CHAPTER FOUR
"Have you seen your sister?" Molly asked, stepping into the kitchen and setting a plate down in front of Jack. The boy shook his head in response, grabbing one of the rolls and taking a large bite out of it. Once he swallowed, he informed her that, "Carey mentioned Clu and Fi going into town".
Molly frowned, glancing at the clock and then back at the table. "Was Annie with them?" She asked.
Jack swallowed, and then shrugged. "I don't know. Maybe." He continued to eat until he realized Molly had yet to start. "I'm sure they're just running late."
"I know," Molly said quietly. "I just have this nervous feeling…"
Just then the front door opened and slammed shut. Annie appeared, followed closely by Fi and Clu.
"Ah, no more food," Fi groaned once she caught sight of dinner on the table. She covered her mouth and suddenly looked a little green. "What is this horrible sensation running through me stomach?" Annie led her to the bathroom while Clu started laughing.
"It was awesome," He started, taking a seat excitedly. "We came across this hot dog competition and Fi entered it! She entered and won!"
"Fi did?" Molly asked, giving him a surprised look. "Fi. My daughter?" She and Jack shared surprised looks.
"Dude, I watched her do it. She ate twenty hot dogs in three minutes!"
Molly blinked in surprise. "Wow," She finally said. It was all she could manage to say. Clu nodded his head in agreement before glancing at the chicken on Jack's plate. "Are you going to eat that?"
"Get your own food," Jack replied, pulling his plate away.
"Well," Annie said, coming out into the dining room and putting her hands on her hips. "She's getting it all out of her system. I'm sure she'll be feeling much better soon." She slumped into the chair across from Clu. "How did you talk her into it?"
"I didn't," Clu replied, holding his hands up as if he were surrendering. "It was her idea."
Annie frowned at this, not quite sure she believed it.
"So that's all you guys did today?" Jack asked, looking at his old friend.
"Nope. First she dragged me to this place to do karaoke, and then she decided it would be fun to play baseball with some ten year olds."
"Baseball?" Jack asked.
Clu nodded. "Yeah, and she acted like she didn't even know how to play. She's been acting crazy all day."
"Not all day," Annie pointed out. "She seemed fine when we split up."
"Oh, where were you?" Molly asked, looking to her charge with curiosity.
"I was with Rhonda and Chelsea up at the school," She replied. "We were taking pictures for a while. Then we just hung out."
"So after you split up Clu and Fi went to … karaoke?" Jack asked, sounding slightly confused.
"Well, first we got something to eat at that new restaurant," Clu replied. Then he frowned. "Actually, it was right after that that she started acting weird."
SO WEIRD
Fi closed the bathroom door softly behind her and started for the dining room. Or, where she assumed the dining room was. She hadn't managed to get a good look at the place as she came in. Or, rather, he hadn't managed to get a good look at the place as he came in. After all, Bricriu was never good with directions.
Halting for a moment he listened to the voices down the hall. Molly. Jack. He recognized those two right away, but it took a few moments for him to remember the names of the others.
He winced; closing Fi's eyes and trying not to let the pain splitting through his head overwhelm him. He was beginning to recall just what it was about possessing humans that made him wary of it. Sure, there were a lot of fun things to be done as a human, but the body also came with frustrating protocol. Like sweating, and getting sick. And having to use the bathroom.
Bricriu held Fi's head in her hands and gave it a frustrated shake, even as a groan worked its way to her lips. Perhaps food wasn't the best thing. After all, he was here for a reason, and he was going to make certain it was taken care of.
With one last glance to be certain no one was around, Bricriu moved up the stairs towards the room he'd left when Jack had freed him. Upon entering he slowly closed the door before him and glanced distastefully at Fi's laptop. That thing would have to go. But first…
Bricriu turned to the bed and began to search under and around it, in hopes of finding the one thing he was desperately searching for. If he could get his hands on it, then things would be able to return to the way they had once been. The way he remembered them being, before any Phillips meddled with the forces of darkness.
SO WEIRD
Annie laughed at something Clu had said, before glancing behind her, as if expecting to see Fi there. When there was nothing she frowned. The other girl had been missing for several minutes now. She couldn't still be in the bathroom, could she?
"I'll be right back," She interrupted, capturing the attention of the others around her. She stood and added, "I'm just going to make sure Fi's alright."
"That's a good idea," Molly said. "And tell her to hurry up and get out here. Don't want her to miss heading over to the Bell's for some dessert."
"I don't think she'll want anything else to eat," Annie said with a laugh, before skipping out of the room. She came to the bathroom and suddenly frowned when she realized the door was open and Fi was nowhere in sight.
She tossed a look over her shoulder before inching up the stairs in hopes of finding the brunette up in her room.
She crept over to the closed door, frowning when she heard rustling from inside. Then there was a loud curse muttered from inside and the closet door sounded like it was being pulled open.
Annie pushed the door open and stared in surprise to see Fi digging around for something. At the sound of the door the other girl froze, spinning around and giving Annie a blank stare.
"What are ye doin in here?" She demanded.
