Been a long time since the last update. Haven't had time to get it all together. Also have a new computer now, with the last one acting up for so long was hard to do. Rayne is played by IcyDreamer. Also the Silver Knights are known now as White Knights due to changing it later down the road which was an accident. Irony though White Knights are supposed to be saviours and in this story they are not. Hopefully it won't be as long till the next update. We still need people for the rpg if anyone would like to join it. We are playing it on livejournal now.
A higher power was watching. She regarded the Downings spirits. No matter what happened before in life or what was going on now they pulled together in times of need. She idly wondered if they'd be able to save themselves and the other life forms at the sanctuary.
The baby inside the young Downing girl was definitely a surprise. It was linked with both its parents. Also with the girl's twin through the bond between the twins. Some how it was feeding off the magic at the sanctuary.
She'd been keeping an eye on Machen and his family for years now. She had never realized they were White Knights. White Knights didn't know the difference between right and wrong. Every time they killed they gained more power. It wasn't right! Not at all!
She watched the dome crack more and sighed. There was nothing she could do to help them, and the magic was slowly dying. Machen himself had set this in motion. Machen Archer had been a witch hunter when he was alive, never knowing his father and brother Thane, we're witches till the day he and his family died at the hands of Thane Archer.
She settled back in her chair watching. The Downing girl had just volunteered to take a message to earth. She gritted her teeth knowing that would weaken the magic more. She sat up straight getting a reading. The barriers between the realms we're weakening. Soon the dead would be walking the earth again alive. Other realms would just disappear all together. This wasn't good, not at all! She called to her aide, Shaina Parry.
"Shaina it's been awhile since you've visited you're friends the Downing's hasn't it?" She asked.
"A month or so now." She said missing them so much it made her heart ache a little.
"How would you like to go to sanctuary and visit them?"
"More than anything!" Shaina exclaimed.
She smiled at the woman, before she explained to her what was happening and what she needed to do also.
"The power of four times two will be able to fix this." She told Shaina.
Shaina understood her. She and Meredith would have to be called by the power of four to do the spell. That would also mean Allison and Jocelyn would have to be there also at Gallows's Hill, where it had all started and ended for her and Meredith.
She nodded at her boss before disappearing from her side, and reappearing outside the Downing's door at Sanctuary. She was a little nervous. It had been awhile since she had seen her best friend. She finally knocked on the door trying to push the nervousness away.
Roman whacked Rayne on the head one more time, before going and opening the door. He smiled seeing who was at the door.
"Aunt Shaina!" He exclaimed pulling her into his arms and hugging her.
"Hello Roman." She greeted him.
"Shaina?" Meredith said from the other side of the room where she was helping Vincent get up.
She met Shaina halfway across the room hugging her and crying.
"It's been too long!" Meredith told her.
"I know." Shaina said with tears in her own eyes. "There is trouble though and I've been sent to help. First of all you can't trust Machen Archer at all."
"Archer?" Sloan asked.
"Yes he is Thane Archer's brother. He was also killed by Thane."
She seen Sloan's wife sitting at the table and went and hugged her.
"It's been a long time!" Shaina said.
"I know, but you'll be seeing more of me now, since Thane killed me." She glanced at Matthew as she said it, and saw him wince.
Raven took that time to get up and set Riley on Rade's lap. Rade only had time to glance at her before she disappeared.
"Damn it Raven!" He cried.
"Ok ok I won't say anything from now" Rayne said holding his head after the last tap from Roman.
Then he saw Roman leave to open the door that's when he saw Pogue's mother he remembered her from the times she came over with Pogue when her husband was away.
Then all of a sudden he heard Rade call out to Raven and was right in time to see her gone.
Ridge closed his eyes counting to ten when he saw Raven vanish. Riley started screaming then, because Raven was gone. He opened his eyes to see Jade take her from Rade.
"Sorry." Tabitha whispered to him.
"Don't worry about it. She'd have done anything to see Tyler." Ridge told her pulling her into his arms and holding her.
His father had warned him not to get too close to Tabitha, but it was too late. He knew once sanctuary was gone, he'd never see her again. He'd think about that later. He leaned down to kiss her and was surprised when the power of love took over.
"Get a room you two!" Roman piped up after about five minutes.
Ridge pulled away from her and looked into her eyes, his heart breaking. He waited till everyone had their attention else where before pulling her out of the room, and took her to his room.
Roman looked back to Ridge just in time to see the door close behind him.
"Looks like he's gonna get him some." He smirked. "He finally found the power of love, did you guys see the power reflect off of them? Ahh you're babe has awakened little brother."
He had noticed Audrey stirring over on the bed. Marcus was over in the corner with Vincent talking to him, and Rade had joined him.
"Yea well at least he isn't gonna be pissed at me now for talking about the power of love" Rayne muttered then went over to Audrey.
"Hey babe are you okay? What happened?" Rayne asked her.
"Don't call me babe, I hate being called that!" Audrey told him smacking him on the arm. "Don't know just got dizzy. There's been a lot to take in."
"Ok ok I get it please stop abusing me Roman has done that enough" he whined and pouted. "You should ask Roman the story about the vampire girl that tried to kill you at first though I can't tell you because I really don't know much about her but I'm sure he does he was about to tell me something but we were interrupted" he said to her.
"Vampire girl? What are you talking about Rayne?" She asked bewildered.
"Well she put you under her spell so you don't remember anything but I don't know much about what happened Roman saved you because I was in bed resting" he said to her.
"You we're resting when I was in trouble, and sent you're brother in you're place?" She frowned at him. "Some knight in shining armor you are!"
"Well sorry I was in pain at the moment if you don't remember I ascended which was very painful on top of the brutal punishment Archer dished out to me" he apologized to her.
She hit him again. "You ascended and you didn't tell me?"
"Awww how was I supposed to you were passed out and we got caught up in other stuff" he tried to reason with her.
She glared at him before getting up and going and sitting by Marcus, Vincent, and Rade.
Rade looked up at her, then looked at his brother shaking his head and grinning a little.
"Rade help! Please explain to my dear girlfriend that I did not mean to send Roman to save her if I could have done it I would have did it myself and to ask Roman about his vampire chick" he pleaded with his brother.
Vincent looked up at Rayne. "You talking about the vamp that got me today? Marcus and Rade we're just telling me about it."
