Ch 3 - There are Secrets in the House of Raven

Sionn saw Aurora to her room after their night together in the French Quarter. It was without a doubt one of the best evening he had ever spent with a woman and as he looked into her dark, captivating eyes. He felt himself nervous at the thought of kissing her goodnight and for the first time in a long time he choose to not rush things with a woman and instead brushed on of his fingers on her chestnut brown chin and smiled as he spoke in his thick Scottish accent, “Gu’night lass. Get sleep, we will need it.”

He watched as she closed the door, glancing at each other until the last possible millisecond. He turned as the door clicked and Sam was standing there, his bushy brows cocked as the Dwarf looked up at him, “Lad, we need a moment.”

Sionn was about to answer but Sam turned and lead him to a small private room near where all his stacks of research and archived papers were. As he closed the door he clicked a small button on the wall and a second door opened that lead them down into the basement. Finally Sam closed the door from the stairs and turned to look at Sionn as he climbed onto a comfortable looking reading chair. Sionn looked at Sam and finally spoke, “Alright Sam, you’ve lead me all through the bleedin’ place, what is goin’ on?”

Sam spoke softly, “You need to be aware of something when you go there tomorrow lad.”

Sionn watched and waited, but Sam just looked at him. Finally Sionn spoke, “Well what is it ya stubborn old Dwarf?”

Sam furrowed his brow and spoke, “I promised yer Mum and Da that I would look after ya, you an’ your sister. You are walkin’ into hell goin’ to that place lad. What’s worse is I think you might do somethin’ stupid.”

Sionn was about to speak when Sam lifted his hand to silence him, Sionn closed his mouth and sat down, looking across the room. This was the most serious he had ever seen Sam and he suddenly realized it. Usually the two of them had some banter between them, an unspoken code of teasing one another, but that was gone now, Sam was looking at him like his own father would and Sionn was paying full attention now.

“The Poe’s you know they’re a bunch of snivelin’, scheme’n bastards aye?”

Sionn nodded his head and Sam continued, “I’ve been doin’ a little diggin’ lad, it’s no just the bow they be wantin’. The bow can no be operated by one of evil alignment, it’s like any other relic, it requires a certain type of user to be fully effective.”

Sionn furrowed his brows now and spoke, “Well that’s fine then Sam, Aurora would never give it over much less give herself over to use it.”

Sam shook his head, “Yer no listenin’ lad, they have ways to make the insensible seem sensible. Since the beginning before time was time we factions have worked together, and for the most part those moments when the factions crossed over it was for a common good, or goal, or purpose. The Black Horn is no the most powerful artifact on the planet, not on its own. It, like any locked door, needs a key. Hiawatha’s Bow is only named such because Hiawatha was the last known user. Someday it will take a new name, the name of the new user, the only lass who can unlock it.”

Sionn looked at the floor boards above as if he would be able to see right through them at Aurora and when he looked back at Sam the Dwarf was nodding, “Aye lad, that bow is unique and special, not only does it unlock the power of the Black Horn, it is only capable of being used to its full potential every few generations… someday however, it will be known as [em]“Aurora’s Bow”[/em]. That lass is far more powerful than she knows, and if the bloody Druids are able to persuade her to use it with the Horn the world will be in for another purging, of some sort.”

Sionn began to speak, “Sam I doubt…” Sam brought his hand up again and spoke, “The Poe’s are no to be underestimated Sionn, they have made people do what they didn’t want them to do without them knowing it for thousands of years, long before Aurora came around. I am not trying to be insulting, I know you have an eye for her lad, but remember to keep y’er head with ya tomorrow.”

Sionn nodded and Sam gave one quick nod back.

--
Morning came and Sionn was up at 4:30am. He made his way down to the lobby of Saint Peter’s and Sam was already at the desk. He looked up at Sionn and gave a small wink, then went back to his paper as he spoke, “Y’er the first here lad, I’m sure the rest will be along any moment.”

Aurora gave Sionn a shy smile as he gently touched her chin. She was naive in the ways of men, but her instincts told her that Sionn was not one to hurt her. She hoped. She'd had fun that evening.....and could feel her and the Scotsman growing closer. As she slowly shut the door, her dark eyes held his green ones until the door was closed.

Turning, she readied for bed with Beau watching her thoughtfully and Eryn pecking at the window wanting to be let into the room. She quickly opened the window, looking out over the city lights and sighed. Something was bugging her....something about the bow and the Horn, but she couldn't put her finger on it. Her gaze was pulled to the far side of the city where a cemetary lay. How she knew there was a graveyard there, she didn't know, but it seemed to call to her. She turned to look at the quiver of arrows and saw that the feathers decorating them were just barely moving, as if a soft breeze stirred them. Yet, there was no breeze. She looked out over the city again, straining to catch a glimpse of the far off graveyard. She quietly shut the window, turning to gaze upon the arrows again and her breath caught as she saw that they still stirred as if there was indeed a soft breeze. "Hiawatha's bow. It must be there in the graveyard", she whispered to herself. She looked to Beau who gave her a whine before she climbed into the bed with Beau jumping in next to her. It was hours before she finally slept.

