Chapter Ten.

The promise.

Ari returned Asher's empty tea mug to a messy kitchen and went in search of Nixon. After knocking on his door and getting no answer, he headed straight for the studio. Dressed in black sweats, Nixon had just finished a series of slow graceful movements when he noticed him coming.

"I thought T'ai Chi wasn't your thing," Ari said.

"Yeah, well tonight I needed something to help me get my mind off things." Nixon turned and walked to the bench. Sitting down he pulled on socks and shoes, in a hurry to leave.

"Kennedy told me what you did," Ari said. "How you set off on your own to find me. I just wanted to thank you for that."

"You would have done the same for me," Nixon grunted.

"Probably," Ari nodded, "but that wasn't the point. Nixon, we need to talk."

"Look, I know Kennedy more than likely let you in on my behavior but let me save you the hassle. I've been having those dreams again about my dad. I must have sensed he was back. No biggie. I don't need some big brother talk. I'm going to be okay." Nixon glanced up, and then back down again, when Ari stopped in front of him.

"I made a promise to Grant," Ari said, "that I would never let him hurt you again and I plan on keeping that vow."

Angrily, Nixon stood before him. "I said I don't need your help!"

Quickly reaching out Ari snagged Nixon around the neck and pulled him into an embrace, and then held on tight. Sometimes that was the only way with Nixon. For a brief instance Ari thought he would have a fight on his hands but Nixon's tense rigid body swiftly relaxed against him, as though he had been waiting for the precise second to vent. Lucky for Ari, the boy no longer felt the need to bite.

Nixon rested his head against Ari's shoulder and when he spoke his voice was full of raw emotion. "I thought they were going to kill you and I hid like a coward."

"It's all right, I understand and I won't tell anyone."

"I know Ari. I know!" Nixon cried. "I was supposed to pick off the fowlers and if I wouldn't have hid like a baby," Nixon pushed away, "then maybe they wouldn't have come here!"

"Asher's a little drained and I have a bump on my head. I think things turned out just fine. Let it go. There's no point in beating yourself up."

"Don't do that to me." Nixon stepped away. "Don't treat me like I'm some nine-year-old kid who doesn't know anything. You don't know what my father's capable of."

"No, I don't Nixon, but I plan to find out."

"Then do me a big favor, leave me out of it. The only thing I want is to be as far away from here as possible. Distance from my dad is the only way to keep me and everyone else safe."

"Distance didn't stop the dreams from coming," Ari's said to his retreating back. Left alone, standing in the darkened studio, and eager to put the long day behind him, Ari decided to turn in. He started for the door when a strange sensation overcame him.

"Ari, Ari."

Swiftly Ari turned around and scanned the room. Darkness fell in the corners of the room which his human eyes couldn't access, so he shifted into his dog form. He sniffed the air and caught nothing but dust and a faint hint of mildew probably coming from the laundry room across the hall.

"Ari, Ari," his name repeated and Ari turned in the direction he thought the voice was coming.

What is that?

He dropped down and crawled forward on his belly, ears back and head lowered. The creature standing outside the studio glass wasn't giving off any signs at all, and he found that strange, ghostly strange. Far more mysterious was the way the brilliant blue eyes gave off a luminescent glow.

What are you?

Laughter immediately followed his question. A question that Ari realized he had been thinking. Rising up, Ari prepared to run.

"Ari, don't be afraid. You have to help me."

"Help you? Who are you?"

Ari moved closer, four paws clunking across the spongy mat, and then in the moonlight he saw what he believed to be a wolf. But how? There was nothing outside the window. The studio was built on an embankment.

"Asher must fall in love. It's the only way to call the Raven."

"But then he will die," he argued.

"He must call the Raven or my sacrifice will be in vain. You need to help Asher before it's too late and he's lost to himself. Don't forget the promise you made to me. It's more important now than ever that you find her."

The wolf vanished before Ari's eyes and shifting back to his man form, he hurried toward the window and looked out. The moon hung low over the distant forest silhouetting the field beyond the pond. And it was there he saw it, the shadow of the wolf racing for the trees.

"I've really got to have my head examined."

"Yes, you do."

Ari spun quickly and spotted Kennedy coming toward him across the mat. Moving over to the bench, he sat down and rubbed his temple. He wasn't too surprised when she sat down next to him, pushed his lame attempts away, and took over in his place. After a few seconds she started on his tense shoulder muscles. Her soft touch and her strong perfume played havoc with his insides.

"Does that feel better?" she asked. Ari didn't want to tell her that he was just as tense as before but now he was tense for different reasons. "I'm so glad you're all right Ari."

Ari suddenly stood up and walked several feet away from her. "Kennedy, we went through this before babe. I have no sense when it comes to women and you know that. Right now you're putting too much on me with everything that's happened and the approaching full moon, and I don't want to cross that line. You mean far too much to me for that. Besides Kennedy, I'm not so sure you know what you want. You always seem to come at me when you know I'm the most vulnerable. Is that what you want, a senseless relationship that means nothing, because I've had my share of those, and I'm not so sure you do?"

