“It is settled, then,” Marrec said. “I will go. But first I must know what I am up against, including the ball of water and the fires.”
“So you can tell all the family secrets to the Clan?” Brina shot back.
“A mercenary comes to a fight prepared,” Marrec said calmly.
“I’ll give you the scoop,” Michael said. “Outside.”
“I’ll join you,” Brian said, rising. He pushed himself up from the table. “I owe you that. And a whole lot more,” he added ruefully.
Michael caught the flash of pain on Brina’s face. Healing that would still take time. And time might be one thing they didn’t have much of.
Dev came hurrying up from the Bay of Pigs. “Jeez,” he said, his face ashen. “That guy’s been whipped, a lot, and over a long time. He’s got some pretty gruesome fresh lashes all over his back and his ass.”
Dev knew whipping. He’d been whipped and raped by a Mage of the Golden Dawn. It had taken Brina’s healing, Kee’s love and a couple of years with a shrink to get a handle on the effects of that. Seeing Thomas’s body must bring that all up again.
Brina rose from the table.
Dev ran on, obviously upset. “The bandage on his arm is for a burn. And he asked if he could sleep on the floor, if you can believe that. Says the beds are too soft for him to get any rest. I gave him pajamas and a blanket.” Dev ran a hand through his perpetually flopping blond surfer hair. “But hell, he didn’t want those either. I guess I can see why with those welts. Some of the scabs were bleeding.”
“Poor, poor boy,” Brina murmured. “I’ll do what I can, even if it isn’t much.”
Jane took Dev’s arm. “Let’s just go up and see if Keelan was able to get Tamsen to sleep. She looked exhausted.”
Good old Jane. A big dose of Kee would set things right for Dev.
“Devin,” Brian said as they turned to go, “while you’re up there, would you m-mind taking first watch on Tamsen’s r-room?”
Heads around the room jerked up.
“I think it might be s-safer if our Romeo and Juliet stayed separated until we’re sure T-Thomas won’t b-burn the house down.”
Or burn Tammy, Michael thought. He saw the same thought course around the room.
“I’ll take Thomas’s room,” Lan said. He looked apologetically at Greta. Newlywed sex would have to wait.
“I’ll rig a map for your GPS with all the canyons, starting with the closest,” Kemble said to Marrec. “Maybe Thomas knows how long the helicopter ride was.”
“I have search equipment,” Marrec growled.
Michael kissed the top of Drew’s head. “You okay?”
“Yeah,” she said, her whisper hoarse. “I should see if my visions reveal any new facts.” She’d seen Thomas on a slab and Tammy dead in the desert, so the Tremaines were going to find Morgan’s compound. And that was going to have consequences. The pressure of the future was almost too much for any of them, but especially his dear Drew.
“I’ll be up as soon as I can,” Michael promised her.
He glanced out the French doors at the comet hanging in the night sky and speeding almost perceptibly toward its destiny with the Big Dipper. It wasn’t just their lives at stake anymore. What would happen if Morgan sacrificed a virgin at the moment of the Pentacle? Would the world as they knew it survive?
CHAPTER SEVENTEEN
‡
Thomas heard the door open softly and grabbed the pillow he’d been given. His mind was a jumble of questions without answers and a longing for Tammy like pain. He braced himself on one arm and one hip and held the pillow to his loins, covering his needy erection.
A channel of light from the hallway hit him. “Did I wake you?” a female voice asked from the form silhouetted in the hall.
He was breathing heavily. Had the Tremaines changed their mind? Did they send a female to coax him out where they could surprise him and kill him before he could start fires? He felt naked and vulnerable and so far away from Tammy, upstairs somewhere.
“It’s okay. I’m Brina, Tamsen’s mother. I’ve come to help you.”
Well, he couldn’t exactly refuse Tammy’s mother. “I…I am not clothed.” He had never been naked before any woman but Morgan.
“Perfect.” She bustled into the room, closing the door so the only light was from the moon through the windows. “Now just lie on your stomach. I’m going to make you feel better.”
