`Nothing about him is usual,' she muttered, glancing at Mason still slack-jawed and unconscious.
`Shit and fuck almighty!' Ruth cursed, moving off Nikki. `What the hell was that?'
`Dad,' Wilson moaned, with Lilly lying on top of him. `Crazy crap happens when he is around.'
`Everyone okay?' Renee stood beside Syrus, still unsure of her legs. Nikki vomited hard onto the grass as Ruth rolled her over. `Everyone okay other than Nikki?'
`Clear.' Wilson rolled off the back off the ute with Lilly in his arms, his legs giving away as they both fell onto the grass.
`Careful, Wil, it takes a bit to get your balance,' Renee said, watching as he disentangled himself from Lilly. And what was she doing with him anyway?
`So that was Dad, then. It was his black stuff came looking for us.'
`Black stuff,' Ruth muttered, holding Nikki in her arms as she stood, unsteady. `Frightened the shit out of me. Looked like the hand of death.'
`At least you got to see it,' Renee said, surprised at how fast Ruth had recovered from the jump. Faster than any of them. `One minute I'm driving back to the house, the next,' She spread her arms out at the forest, `we're here.'
`We're home.' Wilson let Lilly go, as she recovered her balance, and looked around. `Did he teleport us?'
`The ancients called it folding the Paths,' Renee said, taking a deep breath. `Even Mother cannot do it. Shit, she'll be going nuts with worry about now.'
`A phone,' Nikki muttered, clinging to Ruth, her face hidden under the mass of her hair. `We need to call her before she reacts.'
`Reacts?' Ruth frowned.
Renee moved. She knew what Nikki meant. `If Mother thinks we've been taken by the Bloodells, all hell will break loose. Literally.'
`Right.' Wilson strode off up the hill with Lilly following. `I'll disarm the house. You get everyone inside.'
Renee pulled Mason out of the ute. `We need to pull Syrus out of this rut and get him up to the house too.'
`You call your ute Syrus?' Wilson said, flashing a grin just like Mason's at her.
Renee grinned back. She couldn't help it. `Yeah, yeah, he said the same thing.' She jiggled Mason, trying to balance his weight. `Do you want to hurry?'
`Just go unlock the house, will you?' Ruth snapped.
Wilson jogged off up towards the house with his new shadow.
Warning bells sounded. Renee looked at Ruth fussing over Nikki. Something was up with them. Nikki had changed; overnight. And she had never seen her so ill.
`Nikki?' Renee said, noticing Ruth tense. `Are you okay?'
`Dunno. Never been teleported before,' she muttered, not looking up. `Feel like my head is going to split open.'
`Let's go,' Ruth said with a nod. `It's stinking hot out here and Wil should have the house open by now.'
Renee lifted Mason's arm over her shoulder, shouldering his weight while Ruth managed Nikki in her arms. Ruth was smaller, but Renee saw that size didn't matter. And there was still that tension. `Have I done something wrong?'
`What?' Ruth had begun to walk carefully towards the house.
Renee trailed along, struggling under Mason's weight and wondering how sick Nikki really was to put up with being treated so carefully. Nikki hated being thought fragile.
Mason dragged her down. He was so damn heavy.
`Something's changed between us.' Renee shouldered Mason's weight and kept walking. Ruth didn't stop. She was more concerned about Nikki than Mason. `What's going on?'
`I just want to get Nikki inside. Out of this heat.'
`Uh-huh,' Renee muttered, tempted to let Huntress out a little to see what Ruth was hiding. It had to be big if she wasn't giving Mason or Wilson a thought.
`I can hear you.'
Renee nearly slammed into Ruth. She had stopped and now stood above her on the hillside. Eyes dark.
`Whatever this thing is, it connects us,' Ruth said. `Every question you have, I can hear. The effect was muffled back at the mansion but here, and so close, I hear you.'
`You can hear me like this?'
`Yes.' Ruth raised an eyebrow. `This is what you and Mason have all the time?'
`Yes.' Colour burned in her face. Why did she feel so guilty about it? So ashamed? So angry? It was her gift to be shared with her Hunter.
`I don't like having you in my head. I guess it's the same for you.' Ruth adjusted Nikki in her arms. `So let's keep it quiet, then. No yelling questions in our heads. Can we do that?'
