"Ok, now where to?" Corrie asked as everyone stepped out the door of Edwards home.
I looked over at her, "I have no idea. It wasn't the Restorers who had Raine, but we still can't be too careful. I guess we try another hotel or something."
Raine stepped forward, "It isn't the greatest place, but I have friends in this town. I can find a place for us to crash while you guys figure out what you need to do."
I looked at Raine searchingly but decided not to bring up that she is a part of the group now and I expected her to stay with Us. I can't make that choice for her though, Raine must do that on her own. "Ok Raine, where we headed?"
The group was pleasantly surprised when we pulled up in front of a quaint little house, with the idealistic white picket fence. Raine looked at everyone and said, "I crash here from time to time, the lady inside is kinda like a grandma to me. Well, the closest I have ever had. You should also know she thinks she is a witch."
As Raine said this I could see the sign painted in the window of the home, "Madam Teresa's Witchery. Spells, Potions, & Predictions." I couldn't help but smile. Who am I to discount possible witches in the world?
As we walked in Raine shouted, "Terry it is me Raine, I brought some friends with me."
From the back of the house we heard, "Oh deary, that is great. Take them to the parlor while I finish up this reading."
Raine led us to what anyone else would call a living room. We all sat down and I turned to Raine, "Raine are you ok? I mean really, ok?"
Raine took a minute, but finally looked up at me and said, "You know, I am. It scared the crap out of me, and I am going to kill Roger, but I am ok. Thank you, Kenna, I have never had someone have my back the way you did today."
I smiled at Raine, "I know you aren't ready for this Raine, but your Aidan and I's sister, we'll always have your back. That is what family does."
Aidan shook his head up and down adamantly, "absolutely, we will always be here for you. Whether you want us to or not."
Raine looked down as she replied, "I don't have a lot of experience with true family. I will just have to take your word for that. Thank you nonetheless."
I couldn't help it and ran over and enveloped Raine in a big hug, with Aidan right behind me to make it a family group hug. Raine was like hugging a stiff board, but Aiden and I didn't let that stop us and Raine finally relaxed into it. "I am just so glad you are ok Raine," I said as I squeezed her tightly.
As we were pulling apart Madam Teresa was ushering her customer out the front door and coming into the parlor. She reminded me of the lady off Teen Witch, the 1989 movie, that mentored the teen just a younger version. Madam Teresa is lucking if she is even 5'1" with heels and in her mid 50's. She slowly made it over to Raine, "Oh deery it is so good to see you, and what kind of trouble have you been getting yourself into nowadays," Madam Teresa said with a cheeky grin.
"None myself," Raine said with a laugh, "others getting me into trouble, you have no idea."
Madam Teresa gave Raine a quick hug and turned back to the rest of the room. "Now who are these wonderful people you have brought to visit me?"
Raine stood and introduced Madam Teresa to the group. When she got to the fact that Aidan and I were her siblings, I watch Madam Teresa put a wall up. I could tell Madam Teresa is very protective of Raine.
"A brother and sister huh? And they just dropped out of the blue and found you at one of your performances?" Madam Teresa said skeptically.
Raine just smiled down at her, "I know Terry, but believe me it is true."
Madam Teresa looked up at Raine, "you can never be sure child. There are dark things in this world that can trick even the keenest of sight."
I loved how protective Madam Teresa was with Raine, at least she did have someone truly in her corner. I decided to try a different approach besides just words. "Raine does Madam Teresa know that your trick is real?"
Raine looked up at me and shook her head yes.
I stood up and walked over to Raine and Madam Teresa. "Mam, I can see you are very protective of Raine, and it warms my heart to know someone cares that much for her. I also know her performance was no trick." And with that I took a chance and began a water dance of my own. I brought the water in and twirled it around Raine and Madam Teresa, then shot it around the room and created beautiful designs with the water that were continuously moving.
Madam Teresa leaned into Raine and said, "your not doing any of this?"
Raine just shook her head no, "like I said Terry, they really are my siblings," she said with a smile.
Madam Teresa stepped away from Raine and addressed me, "I see your ability is like hers, but I am still going to withhold deciding. I am guessing there is a very interesting story to go along with all of this?"
I smiled inwardly, "yes mam there is." And I began to tell Madam Teresa parts of my story and showed her the letter from our mother.
