Adrianna's Storm (5 page)

"
A leanbh
," she grabbed Ari in a tight hug. Hearing the loving endearment her grandmother always called her told Ari she was truly home now.

She wrapped her arms around her grandmother. "I've missed you, Mamo."

"I have missed you, too." Her grandmother pulled back and gave her the once over, her shrewd eyes missing nothing. "How are you? I can see you need some rest."

Ari loved the lilt in her grandmother's voice, the girls still had a touch of it and they could really put it on when they wanted. "Yes, I'm tired. I just flew thousands of miles to get here," she said with a laugh.

Her grandmother clucked. "I left you a platter of snacks in the fridge. You go on in and rest yourself. I have some more work to do and then will see you for dinner."

"Yes, ma'am," Ari said dutifully and headed back to the castle.

She headed up the staircase and went directly to her room to lay down. When she entered the room, she was always swept back to her childhood. Even though she had changed the room as she had grown up, she could still remember when she was young and would sit on the big king size four-poster bed and talk to her friends on the phone or cuddle her sisters. A few years ago, her grandmother had had the room painted to a light, mint green that Ari had picked out on one of her visits.

Ari had kept her old posters and they were in her walk-in closet, but the walls were now adorned with pictures of her sisters and the land around her. One summer, she had the idea of being a photographer, taking dozens of landscape shots around the property. Her grandmother had taken several of them and blown them up, had them framed and placed on her walls. Ari was always drawn to the one where she had captured a small whirlwind, it was sweeping the leaves of fall around and around, surrounded by trees.

She laid down on her bed with the forest green down comforter and sank into its softness. She smiled, taking one more look around the room. She was home. She was so tired from the trip and the past few months of working that it didn't take long before she fell into a deep slumber.

A noise from somewhere in the castle woke Ari and she checked the time on the bedside table. It was almost time for dinner, she had enough time to get a shower and change before going down. She got up, grabbed her toiletry bag, and stumbled into the adjoining bath. After her shower, she changed into a pair of capris and a light top. After pulling her hair into a ponytail, she headed down to the kitchen. Calli and her grandmother were there, setting the table and putting out food.

"Just in time," Calli said and then went to grab the glasses off the counter.

"I got them, you grab the drinks," Ari told her and they settled into the routine of setting up.

Mamo joined them at the table and they blessed the food, then her grandmother asked, "So, we get to have you for a little longer this time, right?"

Ari looked up from her plate and said, "Yes, I was able to take a little longer off than I thought. I don't have to go back until June. That gives us a whole three weeks together."

"That's wonderful. I'm already out for the summer, I took my exams early so we can spend some time together and don’t have to rush," Calli told her.

"I just wish the others would do the same," her grandmother said with a frown.

"Sheela told me she would be able to stay a while as the movie is wrapping up and she hasn't lined up the next job yet because she needs a break," Calli informed them.

"I spoke to Kira and she said she just finished up that dig in South Africa. She says she wants to take some extra time off," Ari interjected.

Their grandmother stopped eating and grinned. "Excellent. It will be good to have you all here for a while. You all need to be together this summer. See what you can do to get Erin to stay as well."

Ari and Calli exchanged a look. Calli laid her hand on Mamo's arm. "Why is it so important that we spend time together this summer?"

"Well, it's time," Coni said. "I'm just saying, you all pop in and out. It will be good for all of you to have a lengthy visit," she stuttered.

The two girls glanced at each other again and Ari shrugged. She could never figure out her grandmother and had given up trying years ago. They finished their dinner and then went into the family room off the dining room. It was a comfortable room with two couches and a large screen television. The room was warm and inviting with its earth colors. Large windows lined the far wall with sheer curtains that faced the pool house. They chatted and watched the news together then their grandmother decided to go to bed. She was never one to stay up late.

After they said good night, Ari went up to her room and got into bed, still tired with jet lag. She had gotten her kindle out of her bag and decided to read her latest downloaded book. When she fell asleep, she dreamed of two men coming to her through the fog in the glen. They were both tall and strong bodies. The kind of bodies that women drooled over. Ari felt a quickening in her belly as her dream-self watched them coming for her. All she could do was stand there as they approached her.

Suddenly her dream became dark and heavy clouds came overhead. As she looked around to find her men, she couldn't see them anymore. The fog had thickened and she felt a chill run down her spine. She heard scary, evil laughter surrounding her and then a voice came out of nowhere.

"
I'm coming for you.
You and your sisters are mine.
No one can save you
."

The dark voice scared her and she began to run in her dream, trying to find the two men she knew could help her. She couldn't see anything and she kept running. She stopped abruptly in her dream and looked around. Something was coming for her, she could feel it. Just when she expected something to grab her, she woke up.
What kind of dream was that?
she thought. She glanced at the clock and saw it was seven in the morning and knew she wouldn't go back to sleep. She got up and went in search of coffee, trying to shake off the dream as she went.

