Page 122 of Legacy of Danger
"The thing wants the four of you together." Her eyes seemed to sink into her head, giving her a tired, haunted expression. "I've... heard of such things before."
Vaughn studied her poker face until her gaze wavered. First time the façade had cracked. "You've more than heard of these things, haven't you?" A twinge flitted across his temple. Damn it.
She blinked. "Doesn't matter. What matters is that you must be at your strongest and in control of your powers when you confront that thing. That time isn't now. Not yet."
Garrison whipped his head around. "How do you know details about our powers?"
"Truly, I don't know all that you are able to do," Ruth said. "But I'm convinced that if you pool your gifts, when the time is right, you can destroy the creature."
"If we can't?" Shelby asked.
"Your destruction will provide the foundation, the fuel, for something truly evil."
Kerr rubbed his leg. "Well, that's super good news."
"Until you are all strong enough," she flicked her eyes to Shelby, "you need to stay separate. That thing will wait to attack when you're all together."
Garrison glared at her. "Seriously, I'm done with the oracle act. Spill." He thunked a fist on his palm. "I've had enough. You're not leaving until you explain how you know these things."
Silence. The wind blew. A shutter creaked.
No one exhaled.
Ruth and Odie could have been carved in marble, so still did they stand.
She bit her lip and glanced at Odie. "We are very old."
"Like in your forties?" Kerr quipped.
No one laughed.
Ruth swallowed. "I'm actually your great-great many times great-grandmother."
"—the fuck?" Vaughn said.
Everyone started talking at once.
Garrison barked, "Wait a minute. Hold on. Just hold on." He stared at Ruth.
"Don't, Gar. You promised," Shelby breathed.
He stood and faced Ruth across the room. His hands rolled into fists as he stared at her.
Odie stepped in front of his wife. "Don't what?"
With a hoarse cry, Ruth rubbed her temples.
"Quit it, my friend." Odie physically held up his wife for a solid twenty seconds.
Garrison winced. "It's done." Tight lines formed next to his grim mouth. "I don't know how it's true, but she's not lying."
"You would doubt her?" The Cajun didn't let go.
"He needed to do it," Ruth murmured, no longer sagging against her husband. "You know it's true. We're hundreds of years old."
No reason to doubt it. Lie-detecting brother had checked.
"Distant relative, why are you here? And how is it possible for you to be this old?" Garrison asked.
