See Part One (A) For Disclaimers

Renee already knew what Tatya would say.  She would say that he would talk to him in his own way, on his own time.  Val would say the same.  There was no sign of Val, so Renee figured that her precept was still talking to Jasmine about whatever what bothering the young teenager.  That was actually something that worried Renee.  Jasmine was normally a happy girl, and while she never liked arguments, Jasmine had never reacted in such a way to an argument between Dani and Andy in the past.

There's a first time for everything, Renee thought as she retrieved a can of Coke from the refrigerator, and Jasmine is getting to a difficult age.  She had only to think of Dani's tales of Kerry Barton at fourteen, in the months immediately following Melanie's death, and Renee cringed.  No question. The early teens were difficult years.

"So, is Priest Boy earning his keep yet?" Andy inquired laconically and Renee almost jumped out of her skin.  She spun around to face the former journalist and glared at him.  Truthfully, she wasn't sure the exact reason for her anger with him . . . because he had just scared the shit out of her, or his continuing attitude toward Philip.

"As a matter of fact, he is.  He's already giving us a new perspective.  And don't call him 'Priest Boy,' he's the same age as you," Renee answered, scowling.  She paused, then added anxiously, "And I hope Jasmine's all right.  She and Val have been talking for a while."  Andy's expression changed as well.

"I know.  Tatya has been in there for a while, too," he said.  He looked at Renee with a pained expression, then said, "Ren, I know it bothers you that I don't like him.  But Philip Callaghan spent many years in the Legacy, with Derek Rayne as his precept.  I don't trust him."

"You're doing it again, Andy.  Guilt by association.  So, because Val's father has turned against the Legacy, that makes Val guilty of the same crime?  And because Jonathan Boyle was a worthless piece of shit who beat up innocent women and children, does that mean you'll hold his son responsible for what he did?" Renee asked.

"Val and Nick Boyle were children.  They didn't have a choice in their relationships . . . and you're assuming that Douglas Barton is still alive.  Philip Callaghan had a choice . . . he had a choice in his friends, in joining the Legacy, in which House he went to," Andy said.  Renee sighed.  Here we go again, she thought.  Back to this.

"Andy, what happened to Heather was ten years ago, before Philip joined the Legacy.  Are you gonna hold that against him?  If you do, you're no better than Rachel Corrigan is for holding Derek Rayne responsible for what his father did!" Renee fired back, putting down her Coke can before she threw it on Andy.

Andy's jaw muscles clenched, and he said in a low voice, "That was a low blow, Renee Claire."  Renee bobbed her head.   Yes . . . but it was also true.  If the Legacy was to redeem itself for the mistakes it had made, it had to take responsibility . . . and hold the right people accountable, instead of blaming innocents.  In this case, Philip.

"Yes.  But you can't blame Philip for what happened to Heather, any more than you can blame Derek Rayne for Jan's death.  That wasn't his fault.  No, don't look away from me.  We all make choices.  Jan chose to try to help Dr. Corrigan in freeing those children.  But Dr. Corrigan didn't kill Jan.  Nor did Rayne.  That was the sorceress," Renee pointed out.

"Do you think I don't know that?  Jan was fighting so hard to break free from what had been done to her . . . but the fact remains, Rachel Corrigan was there when she died.  And if Corrigan had never been called back to the school, then Jan would still be alive.  If Derek Rayne had never heard of that damn school . . ." Andy answered tightly.

"And who called her back to the school?  Lorraine Compton.  Not Derek Rayne," Renee repeated.  She was beginning to get tired of this same old discussion and said, "You know, I've wasted enough energy on this argument.  I'm gonna go back to the control room, where I can get something done."  Andy started to speak, but Renee had heard enough.

She said, "You know, Philip is trying to help us on this case.  Val's right, he had no idea what he was getting himself into.  He's probably not even sure he wants to stay here.  But he's making an effort.  It's a pity the same thing can't be said of you."

