Chapter 12

From the front of her home she could see flashlights as they cut through the night and she could hear the voices of her Uncle Roger, David, and her father calling her name. "JOSETTE! JOSETTE!"

Josette began to climb down on shaky legs and her voice cracked in emotional tears "I'm here! Poppa! Help me please!" She made it to the last branch and then lost her footing and fell.

Her father was there to catch her slight body. "Josette my dear, what on earth is wrong, why were you in that tree?"

Josette hugged her father's neck tightly and sobbed into his neck. "Oh Poppa it was horrible. There was this wolf and he chased me through the woods and I got up in the tree. He must have heard you and he ran off."

Roger frowned. "I did not know the wolves were moving in this early in the spring. I guess we need to call Thomas and have him come up and see if we can trap this wolf and set him loose in a more dense area of the woods."

David lowered his gun and nodded. "I can take care of that Father. Is she hurt Barnabas? Do we need to call Julia?"

Barnabas try as he might could not pry his daughters arms from his neck. "I think she is bruised and scratched up from her run and climb into the tree."

Roger frowned. "Well let's get back up to the old house, we can call from there. Barnabas I know you liked to maintain the originality to the old house, but I am certainly glad you allowed Victoria to add some amenities like a phone, otherwise we would be wasting more time walking back to Collinwood."

Josette was held and carried by her father, as they made their way back to the old house. Victoria met them at the door. The look of concern was evident on her face as she followed Barnabas to Josette and Jeanette's room. Josette did not want to release her father's neck he tried to put her to bed. "No, it will come back for me. No. Poppa no."

Victoria moved to the door. "Come Barnabas, she can sleep with me tonight in Josette's room." Victoria looked at her husband and her heart went out to him. He was a concerned father that was feeling helpless. He did not know how to handle his hysterical daughter and it was breaking his heart to hear his child in such distress.

Roger appeared in the doorway, "I called Thomas, he is going to send out one of his men that is a good tracker and they are going to see if they can find the wolf."

David moved into the room. "I called Julia, she is coming over to check out Josette."

All of the men were huddled around the young impressionable Josette. Jeanette rolled over and blinked her sleep filled eyes at her room being full. "Um what is going on?" Jeanette sat up and yawned. "Is she hormel?"

David glanced at his cousin and asked, "Hormel?"

Jeanette nodded, "Yeah, you know when you have your girlie time and you bleed out of your girlie no no parts and you get all weepy and stuff?"

All three men were blushing at Jeanette's explanation of being hormornal. "No darling she was chased by a wolf that might have hurt her and she was scared."

Jeanette rolled her eyes and layback pulling the blanket over her head. "We can catch it and kill it tomorrow."

The men looked at each other smiled indulgently and then focused on Josette. "You just need to calm yourself honey." David tried to calm his cousin and sighed feeling frustrated. He could only imagine how afraid she had been being chased by something that horrific. He was just grateful it had not been a werewolf.

Vicki had gone over to Jeanette and covered her, the Jeanette had leaned up and whispered in her mother's ear and she smiled and nodded. "Now you need to get some sleep." She leaned over and had kissed her mother good night.

Victoria moved past the men and made her way down the hallway to Josette's room and moved to the bed and turned it down. Barnabas, followed and Victoria sat on the edge of the bed. "Give her to me," she turned to Roger, "Uncle Roger, would you mind going to her room and bring me her pajamas, they are laid out on the end of her bed."

Barnabas had trouble handing his daughter over to her mother reassuring her that one of them would be with her through the night. Vicki pushed back young Josette's hair and peered at her. "Darling, you can sleep with mother tonight. We will stay in this bed. Do you feel like getting into your pajamas?"

Josette nodded, "But momma, I want a bath first."

Vicki smiled into her daughter eyes and continued to stroke her hair. "Do you want me to come with you to the bathing room?"

Josette nodded and slid from her mother's lap and waited for her mother to follow. Roger entered the room carrying a gown and robe and he smiled at Josette. "Hello pixie, are you ok?"

Josette smiled at her Uncle Roger and nodded shyly. Then she ran to him and hugged him. "I love you Uncle Roger."

