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http://www.quiknet.com/~lcountry/unexpected01.html

Unexpected Consequences: Milestones

By Lisa Countryman

© July 2002

CHAPTER SEVEN

Tara allowed Diana to hold her up. She stared at the door where Doctor Bailey had taken Willow. Tara was in shock. One moment she’d been excited about her child’s arrival, and the next they were whisking Willow away without any explanation. That simply would not do. Tara spun and glared at Diana.

"What the hell happened?" Tara demanded.

"She may have had a uterine rupture," Diana said quietly. "I’m sorry. If I’d had Cassie here, maybe she could have warned us, but I just thought with everything going so smoothly, Cass could stay at the hospital and work with her regular patients."

"My Lady," Brent said from behind Tara. "I think Megan needs you."

Tara turned and saw Brent holding Megan wrapped in a pale green blanket. The nurse had finished cleaning and checking the tiny child.

"Oh, goddess," Tara said as she rushed forward and ran her hand over Megan’s bright red hair.

The baby was taking in deep breaths as she cooed and sobbed. She wasn’t crying, but she was working up to it again. She was shivering and her tiny fists were balled tight as she shook them in the air.

"Hey, darling," Tara said. She leaned down and kissed Megan’s forehead. The child took in a gasp and began to cry. "Shh…" Tara took Megan into her arms. "Shh, darling." She rocked her daughter and held her to her chest and began humming.

Megan sobbed and trembled as she whimpered, but she quieted as soon as she molded to Tara’s chest.

"She’s healthy," Cathy said as she rubbed Tara’s back. "I was concerned when her stats dropped, but Willow was a trooper. She got her out in time," the nurse said.

"I have to go to Willow." Tara spun and faced Diana. "Please, Diana, let me go to her."

"Sweetie, Doctor Bailey is an excellent surgeon." Diana wrapped an arm around Tara. "There’s nothing you can do for her." She leaned down and looked into Tara’s eyes. "You can do something for Megan."

"She looks so much like Brianna," Tara said. "Oh, goddess, I have to tell Brianna!" She began to panic. "What do I tell Brianna?"

"Nothing," Brent said quietly. "We don’t know anything right now, so you’d only scare her."

"What do I do?" Tara’s voice cracked.

"Well, I think she might have an idea for you." Brent cupped Megan’s tiny head as the child nuzzled Tara’s chest and grunted. "Look’s like she’s a breast gal, too."

Tara laughed even as tears began rolling down her cheeks again. "You hungry already, sweetie?" Despite her concern for Willow, she couldn’t help reacting to seeing her newest child. Her heart was filling and breaking with each tick of the clock.

"Let me take her while you get that gown off," Brent offered. She took the tiny squirming bundle and looked over at Diana as Tara stripped her gown off and tossed it onto the counter.

"I’ll see what I can find out." Diana went to the phone and dialed the surgical extension.

Tara took her newborn daughter and held her balanced in one arm as she lifted her shirt and unhooked the front clasp of her bra. It had been years, by the skill was so natural that Tara was able to tuck Megan to her breast with ease, even though she was preoccupied with Willow’s condition.

Megan smacked her lips but wouldn’t eat.

"Okay, this is a breast," Tara whispered gently. "I know you’ve got this rumbly feeling in your tummy. That’s hunger. Now, if you just put this in your mouth and suck, that rumbly feeling will go away." She supported Megan’s weight with her arm, keeping the baby’s head in her palm as she used the other hand to guide her nipple into the squirming baby’s mouth. Tara’s milk had come down earlier, leaving her shirt soaked with milk, but at least Megan wouldn’t have to wait.

Megan kicked her feet and grunted, and then sucked tentatively. Her eyes widened and then closed as she began to nurse with gusto.

"There ya’ go," Tara whispered. She smiled and traced Megan’s face with one finger. Her daughter had Willow’s high cheekbones. Tara sniffled as she outlined Megan’s pronounced widow’s peak, just like Willow’s. "Goddess, your mommy just has to be okay." She studied Megan’s tiny features as well as she could while the infant continued eating enthusiastically. The baby firmly gripped Tara’s blouse in one fist, and that made Tara smile. "Just like your mommy," she whispered as she kissed Megan’s cheek. She hummed while Megan ate.

