Marriage is Murder

Jack , Jess and Cassidy all nodded Steven and Jim both stood quietly agreeing with Michael " of course it would be a last resort" " Steven said softly Jack nodded but still staid quiet for the moment . " I'm going out on patrol I think I should step them up for now" he said grabbing his coat as he looked at Jack.

" I'll come with you" he said grabbing his own , we shouldn't go out alone " he said slipping on his jacket and walking out the door with Steven Jess sat down looking at Kate while Cassidy moved up to be with the children taking her mind off what Khaat had asked them to do.

Brian came upstairs a short time later. The sparring match he'd had with Robert had been short but intense. He came up and saw the looks on their faces and scowled.

"You lot look like you've been at a wake. What on earth went wrong in the few minutes I left?" he asked.

"Escobar is here to protect Khaat," Kate said, choosing her words carefully. "he believes the werewolves are coming back."

"Then we'll be ready," Brian said, already geared to fight. "Where is she?"

"I think she's going to gear up," Kate said softly. "I think she's scared of this one."

"Then I'll go talk to her right now," Brian said. "If any of you need to brush up on your skills, you need to do that now. Don't wait. Go now. Kate, where did she go?"

"Probably to your office to research," Kate said.

"If any of you see anything, you call me--immediately," Brian ordered, heading for his office.

Jess looked up at Brian then towards Kate " you could say that " she said and listened to Kate wondering if she would tell him the rest but felt she would not. Once Brian had left she looked at her " you didn't tell him what she'd asked us to do" she said and accioed a hot Irish coffee to warm her up and calm her nerves after what she'd been asked to do. Jack and Steven walked back in several hours later.

"Grounds are clear " Jack said " no sign of Escobar or the wear" he added and hung up his coat and moved to sit with Jess who rested against him.

" Brian suggests we hone our skills, magic and other" she said softly Jack nodded .

" later on. " he said and pulled Jess into him and held her close against him.

Kate picked up on Jess's feelings. "You were only asked to protect the children, Jess. And, if necessary, to give Michael time."

"Not so true," Angus said. "If you think for one minute that Brian wouldn't throw himself between anyone or anything and her, even if he knew it was suicidal, you're sadly mistaken. You won't just have to deal with Robert, even if the rest of us are on board with this. You also have to contend with Brian."

"Some sort of overgrown werewolf, most likely not alone, an out of control husband, and a half crazed father," Michael sighed, getting out his cigarette case and lighting up. "Seems like reasonable odds to me. Not a problem. Just the everyday Lupin crisis, is it not?"

"Michael," Kate frowned.

"I can't do this, Kate," Michael said. "I can put up with all sorts of lunacy, but this one is beyond me. What the hell do you think Remus would be thinking if he were here?" Kate got up and went to him and hugged him.

"He wouldn't approve either," Kate said quietly. "I know that...."

"She won't tell Brian either, will she?"

"No, not the full extent. She hasn't even told us all of it," Kate said. "There's something else she's holding out. She's trying to protect us from fear. Don't forget she was trained from as long as she can remember to think and behave like a true Gryffindor. To be a fighter. She values others above herself. Gryffindors will toss themselves under a speeding train if thats what it takes to protect the ones they love. It just is who she is. And she loves all of us. If she could face this whatever-it-is alone without us, she would. But she needs us. She needs to know that her children and her father will be safe, and she's putting their lives into our hands. Its the highest form of love she knows--to be wiling to give it all up for the people she loves."

It wasn't her plan to tell Brian. She wanted to spare him, but he knew her. Of anyone he had ever known in his life, he knew her. He didn't give her the option of keeping everything secret. But she chose to not tell him everything. She told him what she had told them. Brian's mind knew there was more. He mentally filled in the rest to an extent. It was extremely dangerous, dangerous enough that she was willing to rely on a former enemy to protect her if it shielded her loved ones.

And it was Brian who decided to tell Robert enough to not leave him entirely in the dark. He simply went downstairs and met Robert as he finished his shower in the locker room downstairs. Brian told him that Escobar had come, not to harm Khaat but to protect her because he believed that the werewolves were bringing back some sort of threat that Escobar believed was legitimately exceptionally dangerous. Robert immediately knew that there was more, but he also realized he wasn't going to get it. He walked upstairs and saw everyone gathered, the tension in the room enough to be cut with a knife.

