Even with my mind as it was, there were things about Father that I still didn’t know.


KEVIN//

Mother? Are you available?

MYRTLE//

Of course, son.

KEVIN//

We received a letter addressed to you today. Do you mind if I open it?

MYRTLE//

Your curiosity is my own.

KEVIN//

It's handwritten, sent from upstate.

MYRTLE//

What does the return address say?

KEVIN//

Gertrude Fulton.

MYRTLE//

Gertrude?

I knew a Gertrude but she'd not be writing me. Not anymore. She died some years ago.

She was a magic user of considerable ability. Fulton is not a name I recognize though.

Open it.

KEVIN//

She says she's writing on behalf of the Moonwood Collective. One of their kind has lost himself in lunacy. It is not a recent descent but he has become particularly aggressive lately. They're writing us for aid in convincing him to return to their pack.

MYRTLE//

Why us?

KEVIN//

Well, they're werewolves.

MYRTLE//

The Mooncasters are no more. So again I ask, why us?

KEVIN//

Wasn't Father friends with the wolves?

MYRTLE//

I never knew him to keep company with werewolves. What do you know that I do not?

KEVIN//

I don't know much more than you do, Mother. I'm not even sure why I think Father was friends with these people. It feels... like I've heard a rumor.

MYRTLE//

Can't you just ask him?

KEVIN//

But that brings in the doubt.

MYRTLE//

Never mind the doubt!

KEVIN//

It's a very real consideration, Mother.

MYRTLE//

Don't "Mother" me!

KEVIN//

I'll try.

MYRTLE//

So what of this letter, then? What do you make of it?

KEVIN//

Their pack has a wayward member. They need help trying to find calm for him. They wrote to us because of our connection to the Spirit Realm.

MYRTLE//

Rubbish and poppycock.

What connection do we have to the Umbra?

KEVIN//

Through Father.

MYRTLE//

Your father has abandoned us.

KEVIN//

Father died. It's a wonder he's able to be with us at all.

MYRTLE//

He's not dead until he releases his hold on you.

KEVIN//

I'm learning how to manage his presence.

MYRTLE//

And yet he's not here when we need him.

KEVIN//

I hope someday, things will be different.

MYRTLE//

I hope so too. There's nothing I can do in this state.

KEVIN//

I'm sorry, Mother.

MYRTLE//

If you refuse to involve your father, then seek the council of the Count.

KEVIN//

I'm not refusing, there's just the very real fact that if I ask him a question, I cannot be sure of the source of the response. I've tried to ask questions before, but there's no telling if it's my voice or his.

MYRTLE//

You don't know the sound of your own voice?

KEVIN//

It's more a feeling than it is a sound. And no, I can't always be certain if it's him or me.

MYRTLE//

Then we can do nothing. Seek the Count.