Chapter 2: Adopted by who?

The three kids made it back to the orphanage and went inside before Rachel turned to the other two. "Not a word to Miss Claire," she said, trying to catch her breath. "I doubt she'll believe us anyway."

Both nodded. "Though, why do you think Miss Mary wanted us to deliver that package?" Leo said.

"Could it have been for that...whoever that person was?" Emma asked, shivering a little. "He looked scary."

The other two couldn't argue that and went to see the director, giving her the items for dinner, helping her and it wasn't long before they were all ready for bed, putting the earlier scare out of their minds as they settled down and went to sleep.

But little did they know, their lives were about to change in a way they didn't anticipate.

Morning came and it was a Saturday, so Miss Claire let them sleep in, but then a knock came at the door and she answered it, finding a tall person there who smiled at her charmingly and handed her a white rose. "Forgive me for seeming so forward, milady. I mean no harm," he said smoothly as he bowed politely to her before he held out his hand to her. She put her hand in his and was surprised when he lifted her hand up to his face and kissed the back of it as if he was a gentleman courting a lady.

The lady blushed a little. "Oh, my," she said. "You're quite a gentleman, sir."

"Thank you, milday," he said with a smile as he stepped inside when she stepped back to allow him in. "I have heard many good things about this orphanage. Do you have any children currently available for adoption?"

"Well, I do have three," Miss Claire said as she led him to her office. "Rachel, age 17. Emma, age 15. And Leo, also age 15."

The man blinked. "And no one has adopted them?" He asked.

She shook her head sadly. "They've been placed in a few foster homes, but...unfortunately it turned out that the people fostering them abused them."

The man gasped. "How awful," he said. "I hope they are safe now."

"Yes, they are," Miss Claire said before looking at him curiously. "May I ask why you're interested in these three?"

He smiled at her. "Well, I have a soft spot for children and I have seen these three around. They always seem a bit sad though," he said. "And I can now understand why."

She looked a bit wary. "Forgive me if I seem a bit skeptical, but no one has shown interest in them save for the foster families wanting just the money," she said.

"I understand your wariness," he replied. "But rest assured, I have plenty of money and do not seek to adopt these three for monetary gain."

He pulled out a file and she looked at it before her eyes widened. "Oh! You're the owner of the theater!" She said, her eyes lighting up. "I didn't think it was around anymore."

"I travel a bit," he said, smiling. "But yes, I am the owner."

She nodded and called up the paperwork. "I remember when my cousin did a background check on your theater sometime ago when we had all those kidnappings going on," she said. "It came back clean."

"I remember that," he said. "It's a good thing those children were found safe and sound."

Miss Claire nodded again and handed him the paperwork before looking at him. "You're certain you want to adopt all three of them?" She asked.

He nodded. "I am," he said.

Nodding once more, she smiled. "You can pick them up today if you'd like," she said. "I'll go get them up. They're no doubt sleeping in."

The man chuckled. "I'll finish signing this paperwork then," he said. "Although, please don't tell the children my name right away."

"Of course," Miss Claire agreed as she hurried upstairs, seeing the three teens just waking up. "Kids, I have good news," she said, smiling.

"What is it?" Rachel asked, sitting up in bed.

"You three have been adopted."

Emma and Leo sprung out of their beds in shock. "What?!" The boy asked.

"All three of us?" The girl asked.

"By who?" Rachel asked.

"Someone who has seen you three and wants all three of you to come live with him," Miss Claire said. "He's a good man and his background check came back clean. You three have nothing to worry about."

They didn't look so keen on that. "Um, Miss Claire, who adopted us?" Leo asked.

"Well, he asked to remain anonymous right now, but you three can meet him right now as he's signing the paperwork as we speak," the lady said. "So gather your things. You get your forever home today."

When she left, the three looked at each other, but did as she asked them. "Are we really leaving for good?" Emma asked.

"Seems like it," Rachel said.

"But who adopted us?" Leo asked.

"Well, guess we'll go find out," the older girl said as they headed downstairs, finding Miss Mary with Miss Claire and the elderly lady smiled.

"Ah, there you three are," she said. "I hear you three have been adopted."

"Yes," Emma said before looking around.

"Oh, he headed back to get your rooms ready for you in his home," Miss Claire said. "Miss Mary offered to take you three there."

Leo blinked. "Um...isn't this a bit...odd?" He asked.

