Chapter 30

"I slept like I was dead, it was weird."

"But do you feel refreshed?"

"Yeah… still weird. Okay, so I know that people actually NEED to dream, part of the REM phase of sleep right. Is this going to make me crazy?" Claira stared at her Dad intently as she shoved stuff into her bookbag. She had overslept actually and counting down until this week was over, ready for a break.

Mark snorted at that, trying not to let her see just how hilarious he found that. "No… not anymore then you already are."

For some reason, Claira didn't feel comfortable with the magic suppressing her dreams and she had no idea why. "Dad? W-Would you be mad if I told you that I don't want my dreams gone? I know Mom got scared because I dreamt of…you." She STILL didn't understand that. "And I know there's someone or something targeting our family, but…I really don't want to do that circle thing again."

"Then your dreams will be your own, as long as you're honest with us, if you dream about something out of the ordinary." Brooklynn walked into the kitchen, needing coffee and let out a yawn, kissing her husband softly. "I overreacted yesterday and…I shouldn't have scared you the way I did, sweetheart. So, if you don't want your dreams suppressed, Daddy won't do it again." Taker could convince her in her dreams magic wasn't bad, convince her to hone it and accept it the way he did.

"Really?" Claira arched a brow at how relaxed her mother was, tilting her head. "Mom, are you feeling okay? Just yesterday you were freaked out about my dreams because of…Dad. Why did you freak out anyway?"

"Stress, honey. I was just extremely stressed out with Bastet's death and trying to find out what's going on. I'm fine though, had a good night's sleep and I realize how foolish I was to suppress your dreams. I'm sorry." She poured creamer into her coffee, more than necessary and grabbed a muffin before sitting down at the table.

THIS was why Claira needed to be trained. Taker knew he wasn't necessarily the best person for the job given his evil tendencies and, the fact that he had no qualms about using darker magics, but for Christ sakes! The kid thought… he was facepalming himself inside the mental well Mark liked to keep him in.

"Wait, hold up, darlin'… that was a spell, not a parlor trick. It just doesn't disappear in the morning and have to be redone every night," Mark explained gently. "If you want your dreams back, we have to reverse it."

"Then reverse it, please?" Claira often dreamt of Seth and she didn't want to lose that because of magic.

"I know it wasn't a parlor trick, but you said it could be undone and that's what she wants. We should…trust our daughter's instincts." Brooklynn cracked a smile up at Claira and took a bite out of her muffin, starving.

A honking horn signaled Seth had arrived to take her to school. "Tonight, thanks Mom. Love you Dad!" She called out, rushing out the door and hopped into the truck as Seth drove away from the house.

Now was the time to talk to him about Claira's powers being returned to her. "Did you find anything in the library about…a cure for her?" She wasn't surprised when Mark shook his head, wondering if Taker would allow a cure to be found, even if there was one. "Will you keep her Bound or are you going to give her powers back then?"

"That's up to her." Mark sipped his coffee. "If she wants to learn how to control her magic, yes. If not, then no. Can't have her blowing up the kitchen whenever she gets angry because eventually… it'll be the roof." His lips hitched into a slight grin. He may have done that once or twice in his life. "I'll talk to her, okay? I've been looking for something to block the spirits for her." That one actually did bother Claira. Not that Mark blamed her, not everyone was cut out for that experience.

"You know what's best, so I'll let you handle it."

Brooklynn smiled, moving from her chair to straddle him, after he set his mug down, and softly kissed him. She rubbed her nose against his, feeling as though everything was heightened and renewed between them. It was almost as if the desire switch in her brain had been turned off since having Claira and now…it had flipped back on because of the dream with Taker and shower sex with Mark. He groaned as she shifted on his lap, feeling the hardness against her backside and giggled just as the doorbell rang.

"That would be Randy. Behave." She directed that at Taker, knowing he could hear her and pecked his lips again before bouncing over to answer the door. "Hey you, come on in. Are you hungry?"

"Already ate."

He didn't need to touch her to sense the change or see it. Today, Brooklynn's entire body was relaxed and there was an easy smile on her lips, a sparkle in her eyes that hadn't been there the day before. Randy wasn't asking, he figured if it were his business, she'd tell him. He did step inside when she beckoned him too, inhaling the scent of coffee.

