Chapter Ten: The Hand of Jarell


      The majestic table in the dining hall was the only thing within the manor that was long enough and sturdy enough to accommodate the size and bulk of Corbin's alternate form. He laid flat on his back on the table, trusting it with a relaxing groan that settled all his weight upon it as Amanda covered him from the waist down with a blanket brought to her by Shade. Everyone lined the table beside him, with Lydia grasping his hand and Gale standing ready, anxiously awaiting the change that would render him human again, complete with a serious gunshot wound to the chest.


    No sounds were stirred in order to give Corbin the undistracted calm he needed to initiate the change. Ethan stood next to Gideon, completely hypnotized by the coming event. He watched without blinking as Corbin closed his blazing eyes and the huge body of the Protector began to shrink as it remolded itself smoothly into Corbin's naked figure. Ethan held a drawn breath when Corbin convulsed on the table, coughing up blood from the wound that suddenly appeared in his chest. 


    Gale immediately covered the bleeding wound with both her hands, beginning her otherworldly hum as Amanda tried to hold Corbin's writhing body in place by pressing firmly on his shoulder. Shade rushed in a blur to the opposite side of the table and did the same, causing Ethan to shudder reflexively from her sudden, streaking burst which he saw for the first time. They held him down as Gale's hum escalated into a powerful melody, a healing song that not only took the wound in Corbin's chest away, but also swept Ethan into a mesmerized state of disbelief at the incredible sound he was hearing. The woman he knew and loved was full of surprises this night.


    As Gale's song tapered to an end, leaving Corbin in a deep, healing sleep, Ethan was distracted by something in the corner of his eye. He looked to see Gideon crossing his arms while glaring at the scene on the table with an angry glint in his eyes and across his stern face. Gideon's own impressive height and stature added a truly intimidating feel to his menacing expression, which Ethan knew wasn't intended for anyone in the dining hall, but was meant for those who had inflicted such agony on Gideon's loved ones. Ethan understood, having a small gnawing himself for retribution against whoever had orchestrated these attacks against people he cared about too, especially the one he cared most about.


    Amanda and Shade eased up off the now peacefully resting Corbin while Gale took a seat out of the way to recuperate from her taxing effort. Shade left to get something from the kitchen, leaving Amanda to pull the blanket up to Corbin's neck while tucking it under him. She gently scooped him off the table with ease, cradling him so that his head rested against her shoulder, and was accompanied by Lydia as she carried him off to his room. Gideon stepped forward with an announcement to Gale of his next move in deciphering the attacks of the masked men.


    "Well done my dear," he commended, getting a modest smile in return. Then, with an almost sadistic air to his voice he said,"Now, I think it is time to persuade our guests in the basement to explain themselves. Would you have Amanda join me there when she returns?"


    After receiving a tired nod from Gale he swung around, acknowledging Ethan with a slight shake of his head before marching off intently toward the basement and leaving Ethan and Gale all alone in the spacious dining hall.


    Ethan locked eyes with Gale, who gazed fondly at him, then he walked over and sat down beside her, noticing the splotches of Corbin's blood on the table, as well as on Gale's hands which she rested out in front of her to keep from absentmindedly spreading the blood around. He couldn't help but gawk at her with an amazed expression after what he'd just seen and heard.


    "That was...remarkable, just remarkable. And that melody of yours, that...wondrous, beautiful melody..." 


    His praise trailed off as he struggled for bigger, better words to express how he felt about what he had witnessed, but the swirl of thoughts about everything he'd experienced thus far hindered his usually sharp faculties. Gale was silently amused at his overwhelmed state, offering him a sweet smile as he sputtered along in his attempt to convey his reaction. Shade inadvertently relieved him from his faltering effort when his attention went to her as she strode back into the dining hall holding a basin of warm, soapy water with a couple of damp towels draped over her arm.


    She made her way to Gale, offering her a towel to clean her hands with, then she sat the basin on the table and began to wipe clean the blood-spotted table with the other towel after dipping it in the soapy water. Ethan watched, feeling helpless, as the two sisters cleaned the table and put the chairs back in order around it. He wanted to help in some way but felt strangely out of place.


    Amanda peeked in the room, asking for Gideon after explaining that Lydia was still watching over Corbin, who was resting soundly in his own bed. Gale directed her to the basement according to Gideon's request, then Shade gathered up the towels and basin in order to return them to the kitchen, leaving Gale and Ethan alone once again.


