SUMMARY: Fi returns to the tour just in time for the truth to come out. Plot subject to change. SUGGESTIONS WELCOME.

CHAPTER TWO

The hall was dark and deserted. The least thing Fi had expected when she'd wandered in from her room. She should have been questioning why she was no longer in her aunt's house, and instead back home, but she was far too preoccupied. Up ahead the corridor wound, emptying into an elaborately decorated ballroom. The room was filled with people dancing, dressed in elegant frocks of old, and feathered masks hiding their faces.

Fi took a few nervous steps into the room, her eyes widening at the beautiful sights before her. There was so much energy in the room. Some people spun past her, and she quickly backed away, not wanting to interrupt.

"Aren't you going to dance?"

Fi turned sharply, surprised to see the boy standing before her.

"I'm not sure I understand the dance," Fi replied. The boy took her hand, causing her nightgown to transform into a black ball gown. A raven's mask appeared on her face.

"I shall teach you," He replied, smiling.

"Who are you?" She asked with confusion.

"Me?" He asked, searching her face. "I'm the host of this party. And it is all in your honor."

He pulled her into the mass crowd, taking both her arms and spinning her around.

Fi frowned. "But who are you?" She asked.

"Less questions," The boy replied. "Just enjoy the dance."

She hadn't wanted to let it go. But the questions and the curiosity had drifted out of her. Within moments she was caught up in the wind of the waltz, moving quickly with the crowd as they spun. She rested her head against his shoulders, just enjoying the normalcy of this.

It seemed to last for long, and yet, at the same time, not long enough. The orchestra had stopped for a break, leaving the dancers to their own.

Fi pulled away, looking up at the boy.

"Will you stay, Fiona?" He asked quietly. "For just this night, and the rest to come?" It didn't make sense, but often dreams don't.

"I can't," Fi replied.

"Stay, Fiona," The boy repeated, wrapping his arm around her waist and guiding her through the crowd. They stopped at a table and he lifted up a glass, tipping it towards Fi, his dark hair falling slightly into his eyes.

"Drink … and stay."

Fi took the glass in her hand, frowning.

"Stay and live," Another voice said. Fi turned sharply, shocked by the somewhat familiar voice.

"Pete?" She asked, looking at the vampire with confusion.

He didn't acknowledge the question, he just gestured to the wine. The other boy put his arm on her shoulder, and whispered into her ear, "Drink it all down, and be worshipped. Be a goddess among the many mortals you know."

The tone was seductive, and she wanted so much to stay, though she didn't know why.

"Drink."

"Annie?"

The blond brushed past, a devious smirk on her face. "Drink, and let all your troubles fade." Then she herself faded into the crowd, just as Pete had moments before.

The boy turned her to face him, pushing the glass before her mouth.

"Drink, Fiona. And be mine."

Fi stared down at the drink with confusion. Did she want to drink?

She touched the glass to her lips, and prepared to drink it down when she caught eyes with someone across the crowd.

Her breath froze. "Daddy?"

SO WEIRD

She awoke with a start, her heart pounding fiercely in her chest. She wiped at her face, and then looked around, realizing she had fallen asleep at her desk again.

"Everything okay?" Fi turned to see one of the twins standing in the doorway, curiosity on her face. She tilted her head slightly, awaiting an answer.

Fi managed a small smile. "I'm fine," She replied.

"Did you have a nightmare?" Miranda inquired.

"Yeah, something like that," Fi answered. She stood, approaching her cousin. "Why don't we go see what's for breakfast?"

Miranda hesitated, and then looked up at her older cousin. "Fi, you said you gave all that stuff up."

The older girl stiffened. "What do you mean?"

There were several moments of silence as the young girl tried to think of the proper answer. Shocking both of them, she touched her cousin's arm. "You feel different. Like you did before you came here."

Startled, Fi pulled away. "What do you mean?" She asked carefully.

The strange look that had come across the young girl's face vanished, and she just grinned. "Race ya to the breakfast table!" Then she darted past Fi and out into the hallway.

When Fi walked into the kitchen she was surprised to see the twins already scarfing down food. Her aunt turned around, smiling.

"Hey sleepyhead. There's a plate of pancakes right here for you," She said, gesturing to the counter.

"Thanks Aunt Melinda. Have you heard from Mom yet?"

The Phillips tour bus was expected to arrive in Seattle later that day, picking Fi up before circling back around and heading back home. No doubt the bus would be crowded, but she was sure she could manage. She just wanted to be home.

"They should be here in two hours, tops. Ned pulled an all-nighter."

'Poor Ned," Fi said with a frown. "He must be exhausted."

"Well that's why I was thinking that they could stay here while Molly's doing her week-long show. We could make the room."

"It would probably be better than sleeping in a hotel," Fi agreed.

"More people to annoy," Maggie said excitedly.

Melinda took a seat next to Fi, resting her hand against the teen's head. "Are you feeling alright? You look a little pale."

"I'm fine," Fi said quickly. "Just can't wait to see everyone again."

"And they you. Molly tells me that Annie is practically bouncing off the walls. She's so happy to have another girl on the tour."

"Annie's still on the tour?" Fi asked with surprise. It wasn't that she didn't like the younger girl. In fact, they got along great. But seeing her in that dream just moments before, the way she had seemed so … dark. It made her nervous, and she wasn't quite ready to face her so early.

"Well, her parents will be coming back for her when you get to Colorado," Melinda said, looking thoughtful. "I bet it will be nice to have a girl your age."

"Yeah, real cool," Fi said, giving an uncertain smile. She didn't want to admit it, not to herself, anyways, but something was up. And she knew it wouldn't be long before it all exploded.

SO WEIRD

He blinked several times before he realized Annie and Carey were trying to talk to him. As he did the small cottage faded away, leaving him back on the bus.

