Prologue

The promise of spring hung heavily in the air outside. The winter had been long and arduous. Everyone was getting cabin fever finding themselves tired of shoveling snow, negotiating the cold and slippery roads. Even winter pursuits of skating, skiing and tobogganing were tiresome. Warm weather vacations cut into parts of the snowbound residents of New York but many who could not afford a trip south were grumbling about the length of the season and the ongoing predictions of more snow. A wet spring meant risk of flooding throughout the state.

Despite her limited physical capacity, Catherine was increasingly able to visit the tunnels with each week that passed. She felt stymied by an inability to get out more and renew her relationships with old friends but she also hesitated to contact many of them until she felt a little more secure mentally and emotionally.

Her marriage to Vincent provided a great backdrop for the future. Everyday she was learning more about the gentle man she had married. Their incredible love story spread far and wide but there were always safety issues for her, Vincent and the son of their love who continued to show remarkable insight as he worked and lived between the two worlds.

Catherine hung up the phone and leaned over to kiss her husband before snuggling down into his arms again.

'I am so happy for Jason and Terry. They deserve this and more. Imagine a little boy for them to raise and to love.' Catherine's voice had a wistful quality. Vincent knew that she was sad at not being able to raise their own son.

'Indeed, these honeymoon weeks will give way to the joys of rebellion soon enough. Better to enjoy them.'

'Are you being cynical?'

'I hope not. Having a child is a humbling experience. We learn very quickly how little we know Catherine.'

'Vincent, could it have been so bad with Jacob. You told me he was a good boy.'

'He was but he was also a handful. I had to go back to my own youthful days to know that it is a rite of passage with all boys to rebel.'

'Now you are teasing me!'

'I am teasing but there is a deep truth to my words. I know that you are feeling the loss of your own time with Jacob as a baby but each time I held him in my arms I could not do so without seeing you. In some small way you were a part of everything.'

Catherine said nothing in reply. She snuggled closer to her husband and sighed deeply before falling back to sleep.

'I wish I knew what lay ahead.' Jacob's long deep sigh, so like his mother's own troubled Cathy. She did not turn to look at her friend and companion. Instead she focused her attention on the giant who sat quietly on the ledge across from them, hoping for another morsel of fruit from Jacob.

'You will never know what you want just thinking about it. You have to take some action you know, if you want to get things done.'

'Cathy, it isn't about getting things done. I have a million ideas in my head but none of them make sense.'

'What do you mean Jacob?' Now Cathy turned to his profile, studying its leonine lines with a barely concealed desire to touch the features of his incredible heritage.

Jacob tossed the Giant another plum, knowing it would be gobbled up in a hurry but pleased that the simple gesture could cement the sense of safety under the watchful power of the coven leader.

'Sickness Cathy, it puzzles me. I never wanted to study medicine but something about my Mother's experience, my Dad's appearance, my time with Edgar Raeburn and Brian, Gramps deteriorating health all coalesce at a point in my head. I want to work out connections.'

'Are you saying that you want to study medicine? You can't be serious!'

'Not medicine Cathy but a form of health awareness that releases people from the things that make them sick. Gramps would no doubt think I am crazy.'

'Do you think you're crazy?'

Jacob turned to face Cathy, eyes wide. He searched her face intently looking for the essence of the question. He chose to take it seriously, believing that the question was posed thoughtfully.

'I have mixed up impressions in my head but there is no clear path to make them real. Look where I bring my best girl for a date....an underground cavern, the tomb of my grandmother and the site of so much evil that I can hardly bear to think about John Pater...and yet I am drawn here.'

'Am I your best girl?'

Drawing her hands up to his face, Jacob kissed the tips of her fingers before settling a light kiss on her lips.

'Oh Jacob...that's why I love y...'

Cathy stopped suddenly, realizing that she had been about to say something which lay unspoken between them.

'Don't Cathy. Don't stop. I have loved you from the day you asked me what could me smile. The answer was always 'you'.

