Call of the Raven (17 page)

The wolf vanished before Ari’s eyes and
shifting back to his man form, he hurried toward the window and
looked out. The moon hung low over the distant forest silhouetting
the field beyond the pond. And it was there he saw it, the shadow
of the wolf racing for the trees.

“I’ve really got to have my head
examined.”

“Yes, you do.”

Ari spun quickly and spotted Kennedy coming
toward him across the mat. Moving over to the bench, he sat down
and rubbed his temple. He wasn’t too surprised when she sat down
next to him, pushed his lame attempts away, and took over in his
place. After a few seconds she started on his tense shoulder
muscles. Her soft touch and her strong perfume played havoc with
his insides.

“Does that feel better?” she asked. Ari
didn’t want to tell her that he was just as tense as before but now
he was tense for different reasons. “I’m so glad you’re all right
Ari.”

Ari suddenly stood up and walked several feet
away from her. “Kennedy, we went through this before babe. I have
no sense when it comes to women and you know that. Right now you’re
putting too much on me with everything that’s happened and the
approaching full moon, and I
don’t want
to cross that line.
You mean far too much to me for that. Besides Kennedy, I’m not so
sure you know
what
you want. You always seem to come at me
when you know I’m the most vulnerable. Is that what you want, a
senseless relationship that means nothing, because I’ve had my
share of those, and I’m not so sure you do?”

“Ari, I was just massaging your temples,” she
paused. “What’s wrong? I heard Nixon slam his bedroom door. Did you
guys get into a fight or something?”

“No, not really, he just doesn’t want my help
right now. But that’s not what’s bothering me. I really do think
I’m losing my mind. Just now in the window I thought I saw
something and after what Asher said upstairs—never mind you
wouldn’t believe me,” he said. “I don’t even believe me.”

“What…was in the window?” Kennedy insisted
looking over her shoulder. She acted as though she didn’t know if
she should be afraid or not.

Ari returned to the bench but kept a
reasonable distance. “I saw a wolf just now looking in the window,”
he said. “He had glowing eyes and he…talked to me.”

Kennedy all of a sudden spun back to him. “He
talked…to you?”

“Well, not necessarily talked, I heard a
voice in my head.” Ari saw how Kennedy, thoughtfully, fingered the
necklace she always wore, a blue jewel embezzled in silver. The
habit seemed tantamount whenever she thought of Grant.

“What did he say?” she asked.

“Didn’t you hear me? I said I heard a
voice
in my head.”

“When Nixon and I were taking the twins to
Linn, a wolf suddenly appeared on the road and Linn drove right
through it like it was some spirit wolf or something. Nixon didn’t
see her drive through it and I didn’t tell him because I knew he
wouldn’t believe me, just like you thought I wouldn’t believe you.”
Kennedy scooted near him and whispered the last, “Ari what if the
wolf is Grant.”

Ari quickly stood again and walked to the
center of the mat. His heart was racing and he wasn’t even sure
why. “So, what are you trying to say Kennedy?”

“What I’m trying to say is that when I saw
the wolf my jewel got warm and started glowing. And just now it did
the same thing when I was coming here to talk to you. Remember my
dreams Ari?”

Kennedy stood and crossed to him, holding her
jewel up as she neared. “Grant use to come in my room and tell me
stories. They were always about some little girl who was brave and
stood up to her enemies. They were goofy and silly and I know Grant
made them up as he went along but they were special to me. Well
anyway, the night Grant was called, he left me this jewel. I think
he wanted me to know that he would always be around. But what if
this jewel is more than that, and somehow it lets me know when he
is around?”

Troubled and tired, Ari ran his fingers
through his hair, pushing it back from his eyes. “My head is
throbbing, I’ve been through a lot and I saw a wolf running away
toward the trees. I’m sorry babe. It’s just a little hard for me to
believe.”

“Why, because you’re afraid that Asher might
have been right all these years? He went out there again you know,
looking for him.”

Ari started to walk away but Kennedy caught
his arm and stopped him from leaving. He didn’t turn around and
Kennedy didn’t ask him to.