David moved into the room and was immediately bowled over by the sturdy body of his cousin. "I love you too David." Turning embarrassed she ran out of the room heading to the bathroom.

Roger turned to David and nodded, "Well I am glad to hear that Julia is on her way. Barnabas, I could sure use a drink."

Victoria followed her daughter to the bathroom, the men's voices trailing off as they moved down hallway. Josette fondly recalled that night as one of her most treasured nights. She got to sleep with her mother in her bed. It was during her bath that she told her mother about what happened with Bobby Taylor and how he had really upset her. Then how her Aunts had come to her and how she had shifted the flow of time and amended what had happened.

Vickie had frowned through the whole explanation of what happened and then nodded. "Well, I will talk to your father and perhaps we can arrange you to be home schooled by a governess. I still have my license to teach."

She sighed softly. I think that as for Mr. Taylor and his friend. I am sure we can take care of any future problems with the Bobby Taylor's of the world."

Josette had lathered her hair and glanced at her mother. "That was why Jeanette went and beat them up. Except since I changed things that happened, they did not know why they were being attacked by Jeanette."

She had gone on to explain how her little sister had kowtowed three boys. Her mother had not wanted to laugh but envisioning the event just imparted sent her into a fit of laughter.

That is how it was with her parents. If she or her siblings had problems, they resolved the situation by providing her or them with alternatives. So, when Jeanette came into her powers and kept disappearing when she folded time around her and JB did basically the same thing, they were home schooled.

At first her mother had taught them, then when they had advanced further along and needed more intense instructions they considered sending them to high school. She would never forget the day Jeanette passed Bobby Taylor in the hallway and he had not recognized her and tried to put moves on her.

Jeanette had curled her lip looked him dead in the eye and said, "I am a Collins penis face. I didn't like you in grade school and I don't like you now." She turned leaving him in the dust of her insults and rebuff. From that day forward Bobby Taylor had tried his best to get Jeanette's attention and it was not until Jeanette had body slammed him to the ground he realized she would never relent.

It had not been easy for her or her siblings and they were even reluctant to tell each other of the strange things happening to them. It was hard to keep it secret when it happened around each other. It was a relief to know that they were not alone with these unique problems and would be recruited one day to work for the government at a well paying job. The problem was it would leave little time for family or family life.

Moving towards the northern edge of the wood line, Josette waited until she could feel the teams approach. She had counted six chutes but now she was picking up 10 heartbeats. Frowning she waited and before long, she felt the familiar tingle as Cameron, Morgan, and Logan moved through a dimensional door. Cameron's eyes had a very intense look as he let those cold dark eyes scan the area. "There was a powerful spell caster here." Cameron glanced around at the gaily-dressed people in period clothing. Then he noticed Josette was dressed in 18th century clothing. "Are you playing dress up?"

He annoyed her to no end. "Yes, as a matter of fact I am. Its my Grandmother's costume benefit she hosts every year for charity." Cameron nodded and with a whisper of a few words, Morgan, Logan, and he appeared in 18th century clothing. Cameron grabbed Josette's hand and guided her towards the dance floor.

Camron waited for the cover of the music, pulled her tight against his rock hard body and spoke in his chilling tone. "High level spell caster, did you see him?"

She nodded and had to rethink the tone of his voice. "I thought he was only a level 12 warlock.'

He glanced down and captured her gaze with his. "No, he was not using spells for his level, I suspect he thought all he would need to do was slide in grab whomever, which I suspect it was your mother and slide out no trouble." Perhaps she was being reactionary to him because of the way he held her, with such intimacy, he was causing a reaction to her libido. Now his voice was soft and his breath was warm against her ear as they danced to the music. Josette nodded as she moved to the music in Cameron's arms.

Steadying her own breathing, she spoke softly against his chest closing her eyes to stop her world from spinning out of control just because she was in Cameron's arms ad he was holding her very tight against his rock hard body and it was making her think of things she should not. "They opened a dimensional door, one master and I thought he was at only a Level 12 spell caster, and he was accompanied by six gak drones. He said something about a Lord Damien. They came for my mother and I have no earthly idea why."