"Ari, I was just massaging your temples," she paused. "What's wrong? I heard Nixon slam his bedroom door. Did you guys get into a fight or something?"

"No, not really, he just doesn't want my help right now. But that's not what's bothering me. I really do think I'm losing my mind. Just now in the window I thought I saw something and after what Asher said upstairs-never mind you wouldn't believe me," he said. "I don't even believe me."

"What...was in the window?" Kennedy insisted looking over her shoulder. She acted as though she didn't know if she should be afraid or not.

Ari returned to the bench but kept a reasonable distance. "I saw a wolf just now looking in the window," he said. "He had glowing eyes and he...talked to me."

Kennedy all of a sudden spun back to him. "He talked...to you?"

"Well, not necessarily talked, I heard a voice in my head." Ari saw how Kennedy, thoughtfully, fingered the necklace she always wore, a blue jewel embezzled in silver. The habit seemed tantamount whenever she thought of Grant.

"What did he say?" she asked.

"Didn't you hear me? I said I heard a voice in my head."

"When Nixon and I were taking the twins to Linn, a wolf suddenly appeared on the road and Linn drove right through it like it was some spirit wolf or something. Nixon didn't see her drive through it and I didn't tell him because I knew he wouldn't believe me, just like you thought I wouldn't believe you." Kennedy scooted near him and whispered the last, "Ari what if the wolf is Grant."

Ari quickly stood again and walked to the center of the mat. His heart was racing and he wasn't even sure why. "So, what are you trying to say Kennedy?"

"What I'm trying to say is that when I saw the wolf my jewel got warm and started glowing. And just now it did the same thing when I was coming here to talk to you. Remember my dreams Ari?"

Kennedy stood and crossed to him, holding her jewel up as she neared. "Grant use to come in my room and tell me stories. They were always about some little girl who was brave and stood up to her enemies. They were goofy and silly and I know Grant made them up as he went along but they were special to me. Well anyway, the night Grant was called, he left me this jewel. I think he wanted me to know that he would always be around. But what if this jewel is more than that, and somehow it lets me know when he is around?"

Troubled and tired, Ari ran his fingers through his hair, pushing it back from his eyes. "My head is throbbing, I've been through a lot and I saw a wolf running away toward the trees. I'm sorry babe. It's just a little hard for me to believe."

"Why, because you're afraid that Asher might have been right all these years? He went out there again you know, looking for him."

Ari started to walk away but Kennedy caught his arm and stopped him from leaving. He didn't turn around and Kennedy didn't ask him to.

"Asher's crazy," he said, "and he was that way long before Grant died. I love him but he's not right, and I've known that ever since we were kids and his paranoia about dying caused him to believe the Council was out to get him. Sometimes, I would find him hiding in the closet, frightened and shaking." Ari shook his head in a determined manner and then turned around and faced her. "Grant's not alive. He can't be."

"But why can't he?" Kennedy persisted.

"Because," Ari jerked free, backing up as he talked, "that would mean he knew that he was leaving me to this mess, dealing with Asher, dealing with...with-"

"Us!" Kennedy fumed. "Is that it? You're upset because Grant left you with a looser brother that forced you to take care of us?"

Ari slowly nodded. His emotions torn, caught in between denial and the truth, "It wasn't my place to."

Before his words had time to fully register on her face, Ari spun around and hurried upstairs. Only when he was in his room, about to undress and climb in bed did he remember the journal. Returning downstairs, he soon realized there was no signs of life in the quiet house. The studio was dark, Kennedy had gone, and everyone was sleeping in their rooms.

Crossing over the mat he kept his eyes trained on the bench refusing to look out the window for fear of seeing the glowing eyes staring back at him. Grabbing the journal from the bench he started across the floor when he noticed something fall from the pages, a picture.

Bending over he picked it up and took it upstairs with the journal. Once locked inside his room, he crossed to the bed and lay down. Holding up the picture he studied the face of the blonde. She was pretty. Ari gave Grant credit for that. Turning the picture over he saw Grant's perfect handwriting scrawled across the back. The words written however caused a strange fluttering in his heart. He had expected to see her name, or even the goofy heart with both their initials written inside, but instead was the words, Remember Ari, you promised!

In a week's time, Ari had the journal read and his duffel bag packed. He had no idea when he would be home. Still he paced, still he questioned his decisions. He often dreamed of a life apart from the one he had. Sometimes the thought of freedom was more than he could bear. Asher's cruel treatment, his refusal to accept their bond had made things tough on him, but now the bond existed and Ari didn't want it, at least not now. Break in or not, warning or not, how could he put ten years of misery behind him?

How could he just turn the other cheek and forget all that Asher had done, and not done. The journal was lying on his nightstand next to the cup of coffee, long since gone cold. Kennedy had brought it up hours ago when she saw that his bedroom light was still on. Even after hurting her the way he had with his words, she still took care of him.

Ari sighed and went to the window. How could he leave them behind? Without another thought, Ari retrieved the journal, and shoved it in the back pocket of his jeans. He had no choice, Asher had seen to that. The moon was full which meant Asher was fully rejuvenated, and Vince said he would keep an eye on things while he was gone, and Linn planned to look after the twins.

