Her sister, much as Kaitlyn loved her, was absolutely insane. It was the only conclusion - still the only one! - that she could come to despite Chloe's explanation. For once, Kaitlyn had been in complete agreement with her brother-in-law and Chloe had blithely ignored them both about the possible danger. She stilled the tremors that threatened as she remembered.
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She'd just gotten inside when her twin came forward, beaming, with the baby in her arms. Luckily, her hands were full of luggage and, by prior arrangement on the drive here, Luc intercepted his wife before the hugging could start. When Katey had agreed to this holiday visit she'd vowed to herself that she would do everything possible to avoid touching the baby.
Unfortunately, she hadn't counted on her twin's determination. THe baby came closer and Kaitlyn did her best to hide behind her luggage while Lucian tried to talk Chloe out of her mad scheme. When Luc failed to get through to her, Kaitlyn tried, alternately warning her it was a bad idea and begging her not to put the baby in this kind of danger.
Somehow, while Chloe was declaring that she had absolute faith in Kaitlyn's inability to harm her niece, the sneaky butler had crept up and taken the luggage out of sight. Then, Chloe - the devious woman - had feigned tripping in such a way that instinct took over. Kaitlyn whisked the baby out of harm's way while Luc grabbed his wife. It wasn't until the tiny hand gripped her finger that Katey realized what she'd done. Shock locked her in place and she could only stare down at the tiny person in her arms with barely restrained panic.
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She shook her head now to dislodge the memory, just pleased that for once Luc had read her better than Chloe. Her twin was convinced that she could never hurt the child, but she wasn't willing to chance it. The moment Luc had gotten little Serena from her, Kaitlyn had promptly taken herself outside and given herself over the the panic. The only casualty had been a street light, but she had then flatly refused to touch her niece again. That was one of the reasons she'd returned so soon after the actual holiday.
The problem now was that the hotel was not a place she wanted to let her control slip. It wouldn't be safe. What she really needed was a place to go that would contain any 'accidents'. There was only one person she knew of who had such a place and though she hated - no, better say despised - the idea of anyone seeing her in such a state, it was the best option. She was truly lucky she'd been able to keep it together this long... the entire flight from New York and now the cab ride.
Whether James would be at home, she honestly didn't know, but she could hope. The cab had barely stopped before she was leaping out the door with her luggage already in hand. She kept her wits about her long enough to pay the fare and then she was loping for the door.
Bags thumped against her foot where she dropped them in order to knock at the door. At least she hadn't pounded on the door. Yet. The wards? At the moment she wasn't able to care that some painful, and possibly fatal, magic thing might view her as a threat. She was just clinging to the shreds of her control with everything she had.
"Please be home, James," she muttered. Or she'd intended to mutter it, however it came out more as a whimper. "Be home, be home, be home. C'mon. Please be home." Weight shifted from one leg to the other while she waited, hoping that he'd be awake at this early hour.
Oh yeah, she was going to hate letting him see her like this. Her hair was a tangled mess from running her fingers through it so much and she looked as though she hadn't slept much in days. But really, who else was she going to find that could stick her in some glowing circle until this storm passed?
-- Edited by KAITLYN SAVAGE on Saturday 26th of November 2011 02:52:04 AM
James, was a bit of an overachiever as a young man. I'd graduated from universality before earning his right to be called Wizard. and even earned his first doctorate while still young and in his twenties. you didnt do that sort of thing by getting alot of sleep. That wasn't to say James believed in drugs to keep one awake. he was a wizard there where other ways. Over the course of a month a long time ago, the wizard had trained his brain, and body to ener REM sleep almost immediately after laying his head. through that he could get by on naught but a few hours. it was helpful in order to get his pet projects done, and still run a business. while also training a young apprentice, who had just so happened to come home a few days prior.
