Holiday note

Between getting sick and nearly everything in the house from oven to water pipes staging a rebellion over the last month to the general holiday craziness, my schedule got completely off track.With luck once the champagne of new year's is poured things will get back to normal.  Or as normal as they get.  In the meantime, My book Miss Chrissy's Cooking School for Young Ladies is now on sale for $.99. The price change has already gone into effect on smashwords and should be ready on amazon by this time tomorrow. And for those of you who have asked about the Channel Rider's series, the next book should be out late February, early March.  I will definitely let you know when it is available. Hope everyone is having a wonderful holiday season.  v

Chapter 12 and free book announcement

Hi everyone. Chapter 12 is posted below and for those of you interested, my fantasy novel Rise of the Old Blood will be available for FREE from Amazon from December 10th through December 14th. Download and enjoy! I'll post a link as the date gets closer. v

Chapter 12

Jamie donned a bright yellow rain slicker over his clothes and added a pair of rubber boots over his shoes.  Thus armed he stepped out of the front door and raced to his trusty Toyota. 

“There is definitely snow mixed into that,” He decided as he turned on the car and let the engine run. The day was gray all around.  The snow and sleet obscured most of the forest and left what he could see in deep shadow.  The sky was a uniform sheet of grey with no sign that there was a sun hidden anywhere above. Jamie shivered in the cold metal box his car had become.  Finally when he was certain the engine had warmed up enough, he turned on the defrost to clear away the windshield. Clearing the windows didn’t make the day look any better.

“I hope Michael doesn’t try wandering around in this,” Jamie thought as he shifted the car into drive and headed towards the gate. Even with the crossroads officially closed, Albe’s property stretched for miles in nearly every direction.  It would be easy for Michael to become disoriented and lost. With the temperatures dropping, he didn’t think wandering alone and lost would be a good idea. When he reached the gate, Jamie hopped out of the car, unlocked it and swung it wide enough to let his car through.  After driving through, he returned to close and lock it before continuing on his way.

To Jamie’s relief the bad weather eased up a bit as he drove towards Centerville. By the time he reached the town limits, the sleet and snow had stopped all together although the sky remained gray and threatening.  Jamie glanced at the clock and realized he had arrived far to early to justify showing up for lunch.

“I could always kill some time by taking a quick look at Oak Hill,” he thought. Thought turned into action and Jamie skirted the main part of town taking roads that would lead him to the Oak Hill neighborhood. As the day was gray and cold, he saw no one wandering around. “The kids are probably in school and the adults at work,” Jamie told himself as he passed the subdivision’s entry sign. 

At first the neighborhood looked as it had when he visited as a boy.  The houses were model perfect and looked as though they had been freshly rolled out of a factory or had been scaled up from a model train landscape. While Jamie had always found the subdivisions with strong homeowner association regulation a little eerie in their attempts at conformity, this was something different. Each house and yard in Oak Hill was exactly the same. The roof lines were exact.  All houses were white with blue trim and each yard had one large tree located ten feet to the right of the front door.

Remembering that Dave had lived next to a small well-kept park, Jamie slowly headed towards the area he remembered.  As he drove something kept niggling him in the back of his mind.  He couldn’t quite work it out.  When he saw the park he pulled to a stop by the side of the road.  With the exception of it being Winter instead of Spring, the park and what had once been Dave’s house, looked the dame as they had years ago.  Jamie looked at Dave’s house and then he looked at the house next to it.  They were identical, right down to the tree. Jamie blinked.

“The trees are identical,” he said slowly as he realized what had been bugging him.  He looked from one tree to the other. They were located in the same spot in each yard.  They were the same species and the same size.  Exactly the same size.  Jamie let his eyes take in the pattern of winter bare branches on one tree and then found the exact same pattern of branches on the other tree.  He turned to look at the trees on the other side of the street.  They were exactly the same.

“Nature doesn’t make exact copies,” Jamie said softly to himself. While he could chalk the identical houses up to a builder creating from a template and maintained by an overly enthusiastic Homeowner’s association, he could not accept the trees. Jamie turned back to what he thought of as Dave’s house. He focused on the house, studying it. The house blurred a little around the edges and he thought he saw the shape of an entirely different house for a brief second before he felt a sharp pain between his eyes. He gasped and shut his eyes.  The pain stopped and Jamie rubbed his temples.

“That’s the same pain as my birth certificate,” Jamie said to himself. “Although not as strong.”  When he had studied his birth certificate he had not glimpsed anything and the pain had been intense and long lasting.  Here he had managed to catch a glimpse of what was behind the shield and the pain was less intense. As he sat wondering if staring through the pain long enough to actually see what was on the other side was worth it, the door to the house he was studying opened and a dark haired man about his age stepped out.

As the man crossed the road and headed towards Jamie’s car, Jamie realized how strange he must look.  Here he was sitting in a parked car in a residential neighborhood staring at a house.  His brain tried to come up with a logical excuse for his presence that didn’t sound creepy or illegal.  His mind drew a blank.

The man stopped outside Jamie’s car and tapped on the window.  Jamie rolled it down and looked at the man about to question him.  To his surprise, he recognized him. “Dave?” Jamie said questioningly.  Dave lifted an eyebrow and studied Jamie’s face for a moment.  Dave shook his head and gave Jamie a half smile.

“Looks like I was right after all,” Dave said, causing Jamie to frown. “Why don’t you come on in before the neighbors get too nervous.” Jamie nodded and as Dave stepped back, he rolled up the window and turned off the engine.  He slipped out of the warmth of the car and into the icy air.

Jamie followed Dave back into the house. In the entry way, he slipped off his boots and slicker, hanging the slicker on the hook Dave indicated. Inside the house had been upgraded, altered from Dave’s parent’s taste to what Jamie assumed was Dave’s taste. It seemed very masculine and Jamie saw no evidence that suggested a woman’s presence. Dave led Jamie back to the kitchen and soon he found himself sitting at the kitchen table, his hands wrapped around a mug of coffee.

“What exactly were you right about?” Jamie finally asked when they were settled. 

Dave smiled. “You remember the last time you were here?”

“It was the last day you talked to me,” Jamie said with a nod.

Dave sighed.  “Yeah sorry about that but I was told I wasn’t allowed to play with you anymore. When you commented about the neighborhood and the houses all looking alike it sort of freaked everyone out.”

“It is hard not to notice,” Jamie commented.