    Gale slid into a chair beside Ethan, noticing the fatigue setting in on his features from all the excitement, as well as the late hour. She was feeling it too, propping her chin wearily on the palm of her hand as she studied Ethan for a moment.


    "So...," she began reluctantly. "Have I scared you off...with all this?" she asked, peering into his gentle brown eyes.


    Ethan sighed heavily at her question, raking a hand through his hair as he readied an answer. Looking steadfastly into her waiting expression, he said assuringly,"No, of course not. But there is one thing I'm afraid of now."


    "What's that?" she wondered curiously, raising her brow.


    "That I might be too...normal for you,"he admitted half jokingly.


    Gale smiled at his whimsical concern as she leaned in to take it away with a soft kiss on the lips that he welcomed. Pulling away with an adoring look at the man before her, she replied,"Haven't you noticed? Normal is exactly what I need."


    They exchanged doting stares with private little smiles for moment, until Ethan leaned in for another kiss.


    The coming minutes brought Lydia and Shade back into the dining hall where they each took a seat at the table, while Gale departed to the kitchen in order to prepare a round of fresh coffee to help everyone ward off the sleepiness of the late hour while they waited to find out if Gideon and Amanda had learned anything from the bound assailants in the basement.


    Shade, unbothered by the late hour, impatiently tapped a finger on the table as she grew more and more restless for answers to the attacks. She wanted to know who was behind it all so she'd know who to go after. Ethan found himself lost in a stare at Lydia, who sat across from him resting her head down on her folded arms, unaware of his intrigued observation. He was trying to comprehend that the pretty teenage girl before him, who he'd known since her age could be represented with a single digit, shared in the wondrous gifts of her family.


    Lydia rolled her head of long black hair around and spotted Ethan's stare. He broke away with an apologetic frown and fidgeted from being a little embarrassed as he let his eyes rove around the room for an escape from his awkward capture. Then Lydia used her gift in an attempt to console him while offering a demonstration of her unique ability.


    It's okay Ethan, don't be embarrassed. You have a lot to take in tonight.


    It took Ethan a second to realize that the voice he'd heard was in his head and had not been heard out loud. He turned his head back to Lydia with an expression of utter astonishment, finding her hiding a knowing grin in her folded arms as she looked directly at him. He just shook his head at her in wonder, saying,"Amazing, simply amazing."


    Not long after Gale returned with a serving tray full of steaming hot cups of coffee that everyone accepted graciously, Gideon entered the room with Amanda at his side to reveal their findings. He stood at the head of the table to address those eagerly awaiting what he had to say, sipping the warm brews in front of them as they cast their attention on him.


    "Well, Amanda and I have learned much from the one intruder not suffering from a debilitating concussion," he said, eyeing Shade with a mild look of displeasure concerning her use of force in taking down the attackers, only because he would have liked to question him as well. 


    As everyone's attention followed Gideon's stare to Shade she just shrugged with a blameless look that was as transparent as any feigned look has ever been, then Gideon's voice summoned all focus back on him.


    "It seems that our guests below are two parts of a group of eight men being led by the deceased fellow in the leather jumpsuit who was known as Coltan, a renown bounty hunter hired by a man referred to by our persuaded informant as Colonel Merrick."


    Gideon paused, allowing his words to settle on those gathered at the table, who absorbed them with a hungry appetite to know everything. A sudden, very noticeable troubled look fell across Gideon's face before he went on with a heavier, more disturbed tone.


    "It appears these eight men were new recruits for an organization which apparently this Colonel Merrick is head of, something called, 'The Hand of Jarell'." 


    Gideon's mention of the name Jarell stunned the Allender sisters as they quickly exchanged highly concerned glances around the table with one another. Ethan leaned over to Gale and whispered,"Jarell? Isn't he the fallen angel you told me about in the car, the one who took Corbin?"


    She answered him with a serious nod, and before any worried conversation could break out around the table Gideon continued.


    "We have also learned the whereabouts of those who remain of the eight men. According to our informant, none of them knows where to find this Merrick since their acceptance into his organization depended upon the success of their mission to apprehend each of you. So, for now, we shall deal with the remaining threat before digging any deeper into this Hand of Jarell."


    Shade jumped up from her chair. "So what's our next move?"


    Amanda stepped up beside Gideon with a sly grin creeping across her face. "We have a plan," she hinted.


    


    


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