Legacy: The Mark of Merlin. Gerald Pruett

what I found out, Ellen’s uncle believes that if too many dogs and cats would get spayed and neutered then they will become extinct within thirty years.” Ellen politely grinned while thinking about what was said. When Ellen shrugged at the thought, Jared continued with, “Anyway, Ellen. Your uncle has been out of prison for the past seven years, and for the past five years, he’s been living in Hannibal, Missouri while working as a cook at a twenty-four hour diner. He has had runins with the police during those seven years—mainly for peace disturbance—but no arrests. Anyway, Mr. Bradley. Mrs. Bradley. What do you two do for a living?”

      Harris answered first with, “I work in the human resources department at a children’s hospital in Savannah, Georgia.”

      “And there’s a daycare facility not far from the children’s hospital that my parents’ own,” Allyson added. “And I work there with my parents, Martin and Paige Webster and my sister Stacie. Harris and I had actually met at a Chinese restaurant near the two facilities. We ordered the exact same meal and when the worker announced what meal was ready, Harris and I stepped up to claim it.”

      “Okay, well, it’s not really necessary for me to know how you two had met,” Jared assured her. “I do have forms for one of you two to fill out… in order to make it official for you two to become Ellen’s guardians.”

      “Of course,” Harris and Allyson said.

      “I’ll leave the forms with you two to look over and fill out, and tomorrow I’ll be back to pick them up,” Jared said as he was opening his briefcase. As an afterthought, he questioned, “You two aren’t returning to Savannah tonight, right?”

      “Right,” Allyson quickly said. “That we’re not, that is.”

      Jared handed Allyson the forms as Harris added, “Until Sonya is released from the hospital, we’re not going anywhere.”

      “Sonya?” Jared questioned as Allyson quickly gazed over the forms.

      “Sonya is the name we chose for Mike and Tanya’s daughter,” Harris explained.

      “Plus we still have Mike’s funeral to prepare for,” Allyson added as she looked up from the forms.

      “What about Tanya’s funeral?” Jared quickly asked.

      “My sister’s funeral will be held in London as soon as my parents and I can get her body back there.”

      Jared nodded before telling Ellen, “I can get you numbers to grief counselors if you would like.”

      “I wouldn’t like,” Ellen quickly said while sounding insulted.

      “You had lost your brother and sister-in-law last night, and—as I understand it—your mother last June, so it would be understandable if you would like to see a grief counselor,” Jared pointed out.

      “Mike’s and Tanya’s deaths were sudden and tragic, and I want to cry each time I allow my thoughts to think about them,” Ellen began as her eyes watered with tears. “However, my mom was diagnosed with a brain tumor last December, so I had time to prepare for it… not that my mom’s death hurts any less than Mike’s or Tanya’s—because it does hurt just as deep and I miss her just as much today as I did the day she died… more so, in fact.”—Ellen wiped the tears from her eyes— “Anyway, my point is, I don’t need a grief counselor.”

      Jared slightly hesitated before nodding and saying in an accommodating tone, “Okay… but if you would find yourself wanting to talk to a grief counselor, I can help you find one.”

      “The fact that you can find grief counselors is noted,” Ellen assured him.

      “Okay, well, I’ll be back tomorrow for the paperwork, and if for some reason you won’t be here or next door, just give me a call,” Jared said before gesturing towards the forms. “My number is on the front page of the forms.”

      “We’ll call if we need to,” Allyson assured him.

      Jared nodded before saying, “Okay.” He then slightly waved. “I’ll see you folks later.”

      “Bye,” Ellen, Harris, Allyson and Jane said. Jared nodded before turning and walking out.

      Once the door had shut behind Jared, Jane said, “It’s a long shot, Ellen, but perhaps your uncle could give you clues on how to find your family’s Legacy.”

      “That’s a door I’m not sure if I want open,” Ellen said as the phone rang. “But I will answer the phone.” Jane just grinned before Ellen turned and walked away. Seconds later, Ellen answered the phone with a traditional, “Hello… Sure, one moment. Harris, it’s for you; it’s your mother.”

      Harris stepped up, and as he took the phone, he told Ellen, “Thank you.” He then put the phone to his ear. “Yes, Mother.”

      “I thought you should know that we have arrived in New York, and our flight to Kansas City, Missouri won’t leave for another three hours, and that flight is Flight 204. If the flight is on time, your father and I will be in Kansas City, Missouri in six to seven hours.”

      “Okay, we’ll be at the airport waiting for you,” Harris assured her.

      “So were you able to see my granddaughter?”

      “We were. We had also given her the name of Sonya Paige Anderson.”

      “I like it… except for the Anderson part.”

      “Mother,” Harris said in a tone as if to tell her, ‘don’t start that subject.’

      “Okay, you’re right. Sonya should carry her father’s name. Anyway, your grandmother believes that Sonya would have the mark of Merlin.”

      “And she does,” Harris informed. “Her power is over the beasts. At some point throughout history Michael and Ellen’s ancestors had lost touch with their Legacy. Ellen didn’t know about it, and I doubt that Michael did either.”

      “Which is what your grandmother had guessed. Mmm, Sonya has power over the beasts though?”

      “Is there anything wrong with that?” Harris questioned.

      “No-no, that’s perfectly acceptable. Our line had shifted from the power over the beasts to the power over the Fire and Water in 1432, during the onset of the Wizard’s Armistice. Several families thought that it was beneficial to our survival to strengthen our line through marriages than through the Dark Ritual. Anyway, I’ll see you in a few hours.”

      “I’ll see you then. Bye, Mother.”

      When Harris hung up the phone, Ellen asked, “Was there anything wrong?”

      It took a second before it had dawned on Harris as to what Ellen was referring to. He then quickly assured her, “No; nothing’s wrong. My mother was just saying as to how our line had shifted from the power over the beasts to the power over the Fire and Water in the 1400’s.”

      “So we might be closer related than we thought,” Ellen said.

      “Our common ancestor is still too far in the distant past for us to be considered blood relatives though,” Harris assured Ellen.

      “True,” Ellen agreed.

      “Anyway, my parents are in New York and they won’t be boarding a plane to come here for another three hours.”

      “Meanwhile we should start calling funeral homes to arrange Michael’s funeral,” Allyson prompted.

      “Can you do it?” Ellen quickly requested of Allyson.

      Allyson pleasantly grinned before saying, “Sure. I’ll need a phonebook.”

      “I’ll get one,” Ellen quickly said before she dashed away.

      Ellen was gone for only a second when Jane told Allyson the name of the funeral home that Michael had used four months ago for his mother’s services.

      Allyson