Rade looked at his brother. "You're on your own Rayne. If she'd have been my girl nothing would have stopped me from getting to her!"
Marcus grinned.
"Thanks Rade but seriously I would have been there obviously but the pain was a little too intense, look I'm sorry Aud." he said to her then turned and walked out of the room slamming the door with as much force as he could.
Roman sighed as his father nodded at him to go after his brother.
Sloan looked at his own father who nodded at him to go also.
They got up and followed Rayne out the door.
"Rayne!" Roman called after him. "This isn't a good time to be going out alone!"
"Look I really needed to get out of this place because it's clearly not working out as you can see my girlfriend wants to kill me I feel like a horrible boyfriend, my life basically sucks at this point and I have a killer headache to top it off" he sighed and looked at Roman and Sloan with a defeated look on his face.
Roman laid his hand on Rayne's shoulder healing him.
"Headache gone now?" Roman asked. "Don't worry about Audrey, don't you remember how Jade acted with Rory? About the same way, and I'm sure Rowan is at wits end with Corinne. Can you imagine what it's going to be like for Simms?" He grinned at Rayne.
"Thanks yea the headache is gone but I should feel lucky because Simms is gonna have a hard time he's younger and after all he's been through a lot more crap than I have" he said. "I guess I'll listen and go back inside now." he stated and headed back towards the room" By the way Roman you never finished your story about Collette I'm curious let's finish that conversation" he grinned at Roman.
"Later Rayne, I'm not telling that story in front of mom, or Corinne and Jade. God or Aunt Shaina, or Aunt Rose." Roman said turning a little red.
Sloan laughed. "Oh come on now Roman. Bad Boy Roman going soft on us?"
Roman glared at him, knocking him back a few feet with his power.
Sloan just laughed at him.
"He's right you know you're starting to make me have doubts on you being the bad boy in the family" Rayne spit out and started to laugh along with Sloan, "I mean what could be so bad that you can't tell us" Rayne asked him still trying to control his laughter.
Roman started to answer but a movement out of the corner of his eye took his attention. He turned toward it, but there was nothing there. His eyes turned black alerting the other two, and he moved forward.
Colin jumped out at him from the darkness, and he went down with Colin on top of him. 'Bloody hell!' Roman said to himself seeing the fangs on Colin. He knew if he got bit by Colin he'd be gone. He may be dead, but dead was better than dust. He used knocking Colin off of him.
"Get back to the room Rayne, now!" He said to his little brother.
When Rayne saw Colin he just got pissed and before he listened to Roman he sent a gigantic ball of power at Colin then ran into the room.
Roman hadn't taken his eyes off of Colin.
"Going to miss Collette?" Colin asked him.
"Not really." Roman answered.
"You're going to be joining her soon as dust!" Colin laughed.
"I don't think so." Roman said using and sending Colin flying back through two walls, knocking him out.
Sloan stood there watching. "What the hell was that?"
"A White Knight. We best get back to the room before he wakes up." Roman said heading back to the room.
"Shouldn't we kill him first?"
"There is no known way to kill a White Knight. Anytime they kill they take the power of the one they kill. You never know how powerful one can be."
Sloan looked back at the boy and shivered a little following Roman back into the room.
Rayne stood by the door he turned white when he saw Sloan and Roman.
"Where's Colin?" he asked Roman
"He's unconscious at the moment. Hopefully he stays that way." Roman answered going and sitting down. He was a little shaken up, that had been a close call.
"You all right?" His father asked walking over.
"Yea I'll be fine."
His father sent a wave of healing power into him just in case.
"Thanks."
His father also calmed him while he was at it, but didn't say anything.
He looked around, and frowned.
"Raven still gone?"
"Are you okay Roman?" Rayne asked.
"Yea I'm fine little brother." Roman grinned at him. He was definitely not going to show his younger brothers how much that had scared him.
"Okay then if you say so" Rayne said to Roman. Then he went over to Audrey. "Hey we really need to talk" he said to her.
Audrey had been listening to the other's conversation, and frowned when Rayne came back over. "I'm listening." She said.
Marcus looked at Rayne, then back to Audrey. He glanced over at Michael and saw he had fallen asleep, his head resting on Matthew's shoulder.
"Ok look here's the deal what do you want to do like basically with everything because I will go along with anything you say" he said to her.
"With what everything Rayne?" Audrey asked crossing her arms.
Rade couldn't stop the laugh that erupted from him.
Marcus kicked him trying to get him to shut up.
"Don't look at me like that you look like my mom and that's scary I mean like our relationship because I'm confused and this is just making me sick" he said to her and sent a shockwave at Rade for laughing.
"What are you confused about?" Audrey asked him. "Leave you're brother alone."
Rade jumped when the shock wave hit him, and he glared at Rayne.
"All of a sudden you're being really mean for no reason" he pouted.
Audrey was about to say something, but Rayne's mother stepped in.
"Rayne come here." Meredith said to her son.
"Yea mom?" he replied and went over to his mother.
"You should give Audrey some time. She's been through quite a lot today. Also when you're pregnant, you're hormones rage, so she'll probably be crying one moment the next mad at you." Meredith explained to him. "Don't push her son."
"Great...I can see I'm not gonna survive this one without any scratches" he muttered. "Anyway thanks mom" he said to his mother then went over to a chair on the other side of the room from where Audrey was.
"Strike out little brother?" Roman asked with a grin. He and Sloan had been talking about Colin, but he changed the subject as soon as Rayne came back.
"Yep but for now I give up when she talks to me I'll talk back for now just...whatever!" he said to Roman "so since everyone is over there what is it you were saying about Collette I really could use a laugh right now." he said to Roman.
"She was hot little brother, and that's all I'm going to say." Roman grinned thinking about nights he spent with Collette. 'Damn.' He thought. 'I'm going to need a cold shower.'
That was all Roman had to say and Rayne knew what he meant and he was sure Sloan knew also. Rayne chuckled " Damn you really are a bad example and then you wanna tell me if I can't keep it in my pants" he burst out laughing after that.
"One diff little bro I used protection." Roman answered.
"WHATEVER!" Rayne tried to put on a serious face but failed miserably and ended up in a contagious fit of laughter.
