Caleb 44 – Coming of Age

Friday morning found me at the dojo.

Kevin was a little peeved that I had ditched him the previous morning, but he got over it, mainly by kicking my ass on the mat. We were sparring. I left him, having once again extracted the promise of attendance at my birthday party the following day, and went home.

I beat Ness into the kitchen and began to make breakfast. She joined me a few minutes later and between us we prepared the meal for everyone in the house. For the next two hours people drifted in and out of the kitchen, some of them more than once, to grab breakfast.

We finally managed to feed everyone, including ourselves by nine, and went out onto the deck where people were sitting and enjoying the morning sunshine. Ness, Jules, and the girls were busy chatting together, and I presumed they were making plans for the party.

“Caleb,” said Amanda, “can we borrow your truck?”

“Keys are on the hanger,” I said. We had a key hanger in the kitchen where vehicle keys went. Everyone put their keys there in case we had to do any shuffling around of vehicles in the garage or in the driveway. There was space for two cars in the garage and another three in the driveway. At the moment Amanda’s and Gracie’s car were in the garage, while my truck and Louise’s car were in the driveway. When Ness’s car was brought down, we would fill our available parking but for now we had one slot left, which my father’s car would take up when they arrived.

I guessed that our HOA Nazi would be coming to give us grief regarding parking during my party. I’d looked up the rules and found out that, in our neighbourhood, there were no restrictions as long as there was no obstruction to driveways. I looked at the detail and determined that as long as a car was more than eighteen inches away from the edge of a driveway, it would be fine. I determined that I would keep an eye on that –I knew that there would be someone else in the road that might also be doing the same.

Alan had offered us the use of his driveway for the party, so that gave us an extra three slots before we would have to resort to on-road parking.

All the girls piled into my truck and set off, for goodness knows where.

I went into my bag, and grabbed some paper and a pen, and began writing notes.

Dear Neighbour.

Just a quick not to let you know that tomorrow night I will be having a birthday party at my house (number six). Although there will be a number of guests, I will endeavour to keep the disturbance to a minimum.

Kind Regards

I made eight other copies of the note, and went door to door on the street, delivering a copy to each house. I had originally thought not to give one to the HOA Nazi but thought that would be childish and so I put one on his door too.

I was still on his porch when Tom Prichard picked up and read the note. I caught a fleeting thought about contacting a towing company. So that was his plan.

He would get a towing company to come and tow cars, illegally, even if they were parked properly. Once they have been removed, the beef is with the towing company, and they are notoriously difficult to deal with. Even if you manage to get away without paying the towing and storage fee – you still have the inconvenience of having to get to the tow yard to reclaim your vehicle. It was petty but that was him down to the ground. I wondered how I could counter him.

I was thinking about that as I was returning to the house. I noticed that there was someone on my front porch.

“Hi,” I said. The man, who was in his mid-forties turned around. He grinned at me.

“Hi.” He waved the note I had just posted through his door.

“I’m your neighbour” he pointed to the house, the other side of ours from Alan and Anne’s. “John Gregson” he held his hand out.

“Nice to meet you,” I said. “Sorry we haven’t been by to introduce ourselves.”

“It’s no big deal,” he said. “We kind of like to keep ourselves to ourselves, no offence.”

“None taken,” I said. “If you can’t do your thing in your own home then where can you?”

He smiled. “I just thought I’d come and warn you,” he said. “Pricktard,” he nodded towards Tom Pritchard’s house, “will have a problem with your party. Since you’re not in the HOA he can’t really do anything, but he has been known to pull stunts like deflating tires, keying cars, or calling towing companies. For tomorrow, if you want, I’ll put my car in the garage - you can use my driveway – that gives you three cars that won’t be on the road at least.”

“That is amazingly generous of you,” is said. “Thank you. Can I ask – did you join the HOA or was your house already in when you moved here.”

“My wife joined,” he said. “He got to her while I was at work. Now we’re stuck with it. I’ve tried to get out, but there’s so many penalties involved it’s just not worth it. I keep my grass short, and put my trashcans out on time, so he generally leaves me alone.”

“Are you sure that offering me your driveway isn’t going to put you in his crosshairs?” I asked.

He considered that for a moment. “Fuck him!” he said eventually. “If it does, I’ll deal with it then.”

“Am I right in thinking then,” I asked, “that if the option to leave the HOA were offered, you’d be out?”

“Like a shot,” he said.

I grinned. “I’ll see what I can do.”

He looked at me sideways. “You get me out of the HOA,” he said, “and I may even say good morning to you if we pass in the street.”

I laughed. “Good enough,” I said.

I had two more visitors that day, both of whom warned me about Tom Pritchard and his dirty tricks. Neither went so far as to offer their driveway, but the warning was appreciated. I would have to keep an eye on him. It also gave me an idea of how well liked he and his HOA were. I was beginning to conclude that I was going to do something about that.

When the girls came back, the truck was chock full of stuff – there was a good amount of food and drink, along with some trestle tables, and a stack of other stuff that I couldn’t even begin to see. I went out to help them unload but was told, in no uncertain terms, to mind my business and go elsewhere. Josh and Dean were recruited in my stead. I went into the bedroom to stay out of the way.

I poked my head out just before my parents were due to arrive. I was banned from the kitchen and the back yard. I had to content myself with the living room or the bedroom, the den having already been converted to a bedroom for my parents. I wandered out onto the front drive and sat on the hood of my truck. Since I couldn’t go into the backyard, I would have to enjoy the sunshine from here.

My parents arrived twenty minutes later.

I helped them in with their bags and showed them to the room they would be using. Jules and Ness came out to meet them too. The twins were still fiddling in the backyard. Jules and Ness gave them the guided tour and then brought them back into the living room. Ness brought us all coffee.

“I need to talk to you both,” I said.

“That sounds serious,” my mother said. My father as always said nothing.

I very quickly ascertained that he had no shields at all. I wondered how much influence his binding had on him, so decided to tell them all about it, before removing his. My mother, who only had a little empathy, wouldn’t have a binding in any case.

It took nearly half an hour for me to explain everything. I talked about the oath, the binding, the council, freeing everyone from their oaths, and finally the formation of the new council. My father went ballistic.

“Who in the hell do you think you are?” he said. “For generations the council has managed the Everson and Stott lines and all of a sudden you come along and think that you can do better? Let me tell you my boy that you WILL answer the councils summons and you will take that oath or…”

“Quiet,” I said to him. He froze.

“What did you do?”  my mother asked me.

“I’m removing his binding,” I said. “He was making too much noise.”

“Caleb you can’t…” she began but I just looked at her.

I released my father once I had removed his binding, waiting for the explosion.

He looked at me, then at my mother, and then back at me again.

“They did that to everyone?” he asked.

“Anyone with Compulsion,” I said. “That’s how they controlled the family for so long.”

He sighed heavily. “That is so wrong on so many levels.”

“What are you doing?” my mother asked me. “You’ve Compelled him to agree with you?”

