"Harry is in danger, Betty. In fact, I'm certain that your family is in danger," he said, gravely.
Taking another large swig and almost draining the glass, Betty asked, "How?"
He let his gaze travel to Lanie and Savannah before reaching Betty's eyes. "The kids were careless at the cabin. They used their names with the Vampires they let go," he said.
"You mean, that SHE let go," she spat at Savannah.
Savannah put down her lemonade and drew her legs up to her chest. She could feel the woman's pain in her voice. And she wasn't wrong. The Vampires had gone free because of her.
"I had been keeping tabs on the situation. I was hoping that nothing would come of it. I was wrong, and I am sorry."
"Why are you sorry?" screeched Betty. "You had to clean up a mess that you didn't cause."
Putting his hand on Lanie's to keep her calm, Eamon patiently said, "The girl didn't cause it, either. This war has been coming a long time, and you know it. This was the work of defected Vampires and Siphons. She did anything but go looking for trouble."
"That may be! But it definitely found her," Betty argued.
"I didn't come here to fight. I came here to offer protection," he said, calmly.
"We have the protection of the pack," she said, draining the remains of her glass.
"Siphons, Betty! There are Siphons coming! If you stay, your pack will be slaughtered, and you know it," he said, desperately trying to reason with her.
"And if we leave?" she asked.
"There is a good chance that they will leave the rest of the pack alone," he said, solemnly.
"But, you don't know!" she accused.
Eamon shook his head. "This is the best chance all of you have."
"And the Waldrons?" asked Betty, grateful for the wine going to her head.
"I will be talking with them next," he said.
Stomping over to the wall, Betty grabbed the corded phone and said, "Why wait?" She punched in Johnna Waldron's number, told her that Eamon was there and that she needed to bring over her family. She enticed her with wine and lemonade. When she was done, she turned back to Eamon. "Just fair warning. The pack will never agree to this, Siphons or no Siphons. They will not let a Vampire and a couple of Kites try to protect us over the pack!" Tipping her head in Savannah's direction, she said, "Besides, that girl is the only one who can defeat them. You told us yourself, and you can't even tell us why. So unless you can guarantee that she can take them all on by herself, there's no point in trying to protect us."
Lanie couldn't stand it anymore. Brushing off Eamon's hand, she stood up and faced the woman of the house. "You don't want our help fine! But-"
"-Momma!" Savannah interrupted. Her mother put her hand up, indicating that she wanted Savannah to be quiet and stay out of it. Savannah shut her mouth and put her head back on her knees. Chrystal wrapped an arm around her. At first, she flinched at the contact, but she got over it and even leaned into Chrystal for support. She had to admit, it was nice to have a friend. She knew that Samuel's and Harry's families probably wouldn't be her biggest fans, but she didn't expect so much hostility and blame. In the end, she knew the boys made their own choice to help her, but they also had underestimated how much danger they were in.
Lanie continued, "But that is no reason to blame my daughter for everything! They all went in there half-cocked because they are children! I don't know why my daughter can do what she can do. But if she couldn't, all three of them would be dead right now." Lanie took a shuddering breath and tried to push her feelings aside. "No one is fond of the idea of moving your family. I, for one, prefer fewer numbers, but Eamon has an excellent plan. If you would get over yourself and your pretenses, you might figure that out!" She was almost screaming at the woman now.
Eamon dropped his head in his hands and felt his shoulders sinking even lower. He was certain that given more time, he would end up with a hunchback. This was going to be a very long night, and he wasn't sure that he and Savannah would find time for hunting. Looking over at the girl with her knees tucked in, he reminded himself that she was worth it.
Cocking her head to the side, Betty considered Lanie for a minute. She had underestimated the woman. The bell rang and interrupted her next thought. "Come in!" she called to the front door. She poured more lemonade and wine and refilled her glass again, while Eamon guided Lanie back onto the couch.
Gesturing to Eamon with a sweep of her arm, Betty informed her guests that Eamon had the floor, at least until Rob came home.
