Chapter 13

Chris was the last one into his own dining room again. “Sorry for being late again. I can only catch up to one judge on Sunday mornings.” He bent down as he walked past Kasey and dropped a kiss on the top of her head.

She smiled up at him. “Good morning, roomie.”

Dade choked on his coffee and shook his head. “’Scuse me?”

Everyone turned to Kasey as Chris went and sat down.

Kasey grinned. “Chris is going to rent me one of his rooms until I find someplace suitable.”

Chris leaned back in his chair. “I don’t recall rent being mentioned in the discussion last night.”

Kasey leaned back in her chair and looked at him. “Well, I won’t stay here for free.”

He watched everyone sit back slowly in their chairs, waiting. “We’ll work out the details later, when the dishes are out of harm’s way.”

She laughed. “Okay.”

Dade picked up his cup again. “I’ve done some renovations for Chris. Which room did you scoop?”

She sighed. “I don’t know yet. I haven’t been upstairs.” She looked down at Chris for a moment.

He grinned and motioned to the door. “Go.” She was out of the chair so fast, literally running for the stairs. He shook his head, then turned back to everyone. They were all looking at him, all with smirks on their faces. He held up his hands and grinned. “She’ll have her own room and her own bed.”

Leena smiled. “You’re just a big softy, Chris Larkin.”

He scowled at her, then grinned. “There was a time, not long ago, no one would have ever thought that about me.”

They heard a shriek of delight from upstairs, and all turned to the doorway before looking back to Chris. He grinned. “I really have to go see what it’s about now. I’ll be back.”

He only had to follow the muttering and laughing to locate her. She was in the main bathroom at the end of the hallway. She was standing in his Jacuzzi tub.

Kasey looked up as he leaned on the door. “Look at the size of this thing! I could use it as a pool.” She laughed when he held out a hand to help her out of it. “Sorry. You probably thought I’d seen something scary. I’m kind of a screamer.” She blushed. “I don’t mean that way, well, maybe I am. I’ve never had the chance...” He cut her off with a withering glare. She grinned and raised her hand. “Right, that would be one of those discussions you don’t want to have.”

Chris smiled and walked down the hallway and opened a door. “You can have any room up here but this one. It’s mine.”

Kasey let go of his hand and stepped a foot inside the door. “Wow, are you Dracula and you’ve just never told us?”

Chris threw his head back and laughed as she slowly looked around the room. Rubbing the bridge of his nose for a moment, he thought. “No, I’m just a man that likes dark colors.”

She looked from him around the room. He had nothing but dark wood furniture in the room. The walls were almost black. The drapes were actually black, and when her eyes landed on the bed, he understood why she’d called him Dracula. He had a black satin coverlet with deep blood-red pillows. Hmm.

“Wow,” she whispered again when she stepped out. She looked at the room across the hall, and he nodded.

She opened the door, almost bouncing, and then she stopped and looked around. “This would be the day version of the night on the other side of the hall.”

The room was completely white, the walls, the furniture, the bedding.

“The bed is huge.” She ran over and flopped out on it. “Is everything in this house giant-sized?” She fell back spread-eagle on the bed. “I’d have to change directions every night to use up the whole mattress.” She looked over at him leaning against the door grinning. Sitting up, she smiled. “Sorry.”

He shook his head. “Don’t ever apologize for being yourself, Kasey.” He motioned down the hall. “Would you like to see the other two before you decide?” She bit her bottom lip, then nodded.

When they went back down to the others, Dade lifted his eyebrows to Chris in question. He grinned as he answered. “She discovered the Jacuzzi.”

Dade laughed. “That would be like a swimming pool to little Kasey.”

Kasey laughed. “That’s what I said! Of course, I was dancing in it when Chris got there.”

Chris sat in his chair and looked at the others. “She chose the smallest room up there.”

She picked up her coffee she sipped it before commenting. “I don’t need all that space in those other rooms.” She looked over at Leena. “The air knife would fit in one.”

Owen laughed.

Chris set down his fork and looked at Owen. “Do I want to know what an air knife is?”

