Julien Gregg's Moreau Witches Part Two Chapter 7

 SEVEN

Nothing changed now that we were immortal. Things went on just as they had before. We went to school, and I had legacy meetings. The Shelter went up, and a temporary staff was chosen for it. I inspected it and looked at all of the kennels. A huge fence was surrounding it so the dogs could run. I liked it. I liked that the kennels were air conditioned and heated. The animals didn't have to suffer in the heat. There were no animals yet. But they were coming. Declan did get us online, and he did it from the comfort of his own home. We had dogs coming in and the kennels were full in no time. The temporary staff told us they didn't want to stay. I told them to hang on until summer. Then we'd have a new staff and they could leave. It was essential that these dogs get to know them, though. This was the first step in finding them their forever homes.

I bought pounds and pounds of dog food. It came in drum barrels. It was vet recommended and expensive. They were fed twice a day and given all of the cold water they wanted. They had toys to play with, and beds to sleep in. They were living in luxury at the shelter. Some of them just needed a good home. Others were almost feral. We had our work cut out for us. I took one that just needed a home. His name was Rex. I took him home and introduced him to the dogs in the house. They liked him on site. He was a German Sheppard. He wasn't quite full grown, but he was a loving little guy. I gave him toys and bones. He licked my hand.

Pop and Grandpa went to the shelter to help out as well. It became a family thing. Lestan and Mary Beth were out there. Of course, Mary Beth worked with the vet. She was learning on the job. She said it would be good for college. I agreed. Then I just let them do what they were doing. Greg was there a lot, too. His father came out to see what his son was doing. He smiled a lot. He wasn't a fan of dogs, but he said what I had done was laudable. I didn't particularly care for the man if I was honest. He just didn't seem like a good guy for me to be friendly with. Of course he was to be my father in law so I'd have to make nice, but I wouldn't trust him ever.

We were headed into the summer months. Damon, Jason, and their bonded would graduate. Not all of them were going to college. Some of them were, but most of them were coming to the shelter to work. That was good, because the temporary employees wanted out. When school let out for the summer, all of the bonded took positions at the shelter. They cared for the dogs and got the feral ones to be more domesticated. We re homed twelve dogs but still had twenty to take care of. More were coming in. It seemed my shelter was successful. We didn't terminate any dog. We worked with them until they were ready for a forever home. I healed a lot of dogs there that had suffered neglect or abuse. We showed them that we only wanted to pet and rub, we never wanted to hit or kick. We fed them twice a day and for some of them this was a new thing. They fattened up the skinny ones, and the normal looking dogs got better coats, and they played with the other dogs. Humans were always around them to make them get used to having a human around. But they played most of the day.

I had Legacy stuff to do at the same time. Four new Moreau Legals were opening in cities around the country. We were now in Arizona and Nevada. We opined just as many Moreau Medical Centers, and almost all of them were teaching hospitals. Medical schools opened branches in the cities where the teaching hospitals were. I was told that I was doing more for the Legacy than the last three heirs combined. I told them that I was watching the demographic reports closely and opening the right businesses in the right cities. I put them where there was a need for them. We ventured across America all the way to Illinois. Chicago had Moreau Legal and Moreau Medical. We rivaled other teaching hospitals, and became the top of the list in most cases. Where there were problems I sent people to figure out what was going on and fix it quickly.

Of course I was a senior in high school starting next year. I bought myself a Ford F150 crew cab. It was black with roll bars and fog lights. I got Lestan a Dodge Ram Super Duty. He had roll bars and fog lights, too. We drove back and forth to the shelter all of the time. Greg didn't want to accept it, but I bought him a Rav Four with roll bars and fog lights so he could get around. Lestan bought Mary Beth a Ford Escape Hybrid with his own money. Their father was thrilled. The guy was slimy. He loved that his children were dating the heir and his twin. He thought it meant big money for him. He was wrong. I wasn't giving him a cent.

I did set up scholarships for those who needed them, and Greg and Mary Beth needed them. I was prepared to fund Mary Beth's schooling all the way to graduation. Lestan liked that idea. He said they'd have children when she graduated from college. He was going to study to be a vet tech. I was just taking business courses when I got there. I still had a year of high school to get through. My grades were stellar. I published the second book, and it was doing well. People liked what they were reading. I started a third. This one was about a family of witches and the troubles they had with witch hunters. I wrote a lot of it from experience. I asked Pop and Grandpa pointed questions and took notes. I was too young to really remember what it had been like. I needed their memory for research. I researched the Arrows online and outed them in the book. They couldn't sue for liable because it was all true. They operated the companies listed in the book.