“Quite the reverse,” I said. “I removed a Compulsion that he has been carrying for over twenty years. I told you the oath is a ritual, that binds a Compulsion user with their own power. His outburst before was due to that Compulsion. What you are seeing now, is what he really thinks, now he is allowed to think for himself.”

“How do I know for sure?” she asked.

“You don’t,” I said. “But then I guess it depends on whether or not you trust me. Since I haven’t lied to you your entire life, then I don’t see how I might have earned your distrust.”

“Caleb,” said my father. “You need to let that go – especially now we know about the binding. I couldn’t have acted any differently than I did. Even if your mother could, she did what she thought was best based on advice she got, and in discussion with me, while I was under their influence.”

I had to concede that point. “I have freed all of our users,” I said to him. “The proposal is to form our own Council. We think you should be on it. What do you think?”

He nodded. “It makes sense,” he said. “Who else?”

“Maggie, Gerald’s father, and Dianna,” I said.

“Why not you?” said my father. “As the family’s most powerful user surely you should have a place?”

“I’m way too new to powers,” I said. “I’m still coming to terms with some of the issues having powers brings. I will be lobbying though – the use of amulets has got to stop. No matter what the council says there is no way that I will allow any child of mine to be crippled in that way.”

“And what if the new council says otherwise?” asked my father.

“Then I’ll tell you what I told Maggie,” I said. “I will not be having children.”

My mother gasped.

“I have already been made sterile,” I continued, “as have all my girls. The only way I or they can have children is if I, or another Healer, undoes what was done. Unless I get a guarantee that my children will not be forced to wear the amulet and will be brought up as the children of other bloodlines are, there will be no continuation of the line from my loins.”

My father nodded. “What about an oath?” he asked. “Would you swear one?”

“No,” I said. I had thought about this for a long time. “I am bound by the laws of the land, just as everyone else is. Unless there is a clear benefit to me or mine in swearing such an oath, then I see no need for one.”

“Don’t you think that you are undermining the council before it’s even formed then?”

“Personally,” I said. “I don’t see the need for a council – it’s another level of middle management as far as I can determine. It may start out with the best of intentions but give it a couple of hundred years there will be some busybody who gets themselves on it and wants to micromanage.

“I may be a Stott, I may have Compulsion, but I am also a Healer. They require no oaths and the power I learned to control from them makes Compulsion look mild. We exist in a framework of Norm society – maybe five hundred years ago when Norms didn’t know we existed we needed councils. But they know now, and there are rules and laws in place that take into account our powers. We don’t need more.”

“Then why form the council at all?” asked my father.

“Optics” I said. “We’re far more likely to be allowed to break away from the Eversons if we are seen to have a structure to replace them than if we all are appearing to go rogue.”

“And what are the optics of you refusing an oath?”

“Not my problem,” I said. “I did the work. I freed you all. You are completely at liberty to go and bend the knee to the Eversons and retake the oath if you so desire. I will not be taking any oaths to them, or to you.”

“What’s happened to you,” asked my mother.

“To me?” I asked. “I guess I grew up.”

“You’ve become hard, and confrontational,” said my father. “It doesn’t suit you, and I don’t like it.”

“That’s too bad,” I said, rejecting the first thing that had sprung into my mind. I was starting to heat up. “I am what you brought me up to be.”

“We never brought you up to be disrespectful,” said my mother.

“Respect is earned,” I said “not demanded. If you feel I am not respectful to you, then perhaps you should look in the mirror and ask yourself – what exactly did we do to earn respect from him?”

“Caleb,” the voice came from behind me. Dean.

“Pops?” I turned.

“Take a breath son,” he said. “You’re winding up at the wrong people. You already know they had no choice. I know how hard it is to let go, especially when you have held onto something that hard for that long, but you need to let it go. Otherwise, it’s going to eat you up.

“Whatever happens next, you’ve won. You and your line are no longer bound to the Everson Council. What they will do about it is anyone’s guess, but fighting among yourselves only weakens your position against any counter they try. You must be united. You must be together. If you’re not, then all the ground you gained so far, you will lose in an instant.

“Your folks didn’t have your power, your advantages. They did the best they could with what they had. If you ask me, given the way you turned out, they did a fine job. My grandchildren, when they come along, are going to need all their grandparents. Don’t rob them of that because you are still angry and taking it out on the wrong people.”

I sighed, “Sorry Pops,” I said quietly.

“It’s not me you need to be apologizing to,” he said. Why did I know he was going to say that?

I looked back to my own parents. My mother was looking at me, my father at Dean.

“I’m sorry,” I said.

“In some respects, Dean is right,” said my father, “and in others he is wrong. We did fail you, but our failure happened long before you were born. We should have done something back then, but we were just carried along. My swearing the oath was almost an afterthought, since my power was so negligible, but it was enough; enough to keep me bound, to make me do what, in my heart, I knew to be wrong.

“We need you, Caleb. The council needs you. The Family needs you. You will be the pillar upon which our power stands. If you, of all people, refuse to acknowledge us, then we are finished before we start. An oath to the council will make the difference between success and failure. There will be no binding; it would be honor-based. You would not allow a binding oath and I, we, wouldn’t ask or expect it. Surely, we could come up with something everyone could agree on.”

I thought about that for a few moments. “If we can come up with something between us, that I am comfortable with, then okay,” I said. “Then you would be able to say, with truth, that I had sworn an oath to the new council.”

I glanced at my watch. “That is,” I remarked, “if Dianna doesn’t explode when she finds out. She’s due any time.”

“Caleb,” said my father. “I know it’s asking a lot, but please, think about forgiving your mother. It’s been said over and over, but she did what she thought was best based on advice from her matriarch and pressure from her husband. If you hate me for failing to protect you, then that’s something I’ll have to bear. But she is as innocent as you in all this. Please.”

I looked at my mother, who was looking, not at me, but at my father.

There was a knock at the front door.

Jules showed Dianna into the living room.

“Mary, Amanda,” I sent. “Dianna is here will you come in please?”

The twins came into the room and sat on the sofa. Dianna, who had come in smiling, looked around at the faces of those present. She suddenly looked worried.

“Is something the matter?” she asked.

“Please,” I said indicating the seat between the twins.

“Did I do something?” she asked.

“Dianna,” I said “there’s something you need to know. Please sit down and I’ll tell you everything.”

She sat looking nervous. I gave her all the memories. I watched as she assimilated it all. I watched her face, her aura, listened to her surface thoughts. They all said the same thing. She was sickened and horrified to find out that the oath was a binding and that all of the Stott line, since who knew when, had been Compelled into obedience using their own power.

“I am so sorry,” she said, tears streaming down her face. To me, to my father and to my mother.

“It is not for you to apologize,” I said. “You weren’t to know. They played you as much as they played everyone else.”

“I didn’t even see it,” she said. “I swore the oath. I remember thinking that the language was a little archaic, but I just put it down to it being an old oath used traditionally. I never even considered that it might be a ritual. It’s not in the rituals book, I would have remembered it.”