After letting Megan have a long snack, Tara turned toward Diana expectantly. She needed information, and the ten minutes Tara had spent feeding Megan felt like hours. She looked down at her beautiful daughter nursing and realized that Willow hadn’t even seen Megan yet. Tara felt a fresh wave of tears forming.

Diana whispered into the phone and then listened. She saw Tara’s brokenhearted expression so she finished the call and hung up.

"Diana?" Tara asked.

"That was Cecile," Diana said. "She’s one of Doctor Bailey’s nurses."

"How is she?" Tara moved closer and held her breath.

"It’s not a ruptured uterus," Diana said. "That’s good news." She rested her arm over Tara’s shoulder.

"Thank the goddess," Tara closed her eyes and sighed.

"Tara, sweetie, you need to listen to me." Diana gently squeezed Tara’s shoulder.

"What’s wrong?" Tara shifted Megan slightly, making the baby whimper and then shake her tiny fist.

"The placenta ripped loose and Willow lost a lot of blood," Diana explained. "It was a fluke. The odds of this happening are very rare. She may have had a weakness in the placental lining, or it could have just ripped during delivery."

"Is she okay?" Tara’s voice quivered.

"Doctor Bailey is still trying to control the bleeding," Diana said. "She did a D & C already, and the bleeding slowed, but it isn’t stopping." Diana remembered going through almost the exact situation when Tara had lost Brianna during her first pregnancy. The doctor wished the two witches would try a simple pregnancy for a change.

Tara pivoted away from the doctor. She looked up at the ceiling and sniffled as she blinked rapidly. She didn’t want to start crying again, but she could feel the heated tears sliding down her cheeks.

Brent came over and ran her hand through Tara’s bangs, brushing them out of the way. "She’s strong," the elder reminded Tara. "And she will always come back to you."

"Can I go to her?" Tara turned and asked.

"As soon as she’s out of surgery," Diana said. She looked down at the floor and cleared her throat.

"What aren’t you telling me?" Tara asked. She was afraid to hear the answer.

Diana lifted her head slowly. She didn’t want to give Tara the answer. "If they can’t control the bleeding soon, they’ll have to take drastic measures." She felt a sense of déjà vu, having once told Willow something quite similar about Tara.

Tara squared her jaw and took a deep breath. She pressed her lips into a thin, frightened line. She waited for Diana to continue.

"Her uterus is hemorrhaging," Diana said slowly. "If we can’t control it, we’ll have to remove it."

"A hysterectomy?" Brent asked.

Diana nodded. "There’s still a good chance that won’t happen. She’s strong and Doctor Bailey gave her three units of whole blood. Her vitals are improving," she continued. "But I just wanted to prepare you for the possibility." She looked toward the waiting room. "I need to talk to her parents. How much do you want me to tell them?"

"I … I, I’ll tell them," Tara said quietly. She reached down and popped Megan’s mouth loose and Megan made a squawk of protest. "They have a right to know," Tara said as she covered her breast and then uncovered the other side and tucked Megan to her full breast.

Megan attached herself with the suction of an industrial vacuum. The tiny child squeaked happily and gripped Tara’s blouse.

"She is definitely Willow’s child," Diana said with a shake of her head. She reached out and rubbed Megan’s silky hair. "You want me to go with you?" she asked.

"No." Tara shook her head. "Could you go into the OR and check on Willow?"

"Yeah," Diana said quietly. "I’ll come talk to you as soon as I know anything else."

Ceri cleared her throat. "I’ll go with you and take Miss Brianna out for a walk. We don’t want her to get frightened," she offered.

Tara nodded and held Megan a bit closer. She waited for Ceri to join her and the two went to tell the others.

Tempers in the waiting room flared instantly, but Sheila’s first reaction was a maternal one. She squared her jaw and looked at Brent. "Willow and I have the same blood type. Will it help if I donate?" She was too angry to even look at Tara. She blamed Tara for keeping her away from Willow in her time of need.

"We have a full supply of blood," Brent assured her. "We made sure of that before Willow ever went into labor." In fact, every guardian who shared Willow’s blood type had donated several weeks earlier in preparation for the birth. Brent only wished they hadn’t needed it.

"My daughter needed me," Sheila said angrily. She gave Tara a scathing glare. "I should have been there!"