Annie crept in and eased the door shut behind her, suddenly looking worried. "I actually wanted to talk to you about something paranormal. Something I didn't want to talk about in front of Clu and the others." She looked Fi over and her frown deepened. "But if this is a bad time…"
"Mayhaps ye could help me," Fi said, pointing her finger at Annie and thinking something over.
"Is everything okay?" Annie asked, tilting her head to the side uncertainly.
"No," Fi snapped, flinging her foot randomly against the floor and scrubbing it along. "This infernal body requires far too much attention."
Annie took a nervous step back, suddenly beginning to see what she hadn't noticed before. "You're not Fi," She breathed in surprise.
"Unfortunately the lil duck refused to share a secret," Bricriu snapped. "One that would have made things real simple for all of you." Fi's features took on a dark look before she fell onto the bed and continuously scratched the heel of her foot against the carpet. "Oh, how can ye humans tolerate such disobedience from your own forms!?" He wailed.
"Where's Fi?" Annie demanded, taking a step forward angrily.
"She's still here," Bricriu replied distractedly. "Believe me, this is only a temporary situation. I've grown quite weary of these Phillips." He suddenly stopped, head snapping up to meet Annie's gaze with interest. "Perhaps you could be of help."
"What are you?" Annie asked, tasking a quick step forward. "Are you a poltergeist?"
Bricriu barked out a laugh in response. "Believe me, lass, I've learned my lesson the last time one of ye asked me too many questions." He looked around through Fi's eyes with a frown. "I search for a book."
Annie crossed her arms over her chest. "A book?" She asked incredulously.
"Aiy. An' if ye'd be so kind as ta assist me…"
"What kind of book?" Annie asked, suddenly looking more curious than concerned.
"An old book," Bricriu snapped. He started for the closet, but then stopped, giving Annie a suddenly interested look. "I remember ye." He licked Fi's lips and then looked around. "But this time yer all alone."
Annie frowned. "You know about my panther?"
"If ye mean yer guardian, then I s'pose I do. Most likely the shadow dispelled it."
"What?" Annie gasped, looking horrified. She grabbed Fi's wrist and forced Bricriu to look at her. "What happened to him?"
"How am I s'posed to know?" Bricriu snapped, pulling away. "Dear Fiona has had me locked away in her confounded technology fer the past year."
Annie swallowed hard as Bricriu continued to look through the closet. "I might be able to help you find the book you're looking for," She said quietly.
"I doubt it," Bricriu replied with a laugh. "It's a very old and important book. Children such as yerself wouldn't know anything about it."
"I've gone through this whole room myself for the past two weeks," Annie insisted. "And I helped Fi unpack all her stuff." She took an uncertain step forward. "Maybe we could trade information."
"I've played that game as well," Bricriu said distractedly. Then another wave of pain coursed through his head. "Ah, this one fights too much," He whined, wanting to bang Fi's head against the wall in frustration. He couldn't wait to be free of this body! With a grunt and a snarl he turned to face Annie. "Alright, we'll play it yer way. I'm lookin fer the Phillips spell book."
"Why?" Annie demanded.
"I thought ye wanted to know about yer guardian," Bricriu whined.
Annie bit her lip, suddenly indecisive. "Does Fi have a guardian?" She finally asked.
"Course she does," Bricriu replied. "Or did, rather. The fact that I managed to take over this form without interference suggests that he's gone."
"Who is her guardian? Is it a spirit guide, like mine?" Annie inquired.
"That's cheatin'," Briciriu flared. "It's me turn for an answer. The book, do ye know of it?"
"… Yes," Annie finally said.
Bricriu used Fi's lips to grin. "Good, where is it?"
"It's my turn for a question," Annie replied. "Who's Fi's guardian?"
Bricriu ground Fi's teeth, not wanting to reply, but a quick pain through his head made him snap out a, "Her father."
Annie's eyes widened in surprise. "What happened to him?"
"Can't say," Bricriu replied. "I s'pose the same as happened to yers. The shadow got 'im. Now where's the book?"
"Why do you need it?" Annie asked.
"I've already answered two of yer questions. It's me turn fer an answer," Bricriu spat.
Annie hesitated a moment, before turning around and pulling something out from where it was wedged between the wall and the desk. She turned slowly, holding the large book in front of her. Fi's eyes lit up, and Bricriu reached out to take the book from the blond, only to have Annie pull it away.
"There are people who were after Fi," She said quietly. "Are you one of them?"
"Occasionally," Bricriu replied, reaching out for the book. Annie jerked back again.
"Why are they after her?" She demanded.
"I don't know," Bricriu growled. "I just follow orders."
"Is this part of your orders?" Annie asked, holding the book up. "Are you going to do something that will hurt Fi?"
"Yer treading dangerous territories, lass," Bricriu hissed, narrowing Fi's eyes at Annie. "I think it'd be best if ye gave me that book now."
He lunged for Annie, and the blond gave out a startled scream, stumbling backwards and tripping over one of the boxes. As she fell the book flew out of her hands and skidded under the bed.