Yes, he was up when he felt more then heard the knocks at his door, the magical wards therein pinged against his senses like a magical doorbell. he looked up from his work. It was a staff, of alabaster wood, and it was layingout on his work bench. slender and about a third of the way covered in deep carved runes. it was going to make a pretty impressive Christmas present for Alastrina.
he rose from his work. carefully reaching for the ancient shot gun he kept in the house, it was door prize if anything supernatural had tried to get one over on him. unfortunately Alastrina's friend had been acquainted with it. though James couldn't really be upset about frightening the young lad so. he was barefoot, so his assent of the stairs was silent. he wore a pair of loose fleece pants and a loose long sleeved shirt. despite his favor of business casual when he was out and about. this was him home dammit and he deserved to be comfortable.
a hand placed on the door, a push of will later and the door opened just a bit, a steely blue eye visible through the crack the wizard had made. that eye went form intense to surprised, to worried before he even said anything." Katey." James said with a tone of pleasant surprise. The wizard stepped back from the door leaving it open, invitation unsaid but implied. at least for now. any supernatural force impersonating Katey couldn't keep a glamour up after crossing a threshold, but Katey could enter safely. a wave of his hand behind him, and a buzz of magic and the oil lamps that lit the room burned to life. lighting his sitting room. "Is everything alright? are you hurt?" his concern present, though not prevalent in his tone. he didn't want to worry her more by sounding too too concerned. that's right jimmy, play it cool.
Alastrina had been up in her room reading the latest book that James had give to her in her study. Hanging upside down off the side of the bed as her toes wiggle in the air. Then when she heard the banging on the door downstairs which scared her half to death. So placing a book marker on the page she had been reading to roll off the bed to scamper to her feet to make her way down the step. Sitting on the bottom step since James had reach the door before her.
That was when she heard Katey's voice from the other side of the door. Watching as James usher her within the house. See how upset she was she made her way into the kitchen to began to brew up some chamomile tea. Placing water on the stove and place some cups out . Then moved to the cabinet that held the chamomile and place the tea bag in each cup. Now just waiting on the water to boil .
Finally after the water started to boil some. Trina would come out with a tray with the hot water ,cups, cream and sugar to place it on the table between them so they can fix there self tea when they were ready for it . Then would slide into a seat .
Almost immediately after the door opened and the silent invitation to enter was given, she’d kicked her bags across the threshold with a careless disregard for anything in them that might break from such an action. She was right behind them, moving into a position where she could easily escape if someone tried to touch her. Obsidian gaze moved restlessly through the room while she tried to form an explanation that had a chance of being understood.
She had to clear her throat twice before she could get any words past the lump that resided there. “I went to New York for Thanksgiving to see Chloe and Lucian. Met my baby niece for the first time. Chloe tricked me into holding the baby.” Katey gave a jerky shake of her head and hugged herself tightly. “She’s insane. Putting her daughter in that kind of danger was so stupid. She knows how easily I could have killed,” she flinched at the word but continued, “Serena if my control had slipped for even a second. Why would she do that?”
Terror choked off her words and she finally looked at James with all of that emotion in her eyes. Here was the vulnerability that Kaitlyn tried so hard to hide under the tough chick façade. She was absolutely horrified by the thought of killing anyone with her abilities again, whether they were innocent or attacking her. To think she could have killed a baby – her own niece! – was just too much.
Attention shifted when Alastrina came back into the room with the tray of tea things, moving just slightly so that there was even less chance the blonde could accidentally brush against her. Looking again at James, she noticed the old shotgun, a brow lifting slightly in question. But it wasn’t enough to hold her attention for long, not when she caught the hint of chamomile coming from the table.
Kaitlyn eyed the two wizards for a moment, then sidled over to a seat. Boots were taken off and she pulled her legs up into the chair so that she could wrap her arms around them. “I figured you, at least, would be able to protect yourself if I lose it. You have pretty glowing circles and the hotel doesn’t.” What she didn’t say was that she trusted him, and possibly Trina too, to help her find a path out of the panic.
oh, that's right. it was thanksgiving. He was British, it was sometimes easy to forget those things. the shotgun was cracked open, the only to make it unable to fire. and he tossed it onto an empty chair. lowering to a knee before her. he watched her face, listening while she recounted her experience. only looking away to give Alastrina a nod and a smile of greeting before returning concerned eyes to Kaitlyn.