"You should have been there?" Tara’s temper was barely in check. "No, you should have been there when Willow was growing up and needed a mother." She rushed closer, holding Megan to her chest. "You should have been there when Willow was thirteen and she had her first period, but you were off at one of your conventions telling other people how to raise their children. You should have been there so Willow wouldn’t have had to ask the neighbor the things you should have told her."

"I explained everything to her when I came home," Sheila said defensively.

"You gave her a book, and then rushed off to the airport again," Tara said quietly. "That isn’t the same thing." She remembered her own mother explaining menses to her. Tara’s mother had been gentle, and patient, giving Tara all the information she needed. "Willow needed a mother growing up. Now she needs her family."

"Family?" Sheila’s temper exploded. "Give me my granddaughter," she demanded as she tried to take Megan from Tara.

"She’s eating." Tara pivoted away from Sheila. Her comment wasn’t quite true; Megan had finished eating and was currently using Tara’s breast as a pacifier, nudging and playing with her nipple. It offered Megan comfort as she adjusted to life outside the womb.

Sheila’s concern for Willow made her even more pushy. "Yes, eating." Sheila rolled her eyes. "And those hormones you had to take to get milk can’t be good for the baby." She had been told that Tara was getting hormone injections to allow her to nurse Megan. It was another in the list of lies to explain the magical happenings, and it added fuel to Sheila’s rage. She reached for Megan, intending to take her grandchild. "Give her to me, now."

Tara took a step back and gave Sheila a dangerous glare. "It’s customary to ask permission before grabbing someone’s child," Tara said. All her pent up anger was bubbling to the surface like a pot about to boil over.

"Your child?" Sheila rolled her eyes and spun toward Ira. "I told you we should have talked to Willow the minute we got here. None of this would even be an issue if she’d signed those papers."

"What the hell are you talking about?" Tara demanded. She eased Megan away from her breast and the tiny child squawked. Megan’s temper was already apparent.

Brent moved to Tara’s side, "Let me have her." Brent took Megan and moved the infant to her chest in one fluid motion. "Shh, little miss." She rocked Megan, settling her down instantly.

Sheila’s eyes widened. "I can’t hold my own grandchild, but you give her to a stranger?" Sheila was seething. "Who do you think you are?"

"Megan’s mother," Tara replied firmly.

"You and Willow may like to play house, but in the real world, that isn’t how things work." Sheila stomped over to Ira and grabbed his arm. "Call mister Swartz," she said in a hiss.

"But Willow didn’t sign—"

"I don’t care," Sheila yelled. "Willow could die and that woman isn’t even going to call Brianna’s father. I won’t stand for this." She stormed out of the room.

"What is she talking about?" Tara asked Ira.

"Nothing," he said sincerely. "I’ll talk to her." He rubbed the back of his neck. "When will we hear more from the doctor?" he asked. His eyes shined with the tears he was holding back.

"Diana went to the OR to see what’s going on," Tara said. She could see that he was hurting, so she tucked her hand through his arm and led him over to where Brent was holding Megan. "I think there’s someone who wants to meet you," she whispered. She smiled sadly as soon as she saw Megan.

"She looks just like Willow," he said with a proud smile. "Well, except her eyes." He frowned and leaned over Megan.

Brent was holding the infant. Megan was wide-eyed, looking around the room at the bright lights with keen interest.

"She…" Ira lifted his head and studied Tara. "She has your eyes." He swallowed and looked at Megan again. "How can that be?"

"Genetics," Brent said. "You know Tara’s cousin donated for them."

"Of course," he said as he looked back and forth between Tara and Megan. "She has your lips too." He put his finger out and tickled Megan’s palm. She gripped his finger and he studied her tiny hand before looking at Tara.

Tara nodded. "Yeah, she had my hands," she whispered. She held her hand out to him. "Brianna does, too." She sighed and took Megan’s wrist and kissed her daughter’s hand and fingers. "Willow loves my hands," Tara said as she began to cry again. She sat and balanced the squirming child on her legs.

Ira stood quietly as Tara stared down at Megan.

"Willow says I have artist’s hands," Tara whispered. She was talking to fill the silence more than anything else. She held the index fingers of each hand out to Megan and the curious child gripped them with her fists. "Willow has such graceful hands. Her fingers are long and perfectly tapered just below the tips," Tara said as she smiled down at the child her love for Willow created.

