compelled Austin.
What was one more oddity on top of all that?
I pushed the ottoman into the middle of the room, folded my arms and met everyone’s eyes in turn.
"We're going to have a séance," I said.
"What?" My father looked at me as if I’d lost my mind.
"Just go along with me, will you? For once.”
I met his eyes directly. I’d ferreted out Austin’s plans. I’d informed him of Craig and his cohorts. You would think that would have earned me some brownie points.
“A séance?”
I nodded. “Sonny has something to say.”
"Don't be ridiculous, Torrance.”
Sandy and my mother looked at me wide eyed. My father just stuck out his chin and frowned.
The strangest reaction was from my new brothers. Both of them, now standing by the fireplace, looked as if this was a comedy routine and I’d just told the funniest joke in creation.
Okay, fine.
"I could try to mesmerize you," I said to my father. “In front of everyone. I’d rather have your cooperation.”
"I will not sit in a darkened room with candles, Torrance, and commune with the dead."
My grandmother was a bit more advanced than that, witness the moving ottoman. I plunked myself on top of it and spoke to the whole room.
“I don't think it's important that we have darkness," I said. "Only that you think of Sonny." I looked at my new brothers. "She was your grandmother, too. Even though you never met her, you can think about her.”
I glanced at my father. "Did they ever meet her?”
He studied the patterned carpet with great intensity.
"Once,” he finally said. “When they were infants.”
Because my father had made the effort to introduce his children to his mother, it revealed how important family was to him.
Good for him.
I glanced at my brothers again. "You can still think about her, even if you don't remember her. And you too, Sandy.”
She nodded and so did my mother. Of everyone in my family, I thought she would probably understand trying to reach Sonny more than anyone else. She knew how close we’d been. Or maybe she just thought the weirdness was something in my new Pranic nature. Who knew? Maybe it was. Maybe I’d gone around the bend a while ago and it was just now dawning on me.
I’d think about my mental deterioration later.
Moving to the middle of the ottoman, I crossed my legs and closed my eyes.
“Sonny, are you here?”
Honestly, I expected the ottoman to rotate. Or shiver a little. Some sign to give me that she was present and ready to communicate, Ouija board style.
Nothing happened.
I allowed a few minutes to pass during which I kept my eyes closed. I didn’t want to see my family exchanging either humorous or troubled looks. I hadn’t lost it, honestly.
Finally, annoyed, I said, “Sonny, are you haunting me?”
“What a ridiculous question, Tor, my dear.”
My eyes flew open and I looked at Douglas. My new brother had the strangest look on his face, almost as if he couldn’t believe he’d said the words he’d just uttered.
The voice had been his. The words had been Sonny’s.
“Sonny?”
“I don’t have all the time in the world, Tor. This isn’t easy. What is it you want to know?”
“Why are you haunting me?”
“I am not haunting you, my dear child. I was warning you. Also, I was merely attempting to rectify some mistakes.”
To my surprise, Douglas glared at my father who in turn, unfolded his arms and frowned right back.
I decided to get to the meat of the matter.
“Why are you warning me?”
I swear, I didn’t expect the tears. I really didn’t. Maybe I was just tired. I missed her so much. I wanted to sit and talk with her about things. Everything that had transpired in the past year, for example. Evidently, there really was such a thing as the Other Side. What could she tell me about it?
“Tor.”
I’d heard that tone before. It was both gently chiding and filled with affection. In other words, hurry up.
“Am I in danger? And why the ottoman?”
Douglas sighed heavily.
“I wasn’t in control of my faculties, Tor. I haven’t mastered being incorporeal yet. Yes, you are in danger but, my child, you’ve been in danger since the day I died.”
I had no idea what that meant.
“Ignorance is a blanket. It both smothers you and obscures your vision. You’ve been left in ignorance.”
Once more Douglas frowned at my father. This time, Hamish didn’t look at him but at me.
I was getting better at deciphering my father’s expressions. Right now, he was disturbed by my grandmother’s words.
Douglas startled me by moving away from the fireplace jerkily. Not only could my grandmother move an ottoman, she was moving an ex-Marine. Douglas slammed into the doorframe and then made it into the hallway. I followed and so did everyone else like a parade of ducklings in single file, trailing behind Douglas.
Pepper chose this time to chime in with a series of yippie little barks. I couldn’t blame him. I felt the same way.