Call of the Raven (12 page)

“I bet your wondering where I’ve been,” Ross
said pulling one of the metal chairs loudly across the floor.

“No, not really,” Ari remarked.

Ross’s lips curved upward into a sneer and
Ari found something quite deadly in his reaction. Turning the chair
around so that it was facing Ari, Ross sat down. As he spoke he
started unfastening the many buttons on his coat.

“Three years ago an old friend came to pay me
a visit. I didn’t want him to, but he made me see the light anyway.
I was working on a fishing boat in the Florida Keys when I realized
I was—”

“That explains the smell,” Ari retorted.
Ross’s lifeless eyes landed on him, but without skipping a beat he
continued.

“—reveling in hatred and thoughts of revenge
against your brother when an epiphany came to me. I thought, Zee
why on earth are you standing here wallowing in hatred for the man
who betrayed you, when you very well could be doing something about
it. You should be leading a rebellion I said, but not against him,
because I have come to see a bigger purpose. So, then do you know
what I did, Arimus Lake?”

Ari shrugged his shoulders, “You saw a
shrink?”

Ross’s smile grew dangerously wider. “No, I
followed my own advice. I found a new purpose.”

“And so-o-o here you are, purpose realized,”
Ari said. “And it looks like you picked up a few strays on your
way.”

“We have nothing against you Ari,” one of the
fowlers said. “You’ve always been kind to us.”

“That he has been indeed,” Ross laughed. “But
let’s not forget that in his attempt to speak on our behalves, he
did nothing to stop his brother from making us outcasts from among
our own people.”

“Asher didn’t banish you, Grant did. And it’s
not like you didn’t give him a reason.”

“That’s true Zee. He can’t be blamed for
something his brother or Grant did,” the fowler agreed. Ari knew
him somehow, and he was quite positive that he had seen him lately,
but he was having a hard time recalling where. With the fear of
them finding Casin, Ari was more than just a little nervous. He
wondered what was taking Asher so long. He wouldn’t have come
without a plan.

Before Ross could respond the lead fowler
ordered the nicer fowler back to work. This one hadn’t been as kind
to Ari. He had showed his leadership early on from the moment he
got out of the four-wheel drive offering help, to when he ordered
him inside the truck.

When Ari refused, he had silently pointed at
the flock of birds flying above them. He was a tall wiry man with
rough weathered features and thick muttonchops. Ari got the
distinct impression that whatever had caused Asher to kick him out
of the Union was enough to rage a war of bitterness inside of him
for centuries to come, whether justified or not.

“Sorry Zee, Russell won’t interrupt you
again,” Muttonchops said.

Ari placed him now—the nice fowler. He worked
at the bait shop near the lake. Russell was old man Benton’s
grandson and Ari found something sad in knowing that. There was a
lot of commotion as chairs were put in rows and Russell along with
other fowlers resumed their jobs of sweeping straw, mud, and snow
off the wood floor. They handed out flyers to the newcomers, in
preparation for what appeared to be a meeting or frighteningly
enough a recruitment campaign.

Cold wind swept in chilling Ari instantly as
the door opened. For a split second his eyes betrayed his hopes
when he realized it was only Muttonchops going out for more
firewood. Ross started to laugh. He slapped his thighs and gave Ari
a wry smile.

“You Ari Lake are a genuine specimen of the
illogicality of human emotions. Your mind may not believe big
brother in all his heartless arrogance will come for you, but it is
obvious in your poor, pathetic puppy dog eyes that your heart
wishes differently.”

“He won’t,” Ari flatly said.

Eyebrows arching in a ‘we’ll see’ manner,
Ross took to his feet and headed for the pulpit. Behind Ari, Casin
was getting fidgety. Ari saw Muttonchops stacking wood in the
fireplace and he had a strong hunch that was where Cade was
hiding.

“
Asher where are you?”

An overwhelming sensation washed over Ari. He
knew the feeling once, a long time ago in a time and place when
both he and Asher were different, before Asher had severed the bond
between them, before memory had gone vague, and meaning and purpose
had been lost to years of bitterness and routine. Possibly his mind
told him nothing would ever change, especially Asher, but his heart
felt otherwise and then Ari heard him loud and clear.