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Aurora woke early, dark circles smudging beneath her eyes. She looked at the clock on the bedside table and groaned. 4:30 in the morning....why was she waking up so early? She'd not fallen asleep until around two. Rubbing her eyes, she lay there for a few minutes until Beau scratched at the door, wanting to leave the room. She was slow to leave the comforts of the bed and Beau gave a loud bark to get her to move faster. "Okay...okay, I'm coming." She opened the door, not seeing the worred look the great wolf gave her before he leapt out into the hall and made his way down to where Sionn and Sam were.

Aurora laid back down on the bed, feeling as if she were made of lead. She sighed again when Eryn began to make a ruckus, screeching as if something were wrong. "Okay.....okay, you wish to go out as well. I'll open the window and then go take a shower. Perhaps that will help." She made her way to the window and opened it only to feel a blast of cold air hit her in the face. She smelled the scent of the graveyard and looked out over the city once again. Eryn began to fly about the room, clearly not liking what was taking place, her cries becoming louder. "Eryn!! Please, little sister.....be still." But Eryn would not quiet and began to maneuver her way so that she was slowly backing Aurora away from the open window. She was on the floor, hopping at the small woman, pecking at her bare feet and drawing little beads of blood. "OUCH!!! Eryn!!! What are you doing?!!!" She was finally back by the bed where she fell back onto it, Eryn flying up to perch herself on the window sill, staring at Aurora. "You don't want me at the window? Why? It's just a cemetary, Eryn." Aurora was confused at the raptor's behavior, but had learned over the years to trust her animal companions, even when it didn't make much sense. "Hiawatha's bow is in that cemetary, Eryn. Eventually, I will have to go there." The great bird cocked her head as if to say, 'We'll see about that.'

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Down below, Beau heard Eryn's agitated cries first. His ears perked up and his amber eyes turned to the stairs he'd just come down. He knew Eryn's cries...knew the difference in them and he could also sense that something wasn't right all of a sudden with his mistress. He barreled into the lobby and his amber eyes stared straight into Sionn's startled green ones. Eryn's agitated cry could be heard again as Beau barked sharply at Sionn and Sam then turned to run back up the stairs to Aurora's room. The door that had been left open after she'd let Beau out suddenly slammed shut and as Eryn screeched loudly and Beau viciously pawed and scratched at the door, Aurora was strangely quiet.

Aurora found herself at the open window again, ignoring Eryn and her pecking as she stared across the city to where the cemetary was. "The bow is there...I know it is." Eryn was trying to get Aurora to back away from the window, sensing the evil that was trying to lure her mistress out and to the bow, leaving shallow wounds on Aurora's arms and hands.. The Poe's had clearly found it, but as Sam had found out....they needed Aurora to get it and use it.

Sionn was down talking to Sam when Beau suddenly came into the room and gave a muffled bark to Sionn. He turned to look at the wolf and the to Sam before walking over towards the beautiful canine, "Sam, I think he might be finally warming up to me a wee bit..." He suddenly heard the ruckus upstairs and the raptors shrieks, then Aurora's voice yelling in response. Without a word Sionn produced two ornately decorated silver hammers and they instantly charged with lightening as he raced up the stairs. Beau beat him to the door and was scratching frantically.

Sionn spoke to the wolf, "Aside beastie..." and the wolf responded as if he understood. Sionn spoke a word of magic and slammed both hammer heads against the door, the wood exploded in response and he pushed into the room, his hammers flashing brilliantly with purple and blue bolts of lightening. He saw Aurora standing at the window and the Raptor clutching and scraping at her arms. He ran over and went to grab her but Eryn screeched and clawed at him. He narrowed his eyes and yelled, "Shoo ya bloody menace! I'm try'n to halp her!"

The Raptor screeched all the louder and pecked at his hand. Sionn needed to touch Aurora, an attempt to break her trance but the raptor wouldn't let him near. Finally he brought the hammers up and spoke in a menacing tone..., "Now look ya wee wank, let me help her!" The raptor, like the wolf, seemed to understand and finally backed away slightly but kept a watchful glance on him. Sionn's hammers immediately stopped sparking and he tucked them into his coat as he reached out and touched Aurora. She snapped out of her trance and looked at him, her eyes were blank and hollow, she stared at him as if she did not know him at first but then her eyes softened again and he spoke, "What is goin' on lass? What's the matter?"

He looked down at her arms and turned to Sam who was now in the room, "Can ya get me some first aid supplies Sam, please?"

Sam nodded and left the room in haste as Sionn turned back to Aurora and gently stroked her cheek, "What was it?"

Aurora didn't feel the small wounds that Eryn was leaving as she stared out the window. All she could concentrate on was the cemetary and the bow that was hidden there. It pulled to her....as if someone or something was trying to pull her to it by any means available. She heard Sionn's shouts as if she were in a well and he was far away then she felt herself waking as if from a deep sleep. As she looked up into Sionn's green eyes she glanced at the window again and heard his questions.