Carey and Annie exchanged confused looks when Jack began to massage his temples.

"Are you okay?" Carey asked with concern.

"Yeah. You just totally spaced out on us," Annie added.

"I'm fine," Jack grunted. "I just, uh, got a really bad headache."

Annie frowned in concern. "You sure? You sort of had this look on your face like you were …" She paused, glancing back at Carey uncertainly.

"Like you were seeing something besides the wall," Carey finished.

Jack stood, pushing the two away from him. "It's just a headache," He snapped, vanishing into the bathroom, slamming the door shut behind him.

Molly peered into the room with a frown. "Hey. What's wrong with Jack?"

Carey shrugged. "He just weirded out on us."

"Yeah," Annie agreed, looking thoughtful. "Sort of like he was having a vision."

Now it was Molly and Carey's turn to exchange confused looks.

"A vision?" Molly voiced, frowning. She crossed her arms over her chest. "Someone want to explain to me what I'm apparently missing?"

"Jack spaced on us, just as he was telling us about some new movie coming out," Carey explained.

"He has a lot on his mind," Molly replied, her face softening. "I'm sure he'll be fine once we get to Seattle." She turned and left Annie and Carey.

"I know that look," Carey said. Annie's head jerked up, and she met his eyes. "You're thinking something paranormal is up."

"Think about it, Carey," Annie said hastily. "What if he saw something that we couldn't? Like a vision?"

Carey sighed. "Annie, you promised."

"I know I did, but Carey -."

"No buts, Annie," Carey said, getting up quickly. "If Jack said he just has a headache, then I'm going to believe him. Maybe you should start to trust his judgment."

"I do trust his judgment," Annie insisted. "I just don't trust him to admit to himself if something happened."

"Annie, let it go," Carey advised, heading for the door. "Don't risk chasing Jack off again, because you want to pursue a half-brained theory."

"Carey -."

"I know you think you're doing what's best, but it's time you put that stuff away. If Fi could do it, then you can."

Then he was out of the room before Annie could reply. She frowned, shaking her head. "That's because Fi took away her gift … for good," She muttered, though no one heard her.

SO WEIRD

It was still foggy – the memories. Or the hallucinations, if Jack were to have any say in it. He stared in the mirror, staring at his face not un-like the one in his hallucinations. He'd seen the cottage where his mind told him he used to live - a small cottage on a farm back in London. A small cottage that was probably gone. Had probably worn away with time and disrepair.

He'd grown up there, the only surviving child of his parents. They had had two others, of course. His younger brother and sister. Though faces were uncertain, he could vaguely recall his sister's laughter and blessings before he had left. That was what he had seen just moments before. The day he'd left for his summoning to the king. The day his young life had changed. He'd left them a young boy; he'd returned home a soldier.

How? He didn't remember. Most of it he didn't remember, but ever since Caroline had given him the ragged old key, he'd begun to remember some things. Things that he knew were supposed to remain hidden in the back of his memory for some time. So why was it coming now? Why were there fragments of another man's life invading his own?

Most things – little things – had been simple vagueness in dreams. Small things, like stories his Mother had told to him when he was younger. His brother's unending trust and admiration for him. His Father showing him how to use a sword. Little things; and they'd all been things he could pass off as realistic dreams as he slept. Now, however, he had to face the truth.

This wasn't going to just go away.

Of course, he could pass it all off as nothing. But it was getting harder to do just that. Harder to convince himself that what he saw wasn't a message. A message from his past life.

Uncertainly, Jack picked up Gabe's angel, looking it over.

"Jacob!" A gleeful voice called. The boy looked up as his younger sister ran at him. She flung her arms around his neck, her long blond hair flowing behind hair as she did so.

"Sarah," He said with surprise. "What brings you out to the fields?"

"I heard the news," Sarah replied. "You are to go and see the king. Were you not going to tell me?"

Jacob let out a light laugh. "Sister, I don't depart for another two weeks, at most. You act as if this is to be the last time we see each other."

"I don't want you to leave," Sarah replied stubbornly. "Refuse the King. Stay here where I know you watch over us."

"But you have Father and Michael to watch over you," Jacob countered, a slight hint of annoyance crossing his face. "You don't need me here."

"You're my brother," Sarah replied. "Someday you will leave here, wed to some woman. You will have a family and children. But that time is not now. You cannot leave us now."

"Sarah, enough with this foolishness," Jacob said roughly, pushing his sister aside. "I have work to do. As well do you. Be gone."

"Take my neckling," Sarah said, unknotting the string that held the miniature of the cross on it. She quickly held it out to her brother. "You will have us with you, so long as you have it."

"If I take it, will you leave me alone?"

"Gratefully," Sarah replied.

Jacob looked at the necklace with a light frown. "It makes me seem like a female."

"Many a knight wears their family's symbol around their neck. You will have our faith."

"Alright," Jacob said reluctantly, pulling the necklace over his head and tying it back. "Well?"

Sarah gave him a soft kiss on the cheek. "I can be free of worry, then. Do not forget it when you go."

"I won't. Now return to the kitchen and help mother finish with supper."

Sarah grinned, and then darted away, leaving Jacob alone in the field. He laughed quietly, shaking his head slightly as he looked down at the necklace. "The things she talks me into," He said. Then he bent down and continued to harvest.

Jack jerked backwards, his hand letting the necklace fall back against his chest. He wasn't startled by the image. No, he was startled by the face. Gabe's face … Jacob's sister.

AN: Sorry, guys. I know I said Monday or Tuesday, but with Halloween and other things, I didn't get the chance to update. Anyhoo, thanks for your attention! Next chap should be out soon. Oh, and thanks to Writerchic16 and Im2cool4love for reviewing!