Ari shrugged, "I know he was extremely upset by what he found." He surveyed Nixon's expression, and then shook his head. "Is there something else I should know?"

"I guess not," Nixon sniffed, wiped his hands on the towel and headed for the door. "I guess it doesn't matter...not really."

Ari remained behind to clean the blood from the floor and sink top, and when he exited his room with intentions of heading downstairs to make tea for Asher, he noticed Kennedy sitting on his bed. He gestured her to follow.

"Don't be angry with me." He had seen her hurt expression when he shoved her out the door.

"This is about Nixon. Something is bothering him," she surprised him by saying. Ari stopped on the stairs and with a long exhale of breath, faced her. He had intended on replying somewhat sarcastic, since that was a given fact, but when he took in her serious expression, he gestured her to go on. "When we were coming back Nixon stopped the snowmobile and acted all panicky. He kept looking at the woods like he thought someone was going to jump out at us. I've never seen him so afraid. And then at the cabin, he ran and hid. When have you ever known Nixon to run from a fight?"

"Not all that often," Ari agreed, "not even from Asher."

"I didn't know about that man-Ross being his dad until he said so upstairs. Was it on the account of him that Nixon acted that way?"

"You were too young to fully remember the condition Nixon was in when he got here, but yes I believe his behavior had a lot to do with that. Nixon hasn't seen his dad since he was younger, before Grant brought him here."

"I know that he was abused. I've seen his scars," Kennedy said. "I think Nixon's afraid he'll come for him."

"That's a possibility," Ari agreed. "But I'm sure realizing his old man's behind my kidnapping is more than he can deal with right now."

"Then you think he'll be all right?"

Ari gave her a nod. "I'll see to Asher and then I'll go find him, but until then maybe you can keep him busy. Search the grounds and make sure everything's as it should be." Reaching out he touched Kennedy's soft cheek and grinned. "Everything is going to be okay. I'll see to that. I always have."

Chapter Nine.

Hidden Truth.

What was left of the mouth was open in a silent scream of horror. Flesh, decomposed or pecked away by birds exposed bone and teeth. Bits of rotted cloth adhered to the skull with dried blood and matted hair clung to the forehead. The hair was long and black and looked just like his.

Asher fought to clear the image from his mind.

He fought for breath and reason.

He tried not to see the name or accept the fact the ghastly remains-the rotting body leaning up against the stone was him. Forcing himself to wake up, Asher instantly noticed the silhouette of his brother standing before the window across the room.

"Playing vigil again Ari?" Asher took a deep breath and pushed his sweat damp hair out of his eyes.

"You were having another nightmare. I brought you some of your tea. It should still be warm," Ari said.

Asher sat up and placed a pillow behind his back while Ari crossed the room. He removed the mug of tea from the nightstand and handed it to him. He had changed into jeans and a sweatshirt and was sporting a white bandage on his forehead. Asher could tell by his sleepy eyes that Ari had yet to go to bed.

He began to picture his brother with the rope around his neck and wasn't even aware of his breathing or the fact he was growing angry until he felt Ari watching him.

"They didn't hurt me Asher," he said. "I hit my head when I wrecked, and I can't even blame anyone but me. The roads were pretty bad."

"And you just happened to be followed by a band of outcasts in a truck with a winch on the front, Ari?" Asher asked skeptically. He paused long enough for Ari to respond, but he merely shook his head, exhaled loudly and sat back in the chair. "The only clear fact I see is they didn't have to cause your accident. You did that for them by driving too fast."

"But I wouldn't have been driving too fast had you-" stopping midsentence Ari took another deep breath and let it out slowly. "Look, I know about the phones and I know you cancelled the meeting. I know they took me to draw you away from here, so they could get inside, and I know you feel bad about that, but I wasn't hurt and nothing was taken. So, let's move on to something else. Let's talk about Zareth Ross. What did he want?"

Reaching over, Asher took the mint tin from the nightstand and took out two. He handed one to Ari and put the other in his mouth. The tea relaxed him just as the mints did. "You've studied the rebellion, what do you think Ross wanted?"

"I don't know Asher, what do most tyrants want, power, recognition, revenge. Your guess is as good as mine."

"What else do you know?"

