With an inhuman yell, one of them launched himself at Sully, as if sensing he would be the strongest one of the three of us. He whirled in the air ninja-style and tried to kick Sully in the chest. At the same time, the other two came at Skylar and me in the same manner. It took us by surprise, but Sully seemed as ready as ever. He met his attacker with a hard arm chop to the side and the hooded figure went down with a howl.
Meanwhile, I grabbed my attacker by the hoodie, flung him hard to the right and succeeded in dropping him as well. Skylar wasn’t as lucky. I recovered in time to see him take a well-placed fist to the side of his face, followed by a lightning quick jab to his ribs. I thought I heard a crack, confirmed when Skylar yelped in pain.
Sully, obviously joyful this skirmish had turned out to be a fair fight after all, heard the crack too. Enraged over Skylar’s injury, he turned the full scale of his anger on the third attacker who caused the pain. Hoodie Number Three looked around for his comrades and realized with dawning fear that he represented the last man standing in front of this wild giant.
Sully advanced, about to finish him off when suddenly, the sky darkened and became filled with a faint pounding sound. We all looked up toward the sound as it got louder and louder and was soon drowning out everything else. Soon, we identified it. The flapping wings of hundreds of birds filled the sky, so many that they were blocking out the sun. We watched, fascinated, until I realized they were heading toward us, dive-bomb fashion.
“Sully, Skylar, they’re coming straight for us! Take cover! They’ve got beaks and talons like Ginsu knives!” I hollered as loud as I could over the noise made by their beating wings. It was right then that I noticed Hoodie Number Three and his pals didn’t look afraid. I should have known. More demon tricks. Would this ever end?
Logan! Don’t worry! We’re on the way! Gypsy and I are astrally projecting! We’ll be there in less than ten seconds!
Serena! You always did know when to crash a good party. Be careful!
I didn’t ask how she knew we were in trouble. She just always did. Besides, this time it had been me and her brother Skylar. She must have had a direct pipeline into this latest mess I had gotten myself into. I began to feel like Lucy Ricardo and she was my Ricky.
I had barely finished that thought when I saw the astral projection start. Hard to make out with the sky being so dark, the air just in front of me started to ripple in an unnatural way. I could make out the outline of two figures in the wrinkle. In milliseconds, the forms filled in with matter, then bones, then veins and corpuscles, then flesh and in an instant Serena and Gypsy were standing there. We didn’t waste time on hellos.
Gypsy and Serena ran to the middle of the street and holding hands, reached them high into the air. Serena mindspoke to me again.
Logan, keep your new friends busy!
She didn’t have to ask me twice. Skylar clearly had received the same message I had. We looked at each other and nodded. Skylar closed his eyes and put his hands on my shoulders. Instantly, he and I were cloaked in invisibility. We headed over to where Sully and Hoodie Number Three stood. But, we didn’t have to worry. Hoodie Number Three looked way too interested in our girls to move a muscle. Frankly, so were we.
Gypsy was the star of this show; Serena had just come along for the ride. Gypsy looked up to see where the birds were. They had formed a triangle and were targeting Sully now, since they could no longer see us. Holding her hands, joined with Serena’s high in the air, Gypsy began to move in a circle. I could see a small ball of fire forming at the tips of her fingers. Serena dropped her hands and stepped away from Gypsy as the ball grew larger and larger. Suddenly, Gypsy grabbed the ball and hurled it as high as she could. At that moment, the heavens opened up and great cracks of thunder could be heard all over the neighborhood. I waited for the rain, but it never came. What did come was lightning, hundreds of sparks, which shot out of the clouds and struck each demon-bird as it dove down toward Sully. Each time a lightning rod made contact with one of the birds, it disappeared with a flash. It happened so fast, it looked like the sky had ignited with fireworks. Sparkles showered down and the whole effect resembled the fourth of July.
Try not to let them get away, Logan!
But it appeared we were too late. We were so mesmerized by Gypsy’s show, we had failed to notice that the Hoodie trio had disappeared. We never saw them go. Even Sully, who stood right by Number Three, had to admit he didn’t see the creeps sneak away.
