WARNING: Slightly dark theme at the beginning and a bit at the end.

Chapter 5: A Hidden Talent

Balan smiled as he looked at the calendar of shows that were planned and he happened to notice it had been a week since he had adopted Emma, Leo, and Rachel. The first night had been a bit tough with Rachel's flashback, but he remembered when she had awoken the next morning and had been a bit confused before realization had hit her. Tears had begun to fall down her face and the tall being had hugged her, promising her that he hadn't changed his mind on helping her and he wasn't going to give up on her. It had taken her a bit to calm down, but he was a patient man. He had even kept his word about speaking to Miss Claire about the herbs Rachel needed and the lady had told him where they could be found.

Now, a week later, Rachel was doing better, but Balan noted that she still would tense up around people and sometimes around him, though she would calm down when seeing it was him. Emma and Leo had been doing better as well, but he noted how they would be slow to believing a promise he made until he kept it, which he could understand and hoped with a little more time, their fears would be gone.

A soft knocking came to his door and he looked up to see his eldest daughter was at the door. "Ah, come in, my dear," he said with a smile.

Rachel smiled back before looking a bit nervous and taking a deep breath. "Ladderman said you wanted to see me," she said.

He nodded before getting up from his desk and going over to her. "My dear, I have noticed how you still tense up a bit around us," he said, his voice gentle. "Did any of us do something to make you still feel wary of us?"

The seventeen-year-old girl bit her lip before taking a deep breath again. "N-No," she said, stammering a little. "I...It's not you guys, I promise."

He nodded, sensing she was being truthful. "I'm sorry, my dear. I didn't mean to make you more nervous," he said, placing a hand on her shoulder. He was glad to see she didn't tense up.

"It's okay," she replied.

Balan was quiet for a bit before he gently lifted her chin up with his free hand so that she was looking at him and he brushed the backs of his fingers over her face comfortingly, noting with a bit of surprise, but also relief, that she leaned into the touch. "Rachel, when I spoke to Miss Claire, I asked if you had gone to a therapist and she said that I should ask you that question," he said. "Could you elaborate a bit on that, please?"

Rachel looked nervous again and swallowed hard before sighing and looking up at him. "I...I never made it through the first session," she said. "The therapist kept trying to urge me to drink the water he had given me, but I wasn't thirsty. I kept trying to tell him what had happened and he kept insisting I drink the water. I finally got upset and went to leave, but the door wouldn't open. He had locked it."

The tall being's eyes widened and she nodded. "He lunged for me, but I screamed. Thankfully, a security guard was nearby and got the door open in time to see the therapist holding me in a chokehold and trying to make me drink the water. The guard saved me and the therapist was reported to the police. We found out a day later that he was found guilty of abusing his patients. He would drug the water he gave them and then hurt them, but would tell the parents of the kids or caretakers and significant others that the patients had done that to themselves in the session."

Balan felt his blood boil at that and his grip on her shoulder tightened unconsciously. Rachel winced as it caught her by surprise and the tall being blinked before gasping and immediately loosening his grip. "I'm so sorry, Rachel," he said, gently rubbing her shoulder to ease the pain.

She took a deep breath. "It's okay. I know you didn't do it on purpose," she said before hugging him and he returned the hug, rubbing her back gently. "Miss Claire was quite upset too. I think she broke a few plates that night thinking about what had happened."

He nodded understandingly before he decided to suggest something. "My dear, I'm not going to force you to talk to a therapist unless you decide to do so, but I do think we should find something you can do to put that nervous energy into something positive," he said.

"What do you mean?" She asked, cocking her head to the side.

"Well, some people like to focus their energy on a favorite hobby or activity," he said. "Do you like to paint? Or build things?"

She bit her lip. "I don't really know," she admitted. "Why do you ask?"

"Do you remember Lucy?" He asked.

"Lucy. Lucy," she repeated before shaking her head. "I don't think I've met her yet, but isn't she the red-haired lady that loves painting and her art has been displayed at some galleries?"

"Yes," Balan said with a smile. "Would you like to meet her? Perhaps you can become a student of hers."

Rachel blinked. "You mean...you think I should do art to...work through my PTSD?"

He nodded. "Do you want to at least give it a try?" He asked. "If it doesn't work out, I'll help you find something else."

The seventeen-year-old looked thoughtful before looking up at him and nodding. "Okay," she said. "I'm not totally sure it'll work, but...if you think it's worth a shot, then I'll at least try it and see how it goes."

The tall being smiled. "Alright," he said before motioning her to follow him. "Let's go see Lucy."

The girl followed him to Lucy's studio and when they entered, Rachel reached over and took Balan's hand as she felt a bit afraid. The maestro felt her hand in his and he gave her a gentle smile, gently squeezing her hand. "Don't worry. I'm right here," he said reassuringly.

"I...I'm a little scared," she admitted. "You won't tell Lucy about my PTSD, will you?"

"No," he said. "Not unless you tell me it's alright to."

