"Thought you may be here," George said from the doorway, carrying a large tray he placed on a table near the window, "don't remember the last time it stormed like this."

Kelsie looked up from the book she read, "When was the last time?"

"Long ago," George frowned in thought, "when Connie's mother died. We were stuck here for weeks. It's the only time I saw Connie cry."

"Sounds like the house was grieving as well," Kelsie said, carefully marking her place and closing the book, "hungry Zander."

Zander nodded but kept reading, "Will be with you ..." his words trailed off as he looked at George, astonishment in his gaze, "George, you came from the same heritage as my father."

"I did," he said, "Anne could have chosen either of us as her Guard, but I was privileged to hold her heart."

"But that was a new tradition she put in place," Zander said, "it was never done before."

"No, the line had to remain pure," George frowned, shaking his head, "I think Anne saw something coming or learned something in one of her chats. She decided who she would pair with. Her father was ... angry that his choice was not hers or that she would not listen to his demands."

"What did Connie say?" Kelsie asked, biting into an apple.

"The Queen must reign as she sees fit," George smiled, "that was the beginning of the end between Connie and Clive."

"Clive was Connie's father's choice for her," Kelsie said, "where is he now?" Kelsie asked, seeing the faraway look in her father's eyes.

"He foolishly challenged Connie for the throne," George shook his head, "he was unsuccessful."

"But mother was Queen. How could that happen?" Kelsie shook her head.

"Connie had not completely relinquished everything to your mother," George chuckled. "It infuriated Anne that even her reign was partly controlled by her mother. It was only when ... he rose in his diabolical way did she relinquish everything,"

Zander sat forward suddenly, reading something on the page in the book he held.

"Everything alright?" Kelsie asked.

"I need to see my father," Zander frowned, sliding the book onto the table, "I'll be back shortly."

Nodding, Kelsie smiled, biting into a sandwich, "Okay," she sighed, "I still haven't found what I need to understand why he rose like he did."

"Perhaps you're reading the incorrect book," George whispered, "I'm going to see to your mother and Kim."

"Thank you," Kelsie called as he left the room, frowning over something she found on the page of Zander's book, "that name ... where have I seen that name before?"

Moving to the shelves, Kelsie scanned the books, pulling a few from the shelves and stacking them on the windowsill next to the table. Absently she finished her sandwich looking from one book to the other for the name she could not put her finger on. Pulling Zander's book toward her, flipping to a section halfway through, glancing between the books before looking for and finding another book. Quickly she opened the leather-bound page to a specific spot, gasping as she put together a view of events as they happened according to the House's records.

"No wonder there was a rift," she whispered, blowing a breath out through her lips, "my Great-Uncle didn't have a choice."

Moving to the bookshelf again, she moved along until she found one whose name had always intrigued her, The Scandals of the Order. She remembered Aunt Jez not allowing her to read it because she wasn't old enough. Smiling to herself, Kelsie knew she would find the last piece of the puzzle in this book. Settling at the table again, she began to read quickly, sensing her time to prepare was running out.

Zander strode through the house, looking for his father. Seeing Alyx, he moved through the crowds gathering for a meal.

"Have you seen my father?" Zander asked, continuing to search the milling people.

"He was helping with meal prep in the kitchen," Alyx said, "I'm preparing what you requested earlier."

"You figured it out?" Zander asked, surprised.

"With the help of your father, yes," Alyx said.

Zander grinned, "Learning is something we never stop doing," he pointed in the direction of the delicious smells, "Kitchen must be that way."

Alyx nodded, grinning as Zander disappeared into the crowds.

The kitchen held many people, mostly the Elders, preparing food or laying various dishes on a long table against one wall. Silence fell as he entered the room, everyone watching him.

"Ah ..." he cleared his throat, feeling uncomfortable, "Hello, I'm looking for my father." Everyone looked toward a door at the back of the room, "Thank you."

Striding toward it, he walked into a large cool pantry. Shelves ran along the walls around the room, and more ran the room's length in the middle. Zander spotted his father halfway down one of the shelves, a clipboard in hand, taking stock of their supplies.

"Dad," he called; Cal looked up, frowning at Zander's expression.

"What is it?" Cal asked, marking the shelf with a piece of chalk before coming toward his son.

This tale has been unlawfully lifted without the author's consent. Report any appearances on Amazon.

"Kelsie and I were in the library," Zander spoke softly, meeting his father near the top of the shelving row, "I found something I need some clarity on."

"Absolutely, but this is not the place for it," he whispered, "come. We will talk."

Zander followed his father out, waiting at the kitchen door as Cal handed over the duty to another working in the kitchen. The two men strode through the house, a formidable picture to everyone they passed. Cal knocked on a door not far from the library before opening it. The room was empty.

"This is the room for anything concerning the Guard, the line or any questions you may have," Cal said. "Everything is kept within these walls, and only those brought here will have entry."

Zander nodded, "Thanks, I found the book on the Line of the Guard."

"The last time it was updated by a person was when the house was closed," Cal said, "was it a good read?"

"Very informative and up to date," Zander said, following his father to a pair of chairs, sitting in one as his father sat in the other. "I cannot understand how we have a minor and major guard or, as the book states, Elite."

Cal sighed, nodding in understanding, "It was a time of chaos. We were not only fulfilling our purpose in the world but also at war with other groups that felt the Order was not the way at all. Some of these groups were formed from our own brethren," Cal frowned, "families were divided because one felt the Order's way was best, and the other didn't agree."

