See Part One (A) For Disclaimers

Chapter Two

The following morning dawned bright and clear.  As the day progressed, it would warm up, but Valerie Barton was shivering as she left her bed and shuffled into the bathroom to take her morning shower.  She hadn't showered at all the day before, and the plane ride had been hot and sweaty.  That had been followed by torrential rain on the way home.

"I'll be lucky if I don't catch cold," Val muttered to herself as she turned the tap water on as hot as she could stand it.  She stripped and stepped into the shower, the hot water immediately working its magic.  Val tilted her head back, allowing the water to soak her hair as well.  After a moment, she began soaping herself, then shampooing her hair.  While the water restrictions had been lifted, she allowed herself to enjoy the water only long enough to rinse off.

She stepped out of the shower, murmuring, "I'm starting to feel human again."  Val decided as she dried herself off that she still needed something to eat and an Irish Cream coffee before she felt totally human again.  But one need at a time . . . and right now, she needed to dress!

As she dressed, Val glanced at the picture of her mother on her nightstand.  She gently touched her mother's face.  Deirdre Barton had been only thirty-seven when she died, less than ten years younger than Val was now.  Too young to leave her three daughters, too young to become a sacrifice to the Legacy.

She gave the picture one final caress, then turned away.  She couldn't think of her mother, not today.  Not now.  As she headed downstairs, she could hear her niece's laughter, and Tatya said, "Well, Andy, if you wouldn't do such silly things, then we wouldn't laugh at you!  Oh, stop pouting . . . you look like a five year old!"

"I was not doing anything silly, I . . . ohh, never MIND!" Andy retorted as Val walked slowly down the stairs to the foyer.  She leaned against the post of the railing, smiling faintly at the back of Andy's head.  He, obviously, didn't see her standing behind him, and continued, "You know, I'm really glad Val's home . . . maybe she'll make you be nice to me!"

"Not hardly . . . I'm a precept, not a kindergarten teacher," Val said dryly.  Her niece burst out laughing all over again . . . for some reason, the statement struck her as funny . . . and she danced over to Val to hug her.  Val returned the embrace, saying over Jasmine's head, "And what kind of mischief are you getting into this time, Andrew?"

"What kind of mischief isn't he getting into?" Tatya answered dryly and Val grinned.  Like Val, Tatya had dark, curly hair, but there the resemblance ended.  Instead of dark hazel, Tatya's eyes were a deep blue, almost violet.  At thirty-eight, she was the mother hen of the group.

Val's gaze shifted to Andy, who was scowling.  He was thirty-four, the same age as Melanie.  They had never met, but Val often thought Mel would have been good for Andy, and vice versa.  Val wouldn't have minded having Andy as a brother-in-law.  Even if he could be a pain in the ass . . . he was an attractive pain in the ass.  

Tall, dark-haired and dark-eyed, Andy was originally from Arizona, the product of an American lawyer and a Mexican university student, who became a doctor.  His father, Victor, was in turn originally from Texas, and his family had lived in the United States for more than a hundred fifty years, ever since Texas had won its independence from Mexico.

Val had never met Andy's parents, but she had gathered from listening to her friend that both were quiet and easy-going, and neither could really understand where their first born son had gotten his temper and his . . . vocality.  He snarled now, "I am NOT getting into mischief!  And Val, you're supposed to be on MY side!"  Val grinned impishly, and the ex-journalist added, "Okay, never mind that.  At least give me some back-up!  I'm the sole man in a House of women!"

"Cheer up, Andy," Dani chimed in, "I know a lot of guys who would kill to be in your position, both in and out of the Legacy." She paused, grinned wickedly, and added, "Then again, I know some women who would kill to be in your position as well."  Val tried not to smile, especially when Andy swallowed hard.  Dani continued, "Not that any of them are in this House.  I think.  Besides, look at it this way.  If Bishop Hughes has found a replacement, you won't be the only man anymore."

"Now, that's a matter of opinion," Andy muttered, "I'm not sure a priest qualifies as another man."  He yelped as the three adult females each smacked varying parts of his body, and Andy continued, "I'm just saying . . . a priest is a celibate, so he wouldn't know what I mean when I tell him about . . . awww, never MIND!  I'll shut up now, quit while I still have functioning body parts!"