“How did they even get here?” Sully looked up and down the street. “I never saw a car.”
Skylar sighed. “Have we taught you nothing? Do you really think they drove a car, here?”
Sully turned his gaze to the ground. “Yeah. Maybe not.”
Gypsy walked over to where Skylar stood with Serena and me. “Are you okay?”
Gypsy grinned brightly. “I’m fine. I actually feel invigorated. I know some supers feel exhausted after using their powers, but I always feel like running a marathon!”
“Supers?” Skylar gave Gypsy a questioning look.
“Oh, that’s my word for supernaturals.” She giggled. “I’ve always hated the word witch. It’s always had such a negative connotation, don’t you think?”
“Yeah, I do.”
“A better question is how are you feeling? I saw you take a bad hit before we could get here.” Gypsy put her hands on Skylar’s side and he winced in pain.
“Oh, you better let me take care of that.” Serena stepped forward and placed both her hands on the side of Skylar’s rib, where I knew he had suffered a couple broken bones. She closed her eyes and began to hum softly under her breath. I watched, familiar with the process. Presently, Skylar straightened and twisted his torso from left to right.
“Yup. Good as new. Thanks, sis.” He leaned over and pecked Serena on the cheek.
Gypsy clapped her hands together. “Much better trick than my silly little fireballs.”
“What? No way. Those were awesome. Sure saved the day today.” Skylar and Gypsy strolled away, deep in conversation.
Serena slipped her arm around my waist. “See that? I think my brother might have found his match.”
“Oh, no. There is no way Skylar is Gypsy’s match.” I hugged Serena back. “She is way too much woman for him. He’s just figuring our world out.”
“She may just be the one to help him do that. Look how well they get along.”
I glanced back at Serena’s brother with Gypsy. They were standing close and laughing together. He looked relaxed and at ease and why wouldn’t he? He was being entertained by a beautiful and talented woman. Definitely no Serena, but she had his attention. He hadn’t taken his eyes off her since she finished her light show. I could think of worse things than for him to find a nice witch to settle down with. I hugged Serena closer. It seemed we were all finding someone.
“Hey, you guys. What do you say to putting this place in our rear view mirrors? I’ve had enough drama for one day.” Nobody disagreed.
Chapter Twenty-six
SERENA
We walked in the front door of the big house and were all but accosted by Eden and Eve, who were waiting for us in the front room. Eve immediately ran to Gypsy as soon as she saw her.
“Mom, I’m okay. Please, you’re embarrassing me.” Gypsy squirmed a little in the face of her mother’s embrace.
“Yes, Eve. She’s more than okay. You should have seen her. She amazed us.” Skylar went a little over the top jumping in and Eden didn’t miss it. Her eyes raised, she looked over to me for explanation. I didn’t want to betray any confidences, so I merely shrugged my shoulders. Eden wasn’t about to let that go, and I got a look that I knew meant there would be more discussion on the topic later. I nodded.
Eden herded us all into the kitchen. “I understand there has been a confrontation again.” She addressed Logan. It pleased me how much more often she had interest in what he had to say. It meant she accepted him as our equal and more importantly, as a leader in our c
oven. It made me proud to be his partner.
“Yes. It was interesting, though. At first, I thought they were demons. In fact, I don’t know that they weren’t,” Logan appeared thoughtful in his answer, “but they didn’t use any powers on us. We had a fair, old fashioned fist-fight.”
“I can see that.” Eden glanced meaningfully at Skylar, who by this time evidenced a large purpling bruise on the right side of his face where one of the Hoodie’s fists had connected.
“Hey!” protested Skylar. “I got in a shot or two.”
“I didn’t see any,” muttered Sully. I saw Logan shoot Sully a look and I had to laugh to myself. Even with warlocks, boys were still boys. Gypsy caught my amused expression and we winked at each other. It seemed someone needed his wounds licked.
“Well, I’m sure you boys would have figured a way out of there one way or another. I was just showing off.” Gypsy said matter-of-factly.