“Jules said the same,” I said, “but someone on the council must know.”

She nodded.

“You’ve broken the Compulsion on everyone?” she asked.

“My father was the last,” I responded. “Maggie will be making the official offer, but we are forming our own council, and we want you to be on it.”

“Me?” she said, surprised. “But I’m…”

“You’re someone we trust,” I interrupted, “and the Everson Matriarch.”

“Grams,” said Amanda. “Just so you know, we will not be swearing any oaths to the Everson Council. What they did was terrible. I won’t be bound, even in honor, to a council that would condone that.”

I expected Dianna to try and dissuade them. “Too fucking right,” she said. “Those hypocritical pricks have been spouting on about Compulsion being dangerous, and they are the ones using it in the worst way. The first time I lay eyes on a council member I will be rescinding my oath.”

“More importantly,” my father said. “Will you agree to be on our council.”

“Who else will be on it?” she asked. Her eyebrows raised when she was told.

“I thought Caleb for sure,” she said, “But I like that mix. I particularly like you being on it,” she said to my father. “It’s a good call. Yes, I would, if offered, join your council.”

I stood and walked over to her, taking her hands, and pulled her to her feet. I put my arms around her and held her to me.

“Thank you,” I said.

The twins both stood and joined the embrace.

Dinner was prepared by Ness. I was allowed to the table to eat, but I was not allowed in the kitchen area. Presumably as they had stuff in the fridge that they didn’t want me to see. I couldn’t even go out on the deck with Dean for a beer. We, my father, Dean, and I, ended up sitting on the sides of the bed of my truck, while we enjoyed a beer. I was half expecting the police to show up and question us about underage drinking, but it didn’t happen.

“Are you going to say anything to the council?” I asked Dianna as she was getting ready to leave later that evening.

She shook her head. “I’ll leave it all up to Maggie,” she said. “She is the one that needs to break the news. Don’t be surprised though if one or more council member turns up here tomorrow.”

“I wouldn’t know them if I fell over them,” I said. She shared a memory of them so I would at least recognize them and be able to put a name to a face.

“Mary told me that it was your idea for me to be on your council,” she said. I nodded.

“Why?” she asked.

“Two reasons,” I said. “Firstly, the optics of having someone senior from your line involved in our council. It looks good and may help to ease tensions. But mainly because I trust you to do the right thing. We’ve had a rocky year, you and I, but I think we are now in a very good place. I love the twins, and I love you. Together we can, and will, do some really good things. We may not always see eye to eye, but I’m hoping that whatever differences we have, we can figure them out, one way or another, together.”

She smiled at me. “I’m sure we will.” She leaned in and gently kissed my cheek. “I’ll see you tomorrow.”

I felt a pair of arms snake around my waist. Mary, I guessed. I was right.

“Thank you,” she said. “You don’t know how happy you made her tonight. She was mortified when she learned about the binding, and terrified that you would think she had known.”

“I never thought for a moment that she did,” I said, realizing at that moment the truth of that statement.

I turned and walked back into the house. The living room was empty, most folks being out on the deck where, for some reason, I was still forbidden to go. I glanced at my watch – it was after ten in any case.

“Say goodnight to everyone for me,” I said. “I’m going to bed.”

She smiled and kissed my cheek. “One of us will be in shortly to tuck you in.” I chuckled.

I had a quick shower, and then climbed into bed. Nobody came to tuck me in, or at least if they did, they came after the thirty seconds it took for me to fall asleep.

+++++

It was my birthday. Twenty-one, and I needed to pee.

I slid out of bed, not waking any of the girls who had been clustered around me, and performed my morning routine. When I went out of the bedroom, the kitchen door was closed, a note on it saying simply ‘Caleb Keep Out!’ So – banned from my own kitchen. I had expected this, and so I went for a run.

I was just setting off down the street, when I noticed a sign attached to a light pole. I went over and looked at it. It was a no parking notice, from a towing company, saying that the street was a no parking zone and cars parked on the road would be towed.

I grinned.

I went up and down the street, removing all the signs. After my run, I grabbed my laptop and checked online that there had been no applications for parking restriction notices on the area. There were none. I checked our security cameras and saw that our HOA Nazi friend had gone out and put those signs up just after two in the morning. I wondered if he would notice that they were no longer there, and if so, what he would do about it.

Closing my laptop, I went for a shower.

I felt a cold wash of air from behind me. I was in the process of washing my hair, and so had my eyes screwed up tight to avoid soap getting in them.

I felt hands on me, and I was turned around and pushed back against the wall, the cold tile making me jump a little. A hand grasped my cock. Eyes still screwed up tight against the soap, I had no idea who it was.

My cock didn’t care. He was up for any attention and responded promptly to the manipulation he was receiving, becoming rigid in seconds. The hand began to stroke.

I went to bring my hands up to clear my eyes, but they were grasped and pulled back down to my sides. Whoever this was, was enjoying me not being able to see them. Perhaps I was supposed to guess who. For now, I had no clue.

I played along. I kept my eyes closed and leaned against the wall, the tiles now starting to warm.

Still holding onto my arms, I felt them kneel in front of me, their intent obvious. I was definitely on board with this early birthday present. I moaned as I felt a hot mouth engulf me, sliding delicately over my head and down my shaft in a single slow movement, until I felt a face pressed against my belly. Whoever it was swallowed my shaft, massaging the head of my prick with their throat making it jerk, and me tremble.

I heard a giggle from outside the shower. So not only was I getting an anonymous blowjob, I was being watched. The giggle, sounded very much like Ness. So, it wasn’t Ness on her knees in front of me. Given the timing I doubted it was Jules, although she might have decided I wanted steak for breakfast. I doubted it though. One of the twins then. Whoever it was, was doing a good job of not making any noise, and also masking their ‘style’.  This was obviously a game to keep me guessing.

My fellatrix was moving. She was establishing a rhythm. She pushed forward until her face was pressed into my belly and then pulled back, sucking as she went and lathering my head with her tongue. I heard her gulp as she swallowed what must be a mix of precum, saliva, and shower water, which was still running down my body. She wasn’t fazed, though, and continued to suck me, making my legs tremble with anticipation. I felt myself building to the inevitable release. She wasn’t teasing, wasn’t trying to prolong this. It was a despunking. She wanted my cum and was going to take it from me in the fastest, most efficient, way possible.

My hands were pushed against the tiles and held there for a moment. Then she released them, the message clear. I wasn’t to move. That freed her hands up to start stroking and tugging at my balls, increasing the pleasure. I was starting to think this was Amanda. I figured if she moved to my ass next, it was certainly her.

I was right – the fingers that had been stroking just behind my balls eased backwards and began massaging my taint, before slipping rearward and, using a mix of water and the remnants of the shampoo which I guess had run down my back, slipped into my ass.

She curled her finger and pressed forward massaging my prostate.