Val couldn't help herself . . . she began laughing.  She just sat down on the bottom step of the staircase and laughed helplessly, taking Jasmine with her.  Val vaguely heard the phone ring, but paid no attention.  All three of the adults stared at her and Val finally managed to compose herself long enough to gasp, "Oh God.  I've missed you so much."

"We've missed you, too, Val . . . but right now, breakfast is burning, and I think the coffee is too," Renee said, appearing in the foyer from the kitchen.  She paused, then added with a significant look at her friends, "The phone call is from the bishop, Val, and he says it's important.  I told him I would come get you."

Val immediately stopped laughing, and felt as if there was a leaden weight in her chest.  Jasmine released her, and Val slowly pulled herself to her feet.  So this was it.  The moment of truth, as they said.  She said quietly, "I'll take it in my office.  I'll be in for breakfast as soon as I can."  Renee nodded and Val walked back upstairs.

*    *    *

After Val disappeared from the foyer, the other members of the Legacy stared at each other in silence.  They had all been affected by the change in their precept's mood when she learned her godfather needed to speak with her.  Finally, Jasmine asked softly, "What exactly happens now?  If Uncle Nathaniel found a priest who will replace him here in Baltimore House, what does that mean for us?"

"It won't change anything, honey," Tatya said, hoping to reassure the girl.  She didn't know that, not for certain, but she was reasonably sure things would continue somewhat as they had before.  Barring any unforeseen complications, which were the norm in the Legacy.  Any Legacy House.  However, that was why Tatya was there . . . to help with such complications.  She added after a moment, "But, why don't you help Renee in the kitchen?  I'll be along in a minute."

Jasmine looked at the adults, then nodded slowly.  The teenager obviously knew there was something more going on than what they were telling her.  But she also knew they wouldn't tell her right now.  Renee held her hand out to Jasmine, saying, "Let's go, kid.  After this phone call, I think your aunt will need some comfort food."  Jasmine took her hand and they went into the kitchen together.

"Do the two of you have any idea what she meant?" Tatya asked, and Andy shook his head.  Dani, however, was staring into space thoughtfully, and Tatya decided she wanted to talk to Dani in private.  She continued, "Well, I know you two have things you were doing.  We can meet in the kitchen."  Andy nodded, but looked concerned, and returned to the control room.

Dani started for the control room, where the surveillance vids were located and she could keep an eye on the grounds, but Tatya stopped her.  She said, "What do you know that we don't, Dani?  And don't tell me nothing, because I know you better.  There's something about this replacement business which bothers you."

Dani hesitated very briefly, then answered, "If the bishop went to Boston and San Francisco for his replacement, what does that tell you?  The Legacy is still rebuilding Boston House from scratch . . . that leaves San Francisco House.  Think about it, Tatya.  Think of what that House means.  To Val, and to Andy."

However, once San Francisco was mentioned, Tatya knew.  When she had been sent to Baltimore House four years earlier, after the massacre that wiped out the previous House, she had been briefed on the Barton family.  A briefing that was complemented by Val's own remarks and comments during the last few years.  The psychologist murmured, "So that's it.  Dani, I can't speak for Andy, but I do know Val.  She's fair.  Whatever her problem with Jonathan Boyle or Derek Rayne, she won't take it out on an innocent third party."

"It isn't Val who worries me, Tatya.  It's Andy," Dani replied, her voice dropping, "c'mon, Tat, you're the psychologist.  You tell me, what will happen when a tempermental type like Andy comes into contact with the man he blames for the loss of the woman with whom he planned to spend the rest of his life?  Or even, an innocent associate?"

"I know Andy is tempermental, but he isn't a jerk.  And even if the new priest is from San Francisco House, he isn't Derek Rayne.  That's the key right there.  As tempermental as he is, I just don't see Andy holding Father Whoever responsible for what Derek Rayne did to Heather, or what he failed to do for Deirdre Barton," Tatya answered.