“Asher’s crazy,” he said, “and he was that
way long before Grant died. I love him but he’s not right, and I’ve
known that ever since we were kids and his paranoia about dying
caused him to believe the Council was out to get him. Sometimes, I
would find him hiding in the closet, frightened and shaking.” Ari
shook his head in a determined manner and then turned around and
faced her. “
Grant’s not alive
. He can’t be.”

“But why can’t he?” Kennedy persisted.

“Because,” Ari jerked free, backing up as he
talked, “that would mean he knew that he was leaving me to this
mess, dealing with Asher, dealing with…with—”

“Us!” Kennedy fumed. “Is that it? You’re
upset because Grant left you with a looser brother that forced you
to take care of
us
?”

Ari slowly nodded. His emotions torn, caught
in between denial and the truth, “It wasn’t my place to.”

Before his words had time to fully register
on her face, Ari spun around and hurried upstairs. Only when he was
in his room, about to undress and climb in bed did he remember the
journal. Returning downstairs, he soon realized there was no signs
of life in the quiet house. The studio was dark, Kennedy had gone,
and everyone was sleeping in their rooms.

Crossing over the mat he kept his eyes
trained on the bench refusing to look out the window for fear of
seeing the glowing eyes staring back at him. Grabbing the journal
from the bench he started across the floor when he noticed
something fall from the pages, a picture.

Bending over he picked it up and took it
upstairs with the journal. Once locked inside his room, he crossed
to the bed and lay down. Holding up the picture he studied the face
of the blonde. She was pretty. Ari gave Grant credit for that.
Turning the picture over he saw Grant’s perfect handwriting
scrawled across the back. The words written however caused a
strange fluttering in his heart. He had expected to see her name,
or even the goofy heart with both their initials written inside,
but instead was the words,

Remember Ari, you promised!

***

In a week’s
time, Ari had the journal
read and his duffel bag packed. He had no idea when he would be
home. Still he paced, still he questioned his decisions. He often
dreamed of a life apart from the one he had. Sometimes the thought
of freedom was more than he could bear. Asher’s cruel treatment,
his refusal to accept their bond had made things tough on him, but
now the bond existed and Ari didn’t want it, at least not now.
Break in or not, warning or not, how could he put ten years of
misery behind him?

How could he just turn the other cheek and
forget all that Asher had done, and not done. The journal was lying
on his nightstand next to the cup of coffee, long since gone cold.
Kennedy had brought it up hours ago when she saw that his bedroom
light was still on. Even after hurting her the way he had with his
words, she still took care of him.

Ari sighed and went to the window. How could
he leave them behind? Without another thought, Ari retrieved the
journal, and shoved it in the back pocket of his jeans. He had no
choice, Asher had seen to that. The moon was full which meant Asher
was fully rejuvenated, and Vince said he would keep an eye on
things while he was gone, and Linn planned to look after the
twins.

Combing his bangs back with his fingers, Ari
put on a Colt’s ball cap, a green army coat and tossed the duffle
over his shoulder. He crossed the room, stopping only when he saw
his reflection in the mirror. His face was wider, his jaw line more
squared and his eyes were an amber-brown, and still the resemblance
to his brother was remarkable.

He was angry at Asher.

He felt sorry for him, hated him…and yet he
loved him just as much.

Ari took the keys from the dresser top and a
hand full of change, and slid everything into his pocket. The door
clicked shut behind him and Ari turned to leave, but came to an
abrupt stop when he noticed a shadowed form standing near the top
of the stairs. Squinting in the dark he saw that it was only Nixon
leaning against the banister. A closer look revealed Kennedy
sitting on the top step with her head resting on her knees, looking
about as tired as he felt.

“Going somewhere Ari?” Nixon folded his arms
across his chest.

“Yes, and by the looks of it so are you.”

Nixon picked up the bag at his feet and
Kennedy did the same. He should have known that she would be there
lurking, waiting for him to make his move. Kennedy had stopped him
a few times before without even knowing it. Putting his arm around
her waist they started walking down the stairs together, with Nixon
walking behind them.

“So, who’s gonna look after Asher?” Nixon
inquired.