When I finished the only things Madam Teresa said was, "you know."
"Excuse me?" I Spoke.
Madame Teresa looked at Raine and said, "Raine, you need to sit down. I have a story of my own I need to tell you all."
Raine sat with a worried look on her face.
"Raine, I need you to know I have been trying to protect you before I begin my story. I always thought you not knowing would be safest for you, but it is time you knew." Madame Teresa said to Raine after she sat. Then she looked at the entire group and began her story.
"I believe you Kenna. I know you story is true because of my own. I was not always Madame Teresa. When I was young, I was extremely idealistic and thought I could change the world. Unfortunately, that also opened me up to being convinced that there was extreme evil in the world where there was not."
I stood quickly and took a defensive stance, "Oh my God, you are one! You're a Restorer!"
Everyone looks around in alarm as Madam Teresa reached for Raine's hand. "Raine please hear me out."
Raine looked at Madam Teresa in confusion and mistrust for a few minutes and then her features softened, and she looked at me. "Kenna please, I know you have no reason to listen to Terry, but I need to hear this. You are my sister, but Terry has been the only mother I have ever truly known."
I slowly sat back down, but kept my guards up, "Raine my reason is you, I will listen and as Madame Teresa said, I will withhold my decision until I have heard it."
"Thank you." Madame Teresa said to me, then looked over at Raine and squeezed her hand. "And thank you Raine."
"Kenna you are almost right, I WAS a Restorer, but I have not been for many years. I was fresh out of college wanting to change the world when they found me. They convinced me that all your kind are evil and need to be eradicated from the world. But on my first assignment they sent me to observe a 3-year-old little boy. They had heard he was like you guys and wanted me to confirm their suspicions. I went out on my assignment and watch him for 3 months. His mother was very protective of him and kept his gift very well hidden, but one day she slipped. Where I was, I had a perfect view of their backyard and normally even in her backyard she kept his secret, but she was extremely distracted on this day and he slipped out back without her knowing. I watched as he snuck out the back door walked over to their dry flower bed and started playing in the dirt. Then slowly I watched as flowers started to pop up all around him. I knew immediately he was one of them, but I had watched these two for months and there was nothing evil about him. His mother struggled and I had never seen the father, but she loved him unconditionally as a mother should. Why were they considered evil? That is when I realized that if anyone was evil in this situation it wasn't them, but me and the people I was following. I decided that day to do everything in my power to help people like this little boy. I knew if I didn't report back, the Restorers would send someone else. I also figured that even if I did report back that they would probably send someone else to check as this was my first assignment. But to do the most good I needed to stay with the Restorers. So, I went to the house and spoke to the mother. She didn't have a lot of money, but my family came from money fortunately. I told her who I was and why I was originally there. I also told her what I believed would happen if she stayed. She broke down and started crying, she didn't have any family to help her or to protect her son, so I did. I gave her some money to get started in a new place and helped her get setup to change hers and his name so they couldn't find them. I implored her to raise him knowing who the Restorers were and to try and keep him safe. We had set it up that she was taking a new job in another state, she packed everything up in the next month and moved with her son. She didn't go where everyone thought she was going, but I told her I didn't want to know where she ends up just to stay safe. I reported back to my superior that in my four months of observation I had not seen the boy do anything unusual and the mother took a job in another state and had moved with her son. How did they want me to proceed? I was told I did an excellent job and to come back for my next assignment. I was with them for 20 years. I was only ever sent on 6 assignments in the field, all my other work was research and trying to find others like you guys. I always sent them on wild goose chases and hope I was able to protect more people. After 20 years they sent me on my 6th assignment in the field and that is when everything changed. I was sent to eliminate a target. They had found a girl who was maybe around 15 that could manipulate water."
Everyone had sat riveted to their seats, but at this they all looked to Raine.