"The cemetary....it calls to me. The bow is there, hidden somewhere." She shivered as if she were cold looking dow, n at her arms that were bleeding from dozens of shallow wounds, but her gaze was that of one who did not see them. "Something evil wants me to get the bow, Sionn. But if I don't get the bow then it will be lost." She turned her expressive eyes up to him, "It was so evil.....I've never felt anything like it before. I feel so cold."

Eryn was resting on her perch now, still watching Sionn but not trying to peck his eyes out while Beau was standing at the window growling fiercely. He turned to look to Sionn, giving him a soft 'woof' as if to tell him 'It has begun'.

Sam returned with the medical kit and Sionn helped Aurora sit on the edge of the bed. Sam was looking at Sionn with a knowing glance and Sionn spoke softly to his old friend, "Sam, would ya mind givn' us a moment alone?"

Sam nodded and looked at Aurora speaking with sincerity in his voice, "I'm glad yer alright lass."

He smiled softly and left the room. Sionn began to gently clean her wounds and wrapped them in clean gauze as he spoke, "Sam told me somethin' last night, something I think ya need to know."

Fifteen minutes later Sionn had finished dressing the wounds and had given Aurora all the information regarding the bow, the Poe's, how the bow was at it's most powerful when used in conjunction with the Black Horn, everything, including how she was destined to be the next barer of the weapons burden. He sighed softly and brushed back some stray tendrils of her dark black hair off her cheeks and spoke, "Listen lass, my Da and Mum sent us here to unravel all this, to make light of it and see that balance is maintained. I am not sure how T is going to respond but today we were supposed to go to the estate we know the Poe's make residence... I think instead it would be best if we went to the graveyard and recovered the bow."

She looked up at him and he continued, "My Da is the Lorekeeper, once we have the artifact we will go back to Scotland and together we'll sort it all out aye?"

Aurora listened to Sionn as he spoke while he dressed her wounds left by her vigilant raptor. When he was done, she felt him gently push back her hair that had fallen into her face. When he mentioned going after the bow instead of to the Poe's estate she looked up at him, her doe eyes filled with worry, confusion and more than a little fight. "I don't like being used like this, Sionn. And that's what the Poe's are doing, isn't it?" When he nodded his head to her she sighed, only to look up in startlement when he mentioned going back to Scotland with him and Torri.

"I.....I don't know, Sionn. I've never been away from my home until now....never truly been around people until now. And, I would hate to just suddenly intrude on your parents." That was when her cell phone rang sitting on the nightstand and she grabbed it, seeing that it was her mother.

"Hello, Momma.............Yes, I'm okay.........yes, Sionn told me, but it should've been you who told me the history of the bow.....I don't understand, what do you mean it wasn't for you to tell me?" Her voice was agitated as she talked to her mother, and it was clear that her mother, being something of a seer, knew what had happened. "I see......okay, Momma.....I love you too." She handed the phone to Sionn, "Momma wishes to speak with you."

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"Sionn.....you take care of my baby. Things are going to happen with her that she will not understand and she will need her new friends more than ever. It wasn't my destiny to take her on this path...it was yours and your family's. And whatever you do....don't leave Eryn and Beau behind when you go to Scotland. They are more than what they seem, Sionn."

He looked into her eyes sadly as she asked him the question, "Am I being used?" All he could do was nod, it was true, she was being used, it wasn't his place to lie to her. All he could think of at the moment was that at all costs the bow and the horn had to remain separate. He wasn't sure if this was the right path or not, but one thing he did know was that when it came to matters like this his father knew a lot more than he did. They had been sent to figure out the secret, to discover what was going on and what the significance between the Druid who attacked and took the page from his fathers book and the Black Horn, what they had found was something much, much deeper. He wasn't sure if he was right, but he was sure he had to make a decision, and that decision was to get Aurora and the bow back to Scotland.

As the phone rang he jumped slightly and instinctually reached for his hammers. As Aurora answered he instantly calmed and was almost startled when she handed him the phone. Clearing his throat softly he spoke, "Hello mad'am... aye. I will see to it that she is kept safe, My Mum and Da will know what to do. Aye I'll see to it that the beasties are well cared for... farewell to you as well."

He hung up the phone and handed it back to Aurora and spoke softly, I think that our adventure is about to get a whole lot more exciting lass.

Aurora didn't smile at Sionn. She didn't look at Sionn. She did stand up and walk over to her dresser where she put her hands on the surface of it and looked at herself in the mirror. The girl she saw in the mirror was the same one....and yet not. She was changing and she knew it....could feel it. Beau came over to her and nudged her leg, whining at her. She looked down at him and gave him a small, shaky smile then looked back at her reflection.

"She knew....and there's more she's not telling me", she whispered to herself as if she'd forgotten that Sionn was still there. Beau whined again, turning his amber eyes to the Scotsman. Eryn was strangely quiet, resting on her perch....watching her mistress. "Why didn't Momma tell me about all of this? Why did she keep it from me?"