Pop liked what I had written so far, and he told me this one was much more believable than the other two. I told him that was because it was based on reality. He liked that. I met a member of the Illuminati. He asked for an interview and I gave it to him. He talked about my books, and my schooling. He talked about the fact that I was the youngest Heir to the Moreau Family Legacy in generations. I told him about the shelter I had put up, and the dogs that we were saving. He thought that was marvelous. He told me that this was only for their records. He also said that he had noticed that Immortalis were living in the city. I told them if he wanted to know about them, he'd have to ask them. He agreed. Then he left.

I sat and thought about all that I'd told him. I hadn't mentioned that I was Immortalis. He didn't need to know that yet. No one did. Greg loved being bonded to me. He said it made sex so much better. I agreed with him, but I didn't like to discuss it. We spent quiet times together and were intimate but he liked to talk about it later, and I didn't. I did it for him though. He had long conversations with his sister about our love life. I wasn't sure I liked the sound of that, but I let it go.

She and Lestan were now engaged, and I threw them an engagement party at the Keller Center. Of course, her slimy father was there with her mother. Her mother was a warm woman who was delighted for her daughter, but only because she'd found love. She loved Lestan, and he loved her. I got to know her a bit at the party, but her slimy husband didn't like it. I was tempted to kill him. As it was I just never let myself be alone with him.

The party was a success. They got lots of engagement gifts. These went home with both of them. Then we were back in the Manor and putting the gifts away in a room we didn't use. I asked Greg to marry me, and he said yes. Then we had another engagement party. His slimy father was even more thrilled for this one. He made his presence known when he said to me that the Heir should take care of his in laws. I told him that the Heir had plenty of people to take care of, and any actual need would be taken care of. He thought I meant something else, but I would show him. I was marrying his son, not him. Damon and Jason told me that man would be a problem. I agreed, but I didn't know what to do about it.

Fortunately it took care of itself a few days later. He'd had a bit too much to drink, and crashed his car into an eighteen wheeler. He died instantly. Of course, Mary Beth and Greg were heartbroken that their father died. Lestan and I were secretly thrilled. I found out later that it was Rodney who had gotten the man drunk. I'd have to thank him when it all died down. Now Greg said we had even more in common. Our fathers were both dead. I told him that I was sorry for his loss. I held him while he cried.

Their mother wanted them home, so they went home. We sat there and looked at each other. Lestan and I hated that man. We were happy that he was gone, but we hadn't wished him dead. Sure I had thought about killing the man, but I'd never deprive the boy I loved of his father. I still planned to thank Rodney for getting him drunk though. I hadn't had a hand it in and for that I was thankful. Lestan and I just refused to be upset about it.

The funeral was hell. I was trying to look somber when I was secretly elated. Greg hugged and kissed me for coming. I told him I'd be nowhere else. He asked what I was doing for the rest of the day and I told him going to the shelter to look after a sick dog. He said he'd go with me. When Mary Beth heard that the dog was sick, she wanted to go so we all went to the shelter. I got there and found the dog lying in her bed. She was panting heavily and her tongue looked dry. I delved her and found the problem. There was a defect in her heart that was causing all sorts of problems. I used my killing power to destroy the defect and then used my healing power to coax new cells to grow correctly. Once that was done I smoothed out some imperfections in her stomach lining, and her intestines. I got rid of a hairball and destroyed some worms. When I took my hands off her she licked my face. She was happy to feel better and knew that I had made her feel better. I led her to the food and let her eat. The whole time I was patting her and petting her. She'd been feral, but she wasn't anymore. She was a Golden Retriever, and several people had shown interest in her but decided against her because she was so feral.

Healing her had broken her feral attitude. She trusted me at least. I didn't know about others but she trusted me. I decided that if she didn't trust anyone else, I'd take her home with me. Pop would be upset but I wasn't sending her off to another place where they'd put her down. She didn't deserve that because people had been cruel. I put a collar on her and a lead. I put her in the back of the cab of my truck. I drove home with her in the back. She watched the scenery go by.

"Easy, girl," I said as I got out of the truck. I let her out once I had hold of the lead. I took her in the house.

"Who's this?" Pop asked.

"This is Lady," I said. "She was feral, but I healed her heart defect, and smoothed out the lining of her stomach, got rid of worms and a hairball and she licked my face and has been really happy to have me around today. I decided to just bring her home."

