Trouble no. 2 RavenCroft Collection

The next morning Bastion found his new daughter-in-law, Sable, reading in the kitchen when he came down to breakfast. The relative quiet of the kitchen surprised him. Usually, his grandchildren were sitting with her eating breakfast.

“Kahner took their breakfast up to them this morning,” Sable said from behind her book. “You know, because of our guest sleeping in the other room?”

Bastion noted Sable sounded slightly perturbed. Having seen Kalabernus and Ariana return to the house the night before, Bastion knew they were curled up in the living room together where they fell asleep. The couple had been up talking much of the night.

Crossing the room to the coffee pot he caught sight of her book cover and paused briefly, brow lifting in surprise. “Find something interesting to read, did we?”

Sable peered over her book “Hhhmm? Yes, it’s really quite fascinating.”

“Oh? Why’s that? What’s it about?”

“A family with paranormal powers,” she laughed. “Seems almost ironic considering.”

Bastion harrumphed softly. “Ironic, right. Is the story any good?”

“Actually it’s quite good. This David Pearson guy could almost be writing about this family if I didn’t know better.”

“Where’d you find that anyway?”

“What? The book?” Sable inquired, thinking his interest odd. “I’ve had it since before I came here. Brought it with me. I understand it’s part of a series. Mackenzie saw me reading it the other night and asked to borrow it. So, I’m trying to finish it.”

Eyes twinkling Bastion grabbed a mug and poured himself a cup of coffee. “Did she? How did you say you came by that book again?”

“I didn’t actually,” Sable replied with a frown. Her head shifted slightly and she eyed him from behind her book while taking a bite of her scrambled eggs. Distracted by something she thought she’d heard in the living room both their heads jerked in that direction.

Bastion scowled. “I swear it’s like I’m still surrounded by a bunch of juveniles!” he vented, his gaze piercing through the screen. He knew exactly what was about to happen.

Sable chuckled, her book forgotten for the moment.

“You want I cover for you?” she inquired, getting up from her chair. Rubbing her hands together, she moved toward the door connecting into the living room.

“Yes, please.” Bastion hung his head as he shook it. “And you wondered why I kept my ability to read minds from them.”

Sable just smiled in good humor and winked. Stepping through the door she stretched her arm out and whispered loudly to the figure hovering over the couple sleeping on the couch.

“Don’t you dare!”

Kahner looked back at her with a guilty expression. Poised ready to drop a giant red water balloon on his brother’s head, he halted mid throw.

“Oh, come on!” Kahner whispered back. Lifting his arms into a shrug, he allowed the balloon to droop over the back of his hand. “I’ll never get a chance like this again!”

“Got that right,” came a growl from the couch. Rolling Ariana to the floor as she giggled, Kalabernus raised up without warning and slammed Kalturek’s hand holding the balloon against his own chest.

“Awe, man!” Kahner exclaimed as a large water mark spread down the front of his shirt when the balloon burst. Water dripped from his hands and arms as well as down his jeans.

Ariana wrinkled her nose up at Sable in appreciation as she smiled. “Thanks.”

“Don’t mention it. We ladies have to stick together in this house, I figure.” Catching sight of something through the front window that was sitting on the patio she tilted her head curiously. “Wonder what that is?”

Everyone turned to look in the direction she was.

“What’s what?” Kahner asked, moving to the end of the couch to get a better view, he spotted what his wife was looking at. “That’s odd. It’s too early for deliveries.”

Striding toward the front door he opened it and brought the parcel in from outside. “Looks like it’s for you Kalabernus.” He handed it off to his brother.

“I didn’t order anything.”

Taking the box from his brother he made quick work of breaking the tape then opened the flaps.

“Stop!” Bastion shouted suddenly from the kitchen doorway. He’d gotten the image of his son opening the package too late. A split second later Ariana was screaming and Kalabernus could be heard roaring with rage.

Lifting from within the box a life size baby doll he flung it across the room. The chest cavity of the doll had been ripped open and the guts of a small cat or dog had been placed within it. Blood oozed from the doll and dripped to the floor. Kalabernus’s hands, covered in the blood, shook as he stared at them, his face registering a visceral desire to pulverize the sender.