Roman whacked Rayne upside the head again glaring at him.
"Ok seriously I don't think I did anything to deserve that one" Rayne glared at Roman.
"Oh but you do little brother! Every time." Roman said.
All Sloan and Matthew could do was laugh.
"Whatever but seriously what was that one for?" he asked with a clueless expression on his face.
Roman rolled his eyes. "You know Raven's been gone too long this time. Before it was there and right back." He was worried. Yea the brother who had tried to kill her numerous times before was suddenly worried about her.
"She probably is talking to Tabitha's brothers by the way where did Ridge and Tabitha go?" he asked Roman.
Roman looked at Rayne rolling his eyes. He leaned over knocking on Rayne's head. "Is there anything in there at all?"
Matthew laughed, and Sloan kept his laugh to himself barely that time.
"Jeeze Rayne where do you think he went?" Matthew asked.
"Yea I have a brain you knucklehead but like I have an idea but never mind" Rayne shrugged and snickered.
"Raven's had plenty of time to tell Tabitha's brothers what's going on. I wonder if the wards wouldn't let her back in." Roman said getting up and starting to pace. He glanced over to Rade who was watching him, and he saw the worry mirrored in his younger brother's eyes.
He walked over to him. "Can you still feel her?"
"Not as much as before, but enough to know she's still alive." Rade answered before he felt the pain.
He cried out in pain turning white as a sheet.
"Rade." Roman said squatting down in front of him. "You all right?"
"She's back, but she's in pain. Something intercepted her."
Jonathon was standing behind Roman. "Machen." He said looking at his own brother.
'Raven?' Rade tried projecting to his twin. He was scared when she didn't answer.
"She's not answering me." Rade said getting up and heading toward the door.
"Where are you going?" Roman asked.
"To find her." Rade said over his shoulder.
"No you're not. You're not going anywhere alone." Jonathon said. "Now sit back down. Roman go get Ridge."
"But dad..." Rade started, but suddenly he flew across the room and was sitting back in his seat.
"I said sit down." His father told him.
Rade sat back glaring at his father.
"Dad what did he do to her?" Rayne asked his father he was really worried now and went over to his brother, "Sorry Rade but dad's right you might get hurt if you go let Ridge and Roman handle this," he said to his brother who was currently glaring at their father.
Rade watched Roman walk out the door. They all felt it then. Ridge ascending for a second time. Rade had to smile a little. He hadn't realized his older brother was still a virgin. He glanced at his father, who was angry before was now livid. Rade absent mindedly wondered how Ridge had ascended again when he was already dead, but forgot about it. Roman walked back in the door smirking.
"Do I really have to go now?" Roman asked.
Sloan, Matthew, Marcus, Vincent, and Rade erupted in laughter.
"Yes." His father all but shouted, then he looked at Rayne. "Machen has you're sister captive at the moment. I don't think he'll try to kill her though."
Roman grimaced as he headed back out the door.
Even though he was pissed at the moment Rayne couldn't help but laugh along with the others. He went over to Rade and the rest of guys and sat down waiting for Roman and Ridge to get Raven.
'That bastard better not try anything funny or I'll rip him limb from limb' Rayne though referring to Machen.
Roman returned a few minutes later with Ridge and Tabitha who wouldn't look at anyone.
"Ridge." Jonathon said. "Roman let you know what's going on?"
"Yes sir." Ridge said looking his father in the eye, and winced when he did.
"You know what to do." Jonathon said.
"Yes." He said and left with Roman and Tabitha.
Raven reluctantly was returning. She felt something smash into her, and it felt like she was falling, before she landed in an office. The baby threw a shield up to protect her, so her fall was cushioned. She looked around panicking. The man Machen was there with some boy. He was grinning at her.
"Thought you could get passed me now did you?" Machen asked.
"What do you want?" She asked.
"The baby." Machen said. "I've been making sure it's been being fed off the magic, making him more powerful than you can imagine. Only eight more months, then it's totally mine. Right now though I want to know why you went back down to earth."
"To see Tyler." She answered halfway honestly.
Machen nodded at the boy who walked over and pulled her to her feet pushing her into a chair and magically binding her arms behind her. He backhanded her then. Raven felt her head hit the back of the chair, but the pain was bearable for a moment.
"Tell me the truth." Machen smiled at her.
"I did." She answered. She was afraid but she was a Downing and she wasn't going to let it show.
The boy hit her a few more times, and she saw stars. She tried to block out the pain he was causing her by using, but her powers we're bound. She looked up at Machen and the boy defiantly. The boy she noticed was staring at her breasts. She hated when men did that.
"Colin I'll be back in a few minutes. I want her still coherent when I get back."
"Yes father." Colin answered.
The minute his father was out the door, he let his hands wander.
"Stop!" Raven cried.
The boy grinned at her, and kissed her. She bit his lip, and gagged on his blood. She threw up then as he came back, covering him in it. He backhanded her harder this time than before, and she felt her own blood in her mouth. The copper taste felt like acid when it hit his blood. She gagged again.
'Rade!' She tried to project, but it was useless.
She suddenly felt someone ascending, and apparently Colin did also, cause he backed away from her sniffing at the air. She spit out the blood, and her mouth still burned, where his blood had been. She licked at her lip and felt a blister there. Vaguely she wondered why the baby hadn't put up a shield, but she realized Machen must have bound it's magic also.
He turned back to her and hit her with his fist. She wished the blackness would come and block out the pain, as she cried out in pain. She was weakening and she knew it. The door suddenly burst open then, and she felt more than saw Colin flying through the air, and hitting the wall. Her arms came undone then, and she fell limply forward. Someone caught her picking her up in their arms, and hurried out of the room with her. She heard the sounds of a battle behind her, and that was the last she heard as she passed out.
"So what do we do while they're gone she's our sister also and she's as close as a sister to the rest of our covenant, you don't expect us to just sit around and do nothing!" Rayne said to his father.
Before his father could answer, the door burst open, and Roman carried Raven into the room covered in blood. He hurried to the bed and gently laid her down. He tried healing her, but it didn't work. He looked up at his mother who also tried, but that didn't even work.
He saw the blister on her lip, and knew that Colin's blood had gotten into her, and he felt fear run through him. She was dying, and nothing they could do. 'Fucking White Knights!' He thought backing away from his sister and hitting the wall.