Owen shrugged. “You should go to the factory and take a tour. I learned a lot. Not just about recycling, but I also learned that these ladies play with really big, really scary, dangerous toys every day.” The four women laughed at the expressions on the other men’s faces.

“You’re not instilling a great sense of security here, Owen,” Steven said, looking at the women.

Kasey smiled over at Dade. “Dade, would you be able to give me a hand with your van to move some of my stuff sometime soon?” She sat there biting her bottom lip.

Dade gave her a big grin, then glanced down the table at Chris. “Oh man, you are so sunk if she turns that look on you in the middle of a... discussion.”

Chris laughed and looked at Kasey. “I know all about it.” He winked at her.

Leena sat up. “We can help if you need it. Except next Sunday, we’re going to the airport so Owen can meet my parents” Owen took her hand. “They’re going to be stopping over for a day before catching another flight to some cruise to somewhere else.” She grinned at Owen, who sat there looking nervous. Squeezing his hand, she laughed. “He’s worried they won’t like him.

Dade winked at Owen, then glanced at Cora. “Coralee, are you all right?”

Cora looked at him for a moment. “I don’t know. I’ve had this feeling off and on all day, and it’s stronger now.”

The room was suddenly silent. Chris sat forward.

Dade was beside her in an instant. “Can you tell what?”

She sat back and closed her eyes, her hand reaching for the pendant Kasey had given her. She held it in her hand tightly. “I’m not sure.”

Owen got up and stood behind her and put his hands on her shoulders.

Everyone just sat there watching and waiting.

Cora opened her eyes. “Chris, call Patrick, and tell him to go to the hospital. It has something to do with Rhonda, but I can’t tell what.”

Chris was out of the chair heading to the phone. “Keep trying, Cora.” He looked at Kasey. “You join with her and focus. See if you can draw it to her.”

Dade stood and walked Cora into the larger sitting room and then sat her down on the floor.

Chris dialed after pausing to recall the number.

Owen followed close behind and kneeled behind Cora, placing his hands on her shoulders.

Kasey took her place beside Cora and placed a hand on her knee.

Rachel sat down on the other side of her.

Leena sat down in front of the three and placed a hand on Rachel and Kasey. Glancing at them, she nodded, and they began the chant they had used weeks before. “Earth and air, set our sight free. Fire and moon, let us see.” As they said it the third time, the women physically relaxed into a focused state.

Dade and Steven stood by them, watching all of them carefully.

Chris held his hand over the mouthpiece of the phone. He looked to Dade, who moved towards the women.

Kneeling down, Dade spoke softly. “Coralee, talk to us.”

Cora moved her head down towards the floor and opened her eyes. “It’s very malicious. I can’t see where it’s coming from. I can sense them thinking of Rhonda, how she wasn’t supposed to live.” She took a shuddering breath and continued to focus on the floor.

Chris, still holding the phone, walked over behind Dade and quietly told him that Patrick was at the hospital.

Dade nodded and spoke again in the same gentling tone. “Patrick is at the hospital with Rhonda now. She’s fine. She still has guards.”

Cora’s head flew up, and she looked at him. “Tell him to move her now! Tell him he has to get her out of there! He’s angry no one will tell him what’s happening with her. He’s angry she survived when she had to die to cleanse the sins, so angry...” She cried out and grabbed her head.

Owen’s head jerked up, and he wrapped his arms tightly around her.

“So much pain, make it stop.” Cora leaned back against Owen and dropped her head to the side, breathing deeply.

Chris had stood holding the phone out towards Cora. He put it back to his ear. “Did you get all that?” He nodded. “As soon as we do, we’ll call. You stay right there beside Rhonda.” He pushed a button on the phone and tossed it onto the couch, then knelt beside a shaking Kasey.

Steven was already helping Rachel to the couch. He glanced at Chris. “How did you know together they could do that?”

Dade was setting Cora on the other end of the couch. He then looked up, waiting for Chris to give him his answer.