`Yes. It will take time, but we can do that.'
`Good,' Ruth said aloud, half-turning. `Just so you know, Mason is the strongest man I have ever met. He's been places I will never want to see. I love him but you have that connection with him. If you were freaking, I'd be freaking out.
`As for Wil,' she turned and walked towards the house, `he's strong, like Mason. I lost my sweet little boy a year ago. Now he's finding his own way. If he needed me he'd say so.'
Renee followed. Silent. What Ruth had said didn't feel like a rebuke, but it had unsettled her.
`Nikki's sick, Renee.' Ruth stopped at the edge of the manicured lawns and faced her. `She didn't want to say anything but the teleport was hard on her.'
`Sick?' Alarm surged. `She's never been sick before.'
`No,' Ruth said, flicking hair off her face. `She thinks it was from having Darla enter her on the island. Her magic is also affected.'
`Darla came to Mason today,' Renee said controlling her urge to touch Nikki, to be sure she was unhurt. `He's the same. Sick. The teleport thing must have made them both worse.'
`Darla came?' Ruth went white.
`He didn't say anything, but it was hard on him.'
`Oi!' Wilson hollered from the back veranda. `It's open. Get in here.'
Ruth smiled. `Subtle, isn't he?'
`But correct.' Renee lugged Mason up.
`Take him up to our room.' Ruth moved off quickly and Renee followed. Cool air greeted her as Wilson held the door open. Ruth dashed inside with Nikki but Renee faltered.
`This is your home,' she said as Wilson waited.
`Guess it's yours now as well.' Wilson held the door with a soft smile. `Dad brought all us here, to be together. Mum doesn't see it yet, but I think this is Dad's way of saying he's accepted this. He wants us all to be family.'
Renee blinked, surprised by his words.
`Don't look so surprised,' he said, winking. `Dad can be weird sometimes.' He pursed his lips. `He tends to use actions more than words. Sometimes it's subtle. Sometimes it isn't.'
`You're so sure of this?'
`Sure, he's my father. There are some things that we don't have to say to understand each other.' Wilson grinned and nudged her shoulder. `Since he's busy drooling on your shoulder, it's my place to welcome you here.'
Truth rang in his words.
She felt the tension fade as Wilson put his hand on her shoulder. `Come in. His room is upstairs at the front of the house. Mum has taken Nikki to the room beside it. There's a phone in there, so she can call Eleanor.'
Renee stepped into the house, into a new life she hadn't realised she desired so much.
Wilson leant against the railing, scanning the view from his vantage on the deck. His good mood had vanished as soon as Renee had told him what had happened at Bondi. He had come up to clear his head, leaving the tension that rasped between his mother and Renee. Lilly was resting so he took the moment to call Sally. He needed to hold her again, hear her voice. Everything had become complicated. Worst of all the Bloodells had come. He had to make sure Sally was safe. He pressed her number on his speed dial.
`Wilson!' Sally's fear and excitement rang clear. `Where are you? What's happened? The men here with us have gone all serious. They want me to leave the island.'
`We're fine, Sal,' he said, biting his lip. Max's men would have reacted to the news of the attack at Bondi. `We're back home. When can you get back to the mainland?'
`We're getting ready to leave now. Mum is worried as well. What's h
appening?'
`Nothing, really. I just want you with me. Can you stay?'
`Hang on.' Sally's phone rustled and he could hear her talking. He hoped she'd come. `Mum wants to know how your mum and dad are. Are they back, too?'
`Tell her we're all here.' He winced, knowing the next problem would be explaining Lilly.
`If you meet me at the harbour, Mum says its fine. The security men here will take her home.' Sally sounded breathless. The thrum of motors grew louder. She was on the beach. `We're getting on the boat now. See you soon.'
She hung up. He rubbed a hand over his face and sighed. He wanted her here but it would be complicated.
Ruth joined him on the deck. `You okay?'
`Not really.' He crossed his arms. `Sally's coming over. I want her here, but,' he shrugged, conflicted. `Everything is just too weird now and the Bloodells are here, Mum. It's going to get complicated.'
`Maybe it's time she knew it all, then.' Her hand ran across the back of his neck. `She deserves to know sometime. Sally's been there for you and I think she will surprise you.'