She turned around to face Sionn, "What else? Is there more? How am I supposed to become the bearer of my ancestor's bow? I am just a woman with no exceptional abilities....clearly not like you or your sister's. I was sent to find the bow and return it to my ancestor's burial mound." She was trying to make sense of it all, especially why her mother wasn't honest with her from the beginning. Her gaze again turned to the window and she felt the pull again. First, she had to get the bow.....next, she had to decide what she was going to do. Was she going to trust a man she barely knew, one who was charismatic and clearly a charmer? Or did she do what she was told to do to begin with and retrieve the bow only to return it to Hiawatha's burial place?

Sionn let Aurora have her space and work through her thoughts. When she finally she turned to look at him he stepped over to her and looked at her seriously with his deep green eyes, "I wouldn'a cut yourself short just yet Aurora. You need to remember that T and I are from a different family than yours, an' a different culture. Things are done differently in different places of the world. One thing I can tell you about artifactual items however is that if you are destined to wield one there is more in ya' than yer given yourself credit."

He gently placed his hand on her shoulder, it was a touch which was soft and understanding, "My Da' is the Lorekeeper of the Stormborn. He will know a lot more about this than I do. We would never force ya to come with us, but I would strongly advise you to bring the bow to him, to let him explain what he knows, and then we can take it from there. If you are concerned about travel don't worry, we can get ya there."

He could see she was concerned, it was all over her face. He stepped back a moment and let her process again before speaking, "If the Poe's could have recovered the bow by themselves they would have by now... Let us help you, let us protect you."

Aurora sighed, "I am concerned with how I'm getting there and just dropping in on your parents. But, Sionn.....the bow was supposed to be returned to Hiawatha's burial mound....at least that's what I've always been taught. And now everything is different. What am I supposed to believe? Momma raised me to believe one thing and now it's all changed. The bow has been around for forever, not just centuries. And there's always been a bearer of the bow." She ran her hands through her long, dark hair as she turned around clearly frustrated.

Beau sat patiently, watching his mistress sort through it all. His eyes were older than what he was and when he looked to Sionn his amber eyes turned a dark brown, almost black for a couple of seconds then back to amber. He then turned back to Aurora and gave her a soft 'woof'. Aurora looked down at him, "What am I supposed to do, Beau? Who do I trust and who do I believe?" Suddenly, she heard a voice inside of her head, ~You trust that which you've always trusted, Rory. Your heart.~ She looked around to see who was talking to her and looked at Sionn. "Did you hear that? A voice...did you hear it?"

Beau walked over to stand next to Sionn and nudged his hand as Eryn also fluffed her feathers, looking at Sionn. ~Sionn....her mother was right. We are more than what we seem to be. We are Aurora's protectors until the bow is handed to the next bearer and then we will be their protectors.~ Beau gave Aurora a wolfish grin, ~Don't be frightened, Aurora. The voice you hear is mine. I have been watching over you for years as has Eryn. All will be explained once we reach the shores of Scotland with the bow.~

Aurora looked down at Beau, her dark eyes wide with astonishment then she looked back up at Sionn and then to Eryn. "I guess I'm going to Scotland with you, Sionn."

Sionn was unsure of what to say, or how to say it. Ultimately he needed to get Aurora back to his father in Scotland so that the authenticity of the artifact could be verified as well as keep Aurora safe from whatever it was that was trying to pull her strings. He couldn't force her however, the choice would have to be hers, all he could do was encourage her to come with him and hope she did. he could see the confusion and the struggle on her face and his heart went out to her. There was an overwhelming urge to grab her and hold her against him, to tell her that everything would be alright... but he didn't want to be inappropriate or push things with her, again, this overwhelming sense to 'do the right thing' when it came to a woman was overpowering him. He wasn't sure he liked it, but at the same time, he was reveling in it.

Suddenly, a voice entered his head and he looked around, instinctually grabbing at his hammers, but there was nothing, and then Beau's eyes shifted. Sionn looked at the wolf carefully and then the voice entered his mind a second time. He looked at Eryn who fluffed her feathers and gave what seemed to be a slightly smug, 'cherp' and then looked back out the window. Beau rubbed his muzzle against the palm of Sionn's hand and a sense of peace came over him. Looking up at Aurora as she finally spoke about going to Scotland brought a smile to Sionn's face. He wasn't sure if he was more happy about her bringing the artifact back to his families castle, or that he would get to be with her for a while longer, he felt his face grow warm with the anticipation of that but cleared his throat softly and tried to regain his composure.

He walked over to Aurora, "No that your companions aren't capable, but I will do all I can to help you, and keep you safe."

Eryn glanced sideways at him and Beau gave a small, 'woof' as he turned excitedly and raced downstairs, his claws clicking off the hardwood the whole way. Sionn turned to Aurora and smiled again, "Let's go reclaim your heritage."

