The cab ride back to our hotel was pretty quiet. I am sure Corrie was processing everything that had just happened, but I knew she would have questions. And she did.
"Kenna how long have you been able to speak with Nereus.?"
"Not long, well within the last year of getting my powers released and everything."
"But he has been talking to Raine her entire life when she needed guidance?"
"That is what I understand from what he said."
"How can you not hate them?"
"He has never spoken to you, has he?" I asked gently
"NO, he has not." She spat out.
"I understand what you are feeling. I resented them for a while, but it was a waste of my time. I have so much going on right now hating them isn't worth it. Nereus does seem to be trying to help me and Aedus has helped me some." I shrugged.
"Aedus?" She asked questioningly.
"Oh, he is Lord of Fire, and he is an ass. I have been able to get him to help me with some things, but I prefer to avoid him if possible. I haven't really been able to get to know the others, but Nereus is my favorite so far. He really seems more human than the others, and maybe it is all an act but right now I need all the help I can get."
"I just don't understand why you guys are all so damn special." Shed huffed and turned away from me.
Shit, I never thought about her taking offence, it does make sense though. They have taken time with my family and left all the rest out in the cold. "I am sorry Corrie," I said gently while taking her hand, "they are snobs to be completely blunt. They only care about the direct bloodline that is not diluted. Trying to convince them that you and the others are family, which technically you all are because all the lines can be traced back to the original, is a waste of breath, they don't care. I think there will be a day, well I hope there will be, that I don't deal with them anymore either. That they can leave this place and us to ourselves and we can live as normal lives as possible. But I don't think I know what normal looks like anymore."
"This isn't your fault at all," she said squeezing my hand, "it just pisses me off that some all powerful lord of water and the others have left us all to be tortured and killed and now they step in for their own personal gains."
Oh, if she only knew what was coming, or at least the war they say is coming. Will she stay with me and help? I truly hope so, next the Lexi she has become one of my closest friends. "At least once a day I wish things could go back to the way they used to be for me. But when my life turned upside down yours was already bad. If my life hadn't changed then you might still be a prisoner to the Restorers. I can't regret what has happened in my life, I met my brother Aidan, we have been able to save people and now I have met my sister. Even if right now she really doesn't like me."
"Your right, Nereus wasn't a part of my life before and he doesn't need to be a part of my life now. He may help you some, but he didn't fight for you back at that castle. He wouldn't have fought for me when my brother died either. All I can do is continue to move forward and help keep others like us safe by taking out the Restorers."
Well I guess that kinda answers if she will stay with me through this. "I pray one day our people are truly safe in this world." And I hope I am around to see it.
"Me too Kenna, me too."
We both got lost in our own thoughts the rest of the cab ride back to our hotel.
Once back at the hotel the guys still weren't in our room. I am excitement of finding my sister was still there, but after talking to Corrie it was dampened some. The lords' really haven't been fair in their treatment of people who are technically part of their bloodlines. But I really can't change the way they think and with what is coming I need to have all the help I can get. Maybe just maybe I can get Raine to help us also. Speaking of Raine…
"Aidan?"
"Kenna, how are you?" I can hear the relief in his voice.
"We are all fine, in Vegas. Rick's sister wasn't at the safe house."
"I am sorry, I know he really wants to find her. Do you know where you are headed next?"
"I don't, and I may be postponing that for a bit anyway." Which Rick will be pissed about, but I have to.
"Why is that?"
"Aidan…, I found our sister. Well one of our sisters. It was just by chance but it is one of them. Her name is Raine and I bet you can guess what her power is."
"Oh wow Kenna. She is living in Vegas?"
"Yeah, she has been doing street shows with water."
"No No she can't do that."
"I have spoken with her, but right now she is still processing everything I think. Her life hasn't been as nice as ours."
"Oh, is she ok?"
"She is very resilient. As long as the Restorers think she is just doing stage magic with the water she is fine, but it won't take them long to figure out what she is if they ever see her perform."
"I hope she stops performing."
"Me too Aidan."
"I have headed back to the cabin to check on my parents. Jake has not given up, but he has no idea where you are. He has nothing to go off of since you aren't using credit cards or anything. He agreed to fly me back up to the cabin just so I wouldn't find someone else to do it."
"Are you and him still ok?"
"Not really, he blames you leaving on me too because I wasn't vigilant enough. I don't agree with him, so it is easier to blame me."
