Chapter 43 – Plans.

Monday, I asked Jeevan and Meena to come for dinner before he and I went out healing. I wanted him to meet Jules’ parents, but I also wanted Gracie to meet the man who had actually saved her life. I was just the man that seemed to be getting all the credit; without Jeevan, Gracie wouldn’t be here.

They arrived just after six.

I answered the door and immediately got a hug from Meena. “Caleb,” she said. “It is so good to see you.”

“You are coming to my party Saturday?” I asked as I led them inside. They both nodded.

We walked into the living room and Gracie stood, walked over to Jeevan, and held her hand out.

“Caleb tells me,” she said, “that I have you to thank for saving my life.”

Jeevan took her hand. “Caleb did most of the work,” he replied. “I just guided him from time to time.” He was being his usual modest self.

“Nevertheless,” she said, “I owe you, the pair of you, my life. I will never forget it.” She reached into her pocket and pulled out a business card. “I know you probably have a million people who are indebted to you, and probably many with a lot more power and influence than I do. But please, if there is anything I can ever do for you or your family, call me.”

Jeevan accepted the card with grace. He had obviously been in this situation many times before and knew exactly how to handle it. “Thank you,” he said. “I will.”

After Gracie, I introduced Ness, and her parents, to Jeevan and Meena.

Ness and I went into the kitchen and began to cook. As expected, Meena soon followed us in and watched for a while.

“Two such talented cooks,” she said. “You work well together.”

“Ness is going to college in the fall,” I said. “She wants to be a chef.”

“She already is,” said Meena. “She just needs the paperwork.”

Ness blushed and smiled at Meena shyly.

“If you would like,” said Meena, “I would love to teach you some of my country’s cuisine.”

Ness beamed. “I would love that,” she said. “I haven’t had much experience with exotic spices. My family is still a little meat-and-potatoes biased. The moussaka that Caleb makes is probably the most exotic they get.”

“Moussaka?” asked Meena. “Why have you never made that for us?” she asked me.

“I was saving it for a special occasion,” I said.

We enjoyed dinner, and then Jeevan said that we should be going. We would drop Meena back at his house on the way, and we would be going to the hospital after. When we arrived at the hospital Jeevan took me inside and into a small room.

“Now Bhaiya,” he said. “Tonight’s case is a little bit different. It is a difficult case, and an ethical dilemma. It is something I struggled with for a long, long time. I wanted to show it to you, and to show you another side of what Healing can be about.”

We walked down a corridor. It seemed to be the staff corridor for the ICU. There were bags of trash, carts, and machines pushed out of the way. It was the side of the hospital that patients and visitors would never get to see.

“Just on the other side of this wall,” he began, “is the ICU. There is a patient in the bed there. I want you to find her mind and see what you think.”

I stood against the wall and reached out. Just beyond the wall there were several minds. There was a nurse, and what appeared to be several relatives. Then I found the patient.

She was old, probably in her eighties. It appeared that she had suffered a massive stroke. The damage to her brain was catastrophic. I couldn’t see any way that even we could do anything for her. However, I did find ‘her.’ Her consciousness was trapped inside. She was crying.

“Please,” I heard, “please let me die. It hurts so much. Please let me die.”

I snatched my mind back and looked at Jeevan.

“Yes,” he said. “They have been arguing for a day and a night. The Doctors wish to turn off the life support machines. They say that the damage to her brain is so bad that she will never be able to survive without them. The family will not allow it. They are desperately holding on to hope that she will recover.

“Sadly, the only person not able to contribute to the argument is the lady herself. I believe you heard what she wanted.”

“You can’t mean…” I began.

“Yes,” he said. “She will survive for weeks, even months in this state. Unless she gets an infection or there is some kind of incident, she will exist. She won’t live, she will simply exist. They don’t see her pain, so they are not treating it. We could block it, but would you leave her trapped in that body, until it eventually fails, as it must.

“Even with your power, there is nothing we could do for her. The damage is too severe. All we can do is to give her the peaceful, dignified end that she is so desperate for.”

“You mean kill her?” I asked.

“I mean release her from her suffering,” he said. “If this were a pet dog, that was suffering this way, you would have no qualms. You would do what was right. But because this is a person, you suddenly have issues. I don’t blame you. We are taught that life is precious. But what is her life now? Even if we can, and do, block her pain, we are going to leave her trapped in the darkness; unable to hear or see out, alone, until her body finally fails. She will be locked away in her tormented mind for days, weeks, maybe even months before she finally gets the release that she is so desperate for.

“And what of her family? Sitting around her bed, hopelessly hoping for a miracle which will never happen. Working themselves into bankruptcy to pay for care that is going to make no difference to the outcome in the end.

“I ask you. Who are we serving by allowing her, this, to continue?”

“I see the logic,” I said. “But there’s a difference between stopping care, and actively committing murder.”

“It is not murder,” he said. “Legally, the worst it would be; would be assisted suicide, since that is what the patient wants for herself.”

“Where would be your proof in defence?” I asked. “How could you prove that she wants it?”

“We will never have to,” he said. “Nobody will know of our actions, ever.”
“We will,” I rebutted.

“Then the only person you would have to prove it to,” he replied, “is you. You have seen inside her mind. Tell me, isn’t this what she wants?”

“But…” I began.

“If you can see a pathway to Healing her,” he said. “Then I am open to it.”

I looked again at her mind, her brain. It was mush, an absolute mess. There was so much damage that I wouldn’t even know where to begin. Jeevan was right, there was no healing for this woman. Instinctively, while I was in there, I blocked all her pain. I could do that much at least. I heard her voice crying in relief. The sound was eerie. I remembered seeing a movie once where there was a baby crying in an abandoned hospital ward. The sound reminded me of that. Pitiful, scared, alone.

I wanted to reach out to her, to tell her I was there, that she wasn’t alone, but I was terrified to make contact. How could I give her hope when I knew that there was none to be had? I felt hopeless, helpless, and completely useless.

I seemed to spend an awful lot of time with Jeevan, crying. It was happening again.