Cameron only showed a slight reaction at the mention of Lord Damien's name while he continued to dance with Josette. "Did the Warlock get her?" Josette opened her eyes and kept her gaze at the other dancers and felt Cameron pull her closer. "I said did the warlock get her?"

His voice was more insistent. "No, I have not been able to find her. She disappeared and then Josette appeared as her and warlock took her. I am sure that Josette as soon as they entered the dimensional door disappeared, she may have lead my mother away to a safe place."

Logan and Morgan moved to the perimeter of the dance floor. Cameron stopped with the music; palming her earpiece he slipped it back in appearing to brush a curl behind her ear. "There you should be wired for sound again." Cameron smiled at her but spoke to the group. "We have a Warlock Level 20 and he is accompanied by six gak drones. We need to locate Josette's mother. Apparently; she is wanted by Damian Storm."

Logan frowned as his gaze scanned the immediate area. "Do we know which Warlock?" He was wired tighter than a champagne cork. Cameron was also looking around and his gaze locked on Josette's father, he was holding onto a woman who had her back to them.

"If it's the one he usually uses, it would be Valor, and he is a Level 22 magi." Then Cameron tucked Josette's hand into the crook of his arm. "Is that your mother with your father?"

Josette noted the woman wore a deep purple gown. She shook her head. "No mother is wearing a cream colored colonial dress, so it has a full skirt."

Emerging from the pathway from windows hill, Morgan spotted Victoria's approach first. "Got her on your six."

Cameron smiled, "Well now, what do we do?"

Josette sighed as she finally felt Cameron's hold relax on her. "He did cast three spells so, we have a window of at least 2 hours before he can recast." Cameron escorted Josette towards Logan, when Lydia intercepted them.

"Josette? Who is your very charming gentleman friend?" Lydia smiled as she studied her niece's friend. Cameron smiled charmingly as he let his charm carry him into a sweeping a deep bow to Lydia and then taking her hand and kissing it. "Oh my Josette, you never told me you had such lovely friends."

Josette schooling her features smiled and spoke in as flourishing tones as Cameron, "Oh Aunt Lydia, this is a friend from work, Cameron, this is my Aunt Lydia."

Lydia smiled pleasantly, "Oh a co-worker, how wonderful. We know so little about what Nettie, JB and Jobeth do and now we have a new mix here with you Mr.?"

Cameron heard the music begin and he smiled charmingly at Lydia, "Cameron, just Cameron my dear, dance?" He did not give her a chance to refuse him the dance as he led her out to the floor.

Sweeping her up in his arms he began a lively expert turn on the floor. Josette watched and mumbled under her breath, "Figures he can dance."

Morgan's voice burped over her earpiece. "Jo, heads up, do we dart your mother and move her? How much time do we have on the clock until the return of the warlock?"

Josette hated the thought of darting her mother, but she had no choice. With Cameron calling the shots on this Class A breach, she had to move quickly. "Yes Captain, dart her and get her to a safe house."

Josette estimated approximately 40 minutes had elapsed since the last spell was cast. "I would say maybe an hour and 20 minutes." Josette moved towards Morgan and paused watching her mother jerk, and then fall to the ground.

As quickly as she hit the ground, she was gone, disappeared into a dark dimensional fold. Now, to keep her father distracted, if it were possible. Moving back towards her father, Barnabas stood with Roger and David by the cash bar. "Roger, how long will you and Angela be in from Boston, just for the weekend, or do we get you longer?"

Roger lifted his drink and sipped then lowering his drink he smiled. "Well I did promise Liz that we would give her our undivided attention for at least this week. Angela will need to return to take care of some unfinished business and then we are going to cruise the Mediterranean."

Josette approached them, "Poppa, Momma said she had to go home for a little bit. She said she had a little head ache and would be back later."

Barnabas looked concerned. "Should I go to her?" Josette laid her hand on his arm.

"She was afraid you might want to come home, and reminded me to tell you, that it would upset Grandmother. She said it was just a little head ache and she was going to take a couple of aspirin and then she would be back."

"You see my dear, that is why I fell in love with your mother, she is such a considerate creature, she has the most tender qualities that anyone could have."