"Well, it's your house now," he said. "If you want to fill it with dogs, who am I to tell you not to? Besides, she's a pretty girl."

He reached out and pattered her head real lightly. She allowed it. Then she looked at me. I nodded and she licked his hand. He said that it looked like she was mine. I told him I figured that out. I took her upstairs to meet the others. They were asleep in my bed. I called to them and they came and checked her out. She started to mother Rex, which was what I was hoping for. She gave Jinx and Paul a wide berth. Then she came in and smelled them all over. They stood still and let her do it. Then she played with them. It was going to be all right.

I left her there and went back to the shelter. There were other dogs that still needed attention. I got there and heard Mary Beth arguing with Greg over the treatment plan for a specific dog. She said that I had set the treatment plan, and I knew dogs better than he did. I put a stop to the argument. I told her that I had also told him to start the dog on some solid food to see how he took to it. He'd been eating soft food because he showed no interest in the solid food. Today he did.

"I'm sorry, Greg," she said. "I'm a little on edge today."

"I understand," he said. "But he really did ask me to do this."

"I know," she said. "Besides, he's eating it."

"There was a blockage in his stomach," I said. "I found it and got rid of if yesterday."

"You're really good at healing them, are you sure you need a vet?" she asked with a smile.

"I can't be here all of the time," I said. "We'll go back to school. Yes, we need vets. They can help the dogs just like I can. It just takes their help longer to work than mine. I'll heal what I can though."

Then I went out and played with the rest of the dogs who were outside. There were a few feral ones who clearly wanted to join the fun. After a few skittish moments, they did. I played with them, too. I rubbed bellies, and threw balls. I threw bones and gave them treats. Then I just sat in the grass and they fell around me in a circle. They were panting happily. Even the feral ones. I communicated with them that there was nothing to fear. Then they came and licked my face. Mary Beth thought it was amazing.

I told her that tomorrow I wanted her and Greg out here with me. I'd get them to stop fearing them, too. She thought that would be something. I told her animal communication was a great power. She laughed at that. Greg came out and filled the food bowls. The dogs went to eat. The feral ones waited until he was gone before they went to eat. I had my work cut out for me with those three. A Moreau couple came into the office, and I went to talk with them. They wanted to adopt a dog. I asked them if they wanted a male or a female, did they want a specific breed, and what were their qualifications. They told me that their thirteen year old dog had died, and they wanted another. I knew just the dog for them. Spike was a young male German Sheppard like Rex. They'd come from the same puppy farm, but he was doing even better than Rex, and he loved everyone. I brought him in on a lead and let them meet him.

They fell in love with him immediately. I handed the lead to them and took their hundred and fifty dollars and put it in the till. I gave them all of his paperwork, his vet statement, his shot record, and his food requirements. They left with Spike and he seemed happy enough to go with them. I smiled at that. Then I went back outside. The dogs were done eating, and they went to the waste yard to do their business. I'd go over it all with a hose before I left for the day.

"How did Lady work out with the other dogs at your house?" Greg asked.

"She did just fine," I said. "She even let my Pop pat her lightly on the head. She licked his hand after I nodded at her."

"You have such a way with animals," he said. "It's that animal communication power, isn't it?"

"Yes," I said. "That power is why I wanted to start this shelter. That and I love dogs."

"Tyler wants to train the dogs in defense," he said.

"Tell him to train the German Sheppards," I said. "Not the Doberman. I want him to leave the Goldens alone. They don't need to be defensive animals. They're sweet natured and I'd hate to change that. German Sheppards are good with defense."

"Okay," he said. "I'll tell him."

My day at the shelter was almost over. I had some cleaning to do and some hosing to do in the waste yard. Then I was done for the day. I could go home and have dinner with my family. Lestan was already gone. So was Mary Beth. It was just me, Greg, and a bunch of the bonded. They'd stay and then someone would be here all night to watch the place. That would probably be Tommy or Ian. I cleaned the kennels and then hosed the waste yard. Wrote down my hours and left with Greg. We went to the manor and had dinner with Pop and Grandpa. I fed the dogs before I sat down. Lady was among them and ate happily beside Rex.

"She's acclimating very well for being feral," Grandpa said. "You're not going to bring a bunch of dogs home are you?"

"No," I said. "It's just that Lady only liked me. So, I decided to reunite her with Rex who she tried to mother at the shelter."