I yelped, a spurt of precum leaving my cock. I unconsciously thrust forward, forcing my cock, which had been on the out-stroke, back down her throat. I felt her lips move, she was smiling around my cock.

I so wanted to move my hands, to grip the back of her head and fuck her face, but I played the game. I kept my hands on the wall and my eyes tightly shut. A second finger joined the one in my ass, stretching me out as she began to pump in and out while taking me deep into her mouth over and over again. I couldn’t grip her head, but I was moving my hips, meeting her at every thrust, both our movements getting faster and faster as I felt the tension build and my balls tighten.

She slipped a third finger into my ass and pressed deep, pushing her face right into me, my cock nestling in the back of her throat as she repeatedly swallowed. That was more than I could stand and I came shooting rope after rope of thick creamy spunk directly down her throat.

She stayed in place drinking down my cum and massaging my prostate until she milked me of the last drop I had to give. She slowly withdrew, slipping her fingers out as she pulled her mouth off my cock, lapping at it and cleaning it with her tongue as she did.

Finally I slipped from between her lips sighing in pleasure.

“That was amazing thank you,” I said, at last, able to reach up and clear my eyes.

I looked down at my tawny eyed beauty, straight into a set of smiling, bright blue eyes.

“Happy birthday.”

“Josh?” I said shocked to find him knelt in front of me.

He grinned.

“It was Louise and Amanda’s idea,” he said. “Although I was definitely up for it. They said it would be a nice surprise.”

I looked out of the shower to see all my girls and Louise grinning at me from the bathroom. It was a tight squeeze in there. I looked at Ness, wondering what her reaction would be to seeing me with another guy. She was flushed with arousal, her hand idly stroking the crotch of her jeans. I relaxed.

Josh got to his feet and backed out of the shower, still grinning. His cock was rigid but he obviously didn’t want me to do anything about it.

“Today is all about you,” he said, taking the towel that Louise handed him and drying off.

Ness pulled herself together.

“Finish up,” she said. “Breakfast is almost ready.”

They all trooped out of the bathroom, Josh being led by his cock by Louise. She glanced over her shoulder and winked at me, grinning. I wondered what other plans they had for me for the day.

I dressed and was finally allowed into the kitchen. The place was a mess. There were banners and streamers with “21” and “Happy Birthday Caleb”, strewn all over the place. I appreciated the effort but knew how much it would take to get my kitchen back into a useable condition again.

I plastered a smile on my face and accepted all the salutations and best wishes. Ness came over and leaned up to kiss my cheek.

“Don’t worry,” she whispered in my ear. “They’ve all promised to clean all this shit up afterward. You’ll get your kitchen back, pristine, I swear.”

I looked down into her grinning face. She understood.

I hugged her to me and sat at the table. Ness placed a plate in front of me and I dug in.

After breakfast it was time for presents.

Ness went first. She handed me an envelope, in which was a voucher for a private cooking lesson - with none other than Gordon Ramsay. It was for two people, and I guessed whom she was hoping I would take with me.

“How?” I asked. As far as I knew, the foul-mouthed chef didn’t actually give private lessons.

“It was a charity thing,” she said. “I saw it advertised and won the auction.” I glanced across at Dean who I knew would have picked up the bill. He just smiled at me.

“That’s amazing,” I said. “I wonder if Jules would enjoy…”

Ness slapped my arm. “Don’t you dare,” she said. I grinned at her, giving her a tight hug.

Jules came next. She had bought me the latest smart watch. My parents had bought me a dress watch for Christmas. This was more of an every day one, but it had more gadgets than a bond movie. There was also a T-shirt. I unpacked it expecting it to be some kind of marketing freebee sent out by the watch company the – “I’m wearing a …” type of deal. I held it up and read the message.

“Fuck it!!!”

I laughed. My mother frowned.

The twins, predictably, bought me a present between them. My private pilots license, or at least enough flying lessons to get licensed. I had always wanted to learn to fly, and it was definitely on my to do list. I wondered where I was going to find the time, but then realised that it wouldn’t take much time. The studying would be quick, and it would only be the practical flight hours that would take time. Since I wasn’t healing with Jeevan any more, I had leisure time again. The airport was only twenty minutes away and there was a flying school there.

“Gerry has agreed to spend an hour with you,” said Dean as he approached. “He can fly anything.”

My eyes widened. Dean had told Gerry about us? I was shocked. He must have seen my expression and realized my train of thought.

“Gerry and I served together in the desert,” he said. “He had the same training I did. He recognized the signs. When he came to me, I explained everything. I trust him.”

I looked at Dean and he nodded significantly. If Gerry knew about me, and was agreeing to spend time with me, then it seemed only logical that he was going to allow me to take all his knowledge of flying. That would be amazing. The flight school would simply be a method of getting signed off.

Dean handed me a box. It was quite weighty.

I opened it and my eyes widened.

A year ago, if I would have seen this handgun, I would have thought it looked pretty in burnished steel with a black grip. The eagle logo on the grip would have meant nothing to me. But I had Dean’s knowledge of guns, and I recognized this one.

It was a Wilson Combat 1911 CQB in a Stainless Matte finish. Arguably, the best handgun on the market, bar none.

“There’s an underarm rig and a belt holster in the box,” he said “For when you get your CCP. You’ll figure out which one suits you best. Practice your draws, though, with whichever you decided to use.”

I was so tempted to take it out of the box, but I didn’t. I didn’t think it appropriate to be waving a gun around in the kitchen. I closed the box reverently and thanked him and Cheryl.

Gracie was up next, and she indicated a box which was standing on the floor.

“It’s heavy,” she said as I went to pick it up. She was not wrong. Inside was a pistol safe, identical to the one she had. I grinned at her.

“Thanks,” I said. “I guess I need that.”

Then it was my parents turn.

“I would have loved,” said my father, “to have been able to pass on my father’s ring. Sadly, my sister, your aunt, claimed that.” He looked a little bitter.

“Wait,” I said and stood up, went into the bedroom and retrieved the ring from my dresser drawer. I had placed it there when I got back from New York.

He looked up at me puzzled as I returned and handed him the box.

His eyes widened and filled with tears when he saw what was inside.

“She gave this… to you?” he asked.

I nodded. “She said that your father would want me to have it.”

Reverently he took it out of its box and examined it. Even though it was old, it seemed to have stood the test of time. There was some wear on it, but not much. I guessed that the old man didn’t wear it often.

“We got you one like it,” he said pulling out a small box and handing it to me. “You could wear that one daily, but use my fathers on special occasions?”

I nodded. “That’s a great idea,” I said. “This,” I indicated his father’s ring, “is an heirloom. This,” I held up the ring, which was very similar, “is mine!” I placed it on my right hand It fit perfectly.

I hugged them both, one after the other. Dean’s words ran through my head. I needed to work at my relationship with them. What had happened to me wasn’t their fault. I was directing my anger at the wrong people.

Josh and Louise stepped up then and handed me an envelope.

“Happy birthday.”

Inside the envelope was a gift card – for a hundred dollars. There was also a letter, which I pulled out and read.