Combing his bangs back with his fingers, Ari put on a Colt's ball cap, a green army coat and tossed the duffle over his shoulder. He crossed the room, stopping only when he saw his reflection in the mirror. His face was wider, his jaw line more squared and his eyes were an amber-brown, and still the resemblance to his brother was remarkable.

He was angry at Asher.

He felt sorry for him, hated him...and yet he loved him just as much.

Ari took the keys from the dresser top and a hand full of change, and slid everything into his pocket. The door clicked shut behind him and Ari turned to leave, but came to an abrupt stop when he noticed a shadowed form standing near the top of the stairs. Squinting in the dark he saw that it was only Nixon leaning against the banister. A closer look revealed Kennedy sitting on the top step with her head resting on her knees, looking about as tired as he felt.

"Going somewhere Ari?" Nixon folded his arms across his chest.

"Yes, and by the looks of it so are you."

Nixon picked up the bag at his feet and Kennedy did the same. He should have known that she would be there lurking, waiting for him to make his move. Kennedy had stopped him a few times before without even knowing it. Putting his arm around her waist they started walking down the stairs together, with Nixon walking behind them.

"So, who's gonna look after Asher?" Nixon inquired.

Ari let out a long deep breath and turned his hat around so that it was on backward. "He's taken care of himself for ten years. I think he'll be all right. Linn is going to look after the twins until we return. Hopefully, we won't be gone but a few days."

"Do you know where we're going?" Kennedy asked.

Ari took her hand to help her over the messy living room floor, and headed down the hall toward the attached garage. Other than restoring the kitchen to a place they could function the house was still in a state of disorder. Asher seldom left his rooms upstairs, and the house had long ago stopped being a home to the three of them. Leaving it behind in any state wasn't a problem. Ari had only one clue where to start his search and that was the records department at Lake Inc. He decided to change the subject.

"How did you know I was going to leave?" he asked.

"You've locked yourself in your room for days reading that journal," Nixon said, "and according to Kennedy, you were either doing a lot of pacing back and forth or you were packing. My guess was packing."

Ari flipped on the garage light and glanced sideways at Nixon. He wasn't being sarcastic nor was he joking. There actually was a great deal of concern in his eyes, and it was the same with Kennedy. "So, what you're trying to say is that you both have been watching me."

"No, Kennedy's been watching you. She's just been keeping me posted." Nixon grinned and then let it fade. His eyes took on a serious light. "Besides Ari, it's no tossup between you and Asher. You've done far more for us than he ever has and your right, it wasn't your place. You going missing like that, made me at least realize that."

"Then we're okay then?" Ari grinned.

"Oh, we'll never be okay you wet smelling dog."

"Now that one will never get old, you dumb bird," Ari laughed.

"I already knew Ari was special." Kennedy hugged his arm. Her soft touch moved along his forearm to his fingers, and then she took his pinky in hers, like she did when she was a little girl. The gesture made him feel even guiltier.

"You've taken care of us Ari without complaint, until now," she said. "It's not fair that your life's been robbed. We're not mad at you, but you're not leaving us behind either."

"Damn my brother..." Ari cursed under his breath. He took a deep breath, knowing they at least needed to know the truth. "Grant's got a child out there, and I'm going to find him before the outcasts do. I just thought you two should know." He was surprised by their lack of emotion.

"We already know," Nixon said, "and we also know that Asher knew and did nothing about it. That's why you're mad enough to leave him behind after everything that's happened here lately."

"There's no need to feel bad about that Ari because we understand." Kennedy sadly nodded, and then turned toward the vehicles. "So, where do we start?"

Ari's car was at the body shop along with Nixon's, which left, Kennedy's little Mini Cooper, his Suzuki motorcycle bought on an impulsive whim to be reckless, and Grant's four-wheel drive. Out of them all, Grant's truck was the only logical choice. Ari stepped down off the step. He had left him the keys, but Nixon shook his head when he saw Ari heading in the trucks direction.

"No one's driven that since Grant," he argued like it was some sacred temple or a room that was supposed to be kept in reverence. Ari took out the keys, dangled them at Nixon and simultaneously winked at Kennedy. They both knew the boy's weakness.

"Wanna drive?" Ari asked.

Nixon's mouth gaped open, but then a slow smile crossed his lips. The truck's back tires were as huge as a tractors and the snow was begging to be challenged. He snatched the keys from Ari's hands and went to the driver's side, while Ari punched the garage door opener. A blast of cold wind caught him as the door slid upward to expose the arctic weather outside. Ari thought of the strange mage with the red glowing eyes. Whether Asher was right or not about the power drain, the fear that he displayed afterwards was evident.

How could he just up and leave him?

But Asher knew and chose to do nothing.

All this time he chose to do nothing.

"You can have the backseat to yourself," Kennedy pulled Ari to the truck as though she knew he was struggling with his decision to leave. "I know you haven't slept much. I'll sit in the front to make sure Nixon doesn't get too crazy."