“Most people don’t,” Dave said.  “They assume it was just built en masse.”

“How do you explain the trees?” Jamie asked.

“The trees?” Dave replied frowning.

“Yes. They are all the same, exactly the same. Nature doesn’t do that. I actually had nightmares about those trees for weeks,” Jamie confessed.

“The trees,” Dave repeated shaking his head.  “I’ll have to talk to the others about that.”

“That still doesn’t explain how you were right,” Jamie prompted.  He took a sip of the coffee.

“True,” Dave answered. “When my parents told me I couldn’t be friends with you anymore because you could see that something was different, I told them that you could see because you were like us. I tried telling them about the things I had seen around you, but it had been so long since anyone paid any attention that they just wanted it, and you, to go away. And now here you are. So I was right.”

“Were you?” Jamie asked, wondering what Dave had seen as a child, but not yet ready to ask.

Dave smiled.  “I felt you push on the wards,” he said.  “You almost broke through them actually.  Its been a while since they’ve been tested but to do that on your first try means that you not only grew up to be one of us, but you grew up to be quite powerful.” He smiled.  “I hope you won’t hold my actions at school against me.”

“You were a kid following your parent’s orders,” Jamie said, willing to let the past go as he was much more interested in the present.

“True. I have to ask, who did you get to teach you?  If you had trained with anyone here I would have found out and then I could have done my ‘Ha Ha I was right’ spiel a long time ago.”

“That is actually a long and very complicated story,” Jamie said with a smile.  He looked Dave over and decided to trust him a little. “Have you ever heard of the Keeper of the Crossroads?” he asked.

Dave nodded. “Of course, the old man who stands between the humans and the Fae. Everyone’s heard of him, but I can’t say as I’ve ever met him. He couldn’t have trained you though as he had no magic of his own. Well a little I suppose, but not the same sort as we have.”

Jamie smiled and reached into the neck of his shirt.  He tugged the long chain containing the symbol of the keeper out from inside his shirt. Dave’s eyes went wide as he recognized the symbol.  “Actually the old man was my great uncle and he died recently.”

Dave blinked in surprise. “And so you got a promotion.” He said finally.

“Something like that,” Jamie said tucking the medallion back into his shirt.

“But he couldn’t have trained you. Not enough to break through a ward. His magic wasn’t like that.” Dave said, sounding perplexed.

“He didn’t,” Jamie replied.  “He trained me to be Keeper but nothing else. It was recently suggested to me that I might want to look into Human magic.  I’ve scanned through a couple of books but nothing else.”

“Nothing else?” Dave said incredulously. “You mean completely untrained you nearly broke through my wards?” he asked. “Damn.” He sat back in his chair as though stunned.  Jamie could practically see the thoughts swirling through his brain and sat quietly drinking his coffee.  As Jamie’s brain had recently been teaming with formerly unusual thoughts he understood the need for a moment to sort through new information.

“Who suggested you look into magic?” Dave finally asked.

Jamie smiled.  “Honestly, I believe it was some sort of ghost.”

“The ghost of the former Keeper?” Dave asked, seemingly unfazed by ghostly interference.

“No oddly enough it was the ghost or spirit or whatever you want to call it, of one Reginald Huffington the fourth. He left a note on my to do list after I found his book on the shelves,” Jamie told him, leaving out the rest as he didn’t want to trust anyone with the entire truth.  He felt odd enough about confessing to the ghost sighting.

Dave grinned.  “Added a note on your to do list.”  The line seemed to crack him up and Dave started laughing. Jamie smiled seeing the humor in the situation.

“Only you Jamie,” Dave finally said as his laugh died to a chuckle. “Hank Adams tripped over his own feet and fell flat on the ground breaking his nose before he could even threaten to take away the new kid’s lunch money. Sally Jensen was pushed down and cried over tearing her new dress, but when you helped her brush off the dirt, the tear turned into just a crease the was easily brushed out. Now the spirit of one of the strongest mages ever born is leaving you post it notes recommending you get training.”

“I didn’t do anything to either Hank or Sally,” Jamie said.

“Oh I know it wasn’t on purpose,” Dave said with a wave. “That was always clear. You never seemed to realize that you were doing anything, that’s why I thought you belonged with us.” Dave shook his head.  “So it was recommended that you learn magic and you ended up here?” He said returning to the main topic.

Jamie decided to ignore the details and push forward. “It occurred to me that if I was going to study magic I might as well do it right.”

Dave nodded.  “As opposed to going at it on your own with whatever books you happen to come across. Smart. Less danger that way.”

“Seemed so.  Unfortunately I can’t spend that much time away from the crossroads,” Jamie told him.

“Which means you’d need someone out there to teach you.”

“I would,” Jamie confirmed.  He wondered how Del would take to his learning magic. He had the feeling that if he contained the mess to the already stained rooms in the east wing, there would be little trouble. And the brownie did seemed quite fond of company.

“Can you give me a couple of days to think it through?” Dave asked. “Most here aren’t willing to go too far from home.”

“I understand.  I have no problem waiting,” Jamie replied. If you’d like to call or come by the house when you have something, that would be fine.”

“I’ve never seen the House of the Keeper,” Dave said. “It’d be interesting to visit.  I’ve heard the wards on it make ours here look like tissue paper.”

“You are welcome to come out.  You’ll have to call from the gate though so that I can come and unlock it.”

Dave nodded.  “Can’t have people wondering in on their own,” he agreed.

“Can you find the house?” Jamie asked as he set his empty mug down and stood up.

“I can,” Dave confirmed as he stood and walked Jamie back to the door.  Jamie slipped on his boots and slicker. Dave handed him a pen and paper and Jamie quickly jotted down his cell phone number.

“I’ll see you in a few days then,” Jamie told him.  He left Dave and jogged back to his car.  The sky had gotten darker and snowfall looked eminent but Jamie smiled even as he shivered. He turned on his car and circled the block, leaving the neighborhood and heading over to Jim’s office.

“Finally looks like I’m making some sort of progress,” he said to himself as he began to hum a happy little tune under his breath.

Keeper 2: Chapter 11

Chapter 11

 

At Del’s insistence, Jamie smeared antibacterial ointment on the worst of his scratches before heading upstairs. In no mood to read, Jamie took a long hot shower.  Afterwards he felt guilty about the shower washing off the ointment Del had insisted upon and reapplied it. As he dried his hair with the towel, Jamie thought about Michael.