Caleb.

Happy birthday.

We’re sure that this will come in useful, perhaps towards some of your books for next year. I don’t doubt that you will get lots of valuable gifts for your birthday, given the circles you move in. If I thought for a second you would accept it, I would have included all the money that Nana Babi gave to me.

Outside of each other, you guys have been the single best and most important thing that ever came into our lives. We were together, sort of, when we met you. You brought us fully together and surrounded us with so much love that we could do nothing other than thrive. The love that I have for Josh, and that he has for me is born from, and supported by, the love you have for us both, and we have for you.

We will always be indebted to you, which brings me to your true gift from the pair of us, although on reflection you may feel it is a curse.

It is an outmoded concept to swear fealty to someone, but we both wish to do so. To you. For the rest of our lives, we promise that wherever you are, and whatever you need, if it is within our power to provide it, it will be yours.

We would love you to make it binding, but we know that you would never consent to such a thing. However, to us, it will always be so.

Don’t worry we’re not going to be hanging around your neck, we will be living our lives, but we both give you our solemn oaths that no matter what, if ever you need us, we will be there.

We both love you.

Louise

Josh had signed his name below hers.

I looked at them both. Louise looked nervous. Josh was smiling uncertainly.

I handed the letter to Mary, who was standing beside me, and threw my arms around the pair of them, pulling them to me and hugging them tight.

“You two,” I said, “are amazing. Don’t think of it as fealty; think of it as an unbreakable bond of friendship, and it goes both ways. I love the pair of you, and if ever you need me, I’m there.”

Mary had read the letter and handed it off to Amanda. She too closed with the pair and joined the hug. The letter went down the line and one by one, Amanda, Jules, and finally Ness joined.

In a strange way, Josh and Louise – the couple – had become annexed to our family.

I started to clear away the detritus from unwrapping gifts but was told to sit. This was work, and I was not allowed to do any of that on my birthday. The girls bustled around and tidied.

“This is too heavy for us,” said Amanda. “Will you move it into the bedroom please?” she indicated the pistol safe. I picked it up and started for the bedroom, wondering why it needed to be moved at that particular moment, but mentally shrugged. It was no big deal.

I walked through the door, carrying the safe and looked for a place to put it down. By the time I’d found somewhere, placed the safe on the floor, and turned around, I had two very naked, very horny twins, blocking my exit.

They showed identical predatory grins.

+++++

I had my second shower of the day before re-joining my family in the living room about ninety minutes later. Ness grinned at me as I walked in “Hungry?” she asked. “I just made some lunch.”

Dean and Cheryl smiled at me as I joined them in the kitchen, and Ness put yet another plate in front of me.

“Having a good day?” asked Cheryl.

“So far,” I said. “It’s been amazing.”

She laughed. “What time are people arriving?”

“You’ll have to ask the party planner,” I nodded in Amanda’s direction – she had just entered the kitchen too and accepted a plate from Ness.

“Anytime after four,” said Amanda.  “Given his sleeping pattern, I didn’t think he’d want it going on too late.”

I was working my way through the plate of food Ness had provided when Louise poked her head in. “Nana Babi is here!” she yelled. I got up from my chair, setting my plate down, and went to the door.

True enough Nana Babi and Claire were walking from her car toward the door. She smiled when she spotted me. “Happy Birthday,” the old lady said, holding her arms out. I went and hugged her, and then helped her up the steps, onto the porch, and into the house.

Louise hugged her and then Claire.

I took them into the living room and made her comfortable in a chair.

“Can I get you something to eat?” asked Ness. Nana Babi looked at her.

“Beautiful” she said. “He is such a lucky boy.”

Ness blushed but smiled. “I’m Ness.”

“Call me Nana Babi,” said the old woman. “Everyone does, and yes, please something to eat would be nice. It was a long trip.”

I quickly looked the old lady over. Her cancer was completely gone. She was in as good a health as she could possibly wish for given her age.

She saw me looking at her. “I’m good,” she said. “I saw my doctors on Wednesday and they are baffled, but they say I am in complete remission. The cancer has gone.”

“I’m so glad,” I said. “You’re an irascible old turkey, but the world is a better place with you in it.”

She grinned.

“There is some sad news though,” she said her eyes twinkling. “I had to fire Claire.”

“Really?” I said, “That is sad. What did she do to deserve that?”

“She’s getting too old,” Nana Babi said. “I want to be surrounded by younger people.”

I looked at Claire to see how she was taking it. They had obviously had long discussions because she was fine. She was sad to not be looking after the old lady anymore, but Nana Babi had set her up for life – she didn’t need to work now. She could stay in the house if she wanted to, but Claire had other plans. As soon as she was certain her replacement was up to speed, she was going to travel, see the world, and get fucked.

I chuckled.

“So,” I said, “have you recruited a replacement yet?”

Nana Babi nodded.

“My Grandson Keenan is going to come and look after me for a while,” she said.

I grinned. “That will be good for him,” I said. “Teach him some responsibility. Don’t let him bully you like you did this one,” I said indicating Claire – Claire flushed, and opened her mouth to protest but Nana Babi beat her to it.

“I’ll keep him on a tight leash,” she said. “He’ll be fine once I break him in.”

Ness turned up with plates for both Nana Babi and Claire. Claire nodded her thanks. The old woman took the plate and then took Ness’s hand.

“You have found yourself a really good one,” she said. “Just because you must share him, doesn’t make him any the less valuable. Keep him close and treasure him. I can see he really treasures you.”

Ness looked at the old lady, and then at me.

“I will,” she said. “And I’m not sharing him, not the way you think. We’re all together.” Ness reached for the nearest twin, it happened to be Amanda, who took her hand and allowed herself to be drawn in. “All of us.”

Nana Babi looked up at her, then at Amanda, and finally at me.

“You are all very lucky,” she said, “to have found each other. Now – is there a fork or am I using my fingers?”

Ness laughed and handed her some utensils.

After we had eaten, Nana Babi reached for her bag.

“I nearly forgot,” she said, revealing an envelope. “Happy birthday.”

She handed it to me.

I opened the envelope to find a store-bought birthday card. It still had the price on a sticker on the back. Two dollars.

“Thank you,” I said, opening the card to read the verse.

The verse inside was typical greeting card fare. Underneath in firm handwriting was the message.

“Caleb, Happy birthday. A small token of my appreciation for all you have done for me and my family.  Esme.”

A check had fallen out of the card when I’d opened it. It was folded and had landed in my lap.

I picked it up, unfolded it, and my jaw dropped.

A cashier’s check.  For five million dollars.

I was speechless.

I looked up at the old lady who was grinning at me. “I wondered if I’d be able to get the last word,” she said. “It seems I did. My accountant has already filed the correct tax forms, so the IRS won’t come looking. But it also means if you don’t accept it – I’ll have wasted an awful lot of money for nothing.”

“I don’t know what to say,” I said.

