knows just how old, but he has run the Brotherhood for hundreds of years. Some say he was the first wizard, that he's really Merlyn, and that all of our families were created by him. I don't know if that's true, but most wizards agree that Gwydion is the most powerful of all wizards. He doesn't seem bound by the same rules we are."
Jacqueline sat on the small couch of the sitting room and chewed her lip. In another time and place, he would have found the action charming, sexy even---but with the maid's cooling body in the next room, Finn didn't have time to enjoy it.
"I recently heard that Gwydion and a half banshee had a run in several hundred years ago. Sounded like things didn't end happily. It got me to thinking," she paused. "I'd like to know when this attack on Toby is going to happen and what I can do to stop it."
"I understand," Finn nodded, his mind working different angles. "I'm glad you came to me."
"I don't want Toby to know that we talked though. He doesn't know I'm here right now."
Finn smiled, delighted with the idea that no one knew her whereabouts. Perhaps this was the moment he'd been waiting for. He could easily coerce her back to his father with tales of getting help against the Brotherhood, perhaps appeal to her better nature. They could steal a little DNA and then ship her off to Gwydion.
Of course, Toby would be a problem then. But he did have permission to kill him…
You've got to play this carefully, Finn told himself.
"The Brotherhood wants you, Jacqueline. As long as Toby stays out of the way, he's not in danger," Finn said, deciding a measure of the truth would be helpful. "They are fascinated by you, want to know how they can use you to their advantage. Wizards aren't the only supernatural beings in the world. Having you on our side could guarantee the Brotherhood's longevity. You could get rid of our enemies."
"So that's what they ultimately want then?
"Yep. It's what any supernatural being with half a brain would want. If the Brotherhood doesn't appeal to you, I’m sure there are other beings out there ready to make an offer. Not that I think that's a path you should go down," he said with a hasty smile.
"Would I have to live with the Brotherhood? Would they call all the shots? What kind of freedoms would I have?"
"I don't know. But I think they would want to keep you under lock and key."
"A prisoner," she said sadly. "No way."
Finn squatted before her and put a hand on her arm.
"It might not be like that. I only know a little about what happened to the first half banshee. The Brotherhood doesn't want to piss you off and risk losing wizards. Maybe this time around they'd be more willing to broker a deal. I guess you'll never know until you talk to Gwydion in person."
"A deal," she mused. "Toby will be in danger until I do."
It wasn't really a question. More of a statement.
"Again, I don't know for sure. Dealing with the Brotherhood--hell, dealing with a wizard for that matter--is always a tough call. I think the less Toby knows about your plan, the better off he'll be. Trust doesn't come easy for us."
"Don't I know it." A trace of grin flitted across her lips. "How do I get in touch with Gwydion?"
"I could ask my father," Finn said. "I'm not part of the Brotherhood council. That honor belongs to the wizard heading the family."
Jacqueline nodded and rubbed her head as if it ached.
"You feeling okay?"
"Yeah, I've just been under stress. Seeing weird things," she muttered, squeezing her eyes shut. "You got gray shadows in here, Finn."
Gray shadows? He wondered what she meant by that.
"Could you ask your father about meeting with the Brotherhood now? Call him maybe?" She opened her eyes and he was struck at the light flecks of green in them. "I'd really like to get moving on this."
"Let me get my cell phone," Finn said.
He could feel his heart quicken with excitement. Jonathan was going to be very happy at this turn of events. Derek would never have accomplished this
Jacqueline sat on the small couch of the sitting room and chewed her lip. In another time and place, he would have found the action charming, sexy even---but with the maid's cooling body in the next room, Finn didn't have time to enjoy it.
"I recently heard that Gwydion and a half banshee had a run in several hundred years ago. Sounded like things didn't end happily. It got me to thinking," she paused. "I'd like to know when this attack on Toby is going to happen and what I can do to stop it."
"I understand," Finn nodded, his mind working different angles. "I'm glad you came to me."
"I don't want Toby to know that we talked though. He doesn't know I'm here right now."
Finn smiled, delighted with the idea that no one knew her whereabouts. Perhaps this was the moment he'd been waiting for. He could easily coerce her back to his father with tales of getting help against the Brotherhood, perhaps appeal to her better nature. They could steal a little DNA and then ship her off to Gwydion.
Of course, Toby would be a problem then. But he did have permission to kill him…
You've got to play this carefully, Finn told himself.
"The Brotherhood wants you, Jacqueline. As long as Toby stays out of the way, he's not in danger," Finn said, deciding a measure of the truth would be helpful. "They are fascinated by you, want to know how they can use you to their advantage. Wizards aren't the only supernatural beings in the world. Having you on our side could guarantee the Brotherhood's longevity. You could get rid of our enemies."
"So that's what they ultimately want then?
"Yep. It's what any supernatural being with half a brain would want. If the Brotherhood doesn't appeal to you, I’m sure there are other beings out there ready to make an offer. Not that I think that's a path you should go down," he said with a hasty smile.
"Would I have to live with the Brotherhood? Would they call all the shots? What kind of freedoms would I have?"
"I don't know. But I think they would want to keep you under lock and key."
"A prisoner," she said sadly. "No way."
Finn squatted before her and put a hand on her arm.
"It might not be like that. I only know a little about what happened to the first half banshee. The Brotherhood doesn't want to piss you off and risk losing wizards. Maybe this time around they'd be more willing to broker a deal. I guess you'll never know until you talk to Gwydion in person."
"A deal," she mused. "Toby will be in danger until I do."
It wasn't really a question. More of a statement.
"Again, I don't know for sure. Dealing with the Brotherhood--hell, dealing with a wizard for that matter--is always a tough call. I think the less Toby knows about your plan, the better off he'll be. Trust doesn't come easy for us."
"Don't I know it." A trace of grin flitted across her lips. "How do I get in touch with Gwydion?"
"I could ask my father," Finn said. "I'm not part of the Brotherhood council. That honor belongs to the wizard heading the family."
Jacqueline nodded and rubbed her head as if it ached.
"You feeling okay?"
"Yeah, I've just been under stress. Seeing weird things," she muttered, squeezing her eyes shut. "You got gray shadows in here, Finn."
Gray shadows? He wondered what she meant by that.
"Could you ask your father about meeting with the Brotherhood now? Call him maybe?" She opened her eyes and he was struck at the light flecks of green in them. "I'd really like to get moving on this."
"Let me get my cell phone," Finn said.
He could feel his heart quicken with excitement. Jonathan was going to be very happy at this turn of events. Derek would never have accomplished this
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