At Albe’s funeral he had looked tired and drawn. “Like he was just coming out of a long illness,” he muttered as he hung his damp towel up to dry. Tonight there had been little light but Michael had looked to Jamie’s eyes at least, less drawn and ill and more manic.

“And he was looking for something or someone,” Jamie reminded himself.  He replayed the details over in a continuous loop as he prepared for bed and slipped between the sheets. “I think it might have been a something rather than a someone,” he decided as he closed his eyes. As he started to drift off, he wondered if anything in his dreams would help him.

Jamie awoke to a watery sort of light. He glanced at the clock and realized he had slept through the night without dreaming. He sighed as he sat up. “Perhaps my meeting with the queen will be more fruitful,” he muttered.  Jamie rubbed the sleep out of his eyes and chuckled a little at the absurdity of his taking tea with any sort of queen.

“Well maybe a drag queen,” he thought remembering his friend Charlie who now did a stage show in a club in Denerton. “Although I don’t know if he drinks tea.” Figuring he would be meeting with Levas and then leaving directly for town, Jamie decided to get dressed. Instead of jeans and a long sleeved t-shirt however, he slipped on dress slacks and a white oxford shirt.  He looked out of the window and shivered as he heard the morning’s rain hit the window glass.  It sounded like it had ice around the edges.

“Won’t that be fun,” Jamie thought, wishing he hadn’t agreed to leave his nice warm house. He pulled one of the dark gray sweaters that had magically appeared in his dresser out of the drawer and slipped it on over his shirt.  He looked in the mirror and though he looked presentable enough.  When he joined Del in the kitchen for breakfast, the brownie smiled at his outfit but said nothing.

At quarter past eight Hose informed him that Levas had arrived on the porch. Del smiled as Jamie glanced at the clock.

“Mid-morning for a tomte,” Del said with a laugh as he went to let Levas in. Jamie listened to the thumping arrival and heard voices as Del escorted Levas into the parlor.  When Del returned to the kitchen to prepare a tea tray, Jamie left and went to join his visitor in the parlor. In the hallway he saw a blue-gray rain slicker and matching hat had been hung up to dry.  Below them were placed a set of rain boots.  They were the kind meant to fit over a set of shoes so Jamie didn’t think his visitor was wondering around in his socks.

“Although that would be appropriate here,” he thought.

Jamie walked into the parlor and found the tomte staring out of the window at the icy rain. “Good morning,” Jamie said. The tomte turned and Jamie found himself somewhat surprised that he looked exactly like his picture in Alexander’s Field Guide.

“Good morning Keeper,” the tomte replied. Jamie indicated the chairs and walked over to one of them while Levas took the other. The tomte was slightly shorter than tell but seemed a little stockier.  While he wore plain gray brown work clothes, they looked as though they had been cleaned and pressed for this meeting.

“My apologies for not inviting you sooner,” Jamie began. “I saw the card when I arrived however things were a bit unsettled at the time.”

The tomte chuckled and settled himself in the chair as Del wheeled the tea cart into the room. “No offense taken Keeper. That was a nasty bit of business to get through.” There was a short but comfortable silence as they each fixed a cup of tea.  Levas picked up one of the oatmeal cookies from the offered trays and sniffed it before crunching into the morsel.  In three quick bites it was gone.

“Now, is there anything I can help you with?” Jamie asked. Somehow he didn’t think the tomte had shown up just for a cookie and a chat.

“Direct, I like that,” Levas said.  He took a deep sip of his tea to wash down the cookie. “I don’t know how much you know about me,” he began.  “But a while ago I spent some time here.”

Jamie nodded. “During alexander Fulton’s tenure as Keeper I believe?” He replied.

Levas lifted an eyebrow in surprise. “That is correct. I know it will take a while to get back up to full working order here, and truth be told you won’t need everything up and running right away.  It will take a little time before it gets to that point, however it will soon be more than your housekeeper, good as he no doubt is, can handle alone. Additionally, if things are set into motion now so when you need them they will be here.”

The little man pause and took a sip of his tea while Jamie tried to puzzle meaning from the words.

“Now, as I helped set things up before, I figured I’d offer my services to you in setting them up again.” Levas nodded as though punctuating his thought.

“You are offering to help reestablish this as a working farm?” Jamie asked, making certain that he was interpreting the tomte’s comments correctly.

“Not a full one, at least not at first. The orchards are in good repair and you have no need of commercial crops. However the barn and such will need repairing before they can be used. I’m sure the dairy will need work as well.”

“That sounds like an awful lot of work,” Jamie said hesitantly.

“Hard work never hurt anyone,” Levas told him with a grin. “Besides, you’ll be needing it. Things will be getting quite busy around here. Best to get the heavy work done before then,” He tapped the side of his nose and then drained the last of his tea.

“This is true,” Jamie said. He wondered if Levas was trying to escape the political upheaval on the other side of the crossroads. He thought of the half tumbled down barn that seemed to loom at the edge of the woods. “And they do need repair,” he continued.  Jamie thought of the ad hoc lab that had been set up in one of the out buildings.  If the buildings were repaired, they could be secured and no longer used as experimental laboratories. The thought decided him.

“I think that is an excellent idea,” Jamie said, noticing the slight easing of tension in Levas’ shoulders. “Although I do need to warn you, there might be some un pleasant surprises.”  Levas frowned as Jamie told him of the chemical vat he and Del had found.

“Nasty business,” Levas said. “I’ll be sure to let you know if I come upon anything like that.  We certainly can’t have that type of thing around.  Especially not with the children.”

“Children?” Jamie repeated. Levas tapped his nose again and winked at Jamie.

“No time like the present to get started,” Levas told him.  Jamie glanced out of the window. He thought there might be snow mixed in with what he was now certain was sleet and not rain.

“Why don’t you meet with Del and let him help you get settled first,” Jamie suggested.  “I think today might be a planning in the kitchen over tea kind of day rather than a work outside one.”

 

“I suppose I could wait to survey the current conditions when the light is better,” Levas told him.  The tomte stood up and nodded to Jamie. “I’ll just take this back to the kitchen and have a chat with your housekeeper then.” Before Jamie could say anything the little man trotted out of the parlor, pushing the tea trolley ahead of him.

“I wonder how much busier he thinks it’s going to get around her,” Jamie thought shaking his head and wondering if tomtes could see into the future.  “Children?” he repeated to himself. “First the wall and now the tomte.” He drank the last of his tea and stood, planning to drop the cup off in the kitchen before leaving for town. “As long as House doesn’t start signing me up for a dating service I should be fine,” he decided.