"Savannah?!" Samuel said, shocked. What was she doing here? Chrystal shook her head at him. He knew that they were supposed to have their girls' day today. Part of him had wished he had chosen to be a girl, so he could join them. Anything was better than being stuck in the no-change room. Had something happened while the girls were at the mall? It wouldn't surprise him. He had noticed that Savannah was a magnet for danger. A firm hand clasped his shoulder, and he saw his mother looking at him sternly. Looking down, he shrugged out of the grasp and crossed the room to sit with Michael.
Crossing her arms, Johnna addressed Eamon, "Why would you bring them here?"
Standing back up, Lanie took the floor. She could feel her anger rising up in her again. "Enough! What exactly did we do to you people?" Looking at Johnna, she said, "Your son came to us! And Harry was all too eager to follow!" Taking a deep breath, she tried to keep her powers under control so as not to put everyone in more danger. "We came here to warn you and offer help, should you take it! The kids were careless and gave their names."
Fear flitted through the room. "Your families are in danger. The Siphons are coming. You know that you cannot defeat them, and staying here puts your neighbors at risk," said Lanie. "At the very least, your houses need to be abandoned, and your boys need to come with us."
Staring at Lanie, Eamon's mouth dropped. He was hoping for more diplomacy.
The room erupted in anger, questions, and accusations. Every adult was standing up, while every teen was sitting down and staring at the arguing adults.
The front door opened, and the rest of Betty's family walked in. Silver and Byte were throwing popcorn at each other, and all three of them were laughing at Harry, who was making a monster face. The rest of the room went silent and stared at them.
Closing the door behind them, Rob called out, "Hey, Betts, look who I found walking home from the movies." When he looked up, he was shocked by the sheer number of people in his living room, and only one of them was from the pack. Then his eyes settled on Eamon. Great! That guy hardly ever brings good news anymore. Noticing the wine on the center table, Rob pushed past the kids to pour himself a glass.
Harry looked around at who was there and ushered his siblings to the floor. Widening his lips into a big goofy grin, he said, "Is this an intervention or something? Cause I've actually been doing stuff for school. Look, I even took Sil and Byte to the movies." He was hoping to loosen the palpable tension in the room. When no one answered him, he said, "Right! Maybe you scheduled this before I got better? Party time, I'm cured!" Chrystal grabbed his arm and pulled him roughly to the floor. He saw that at least his dad had started to smile, and Samuel snickered. He wrapped his arm around Chrystal and kissed her on top of her head. She, in turn, elbowed him playfully in the gut, reassuring him that all was right with the world.
After everyone was settled again, Eamon took his cue from Betty. He filled the newcomers in on the situation and let them in on a portion of his plan.
Rob took in the information, dragged his hand down his face, and set his wine glass aside. Standing up, he turned so that his back was to Eamon while he faced his wife and neighbors. It was an important move because it showed the room that he trusted Eamon enough not to face him at all times. It also showed them that Eamon was to be taken seriously. Just coming from a perimeter check and pack meeting, Rob was able to transition back into his Beta mindset with ease. "We need to hear him out," he said. Gazing at his beautiful mate, he noticed that her ha
ir was ruffled and her eyes were glazed. It saddened him, that her rarely planned alone time was interrupted. He could tell that she had gotten into it with someone, probably the adult Kite. No physical altercation occurred, so he was willing to gather all of the facts before making a decision.
Turning back to Eamon, he asked, "What do you expect us to do? Where would we go?"
"To my apartment building, downtown. There are plenty of available apartments, and you would have your choice. Other than the ones that are currently occupied, of course," said Eamon tiredly. He was glad that Robert had lent a hand with his skills as a Beta leader.
"How is that safer than if we just stayed here?" he asked the Vampire.
"It's no secret that I have been studying Savannah, trying to figure out how she is able to defeat the most horrifying Supernatural creature ever known. I am also working with a Wizard and a few Dwarves. While it would be most difficult to reconstruct my apartment building out of Polarstone, I do believe that the Wizard could create a spell," he said, making his voice louder so that everyone in the room could hear him. "That, coupled with your pack running around Greenhaven, masking your smell, should provide enough protection to keep everyone safe."
Allowing everything to sink in, Robert asked, "Why couldn't the Wizard cast spells around the neighborhood?"