"I am sorry Aidan, I had hoped he would calm down and realize he was being insane, but I guess that hasn't happen."
"He will eventually, he really cares about you Kenna and it is killing him that he can't find you."
"I know, I just couldn't do it anymore with him. He has watched me most of my adult life, but I never knew it. Would kinda be nice if he could go back to that for a while."
"I am not sure he could do that, but for now he can't find you anyway. Do you think after I check on my parents I could come to Vegas? I will be at the cabin in a few hours and I can head back your way tomorrow. Jake is just dropping me off at the cabin so I will have to walk out like you did, but I can probably be in Vegas in a few days."
The minute Aidan mentioned meeting up with me my heart lifted. Having my brother with me would make things so much easier. "I would love that Aidan. I will talk to the others about sticking around here for a bit so I can work on getting to know Raine and then when you get here you can meet her."
"That sounds perfect, I will see you in a few days Kenna. Love ya."
"Love you too Aidan, see you soon."
I don't think I will tell the others that Aidan is coming. I know he wasn't as hard as Jake, but I am not sure how the others feel about him. I could tell Rick and I think he would be fine with it. Well the old Rick would have been fine. He has been acting so different lately I am not sure how he will react. Probably piss him off because I am not willing to leave immediately to go help find his sister. But he must understand I just found my sister, I can't just up and leave her.
Corrie and I were just kinda lounging around watching TV waiting for the guys to finally get back when they pretty much came bursting through the door. Dane looked pretty relaxed, but Rick looked like he was ready to kill someone, and he immediately zeroed in on me.
"Whoa, where is the fire?" I asked as soon as I saw Rick.
"WHERE THE HELL HAVE YOU BEEN!" Rick said while shooting daggers at me with his eyes.
"What are you talking about? We went to the spa and came back to the room. You guys weren't here so we went and got something to eat. What has you so worked up?" I said causally.
"You can't just run off whenever you want. We are supposed to be a team and you are supposed to be helping me!" Rick was still yelling.
"Rick you have about two seconds to calm your ass down before I pick up and leave! I am not your property, little sister or responsibility! We are here in Vegas because you have a safe house here which we already checked, and you sister isn't there. Life is hard enough as it is right now to add additional stress trying to keep track of the adults in our group! Plus, if you would have given me the damn number to that phone you picked up I could have texted you and told you! Don't you dare try to act like I bow down to you, if I recall you and I left that mountain because Jake was doing the same damn thing to me!" I couldn't take it, how come everyone is always trying to keep me in a tiny glass bubble! I stood up and started walking for the door, just as I reached for it Rick grabbed me by the arm.
Before Rick could even utter a word to me, I set his shirt sleeve on fire. He immediately let go and I walked out the door. I had no idea where I was going but staying here was not an option.
I just kept walking and walking. There were people all around me and I didn't really see any of them. My life had become so much more complicated than I ever could have imagined, and why whenever I get pissed do I reach for Fire! I don't want to be like Aedus!
"You called?"
Of course, Aedus shows up. "You know dang well I did not call you."
"Oh, but your fire called me."
"Of course it did!"
"Kenna I am not all that bad you know. You haven't even met the other two."
"Yeah and if they are anything like you, I think I will just stick with Nereus."
"You do realize he has a temper too?"
"Water can be very violent, but he wasn't an ass the first time I met him with a holier than thou attitude like someone else!"
"Oh, my girl you have no idea what I am capable of."
"I don't, you're right and I am not your girl!" I stopped and took a deep breath, "Aedus why did you come?"
"Because if you keep feeding your fire right now you could cause some serious harm."
"What?", I responded in alarm.
"Are you ready to listen to me?", he replied smugly, of course.
"Not really but I will try.", I shallowed down my retort to his comment.
"As you keep reliving what happened in that room your anger is growing. You reached for your fire in your moment of anger and it is still very close to the surface. You have to stop feeding it or you will cause more damage."
"Oh, wait what do you mean more damage?", I started freaking out.
"Kenna look behind you."
I turned and looked behind me, with trepidation. A few blocks away I can see smoke rising over the buildings. "Oh my God what have I done?"
"Breathe child, you have to calm down!", he scolded.
I took a look around and had no idea where I was or how long I had been walking. But there was a bench not far from me, so I walked to it and sat down. "Aedus what did I do? How many did I hurt?", I asked almost in tears.
