I tried checking in on Dad, but he had the basement door warded. Part of me was pissed he wasn't paying attention when Celeste broke in, but the other half was grateful. It was probably those very wards which would have kept her from doing what she was trying to if I hadn't arrived home.

That thought made me pause at the bottom of the first floor stairs. What if she wasn't heading for the basement? But if not, what was she after? I pondered the question all the way to my room. ...