"I know enough," Robert told them quietly. "I surely don't know the full situation, but I do know enough for now. We will operate as we always do. We will fight. We will protect ourselves. And for now, we will go into a full lockdown. Steven and Jim, cast age lines around all the doors and windows and floos so that the children cannot leave without one of us. I do not want our wandering toddlers to wander outside without us. Jack, keep your eyes peeled. I want to know when the werewolves shoiw up. Ladies, do not leave the children alone for 30 seconds. Angus and Michael, prepare nonperishable rations so we can eat quickly if we have to. I have assigned Brian to make sure Khaat doesn't leave his sight. If you'll excuse me, I have a couple ideas of my own. I need to go to my potions lab while there is still time." He went upstairs quickly.

Jess and Cassidy both nodded and headed up to the nursery each knowing their job was to stay with the children and protect them if necessary. Jack and Jim both nodded at their respective jobs Jack moved to the left while Jim moved to the right casting age spells as they walked around the house Jack watched the grounds making sure he caught no smell of wears around them soon all out side doors were sealed and they walked back to the main living room , Jack smiled as he passed the nursery seeing Jess with the boys playing as was Jaylen and Catlin with a dolls house that sat nestled in a corner.

Khaat had no intention of following her father's lockdown orders. She wanted to know what Escobar knew. She slipped out several times that evening and during the night to do her own patrols. She was never outside more than a few moments before Escobar joined her. On about the fifth time she went out, in the darkest part of the night, he met her almost immediately.

"Why do you keep coming out in the most dangerous part of the day?" He asked her. "You know they will be harder to detect for you at night."

"If they're coming, I don't want my family involved if I can help it," she said.

"Do you still intend on making yourself a martyr?" he asked bluntly.

"Its not about that," she scowled. "Its a matter of practicality. If they want me, why should so many die trying to protect me? Its illogical."

"Indeed," he agreed. "I doubt they can protect you from him anyway. Do you have any defensive spells of your own to use?"

"Some," she said. "I won't just lay down and die, if thats what you're asking."

"Good," Escobar said. "But I cannot talk you into remaining in the house?"

"No," she said. "I will not hide."

"THen brace up. They will be here before dawn," Escobar said. "I have seen them coming from the south. They are not using magic so that they will not be traced. They are using some sort of cloaking enchantment, hoping to not be seen or smelled. And they are aware you are a seer. They have blocked you every way they know how."

"Then how did you see them?" she frowned.

"They're using an old fashioned flatbed truck," he said. "They're still a ways off. You have some time. Perhaps a couple of hours, but no more than that. What will you do?"

"I have no idea," she sighed.

"Then I suggest you go and change to something warmer that allows you more flexibility. And perhaps take the time for a dose of energy potion. You are quite sleep deprived. If you have a spare wand, it might help you. When you come back out, use the kitchen door. You will be more concealed there than by your large, ornate front and back doors," he said. "I won't be far." She nodded and went back inside.

Jack stopped and frowned seeing Khaat out side yet again he looked back at where he knew Brian to be wondering if he knew about Khaat being out side for the fifth time , he looked up and smelt the air and game a growl as he moved to find Jess and Cassidy who had gathered the children making it a game so they would not be scared as they gathered their things and waited Jess held her wand out of sight as did Cassidy. Jack moved to find Brian and Robert waiting on further orders. " I have Cassidy and Jess ready and waiting to get the kids out if they should attack" he told them.

Khaat had changed clothes and had prepared herself as best she could. She had chosen mission wear. Black leggings, a long black crew necked sweater, a duster length black coat, and her black boots. She had tucked Remus's wand in her left boot, and she had her wand in her inside jacket pocket. She had tied her hair back to get it up out of her way. As the time slipped by, she noticed her green stone began to start to glow softly. She went downstairs and out the kitchen door.

Her father was finishing the potion he was workig on. He was pouring it into glass testtubes and corking them and putting them in a shoulder bag. Kate had put her grandchildren to bed and was reading when Abbey came in, crying.

"Gam....Gammy..." she said, tears steaming down her tiny face.

"What's the matter?" Kate frowned, hurrying to pick her up. "Did you have a bad dream?"

"Mama gone. Mama not coming home..." Abbey wept, heartbroken. Kate held her close.

"You had a bad dream," Kate said. "Mama is fine. She's here. You don't have to worry...."