"I will, however, take a cup of coffee." The entire house seemed lighter, brighter and his blue eyes narrowed at her suspiciously.

Touching Randy was NOT an option because then he'd see her dream with Taker, in all its intimate glory, and that couldn't happen. She had to protect Taker since he was the only one who could help their daughter control her magic and she loved him. Brooklynn wanted him out, wanted both sides of Mark. It was weird, but last night, it worked and part of her knew Taker was fucking her just as much as Mark was. Hell, maybe he was the reason behind the sudden intensity during sex and it felt right, real and familiar.

"Coming right up." She poured him a cup, adding a ton of sugar, the way he liked it and handed it over, glad he had gloves on. Mark had gone upstairs to start removing the warding off Claira's room, but he would need her to reverse the spell itself, which would happen later that night. "So, you're going to D.C. with us still, right?"

"Yes, but I'm driving." Randy refused to even consider trying to board a plane. He couldn't afford roomy first class and coach would have him losing his mind in minutes. "I'm heading out today, actually." It was quite a drive for one person to make. "I'll meet you guys there." He cocked his head to the side, hearing some chanting upstairs and didn't want to know. Mark and magic, it always brought back memories of Taker, who had been shady with his own magic. "I'm guessing everything here is good then?" He said as he took a seat at the table, sipping the coffee appreciatively.

"Yeah, you were right. I was overthinking things and freaking out over the changes. Mark proposed to me because he wanted to get married. We talked." Another little white lie. "Everything is fine now, besides this darkness that's coming for us." It wasn't Taker, that much she was sure of, so who the hell was it? "And then with Claira and her struggling with her magic, I panicked like an idiot, like I always do, and realized how ridiculous I was being. You helped me see the truth, Randy. I'm glad you showed up and I'm happy you're going to D.C. We're heading out on Friday after Claira and Seth get out of school."

Randy was studying her intently, his eyes searching her face and he finally shook his head. "It has been too long, Brook. See, I know you're lying, but I can't pinpoint which part you're lying about." He would have been able too, way back when. Time did funny things to people, he supposed. At her raised eyebrow, he shrugged. "It is what it is; if you say things are good, then they're good." If he would have known the truth, what she was hiding from him, he probably would have lost his mind. Randy knew she had met Taker first and Taker was the purity of evil, proving it time and time again.

"Need paint…" Mark muttered as he passed through the kitchen to the garage, halting long enough to nod at Randy and take a sip from the coffee mug, realizing it wasn't his at the taste of all that sugar. "Disgusting."

"That's Randy's mug…yours is still in the kitchen on the table, where you left it." Brooklynn tried not to sound and look amused, chewing her bottom lip when he shot a playful glare in her direction. "Hold on, let me get you a refill." She took Randy's mug away from Mark and went into the kitchen to get him a refill, adding the same amount of sugar as last time before handing it back to him. "Since you're going out, mind picking up some steaks? We can grill out since it's nice outside." She turned her attention back to Randy after Mark nodded at her request. "What time are you hitting the road?"

"Tonight, less traffic." Randy hadn't missed the bemused look on Mark's face when he had nodded. "I bet he had paint in the garage." He chuckled, shaking his head.

Mark did, but when he pried open the top on one, he decided some new paint wouldn't hurt. This paint looked… gross. Claira might have a fit if he left lumps on the wall where he would be painting over the wards he had just broken. She definitely didn't want that shit up on her walls.

"Anything else while I'm out?"

Randy cleared his throat, smiling behind his mug.

"No, thanks honey." Brooklynn assumed he was going out to get paint and didn't realize he had some in the garage. However, luck won out because he had to get new stuff anyway. "Why don't you have dinner with us before you hit the road? That way, you don't have to stop at a fast food joint to get something to eat, at least for a few hours." She grinned, knowing how much Randy could pack away, but a good home-cooked meal would do him good. "You can always spend some time with your goddaughter you haven't seen in years."

"Yeah, yeah don't lay the guilt on, Brook," Randy muttered good-naturedly, setting his mug down on the coffee table in front of him. "You cool with that, Calaway?"

"Which one are you referring to?" Now she was smirking.