"That must have been difficult for everyone involved," Zander murmured, "the way of the Order is family and inclusion."

"Correct," Cal nodded, "we ... grieved the loss of our brethren, but turning from the Order is turning from the family. Those who stayed became the Elite Group of Assassins, meeting the criteria to be part of the Order's Guard. Those who turned away from us became the Minor Assassins. Still part of the line but ineligible."

Zander leaned forward, his elbows on his knees, "Do you know where he came from?"

"There is a rumour of an incident between a young Guard in the Elite group and a man of questionable origin," Cal sighed, "we knew nothing more. I'm sure Anne and Connie could tell you more than I."

"Perhaps Kelsie has found out something," Zander nodded, rising he looked around the room, "it reminds me of your study at home and school."

"For someone else, it will take a different shape and form," Cal said, "when you come back here, you will have a different room until you find one you like. Say so, and it stays yours."

Nodding, Zander extended his hand to shake his father's, but his father pushed it aside, embracing his son. Zander swallowed the lump of emotion, blinking away threatening tears. Returning the hug, "Love you always," he whispered.

Cal replied, "As I love you always," before slapping Zander's back affectionately, stepping back and clearing his throat.

"I'm proud of you," Cal smiled, "if there is anything I can assist with, say the word. Time is short now."

Zander nodded before striding to and opening the door. Kelsie stood on the other side, her hand raised about to knock.

"Sorry to interrupt," she said, glancing at Cal, "the house said I could find Zander here."

"Something wrong?" Zander asked, glancing at his father, wondering why Kelsie was not invited in, "did you find something?"

She nodded, "Could we chat in the library?"

"We can," Zander said, frowning at his father's unusual lack of manners but following her out and closing the door behind him, "sorry about my father's manners."

"Your father's manners were perfect," Kelsie smiled, "I am not permitted to enter the Guard's room."

"You aren't?" Zander asked, surprise rippling across his expression.

"No, only those of the Guard and part of the Elite Assassins can do so," Kelsie said, "I am also Queen, which rules me out."

"Nice to know," Zander nodded, opening the library door for Kelsie to enter, "you really were into finding information. Even the Line of the Guard?"

"That was very helpful," Kelsie said, "start here," she pointed to the book she started with and then placed them so he could follow her path of discovery.

Zander sat at the table, nibbling on the food left on the tray, while he quickly read. One thing he agreed with this father time was running out. Glancing around the room, he found Kelsie pacing on the other side.

"What are you missing?" Zander asked, catching her worried gaze.

"There is nothing about his father in any of those books," Kelsie said, "his birth mother, yes, but nothing of his father."

Zander rose, "My father told me of a rumour that your aggressor's mother was of the Elite Assassins. There was an incident with a man of unknown origins, and the result was the child's birth."

Kelsie stilled, frowning, her eyes moving from side to side as though she were reading.

"Kels," Zander whispered, "what is it?"

"When at school," she said, "we were taught of a group of men who were neither Assassins nor general population. They were into many abominable things, but one, in particular, was capturing young women, torturing and, if the whim took them, raping them. Do you think there is a list of young female Assassins abducted and then returned or escaped and returned to the family?"

Zander shook his head, "I don't know."

Across the room, a book popped from the shelf, startling the pair. Kelsie moved to pull it from the shelf, "Perhaps there is."

Leafing through the pages, Kelsie gasped, "No, that cannot be."

"What is it?" Looking over Kelsie's shoulder, Zander asked, "What is wrong?"

"A few friends disappeared, and I never knew what happened to them," Kelsie shook her head, "their names are here with a cross next to them."

"What does the cross mean?" Zander said, steering a pale Kelsie toward the table and easing her into a chair, "do you need something to drink? Are you okay?"

Kelsie chuckled, "I'm shocked, but I'm fine. Thank you."

"Pale and shaky," he said, "I'm worried."

"Sit and listen," she said, pointing to the other chair.

Zander sat, his eyes never leaving Kelsie's face, "If you go paler, I'm getting your mother."

"Heaven forbid," Kelsie grinned, pleasing Zander as her cheeks took on colour once more.

"Is his mother's name there?" Zander asked.

"Yes," Kelsie nodded, frowning as she marked the place before flipping to the front of the book, "according to the legend here, she was returned, damaged and then died."

"Damaged?" Zander frowned, "what does that mean?"

"Apparently, it covered any physical, emotional or mental damage," Kelsie's words trailed off as she met Zander's eyes. "They were played with and returned when the toy was broken."

"That is ...sick," Zander felt hot fury run through his veins, "what kind of defenses do we need?"

"According to this everything," Kelsie whispered, "there is no record of morality, empathy or humanity from these people. Zander, if our brethren have returned to us, who is coming with him?"

"My guess," Zander said, pushing out of his chair, "his father's brethren."

"Do we stand a chance against such evil?" Kelsie asked, placing the book on the open pile of others, rising and pacing away from the table, "Can we defeat them once and for all?"

"We have to," Zander said, "I'm requesting the assistance of your father and mine."

"You can have anything you require," Kelsie nodded, "I shall join you, but I need to process something first."

Bowing his head Zander left the room, striding with purpose toward the computer room and what had been named the war room.

Kelsie watched him go before slowly closing the door. Closing her eyes, she whispered, "Show me what the books are not telling me."