Chapter 25: New Encounters

Jack could feel the earth rumble underneath his half-awake body. Trying to wake when one hadn't slept in days was exhausting. Almost frustrating. His body refused to stand but he had no choice, he had to get out of the forest before whatever was spying on them ceased the twins.

He turned to his side only to find Mimi not roused by the noise, or the vibrations deep in the ground for that matter. Jack tried standing up but his body crumbled underneath his massive weight, even angels or dark angels for that matter had their limits.

And Jack Force had reached his. But he couldn't give up, he wouldn't. He had to see his beloved at least once before whatever was following them took his life.

Finally after what felt like all his lifetimes Jack went to where Mimi lay. Underneath the moonlight she looked like Disney's "Sleeping Beauty." Only her beauty was never to be matched by anyone, except Schuyler Van Alen. Now called Schuyler Force.

"Mimi wake up." Jack shook her. When she wouldn't stir he began to speak in her mind. Urging her to open her , get up. We need to leave. Right now. They are coming, the demons are almost here."Mimi please." Jack cried out. Hands grabbing him from behind. Schuyler woke with a start. Her heart pounding abnormally fast, sweat dripping down her forehead and body. She pulled the blue blankets away from her burning body and got up, putting her Pikachu slippers on. Schuyler went to the door and as quietly as possible, went down the granite stairs, through the kitchen, pulled the fridge door and took out a bottle of water. Closing the door she pulled back a wooden chair and sat down, palms covering her again, she thought. Schuyler Force had had that dream a number of times, so many in fact that she didn't know the exact number and always expected them to come to her at night. At times she was afraid of going to sleep, or even walking in the dark. It had been over 3 months since Jack and the blond, Mimi or was it Azrael, left for some god forsaken place. Even thinking about it made her heart quench in pain, she missed him so much. So much sometimes she wanted to go and find him. But that was not allowed. Her father had made that perfectly clear when she had asked what had happened to her broth...to Jack.

(One month Before)Schuyler knocked on the door where her father hid behind. She had to know what had happened to her brother, why he wasn't home yet. The door opened by itself, as it did anytime she wanted to talk to her father. Was the house haunted? Probably. Not that she believed in ghosts or anything supernatural, that was silly. Things like fairies, werewolves, witches, ghosts and vampires did not exist. They were nothing but an imaginary world that humans had created long ago to explain the unexplainable, like what created fire or why is the sky blue? They did not have science.

She stepped in the dark room lit by a single candle, illuminating her fathers face. Ominous shadows passing through his face as he saw he stride across the room, finally sitting in the lush velvet chair in front of him.

Charles Force was a man few wanted to trifle with and for good reason, he had the resources to make or break you. And if you stepped across a very thin layer of ice you would burn for it. And perhaps your family, but this happened few and far between.

Charles closed the folder marked "Warning. Private Material." and set it in a safe and locked it inside. Putting the portrait of himself and his wife in front of it. Her parents looks young and happy and care free. Not like the past few months.

"What is that you want, daughter?" Charles asked as he sat down In the chair, intertwining his finger together. Placing them underneath his chin.

"I…Dad…Jack." She couldn't form her words. They were clogged in her throat.

"What about my son?" Charles asked. Raising his right eyebrow, a habit of his that was beginning to unnerve her.

Schuyler took a deep breath and said. " I want to know where Jack went with that blond."

"There is no need to concern yourself my dear, don't worry he is doing what he should be doing. Its his duty. You just concentrate on your studies and not on what Jack is doing." Charles said with a final resolute.

"Dad please, just tell me where Jack is." Schuyler pleated.

"Asking me wont do you any good because I cant tell you…" Before Charles could finish Schuyler got up and clammed her fists on the table.

"DAD! Please! I'm begging, I just want to know what happened to my brother, he promised he would be back and its been two months already!"

Charles got up and pushed the chair away so he could get out. He went around his thousand dollar desk and wrapped Schuyler in his arms. She lay her head in his shoulder and cries. For the first time in front of her father. A father that was comforting her and whispering words to try and make her feel better.

"I know honey, I know. We miss him too, your mother and I. And I promise you that he doesn't come within a few more months I will personally go and find him. I swear on my life."

For the first time in a long time she actually believed him, but there was a small part of her. That unnerving, tiny, stubborn, evil part of her that didn't think she would ever see him again. But she refused to listen to that side of her and looked at the positive side of things. She wanted to believe that she was going to see him again and she was going to make sure of it.