"That's good," he said. "I just don't want a houseful of dogs."

"I don't either," I said. "Five dogs are enough. Besides, the older dogs won't be with us much longer."

"That's true," he said. "But with you healing their ailments they'll be around a little while longer."

"That's the idea," I said.

"Did you have the procreation talk?" Pop asked me and Greg.

"We did," Greg said. "We compromised."

"Oh?" Pop asked.

"I'll bond a female and we'll artificially inseminate her three times," I said. "We'll get a baby all three times. Then I'll give her the elixir and set her free."

"Okay," he said. "As long as you have children."

"I'm going to have three," I said. "I had already decided on three. If she has twins, I'll do it twice not three times."

"Twins is a possibility in this family," he said. "You're a twin, and Greg is a twin. It's completely possible."

"I know," I said.

"Your Uncle Rusty wants to work at your Shelter," Grandpa said.

"Tell him to come by tomorrow and I'll put him to work," I said.

"I'll tell him," he said. "I'll call him after dinner. He's expecting again."

"Really?" I asked. "He and Tomas found a surrogate?"

"They have used the same one all three times," he said. "They got Elizabeth, Elayna, and now their expecting a boy."

"That's great," I said. "Tell him congratulations for me."

"You can tell him that tomorrow," he said.

"I can," I agreed.

After dinner Greg and I hung out in my rooms. We watched a movie and drank iced tea. Then he had to leave and Lestan came home. He asked me where Lady was, and I pointed to my bed. She was stretched out full on the bed. Rex was beside her. He smiled at this. He told me they were all talking about how I just took her home with me. I told him it's my shelter and they're my dogs until they're adopted. He nodded at this.

"I was just telling you that you got everyone to talk," he said.

"Wait, did you go back to the shelter?" I asked.

"We never left," he said. "I left the shelter and came home. That's when I left the shelter."

"I didn't see you guys," I said.

"We were in with Norma," he said.

"Oh, the Vet was there," I said. "That explains why Mary Beth was missing. I didn't know you were in there with them."

"I'm thinking of becoming a vet," he said. I don't have your animal communication power, but I can take care of sick animals."

"Yes," I said. "If you want to do that then do it."

"I might," he said. "When do you start to take other species?"

"When we expand the shelter and get out of college," I said.

"You know that Andra is Mary Beth's Godmother, right?" he asked.

"Sure, she's the one who stood for her at her initiation, why?" I asked.

"She wants a dog," he said.

"Tell her to come in tomorrow or some day soon and talk to me," I said. "I have a dog in mind for her. Real sweetheart of a dog."

"That's what I was going to suggest," he said with a smile.

We took the dogs outside and played with them. Paul, Lucky, and Jinx played like they were puppies again. Rex loved it and so did Lady. We threw a hard plastic disc through the back yard, and they all went for it. They jumped over each other and it was Rex that got the disc. He brought it to me and I threw it again. They ran off to go get it. Lady got this time. She brought to me but dropped it in front of my feet. I patted her head and picked it up. I threw it again. This time Jinx got it and brought it to me. Pop called us in for dinner, so I let the dogs play with their outdoor toys while we ate.

"How was it with Lady?" Pop asked.

"She did just fine," I said. "She loves the other dogs. She also loves me. I communicated with her. She loves me because I made her feel good."

"That's great," he said. "You're using your power over there aren't you?"

"Yes," I said. "Until the vet arrived I healed a few dogs."

"Well, the vet is a Moreau so it wouldn't be bad if she knew what you were doing," he said.

"I'll tell her which ones I healed when I see her the next time she comes in," I said. "I use my power to communicate with them more than healing them."

"Yeah, that's what gets you get dogs," he said. "They all know you, and they know you understand them."

"I do," I said. "It's like they talk to me. If they had a human voice you'd hear them, too."

"I know," he said. "I'm jealous of that power. But I have my own. I can move things with my mind."

"I could use that one," I laughed. I plated a big plate of spaghetti and garlic bread. I was hungry for some reason. I drank my usual iced tea.

"Lestan are you and Mary Beth getting married before college?" Pop asked.

"No," he said. "We don't want to have children until after college. We've decided to be engaged for a long while."

"What about you and Greg?" Pop asked.

"He wants to get married soon after graduation," I said. "I'll indulge him."

"Then we'll have a wedding in a year," Pop said to Grandpa.

"Sounds like it," Grandpa said with a smile. "Will he move in here?"