Ari let out a long deep breath and turned his
hat around so that it was on backward. “He’s taken care of himself
for ten years. I think he’ll be all right. Linn is going to look
after the twins until we return. Hopefully, we won’t be gone but a
few days.”

“Do you know where we’re going?” Kennedy
asked.

Ari took her hand to help her over the messy
living room floor, and headed down the hall toward the attached
garage. Other than restoring the kitchen to a place they could
function the house was still in a state of disorder. Asher seldom
left his rooms upstairs, and the house had long ago stopped being a
home to the three of them. Leaving it behind in any state wasn’t a
problem. Ari had only one clue where to start his search and that
was the records department at Lake Inc. He decided to change the
subject.

“How did you know I was going to leave?” he
asked.

“You’ve locked yourself in your room for days
reading that journal,” Nixon said, “and according to Kennedy, you
were either doing a lot of pacing back and forth or you were
packing. My guess was packing.”

Ari flipped on the garage light and glanced
sideways at Nixon. He wasn’t being sarcastic nor was he joking.
There actually was a great deal of concern in his eyes, and it was
the same with Kennedy. “So, what you’re trying to say is that you
both have been watching me.”

“No, Kennedy’s been watching you. She’s just
been keeping me posted.” Nixon grinned and then let it fade. His
eyes took on a serious light. “Besides Ari, it’s no tossup between
you and Asher. You’ve done far more for us than he ever has and
your right, it wasn’t your place. You going missing like that, made
me at least realize that.”

“Then we’re okay then?” Ari grinned.

“Oh, we’ll never be okay you wet smelling
dog.”

“Now that one will never get old, you dumb
bird,” Ari laughed.

“I already knew Ari was special.” Kennedy
hugged his arm. Her soft touch moved along his forearm to his
fingers, and then she took his pinky in hers, like she did when she
was a little girl. The gesture made him feel even guiltier.

“You’ve taken care of us Ari without
complaint, until now,” she said. “It’s not fair that your life’s
been robbed. We’re not mad at you, but you’re not leaving us behind
either.”

“Damn my brother…” Ari cursed under his
breath. He took a deep breath, knowing they at least needed to know
the truth. “Grant’s got a child out there, and I’m going to find
him before the outcasts do. I just thought you two should know.” He
was surprised by their lack of emotion.

“We already know,” Nixon said, “and we also
know that Asher knew and did nothing about it. That’s why you’re
mad enough to leave him behind after everything that’s happened
here lately.”

“There’s no need to feel bad about that Ari
because we understand.” Kennedy sadly nodded, and then turned
toward the vehicles. “So, where do we start?”

Ari’s car was at the body shop along with
Nixon’s, which left, Kennedy’s little Mini Cooper, his Suzuki
motorcycle bought on an impulsive whim to be reckless, and Grant’s
four-wheel drive. Out of them all, Grant’s truck was the only
logical choice. Ari stepped down off the step. He had left him the
keys, but Nixon shook his head when he saw Ari heading in the
trucks direction.

“No one’s driven that since Grant,” he argued
like it was some sacred temple or a room that was supposed to be
kept in reverence. Ari took out the keys, dangled them at Nixon and
simultaneously winked at Kennedy. They both knew the boy’s
weakness.

“Wanna drive?” Ari asked.

Nixon’s mouth gaped open, but then a slow
smile crossed his lips. The truck’s back tires were as huge as a
tractors and the snow was begging to be challenged. He snatched the
keys from Ari’s hands and went to the driver’s side, while Ari
punched the garage door opener. A blast of cold wind caught him as
the door slid upward to expose the arctic weather outside. Ari
thought of the strange mage with the red glowing eyes. Whether
Asher was right or not about the power drain, the fear that he
displayed afterwards was evident.

How could he just up and leave him?

But Asher knew and chose to do nothing.

All this time he chose to do
nothing
.

“You can have the backseat to yourself,”
Kennedy pulled Ari to the truck as though she knew he was
struggling with his decision to leave. “I know you haven’t slept
much. I’ll sit in the front to make sure Nixon doesn’t get too
crazy.”