Kalabernus was unsure when exactly his feelings had changed about the impending baby. Maybe it had been last night, standing outside of his truck as he’d watched Ariana sleep curled up in its seat. Or maybe it had been during the night as he told Ariana of his family and about the almost supernatural abilities siblings had been born with. But one thing he knew for certain, he wanted the baby Ariana carried just as much as he wanted the woman who carried it. He’d be damned before he’d allow anyone to harm either one. The stalker had gone too far.

Kalabernus raged, pacing the living room as Ariana huddled on the floor near the couch. Hands fisted over her mouth as she rocked in place, she stared in horror at the baby doll lying on the floor across the room.

“I don’t… I don’t understand,” she wailed in dismay. Confusion and fear contorted her porcelain features into an anguished mess. “How does he know?” she cried, her gaze jerking toward the giant of a man who abruptly stopped pacing. “Kalabernus, how can he possibly know? We just found out last night. I just found out we’re having a baby last night and I’ve told no one!”

“Wait, the only two places you’ve been since we learned you were expecting was here and…”

“In my truck,” Kalabernus finished for Kahner.

Sable’s head jerked toward Bastion. The same thought running through both their heads was now running through Kahner’s.

“The truck is bugged,” Kahner said, voicing that which everyone was thinking.

“And or the house,” Sable offered, gaining Bastion’s attention.

Lifting his hand to his mouth Bastion placed a finger across his lips, shushing everyone by shaking his head silently. Then turning toward Kahner, using sign language, he informed him that everyone should stay put till his return. He was about to head down the hallway when he noticed the leather-bound book lying on the coffee table. Snapping his fingers to gain Kalabernus’s attention he gestured toward him, the book, and Ariana with a questioning look.

Face lighting with understanding Kalabernus groaned aloud as Kahner exhaled sharply. He’d told Ariana everything last night. About how his father had been spirited away at the age of three by his mother Saphire Blackthorne and brought to Colorado to be adopted and raised by the RavenCroft family. Wanting, to be honest, and open with her about everything, he’d even told her about how Bastion had visited Montana after his birth mother had died and discovered that his identical twin brother’s Rafe and Rourke had quarreled over a woman who had been impregnated and nearly killed by Rourke. The story had been important to share because within each set of triplets in the Blackthorne line it seemed was one with a dark nature and he’d needed her to know what she was getting into.

Inhaling deeply Kalabernus ran his hands across his face in agitation. He’d even gone into detail about what each family member’s abilities were, how they used them, and how some could be tripped up by people. If Ariana’s stalker had been listening in somehow, then he now knew everything and that posed a danger to the entire RavenCroft family.

For the next several minutes the three men signed back and forth across the room. The women watched in fascination. Neither were aware the men knew sign language so the silent conversation had come as a shock to them both.

“What exactly did you tell her?” Bastion asked with his hands.

“Everything,” Kalabernus responded just as silently.

“Everything meaning what exactly?” Kahner signed, looking furious.

“Everything meaning everything,” Kalabernus responded with silent hands, looking just as peeved.

Bastion growled deep in his throat, shaking his fisted hands in the air while glaring at his son. “What were you thinking?” he asked, contorting his fingers as needed to pose the question.

“I was thinking she is pregnant with my child and needs to know what she is getting into when we get married,” Kalabernus responded with silent hands.

“Married? Are you daft? You just met her!” Kahner signed across the room to his brother, his face showing signs of incredulity.

“And how long did you know Sable before you got her pregnant and married her?” Bastion countered, twisting his hands and fingers about. He gestured toward Sable causing her to step back in alarm.

“Wait, how did I get into this?” Sable said aloud.

All three men waved their hands toward her in frustration. Their gesticulating arms stopped abruptly as each one attempted to try and sign to the other. Becoming disgusted, Bastion grunted angrily. Throwing his arms out in frustration he swung around and disappeared down the hall.

“Be back. Stay put. Shut up,” Bastion thought harshly, knowing Kahner would tell his brother. The rude gesture Kalabernus flung Kahner’s way was proof he’d passed less than half the message on.

Several minutes went by before Bastion returned carrying a duffel bag in hand. Pulling out a small black box with a knob on the top he twisted the knob and set it on the coffee table. Then retrieving several more, small black items, looking a lot like remote controls only with fewer buttons and a gauge, he began tossing one each to his sons.

“Since when do you keep audio jammers and multifunctional counter surveillance GPS bug detectors on hand?” Kahner asked aloud, stunned by his father’s bag of cool toys.