Her hollow eyes scanned the graveyard. She watched patiently as the cool morning air pressed against the dew and squeezed out a soft haze which rose and created a thin mist that hovered a few feet off the grass. The simple looking gravestone marked the location of “James F. Kennsington” but all the research suggested that this was in fact Hiawatha’s gravesite. The rouse was set in place by the Factions of Good and specifically the Sentinels upon the great Native Americans death. The knowledge of the bow needed to be underplayed and specifically the location of its resting place had to be kept secret until the next bearer walked the planet.

Arawela felt a small smile shift onto her face. It was a smile that seemed sweet and innocent, the kind of smile that was shared between potential lovers when they had their first chance meeting. The difference was that her smile concealed a sinister intent, the intent to see bloodshed, and what more appropriate place to spill the life of a person than this ancient graveyard. She had tracked the two Scots, they felt they were so clever and secretive in their mannerisms, but their investigative techniques left a trail so wide a bus could drive down the center of it.

Despite her uncles telling her to stay away and allow the recovery of the bow by its new bearer, Awawela decided it was best to take this matter into her own hands, after all, someday she would lead House Raven, and what better way to begin that legacy than to steal the artifact on her eighteenth birthday, today in fact, the first day of her adulthood. She was after al a highly gifted magic user, and her natural ability to bend nature to her personal bidding was unprecedented, even in her great house of powerful Druids. Like her great great grandfather Edgar, she too felt all nature tip its hand in her direction, and though she didn’t realize it yet, this kept her teetering on the edge on sanity and savage madness.

She whispered to herself as she stared intently at the gravestone, her entire body hidden in the thick undergrowth fifty yards or so shivered with the anticipation of striking only when the time was right, “Soon love, soon we shall dent this world with our own mark of intent… soon we will pick our teeth with the bones of our enemies and victims.”

Rhain and Torri sat together in a darkened room. His eyes looked wide and naive to her hardened ones and he felt slightly vulnerable being put on the spot like this. Still, he understood why, but it would be the first time another soul would be observing his abilities since his parents were around.

"I suppose the simplest thing I can show ya is this," he began. He pulled one of his crystals from his pocket and held it up. It was already glowing faintly, yet so subtle one may not notice until they made the connection that it wasn't quite connected to the available light sources. Rhain took a small but audible breath and as he let it out, the crystal began to glow brilliantly until it looked as though he were holding a lit light bulb in his hand. The room illuminated completely. Rhain held it up and glanced at Torri, only to see that she looked relatively unimpressed, before letting it fade back to normal and slipping it back into his pocket. "There's also this," he said.

Taking a piece of paper, he held his hand over it and an orb of whitish yellow light formed in his palm and engulfed the space within his curled fingers. Then a beam shot out from it, hitting the paper. Quickly, a hole began to burn into it and the paper ignited. Holding the flaming paper, Rhain suddenly realized that he held something on fire and . . . now what? Trying not to look like he had done this without any forethought whatsoever, he blew on it. Then blew on it harder . . . then waved it around . . . finally, as the flame approached his fingers, he threw it to the ground and stomped it out, smiling sheepishly at the woman.

"Sorry 'bout that..." he said, "usually I use that little trick to make campfires. Anyway, I've got a few other tricks up my sleeves, but I'm afraid if I tried to show ya, ya might get hurt. I've been known to damn near blind people. Mostly I work with light." He then sat back and waited for her reaction as he couldn't read much of any at all from her face alone.

Torri watched Rhain as he used the abilities he’d learned in the past to illuminate the crystals he possessed. She was impressed with the fact he’d at least learned how to do that without some formal training. Clearly he was gifted. Perhaps that’s why his family was so intent on finding him. After all, what one feared, they aimed to destroy.

Fools.

But as she saw him ignite the paper using his abilities, she saw the danger in that and knew if he didn’t learn how to use his abilities and control them, they were all in grave danger. Including himself. She would have to broach this part of his life with a great deal of caution and a lot of patience. Something she was not known well for. The patience part, anyway. Caution was something she always had.

As the light faded from the burnt paper Rhain created, Torri let out a soft cough as the acrid smoke reached her. The room grew dark and silent yet again. Finally Rhain could hear some movement and with a soft word a small crystal in Torri’s hand began to glow until it grew bright enough to illuminate the room. Sitting it down between them, their figures created strange shadows on the walls all around them.

”Ya done well fer yerself, Rhain. Considering ye have no formal training. Makes my job slightly easier to do. To a point, anyway. But ye have to trust me. An’ that’s something neither one of us is good at. I ‘spose we’ll learn how to do so. Sooner rather than later would be better.”

Torri’s brows furrowed slightly at that thought and she visibly shook her head slightly looking away from Rhain as though she were mentally telling herself something. Finally she took a deep breath and opened her mouth to say something else when she heard some movement and noise coming from down the hall. It wasn’t until she felt the pull of magic she knew something was wrong.

Scooping up the crystal and tucking it back in her vest, she was out the door of Rhain’s room and making her way to Aurora’s room just after Sionn shattered the door with her bow in hand and a dark bolt set to the string and ready to be pulled back when she stood in the doorway and listened to the exchange between Sionn and Aurora. Glancing at Rhain then back to the two in the room and Sam, she knew they couldn’t play it safe anymore. The Poe’s were stepping up the stakes and therefore, they would have to as well.