One way or another.

Her father began to stroke her hair, and not too long after Schuyler pulled away and wiped the tears from her eyes. She wanted to tell her father everything that she was going through, with school the doctor everything. But most of all her feeling for her brother that were inappropriate and by far normal. But she would rather die and go to hell then ever tell him that, or anyone for that matter.

Especially Jack. No not Jack. Never Jack. She didn't want him to think she was a freak who was in love with her brother, because she already felt like a freak for it. She didn't want someone else to confirm it. Especially Jack.

"Thanks dad." Schuyler said in little hiccups.

"Anytime my dear." He said and kissed her in the forehead.

Schuyler completely pulled away from him and went for the door. She turned the knob and pulled the door open, but before she walked out she said.

"Don't forget dad, you promised." And the door locked by itself, after she was out in the plush hallway, as usual.

(Present)

Schuyler gulped down the water and tossed the water bottle in the recycling can. She walked up to her bedroom and locked the door behind her and headed for her bed. Schuyler pulled her blankets over her head and tried to but miserably failing falling asleep. She knew that the dream wouldn't come back because It only showed itself once a night but she was still afraid of it continuing. She didn't want to know what had happened to her brother or that blond for that matter. Even if her feeling over the blond weren't that friendly.

After a few minutes and Schuyler realizing how tired she was, sleep took over he mind and she was pulled down in a sheet of darkness and nightmares.

The next morning Schuyler got up and got ready for another boring, useless day of school. Grabbing a gala apple on the way out Schuyler kissed her mother goodbye and got out. Waiting for her, as always, on the steps was her boyfriend. Wolfgang.

"There you are hun, about time you got out. Any longer and school would have been finished." He laughed at his one joke.

Wolfgang grabbed her hand and pulled her inside his new car. How he got a drivers license at the age of fifteen was a mystery to her. He had only turned fifteen a few days back at that. Pretty soon it would be her turn, and she had a strong quenching feeling that Jack would miss it. And that would just break her heart.

" I just overslept." She defended herself.

"Like always."

"Like always."

After school Schuyler hurried to the library. She swiftly walked through what was their library, a maze of books and computers. All hazy to her vision because she was looking for one thing. The yearbook.

It had recently begun to hunt her dreams and pull her towards it. And she finally caved in even though she told Jack that it didn't mean anything.

She looked through the years only finding an empty space. A space that felt like a slap to the face. What had happened to the yearbook? To the picture of the young boy with blue eyes and blond hair? To the boy who had the same name as Jack, to the young boy who was a mystery to her and she wanted to find out what they mystery was.

Schuyler looked all over hopping by a sliver thread that the book was just somehow replaced. But no matter where she looked she couldn't find it. Finally Schuyler just gave up and headed home.

Once inside the mansion she began her homework. In less than an hour everything was done. And then she heard the doorbell ring. Not in the mood for someone to go and open it, she went and opened the door.

The boy who was facing her had dark hair, handsome features, something that male models panted for, and gorgeous blue eye. A hue very similar to her own. Only darker.

Saying the boy looked shocked to see her was an understatement. He looked dumbfounded.

"Can I help you with something?" She asked the boy, who was beginning to give her the chills.

"Is Charles Force here?" The boy asked, still staring at her with those gorgeous eyes of his.

"And may I ask who's looking for him?"

The boy didn't answer, he just stared. Schuyler cleared her throat and repeated the question.

"Can I have a name, please?"

"Oh, yes of course, I apologize." The boy finally looked like he was paying some attention.

The boy took he hand, bowed in a very cheese but sweet way, kissed her hand and pretending he had a hat on he removed it and said. "The name's Kingsley Martin."

Schuyler felt like she had heard that name before but she couldn't remember.

"And may I be as bold as to ask what they call you my lovely young lady?" Schuyler felt a blush form to his words. No one had called her lovely before. And it felt surprisingly nice.

"My name is Schuyler Force."

"Schuyler…What a beautiful name for such a beautiful girl." He said, causing Schuyler's heart to skip a few beats here and there.

"My father is in "Force Headquarters" but your welcome to wait inside, it will be getting dark soon and you do not want to be out in Manhattan by yourself, especially at night."

The boy laughed. "I can vouch for that."