Blood Reunion

by Connie Suttle

  "I saw it. That has to be one of you," Toff blinked at Ry and Tory.

  "Nope. Look at the date next to the signature, dude. That was painted before Ry and I were born. That painting is you, when you were little."

  Toff stared at the brothers. "That can't be," he whispered.

  "We've been working on this from the back end," Trik sighed. "Toff, if you want to know about your father, I have the information on my comp-vid. Your father was in a terrible accident, except it wasn't really an accident. Somebody tried to kill Queen Lissa, and he stepped in front of her to save her life. He got staked instead of her."

  "He died, saving the Queen?" Toff stared at Trik.

  "Well," Ry sounded embarrassed.

  "You saw what was done for Cheedas," Tory said. Toff jerked his head in Tory's direction.

  "My father's a vampire?"

  "Yeah."

  "Is that why I can't go to him—they're afraid he'll hurt me?" Toff's mind was whirling with dread.

  "No. No, man, nothing like that," Ry held out a hand toward Toff. "I think he's just worried that you won't want him after all this time. I don't think he ever stopped loving you, either."

  "The mindbond got in the way, and you didn't remember Mom or your dad," Tory sighed. "I think they're both worried about you and how you might feel about all this."

  "But where is he? You seem to know all about this and I don't know anything." Toff was suddenly close to tears, and he didn't want to reveal the weakness to Tory, Ry and Trik.

  "Just remember he loves you, and is trying to bring you back into his life the best way he knows how," Ry said, floating Trik's offered comp-vid toward Toff. "We can leave you alone while you read if that's what you want."

  "Yes." Toff brushed away moisture from his face and didn't look up as Tory skipped the others away.

  * * *

  Toff had washed his face to remove the streaks, but his eyes still looked red and swollen. No surprise—he'd scrubbed them often as he read Roff's records. Markoff and Dariff, from the winery, were his uncle and cousin. They were always nice to him. Roff had been careful and thorough whenever he explained anything to Toff or taught him to use any of the equipment at the winery. Roff had taken him flying, too, holding him securely against his chest while he'd sailed across Casino City and Lissia.

  Roff—his father? It didn't seem real. If Toff could have picked his father from all those he knew, he realized that Roff would have been his choice. Now, he wandered through the residential wing, searching for Roff's suite. He'd been brought into the palace, not just because the Queen wanted to adopt him, but because his father lived there. His father was one of the Queen's mates. Toff hesitated as the realization hit him. Wiping his eyes again, he continued his search.

  * * *

  "This is bad," Ry turned in a circle, taking in his empty bedroom. "Mom is going to kill us, because we let the cat out of the bag and now Toff has run away."

  "Come on, bro, let's find Uncle Drake and Uncle Drew," Tory muttered, raking a hand through dark hair in confusion. "I thought he'd want to know. I would."

  "Contact your uncles, but we should probably let Roff know first," Trik sighed. "This is our fault, and Roff deserves to be the first to know."

  "Yeah, I guess you're right," Ry agreed reluctantly.

  Uncle Drew? Ry sent mindspeech as all three made their way into the hall and turned, going as quickly as Trik's motorized chair would allow toward Roff's suite of rooms.

  * * *

  Toff raised his hand to knock. Roff's name was on the outside of his suite, just as all the other names were. He hesitated. How was he going to tell Roff that he knew? Should he ask? Could he do that, without breaking down? Thoughts leapt and whirled inside his mind, none of them staying for more than a moment, keeping him from latching onto any of them for careful examination. Redbird's face appeared, replaced by that of Corent. Rain. Father Tiearan. Willow. Gren. Toff sobbed as the images appeared and disappeared. They'd taken him away from his parent.

  "Child?" Roff flung the door open and knelt next to Toff. "What is wrong? Are you hurt? What has happened?" His hands went to Toff's face, which was wet with tears.

  "Papu?" Toff broke down completely.

  * * *

  Once Drew received mindspeech from Ry, he sent mindspeech out to Lissa and all her mates as he and Drake raced toward Roff's suite. Winkler, who was with Lissa, folded her to Roff's door. Lissa looked terrified to Drew as he and his brother arrived almost at the same moment.

  "Where could he go?" Lissa moaned.