"They knew for sure she was someone they needed to eliminate, and I was the one they wanted to do it. After 20 years I had set myself up to be able to leave if and when I needed to. I had a new identity and a place completely setup. Now I needed to try and save this girl. Turns out that was easier than I had thought. She was in foster care and bouncing from place to place. I went in and processed all the paperwork to adopt her in my real name. The colleges of course knew I was doing this as I made it out it would be easier to take her away from the system and her have an accident a year or so after I was her guardian and they all agreed. I moved to where she was and was fortunate to take home an extremely mad at the world, I hate everyone teenager." Madame Teresa said as she smiled over at Raine. "We lived there for almost a year and one night I woke her and told her we had to leave. We threw everything into the car and drove out of town in the middle of the night. I stopped and we switch to a car the Restorers didn't know anything about and ended up in Vegas. I told Raine I had an ex-boyfriend that was crazy and after us, so she willingly took her new identity, and we started a new life. Of course, when she turned 18, she was chomping at the bit to get out of the house and has been struggling ever since and refused to move back here with me, but she has been safe."
"Wow," I exclaimed, "Just wow, you are amazing. Raine you are extremely lucky to have this woman in your life."
Raine looked at Madame Teresa then looked at me, "I am, even more than I ever knew. Terry I was a handful when you took me in and am forever grateful for everything you have done for me, but I didn't want to burden you anymore. That is why I left."
Madame Teresa stood and hugged Raine, "You were never a burden, you are my heart."
Raine and Madame Teresa were in tears by this point and everyone else sat around the room in awe.
When Raine and Madame Teresa pulled apart Aiden and I stood up and gave Madame Teresa a hug and we both thanked her for keeping our sister safe.
"Oh, I think it would be ok if you all call me Terry. I knew I couldn't keep Raine protected forever, I was trying to for as long as I could." Terry said to us.
The rest of the day everyone sat around visiting and getting to know each other better. In the back of our minds we knew we had some decisions to make, but this was a moment in time they all wanted to cherish.
The next morning I was at the table with Aidan and Corrie trying to decide what we needed to do next.
"Corrie, I think we need to meet back up with Rick and Dane. I promised Rick, I would help him find his sister." I mentioned.
"Do you think Raine is going to want to go with us?" Corrie asked.
"I don't know." I replied.
"Kenna, I can take her back to the cabin if she is open to that." Aidan said. "She will be safe with me there and if you need me or her you can call."
I smiled, "yeah we can call or I will just talk to you in my head."
"Or that," Aidan said with a smile.
"Need to sit down with Raine and see what she wants to do. She was resistant before about all of this, she may still be." I said with doubt.
Just then Raine walked in with Terry, they both seemed very happy. Finally letting Raine know everything seems to have lifted a burden from Terry's shoulders.
"Good morning gals, you seem extra chipper this morning." I quipped to Raine and Terry with a smile.
Raine smiled, "I am happy, truly happy right now. This is kinda a newer feeling for me."
Terry just smiled up at her.
"Raine, I wanted to talk to you and now I guess is as good a time as any." I said with hesitation.
Raine and Terry sat at the table with everyone else and poured themselves cups of coffee.
"I figured," was all Raine said.
"Corrie and I must leave. I came to Vegas with my friend who is looking for his sister. He lost her when the Restorers took him, and he is trying to find her now. I promised him I would help, but we split up when I found you. You of course are welcome to come with Corrie and I or Aidan can take you back to our cabin with him. I know you are hesitant about this entire family thing, but it really isn't safe for you to stay here." I finished quickly and waited for Raine's response.
Everyone waited for Raine's response. Terry just reached over and squeezed her hand.
"Terry and I have been discussing that very thing this morning. She thinks it would be best if I left with you guys. Together we have a better chance of keeping each other safe." Raine said.
Aidan looked over and Terry and said, "Terry it really isn't safe for you to stay here either. Right now, they haven't found you, but you know eventually they will, and you know they will take you out. You are more than welcome to head back to the cabin with me."
"Oh, I am fine. I have taken care of myself for quite some time." Terry said.
Raine looked over at Terry, "Yeah, I wasn't done. I won't leave without you Terry. I cannot go somewhere I might be safer and leave you here to deal with everything."
"Raine.." Terry started.
"NO." Was all Raine said.
Terry looked at Raine and took a deep breath. "Fine, Aidan are you sure?"
Aidan, Corrie, and I all said yes at the same time.
"Terry, my own parents are there. It would be nice for them to have more company." Aidan said.
"Kenna, if Terry is going with Aidan, I want to go with him too." Raine said.
