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The Gift

Edward's Storyline, Chapter 9.4

copyright comidacomida 2019

I was still SO angry. Reaching down to pick up the horn, I looked back to The Ancient One; Ch'upikaq was hovering in the air, flapping his wings to remain aloft in a way that, as usual I'm sure, defied physics. "Green... you need to help me find a way to destroy her."

The flying Serpent was gone and, in an instant, the massive scaled Dragon took its place. "I am pleased to hear you say that, Seeker."

I had no idea when she'd gotten so close but I was surprised as she walked by me, brushing at my shoulder when she passed. "You shouldn't spend too much time dwelling on the old Sentinel, Edward Clark, and spend more time worrying about your grandparents."

I was ready to do something rash but Tre held be back. "Eddie... she's too powerful for us right now. We'll get her back... just not tonight."

The Spirit of War was all smiles and she tittered, covering her mouth with her hand as she did so. Even with her fingers in the way, her whisper was perfectly audible. "Well... I guess your silly puppy CAN be right occasionally... I AM too powerful."

I wasn't about to give her the pleasure of seeing me squirm; motioning to my Spirits I stepped to the side and walked around her. Still, I wanted to make sure she knew my stance. "Don't follow me home. You're not welcome there."

Remaining right where she was, she turned as I passed her. "I would never come unannounced, Edward Clark, but I will stop by for a visit eventually... and when I do you are going to invite me in."

Although I had a lot of 'choice words' I wanted to use I managed to keep it civil, increasing my distance as I announced over my shoulder "I wouldn't bet on it."

Based on her overbearing personality I was surprised that she let me have the last say in things but I counted it as a win as I hurried home. My spirits followed after me but I could tell that all of them were uneasy; Green even stopped at each street corner to play look out and make sure we weren't being followed. Arriving safely back at my place, they followed me inside. Although I knew it wouldn't help, I made it a point to lock and bolt my door.

My heart continued pounding in my chest even as I stood there staring at the wood that separated the inside from the outside. It was a threshold that was far more significant to a Spirit, or so I'd been told and I knew I should have felt safe. Or, perhaps I realized, I shouldn't have felt so safe; the weight of Tom's horn still clutched in my hand reminded me of that better than anything. My empty fist began shaking in rage.

Nobody had said a thing since we got home so I was the first, and I kept my statement direct. "She'll pay for this."

Once the topic was opened others weighed in, starting with Medved. "She will want you to act rashly, Synochik... we must stop and think and plan to stand any chance of resisting whatever plans she has for you."

It was more of the same from the Bear and his casual reminders weren't helping. Red, unfortunately, was even more indirect. "If she stays one step ahead you cannot follow in her tracks, Seeker... you must choose your own route and cut her off."

Although I was angry I made it a point not to take it out on the furry Dragon. "What's that supposed to mean, exactly?"

Once I was facing The Ancient One, Green's voice spoke out of Red's maw, rephrasing the last part of the statement "Cut off her HEAD."

Red shook his long neck and licked his scaled lips. "No... I meant what I said. If we are playing catch up to her plans then all we will do is to fall into the traps she lays out. She will play you like her puppet."

It was definitely the most direct I'd ever recalled the eastern Dragon ever being, and I appreciated it. Ch'upikaq weighed in as I was digesting the statement. "Seeker... you are taking more and more onto your shoulders without stopping to breathe. Are you to mourn the loss of Tom, or will you bury those feelings beneath your anger?"

Every part of me wanted to reach out and choke the feathered Serpent, but that sensation lasted for only a split second and I fortunately didn't act before it disappeared. A half second later I had to keep from laughing as I wondered if a snake even HAD a neck to choke. I was definitely not within my right mind and my emotions were all over the place. Fortunately Medved was there and, in that no-man's-land of thoughts and feelings everything came to a screeching halt when I felt his enormous arms wrap around me and the next thing I knew I was in a huge hug.

The next minutes were a wash of tears, crying, and a wave of emotions ranging from sorrow to anger as Medved pulled me close and Tre came in behind me to add his arms to the embrace. Somewhere off to the side Ch'upikaq was arguing with the other two thirds of The Ancient One insisting that they join the others in comforting me but each had their own reservations that kept the third Spirit from acting.

Ch'upikaq eventually took control of the body and spread his enormous rainbow wings over myself, the Bear, and the Wolf. I'd never really had that kind of comforting presence, and definitely not three of them interested in my emotions... heck, I was never really interested in how I was feeling most of the time. I don't know how long we were like that with the Spirits comforting me but eventually, like my sobs and tears, it passed.

As I regained my sense of the present I realized I was still holding Tom's horn. Ch'upikaq's calming voice spoke up. "If you feel it would be proper, we can hold a ceremony for him... a celebration of his existence and a dirge for his passing."

Tre, who was holding my free hand in one of his paws let out a snort. "No... there'll be time for that. Right now we need to plan our move. Morgana is already several steps ahead and the longer she has that lead the worse Eddie'll be for it. Red had it right-- we need to get ahead of her and put an end to this. Fast."

Green's voice spoke from behind me, the deep-chested rumble of a predator revealing that he had control of the body once again. "We can seek out her subordinates. If she is going to add to her power with lessers then we hunt the lessers and tear her legs out from under her... once she is limping we go in for the kill."

Medved's voice was insistent, but still calm. "Edward."

Something about the conviction in the way he called my name caught my attention and I looked to him. He didn't have to say anything for me to read the concern on his muzzle and I immediately knew what it was about. "My folks..."

I fumbled with my cell phone, pulling it out of my pocket as I went back through my contacts and quickly hit the call button for home; it was late... really late, but I had to know that they were safe. I wasn't sure what to think when the answering machine picked up but I waited for the message to finish and as soon as it beeped I spoke up. "Hey. It's me. I know it's late but I REALLY need you guys to pick up. Please pick up if you're there. I'll keep talking in case you have to get out of bed and get to the kitchen but it's really REALLY important and I need you to pick up. Please pick up. If you--"

The answering machine clicked and I stopped taking. Medved's tone was not very comforting. "Sophie bought that machine for them. It records one minute messages... that was not one minute."

There were several times when I stopped a recording-- it could be done by picking up the line or by pressing a button on the machine. My heart beat twice while I waited for someone to speak on the other side, but nobody did; the line had gone dead. Although I didn't want to jump to conclusions I was rapidly losing the fight with a sense of dread. I hit the number for my grandfather's cell.

I waited for six rings before it went to voicemail so I hung up and called my grandmother's cell... to the same effect. Throwing my cell onto the couch I--