AN: okay, I am surprised I was able to get this out, what with end of terms, work, and my participation in NaNoWriMo. But there you go: a little grit goes a long way.
Enjoy!
Anything But Ordinary
Chapter 3
Nathan did not like leaving Tarin by herself but he knew that he could not invade her private conversation with her guardian. He hoped she would be able to tell him where she had been for the past ten years. He needed those answers. He needed to know that there was nothing he could have done to save Tarin's parents from their death or the girl from Trevor.
Allison was on the phone with some department head while Jack was on the phone with Zoë. Nathan had to hand it to Jack, he was just as outraged by Tarin's treatment as Nathan was. Nathan was glad that the Sheriff was around this morning to arrest that sorry excuse of a scientist.
Tarin walked out of the office with her head down. Allison and Jack immediately got off their phones to focus on the girl. When she stopped in front of Nathan she looked up at him. Her blue gaze was all seriousness with a trace of worry.
"If there is anyone else you want to know about me, I'd advise you get them down here. I can only say this once I am afraid. And you all have to take a vow of silence before I say anything," Tarin explained.
Nathan nodded his understanding. "What ever you need me to do, I'll do it. Allison can you have Henry come to your office."
"Of course Nathan." Allison turned away to get a hold of Nathan's mentor.
"Is it all right if I bring Joe in on this?" Jack asked Dr. Stark.
Nathan looked over into Jack's earnest blue eyes. He never noticed how honest and clear the sheriff's eyes were until now. They were the type of eyes that he could look into everyday if he was giving the chance.
"That should be fine," Nathan told him.
Tarin stood in front of Nathan studying him as he interacted with Allison and Jack. He treated both of them differently but the way he treated Jack was the way Grim treated Lady Dark when he was trying to get her attention. She smiled softly at this tiny revelation.
Henry was the first to arrive since he was already in the building.
"What did you need Allison?" he asked upon seeing the small group.
"Not yet. We're still waiting on Jo," Allison answered.
His brow furrowed in confusion. The girl in front of Nathan resembled the girl in Nathan's pictures but she had been out of Nathan's life for ten years, what brought her here now? And in a silver jumpsuit to boot?
Within minutes Jo was climbing the stairs to Allison's office. She looked as confused as Henry felt.
"Now what's this all about?" Jo asked.
Tarin walked into Allison's office without saying a word. Nathan followed her without question. Jack shrugged his shoulders and entered the office as well. The others soon followed suit. Nathan was already blacking the floor to ceiling windows and placing security measures on the room.
"Before I say a word each of you must swear to a vow of silence. Without it I cannot tell you anything," Tarin stated.
"What is this some Dungeon's & Dragons game?" Jo whispered.
Nathan glared at the deputy silencing her easily. Henry walked up beside his old student.
"Nathan, what is going on?"
"Tarin was brought here by Trevor Wright in a cryo unit going on about how she could cure all diseases. He kidnapped Tarin from her guardian and was going to experiment on her," Nathan growled.
Tarin walked up to Nathan and placed her hand on his arm. She understood his anger but now was not the time for it. "Everything's okay Uncle Nathan."
Nathan took a deep breath before visibly relaxing. Henry had never seen Nathan so effectively calmed down when his temper was up. He would take any vow just to learn more about this girl who had been missing for years.
"So do you all enter into a vow of silence?"
"I do," Nathan and Jack said with no hesitation.
The others quickly followed. Tarin flexed her hands and briefly it appeared that her hands were glowing but that's impossible right?
"Nathan, when we left you all those years ago it was because we were being called home. We're not exactly what you'd call normal. My father's godmother as well as my own godmother is Queen Mab of the Winter Court. Nathan, I was and have always been a Magus."
The entire room was effectively silenced. It was difficult news to swallow. Nathan stared down into the pleading eyes of the girl in front of him. This was the same girl that never lied to him when she was a child why would she start now.
Allison looked angered by Tarin's words. "This is the most preposterous…"
"I believe you," Nathan interrupted his ex-wife's rant.
Allison looked at Nathan as if he had gained an extra head. "Are you kidding me Nathan? There is no such thing as a Magus or the Winter Court. They're all fairy tales."
"That they maybe but Tarin is my family and she would never lie to me. She's telling me the truth," Nathan told the group.
Jack wiped his hand across his mouth contemplating what was just said. "I want to believe her Nathan but this is some strange news even for Eureka. Tarin, can you show us proof?"
Nathan scowled at the sheriff. "Now there is no cause…"
"It's okay Nathan. I was expecting this," Tarin said.
The girl stepped back from Nathan and eyed the rest of the group. Nathan and Jack were the only ones that did not look at her as if she was crazy. She took a deep breath before muttering a word that sounded like "vita". The whole room went dark then a ball of psychedelic light appeared in the center of the room. The light looked like a sparkling disco ball.
"Whoa," Jo gasped.
Henry was staring in amazement at this little miracle. He walked forward waving his hand all around detecting no strings or equipment that would help the light.
"How is this possible?" Allison questioned in awe of the display of magic.
"Simple really. There are two types of mortals: normals/mundane and then there are the Magi. The Magi have been around a little longer than the normals but not by much. The Magi have been gifted with the ability to control the elements that are all around us through foci," Tarin explained.