`I wanted to protect her from all this.' He frowned, holding his arms in tight. `When I'm with her everything feels normal.'
`What about Lilly? How does she make you feel?'
He glanced at his mother. `Lilly's different. She's like us. We're just friends anyway.'
`Uh-huh,' Ruth pulled him round to face her. He dreaded what she was going to say. `Wil, don't lie to yourself. Or to Sally. She will know, or find out, and it will hurt her very much. Maybe too much. Be open. Stop shielding her. Sally already knows you keep things from her and she doesn't need to wonder about Lilly. If you're going to include her as part of this family, you have to be honest with her.'
He sighed, unable to argue. `Sally's on her way over. Can you drive me in to get her?'
`I can,' Renee stepped out of the house. `Nikki is shaky and Mason's still sleeping. I can't help them, but Ruth can. Besides, if you're going to bring Sally here it might be best to meet us one at a time.' She wet her lips and Wilson felt her apprehension. There was definitely something going on between her and his mother.
`Renee's right. Ease Sally into meeting everyone,' Ruth said, patting his arm. `I'll talk to Lilly as well. Just to let her know Sally's not aware just yet. And to tell her to stop making those big blue eyes at you.'
`Mum!'
`Well, she does, Wil,' she said. `The last thing I need is two girls competing for you under the one roof.'
There. Renee's face hardened as her green eyes flashed at Ruth. Wilson caught it. Christ!
`Come on, Renee. Let's go. I don't want to make Sally wait.' He grabbed Renee by the arm. `We've got to move. She's on the boat already.'
`Right.' Renee resisted for a second but finally looked away from Ruth and he breathed. Conflict he did not want. Not now.
`Back soon, Mum,' he said, jogging downstairs, Renee's arm still in his grip.
`You're squeezing me,' she said as he opened the garage access door. He didn't let her go, not yet.
`What's going on?' He faced her, ignoring the look she gave him. `I saw you do that thing with your eyes at Mum.' He grabbed a set of car keys while she studied him.
`Nothing.'
`Bullshit.' He unlocked a black SUV and tossed her the keys. `Let's go.'
She touched her arm where he had held her. `I don't like this side of you, Wilson,' she said, getting in and starting the SUV.
`And I don't like it when you and Mum do the death stare on each other. Things are weird enough as it is.' He snapped the seatbelt on as the garage door opened behind them. The big motor rumbled as Renee backed the SUV out.
`It's between me and your mother.'
`It's not, though, is it?' Wilson sat back as Renee accelerated down the driveway. `Everything we do affects each other. If you and Mum are fighting, I notice. I feel it.' He ran fingers through his hair. `Look, I'm not used to this. I just want everyone to calm down. Even you have to agree everything is still crazy. `
Renee drove while he stared out of the windscreen, trying to calm the turmoil within. Happy families.
`Which way?' she asked, not looking at him as they came to the crossroads.
`Right. We go through town and along the beachfront around to the harbour.' The countryside changed into suburbia as Renee drove in silence. They passed through the small township and Renee followed the signs to the harbour. She pulled over not far from the harbour turnoff. Wilson frowned, looking at her.
`Do you love her?' She turned in her seat, watching him.
`You mean Sally?'
`Yes. Do you love her?'
The lump he always got when he thought about this filled his throat. Why couldn't he just say it?
`If someone tried to hurt her, what would you do?'
Anger flashed in his heart and he felt its heat on his face.
`There's your answer.' Renee pulled back onto the road. `If the thought of not having someone hurts so much, then it is love.'
`Why ask?'
`So I know you know how I feel,' she said, glancing at him. `I'm new at this as well, Wil. I've never had someone that I love like I love Mason. Ruth and I are very different. I have trouble controlling my jealousy and she isn't used to having someone like me around.'
`Someone like you?'
`Someone involved with Mason.'
`So you don't hate her, then?'
`What? No, of course not.' Renee slowed the SUV as they reached the harbour turnoff. `It's more getting to know our boundaries, as such.'
`I have to ask,' he said, taking a deep breath, sure she was going to attack him. `Are you and Mum, you know, together?'
He was surprised by her laughter. Not a giggle, but full-throated laughter.