Megan squirmed and then yawned, but her grip didn’t loosen.

"Willow has two crooked fingers on her left hand." Tara looked up at Ira. "Did you know that?"

He shook his head.

"She broke her ring finger the night I graduated." Tara blushed remembering the athletic lovemaking session that had ended with them rolling onto the floor. Willow’s hand had hit first and her finger snapped when both women landed with a thud.

"I didn’t know that," he said.

Tara shrugged. There was no reason he should know. She furrowed her brow. "She broke her pinky when she was seven. She was trying to play softball and got hit by a pitch." She glared at him, thinking a father should remember that.

"I think I was at a conference," he said guiltily.

"She wore a metal splint for six weeks," Tara said a bit harshly.

"I … I think I remember that," he bluffed.

Tara sighed and went back to studying Megan. The baby’s breathing slowed and became rhythmic as Megan drifted soundly to sleep.

"She’ll be okay." Brent scooted closer to Tara and draped an arm over her shoulder.

Tara leaned into Brent’s embrace and rested her cheek on the elder’s shoulder. Her tears fell freely.

Brent carefully took Megan from Tara’s lap. She balanced Megan with one arm and held Tara with the other as the worried young witch sobbed.

After a few minutes, Tara quieted down. She looked over and saw that Ira was nervously pacing. The door opened and Diana came in. Tara started to get up, but Diana held up a hand.

"Stay," the doctor said as she came over and knelt in front of Tara. "You must be tired."

"How is she?" Tara asked. She wiped her eyes and sat up straight and took Brent’s hand and clung to it in her lap.

"She’s good," Diana smiled. "They’re double checking everything right now and then they’ll close. After that, they’ll move her to recovery."

"Can I—" Tara released Brent’s hand and leaned forward.

"You can see her as soon as she’s in recovery," Diana interrupted. "She’s gonna’ need to stay in the hospital for a few days."

Brent shifted Megan to the other shoulder and the child didn’t even make a peep. "Did you have to—"

"We were able to stop the bleeding without doing a hysterectomy." Diana squeezed both of Tara’s knees. "But, there is a weakness in the lining of her uterus."

"Is this like when I lost B—" Tara paused when she saw Ira listening intently behind the doctor.

Brent was there to finish Tara’s question. "Like when Tara lost the first baby?" she asked. Brent didn’t think Ira Rosenberg was ready to learn about Brianna’s soul being returned using the ancient refero spell.

Ira’s eyes widened in shock. He had no idea that Tara had lost a child.

"No," Diana said. She stood and sat on the other side of Tara, sandwiching the blonde between two women who loved her deeply. "Tara, you had traumatic injuries. Willow’s uterus has a tiny glitch. She could have delivered without anything going wrong. She could have had a tear at any time during the pregnancy. There was no way of knowing it was even there until the placenta ripped. Even Cassie couldn’t find it," she added meaningfully.

"But she’s okay?" Tara asked again.

"Remember when you got pregnant with Brianna?" Diana asked. "I did ultrasounds every month to check for any sign of rupture?"

"You said I had an increased risk of a uterine rupture, like when someone has a caesarian." Tara nodded.

"Well, Doctor Bailey went in to do the repairs," Diana explained gently. "Willow now has basically the same kind of incision." She paused and picked up Tara’s hand. "But with this glitch, she was already at higher risk…"

"Is she out of danger?" Tara asked. She could tell that Diana was trying to tell her something.

"Yes, it’s just…" Diana patted Tara’s hand. "Sweetie, I don’t think she should carry another baby."

Tara furrowed her brow and looked at Diana like the doctor was an idiot.

Diana knew the two witches wanted more children. "I mean, especially since you could carry—"

"Are you insane?" Tara asked bluntly. She stared open-mouthed at the doctor. "How could you think I’d consider letting Willow ever get pregnant again? What, are you nuts?"

Ira chuckled and then cleared his throat and took a few steps further away when Tara shot him a silencing glare.

"I just thought you should know." Diana smiled and shook her head. "I know you each wanted to have another baby."

Ira moved closer again. That was news to him.

"And well, you’re not getting any younger," Diana teased.

