Harry ushered Maddie through the back door and re-sealed it behind them.
"...but to transmute the magic of an entire bloodline would require monumental levels of power" Bod was speaking to Jen. She sat up on the sofa, the blanket round her shoulders. "It would involve twisting their souls and those…" Bob broke off as he saw Harry enter.
"And those of their descendants" Jen finished for him. Her voice was rough and she looked like someone suffering a killer hangover. The first aid kit was on the coffee table and she had obviously re-wrapped her hand. She had done much better than Harry but then, it was her job.
"Jen" Maddie signed in relief and waddle over. She sank onto the sofa and the two sisters embraced. They made an odd sight; Maddie in a hospital gown and Harry's coat, Jen in her stained EMT uniform. Jen met his eyes and broke apart from Maddie and help the blonde's eye.
"Maddie, what did you tell him?"
"Enough" Harry answered for her and then turned to Bob. "What do you mean 'twisted their souls'?" The ghost looked concerned.
"To effect such a drastic change as converting The Gift to a more specific purpose such as a spiritual shield would involve altering the very nature of who they were. The core of their being would have to be re-written. The long term damage to themselves would be immense. Not to mention the effect on their descendants." Both Harry and Jen shot a glance at Bob.
"What kind of damage?" They asked at the same time and Bod glanced between them before looking to Jen.
"Cutting off the psyche from even a latent power can have an effect on the mind." Jen looked to the floor as Maddie glanced between them all, clearly confused. Bob narrowed his eyes. "Nightmares?" Bob asked and Jen flinched. "Headaches?" She closed her eyes and nodded before speaking.
"It's a small price to pay for safety" she managed in a whisper.
"And an explanation as to how you have such a rare ability and no magic to fuel it. A state which nearly killed you." The spirit stated but Jen only took her sister in laws hand and squeezed.
"A small price" She repeated.
"Why?" Harry asked, shaking his head as he began to fathom the extremes that her family had performed to bring about their protection.
"You've seen it. It gets inside people. The only way to destroy it is to kill the person it's in." Maddie made an involuntary mew of distress at the concept and gripped Jen's injured hand. The medic hissed in discomfort and patted the distressed woman's arm. "My ancestors wouldn't do that and neither will I" Harry sighed and closed his eyes.
"Why didn't you tell me?" he asked and Jen gave a bark of laughter. When she spoke it was in a sing song, sarcastic, voice.
"'Hello Mr Dresden, my family is cursed. Please help me save my pregnant sister in law from my demon possessed brother before he kills us and devours our souls.'" She shook her head. "It's only ever been family business. Besides, you really would have believed me?" She met his eyes and it pained him to see the distrust in her gaze.
"Actually, I would have" She scrunched her eyebrows in a moment of confusion.
"Really?"
"Yes" Her face fell.
"Oh, sorry" She looked sheepish and Maddie was back to her feet staring. Harry took a deep breath
"Bob, can I talk to you for a minute" He forced a smile, "Be right back"
Harry closed the lab door behind him and ran his hands over his face.
"How did I get into this?" he asked himself
"Well…" The spirit started
"It was a rhetorical question, Bob!" he snapped and then forced himself to calm down. Arguing wouldn't solve anything and time was short. Danny was out there and if the display at Cook was anything to go by it wouldn't take too much longer for him to figure out where they were, even with the additional measures Harry had taken.
"Ok, we got a possessed accountant trying to kill his sister, wife and unborn child. So we need to find him, subdue him and then get the demon out of him. Exorcism?"
"Hmm, I'm not entirely sure a standard exorcism would work. Whatever protection the family has is at least still partially functional for him. Remember the Wards?" Harry recalled the damaged protections as the ghost spoke.
"The Sigel's detected him but then the tattoo hid him, mostly" He mused and Bob nodded.
"It seems likely. It would also explain why the High Council have yet to be alerted to all this"
"True" Harry conceded.
"There is another option" Bob offered and then stopped.
"What?" Harry prompted
"With your magic as a power source you could use the Demon's Bane to destroy it" Harry stared at him
"You mean kill Danny?" Bob spoke quietly as he always did when saying something he knew Harry wouldn't like.
"The man has been a demons vessel for over half a year. I doubt there is much left of him mind. It would protect his child and…"
"No" Harry interrupted, "They are a family and no-one should have to grow up without a father. Not when there's another way." Bob sighed at Harry's conviction and then nodded.
"As you wish"
"So," Harry ran his hand through his hair, "find, subdue, get round the tattoo and get it out of him." He glared at Bob, "without killing him"
"And before the time limit expires" Bob reminded. Harry took a breath and shrugged.
"Piece of cake"
"Harry!" Jen yelled and he hurried back down the corridor into the apartment. Jen knelt in front of the sofa, her hands on Maddie's shoulders. She looked up as he entered, all he fatigue forgotten.
"Do you have any clean towels?" She asked and her sister cried as another contraction came. Harry stood dumbfounded and tried to think but only one thought came to mind.
"Oh, crap"