Ari stretched, "Not much other than the list of names Vince compiled of Ross's known followers and supporters. He's got a couple multi-million dollar corporations behind him. Who knew sponsors weren't just for racecar drivers and basketball players these days."

"Multi-million dollar companies huh?" Asher pondered. "What do you think they do with the money?"

"Afford the finest silk for those robes?" Ari exhaled. "Come on Asher, they buy condos and have their toes painted. Who knows? Who cares?" He looked sideways at him. "Honestly ever since you put me to work auditing the accounts department, I haven't had a chance to go over the information much. Vince Donavan came here at Linn's request with my approval. He knows more about them. I figured I would invite him to lunch and compare notes."

"Did you tell me that Vince Donavan was coming?"

"Yes, you didn't listen," Ari said. "But that's old news. We went through this at the cabin. I tried to warn you about the uprising, and now it's here. Let's proceed, Ross wanted something here at Lake Manor, and whatever that was must have been pretty important to risk facing your wrath. Everyone in the Union fears your powers."

"I've looked over the documents about the uprising. We can talk about them further if you like."

Even though his willingness surprised Ari he shook his head. "We'll get to that, your evading my question. Tell me about that book in the archives closet. Nixon told me what was on the page." Ari held up a hand when Asher opened his mouth to answer. "I know he didn't have your permission but he is a member of the Pillar Council. But I'm not letting you sidetrack me. I want an answer. Why didn't you feel the need to mention to me that you had a deadline to produce a child?"

"I'm trying to answer you," Asher glared at him, "if you would shut up long enough so I can."

"Fine, tell me."

"I didn't see the point of taking a wife just to have an heir when I vowed not to love." Asher angrily spoke. "Besides, I always thought an heir would be provided for me."

Asher contemplated his brother's somber mood. He couldn't tell what he was thinking, even with the link open. He just sat staring straight ahead. The only time Asher knew his brother to be quiet was when it came to his beliefs of the curse or his vows. That however was an argument best saved for another time.

"Truth is, Ari, I don't know why Ross left that warning. I can't see that he would care if the wolf should fall-not when the Gothi feel they should be the leaders of us all."

"Oh who knows? That guy is certifiably insane. You should have heard him talking about epiphanies and purpose. He's nuts." Rubbing at his eyes, Ari let out a weary sigh. "On a less significant note, I've been thinking about something. During the first break in when you were hit, your magic protected the manor. Why would Ross go through the trouble of taking me to draw you away from here, if he could get past your magic?"

"Because someone other than Ross was responsible for the first intrusion, but that is the key Ari, and speaking of keys," Asher explained his trip to the old mans while Ari closely listened. "I believe someone with access to the manor stole the key to keep it from Ross. They hit me because they didn't want me to identify them," he finally said.

Ari leaned back in the chair and pondered his words before asking. "So someone other than Doc Garret knows about the key. And you didn't know about the key hidden in the bookends until he told you?"

"I knew about a particular solution key to a spell, but I didn't know where it was hidden." Asher took notice of his brother's thoughtful expression. "What are you thinking Arimus?"

"I think that both Doc and Ross know things we don't and the fact you're the Keeper is a little disconcerting," Ari said.

"Yes it is," Asher agreed. "It seems I need to pay another visit to the old man."

"You mean we should." After a long drawn out sigh, still clearly confused, Ari shook his head. "Okay, so Ross wanted the key to a spell, what did it go to?"

Asher nervously chewed on his lower lip. The time had come for him to reveal his secrets, but Asher feared the outcome. "I need to show you something first, something important that I should have told you about a long time ago."

Rolling over, Asher pushed Ari's leg aside so that he could run his hand along the edge of the antique bed. He felt for the notch and pulled open the small door. Reaching inside, he removed the treasure chest that usually sat on the dresser. Lying back Asher sat it on his stomach. He removed the medallion from his neck and, with his index finger, pushed on the center. When a small key appeared on bottom, he put it in the lock. Once the chest was unlocked, he reached inside and took out the leather spell book, and placed it on the bed. Taking out a second book, he handed that one to Ari.

"What is it?" Ari flipped open the first page and saw the name penned neatly at the top, and a reflective expression crossed his brow. Asher had no need to answer. "It's Grant's journal," Ari murmured, "but how did you get it?'

