Chapter Two
Neith
"S hit, I think you're probably right. I mean, we had absolutely no idea that they were zombies until they melted and shit," Ransom says, pulling a disgusted face and no doubt thinking about the melting that happened.
"To be honest, it would make more sense to me that he used those for the majority of his army because I have no idea what he could possibly say that would make people think that his plan was sane," Griff replies.
"Exactly, that's what I thought. Also, the blue fucker is the guy that HID is working with, right?" I ask. I decide to explain, "We know that they are giving supernaturals to someone, wouldn't it make sense that they were giving them to the person that is making the hybrids, which is the blue fucker?"
"Or there is someone else on the board who is experimenting or something on supernaturals, a human someone maybe?" Raiden adds with a deep frown.
"Shit," I curse.
"Is it bad that I kind of hope that it is the blue fucker and not some unknown threat that we now have to deal with as well?" Reed asks.
Van shakes his head, "Nope, I agree. One is better than two, especially in this situation where if we are dealing with someone human as well, it's going to get really complicated trying to bring them to justice. Especially since HID are involved, they will do everything in their power to protect that person."
"They would rather start a war between supernaturals and humans, and tensions are already terse between the two groups as it is," River replies.
"Some humans will never trust supernaturals, and some supes don't help that by being responsible for some of the deaths," Doc explains. "They're also starting to use supernatural kill M.Os as a way to cover up human kills."
"They are?" I ask with a deep frown, I don't like the idea of that at all. It's bad enough as it is at the moment. If humans start killing and then somehow making it look like supernaturals have done it, then there is no doubt in my mind that tensions will spill over, and we will end up in a war. I also have no doubt that the humans have been working on things to incapacitate supernaturals.
It would be the smart thing to do. It wouldn't be wise just to take it on faith that a race that is stronger than they are won't attack. No one ever knows what the future may hold, so it just makes sense to prepare.
Doc nods, answering my question, "You know that case that I got called to the other day?"
I frown slightly, "Do you mean the one that you got called to when I told you guys about the voices?"
Ransom interrupts, "Wasn't that a vampire kill or something?"
Doc nods, "Sort of. There was a murder in vamp territory, but they knew immediately that it wasn't a vamp kill. When I went to look and then did my thing, it turned out that it was made to try and look like a vampire kill, but it was very definitely not done by a vampire. There were knife wounds underneath where the throat had been ripped out, and by that, I mean that although the neck was all torn up, the artery was sliced. It was a very poor attempt at making something look like a vampire kill. Most people know that's not how vampires feed."
"That's really not good," River says with a frown.
"No, it's not. Especially since even if we do prove that it isn't a supernatural that caused it. The word is going to spread, and I can guarantee that since humans are predominately in charge of the news outlets, they will only report that there has been another kill by a supernatural, they won't then report that it has been disproven," Raiden points out.
"We need to make sure that we don't allow any news outlets near any of our cases. Even more so now. I think that Ty is going to send out a bulletin soon to all active agents to warn them to be extra vigilant," Doc explains.
"That's smart, and I don't think any of the agents will have a problem with telling the media where to go," Van agrees with a chuckle. "Half of the time they do more harm than good." He looks at me, "Are you ready to go?"
I shake my head, "No, I still need to go and say goodbye to Ethel."
"I thought you just did that?" River asks with a slight frown.
"I got distracted and came to tell you about my zombie army theory, I didn't actually make it to the kitchen," I explain.
"Ah, okay. That makes more sense," River replies, and that's one of the things I love about him, my weird ramblings and side quests really do make sense to him.
"Griff was telling us about you wanting to buy the house," Van starts, for once derailing the conversation himself instead of me having to do it.
It's nice to share the burden and responsibility of derailing conversations, I think sarcastically. I almost snort out loud at my ridiculous thoughts.
"Well, I want to find out who officially owns House so that I can possibly approach them about buying it," I explain as soon as I've managed to wrangle my brain and get it back on track. "If it looks like they're going to want to keep it, and they aren't going to be willing to sell it to me, then I don't want to bring it up or make them aware that this place exists. Which is probably a really selfish thing of me to do actually, now that I hear it out loud, so I'm going to amend that to I want to find out who owns it officially and then go from there."
