8/20/12 ~ Chapter 4

a/n: So I'm back in little over a week. Rachel was calling to me, she has a story to be told. As always thanks for reading, and please review.

Thanks

Taylor

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"Hey Ceri, a little help here how do I get up back down." Rachel called down.

"Rachel, really if you aren't proficient enough in levitation you should never had tried that with Ivy or levitated that high." Ceri scolded from the ground pushing a double stroller before her as she came around the church.

"Ceri this wasn't intentional. Ivy and I were on the ground one minute and then up here the next." Rachel admitted softly.

"Oh I see." Ceri nodded concern crossing her face. "Well to go out on a limb. Where you thinking about floating on air… By chance?"

Rachel nodded refusing to look at anyone other then Ceri she was so embarrassed.

"Ok then we will try something simple first. Think of the ground."

"Soft ground!" Ivy interjected.

"Yes, think of the grass, and the flowers and think about it and SLOWLY let out your breath, that will control the decent so don't start until you both stop hyperventilating." Ceri scolded again.

Rachel nodded put the picture of the garden into her head brushed Ivy face tenderly, the connection relaxing them and slowly their breathing evened out to a matching slowed pace. The minute their feet hit the ground Ivy took off around the church.

"Where are you going Vamp!" Rachel demanded.

"I'll be back I need to calm down! See you in a few witch! " she called over her shoulder, after a few minutes Rachel was able to hear the roar of her bike and then the protection detail following her. Damn did Rynn's people see us floating? That could be bad.

"That was fun." she said sarcastically looking into the stroller at the girls. "Hello ladies, I would love to hold you but Auntie Rachel has to get a grip on everything before I will risk it."

"Thanks Ceri come on in. Ivy cleaned the tea pot twice this morning in your honor." Ceri laughed and nodded when Wade offered to help her lift the front half of the stroller onto the back door's landing. "So how exactly did you learn to levitate Rachel?"

Rachel lit the flame on the stove, after placing the kettle onto it. "Well you see there was this book."

"This involves your teacher doesn't it?" Ceri sighed looking around the room until she spotted the book. Rachel noticed that she kept her girls far away from the offending book, so much so that she parked the stroller near the pantry a good 5 feet away. Ceri was never more then a foot away from them. Rachel's heart took a plunge to her gut. "He finally found it." she whispered.

"You know what it is?" Jenks demanded moving away from the stroller at once and landing on the table next to Ceri.

"If it is what I think it is I do indeed. He had been looking for it since they lost it in Nile many ,many years ago long before my time." she smiled at Rachel. "It is a magical hybrid of The book of Thoth and Tablets of Destiny. It is the most coveted of books. It has been said that is has only one owner, and can only be opened by that person."

"What is that suppose to mean I opened it with no problem all I did was touch the damn lock and it fell opened."

"As it was meant to be. It has been said that people who tired to open the book in the past can be stripped of its powers and knowledge, if not killed out right."

"That bastard." Wade muttered finally catching up that Al knew that Rachel would attempt to read the book , and would have her powers stripped.

"Ok so it was meant to be Rachel's book. This book just sat around for years for her to open it?" Jenks muttered not convinced.

"I can only tell you what I have heard. But the legend is that there is only one person that can open the book initially. When they do they soak everything that the book had to offer to begin with as well as any powers that it stripped from the unworthy." she pointed to Rachel. "Like levitation." Rachel sat heavily onto the floor missing the chair. "It is also said that once the True Soul is found and received the knowledge that they can return the book to its original state and choose one person who is worthy to be the new owner of the book. The trick is that the book has to also believe that new owner is worthy. So it can be passed down to different generations."

"What if the book finds them unworthy?" Jenks whispered

"Well if the True Soul is the one that chooses the person, then there are no consequences. But the book has become a part of the True Soul and therefore will know the hands that hold it."

"So your telling me that I am the True Soul? And that now I share my existence with a freaking power stripping book?"

Disgusted Ceri gave her a haughty look "In layman's terms yes that is exactly right." she stood and began to pour the tea into her preferred cup. "It also means that you have all the powers spells and knowledge from every demon, witch and elf stupid enough to touch that book over the last 3 thousand years."

"Wow." Jenks also sat down heavily. "You put another target on your back Rachel." he said out loud quietly with a worried voice.

"But at least now she will not live in fear. She is all but untouchable." Ceri smiled. "Not even Newt can touch her."

"Why?"

"Because her mother was killed by the book and she was much more powerful then Newt and the book destroyed her after taking everything that she had. Newt was the one that had the book hidden in the first place." Ceri smiled serenely as the girls let out matching twinkling magical laughs at the darting pixies over their stroller. "Newt will be upset that the book has resurfaced, but will be happy that it was you that is the True Soul rather then one of her male enemies, as they would use it against her. I am sure she sees you as an ally."