Sully jumped. “You got that right. I almost turned that Hoodie-Hood into a pavement pancake when you showed up. Appreciate the help, and all, but I could have handled him, and his freaky friends.”
Skylar joined in. “Yeah, mine had the upper hand at first, but I’d got my second wind and just about started to whale on him.” Skylar puffed up like a peacock and it was all Gypsy and I could do to keep straight faces. I wondered where Skylar had picked up his tough-guy talk. I pinched Logan in a warning to keep quiet and not blow this for the guys. He and I both knew Gypsy saved the day, but it had been fun watching Skylar show off for Gypsy.
I saw Eve noticing it, too. If I thought she’d be unhappy about my brother showing interest in her daughter, I couldn’t have been more wrong. She watched this mating dance with great interest and it seemed, her approval. She smiled and nudged Eden and made no attempt to intervene. I caught her eye and she nodded at me in a motherly manner, making it clear she was quite happy with this match-up.
About this time, the front door burst open and Lily came rushing in. Apparently, the coven grapevine had been working overtime. Behind Lily came Jade, Prudence, the twins Echo and Aisling, Cordelia, Finola, and Elizabeth. I wanted to ask where everyone else might be when the front door opened again and the rest of our coven trailed in; Raven, Libby, Rochelle and Tabitha made up the remainder of our crazy troupe.
Jade rushed to Sully’s side. She did not look happy.
“Can I not even go buy a crib without you getting into trouble?” She stopped in front of him and stood there with one hand on her hip and the other resting on her huge stomach.
“Did you take this army with you to buy it?” Sully waved his arms to indicate the large group of women in the kitchen that did, indeed, resemble a small army.
Eden stepped forward. “I don’t think I have to remind you that Christophe is out there and would be very happy to kidnap your wife again, given the added bonus of your twin progeny. Considering those circumstances, she needs an army, don’t you think?”
Chastised, Sully lowered his head and barely nodded. “Yes, ma’am.” he murmured.
“Now, then,” continued Eden. “Logan, would you care to tell us what compelled you and Mr. Starr to return to your former home in the first place?”
I realized Logan had never told me the reason he had been there yet, either. The last thing he told me before everything went crazy was that something happened there that I wasn’t going to believe. In the excitement of what followed, I had forgotten all about it.
But, it wasn’t Logan who spoke, it was Skylar.
“It was my fault, Eden. I’m the one who wanted to go there. I had to. There was something there I had to check on. I needed Logan with me.”
I had wondered why Logan was involved, but hearing the way he said Logan’s name, I realized how close they had become; like brothers. And it made sense. Besides me, Skylar had no strong bonds with anyone else. At least I had Elizabeth and Tabitha. Elizabeth might be my real aunt, but I had grown up my whole life believing her to be my sister. Without having anyone to confide in, it would be natural for Skylar to go to Logan. Probably just as natural for Logan to keep his confidence.
“Yeah. I guess you did. I understand, man. It’s okay.”
“Thanks. That could have been way too much for me to handle on my own.”
I felt about to burst. “What? What’s too much for you?”
Strangely, Logan scanned all of us, looking for someone. His eyes settled on his mom, Lily. “Mom, you better get ready for this, it’s a biggie.” Elizabeth scooted over and wrapped her arms around Lily’s waist. She’d always been there when Logan’s mother needed a friend.
Logan began again. “Skylar told me he received a contact of some kind from our computer at our place. We went there today to see if we could get it to do it again.”
Prudence leaned in. “And did it?”
“Oh, yeah. It seemed almost as if it had been waiting for us. Like it knew we were coming or something. It talked to us by printing on the computer screen for a little while but I’m having some real trouble with accepting the identity.”
“Why?” sing-songed the twins, Echo and Aisling. It seemed everyone had gotten involved in this story.
Logan shot another look at his mother before answering.
“Because I think it’s my father.”
Lily gasped once, loudly, and her legs crumpled underneath her as she fainted. Elizabeth helped catch her as she went down and Sully scooped her up in his arms. Logan looked more than distressed.