"You have not hurt anyone yet.", he replied calmly.
I made a noncommittal noise to that.
"You have not, you caught the upper portions of the palm trees on that block on fire. No one has been injured."
I hung my head in my hands, "This time, but what about the next time I lose my temper?"
"Kenna you have lost your temper multiple times, and this is the first time you caught anything on fire because of it."
I looked up thoughtfully, "Oh, you're right. Why is that?"
"Your temper is not what caused this. In your rage you reached for your fire and never put it back down after you used it. Fire is fickle and you must keep a tight rein on it. If you had pushed your fire back down after you caught Rick's sleeve on fire it would have taken actual thought to catch the trees on fire. But because you didn't push it back down and calm it and then kept feeding it, the fire had to release that energy somehow."
"Oh, I didn't realize. I better go back and see if I can help.", I stood and started walking back the way I had come. But I stopped abruptly when I heard Aedus' reply.
"No, you should not! The fire department is already there they don't need help. Just continue to calm you fire. Then go from there."
"Why shouldn't I go help?"
"Really Kenna, you think drawing attention to yourself after you accidently set trees on fire is a good idea?"
I couldn't help but smile. He is right, now is not the time to go back. "Ok, um thank you Aedus."
"I am sorry, what was that?"
"Oh, you heard me.", I said in frustration.
"How hard was it to say that?"
"You have no idea." I started to smile again, Aedus wasn't such an ass when he wanted to be nice.
"You are welcome Kenna." And just like that Aedus was gone again.
As I walked back to the hotel I was able to relax and reflect on what was going on with Rick. I really had no idea why he had changed so much since getting to Vegas, but something was definitely bothering him. He has always been worried about his sister, but since we check the safe house and she wasn't there his agitation seems to have gotten worse. Is he more worried about her than he has let on? He said he has homes all over the country, she could be at any of those. Or would he have had a message on the phone he picked up at the house if she was at one of the others? Something is just off about Rick now and I need to figure out what it is. If he is really that worried about his sister he can go ahead and go after her and I will meet up with him after I get things figured out with Raine.
By the time I got back to the hotel it was pretty late and everyone was sleeping or at least pretending to sleep. I really didn't care though, I was just exhausted from the day's events and fell right to sleep the minute my head hit the pillow.
I slowly awoken to soft knocking on my door. Corrie stuck her head in, "Good morning. How are you feeling?"
"Not bad, what time is it?" I said as I stretched.
"Oh, it is still early, you didn't stir at all when I got up this morning and the boys are still down for the count. I brought coffee." Corrie held up a steaming cup.
"Please yes. How is Rick?" reaching for it immediately.
"Well after you left last night he was absolutely horrified that you used fire against him." Corrie started right in on the events of yesterday.
"I know I shouldn't' have done that." I said around my coffee.
"Bull shit you shouldn't have done that! He had no right whatsoever to touch you." She exclaimed vehemently.
"I just don't understand what is going on with him. I know he is worried about his sister, but he has always been worried about his sister."
"Dane and I have noticed his change too, if it weren't for his sister, I would split with him today." Corrie responded with a shrug.
"We can't do that though. His sister needs our help."
"She does, maybe once we find her Rick will go back to his old self."
"Maybe, he was already pissed about us staying here in Vegas for a few days, what is he going to say when I tell him I am staying here longer."
"I may have mentioned that to him already."
"How did that go?"
"Not so great at first, but when I asked him what made his sister more important to us than yours, he kinda backed down. I also told him we understand that to him his sister is the number one top priority, but how could he ask you to put your own sister on the back burner for his."
Dang Corrie is pretty good. Maybe she should have been a lawyer if our lives had been different. "His sister is still young, mine is an adult."
"It doesn't matter Kenna. Family is number one and you just found another one of your siblings. Rick's sister has done pretty well without him so far, and if Rick needs to, he can continue to search for her and once you are done here, we can catch up with him."
"Have you been in my head? That is what I thought last night too. But I wouldn't want to send him off on his own. Maybe Dane can go with him."
"I think Dane would be more than willing to go with him and right now that might be what is best for everyone."
"Maybe. Sooo, on to other subjects. Aidan is coming." I said quickly.
The look on Corrie's face was shock at first then understanding. "I understand why he would be coming. Will Jake be with him?"