“I’m sorry, Bhaiya,” he said. “Euthanasia is a difficult topic to get to grips with. Even if you don’t have any belief in a god or an afterlife. All we can ask of ourselves is to do what is best for our patients. If you cannot bring yourself to do that, then I will understand. But it is something that you will see again, probably more than once in your career as a Healer.

“A life should never be ended without a great deal of thought and consideration. It is good that you are so tormented at the prospect. But I ask you to look inside, both yourself, and that poor lady, and ask yourself: what is best for your patient? As yourself what you would want if you were in her situation?”

“But she is not me!” I argued. “Just because I would want to die in this situation, do I have the right to impose that on her?”

“You could always ask her,” he said. “Explain her situation and ask what she wants you to do.”

“You’re serious,” I said. He nodded.

“She still has a consciousness, even if it is trapped in a dying body, it is still there. Talk to her. Ask her what she wants.”

“I’m not sure that I can,” I said. “I…”

He put his hand on my shoulder.

“Then observe,” he said.

“Hello,” I heard his voice echoing in her mind. She heard it to.

“Hello?” she said. “Who’s there?”

“My name is Jeevan,” he replied. “What’s yours?” He, of course, knew her name.

“Maud,” she said. “Maud Campbell. What’s happening?”

“Maud,” Jeevan said gently. “You are very sick. You are in the hospital. You had a stroke.”

“I remember the pain,” she said. “Did you give me something for it, it’s gone.”

“Yes,” said Jeevan. “My colleague gave you something to stop the pain.”

“Thank you,” she said. “How bad is it?”

“As bad as it gets,” he responded. “Maud you are dying.”

“Oh,” she said. She didn’t actually sound too upset. “I guess I’ve done well. I’m ninety-two years old. I was hoping to make the hundred, but I guess that was not to be.”

“Sadly not,” said Jeevan.

“So, If I’m dying,” she asked, “how long do I have?”

“That depends on you,” said Jeevan. “You see, your body is currently being kept alive by a machine. The doctors have asked to switch it off, but your family are saying no. They are desperately clinging to hope that you will recover.”

“Is there any hope?” asked Maud.

“Sadly not,” said Jeevan. “Your brain is too badly damaged to recover. You will die. It may take a few weeks, even months, but the result will be the same.”

“I am trapped here, aren’t I?” she asked.

“I’m afraid so,” he said. “I don’t think you can even hear your family although they are, currently, surrounding your bed.”

“Shame,” she said. “I would have liked to have seen them one last time.”

“I can show them to you,” said Jeevan. “If you would like.”

“Could you?”

Jeevan stole the last few moments memories from the nurse, looking at the relatives grouped around the patient’s bed. He gave those memories to Maud.

 “Oh dear,” she said. “I look a sight.”

There was silence for a few minutes.

“Can you get them to turn off the machine?” she asked.

“Is that what you want?” asked Jeevan.

“I think so,” she said. “If you are sure there is no hope, and for some reason, I believe you know. Then all they are achieving is prolonging their hurt. Not to mention wasting their money. I can’t be trapped in here for weeks. I’m guessing that you won’t be sticking around for that long, so I’ll be alone.”

“You’re not alone,” I blurted.

“Oh, hi,” she said. “Who are you?”

“This is Caleb,” said Jeevan. “The colleague I was telling you about.”

“The one who stopped my pain?” she asked.

“Yes,” I said.

“Thank you,” she said. “That was such a relief. Jeevan tells me that there is no hope for me. What do you think?”

“I’m sorry, Maud,” I said.

“Don’t be sorry,” she said. “You didn’t do this. It’s God’s way of telling me to slow down.” She cackled to herself at her joke.

“We can’t switch off the machine,” said Jeevan. “But we can do something that will end your suffering. If you want us to.”

“Euthanasia,” she mused. “Strange. Until about thirty seconds ago, I was dead against it. Pardon the pun. Every time there was some question about it, I always said that it was against God and nature to end someone’s life. That decision should be left to God.

“Who knew that I would be making that decision for myself. What’s more, I think I have changed my mind. Please, I know I’m asking a lot but please, can you let me go?”

“Are you sure that’s what you want?” I asked.

“Will you stay?” she asked. “Until I’m gone?”

“I’ll stay with you,” I said.

“Thank you,” she said. “Caleb, was it?”

“Yes.” I replied.

“You know what that means?” she asked.

I shook my head, but then realized that she couldn’t see. “No,” I said, “it was always just my name.”

“It’s a Hebrew name,” she said. “It means faithful, wholehearted, loyal. Are you married Caleb?” she asked. I could feel Jeevan reaching into her body, into her chest.

“Not yet,” I said. “Engaged.”

“Then she is a lucky woman,” she responded. “Look after her.”

“I will,” I said.

“I’m ready now,” she said after a moment. “Goodbye Caleb, Jeevan, and thank you.”

I felt Jeevan exert his will gently, and the old ladies heart stopped.

“Goodbye, Maud,” I said to her, knowing that she would be able to hear me for a few moments more. “Rest well.”

Suddenly I found my consciousness was no longer connected to hers. She was gone.

Through the wall I could hear the monitor alarm announcing her death. They didn’t try to revive her. The nurse simply turned off the breathing machine and the monitor. The only sound from the room was the sobbing of the relatives.

Jeevan took my arm and guided me back along the corridor and down some stairs. Before long we were back in the hospital cafeteria.

We didn’t need to eat, we had used a negligible amount of power. Jeevan bought me a coffee and we sat at our now usual table, while I tried to pull myself together.

“Are you okay?” he asked.

“How do you do this?” I asked. “All the time. It is so emotionally draining. Even though I didn’t use any power, I just feel empty…wrung out.”

“Each healing has its own reward,” he said, “even this one. Think of the suffering that lady would have had to go through if it weren’t for us. Think of how much pain she was in before you blocked it. She would have been stuck with that until her body finally gave out. We saved her from that. Not only that, but she didn’t die alone. There is no greater crime, especially in this day and age, than someone having to die alone.

“She had her family around her, but she couldn’t feel them. Having you talking to her, as she went, gave her great comfort. No matter what you believe happens next, the last few moments of this existence, for her, were as good as we could make them. Remember that and hold on to it.”

“I think I have taught you all I can,” he said. “You can do anything I can do now, and more besides. I would love to be able to call on you for help sometimes, and obviously I am only a call away should you need me.”