Dani sighed and answered, "I wish I had your faith, Tatya.  But think of this.  Andy is suspicious of anyone who has served with Derek Rayne.  Why do you think he never questions the stories we hear from the other Houses about Corrigan?  Because he has no respect for Rayne, so he expects the worst from his people."

Tatya had no answer.  She wanted to argue in Andy's defense, but her gut told her that Dani was right.  As did her mind . . . and despite her friendship with the former journalist, she knew him.  She knew him well.  After a moment, she said softly, "Well, we'll cross that bridge when we come to it.  And, we support Val.  There's nothing else we can do.  We can't force Andy to accept this new guy."

Dani seemed to deflate.  She sighed, replying, "I know that.  There's only so much we can do.  Val is the precept, but not even she can force Andy into accepting someone whom he doesn't trust.  And I'm afraid that Andy will make his life as miserable as he can."

"Yes.  But we can do something for the priest.  We can make him as at ease as possible," Tatya suggested, "let him know that the rest of us don't share Andy's hatred.  And, like I said earlier, we support Val.  We remind Andy that he isn't the only person who has ever lost someone."

Dani was silent for several moments, then she said softly, "I just wish there was more I could do.  You know?  I wish . . .  God, I don't know even what I want.  I know I want to keep things together, but I have no idea how to do that.  Tatya, how much do you know about Heather's death?"  Tatya shook her head.  Those details were sketchy, at best.

"All I know," she replied in a low voice, "is that she was killed ten years ago, a few months before she was to marry Andy.  Rumor has it that she was into the occult.  But that could mean anything when Christians are involved.  There was an explosion, and according to what I've heard, the Phoenix House was involved in the destruction."

Such things had happened before.  Thirty-one years earlier, Winston Rayne had been on the trail of Joshua Cantwell, who sold his soul, and the souls of his two daughters, for immortality.  Blonde-haired Ruth was married with a young daughter, and she ran away from him.  Dark-haired Rebecca was another story entirely.  Tatya had rolled her eyes and thought derisively,  Oh yeah, blondes are a symbol of purity and dark-haired women are a symbol of evil.  I can tell a man wrote that!  That dichotomy was an on-going joke among the women of the Legacy.

Tatya returned her mind to the long-ago tragedy.  To please her father, Rebecca had followed her father onto his dark path, abusing the magick which was her legacy.  The file was a little vague about what happened next, exactly.  However, one thing was clear.  Mistaking one sister for the other, Winston Rayne had killed Ruth Cantwell  . . .  who had been the mother of Rachel Corrigan.

A short time later, Rayne himself was killed, setting several events into motion.  It was Tatya's firm belief that hating her sister, Rebecca had tricked the man into going after Ruth.  Perhaps using glamor to disguise Ruth's true appearance, so that Winston believe he was trailing Rebecca.  Or, disguising her own appearance, so that Rayne believed she was Ruth.

Tatya could actually understand Rebecca's hatred of her sister, especially after the death of the man she loved.  Ruth had everything Rebecca had ever wanted  . . .  the love and approval of their father for most of her life, a husband, and a child.  And then, when she had lost her beloved, Rebecca's grief and rage needed an outlet.

Which wasn't to say that she accepted what Rebecca had done, if Tatya was correct.  No matter what Ruth had, and Rebecca didn't have, she had no business abusing magick to destroy her sister.  She had doomed herself, even if it took thirty years for consequences to catch up with her.  But she did, finally pay.

In any event, Tatya believed that something similar had happened with Heather.  And it may have been a simple matter of being in the wrong place at the wrong time, and embarrassed by their gaffe (duh), someone in the Legacy had planted the story that Heather had been dealing in the dark arts, thus making it justifiable homicide.

After all, Tatya thought facetiously,  that wouldn't be very good for recruiting new people.  Join the Legacy and get tricked into killing innocent women!  And if she was correct, then Heather was the third innocent victim created by the Legacy.  And that was just the Rayne connection.  There were other connections, other families.

However, until she had more proof, Tatya would say nothing to anyone of her suspicions.  It was possible that Heather had been a sorceress . . . and she didn't want to be the one who had to tell Andy that.  For that matter, she didn't want Val to be the one to tell Andy.

Continued

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