Book out

My latest novel, Miss Chrissy's Cooking School for Young Ladies is out on both Amazon and Smashwords. Finally! It is a straight up general fiction novel that oddly enough contains no young ladies. The urge to add zombies and ghosts was strong but I managed to resist. I probably won't be doing that again any time soon.  But now that it is done, next week will see a return to a normal schedule.  Thanks everyone for your patience. Links are pasted below for anyone interested.  Now I will do the happy dance of the completed novel.  Please turn away. val

http://www.amazon.com/Chrissys-Cooking-School-Young-Ladies-ebook/dp/B00GUW0LQU/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1385237876&sr=8-1&keywords=Valerie+Gaumont+Miss+Chrissy

https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/380710

Keeper 2: Chapte 10

Tying to do final edits on a manuscript right now so things may be a little off schedule for the next couple of weeks.  I'll still attempt two posts a week, just no clue what days. v

Chapter 10

Jamie found himself unable to settle. He tried reading more about human magic.  He felt his mind drifting and picked up a book that dealt primarily with the role of the Keepers of the Crossroads.  While the information was interesting and gave him a great deal of insight into how the system was supposed to function, nothing was mentioned about the fall of a Keeper’s House.  It was with a great deal of relief that Jamie realized it was close to dinner time and he gratefully stepped away from the books.

“I’ll have to let Del know about tomorrow’s schedule anyway,” he consoled himself as he realized he was going to have quite a busy day. He wiggled his socked feet. “I may even have to wear shoes all day long.”

Jamie made his way down to the kitchen and Del lifted an eyebrow in surprise at his arrival. “You’re down early,” Del commented as he stirred a pot.

“I needed a break and wanted to talk to you about tomorrow,” Jamie replied, keeping his primary concerns to himself.

“And what is tomorrow?” Del asked.

“Well I start off with a meeting with a tomte named Levas,” Jamie began.  “He said mid morning.”

Del chuckled.  “If he is like every other tomte I’ve met mid morning means he will be here no later than nine, possibly eight thirty.”

“Really?” Jamie said startled. He had envisioned racing from his meeting with Levas to his lunch with Jim.

“Tomtes tend to be up just before the dawn and go to bed just before dusk,” Del explained.  “They dislike changing their schedule and think that eight or nine in the morning qualifies as late enough.”

“Well in my case it actually works out better,” Jamie said.  “I’m supposed to meet Jim for lunch in town to discuss a few things.”

“So you won’t be here for lunch then?” Del asked. His eyes narrowed.  “You aren’t going to get one of those frozen things you had stashed in the freezer when I got here are you?”

Jamie smiled remembering Del’s horror after reading the nutrition labels of his emergency frozen dinners. “No we will be eating real food,” he assured the suspicious brownie. “After which I will be returning here to have my meeting with Queen Genevia.” Jamie thought of the one actual suit he had bothered to bring with him when moving to Albe’s house. “I suppose I’ll have to change.”

“That would be advisable,” Del said with a snort of laughter. “Fairies have very sensitive dispositions.”

“Well the only ones I’ve dealt with have been either bringing me a message at night or trying to kidnap me,” Jamie thought about it a moment. “Oh and there was one when Albe was training me who tried to poke my eyes out with a toothpick sized sword. How bad could tea be?”

Del smiled.  “You might prefer the sword after tomorrow’s tea,” Del warned.  He began dishing out a tick rich stew into bowls and after placing them on the table pulled several small loaves of freshly baked bread from the oven. As always, Jamie found his mouth watering as he inhaled the scents of Del’s cooking.  As most anything Jamie attempted to cook came prepackaged and involved the microwave to make presentable, Jamie didn’t know if Del’s cooking was the result of culinary skill or brownie magic. After the first few bites he decided it didn’t really matter.  He would just be thankful that Del had agreed to stay on after realizing that a Keeper’s House was not exactly the most quiet of environs.

Once fed Jamie returned to the study determined to focus on one topic and possibly actually find an answer to one of his questions. “I just have to pick the right question,” he decided as he looked over his now expanded list of bullet pointed problems. Most of them had either reached the point where he needed information from others or had taken on a maze like quality. Somehow it seemed like more than just a few days since Albe’s funeral.  After all how could his nice neat lists become so tangled in such a short span of time. As he sat contemplating his list, a beeping sound began to emanate from his desk drawer.

“What the…” He opened his drawer hoping that no one had managed to plant some sort of bomb in his desk during dinner. Instead of a bomb, he found a small plastic box with a red light blinking on and off in time to the beeping coming from within.  He stared at it a moment before he realized what it was.

“The gate alarm,” he said, jumping from his chair.  Jamie grabbed his discarded sneakers and jammed his feet into them as he hop-stepped towards the door. He had them mostly on and tied as he reached the stair case.  He reached the main floor and grabbed his jacket from the coat hook in the kitchen.

“What’s going on now?” Del asked, stepping into the doorway leading from the kitchen to his personal quarters.

“Gate alarm, I think it’s Michael,” Jamie told him. Del nodded grimly and grabbed his own coat from the hook.

“You weren’t thinking of going alone were you?” he asked, the question coming off as more of a statement.

Jamie smiled, pleased to have Del along.  “Of course not, that would be foolish.”  The two of them slipped out of the kitchen door and keeping to the edge of the long drive so as not to stand out in the open space, they made their way to the gate as quickly as possible.

When they arrived at the gate, Michael’s car was parked on the other side.  There was no sign of Michael. Jamie scanned the area while Del bent down to study the earth. As the brownie motioned him to follow, Jamie wondered how he had managed to pick up any sign of a trail in the dark.  The two moved quietly through the woods.  Even though Jamie had learned wood’s craft from Albe and had spent countless hours learning how to move silently through the forest, beside Del he felt like a rampaging elephant. The little man moved as silently as a shadow and Jamie was certain that the winter bare bushes that snagged his clothes and scratched his skin parted to allow Del passage.

Luckily the noise Jamie produced didn’t matter much.  After a few minutes of travel, they could hear someone blundering around with no care to keep quiet. They edged closer and Del motioned him to stop.  As they stood still Jamie heard a voice muttering.  He easily recognized it as Michael and frowned as he listened.