"He left it for me the night he was called," Asher answered. He handed the other book to Ari as well, "along with this one, which until this night, I kept in the hidden vault along with the archives. It's a spell book that contains the spells used by those who practice death magic. I think Ross was searching for it along with the solution key."

"What exactly is a solution key?" Ari questioned.

"Actually to clarify matters there is a solution which is an encryption or algorithm, and a solution key, and both of those two things are needed to reverse or unlock a spell. Most mages preferred to use cryptography or ciphertext to write their solutions, but there are a variety of ways to write them. A solution key, however, is a piece of information which can be anything from words to a song, a quote or a particular number pattern such as an address. But whatever the key is, it's something memorable and possibly unique to the person who wrote it. I believe the solution key was what was taken in that first break in."

"Asher it's late and that explanation is far too deep for me to decipher." Ari grinned at his choice of words, and then let it fade. "But this is mage stuff and Grant wasn't a mage. He seldom even used magic unless he had to. So what's his journal got to do with all of this?"

"He may not have been a mage but he took an interest in learning to write and understand coded messages a year or so before he was called."

"Yeah, that doesn't sound like him at all." Ari rubbed his eyes and then waved the spell book at him. "This nonetheless, I most definitely see Ross wanting to get his hands on."

He sat the spell book on his knee and picked up Grant's journal and flipped through the pages. "But what would Ross want with Grant's journal. It's his personal thoughts, the thoughts of a lonely man and the thoughts of a man in love by the looks of the last few pages. Wow, I don't believe it. He actually drew a red heart with their names inside."

"Did you know that Grant was in love?"

"I knew he had a girl," Ari said. "He did accept the call Asher."

"I know that," Asher snapped in frustration. "I just didn't know how much you knew about their situation."

Ari shook his head, "I remember him mentioning she worked at the corporate office. He had me watch the kid's a few times while they went out. But what does that have to do with anything. Grant was in love, so what?"

Ari looked even more confused than he did before so Asher explained further. "I didn't mean to imply that Ross wanted Grant's journal but it is the matter of the solution. There's a spell in the back of that spell book that I believe Grant used, and in order to reverse the spell you need a solution and a key, but the last few pages have been torn away where the solution should be. I always believed that since Grant left me his journal with the spell book, he did so for a reason, other than the words he wanted me to read. I believe he rewrote his own solution and hide them in the pages of that journal, but in order for me to solve the coded message, I need the key. I've searched this manor and I've wracked my memory trying to remember something, anything that was exclusive to Grant, but after ten years I'm still clueless. Nothing ever made me think of the bookends."

"So the key is not a key that turns a lock but a key to a solution...to an ancient spell?" Ari flipped to the back of the spell book. "And now it's gone because someone took it, but not Ross?"

"That appears to be the problem." When he saw Ari scan over the contents of the page, he shook his head. "Never read the spells Ari, just the descriptions. When you do you commit the spell to memory and some of them I fear learning, and I'm a mage master."

With that knowledge Ari tossed the spell book toward him and it landed on Asher's stomach. He returned the book to the chest. "The night Grant left he told me he was going to try and use a spell he found to break the Raven's curse. The solution and the key are needed to reverse the spell that he used. That and this spell book is what I believe Ross was after, but I'm not sure what he wants with either yet."

"You never told me about Grant mentioning a spell before?"

"Ari, I have tried but whenever I talk about the possibility of Grant still being alive you shut me down."

"What does Grant being alive have to do with the spell?" Ari said, sounding exasperated.

"Ari it is the spell. The spell that I believe Grant used would have allowed his spirit to remain behind and in Grant's case, in his wolf body. That's why I've always looked for him. That's why I believe he's still alive and I saw a..." Asher allowed his words to fade when he not only saw his brother's skepticism taking form in the narrowing of his eyes, but when he started adamantly shaking his head as well.

"Asher, Grant is dead," he pointblank said.

Asher realized he could tell Ari about the wolf he had seen near the cabin but the fact wouldn't change anything. He lifted his arms over his head, totally relaxed now from the tea, as Ari carefully studied him. Asher had expected his brother's reaction and Ari had expected him to argue his point but they had reached an impasse. The difference now was Asher no longer wished to argue his case anymore in regard to Grant. His brother would either choose to believe or he wouldn't.

