Christopher squeezed her thigh. “I’m fine. I think I’ve got some scrapes and I’ll be sore, but I’m fine.”
A smallish figure approached. Even in the darkness, Kat recognized Anastasia’s spiky haircut.
“Are you two all right?”
“We’re fine.” Christopher moved onto the balls of his feet and stood up. “I’ll help the others.”
Kat rubbed her shoulder and gingerly moved it around in its socket. Definitely not broken. “How long was I out?”
“I don’t know. I got knocked out, too.” Anastasia swiveled. “Anybody know how long it’s been since the house blew up?”
“Not long enough for us to hear sirens.” That came from Steven. “Wouldn’t somebody have called 911?”
“Our nearest neighbors are several miles away. I don’t know,” Alexander chimed in.
“Alexander? Where are we? What happened?” Rebecca’s quivering voice sounded nearby.
Alexander uttered an expletive. “Anna? Anna? Where are you? I need you now.”
“Alexander!” Rebecca shrieked. “What happened?! Where are we?!”
“I’m coming,” Anna replied.
Kat turned and saw Anna’s glowing eyes move across the space toward Rebecca’s shrieking. Rebecca must have seen them, too, because her shrieks turned to screams.
Alexander worked to sooth Rebecca until Anna worked her magic and Rebecca’s screams stopped abruptly.
A small bubble of light appeared at the far end of the garage near the circuit breaker box where Dimitri, Robert, and Peter huddled over the contraption with a flashlight.
Kat leaned her head back and closed her eyes.
“We’ve got it!” Robert cried.
The garage flooded with light and Kat grimaced and shielded her face. Several family members groaned at the same time and for the same reason.
Dimitri stood in the center of the gathered group. “Sorry, everyone. At least now we won’t be stumbling around and tripping over one another.” He glanced around at each face. “We’re all accounted for and we’re alive. Thank God.”
“Yes,” Granny said. “God be glorified for that!” She sat on a bench against the wall and aside from the fine layer of dust that had settled over everything to include her and her animals, she looked none the worse for wear. Perhaps it was because she was seated in the furthest corner of the garage when the explosion occurred. She bent down and kissed each animal between the ears. Stanley’s eyes were still glazed over from his involuntary drug use, and Sweetie’s eyes were wide, dark, and angry saucers. Her fluffed tail swished angrily. She looked ready to do battle.
Dimitri nodded at the group. “Robert, Peter, Alexander, and I will go see what the damage is. I suspect the house is gone.” His shoulders slumped. “Let’s go, boys.”
The men trouped out of the garage.
Kat looked over at Rebecca. She sat next to Alexander with a dazed look. Alexander had his arm around her and murmured in her ear. Anna sat on the other side of her and met Kat’s gaze. Kat looked away.
Christopher approached and handed Kat a bottle of water, which she accepted gratefully. “Thanks.”
Christopher gave a half smile and sat next to her. “I’m glad nobody was seriously injured.”
Kat cast a sideways glance at Rebecca. She lowered her voice. “I don’t like what Anna is doing to Rebecca. It doesn’t seem right.”
Christopher glanced at the trio. “She’s doing what Alexander wants and what Rebecca needs right now.”
Kat looked at Christopher. “Does she? Does she really?”
Christopher blinked. “Yes, Kat. She does. You heard her screaming. She can’t handle this.” He waved his hands around the space. “Not this. Anna isn’t hurting her, Kat. Trust me.”
Kat took a long drink from the water bottle.
Sirens wailed in the distance and grew louder as they got closer.
“Here they come.” Anastasia looked out the open garage door, then turned to Christopher and Anna. “What are we going to say?”
Steven snorted. “We’ll tell them the house blew up. Duh.”
Anastasia gave him a withering look.
“They’ll figure that out on their own. We don’t have to say anything else.” Mariya’s quiet voice sounded from the corner.
Kat swiveled toward her and noted that Mariya’s scarlet scarf sat askew on her head. “How are you, Mariya?”
Her cousin chuckled darkly. “About how I have been. Exhausted.”
