Chapter Three

Thierry Descouedres's Mansion was unusually quiet. As Ash Redfern walked through the spacious rooms that seemed to go on forever, it seemed as though his footsteps echoed. He found himself heading towards a room at the back, where he had suddenly heard voices. The room was filled with all of the comforts you could ask for.

Ash watched them all from the door and none of them seemed to notice him, which was good. He didn't want to make an entrance just yet as he never knew how he would be received by the others. Ash had so much to make up for, he doubted he would ever fit in with this group. They might need his strength for back up, but he could never relax and laugh away his problems….there were too many for that.

The old Ash would have laughed it off. You don't need any of them anyway; you don't need any of it. And you certainly don't need to be here, you idiot. And that was how things had been. Looking out for number one had always seemed to work out fine, but these days he never knew what to think. There was only one person he could talk to about any of this and unfortunately he didn't have that luxury. Maybe he never would and it was too hard to think about her anyway.

He could see Poppy North sitting comfortably drinking her Pepsi. Her soulmate James Rasmussen (his cousin) lay beside her on the sofa, his head in her lap. Rashel sat on a chair to the left and she was glancing at Thea Harman who sat on a pile of cushions on the floor.

"How can you read all that junk?" Rashel finally asked. "I mean, who cares who slept with who or what fashions are in this week? I personally think our own lives are more important."

Thea shrugged and then grinned at the girl only known as The Cat in the outside world, one of the most famous vampire hunters in history. "Oh, come on, it's just fun. And after all we've been through we need some of that. There's some great gossip in here. And I know you'd hate to admit it, but you're just like the rest of us here."

"Excuse me?" protested James.

Poppy giggled her laughter infectious because Thea and even Rashel joined in at the look on his face. "She means us girls Jamie," said Poppy. "But you know, we could always goclubbing couldn't we?" she looked innocently over at Rashel.

"Bite me!" was the response. The Cat had never been your typical girly girl. She lived for her job of fighting evil and destroying it, although she was more relaxed since meeting Quinn and joining Circle Daybreak.

"But I agree with one thing Rashel has said. Our lives are definitely more exciting. We have info that could top all of today's stories."

"Wait," said Rashel. "That's not what I meant!" Then she sighed impatiently. "Oh fine, if I really have to!" and she reached for the magazine.

Ash smiled slightly at the image. They all had such a…presence about them. Each had a beauty that reflected their personality and all made a big impression on people. They all looked like they could be models in the very mag they were debating over. As could he. He cringed at the very idea.

"Ash come on in and save me from all the girl talk!" said James suddenly. Startled, Ash moved forward.

"Happy thanks giving Ash," said Poppy sweetly.

"You wishing me a happy anything is a miracle," he told her.

Poppy shook her head sadly. "Oh Ash, when are you going to realise that's all in the past? I mean, sure, you were a mass murderer and you only used people. Sure, you were going to hand me over to the Night World Council to have me killed. Sure you were related to Hunter Redfern. It's not all your fault; you were bought up with all that."

"So was James. But thanks little dreamer." His voice was loaded with sarcasm, but he was secretly relieved.

"But she's right," interrupted Rashel. "You're really not that different from Quinn."

"All this doesn't mean you're not still a jerk when you want to be though!" James offered.

"Listen, I wont annoy you for long. I just wanted to know if Descouedres had heard from Gillian and David yet?"

Thea shook her head. "No. But Quinn's talking to Thierry now. They haven't been there long, give them a chance."

"How come you want to know anyway?" asked James frowning slightly.

"I just think someone else should be down there too that's all. Someone more experienced."

"Like you? It figures. Remember what I said about being a jerk Ash?" snapped James.

"And I don't get it," said Thea. "You were the one routing for them in the first place right?"

"I know, look. Gill's a sweet girl. And they've both changed a lot. But I just think something's going to go wrong that's all."

Rashel discarded the magazine. "Gillian's got the best cover story out of all of us. And you yourself said more then two would be obvious. Let's just leave it at that. They wanted to prove themselves and they deserve that chance. And if there's trouble they'll let us know somehow."

"Fine, fine. I know when I'm outnumbered," and he stood up to leave.

"Ash wait," said Thea. "It's thanksgiving. You really don't have to rush off like this. What James said before…he was just being James."

Poppy nodded. "He's annoyed at being stuck here just like you are. He's just venting."

For a moment he actually hesitated. "No. I've bothered you enough already. And Poppy, if I had a chance at being stuck with my Soul…girlfriend? I wouldn't complain!" then he left, leaving them all stunned.

"Do you think he'll ever be able to let the past go and realise he can't atone for everything? That just by doing what he's doing it will be enough?"

"He's just missing Mary Lynette," said Thea, taking back the magazine.

"You know, I just knew he was going to say soulmate," said Poppy. "It's hard to believe it. Ash with a human soulmate."

"I think he has to learn to forgive himself first," said James, answering Rashel's earlier question. "Excuse me ladies," with that, he too exited the room and started to follow his cousin. He had a suspicion that Ash was up to something and he was going to find out what.