James, gave a slow nod when she was done. and offered a small smile, lifting his left hand, the side that absorbed energy. bringing to life the markings in his skin. emerald light filling a single string of mathematical equations. he was grounding himself, just in case she was charged, it wouldn't violently shock him away, he couldn't stop the surge, but he could stop it from hurting him. a slight squeeze before he spoke."While I can appreciate your sisters confidence in your control. It was absolutely wrong of her to surprise you as such... If you would like to he placed inside of a magic circle so that you might expound some of your energy, I can do that for you." he gave a supportive smile, and a nod. "If you'd like to sit here and talk I'm fairly certain I can sit here and listen"
a slow nod offered up to her, his magical aura pressing against her sort of like when you press you tongue against a battery. wasnt something that he needed to do, but he thought it might be a little soothing. but then again, he didn't know any better." would you like any tea or... something, I might have other things, that aren't ... tea. I think." a glance back to alastrina for confirmation of either outcome.
~ Trina would listen to Katey as she when into what had happen with her when she visited her family. Well yes that was dangerous in having them do that to her. Really could people be more stupid ? She would lean over fixing herself some of the tea as she kept her lips seal for the time. ~
~ Then when James look her way to see if there was more stuff in the ice box other then tea to drink she gave a nod of her head toward his way .before speaking ~ " Yup we have lemonade, water, milk, ice tea, soda, juice...which I think is grape .." ~ She would scratch her head some as she thought about what else they had to drink ~
Kaitlyn made a rude noise in the back of her throat. 'Wrong' of her twin to do that? That wasn't a strong enough word for it in her opinion. Of course, she was freaking out, so her judgement might not be at its best. She did note the emerald markings on his arm and it seemed to help her a little. Arms remained locked around her legs, her chin coming to rest on her knees.
Lips twitched upward at the corner, not quite a smile, but it gave that impression."Sitting here is good." Sitting here, she could continue to hold herself in check, mentally and physically. Perhaps if she sat here long enough then the feeling that she was going to explode would ease. She was stubborn that way. She had to attempt to take care of things herself before seeking other ways. Besides, if things got too bad, she could always go back to the magic circle idea.
Gaze followed James' when he looked to Trina to find out whether there were other things than tea. Not that Katey particularly cared if there were other things. The tea was chamomile, she could smell it from here, and that was absolutely perfect in her opinion. With a little shake of her head she murmered, "Tea is fine." A quick look of gratitude at Trina since she was the one who'd brought the tea things out, but she didn't move to fix a cup.
Since James had said she could sit here and talk, she blurted out the first thing that came to her. "I never thought I would live to see a day when Lucian and I were in perfect agreement. Of course, I'll have to deny that I ever agreed with him on anything or it will make us 'friends' and I can't be friends with that prick. It would just be wrong..." Head tilted down so that she could scratch her nose on her knee. When she looked back up, it was only to stare at a spot on the floor. "You know, if Chloe wasn't who she is, I'd be tempted to give her a taste of what I've been giving Luc all these years. Maybe then she would understand how stupid she was to put a baby in my hands."
Katey was babbling, but it was easing some of the panic. Brows furrowed as she continued. "And why make me hold a baby anyway? I don't like babies. They're noisy, usually sticky or dripping some form of goo, and they stick everything in their mouths. It's gross..."
Another glance back to Alastrina, James gave her a nod. before glancing to the tea set up. the girl needed to work on her tea working skills. He was English. he already knew how to make a good cup of tea, not to mention the fact that she was a student, and despite everything, she was still to learn. As the young girl went to work on the tea James attention returned to Katey.