“I’m fine,” he said, hoping to forestall her.
“Nonsense. Devin says you have a burn on your arm and lashes on your backside.”
“The lashes are five days old now. They will soon be healed.”
“Well, I can make that go faster. And I may be able to take care of the burn. Did that happen in the fire at the hotel?”
She was like a force of nature, irresistible. She came around the bed and he had no choice but to lie back on his stomach so she wouldn’t see his parts. But that revealed his back.
There was a long pause. “Oh, my,” she said softly. She took the pillow gently from him and placed it under his head.
At least she probably couldn’t see the scars from the earlier whippings in this light. He didn’t want her to know how disobedient he’d been. She would never think he was worthy of Tammy. “Why would you help a member of the Clan?”
“Oh, I don’t think you’re a real member of the Clan,” she said, settling down beside him on the rug. “You’ve only been in the country, what, three or four days? Now I’m going to turn on the bed stand light.” She moved to do it before he could protest.
There was a small silence. She cleared her throat. “I can’t remove the scars.”
She’d seen them after all. He was very ashamed. Wait. Why did she assume he would think she could remove scars? He wanted to ask her. But he realized that this woman knew Tammy, perhaps better than anyone. That meant there were more important questions to ask. “Will Tammy will be disgusted by such evidence of my failures?”
“No,” she said firmly. “Tammy will be angry at whoever did this to you, but she will, uh, like you, scars and all.”
That gave him hope. “Do you think so? I have failed often. But I so want her to like me.”
“I know so. It’s how it is with us.” Tammy’s mother seemed to consider, then make up her mind. “As a matter of fact, she won’t just like you. She will love you. We love fully and forever.” She sounded…fond. “And that is something to treasure.”
The belief, the love in her voice gave him hope. “And will you allow us to be together?”
“You must give some of us time to get used to the idea. And you mustn’t see her until we’re sure you have control of your powers. We wouldn’t want an accident.”
The very thought filled him with dread. How would he be Tammy’s man if he were like to set the room on fire—or even her when he was excited by her touch? His panic escalated. “I want to be good for her. But when I put my lips on her…”
“Be calm now,” Brina said. She must have sensed his distress. “Breathe deeply. When I touch you, you’ll feel a sense of well-being. That will help you control the fire.”
He breathed. Then she placed her hands on his buttocks. Those had the deepest cuts of Brother Theodosius’s scourge. He was appalled that Tammy’s mother should touch him there… and yet the touch itself was so intrinsically kind and the warmth spreading into his body so… generous, he didn’t even flinch. The sense of well-being permeated his body.
He gave a long sigh.
“There,” she said, her voice hoarse. “That’s better, isn’t it?”
“Yes.” He felt lethargic. Her hands moved over his back. That should hurt. The fabric of his clothing rasping across his welts and breaking them open had hurt for five days now. But her touch did not. The feeling of letting go increased. He wanted to soak up that feeling.
Somewhere he felt the bandage on his arm being removed. Her hands on his forearm glowed with warmth…
Her touch was gone.
He came back to himself enough to know that her breathing was distressed. Through a fog, he heard himself ask, “Are you well?”
“Yes.” He could feel her gathering herself. “This just always takes it out of me a bit. But you’ll be fine now.” There was a long pause again. “Actually, I did rather well. Your burn is healed and your welts are only scars like the others.”
“Good,” he said, sleepily. “I didn’t want to frighten Tammy…. I am afraid I will do something wrong just because I don’t know how to make her happy.”
“Is that what makes you anxious?” she asked.
“Yes. I am so ignorant.”
“Rest,” she said, rising. “I think I can help you there too.”
“I…I wanted to ask questions about Tammy…” But now he couldn’t even remember what questions he wanted to ask.
“We will talk in the morning.”
“Yes, tomorrow,” he murmured as the world dropped away.