“I know you’re here, you have to be here. Where else would you be?  There is no place else for you to be, you have to be here,” the muttered ranting continued and it was clear that Michael was searching for something. Michael stumbled in widening circles, meandering back and forth, each moment he could not find what he was searching for making him more frantic. His mutterings were beginning to sound like pleas and finally Jamie couldn’t take it anymore.  He knew that there was no one coming to join Michael. Jamie tapped Del on the shoulder and straightened out of his crouch. Del nodded and shifted slightly to the side, braced in case of trouble.

“Michael, can I help you?” Jamie asked, keeping his voice gentle.  Michael spun, his eyes wide in the moonlight. He snarled at Jamie.

“You can’t have it,” he yelled.  “It’s mine.”  He charged Jamie, knocking him down and running back towards the gate.

“You all right?” Del asked. Jamie nodded and got up.  The two of them ran after Michael. Jamie heard Michael crashing through the undergrowth ahead and felt branches slap his skin leaving stinging welts behind.  This time he was certain that the trees and bushes got out of Del’s way. He reminded himself never to chase a fae through the woods. They reached the tree line and spilled into the gravel drive.

Ahead, Jamie saw Michael run to the gate. He watched in amazement at the speed of Michael’s run.  He thought the gate would slow him down but instead Michael grabbed the top of the gate in one hand and vaulted over it as though he had spent a lifetime training for the Olympics. Before he and Del could even reach the gate, Michael was in his car and peeling away. Jamie stood panting at the gate as the dust settled back down into the road bed.

“Well that was certainly different,” Jamie finally gasped.

Del nodded. “He was moving faster than I would have thought,” Del agreed. He sighed.  “Well there doesn’t seem to be much else we can do at the moment. Why don’t we go back to the house where it is warm.  We can see to those scratches of yours.”  Jamie nodded and the two began walking back to the house.

“There is no need to feel so smug,” Jamie said as he lifted a hand cautiously to a stinging welt on his cheek.  “I saw those trees move out of your way.”

Del laughed and shook his head.  “Trees don’t move Keeper, everyone knows that,” Del said, amusement glinting in his eyes.

“Sure they don’t,” Jamie said as he slowly caught his breath.  “They don’t move at all.”

swamped

trying to fix a radio play for the library's veteran's day event.  Hopefully will have a chapter up tomorrow or Monday.  val

Keeper 2: Chapter 9

Chapter 9

As Jamie left the basement he realized that he had never taken the time to look up the name of the keeper the basement kept showing him.  He knew that the brownie who tended his house was named Robin, but as Robin always referred to the man as Keeper that was all he knew.

“Well that and someone named Jonathan took over for him,”  Jamie let his eyes slide to the door leading to the map room.  “The family tree only gave me problems when I tried to look into my mother’s family,” he reminded himself.  He took a deep breath.  “I can’t be scared of a wall in my own house,” he said firmly.  Before he could think too much about the possibility of renewing his headaches, Jamie forced himself to march into the map room and turn to face the family tree.

“Jonathan Fulton, please,” he said before he could lose his nerve.  As though trying to prove itself helpful, the tree blurred and the name Jonathan Fulton was placed directly in Jamie’s line of sight.  He read the dates. This Jonathan Fulton had been one of Albe’s brothers and it looked as though he had died sometime during World War II.

“I need an earlier Jonathan,” Jamie muttered.  Again the wall blurred and a different Jonathan was listed. “Still not early enough,” Jamie said.  “I need one who lived before Alexander Fulton.”  After two more tries, Jamie thought he had the right one.

“Great, thank you,” he told the wall, hoping it appreciated the nicety. “Now I just need to know who was Keeper before him.” He was surprised when the words again blurred and the name William Fulton was featured. “Very handy, thanks.”  Jamie stepped away, figuring he would not press his luck. He was satisfied that William was the Keeper that the basement enjoyed showing him. At the moment that was all he needed to know.

“Too bad there isn’t a way to find out what happened after William allowed those with human magic to stay,” Jamie said.  He was certain the basement considered the information useful for him but he couldn’t quite see the picture.  He went upstairs to the study, leaving the maps splayed out on the floor in the family parlor.

He thought about what he knew as he settled himself in the parlor. He could see the individual pieces clearly, but he couldn’t make them fit together.  “It’s like someone stole the lid to my puzzle and I’m still expected to put it together,” he grumbled.  Jamie wondered if his entire tenure as Keeper would be the same.   After a long while ruminating on the subject and getting nowhere, Jamie decided he needed to actually do something.  He looked at the notes he had taken on the visilore and decided that he had learned enough to use it to see the houses of the other Keepers even if he couldn’t directly communicate with them yet. 

“Especially if my list is accurate,” he told himself.  Jamie picked up the notebook from the living room and then went to retrieve the visilore. He took them both to the study. The visilore, which resembled a mirror but shone like obsidian instead of silvered glass, he set in the center of the room.  As he moved it around, he was surprised by how heavy it actually was.

“Perhaps it is made of stone after all,” he said as he wiped the sweat from his face.  He looked at his notes and  Leaned against the front of his desk. Carefully he followed the instructions.  His hand movements were precise, the strange words of the incantation crisply enunciated and as the last word left his mouth, Jamie felt a tingle in the air as though he were standing too close to a lightning strike.  The obsidian surface started to glow first silver and then blue.  The blue glow seemed to sink into the surface and when it was gone Jamie found himself looking into a mirror.  Albeit a mirror that reflected nothing.  He realized he had not given it a direction and read the first name off of the list he had made from the map.

At first Jamie thought it was a failure, but then he sensed some sort of movement, as if the mirror was searching for the destination and slowly zooming in on it’s target.

“Like a spy plane coming in for a landing,” he thought, afraid to speak out loud.  “Not that I’m spying, exactly.” He shifted, slightly uncomfortable with the thought of spying on the other Keepers.  Colors whirled across the surface of the mirror and Jamie found his excitement growing.  He pushed away his unease. The image solidified and Jamie frowned as he found himself looking at a house.

“Or rather the ruins of a house,” Jamie corrected.  He could tell that the house had once been large and constructed of brick and stone.  At least the parts that remained had been. Gray foundation stones peeked up above the dark earth and half tumbled down walls of what appeared to be fire blackened brick, formed supports for creeping vines sporting small white flowers.  Three chimneys still stood, their columns pointing to the sky like accusing fingers. Jamie swallowed hard. A shiver of foreboding ran up his spine.