"Sitting here is good, and you're more then welcome to continue doing so, just as long as you'd like." he said with a smile. an encouraging one, he liked Katey's company. his smiled softened as she went on, eyes watching her face, but never meeting her own, Wizards didn't make direct eye contact allot of time. the first time you did with someone, it triggered what they called a soul gaze. that person got to see who you where, really, on the inside. and you got to see them in the same way. He hadn't soul gazed Katey yet and well,she didn't know about the process and surprises where bad for people who where worried about losing their control. so, his eyes where just watching her face.
The wizard listened, carefully, its something he was veyr good at, listening and analyzing, before speaking. it was sort of his thing." I didn't hear anything about agreeing with Lucian, insofar as I know, the man is a pompous ass..." another twist of his lips into a slight smile before he went on"Perhaps though, you should Tell Chloe how it is you feel, in such a way you usually tell Lucian the same way, It may help your point get through to her, being that your polite protests where not enough."
A short chuckle about babies. "I've also little affinity for babies, as you say they're uh... untidy." Jame's fingers on her leg tightened a bit in a comforting squeeze before he slowly stood."Are you hungry? I can bring you something to eat if you like."
Trina would nod back to James as she when to fix herself some of the tea . She couldn't help it that she was American and not English . That they don't tea set up in school or in the home anymore . But then she would fix Katey some as she walked around to hand her the cup of hot tea. Giving her a warm smile. Then she would pick up her own as she sips it before licking her lips . " Yes if you are hungry I can fix you something while you and James talk..." She would look between the two waiting on the answer if she was hungry or not. Then would sit her cup of tea on the table in front of her as she tucked some hair behind her ear.
“Polite protests my ass...” Another shake of her head. That hadn’t exactly been what she’d done. In fact, Kaitlyn could have a foul mouth on her at times. Unfortunately, Chloe had heard most of the obscenities she used several times before and they didn’t seem to have any effect. “Next time maybe I’ll just let her get shocked when she doesn’t listen to me.” She said that, but it probably would never happen. It was the twin bond as well as the fact that Chloe was the only member of her family who hadn’t been afraid of her.
When Alastrina brought her the cup of tea, she gave a quick smile of thanks and held the cup near her nose so that she could inhale the steam. After taking a sip she seriously thought over the question of whether or not she was hungry. While it still felt like there were lumps of tension in her belly, they weren’t nearly so bad as they had been when she got here. Still… “Uhm, no. I’m not hungry right now.”
Through the veil of her lashes, she looked up at James, trying to see just what he was thinking of her breakdown. A glance was then sent toward Trina. Clearing her throat, she muttered, “So, uh, it looks like I don’t have to help hunt down a missing apprentice anymore.” A hint of teasing was in the comment, but there was relief as well. From the few comments that had been made by James, she could tell that he’d worried about Trina… and that had made Katey worry.
Now that she’d told them why she was having a hard time and James was prepared to contain her if her control slipped, she wasn’t quite as tense. Time to talk about something else – anything else – to finish the process. That was why she’d made the comment about Trina’s return, to get one or the other of them to bring up some topic of discussion that didn’t deal with her family.
He was being polite. not wanting to say she was rude. after all he was British and British people where polite. all most too much so. but with her response he smiled. up at her." I'm certain that would get your point across. Though I do hope you are referring to your sister when you say that." James gave another slight smile. he was of course teasing her. when she got her tea he leaned back, still sitting on the floor. blue eyes looking up at her. As a wizard he didn't make eye contact with people. really ever. at least not without some warning.
brows went up when Trina spoke, a glance back to Katey and then he shook his head. "No, Thank you though Trina... you go ahead, there should be a bit of turkey left over. a nod to his apprentice, before he spoke again. " I cooked the turkey with that rainstorm we had. a few bolts of lightning, it got a little burnt around where i had it spiked down. but all in all It wasn't too terrible." a proud smile before giving a shrug."Yeah, she came home. I uh, I can track her now, " he wasn't proud of that fact that was apparent in his voice. but hell she couldn't just disappear on him again. also, James never claimed to know much about kids.