Dimitri and the others returned. “It doesn’t look like the entire house was destroyed after all. Just the kitchen and the bedrooms right above it. My office is a mess, as is the rest of the house.” He turned to his wife. “I’m sorry about the kitchen, Oksana.”
Oksana had taken a seat next to Granny. “It is just a kitchen.”
Mariya put her head in her hands and groaned. “All my research. Gone.”
“I’m sorry.” Anastasia sat next to her sister and put her arm around her shoulders.
Dimitri’s eyes softened. He jerked his thumb over his shoulder. “They’ll be here any minute. Just...uh...be normal or something. It could have been a gas leak for all they know. It is an old farmhouse, after all.”
“I don’t ever want to hear of another gas leak again after this,” Kat grumbled.
Alexander snorted. “Tell me about it.”
When the fire truck and ambulance came, Robert waved them in at the front gate. They were soon followed by the local sheriff’s car and another fire truck and ambulance.
With the house flooded in light from the vehicles, Kat caught the first glimpse of her home for the past five years. Curls of smoke wafted heavenward like cigars around a poker table. There was a large, angry hole where half the house had stood just a short while ago. Kat clamped her hand over her mouth and stifled a sob.
A male voice filled Kat’s ear. “Come over here, ma’am, and let’s see how you’re doing.” A blanket was draped over her shoulders and she was led to the brightly lit entrance of an ambulance. Dimitri sat on the bumper and Oksana sat on the gurney inside the vehicle. Christopher stayed close on Kat’s heels.
The paramedic turned to Christopher and craned his neck upward. “Sir, if you’ll go to the other ambulance, they’ll check you out.”
“No. I will stay with her. I’m fine.”
The man eyed Christopher for a moment. “Suit yourself.”
The paramedic flashed a penlight back and forth over Kat’s eyes and asked her what her name was and if she knew where she was and what happened. Then he dabbed at a cut over her eye and checked the range of motion in her aching shoulder.
Kat sighed and waved him away. “I’m fine. I’m fine. Thank you.”
The sheriff shuffled over to the group. He addressed the paramedic. “When you’re done, I have some questions.” He looked at Dimitri. “You’re sort of the head of the family, aren’t you, son?”
Dimitri returned his gaze. “Yes.”
“What’s your name, son?”
Dimitri’s mouth twitched. He was old enough to be the grey-haired sheriff’s father. “Dimitri Wolff.”
“I remember now.” The sheriff nodded and dabbed the tip of his pencil onto his tongue before scribbling in his small notebook. He peered at the group. “I’ll talk at y’all here in a bit.” He shuffled off.
Kat looked at her uncle and he gave a slight shake of his head.
“All right. Do any of you want to go to the hospital? I recommend at least some of you get x-rays,” a female paramedic said. Her eyes lingered on Dimitri more than anyone.
Dimitri turned to Oksana. “Are you all right, love? Do you want to go?”
She shook her head. “No. I am okay.”
“Anyone else?” Dimitri glanced at Kat and Christopher. The rest of the family were either near the second ambulance or were huddled in small groups watching the fire trucks soak the remains of their home.
“No.”
“I just need a shower! I don’t need
to go to the hospital!” Granny barked from the second ambulance. “Dad gum it! Get these here wires off me!”
Dimitri smiled at the female paramedic. “Thank you for your ministrations.” He shook the blanket from his shoulders and handed it to her.
The paramedic’s cheeks pinked, and she averted her gaze as she accepted the blanket. Kat chuckled. Uncle Dimitri still had it.
Kat and Christopher walked over to where Anastasia, Mariya, and Steven huddled together. They were soon joined by the others as the paramedics completed their assessments with unanimous denials from the family to be transported to the hospital. Once release forms were signed, the ambulances packed up and left.
The sheriff shuffled over to the group. He nodded toward the cavernous garage. “Y’all want to head in there and have a chat?”
Everyone moved to the garage and took a seat wherever they could. The sheriff remained standing and looked at each member until his gaze landed on Mariya. His eyes widened.
“If you don’t mind my asking, ma’am, what happened to you?”
Mariya eyed him. “I got burned. Bad accident. Thanks for noticing, sir.”
