Marriage is Murder

On Hearing Khaats words about meeting Escobar Steven and Jack stepped forward wanting to follow her, Jess stopped Jack and nodded to Khaat knowing that if she didn't find out why it would play on her mind . " we'll watch but not interfere Khaat." she told her looking to Steven and Jack who both reluctantly sighed and agreed as did Cassidy. Jim just looked up and chuckled looking at Khaat.

"Know this Khaat, we'll be at the ready should you need us. " he simply said as he went back to reading the book he had found on the shelf beside him and he turned the page.

Khaat knew they would be watching even the slightest movement. She walked across the snowy yard into the woods and followed the bat as it flew deeper into the woods, finally out of sight of the house. She knew her guards would be unhappy that they could now no longer see her, but she trusted they would follow her instructions. Until they found out why Escobar was here, no one would know if he could be trusted to any extent or not.

Escobar changed form and stood before her.

"You have changed," he said to her. "What is different?"

"I have my memory back," Khaat said.

"And your voice as well," he said. "Excellent."

"Tell me. Why have you made contact with my daughter?"

"This place is unplottable," Escobar shrugged.

"And intended to remain that way," Khaat said. "Why did you need to know where it is?"

"Have I made a move to harm her? Or you?" Escobar asked her. "No."

"Answer my question," she said quietly.

"You are being hunted and watched," Escobar said.

"I am always hunted and watched," she said. "That is not different."

"This is very different," Escobar said. "They are aggressive. They mean to kill you."

"They always mean to kill me. This isn't new."

"This is. They've been working on a new creature. Tinkering with genetics. This creature is a werewolf but his is abnormally large even for a werewolf. He remains fully transformed. He is kept in chains and under their imperious curse. He is designed as a killing machine. And they're going to bring him at some point to find you, specifically."

"Are you here to help them?" she asked.

"No," he said firmly. "Of course not. If I had wanted you dead, I'd have done that myself long ago. Your guards, as good as you think they are, have never met anything like this. I am an immortal. You cannot do this without me, and so I am here."

"What do you need from me? Or from my staff?"

"Stay out of my way," Escobar said in a low tone. This creature made him angry.

"They aren't going to do that," Khaat said. "If they come, my staff will fight."

"And they will be killed," he said.

"That is a risk they have all agreed to take," she said. Escobar sighed and paced and then whirled on her in anger.

"You have no clue what this is or how to defeat it," he said. "You are mere mortals. You don't stand a chance."

"Why does this matter to you?" she asked softly. "There was a time you wanted to kill me yourself."

"No," he replied. "I never ever wanted to kill you. I offered you immortality...."

"You care, don't you?"

"I am one of the undead," Escobar said coldly. "My heart died hundreds of years ago. I care for nothing."

"Fine," she said. "Then you are content to remain out here in the snow for however long it takes?"

"As a matter of fact, yes. I am," he said.

"Suit yourself," she said, turning to head back to the house, "But stay away from my children." He returned to his other form and took back to the trees, and she returned to the house.

Jess and Jack stood watching as they saw her walk into the wood Jack wanted to go after her but Jess placed her hand on his chest " don't " she said and he stood down still watching relived when he saw Khaat walk back out and across to the house. every one staid quiet waiting for her to speak but it was Jim who spoke first. " so what did he say?" he asked not looking up from his book "buy the look on your face I'm guessing you warned him off Abby as only a mother can. " he said and slowly looked up at her as he stood up walking over as he glanced over at Kate and smiled.

"I did," she replied to Jim. "He says the werewolves are coming back."

"That's not news," Kate snorted.

"No. Of course not. Apparently they're coming with a big one this time."

"Again, not news. They've done that before," her mother said.

"He believes that he's the only one who has a chance of defeating this one," Khaat said. "It would seem he's here to protect. He believes if we try to take this on, we will all be killed."

"That makes no sense," Kate said. "There are a great many of us, and we are not unskilled."

"I know," Khaat said. "He believes this one is particularly vicious and powerful."

"Why?"

"Apparently he's some experiment they've done. Bigger, more animalistic, more vicious."

"Is that it?"

"Pretty much," Khaat sighed.