Meredith tried to muffle the sob that escaped her. Jonathon held her from behind. He looked at the others.
"The blood of a White Knight is in her. Nothing is going to save her." He told the others.
"WHAT?!? You can't be serious! She can't die not after all this she just can't die!" Rayne said he was close to tears now. He went over to his sister and sat on the bed next to her and tried to heal her but his powers didn't work either.
Rade felt like the air had been knocked out of him, and he would have fallen if Vincent hadn't supported him. 'She can't die!' He thought. He stared at her for what seemed like an eternity, before it hit him.
"Tyler!" He exclaimed hurrying over to the bed. He pushed Rayne out of the way, and put his hands on her stomach, and projected to the baby. 'Somehow you have to bring Tyler here, if you want to live.'
He felt a power inside his sister growing. The candles flickered, and he felt the place shudder. He was almost knocked backwards as some kind of power was pulled into her. He held on and added his own power to the growing power the baby was receiving.
When Rade pushed him out of the way Rayne hadn't said a word he was in his own world. When he saw the power flowing onto his sister he turned white and just looked.
Tyler was being sucked through a tunnel of some sort. He wondered a little scared if it was ever going to end, and suddenly he was in a room with the Master's of Ipswich that were absent from Ipswich. He looked around, before he saw Raven laying on the bed pale, and Rade using on her, and the power rushing into her. She was covered in blood, and he was suddenly pissed, wanting to kill whoever did it.
"Raven?" He asked startling Rade who suddenly pulled away from Raven, but he could see her body was still drawing power. "How?" He asked Rade.
"It's the baby. She's dying Tyler. She has White Knight blood in her." Rade explained.
"What?" Tyler asked confused. "What is a White Knight."
"We don't have time for that! Just kiss her already!" Rade said pushing Tyler toward his twin.
Tyler knew it was serious if Rade was pushing him into kissing his sister. He didn't hesitate, he leaned over her, and kissed her. He felt something blocking the power at first then all of a sudden it burst from them, blinding everyone in the room. Her breathing had been shallow when he'd first started to kiss her, but now she was starting to breath normally. He felt her slowly start to return the kiss. The blister on her lip was healing. He started to wonder how she had got it, when she'd not had it a short time ago, then the power of love took over.
Rayne stood rooted to the spot, still a little blinded by the light that erupted from Tyler and Raven.
'Maybe we shouldn't be this hard on Tyler I mean he really does care for her and love her and well it's obvious she loves him just as much.' Rayne thought to himself while watching his sister and Tyler basically making out.
Tyler forgot everything around him but Raven. Her arms encircled him kissing him back now. He was moving his arm down her side, when Rade grabbed him pulling him back. It took a moment for Tyler to realize where he was and that they had an audience.
"Tyler?" Raven asked a little out of breath. "What are you doing here?"
"Saving you." He grinned at her. All that was left of the beating was the blood, and he still wanted to kill whoever had done it. "Who done this to you?"
"A White Knight." Raven told him.
"A..." He started before he was pulled from her side and going back down that tunnel he had come through to get to her.
He landed with a thump back in the Downing's den.
"Wait just like that and he's gone? Anyway Raven are you ok?" Rayne asked walking over to his brother and sister.
"I'm fine. I'd be better if I was still with Tyler though." She answered wistfully.
Rade sat down on the edge of the bed pulling her into his arms and finally letting the sobs go. "You've got to quit doing this to me!" He told her.
Rayne smiled a little at his siblings then went over to Marcus and Michael.
"How are you two holding up? I kinda forgot to ask, sorry" he said to both of his friends.
"Fine." Marcus said glancing at Vincent. He'd been frantic when he'd lost his little brother earlier. Damien would have killed him if something bad would have happened to him. He'd realized one thing for sure, he loved his little brother and would do anything for him.
"I'm ready to go home and face Shane." Michael said. "He got a cheap shot in, and I want to get even. That is if my brother's let me out of their site long enough to do it." He frowned noticing Sloan and Matthew we're watching him.
"Trust me I know the feeling, I can't even leave the room and they're following me, it may be a good thing but I think home is a little safer." Rayne said to his friends while looking over at his brothers.
"I agree, we need to figure out how to save this place and get out of here!" Michael said.
"Yea but how are we gonna do that it's just the three of us because you know our brothers would never agree." Rayne replied to Michael.
"We wouldn't be in this mess if it weren't for you Rayne." Michael said reminding him.
"Like I said before I didn't even know I was using when the earthquakes occurred, Roman told me both times." Rayne said to Michael, "I mean besides if the earthquakes didn't occur , Machen was still a threat." he reasoned with Michael.
"I don't want to be here as much as you guys want to be here, so let's figure something out to got out of here like you said Michael." He said to them.
Ridge looked over at Rayne overhearing him, and he walked over to him.
"It's going to take all of us to get out of this Rayne." Ridge said.
Shaina was listening in to the conversation. "Ridge if you all pool your power together to try and seal the cracks that will buy you some time till dark. Jonathon get into touch with Rowan tell him to show up at Gallows's Hill and be waiting. We'll have to work fast to get everyone out of here!"
She turned to Meredith then. "We need to have a talk with Raven." She told her.
'Power of four.' She projected to Meredith who nodded. Now hurry we don't have much time!"
Ridge grinned at Shaina. "Let's go boys. Audrey, Tabitha, Jade, and Corinne we'll need you also for this." He said leading the way out.
Rayne looked over at Ridge when he spoke to him and was surprised that his brother actually agreed.
"Ok Ridge," he said following his brother out of the room, "How exactly are we going to do this?" he asked his brother.
Ridge walked into the club area, surprised at what he saw. The dome had numerous cracks in it, but what he was surprised at was all the people still going about having fun. Surely they would have had to notice the cracks, and know that sanctuary was breaking down around their heads.
"Spread out, when I give the command use all your power on repairing the dome. It's going to take all of us!" Ridge said.
Tabitha gave him a quick kiss before hurrying to the other side of the room. When the others we're in place, they made a circle around the room. A couple of his friends came up to him, and wanted to know what they we're up to.
"Going to try and repair the dome. We don't have much time before it collapses and kills everyone." Ridge told them.