Reed nods, "That makes sense. We'll figure it out. Whoever owns this place obviously isn't aware that they do because they haven't been back here in the whole time that you've been coming here."
I nod, "I would actually guess that they hadn't come back for a long time before that. It was in serious disrepair when I first arrived. I think the only thing that was keeping it standing was the magic of House itself. If it weren't for that, then it would have just been a pile of bricks. When I first turned up here, it looked like what you would expect a four-hundred-year-old house that had been abandoned to look like. It was falling apart, and I probably would have never stepped foot inside because it looked like it would fall down at any second, but I was being hunted, and I didn't really have a choice."
"How many times did you visit before it started to change?" Raiden asks me curiously.
"By the next morning, it was functional. It had a working kitchen, bathrooms, and a bedroom. Everything was still old and not necessarily in my style, but the shell of the house was suddenly a livable home," I explain. With a smile, I add, "I thought I had been kidnapped and was in a different house. Ethel ended up explaining it to me, well, as much as she explains anything."
"That's pretty crazy," River says with a grin.
"If that's the case that, then not only would that definitely mean that no one had been here for years, because otherwise it would have been in better condition when you found it, but it would also mean that you being here did something to the magic to allow it to repair itself and even to change itself to your taste," Raiden replies thoughtfully. "I have no idea what it means, but I don't know enough about sentient houses. I can look into it if you would like?"
I start to nod and then frown, "I do want to look into it, but I think we should probably focus on the Choosing and finding a Warrior Team that we can talk to, just in case."
Raiden nods and runs a hand through his hair, a worried look coming over his features, "Shit yeah. We absolutely need to focus on that first."
"I was thinking that if we do manage to translate the extinct supernaturals book," Doc starts, "then we could read up on the supes in there, and since there weren't that many, we should be able to at least familiarize ourselves with what to look out for so any signs that Neith has we will recognize, and then be able to help her with what supe she is."
"Yeah, that's a good idea actually," Ransom agrees.
"Are you thinking that my supernatural is going to come out during the trials?" I ask Doc, a thread of excitement going through me at the prospect.
He nods, "I think it's probably likely. In late bloomers, it tends to be a stressful event that triggers their supernatural side to finally make an appearance. I know that you have died twice, but since then, you've given your magic to the ward, and you've said that you can feel it a couple of times, so I think that the Choosing might trigger something."
I contemplate it for a moment, "It's entirely possible. You're right. I do feel it a lot more than I ever have, but I don't know whether that's because I'm aware that it's there, whereas before, I've always been told that I am human, so anything that I felt or that happened that was odd I just wrote it off as a 'me' thing."
"I can see your reasoning, but I think that it's that side of you getting stronger," Reed counteracts thoughtfully.
"If you are up for it, I think we should try and coax some of your magic out," Evander suggests, "even if we just manage to get a small amount out, it would be better than nothing."
"What about HID and who we are going to assume is the blue fucker finding out about me not being dead and therefore being a supernatural?" I ask.
"Fuck," River curses. "This is so much more complicated than it would usually be."
"We'll talk to Ty," Van says. "I'm sure that he isn't just going to go along with it without figuring out some way to help. Participation may be mandatory, but I am hoping that since they've brought a human into a supernatural event, that we'll be able to do something to ensure your safety."
I nod, "I hope so." Shrugging, I add, "It is what it is, and there's fuck all that we can do to stop it. The only thing I can do is make sure that I am prepared as possible and that I train my ass off. Fortunately for me, I'm not starting from the beginning because that would be a fucking nightmare."
"You don't sound as worried as you should be, or rather as the rest of us definitely are," Griff observes.
I shrug, "I'm used to being in dangerous situations and besides, this one is going to help me save someone who means a lot to me. If I'm being completely honest, although I am nervous, my excitement for the challenge easily overrides everything else."
Van nods, "Yeah, that definitely isn't something that has changed. You always used to run toward danger or a challenge instead of away from it."
