Neil turned to Jaxon and Noah. "What do we do?"
Noah's eyes were wide as he shook his head helplessly. "I don't know. This is major! Find her some chocolate, coffee, Cheetos, anything!"
Avery looked back at Kari, worry on his face. "Kari, help her."
Kari walked over and unclipped the walkie-talkie from Meryn's geek bag. "Hmm hello?"
"This is Adriel. Kari, is that you? Is everything well?"
Kari took in Meryn's epic breakdown. "Not really. Meryn just found out Netflix dropped Doctor Who."
After a second of silence, Bethy's voice came across the walkie-talkie. "Oh my gods! Kari, can you please get her back to my uncle's quarters? I'll meet you there. I'll have Sebastian whip up some Magic Pudding for her. I think I have some Classic Who on DVDs in storage. We'll get her settled, and I'll look for them."
"The world is a darker place. How could this happen! It's a conspiracy! Evil has taken root in the world!" Meryn ranted.
"Right. I will get her there." Kari lowered the walkie-talkie. "Avery, Ryuu get Meryn back to Magnus' quarters. Neil, Nigel, go find Bethy and help her go through storage. She is pregnant, and some of those boxes may be heavy." She looked at Noah and Jaxon. "You two find out if Doctor Who is available through any other online streaming source, if not, get Aiden's credit card and buy every season they have available on iTunes." She placed her hands on her hips. They just stared at her. "Today, gentlemen!"
At once, the six men began to move. Ryuu inclined his head. "You have my thanks."
Noah and Jaxon disconnected from Skype as they got to work. Nigel and Neil left at a run to help Bethy, and Avery and Ryuu were gently coaxing Meryn back to Magnus'.
Kari walked behind them, smiling at the way Avery soothed his new friend. He was the sweetest soul she had ever met. The second he'd connected with Meryn made her family as far as Kari was concerned, so she was willing to do whatever it took to make the crazy human happy, if only to keep Avery smiling.
Bethy met them at the door. An anxious looking man peered out from behind her.
"You poor thing! You're having a rough week aren't you?" Bethy said in a sympathetic voice.
Meryn stopped in her tracks and looked at her adopted sister. Her bottom lip began to quiver, and Bethy's eyes widened. Before anyone knew what was happening, Meryn went into a full blown nuclear meltdown.
Bethy was immediately at her side, wrapping her arms around her. "Shsssh, honey, it's okay."
Meryn just shook her head. "It's dark! And I hate it here! Now I can't watch Doctor Who and that was my escape! I miss Noah and Jaxon and Penny and Amelia, even though she hugs me!" Meryn's barely coherent wailing echoed through the stone halls. A tiny light began to buzz around her head. Ryuu stood close to Meryn's side, his hand on her wrist. A faint blue light glowed from his circled fingers.
Bethy sniffled as her eyes began to tear up. "I know; I miss home too."
Kari watched in disbelief as Bethy began to break down right along side Meryn. Avery wrung his hands as he bounced from foot to foot, panicked.
Kari walked to the doorway. "Your name?"
The man blinked. "My name is Sebastian, I am the Rioux squire."
"Good. Let us get these two somewhere warm and comfortable. Where would be the best place?"
He tore his eyes away from the upset women. "Meryn has been using the guest quarters' media room to relax in. I will take them there and turn on the fireplace."
"Fireplace?" Kari asked.
"Ventless gas fireplace. Does wonders to knock off the chill when it gets cold." Sebastian was about to step toward his two charges when Gavriel appeared behind him.
He took one look at the two women, and his eyes turned red, and his body began to expand. "If another one of these idiotic, parasitic, sycophant vampires have upset them, I will rip them apart limb by limb."
Avery turned and winced. "Meryn found out Netflix dropped Doctor Who, and Bethy started crying when Meryn did."
Gavriel took a deep breath and slowly began to relax down to his original size, though his eyes remained red. He walked over and pulled both women to his body. Bethy and Meryn buried their faces in his chest."
"Hush now zain'ka moya, solnyshko moya, I have you now. Let us go warm up and partake of Sebastian's Magic Pudding; things are not as dark as they may seem." Gavriel gently kissed both women on the top of their heads and steered them inside, Ryuu close behind them. Avery walked over to stand with Kari; they looked at each other, unsure if they should follow.
Sebastian reappeared at the door, smiling. "Please come in. I have put on a fresh pot of tea, I am sure that the two of you could use a cup."