"Right now we’re focusing on Megan and Brianna." Tara turned and tickled Megan’s toe that had escaped her blanket. "If we can only have our two daughters, so be it. Besides, I can certainly have another baby." She turned toward Diana. "I won’t risk Willow. That is not an option."

"Of course not," Diana agreed. She dipped her head and cleared her throat. "So um…" She lifted her head shyly. "Can I hold her?" she asked. "I mean, I examined her before to make sure she was healthy, but I didn’t get to really hold her."

"Sure," Tara said. She reached for her daughter but Brent made a squeaking noise that sounded suspiciously like Brianna when the willful child was pouting.

"I just got her," the elder whined.

Tara chuckled and stood. "You two will have to share," she told them. "Because in two minutes I’m taking her back."

Diana scooted to Brent’s side and began ‘oohing’ and ‘ahhing’ over the infant.

*****

Brianna stood at the edge of the lawn and sighed as she looked out at the mountains. "Mommy’s sick," she said quietly.

"Why do you say that?" Ceri asked as she ruffled the young girl’s hair.

"Mama promised I could go in and see mommy as soon as Megan got here." Brianna looked up at Ceri. "She brought Megan out and said I can’t see mommy." Her lips trembled. "Mommy must be sick. Mama never breaks her promise," she said firmly.

"No, sweetie, she doesn’t." Ceri knelt beside Brianna so they were eye to eye. "Your mommy is with Diana. She had a problem having Megan, but they’re helping your mommy right now."

"She’ll be okay." Brianna bit her lip and folded her arms over her chest in an exact mimic of Willow when she was determined. "I know she will."

"How do you know?" Ceri asked with a wistful smile.

"Mommy would never break mama," Brianna said proudly.

"What do you mean?" Ceri asked, genuinely curious.

"Mama’s light is whole when she’s with mommy." She looked down at the ground and giggled. "Sometimes, when I forget to knock, and I just go in their room, their lights are really bright."

"I’ll bet." Ceri cleared her throat. She realized she’d have to talk to Brent and let the elder know that Brianna was apparently reading her mothers’ auras.

"Mama’s light gets all sad when she isn’t with mommy," Brianna said casually. "So mommy would never leave us."

"Your mommy would never leave if she had any choice," Ceri agreed. "Well, miss-smarty-pants, since you already know your mommy isn’t feeling very good, maybe we should go back and see if Diana’s back yet."

Brianna nodded.

"So, what have you noticed about my light?" Ceri asked casually. She didn’t want the young girl to think there was anything odd about her skill, but she also wanted to find out if the ability extended beyond reading her mothers.

"It’s hard to see everyone else’s," Brianna said with a sigh. "I can see Brent’s and aunt doctor Dawn, and sometimes my guardians, but it’s hard. Except when you’re with Brigh!" She giggled. "And when you see grandma." She scowled.

"Oh?" Ceri asked.

"Mama’s light gets the same way." She looked up Ceri with an innocent expression. "Why does grandma say mean things to mama?"

"She’s not trying to be mean," Ceri clarified. "She just doesn’t understand how much your moms love each other."

"That makes you mad," Brianna pointed out.

"It makes me … sad," Ceri said. She didn’t want Brianna getting angry with her grandmother. Sheila could be an ass, but she did honestly love Willow and Brianna.

Brianna took Ceri’s hand and pulled her to a stop. "Ceri, please don’t get sad," she said as she looked across the lawn.

Sheila was coming toward them.

"Oh, boy." Ceri watched as Sheila crossed the huge lawn at a terse clip. She was obviously angry and she was making a beeline for Brianna. "Any news?" Ceri asked as she did her best to intercept the older woman.

"I need to talk to my granddaughter." Sheila stepped around Ceri. "You can have the rest of the day off. I’ll watch her."

"I’m not babysitting her," Ceri said a bit harshly.

Sheila raised one eyebrow and looked down her nose at Ceri with complete contempt.

"I’ll wait over here," Ceri offered. "Tara left Bri in my care."

"Well, she’s in my care now," Sheila said harshly. She was terrified that Willow wouldn’t survive, and having strangers taking care of her grandchildren incensed her.

Ceri moved several yards away and stood with her arms folded over her chest. She tilted her head to one side and stared at Sheila, daring the older woman to ask her to leave.

"Brianna, dear, grandma needs to talk to you about something very important." She led Brianna a few feet further away and then knelt in front of her granddaughter.

