A deep carpet of pure white snow coated the huge front yard. She and Riley used to fling their arms wide and fall backward to the ground, flapping limbs to make snow angels then go ice skating on the local pond. Frozen to their very bones they’d rush home to taste Mom’s specialty, the best hot cocoa in the world.
“Don’t go there, Reese, or you’ll start blubbering and icicles will form on your face.”
Her cold fingers rummaged through the keys on her keychain until she found the one for her Dad’s front door. She let herself in.
“Dad, you home?”
“Reese, is that you?”
She heard his distant voice carry down the stairs and entryway.
“Where are you?”
“Upstairs.”
Shaking off the light dusting of snowflakes that had fallen from the roof, she slipped out of her coat and shoes. She hung the coat on the rack as she passed the wall and climbed the stairwell.
She found him in Riley’s room, sitting in the closet. “What on earth are you doing?”
“Well, I didn’t have anything to do today, so I thought I’d go through some of this stuff and see if I could donate it to the local shelters. Riley has grown out of this stuff and it doesn’t need to be here since she’s gone.”
He sneezed.
She chuckled. “You need a whole crew of helpers to do Riley’s room, Dad. She was a slob after all.”
He tossed out some boots that had seen better days, some cassette tapes, a lava lamp, and then backed out carrying a Frankenstein mask and a pitchfork.
“Good Lord, what did she need this stuff for?”
“I think it’s better not to ask, don’t you?”
He smiled. “I agree. I’ll put it in the get rid of pile, which seems to be growing and growing.”
It had been months since she’d seen her father’s eyes light up or heard his melodious laugh rumble from deep in his chest. If he couldn’t bring himself to clean out Mom’s stuff, attempting to clean up Riley’s disaster of a room was a good step forward.
“What brings you out this way? Shouldn’t you be orchestrating some massive dig or organizing a fundraiser to finance your next trip deep in the Amazon to unearth ancient pygmy villages?”
Reese burst out laughing; she couldn’t help herself. She laughed so hard it made her cry and she plopped down on the floor next to her father and hugged him.
“You’re crying,” he said with worry in his voice.
“Oh, Dad. The last couple of days have been rather strange and intense. You caught me off-guard and I just let loose. Thank you.” She kissed his cheek.
“You’re welcome.”
He stood, dragged her up and brushed off the dust bunnies congregating on his pant leg. “Let’s go get something to drink, shall we?”
“Sounds good to me.” She followed her father out of the room with a big smile on her face and an easing in her heart.
After they sat in front of the roaring fire with mugs of hot coffee, she stared at his face for a few moments, taking in the healthy color of his skin and the diminishing dark circles under his eyes. These were good signs.
“So, honey, what brings you here today?”
“Well, I hadn’t seen you in a couple of weeks and I wanted to run something past you.”
“Shoot.”
“Christmas will be here before we know it.”
“That it will.”
“I’d like to organize a cocktail and dinner party for your firm and its clients.”
“Oh?”
“Something along the lines of a thank you to your loyal customers, bring them in, take a look around at the inner workings and introduce them to the staff. What do you think?” she asked with hopeful anticipation.
A familiar look of doubt crossed his features. “I don’t know.”
“Your firm used to have one every year and the clients loved it. I think you should start doing it again. It will be good for business,” she pressed on.
“Let me think on it, Reese.”
Not wanting to push too hard for fear of his retreat she said, “Okay, just let me know. I’d love to help.”
Standing, she stretched her muscles and wandered around her mother’s favorite room. On the ornate oak mantle of the hearth and the surrounding beige walls were endless pictures of the family. She paused at one of her great-grandparents, her grandparents and her parents all together before both her great-grandparents passed. This happened to be her father’s side of the family. On the other wall were her mother’s relatives. She wondered where in her family roots Enki had surfaced.
Her gaze roved over a group photo with Grandma and Grandpa Whittaker. Riley had the dark looks and hot temper from their mother’s genes, but she noticed her great-grandparents also had dark coloring. Looking to her father, who sat at the table watching her, she saw familiar blond locks and penetrating blue eyes. She was her father’s daughter, no doubt about that. She wondered where the light coloring originated, for she did not see it in any of the numerous pictures of the family tree. She shrugged it off. No matter, genetics were funny like that.
“What’s troubling you, Reese?”
Her father’s question startled her and she jumped a little. Spinning around to face him, she plastered a half-smile on her face. “Nothing really, just reminiscing.”
She wouldn’t enlighten him with tales of the bizarre happenings of the last two days or talk about Dagan.
“I’ve decided you’re right about the client party.”
“You did? I am?”
He nodded. Rushing over, she plopped down in front of his chair and wrapped her arms around his shoulders. “That’s great.”
“I’ll call Tony and discuss more details and check the calendars to pick a date.”
“You tell him to call me if he needs anything.”
“I will. I’m sure he’ll need help with some of it, although Nancy will do a fair job of getting everything set up.”
Nancy, her father’s secretary since he’d started the firm twenty years ago, was a gem. She would do a great job and be happy that Clive had come back to them.
“Okay, Dad. I’ll leave you to it then. I’ve got some errands to run, grocery shopping, bank, and dry cleaners, so I’ll scoot on out of here.” She grabbed her purse. “If you need any help cleaning out Riley’s room, let me know. I can rent a dumpster.”
Her father laughed. A sound she hadn’t heard in ages. Maybe the time had finally come for him to move on. Her mother would never be far from their thoughts, but Clive coming to terms with that fact meant a huge leap…a hard step to take.
