Page 78 of Soul

“What’s the emergency? Why are you all dressed like that?” Warden demanded as we entered the clubhouse.

“We woke this morning and found this on the doorstep, her name’s Grace,” Soul said, and Warden looked surprised.

“Okay,” he drawled. “Not quite an emergency.”

“Oh, it is. Wait for it,” I replied.

Grace was awake, and she’d just pooped her diaper. Her face screwed up, and she shrieked. When I didn’t respond straight away, she lost her temper again, and water hit Warden and Vogue, who were closest in the face.

Soul and I smirked as we wore rain macs and remained dry.

“What the fuck!” Warden yelled.

Grace took offence to his tone and smashed him with water, and this time, Slasher and Rook, who were approaching, also got it. Dynamo jumped back with wide eyes.

“Holy shit. She’s a watery version of Vogue!” Aura cried from a safe distance.

Grace was amping up even as I moved her towards a table. Random waves of water hit people in their faces and bodies as I got her on the table and quickly changed her diaper.

When I returned, everyone looked at me in surprise or horror.

“Where did she come from?” Undertaker finally asked.

“My ex-husband dumped her on my doorstep this morning,” I said.

Soul explained what had happened as I rocked Grace back and forth. Her eyes were searching the room and latched onto the brother called Anubis.

Grace squawked and popped a spit bubble. Anubis moved, and Grace’s gazed followed him. Soul snatched her from my arms and plopped her in Anubis’s. He looked horrified, but Grace settled immediately.

“I want him,” Soul snapped, pointing at Anubis.

“He’s all yours until Grace learns control,” Warden agreed as he wrung his tee out.

“Don’t I get a say?” Anubis asked as Grace sighed, wriggled, and closed her eyes.

“No!” Soul exclaimed.

“Nope,” Warden added, amused.

“Should have voted the other way,” Anubis complained.

“Yup,” Warden muttered with a grin. “So, you’ve got a problem. What do you need?”

“We need to build a home here on the compound asap. And we need to move here immediately. Could we use a guest house while ours is being built? Grace will flood Bryony’s, and I don’t know how we can explain the water damage she’ll cause. Also, Bryony has no experience with this type of ability, and frankly, neither do I,” Soul explained.

Warden studied us, and for a moment, I thought he was going to be a bastard. A slow grin crossed his lips.

“Welcome to the family, baby Grace,” Warden said. “Bryony, get together with Iona and Lindy and make a list of everything you need. Then you three can go shopping. Lissy and Rosalea, could you clean the biggest guest house? Undertaker, phone the builders and get them in for Soul. Are you selling your other house?” he asked, and at Soul’s nod, Warden continued, “Also, call the realtor. Blister, organise the prospects to move their furniture and…”

I tuned Warden out as he gave orders. Anubis was standing stiffly with Grace, but he was holding her gently. I searched for Maci and Ham, and they looked a bit bemused.

The door opened, and a stranger walked in. Her gaze swept the room.

“I’m looking for Warden and Soul,” she said.

“Who are you?” Warden asked.

“Jenson?” Soul demanded, and the woman grinned at him.

---