"She all gone, Gam!" Abbey was positive. "Monsters, Gam...Monsters...."

"Abbey," Robert got up and went over to her. "I promise you. I promise. No monster is going to ever, ever hurt your mama." He kissed her. "Kate, take her to be with the other children. Jess and Cassidy will understand and they'll 'cheer her up.'" Robert knew they would understand and they would know how to get her mind on something else or would know how to just hold her and reassure her. "Its time. I need to go," he said to Kate.

"Be very careful," she said softly to Robert, kissing him.

"Always," he smiled.

Khaat met Escobar outside the kitchen door. "They're here, arent they?" she asked softly.

"Yes," he replied. "Take my hand. You must follow my word, no matter what happens, if you want to live. Do you understand, Querida?" She nodded. "Then stay right with me."

Michael saw lights out the kitchen window on the south side of the estate. He went into the living room. He looked at the others. "They're here," he said quietly. Brian and Angus simply picked up their coats and put them on, without a word. Robert came downstairs, his coat on, a bag on his shoulder. Michael put his coat on as well.

"In my bag," Robert said. "Everyone take as many of these vials as you can hold. They are to be thrown, like a muggle grenade. The potion will activate when the vial hits the ground and breaks."

Jack sneezed and looked at Brian taking some vials and slipping them into his pocket along with Steven and Jim who both nodded " no heroics kids out safe first " Jack said and Steven nodded he understood " leave the big one for me to deal with " Jack told them hoping it had all been an exaggeration and he was not as big as he had been told. Jim and Steven took out their wands and stood at the ready seeing the lights drawing ever closer to the ranch house and every one in it. Jack sneezed again and stood upright ready for a battle he knew he could end up being mortally wounded but he hoped Jess and Cassidy would get the kids out quickly and safely to Edwards or so he hoped thats would be where they would be taken.

"Drink this," Robert tossed a different vial to Jack--a vial that was a completely different shape and color. "I do not need you giving up our position to the enemy with that sneezing. This is not the time to start that. And don't get the vials confused. That would be..very unfortunate indeed."

Michael was the first out the door of the house, and the others followed. Robert put a binding spell on the house so that only those who lived there could enter. It was a temporary spell that would last, at best a couple of hours. Michael saw the lights on the south side of the lawn. It looked like a lynch mob from an old muggle horror movie. The number of old style fire torches was unsettling. They were outnumbered already. And standing right between them and the mob was Khaat and Escobar. He had her drawn tight to him, his arm locked tightly around her.

"Why have you come?" Escobar demanded.

"You're not a Lupin," the werewolf pack leader frowned. "Who the hell are you?" He looked at Khaat. "I bet he went over big with your mate, didn't he?" Khaat bristled at the werewolf talking about Brian as if he were an animal. Escobar squeezed her hand to stop her from being baited by the werewolf.

"Answer my question," Escobar said. "Why are you here?"

"Why do I ever come? he laughed bitterly.

"Your plans have never worked. If they had, you wouldn't need to keep trying," Escobar said. "What makes you think this time will be any different?" The leader made a motion with is hand, motioning someone or something to come forward. The mob parted, giving wide berth.

Khaat's necklace began to scream in a loud, shrill pitch even she had not heard before, with a light that was so intense, it caused her such intense pain that she cried out in sharp pain. Brian and Robert perked up sharply. They'd heard the stone sound many times and seen its warning light, but nothing had ever compared to this. This was very different.

And then they heard the distinctive rattle of chains. Big, heavy chains, paired with slow, pounding steps that Brian swore made it feel like the ground itself shook.

"What the hell..." he began softly, filled with dread. And then a loud shrill howl filled the air. It was so loud, they had to cover their ears. It sounded like a werewolf---and then some.

"Get behind me," Robert ordered them quickly. This was definitely not good. He didn't know what they were up against, but he was not feeling like they could deal with this. "Be ready to use your medallions to summon back up."

And then Khaat saw it. To her, the monster looked bigger than Hagrid ever had. He was fully transformed, devoid of all human thinking, sniffing the air and smelling the humans around him. His lust for humans was so strong that Khaat could feel it. Her heart seemed to pound in her ears. He howled again, desperate to be free of his chains to feed--on them. Khaat's knees buckled on her for a moment in her fear. Escobar's arm around her held her up.

"What the hell is that?" Michael asked slowly.

"Big," Brian replied, utterly stunned. "Really big."