She nodded before looking thoughtful. "I...I guess you can tell her that I have it due to a bad experience and am looking for something to help me with it," she said.

Balan nodded. "Alright then," he said gently before they saw Lucy up ahead and went up to her as she had just finished painting a beautiful picture of a flower in a crystal blue vase and stepped back to see how it came out. "It looks beautiful, Lucy."

The lady turned in surprise before smiling. "Balan!" She said cheerfully. "How are you today?"

"I'm good, thank you, my dear."

Rachel listened to the exchange and she actually liked Lucy's accent. It sounded very pleasant. When the woman turned to her, the girl gasped a little as shyness took over and she took a step back, hiding behind Balan a little. "Oh, and you brought one of your daughters," the woman said.

"Yes. This is Rachel, my eldest child," Balan said before looking at the girl. "It's alright, little one. Come out. Lucy won't hurt you."

The girl nervously stepped out from behind him, still holding his hand. Lucy smiled at her. "Hello, Rachel," she said, her voice kind. "How are you doing today?"

"I'm good, thank you, Miss Lucy," the girl said politely, her voice quiet.

"Just Lucy is fine, dear," the lady said reassuringly, her accent making the girl like her right away. "Now then, what can I do for you two?"

"Well, there is something I'd like to discuss with you, Lucy, and Rachel was curious about trying her hand at art," Balan said. "Is it alright if she explores your studio while we have our talk?"

"Of course!" Lucy said, still smiling before looking at Rachel. "Feel free to experiment, dear. There are many types and styles of art. If you need us, your father and I will be in my office."

Rachel nodded. "Thank you, Lucy," she said before looking at Balan, who nodded and gently kissed her forehead in fatherly affection.

"Go ahead, my dear," he said, smiling.

Nodding again, she let go of his hand and watched them go into the office nearby and the door closed. Taking a deep breath, the teenager began looking around, admiring some of Lucy's paintings before deciding to see if she could paint something. Finding a piece of scrap paper and some paints and a paintbrush, she did a few strokes of paint on the paper, moving the brush around curiously before stopping and shaking her head. She liked the colors, but it didn't feel right. Humming thoughtfully, she put the tops back on the paint bottles, washed the brush off carefully and left the scrap paper to dry. Even though she didn't feel painting was her forte, it didn't seem right to toss away the scrap paper. Shrugging, she let it be as she looked around, coming across some sculpting clay and a book on what it was and how it could be formed into whatever the artist wished.

Curious, she opened the book and browsed through it, intrigued before she looked at the boxes containing the clay and decided to try her hand at it. She saw the clay was divided into large bricks, so she took a brick and decided to work with it and if she had extra left, she'd put the extra back into the box. Putting on a nearby art apron, she began working the clay with her hands before she closed her eyes and then opened them, getting an idea.

An hour later, she had finished and she looked surprised, but then smiled as she was pleased with her finished work. Seeing she still had half a brick of clay left, she looked thoughtful again and got to work, finishing the next statue a bit quicker and she smiled before diving back into the box of clay, hoping Lucy wouldn't mind as she grabbed a larger brick this time and let her hands move while her mind held onto the picture of what she wanted to create.

She had just finished her fifth sculpture when she heard the door open and turned to see it was Cal, the chess champion. "Oh, hello, Rachel," he said with a smile.

"Hello, Cal," she said politely, having met the man earlier in the week when he had been teaching a student how to play chess.

The man noticed the figurines and he looked surprised when he recognized them. "Wow, did you make those?" He asked.

Blushing, she nodded. "They look good," he said. "Are they ready for the oven?"

She nodded. "I was about to ask Lucy if she'd help me with that," he said. "But I think she and Balan are still in a meeting."

"Here," he said. "I can help you with the oven, if that's okay. Because correct me if I'm wrong, but one of those figurines is Lucy, right?"

Rachel's face turned a bit redder, but she nodded, to which Cal chuckled. "Let's not spoil the surprise yet then," he said as he helped her put the figurines in the oven to make sure they set right. Thanks to the oven being really hot, the clay hardened fast and they left the figures in the cooling area to cool off. "Give it about fifteen minutes and they'll be ready to paint," he said.

"Thanks for helping me with them," she said.

"You're welcome," he said. "You've got quite a gift for sculpting. Have you done it before?"

She shook her head. "Today was my first time doing it," she admitted. "But I really like it."

Cal smiled and helped her move the figures to the painting area once they were cooled off. "Are you going to paint them?" He asked.

She nodded before looking thoughtful. "They kind of look like trophies, don't they?" She said.

"Yeah, they do," he said.

Nodding again, the girl got the gold paint bottle and a paintbrush and as Cal watched, the teenager began painting the statues, so concentrated on her work that her tongue stuck out a little bit from her mouth in between her teeth. She didn't even hear Lucy's office door open as Balan and the lady stepped out. Seeing them, Cal motioned them to be quiet and watch.