"Machen said that it wasn't a problem though, that everything was going to be all right."
"He lied." Ridge replied. "Join us, to buy us enough time till sunset and sanctuary can appear."
His friends nodded at him calling to others to help them, till almost everyone in the club area was in the circle. He projected to all of them. 'Now!' He told them.
At first he didn't think it was going to work, but then it started to repair little by little. Twenty minutes later it finally was fixed. He looked around, and projected again.
'Thank you everyone for helping. Be at all the main doors as soon as sun sets and get out as fast as you can. Do not trust Machen. Does everyone here know what a White Knight is?' He waited till everyone shook their heads yea. 'Not surprising they all knew.' He thought. 'Machen and his son are White Knights. So stay away from them if at all possible, and pass the word to those not in here now!' He saw people looking at Tabitha, and frowned. 'Tabitha is not a White Knight, no is she Machen's daughter. Machen killed her parents when she was three years old, and brought her here replacing her with his own daughter Cassandra, who at this moment is in Ipswich. My home.' He told them. Heads nodded trusting him. The place cleared out then, but for the Master's of Ipswich, and Tabitha.
He pulled Tabitha to his side when she came to him. "I love you." He told her, and he saw the tears glisten in her eyes. "I love you also!" She told him kissing him.
He watched Audrey go to Rayne's side and hug him. He noticed that his cousins Sloan and Matthew hadn't let Michael out of their sight the whole time, and Marcus was sticking close by Vincent, who never hardly left Rade's side.
Raven had gotten up to follow her brothers, but her mother bid her to stay.
"Come here Raven." Meredith said. "We need to talk."
Raven wondered if it was about the baby, and bowed her head a little as she walked over to her mother and Pogue's mother. She looked up at Shaina.
"He looks like you." She told her, and she saw Shaina tear up. "He misses you Aunt Shaina. He's good though, and in a relationship with a girl named Kate. I think she's a witch also, cause she can fill the power of love between the, but she hasn't opened up yet."
Shaina smiled and let the tears flow. She missed her son more than anything on earth, and wished that she could be there for him. At least her boss had let her go to him, when he was ascending. She hugged Raven, and felt a little shock from the girl as if warning her.
"Stop it." Raven commanded the baby. "Sorry Aunt Shaina, the baby thinks it needs to protect me." She turned to her parents before she continued then. "When Machen caught me he told me some things."
"What?" Her father asked.
"He's feeding the baby magic to make him more powerful, and that it will be his baby in eight months. He was going to take me away from here, and kill me after the baby was born. " She told them.
Her father turned red with anger, and a chair flew across the room shattering on the wall. He went to a small room off of the one they we're in, that he used as an office to get a hold of Rowan. He had to get Raven out of here and soon. Sloan followed his brother to make sure he was all right.
Meredith took a deep breath, angry herself. "We need to talk to you about the power of four Raven."
Raven's head jerked up toward her mother listening.
"To save the realms the power of four times two must do a spell at Gallows's Hill. You must have Jerelyn's mother, and Lizette's mother there at the time, and call us and the other spirits to help." Shaina explained.
"You both died at Gallows's Hill." Raven said lowly.
Shaina and Meredith exchanged glances. Neither of them would talk about that day, they took it to the graves with them. "We don't know when this needs to take place, time will tell, and you'll be there without any warning." Shaina continued.
"The spell is in a book in the sanctuary at home Raven." Her mother told her. "It's a book called The Book of Four. It's in a hidden room in the sanctuary." Meredith explained, and hesitated, and looked at Shaina as if in apology, before she said. "Make sure you read the whole spell and instructions so their aren't dire consequences."
Raven listened as her mother told her how to find the room, and how to open it. "You can each open it separately, but when the four of you open it together there is more."
"More what?" Raven asked. Her mother and Shaina just smiled. She opened her mouth to ask more, but the others took the chance away as they returned.
Rayne looked down when he felt someone hug him and saw it was Audrey and hugged her back.
"I love you", he said looking down at her.
Then they all left to go back to his parents' room.
Raven glared at the others when they walked in. She wanted to know more about the power of four, but now she wouldn't get her answers. She went over to the couch and sat down, Riley promptly crawled up onto her lap.
Rade looked at his sister knowing they had interrupted something by her glare. He went over and plopped down beside her, Vincent sitting on her other side.
"What happened sis?" He asked her.
"I don't want to talk about it all right." She said.
He grimaced knowing he wouldn't get anything out of her.
Rayne went over to the couch on the other side of the room from his siblings. He needed to be alone for a bit. He just sat and stared at the wall for a few minutes but it felt like an eternity, then he looked back at the others and saw that they were all doing something even it was just being by themselves.
Raven glanced over at Rayne wondering what was up with him, but she was listening to Rade and Vincent talk about the vamp chick. Riley was playing with a doll on her lap. Something shiny on the doll caught her attention.
"Where did you get that doll Riley?" Raven asked her.
"Grandpa's friend gave her to me!" Riley answered.
"Can I see her for a moment please?" Raven asked.
Riley handed her the doll, and she looked at it noticing there was a bug on it. She handed Riley over to Rade and went and knocked on her father's office door.
"Come in." He said.
She walked over to him and handed him the doll, showing him the bug. He frowned, before he destroyed it. "Where did you get this doll?"
"Machen gave it to Riley she said." Raven answered.
"He knows about the power of four then." He said looking at his brother. "Machen will stop at nothing to make sure the power of four don't do that spell."
"Raven when it's time to leave sanctuary, don't leave you're brothers side at all." He told her.
She nodded at her father that she wouldn't. He got up following her back into the other room. He cleared his throat getting everyone's attention.
"Machen had this room bugged by a doll he gave to Riley."
Jade gasped. She had seen Machen give her the doll, but never thought anything of it.
"He knows what has to be done to fix the realms. I know none of you boys know what I'm talking about. Only Raven does. When it's time to leave sanctuary which will be in a couple of hours, do not take you're eyes off of her. He'll do anything to get a hold of her and the child she is carrying. Rayne, Rade you two make sure she gets out of here and handed over to Rowan who has been told of the situation. You others back them up." He said then started to pace.
Raven went back to her seat between Rade and Vincent. Rade put his arm around her pulling her close and holding her.
Rayne nodded at his father then sighed and went over to Rade and Raven.