"Renee . . ." Andy began.  He sighed, then went on, "There's a part of me which knows I'm being a bastard.  That Philip Callaghan is a good man, and that he'll make a helluva addition to our House.  But there's a stronger part of me which doesn't give a damn.   I want to tell you that I'll give Philip Callaghan a chance, but I can't make any promises."       "I'm not looking for promises, Andy.  Just for you to be fair to him.  Why is that asking so much?  You know, they talk so much about how unreasonable and illogical women are.  But where is the logic in holding a man responsible for what someone else did?  I have to get back . . . Philip is still learning his way around our computer," Renee said.

With that, she exited the kitchen, clutching the Coke can in her right hand.  Despite their conversation, despite Andy's admission that he was being a jerk, Renee knew she and the others were facing an uphill battle with their head of research.  She could only hope that it wouldn't take a tragedy to get through to Andy.

In another part of the House, Valerie Barton had sat down at the top of the steps and took her niece's hands.  It was where she and Jasmine often talked, and Val realized with a start that when she and Mel were kids, they had done the same thing.

As young girls, the two sisters would find a quiet space at the top of the stairs to sit and talk.  Val shook her head . . . strange, how the things from your childhood carried over into the adult years.

Jasmine was silent for several moments, just held tightly to Val's hands.  The young precept didn't speak.  Jasmine would start talking when she was ready.  At last, the girl said softly, "I hate it when they start shouting.  I hate it when Dani starts being mean to Andy, and I hate it when Andy starts being mean to Philip.  I don't see why everyone can't just be nice to each other, Aunt Val."

The girl's voice shook with a mixture of bewilderment and hurt. Val answered softly, "I know it's hard, honey.  But unfortunately, not everyone will get along all the time, even among people who love each other.  I loved your mother, but we often argued."  She winced, realizing how patronizing she sounded.

"I know that!  But it's all the time that they don't get along.  Just for once, I wish Andy wouldn't blame everyone else when he's in a bad mood, and I wish Dani wouldn't . . . push him!" Jasmine exclaimed.  She was fighting back tears, and Val enfolded the girl in her arms.  That was the only thing she knew how to do . . . she wasn't very good at talking about the current situation.  Holding Jasmine was all that seemed right.

"I know the last week has been hard on you, honey.  And I know I should have paid more attention, instead of spending so much time trying to make sure Andy is okay.  But you know the saying, 'the squeaky wheel gets the oil,' don't you?   That's what's happening here.  Andy tends to get very squeaky when he needs us the most.  Right now, he needs us lot.  But . . . I think we need each other," Val said softly.

Jasmine giggled and said, "Tatya said that, too . . . the squeaky wheel gets the oil, I mean . . . when she and Renee were talking about Dr. Corrigan in San Francisco.  She said Dr. Corrigan behaves like a little kid, 'cause Dr. Rayne wouldn't make her grow up.  Tatya said that it was silly, 'cause Dr. Rayne isn't responsible for Dr. Corrigan's problems, but he thinks he is, so he lets her behave like a brat.  At least, he did before the explosion.  Tatya says that Dr. Corrigan's daughter is more mature."

"Yeah, well, Tatya thinks Dr. Corrigan is silly anyhow," Val observed dryly.  An opinion Val shared.  Then she thought of something, another possible reason for how shaky her niece seemed to feel.  Val's own abilities as a mage has begun to manifest themselves in earnest when she was just about Jasmine's age.   The young precept cupped Jasmine's face in her hands and asked, "Jasmine?  What else is bothering you?"

At first, Val thought the girl would try to duck the question, then Jasmine sighed, "Last night, I had a dream that scared me.  I knew when I woke up that it was just a dream, but it still took me forever to get back to sleep.  I told Tatya about it when I got up, and she said it was probably because I had heard her talking about the destruction of San Fran House."

Val frowned . . . but that had been a few months earlier.  Why was her niece dreaming about it now?  The girl continued slowly, "It wasn't the first time I had the dream.  I didn't want to tell you, because you've had so much to worry about, especially since you got back from England.  You know, the problems with Uncle Nathaniel and Andy, and everything.  And because the Legacy has needed you so much, I . . .  Well, I know the Legacy is more important than one dumb kid."

"Jasmine, Jasmine, Jasmine!  I'm never too busy to listen to you, especially something as important as your dreams.  And one young girl is just as important as the entire Legacy, put together.  Besides, we come from a family of witches and mages, and I was just about your age when my powers began manifesting themselves.  When was the first time you had the dream?" Val asked.