“Seriously?” I said. “I have so much left to learn.”

He shook his head. “Healing is an art more than a science. As a dreamer you can heal a great deal. There are still going to be some things you cannot heal, either because you don’t have enough power, or because the damage is too severe.

“Remember your limits, and remember that the Healing is never about you, it is about your patient. If you find something that you are unsure of – I am a phone call away.”

He stood up. We walked together back to the parking lot.

“Don’t think that because I am not teaching you that we will not see each other. I am expecting to eat together often. Meena has promised Ness to teach her, and you, our cooking. And I believe she wants to taste your Moussaka.

“I think Ness kind of promised I’d make it for you.”

“Good,” he said. “Meena has become very fond of you Bhaiya. She would be sad not to see you often.”

“We’ll probably be going to Jules’ parents during the school break,” I said. “But we’ll be back for the new semester. You’re coming Saturday, right?”

“Wouldn’t miss it. Yasmine and Callum too, if that’s okay?”

“Of course,” I said. “The more the merrier.”

Jeevan drove me home and I arrived just after nine. Everyone was in the living room chatting and sort of watching the television. I went into the fridge, and pulled out a couple of beers. I glanced across at Dean as I went out onto the deck. A few minutes later he came out.

“You okay?” he asked.

“I think so,” I said. “It was a bit of an emotional evening.”

“Want to talk about it?” he asked. I shook my head.

“I want to talk about something else,” I said. He nodded.

I told him all about the council and explained everything.

He grimaced. “So,” he said, “we’re in the middle of a revolution?”

“Kind of,” I said. “If you would rather not get involved I…”

“I told you,” he said, “I had your six. I meant it. Besides I agree with you. What they have been doing is wrong. I can see how it got started and appreciate that they were protecting us norms from you big bad Stotts, but times have changed. It’s time the shackles came off. Us norms have got other protectors, namely you.

“I spoke to Gerry, we have a slot for just after eight in the morning. Are you going to pick up Dana?”

“I’ll send her a text now. I’ll pick her up at seven and meet you at the airport. We’re going to have to take three cars in any case. Josh and Louise can take two. Amanda and Mary can take two and I’ll get Dana.”

He nodded. “We’ll figure it out,” he said. “I’ve rented the hangar for a while, so you can park the cars in there while we’re in New York.”

I sent the text to Dana while I remembered. She promised to be ready at seven.

We finished our beer and went inside. I almost immediately went to bed. Amanda came to keep me company and eased me into sleep.

Morning came quickly.  While I had already told Kevin that I would be away for a few days, that didn’t get me out of my morning workout.  He had arranged for Carys to take my class that night, however.

“I think she enjoys it,” he said. “Her and that boy are getting close.”

I smiled. “Good,” I said. “It’s good that she has found someone.”

“I thought that she was going to spend her time pining after you,” he said. “Especially after you…”

“You knew about that?” I asked surprised.

“We talk,” he said. “Since her mother left, we talk about pretty much everything. I know it sounds strange, but it was her time with you that gave her the courage to actually start looking again. She was shutting herself away before.”

I laughed. “Was I that bad?”

“Stop fishing for compliments,” he grumbled. “She didn’t score your performance. What she did say was that you made her realize that she deserved to be happy. You made her feel like she could be loved. Even though she knew that it wouldn’t be you, you gave that to her. I think her last boyfriend really killed her confidence. You gave her it back, or some of it at least.”

“I’m glad,” I said. “She is a lovely girl.”

“So,” he said, “when will you be back.”

“Thursday morning,” I said. “You’re coming to my party, right?”

“Saturday night?” he asked. “Sure. Would you mind if Carys brings her new boyfriend?”

“Not at all,” I said. “The more the merrier.”

+++++

I was back at the house and eating the breakfast that Ness had cooked by six thirty. I’d showered and gotten all my stuff together to go to New York. Mary was busily going through my bag and ‘fixing’ things. I let her have fun with it. She was far better at that stuff than I was.

Just before a quarter of seven, I got up, threw my bag in my truck, along win luggage for some other people, and went to pick up Dana.

Surprisingly Dana was standing outside the dorm, bag in hand, when I arrived.

I had the errant thought that if she wanted to be truly convincing as a female, she needed to learn to be late all the time.

We loaded her bag into the truck and set off for the airport.

The others were already there when we arrived. Gerry helped me unload the bags from the truck and loaded them into the jet. I parked the truck in the hangar and then climbed the stairs into made my way onboard.

We got settled and within a few minutes were in the air. Amanda, who was not particularly fond of flying, was gripping my hand fiercely, but her grip eased off once we levelled out.

Ness and I played air stewards, serving coffee and soft drinks during the flight.

I stuck my head into the cockpit to ask if Gerry would like a drink. He looked surprised but accepted a coffee. Dean spoke. “Don’t spoil the hired help,” he said. “They’ll start to expect it all the time.”

I was surprised, I didn’t know that Dean had that kind of attitude toward his staff, until I glanced around at Gerry and noticed him holding up his middle finger toward Dean. The penny dropped. I grinned.

“Gerry and Daddy served together,” Jules told me. “They are always sniping at each other.”

Since I’d never flown with Dean before, I hadn’t noticed the interaction between the two.

I settled down to enjoy the rest of the flight.

We landed at Teterboro airport just after one in the afternoon Oregon time, or just after four local. Transport was waiting for us, and took us to our hotel, where we would be staying overnight. I have to admit, if you’re going to stay in New York, the Waldorf Astoria is the place to do it.

“Fuck,” said Amanda quietly. “This is just like Pretty woman,” she said as the concierge fussed around us like a mother hen.

We were soon installed in our rooms. Dean had booked us a suite. It had four bedrooms. The master had a bed that was actually bigger than our bed at home. Then there were three other good sized rooms.

“You guys are in the orgy room” said Dean to the girls and I. “Cheryl and I will take this one, Josh and Louise and Dana, can fight over those two.”

Dana just stood there, her mouth open, at what he had said. Cheryl walked past her and gently closed it with a fingertip.

“I can’t believe that you guys are so okay with their arrangement,” she said to Cheryl.