"Yes," I said. "This is my house."

"That's right," he said. "I keep forgetting."

"Is your memory getting bad?" I asked.

"No," he said. "I just keep thinking that it's your dad's. I'm not over that yet."

"I'm sorry," I said. "I know it seems that Lestan and I are over it, but we're not. The dogs are helping though."

"That seems to be the right of it," he said. "Just be patient with me a little while longer."

"We don't have to be patient," I said. "We can commiserate."

"Well, we don't need another crying jag," he said. "Lucas wouldn't want us crying over him."

"I know," I said. "I smile when I think of him now."

"That's good," he said. "It means you're getting used to it."

"Well, being the Heir is getting me used to a lot of things, but I think it's the fact that I'm Immortalis now that's getting me used to is sooner. I can think of so many things at once now."

"I wondered how it felt," he said. "I've been thinking on becoming one myself. I don't look much older than forty. I could get used to living forever."

"Have you made your decision?" I asked.

"I'm close," he said. "I'll let you know. You have more elixir?"

"I have another dose of it, yes," I said. "I have to make the bonding potion. Damon wrote down the directions for me."

"That's good," he said. "I know I have to be bonded to one of you before I can be an Immortalis."

"We just have to let Damon know that we did it," I said.

"Why?" he asked.

"He keeps a database of all of the Immortalis, so we can get together from time to time and see each other and talk about how eternity is treating us."

"That's good, actually," he said. "I think it's a go, Charlie."

"I'll get on the bonding potion after dinner," I said. "We have all of the ingredients."

We ate our dinner in silence. Pop kept looking at me, but he didn't say anything. He finally put his fork down, and said, "Do you have enough elixir for two doses?"

"No," I said. "I only have the one dose. I can make more but it requires a full moon."

"Okay," he said. "Make more. I've decided to live forever with you."

"Okay," I said. "I'll get on it."

"When is the full moon?" Lestan asked.

"Tonight," I said. "That's why I said I'd get on it. I have enough bonding potion. It just takes three drops in something they'll drink. Then I have to give them an orgasm to seal it. Then they drink the elixir and we're done."

"Can we give ourselves the orgasm?" Grandpa asked.

"I don't see why you couldn't," I said. "It just takes an orgasm to open your mind to the potion according to Damon. It shouldn't matter how you had the orgasm."

"Well then we'll try it that way," he said. "You make elixir for your Pop. I'm going to go ahead and do this before I change my mind. Get the bonding potion."

"Okay," I said. I left the table and went upstairs. I got the bonding potion and a dropper. I took it downstairs and put three drops in his iced tea. He drank it down. Then he went into the living room and fell asleep. He was asleep for five or ten minutes. Then he went to the bathroom and after about five minutes I could suddenly feel him in my head. I poured the elixir in his empty glass. He came out and sat down. He was all flushed. "Drink the elixir."

He drank it down and suddenly he was muted in my head but I could still feel him. I told him so. He smiled at me, and I could tell that his mind was expanding. He looked around at everything with that smile on his face. I just sat and watched him. Lestan did too. We looked at each other and shrugged. Grandpa was immortal. Pop watched him like a hawk. I got up and made more elixir. I'd put it in my window. The moonlight always shined through my window if I didn't close the blinds. I'd leave them open tonight.

"I'll have this ready in the morning," I said. "We can do it first thing in the morning so you can start your day as an Immortalis."

"This is great!" Grandpa said. He waited a tick for his heart to skip but it didn't do it. I could tell.

"How do you feel?" I asked.

"Like a teenager again," he said.

"That's one thing you need to know," I said. "You have to sleep tonight. You won't feel tired, but you'll fall right to sleep. If you don't you'll fall over from exhaustion you won't see coming."

"Okay," he said. "I love this feeling."

"I know you do," I said. "I love it, too, but you get used to it in a day or two."

"Okay," he said.

"I really want to experience that feeling," Pop said.

"In the morning," I said and finished my dinner.

"Could you give it to a dog?" Pop asked.

"I suppose I could but who's going to give the dog an orgasm?" I asked.

"Yeah, I didn't think that one through," he said with a smile.

"I didn't think so," I said. "Actually the thought never occurred to me. I'll think on it. There might be a way to get the dog to have an orgasm if Lady is in heat."

"There you go," he said.

"A dog will rut," I said. "That's all there is to it."