“Thank you, might be appropriate,” she said. “You know what you did for us, for me. It’s a very small token of my appreciation.”

“This should be for Claire,” I said. “She’s the one who looked after you all these years.”

“I’m fine,” said Claire. “Nana Babi gave me my ‘birthday present’ too.” She grinned. “You remember the ‘incentive’ for Keenan to marry Louise?” I nodded. “She split it between you and me. I did okay.”

I smiled at her.

“I’m glad,” I said. “You deserve it.”

I looked back to Esme. “What about Louise? Surely, she…”

“Don’t worry,” she said, “I’ll take care of Louise, and Josh. You spend your money on you and your girls.”

I nodded to her. I wasn’t hurting for money. In fact, my bank balance was creeping northward each month. There was more coming in than was going out. It didn’t hurt that Dean was picking up all the expenses on the house and that the FBI were still dropping three thousand dollars a month into my account. The money from my hypnotherapy – around a thousand a week now, was just gravy. I really needed to tap Gracie for her accountancy knowledge.

“Thank you,” I said. “It’s too much, but I can see I won’t change your mind.”

Finally, I refolded the check and put it in my wallet. I grinned as I had an idea. I decided, for now, not to mention the money to my girls.

I sat and chatted with Esme and Claire for a while. Louise had drifted over too and joined the conversation.

“I have to warn you,” Esme said to Louise, “Next time you come up, Keenan will be there. Please don’t stop coming to see me just because of him.”

“Why is he going to be there,” asked Louise, looking at the old woman.

“He’s taking over from me,” said Claire. “I’m going to be doing some travelling, so Keenan is going to be looking after Nana Babi.”

“You trust him?” she said. “He can barely look after himself.”

Nana Babi cackled. “He’ll learn,” she said. “Promise me you’ll still come?”

“I don’t know,” Louise said. “Stuff happened.”

“Stuff?” asked Nana Babi.

Louise looked at me, her eyes troubled.

“Tell her,” I said. “She needs to know who she’s letting into her home.”

Louise looked at Nana Babi and took a deep breath. I saw the colour drain from the old lady’s face as Louise told her tale. She pulled no punches, nor did she try and sugar coat her reactions, explaining her own kinks as she went.

“Claire,” said Nana Babi, “I’m sorry but could you please give me an extra month of your time?”

“Of course,” said Claire. “I wasn’t going anywhere anytime soon anyway.”

She put her hand on Louise’s arm. “Thank you,” she said. “I know that was difficult and thank you too for your honesty – that must have made it even harder. Trust me, Keenan will get what is coming to him.”

She looked at me. “Would you be willing to…”

I shook my head. “As tempted as I am, that would be against the law,” I said. “Even if I were willing, I’m under a microscope. It wouldn’t fly.”

“Shame,” she said, “I’ll have to look up some old contacts of my first husband.”

“Don’t tell me what I don’t need to know,” I said.

She nodded, understanding.

I sighed and got up, leaving Louise, Nana Babi, and Claire together. Josh was talking to the twins, and I went to join them.

He looked up. “Everything okay?” he asked, I glanced across to where Louise was sat.

“Louise just told Nana Babi what went on with Keenan,” I said.

“Why?” asked Josh.

I caught him up with the conversation and he shook his head. He stood and walked across to where Louise was seated. On seeing him approach, Louise held out her hand, took his, and pulled him down beside her. The four of them continued to talk.

“Caleb,” Ness shouted me from the kitchen, “Can you help me please?”

Slightly surprised that she would want my help, given I had been banned from the kitchen most of the day, I followed her into the kitchen, and then into the utility room, curious as to what she would need in here.

As I walked through the door, she grabbed me, pushed the door closed behind me, and pinned me up against it.

Her lips were hot and hungry against mine. I felt her hands roaming my body before they zeroed in on my belt, undoing it, and my pants, finally releasing my now very hard cock.

She backed off a little, grinning at me, while still manipulating my member which was very happy to be out in the open.

Then she turned around, bent over the washing machine, and flipped up her skirt – she wasn’t wearing any underwear.

“Fuck me,” she demanded looking at me over her shoulder.  “Don’t make love to me. Use me and dump your cum in me. Today is all about you.”

I fed a thread of TK into the door to ensure that we wouldn’t be disturbed then I stepped up behind her. She was soaked. I swabbed the head of my cock up and down her slit, gathering the lubrication. For a brief moment, my head rested against her little star and she moaned.

“Soon,” she said. “But for now, just fuck me.”

I lined up and pushed gently.

We had had sex several times since I had taken her virginity, but she was still vice tight. She was also incredibly hot. I slid into her, and copious juices squirted out around me as I entered.

She moaned in delight as I pushed about half my length into her. I held myself there for a few seconds before pulling back, and sliding in again, this time getting slightly deeper.

It took several strokes, but I soon had my cock buried completely in her, my pelvis pressed against her perfect ass.

“Oh my god,” she whispered. “That’s deep.”

I realized that, for some reason, I’d never taken her in this position before. I grinned and rested my hands on her hips. Then I began to move.

I started with long slow strokes, pulling almost all the way out each time, before sliding deep inside her once again. She began to pant as I sped up my thrusts.

“Yes,” she panted, “do it, use my cunt.”

I settled into a rhythm, the slap slap of my groin hitting her ass echoing in the small room. At each thrust, my balls would slap against her clit and her juices, which were flowing from her like a river, would squirt onto me soaking the front of my legs. Lewd slurping sounds were coming from her as I pushed in, and she began to make quiet ‘oh oh oh’ noises in time with my thrusts.

Despite what she had said about it being just for me, I could feel her orgasm fast approaching and I wanted to meet her. I wanted her to cum as I pumped my seed deep into her young willing depths. I sped up pounding into her until I felt my own climax approaching.

Ness was whining constantly, her fist in her mouth, trying to suppress the noises she was making. The slapping of my groin against her ass, I was sure, could be heard at least in the kitchen. I hoped that there was nobody in there, but at this point I didn’t care. She squealed into her fist as she came, her tight little pussy clenching and gripping at my cock, and tipping me over the edge. I groaned and pushed deep inside her, unloading my third load of the day into the tight little teen while feeling her ass twitching and trembling under me.

I held onto her for a long moment while my cock twitched and pulsed inside her. I gently eased out, a thick glob of my spunk flowing out of her gaped cunt and down her leg.

“MMMMM” she said. “That was so good.”

Then she pulled herself together and reached for a towel which she had obviously prepared beforehand. She turned and carefully cleaned me up, making sure that I hadn’t got anything on my pants, before wiping herself down. She jumped a little and giggled as the rough towel gave her an aftershock.

Ness stood, allowing her skirt to fall back into its proper place, and then went to open the door to the yard.

“It stinks in here,” she said grinning. “We need to get some air.”

I released the door into the kitchen, and she opened it, and pushed past me.

“Thanks for your help,” she said as she exited the utility room. I walked into the kitchen to find my parents sitting at the kitchen table. My father appeared to be trying to suppress a grin while my mother looked a little flustered.