"So you were left with other Magi?" Henry asked.
"Not exactly." Tarin hopped on to the desk. "There is another class of beings that you don't know about: the Immortals. They are split up into different classes: the Summer Court and the Winter Court."
"And your godmother is the Queen of the Winter Court?" Jack asked.
"Exactly. So if you hadn't recognized me when you did Nathan, the entire planet would be facing a very long winter. Mab would have used my kidnapping as grounds for war," Tarin explained.
That statement effectively silenced the small group. It was some information for them to chew on. Who would have thought that there were people who could control the weather to destroy the world?
"So, is your godmother okay with you staying here now?" Nathan asked the only question on his mind.
She smiled happily up at Nathan. "Mab is perfectly happy with me staying here as long as I keep in contact everyday."
That's all Nathan needed to hear. "How about we go get you some new clothes and then go to Café Diem for dinner?"
"Sounds good to me," Tarin responded, jumping off the desk.
Nathan led Tarin out of the office. As they walked out the disco like light disappeared and the room returned to normal. Everyone left behind stared in awe as the two walked out. They really did not know what to do after hearing this new revelation.
"So I think that's it for the day," Jack stated.
Tarin walked into Café Diem feeling much better in a pair of jeans and black shirt. Silver jumpsuits just were not her style. She was even get used to all the stares coming her way where ever she went. Any one who saw her walking around GD gossiped to others outside the building so by now the whole town knew she was in Eureka. As Nathan and Tarin were sitting down at a table, Vincent popped up as quickly as he always does when new meat was in the room.
"So, Dr. Stark, who is your young friend?" Vincent asked in a very happy tone.
"Vincent, I would like for you to meet my niece, Tarin Starling. She's visiting for awhile," Nathan introduced.
Vincent's smile, if possible, got even wider. "Oh, how exciting! I didn't know you had a niece."
Nathan slightly scowled at the too curious chef. "Well, I do. Do you mind getting us some dinner?"
Vincent's happy mood turned shocked. "Of-of course."
As Vincent hurriedly walked away, Tarin turned amused eyes upon her uncle. "I see you still have the power to scare the masses with just a look."
Nathan leaned back in his chair. "I don't like people prying into my business."
"Yes, but it is only natural that people will be curious about me. I guess I'll just have to get used to all the stares while I'm here," Tarin said.
Jack came into the café moments after Vincent had brought appetizers for the duo. He wanted to seat with them but he didn't want to intrude on their reunion. Tarin looked up and spotted the undecided Sheriff. Her eyes lit up in recognition.
"Jack, come sit with us," Tarin shouted.
Nathan actually smile at Jack. "Yeah, why not Sheriff."
The entire café looked on in bewilderment at the most feared scientist to grace GD's halls. Nathan actually wanted Sheriff Jack Carter (the very man who was fighting for his ex-wife's affections) to have dinner with him. Jack walked casually walked over to the table also confused but at the same time delighted.
"Jack, thanks for believing in me so readily," Tarin told the Sheriff.
"If Nathan can believe you about your, uh talents, than why shouldn't I. I've been in Eureka long enough to believe in miracles," Jack explained.
Tarin smiled brightly at him. "Thanks all the same."
Vincent place two plates of chicken marsala with red potatoes in front of them. "Sheriff, what can I get for you? The usual?"
Jack contemplated his decision. "You know why not give me what they're having."
Vincent's mouth just hanged open as he stared at the Sheriff in shock. For as long as Jack Carter had been living in Eureka, when ever he ate Café Diem he always had the cheeseburger and now he was deviating from his usual. What was the world coming to?
"Well, get to it Vincent," Nathan told the dumbstruck chef with just a hint of humor in his voice.
"So, how are you liking Eureka?" Jack asked Tarin after Vincent had left.
She took a drink from her tea before answering. "I love it. Eureka is exactly the way I was expecting it to be. I'm glad that I am now able to visit even under these circumstances."
"Yeah, Eureka is a great place to live if you don't take into account the disasters caused by the crazy scientists," Jack told her.
Tarin's eyes lit up at that. "Disasters? What kind of disasters?" "Well, there was the time that meteorologist messed with a weather machine that played havoc with our climate," Nathan started.
"Or the time my house tried to kill us," Jack piped in.
Nathan laughed. "Yeah, that was an interesting day."
Tarin held her hand to stop the reminiscing. "Wait a minute. Your house tried to kill you?"
Jack nodded. "Yep, I live in a bunker that has been turned into a Smart House. Its original program use to be some military tactic thing."
Vincent set Jack's plate in front of him, still somewhat shocked by this recent turn of events.
"Thanks, Vince. It looks great," Jack complimented him.
"You're welcome Sheriff. Can I get you anything else?"
"I think we're good for now Vincent. Thanks," Nathan said.
Many of the townspeople were watching the small group with interest. Seeing Jack and Nathan eating a meal together without arguing was not a sight they had ever seen. And even more odd was seeing Nathan interacting with a young teen willingly. Though it was a very rare occurrence but it was one that the townspeople wanted to keep seeing.