Josette smiled kissed her father's cheek and excused herself. Trying to pace herself, she moved back towards the pathway, which led to her house slipping into the darkness, she activated her shield and waited. "Ok, team, we are on standby, we should be getting some action shortly."

The team surrounded the area and activated their shields. All were well hidden except for Cameron. He made it a point to stay on the dance floor with her Aunt Lydia. Josette felt the air change. The hairs on her arm began to rise. Her earpiece burped "Showtime!" Once again, the very air became electrified and the movements of those around her began to slow and then stop in place. Everything was turning into a surreal moment as time stopped.

Like before, the dimensional door split the very fabric of time and the dark clad man stepped through followed by six drones. "Find her and make it quick!" Valor shouted to his drones.

From the midst of the stilled dancers, Cameron spoke softly. "It's not going to happen Valor. You can go back to Damien and tell him no."

Valor's actions were like quick fire, but not as quick as Cameron. Before the ball of blue energy could flash at Cameron, Cameron had dissipated the energy field with a wave of his hand. Clicking his tongue he wagged a finger at him. "Oh, Valor, that was rather childish was it not? I mean I would have expected more from you being at your Level, or have we over estimated your talents?"

Valor's eyes narrowed, "When I return to Lord Damien, whom shall I tell him said No."

Cameron moved slowly to a table and leaned against it crossing his arms over his chest and tilting his head. He appeared to be studying Valor. "Just tell him no. He will know who sent the message and he will know where to meet me to discuss this further." Valor studied the calm figure in front of him and would have thought him arrogant.

Valor began to manipulate his fingers and once again Cameron sighed and began to chuckle. There was no humor in his chuckle he reached his hand forward and closed his hand making a fist. With that simple gesture, Valor felt a sharp pain around his chest. The first look was one of painful surprise, the look then shifted to one of incredulousness. "Who in the name of nine hells are you?" He gasped out.

Josette had slowly moved to Cameron's side. Cameron held his fist closed tightly shut appearing to be squeezing something, His other hand snaked out and grabbed Josette's wrist. "Drop your shield Jo." His voice was soft as he spoke to her. Deactivating her shield, Jo appeared in front of the formidable figure of Valor. Valor smiled as he looked at Jo. "Warlock, may I present Miss Josette Collins, first born daughter to Victoria Winters Collins."

Valor openly looked Josette over, his gaze was calculating and appraising. "Charming. If the mother is half as lovely as her offspring, then I can see why Damien wishes us to fetch her." Cameron had only slightly released his hold over the imaginary heart of Valor, to remind him of his abilities, Cameron tighten his hold slightly.

Once again, the look on Valor's face was one of surprise. "Now that I have your attention again, do you remember what you will tell Damien?"

Valor relaxed as Cameron relaxed his hold over his heart. "I remember. Now, if you will excuse me, I will deliver your message."

Cameron released the tension on his hand and pulled Josette to him, putting her back to Valor. Cameron, then lowered his lips to Josette's and kissed her deeply, then released her. "You will feel compelled to tell him what else you have witnessed, understand Josette is mine, her family are under my protection. Any move by my . . . " Cameron caught himself and smiled, he had almost on purpose given himself away. "Any moves made by Damien against those I consider mine will result in a very nasty show down. One Damien will not survive. Now you may go."

Valor glanced at the wide-eyed shock on Josette's face, and then to Cameron. Summoning his drones, Valor bowed before they disappeared into the dimensional door. Cameron and Josette watched the door slam shut and the air calm around them.

Cameron released his hold on Josette and sighed deeply. "He becomes more and more tedious each time I have to deal with him. Father should have drowned him at birth."

Josette paled visibly. "Damien Storm is your brother? I thought Baal was your brother."

Cameron looked at her with indulgence. "I had more than one brother Josette, Baal is the brother that was birthed by the hydra from our father, and Damian is another matter just as dark. He must have found out about your mother and had decided to see what the big deal is for a mere mortal woman."

Cameron snapped his fingers and once again there was the chatter and sounds of a party in progress. "Unfortunately, yes he is my brother."

Josette felt numb as she studied Cameron. "How will he know you sent the message."

Cameron laughed, "Because he knows me and I am the only one that has ever said no to him."