“Any time,” I said with a small smile. My father actually laughed. I caught his eye, and grinned. He shook his head ruefully.

I walked back into the living room and sat down on the sofa. Jules immediately came over and sat in my lap.

She cuddled into me. “I’m sorry,” she said.

“What for?” I asked.

“The timing of your birthday wasn’t right for me,” she said. “I was hoping it would be, but since I stopped taking the pill, I still haven’t fully regulated.”

“Don’t be silly,” I said, “I don’t expect…”

“I know,” she said. “But I wanted to give you something really special on your birthday.” She looked unto my eyes and I realized what she was saying.

“You know,” I said. “Today is a really special day for me. But I’m glad your timing isn’t right. That gift deserves to be just more than one of a number of experiences in a day. When you are ready, I want you to have the first time you might never have dreamed of, but that you deserve. I know that the girls would love to share that with you. Today, as you all keep saying, is about me. I want that day to be all about you.

“And as for giving me something really special on my birthday – you have – you give it to me every day and I am so grateful for it.”

I kissed her on the nose, and she sniffed. I grinned – “You stink,” she said with a small smile. “Did you enjoy yourself?”

“Very much” I said.

“Good,” she said before snuggling in again, apparently willing to suffer the stench for a while longer.

I heard the front door open and close, and looked up to see Dianna enter. She smiled at me and came over. Jules slipped from my lap and Dianna leaned into kiss my cheek.

“My god you stink of sex,” she said. “What, or rather who, have you been doing?”

“So far,” said Jules, “Josh, then the twins, and then Ness.”

Dianna grinned. “A Happy birthday then?” she said. I laughed.

She reached into her pocket and pulled out an envelope.

“I always find it difficult to buy for birthdays,” she said. “And with you, given your in-laws , its even more so”

“Hey,” I said . “They’re your in-laws too.”

She looked surprised at that, and then smiled. “I guess they are. I’d not considered that.”

There was a two-hundred-dollar gift card in the envelope. I grinned. “Thank you,” I said kissing her cheek again.

She smiled and moved off to talk to the twins. It was just after four and others were starting to arrive.

“Happy birthday,” I turned around only to be pulled into a mop of curly brown hair. Angela.

“My god,” she said in a low voice. “You smell so horny.”

I backed away from her probably a little more suddenly than I should have.

Bob was stood beside her, he was grinning. “Happy birthday” he said handing me a wrapped package.

“Thanks,” I said I was going to open it, but Jules took it from me and put it on the table. “Later,” she said. I shrugged and turned back to the couple.

“I thought you were going to invite us over,” said Angela her eyes twinkling. If Bob hadn’t been standing there, I would have sworn she was flirting with me.

“Sorry,” I said. “Time got away from me. We’ll set a date soon.” She smiled.

More people started to arrive, and I spent the next hour greeting people, getting gifts, and engaging in small talk. We moved out into the yard which had been equally decked out with decorations. There were trestle tables filled with food and drink. I had no idea how they had had the time to put all of this together, but it looked amazing.

Then Maggie arrived. Gerald, his wife, and both his parents were with her.

I had never met Gerald’s wife or his mother. We were introduced, again gifts and small talk.

“So,” said Gerald’s wife. “You’re the one responsible for putting him out of action for a week?”

I looked at her not understanding for a moment, but then the penny dropped. Obviously since I had flattened Gerald’s family jewels, he had been unable to ‘perform’ apparently for a week.

“Yeah,” I said. “Sorry about that.”

“Oh, don’t be sorry,” she said. “His tongue still worked, and he was out of practice anyway.”

She shot me a brilliant smile. I grinned back at her. Gerald just shook his head ruefully.

“Emily,” he said, “is an Empath.”

“Ah,” I said understanding. She looked me up and down, appraisingly, and sniffed.

“I think you’ve already had enough for today,” she said. “But maybe you could come over for dinner one night?”

“Sounds delightful,” I said. “I’ll bring my fiancées” I indicated the twins, Jules and Ness.

She grinned. “Perfect,” she said.

“This is not your birthday present,” Maggie said, handing me an envelope, “but I got you this.”

I opened the envelope and pulled out a concealed carry permit, in my name.

“How?” I asked she just grinned.

“I’m a fed – what can I say.”

I shook my head and put the card in my wallet. “Thanks.”

“Did you speak to your father, and Dianna?” she asked. I nodded. “They are both on board. Dianna has said that she will rescind her oath to the Everson council the instant she sees them.”

Maggie opened her mouth to speak but Dianna tapped her on the shoulder.

“Maggie,” she said. “Can I have a word?”

Maggie nodded and they both went off to talk.

Kyle and Jennifer arrived, followed by Sue and George. Dana had caught a lift with Sue.

They all came over to say happy birthday, hand over gifts, and then everyone but Dana floated off to get food or drink. Jules had stared some music playing and, although it was fairly quiet, provided a backdrop to the conversations buzzing around. There were people in the yard, in the kitchen, and in the living room. I heard someone knock at the door, and since I was closest, I excused myself and went to answer it. Alan and Anne from next door were standing there.

“There’s a tow truck on the street,” Alan said. “I’ve been watching for it.”

I grinned. “Come in and get something to eat and drink,” I said. “I’ll go see.”

I walked out of the door and over to where the driver of the truck was taking a photograph of a car. He had the towing arm hooked up to the car and was obviously ready to take it away.

“Hi,” I said.

“I’m just doing my job,” he said in a tired voice.

“Stealing cars is a job now?” I asked amiably.

“I’m not stealing,” he said. “This is a no parking zone, read the signs.”

“What signs exactly?” I asked. “As far as I saw on the internet this morning, these streets are free parking. There are no cars causing an obstruction, and there are no signs.”

He looked around, obviously expecting to see signs on the light poles. There were none, since I had removed them all that morning.

“There should be…” he began.

“So,” I said, “there are no signs, the car is obviously parked legally, and you are attempting to steal it. I suggest you unhook it, and get the hell out of here before you get arrested.”

“I’ve hooked it up now,” he said. “I’m not allowed to unhook it without payment.”

“Let me get the owner,” I said. “Will you wait?”

He nodded.

I went inside and spotted Gerald.

“Gerald – can I borrow you a minute?” I said.

“Sure.” He replied. He followed me outside. I told him what was going on.

“Hi,” he said going up to the tow truck driver. “You need to drop that car, right now.”

“I can’t,” said the driver. “I’ve hooked it up, I have to either take the car or take payment.”

“Why are you towing it in the first place?” asked Gerald.

“It was reported as parked illegally,” the driver replied.

“And was it?” Gerald asked. The driver looked around once more as if hoping that the signs would magically have reappeared.

“I just do what I’m told,” he said.

Gerald pulled out his creds and showed them to the driver. “I’m telling you to unhook that vehicle and go. Your other option is I place you under arrest for Grand Theft Auto.”

The driver looked from his credentials to him and then to me. I smiled at him.

