Go for Dad.
Ben:
“Before you four go freaking out, remember the source. He knows how to press the right buttons, and do I need to remind you of the ‘Living Hell’ he created.” Randi quickly grabbed the nearest decanter, which was scotch. Pouring six hefty glasses as Rex handed us each one, chugging it down like mirror images as Randi walked around refilling the empty glasses.
“FUCK!” Chris tugged at his locks, looking up defeated with his elbows pressed into his knees as he leaned forward from the opposite wall.
“That would make us… cousins…if it’s true.” Roger dropped his head back against the wall he slid down, dropping his legs out straight rolling his head side-to-side dismissing his words and thoughts.
“If it’s true. Dad mentioned Amelia was doing a DNA profile to figure out her lineage, maybe she’s found something.” Elias leaned against the desk, twirling his glass lazily as his swirling amber-green orbs reflected the rainbow sparks glistening gently against the sun rays peeking through the gray sheers.
“Until we know for sure, nothing is to be said to Elicia. Her being sick at the moment is cause for concern, but ‘this’ could pose a serious emotional collapse. She finally found that light at the end of the tunnel, and it’s being suffocated the closer she get’s to it. I personally don’t give a shit if she’s my cousin or not, I love her for her.
Besides, it was a normal practice to mate within bloodlines, however, society has frowned upon it more over the decades, and she was raised ‘human’.” Staring into my empty glass, looking up quickly to see the megawatt high-beam smile plastered across Randi’s lips.
“I’m so proud.” He cupped his hands to his chest, flicking away the invisible tear as Elias picked up the receiver, dialing someone…ring…ring…
“Go for Dad.” He laughed brightly through the speaker as Elias dropped his head, shaking it in disbelief.
“Dad as much as we would like to laugh with you, we have a serious affliction.” Roger stood up from his slumped position, shifting over to the desk with his palms lying flat against the polished wood.
“What’s wrong? Is Elicia okay? Did she have another episode? Oh God! She’s pregnant.” Chuckling at his rambling, halted by the last word as our eyes shot up to one another, looking over at the door in panic that she was standing there, relaxing with the smirking assholes standing by the door.
“Dad, No! She’s in bed sick, but she’s fine. And she’s on birth control. Jesus Man! You sure you weren’t born female, because you’re acting like one.” Receiving a warning hiss from the phone as he exhaled chanting softly to himself.
“Dad, Titan called us. He told us something about Elicia’s family that is cause for concern.” Taken back by the calm growling hiss as he shifted in his chair.
“Ich werde ihm die verdammte Kehle herausreißen und in seinem schmutzigen Blut baden. Fucking Dickless Bear! (I'll rip out his fucking throat and bath in his filthy blood.)” Smiling heartily at his rant in his native tongue.
“Easy cousin. Watch the ‘Blood Pressure’.” Randi laughed brightly causing us to scoff behind our fists, hearing a sharp inhale on the other line.
“Hör zu, wie mein Fruchtig-tooty Cousin noch ein verdammtes Vampir-Wortspiel ist und ich werde meinen Fuß so weit in deinen Arsch schieben... (Listen hear my Fruity-tooty cousin, one more fucking vampire pun and I'll shove my foot so far up your ass...)”
“DAD! FOCUS!” We hollered out in frustration as Randi waved off his rant with a toothy smirk.
“Right. Sorry, sorry. What did he say about my daughter-in-law?” Smiling at his purring tone as he spoke about her like a proud father.
“Oh, how about his brother Myles is her father. It can’t be true, right?” Chris leaned his head back against the crumbling wall above him, clenching his fists with darkened orbs of fiery amber.
“We don’t know that for sure. Amelia is at the Council Archives as we speak, cross-matching her lineage to all known blood lines. Thyra filled us in on what she overheard before arriving at Demon Wolf, which by the way is a very sweet and spicy little thing.” Dad chuckled softly, hearing the tight click of his nail against his dark cherry desk.
“You knew and failed to fill us in?” Elias jumped to his feet, slamming his fists down on his knuckles as the desk creaked and cracked under the intense pressure.
