Champions of Serenity :Gathering the Circle

Chapter Ten

Emily finished sorting the files that Phil wanted into his various boxes. She couldn’t help but think about the disaster of her vacation a couple of months ago. Karen still wasn’t taking responsibility for ruining it by acting like a complete bitch. She wished Jared would call; he could always make Karen act like a human being when she was being so difficult. Besides, she missed her friend and Manhattan was so far away from Los Angeles.

“Emily? What’s the matter?”

Phil’s voice jarred her from her thoughts and she realized she had been staring out the window of his office for five minutes chewing on her thumbnail. She started guiltily and hid her hand behind her back as if to remove the offending nail.

“I’m sorry, Phil. I was just missing Jared and being angry with Karen and wishing that Debra would write. Sounds silly, huh?”

Phil got up from his desk and walked over to stand next to his friend and intern. He put his arm around her shoulder and let her lean against him in a half hug. He had heard all about the disastrous visit up north to someone that Emily had been pen pals with for years. He almost wished he knew more about this person, she sounded interesting from the snippets that Emily shared.

“No, Em, it doesn’t. The way you talk about these people, they are very important to you. In the time I’ve gotten to know you, I know that you care very deeply for those you consider your friends. Maybe someday, I’ll be a good enough friend so that you will introduce me to your other friends.” He smiled down at her, giving her a teasing wink.

Emily really did enjoy working with Phil and in his office. She was excited to watch what her professors were teaching her in action. Phil was a great boss and he listened to her ideas and even used a few. But she had a problem thinking of him meeting some of her friends and family. He was too serious to really like Mike and Karen would scare him off in a heartbeat. Grant was really into his medical courses and only took time off to go on vacations with his parents. And Jared, well, everyone liked Jared. Then there was Debra. She just didn’t know, she knew that Debra and Darin were dating, but there was something about Debra that just didn’t quite fit with her brother.

“Well, if you want to meet those in town, my folks are giving a big bar-b-que out at the house next weekend. They asked me to invite you if I thought you would like it. I should warn you, it will be one of those socialite parties with every star and want to be star there kissing up to my dad.”

“I would be honored to come, Emily. And I believe I know the rules of engagement enough to fend for myself in such a sea of sharks.”

Both of them laughed. It cleared the air and Emily was able to get back to work. Phil watched her pick up the empty carton that had held several files and leave for her own desk. She was still his only friend in town. He had many business acquaintances and contacts, but it wasn’t the same. Maybe, if he were lucky, he would get to be friends with some of Emily’s friends. If they were anything like she was, they would be the group he had needed and wanted all his life.

Armed with a bottle of wine and a large bouquet of flowers, Phil arrived at Emily’s parent’s home a few minutes early. He figured that most people would be fashionably late and try to make grand entrances and he wanted to avoid that like the plague.

Darin answered the door and looked Phil over before stepping aside. “So you are my sister’s boss. You don’t look old enough to be a business tycoon.”

Not sure what to make of this and hoping that Emily’s brother had a good sense of humor, Phil chuckled as he held out his hand to Darin. “To tell you the truth, I feel a lot older than I look. And I would be a lot older if your sister didn’t make sure I laughed once a day. But then again, I’m not nearly the tycoon my father is, not yet anyway. You would be Darin?”

“Yeah, that’s me.” He took Phil’s hand and shook it, surprised that it was neither too hard nor too soft a touch. “You have a real man’s handshake, Phil. That’s good to know. Emily was right, you aren’t one of those fly by night want-to-bes. C’mon in and meet the gang.”

Phil stepped in, not exactly sure what Darin had meant about the real man’s handshake but he was sure he would know by the end of the party. When Darin led him out onto a huge covered patio, Phil was impressed. He handed the wine to Emily’s father and the flowers to Emily’s mother, saying all that was right about their daughter’s work performance. Then he was accosted, it was the only word he could think of that fit what happened next.

“Oh my Gawd, Em, is that hunk over there your boss? And you’ve been hiding him from me all this time? That isn’t fair.”

Emily looked around and saw Phil talking with her parents and smiled at him. “Yes, Karen, that’s Phil. But you are going out with Grant or had you forgotten that?”

“Oh him, what he doesn’t know won’t hurt him. Besides he’s still in Greece or Turkey or some such place. Please, Em, introduce me.”

Without waiting, Karen left Emily’s side and walked over to Phil and took his hand. He turned, a little surprised at being interrupted in a conversation with Mister Hollingsworth, and found himself greeted to a chic young blond oozing with false charm. All his hackles went up and with each word she spoke he got shivers down his spine. This was one of those sharks that Emily said would be there and then he got another surprise as some of what she was saying filtered into his mind. She was Emily’s best friend Karen.

“Hi, I’m Karen. I don’t know if Emily has told you anything about me, but she’s said you are a super boss to work for. I was wondering if you had another opening for summer help. I know, I’m not in pre-law or anything like that, but I just find it so fascinating to see the American Dream in action.”

When she stopped for a breath, Phil tried to pry his hand from her grip. “Hello, Karen. Yes, Emily has told me about you and no, I don’t have any more openings right now. Can you please…?”

“Oh well, that’s okay. I probably couldn’t stand all that filing anyway. I’m much more of a ‘hands on’ person. I guess that’s why I’m in pre-med, I like mixing things together to see what happens in the end. Anyway, how do you like it here so far? Emily said you came from Boston. That must be so cool. What’s it like there? Do you have one of those colonial houses with the huge columns holding up a balcony around the second floor? And do you really have your own yacht? Do you ever sail it around here? Can I go out with you if you do? I love sailing.”