"The one that matters, of course." Mark snorted, dropping a kiss on Brooklynn's now gaping mouth before lightly slapping her backside. "The one he's scared of – better?" He teased, letting his hand linger on her backside a bit longer than necessary.

Orton wasn't scared of Mark. He was afraid of the darkness inside of Mark. Taker kept back, not about to provoke the idiot into touching him.

"You're such an ass!" Brooklynn muttered, no malice in her tone and shook her head, rolling her eyes. "He has nothing to be scared of with you. I've domesticated you and you're a lot calmer than you used to be." He could keep his hand on her backside all he wanted, she simply snuggled against him and felt his lips brush against her forehead. "Don't mind him, he's only teasing." Reluctantly, she left his side and sat back on the couch with Randy, who nodded. "Go get your paint and steaks, big man. I'll figure out what to make for lunch. Sandwiches okay?"

"Don't know if I trust you, you might try poisoning me today," Mark grumbled, though his eyes were sparkling with barely concealed amusement. "Randy, cover your ears." He watched as Randy promptly stuffed his fingers in his ears. "I'm going to pick up some rope and tie your ass up tonight, Brooklynn."

Gloved fingers worked great and Mark was obviously speaking in a low voice, so that helped. Whatever he said, Brooklynn's mouth was on the floor. Brooklynn's jaw dropped because Mark had NEVER tied her up with rope and had his wicked way with her. It had to be Taker. It had to be his influence seeping through and she shivered at the anticipation of what was to come later that night.

"Get out of here!" She touched her flaming cheeks and heard his boisterous laughter all the way out the door to his truck. "Christ…" Now she was heated and stood up to grab a bottled water out of the fridge.

"Mom! Dad! Anyone here?"

"In here, sweetie!" Brooklynn called out, nudging Mark out of the way by bumping his hip with hers to open the oven, pulling the scalloped cheesy potatoes out. Randy was sitting at the kitchen table, nursing a beer.

"Oh. Hi." Brooklynn didn't really know Randy all that well, even though he was her godfather and smiled tentatively. "Mom, can Seth stay for dinner tonight?"

"Sure, the more the merrier. He's out in his truck waiting, isn't he?"

Brooklynn giggled with a nod. "Yeah, Trish and Steve just pulled up too."

"Wait, what?"

Steve had gotten a call from Mark, wanting to talk about this upcoming D.C. trip and invited him and Trish over for some steaks on the grill. Like he'd pass that up? HELL NO!

"The boyfriend that's coming to D.C.?" Randy asked curiously, once Claira had disappeared to go get him. He saw Mark's grimace and nod, smirking. "Daddy afraid for his little girl?"

"If you could ever have sex without wearing a full body condom, you might be able to sympathize."

"Ouch, harsh. True, but harsh." Randy toasted him, acknowledging the solid burn. When Claira came back in, introducing Seth, he peeled off a glove and extended his hand, ice blue eyes crinkling as he smiled. "I'm Randy, Claira's godfather."

"Pleasure to meet you, sir."

Well… Randy didn't go into convulsions and he wasn't perturbed by whatever he read, so… that helped.

That set Brooklynn at ease as well because she hadn't trusted Seth right away. They could never truly 'test' him, not even with Mark's magic, until now. She shared a secret look with Mark, both nodding and Brooklynn turned to get back to work on cooking. Granted, Steve could read the boy's mind as well and told them nothing out of the ordinary was going on, but an actual touch reader was more efficient and secure.

"Mark, Steve needs to use your bathroom!"

"Fuck me, too many beers!"

"And that would be the Austin's. I don't envy you or Claira having to drive with them all the way to D.C., Seth."

"Hey! We're not so bad." Trish chuckled, patting Seth on the shoulder.

He was getting used to her, though she had heard from Jennifer that Seth had thought she was 'insanely pushy', which she was. She just viewed it as knowing what she wanted and getting it. Apparently, Seth had passed the test and she bent down, keeping her hands on clothing as she hugged Randy, careful not to touch any skin.

"Good seeing you."

"Good being seen." He chuckled, turning to briefly kiss her cheek. "Oh really?"

"Yes really, and yes, it is that big and yes, that's what I was doing this morning, you horrible man."