"So are we all going back home when Rowan comes?" Rayne asked his father.
"As soon as the sun sets you are to leave this sanctuary immediately, and go straight to Rowan, who will take you home." He sighed hoping that they would all survive this.
"So then that means we won't be seeing you and mom or Ridge and Roman after that?" he asked.
"No son." His father answer grimly. He walked quickly back into his office.
Rayne nodded in response to his father's reply, he was afraid his voice might break if he said anything. Being in this place was great while it lasted maybe most of it was bad but the point was in this realm his parents and brothers were all alive and for some reason it made it seem real like it was going to last forever.
He went back to the couch he was sitting on and sat back down just this time cradling his head in his hands, he felt the tears prick at his eyes but he refused to let them fall.
Raven buried her face in Rade's shoulder trying not to let the tears came, but they did anyhow. She cried into his shoulder starting to shake as she did. She felt Vincent take her hand and squeeze it.
He didn't have any family here except Marcus. His parents we're still alive, and in the Swiss Alps skiing. He wanted to get home though. Damien was probably worried.
Rade let his own tears fall. He'd miss his parents, but he'd be glad to get home also. He looked over at Rayne who had his head lowered so he couldn't see his face, but he had a feeling he was crying also.
Rayne felt his emotions betray him when he felt the wet tears in his hands and wiped them away quickly, but he couldn't help but miss his parents and brothers.
'I wonder how things are back home, hopefully they get better before we reach back because I don't know how much more of this anyone can take.' he thought to himself and sighed.
He looked over at Raven and Rade and saw that they were both crying.
Matthew hadn't thought that far forward. He knew he'd be leaving here sometime, but it was like a dream being here, with his brothers and their parents back together. He didn't want to leave he realized. All he had was here. He looked up and looked around at the other Master's of Ipswich, and sighed. He did have family there. His cousins the Downings. He'd always thought of them as brothers, and Raven as his sister. He had no choice but to leave with the others.
Rayne looked at his friends and cousins and wondered if they were thinking the same thing he was. In a few hours they were all going to be out of the place hopefully everything goes well and they all make it out alive. He was so absorbed in his thoughts he forgot about everything around him.
Michael got up and started to pace thinking of his half brother Shane. He wanted to kill him, for he was the reason they we're there in the first place. Though of course his step father was wanting to kill Rayne cause of Macey. He hadn't cared when his best friend had been the cause of her death. He knew now that she'd never been his half sister in the first place, and he was glad of that. She'd been a bitch anyhow. It was her own fault she was dead for going after Rayne and Audrey in the first place.
Rayne got up and went over to Michael when he saw him start to pace. Michael only did this when he was really thinking hard about something so he knew something was on his mind.
"Hey what's on your mind you're going to make holes in the floor if you keep that up," Rayne said to Michael when he went up to him.
Michael looked up at Rayne stopping and leaned against the wall. "Shane and my dad...uh I mean step dead whatever the hell he is, and wanting to kill Shane."
Rayne chuckled, "That's kinda harsh...but then again I don't blame you, maybe things have gotten a bit better at home so when we go back we can at least relax a bit it'll give us time to rebuild our lives maybe not entirely but eventually, by the way let me take your mind off things a bit...hmmm...let's see for starters did I tell you I'm going to be a dad?" he asked his friend hoping to keep Michael's thoughts away from his ex-dad and brother.
"Audrey's pregnant?" Michael asked in shock. 'First Raven and now Audrey, who was going to be next?' He thought.
"Yea she's having twin boys I found out a while ago, I was just as shocked as you are trust me I got lectures from mom, Ridge and even Roman," he couldn't help it but laugh while telling Michael, "But you know it is my fault so I have to be responsible for it besides it mightn't be as bad as I thought." he said even though he was doubting his own words.
"If you say so. I wouldn't want to be in you're shoes, especially when Rowan gets a hold of you!" Michael told him.
"I know that won't be pretty but it already happened we can't turn back time, because if we could I would've done that a long time ago, by the way do you have a new girlfriend?" Rayne asked Michael.
"No." He replied thinking of the last girl that had hurt him. "Don't really want one at the moment."
"Oh ok, I heard some girls at school mention something like that, just wondering, wait a minute how come Marcus isn't over here with us yet? He's usually here by now," Rayne said to Michael.
"Doesn't want to leave Vin's side, probably afraid he'll be snatched again." Michael said with a grin. He looked over to his brothers, who glanced away when they saw him look. "Damn I know how Vin feels, at least he's only got one brother here!"
Rayne laughed, "Well you know I know how Vin feels he only has one here and you only have two here, I have three here and four at home," he said looking over at Michael.
Michael grinned at Rayne. "Yea there are a lot of you Downings running around."
"Yea well I shall take that as a compliment and say thank you and we're going to have a few additions in the near future." he grinned right back at Michael.
Michael laughed. "I can see you're kids already being holy little terrors!"
"Awww do you really think they'll be that bad because I mean Audrey's a really sweet girl and I'm a really good boy?" he nodded his head up and down and smirked at Michael.
"Jesus Rayne, I've known you since we we're kids, you think I'm going to believe that of you?" He grinned.
"Why shouldn't you I mean like you said you knew me since we were kids I'm good boy I never got in any trouble you and Marcus always did" he turned to Michael with a huge grin on his face.
"Like hell!" He said smacking Rayne on the arm. "You we're always the leader, hell you still are!" He laughed.
Rayne laughed along with Michael, "Awww it's nice to see that you care by the way please do not teach my kids all the crap that we used to do they'll drive people crazy if you do," he grinned.
Michael laughed. "Oh no, Marcus and I are going to teach you're kids everything!"
"Now why would you do such a horrible thing I mean that's just plain I mean just because I used to drive people insane with my crazy stunts when I was little doesn't mean I have to get payback for it," he looked at Michael with a really funny expression on his face it looked as though he was shocked and pleading with him to not do that to him.
"Paybacks are hell man, and I look forward to it!" Michael laughed.
"God just when I was starting to think I was mean you came along and showed me that I wasn't" he tried to look serious but failed and ended up grinning.
"Mean? You're the king of mean Rayne!" Michael teased.
All Rayne could do was glare at Michael, "Hey, what was the meanest thing I did in your opinion?" he asked.