'I just didn't want to be the first...you know..I..I.'

'I love you Catherine.'

Jacob held her close. He felt no great desire rise in him. He knew that Cathy held his heart and soul but he had much to do in his life and many things to sort out before he could be serious.

'I love you Jacob. I think I always have. I sense that we still have a journey to make before we can be complete but I promise you that I will be at your side, what ever you choose to do.'

The couple held each other close in the semi darkness of the underground cavern. Since the advent of spring, after a long and snowy winter, Jacob had felt himself drawn to the part of the tunnel world where John Pater, his natural grandfather, had worked his evil magic. There was a lot to learn about the life of the man called Paracelsus by the members of the tunnel community. He had been outcast for years before his death, killed by his own son in a life and death struggle. Jacob keenly felt the horror of that time within his father, Vincent. And yet, he was still drawn to aspects of the work of John Pater.

Jacob Wells, his adopted grandfather and namesake, had hoped that the young man would someday grow into a doctor and leader of the tunnel community. Taking law instead, put him on a different path. Jacob thought about the synchronicity of his law career and its path to the discovery of his mother and her amazing recovery from a coma of over 20 years. He marvelled at the chance in a million law case with elements so extraordinary as to bring about a miracle. The miracle itself occupied Jacob's mind over and over. He felt nothing happened by chance but wanted to understand the process by which seemingly unrealted circumstances could evolve into such a transformation.

'Are you thinking about your mother again Jacob?', Cathy whispered into his ear.

'How did you know?'

'Your breathing changes and your head moves in a certain way, as if you are trying to capture a sound.'

'Cathy, I don't know why you put up with me.' The head shaking became decidedly pronounced.

'Because I know that I am unique in your life. Because I know that what you said about finding your way is necessary for you and because I know that we are tied together by some invisible bond no matter what path we take.'

Jacob leaned forward and kissed Cathy again, lightly. In the dim shadows he could barely make out her features and colour was absent but he knew every inch of her face. Rubbing his thumbs lightly along her cheeks he whispered 'nothing in this life would give me greater pleasure than to have you at my side Cathy. I am sure the way will become clear when the time is right. Thank you for trusting me not to hurt you.'

As the young couple held each other, Jacob's mind continued to wander to parts of his mind in which he saw much, jumbled information. He once told his father it was like looking at an ocean full of fish and trying to capture just one for a meal. Eventually he let go of the internal struggle and gave himself up to the pleasure of feeling the woman in his arms.

Jacob had been spending more and more time in Pater's chambers on the weekends. He continued to work as a young Public Defender under the less watchful eye of Oats but his mind was fully preoccupied with the space below ground which held more secrets than he could imagine.

The simple giants remained a community nearby. Their leader had once attacked Jacob but since the day his mind had been reporgrammed to a more gentle nature, he often came to observe the young visitor, knowing that a few fruits would come his way.

Jacob had been sneaking down to the chambers for quite awhile. It was the one place in which he could hide and be left alone. After the first few times he gave up his secret to Cathy and they often came down together on the weekends. Cathy was discreet but Jacob just loved the peaceful time shared with her. She could be as quiet as she was talkative. There was a great deal of uncertainty in their lives and in their relationship, but the trust they shared was only surpassed by the love and trust he observed in his parents.

Vincent was not aware of his Son's activities. Jacob saw his parents often but much of the younger man's life was lived in the tunnel or at the Public Defender's office. Jacob did not want to talk about what he was doing below. He was not sure his father would approve but Jacob felt compelled to delve into the life of John Pater. He knew there would be repercussions with his parents. He also knew that the legacy of John Pater held deep dark secrets. How and when things would manifest remained a mystery. The dark chamber, the books he had not touched and the remains of his grandmother all drew some energy from him but an inner turmoil held him paralyzed about his future.

He sighed again, realizing that life held more challenges than answers. Cathy felt his anguish. She held Jacob even more tightly knowing that there was little she could do for him. She would remain watchful.