She looked over at Rhain and spoke softly.

”Nothing like on the job training, lad.”

She looked over at Sionn and Aurora then to Sam.

”Finally….we can do something besides sitting and waiting like goat tied to a tree waiting for the wolf to strike.”

She looked at her brother and nodded slightly then thumbed towards Rhain.

”I’ll keep Rhain with me and you keep Rora with you. I’ll let Tae know what we’re doing and he can tap into the different systems about the city and help guide us using modern technology while we use good, ol’ fashioned whoop ass, ya?”

As they came into the main room and Sionn looked around curiously at the smell of burnt paper he looked to Torri as she spoke and he touched Aurora gently on the small of the back before stepping forward and speaking to his sister, "There has been a, slight change of plans."

He looked back at Aurora and then to Torri, "We won't be going to the Poe estate, there is nothing there. It turns out that Aurora here is most likely the next bearer of Hiawatha's bow. Now, not knowing entirely what that means for us, or the world, we need to get the bow and get back to Da who will certainly at least have some idea as to how to proceed."

Torri was looking at him with slightly furrowed brows, clearly she wanted to know why he had not shared this with her earlier and he looked at her with love and spoke before she could say a word, "This information is new to me as well T, I just got it from Sam late last night and from... well Beau this morning."

He looked down at the wolf who stood loyally at Aurora's side before turning back to his sister, "In the wee hours of the mornin some amazing secrets have come to life, namely that after a great deal of time in a hidden tomb, the ancient artifact known as "Hiawatha's Bow" will soon be makin' an appearance again in our world."

He looked at Sam who nodded in agreement and continued, "We will be heading to the East, about 2 miles to the cemetery, there is a grave sight that I think will suit our needs just fine to this end.

Beau brushed his head against Sionn's hand and he scratched the wolf behind the ear before looking at his sister for her reaction and response.

”A freakin’ cemetery, Sionn? Really?”

She wasn’t real happy at the idea of going into a place like that but she finally agreed, grudgingly.

”Fine. If that’s where we haf’t’go, then that’s where we haf’t’go. But you know how I dislike those places. Not to mention the affect they have on Tae….even through electronic means….”

She looked over at Rhain then back to Sionn.

”Gimme 30 minutes to get cleaned up, changed and armed and I’ll be ready. Happy feet here will do th’same.”


Turning, Torri made her way up the stairs and into her room, shutting the door loud enough for everyone to hear. As she started the water to her shower, she glanced out the window towards the direction of the cemetery. She detested cemeteries. There was unlimited potential for the right person to tap into. And the Poes were the right people to tap into it.

With an involuntary shiver that crept down her spine, she stripped and made her way into the shower. 25 minutes later, she was down the stairs, dressed, armed and ready to go, as promised. She noticed Rhain, Sionn and Aurora talking quietly and wasn’t sure if she liked that or not. Torri, ever the suspicious one, wasn’t so sure the Poes were going to use that woman to somehow get to Sionn….and if that were the case…..

Taking a deep breath and letting it out slowly, she put on the most pleasant look she could and joined them.

”Are we all ready to get this party started?”

Sionn could see it on his sisters face, though she could hide herself away from everyone he couldn't hide from him. She left and returned 25 minutes later and her face was showing him her true feelings though she hid them from the group. He excused himself from the group and whispered to her, "Trust me, I don't want ta go into that cemetary any more than you do, but I didn'a hide the bow there, someone else did and if that's where it is that's where we need to go."

He handed her his iPhone and slide the screen to unlock it. As Torri looked down she say the text message from their father:

"Recover the item and get it, as well as it's bearer back to Scotland. Be safe and ready for anything."

The took the phone back from her and whispered, "Da will know what to do, because between you and me I've no bloody clue."

He turned and walked over as the group looked at them and he spoke, "Alright gang, let's go see what we can see."

Sam nodded and handed Torri a radio. She would know it as a secured two line that was connected to one under his desk. He was already wearing an earpiece that looked like an innocent hearing aid and he tapped it with a small smile, not saying a word. Sionn walked out into the cold, damp morning and spoke, "Reminds me of back home aye?"

The four of them began heading the short distance east to the large, overgrown cemetery, a cemetery that appeared to have not seen a care taker in 50 years. As they reached the gate Sionn looked up at the rusted iron and then back to Aurora, "What do you feel Aurora? Anything that is leading us along?"

Seeing the text message from their Da let Torri know whatever they had to do to get the bow was necessary. Obviously the Poes wanted it bad enough they were willing to expose themselves. And that was NEVER a good thing. With another glance at Rhain and a small nod, she let him know she would be with him through thick and thin.

She remained silent as they made the walk to the cemetery. Torri’s eyes were all over the place, looking for anything that would give her any inkling they weren’t alone, but with the shroud of mist, she knew she wouldn’t see a thing until she was supposed to.