"Because she is concentrating on areas closer to my apartment building. Thalia has abandoned the Arc Dome to help us, because she believes as I do that Savannah holds the answer to saving everyone from the Siphon threat," said Eamon.
Savannah's head whipped in his direction, and she stood up. "Wait! What?" she said, confronting Eamon. "Studying me?! Saving EVERYONE?! How can I possibly save people?" Hurt and betrayal felt like a rotten pit stuck in her stomach. "Have you just been using me?" she accused.
"No!" he said, adamantly. "Yes, I have been using you. But I have come to care deeply about what becomes of you. You are a very special young lady. And not just because of your unique heritage. Now, sit back down, please, and we shall talk later."
Looking at her mother, she sat down next to Chrystal again.
Lanie stared down at her daughter with sadness. She knew that Eamon thought of Savannah like a niece or pupil, but this wasn't the time to confront such feelings.
"Thalia is here?" asked Johnna in surprise.
"Isn't she one of the Wizards that you introduced me to?" Henry said, looking at his wife.
Johnna nodded, "She wouldn't leave the Cairn Mountain unless -"
"- You can talk to her about that later," interrupted Eamon.
Savannah noticed that Samuel had emulated himself after his father quite a bit-- average height, lean build, sandy blond hair, and bright blue eyes. Studying Johnna, Samuel's mother, she realized that his little brother, Michael, looked more like her. They both had dark brown hair that almost appeared black. They had small frames and clear blue eyes that almost looked white, if it wasn't for the thin blue line around the iris. They were a handsome and put-together looking family. All of them were wearing pastel-colored, loose-fitting sports attire, probably because it weighed less. She would have never guessed that they were nudists. The thought made Savannah shift uncomfortably in her seat.
"But she won't be stretching her powers too far from the apartments. She is currently occupying the twentieth floor in the building, and the Dwarves are on the nineteenth. They are unhappy about it, but she wanted them close for collaboration."
Savannah's eyes widened. She didn't even know that anyone else was in the building. How did that happen?
Continuing, Eamon added, "She has created a new portal that goes directly into the mountains. It is in a secret location, for obvious reasons. However, if we are in dire straits, we will be able to use it for an escape."
Nodding his head, Rob considered everything and looked at his wife. Tears were in her eyes. He could tell that she knew what he was thinking. Turning to Henry, he said, "I strongly suggest that you take Eamon up on his offer."
Henry sighed and assented. "What about you? Are you coming?" The two families had been best friends for so long that he couldn't imagine not being neighbors.
Setting his jaw and pursing his lips, Rob said, "One of us will be." Gulping back his feelings, he turned to Harry, "You're moving out, son."
Harry, angry now, stood up. "Dad! You heard him! You can't stay here!"
"We will be moving in with other members of the pack. They will take us in, just as we all do when a crisis happens. But if the Vampires got a whiff of you, then you have to go with Eamon," said Rob sadly.
"Eamon said they were dead! The Siphons killed them!" growled Harry.
Rob put a hand on his son's shoulder, "Yes! And now the Siphons have the memories of those Vampires. It has been all but proven that they can use the sensory memories of the souls that they steal."
Defeated, Harry wrapped his arms around his dad and pulled his mother in for a family hug. Soon, Silver and Byte wrapped their little arms around Harry's legs.
Johnna stood up, with tears streaming down her face, and said, "Eamon, when are these monsters supposed to show up?"
"I am uncertain, Johnna, but I don't believe that we have much time," said Eamon.
"What about all of our things? This is our home! Our kids have grown here! How can we-" she couldn't finish the sentence, before choking on her sobs. Henry gathered her up and tried to console her.
Raising his head from his family hug, Rob said, "The pack can mask your scent and will make it look like an abandoned Werewolf house. But Johnna, in the end, leaving is up to you. We can't hide you, and you have the ability to hide yourself. But Samuel can't stay here. If he or Harry stays, everyone is at risk." He felt a piece of his heart being ripped out as he said this. Harry was supposed to succeed him as a Beta one day, and he was going to miss his son terribly. Just being around the tall goof lightened everyone's mood. "The sun is starting to set," he said turning to Chrystal. "You need to update your father on everything. Tell him that I will be over shortly to help with preparations."