We didn't talk anymore about the dogs. Instead I took the jar of elixir upstairs and put it in my window. The sun was going down over the water. So, it wouldn't be long before the moon was shining through the window. I raised the blinds as high as they would go. Lestan came into my room a minute later. He said he'd let the dogs in. About that time they came bounding up the stairs. Lady sprawled out on my bed. Rex and Jinx joined her. Lucky looked at Lestan.

"They're happy," he said.

"I healed Jinx, Lucky, and Paul," I said. "They were suffering a bit from aching bones and joints. They're not now. I also got rid of some build up in Lucky's heart. He's raring to go now."

"Thank you," he said, smiling at me. "It's going to tare me up when that dog dies."

"He will eventually," I said. "So will Jinx and Paul, but they won't any time soon. I'll continue to heal them until it doesn't work anymore. Dogs have a destiny, too."

"I know," he said. "We have a shelter full of them. When Lucky goes, I'll mourn for a bit and then get me another dog."

"That's the spirit," I said. "It's going to break my heart when Jinx and Paul go."

"Mine too," he said. "I love all of the dogs. Even Lady and Rex."

"Rex won't be denied," I said. "Lady's getting there. I keep telling her that no one here will hurt her."

"She understands that, right?" he asked.

"She does, but she doesn't believe it yet," I said. "It'll take a little time and coaxing, but she'll get there."

"Did you know that one of Jason's bonded is teaching certain dogs defense?" he asked.

"Yes," I said. "Greg talked to me about it. I told him to tell him only the German Sheppard dogs. Not the Doberman or the Golden Retrievers. They're too sweet. Doberman will get mean."

"Well, not if he trains them right," he said. "But I see what you're saying."

"German Sheppard dogs are bred for this stuff," I said. "They make perfect defense dogs. You just don't want them to become the aggressor."

"Right," he said. "How are you doing on the dad thing?"

"I'm doing all right," I said. "Like I said at dinner, I smile when I think of him now. I think of when we were little and he was so worried over everything we did. I remember that a lot. It's getting easier."

"It is for me, too," he said. "I agree with you. I suspect it's the Immortalis thing."

"Probably," I said. "Was there something that you needed?"

"Just to talk to you," he said. "We don't do that as much as we used to."

"Well, sit down," I said. "You look like you're ready to bolt."

"To be honest I thought you would tell me to go," he said.

"Why would I do that?" I asked.

"Because I'm the one who stopped talking so much," he said.

"I don't hold a grudge," I said. "You did it because you wanted to spend time with Mary Beth."

"I still do," he said. "Now more than ever. I mean she's bonded, and I think about her a lot. It doesn't help that I can feel her emotions in my head."

"I know," I said. "I can feel Greg's too. They're heartbroken right now because of their dad dying."

"I know," he said. "I can't make her feel better."

"She'll get there on her own," I said. "It's different for the bonded. They're immortal as long as they stay close to us. But they don't get the expanded mind that we got. They don't see the world the way we do."

"You're right about that," he said. "I was telling her the way I see things now, and she was so confused. I didn't like that part."

"Well, don't give her the elixir or she won't love you anymore," I said. "Damon warned us about that, remember?"

"Yeah," he sighed. "I guess I just have to get used to the way she is."

"I'm doing the same thing with Greg," I said. "We'll be all right."

"I can't believe that Grandpa became immortal," he said. "I can't believe that Pop wants to be immortal. I thought they wanted to go and be with Dad and Grandpa."

"They did," I said. "But there's nothing saying that they would have met them in the next life. They know that. I've heard them talking. I knew that this was coming."

"You're up a lot later than I am," he said.

"Not so much," I said. "I hear them in the morning."

"Oh," he said.

We sat there and loved on our dogs. He kept looking at me but didn't say anything. Finally I just stared at him until he came out with it. He wanted to know why they chose to let me bond them instead of him. I told him I didn't think they chose. I was just the one talking to them at that time. He nodded and felt better. I told him to relax. They weren't upset with him for anything. They were just talking to me while he was eating.

"That's all it was," I said.

"Okay," he said. "I feel better on that score. What's going to happen when we announce that we're Immortalis?"

"I'll step down as heir and let the Heir in Waiting take his or her turn," I said. "I'll move out of this house and into the Beach house. I already bought it with my own money. I'm getting ready for it even thought it's about a lifetime away."

"Where will I go?" he asked.

"Buy the other beach house," I said. "The one next to ours is for sale. You have the money to buy it. If you don't I can loan you money out of the Legacy."