“You know,” said Cheryl, “sometimes neither can I. But then I look at them and see the love between them all and then I can’t imagine how it could ever be anything else. I know they love each other and that both my girls will be loved and cared for. As a parent, I cannot ask for more than that.”

Dana shook her head and walked across to take the last of the rooms. Josh and Louise had selected theirs, simply choosing the first door. It turned out that Dana’s room had a better view, but it was only for one night in any case.

I had contacted my aunt. Her name was Janine Taylor, and she lived in about 50 blocks north of the hotel on the Upper East Side. She had invited me to go see her in the morning. I quietly relayed the information to Dean, and he nodded.

We spent the afternoon and evening sightseeing, ending up having dinner, in the Arby’s on 8^th Ave. of all places. I reflected, somewhat ironically, on how nice it must be to be so rich!

We arrived back at the hotel after eleven, and went straight to bed. It would have been nice to partake in the orgy for which the room was seemingly named, but sadly all the girls were tired, as was I. A group hug was all I got, and surprisingly all I really wanted.

I wasn’t quite sure just how it managed time zones, but my bladder clock was up to the task, because it had me up at exactly four am local time. I went into the main room and trained. I was just wearing a pair of shorts since the room was so warm.

I glimpsed movement out of the corner of my eye, and glanced in the reflection of one of the windows. Dana, had come to the door of her room, and was standing watching me. She was dressed in just a long T-shirt, which was obviously what she had been sleeping in. She stood as if entranced, the front of her T-shirt tenting over her obvious arousal, while I practiced my katas. When I finished, I looked across to where she had been standing. She was gone, her door closed.

We ordered a room service breakfast just after eight. Dana was up early for a change. She normally didn’t surface, when she stayed over, until later. All of the noise must have disturbed her. Breakfast was not particularly inspiring, but it was food, and we were all hungry. I guess that just because the hotel is five-star doesn’t mean the kitchen is.

“My meeting is at eleven,” said Dean, “near Central Park East. Caleb and I will go there, then meet up with you guys. I take it you are going shopping?”

“Of course,” said Cheryl. “Why else come to New York?”

“Remember we only brought the one jet,” he said. “There’s only so much it can carry.”

“Don’t be snippy,” said Cheryl. “Besides – they can deliver.” Dean shook his head.

We checked out of the hotel at ten am and Gerry met us with a limo. He collected all our belongings and would take them to the jet, so we didn’t have to carry them around all day. Our take-off slot for the return flight was four pm local, although if we needed to stay later, we could. Gerry would just have to re-file a flight plan.

Dean and I rode in the limo and arrived at my aunt’s just after ten thirty. The limo driver found the address no trouble and we pulled up outside. Dean joined me on the sidewalk.

“You want me to wait out here?” he asked.

“No,” I said.

I walked up to the door and rang the bell.

A woman, who looked to be in her mid-thirties opened the door. She stood about five eight and was what can only be described as ‘well built.’ Another term might be Rubenesque.

“You must be Caleb,” she said. She didn’t look at all pleased to see me. “Come in.”

“This is my future father-in-law, Dean,” I introduced him. He smiled at her. She merely nodded. “Janine,” she said. She walked away from us and through a door. I assumed we were to follow and so we did, ending up in a kitchen. There was an older looking man seated at the kitchen island. He didn’t look well. In fact, he looked like he might throw up at any time.

“This is my husband, Robin,” she said indicating the man. He didn’t get up.

“Caleb and Dean,” said Janine to Robin.

“So,” she said sitting down at the counter and indicating seats on the other side. “Maggie said you wanted to talk.”

I was surprised at her attitude. From my father’s description I had expected a warmer welcome.

“I’m sorry,” I said. “Have I done something wrong?”

“Wrong?” she asked. “Not that I am aware of, why?”

“I just wondered,” I said. “I had hoped that meeting my aunt, whom I didn’t know existed until recently, would be a more pleasant experience. Not that I was expecting a red carpet or anything, but I was kind of expecting civility at the very least.”

“Were you now?” she asked, a sneer on her face. “Why?”

“Oh, I don’t know,” I said. “I thought that perhaps with us being family, that maybe that might count for something. Or, if not, perhaps the fact that we are actually people and deserve at least a minimum level of courtesy.”

“Look,” she said. “I didn’t invite you here. You asked to come. So, say what you have to say then toddle off back to Maggie like the good little puppet you are.”

That was when I struck.

I had been investigating her shields all along. They were good. Very good in fact. It looked like she had been very careful in creating them. They weren’t, however, quite good enough.

I had already looked at her husband. He was a Norm, but I found that I couldn’t connect to him, at least not to his mind. I also felt some nausea from him. I realized that he had been dosed or had dosed himself on anti-psych drugs. No wonder he looked so sick.

If they were hoping that his dosing with anti-psych drugs was going to protect him from me, then they were in for a surprise. They only stopped connections. My TK would work fine on him. I suspected he was armed, so I simply, and gently restrained him in exactly the position he was in. He wouldn’t feel it unless he tried to move.

Suddenly Janine felt my presence beyond her shields.

“ROBIN” she yelped, and he tried to move, but found he was unable to.

I lowered her shields and hunted around for her oath. Once again it didn’t take me long to find it. It was particularly strong. She was probably the strongest power user I had come across so far. I was still exponentially more powerful. I unpicked the compulsion and removed the binding. Once I was certain it was all clear, as I had done with her brother, I backed out of her mind and released her.

She sat staring at me for a moment. Her shields had sprung back up immediately I had released her. I could see her internalizing trying to see what I had been up to in her mind.

“What did you do?” she asked.

“I freed you from your oath to the council,” I said. “I removed the binding. That is all.”

“Why?” she asked.

I explained everything. How I was determined not to be under the control of the Everson family any more, and how we had broken everyone’s binding and we were creating our own council. We would be running our own family from here on out.

“What did you do to Robin?” she asked. “He was dosed – how did you stop him?”

“TK” I said. “Dosing only stops mental connection.”

She shook her head. “Can you please release him? He feels really sick; he might actually be sick.”

I released him from the TK. I went in and caused his kidneys to filter out all of the drug. It took a few minutes, but soon enough he was feeling okay.