"Funny cause I don't feel that way about her at all." Rachel muttered. "Is the book safe now to be touched?"

"Yes and no." Ceri countered. "If you allowed someone to touch the book , then yes. However if Trent or Al showed up and touched the book, the book being connected to you would know your feelings and it would pull on them stripping them." she sat back down and leaned back.

"So the book can hurt people. Is there a way to lock it up and protect it as well as the people in my life?"

"I am sure there is. Think about it." Ceri smiled and nodded at Rachel.

Rachel got to her feet and placed a hand on the book looking at Ceri for direction. Who shook her head and whispered. "Think you don't need me." Rachel thought about the book and tried to visualize a semblance of safety for it. Nothing ! Where can I put a dumb soul sucking power stripping book! There was a loud cracking noise and the walls seemed to shake and shift.

"Earthquake!" Wade yelled diving under the table.

Rachel was too shocked to laugh at his Californian ass as before her eyes the kitchen wall opened to reveal a large hidden 20 x 20 room where Ivy's room should have been.

"What did you do to my church Rachel!" Jenks demanded hands on hip as he went to fly into the previously hidden room, he stopped about 4 feet short of the opening. "Hey I can't go in! Why cant' I go in?"

"It is the True Soul's Chamber of Solace. No one can enter uninvited." Ceri said in awe as she looking to the room. The room was decadent it had pale calming green colored walls. There was a large leather sofa in one corner of the room flanked by magical tomes incased by old English built in book shelves. In the middle of the room there was a large circle etched into the ground that was circling a island with a free standing stove in the middle of it. Near the sofa and the book shelves there where two massive desks that faced once another touching. It would be perfect for herself and Ivy if Rachel could convince her to move in here.

Rachel stepped into the room, feeling the tingle on her aura as she passed through the barrier. "Wow whoever was the True Soul before me had good taste." she whispered.

"First of all you are the first True Soul, and maybe the only ." Ceri said annoyed. " And second your thoughts created this. This is a reflection of your own taste, and your correct believe it or not you do have remarkably good taste in decorating." she said again right outside of the barrier.

"You can come in Ceri, Jenks and Wade if you wish." Rachel said going over to the stove smiling when she noticed that it was set up like an outdoor grill. Meaning that it was a real stove but that there were no pipes it was self maintained with a propane tank under the sink. "Wait how can I have a sink in here?" opening the cabinet Rachel noticed that there was no pipes. She turned on the facet water came through steadily. "Can you explain that?"

"You must have and affinity for the water element now, as well as a spell to have it come and go as you need." Ceri smiled coming in. "Fire is much more tricky so I am glad that you aren't playing with that."

"Playing with fire! " Jenks laughed out loud "Rachel is really good at playing with fire." she snorted. "Does it all the time!"

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Rachel placed the now empty hybrid book on the stand that sat in the corner almost hidden. The moment the book sat on the stand there where flecks of gold that reminded her of her aura doming over it. Almost like a welcome home. "Locked tight and stay safe." she said aloud watching in amusement as the book closed itself and relocked. "That is so cool."

"Maybe I should move my spelling supplies in here, might be safer in the odd chance we get broken into." Rachel said aloud to herself. Ceri had left with the girls about 30 minutes ago, they had been getting antsy. Jenks was out with three of his sons helping to build a few more huts for the children. Who were ready to venture out on their own, but had decided to stay close to the church. And Wade was off some where leaving her alone, just the way she liked it. It would be nice if Ivy was here, but Ivy needed a little adjustment period.

Rachel looked back into the kitchen with a sigh. It's too bad I couldn't just Samantha Stevens them in here. she thought to herself with a laugh, that turned into a frown when she left a gentle pull on her line in the backyard. Not your line Rachel. Stop thinking like that, and it wasn't even a hard pull you are getting way too attached. Rachel watched as Bis crawl over the 4 feet invisible shield as if it wasn't there, smiling. Interesting.

"Hi Bis you just wake up?"

"Yeah. So I hear you are just making rooms in the church now, had to check it out for myself."

"You hear right." Rachel smiled at him as he dropped down to sit on the counter. "How are your parents, where they happy to see you last night?"

"Yes. Their still mad that I live with a witch/demon. But they are really old and have no idea what is going on in the real world and I told them so. It didn't go over too well." he smirked.

"You can have them over here one night if you want they can all meet us and make an educated judgment." Rachel offered with a distracted smile. Still trying to come up with the best plan to locate Nick.