He had made the first contact. She was scared and he soaked in the fear he had gotten from her. He didn't like the two others in the dream but dismissed them as a woman's folly. This was part of his plan. He had to make them fearful, off balance. He knew of all the girls, Adrianna would be the first he had to take down.

She was strong and as the eldest, she would be the most powerful. He knew it would take some time to break her down. Last night had been a good start. He would continue this way and make her fear a living pulse inside her.

He got up from the floor where he had been meditating in order to join with her. He was tired from his efforts and would lay down for a while. His staff knew better than to disturb him until he rang for them.

As he lay down, he smiled at the smell of fear that still wafted to his nostrils. She was a beautiful woman, he thought as he stroked himself. He closed his eyes and could see the fear reflected in her eyes. A shame he couldn't have just one taste, but that was forbidden if he was going to receive their power. He continued to stroke himself faster as he felt his balls draw up. However, it wasn't her beauty that got him off, it was the thought of the power he would get from their deaths that pleasured him into release.

Erin and Kira blew in the next morning like a summer storm. The girls all squealed and hugs were exchanged all around. Mamo was in the kitchen whipping up a feast for breakfast. The new arrivals stowed their bags in their rooms and they all congregated in the dining room.

Ari raised her voice to be heard and asked, "Kira, how was the dig?"

All the girls stopped talking to hear the answer. Kira smiled. "It was good."

"Good? You have never said that before, what's wrong,
daor amháin
,
dear one
?" their Mamo said.

A frown formed on Kira's face. "I'm not sure, for some reason, the digs are just not as exciting as they once were. Actually, I guess now is as good a time as any to tell you. I can fill Sheela in later." Silence filled the room as everyone stopped eating to listen. "I've taken a sabbatical from work. Before I came here, I turned in all my findings and catalogued all the samples we have found. I've taken a few months. I just need to get some things straight in my head. Take some time for me."

"I think that's a fine idea," their grandmother said. "Here is a fine place to do it. The glen will heal you,
leanbh
. Don't you worry."

Ari, who was sitting across from Kira, reached across the table for her hand. "I'm taking some extra time, too. We can talk if you want. We are all here for you."

Calli nodded. "Of course we are. We are going to have a great time."

Erin chimed in. "We sure are. I was able to take a few weeks myself. Unless I get called back for an emergency, I should be able to stretch my stay for a month."

"Wonderful!" Mamo exclaimed. "Now let's all eat and then get down to the party planning. We only have a few days."

They ate and all chatted about the upcoming party, making some plans. Then their grandmother got out a book that Calli had put together of all the things she wanted for her party. All the girls discussed who was coming, old family friends and some new friends of Calli's. They talked about food, of course it was all of Calli's favorites. Ari was put in charge of getting the liquor for the event and everything for the mixes. Basically she had become the glorified bartender for the event. The others thought that because she lived in New York City, she could obviously mix drinks with perfection. Ari made a mental note to buy a mixology book.

When they had everything planned out and assigned, the girls decided to go out and lay by the pool and swim. They talked about their lives, what each was doing and how their careers were going. The topic of conversation eventually came around to men. Erin, Kira, and Calli all looked over at Ari.

"What? I don't have one," Ari said.

Erin crossed her arms. "Yeah, and each time we talk to you, you aren't even dating."

"The last time you saw anyone was Eric," Kira added.

"I've been busy," Ari said lamely.

Calli laughed. "You have most nights free and you choose to spend them curled up with your kindle."

Ari threw her towel at her. "Hey, that's not fair. I get tired standing on my feet all day. Enough about me, who are you seeing?"

Calli clamped her lips shut. Erin looked over at her. "Oh, is there a man in the picture finally?"

Kira leaned toward Calli and said, "Spill."

Calli shrugged. "I was dating this guy. He's older, but it didn't work out. He got creepy."

Ari sat straight up, alert. "What do you mean ‘creepy’?"

"It was nothing I could put my finger on, I just knew he had a bad soul." Calli laughed. "I think I have been hanging around Mamo too long. It was like I could feel he wasn't good, does that make any sense?"

Erin shook her head. "Yeah it does. At least to me.”

Kira and Ari both nodded their heads as well. "I broke it off, but I swear I have seen him around here and he lives in Dublin, near the University," Calli told them.

Ari’s protective instincts kicked in. "Be careful, honey, let one of us know if you see him again. Stay away from him."

Erin asked. "What was his name?"

Calli looked at her sisters and knew they wanted to check him out. She remembered all the questions he had asked about her family. Maybe it would be good if her sisters did get some information on him. It might explain his interest. "His name is Fagan, Fagan O'Banian."

Kira grabbed her hand. "We will check him out. Just to make sure he is where he should be and so we don't worry."

Ari changed topics, asking if Sheela had called with an updated arrival and Calli smiled a thankful smile. Ari knew Calli had a bad vibe about this guy and something big was up, but she didn't want Erin and Kira to get all worked up over nothing.