Lovely.

As they stood at the cemetery gates, she felt as though a cold hand had reached out and grabbed a hold of her heart and began to squeeze. By the powers that be, she wanted to run away from this place and never return. But she couldn’t. She HAD to move forward. She HAD to recover the bow as her Da needed them to. They already had to bow handler. The last piece would be the hardest.

As it always was.

Aurora stood there at the rusty gate and shivered. It was in there....she felt it calling to her. Hiawatha's bow was pulling her to it. She heard Sionn's voice and looked up at him, "This way", was all she said as she pushed open the rusty gate. The hinges squeaked loudly as Eryn flew in to take a look ahead of them from the air. Beau stayed at Aurora's side opposite of Sionn, constantly sniffing the air and watching.

Aurora was as if in a trance, her eyes taking on that hollowed look that she'd had in the room back at Sam's. She walked further into the cemetery, absently stepping over roots and broken tombstones never tripping....yet never looking down either. She stopped at a huge gnarled cypress tree. She looked up then down. Finally, she walked around it where she suddenly stopped. At first, one wouldn't see the moss and vine covered mausoleum....it was small, only standing about 8 foot high and about 6 foot wide. But, between the large cypress tree and the moss and vines covering it, it was easily missed. She reached out to pull away the vines and soft moss, the amulet she wore around her neck beginning to glow. "Here...it is here", she said in a monotone voice. Her actions grew more agitated as she pulled and tugged on the vines, finally revealing what looked to be a lock of some sort. She touched the amulet, then removed it from around her neck. Shaped like an arrowhead with tiny, intricately carved animal heads on it it fit only one way into the lock shaped the same way. Only, inside the lock were the imprints of the very animals heads and one had to make sure they lined up perfectly in order to unlock the hidden door. She placed the amulet into the lock and heard a 'click' then she turned it counter clock-wise once. There was a grating noise as a portion of the wall suddenly slid open revealing a darkened interior with what looked like a sarcophagus, only this sarcophagus had no name...nothing on it at all.

"There....inside is the bow."

Rhain had spent some time in cemeteries so he didn't get the willies the way some of his comrades seemed to be. What did give him the willies was the girl that was leading them. The way she walked over the ground as though she were floating, the way she spoke, as though she were a mere shell and something was speaking through her. . . it wasn't right and it wasn't any magic that was in any way familiar to him. The mist settled over them like dew in the early morning and gave the air a wet sort of chill. Somehow graveyards had a way of making the whole world fall gray and Rhain had to resist the urge to break it up with light. Instead, he glanced around himself, keeping his sharp ears tuned for extra movements. Feeling his connection to the wolf, Rhain managed to cautiously relax, knowing it would be foolish to let his guard down. With the knowing nod from the young woman, Torri, Rhain found himself prepared. For what? Well, that he wasn't quite sure of yet, but he was ready for action, whatever that may be.

There was something sinister in the air and Torri could feel it as sure as she felt the string and shaft of dark bolt she had set on her bow. Her thumb absently toyed with the bolt as Aurora led them through the misty cemetery. Torri and Rhain brought up the rear and both of them were as alert as any two beings could be. As they moved, their steps were sure but light and they walked making a complete turn with every other step to make sure they weren’t caught unawares in any direction.

Torri’s ears strained to hear anything the others couldn’t and she knew Sionn was doing the same. Even as Aurora seemed to be under the influence of something none of them could touch, they could all feel it and that made this whole scenario even more tense.

The musty smell of death and decay reached her nose as the tomb was opened and she made a face that let everyone know just how much she detested that odor. But she knew there would be more death if she let her guard down or got spooked to quickly so she took a deep breath, let it out slowly and settled once more.

Now was not the time to let her own discomforts hinder her ability to do what she has been trained to do.

Arawela watched as the four moved through the mists she was creating, a little but effective spell that her uncle had taught her, the same spell in fact that he had used to a larger scale when he had entered their home only last week. She laughed inwardly at how childish these two Scots siblings were, simple beings with little use, she would kill them instead of enslave them.

As they approached the tomb and opened it she noted the look on Torri's face, again she smiled and then closed her eyes as she pressed her magic into the mists, causing it to become slightly acidic. The sensation any bare skin would feel would be just a slight tingle, almost the same as mosquitoes biting but the effects could run much deeper should they linger too long in the mists.

Torri stood ever vigilant as she looked around, straining to hear or see anything but all she saw was more mist. Lots and lots of mist. In fact, it seemed to be getting thicker instead of dissipating with the heat of the day. While it was still early morning, it was still morning and by now, the mist should start to be lessening instead of increasing.

The hairs on the back of her neck rose in warning. It wasn’t natural mist. Of that she was absolutely positive now. She hurriedly glanced at Sionn and was getting ready to say something when she felt it. At first, it was nothing but as the seconds ticked by, Torri suddenly realized what she was feeling was a burning sensation but not on just the surface of the skin. It seemed to penetrate through the layers of skin and increase the painful sensation even more.