Jasmine sighed, then answered, "The night San Francisco House blew up, although I didn't realize it at the time.  But what really scared me, Aunt Val, was that I saw Grandma in my dreams.  I saw her, and a man.  Two men, one of which I recognized.  It was Derek Rayne."  Val frowned thoughtfully . . . Derek Rayne and her mother?  Why would her mother be in Jasmine's dream about Derek Rayne?

"Jasmine," Val said slowly, trying to think the dream through, "you say that Derek Rayne was in the dream with your grandmother, my mother.  Along with another man.  Was the other man your grandfather?"  Jasmine immediately shook her head, and Val continued, "Do you remember anything that was said?"

"Not really, but I do remember what the man looked like.  He was almost as tall as Dr. Rayne, with black hair and pretty eyes.  He kinda looked like Dr. Rayne, actually.  And he was very, very sad," Jasmine answered readily.  She paused, then said, "Aunt Val . . . there was someone else.  It didn't make much sense then, but I understand now."

"What's that, love?" Val asked, thinking furiously.  Tall, black-haired, kinda looked like Derek Rayne himself . . . who could it be?  Her first guess, first instinct, had been Winston Rayne, but she had dismissed it.  According to the Legacy files she had read, Winston had turned to the dark at the end of his life.  His soul, trapped in the sepulchre he had discovered in Peru, had entered the body of his son Derek and tried to free the other fallen angels which dwelled within the sepulchres.

Then she reconsidered the possibility.  Doubtless, the Legacy files also considered the death of her mother a justifiable homicide, since her mother had been a witch.  What if the Legacy was wrong, again?  And it did make sense.  Winston Rayne, returning from the grave, to save his son.   How had William Sloan been sure that it was Winston Rayne who inhabited his son's body?  Because the demon within said so?  Like any sane member of the Legacy would believe a demon??????

In addition, Val knew of cases where demons assumed the form of someone beloved to a Legacy member.  Cases such as the discovery of the fifth sepulcher in Ireland, which had nearly destroyed San Francisco House.  There had been other cases, including here in Baltimore, especially after she and her uncle rebuilt Baltimore House, but that had been the most dramatic in the Legacy.

Val decided that she would have to look more closely at Winston Rayne's life and death.  But her niece's next words shocked her.  Jasmine said, "You asked who the other person in my dream.  Well, when I was dreaming, I thought Renee was in the dream, too. She was with the man, Dr. Rayne, and Grandma.  But it wasn't Renee at all . . . was it?  It was really Kristen Adams."  Val looked at her niece, stunned.

Kristen Adams???????  Now, either Val was in the middle of a gigantic coincidence, or . . .  No.  No, Val didn't believe in those.  Her niece had dreamed of her grandmother, Derek Rayne, his father, and Kristen Adams.  Winston Rayne, Kristen Adams, and Deirdre Barton were all dead.  Derek Rayne had been presumed dead for several days following the explosion.   Something danced along the edges of Val's consciousness, but dissipated as she reached for it.

Before she could reply, could even think of what to say, Tatya said, "Anything is possible, love.  Jasmine, could you go back to your room and write your dreams in your journal?  You know sometimes when you write things down, they make a little more sense.  Right now, I need to talk to your aunt for a few minutes."  Jasmine nodded and hugged Val, then rose to her feet and raced lightly down the hall to her room.

Val rose slowly to her feet, aided somewhat by Tatya's helping hand.  She looked after her niece, murmuring, "Tatya, the man she saw in the dream . . . it sounds like a description of Winston Rayne.  Did he really turn to the dark . . . or did something else happen?"  She looked back at her friend and Tatya shook her head, her expression thoughtful.  In fact, she looked as bemused as Val felt.  Which was somewhat comforting.

"I'm not sure," she said, "it's possible that the Legacy is lying.  You know as well as I do that's happened in the past.  And, it's just as possible that they believe it's true, and that he did turn to the Dark.  But there's something else that bothers me, has bothered me ever since Jasmine first told me about the dream.  Why would she dream about Derek Rayne?"