I grin, "It's more fun that way."
He chuckles, shaking his head before he says, "My original point that I was trying to make when I brought up the house before you derailed the conversation in a way that only you can was that Griff told us that you wanted to look into it and I think that if it's possible after the Choosing, we should come back here and see what we can find out. If shit hits the fan again, though, I promise that we will come back here as soon as we can."
I nod, "I would really like that, thank you."
"Good," Doc smiles. "We should really get going. Niamh is waiting for us."
"Oh shit, yeah, give me a moment. I just need to say goodbye to House and Ethel."
"No problem," Doc replies as he loads something else into the van, and the guys do the same.
River and Ransom follow me back into the house to grab more stuff and then head back outside. I honestly had no idea that we brought so much stuff with us.
"I'm off, Ethel," I announce as I walk into the kitchen.
She sighs, which is a bit weird coming from a skull that doesn't have a body and therefore doesn't breathe, "I know, Dear. I do wish that you didn't have to leave so soon."
"I know, I hate leaving too. I think we're going to come back after the Choosing, and everything has calmed down. Griff and the guys are going to help me figure out who owns House so that I can officially own it and stop panicking that someone is going to take House away from me."
Ethel chuckles, "I know that it doesn't matter what I say. You are going to insist on looking for the official owner, so I'm not going to bother telling you that House is yours again. Especially since I love seeing you, and this mystery will keep you coming back."
House flickers the lights on and off in agreement.
"Ethel, I would come back anyway, you know that. I'm actually hoping that now that I work for SID, I will be able to come and visit more. I want to see if I can convince the guys to help me sort the gardens out."
"Oh, that would be lovely. I am sure that House would appreciate that too," Ethel replies with warmth in her voice.
The cupboards start to open and close rapidly, and the lights flash on and off quickly, portraying House's excitement.
"I think that is House's way of saying that he agrees," I chuckle.
"It definitely is," Ethel replies and then adds, "you best get going, those handsome men of yours are waiting."
"They aren't my men, Ethel," I reply with a smile.
She hums before she replies, "Are you sure about that?"
I smile and decide it's not worth arguing with her as I reply, "Bye, Ethel."
I leave the room with Ethel's cackle following me out. Before I head through the front door for the last time this visit, I stop in the hallway and put my hand on the wall.
"Until next time, old friend. I won't leave it as long between visits again," I frown, "okay, well, I've got the Choosing and the hybrid shit, so it may be that long, but I'm going to try to come back sooner."
A buzz of magic tickles my palm from the wall, and I smile softly. Finally, I take my hand off the wall and walk out of the door, closing it quietly behind me.
When I get behind the wheel of the van and start the drive back to Niamh's pub, Evander reaches across the front seat and takes my hand in his.
"Are you okay?" he asks me.
I nod and smile, "Yeah, I'm okay. I always get a little bit sad when I leave here, especially when I don't know when I'm going to be able to come back."
"I get that. This place feels like you. I know you haven't really spent much time here, but it is very definitely yours," River says, his words making me smile.
"Well, hopefully, when we do manage to come back, I can make sure that it is actually mine," I reply.
Griff frowns slightly, "We will figure it out."
"I like it here. I'm happy to come back for an extended vacation when everything has calmed down," Ransom agrees.
"Me too," Reed adds.
The van falls silent.
After a moment, Raiden says, "I just had a thought."
"Careful," Griff teases, and Raiden promptly flips him the bird.
"Haha. When the cave was flooding, in theory, we could have called on the kelpies, and they would have helped us," he explains.
I frown, "Would they have been able to come to us though? I mean, we're on the other side of the world."
Raiden shrugs and then looks at Griff, "You did the most research on them. Did anything mention limitations when it comes to being called by us?"
Griff shakes his head, "I didn't read anything about any limitations, but I wasn't looking for them, so I can't say for certain if they don't have any."
Reed's voice rumbles through the van as he points out, "It wouldn't really have been the best time to test out that theory and see if it worked. We were moments away from being pulled into the ocean."
"Good point," Raiden agrees.