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She was at the thanksgiving dinnerand Gillian was totally out of her depth. She looked over at David, but he was trapped by the Henderson brothers.

She guessed the trouble had started with the arrival of Diana and Nick. She tried to concentrate on her conversation with Cassie and Melanie, hard to do when your audience is so preoccupied. "And so my family is really complicated. I actually found a whole other side of my family that I didn't know about until recently…." she stopped. "I guess they're Laurel's family too," she finished, realising she should stop this quickly.

"Really?" asked Melanie. It was actually lucky they were so distracted.

"I'm sorry," Cassie exclaimed immediately. "I'm a terrible host."

"We all are," agreed Melanie. "It's just something's happened tonight that's unexpected.

Gillian nodded. "Diana and Nick."

"It's nothing important," Cassie assured her, but Gillian could tell that it was. "What's important is you. You're family life does sound hectic." but it was clear she hadn't really heard. Gillian breathed a sigh of relieve. That had been a stupid mistake.

"Turkey's ready," said Laurel, hurrying in from the kitchen with Sean and Diana.

"I'll help you set up," Cassie stood up abruptly.

Gillian went over to David and kissed him briefly, ignoring the Henderson brother's jokes and laughter. "Hi," he smiled. "Chris was explaining how to make a pipe bomb."

They moved away from the others a bit. "So did you have fun with the girls?" he asked her.

"They're nice enough. I was telling them about mum and dad. Not everything," she added hastily. She glanced at the table where Faye and Deborah were setting up alcohol and soft drinks.

"If they knew just how complicated my life really was….and I've only just found out half of it myself. I never had that much sympathy about my dad leaving but….."

"Right," David nodded, lowering his voice. "He must have left his family…laurel's mum, back in Salem because they were witches. But then when he met your mum…."

"I always assumed he didn't know. She didn't even know about her powers. But he must have seen the signs and not been able to deal with it. And hadn't been able to deal with her reaction, all the drinking. Like I said…messed up."

"Try not to think about it," David advised.

""What I don't get is why he didn't get powers too. I mean, Laurel's mum used the craft when she was younger, according o Thierry and so does Laurel."

David also looked confused by this. "Maybe he never believed any of it. Right from the beginning he never accepted it and that blocked his powers?"

"Maybe. You're right; I'll try not to think about it. Especially not now. Did you get anything we can report back?"

"Come on guys, it's all getting cold," said Susan. Gillian realised they were so wrapped up in their conversation they hadn't noticed everyone had taken their seats and were staring at them. It was lucky they had been whispering.

"So Diana," said Faye smoothly. "How's life treating you? We haven't seen each other for ages." Diana blinked and tried a friendly smile but it came out shaky.

"You know, busy with uni," she murmured.

"Yes but I mean life in general," Faye wasn't relenting. There was a malicious glint in her eyes.

"Faye don't start," warned Cassie. Of course Faye ignored her.

"Come on cousin of mine, you and Nick…when did that happen?"

"You can ask me as well," said Nick.

"Do we have to make a big deal of this now?" asked Adam.

"Only if you think it's a big deal Adam. After all, with all of your history, should make for interesting conversation." There was a brief silence. She reminded Gillian of Thea's cousin Blaise. Thea had told them all about her. "So," Faye began again.

"Guys could you please just grow up?" exclaimed Laurel. "We have guests. My family. You're all acting like…I don't know what. Like before. I don't want my cousin's first impression of you to be bad."

"It's ok," said Gillian. "Really."

Diana fixed her deep green eyes on Gillian. "I'm sorry," she said. Then she turned to the rest of them. "And I'm sorry about the way things have gone tonight. I'm not sorry about anything that's happened though. But this is exactly why we've been avoiding you all for so long. Like Laurel said, could we just have a nice, normal evening? Without any games," she looked at Faye.

"We can try," muttered Sean.

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The rest of dinner was spent in polite small talk. It was a bit of a stretch to say it was forced, because they'd all practically grown up together, so they never ran out of things to say. But it was tense and difficult. Not the dinner that Cassie had planned.

Soon they decided to call it a night. Laurel, Gillian and David were gathered at the door waving the group off, when something unexplainable happened. The sky was clear with a scattering of stars across the velvet blackness. There was a slight chill in the air and Cassie had moved closer to Adam, when there was a brilliant flash. It was almost like a sheet of lightening except it was blue in colour.

As she stared, she noticed it covered the whole sky as far as she could see.

"Is it lightening?" asked Susan.

"There's no thunder," Deb pointed out.

"It's not a storm," Gillian whispered and Laurel stared at her wondering what she could mean.

It happened again several times illuminating them all in its light.

"That was weird right?" asked Chris.

"Definitely," agreed David.

It had been blue, thought Cassie, dazed. Something stirred in her memory. Blue sky, blue fire…her dreams. She hadn't had a chance to discuss them further with Adam and Laurel. And it was strange but she'd felt Gillian watching her ever since and didn't want to make her suspicious. Weird was right…was there a connection?

Suddenly she didn't feel just cold, she felt as cold as ice.