“There is one vehicle that is parked illegally though,” I said as the driver released the car. “But the owner is a bit of a violent man, so you’ll have to snatch the car.

“I can do that,” he said. “I have a quick pick. I just need to back up to it lift the lift and I can drive away. I can secure it when I’m a little way away.”

I pointed to Pritchard’s car, parked on his drive. “See the sign – no parking disabled?” I created the illusion. The driver grinned. “Do you see any disabled tags on that car?”

“I do not,” said the driver.

It took him less than thirty seconds to back up to Prichard’s car, lift its rear wheels and drive away. Prichard came running out of his house and chased the tow truck down the street.

Gerald was laughing. “You are a bad man,” he said. I grinned at him, and we walked back into the house.

Maggie looked at me, eyebrow raised. “Compulsion?” she asked.

“Illusion,” I said, showing her the memory.

She smiled and shook her head ruefully. “I can see that you are going to be a handful,” she said.

Alan was staring at me mouth open.

“How did you persuade that driver to take Pricktard’s car?” that was apparently everyone’s nickname for our local neighbourhood HOA Nazi.

“The power of green,” I said.  He laughed.

Just then a stretched limousine pulled up outside the house. A distinguished older gentleman, looking to be in his early sixties got out. He was followed by a regal looking, but smaller, woman also aged in her early to mid sixties. Finally, a rather rotund man who looked a little older but stood tall despite his bulk.

I had never met these people before, but I recognized them immediately. The first man was Ezra Everson, the lady was Matilda Bree, and the last Zacharia Everson. Together with Maggie, they made up the Everson Family Council.

I gritted my teeth.

I walked into the living room where the three new ‘guests’ had been taken. Dianna, Maggie, Gerald’s father, and my father were in there, along with Dean and Cheryl and the twins.

“Pops, Cheryl,” I said. “You think we can have the room please?”

Dean nodded, and he and Cheryl rose, and went through the kitchen onto the deck. I closed the living room door.

“So,” said Ezra, “You’re Caleb.” He looked down his nose at me. “I’m Ezra Everson. Leader of the Everson Council.” He held out his hand and I shook it. He had a handshake like a wet fish.

“Zacharia Everson,” said the fat one also holding out his hand. Another wet fish.

“Matilda Bree,” announced the woman, holding her hand out like she expected me to kiss it. I gave it a weak shake, she gave me a dirty look.

All the time this was going on I could feel tendrils poking and prodding at my shield. I had double checked it on the way in, and had, in a fit of paranoia, actually constructed a second layer of shielding inside the first as I had that first day almost a year ago. It ate up more energy – but after all my training I had plenty to spare. I wanted to be certain I was protected.

“Happy birthday,” said Ezra. I nodded at him.

“Thanks,”

“Normally,” he said, “we would be coming to remove your amulet. But since it seems that is not necessary, we thought we would come and introduce ourselves. Save you having to come to us.”

“That was never going to happen,” I said in a measured tone.

Zacharia smiled. “Now now,” he said, “there’s no need for hostility. We’re not here to cause any difficulties. We just have to take care of a few formalities and then we’ll get out of your way and let you enjoy the rest of your party.”

“And would that formality include the oath?” I asked.

Ezra smiled. “Precisely. Everyone, including Dianna and Maggie, as well as your parents have sworn it. Its traditional.”

I noticed that Matilda was looking at my father, a frown on her face. I saw her stretch out a tendril toward him and blocked it.

“Mind your manners,” I said.

She gasped.

“How dare you.” she said. “I have every right to…”

“No,” I said. “You have no rights. You forfeited those rights when you used Compulsion to bind all our family line in slavery to your council. I would ask Maggie the legal position in this; perhaps there is a crime for each of you to answer for. But even if not, I am telling you now, I have released ALL those bound by your oath, and I most certainly will not be swearing any oaths to you.

“Nor will I,” said Mary.

“Nor I,” added Amanda.

“And I,” said Dianna, “hereby give notice that I am rescinding my oath. The council has been, for generations acting illegally and without morals, using the very power that they were supposed to be protecting from – to enslave others. I cannot and will not be a party to that.”

“And I,” said Maggie, “hereby give notice that my oath is also rescinded, and I tender my resignation from the council effective immediately.”

I felt a heavy weight pounding against my shields. Matilda was using everything she had, to try and get through.

“I’ll give you one warning,” I said. “If you do not desist, I will strip you of your power.”

The weight lifted. She stared at me eyes wide.

“As of now,” said Maggie “the Stott family are creating their own council. We will no longer answer to the Eversons in any way. As the Matriarch of the Stott line, I will lead the council. Gerrard Cross, and Nathaniel Stott will be members from the Stott family. Dianna Everson will serve as a liaison to the Everson line.”

Once more I saw threads of power reaching out from Matilda, this time toward Maggie. This time I reached across and stripped Matilda’s shields. It was easy. She was more powerful than Maggie, but not by much.

“I warned you,” I said.

“No!” she screamed. “Please!”

I held her mind with mine, not entering, just allowing her to feel my control over her.

“Caleb,” it was Maggie. “Don’t.”

“Remember,” I said to Matilda, “that it was the person you were attempting to violate that saved you.”

I released her mind. Her shields snapped back up.

“Now,” I said. “I think our business here is done. There’s food and drink out on the deck if you would care for some.”

Ezra glared at me before shaking his head once. They moved swiftly out of the living room, past Dean, who I noticed had been loitering in the hall, and out the front door. By the time I made it to the door only Ezra had not made it into the limousine.

“You have made a grave error,” he said. “All of you.”

He stepped into the car.

The chauffeur closed the door, got in, and the car glided away.

“They decided not to stay then?” asked Dean as we returned to the house.

“They forgot my present,” I said. “I guess the guilt was too much.”

He grinned at me, then his face turned serious.

“Is that it?” he said.

“I doubt it,” I said. “I think this was just the opening salvo.”

There was a knock on the door, and I turned back to open it, there were a number of people standing there. Jeevan and Meena with Yasmin and Callum were at the front. I embraced Jeevan and got a peck on the cheek from Meena. Yasmine and Calum both shook my hand, wishing me a happy birthday. I directed them through the kitchen into the yard where the food was.

Standing behind them, almost queueing to get in, were Kevin and Carys with her new boyfriend. I greeted them all warmly and gestured them into the house, once again pointing them in the direction of the Kitchen and the yard.

Carys and her boyfriend went through, but Kevin froze, his face suddenly a mask of surprise. He was looking into the living room, where Dean was sitting talking to Cheryl.

“Dean,” I said. He turned to look and spotted Kevin. His face, too, set.

Slowly he rose from the seat he had been sitting on. Kevin remained stiff, as if he couldn’t believe what he was seeing.

Dean walked toward my Sensei, looking like he’d seen a ghost. Finally, they were stood toe to toe. I wondered what would happen next. I didn’t expect what did.

They threw their arms around each other, pulling together in a tight embrace, and wept.