"That is completely fine, Aidan's baby momma is there too." I mentioned with a smile to Aidan. "That is a story for Aidan to tell you though. She hasn't had the baby yet, but I am sure she would appreciate your company too."
Raine, Aidan & Terry made plans to fly out that afternoon. Corrie and I would take them to the airport then get ahold of Rick and Dane and start helping to find his sister again.
We saw everyone off at the airport and Corrie and I headed back out. "I guess we should turn that phone back on and get ahold of the guys." I admitted to Corrie.
"Oh dang, I completely forgot about us shutting that off after everything that has happened." Corrie said.
"I know, I am kinda worried. We haven't check it at all, we could have a million messages from the guys." I groaned with worry. "Well, now is as good a time as any. I have no idea where to head until we talk to the guys."
I powered on the phone and sure enough there were 13 text messages and 4 voicemails. All of them from Rick and Dane asking where Corrie and I were, if we were ok, and to please call them as soon as we could.
I gave Corrie an oh crap look, "guess I should call them then."
"Hello, hello? Kenna? Is that you." I heard Rick on the other end of the phone.
"Rick we are fine. Sorry we had some trouble so we shut the phone off so it couldn't be tracked and forgot about it until now. We are really sorry, but we are ok. How are things going with your search for your sister?" I asked.
"Hell Kenna, you can't just completely go off the grid like that!" Rick practically shouted through the phone, with worry in his voice.
"Rick, I said I was sorry. We had a lot going on, but everyone is fine. Have you had any luck finding your sister?" I replied calmly.
"Maybe, Dane and I were going to head out of town to one of my other safe houses, but we couldn't get a hold of you and Corrie." Rick said.
"Ok, I am really sorry. There were some problems with getting my sister and we had to get that all figured out." I admitted.
Rick seemed to calm down a bit after I mentioned her Raine, "that I can understand, I have had a lot of crap come up with trying get my sister too."
I signed, "Your right, let's get to finding your sister. Where do you want Corrie and I to meet you?"
I took the address and Corrie and I hailed a cab to take us.
We sat sat quietly in the cab until they pulled into an industrial part of town.
"This seems a little odd, don't you think Kenna?" Corrie asked.
"Yeah, but who knows where Rick is hiding out with Dane." I said, "but I think I will shoot him a quick text just to double check."
I texted Rick, Rick is the place we are headed in an industrial area?
Almost immediately Rick texted back, Yeah, I converted the overlook office area into a small apartment. Figured it was the last place anyone would look.
I smiled after reading his text and replied, ok, just wanted to check. See you guys in a bit.
I turned to Corrie, "We are headed in the right direction. Rick converted some office area into an apartment. He figured it was one of the last places people would look."
Corrie nodded, "Makes sense."
The cab pulled up to a warehouse in the middle of other warehouses that all looked like they hadn't been used in years. We both got out and the cabby didn't waste a minute heading out of the area once I paid him.
Corrie and I walked to the only door they could see on the front of the building and pulled it open. I stuck my head in, "Rick? Are we at the right place?" All I saw was a big open area, but what looked like stairs in the back up to what I assumed was now an apartment. "RICK, ARE YOU HERE?"
The door at the top of the stairs opened and Rick stepped out with a smile, "yeah you're at the right place."
Corrie and I walk in and headed for the stair at the back as Rick walked down to meet us.
Rick made it to the bottom of the stairs before we reached him. I looked at him and asked, "where is Dane?"
Rick smiled, "oh he thought you guys might like something to eat so he is cooking up in the apartment."
Corrie and I both smiled, food did sound good, "Sounds great." But as they got closer to Rick, I could see dark circles under his eyes and a flash of what looked like guilt. But it was gone in a second. "Rick you don't look so good, are you ok?"
Rick looked down at the floor as the girls got closer, when he looked up I could see guilt in his eyes and he wasn't trying to hid it.
"Rick what is going on?" I questioned.
Rick started shaking his head, "I am so sorry, I didn't have a choice."
"Rick what are you talking about," I asked as Corrie and I started backing away from Rick.
Rick just kept repeating, "I didn't have a choice."
Just then I felt a prick on the back of my neck like I had been stung by a bee, I reached back and pulled out what looked to be a small dart. I looked up at Rick in horror, "you basta…" and everything went black.