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I peered into the carrier. I loved cats, but there had been no chance to have any sort of pet when Krystal and I were on the road. After she died I'd been too restless to settle down. I'd befriended the strays wherever I went, until it hurt too much to leave them behind.
"Hey there, Bart," I whispered.
Hello. It didn't come as a word, but an impression in the current of air streaming from the air cleaner on the floor near the desk. I stared at the cat. The greeting had definitely come from the Maine Coon, but he just stared at me and blinked, long and slow. I blinked back.
"I'm ready," Leo said, interrupting my thoughts. "It's almost five thirty. We should head out."
"Yeah, the light's starting to fade." I peeked out the front window. "We'd better get going."
Rhiannon started to pick up Bart's carrier. "Come on. Let's go home, little dude. I . . . I . . ." A catch in her voice made me turn. She set down the cat and slid into a nearby chair, rubbing her head. "Heather's the only family I have. I can't lose my mother--I can't."
"Hush," I whispered, stroking her back. "We'll find her. We'll bring her home and everything will be okay." I wished to hell I meant what I was saying, but my stomach twisted in knots. We had a long way to go before we ever found Heather. If we found her. "I'm here, I'm your family."
"I'm not family yet, but I'm here, and I love you," Leo said, stricken. "We'll all look out for each other."
She looked up at him. "And I love you, Leo . . ."
He smiled softly. "I know."
She stood and he enfolded her in his arms, kissing away her tears. I looked away, wanting to give them some privacy.
"Come on." Rhiannon wiped her eyes and picked up the cat carrier as I grabbed one of the suitcases. "We'd better go before it gets dark."
Leo hoisted his pack over one shoulder and picked up the other suitcase. Taking one last look around the silent apartment, he flipped the lights and locked the door. But even though he said nothing, as we clattered down the front steps, I could tell he was thinking about his sister.
The ride back to Veil House was quiet except for the occasional yowl from Bart. "He doesn't like cars?" I asked.
"Not many cats do," Leo said, shaking his head. "But Bart's not really complaining, he's just asking how much longer he has to stay in the carrier."
"He an indoor-only?"
"Yeah, he's afraid of the outdoors. I don't trust the forest near your house. Do you let the cats out?"
"Not the indoor babies," Rhiannon said. "Four of them are feral and won't put up with being caged. But the other three stay inside the house." As we pulled into the driveway, she looked at me. "Be sure to lock Favonis. We don't want any nasty surprises waiting in case we have to take off during the middle of the night."
The Fae could probably unlock the car, I thought, but then again, with the steel and iron, maybe not. I hoped that side of legend and lore stood to the test.
Dusk had hit by the time we got back to Veil House. As we headed for the front porch, I kept a close eye on the forest. Nothing stirred, nothing showed itself, but I could feel them there, watching us.
"Check every room," I said, setting down Bart's cat carrier. "Before anything else, let's secure the house."
We spread out. Rhiannon and I checked the upstairs while Leo combed the main floor. Rhiannon did a head count of the indoor cats. All but two were sprawled in the living room, and the third--Beastbaby--was waiting by the food dish, yowling for his dinner. As we gathered in the living room, I shut the drapes.
"So, what now?" Leo said.
We looked at each other. Heather was missing. We were facing a group of Vampiric Fae who were far more deadly than their dark kin on either side. I was about to embark on starting a business I knew nothing about, didn't know how to run, and wasn't sure I could pull off.
Oh yes, and we were sitting ducks, just waiting for the other shoe to drop.
"We eat dinner and then we ward the house. You call Geoffrey and get us an appointment if you can. We read up on the Indigo Court and find out every scrap of information that we can on them."
Rhiannon nodded. "And you and Peyton start planning your business. The more magic you work with, the better for us in the long run."
"I still think we're going to need more help." Leo pulled Bart's carrier over to the table and opened it. Bart slowly slunk out, glancing around. Leo sprawled on the sofa, crossing his legs in the lotus position. He whistled and Bart leisurely leapt up on his lap. Stroking the Maine Coon around the ears and chin, he said, "Who else can we trust?"
"Don't look at me," I said. "I just hit town. I don't know anybody. Except Peyton."
"I think she's going to be very useful. Tomorrow during your workout with her, steer the conversation around to asking just what she's strongest at." Rhiannon sat down at Heather's desk and snapped her fingers. "I know! What about Kaylin?"