Jim stood listening to Khaat and sighed Jack looked at Jess and shook his head as Khaat spoke more about Escobar and the wear she spoke of. Jack looked at Khaat " bigger than even me?" he asked softly wanting to know more. as he listened he sighed " they must have altered him genetically no wear is that big" he said moving to sit back down on the couch from out side. Cassidy listened and looked at Steven worried.

"So we just sit and wait for this guy to attack?" she asked now moving to hols Steven close.

Khaat noticed that Cassidy appeared to be afraid, needing to cling to Steven. She said nothing. Then she gathered herself.

"You all have your priorities," She addressed them seriously. "Your first concern was my safety until I had children. Since then, your first priority has been to protect them if there is any question between them and me. That has always been the order, and it continues to be the order. If he comes, we will deal with him, but you are to get all the children safe and the Minister. I don't care what he tells you. He is the leader of our world. He is the one they are hoping to get to by using me. You are to not let him take this on. Are we understood? He is being used here. You are to do whatever it takes to get him out of the line of fire."

"And you will do what?" Michael asked her.

"Give you time to do what you do," she said firmly. I do still remember how to apparate."

"Are you sure you'll have time?"

"That's why Escobar is here. He will buy me time. We must do this wisely. If this creature is that bloodthirsty, then you must protect those who are not able to do it for themselves. Or those who are more important--namely my father. Are we clear?"

Cassidy moved from Steven and listened more she went into guard mode and nodded looking at Jess who nodded too " we'll stay with the children and get them out should anything happen " Cassidy said Jess smiled and nodded.

"and you expect your father to just go quietly?" Jack asked " you know he won't " he added Steven just stood then both looked at Michael when he spoke and nodded they too agreed with Michael. Jim stood up and moved to Michael as he spoke.

" I think she's already decided she is what hes after so she , with escobar are what the beast will get , come what may" he said and looked to her.

"I expect my father to fight you with all he has, if it comes to it," Khaat said. "He's trained you. I expect you all to at least be able to hold your own or buy me time."

"Khaat," her mother said, "Your father pays your crew. They work, officially, for him. You're asking them to, effectively, mutiny."

"Yes. I am," she said.

"Then perhaps you're forgetting that you are the only thing that matters to him in this whole world," Kate said quietly. "Even beyond the kids or me."

"That's exactly why I am telling you to do this," she replied. "He would die for me without hesitation or thought. He is the minister. He is the best healer I know of. He is a potions master. We need him. Comparatively, in the course of the greater good, I am not worth nearly as much to our country as he is." She turned to Michael, her father's best friend. "Michael, I have no question about your loyalty to my father."

"Good," Michael said.

"And thats why I am going to ask you that if I cannot get out, if you cannot control my father, you absolutely must not hesitate to be willing to use the killing curse to stop me from being his undoing."

"What?" he frowned. "You're asking me to use it on you? Are you serious?"

"Perfectly," she said.

"Would we not be better to involve him and tell him so he can help us rather than fight against him?" Michael frowned.

"Michael, will you protect my father, or will you not?" she asked sternly.

Cassidy stood a gasp from what Khaat had asked them to do in regards Robert she looked to Steven who nodded " some times we have to do wrong to do good Cassidy " he said softly to her. Cassidy nodded and breathed out slowly. Jess looked to Jack both stood firm as Khaat spoke to Michael.

" lets hope it doesn't get to that " Jack said as he stood next to Jess his arms folded across his chest as he listened hoping that it would not come to the worst case.

"Thank you," Khaat said quietly. She walked away, going to Brian's office to read more about defensive spells, to hopefully find something that perhaps she could use.

"I did not agree to do that, you know," Michael said after she left.

"I know," Kate said softly to Michael. "But if it comes to no other recourse, she is right, you know."

"No. I don't know that," Michael was irritated and snippy now. "She's my goddaughter. What am I honestly supposed to do? I love her like she was my own..."

"And Robert is like a brother," Kate said. "I know...."

"Robert would never agree to this, no matter what. He doesn't give a jot about his position. He cares about family first. That's all that ever mattered...."

"She's trying to be practical for his sake," Kate said. "I think we all agree that we would have to be beyond our last resort to even consider her request."

"Is she safe to leave alone?" Angus asked.

"Yes," Kate said. "She's going to try to prepare herself for battle, I think."