The sheriff’s thin lips disappeared. “I don’t mean nothing by it, ma’am. You just look like you been through hell is all.” He looked at the gathered assembly and scratched the scruff on his chin. “Y’all seem to have the worst type of luck, don’t you? Lots of accidents happening around here. Strange.”
“Yes, it is the worst type of luck, Sheriff,” Dimitri said. “What can we help you with? Our house was just destroyed, and we barely escaped being killed. I believe there was a gas leak in the kitchen. I smelled it and that’s why we all ran out of the house, and thankfully so because it exploded soon afterward. It was a very old house.” He shuddered. “I didn’t even have time to call for help before it exploded.”
The sheriff scribbled more notes in his notebook. “Yeah. That’s awful, Mr. Wolff. Sure is mighty lucky that y’all escaped right before it happened.” His eyes raked over the family again. “Y’all don’t seem to be too busted up about it. I know my missus would be hysterical if this happened to our home.”
Anastasia popped up, indignant. “Not everyone goes hysterical, Sheriff. We are tough, but that doesn’t mean we don’t feel. Everyone expresses things differently.” She looked at her family.
Oksana sniffled and pressed a hand to her mouth. “I am thankful we are all okay.”
Dimitri put his arm around his wife’s shoulders and murmured in her ear. Oksana nodded and wiped her eyes.
The sheriff shifted his weight and cleared his throat. “If you don’t mind, I just need to ask you some questions.”
The interview lasted for about fifteen minutes and the sheriff scowled when he was done. There was very little information to give him.
The sheriff sighed. “Well, where are y’all going to stay for the night? Do I need to contact the Red Cross?”
Dimitri stood up. “That won’t be necessary, Sheriff. Thank you for your concern. We have the means to pay for accommodations. I prefer the Red Cross save their resources for the truly needy.”
The sheriff tucked his notebook away. “You sure talk fancy for such a young man.”
Dimitri smiled and dipped his head. “My parents were adamant about diction.”
“Uh huh. Well, I will leave you folks alone for the night. Looks like the firemen are about done.” He nodded toward the trucks, which had stopped spraying water some time ago. “I’ll be in touch.” He shook Dimitri’s hand, tapped the tip of his hat with a finger and left.
Dimitri turned toward the group and let out a heavy sigh.
“Sir?”
Dimitri turned toward the approaching fireman. “Yes?”
The fireman glanced at the group, then addressed Dimitri. “There are no hot spots left...”
Kat tuned them out and turned her face into Christopher’s chest. She was exhausted.
Christopher cradled her against him. “We’ll get you into a bed soon, my Kat.” He kissed the top of her head.
By the time the family was left alone, it was well after midnight.
Robert rubbed his face. “What are we going to do? We can’t all go to a hotel and leave the property completely unprotected, even if the house is basically gone.”
Dimitri nodded and considered for a moment. “No. We can’t. We have a lot of camping gear stored here, but I think at least some of us should go to a hotel. Lila Mae, for one. I want Oksana, Anastasia, Mariya, Kat, Steven and Christopher to go to a hotel. Anna, Alexander, Rebecca, Peter, and Robert, and I will stay here. That’s an even division of talent.” He slipped his cell from his pocket. “Does everyone have their cell phones?” They all nodded, and Dimitri uttered a brief prayer of thanks. “Good. Text me what hotel you stay at and when you arrive. Stop by a drug store and pick up some cell phone chargers, too.”
“Are we going camping?” Rebecca asked.
“Yes, we are for tonight. Are you okay with sleeping in a tent?” Alexander asked.
Rebecca bobbed her head. “Yes! I went camping as a Girl Scout when I was a little girl and I loved it.”
Kat ground her teeth and kept silent.
“I will stay with you, Dimitri,” Oksana said.
Dimitri walked over and kissed her forehead. “No, love. I want you to stay in the hotel. Just for now. You’ll sleep better and be back in the morning.”
“Do you have a camping stove?” she asked.
Dimitri chuckled. “Yes, love. But you don’t have to cook tomorrow. We’ll get breakfast out.”
