Magic Remembered, стр. 74
“I am on the Province’s Board of Magical Self-Governance,” Mal said, leaning his weight onto his fingertips as he surveyed the group of gathered Magicals. “Josiah and Garnet Flechette will be remanded into custody pending our investigation into their involvement into the murders on this island and others.”
Sallie’s face paled, and she dropped to her knees, her elbows against the edge of the table and quiet sobs wracking her body. Rowan wrapped her arms around Sallie while Wes bent to lift her into his arms. They walked the young woman to the couch.
I turned my attention back to Mal. “You can take them now?”
He nodded, his face a mask of impassive gravity. “I have not had to invoke my authority in this manner very often. Taking custody of those two means I will be off-island for at least three to four days.”
James drew Leilani snugly against his side. “We’ll be okay, Mal. We have the safe room.”
A quiet hand on my shoulder reminded me my grandfather was in the house. Harper tore his gaze from Leilani and scratched at his upper back. “Mom,” he said, drawing out the sound, “who’s behind you?”
“That’s the bird man I told you about the other night, Harper,” said Kaz. “You picked a hell of a night to show up, Christoph.”
“My granddaughter was in trouble. I’m sorry I didn’t get here in time for all the excitement.” Christoph walked around the table to Harper and Thatcher and studied my sons.
“Are those real?” asked Thatcher, pointing to the wings Christoph had pinned tight against his back.
“Yes.”
“Did you just call our mother your granddaughter?” asked Harper.
“Yes, I did.”
Kaz cleared his throat and stepped closer to me. “Calliope, I had no idea you were related to Christoph. I should have seen the connection the night Harper first feathered.”
I pressed my palms to my face and scrubbed, letting my fingers massage my hairline. A headache of epic proportions was brewing behind my forehead. “It’s okay, Kaz.”
“Granddaughter, do you have an extra bedroom I could use?”
I rolled my eyes behind my hands.
“Can you prove you’re related to our mom?” Harper shouldered his younger brother to the side and planted himself in front of Christoph.
My grandfather—the bird-man—stood taller and appraised Harper slowly, from the top of his head to his feet. “For this moment, you will have to take my word, Harper. You have the gift of flight. Would you like to learn how to use the wings that are waiting to break free?”
Harper’s gaze wobbled side to side. He unbuttoned his dress shirt, slid the shirt off his shoulders to his elbows, and turned. “Are you telling me these will turn into wings?”
Christoph took one step closer to Harper, hesitated, then placed his palms and fingers against the reddened area near Harper’s upper spine and the backs of his shoulders. Harp’s chin dropped, tension eased out of his body, and my grandfather closed his eyes and chanted until the follicles disappeared.
“They will turn into wings when you are ready, great-grandson. The choice is yours to make.” He lifted his hands from Harper’s skin and repositioned the shirt over his shoulders. “You should know you are in possession of a rare gift.”
Harper turned and focused on buttoning his shirt. “I’ll take that into consideration,” he said. “Right now, I just…” He pressed his fingertips against his eyes, unable to stop the tears. He shook me off when I reached for his arm and fled to the stairs and the sanctuary of his room.
“Great-grandpa?” Thatch glanced at the ceiling and back to Christoph. “Please don’t leave. You can have my room. Harp’ll be okay. He’s just really kind of fucked up about our Dad right now. And the feathers.” Thatcher wrapped his arms around Christoph’s chest in a quick, tight embrace and ran up the stairs.
“Dad? Papa? I need to talk to Harper before we leave,” said Leilani.
James and Mal nodded.
“James will help me get Josiah and Garnet in their car. We’ll drive them to our house.” Mal turned to me. “Calliope, your house might be the safest place for our daughter tonight. Might Leilani stay here too? James can pick her up in the morning, once I’ve left for Vancouver.”
“Of course,” I said.
“You need a healer here, Calli. I can stay and help,” Rowan said.
I’d forgotten about Rowan. Her warmth and expertise—and friendship—would be a welcome addition.
“Kaz and I can take the night shift,” said Wes. “We’ll repair and strengthen the new wards. But if the old ones truly were made with Meribah’s blood, they’ll continue to recognize her. We’ll have to make removing any vestige of her presence a priority.”
I moved my gaze across everyone circling the table and those in the living room and upstairs. Four teenagers just coming into their magic. Two druids, two and a half witches—one of whom was also a healer—a sorcerer, and Christoph, whose magical category was as yet unknown.
My ragtag collection of Magicals. I had sheets and towels enough for everyone and food to last through the next day at the least.
We would get through this.
River and Rose would find Abi and Cliff, Tanner would find the Apple Witch, and somehow, somehow, I would figure out how to keep my sons safe without dimming their potential.
“I’ll put on a pot of coffee,” I said. “Let’s get to work.”
Acknowledgments
Jeni Chappelle, Editor. THANK YOU for guiding me into a new genre with a steady hand; for believing in these characters (especially Calliope); and pushing this conflict-averse writer into finally blowing stuff up. Let’s do that again!
Elizabeth Mackey, Cover Design. Thank you for bringing an important aspect of Calliope’s story to life