"Is mommy back? Can I see h—" Brianna asked.

"Not yet, dear," Sheila said, cutting Brianna off. "This is very important."

Brianna nodded and waited. Both her mothers had taught her to respect her elders, and even though she was anxious to see her mommy, she waited quietly just like she did when Brent was teaching her about herbs or the goddess.

Ceri waited a respectful distance away and watched as Sheila talked to Brianna. After a few minutes, Brigh walked across the vast lawn and joined Ceri.

"What’s up?" Brigh asked as she wrapped her arm around Ceri and leaned against her. "Oh, dear." Brigh frowned. Now that she was closer, she could see that Brianna was not happy.

"I think Mrs. Rosenberg is about to discover the temper Will and Tara work so hard to keep in check." Ceri had seen Brianna’s stubborn side on many occasions, and even though the young child was well mannered, she would occasionally assert her colossal resolve.

"This has disaster written all over it," Brigh said with a smirk.

"Maybe we should interrupt," Ceri suggested. She remembered Tara once losing her patience with Brianna and spending two hours drilling in the gym to vent her frustration. At the time, Ceri had thought it was cute that Brianna refused to stop playing in the garbage, but looking back, it signaled the child’s strong will. Tara had grumbled that Brianna was even more stubborn than Willow on her worst day, and rather than lash out at her child, Tara had chosen to go vent some steam before talking to Brianna about her inappropriate behavior.

Brigh was focused on the current problem. "Sheila won’t like us interfering," she said. That made her want to interrupt all the more.

"Yeah, and neither would Willow." Ceri sighed. Sometimes she hated acting responsibly.

"Miss Brianna’s not just mad," Brigh said as the hairs on the back of her neck stood on end. As Brianna’s guardian, she had seen the child angry, stubborn, and at times even scared. She watched Sheila pick up Brianna and saw a dangerous mixture of anger and terror in Brianna’s eyes.

The two guardians weren’t quite sure what to do. As long as Brianna was in no danger, they’d learned to simply give Sheila Rosenberg a wide berth, but Brianna seemed genuinely distressed. They both edged closer.

"No," Brianna said. Her blue eyes narrowed and she glared at her grandmother.

"Now, Brianna, don’t talk to me that way." Sheila tried to shift her hold on her granddaughter, but Brianna arched her back.

"You can’t do that." Brianna stiffened her tiny body like a steel beam, making it almost impossible for Sheila to get a good grip on her.

"Do you know what a lawyer is, dear?" Sheila asked.

"They’re like policemen," Brianna said slowly. She knew from watching television that lawyers were important people.

"That’s right," Sheila said. "My lawyer says I have to take care of you if anything happens to your mommy. Family is all that matters." Sheila walked across the lawn. "I’m your grandmother and I will decide. So, we’re leaving."

Ceri still couldn’t hear the conversation, but she started to hurry her pace. She wouldn’t allow an adult to bully any child, and certainly not Brianna. She couldn’t hear the conversation but when Brianna spoke next, it was quite audible. The child’s next action spurred Ceri to action in a way she never expected.

Brianna wanted down. She did not want to go anywhere, but she couldn’t do anything. The guardians had trained Brianna various ways to escape a larger attacker, but the young child couldn’t imagine using any of the painful techniques on her grandmother. Brianna whipped her head around and looked over Sheila’s shoulders. She looked directly at Ceri and then screamed.

"Ceridwen, defend!" Her tone was full of fear and barely controlled panic.

Ceri started to grab her sword from a sheath beneath her jacket. It was her first reflex to Brianna’s call. The guardian made the decision to not arm herself, but she did set off her electronic alarm as she sprinted toward Sheila.

Brianna lifted one arm toward her guardian. As she’d been trained, she let her legs go limp so she was dead weight. The maneuver left Sheila struggling to keep Brianna in her arms, and when Ceridwen took Brianna’s arm and lifted her, Sheila was thrown off balance. The elderly grandmother was no match for Ceridwen’s adrenaline rush. Ceridwen’s other arm sliced down Shelia’s arm and grabbed her wrist. One quick twist and Sheila was on the receiving end of a nasty wristlock. Ceri lifted Brianna to her chest as she swung Sheila’s wrist. The momentum dropped Sheila to the ground and didn’t improve her mood.