“Maybe it isn’t the right place,” Jamie said softly to himself.  “I don’t see any runes on the foundation stones.” He realized that he was just trying to convince himself, but the visilore took his words as command and he was soon studying the stones closely as the visilore panned over them. Jamie sagged as he saw runes on several of the visible stones.

“That’s enough,” he told the visilore.  It paused and seemed to be waiting.  Jamie took a look at his list and sent the visilore to scan the next name on it, eager to leave the desolation.

The next location was no better.  This time the visilore let him see the general ruin before scanning the rubble remains for the foundation runes.  Jamie took a deep breath and sent the visilore to the next name on the list.  It was the same.  With a growing sense of dread, Jamie pushed through all of the names on the list. The runes let him know that these had once been the houses of Keepers.  The locations were where the golden lines on the map created crossroads.  Every house except his own had been destroyed.

His insides feeling like jell-o, Jamie carefully spoke the words to end the visilore’s search and make it dormant again. When it was once more a panel of obsidian encased in a heavy wooden frame, Jamie covered it with a sheet.

“What happens when a Keeper’s House falls?” he asked as he sat heavily in his chair.  “Does it mean that the cross roads are destroyed or simply that the gate allowing the crossroads to be used is closed? Or does it mean that it is left open?”  Jamie shivered as he realized how close his house had come to falling. “If I’m the last House standing, what does that mean?” He didn’t know, but Jamie was certain it did not mean anything good.

“Everyone acts as though the other Houses at the other crossroads are still standing,” he thought.  “Perhaps it might not be the best idea to tell them this is not so.” Jamie leaned back in his chair and thought.  According to the High Talbot, all of the crossroads were closed until their internal matters were settled. 

“Meaning I have some time to figure out exactly what is going on before it re-opens,” Jamie smiled ruefully to himself.  “So at least political strife is good for something.”

“Is it?” Del said from the doorway making Jamie jump. He chuckled.  “Sorry about that. I figured you’d be about ready for some lunch.” 

Jamie noticed he was carrying a tray containing a sandwich filled plate. “Thanks, I am actually,” he said, clearing a space on his desk.  Del set the tray down and a though occurred to Jamie.

“Del,” he asked.  “Do you know anything about the other housekeepers who have served in the House of a Keeper?”

“Some, I suppose.  I never really paid much attention, but one always hears things.” Del replied with a smile.

“What about a brownie who went by the name of Robin.  He would have been here with William Fulton, in the House built here before this one.” Jamie asked as he picked up his sandwich.

Del’s face split into a wide smile. “Oh everyone knows of Robin,” Del replied.  “He’s famous. Killed in the line of duty with the Keeper he was. He died a hero’s death. Not many of us can say that as most of the tales of daring-do are for the high court folks.”

“Do you know how he felt about those with human magic?” Jamie asked.

“Human magic? Well I expect he felt about it the way most of us do,” Del told him.  He shrugged.  “That it is unpredictable and often more trouble than it is worth.”

“Is there a reason he would worry if the Keeper took on a few who were capable of human magic in the House so they could be safe and learn control?”

Del laughed.  “Well it would create quite a mess. Especially if they were still new to the learning.  I expect he’d want them sort of blocked off from the normal parts of the hose, like the kitchen and the parlor and such so they didn’t ruin the dinner or spoil the guests. But if the Keeper wanted it I’m sure Robin would have dealt with them just fine.”

“Isolated, like the east wing,” Jamie mused. He lifted an eyebrow in surprise as Del’ laughed.

“Is that what was out there?” He asked.  “I had wondered.  “My first pass at cleaning only took off the dust.  There were several rooms with unidentifiable and thus far un-removable stains.  If new trained mages were using them for practice it would explain a lot.”  He tilted his head in thought.  “And truth be told it would be safer for them to practice out here with fewer people to notice or get hurt than in town.”

“They would want to avoid notice wouldn’t they,” Jamie said half to himself, his mind drifting to a neighborhood where every house and every yard looked the same, and a little boy who thought he saw something odd was not asked to come back to play a second time.

“Except for the mess, I don’t see as how Robin would mind as long as they kept things confined,” Del continued snapping Jamie back to the present.  “It’s mostly the High Court that takes a real dislike to them.”

“Why?” Jamie asked.

Del shrugged.  “Well some claim they are dangerous.  Some claim that humans are bastardizing an art that rightly belongs to the Fae and some think that given time and practice, they would be formidable enemies making humans more dangerous.”

“Really?”

Del smiled. “It’s been centuries since most of the high court have ventured through the crossroads and most don’t get past the House of the Keeper if they do. When they warred with humans, magic was their primary weapon.  Humans had strength of numbers, High Court had magic. If humans were to truly master magic, then the High Court’s main defense would be useless.”  Del shrugged. “Of course humans have other weapons now and to be honest, I don’t think magic, on either side would make much of a difference. But I wouldn’t exactly go telling that to the High Court if I were in your shoes.”

“No,” Jamie said.  “I think that is something we will just keep to ourselves.”  Del winked and left Jamie alone with his sandwich and his uncomfortably swirling thoughts.

Keeper 2: Chapter 8

Happy Halloween everyone!  v

Chapter 8

As Jamie descended the stairs he realized his heart was pounding, his pulse racing.  The last time he had encouraged the basement to communicate he had learned important information, information he could not have found otherwise. He knew that House, a dwelling that was fairly sentient, if somewhat obtuse, had the remains of the former House of the Keeper incorporated into its foundations. He knew that House was probably just as active as his was now and probably once communicated in much the same manner. Now visual communication was all that remained. It all sounded logical to him once he wrapped his head around the way things worked.  Somehow the talking House was much easier to take than the basement that made him feel as though he had stepped into the middle of an ongoing play.

“Admittedly a play that didn’t know I had showed up,” he thought to himself, reaching the level surface of the basement floor. There was something more, unsettling about watching the event the basement though he needed to see.

Jamie moved to the center of the room and felt the air almost grow thicker around him as though he had gotten the basement’s full attention. Feeling somewhat foolish, Jamie cleared his throat.  If anything the sense of waiting intensified.

“I don’t suppose there is anything you would like to tell me?” he asked. It was as if someone holding their breath had just exhaled.  Around him the stout stone walls shimmered.  The empty basement faded for a moment, looking like a mirage.  Jamie blinked, feeling as though his vision had blurred. A moment later the world seemed to solidify, only now instead of the mostly empty basement, Jamie was looking into a bustling kitchen.  A brownie, dressed very much as Dell typically dressed, was moving around the kitchen.  He gathered ingredients heaping them seemingly at random into a large mixing bowl, occasionally giving the contents a stir.  Sunlight streamed in through an open window and the curtains stirred in a breeze that smelled of honeysuckle. 