"No Jake is not coming. Aidan talked Jake into taking him back to the cabin to check on his parents and Jake left him there. Jake still isn't giving up on finding me."
"He is persistent, maybe I can drown him if he shows up." Corrie said with a smile.
"I know you really don't like him after the way he treated you guys, but he didn't used to be like that. He was fun when I first met him. He was also trying to protect me. He didn't go about it the best way, but he was trying to protect me." I reasoned with her.
"Wow this is a first, never heard you defend him." She said with skepticism, but then she smiled, "I am just kidding I wouldn't drowned him anyway. Well unless he really pissed me off, again." She said as she walked over to the trash bin to through her cup away.
"I don't know that Jake and I will ever be friends again, but he did think he was doing what was best for me." I said, but I really didn't know anymore. Why was everyone trying to keep me in a little box, well not everyone, just the guys.
"Some of the worst things are often done with the best intentions." Corrie quipped.
"Oh, when did I become friends with a philosopher?" I said with a laugh.
Corrie laughed too, "I have a few gems of wisdom every now and then. So, you gonna lay around all day or feel like getting up?"
"I suppose I can get up. Give me time to shower and get cleaned up." I got myself out of bed and went into the bathroom. Hopefully today would end up being a good day for me.
I quickly showered and changed. I really want to get something in my stomach before I have to deal with Rick. Sending him off after his sister is seeming like a better and better idea, now just to convince him to go along with it. Corrie and I went down to find a place for breakfast and just enjoyed our morning. I knew this nice bubble we had around ourselves would burst soon, and I had pushed it as far as I could. It was time to go face the lion and see if I can get him to go find his sister without me.
When we walked back into our suite Rick wouldn't even look at me. I was hoping things would start to get better between us, but so far that did not seem to be the case.
"Rick, I need to talk to you. Well we all need to talk to you." I said with determination.
He looked up at me, "First I need to apologize. I never should have lost my temper yesterday. I am just really worried."
I gave him a small smile, "I do understand that Rick, and because of that and my recent discovery I think what would be best for you to go ahead and go look for your sister."
"What no, I can't leave you Kenna." Rick shot up out of his seat.
"Yes, you can, and you will." I reasoned, "Not knowing what is going
on with your sister is driving you insane, literally." Everyone giggle at that statement. "But I can't leave yet, and you need to go. Dane can go with you."
Dane nodded his head, "Sure will man."
"Kenna I can't leave you girls." Rick exclaimed.
"Whoa right there, let me stop you before you say anything else you will regret. You and Dane have power over earth. That is it if I am not mistaken. Corrie here has power over water and correct me if I am wrong, I have power over all four elements. So, before you go all caveman on us. Do you really think we need the guys here to protect us?" Besides Aidan is coming, but Rick doesn't need to know that, he isn't Aidan's biggest fan right now.
Both Rick and Dane looked down uncomfortable. Looking over at Corrie she has a big shit eating grin on her face.
Rick finally looked up at me, "I would like to meet your sister before we leave?"
"I don't know if that is possible actually. I left her a way to get ahold of me, but right now I am pretty much waiting for her to contact me. She got a lot of information yesterday and has a lot to process. It could be awhile before she contacts me, and I don't want you to have to wait around while I wait for her."
"Kenna what if she never contacts you?" Rick tried.
"I thought of that, and that would be her choice, but I am waiting here at least for a few days to give her the chance to reach out to me." I told Rick.
Rick looked down in defeat. "Ok Kenna, Dane can you be ready to go in a few hours?"
"I am ready to go now, just say the word." Dane said as he slammed Rick in the back.
"What are you girls gonna do Kenna?" Rick asked.
"Don't have anything pressing at the moment, so I thought if Corrie wants, we can head down to the pool and relax. I think we could use it."
"Agreed," Corrie said.
"Ok, well here is the number to the phone I picked up at the safe house. Let me know if you need us for anything." Rick said as he handed me a piece of paper.
"Cool, Dane has the number to our phone. Keep us updated. Corrie and I will go get changed and head to the pool. Good luck Rick. I hope you find your sister soon." I said as I gave Rick a hug.
"Me to Kenna, me too." He said quietly.
I hugged Dane and whispered in his ear. "Thank you for going with him. Call or text me if you need me."
Dane smiled at me and Corrie and I went to change. Hopefully I can stop worrying about Rick and just focus on Raine for now.