"I'll have to think on that, there's been so many." Michael teased Rayne.
"No way I can't be that bad," Rayne said to Michael.
"Oh but you are. So are Marcus and I when were with you!" He laughed.
"Ok ok I take the blame" Rayne muttered to Michael.
"Now that's a shock. You usually don't!" Michael said acting like he was shocked.
"Yea whatever don't get used to it because your not going to hear it again anytime soon, let's go over to Marcus and get him to leave Vin alone for awhile," Rayne said to Michael.
"All right." He said following Rayne over to the others.
Rayne and Michael went over to Marcus and Vincent. Rayne nearly laughed seeing the irritated expression on Vincent's face.
"Hey Marcus what's up?" Rayne asked his friend.
"Nothing." Marcus mumbled. "What are you guys up to?"
"Nothing much Michael was just telling me that you and him are going to teach my kids all the crazy stuff we used to do when we were kids, and I'm still begging him not to or I'll go mad," Rayne explained to Marcus.
"You bet your ass we are! You aren't going to know what hit you buddy!" Marcus laughed.
Vincent smiled listening. He knew they would too.
"I'm so going to regret all those bad things I did when I was little, but then again they'll do the same things to Audrey and you guys are nice to her so you won't want them to do that to her would you? " Rayne asked his friends hoping that they would feel sorry and not do it because the kids will torment Audrey also.
Marcus grinned mischievously. "We'll teach them only to do them to you, never to Audrey."
"That's just downright mean!" Rayne whined to his two best friends.
The others just laughed at him. Rade and Raven joining in the laugher.
"Well at least I achieved something, I made you guys laugh," he said grinning also.
"That's cause you're funny looking." Marcus remarked.
"No I'm not, I'm gorgeous looking for your information," Rayne said, his ego taking over.
"In you're dreams!" Marcus laughed.
"I know but I'm gorgeous in my dreams and in reality." he smirked back at Marcus.
"You're wrong there big brother. I got all the good looks in the family, and Raven here is the gorgeous one!" Rade prodded his brother.
"Whatever you say probably in your dreams but I'm the best looking one in the family, but you have one thing right Raven is the gorgeous one." he shot back at Rade.
"Hey I'm always right on everything!" Rade exclaimed. "At least I'm not the one whose always getting into some kind of trouble!"
"Hey I don't get in that much trouble often!" Rayne tried to defend himself.
Rade looked at Raven grinning, "Actually I think it was Raven, Lizzie, and Jer causing all the trouble and you catching hell for it!" He started laughing.
"True" he said nodding his head up and down.
"Ouch!" Rade cried when Raven elbowed him frowning at him.
"That was our secret!" Raven said teasingly.
Rayne smirked at Rade.
"It wasn't really a secret Rav we knew all along besides I mean how could I always take the blame for stuff I didn't do." Rayne smirked playfully at his sister.
"Because you love me?" Raven said innocently.
Rade laughed as did the others.
Rayne just glared at Raven but ended up laughing along with the others.
Meredith watched her children and their friends playfully bantering wishing that they didn't have to leave so soon. She'd missed this, and was going to miss it even more when they left. She brushed away the tears that were threatening. Shaina laid her hand down on Meredith's offering her comfort. She smiled her thanks.
Raven grinned. She did owe Rayne for taking the blame over the years. He had taken it way too much! She glanced over at her mother noticing her wiping at her eyes. She frowned. She wished that her parents we're still alive, but that just wasn't possible.
She looked over sharply at Corinne when she heard her gasp. She jumped to her feet and hurried over to her. "Are you all right?" She asked squatting down beside her.
"I think it's time." Corinne said. She gasped in pain as she had another contraction.
"Mom!" Raven cried. "The baby's coming."
They had everyone's attention now as Meredith and Shaina, and Michael's mom hurried over. Jade got up handing Riley to Ridge, and hurried over also. "Let's take her to her room."
Raven started to follow. "You stay here with the boys Raven. Roman I want you and Sloan to stand guard outside the rooms." Meredith said helping Corinne up.
Corinne cried out as water gushed all over the floor, her water breaking.
Rayne just stood rooted to the spot and stared because he knew this might be happening to Audrey in a few months, but hopefully they would be in a hospital at that time.
Raven watched them leave with Corinne. She looked over at Audrey, who was watching.
Audrey walked over to her. "That will be us in a few months." Audrey said.
"Yea I know." Raven replied. She wasn't worried though, she'd have Corinne there.
Rayne went over to Audrey and pulled her into his arms and kissed the top of her head.
"I have a question" he said looking down at her, "How do you think your siblings are going to react when they hear about you being pregnant?" he asked her somewhat hesitantly.
Audrey laughed. "Athena will probably be pissed as hell, Story will just shake her head, and Austin will probably want to beat you're face in."
Raven smiled.
"Ouch!, damn I'm gonna get it live and direct especially when Rowan and Athena get started, they won't finish and well I think I can handle Austin." he smirked.
"Just don't hurt him, he is two years younger than you!" She said smiling at him knowing he wouldn't.
"Oh come on you know I wouldn't do anything to him I rather get the crap beat out of me instead, at least he has a valid reason to do it anyway." he laughed.
"Well that's true!" She smirked.
Raven walked away from the two as Audrey leaned into Rayne for a kiss. She sat down between Vincent and Rade again.
Rayne leaned down into the kiss Audrey drew him into and kissed her, the light erupted from them blinding everyone momentarily with it's brightness. After about 30 seconds they reluctantly pulled away from each other.
"You know I'll never get used to that," Rayne remarked, smiling playfully at Audrey.
"I love that part." Audrey told him.
He looked at her and couldn't help it but smile, a real genuine smile.
Raven watched the two kiss and her heart ached for Tyler. She wanted to go home so bad. She looked at the two on either side of her. "When are you two going to find someone?"
Vincent looked rattled at her question. Rade just smirked. "I already have someone in mind to ask out when we get home."
Rayne over heard Raven when she asked Rade and Vincent the question, he smirked and walked over to them.
"Hey I'll be right back," he said to Audrey then walked over to them.
"Come on Raven you know better than to ask both of them a question like that, I mean Ryder and Rafe don't have anyone but you'll ask Rade and Vincent" he chuckled good-naturedly, "By the way Rade I'm curious who's the unlucky lady?" Rayne teased his younger brother.