When the brownie turned towards Jamie, he could see not all was sunshine and light.  The brownie, who Jamie recognized as Robin, was frowning, his eyes dark with concern.  He gave the bowl a few extra stirs and scattered a handful of flour across the table before turning the contents of the bowl out.  As he began to knead what Jamie tentatively guessed to be bread dough, the door swung open.

“Still sulking Robin?” the man said.

“I’m not sulking, Keeper,” Robin replied, sounding quite sulky. Jamie recognized the Keeper speaking although he was not as young as he had been when he had the former House built, nor anywhere near as old as when had it been destroyed. Both events oddly enough that Jamie had witnessed.

“No of course not,” the Keeper replied. He smiled wryly. His humor faded as he settled himself at the table across from where Robin was working. He stared at the industrious brownie for a moment.

“I know you do not approve,” the Keeper began. 

“It is not my place to either approve or disapprove,” Robin sniffed.

“Be that as it may,” the Keeper replied.  “You opinion matters to me.” Robin seemed to relax at the confession and he let out a deep sigh.

“It seems like borrowing trouble.  Trouble seems to follow them, always has.”

“Which is not their fault, and why they most need our help,” the Keeper replied, his voice still gentle. “Those capable of practicing human magic have always been targets.”

“Sometimes they make themselves targets,” Robin grumbled.

“Sometimes,” the Keeper agreed. “And sometimes they just lose control because they don’t know enough. We won’t be taking in those who relish the causing of trouble.  We will however be sheltering those who want to learn control.”

Robin nodded. “So no trouble makers?”

“No deliberate trouble makers,” the Keeper corrected with a smile. “I’m sure there will be some trouble, but at least here we can contain it.” As Robin nodded, the Keeper looked thoughtful. “Besides, there is a rather selfish reason for it as well as the altruistic one.”

“Oh?”

“Those who serve as Keepers need a touch of magic to them. By working with those who show promise, we increase the available pool from which the next Keepers will be born.”

“But I thought young Jonathan was to succeed you?” Robin asked with a frown as he patted his dough into neat loafs.

“He is, but things happen and it is always good to prepare for the worst,” the Keeper said. “Besides, I’m not the only Keeper who will need a successor.  Some of the others are having trouble finding suitable candidates.”

“Are they?” Robin asked as he slipped the rounded mounds of dough into the oven.

“Yes,” he was told, the Keepers voice sounding troubles. “Some a very difficult time indeed. Stability is what we need, Robin. Stability to hold back the howling wilderness as they say.”

Robin nodded and dusted off his hands. “Well then Keeper I’ll accede to your wisdom.  I think the east wing would serve admirably for our guests.”

As they two discussed room preparations, Jamie noticed the scene starting to fade. The image of the kitchen became semi-transparent, gradually resuming its present day demeanor. He noticed the sounds of their voices and the scent of honeysuckle and baking bread were the last to fade. Jamie sighed, the waiting feeling had faded from the basement.

“So the former Keeper once took in those capable of doing magic,” Jamie said to himself, wondering exactly why the basement felt it was important for him to know that.  “Um, Thank you,” he told the basement before turning towards the stairs and climbing back into the living room.

He closed and locked the basement door, wondering why the basement had felt the need to communicate. “Maybe it is just lonely,” he thought. “Maybe it just wants to be helpful.”

Jamie shook his head.  “And maybe I should find out more about human magic.”

break

Sorry for the break, will start posting again on Thursday, Oct 31. v

Keeper 2: Chapter 7

Chapter 7

As the High Talbot had said all that he felt needed saying, he left shortly after. The unsettling feeling of disquiet didn’t leave with him and for a long while, Jamie sat alone drinking his tea, barely tasting the hot liquid. He knew he needed to figure out who had attempted to create a faux human.  He knew he needed to find out what was going on with Michael, and as ghosts seemed intent on adding the study of magic to his to do list he figured that was important too.

Instead, his mind seemed intent on focusing on the visilore and meeting the other Keepers. No matter what he started to think about, his thoughts invariably led him back.  What had started out as mere curiosity and the desire to possibly talk to someone who had been doing the job longer than him had morphed into something that felt urgent. He couldn’t explain why and somehow that bothered him more than anything else.

“Can it be a compulsion?” he wondered setting his cup aside finally and standing.  He thought about Reginald’s insistence that the book was his life’s work. Compelling someone seemed like something a magician ought to be able to do, although he in truth knew very little about it.

“Can a ghost even compel the living?” Jamie left the parlor.  He stopped by the stand in the hall and looked over his mail.  The top note was from Levas stating that he would be by mid-morning the following day to meet with Jamie. The second note smelled of lilacs and was from Queen Genevia stating that she would be pleased to take tea with him tomorrow at four.

“I suppose I’ll have to remember to put on shoes for that one,” Jamie muttered to himself. Somehow he didn’t think any royal would be thrilled at someone wearing wool socks as slippers for their meeting. As fairies were overly sensitive, believing that people routinely slighted them due to their small physical stature, he imagined Queen Genevia would take less kindly than most to the implied disrespect of improper dress.

“The fairies seemed to know something about Michael,” Jamie remembered.  “At least the ones who tried to kidnap me anyway.”  That might give him some insight as to why Michael seemed drawn to the property. Although he hasn’t been around since the funeral.”  After the funeral, Jamie had attached an alarm to the gate so he could be notified if someone tried to come onto the property without permission.

Jamie smiled a little at himself.  The man who came to do the instillation had thought Jamie was trying to prevent poachers and had waxed poetic about the subject the entire time he was performing his installation. Apparently the man did a fair bit of hunting in his spare time and had an intense dislike of anyone who broke the rules. As correcting his interpretation of the situation would have meant explaining that Michael was under the influence of some Fae chemical, magic or some combination of the two and Jamie was looking for more information to help sever the connection didn’t seem the sanest of responses, Jamie had let his belief stand.

“Maybe she would be willing to help me since I helped her,” Jamie thought.  “And as she sent me to the building where the vat was found, she might know more about the faux human as well.”  Jamie shook his head, knowing that he was only repeating the information he had listed on his notepad. “And the vial has to go to someone else as well,” Jamie added out loud. “I don’t have the skills to deal with it. Jim might know something or someone.”

