Page 142 of Home to the Hollow

To survive, we must protect the young.

Handler

Fated mate

Week Two

Jolene tore out of the meeting like the hounds of Hell were after her—an apt comparison given that Boone was damned near running to keep up. It was odd to see him pay so much attention to one woman—especially one who seemed intent on getting away from him as quickly as possible.

It’s so curious, in fact, that I followed them to see what was going on.

Edgar is almost pinning her to the companion paddock, and while she doesn’t look like she’s trying to get away from him, Jolene is clearly not charmed by his looming presence. She finally socks him in the gut and opens the gate to the companion area while he’s stumbling backwards. A piercing whistle echoes through the parking lot and two large cats come bounding out. While Boone is still getting his bearings, she stomps off to her car, jumps in with the cats, and roars off like a Duke boy.

Damn, that woman is intriguing.

Leaving Edgar to his grumbling, I head back inside. Despite the intensity of my vision last week, I haven’t received further instructions on how to handle the situation here. My mission in Whistler’s Hollow was assigned well before Jolene decided to venture home, but I can’t help wondering if this was an event that the others foresaw. It’s unusual to station those of my kind outside of our temples, and placing me in the one town where a lost one came home is suspect. Lost ones don’t usually return to their enclaves even if they do emerge.

I frown as I consider that fact, wondering if I’m being kept in the dark purposefully or if my uniqueness is yet again separating me from the flock. As far as I know, I’m the only male of my species, and no one has been forthcoming on how it was possible. I suppose science and genetics have their part, but when the females mate, the male offspring donotinherit the gifts of their mothers—until me.

And everyone has made sure I’m aware of my status from the moment I gained my powers.

When I reach my classroom, I sit down at my computer and open the large file sent by the Society. It takes a few minutes to print, but once I have the pages in front of me, I begin to read.

Name:Jolene Athena Whitley

Adopted by:Andrew Justin Whitley and Eloise Clara Whitley (neeCulverson)

Species:Human? (Possible Hybrid- markedlost onein 2007)

Adoptive Parents’ Species:Human (Andrew); Witch (Eloise)

Parents’ Occupations:Professors at State U (Eloise uses as cover)

Society Status:Agent (Eloise) and Read-In (Andrew)

Notes from Andromeda Bane:

Jolene has suffered from variable blackouts throughout her childhood. There is no medical reason for the condition and we believe it is related to her suppression spell—though that was not placed by us. There is little information on where or how she appeared prior to Eloise and Andrew being recruited to adopt her. I can only assume her spell was placedbeforeshe was brought to the Society. She has not emerged during her time in high school, and we are unsure if she will do so in the future. She will be easy enough to keep an eye on at State U due to our agents there, but when she graduates, she will need a Guardian if she still has not emerged. I have never seen a child with the memory lapses and fog so completely integrated into her psyche. Advise Society keep a close watch on this particular lost one. Her conditions are reminiscent of another, but different enough that I cannot give a concrete determination of fact.

The notes diverge after that—the file contains testimonials from adults and her adoptive parents from her childhood, information from her time at State U, and more transcripts of her adventures in Europe provided by her eventual Guardian, Saoirse Viola O’ Flanagan. There’s nothing in here that tells me why she feels so special or what to expect from her reappearance.

She does seem to attract trouble, though.

A noise outside my window distracts me and I walk over to see the subject of my current musings standing at the gate of the companion area, seemingly having a serious conversation with her animals. She seems particularly concerned with the cats, but once she finishes, she strides away with her ponytail bobbing. I can tell she’s on a mission and I’d bet she’s going to her classroom now that most of the rest of the staff have left for the day. The scene at the meeting wasn’t horrible, but I imagine if the ladies cornered her in the nearly empty art wing it would escalate.

It concerns me that no one seems to know what she is or why she’s still unemerged. Paired with the antagonism of people from her past, I worry an explosion may be imminent. Unemerged supes are powder kegs as it is—especially ones that experts feel have high viability for late emergence like Jolene. Their emotions frequently push the boundaries of the suppression spell until they break free, and that’s when everything goes to shit fast.

As mysterious as Jolene seems to be, it could be a damned meltdown in the middle of town.

I’ll consult my source again when I get home, but for the moment, I need to finish my classroom prep so I can try to catch her before she leaves.

* * *

Followingmy disastrous encounter with Jolene, I’m certain I shouldn’t interact with her until I can glean more information from the vision. Beyond my typical clumsiness with women, I managed to freak her out when we spoke about her relationship with the doctors. The color left her face entirely, and the shift in the atmosphere of the room was palpable.

I left because I could feel her discomfort, and the last thing I want to do is be associated with negative emotions. I haven’t worked out exactly why she calls to me yet, but I know for certain that Jolene Whitley is significant. If I could just interpret that killer vision from last week, perhaps I’d have a better foundation for my intuition.

Or if any of the others of my kind would assist me with interpretation, it would help.

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