“This is a bug detector?” Kalabernus inquired, looking more than just a little disappointed. He peered down at the small rectangular plastic item in his hand.

“Well, what did you expect? A long stick perhaps?” Bastion asked irritably.

Kalabernus made a face and shrugged self-consciously. “Maybe.” His response had a defiant tone.

“You never answered my question,” Kahner accused, eyes narrowing.

“Didn’t I?” Bastion asked innocently. Strolling around the room he disregarded his son’s expressions of annoyance, concentrating instead on locating the offending bugs in question.

“These the ones not affected by the audio jammer?” Kahner asked, investigating his device fully.

“What do you think?” Bastion answered almost irately.

“Looks like it has a white noise generator on it,” Kahner commented. “The audio jammer is sort of overkill really.”

“Kahner, just go check his truck, will you? We’ll deal with it in here,” Bastion said, his exasperation showing he was losing his patience.

Noticing Ariana was still staring in distress at the bloody doll on the floor Sable grabbed up the box and crossed the room. Picking up the offending doll she placed it back in the box and closed the lid.

“We’ll bury it later. For now…”

“Just dump it in the kitchen trash, Sable. It’s going out today anyway,” Bastion told her. He continued around the room slowly, moving the box in his hand near objects as he came close to them. Frowning as he watched the gauge on the box he glanced toward Ariana still cowering near the couch. Appearing thoughtful he walked toward her. The read-out began to spike silently the closer he came to her.

“I need you to stand up please, Ariana,” Bastion said, gaining Kalabernus’s attention.

“Me? Why?” she asked in surprise.

“Please, just humor an old man.”

Pushing up from the floor she used the seat cushions of the couch to help herself up the rest of the way. Adjusting her shirt awkwardly she gazed over at Kalabernus anxiously.

Bastion waived the box slowly from head to foot. The closer he came to the floor the higher the reading. Twisting his head about, his angled view of the floor allowed him to see the purse that had wedged itself beneath the couch near her feet. With grim satisfaction, he snatched up her purse, setting it on the coffee table. The reading spiked once again when he ran it over the opening of her purse.

Quirking an eyebrow at her, Bastion inquired. “Permission to rifle through your purse?”

“By all means.”

Within seconds they’d discovered a listening device expertly hidden within the little box she kept her tiny cross in.

Ariana’s face blanched. “He must have heard everything we said. Everything we did.”

Kalabernus and Ariana locked gazes with each other. Not only had the stalker listened in on private moments and conversations between them but he now was aware of the RavenCroft family’s secrets. An outsider knew about his entire family and what they could do.

His jaw clenching, a guttural animalistic growl emitted from deep within Kalabernus’s chest and throat. Eyes flashing with barely concealed rage he made his decision. Bending down he enclosed Ariana about the back of her neck with his hand and gently brought her towards him. Devouring her lips within a fierce kiss he then released her unexpectedly. Whirling around he stormed toward the entryway and stairwell.

“Where do you think you’re going?” Bastion hollered after him, concerned by the determined look in his son’s eye.

Kalabernus paused briefly then continued up the stairs without looking back. “Hunting.”

“Should I be worried?” Ariana asked the room at large quietly, staring after him.

“No,” Bastion responded in a clipped tone.

“Yes,” Kahner said at the same time.

The men locked gazes, their expressions giving the impression a silent war was waging between them.

“Yes,” Kahner insisted.

“No,” Bastion countered fiercely, thinking all the while, “Don’t freak her out dummy!”

“She’s already freaked out,” Kahner argued silently. “And did you just call me a dummy? Really?”

Ariana exchanged a wary glance with Sable.

“Do they do this silent monolog thing often?” she queried aloud.

Sable rolled her eyes. “More often than you might think.”

“Huh, wonder if I’m gonna get to read minds, too.” Ariana thought it might be a slightly advantageous power to have.

“No,” Bastion said aloud suddenly. He appeared to be looking at Ariana or was he responding to Kahner?

“That’s funny because I distinctly heard you call me a dummy,” Kahner responded aloud. “Me, your own son!”

Inhaling and exhaling several times in quick succession Bastion pumped his fists at his sides becoming increasingly infuriated by the second.

“Yes!” he said finally, pointing at Kahner. Then he turned toward Ariana. “No, and yes!”

Ariana blinked. “Wait, was that a yes to being able to read minds or a yes to…”

“Oh, for the love!” About to explode Bastion fumed from the living room.