"Thanks Rachel I'll think about it." Bis sat for a minute in silence. "Hey Rach you feel different."

"How so?"

"I don't know just different." Bis said his face wrinkled in thought. "Lighter

maybe?"

"I don't know Bis I was absorbing things that shouldn't make me lighter that should make me heavier." she joked smiling as she watched Jenks come flying in.

"What ..how did you….who did you give it to ." he demanded coming to fly six inched in front of Rachel.

"What are you talking about?"

"Where is your smut? It's all gone, your aura is pure as gold." Jenks accused.

"I knew something was off." Bis said looking at Rachel again differently.

Rachel quickly pulled up her second sight and saw that indeed her aura was pure again. "When did that happen?"

"I don't know it was normal this morning when you touched the book, also when you where flying, also when you opened the room. It was when I came back in here that I noticed it. You didn't give it to Bis did you?"

"Jenks! Of course I didn't give it to Bis. Do you think so lowly of me!"

"No! Come on Rachel give me some credit I thought maybe you transferred it unintentionally is all." They both looked at Bis who annoyed crossed his arms over is chest. And shook his head. "So then where did it go and why did it happen?"

"I have no idea."

"Ok what where you doing when it happened?"

"I don't know when it happened. I was in here thinking about moving my spelling tools in here. I was missing Ivy and plotting against Nick and how to get him here."

Rachel's eyebrows raised. "You don't think I placed the smut on Nick do you?"

"He would deserve it." Ivy said coming in the room quietly. "Where the hell did this come from?" she demanded.

"Hey how did you get in your weren't invited." Jenks demanded.

"Movie myth bug." she said rolling her eyes.

"No Ivy Jenks has a point. You have to be invited into the True Soul's Chamber of Solace." Rachel shrugged her shoulders. "I didn't extend the invite to you yet, but then Bis came right in as well."

"Why not! That isn't fair!" Jenks sputtered. "I own the church, how can I be bared from a room in a building I own." he demanded.

"I think Bis can come and go because is the laws of magic he is my familiar. Ivy on the other hand I am not so sure about."

Ivy came to hip the counter looking around the room. "It's a nice room." she whispered her face down watching her feet.

"Thanks comes with the book." Rachel watched Ivy for a few minutes before looking at Bis and Jenks. They nodded and headed off out of the room. "Hey want to talk about it?"

"Not really." Ivy admitted. "Sorry I ran out. I panicked."

"That's ok me too." Rachel leaned onto the counter facing away from Ivy knowing that it was easier for Ivy to talk indirectly when it came to feelings or things that she felt were difficult. "Glad your back though I missed you."

"Missed you too, had to come back I was feeling this pull. I wasn't able to get back fast enough." Ivy sighed. "Do you think I am your familiar?"

"No Ivy your not my familiar." Rachel smiled but popped up her second sight and snuck a glace to make sure that there was no smut on her. She was shocked to see the gold of her aura twirling with the beautifully pure aura of Ivy's. "Your not my familiar Ivy but my aura is intertwined with yours. I bet that is the reason you can get into the room without the invite."

"Ok." Ivy looked down at her feet again. "Rachel can you hold off on finding the cure for saving my soul?" she whispered her fingers shaking a little.

"I can, but why. I think you of all people would preferred to be prepared for the unexpected." Rachel smiled bumping Ivy's hip.

"No I do, but if you find it don't tell me ok?" Ivy shivered and tried to shy away from Rachel when she straightened up.

"Rynn got to you didn't he?" Rachel demanded. Ivy nodded. "What did he do that upset you?"

"I went to tell him that we were acting on our feeling finally. He pushed me for information on what you had so far for the soul cure. When I wouldn't tell him he held me down and bit me. I can't read minds, Rachel but I am telling you I think he can, he knows more then he should about your powers and the book. Rachel he sees you as a threat, if and when you have the cure he will have you killed. I can feel it. I can't live without you, I won't live without you. If you want to keep looking for it, please don't tell me. He can't read the information from me if I don't know." Ivy was shaking so Rachel pulled her into her arms. Rachel placed her fingertips to Ivy's neck, after pulling back the material to see the fresh bit marks. They healed instantly at her touch. Ivy moaned in her arms, kissing Rachel's shoulder. "That feels so much better, I wish I never had to see him again."

Rynn Cormell you will pay for this. You will pay the price of 100 tortured souls for touching what isn't yours to touch. Rachel promised catching their reflection in the glass container on the walls her eyes had lost their green color and had flattened out to a cool icy silver. Maybe having infinite power wouldn't be so bad after all.

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Please review!

Thanks for reading

Taylor

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