“Karen, shut up.” A dark, curly headed young man walked up and shoved Karen away from Phil. “Give the guy some breathing room. You would think he was a piece of prime rib the way you are slobbering all over him.” Silently, Phil thanked the young man, whoever he was.

“Go away, Mike. Can’t you see that I’m talking to Phil Bennington here?”

“All I can see is you suffocating the poor man with your chatter. He hasn’t even had a chance to say hello to anyone else.” He turned to Phil and pointed to where a large gathering of people had begun. “There is the up and coming acting talent this year. Isn’t it pathetic?”

Phil didn’t know where to turn next. Between the argument that heated up with Karen and Mike and the sudden interest in himself by those that Mike waved to, he just wanted to crawl away and die. People here didn’t take the subtle hints to go away as they did back in Boston. In fact, some of the people here were downright rude when it came to being in his face. And no matter where he went, Karen’s voice haunted him as she found yet another reason to try to talk to him.

“It’s okay; you can duck out the back door now. I’ll cover for you.” The voice belonged to Darin, Emily’s older brother. He pointed to a gate in the fence so Phil could make his escape. “Emily told me to rescue you and she apologizes for Karen. I apologize for Karen too. She’s been nothing but a pain the ass all summer. I like you, Phil, and I hope that we can become friends.”

Phil shook Darin’s hand again in thanks and ducked out the gate that was offered. Some of the things Emily had said about Karen came back to him and he shuddered. No wonder Emily was so hesitant about introducing them. Karen was everything he had left behind in Boston, only much more forward and rude. But at least her brother was on the level and her cousin wasn’t that bad either. Maybe he could find a way of being friends with the rest of them and leave Karen out.

As Phil turned the corner of the house, he stopped and groaned. Karen was leaning against his car, watching for him. It was too late to duck back behind the building as she had seen him and waved to him, calling out his name. He didn’t hear what made her turn and look back to the front door, but the reply made him wish it was legal to shoot people.

“That’s okay; I’m going to get a ride from Phil. I’ll call you later.” Her voice carried on the evening breeze like a death knell of cathedral bells. But by the time he arrived at his car, Phil had his mask in place. “You don’t mind, do you, Phil? I need a ride to the hospital. I just got a call and my grandmother was rushed there from a bridge party after having a massive stroke. Emily would have taken me, but it would be rude to ask her to leave a party her parents are throwing. And since I saw you leaving through the back gate, I figured I could just catch a ride with you. Please say you don’t mind.”

“You will have to give me directions, Karen, but I’ll be happy to take you to the hospital.” Phil opened the door for her and then walked around to his side of the car. He could feel the grappling hooks burying themselves deeper into his flesh and wished for the thousandth time he could be as rude to some of these people as they deserved.

Three hours later, Emily walked into the waiting room and gave an exasperated sigh. “Phil, go home. I’ll wait with Karen now. She really shouldn’t have imposed on you like that. And you really should have told her to call a cab if she didn’t want to ride with me. I didn’t think she’d rope you into waiting with her or I wouldn’t have let you take her. I’m really sorry.”

Phil stood and pulled Emily into a side hallway away from Karen’s line of sight. “Emily, I like you, I consider you a good friend, and I would love to do more things with you and your family. But I cannot stand Karen. One more minute in her company and I could be forgiven for murder. Will you please warn me next time she’s going to be at something you want to invite me to? I will gladly come if she’s not there. And I hope you don’t take it the wrong way.”

Emily giggled a little and patted Phil’s arm. “It’s okay, I do understand. Karen takes a lot of getting used to and it’s even harder when she’s trying to be annoying. At least you are one of my friends she wants to get to know, so she spoke to you like a human being.” A frown moved across Emily’s face and then she smiled at him again. “Don’t worry; I won’t subject you to her again. I’ll see you at work on Monday.”

As he made his way down the corridor to the main door, he heard Karen’s voice call after him. He didn’t stop, pretending not to hear and then heard her take a deep breath to shout at him. But the shout didn’t follow as an angry nurse stepped up and said something to Karen. Some women belonged gagged and leashed and Karen was one of them. For a moment he wondered which friend it was that Karen didn’t like and wouldn’t talk to. He was tempted to ask so that he could find out what he had to do to get that same distinction. Then he realized he never would, in her eyes, he was Philip Andrew Bennington the Third and nothing he ever did would change that. He offered his silent congratulations to the unnamed friend for escaping her talons and then made his way home.

Shægnek’s hand paused over the wood. Shavings were on the ground as she carefully carved the face into the wooden animal. The set was almost complete and would depict a lovely woodland scene. She wasn’t really happy the way the wolf’s coat curled under at the belly; it seemed a little too rough. Picking up a piece of sandpaper, she smoothed until it looked more natural.

The assassin was starting to make enemies within the group. Chaos would like that, but Serenity would not. And the First, how did she feel about it? Shægnek set the wolf down among the deer and watched the scene change instantly from a graceful run to a fearful charge. Just one single element could change everything.

With a smile, Shægnek left everything as it was. This was something she wouldn’t touch. It would be up to the assassin to make her own place among those she pushed away. She already belonged, but now, she had to earn that right as none of the others had to. From the corner of her eye, Shægnek saw one of the herd seem to turn and look at the wolf, as if beckoning it to join in their flight away from something far worse than death. The laugh started out slowly and then built until Chaos came to see what was so funny.

“The One, she will be the one to allow her back in. She will see where no one else does the need to have her. And she will bite the hand that accepts her until she realizes that she’s only biting her own tail. It is too perfect.”

Chaos stared down at the scene, wondering what Shægnek was looking at and seeing. He then started to look around the room for other possible clues he had missed. What had the goddess done?