Chapter 12 #2
As fast as it rose, it fell again, as if the invisible dome that had encircled the house suddenly rose and collapsed into a tiny circle in the ground around the perimeter of the structure.
Son of a… Mark realized the ward had been there all along.
Shelly’s dad had been looking out for her, and her property, even though she didn’t know anything about magic.
For Mark was still sure Shelly hadn’t been faking. She wasn’t some witch in hiding. She had truly not known about shifters or magic, or anything remotely paranormal before their first encounter.
Her father now… He was another story.
“Very neat work,” Mark commented as Bill dropped his hands back to his sides. He nodded in acknowledgement of the compliment.
“Shall we adjourn to the living room?” Bill invited, as if he was hosting this little party.
Mark motioned for him to go first, which he did, while Mark gave an imperceptible hand signal to his team.
They would be on watch. Most of them were okay, though drained.
The magic had bound them, and their struggles against it had taken a lot out of them all, but they’d be okay until the werewolves he’d asked for backup arrived.
They’d be here any minute, and then, there would be fresh troops in the woods, watching the house.
Bill walked right up to his daughter and gave her a big hug before they said anything to each other.
Mark admired the deep emotion in the gesture.
It was clear they cared for one another.
Good. That was healthy. He’d been afraid that the father had kept Shelly in the dark all these years because they didn’t get along, but it looked to be the opposite.
After all, he’d come running at the first sign of trouble. Bill, so far, impressed Mark as a good dad.
When the hug ended, Shelly turned and let them into the house, heading straight for the living room.
She sat on the couch, and her astute father sat opposite in a wing chair, leaving the spot next to her open for Mark to take…
if he dared. He didn’t back down from the challenge. He sat, a small declaration of intent.
“First of all, let me say how happy I am to finally be able to share the wider world with you, Shelly,” her father said before anyone else could speak.
“Why didn’t you before? Why did you keep me in the dark my whole life?” Shelly sounded hurt, as she probably should be. Mark wanted to know the answer to that question, as well. Everything else could wait until she got that answer.
Bill sighed elegantly. “The Howells have a long tradition of magic, going back thousands of years. Occasionally, in our family history, a child is born with no magic. They were called latent by one of our ancestors in the family chronicles, because no Howell can be completely without magic. It’s part of our DNA.
But, as I said, there are historical accounts of the occasional latent Howell.
In times past, there were enough Howells to keep those few safe, but now, it’s you and me, sweet pea, and since your mother’s death, I’ve always feared I wouldn’t be able to keep you safe.
All I ever wanted was to keep my precious daughter away from those who would use her against me.
I’ve been nearly bankrupting myself all these years trying to keep you safe, Shelly. ”
“So, that’s why…” Shelly whispered.
“I didn’t want to drive a wedge between us, my dear.
It was necessary to keep a certain distance so my enemies wouldn’t see you as too tempting a target.
All the same, I put whatever protections I could around you at all times.
Hence, the ward on your house.” He nodded toward the window.
“You have no idea how relieved I am that you’re all right. ”
“Dad, that ward thing… That was awesome. It protected me and the house completely,” Shelly enthused.
“I’m glad. That was my intent. I have spent years learning ward-craft, and that was some of my finest work, if I do say so myself, though it hadn’t been fully tested until tonight,” Bill admitted.
Mark’s ears perked up. “Fully tested? You mean it’s been triggered before?”
Bill’s eyes shuttered. “On occasion, a few of my more perceptive enemies have tried small forays to test my mettle. They all failed.”
“And are all dead, I presume?” Mark asked the harsh question, hoping to evoke a response. What he got in return was everything he had hoped for. Bill’s blue eyes went steely.
“Of course. Magic users don’t screw around.
You’re either good or bad, and there is no in between.
The Howells have always stood on the side of Light.
We are sworn to the Goddess, through and through.
Any agent of evil who threatens me or mine is fair game.
Now, tell me, Alpha, which side does the jaguar stand on? ”
Mark reared back, unable to hide his reaction. The jaguars were among the most secretive of shifters. Only the pantera noir were better at hiding in plain sight than he was. Or so he’d thought. Obviously, this mage had better sources of intel than Mark had credited.
“I, and my Clan, are sworn to the Light of the Mother of All,” Mark answered finally, deciding on the direct approach. Who knew how Howell would react to any attempt at subterfuge when his beloved daughter’s destiny was in question.
“Good. Good.” Howell was all smiles as he relaxed fractionally.
Mark noticed that quick unclenching of muscles and wondered what the man would have done if Mark had said something else.
“I like what I’m hearing. And I must thank you for watching over my daughter.
The ward was designed to alert me about trouble, with the idea that I could race right over and deal with it.
I assume you’ve…dealt with the problem already?
” Now those blue eyes were coaxing, as if he already knew or suspected the answer but wanted official confirmation.
“With tooth and claw,” Mark confirmed, nodding gravely. The green plasma mage had tasted sickly. Evil.
“I would like to examine any…uh…remains, if possible,” Bill asked politely.
Mark nodded. “That can be arranged. He disabled a number of my people with the dark fog, and I have backup already on the way. In fact, they should be here by now. My folk haven’t done anything with the remains yet but guard them. We’re stretched too thin for comfort until the cavalry arrives.”
“Understood,” Bill replied quickly, with an accommodating demeanor. “Perhaps, if possible then, I might get a look in situ, as it were.” The older man rose fluidly from his wing chair and headed for the door. “I’ll be back in a few minutes.”
“My people saw you arrive,” Mark called after him. “They’ll stay out of your way.”
“Of course they will, dear boy,” Bill said on his way out, almost smiling.
Mark’s eyebrows rose, then he looked at Shelly’s equally stunned face. “He’s got brass ones, your father, if you’ll pardon the expression.”
Shelly laughed out loud. “He always has. Nobody gets in his way, and if they try, he merely charms them away. He’s always had that magic touch.” She sat back on the couch, staring straight ahead. “Huh.” Shaking her head, she turned to look at him. “I guess it really was magic, after all.”
“I can’t believe he was able to keep you in the dark all these years about your family history.” Mark slid one arm around her shoulders and leaned back, content just to have her near.
“Neither can I. Though…” She squirmed closer into his embrace, and his inner cat purred. “Now that I understand a little more, I think I might’ve seen the signs occasionally. He had weird friends when I was little. Flamboyant old women who wore turbans and—”
“Now, don’t speak ill of the dead, Shelly, or your great aunties might just come back from the next realm to haunt you.
It’s been known to happen in our family on rare occasions.
” Her father walked back into the room, adjusting his shirtsleeve, urbane and collected, even after seeing what Mark had done to the bastard who had dared to attack his mate.
The cat had reveled in ripping him apart.
“Aunt Bernie and Auntie Francine!” Shelly sat upright, surprise on her face.
“I remember them now. I was really little when they stopped coming around. They used to bring me treats from their travels. Sweet candies from around the world. What happened to them? I guess I didn’t realize they were dead. ”
“It happened right around the time your dear mother was taken from us,” her father said in a solemn tone.
“Both of my father’s sisters were killed in what was later described as a ferocious magical battle in which the side of Light was woefully underrepresented.
Many good people died that day in the ongoing war between good and evil. ”
“I’m sorry. I didn’t know,” Shelly said, her face reflecting her sorrow.