Marriage is Murder

Jack moved to the forest shadow moved with him as did Steven each taking a small section Steven saw the small foot print and pointed to the path and they moved closer to where he hand pointed. Jack watched as shadow entered the forest he also saw a big black bird fly out of the forest and heard shadow howl and both ran to him. Jack saw Abby and Shadow sat with his tail wrapped around her he could not help chuckling as he saw how Abby had braided shadows fur.

" um Steven I think she likes Shadow " he said as he picked Abby up in his arms " did the big black bird hurt you?" he asked her checking her for marks but not finding any.

"He upside down birdie," Abbey said. "He say he know Mama."

"Abbey!" Brian was running now, as fast as he could go through deep snow. He knew well the dangers of this countryside, and before he had even thought about it, he had cast off his jacket and snatched Abbey, wrapped her into the coat and held her tight against him. "Are you okay?" he asked softly, kissing her cold cheek. "Why did you go out by yourself?"

"Daddy," She wiggled, trying to get away. "Too tight!"

"Don't crush the child, Brian," Robert said. "Her limbs seem to be all attached. Nice work, Jack and Steven." He didn't mention that Brian had snatched Abbey so quickly, knowing Jack and Steven would both understand Brian's fear as a new father of anything happening to his oldest child as she began to be able to explore the world for herself.

"Leggo!" Abbey told Brian, still wiggling. Robert laughed and rescued her from Brian's iron grip.

"Here," Robert laughed. "Better?" he asked her. She nodded, cuddling into her papa. "Where were you going? Tell Papa."

"I see silly birdie," she told Robert.

"What birdie?" he asked.

"He say he sleep upside down."

Robert's eyes were the only sign that the news caused him any concern. "You talked to him?" She nodded. "Did he look like a bird or a man?"

"Yes," Abbey replied.

Jack let Brian take her and stepped back smiling but he listened as well and sighed " ok that would be the black bat I saw fly off as I found her" he said and knelt to unbraid shadows fur chuckling as he brushed out the braids. Steven looked at Robert and listened as well.

" sounds like a vampire , man and bird" he said " do we know any good vampires?" he asked " the only vamps I know are dead already " he said softly as he rubbed his stubble covered chin as he thought hard about who it could have been." well he obviously didn't want to hurt her " he said

"What did he look like, Sweetheart?" Robert asked Abbey. She gave Robert the best description she could, as best as a child just short of age 3 could do. But when Abbey mentioned a large ring on each hand, Khaat's mind flashed. She saw the hands and then a face. The man was handsome, Hispanic, and, in an odd way, she vaguely remembered him being dangerous and attractive at the same time.

"He won't hurt her," Khaat signed.

"How do you know?" Michael asked her.

"I...don't know," she signed. "I just know."

"Was he Latin?" Brian asked. She nodded.

"Did he tell you his name?" Robert asked Abbey.

" 'Meel," she replied.

"Emilio," Robert seemed to understand toddler talk, or at least Abbey's. "It was Escobar. I want to know why he's here. And how he found her."

Jack and Steven looked at each other then at Robert " he flew off but I'm guessing he will be around someplace watching us and Khaat " Jack said as he looked around smelling the air " drat can't find anything " he said and Steven looked at Jack.

"You won't if hes in his bat form, right Robert. " He said to Jack. " Shouldn't we get back indoors?" he asked his eyes scanning the sky and branches of the trees around them " might be best if were being watched from a place he could not see in the dark.

Khaat looked at her father. This was her daughter that had been almost at the hands of, according to Brian, a vampire. One that she apparently had known. She would not risk her daughter. And if her father wanted her to take her life back, then so be it.

"Take my daughter inside," she signed to him.

"I plan to," he told her. "Did you think I would not?" She didn't sign back to him. She just started to walk deeper into the woods.

"Where do you think you're going?" he called to her. She turned on him with an angry look. Wasn't this what he wanted of her?