“Drink some water,” I told him. “Your kidneys need a flush.”

“You’re a Healer too?” Janine asked. I nodded.

“Why didn’t you…” she began then her face cleared. “Of course, if you had told me up front, the oath would have made me, at the very least, tell them what you are up to. I thought… I thought you were just going to turn into another Everson puppet. I heard that you were shacked up with the Everson twins and that you were a lost cause.”

“I am kind of ‘shacked up’ with the Everson twins,” I said. “But I am in no way an Everson puppet. I have everything in place now. All our users, aside from my father, are released from the oath. Maggie, my father, Gerald’s father and Dianna are the proposed council members.”

“Why Dianna?” she asked.

“Optics,” I said. “I’m hoping that concession will mean less trouble. Since there will be three Stotts and only one Everson on the council her effect will be minimal. Besides, believe it or not, I think she is on our side. It is the old council, with the ancient Eversons controlling it, that have been keeping us on a tight leash.

Janine looked at me for a long time. Then she did something bizarre. She grabbed mine and Dean’s arm and marched us out of her house straight to the front stoop, then slammed the door.

I stood there looking at Dean for a moment wondering what the hell just happened when the door opened once again. Janine stood there a beaming smile on her face.

“Caleb,” she said, coming out and giving me a big hug. “How lovely to see you. Come on in.”

I laughed.

When we got back into the kitchen, Robin was drinking a large glass of water. He looked at me and grinned.

“Thanks,” he said. “That shit really does a number on you. I wasn’t looking forward to puking all day. I’m happy that you managed to hold me still. I might have hurt you otherwise.”

Dean smiled mirthlessly. “You wouldn’t,” he said. “You wouldn’t have cleared your holster before I put two in your chest.”

Robin’s eyes widened. So did mine a little. I hadn’t realised Dean was armed.

“Then I’m even more grateful you held me still,” he said. “Military?” he asked Dean.

“Marines,” said Dean.

“Thank you for your service,” Robin said a little weakly.

“Let’s not dwell on what might have been,” said Janine. “What did your father say about all this?”

“He doesn’t know yet,” I said. “He is the only one in the family that doesn’t. Everyone else in on board. Dianna doesn’t know yet either. I plan on talking to her Friday night. I’m expecting the council summons on Saturday, my birthday.”

“What are you going to do about their pet judge?” she asked.

“Go talk to her,” I said. “Or at least Maggie and the council are going to. I’m hoping that she will see the sense of just letting us be. We’re not changing anything, Maggie will still be in the FBI and hunting down rogue users and my intent is to go and work for them. We’re not doing anything other than removing the control that the council had over us. We are still bound by the laws in exactly the same way as every other power user in the land.”

“If she won’t listen to reason, I don’t know. I have no idea what she could do legally. Have us all arrested for something? The court case alone would be a media frenzy. She can’t black site us; I’m known to a number of agencies as well as the world Healer network. If I went missing, too many questions would be asked, and the world Healer network has some very powerful allies.”

“It all sounds good,” she said, “on paper. I hope it all works out the way you plan.”

“So do I,” I said.

“What do you do?” I asked.

“I’m an analyst” she said. “I try not to use my power at all; it honestly disgusts me. I wish I could get rid of it. My son has power, but, again, I wish he didn’t.”

“I won’t do it to your son, until he is old enough to make his own decision, “I said. “But if you really wanted, I could remove your power.”

She looked at me, amazement written all over her face.

“You can do that?” she asked.

“I’ve done it before,” I said. “Not to someone as powerful as you, but I have done it. But before you make your decision, consider how you might use your power to help people?”

“It’s Compulsion,” she said. “I can force people to do shit. How can that help anyone?”

“Check this out,” I said, and sent her the memories of all the people I had helped to lose weight, and stop smoking. The happy faces, smiles, and thanks.

I saw her assimilate and her face paled. Her eyes filled with tears.

“My god,” she said. “Why did that never even occur to me?”

She rounded on her husband. “Why did you never think of that? You’re supposed to be the clever one.”

Her husband who had no idea what she was talking about just stared at her.

“I make an easy hundred bucks an hour – you could easily charge more. I’m sure you could make a living and use your power to help. I’m also sure that if you approached Maggie with this as a business plan, she would be amenable to letting you out of the FBI analyst office. If that’s what you want.”

“You fell into the same trap as everyone seems to. They only see the evil uses that Compulsion can be put to. It usually starts with rape and then devolves from there. I can’t say I’ve never used my Compulsion sexually, but I have a couple of very strange housemates who get off on it.”

Robin went scarlet.

I grinned. “I see it’s not as uncommon as I thought.”

“If that doesn’t appeal then how about this?” I sent her the image of the hypnotist stage show. She giggled when she saw it. Then shook her head.

“He’s still out there doing that?” she asked. I nodded.

Maggie was fine with it. He’s not hurting anyone, they are all consenting adults, and he’s making a living. Win-Win. I’m sure with a little imagination, you could find a use for your power, even if you didn’t want to become Mistress Whiplash.

She giggled again, Robin went an even deeper shade of red.

“Think about it,” I told her. “If you can’t find a use for your power, and you want me to – I’ll strip it for you. Then you won’t have to worry. However, one thing I am going to push for when we have our new council is the abolition of the amulets. They not only disable power, but they also cripple memory and intellect. Also learning about power growing up would be a far better way to train kids to use them appropriately. You having your power would enable you to keep your child in line.”

She nodded. “That, at least, makes sense,” she said.

Janine sat, deep in thought for a few moments. Then she got up and left the room.

She returned a few minutes later.

“I didn’t get you a twenty first present,” she said. “For two reasons. Firstly, I never expected to meet you, and second, I didn’t like you.”

I laughed. “Come down off the fence and tell it like it is,” I said. She grinned.

“That’s not fair. It wasn’t you I didn’t like,” she amended. “It was my image of you that I didn’t like. However, I have met you, and surprisingly my image of you is wrong. I want you to have this.”

She handed me a small box. Inside was a large old gold ring.

“It was my fathers,” she said. “As the oldest it came to me. I was going to give it to Ethan, our boy, when he was old enough. But I think I would rather you have it. I think HE, my father, would have wanted you to have it.”