"Yeah," Rachel agreed. "Miss Claire, are you sure this person that adopted us...is really on the up and up?"

"He is," the director said before hugging them. "Good luck, you three, and congratulations on finally getting your forever home."

They wished her well and followed Miss Mary, who led them to the very alley they had seen the old theater in. "He's waiting here," she said.

The three paused. "Here?" Rachel asked. "But...this is the old theater."

"It is," the elderly lady said. "You delivered the package yesterday, right?"

"Yes," Leo replied.

"Good," she said. "Then run along. He's waiting for you three."

Emma looked confused. "Miss Mary, who is waiting for us?" She asked.

Miss Mary smiled. "You're about to find out," she said. "Good luck, you three, and congratulations."

Just then, a gust of wind surrounded the three teenagers and picked them up, making them gasp in surprise before they were pulled back towards the theater and Miss Mary waved at them with a smile before the three were pulled through the theater doors, which shut after they were inside, the gust of wind gently dropping the three off on a soft carpet into a large room that was richly decorated. They looked around. "Oh, no. Not again," Rachel said as the three sat up.

"Oh?" A deep voice said from behind them and they spun around rapidly, scooting backwards in shock and fear at seeing the same tall man from the night before. "Hello, my dears. I'm glad you could make it."

The three stood up and backed away from him. "Who are you?" Leo asked, hiding behind Rachel as Emma followed his lead.

"Why, I'm the man that adopted you three," was the reply.

"What?" Rachel asked in shock. "Oh, no. No, no, no. This can't be happening."

He looked at them in confusion. "Surely you three are not frightened by me, are you?" He asked, taking a step forward.

No sooner had he done that, the three scattered, running away and he looked saddened. "Oh, dear," he said. "Well, who to go after first?"

He saw Emma trip and fall down, but she got back up and kept running. Nodding, the tall being took off after her.

The fifteen-year-old girl turned into a room and paused to catch her breath before hearing footsteps coming up the hallway and she quickly dove under the bed, hiding there as she listened carefully. Just then, the bedskirt moved up and she scooted back as the man bent down to see her moving back from him. "Wait, my dear. There's no need for alarm," he said.

Emma scooted out from under the bed, but no sooner had she stood up to run, she bumped into the tall man, who caught her fast in his arms, holding her despite her struggles. "No! Let me go!" She cried out. "Leave me alone!"

"Easy now, child," the man said soothingly, gently catching both her wrists in one hand and his other arm wrapped securely around her waist and picked her up, giving her no traction against the ground and she seemed shocked to have been picked up like that.

"Don't drop me, please," she pleaded, trembling as tears filled her eyes.

"Shh, Emma," he said gently. "I'm not going to drop you. Nor will I hurt you."

She looked up at him, her green eyes afraid. "How...How do you know my name?" She asked.

"I heard the older girl call you that yesterday when you first saw me," the tall being said as he carried her over to a rocking chair and sat down in it, placing her in his lap while still holding onto her to make sure she didn't run as he gently pushed the chair into motion.

Emma trembled. "W-What do you want with us?" She asked, her voice quivering.

"For starters, I would like you to calm down before you pass out," he said gently, his hand coming up and very gently cupping the left side of her face. She flinched a little, closing her eyes tightly before feeling his thumb rub her cheek in a soothing manner. "It's alright, Emma. You're safe here."

She opened her eyes and looked at him, noticing how his gold eyes glowed warmly and his smile was kind. As her trembling died down, he let go of her wrists and his free hand rested on her back, rubbing gentle circles there to help her calm down further. "See?" He said, giving her a playful boop on the nose. "I'm not going to bite."

She swallowed, her trembling stopping as the rocking soothed her, but she was still wary, to which the tall being pulled her into a gentle hug. She jumped a little, but went still before a soft sigh escaped her and she began to relax. "Who are you?" She asked. "You're...not human, are you?"

He chuckled. "No, not human," he said. "But rather a humanoid being." He gently pinched the left side of her face in affection. "As to my name, you may call me Balan."

"Balan?" She asked before looking at him. "So...you adopted me, Leo, and Rachel?"

Balan nodded. "Yes, I did," he said before perking up. "That reminds me. I have something that belongs to you."

He reached into a pocket and pulled out her bracelet, to which she gasped. "My bracelet," she said, accepting it before looking sad at seeing it was broken.

"It caught on the window in your haste to run yesterday," he said gently. "I can fix it for you, if you'd like."

