Owls and Parliament

Good morning fellow A-Z-ers! And all you others who just happened to wander my way. I hope you're enjoying this tale so far. Honestly, it's taken on a life of its own and I'm not so sure it will be a tidy wrap up when we all roll past the finish line of letter Z. BUT! Don't let that dissuade you. Your response to this story has been overwhelming and I am humbled by the kind and positive comments I have received about the story itself, the characters, and the plot development. You could say this was an experiment to seek out confirmation that this story is the one I should be focusing on now (and all those other stories should take a number and get back in line). We all know how clamoring those stories can be! But enough chit-chat! On with the show! ___________________________________________ "Blast!" Val stormed through the front door, startling Ima and Declan who had just turned from the door with no knobs. "Hellfire, damnation and BLAST!" If Val hadn't looked so angry, Ima would have laughed. "Look at this!" She shoved the paper into Declan's face. He sputtered, took the paper and read aloud: PARLIAMENT VOTES TO STOP FUNDING FOR REGENERATE PROGRAM. PRIME MINISTER MARCUS EDDELSTON TO UNVEIL NEW INVENTION! Declan's eyes went wide. "This is a joke, right?" Val scowled and snatched the paper back. She stormed away, her heels echoing in the cavernous foyer, down the hall, into the parlor where they all knew Greyson was sitting. Ima and Declan looked at each other, looked down the hall. "I have a bad feeling about this..." Declan murmured. He turned to Ima and gave her a brave smile, "And here I was about to show you where your father was!" Ima shivered. "I'm not so sure I want to see him anymore. I mean...is he in this house?" Declan shrugged. "Sort of. I mean, he's here he's just not...here." "Come again?" "It's confusing." "Welcome to the story of my life." "WHAT!" A voice boomed down the hall causing Ima to jump. Declan reached out and steadied her. "And here's where all hell breaks loose." Down the hall, the double doors to the parlor erupted open and Greyson practically billowed out like a cloud of black smoke during an oil fire. He was wearing a cloak which added to the illusion and was putting a top hat on his head. That took Ima a bit by surprise, why she wasn't sure, but again, if he hadn't looked so murderous, it would have been comical. "I want you," he jabbed a gloved finger in Ima's face, "to stay here. Declan, don't let her out of your sight! VAL!" Val followed shortly. "You bellowed?" Ima blinked rapidly. Val had been wearing trousers when she'd burst through the door. She was now dressed in an elegant dress complete with leather gloves and a small hat perched atop her head. She was polishing off something from a china plate, which she promptly handed to her son. "You two stay. Here. In this house." She glared at her son. "I mean that last part." "Aye captain." Something swooped down from the rafters. Ima clutched her head and screamed, ducking to get out of the way of whatever it was she was certain was attacking her. An owl, huge and black rested ominously on Val's outstretched arm. "Pallas. I need you to take this to Professor Aidle." She tied a little vial to the owl's leg, stroked its chin and let it fly out the front doors. "Messenger owls?" Ima murmured as Val and Greyson exited, slamming the doors shut: the doors with no knobs. "They beat carrier pigeons and they're much more intimidating." Ima only nodded and let Declan lead her down the hall, to a door she'd never seen.