Chrystal, pulled from her daze, looked up at Mr. Bledig and nodded. She gave Savannah a reassuring squeeze and left. She couldn't believe how the day turned out. A girls' day, complete with overspending and french fries, had somehow mutated into people she loved and cared about being ripped from her. Watching the sun make its way closer to the horizon, she broke into a run. A pained howl escaped her as she sped to her father. He would know what to do!
Confused at Chrystal's sudden departure, Savannah looked at Eamon, who was seated next to her mother again. He whispered that Chrystal's father was the Alpha.
Rob turned back to the Waldrons, and said, "You need to leave, now. At the most, you might have a few minutes to grab pictures and what not. We all know these creatures like to come at night, though, and the pack is going to have enough problems taking care of scents, without them being fresh. We can still talk on the phone and update each other." He looked to Eamon for confirmation, and the Vampire inclined his head in agreement.
Nodding, Henry and Johnna gave their friends a hug and ran to their house to grab a few things. Samuel appeared sad and lost. He gathered Michael up, who climbed onto his back like a monkey, and they followed their parents out the door.
Rob whispered something to Betty, and she quickly left his side and sprinted upstairs, followed by Harry. Then Rob turned back to Eamon, "Harry says he knows where the apartment is, so he's going to meet you there on his bike. The Waldrons have been there before, so I am sure that they will meet you there, as well. It would be best if you get the girl out of here soon since she is the one they are after." Shaking his hand, Eamon nodded and led Lanie and Savannah out the door.
Chapter 6
Tired, Savannah lay down in the bed she shared with her mother, staring up at the silk and gauze canopy, while she waited for instructions. She knew that with a night like tonight, everyone would need to help out. There would be a definite adjustment period, and there were still questions tha
t would need answering. Allowing the lavender-scented pillows to envelop her, she let her mind wander. She hoped that now that she, Samuel, and Harry would be in the same building, maybe the Waldrons would loosen up a little. Though now, she wasn't sure if the boys would want to hang out with her. Just knowing her had turned their lives upside down.
She heard everyone arrive ten minutes after she had lain down. Shortly after that, she heard playful yips and howls echoing through the night. The pack was holding up their end of the deal. They even sounded as though they were having fun. She hated that everyone had to go to such lengths to stay safe after having met her. It didn't seem fair. Not that Savannah had ever known life to be fair. Right then, she wished that she and her mother were still in the cabin, hiding from the world. If she hadn't gone to Greenhaven that day to sell feathers and had been more careful with her use of magic, nothing would have changed.
Noticing a faint blue light outside, she walked to her window to inspect it. It was shimmering and moving in swirls the length of the building. Opening the window, she stuck her head out and looked up. The light seemed to be coming from the top of the apartment building. She was sure that it was magic, but it didn't look hazy like Kite magic. It looked more pearlescent and metallic. Then she remembered what Eamon had said about a Wizard living in the building. She had never met a Wizard before, and her curiosity immediately went haywire. Bringing her head back in, she shut the window and went to find Eamon.
When she left her room, she couldn't find anyone. She figured that they were probably helping Harry and the Waldrons get situated. Grabbing a pen and paper, she scrawled a note, saying where she was headed. Savannah remembered that Eamon had said that Thalia, the Wizard, was on the twentieth floor. Pulling her shirt up over her nose, she headed out into the stinky stairwell and began to climb.
After only two floors, Savannah heard loud strange noises coming from overhead. As she got closer, she realized that it was laughing and talking, mixed with what she imagined a stampede of rhinos would sound like. By the time she reached the nineteenth floor, she had to cover her ears. Passing the nineteenth-floor door, she wondered what could be causing the deafening sounds and shaking the walls. As she went farther up the stairs, the nineteenth-floor noise faded behind her. She was grateful when she could stop covering her ears and could use her hands to protect her nose from the smell again. The stench wasn't nearly so bad up here, but it was still noticeable. When she reached the twentieth floor, she noticed that the door was open.
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