Chapter 1 #3
“As for the outside and inside of the house, there is no alarm system, which means no cameras, either.
You should have those. Without going the expensive and involved route of having them wired into the house, some wireless models can do the trick.
A few are better than others, but we know of a couple that are really good products.
“Your neighbors all seem to have no outdoor cameras or even lights. We want to put a spotlight in the front and back, which will turn on if it detects movement near the house. People who feel fine slinking around in the shadows think twice when they’re visible in the glare of a bright light.
Some neighbors have bars on their windows.
I’m not ready to say it has to go that far.
Tell us about the crime around here. What’s it like?
” I asked, turning it back to them. They both appeared somewhat stunned and worried. I wanted it to sink in a bit.
“I, uhm, well, there is crime, of course. Over the past year, this neighborhood has seen a handful of robberies, more vandalism than actual break-ins. A car was stolen from someone’s driveway at night.
No one has been killed. There have been a couple of domestic disputes that have led to the police being called.
Oh, and an older couple was attacked at night when they were out walking their dog.
The culprits smacked them around, then ran,” Gal answered.
His rundown didn’t leave me feeling good. It could easily escalate to far more violent crimes, though the attack was of concern. When did it happen?
“How long ago was the couple attacked?” Gunnar asked.
“Three months ago. Since then, people haven’t been walking their dogs after dark. And if possible, they don’t come and go at night, unless it’s an emergency or they work a shift, as my sister does.”
Gunnar and I didn’t speak aloud, but we did with our minds. It was a benefit we had as Sentinels.
I don’t like the sound of that. This area is edging toward the brink of kicking off more serious crimes. They need to be protected better, Gunnar thought to me.
I agree. I hate to go to the extreme of bars on their windows, though. It makes it feel like you’re living in a prison, not a home. If it requires that, they need to move, I answered.
Yeah, but will they? I get the impression they don’t have a lot of money, he countered.
I do, too. Damn it, let’s do what we can short of the bars, and then we’ll re-evaluate. Maybe after we meet with Fiona, we’ll have more information.
Let’s do that, then, was Gunnar’s last thought before we spoke to them again.
“We’d like to head out to a couple of stores and get the items we need. Two stops, hopefully, should take care of everything. We have time before your granddaughter's pickup. I’ll go with whoever is picking her up, and Gunnar will stay here with the other one,” I informed them.
“And tonight, we’ll figure out which of us stays for guard duty, and the other will get a hotel room. We’ll switch off tomorrow night,” Gunnar added.
“Hold on, we appreciate what you’re trying to do, we do.
But before we get all those things you mentioned, I need to know the cost. It doesn’t sound cheap.
I agree, it’s all things we should’ve had already, but never got.
As for staying to guard us, I don’t think that’s necessary.
If we get all those items you mentioned, there should be no need,” Old Galen protested.
“If we get them, they will help to make you safer, but it won’t be one hundred percent.
Until we determine the legitimacy of the threat and rumors, we can’t let you stay here alone.
We’re Sentinels. It’s our job to protect and assist our people.
As for cost, that’s on us. We have funds for times like this.
It enables us to do our jobs,” I explained.
The last was true, but with the Council of Oracles defunct, I’d have to see how we could access it, if at all.
But regardless, if it wasn’t accessible, I had more than enough money to cover it.
After all the centuries I’d been alive, I’d acquired wealth.
I wondered how old Galen Senior was. Usually, shifters with a century or more to their names had found ways to attain and maintain wealth.
Galen Senior hesitated. mulling over what I said. Finally, he spoke. “If there is such a thing, why hasn’t it been announced to the community? I’ve never heard of such a thing.”
“Honestly, it was the Council that made up most of the rules we had to abide by. And they wanted things kept secret for whatever reason. It was ultimately what led to the recent changes, including a clarification of who exactly is a Sentinel. We never liked the restrictions, but did as we were instructed. With the Council being reworked, we’re creating more transparency,” I admitted.
“Is it true what we heard? That Apollo himself is the one who reprimanded the Council of Oracles and called for them to be reorganized?” Gal asked.
“It is,” Gunnar told him.
“Have you seen Apollo?” Gal asked, awe in his voice.
“Yes, we have on more than one occasion, though those have been within the past six months. He has taken a shine to Abraxas’s mate, and her grandmother, Twyla,” I added.
“Why them?” Old Galen asked.
“You’ve heard the word about the Precious Ones, correct?” Gunnar asked. Both of them nodded.
“We discovered them when Abraxas’s human mate, Cerys, became pregnant.
We all thought that was impossible. Then there was a disagreement with the Council.
They wanted to take Cerys with them. Abraxas and the rest of us said no.
It was during that encounter that Apollo made his first appearance.
We learned of the Precious Ones and that Twyla’s ancestress was the one Apollo met centuries ago, and that Apollo bestowed the honor on her bloodline to carry the blood of the Precious Ones into the world.
Since then, he pops in whenever the mood strikes him,” Gunnar finished.
The silence was brief as the revelation sank in. Afterward, Galen Senior gave us a nod. “Alright, since that fund exists, then we thank you for using a bit of it for us. If you find you need more, please let me know. And I would feel better if one of you did pick up my Fiona.”
“We’d better get going if we want to get the supplies and back here in time to go get her,” I told them, rising to my feet.
Gunnar did the same. After brief handshakes, Gunnar walked me to the door. He would stay with them. We’d decided on that outside. It was time to begin the fortification. I needed something to keep my mind occupied so that I wouldn’t obsess over a woman I hadn’t even met.