“But it’s your heirloom,” I said.

“It’s OUR heirloom,” she countered. “Ethan never knew about it, and what he never had he’ll never miss. I just feel that it would be better with you. Besides, it’ll save me agonizing about a twenty-first birthday gift.”

I smiled at her deflection.

“Thank you,” I said.

“Don’t forget to show your father,” she said with a grin. “He’ll have a conniption. We fought hard over that ring.”

I laughed. “I will,” I said.

“Keep in touch, Caleb Stott,” she said. “You are an interesting man. I think our family is going to greatly benefit from your presence.”

Dean and I stood; Janine walked us to the door.

“Now that you know where I live,” she said, “don’t be a stranger. Bring your three fiancées to meet me.

“Four,” I corrected her. She laughed and shook her head.

“Bring them over,” she said. “Good luck with the judge.”

“Pops,” I said after she closed the door. “Thank you.”

“Anytime son,” he said. “I told you. I’ll always have your six.”

I looked at my watch – it was almost one. We had spent nearly two hours in Janine’s house.

“I think we’re going to have to meet the guys at the airport,” I said, he nodded.

We texted Cheryl to tell her that we would meet her back at the jet. She texted back that they were just having lunch and would be there in plenty of time.

“That means they’ll get there last minute,” he translated.

We walked to the southern edge of Central Park.  I saw a Mediterranean place about half of a block down.

“Want to get a quick bite?” I asked. “My treat?” he grinned, and we went in.

As it turned out it was us that arrived last minute, only getting to the jet fifteen minutes before our allocated slot. Gerry was just about to call the tower and re-file when he saw us on the apron. He waved at us to hurry up. Dean, grinning, gave him the middle finger.

There were tuts and huffs as we climbed on board. Dean closed the door and Gerry started the engines. We had cut it as fine as we possibly could.

We arrived back in Oregon just after six local time. All this jetting around was playing havoc with my body clock.

We all went back to our house, and Ness and I cooked. Gracie was pleased to see us; she didn’t fancy calling out for dinner again. The girls wanted to show off their purchases, so we had an impromptu fashion show, which included Cheryl and Dana.

Just after nine, Dana said it was time for her to get back to the dorms. We offered her the spare bed, but she declined saying she had stuff to do.  I took her home.

“Caleb,” she said as we drove. “Thank you, it’s been a fun couple of days.”

“Don’t thank me,” I said. “It was Dean’s jet and he picked up the hotel tab.”

“And some of my shopping too,” she said. “Or at least Cheryl did. She wouldn’t take no for an answer.”

“Don’t sweat it,” I said. “He won’t even notice it.”

“How rich is he?”

“I have no idea,” I said. “Very.”

We arrived back at the dorm.

“You’re coming Saturday, right?” I said. She smiled.

“Is that a nice way of saying, don’t drop in before then?”

I winced. “I have a lot of family shit going on,” I said. “Sorry.”

She laughed. “Don’t sweat it,” she turned my words back on me. “I’ll see you Saturday.”

She got out of the truck, retrieved her bags from the back seat and smiled at me, before walking into her dorm. I watched her go, my appreciation of rear ends enjoying the view.

The house was once again in darkness when I returned. It appeared that everyone had gone to bed. I noticed, though, that there was someone out on the deck. I went out.

Gracie was sitting on one of the chairs, reading something on a tablet computer. She had a bottle of beer on the small table beside her.

“Hey,” I said as I went out. She looked up and smiled.

“Hi,” she said. “You don’t need to be out here. Your girls are waiting for you in your room.”

“Are you okay?” I asked.

“I feel amazing,” she said. “I went for a run earlier. I’m still not one hundred percent but I’m getting there. I’m almost ready to claim that night with you.”

I chuckled. “You know there’s no need.”

“Oh yes there is,” she said. “I owe you my life. Besides, I really, really, want to.”

I smiled at her. “Okay then. I’m not sure when we will have time though.”

“We’ll figure something out,” she said. “And if it has to wait until you are back at college, then that’s just something to look forward to.”

“Once you are fit, are you going to see Dylan again?” I asked. “You seemed to get on well with him in the hospital.”

She shook her head. “He’s a carer,” she said. “He would suffocate me; he WAS suffocating me. I think he needs to be looking after someone. He needs someone who needs that. That’s not me.”

I nodded. “Have you spoken to him?” I asked. She shook her head.

“Anyway,” she said. “You need to get inside. Your girls are waiting for you.”

I smiled at her. And moved to leave.

“Caleb,” she said standing up, “Before you go?”

“Yes?” I said turning back toward her.

She put her arms around my neck and pulled me in to a smoldering kiss.

When she released me, she sighed and rested her forehead on my chest. “Why do you have to be so…” she asked.

“So?”

“So… you.” she finished. Then she turned and went back to her chair.

“Go on,” she said, “they’re waiting.”

I went into the house, wondering. I was having second thoughts about inviting Dana to live with us. It appeared that my, our, effect on people was driving them to want to join us. Gracie’s want was obvious, and even though she wasn’t living with us, Dana’s was becoming obvious too. Was it right to expose people to our effect only to hold them at arm’s length?

I opened the door to our bedroom and stepped inside.

A hand slipped into mine as I walked through the door. Jules.

Without speaking she led me into the bathroom. I stood unresisting as she began to undress me. She herself was naked.

All the time she was removing my clothes, she gazed at me, her beautiful brown pools mesmerizing me, soothing my troubled mind and calming me. By the time she led me into the already running shower, I was putty in her hands.

She took her time washing me. I leaned my head forward so she could wash my hair, and then, using her hands she soaped my entire body, cleaning, stroking, massaging. If any of the other girls, or anyone else for that matter, had done this to me, I would have been as hard as rock, tense with need and lust. But this was Jules, in her ‘off’ state. All I felt with her was love. Considering she had no powers at all, she was amazing at projecting how much love she felt for me, for us.

By the time she was done, I was so relaxed I was having trouble standing. She turned me around and gently guided me out of the shower, where the twins, also naked, were waiting for me.

Between them, they dried me. The relaxation, however had now given way to something else. This was not Jules that was gently massaging and manipulating my body. These were the twins, Mary and Amanda, both very sexy and highly sexual girls. My body recognized this, and responded appropriately.