Chris carried Kasey over and set her in one of the big chairs. He helped Owen to his feet before he reached for Leena. He waited until they were all on the furniture comfortably. He shrugged. “I didn’t for sure. It was just a hunch.” He reached down and lifted Kasey’s chin and smiled at her as he spoke. “This one is a powerful little witch, and I have a feeling she could do just about anything if she wants to.” He stood up and grinned. “Put the four energies together, and look out.” He motioned to Dade. “Go put the kettle on. I have some herbs in my temple room that should help everyone rejuvenate a bit.”

Sitting sipping her tea, Kasey smiled over at Chris. “Temple room?”

He pushed away from the wall and grinned at her. “Yes, temple room. Which you’re free to use, as long as you stay out of a few things in it.”

She raised her eyebrows. “Oh, sounds intriguing.”

Chris grinned again. “Perhaps I’ll just remove some items. It might be safer to my home and health that way.”

“Afraid I’ll blow up the lab? I’ve only ever done that once, you know.”

He squatted down in front of her giving her a puzzled look. “Done what, exactly?”

Kasey shrugged. “I was kind of experimenting, and I set the floor on fire and... well, the oils were there, and things just...happened.” She bit her lip and remembered how awful it had smelled.

Chris rubbed the bridge of his nose. “Might double my insurance too while I’m at it.” He rubbed his jaw slowly. “We’ll work on a quick counter spell lesson sometime soon, before I let you lose in there.”

Cora set her cup down. “Has Patrick called at all?”

Chris shook his head. “He wanted you to have a bit of a rest before we try to sort out what you saw and felt, then give him a call and let him know.” He looked at Steven. “What are the chances of them being able to move her?”

Steven sat up from where he’d been resting against Rachel’s leg. “That’s a tough call. She needs round-the-clock supervision and care, catheters, medication. As far as I know, she’s still on some pretty serious meds too. I don’t know. Unless there’s somewhere fully equipped and a really big secret, it’s pretty risky to take the chance.”

Chris paced to the other side of the room and stuck his hands in his pockets. Kasey sent a gentle brush against the back of his neck, and he looked back at her. She smiled at him sweetly. He grinned back before looking at the others in the room. “There is a place we’ve used for serious witnesses. Let me make a few calls while you try to figure out what Cora felt.” He brushed a hand over Kasey’s head in a gentle caress as he walked past her to the phone again.

Cora sat up and took a breath. “The pain at the end, I think it was his pain, a migraine kind of pain but very sudden.”

Rachel looked at Steven. “Could that be what you were talking about with tumors and delusions?”

Steven nodded. “Definitely sounds like it. Many psychological diseases have very real physical symptoms.” He looked at Cora for a moment. “He was really angry when this pain hit suddenly?”

Cora thought her with her lips pressed tightly together for a moment. “Yes, like that. He was fine, wait, he was angry because no one would tell him how she was doing. I think he’s been trying to find out.” She looked at Dade. “They have to move her. Has anyone been calling asking about her, asking Justin or Gwen about her?”

Kasey got up. “I’ll go get Chris.

She headed down the hall listening to see if she could hear him and not have to go peeking into rooms. She followed his voice into the room that was obviously his library and stood inside the doorway waiting for him to notice her there. She may be moving into the house, but it was still his home, and she didn’t want to intrude.

Chris continued talking and was leaning against his desk with his back to her. She sent a gentle brush to the back of his neck, and he turned, smiling at her. She glanced around to see every wall lined with books. A lot of books, she thought. His desk was huge and covered in folders and more books. Bit of a workaholic, she mused.

Hanging up the phone, Chris walked around the desk and motioned around the room. “All those are a necessary part of my profession.” Stopping in front of her, he grasped her waist and pulled her slowly to him. “Did the tea help?”

She nodded. “Yes. Cora’s thought of something, and we need you to call Patrick and run it by him.”

He studied her. “In one minute.” He lowered his mouth slowly to hers and then kissed her tenderly, lingering for a few heartbeats before he straightened up. “That’s better.” Tucking her under his arm, he turned them to go back out to the others.