*
“So that’s pretty much it,” Michael concluded. They were out on the flagstone terrace under the light of the moon and the comet as it hurtled toward its destiny. The wet grass in the darkness smelled like life. The rustle of the jacaranda trees in the breeze off the ocean sighed softly. The only light was that which emanated from the French doors behind them. Marrec and Brian were dark silhouettes in the night. He had expected disbelief or derision from Marrec, but the hardened warrior was only thoughtful. “Hard to believe, I guess,” Michael prodded. He wanted to know what Marrec was thinking.
“The boy, he does start fires. And tonight I saw a ball of water hovering in the air.”
“That was Devin,” Brian said. “His p-power is water. He was just trying to be prepared in case something started b-burning.”
“So I surmised,” Marrec said. He glanced between them. “And what are your gifts?”
“I, uh, Find people,” Michael said. “If I know what they look like, I can locate them. Doesn’t matter how far away they are.”
Marrec gave a small chuckle. “That is why the so-clever Tammy must enlist your help. You could have spoiled her plan.”
“Pretty much,” Michael agreed. He glanced to Brian. “Brian here is an Adapter. He learns to do anything only by reading about it or being told.”
“Not any more,” Brian said calmly. “M-Morgan took that away when she attacked me with the Wand. B-but I’m lucky to be alive. I can thank B-Brina for that. She’s a Healer.”
“Her powers were sapped by Morgan too, but they’re slowly coming back,” Michael said. He turned to Brian. “I think yours will also come back. But it doesn’t matter,” he added hastily, when he saw melancholy slide over Brian’s expression. “Your experience and your business acumen are the real advantage for the family.”
“And the others?”
Marrec the Merc still didn’t know what he was up against, and he wouldn’t like that. “Lan can control sound, to the point of making sonic quakes. His wife Greta controls light. That means lasers. Jane can bring total darkness. Kemble inhabits computers and can pretty much make them do anything he wants. My wife sees the future. Tris can power machines and heat metal. His wife Maggie has Calm. Did I forget anyone?” he asked.
“Kee reconfigures reality. She paints with it, really. Very handy for c-confusing enemies,” Brian added.
Marrec roused himself from his thoughts. “And this Clan has powers too.”
“Lots. C-cloakers, Levitators, Controllers of Weather, m-men that can attack you with Push or p-pain.” Brian laid out the problems so dispassionately. “Tris k-killed her Firestarter, so I’m s-sure she’d love to have Thomas.”
“Those are only the powers we know about. She’s making new members all the time.” Michael paused. “You still want to look for her hideout?”
“I am the one she does not know,” Marrec answered, avoiding the question.
“But this isn’t your fight,” Michael said. He had to give the guy an out. He was pretty sure this was a losing battle, and if discovered, Marrec’s looks would betray him.
“M-Maybe it is your fight,” Brian said, unexpectedly. He looked at Marrec. “The p-power comes through our DNA and you’re my s-son.” He let it hang.
Marrec frowned. “My mother didn’t have a power. Would it not have been raised when she met you, if what you say about the magic is true?”
“She wasn’t my D-Destiny,” Brian said, lifting his shoulder apologetically. “That was Brina. But that doesn’t mean you haven’t inherited the gene from me.”
“Me, I am not magic,” Marrec scoffed.
“Doesn’t mean you w-won’t be,” Brian said. His careless tone fooled no one. “You should be on the watch in any c-case.”
Marrec raised his head. He had decided. “I will go tomorrow before first light after I ask the boy how long he rode in the helicopter. That should give us some idea at least which mountain range we’re looking for. We have not much time if this comet will make the Pentacle in three days.”
“There are a lot of canyons, and you can’t get too close. Capture would be bad.”
“I could do this search in my sleep, Michael. Now we must talk of the boy.”
“What about him?” Brina said, coming across the living room she’d used as a shortcut from the Bay of Pigs. She looked drawn, with circles under her eyes.
Michael felt Marrec go wary. He knew Brina didn’t like him. Who could blame Brina for despising the evidence that Brian had had another woman, and a son, before he met her?
