118 Baby steps (1/2)

Orion quietly opened and closed the office door as he stepped into the room. He set down the comfortable high-backed chair nearest the window and waited patiently for Arei to wrap up his phone call. He could see Russ and Jos from the window. They were joined on the rocky beach by Raven and Shelly. He frowned as he watched the small wolf halfheartedly interact with the others.

”There's nothing we can do, you know. I feel bad for her as well, but we can't bring someone back from the dead.” Arei said as he hung up the phone following his brother's gaze out the window. ”So, what have you decided.” He asked as he walked over and leaned against the wide window frame.

Ry sighed, ”What could one more try hurt? Maybe the kid can do something we couldn't.” He rested his elbows on his thighs as he leaned forward. ”It may not always be good, but there's no denying, they have something.”

Arei grunted. ”Fifty bucks says she eats him.” Arei's turbulent eyes gave him away as he tried to forge indifference.

”Are you going to be able to stay?” Ry asked as he studied his brother.

Arei nodded. ”I'm old enough to maintain my composure, Ry. There's no reason for you to worry about me now.” He never took his eyes off the beach.

Ry leaned back crossing his massive arms over his chest. ”Why didn't you ever try getting her back?” He studied his brother's expressions.

Arei huffed out a long breath, ”Truthfully? I didn't deserve her then… or now.” He walked back over to the heavy mahogany desk and flopped down in the black leather office chair. ”I'm happy for her, truly.” He pushed the stack of papers and notes he had been working on since early that morning. ”I just wish this looked better for her.”

Ry walked over and thumbed through the papers. ”Humm…” He flipped back through the stack a second time. ”So, will she be tried as a creature 'The Kraken' or as a demigod?”

Arei shrugged. ”Who knows at this point. Bringing Calypso in will surely remind them.”

Ry frowned. ”True… But her and Jos's relationship isn't the best. It's hard to tell if she would even be willing to leave her island for Jos's sake or not.” He sat in one of the smaller chairs in front of the desk.

”I'm sure if we found a way to appeal to her properly, she'd be more than willing to show up at least.” Arei said as he scrolled through computer files. ”She'll be charged for six other vampire deaths aside from the DeMarco brothers. Had it only been the two, we'd have a fighting chance but as it stands…” He flipped the screen around for Orion to see. ”Ry, they will want vengeance. I know how the vampires think. They've been on the brink of war for years now.”

Ry nodded a deep frown setting across his face. ”There were also several human deaths that made the news. Before Russ started pressing her, she'd done well masking the crimes. The boy caused her some careless mistakes.”

Arei arched a brow. ”And you think the best way to address that is by training her to use her most powerful form against the kid?” Arei laughed, ”Raise that bet to a hundred dollars.”

Ry set the papers down. ”If done right and with enough supervision, it just may work. It's worth a shot. She deserves to not be afraid anymore.”

Arei sighed. ”When you put it like that…” He pushed himself up from the leather chair and nodded toward the window. ”Why not get started.”

Arei and Ry made their way out to the beach where the others where still playing around. Arei crossed his arms over his chest, his eyes locking automatically with Jos's. ”It's decided, let's see what you've got.”

Ry focused his attention on Russ. ”Everything needs to stay in a controlled environment, understand? No more 'practicing' alone. Neither of you are emotionally stable enough right now to be trusted on your own.”

Arei nodded in agreement. ”We'll start small, simple tasks done in a half form. We'll work our way up to controlling your full form.”

Jos frowned, ”But the courts, they will be expecting me to be turned in soon wont they?”

Arei smiled. ”We're working on that part. Right now, they have no reason to believe you were anywhere near that house when things went down. You were seen with me in Florida. It will take them some digging to find out exactly when we left. It will also take them some time for full analysis of the crime scene to come back. Unfortunately, the longer we wait the more likely they will be to link the other human death to you.” Arei rubbed the back of his neck and looked away. ”But if we were able to show you are in control now…” He hated putting the extra stress on her, but it was important for her to understand how much now rested on her training.