  "Mom!" Tory shouted at the end of the hall. He broke into a lope, leaving Ry and Trik behind.

  "Torevik Rath, if I find out you've upset him—we were waiting until the proper moment," Lissa wiped tears away. "I sent all the guards out looking, but nobody saw him leave the palace."

  "There's no need to look, he's here." Roff opened the door to his suite, and Toff was beside him, held tightly against Roff's chest with a strong, well-muscled arm. A soft, leathery wingtip covered part of Toff's back. Toff had both arms around his father, and it looked as if he'd been crying.

  "They're happy tears," Roff murmured and tightened his hold on his son.

  "Thank the stars," Lissa muttered.

  Chapter 14

  Lissa's Journal

  "He spent the last three nights in Roff's suite, but eventually decided to go back to his room with the other boys." I leaned against Winkler in bed. His hand was rubbing my belly—he'd already called for a croissant and some milk, which I'd eaten while he watched. He didn't want a repeat of the wastebasket scene. I didn't want a repeat of that either, but didn't voice my opinion aloud.

  "At least he knows, now, and seems to be content with it," Winkler agreed. "And he's a teenager. They need their own space, no matter how well they get along with their parents."

  "True," I agreed. "I still don't know whether to be mad at those boys for telling him, or to be grateful to them."

  "I think it went better than any of us could have hoped," Winkler pointed out judiciously, a mischievous glint in his almost-black eyes. "Toff went straight to Roff when he found out. You can't hope for a better outcome than that."

  "Roff is happy," I said. "Toff is happy. You're right, we can't hope for a better outcome than that."

  "On another note, when are we taking Narissa to Evensun?" Winkler leaned back and kissed my nape, sending a shiver through me. Everybody (who wants one) ought to be gifted with an amorous werewolf in their bed at least once in their life. Just sayin'.

  "In three days, and Aurelius and Thurlow are taking her. I don't want any part of that," I mumbled as Winkler kissed his way down my spine. Honestly, I think sex is mother nature's way of blocking unpleasant thoughts. Mine were certainly blocked in very little time.

  * * *

  "Look." Trik held out his arms as he grinned helplessly at Ry, Tory and Toff. He was standing for the first time in his life.

  "Damn," Tory swore in amazement.

  "Do you need someone to help you balance?" Toff thought to ask as Trik wavered slightly.

  "Maybe," Trik chuckled. "But I'm standing!"

  Toff reached Trik just in time—he might have fallen when the knock came on their shared door.

  "Well, look at you," Queen Lissa walked in, followed by Uncles Drake, Drew and Winkler. Gavin wandered in only a moment later.

  "See?" Trik was quite proud of himself.

  "I see," Lissa nodded. "That's outstanding. You'll be running in no time."

  "I want to. I want to know what that feels like," Trik turned excited green eyes toward the Queen.

  "I came to see you, Trik," a dimple appeared in Lissa's cheek as she smiled at him. "I've received messages from Shadow and Glendes Grey. They'll be performing the rite at Grey House to test the talent of two others in a week. They asked if you wanted to be included in this year's rite or if you wanted to wait until next year."

  "They want to include me?" Trik's voice squeaked, causing him to flush.
>
  "Of course they do. If that's what you want." The Queen smiled encouragingly.

  "I do," Trik nodded enthusiastically. "Please tell them yes."

  "You can tell Shadow yourself—he'll be here with Nissa in two days."

  "Nissa's coming?" Toff squeaked this time.

  "Yes," Lissa's smile brightened—she was looking forward to Nissa's visit, too. "On her off-day."

  Toff's mind flew in all directions. He wanted to plan something special. He wanted to buy Nissa a gift. He wanted her to himself, just to sit and talk.

  "I think we need a week for all that," Drake laughed after pulling the thoughts straight from Toff's mind.

  "Yes," Toff lowered his chin, suddenly embarrassed.

  "We want all those things, too, honey." Lissa stood before him, lifting his chin again and studying his face. "But we only get her here once in a while, so we have to be careful or we'll wear her out. This is her off-day, and she needs to rest a little."

  "Can we go to the beach house?" Tory asked. "Trik needs some sun."