"Just read Grant's journal Ari. I think it will become clear to you that you've had reason to hate me all these years. You'll soon learn the secret I've kept from you."

"Asher, I've never hated you and again I believe you're being affected by your magic drain."

"Doubt me if you must but the truth remains, whether or not you believe me," he grumbled. "I'm weak because that blind Raven freak drained my powers." Quickly before Ari could dispute his words, Asher added, "Did you know the Gothi were being taught death magic?"

"How do you know they were?"

"The gloves and chanting are notable signs Ari, which I know you're aware of because of me." Asher cocked his head sideways to look at him, and Ari nodded. "By chance did you see the red aura surrounding the Gothi?"

Ari shook his head back and forth in answer. "But you think they were draining your magic...somehow?"

"I know they were draining my magic somehow. I'm just not sure how they were doing it. I may not practice all the spells in that book, but I do know them, and there isn't one for sucking the life out of a mage."

Ari scratched the skin beneath his bandage. "I think Vince mentioned the Gothi were learning magic but I didn't realize that it was death magic until tonight."

"Ari, I was led to believe that a person can't learn death magic without the spell book, and as far as I know I'm the only one in possession of such a book. That's why I've never been all that concerned, and why I discounted Vince Donavan and the other Watches when they brought the petition before me. I may be a Keeper but I don't care if those in the Union learn magic. I find the idea a complete contradiction."

"I'm surprised to hear that Asher when you rebuke us enough about the matter if you think we're using."

"I don't care that you do Ari, I care if you get in trouble. I may ignore the Council but they do not ignore me." Yawning, Asher peered up at him. Ari was doing some serious thinking, but Asher had no plans to elaborate or explain his words. Talking to Ari about his feelings of the Council wasn't much different than the subject of Grant still being alive. Ari had never believed or supported him on either.

"That strange man tonight with the freaky red eyes was a mage," Asher said, "and a skillfully trained one. The other Gothi didn't sport the red eyes that come with mastership, just the gloves so that meant they were mere apprentices, just learning the trade, and already I could sense their powers. Not all of them had magic though. The Asian one didn't, along with the majority of the fowlers. I tend to wonder if they weren't recruits, and that was the purpose of their meeting at the cabin."

Ari exhaled loud and deep. "If that is true Asher, we should probably learn everything we can about this uprising."

"In the morning," Asher sleepily yawned again. "We both need sleep."

"I'll give Vince a call." Ari tucked Grant's journal into the back pocket of his jeans. Picking up the empty mug he crossed the room and switched off the light, plunging Asher into complete darkness.

"Arimus," Asher said on the verge of sleep, "what of the child?"

There was a momentary pause before Ari answered, "There was a lot more damage to her in rat form, but Doc Garret was able to patch her up well enough for her to transform back. She has a broken arm. He was able to heal her cut but he was pretty much drained by then and couldn't repair the bone. He's too old to be much good anymore."

"Ari, I don't trust Doc Garret. He knew who took you and chose to say nothing to me."

"Well, I didn't know about his involvement until you told me, and it's not like I had a choice anyway. She was hurt and he's the only healer around other than you," Ari paused. "Too bad Ren's not here. We could use another healer."

"When I've regained my strength, I will repair the damage." Asher didn't want to think about his old friend. Ren Rollins was the only one that he felt he could give that title to.

"You would do that?" Ari asked. "But I thought you said it drains you?"

"She's such a small girl. She can't take up too much magic," Asher groaned.

"Okay then, I'll let Linn know. She's insisting that both twins stay with her for the time." Ari opened the door and a faint light in the hall cast a dull shadow on his form. "Linn's even angrier with you now for involving the twins and frankly so am I. They could have been killed."

"I was only thinking of you," Asher said.

"Thanks for coming for me."

Heavy with sleep, Asher closed his eyes and soon he was dreaming of her. He could see her standing before the tombstone softly crying. The sound of her lonely tears tore at his heart, causing him to feel things that he had long forgotten, love, hope, joy. Reaching out, Asher took hold of her hand and looked into the eyes of the child that would someday become his wife.