“Did you heal him?” Brian asked, taking her in under his arm and holding her close.
She sighed. “Yes. It wasn’t a big job. The lacerations were vicious, but he had no internal damage. The burn on his arm wasn’t that big. It shouldn’t even have put me out of breath. But my resources are exhausted.”
“You healed L-Lanyon just two days ago,” Brian temporized. “You’ll be back to f-full Healing strength in no time.”
She gave him a disbelieving look and changed the subject. “Poor boy. He’s been abused for years. You should have seen the scars.”
“Well, Marrec,” Michael said. “What about him? You were about to make a statement.”
“Me, I would not call it that. But there is one way to make sure Morgan cannot use him in her ceremony, even if she captures him.”
Michael saw the eyes around him widen. “You mean, make sure he isn’t a virgin.”
Brian and Brina exchanged glances. Michael knew full well they weren’t above plotting to achieve their children’s happiness, but the fact that this strange, innocent boy was Tammy’s Destiny was a new idea for them. As far as actually promoting it, he could see they were unsure.
“They’ll get together in the end…” Brina said slowly. “Maybe a little push won’t matter.”
“You encouraged Dev and Kee when they were having trouble,” Michael reminded her. He felt like a traitor. This was just what Tammy had been worried would happen.
“Well, we have to do what we can,” Brian agreed. “We’ll keep him safe here of course, but a little insurance wouldn’t hurt.”
“Are we pushing her into a liaison that will only bring her pain or immolation?” Brina asked herself.
“She’s in, regardless of pain,” Michael said. “They both have powers.”
“Maybe they’re a better match than we think.” Brina ran her forefinger over her lips thoughtfully. “They’ve both been locked away from others their age.”
Were they even thinking of the other problem with this? “All we have to do is keep him from burning her to cinders when they finally do it.”
Brina smiled. “I have some ideas about that.”
*
Tammy felt so guilty for actually getting to sleep last night. She should have been thinking about what to do and what to say to Daddy about Thomas and how they could use whatever Thomas could tell them about the Clan to find the evil bastards. She’d just been so exhausted. She still was. Sleeping didn’t mean she was
n’t tormented by dreams about Thomas that left her wet and wanting. Lance followed her down to breakfast. She had dressed in jeans and a black, elbow-length, stretchy top. Tris was coming up from the Bay of Pigs. He passed Michael in the hall and gave a mock salute.
What? It all became clear. Drew had not just been loitering in the hall outside her door.
She frowned. “Changing of the guard, big brother?”
Tris looked abashed. “Well, you guys seem to have a really strong pull. And, uh, the kid’s control is kinda shaky.”
Tammy rolled her eyes. “So you think he’ll burn the house down?”
“Yep,” Drew said, coming down the stairs.
“I knew I shouldn’t bring him here. You all probably think he’s some kind of a menace, and he isn’t and here you are interfering, just like I knew you would, and you’ve probably said horrible things to him.”
“Whoa, girl,” Tris said, holding up his hands. “We think he’s fine and nobody said anything to him. Mother just healed him.”
Tammy blanched. “You mean his burn?”
“It’s more than that.” Drew sighed.
“Thomas is hurt? How did I not know? Is it bad?” She whirled toward the Bay of Pigs.
Drew took her arm and turned her toward the kitchen. “You are not going to disturb him. He needs rest, and Marrec’s already been in once to get some information on the helicopter ride. Thomas probably drifted off again. You know how Mother’s healing can drain you, and you two had quite an exhausting adventure, burning down hotels and sailing around Catalina at night.”
Tammy craned over her shoulder to see Thomas’s room door. “How was he hurt?”
She saw Drew and Tris glance at each other.
“She’s gonna see the scars sooner or later,” Tris rumbled.
“Okay,” Drew said, apparently crabby that she was the one who’d have to tell. “He was whipped. A lot. And once apparently right before he left the monastery.”
“Oh, my God,” Tammy exclaimed as guilt washed over her. “That was why he was moving so stiffly. How could I have been so…?”
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