Everyone sat in silence as he spoke to Patrick. Patrick, having heard what Cora said, had come to the same conclusion as they had. “Let us know.” Chris hung up and sat down looking around at everyone. “Justin has had a lot of calls with people inquiring after seeing the ambulance. So that’s not much help there. The hospital has had someone call a few times. They never ask about her by name, so they have never given out any information regarding her.” He glanced at his watch. “I won’t know about the other arrangements for moving her for a few hours. It being a Sunday, people had to be tracked down. But if I can get her there, she’ll still need medical professionals, so Patrick is working on that from the hospital.” He kept his head down and didn’t look at Kasey as he added the last part. “I’ve offered financial compensation for any trained medical personnel willing to stay with her around the clock. But it’s up to her doctors to set the ball rolling.”

Leena smiled at him. “That’s a wonderful thing to do, Chris.”

Cora stood up and walked over and kissed him. “A nice thing you’re doing.” Rachel did the same.

Kasey got up and went and climbed right in his lap with everyone there and hugged him. “I keep telling you that you’re the sweetest man.”

Chris rested his hand on her leg and hugged her with his other arm. “If that gets out at work, I’ll be ruined.” He chuckled as he looked around. “So, do we wait, or do you want to know when I do?” He was in no hurry for Kasey to move, so he continued to hold her with her head resting against his shoulder.

Cora was digging in her purse. “If someone will run to the store and pick up a few things, I’ll make us something to eat. I’m starving after using all that energy up.” She pulled out a notepad and started writing.

Rachel stood up. “The Doc and I will go get it.” She stuck her tongue out at Dade. “That leaves you here to help clean up the mess in the dining room for a change.”

Steven stepped in front of her and grabbed her chin lightly. “Stick that tongue out again.” Her eyes widened at him as she did it. “Well, well, well. Hmm.” Steven turned and walked towards the door. “I’ll be in the car.”

Rachel watched him walk out. “What was that?”

Dade looked at her. “Stick out your tongue.” She did. “Oh, right.” He walked towards the dining room grinning. “I’ll start in here.”

Kasey started giggling. And Cora just laughed when she looked at Leena, who was also smirking.

Chris looked at Owen, who shrugged. He looked down at Kasey. “Someone like to fill us in?”

Cora looked over at the giggling Kasey in his arms. “Steven and Dade just discovered Rachel has her tongue pierced.”

Rachel shrugged. “I went with Kasey a few years back when she had her belly done.” She grinned. “Hurt like hell, but I’ve never had a man complain about it, so it was well worth the pain.” She winked at Kasey, who blushed.

Chris covered his eyes while he laughed. “Poor Doc.” He looked at the dining room. “And I think you shocked Dade, which is hard to do, actually.” He looked at Cora and Leena. “You ladies have any piercings you want to share?”

Owen looked over at him and shook his head. “None on Leena that I’ve found, and I’m pretty sure I’ve checked everywhere.” He earned a smack.

Cora grinned. “I’ll never tell.”

Dade, who had just walked back in, groaned and walked right back out. Everyone burst out laughing.

Several hours later, Chris stood in his temple room putting several items in a locked cupboard. He didn’t tell her, yet, that he hadn’t always been on the white side of magic, and he certainly didn’t want her to find out accidentally on her own.

It was nice having her here all day, even if it had been to wait on news. Rhonda was being moved to a very secure location. Unfortunately, that meant they may not be able to see her. The hospital offered pay to the three-person staff that would be caring for her, but he’d make sure they got some kind of bonus despite it. Sighing, he glanced around one last time. Everything was away, safely out of Kasey’s reach, for now.

Walking over he stopped and picked up the fairy figurine. He studied it. It was said you couldn’t catch a fairy and keep it. If you did, it lost its magic. Setting it back down, he hoped that wasn’t the case with his little Kasey. Once she was here, he would move mountains to keep her.

Opening his eyes, he looked around slowly. The pain was gone.

He had failed, so he’d been punished with more pain.

He needed to find her.

He needed to finish it.

If he didn’t, he’d have to take more next time to make up for it.

He had to cleanse them.

Lying down, he closed his eyes.

He could rest a little longer.