She thumped the steering wheel with her hand. `No.'
He swore there was a tear in her eye.
`We share a bed, Wilson, but there's no attraction like that. Your mother only has eyes for Nikki, not the tomboy sister.'
`I wouldn't say you're a tomboy,' he said, relieved the conversation hadn't ended in him being belted behind the ear.
`I am. Where to now?' She had stopped at a roundabout dividing the road in.
`To the right,' he said, looking for the ferry. It was just docking. `Good timing.'
`So we're sweet then, Wil?' she asked, pulling up outside the terminal. `You and me?'
`Yeah, just dial it down around Sally, please.' He unclipped the seatbelt, looking for her.
She reached over and took his arm. `Okay. Take a breath, Wil. It'll be fine.'
`Maybe, but Sally's gunna be stressed already. And when she meets the rest of the family—'
`Interesting.'
They stepped out of the SUV. Renee joined him looking for Sally. She nudged him. `What's my cover then?'
`Cover?' What was she on about?
`Wil,' she whispered as people walked past. `I might be a lot older but I look a lot younger than your parents and you're about to introduce me to your girl.'
`Christ!' He stopped. Renee had never seemed to be like that for him, but he saw people glancing at them. Or rather at her. She was gorgeous, if he looked at her that way. The long red hair he had become used to was like a neon sign in public. `And you're still wearing that.' He thumbed at her sarong and bikini top; more skin showed than clothing. `Hell, she's gunna kill me.'
`Think quickly, Wil. Who am I? She knows you and your family.'
He walked towards the wharf, thinking. Men he recognised as Fund security appeared. She must be close. One nodded to him and touched his earpiece.
`Here she comes.' A glimpse of long blonde hair moving through the crowd made his chest tighten.
`This is her?' Renee didn't move, but stood arms crossed as he nodded back to the security staff.
He raced forward. Sally's face was wet with tears as she hugged him. `Wil, I've missed you so much. What happened?'
Wilson held her, not caring who looked on. To hold her again made his heart pound
. Her scent made him breathe hard.
`It's okay. Come on, let's go.' He managed to say, peeling her off, taking her hand as Renee moved past, taking Sally's bag from her bodyguards.
He watched Sally's pupils contract as her skin tightened. Renee put her bag in the SUV. `Who's this? Wil?'
`Hey, I'm Renee.'
Sally took her hand but didn't shake it. His stomach lurched. She had tensed up under his hand. Had she seen something on the island?
`She works for Mason?'
`Ah, no,' he said, sweating. What the hell was he going to say? Renee wasn't going to help either. She was smiling
`So,' Sally squeezed his hand, `this is who you've been with down in Sydney?'
`Yes and no,' he said, swallowing. `It's not like you think.'
`No?' She let him go. `After the fire I was so worried when you disappeared. When you called the next day, I thought something was wrong; you sounded guilty.'
`Sal, no.' He tried to pull her towards the SUV, away from the crowd walking past.
`Don't!' Sally pulled away, her anger showing. `Tell me the truth! Tell me because I'm sick of all the secrets.'
`She's right, Wilson,' Renee said, tone casual as she leaned against the SUV. `Better for her to find out now than later.' She raised her eyebrows and Wilson took a deep breath. Damn it. This was hard.
`Sally, I'm not with Renee.' He reached for her and she let him take her hand. `Dad is.'
`What?' Sally's anger faded; her eyes widened.
`That's right, Sally.' Renee flashed a brilliant smile and tilted her head. `I'm Mason's girlfriend.'
CHAPTER 28
Ruth stuck her head into the bedroom. Mason lay motionless on the bed but she was sure she had heard his voice. Ruth moved onto the bed beside him, touching his face.
`Cold, so cold,' she whispered, leaning over to kiss his lips. `Come back. We have to talk.'
She sat up, watching his chest move to the rhythm of his slow breathing. `Wherever you are, hear me. Come back. We have a surprise for you.'
He didn't respond and she sighed, lying back beside him on their bed. `Nikki thinks this is what happens when you cross over between worlds. She's never actually done it, but after Darla possessed her she felt sort of the same. Mason,' Ruth took his cool hand in hers. `I'm excited and terrified at the same time. I need you back. Something I did has changed everything.'
Unnaturals Page 26