  "You know, I think that's a good idea," Lissa agreed. "I'll just tell Shadow to bring Nissa there, and all of you can spend an hour or two on the beach."

  "I'll see the ocean?" Toff was breathless with excitement.

  "You'll see the ocean," Lissa hugged him tightly.

  * * *

  "I want you to go with Tandias," Zellar snapped at Gren. "He can slip past the barrier surrounding Le-Ath Veronis. It's quite lucky for us that Tandias was once of a race that holds power apart from that of the Ra'Ak. He gets past Le-Ath Veronis' barrier using that ability. Too bad Viregruz didn't send you after the bitch Queen when he had the chance," Zellar turned to Tandias.

  "He had a schedule to keep, and I was kept busy elsewhere," Tandias turned a warning look on Zellar. "My master seldom asked me to deviate from my assignments, and he felt that the Queen's death might be achieved through other means. I intend to avenge his death. Do not question my master's choices again." Tandias turned away from Zellar.

  "Yes, well," Zellar cleared his throat before focusing on Gren, "Once you're on Le-Ath Veronis, tap into the core again," Zellar continued. "We'll need your talent and you'll need the extra power when we attack the Queen's palace," Zellar blinked his remaining eye at Gren. "We can't get you back to one of your original tapping sites, so you'll have to tap the core from another spot. Tandias and I believe this to be the best place." Zellar rapped the electronic map Tandias had procured for him on Gloesse.

  Gren studied the map, eventually working out the images presented. "That's an outcropping of rock in the Western Sea," he complained, raising his gaze to Zellar's face. He looked away quickly—he couldn't keep his eyes on Zellar's raw, left countenance for long; Zellar didn't like it and Gren found it uncomfortable anyway.

  "It's perfect," Zellar declared. "They call it The Tooth for a reason—it's steep and pointed, plus the rock is extremely sharp. It's also ten clicks from the shoreline. Nobody goes there. Tandias will find a safe place for you to stand while you tap into the core beneath the water."

  "We could tap another planet," Gren muttered, staring at his shoes. They were worn through the soles, but Zellar refused to find shoes or additional clothing for him. He was tired of sleeping on the floor, too, but Zellar had struck him once already for complaining.

  "Tandias and I intend to exact the greatest amount of revenge against the Queen of Le-Ath Veronis. This," Zellar tapped the corner of his closed and useless eye, "she did this to me. She destroyed Tandias' brotherhood, too. We both want to destroy her and her planet. Tapping from multiple locations kills it faster."

  Gren stared in shock—tapping the planet killed it? He wanted to moan in frustration. He had begun to regret his liaison with Zellar, and this only made it worse. His parents were on Le-Ath Veronis. They liked it there. "Ah," Zeller nodded and turned away with a laugh. "You didn't know that, did you? Get used to it," Zellar turned again swiftly and slapped Gren hard across the face. "And don't let me hear your complaints again. You'll go with Tandias tomorrow, you'll take the power and then we'll make our plans."

  * * *

  "Just put your swimsuit and a change of clothing for dinner in your bag," Roff sat on Toff's bed while Toff dithered over what to take to the beach house. "We'll take extra clothing later and leave it there, so you'll have it if you need it."

  "What about sunburn?" Toff turned to his father.

  "Ry can provide a shield for everyone—it's a simple spell any warlock can manage. Nissa can probably do it as well, I've just never asked," Roff replied.

  "Papu, I don't know why I never thought we were related before—our eyes are the same color. Our hair is the same color, too. Master Morwin is teaching me about genetics in my science lessons."

  "You should have met your older sister," Roff sighed and stared at his hands. "Did you read her records, too? Members of our family either have black or light-brown hair. Your grandfather had light-brown hair. His parent had black hair."

  "I read the records; my sister's name was Giff, but much of the information refers to her as him. Why is that?"

  "Lissa can identify which comesuli will be male or female after the turn. Giff was destined to be a female Winged Vampire, which is quite uncommon. Her loss was a grievous one, child."

  "Did I know her?" Toff looked troubled. Roff beckoned with a hand, so Toff went to sit beside his father.

  "She watched you whenever I couldn't," Roff placed an arm around Toff. "Fed you, bathed you, did everything for you that she could. We both loved you, son, very much."