"I have the money," he said. "I'll call the realtor tomorrow."

"It's Penny Moreau," I said. "She's really nice."

"Well, it helps that she's a cousin and I have the money to buy it outright," he said.

"Exactly," I said.

He took Lucky to his room, and I navigated my bed with four dogs in it. Paul laid across the end of the bed, Jinx took his place beside me, and Lady got behind him. Rex just cuddled close to me. I saw the moonlight shining in the window and went to sleep. The next morning I had a very insistent dog who wanted to go outside. Rex was a force. I got up and threw on some shorts and a t-shirt and took them outside. I waited while they did their business, and then I picked it up and put it in the outside trash cans. I took them inside and fed them. Then I sat down for breakfast. I had the jar of elixir and the bottle of bonding potion with me. I sat them on the table. Pop looked at them and swallowed his food. I put three drops of bonding potion in his coffee. He drank it down and went into the living room to sleep it off. Then he went into the bathroom, and about five or ten minutes later I could feel him in my head. Then he came and poured him a cup of the elixir. He drank that down and sighed.

Ten minutes later Greg was at the door. I let him in and he fired away questioning me right off the bat. "Why could I suddenly feel your grandfather last night in my head and then he vanished? It happened again just a few minutes ago with your Pop. What's going on?" he demanded.

"They wanted to be Immortalis," I said. "I bonded them and then gave them the elixir."

"You gave them orgasms?" he asked, looking at me in disgust.

"No," I said. "They gave themselves orgasms. It works that way apparently."

"Oh," he said and suddenly he blushed. "I thought the most horrible things about you."

"Don't you feel silly?" I asked, smiling at him.

"I do," he said. "It also tells me that you don't have to give whatever girl an orgasm to seal the bond with her."

"That's right," I said. "I thought of that myself."

"Well, I'm happy to be here," he said. 

"Come in and sit at the table," I said. "I'll get you a plate."

"He was upset because he felt both of you in his head at different times and then you vanished," he said. "He didn't know what was going on. Then he thought I had sex with both of you to seal the bond before I gave you the elixir."

"We took matters into our own hands, thank you very much," Grandpa said with a smile.

"We certainly did," said Pop.

"All right, you two," I said as Lestan came down. "The dogs are eating. I wondered where Lucky went."

"He followed the herd down the stairs and outside so I fed him," I said.

"Good morning all," Lestan said. "I trust we're all Immortalis this morning."

"We are," said Pop. "And I couldn't be happier."

"Greg here thought I had sex with both of them to seal the bond," I said.

"Greg," he said. "That just did not happen."

"Nope," said Grandpa. "We both used the old in and out of the hand thing to do it ourselves."

"We certainly did," said Pop. "Get your mind out of the gutter, Greg. You're practically married to my son."

"I know," he said. "I've apologized to him so now I'm apologizing to the two of you. Do you both want bonded?"

"We might eventually," Grandpa said. "I'm going to learn to make the bonding potion just in case."

"Are you ready to get back out there and find love, Grandpa?" Lestan asked.

"Well it's been a very long time," he said. "I think I'm entitled to love."

"We all are," said Pop. "I'm just not ready for any of that."

"Of course not," said Grandpa. "Your pain is still fresh. Give it a few years."

"This is by far the strangest conversation I've ever heard," Greg said.

"Stick around," I said. "It gets deeper."

"Well, we have to be at the shelter," he said as he ate his waffle.

"We have time, slow down before you choke," I said.

"Right," Lestan said. "Waffles. Now."

He got a plate and took three of them. We did eat more as immortalis than we did as human witches. I had eaten three of them. Greg only had two. Grandpa had four and Pop had five of them. They were going a little far with it I thought. But who was I to judge. Maybe they were hungry. I remembered how hungry I was when I'd first drank the elixir. The only thing that kept me from eating more was the people in the place where I was when I got food.

"What's going on at the shelter today?" Pop asked.

"Dog training," I said.

"You're training the dogs?" Grandpa asked.

"One of Jason's bonded is training the German Sheppard dogs to be defensive," I said. "I want to be there to see it."

"Okay," he said. "That makes more sense. I mean, I know you can communicate with them, but do you really need to train them when you can just tell them to do what you want?"

"They don't always do what I tell them to do," I said. "They need training. I'm going to see what the training consists of and then I'll decide if more of the breeds are training or not."

"Greg are you riding with me?" I asked.

"No, I drove over here all mad," he said.