Knowing he would feel less guilty about focusing on the other Keepers if he at least set something in motion, Jamie slid his cell phone out of his pocket and pulled up Jim’s office number.

“Evers and Evers Law Offices,” a woman’s voice told him.  Recognizing it Jamie smiled.

“Lucy, hi this is Jamie Fulton I don’t suppose Jim is available?”

“Jamie, hi,” Lucy said, her professional voice edged with warmth.  “He should be, give me a moment to check.”

“Sure,” Jamie replied.  There was a staticy sort of silence as she put him on hold and Jamie found himself grateful that Lucy remembered how much he hated the hold music and left it off.

“He is in and I’ll transfer you back to him,” Lucy said a moment later.

“Thanks oh and thanks again for coming out to the funeral,” Jamie replied. “The flowers were lovely.” As she murmured appropriate replies before transferring him to Jim, Jamie wondered if he should return to Albe’s gravesite and remove what were sure to now be dead flowers from his grave.

“Jamie,” Jim said picking up the phone and pushing Jamie’s thoughts of graveside cleanup away.  “To what do I owe the pleasure?”

“Well I was hoping that you could help me with something as you seem to know pretty much everyone,” Jamie began.  “I have a lovely chemical concoction that I need analyzed. It was suggested I find a human alchemist, and although I believe a modern day chemist would be fine for the task, I have no clue what components are in the mix.”

“Which means you need someone who is sort of in the know?” Jim guessed with a laugh.

“Exactly.”

“Someone actually used the term alchemist?” Jim asked.  In the background Jamie could hear him moving something around on his desk.

“They did,” Jamie confirmed.  “Admittedly he also thought my digital camera was some sort of human magic.  I don’t suppose you know anyone with knowledge of goblin tribal markings?”

“Not offhand,” Jim replied.  “But I think I have someone who may help with your analysis.” Jamie sensed Jim’s reluctance to pass on the name of a client, even if they were friends.

“Excellent.  I need to come into town tomorrow,” Jamie told him.  “Perhaps I could drop it off with you if you would be willing to send it over.”

“That would be great,” Jim said sounding relieved. “Maybe we could get lunch while you’re here and catch up.”

“Sure,” Jamie said nodding at the phone and then rolling his eyes at himself when he remembered Jim couldn’t see him nod.  “I’ll be by around noon.”

“Great,” Jim told him. “Oh and I should warn you, Bella has been by several times.  She wants a copy of the will, bank statements and a copy of the house inventory. None of which I gave her of course.”

“I appreciate that,” Jamie replied.  He rubbed his forehead thinking his headache’s return was imminent. “I’ll talk to her and see if I can get her to leave you alone for a bit. Actually I had a question for you about that.” Jamie quickly related the family tree and birth certificate incident, deciding to leave out the ghostly visitations.

“I know that someone blacked out the information for a reason.  I’d like to know why as much as I would like to know what happened to my mother.”  Remembering the other blanked out spots he added, “And her family.” He sighed.  “I would also like to keep the search as quiet as possible in case it stirs anything up.”

“Well we do know how to be discrete,” Jim replied.  “I’ll see what I can find out.”

“Thanks. I’ll see you tomorrow then.” He and Jim ended their call and Jamie felt relieved that several items on his list had been set into motion. “Nothing like multitasking.”  Jamie stared at his phone for a moment wondering if he should call Bella now or put it off.

“Quick like pulling off a Band-Aid,” he told himself. He forced himself to press call before he could talk himself out of it.

“Well it is about time you called,” Bella said angrily as she picked up the phone proving that she had checked the caller id before answering. “I suppose you finally realized you need us and are calling for some favor or other.”

“Actually I am calling because Jim Evers let me know that you have been making a nuisance of yourself at his office,” Jamie said, in no mood for the verbal sparring that his calls home usually entailed. “As a friend he let me know so I could warn you before he had to report your harassment to the authorities.”

On the other end of the line he heard Bella sputtering in indignation.  Jamie knew she was unaccustomed to hearing stern tones directed at her, especially from him. Jamie’s usual method of dealing with his family involved avoidance or mute acceptance.  Since Albe’s death, neither had been options for him. It wasn’t just the Fae that had to deal with a new power structure. Bella seemed to be taking it no better than they were.

“I told Jim I would warn you and that if you did not heed the warnings, he should feel free to deal with you through normal legal proceedings.” Jamie told her.  “I hope you take the warning to heart.”

He heard her snort.  “And just when are you planning to finish that inventory?” she demanded.

“That is not your concern,” Jamie told her.

“Not my concern, not my,” Jamie could hear her pause and take a deep breath. “We cannot hold an auction until you complete the inventory.” She told him.

“There will be no auction,” he told her. “Just as there will be no land sale.” He knew Bella dreamed of selling Albe’s property to a large developer and reaping massive cash rewards. The fact that none of the land or property was hers had not even factored into her equation and she had even gone so far as to bring a developer to the house in attempt to pressure him.

“There is no need for you to be so selfish,” She hissed. Jamie sighed.

“Please stay away from Jim,” Jamie said flatly.  “This property is not yours and never will be. Goodbye,” he said.  Before Bella could respond, Jamie ended the call.  After a second’s contemplation of the darkened screen, Jamie turned the phone to silent mode.  If Bella called back to argue with him, he didn’t want to know.

Oddly enough When Jamie looked up from his phone, he found himself standing to the doorway leading into the basement. “I must have walked while I talked,” he said frowning, not remembering leaving the hall. “Odd.”  He turned away from the door and returned to the map covered floor. As he had figured out that the golden lines crossing near towns were the most likely places to find houses of other Keepers, he picked up a notepad and made a list of the towns. There were twenty six total.

“And mine would make twenty-seven,” he said, straightening up and looking at the list.  He tapped his pen on the page as he read the items over.  The details he had read in the early morning flitted through his head as he tried to come up with a plan. He looked up from the notepad only to find that once again he had gone walking while his mind was occupied.  Once again he was standing in front of the door to the basement.

Jamie sighed and tucked his small notepad into his back pocket.  “I suppose I can take a hint.” He said.  He remembered the waiting feel to the basement when he had visited with Burr. “It’ll be worse if I ignore the hints I expect.”  He placed his hand on the door knob and opened the basement door wondering what the former House of the Keeper planned to show him this time.