"Why would she dream about Rayne . . . and why didn't you tell me?" Val asked pointedly.  Her friend gave her a Look, and the young precept sighed, "Let me guess.  My niece didn't want to worry me, and it wasn't a life or death situation, so you agreed.  Okay, fair enough.  I have a possible explanation for Jasmine's dream, but we need to do some research first."

"Got it on your first try.  What exactly did you have in mind?  And before you ask, Philip is in the control room, checking into some ideas he had about the DH haunting," Tatya replied.  Val grinned . . . there were times when Val would swear her friend was a psychic.  Tatya had tested negative, but that meant little.

   "Good.  Philip is just the person I want to see.  C'mon, we are gonna check out a hypothesis of mine.  Not quite the scientific method, but I do wanna run this theory past Philip.  He knows Derek Rayne best out of all of us.  Correction.  Out of all of us, he's the only one who knows Derek Rayne, at all," Val replied, then added, "The more I know about what happened that night . . . "

"The more we can help Jasmine.  I know.  Winston Rayne had it wrong.  Faith doesn't need the whole truth.  But we do," Tatya replied.  She paused, shook her head, then added, "I will never understand how he could say something so dumb.  I mean, when I hear things like that, it's a lot more believable that he turned to the dark.  Faith has need of the whole truth, indeed!"  She snorted, shaking her dark head with disgust.  Val almost laughed at her friend, but restrained herself.

The fact was, her friend was right.  Val was a pagan, but she had been raised as a Catholic.  And in her years as a Legacy brat, then as an actual member of the Legacy, she had discovered that faith and �the whole truth' had little to do with each other indeed.  If anything, though, the whole truth had need of faith.  As a mage, Val had learned that faith was a most powerful form of magick.

Instead, she smiled at Tatya's obvious disgust and replied, "I know, kinda defeats the purpose of 'faith,' doesn't it?  Okay, then we go downstairs, and see what Philip knows about the night Derek Rayne almost died.  Keep me appraised about my niece's dreams, okay?  It may be more important than either of us realize."  It usually was.

On her way back from the kitchen, Renee almost ran into Tatya and Val.  Both looked serious, and they were heading into the control room.  Renee wondered what was going on, if something had happened to Jasmine to make Val look so concerned.  Only one way to find out, she thought, and I was heading back into the control room anyhow!  She paused, then realized that Val still hadn't given her what for about letting her sleep.  But Renee knew it was just a matter of time.

As Renee entered the control room, she heard Tatya asking Philip, "We have a few questions about the estruction of the San Francisco Legacy House, Philip.  We were hoping you could provide us with some insight into what happened."  Renee frowned . . . where the hell did that come from?   And why ask Philip?

"What do you mean, what do I know about the explosion?  I wasn't even in San Francisco when it happened!  How am I s'posed t' know anythin' about what caused the explosion?" Philip exclaimed, his body tensing.  Val and Tatya looked at each other, their expressions almost identical.  For her own part, Renee frowned, not at the words, but at the defensiveness in his voice.  Did he feel guilty for not being there?

After a moment, Renee conceded that was likely, especially if he also blamed himself for Kristen's death.  Val answered gently, "We know that, Philip.  But what did Nick Boyle tell you when he called?"  Renee saw the tension leaving Philip's body slowly.  The young priest looked embarrassed even, and just a little worried.  Perhaps at what he might have given away?

"Ahhh . . . he said there had been an explosion, and Derek had been badly hurt.  Could I get back t' San Francisco on the next flight, that kind of thin.'  While I was in Derek's hospital room, Kat Corrigan came in and told me that they had just found Derek.  She had just gotten out of school, and came right up t' Derek's room," Philip answered.

"But the explosion had occurred a week earlier," Val said with a frown, "and they had just found Dr. Rayne?  Had he been presumed dead?"  Philip nodded, his expression changing from defensive to thoughtful, and Val mused, "After a week, he's found?  Maybe he wasn't just presumed dead . . . maybe he really was."

"Jasmine said she saw Winston Rayne . . . or a man fitting that description . . . and Kristen in her dream," Tatya observed.  Val nodded, and Renee decided to focus on that.  If the original stories about Rayne were true, he had died battling evil.  And Kristen had died protecting Philip.  There was a pattern developing here.

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