Astonishingly Asher had restored the spirit
bond. Asher was coming, and he told him to get ready. Ari glanced
around the room trying to hide his sudden anxiety. He had to keep
the twins safe, that’s the only thing that mattered to him. The
chairs were full now and standing next to Ross was a strange man in
a red robe Ari had failed to notice before, and a sickening
sensation washed away any comfort that Asher had briefly given
him.

“What is this, church?” Ari asked. Again the
expression on Ross’s face made him involuntarily shudder.

“Yes Ari and we’re so glad that you and your
rat friends could join us. Oh there’s no need to continue to hide
them. I’ve known all along that they were here.”

Ari leaned forward as Ross started toward
him. “Run, run sweetheart!”

Casin scurried for the fireplace but
Muttonchops spotted her and reached for a log. When he screamed and
pulled his hand back, Cade dangled from his thumb. Ari fought to
get to his feet, but in one sweeping move, Ross reached down and
jerked him to a standing position.

***

Asher closed his
eyes seeking two
particular sounds, the gentle rise and fall of the tiger breathing,
and the swishing of the falcon’s wings. The night was quiet now,
peacefully still. Over the pungent smell of snowmobile exhaust,
Asher caught the scent of pine needles mixed with tiger fur, and
knew that Kennedy was lying in wait near the giant evergreen, where
he had seen the wolf. Nixon however remained a mystery. Even with
his heightened instincts, Asher could not locate him.

“What is this?”

At the sound of an angry voice, Asher peered
in the window, careful to stay just out of sight. He could see Ari,
in a dirtied white shirt standing before Ross with a rope around
his neck, and the sight of his brother being treated like an animal
enraged Asher.

A blur of brown fuzz raced across the room,
followed by another as both rats dashed for the safety of a
fireplace, and then things took on a new perspective.

“Stop they’re just children!” Ari cried.

Asher could see him now, a man with thick
sideburns welding a log, preparing to swing. Ari was concentrating
on him, but what he didn’t see was Ross standing with his foot
raised high ready to stomp the approaching brown rat as she ran
underneath. Asher hurried to the door. Using his magic he sent the
door flying backward off its hinges, and as it did it took out the
man with the log.

Taking advantage of the situation, Ari sent
an elbow into Ross’s side and removed the rope from his neck. The
twins had done as Asher instructed and that was to free the binding
that restrained his brother. Instead of going after Ari, Ross stood
his ground and gestured instead to his followers the Gothi.

“My friends, it’s time we show some
hospitality. Our Keeper has dropped in to pay us a much expected
visit,” and then directing a smirk at Ari said, “and you said he
wouldn’t come.”

“You took my brother. You knew I’d come?”
Asher countered.

“Exactly,” Zareth Ross laughed.

Fowlers transforming into a variation of bird
forms flew straight toward Ari causing him to dodge out of the way.
Asher on the other hand did not budge as a flock of grackles flew
at him. Only in the last second did he put up a magic wall. Hitting
head on, the birds dropped to the ground, and like the man he had
knocked out cold with the door, they too remained still.

The smarter fowlers, having seen their
buddies’ demise, flew out the door and into the night. Most of them
being small birds didn’t concern Asher, but the hawk might pose a
problem for Nixon, if he was still around. Several smaller
creatures, including the two women who didn’t want to be a part of
the show, slipped out the front door only to be greeted by the
sound of a tigers roar.

With Kennedy preventing any of the fleeing
outcasts from returning, Asher’s main focus turned to Ross, and the
Gothi. The Gothi wore long red robes and around the outline of
their bodies was a noticeable red aura which he had never before
witnessed. They started to chant in unison and as their voices
grew, the aura proceeded to grow stronger.

His eyes fell to their hands. Just as he
expected, they were wearing the trademark leather gloves without
the fingers that along with the red eyes, was all the affirmation
that he needed. The Gothi were practiced in the arts of death
magic.

“Arimus go outside,” Asher commanded eyes
narrowed on the strange men.

“It’s nice to see you to brother,” Ari shook
his head, “but I’m not leaving you to enjoy this party alone,
besides Casin is hurt.”