“See? See? I knew this would wipe her out.” He watched as Sully gently placed his mother on a small chaise lounge and Elizabeth applied a cool cloth to her forehead.
Even Eden looked taken aback. “Logan, are you sure about the identity?”
Logan whirled around. “Heck no, Eden. I am not sure of it. What I am sure of, is that I went to my dad’s funeral and his gravesite, thank you very much. I’m sure that I nearly fainted myself when the computer screen told me I had been talking to my father. And I’m sure that I have no way of knowing who I actually communicated with, really.”
I reached out and slipped my hand into Logan’s, squeezing it as tightly as I could, reminding him that I was here. The tension left his body, as he leaned closer into me.
Eden spoke up. “That is a practical view, Logan. Given that Christophe is not above trickery, deceit and deception, a thought process that disallows blind faith in the unbelievable is not a bad course of action.”
“Logan.” We turned to see that Lily had come to and now sat up on the small single sofa. “Did the person on the computer say anything personal to you?”
“Not really. In fact, it didn’t say much at all. But, it knew my name. And I knew it was him. Don’t ask me how, Mom. I just got an overwhelming feeling.” Logan turned to face Eden. “That’s how I know it isn’t Christophe, Eden. Because in my heart, I know it’s my dad. ” Logan gave me a helpless look and he seemed so much like a little boy, I wanted to gather him in my arms and never let him go.
Eden stared at Logan for several minutes without speaking. None of the rest of us said anything, either. We understood this importance. She weighed the gravity of Logan’s words and her willingness to believe him. Abruptly, she turned to Lily and said, “Are you prepared for this to be true, Lily?”
Logan’s mother took the same amount of time to answer before she said, simply, “Yes.”
“Good. So am I.” She turned back to Logan. “The question is, what are we going to do about it?”
Chapter Twenty-seven
SERENA
We ended up talking about it for several hours. All of us. After all that time, we came to the same conclusion Eden came to in the first thirty seconds of hearing about the possibility of Logan’s father contacting him. But, I still loved that we all got together to chew it over for him. And I know he loved that we all cared about him so much that we would do that. He could pretend to complain about being cooped up in the big house as much as he wanted, but I knew secretly he loved being a part o
f the coven. I would never tell. His secret would be safe with me for as long as he would have me.
After the elders in the coven went to bed, the youngest of us gravitated to our back patio as usual. Logan and I were joined by Gypsy and Skylar, Echo and Aisling, and Sully and Jade, at least for as long as her pregnant self could handle it. She got tired so early these days.
Logan started a lovely fire in the fire pit. Gypsy disappeared and then returned in a moment with a tray full of iced teas.
Gypsy set it down and passed out the drinks. Just then Raven came out with another tray filled with appetizers. Of course, several of the dogs and cats trailed behind her.
“Hey, kiddies. I’m not too old to join the cool kids, am I?”
Laughing, I patted the chair next to me. “Would you just be quiet about that and get over here?” Raven chose a cold drink for herself and soon she became one of the crowd. The guys appreciated her tasty offerings and shortly they were all happily munching away.
“So, what’re we all talking about?” asked Raven.
“Well, obviously, the two topics of the day are the guys and their adventure earlier today and the question about our Dad,” supplied Jade.
“Pretty exciting stuff, Logan.” said Raven. “What’s your take on those attackers? What did you call them?”
“Hoodies. Because they were all dressed in black hooded sweatshirts that covered their faces. We never got a chance to identify them.”
“If they even had faces,” interjected Sully.
“Yeah. I mean, whether or not they were demons hasn’t really been established.”
“But they fought you pretty fairly?”
“Yup. No sorcery or demon tricks. All fists and flying feet. Like ninja-style. Not at all what we were expecting.”
“I did.” Sully piped up. “I mean, that’s really all I can expect, you know.”
“I get it.” Raven understood. “Not being a supernatural must have tremendous disadvantages when you’re fighting demons.”
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