She looked at him hopefully. "You can?" She asked.

Nodding, he snapped his fingers and magic surrounded the bracelet as the clasp was fixed and the bracelet went back to the girl's right arm, settling in place and looking good as new. "There we go," he said.

Tears gathered in her eyes at his kindness and as her throat tightened a little, she hugged him, to which he was surprised, but chuckled, rubbing her back as he returned the hug, feeling her shoulders heave a little as some tears escaped her eyes. Balan was concerned, but then realized she was crying in happiness and in surprise from his kindness. "Oh, Emma," he said, gently brushing away her tears and making her look at him. "Now, what do you say we convince your brother and sister to calm down?"

Emma nodded and gasped in surprise when he stood up and placed her on his back. She quickly wrapped her arms around his neck and felt his hands gently grasp the backs of her knees. She giggled a little, making him look curious before he grinned. "Oh? Ticklish behind your knees, are you?" He asked, wiggling his fingers into that spot.

The girl squeaked and squirmed, giggling and making him chuckle before he stopped and she settled down. "Now, where would your siblings be hiding?" He asked.

Just then, Leo came running around the corner and crashed right into the tall maestro's legs, grunting in surprise as he stumbled backwards. Balan reached out and caught the boy's arm before he fell down as the girl on his back tightened her grip to keep from falling off. "Are you alright, Leo?" He asked.

The boy looked up at him in shock and went to move back when he saw Emma on the tall being's back and she smiled at him. "Leo, it's okay," she said. "Balan is really nice. He fixed my bracelet."

"What?" The boy asked.

"I lost my bracelet yesterday when we climbed out the window," she said. "It broke and Balan fixed it for me."

"And I believe you lost something too, my boy," the tall being said, pulling out the broken Ipod from another pocket. "But I'm curious as to how your Ipod broke."

Leo looked down. "The bullies from school broke it," he said sadly.

Balan smiled gently and let go of Leo's arm, ruffling his hair playfully, making the boy look up at him in surprise. "Let's see if I can fix this one for you," the tall being said as his magic swirled around the device. Before the boy's eyes, the Ipod was fixed and looked just like new. "There we go."

The maestro handed the device to the boy, who looked at it and then looked back up at him. "Thanks," he said. "You...You didn't have to do that."

"I wanted to, Leo," Balan said gently. "It not only helps you see that I mean no harm, but perhaps is a good way to start earning your trust as well?"

The boy looked at him. "But...why?" He asked. "Why did you adopt us?"

The maestro chuckled. "I can't turn away a child who needs help," he said. "As the maestro of Positivity, it's my duty to make sure everyone is happy and if they are sad and need help, then I help them."

He looked up and saw Rachel peeking around the corner. "Come in, Rachel," he said. She flinched as she backed away a little. "No need to be afraid. I washed and mended your jacket for you."

She looked at him in surprise before blinking as her jacket came into view and she saw it was indeed fixed. The tears on the sleeves were mended and it looked like it had never been worn before. The older girl cautiously stepped closer, accepting the jacket from him before looking at him curiously.

"I don't understand," she said. "You're...You're not like the others that have taken us in."

Balan smiled. "I'll take that as a compliment," he said.

Rachel looked a bit unsure. "Why...Why did you come after us?" She asked as she watched Emma lightly tap his shoulder and indicate she wanted to get down, to which he complied, gently lifting her off his back and setting her down on her feet. "How did you even find us?"

"Miss Mary's package yesterday had a letter in it that told me where you three were," he replied as he looked at her. "She noticed how you three had not had an easy time finding a family to call your own."

"Wait, you know Miss Mary?" Leo asked.

"I do," Balan said with a nod. "She was once a visitor here and we became friends. When she saw my theater, she thought of you three and hoped I could help you all."

"Okay," Rachel said. "Then why did you scare us yesterday?"

"That was unintentional on my part," he said. "I was going to greet you three when Emma saw me and froze in fear."

The tall maestro could still see the three were a bit skeptical. "Hmm. I think I know just what you three need," he said before scooping them all up in his arms and moments later, they were in a large room and the siblings were stunned before chairs popped up under them and they saw Balan spinning around before he snapped his fingers and the lights came on before settling on the stage where he was standing in a ready pose, making the kids wonder what he was going to do next.

I think you all know what Balan is about to do. :)

Please leave a review, but no flames!

GoldGuardian2418