"Right," I said. "Well I'm going."

"I'll see you in a bit," he said.

I got in my truck and headed for the shelter. When I got there training was already underway. He had another of the bonded all trussed up in padding. Then he had him try to attack him with a knife. He said something and two German Sheppard dogs came running for the knife wielding culprit. They took him down. One incapacitated the knife hand. The other went for the throat. The five other German Sheppards sat in a semi circle around them and watched.

"Hello, Charlie," said Tommy as he helped his fellow bonded up and called the dogs to rest.

"Hello, Tommy," I said. "I see we're training today."

"For a little bit longer," he said. "Then I have to go do some things for Jason."

"Okay," I said. "Are all of the German Sheppards involved?"

"No," he said. "These two aren't even living at the shelter. They're my dogs."

"Oh, you were demonstrating," I said.

"That's right," he said.

"Is Damon here yet?" I asked.

"He'll be here in about an hour," he said. "He said something about getting treats."

"We have treats for the dogs," I said.

"He meant for the humans," laughed Tommy. "You have a one-track mind."

"I do at times," I said, smiling. "Well, don't let me stop you. I've got paperwork, and someone is coming to get Sammy."

"Sammy found a home?" he asked.

"I'm going to suggest him to someone," I said. 

Andra came in then. I introduced her to a Golden Retriever named Sammy. Sammy was still a pup but he had spunk and he loved people. He was from a puppy farm, but I healed all of his ailments. He was good to do. She asked about the price. I told her it was a hundred fifty to adopt the dog. I give them their first round of shots here and she takes care of the rest. I would give her all of his paperwork that shows what the vet recommends, and I'd give her a fair price on the dog food he likes

"You've got yourself a deal," she said. "Tell me did he come from one of those puppy farms?"

"He did," I said. "But used my power to heal all of the ailments that came from it. He's a healthy boy now. The vet has checked him out and written her recommendations, and I have a complimentary bag of food for you. It's small but you can buy a bigger bag from me. He eats this stuff really well."

"I'll buy a big bag and keep the little bag, too," she said. "I have all of the stuff for him at home. I just waited to buy food until I heard what you had to say about what he eats. Your prices are lower than the grocery store, so I'll buy my dog food here."

"Thank you," I said. I got a folder and put all of the papers in it that printed out when I hit print. "These are his shot records, his deworm, and all of the vet recommendations. His birth certificate is in there, too."

"You know when he was born?" she asked.

"The puppy farm kept detailed records," I said. "I got them all when they were raided and the puppies and dogs were brought here. I have his mother, Lady at home."

"That's awesome," she said. "She survived?"

"I had to heal her," I said. "She's fine now though. Still a bit feral, but we're working on it."

"He's not feral is he?" she asked.

"No," I said. "He's a happy little guy that just loves humans."

"Good," she said. "Thank you so much, Charlie."

"You're very welcome," I said. "Just love him."

"I will do that," she said. She picked up the lead and said, "Come on, Sammy."

He went out the door willingly. She got him in her car and pulled away just as Uncle Rusty pulled in. He came into the office. He smiled really big at me. I told him congratulations on the new baby on the way. He asked me if wedding bells were in the future. I said they were just after graduation in June. He smiled big at that. Then he got to why he was here. He wanted to work at the shelter full time. I told him what we were paying the employees, and he said that was fair.

"You'll be in charge of cleaning the kennels, and hosing the waste yard," I said. "You'll feed the dogs and work with the trainer to get them back to normal. Some of them have been badly abused while some were just terribly neglected. They have personalities, and some are quite feral. We let them do their thing until the trainer gets a chance to work with them. He was a real find. He's training the German Sheppards to be defensive dogs."

"Is he?" he asked. "That sounds good. I don't have a problem with anything you've told me about. When can I start?"

"Are you free today?" I asked and laughed.

"I am, actually," he said. "Tomas is working, and the kids are at daycare so I'm alone."

"Well, let's get your hands dirty," I said.

He followed me out to the kennels. The dogs weren't in them so now was the time to clean them. I got him the vacuum and the hoses and let him do his thing. He asked about disinfectant, and I told him that the dogs wouldn't put up with the smell. We used a dog friendly disinfectant that was in the green hose. I told him to point and shoot. The vacuum was a wet and dry vacuum, so he could just suck it all back up with that.

"How soon are they going to be in their kennels?" he asked.

"Not for a while," I said. "You've got about two hours. They're a rec time now. They're playing."