"I know, I just miss him," Adele breathed.
"Maybe I should go to Sali's, or go back to Mr. Winkler's place tonight."
"No, hon. You stay here. You haven't seen him, either." Ashe didn't point out that he had seen Aedan, and Aedan had sent him home. It wasn't a good memory.
"Is that a car in the drive?" Adele ran to a window near the door to peek. "It's them. Honey, do I look all right?" She turned to Ashe, a mixture of hope and terror on her face. "Will he be happy to see us?"
"I sure hope so," Ashe mumbled.
* * *
"Ready, Father?" Nathan asked as he and Aedan climbed out of Nathan's car.
"Yes." Aedan had dressed carefully in a suit and tie, and adjusted his cuffs and the tie's knot before nodding to Nathan. Steeling himself, Aedan strode purposely toward the front porch and climbed the steps. Before he could reach out to ring the doorbell, the front door opened and Adele threw herself at him, holding on tightly and weeping as she repeated his name, over and over.
* * *
Dad's home. Mom's happy. He's in shock, Ashe texted in response to Sali's question.
Great. At least I'm out of house arrest, so we can hang tomorrow after school if you want.
Maybe. I have to go online and check my assignments. No idea what that's gonna be, Ashe responded. Need to get with Mr. Winkler, too, and see what he wants.
You coming back to Star Cove, since your dad's home?
No idea. I didn't say much to Dad. He took Mom to the back deck for a talk, so I went to my bedroom.
Things are kinda messed up.
Some things are worse, some things are better, Ashe responded philosophically.
I need to get in bed, it's nearly two, Sali pointed out.
Yeah. Goodnight.
Ashe tossed his cell onto his old dresser before smothering a yawn. Part of him wanted to sleep, another part wanted to ponder his current problem. He couldn't avoid the worries that plagued him, wondering if anyone might be in danger while he was so helpless.
* * *
"I got your message." Hughes Humphrey stared at the one before him. He still hadn't figured out how a stranger might get not only his cell-phone number, but have information that might save his life.
"My name is Wildrif, and I'm something of a clairvoyant." Wildrif looked better than he had in a very long while. New clothes, shoes and a haircut had done wonders for the Dark Seer.
"Your eyes are different colors," Hughes pointed out the obvious. Wildrif held his sarcasm back.
"I have a business proposition for you," Wildrif said, ignoring Hughes' witlessness. "And money to get you to the country of your choice, should you decide to help me."
"It depends on how much money and what you want. I don't mind killing, but it has to be somebody who won't be missed too much. I'm in enough trouble as it is."
"That isn't what I want," Wildrif smiled.
"What do you want?" Hughes' curiosity was piqued.
"I want to be a vampire. Just make the turn and leave me in a safe place. When I wake up, I'll give you the number to a private account holding three million dollars."
"I don't have to stay and take care of you?"
"Certainly not." Wildrif sounded offended.
"Sounds good," Hughes shrugged. "Maybe if you cause enough trouble as a vampire, it'll take some of the heat off me."
"Precisely what I was thinking," Wildrif agreed. "How long do you think it might take?"
"Oh, you seem in pretty good shape. Maybe five or six days."
"Good enough. Is there somewhere nearby where we might do this quickly? I'll make sure you're safe enough from the ones who hunt you."
"Gavin Montegue never misses," Hughes agreed. "I need as much help as I can get to stay out of his way."
"Do what I say and your safety will be assured," Wildrif lied smoothly. "Shall we go? I've written out precise instructions for making a vampire. Be sure to follow them exactly."
"Okay."
* * *
"We have a message from the Bright camp." Raze fingered the envelope in his hand.
"They know where we are?" Baltis rose from his throne in alarm.
"Not at all. This was handed to one of ours outside the gate in Kansas City. I doubt there's reason to worry; from what I heard from the messenger, there may be good news inside this." Raze offered the envelope to Baltis. "I hear they have someone waiting for a reply from you, should you choose to respond, at the same location."
"This is rather unusual; I can't recall getting a message such as this before." Baltis warily accepted the envelope—it was addressed to him in the Elemaiyan language. Cautiously he lifted the flap and withdrew the paper.
Greetings, Exalted Baltis, the message began.
* * *
Ashe slumped at the island in Winkler's kitchen. His parents had spent the night together, and Aedan was now in his bunker while Adele slept late. Marco had gone to Star Cove to pick him up early; Ashe had left a note for his mother and quietly closed the front door behind him so he wouldn't wake her.
He was now going through assignments for his college courses; he had English Comp I, College Algebra and History, 1865 to the Present, to deal with. He envied Sali and his high school curriculum after reading the online syllabi for his classes.
"Read the syllabus?" Winkler asked, sipping a cup of coffee at the kitchen island while Ashe made notes for his first assignments on the new tablet. Flossie Thompson had set a plate of food in front of Ashe, and he was absently eating bacon and eggs while he scrolled through information.
"Syllabi, and yes, I have," Ashe mumbled, biting into a strip of bacon.
"Did you get to talk much with your dad?"
"No. Mom jumped in his arms and started crying, so I sort of kept out of their way," Ashe shrugged.
"Wise," Winkler agreed. "Kid, your dad will probably talk to you tonight, and I need to see him, too. We'll get this mess straightened out. I won't revoke the guardianship until I'm sure he won't leave again."
"I don't think Mom remembers that she even signed those papers," Ashe set the tablet down on the island and turned to Winkler. "Stuff happened and I still can't explain it."
"No improvement on the ability front?"
"Not as of this morning. I'd have come without bothering Marco for a ride."
"Understood."
"Mr. Winkler, you're not obligated to keep me on the payroll. Without my talent, I'm a glorified file clerk."
"I doubt you'll ever be that," Winkler patted Ashe's shoulder. "It'll come back. How long to finish your first assignments? Loren could use some help with Andy's computer."