6)

That same feeling. The angry almost fearful feeling that I got when I had seen the gift basket sitting at my front gate woke me up. A glance at the clock showed me that I had been down for less than an hour as I sat up on the side of the bed.

I tried to analyze what I was feeling. What I came up with was this, I somehow knew that someone was here. Now, in this place that belonged to me. Without my knowledge or permission.

Which explained why the buzzer for the front gate was now going off.

I had set the alarm to flash a light on all the intercoms around the house. While I had set the phone to make a buzzer sound so I could use it to see if someone was pranking me by doing a ding-dong ditch.

Blinking away the last of my nap. I looked at the phone that was showing a live image from the camera mounted above the intercom out by the gate. I was expecting to see that the sheriff had come around again.

Instead, I had a little Asian girl.

Solid build, like an athlete. In her early teens or even younger. Hair tied back and looking annoyed.

I could see other kids behind her so I switched to the camera hidden up in a tree that gave a view overlooking the front drive.

Behind the one pushing the buzzer again was another girl. A sister maybe. Who was dressed up more girly and was looking pretty beat as she looked over the first girl's shoulder at the intercom.

In the rear was a little boy more interested in looking over at the cement panel set into the wall next to the gate showing a Grecian woman pouring out an amphora, or at least I assumed that what was he was looking at.

It might have been the Milkweeds that were flowering that had his attention.

All three of them had matching duffels, except for maybe the colors. It was hard to tell since I had only sprung out the cash for black and white cameras.

The bigger girl hit the buzzer again. Now just leaning in on the button like she thought holding it down would make the thing keep making a noise. Impatient little thing.

I tapped the phone to turn on the mic without turning on the screen to show who was looking back at her. “Can I help you?”

She jumped back a bit and look embarrassed about being startled. Then dug into her faded jean jacket pocket to hold up half a heart-shaped locket set in a circle.

It was one half of a necklace that was made to match up with another one along the lightning bolt shaped edge with the letters J L on one side and half of a plus symbol in the middle.

Even after all these years it still made my heart stop for a moment to see it.

“My grandma gave me this and told me to find the owner if we even needed help and couldn't go to her.”

…?

“Who is your grandmother?”

“Brianna Caine”

Well… that was unexpected.

I typed in the code to open the gates. “Come on in far enough to let the gate close behind you. I’ll drive up and pick you up.” Then I cut the mic.

Bree’s granddaughter didn't listen any more than Bree ever had. By the time I got my shoes on. Go into the truck and drove up the drive she was halfway to the house. With two tired little kids dragging their feet behind her. Not that she looked much better off.

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She shook free the boy’s hand from hers and said something to the other girl who pulled the boy behind her. Then the little miss stepped up front and took some kind of stance, almost like someone trying to set their feet for a fight. But she did it a lot smoother than that. Like it was something she did so much it was a natural move for her. then she asked me “Who are you?”

I heard her ask "Who are you?" as I got out of my truck. But I already knew who she was. To me anyways.

Chalk it up to being another benefit of being a supernatural creature. My new super sniffer told me she was family, more than just a relative.

Mine.

Why didn't Bree ever tell me? Why did she disappear without a word? Was it the girl’s mother or father who was my own?

“I guess... Well, apparently I'm your grandfather.’

She frowned. “Bullshit. My dad tracked his old man down once. He was some loser security guard." She looked at the big truck and the grounds, a little less sure of herself. “Unless you just work here?”

I sighed. “Nice one kid, way to make a first impression. I came into some money and decided to retire to someplace nice. And watch your language.”

She looked me up and down. “Yeah. Great first impression old man. Mussed up hair and a food stained shirt.”

I pulled out the shirt as I looked down. “I stopped for ribs earlier and I was taking a nap when you started leaning on the buzzer. Still, no call for you to be rude.”

She folded her arms, dam Bree, she’s got your same stubborn look when she’s losing an argument.

“Maybe if you answered the thing the first three times I pushed the button. But I guess old people really do need their sleep.’

The younger girl spoke up. “Sarah, we’re tired. Stop trying to pick a fight and ask him if he is going to help us.”

The little miss, Sarah, blushed and began to squirm. But I decided to cut her a break. “I got guest rooms for you to stay in, and I will feed you. But I’m going to need to speak to your parents.”

Both the older girls went pale, and the boy who had been nodding off on his feet looked up. Confused at the change in mood.

If anything asking about their parents put Sarah even more on guard. “Our parents are on the run. Grandma told me we had to find someone to help us hide from the people coming for us.”

I shook my head at that. “What? Who would be coming for you?”

Sara gave me a guarded look like I might change my mind about letting them stay if she said anything. The younger girl wasn’t so guarded, or maybe she was just more tired.

“Great grandmother, and her coven. And on mom’s side, Great, great something, grandfather and the clan.”

I'm going to guess the Asian side is the clan and not the coven. Although I admit I could be wrong. But the safe bet is that it’s the father that’s mine.

...So, I have a son. Probably.

...and he took one look at me. Then just walked away.

Right, think about that later. My feeling about that is not time sensitive.

“Why are your families...You know what? This is not a discussion to have in the driveway. Let’s get you all inside and feed you before we get into this.”