As she and Bliss headed to the Repository Schuyler felt her curiosity and her uneasiness grow.
How did a human know about the vampire stronghold?
Finally Schuyler and the Texan reached the ancient elevator.
"Well…here goes nothing," said Bliss stepping in with Schuyler following suit.
They both pressed one hand to the interior of the elevator and muttered arunter.
Suddenly the elevator began to descend into the darkness of the lower levels of the Repository.
Down, down, down, they descended in to the darkness of the lower levels.
Finally the reached an ancient giant oak door way with the words Malach Schiz Getrei Im-yirze-haschem written in silver cursive on the magnificent façade.
Bliss and Schuyler looked at each other before Schuyler tentatively knocked on the grand door.
It creaked opened to reveal a vast room. All four walls were painted back but directly across from them there was a fireplace as tall as a standard two story house and a plush leather couch in front of it.
They entered the room not really knowing what to expect.
"You came," said a voice from behind them as the doors swung shut.
Schuyler and Bliss spun around to see Airlea standing behind them dressed in loose black pants and a black sports bra that was cut so that they could see her shoulder blades.
Her hair was pulled back into a tight high ponytail. Only a wisp of blue and a wisp of purple hair framed her angelic face.
"How did you know about this place?" asked Bliss, "How did you get in here without anyone noticing?"
Airlea smiled and said, "I have my own sort of power and before you ask no, I'm not a vampire. Nor am I human however."
"Then what are you?" asked Schuyler eyeing the young woman in front of them.
Airlea smiled and said, "That is for you to find out on your own Schuyler. But you can trust me."
With that she turned to retrieve something and Bliss and Schuyler saw that she had two great tattoos of red, gold, purple, and blue colored angel wings starting from her shoulder blades all the way down to the lower half of her back.
"Cool tat," said Bliss awkwardly.
Airlea turned around smiled and said, "Thank you. Here."
She threw Schuyler and Bliss two long poles that looked like the training poles from the movie Mulan.
"What are we suppose to do with these?" asked Schuyler holding the pole arms length staring at it.
"Training," said Airlea grabbing a third pole for herself, "I'm going to teach you how to defend yourselves against Silver Bloods."
"With sticks?" asked Bliss.
Airlea chuckled and said, "We're going to be working our up. We'll start with the poles and once you two have a proper handle on the technique I'll give you swords. No offense or anything but I would sooner leave the fate of the free world in Mimi Force's hands then let you start fighting with swords completely untrained."
"Hey!" cried Schuyler and Bliss together.
"Come on," said Airlea chuckling a little, "let's start."
Three hours later Airlea called a halt to the day's lesson.
"You both have caught on fast, very strong both of you."
"Can we keep going?" asked Bliss, she was sore in every place in her body, bruised, and sweating like a pig but she desperately wanted to keep going.
"Yeah please?" asked Schuyler who was in a similar state as Bliss but felt exhilarated none the less.
"It's seven o'clock and we have to be at the school at 9. Besides you both have homework," said Airlea putting the poles away in the corner, "We'll take this back up tomorrow. Oh and Schuyler invite Oliver to come with you. As your Conduit it would be useful for him to know this as well."
Schuyler and Bliss sighed but heeded Airlea's biding and began to leave the room.
"Oh and girls," called Airlea as the two Blue Bloods exited the room, "keeps these little lessons to ourselves ok?"
Outside Repository Bliss and Schuyler found Mimi waiting in a stretch limo.
"There you are Bliss I tried calling you like a million- what are you doing with her?"
"Sorry Mimi, you know the Repository doesn't get cell reception," said Bliss coolly, "and Schuyler? I just ran into her down there that's all."
"Oh," said Mimi, "Well hurry up; we need to get ready for tonight. The DecaDance Ball is one of the hottest party fundraisers Duchene hosts, even if that Ray Airlea shiczo person is going to be there."
"Aren't you going offer Schuyler a ride?" asked Bliss with a raised eyebrow, "She is your cousin after all."
"I'll walk her home," came a deep voice from behind them.
They turned to see none other then Jack Force standing behind them looking god like with the springtime sun shining down on his golden hair.
Mimi pursed her lips but merely said, "Come on we're going to be late for our hair."
Bliss waved goodbye to Schuyler and Jack and entered Mimi's limo which went speeding off the moment the door had closed.
"You really don't have do this you know," said Schuyler shyly.
Jack smiled and said, "I know. C'mon let's go before it gets to dark."