She frowned. “No. I cook breakfast.”
“We don’t have to settle that right now, do we?” Mariya sighed. “I want to sleep.”
The group split off and took two cars to the hotel. When Kat and her assigned group left, her uncle and his group were already well on their way to setting up the tents behind the garage.
They picked up the cell chargers and still arrived at the closest hotel in thirty minutes. The bewildered front desk clerk’s eyes widened, and his jaw dropped when the weary motley group walked in.
Anastasia offered her most winning smile to the clerk. “We went mud bogging in Jeeps today and our luggage got stolen. Then, of course, we got lost, so...”
Christopher moved to the front of the group. “I got this.” His eyes glowed and he dipped his chin. Kat felt vibrations in her chest. “We don’t look strange to you and nobody needs to know anything about us. We need rooms, clothing, basic toiletries, and extra towels and pillows. Please.”
The clerk let out a deep sigh and nodded. “Okay. I don’t know if we have any clothes that will fit you. But let me check the gift shop.”
The clerk returned bearing an armload of I love Georgia! t-shirts and matching sweatpants, which the group accepted gratefully and paid for. They rented three adjacent rooms, then let Dimitri know where they were. Granny and Christopher stayed in one room, Kat, Mariya, and Steven stayed in the second, and Oksana and Anastasia shared the third. Everyone took showers, then slipped on their new clothes before falling into much needed deep slumber.
WHEN THE HOTEL GROUP arrived at the family property the next day, Alexander and Rebecca burst out laughing when the group emerged from the vehicles.
“You look like homeschool convention attendees with your matching clothes!” Alexander chortled.
Christopher sighed. His t-shirt and sweatpants were horribly undersized. His taught abdomen was exposed, and his sweatpants only came to mid-calf. Stanley burst out of the garage barking wildly and leapt into Granny’s arms.
Rebecca laughed and pointed at the group. “Oh, aren’t y’all so sweet looking? Where did you go? Did you get me a souvenir?”
Kat grumbled and didn’t answer. “So. Breakfast?”
Dimitri nodded to a table they had set up inside the garage. “Robert got bagels, cream cheese, fresh fruit, and some deli meats. There’s hot coffee, juice, and hot chocolate, too. Help yourselves.”
“We didn’t ch
eck out of the hotel, Dad. We still have the three rooms booked for tonight and tomorrow,” Anastasia said. “Perhaps we can switch it up tonight. Most of you can go to the hotel and we’ll stay here.”
Dimitri smiled at his daughter. “You’re thoughtful, Anastasia. I’m fine in the tent. I want to keep an eye on the property and we have a lot of work to do.”
“Are we going to rebuild?” Kat asked as she and the rest of the hotel group wandered toward the food.
Dimitri squinted at the remains of their home. “Yes. It will be a large project, but we’ll manage.”
Robert slathered cream cheese on a bagel and slapped several slices of salami onto it. “Yeah. We’ll hire the best general contractor to do it in record time. It’s not the whole house. Just about half of it.”
Mariya took a few steps toward the remains and stared. “All my work...just gone.”
Oksana hovered nearby and walked over to Mariya. “I am sorry, Mariya.”
Mariya’s face crumpled and she covered her face with a hand.
Kat put her plate down and walked over to her cousin. She threw her arms around her. “I’m sorry, Mariya. So very sorry.”
Mariya nodded, returned the hug, then pulled away to wipe her face. “Thanks.”
Anastasia grasped her sister’s hand and pulled her toward the garage. “Come and eat. I’ll make you a plate. You need your strength.”
Oksana grimaced. “I will make breakfast tomorrow. And I will make a hot meal for tonight, too. No more cold food.”
Dimitri kissed her cheek. “We know, love. It’s all right.”
After everyone fortified themselves with food, they took stock of the situation and began the arduous task of cleaning up. Robert texted Claire who promised to come over as soon as her shift ended. He then called to have a construction dumpster delivered to the property later that day. Peter, Anna, Robert, and Dimitri explored the carcass of the house. They wanted to retrieve their laptops and as much data as possible.
Revelations: The Shifter Series: Volume Three Page 2