Mary turned my face to hers, and captured my mouth in a kiss. It was gentle and loving. It appeared that they had decided that what I needed tonight was love, and they were going to give it to me.

I could feel Amandas hands, stroking me. They had finished drying me, and had abandoned the towels, but their hands still roamed my body as first Mary, then Amanda, staked their claim on me. They were kissing me, devouring me, loving me. What was even more special, in a perverse way, was that although I could feel the love rolling off them in waves, neither of them were using their powers. It made the love feel cleaner, more natural, and more special.

Finally, they each took one of my hands and led me back into the bedroom. Ness, naked as everyone else, was sitting on the edge of the bed. Her eyes fixed on me. She stood as I came into the room, and moved toward me, holding out both her hands. Mary and Amanda placed my hands into hers and she backed toward the bed drawing me with her.

I don’t know quite how she managed it, but I found myself on the bed, with Ness beneath me, her hands cupping my face while she, like Jules, mesmerized me with those beautiful brown pools.

She wriggled slightly beneath me, I felt a guiding hand, and then I was inside of her. Momentarily she closed her eyes, her mouth opening in an ‘oh’ of pleasure as I gently sheathed my length into her body.

After a moment her eyes opened again and she once again fixed me with her gaze. Pulling my face to hers I felt her lips move against mine as she whispered “I love you,” before pressing against me in a kiss. At the same time her hips began to move against mine.

She deepened the kiss, completely controlling me, rolling her hips claiming me for her own. I had no thoughts for anything or anyone other than the beautiful teen beneath me. I had no defence against the love and sensations she was creating in my body. Unconsciously I matched her movements, thrusting forward as she opened up to me, easing back as she withdrew. We started a slow sensual dance that I knew would bring us both the ultimate pleasure but, there was no rush, there was no mad headlong dash to the finish. Right now, Ness owned me, and she knew it. She revelled in that knowledge, enjoying the power she had over me as much as the feelings I was stirring up inside of her.

Finally she broke the kiss, pulling my face down and whispering in my ear. “I want you,” she said. “I love you. Make me yours. Make love to me. Show me how much you love me.”

She was speeding up her movements as she spoke. I could feel her need increasing as her climax was beginning to make itself felt. I could feel my own belly tightening as the first tingles of my impending release ran through me.

Ness continued to whisper loving words into my ear as she thrust harder and faster, the words becoming more breathless, and more disconnected, until she was only able to manage a breathy “yes, please, yes” and I felt her clench rhythmically around me as her orgasm claimed her. She clutched me to her as she rode out her climax, whispering “I love you,” over and over in my ear, until she was done, and she relaxed and stilled giving me a gentle loving kiss on the lips as I lay, still rigid and throbbing deep inside her.

“Thank you,” she said gazing up at me. “Thank you for loving me.”

“I will always love you,” I replied. “Never forget that.”

She smiled. “You feel wonderful inside me,” she said.

“I agree,” I said. “I definitely feel wonderful when I’m inside you.”

She giggled a little, creating some interesting sensations.

“As much as I would love to do that again,” she said, “I can’t be selfish.” She put a finger on my chin and gently turned my head to where Mary was waiting to capture my mouth with hers. It seemed like this was going to be a relay. I wasn’t about to complain.

I managed to hold out almost to the very end with Mary. She finally overwhelmed me and drew my climax from me, pulsing into her willing depths. The feeling of my release inside of her was enough  to push her over the edge and, once again, I was clutched in the arms of a lover, as she told me of her love for me while riding out her orgasm.

It was Amanda’s power that sent me into a deep and relaxed sleep, while she and the other girls curled protectively around me each of them, both powered and unpowered radiating so much love that I was intoxicated.

It was Amanda’s pussy that woke me from that sleep a couple of hours later as she claimed my body for her own.

For the first time in I don’t remember how long, I overslept.

My eyes opened, to find that the room was light, and I was with just a single girl, Ness, curled up with me in bed. Ness was awake, dressed, and she was smiling at me.

“Morning,” she said. “Sleep well?”

“I…” I began. “What time is it?”

“Nearly nine,” she said. “Everyone is up and about. I made breakfast for them all a couple of hours ago. You weren’t for waking up, so we decided to let you rest. You obviously needed it.”

“Where are the girls?” I asked.

“They’re waiting for you on the deck” she said. “Come eat, and then we’re all ready for you.”

“Ready for me?” I asked.

“Ready for you.” she said. “Come on, your breakfast is ready.”

I showered and dressed, joining Ness in the kitchen, and eating the breakfast she had made for me. As always it was delicious. I couldn’t enjoy it completely though because I could see the girls, Dean, and Cheryl all waiting on the deck for me. Gracie was out there too, but I didn’t mind that. Since she was living with us, she should know what was going on. Who knew what the fallout would be, and she might very well get drawn into it.

I loaded my dishes into the dishwasher and went out onto the deck. Everyone looked up at me. There was an expectant air.

I scanned to make sure that Alan and Anne weren’t listening in. What I had to say was not for anyone outside of our circle.

“Last week,” I began. “Maggie came to speak with me. Her and Frank came, ostensibly to see how Gracie was doing, but Maggie had another reason. She needed to tell me about the oath I had to swear to the Council.

“This council, for those of you who don’t know, is a self-appointed ruling body. They preside over our bloodlines, that is, the Everson and the Stott bloodlines, although it is made up of almost all Everson family members, with Maggie being the only Stott on the council.

“They have, throughout history, had the purpose of protecting the world from the power of the Stotts’. I have no idea how they managed to establish themselves in the beginning, but their method of control currently, I found out recently, is the oath.

“The oath is a ritual. When an Everson, or any power user without Compulsion, recites it, it is nothing more than an oath. It binds them in no more tangible way than, say, our Pledge of Allegiance. It is an honor-based oath. Nothing more.

“Where things get a bit more sinister is when a Stott, or any user with Compulsion, recites it. The ritual was designed to use that persons OWN power, to Compulsively bind them to the Eversons; to Compel them into obedience, into slavery, to the council. That is how they maintain control over power users that they realistically would normally have no chance of opposing. It’s perfect. It doesn’t matter how strong the person with Compulsion is, or how good their shields are, it’s their own power that binds them. It can’t fail.”