Sheila sat on her ass, with the damp grass bleeding through her 300 dollar Dana Buchman dress slacks. Her jaw went slack as she wondered how Brianna had been snatched from her.

"What in God’s name are you doing?" Sheila yelled from the lawn.

Brigh moved between Ceri and Sheila in a dangerous, fluid maneuver and took a defensive stance. "Stay down!" She was blocking her lover’s escape. For all she knew, Sheila had been possessed by a demon, though she doubted any demon would want to inhabit Mrs. Rosenberg. Still, she wasn’t letting her reach Brianna.

Ceri held Brianna in her arms and sprinted across the lawn at a dead run. In all the years since Brianna’s birth, the child had been drilled to call for defense if her safety was in jeopardy. Brianna knew the severity of signaling the alarm. She had never called for rescue in her young life, so Ceri was not taking any chances.

Brianna remained dead quiet and she focused on clinging to her guardian just as she had been trained. By the time Ceri reached the edge of the lawn, a dozen other guardians were running toward her.

Two of the women were members of the Imbolc guard and they had their guns drawn. After Gandu’s death, many of the Imbolc guard had updated their arsenals to include modern weapons.

"I’m taking her inside," Ceri yelled. She had one hand over Brianna’s head to both steady and comfort the terrified girl. "She called for defense against Lady Willow’s mother."

The two Imbolc guards flanked Ceri and fell into step as they rushed toward the main barracks. It was the most secure building on the grounds. They kept their guns drawn and they scanned the grounds for any threat. The other Daughters of the Flame ran across the lawn to face whatever danger Mrs. Rosenberg offered.

"I knew she was possessed," an older woman named Candice said as she hurried her pace. "No one could be mean to Lady Tara and not be spawned in hell."

Sheila had not moved from the grass. "My daughter is going to fire you," she said as she stared up at Brigh. "And Ceri, well, I may press charges and have her thrown in jail for assault."

"What did you do to Brianna?" Brigh asked. Her eyes were hard and her tone made it clear she was in no condition to deal with Sheila’s moods.

"Nothing," Sheila insisted.

"She was terrified." Brigh’s voice shook with rage.

"Nonsense," Sheila said. "I merely told her we were leaving."

"Leaving?" Brigh challenged.

The Daughters of the Flame clamored to a stop around Sheila. Many looked like they were ready to battle the hounds of hell.

"I know Tara loves Brianna, but I won’t have a legal stranger raising my grandchild," Sheila said. She plucked a few pieces of grass from her sleeve. "When Willow recovers, I’ll bring Brianna back."

"You told Brianna you were taking her away from Tara?" Candice yelled. "Against her will?" She let out a frustrated growl. "That’s kidnapping."

"I’m her grandmother," Sheila pointed out. She crossed her arms over her chest and tried to look imposing. It was difficult considering she was still sitting on her butt in the middle of the lawn and facing down a group of enraged women. "No court in the land would side with Tara. She’s a legal stranger. My lawyer told me so."

"You have no idea how lucky you are," Brigh said with a sigh. "Get up," she told the older woman. "You threatened to kidnap Brianna. You’re lucky you didn’t end up in the hospital."

"Or worse," Candice added.

"Are you threatening me?" Sheila demanded as she stood and brushed the lawn clippings from her behind.

"Absolutely not." Brigh drew her sword.

Sheila’s eyes shot open as she gaped at the sword. She couldn’t imagine where the woman had been hiding it, and she had no idea what Brigh had planned. "You’re insane." Sheila took two steps back. "You’re all insane."

"This is the response I’m trained to have if Brianna calls for defense." Brigh let Sheila get a long look at the blade and then slid it back into the modified sheath that hid it from view. It was a shorter version of the Imbolc guard’s blade, designed to hide beneath her leather jacket, but it was still an impressive weapon.

Sheila’s mouth opened and closed, but no sound came out.

"Lucky for you we’re also trained to use the minimum amount of force." Brigh didn’t add that had Brianna called out "execute" instead of "defend," the elder Rosenberg would have been sliced into neat little pieces like a shrimp at Beni Hana.

"You’re not a babysitter, are you?" Sheila asked quietly.

"Gee, ya’ think?" Brigh asked sarcastically.

End chapter seven

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