  Toff hung his head. He imagined that mentioning Griffin's visit when he'd first come to the palace would only upset his father, so he didn't say anything. More and more, though, he found himself disliking Lissa's father, and felt the strange man had many things to answer for.

  "Come now, finish packing you bag and I'll fly you to Casino City. I imagine that a bauble might be found there for Nissa."

  "Really? We can go shopping?" Toff beamed at his father.

  "We really can," Roff grinned and tousled Toff's hair.

  * * *

  "We will form the circle in four days," Tiearan informed the village elders. "I hoped to do it sooner, but the illness that swept through our humanoid population has prevented it." Tiearan wanted to vent his frustration, but as chief of the Green Fae, he couldn't. All those inside their boundary were affected in some way or another by the energy drain from the core's tapping. Peaceful inhabitants snapped at one another. Several fights had broken out within the humanoid population, and then the fever came, sweeping through those who were susceptible and leaving them weak afterward.

  "I will be ready." Willow had come, but was anxious to return to his animals. He'd only come to hear the date and had no desire to be around the others longer than necessary. Tiearan nodded as Willow walked toward the wide barn door. He'd chosen the barn where they crushed grapes for winemaking, because it was more than large enough to hold the elders without bringing them too closely together. Tiearan had seen firsthand what pushing them together might accomplish during this trying time; arguments often came, and he had no desire to act as peacemaker on this day.

  "All of you, gather here in four days. The circle will convene and we will repair this blight. Go now and prepare. Charge your crystal and be ready." Tiearan dismissed them with a sigh.

  * * *

  "It doesn't hurt," Nissa smiled at Trik. For the first time in his life, Trik had walked with the others to the beach, closely watched by Roff. Lissa and a few others had chosen to stay on the balcony overlooking the private stretch of sand attached to the beach house. It wasn't really a beach house, although that's what everyone called it. The structure was actually a smaller palace, suited to its location near the beach on the light half of the planet.

  "What can you tell me about the rite?" Trik asked. He, Nissa, Roff, Ry and Tory were all sitting on the sand after playing in the surf for nearly an hour. Roff stood farther down, looking westward
over the sea.

  "Grampa Glendes usually does it," Nissa began. "He takes you head in his hands and everything goes dark. You won't remember anything past that until you wake up, but Daddy says that Grampa described it once. He said it's like looking at a star field at night, when Grampa looks into your mind. The more stars there are, the more powerful the wizard will be. Grampa will wake the wizard's talent with a little power of his own, and Daddy says that all the stars, which were only pinpoints of light before, will shine like the sun after that. You'll be able to tap your power after Grampa Glendes wakes it up."

  "Nobody ever described it to me at Belancour Manor," Trik huffed. "They all said I didn't need to know."

  "They were wrong to ignore or mistreat you," Toff muttered angrily. He could identify with Trik easily.

  "I wish you were coming, too," Nissa nudged Toff's shoulder with her own. Toff made sure to sit beside her when they'd all flopped onto the wet sand.

  "Me, too," Toff admitted. "I always wanted what the others around me had. Even the halves had a lot of power, but I didn't have anything."

  "It's hard, growing up in that environment," Trik nodded. "They all flaunt what they have and there you sit, thinking you'll never have anything."

  "Dude, you'll have it now," Ry grinned at Trik. "I think Dad might show you a trick or two, after you go through the rite."

  "You think so?" Trik offered Ry a hopeful glance.

  "Yeah," Ry replied with a shrug. "Dad knows all kinds of stuff."

  "Grandfather was always jealous of the Karathian Warlocks. Said they hid their talents and wouldn't let anybody know how they did anything," Trik said.

  "Dad's not like that. He showed Sissy how to cast illusions," Ry grinned at his sister.

  "I can cast really good illusions after Uncle Erland showed me how. Daddy said I couldn't do it anymore inside Grey House, though," Nissa grumped.

  "After you made the kitchen staff think they were getting attacked by a dragon," Tory snickered. "Because they were cooking liver for dinner."

  "I was grounded for three weeks," Nissa mumbled, her face turning pink. "Uncle Erland taught me how to add sound to the illusion, and dinner sort of got ruined that night."