They walked a few blocks before Jack suggested they cut through the Park.
"To save time," he explained as he pulled Schuyler along.
Halfway across the park Schuyler, feeling brave, entwined her fingers with Jacks.
Though surprised he didn't draw his hand away.
"It's beautiful isn't it?" asked Schuyler as walked past a lake. The sun was going down and the reflected fiery colors off the clear blue lake created a romantic affect.
"Yeah it is," agreed Jack though he wasn't looking at the lake, he was looking at Schuyler.
Schuyler noticed this and blushed deeply.
Suddenly the ground gave a lurch and Jack and Schuyler were suddenly standing in front of a very different lake. This one was misty and had an ethereal quality to it.
A young woman in an off white gown with a corset like bodice and a full long ballerina style skirt was kneeling on the bank of the lake, her skirt creating a pool of white around her, and looked like she was in deep thought. Over her long wine-red curls she wore a simple silver circlet engraved with laurel leaves. Her larger feathery silvery gold wings were folded docilely behind her back.
Suddenly a man in an earth green tunic crept up behind her and grabbed her around the waist swinging her up into the air.
"AHHHHHHHH!!!!!!" the girl half shriek half laughed as the man spun her around.
"Put me down!" she cried as he spun her around faster.
"Make me," he teased.
"Raphael put me down this instant!" shrieked the woman, her large smile ruining the effect somewhat.
Suddenly a soft voice called out, "Raphael, Raphael…where are you?"
The man in the tunic was suddenly over come with a dreamy look on his handsome visage and promptly dropped the girl in white into the misty lake.
"ERG RAPHAEL!!!!!!" shrieked the girl.
She got up out of the lake looking as though she had never even touched the water.
Tossing her silky dry curls over her elegant shoulder the girl turned towards Jack and Schuyler were standing and winked.
Suddenly Jack and Schuyler were thrown to the ground, back in Central Park, on top of each other.
"S-Sorry," stammered Schuyler as she attempted to get off Jack.
Jack didn't do or say anything, he just stared at Schuyler.
Suddenly he wrapped a strong arm around her waist and with his free hand brushed back a piece of her long blue black hair.
And then he kissed her.
It was almost like every other kiss they had shared, sweet yet passionate. Sincere.
Suddenly Jack pulled away as though he had been burned.
"Jack are you ok?" asked Schuyler surprised by the sudden departure of his lips.
"I-I'm sorry," he stammered, "I shouldn't have…we can't…I'm sorry."
Schuyler felt a dull thud in her stomach, it was always this.
"I understand," she said coolly getting off of him and brushing herself off.
"Schuyler," said Jack, "It's not you…I mean it's complicated and I have-."
"I know your family obligations Jack," snapped Shuyler, "Let's just go."
Jack looked as though he was going to say something but then though better of it and just nodded his head.
The rest of the walk back was silent and awkward. Both of them were thinking over what had just happened.
He always does this, fumed Schuyler; he always becomes close only to draw back again. I'm tired of it.
Why can't I stop myself around her, though Jack desperately, why can't I just move on? Get over her and bond happily with Mimi, that's what I should do. But then why does the very thought fill me with dread?
The finally reached the Force Penthouse and they bid each other an awkward goodbye.
Closing the door on Jack's retreating back Schuyler was seized with the desire to look better then she had ever looked in her life.
At 8:30 Schuyler looked into the full length mirror. She had to admit even to herself, she looked good.
She was wearing a turquoise colored Giorgio Armani gown. It was comprised of a strapless silk chiffon top paired with a skirt of crepe and sparkle tulle. The skirt had intricately detailed beadwork flowers all over it. Her hair was done up in an elegant French chignon and she wore almost no make up. She looked perfect.
Schuyler walked over to her dresser to recheck her make up when she found a necklace.
It was a silver eight point star surrounded by Hebrew letters. There was a note attached laying next to it.
Dear Schuyler,
This necklace once belonged to a very powerful angel who once was once very good friends with your mother. It's yours now. May its Power and Grace always protect you. The Hebrew around the star means With Grace I will find my Eternal Protection. Good luck on your path.
Sincerely, Shekinah RA.
PS: It goes with anything!
Schuyler clasped the necklace around her neck.
The note was right, it did go with everything.
Shuyler looked at the clock, 8:55. Duchene was half an hour's ride away from the Force residence.
Schuyler smiled to herself; it was a nice night for a run.