Because he was also a fan changing the subject he made a surprised motion. " Oh, I've finished the work on your coat. It's ready for you when you'd like it. I'm afraid that it's more for function then comfort. but If my math is right, Which is it. it will work amazingly." a proud smile then. standing a bit and pushing to sit on his coffee table in front of her. now he wasn't sitting down below her and they could be on the same level. without being assumptive and sitting down beside her on the couch.
Trina would give a nod of her head as she would make her way into the kitchen to fix herself something to eat. She would move about the kitchen pulling out the turkey and the mayo and some lettuce and tomato as she sits everything out on the island as she grabs up some bread to make herself a turkey sandwich. After a few minute of getting everything on her bread. She would smash it together and place some chips on the side. Making her way back over toward the ice chest to get the ice tea out to pour herself some.
Once everything was done she moved around to take a seat on the stool at the island to began to eat her turkey sandwich which was just yummy. She would lightly groan since she should of when upstairs to get the book she was reading so she could read some more. But oh well.
Brows lifted and a slight smile twitched at her lips. The image conjured by his explanation of how he’d cooked the turkey struck her as funny. Not that she had a problem with that method, she was just glad she hadn’t been around when he was doing that. She’d rather not be slammed into a wall or something from the force of a lightning strike.
A slight nod of her head was given to acknowledge what he’d said about being able to track his apprentice. If the two of them hadn’t been wizards, she would have offered to slip a tracking device into Trina’s shoe or something. As it was, she just let it go and took another sip of tea. Not her problem unless James asked her to get involved at all.
Katey relaxed more, allowing her legs to lean over against the arm of the couch. “Oh, thank you. And I don’t mind about it not being for comfort. That’s what my other jacket is made for.” She hesitated for a few minutes, obviously judging something. When she leaned forward to touch his arm it was obvious that she’d been testing her control. Still, it was the left arm she touched. “Thank you. You know, for… dealing with me like this.”
It wasn’t easy to talk about lapses in control since it made her so uncomfortable. However, James deserved a thank you. Besides, she liked being in his company. That didn't mean she was going to leave her hand on his arm for very long, though. Just long enough the get the point across and then it joined her other, wrapped around the cup of tea. “So, ah, did I interrupt anything important by showing up on your doorstep?”
"I thought you might say that, which is why i further reenforced it." a proud smile on his face bringing his other hand up to give her's a comforting squeeze. " I would deal with you any time. quite literally." when she withdrew her hand he leaned back onto his palms, shaking his head quite adimately.
"No, no of course not. I'd never see your company as an interruption , I find your company a great deal more desireable then anything I could be doing by myself." he leaned forward again. and glanced up the stairs. " I was working on Alastrina's holiday present downstairs." whispered softly, for her ears only. leaning back he added. "Would you like to see it?" genuine interest there. he was one who liked to show others what he could do. call it ego, call it pride. really Wizards got high off of sharing experienced.
She flashed a smile at him, hoping that the slight heightening of color in her cheeks wouldn’t be noticed, when he declared how much he liked her company. Had anyone ever enjoyed her company before? Other than her sister, she couldn’t remember such a thing. It gave her a nice ‘warm, fuzzy’ feeling to know she wasn’t being a bother to him… Of course she didn’t quite trust that feeling, not yet, but it was becoming easier.
When he glanced at the stairs and then lowered his voice, her dark gaze turned there to be sure that Trina didn’t suddenly show up in time to hear them. When James’ words registered, she turned a puzzled look his way. What did wizards get as presents? As they say, only one way to find out.
“I’d love to see it.” She slowly unwound and leaned forward to put down the cup of tea. A brief debate took place as to whether she wanted to put her boots back on. She decided against it, trusting to her socks to give some protection to her feet. Finally, she stood and shifted so that she wouldn’t be in the way when James got to his feet.