“We didn’t think it would take this long, but Amelia said she has unique markers and there are centuries worth of bloodlines to compare. As of now, the only thing known is she has certain markers that link her to Peyton’s bloodline, but it’s not his father’s side she is related to but his mother’s side. That’s why I haven’t interfered.” Exhaling heavily with my brothers as the heavy anchor released from our link.
“Thyra? Why does that name sound familiar?” Linking my brothers silently as Randi and Rex spoke to Dad.
“Didn’t Elicia mention a ‘Thyra’?” Elias walked around the desk, leaning against it with his arms crossed as we huddled together, periodically checking on Dad’s conversation.
“She said she was a rat, also ‘their’ mother.” Roger air quoted, while we silently conversed.
“Yeah! She helped her after being beaten. Hummingbird was concerned about her being left behind.” Chris smiled brightly, feeling the calm sensation wash over us as we thought about our compassionate mate.
“Well, it looks like she made it out, and is now helping. We still keep this between us until we know more.” Pointing out lazily as Dad mentioned something about Max having a lead to his past. Turning our attention back to the phone as Randi leaned his ass cheek along the edge of the desk, talking with his hands like always.
“Wait, what about Max?” Looking at the bright smile on Randi’s face as he hugged Rex to his side.
“Oh, now you pay attention.” Dad laughed brightly as Randi and Rex grinned at our sour expressions.
“Don’t mind them cousin, they have been ‘balls deep’ for so long that they were in shock.” Randi laughed triumphantly, causing Rex to slap his chest with an eye roll.
“Watch it, Fruity-tooty.” Growling at his smug smirk as he wiggled his fingers in amusement.
“As I was saying, Thyra knows about the ‘Black Bear’ because it comes from her family bloodline. Max and JR are working with the High Coven to figure out a reversal spell to her ‘rat’ form, but so far nothing. It’s very old magic, like ancient prophecy magic that hasn’t been seen in a very long time.” Rex looked spooked with Dad’s information as he paced around the room, silently talking with himself.
“You’re rubbing off on him Randi.” Pointing out the fact that Rex was having a full-blown conversation with himself before snapping around with a scared expression.
“I need to go research something.” He kissed Randi quickly before ‘poofing’ away, leaving Randi to pout like a sulking child.
“What’s wrong?” Dad asked with a humorous tone, turning back to the phone with our confused thoughts whirling around with our rattled emotions.
“Obviously you said something that not only spooked Rex, but he seemed shocked in a weird happy kind of way.” Pouring another scotch, rubbing the bridge of my nose as a strange thumping slammed against my temples and eyes.
Halted by a surging pulse of electricity as Elicia’s cries ripped through the house, piercing through the soundproofed walls like an open door. ‘Poofing’ into our room, blinded by the swirling golden mist that whipped and snapped at us, feeling my mark coursing with a strong electrical pull.
Her body thrashed and twisted among the shattered bed as her body swirled in a misty golden dust, floating upward as her hair floated through the air like it was an invisible body of water. Snapping backward as my skin rolled with an eerie rush of static, grabbing Roger’s shoulder to stay upright as another rushing wave of pulsing heat ripped through us.
“Shit. Shit. Shit. Shit.” Randi rushed past us, slicing his palm mid-run as he produced a containment barrier around us as fiery wisps snapped out from our trembling bodies, rolling, licking against the translucent dome of white energy as it swirled back around our convulsing forms.
“Don’t burn the FUCKING place down.” Bailey hollered in a rush, sounding like she was inside a bucket as she ran over to Elicia screaming, casting out a blueish barrier as her crying screams ripped through us in a raging fury.
Overwhelmed with a fiery rage and need to protect her.
“DON’T TOUCH HER!” Growled from our chests as they snapped their smirking faces towards us, circling their fingers as a bright flash ripped over our senses, submerging us in a rapid blanket of darkness.
“Sleep my Children.” A majestic voice spoke through the darkness as a warm calming washed over my thoughts, leaving a peaceful embrace among the darkness.
Not strange at all.