With her spirits high, Reese started the car and switched on the radio. She didn’t care how little sleep she’d gotten last night or what else would happen today.
The evening crackled with ice and the promise of another good snowfall before morning. Dagan liked the winter here, the frozen ground bathed in white and the trees like ice sculptures. The stiff breeze and brisk air had your lungs gulping in the clean atmosphere.
Rufus appeared like a ghost from the bush.
“I assume since you didn’t call me there were no problems today.”
“She visited her father for a while then went and ran errands and came home. I saw no sign of the death squad.”
“Good.”
“I talked to Gideon while I was there and he said everything has been quiet so far.”
“I’m sure that won’t last long.”
Rufus threw him an amused grin. “So are you staying here tonight?”
Dagan sighed and tossed a longing glance toward Reese’s house. “One never knows.”
Rufus laughed. “Did she kick you out?”
Scowling, Dagan said, “Not exactly.”
“What now? I need a shower and change of clothes.”
“Hang loose here for a while. I’ve got one more place I need to go then I’ll be back to relieve you for the night.”
“Okay.”
Dagan snapped his fingers and disappeared.
He flashed into the shop of Percilious, the grand wizard of Dilmun.
The wizened old fellow sat at a work table with his back to Dagan. “What brings you to my shop, Time Walker?”
It didn’t surprise Dagan that the wizard knew he approached. “I have some questions.”
“I am sure you do. You have stirred up a dragon’s nest you have.”
So he’d heard about the problem. “That’s not why I’m here.”
A black puff of smoke exploded from the beaker the old man held then it turned five different shades of color before fizzling out.
“You come about the woman nonetheless.”
Percilious shifted in his seat to face Dagan. Pointing to a rickety-looking stool, he said, “Sit.”
Hesitating for only a moment, Dagan sat and faced the white-haired Naruki whose life spanned more centuries than even Dagan knew. Through owl spectacles perched on the tip of his nose were youthful-looking mud brown eyes full of knowledge.
“Why have you come?”
“How powerful are the concealment wards you’ve cast over all of Lord Enki’s descendents?”
Percilious lifted a bushy white brow. “Do you question my power?”
“With the utmost respect.”
“You have balls of steel, boy, for I could change you into a bird and put you on another planet from where I sit.”
Dagan chuckled. “I have no doubt, but it’s the term and strength of the spells that I wish to learn about.”
“For the woman?”
“Is there any way to widen the spell so it protects her all the time?”
The wizard sighed. “I have discussed this very thing with Enki; however, because there are so many, it spreads the magick a bit thin.”
“Is there nothing we can do to heighten the ward for one or two individuals in a specific century?”
“I will consult my scrolls, confer with some colleagues and sift through runes and parchment. My memory is not what it used to be.”
“I find that hard to believe, Percilious, but thank you.”
“I would suggest you keep the
fury
in check and your temper controlled this eve.”
Dagan shifted the coat on his frame when he got up. “Have you seen something I should know about?”
The old man pivoted back to his work table. “I will be in touch, Time Walker.”
Dagan knew when he’d been dismissed. Arguing with the old wizard never accomplished anything but a headache. He had more power in his right hand than most did in their entire bodies. Going up against him would be fruitless and he’d end up with scars.
When Dagan strode through the massive pearl gates of Dilmun, a hush fell over the surroundings, though people bustled around the tall, elegant buildings.
An unsettling calm.
He walked the golden streets past the towering structures of the place that he’d once called home. He didn’t really feel like a part of this place anymore and hadn’t for a long time. Since becoming a time walker visiting different decades and centuries, watching the humans live, he realized how pampered and spoiled his race had become. Worshipped by people they created, waited on, never having to do much for themselves, made them lazy and gluttonous. It sickened him to see it.
His mother appeared at the opening to her garden and smiled at him. She had been the first of those to refuse sacrifices. Of course, the humans did what they wanted, as he’d found out, especially since he’d been around Reese. Talk about an independent, stubborn female who tried one’s patience. Foolish at times.
He’d reached the entrance of the garden. Ninmah kissed his cheek. A clouded look covered her usually bright face. He didn’t know why, but it probably wouldn’t be good for him. He sighed.
“Why so glum, my son?”
“You are beautiful.” He gave her a half smile.
“Come,” she said and led him deeper into the garden.
When they got to the center of the floral maze, he saw his father waiting. Now he knew the news would be grave.
“Father, what brings you down from Lysara?”
The men shook hands. “It seems you are creating a stir with the Pantheon.”
Dagan chuckled. “Obviously, it’s more than that.”
“To be sure.” Enlil moved away with the air of authority that he carried.
Dagan glanced at his mother, whose eyes were downcast. His parents were two of “the Four”, the elders of the Naruki race here on Earth. They were part of the Pantheon and helped shape the order of their people.
“The Pantheon is discussing your situation.” Enlil clasped his hands behind his back. His long robes brushed the ground as he paced. “This is something we have never encountered before. The thought of a human being your
blethred
is disturbing on so many levels.”
Dagan knew that only too well.
“There is talk that maybe we should pull out, bring all the Time Walkers and Dream Walkers back to the fold and disengage ourselves from the humans for a spell. Maybe a century or two.”
“No!”
Ninmah and Enlil both glared at him.
“You will do as the Pantheon orders or you may not recover from the punishment.”
Dagan saw his mother flinch at Enlil’s words.