"I'll go with you," Brian said to her.

"Idiot". You don't have a coat. And he won't come out for you. If you want to know what he wants, I need to do this alone. Take everyone and go inside," she signed angrily.

"Not an option," Robert told her firmly.

"No," Michael said, "she's right. Let her go. I'll keep her in eyesight, but I won't interfere unless I need to. I'll keep my distance." Robert went over to Michael and pointed a finger in his face.

"I swear," he told Michael quietly. "You let him have one of her blond hairs and you will answer to me..."

"Go inside, Robert," Michael said firmly, not rattled by Robert's attempt to intimidate. It didn't wash with Michael. Robert turned and motioned to Brian and headed for the house. Angus and Kate weren't sure whether to go inside or remain.

Steven and Jack watched Robert and Khaat they were about to say she was right but took a step back instead and stood listening as she walked off both looked as Michael spoke up and Robert made his point clear and Michael told them to head back in Jack and Steven started to head back inside both paused and both had the same worry that would Khaat be okay out on her own in the wood.

"Come on Jack, she's a big girl and she's got Micheal with her"Steven told Jack and headed inside following Brian and Abby.

"Come on, Kate," Angus said quietly. He fully intended to watch from the windows, and he was sure the others would too. Kate went with him, but not happily.

Michael stood his ground, letting Khaat go deeper into the woods. She made herself walk with a steady stride, determined to live up to what she believed her father was demanding of her. She left some of the gravel trails that were here, so different from the paved ones in England, and wandered up a little rise and around a clutch of barren bushes. A flicker of black flitted in front of her face and then transformed in front of her. It was the same face from her memory flash.

"Querida," he said, with a slight smile. She just looked at him. He studied her. "You are very different. What have they done?" He touched her cheek and after a moment, slid his hand to the back of her head. "Who did this?" he asked. She shrugged. "Can you not speak?" She shook her head. "Do they protect you? Really? Can you trust them?" She wasn't sure who he meant. "Them. The ones in your house. Can you trust them?" She nodded. What else was she supposed to answer? It was all she had. She didn't know this man at all. "Your memory is impaired." She nodded.

"You must not return to England. Your home is compromised. Your homes and your hotel in Italy are both compromised. Themuggle title deeds for your American homes from before the time you owned them have 'mysteriously' disappeared from the title offices, along with several other deeds. I believe you have enemies that know where the properties were when muggles owned them. It may only be a matter of time before your unplottable nets are undone. You may well be in danger. Are they able to protect you?" he asked. She knew her father's new edict intended her to be independent. So she merely nodded. He paused and then looked at her. "I will remain outside. I do not trust them. Now, go inside. Your body will not continue to handle the cold. It will not affect me. Go." He caressed her cheek and transformed again and flitted up to a tree where he took roost. She looked at him for a moment, and when he moved no more, she started back towards Michael.

Jack headed to the fire once inside to warm up Steven went to the kitchen to get a cup of coffee as he returned he looked at Kate and Angus. "seems we have a vampire on the grounds whose watching Khaat and Abby" he said sitting down next to Cassidy as Jack moved to sit with Jess who sighed and shook her head.

" Must be here for a reason " she said " did you talk to him?" she asked Steven and Jack both shook their heads and Steven continued to drink.

"He'd gone when we got there "Jack said Jess nodded as she looked out the window " just hope she gets back soon "

When Khaat caught back up with Michael, he looked at her. "What did he say?"

"He's watching," she signed.

"Why?"

"He doesn't trust you lot," she said.

"Of all the cheek. He know better. Why should he be concerned now?"

"I have no idea," she said, deciding that she was going to follow her father's instructions.

"He must have told you something."

"Only that he thinks one of you might have been responsible for my head."

"I really do need to go bat hunting," Michael snarled. He walked her back towards the house. "Was there anything else at all?" She shook her head no. Michael knew she wasn't telling him the truth. It just didn't make sense otherwise.