"You'll find out after the fact!" Rade laughed. He wasn't about to tell his brother who he planned on asking out.
Raven wondered herself, but she knew he would tell her later.
"Geez Rade she can't be that special that you can't tell me." Rayne prodded.
"She's special that's the reason I'm not telling you!" Rade smirked.
"Really ok then do I know her?" Rayne kept bugging his brother.
"Yea you definitely know her!" Rade smirked.
Raven looked at him wondering who he was talking about.
"Are you serious, is she a witch?" he asked curiously.
Rade just smiled. "Now that would give away too much info bro."
"Ok I'll take that as a yes" Rayne smirked at Rade.
"Take it however you like Rayne. I'm not telling you!" Rade said.
"God Rade you're acting like you're five years old, I'm not going to steal her I already have the best girl in the world, besides why don't you wanna tell us?" Rayne asked his brother impatiently.
"Don't you have secrets Rayne, and don't call me a five year old, cause your the one that acts it most of the time!" Rade said starting to get a little pissed.
"Hey at least I admit that I act the part, anyway I was just joking I knew you wouldn't tell me and I don't expect you to because I know I have a lot more secrets than that some that no one else but I know," he smirked at Rade.
"Not even Audrey?" Raven piped up.
"Honestly when I come to think about it even she doesn't know some, but she'll get to know some eventually." he replied.
"Keeping secrets from her already Rayne? That isn't good!" Raven teased.
"I know it isn't but some things are better left unsaid, they'll unfold with time," Rayne said to his sister.
"At least you don't have to break it to her that you're a witch!" Marcus said laughing.
Raven smirked adding her two cents. "You did tell her about Alyssa right."
"Shhhhhh!!!!! No! She has no idea that I still talk to Alyssa! And at this point in time she'll kill me if she finds out!" Rayne desperately tried to make them shut up about his ex.
"Oh I want to watch that!" Rade exclaimed.
"I knew I forgot to tell you something Rayne." Marcus smirked. "I've got a date next weekend with Alyssa, she was wondering about doubling with you and Audrey!"
Raven laughed as did the others.
"Marcus you cannot be serious , Alyssa didn't tell me that!" Rayne stared disbelievingly at his best friend.
"I sure did!" Marcus beamed.
"He did." Vincent spoke up. "I was there when he asked her."
Rade couldn't stop laughing. 'This was hysterical!' He thought.
Raven watched them laughing herself.
"Dude that is so wrong on so many different levels! At least I have Alyssa out of my hair...for now until you two break up," he moaned. " Marcus please don't dump her when she gets annoying I beg of you! Because then she'll call me and cry all night," he begged his best friend.
"Now that is very tempting!" Marcus thought for a moment. He loved tormenting his best friends.
Michael laughed. "I dare you to do just that Marcus!"
"What is so tempting about getting me in trouble, what did I ever do to make you guys always want to get back at me every chance you get?" Rayne asked his best friends who were currently laughing at him.
Marcus looked at Michael grinning. "Where shall we start Michael?"
"Let's see how about getting us kicked out of Nicky's for the whole summer after our sophomore year. Or better yet getting banned from all of the dances our junior year cause of him. I could go on and on." Michael taunted.
"Don't forget about that time when we had to have detention for 24 hours straight one weekend." Marcus grinned. "All Rayne's fault as usual!"
"Hey it wasn't my fault that the teachers saw you guys doing the wrong things and not me," Rayne said defensively, even though he knew it was all his fault.
"Yeah, yeah, sure, sure." Marcus laughed.
Michael grinned. "We should not be talking to him at all. That wasn't even a dent in the list and you know it Rayne!"
"Why is it we're just finding out this stuff?" Rade asked.
"Yeah really!" Vincent said.
"Well yea I have to admit I do get you guys into a lot of trouble," he said to them.
Then added "Yea how come Rade and Vin don't know Marcus I mean you and Vin tell each other everything he's bound to find out and tell Rade?" He asked Marcus and Michael.
"I tell Vin everything?" Marcus quirked an eyebrow. "Since when?"
"That's news to me!" Vincent added.
"I do know that Vin here is still a virgin. Caught him the other night..."
"Marcus!" Vincent warned glaring at his brother turning red.
Raven grinned looking at Vincent. "Caught him doing what?"
"Leave him alone guys!" Rade spoke up. He already knew this story.
All Rayne could do was grin to suppress his laughter.
"You have got to fill me in on your life these days Marcus it seems like I'm missing way too much!" Rayne said to Marcus, "Oh and when did you start to like Alyssa? You never told Michael and I about that, I'm curious I wonder why she never mentioned that?" he asked Marcus.
"He asked her the night Michael got hurt, so he probably or her hasn't had a chance to tell you!" Vincent said still a little pissed at his brother. "Do you think everything revolves around you Rayne?" He spat out the last part.
Raven glanced at Vincent she'd never seen him that pissed before.
"Yes he does." Rade said also glancing at Vincent.
Marcus looked at his brother sorry now that he'd brought up the other night. He sighed.
Rayne just rolled his eyes at this and walked away from them. He knew what he said was wrong but of course being him he never wanted to take the blame. Rayne felt his temper starting to rise and walked further away to try and suppress it.
"Nice going Vin!" Marcus told his brother. "Now you pissed him off!"
Rade shook his head. "Wasn't just his fault!"
Raven watched Rayne walk away not saying anything.
Rayne stood in the corner of the room where nobody was and tried to send his temper back in, but it clearly wasn't working seeing as his eyes started to go black and he didn't even know.
He looked over at the people in the room and saw Audrey starting to come towards him. He quickly turned his back on her, he knew that he might accidentally let out his anger on her if she did come and he didn't want that to happen.
"Hey Audrey." Raven called to her brother's girlfriend.
Audrey looked over at Rayne one more time, before heading over to the others.
"I'd give him some time if I we're you." Raven told her.
Audrey nodded. "What happened anyhow?"
"Nothing." Michael said. "Just give him some time!"
Rayne sighed when he saw Audrey walk over when Raven called her. He was glad she didn't come over to him because he knew she would never give up until she found out what was wrong.
'Damn I really need a reality check!' Rayne thought to himself.