”Dammit! Sionn! It’s a trap!”

By now, the other parties were feeling it and she knew the caster knew it. That meant the spell was getting ready to increase tenfold. She looked over at Rhain and saw the anxiousness in his eyes when he glanced at her.

”We have to get the hell out of here! And we need to get rid of this mist!”

Looking back at Sionn to make sure he was getting Aurora, she pulled her bow up and drew the string back. All she needed was to hear Sionn’s voice give her the go ahead and she would clear a path for them. It wouldn’t be the prettiest of paths, but it would give them what they needed. Her hand trembled slightly as she fought back the sensation to grab at her face and rub the burning sensation away but she had to stay herself and make sure she waited until the right time to move.

Sionn, like Torri, was noticing this mist was beginning to have a familiarity that he wasn't happy with, it was only a millisecond after he felt the prickling on his skin that he hear Torri's voice and he ran up to Aurora but he did not do as Torri thought he would, he looked to Rhaine and Torri and spoke calmly, "Get close"

AS the four huddled up right over the grave he focused his magic and spoke words of magic. Lifting his hand up over his head a sphere of ice erupted and encircled them. It was as clear as glass and over a foot thick. Instantly the air within got cold and he rotated his hand slowly so that his palm was now facing down. Fresh water began to trickle off the shield, though it didn't melt, and diluted the acidic water that had began touching them, "Not that I am tryin' to start a wee wet t-shirt contest in the middle o' this grave yard, but it will dilute the the effects of whatever hit us."

He stood quickly and withdrew his second hammer. There was no elemental charge to them yet, he was waiting to figure out what was out there and waiting for them, he got himself back to back with Torri and whispered over her shoulder, "Nice and calm, like just before ole' muddy bootprints met us last week aye?"

Torri turned and gave him a look of trepidation and he winked with confidence as he and his sister scanned the graveyard that seemed to be getting darker by the minute with dense fog.



She saw the look of panic on Torri's face and heard the fear in her voice. It was all she could do to not burst out in laughter at the chaos she was causing. She thrived on chaos, lived on it, enjoyed bringing fear into the hearts of those whom she wanted to affect. Suddenly however the other Fara moved deliberately and calmly, casting a spell that was now protecting them from her beautiful mist.

She bit her tongue and furrowed her eyebrows, perhaps these Fara weren't as stupid as she had assumed, her uncle seemed to walk right over them last weekend. When he told her the story she figured this would be a breeze and she would be home with the bow by lunch. Now she had a Fara female with a look of anger on her face, a scruffy looking barbarian of a Scotsman looking around intently, a warm skinned woman that seemed entranced and a handsome Fara with hammers that could think on his feet. She smiled softly and the natural beauty of her femininity seemed to glow as she realized there was finally a challenge to be had.

She stayed put for now, looking around the area for something that would give her the jump in this situation, she had hoped the acidic mist would prickle them a little longer and they would just scurry off so she could grab her bow and go home. Then she saw it, the exposed roots of a live oak. Perfect, there was nothing more New Orleans than Live Oak trees, and there were fewer trees on the planet with such natural magic harnessed in their dense wood. She focused on the several trees that were around the four and focused her magic, pushing her power into the bark of the trees and pressed herself through the branches, out the limbs and caused the leaves to start popping off. Hundreds and hundreds of large oak leave began to fall onto the ice shield and slowly obscure the vision of those inside, it would only take a minute or so to cover it up completely.

Aurora was only vaguely aware of the sharp little stings on her skin just as she was vaguely aware of Sionn's spell to keep them protected. But, when the leaves of the cypress tree began falling on the ice shell surrounding them her delicate, dark eyebrows furrowed together as she looked around. She began to draw intricate patterns into the air chanting in her native tongue. It was beautiful, this song of her ancestors' and as she sang a light breeze began, keeping the falling leaves swirling just above them. After a minute or two she stopped singing and faced the sarcophagus.

She ran her hands lovingly over the marble tomb, feeling for something her eyes still hollow. Suddenly, a ghostly smile appeared on her face and those around her would hear three clicks right before the sarcophagus began to slide open revealing a very empty interior except for an object wrapped in a beautiful Native American blanket. The blanket was old and yet the colors not faded. On it were the pictures of an owl, a wolf, a hawk and a bear. Again, Aurora made intricate designs over the blanket, chanting once again. Again, those around her would notice a cloud begin to take shape over the blanket covered object at first in the shape of an owl, then a wolf, then a hawk and finally a bear. Each smokey figure swirled about then went to pass through each one of the group and then back to Aurora where they entered her body but didn't leave. Once the final apparition disappeared into her did she lovingly pick up the blanket wrapped item and cradle it to her chest.

"The bow is now under my protection." She turned to look at Sionn then Torri and finally Rhain. Just as she did so, the leaves stopped swirling above their protective ice barrier and covered it, making it difficult to see anything. Her eyes began to clear and as they did so...so did her mind. She blinked, as if waking up from a nap and looked down her dark eyes widening. "The bow....we've recovered it."