This time Asher’s attention was diverted as
his eyes wildly searched the floor, only to discover the small
brown rat lying next to the wall. A small puddle of blood pooled
near her front left paw. In his mind he saw the frightened child
who had wet her pants running from his presence, and something
close to remorse washed over him.

Shifting to his boy form, Cade reached out a
hand to touch his sister. Tears filled his eyes but the boy said
nothing. Cade never said anything. When those eyes dashed upward
though, seeking the man who harmed his sister, no words were
needed.

“I had no idea they were children,” Ross
turned to Asher imploringly. He stood before him, a man of
considerable height, long greasy hair and a face marred with pox
marks. The very sight of him sickened Asher. He was ready to fight
and every fiber of his being illustrated that. There would be no
forgiveness.

“If that’s the case,” Asher said, “you won’t
mind if my brother takes them and leaves.”

“By all means,” Ross said, eyes intent on
Asher. “It’s been a while since we’ve had a chance to talk. This
night is turning out far better than I could ever imagine.”

Out of the corner of his eye, Asher watched
as Ari approached Casin and very gently scooped her up in his
hands. He stroked her back lovingly, told her not to shift then
disappeared out the door with her in one hand, and Cade’s hand in
the other.

Turning his attention back where it belonged,
Asher realized that a new group of Gothi had come through a back
door and joined Ross and those that remained. When they realized
they had caught him off guard, Asher took a blast of lightening.
The fiery laser infiltrated his body and he stomached the pain. He
remained still as four men rushed him. He waited until he could see
the arrogant whites of their eyes, and then slowly Asher raised his
arm, palm facing his attackers and sent out a wave of lightening in
return. As the light surged through their veins like molten lava
they began to shake and shriek in pain, until ultimately they fell
unconscious to the floor.

Another quickly followed. This one a stocky
looking Asian youth about Nixon’s age, Asher caught with a side
kick to the abdomen. His attacker’s eyes widened and a small whoosh
of air escaped his lungs as he slammed backward against the wall.
He hadn’t expected Asher’s strength and that was obvious by how
quickly his features twisted into rage. Asher could tell by the
hint of purpose and pride in that expression that he planned to
recover quickly, and come back with even more force than before,
but Asher didn’t have time for bruised egos.

***

Nixon gripped the
branch tighter in
preparation of yet another arctic blast. With the gale slamming
into the side of the tree, it became caught up in a mad sort of
wind dance as it swayed, twisted and bent back and forth. Over the
top of cracking limbs and whistling wind, he could almost hear the
gravelly voice of his father calling him a coward. The others were
below fighting, making a stand, while he hid like a frightened
child in a Blue Spruce.

Still Nixon couldn’t budge. He couldn’t
follow through with orders. The sight of his father for the first
time in years had been too much. Now he couldn’t stop the thoughts
from coming. Nixon pinched his falcon eyes closed and held on
tighter. His father was everywhere, hiding in the closet, under the
bed, behind the door. He could almost imagine him climbing up
branch by branch to get to him, eyes glowing, mouth snarling in
disgust. The smell of him floated on the pine and smoke scented
air.

How many times had he stopped in the drug
store to smell the Old Spice aftershave in the fragrance aisle?
Like a moth to a bug zapper, Nixon wanted to be drawn to the
memory, if for no other reason than to keep the hatred alive.
Things hadn’t always been bad. When he was lonely or sad, Nixon
often slipped up and thought of those times, but typically all it
took was a fast recap of the pain and hell his father put him
through to summons the image of the monster he became in the
end.

One sunny afternoon the two of them batted a
ball around on the front lawn, and then on a cold rainy day, a few
days later his father swung that same bat at him. Nixon just
couldn’t understand what he had done to make his dad hate him so
much.

He was just a boy, a boy that wanted his
father’s love.

At the sound of Kennedy’s tiger roar, Nixon
looked below. He saw her grip a smaller cat in her massive jowls
and tossed it like a stuffed animal into some nearby brush. The
animal didn’t reemerge. Then he saw him, Ari moving carefully along
the porch. He had Cade’s hand in his and he had Casin in her rat
from pressed against his chest. The front of Ari’s white shirt was
smeared red and Nixon could smell the coppery traces of blood on
the wind.