Lucy was surprised to see what Rachel had made and Balan was also surprised, but smiled as he could see his daughter was really putting herself into it. It wasn't long before all five sculptures were painted gold and the girl set down the brush and paint before stretching a little and smiling at her work. Clapping reached her and she jumped before turning, but sighed in relief at seeing it was just Balan, Lucy, and Cal, who were clapping and smiling at her.

Lucy came closer and smiled. "Looks like you have a talent for sculpting," she said.

"Thank you," Rachel said, looking a bit shy before handing one to her. "This one's for you, as a thank you."

Lucy was stunned to see it was a sculpture in her likeness. She was so touched by the gift that she hugged the teen, who smiled and hugged her back. "Thank you, dear. It's lovely," she said before noticing the other four and then looking at Cal, who smiled. "Did you help her, Cal?"

"Just with the stove," he said. "She did the rest herself."

Balan smiled proudly before seeing his daughter motion him closer and she handed him a statue that was in his likeness. Surprised, but touched, he pulled her into a hug, kissing her forehead as she snuggled into his hug before looking at Lucy.

"Lucy, do you have a sculpting class?" She asked.

"I do, as a matter of fact," the woman said. "You're more than welcome to join."

The teen looked up at the tall being hopefully and he chuckled before nodding. "You may join her class, my dear," he said.

Lucy handed Cal a chess set that she had created from clay and he thanked her before heading out and Lucy placed the other three figurines in a box for Rachel to take with her, sensing they were gifts to the three others they represented. "Here you go, dear," she said. "My class is at four o'clock on Wednesdays and Thursdays here at the studio."

"I'll be there," Rachel promised. "And thank you again, Lucy."

As the teen and Balan headed out, he smiled at his daughter. "How do you feel, my little one?" He asked.

The teen took a deep breath. "I feel pretty good," she said. "I tried putting all my energy into creating these and I think it worked."

He nodded. "I'm glad," he said.

They saw Lance coming in the opposite direction and Rachel gave him the figurine, to which he gave her a surprised look and she looked away shyly, but soon felt a hand gently turn her face to look back at him and he smiled. "Thank you, young one," he said. "It's not often I receive such a thoughtful gift."

Balan smiled. "She's found her niche," he said before they continued on down the hallway.

Midnight and Stardust were surprised when Rachel gave them their statues and they hugged her. "You're so thoughtful, Rachel," the former said.

"And talented," the latter said.

"I'm glad you like them," the teen said, blushing a little.

Balan chuckled before he saw Sana and Emma and the two were laughing happily, which told him that the two had had fun creating and hanging up birdhouses for the birds and then he saw Leo and Attilio walk in, both smiling, which told the tall being that the boy had had fun helping out the man who owned the amusement park.

That night, the siblings told each other what had happened and they were all giggling over a funny story from Leo when Balan came in. "I'm glad you all had a good day," he said, smiling.

They nodded. "We did," Emma said before a yawn escaped her. Leo also yawned and the two younger teens said goodnight to their sister and the tall being before heading to their rooms, where Balan tucked them in, kissing their foreheads in fatherly affection as they fell asleep. Rachel settled down in her bed as the maestro came into her room.

"Did you take your herbs, my dear?" He asked.

"Yes, Balan," she said as he tucked her in, giving her a fatherly kiss on the forehead.

"Alright then," he said. "Good night, little one. Sweet dreams."

"Night, Balan," she said before falling asleep.

Balan went to his office to take care of a few last minute things when Lance appeared and the maestro of Positivity looked up at him as the tendriled being held up a file. "I took a look into something that concerns Rachel," the maestro of Negativity said. "I overheard you, Midnight, and the girl when she had that flashback."

The tall being nodded and stood up. "What did you find?" He asked.

"It seems after hearing the neighbors' stories about how Rachel's father abused her, they took a deeper look into him and he was in a lot of debt and owned a lot of weapons," Lance replied. "They deemed that the knife had been thrown, but there was a bullet in the handle of the knife."

"Which backs up Rachel's story on him shooting at her and the bullet hit the knife handle, causing her to throw it in fear that she had been hit by the bullet," Balan realized.

The tendriled being nodded. "A judge ruled that in Rachel's favor, saying it was self defense and get this, there were cameras in the house and one was in the kitchen where the scenario happened. It showed everything."

The maestro of Positivity looked up at him. "The case is closed then?" He asked. "She doesn't have to worry about it?"

Lance shook his head and gave him the file. "Eis was kind enough to get this for me from the police captain, who agreed that it might give Rachel some closure and perhaps help with the nightmares and flashbacks."

Balan accepted it. "Thank you, Lance," he said. "I'll tell her in the morning."

Nodding, the maestro of Negativity headed off for bed and the maestro of Positivity did the same, both falling asleep fast while their gifts from Rachel stood proudly on their bookshelves.

Looks like the kids have settled in well and Rachel has found a hobby she can really get into. How will she take the news of what the judge ruled? Stay tuned to find out. :)

And please leave a review, but no flames!

GoldGuardian2418