Both Mary and Amanda gasped at this. Mary put her hand to her mouth.

“They then,” I continued, “use those that they have bound, to control and coerce future generations of the line to swear the same oath, submit to the same binding, the same slavery, and so continue the tradition.

“Not only am I not intending to swear such an oath, but I have also broken the bindings of ALL those who were forced to swear it in the past, with the current exception of my father. No longer are the Stotts under the control of the Everson council. Their reign is now over.”

Mary was white.

“What are you going to do?” she asked. Visibly shaking.

“We are going to form our own council” I said. “Maggie will lead it, Gerald’s father and my father will be on it, and if we can persuade her Dianna too.”

“What about the Everson Council?” she asked. “What will you do to them?”

“Do to them?” I asked. “Nothing. I, we, understand why the control was needed, and we accept that in the past those with Compulsion abused that power and did some terrible things. The fact that other lines with other powers also did terrible things does not excuse us. But those days are over. We are no longer the danger that we were. We are, in fact, the defence against rogue power users of all kinds, and have been such for over a hundred years.

“It is time that that was recognized, and we were released from the shackles that once bound us. Unfortunately, the longevity of council members meant that despite lobbying they were unwilling to release us, so we had to break free. We’re not looking for retribution, we’re not looking for revenge. We would love to continue to work closely WITH the council of Everson’s to continue the work we are doing together, but as free people, not as slaves.”

“The trip to New York?” said Mary.

“Was to see my aunt, and release her,” I said. “I have released everyone bar my father, and I intend to do that tomorrow afternoon when he arrives. In reality, his power is so miniscule that I doubt the binding has much of an effect on him in the first place.”

“Why is he going to be on the council then?” asked Dean. “If he has no power.”

“As an almost norm,” said Mary, “He will have a unique perspective on the use of powers. It is a very clever appointment, as is Dianna. The fact that you, Caleb, are not pushing to be on the council, as probably the most powerful user alive, is also telling.

“I can’t say how Grandmother, or the council will react, but I’m,” she glanced at her sister, “we’re on your side. I certainly had no idea that the oath was actually a ritual binding, and I wonder who else, outside of the council, knew. I’m prepared to bet Grandmother didn’t.”

“There was nothing about such a binding in the rituals book that Dianna gave to me,” said Jules.

“I always wondered,” said Mary, “why they waited until they removed the amulet before extracting the oath. I used to think it would be safer do to do so before removing the amulet, but now I know – they needed the user’s power to be active to make the binding. If they did it before the user had had opportunity to figure out their powers, they would have them. What I don’t understand is why they waited so long for you. Why didn’t they get you to swear right at the beginning?”

“Because that would have given it away,” said Dean. “The tradition was to get the oath sworn on the twenty first birthday. It was obviously seen as a ‘coming of age’ ritual. If they had asked Caleb to swear before his twenty first, someone may have asked what was different about him. The fact he had come into his powers, but why would that make a difference?

“It might have been the catalyst that started people wondering about the oath.”

“How did you figure it out?” asked Amanda.

“Maggie told me,” I said. “Not directly, but her behaviour indicated that the oath would force her to do something that she didn’t really want to do. After that I asked her to look at it. Her reaction was enough for me to get even more curious. So, I looked. When I saw the binding, and who had actually created it, it all fell into place.”

“What’s the next step?” asked Mary.

“Dianna,” I said. “I was going to ask her over for dinner tomorrow night, and speak to her, after I had released my father and got him on board. They are supposed to be here tomorrow around four. Like I said his power is so weak that I doubt that the binding has much of an effect on him. But even so.”

Mary stood and came over to where I was sitting. She knelt down in front of me and took my hands in hers.

“I am so sorry,” she said, “that you felt that you had to carry this alone. I understand why you didn’t include us in your planning, and I don’t blame you, but I am sorry you felt it was necessary.”

“I didn’t want to put you in the middle of it,” I said. “Believe it or not, I bear no ill will toward your family. I just don’t agree with what they are doing. I have tried and tried to do what was right, in the hope that they would see, and change their thinking, but there is no convincing them. When I found out about the oath, and then figured out its true meaning, I knew that there was no way that they would change. They were merely paying lip service until I, too, could be bound, and then I would have no free will to oppose them.”

“So all of the, ‘you’re doing really well and surprising the council’ bullshit was just that?” asked  Jules.

“From the council’s perspective I think so,” I said. “And Maggie was on the council. So as far as she was concerned too. The problem was that Maggie, although she was on the council – was bound by the oath, so she had no way to go against them. Since her vote no matter what it was, would never be a majority, she never had any real power in any case, oath or no.

“Dianna could only repeat what she was told by the council. She too has sworn the oath, but hers is only binding on her honor. Since the council has clearly shown that IT has no honour, I’m not sure what her decision will be. She may decide to side with the council. Hell the council may throw in the towel and agree with the formation of our council and for her to serve on it.

“We still, also , have to talk to their pet judge and see where we stand with her. I don’t know what legal recourse they have against our actions, but she’s a judge – I’m sure she could think of something if she really wanted to. We have to convince her that our way is the way forward and the best way for all concerned, including the Everson family.”

We spent the rest of the day talking quietly. As evening drew in and it started to cool off, we moved inside. We ate dinner and eventually drifted off to bed. When I decided to go to bed, both the twins accompanied me.

I looked at the pair of them as I was getting ready for bed.

“I’m sorry,” I said. “I know you feel I kept things from you.”

Amanda looked at me. “You did,” she said. “But we understand why.”

“You demonstrated your love,” said Mary, “And trust, with Dianna. But she, herself told you to be cautious – as did we.”

“Then you’re not mad?” I asked.

“Caleb, we love you,” said Mary. “We’re going to support you through this. We are not yet twenty-one and I will certainly not be swearing any oaths to the Everson council. No matter that it is not binding to me, my honor will not allow me to swear allegiance to a body that still condones and practices slavery. I am certain that Grandmother, when she finds out, will be equally outraged. If she is not, then we have more difficult decisions ahead.”