Victor turns around abruptly to the voice. He sees the figure from the beach standing at the bedroom door. Leo jumps in front of Victor and creates a red fireball in his hand.
“Who are you?” Leo demands.
An older gentleman appears from the dark glow, dressed all in black. He stands with his hands clasped in front of him. His hair is gray and silver, neatly trimmed and combed back. His goatee is well-groomed and shaped around his sharp chin. A small, charcoal gray pendant of a raven’s head is pinned to his lapel. He stands a little taller than Victor and has a lean, toned figure. His eyes are the same dark brown color as Victor’s.
“Did I interrupt the two of you? You must have been doing something since you’re both in your underwear,” the warlock comments.
Leo makes his fireball brighter. “I asked, who thefuckare you?”
The warlock waves a hand and extinguishes Leo’s fireball. “Young Warlock, has anyone told you you should respect your elders?”
“You’re no elder of mine,” Leo sneers through his teeth.
Leo and Victor keep their eyes fixed on the older man as he steps forward. “I just wanted to check out the new empath,” the warlock remarks.
Victor lowers Leo’s arms from blocking him and steps forward. “Well, you’ve got to check me out.”
“In more ways than one, to say the least,” the older man says sarcastically as he raises an eyebrow. “Now, I’m sure Derek wouldloveto hear that his husband is half-naked with the warlock he’s supposed to be mentoring. And I’m sure the council would have a field day if they found out one of their prized mentors is fraternizing with a student.”
Leo grows angry. “Derek can’t do anything where he is. And the council already knows about this relationship.”
“Do they now?” the warlock questions. “Well, I guess I’ll have to have a long discussion with them.”
Victor holds back Leo before he charges. “Who are you?” Victor asks calmly.
The older warlock takes a step closer. “That’s not important, young empath.” He looks deep into Victor’s eyes. “You have your mother’s spirit. Your grandmother’s too.” He leans in closer, placing his hands behind him. “Hell, even your uncle’s. The Russo line flows within you.” The man turns and walks away. “We’ll see each other again.”
He stops and glances over his shoulder. “Don’t worry, it won’t be anytime soon.” The entire room goes completely dark. When the moonlight slowly appears again, lighting up the room, the mysterious warlock is gone.
Leo rushes to the nightstand to grab his phone. “We need to get Superior Charles here now. Maybe even Jeanette.”
Victor keeps looking at where the man stood. “Don’t bother. There’s nothing they cando.”
Leo looks up at Victor with a look of shock. “What are you talking about, ‘don’t bother?’They need to investigate who he was.”
Victor walks over and stops next to where he last saw the mysterious man. “I already know who it was,” he says, looking forward as though he is still looking at the man who was once there with him.
“Who was it?” Leo questions.
Victor remains quiet, still gazing at the blank space in front of him. “That was my uncle,” he finally says.
Leo drops his phone and his jaw. “Are you certain?”
Victor nods slowly in response. “Quite. I could see my mother in his gaze. They both have the same twitch with their left eyebrow when judging someone.”
“All the more reason to get Superior Charles involved,” Leo suggests as he walks over toVictor.
“No,” Victor speaks sharply over his shoulder.
“Why not?” Leo demands.
“This isn’t something a coven can take care of. And last time I checked, I’m not part of any coven,” Victor responds calmly.
“What are you talking about, Vic? Why does it matter if you’re part of a coven or not?” Leo questions as he walks around the bed.
“This is a family matter,” Victor proclaims. “Getting a coven involved, especially anyone I’m not incorporated with, will only worsen things.”
“And how do you know all this?” Leo questions.
