Chapter Ten:

Chapter Ten:

The Present

Chime stared up at the ceiling. She had managed to sleep for an hour or so but after that sleep had evaded her. For the rest of the passed several hours she had laid in bed, staring at the ceiling and thinking. Replaying the dream in her mind, seeing Rayne smile. She missed that smile so much. A stereo in the corner of her new room played a quiet song, classical, and she had figured that it would have knocked her right out. Nothing had worked though for she was still wide awake.

And jumpy. The young woman downstairs had the answers she longed for in the palm of her hand. She could find Rayne, maybe even wake him for her. And if she couldn't Chime would always have him close to her. Always. Just to touch him would be enough. She missed the soulmate link almost as much as she missed him. But even after hundreds upon hundreds of years, time had done little to wipe the sparks of the silver bond. She still felt it, deep inside, but she wanted to experience it, refresh her memory.

She wanted to laugh. And cry. After so many years she wanted to cry with joy. She had gone far too long without crying in sorrow.

The red bulb in the corner of her room began to blink.

She turned her head across her bent arms and stared at it blankly for a moment, visions of dreamland still swirling all around her in pastel colors and amber hues. Then the full meaning of the bulb slammed into her like a truck and she dived toward the side, landing on her arms along the floor, legs still on the bed. She scrambled to her feet frantically and staggered toward the light, wide-eyed.

It wasn't blinking. Really, it wasn't. It couldn't be. Chime shut her eyes tightly then opened them again, sure that the horrible red light would be off. But the bulb continued to blink.

They had found her. The Night World had found her and she had led them straight to one of Thierry's best kept secrets. Not only was she going to die but so was that sweet innocent child, Iliana, and the world with her at the Millennium. All because she had wanted to find her soulmate. She had endangered her friends because of her fascination with a sleeping dragon.

The bulb went off.

She blinked. And blinked again. Then she pulled her head back in confusion, staring at the bulb as if expecting it to flare up again with light. And when it didn't she said, "Huh?" and with an impatient snicker, darted toward the door and yanked it open.

Across the hallway from her Thea had obviously done the same thing, face pale. She was peeking out her door cautiously, eyes roaming the hallway.

"What the hell?" Chime demanded.

A faint cry sounded from the main floor of the mansion. Soft and weak sounding. Chime looked at Thea, a frown crossing her face and she felt herself slowly shift into a protective stance, taking a single step out of the room.

"I need some help…" a high feminine voice called and Chime floated toward the staircase, footsteps silent. A soft sound behind her was enough to let her know that Thea was following as gently as possible, careful not to make noise.

A second voice was speaking now, and her tone was calm although it sounded a bit ticked. "Oh, don't be such a baby, Winnie."

"Help. Someone help." The first voice called again, weakly.

Chime paused at the end of the hallway where the landing let out onto the staircase. Galen was coming down the opposite staircase and he smiled toward Chime and Thea teasingly. "Did the red light scare you?" he asked with a wicked grin.

Chime arched an eyebrow and peeked around the corner toward the front of the mansion, toward the entrance. Two women were there, surrounded by bags upon bags of groceries.

And the first voice, coming from the mouth of a red-curled young woman, was still calling for help. "So many bags of groceries…someone help…" she whimpered miserably, hands hanging limp at her sides in hopelessness.

Thea laughed and motioned toward the woman pleading. "That's Winnie. She's a witch. And the other girl with her is Nissa. Vampire."

Nissa, a woman with shimmering brown hair was throwing Winnie a look of exasperation. "Give me a break, Winnie." She sighed wearily and she bent over, easily lifting four of the overflowing grocery bags into her hands. Shaking her head she turned and headed off for a room toward her left.

"Oh, my poor human body…" Winnie called after her plaintively. She grinned at Galen as he met her at the door and then her blue eyes caught on Chime and she stopped dead in her games.

"Hi, Winnie!" Thea called loudly, brushing by Chime and hopping down the staircase in a flurry of blond and white.

Winnie was still gaping at Chime. "Hi…uh, Thea." She mumbled uncertainly, blinking and looking toward the blond witch. "You got here already." She said dumbly. She allowed Thea to hug her and she wrapped her arms slowly around Thea's frame.

"Yup. A few hours ago, actually." Thea said with a bouncy nod. She turned in Winnie's arms and motioned wildly. "Hey, Chime! Come here!"

Chime realized she didn't want to. Winnie had seemed like a nice person earlier, with her deep blue eyes and wild red curls hanging around her chin but once she had set here eyes on Chime the friendliness had faded away. There was nothing of the happy person left.

"Chime." Thea persisted.

Chime sighed inwardly and slowly descended, feeling her stomach tighten into a knot, tongue sticking to the roof of her mouth. This was going to prove to be quite a show.

"Winfrith Arlin," Galen was saying formally, "Meet Chime…Chime…" he paused and cocked his head at her. "Uh, Chime what?" he asked, standing beside Winnie's frozen figure.

For a second Chime seriously couldn't remember. "Devlin. Chime Devlin." She answered, coming to a stop before the group of Daybreakers. "Nice to meet you, Winnie."

Winnie took the hand that was extended to her and shook it half-heartedly, the shock slowly slipping into suspicion. She remained wordless, pulling away after a moment.

Chime pulled back also. A witch. Winfrith Arlin was a witch. Strike One. And from what Thea had told her on the plane, a witch who had just recently battled a weakened dragon who had gone after Iliana. Strike Two. And now she was going to ask them for help?

"Foul ball?" Chime mumbled to herself thoughtfully, unaware that she had spoken aloud.

"I beg your pardon?" Winnie asked and she was no longer merely suspicious. She was reverting, face darkening.

Chime blinked. "Nothing. Nothing at all. Just…talking to…myself." She answered uncertainly, gesturing futilely.

Winnie arched an eyebrow.

A footstep scraped and Nissa was back. "Wow, Win. You're helping me so much. Thanks." She said in a wry tone, returning empty-handed. She paused as she caught sight of Chime.

"Nissa." Thea said quickly and Chime realized the blond witch was aware of the discomfort and awkwardness between herself and Winnie. "Meet Chime!" she was saying. "Chime, that's Nissa."

Nissa came forward, almost floating, and she held out a lean arm. "The dragon, right?" she asked as Chime shook her hand. And then without waiting for an answer, "Welcome aboard."

"Thanks." Chime smiled in relief, shaking the tall vampire's hand and studying her. Nissa seemed cool, collected. Chime would bet that she would keep her head in hot water. "Uh," she said, looking at the bags of groceries, "need some help?"

"Yes." Nissa nodded.

At the same time that Winnie answered, "No." loudly.

Chime hesitated, feeling awkwardness descend once more.

Nissa blinked at Winnie and then turned a forced smile on Chime. "No, I guess not." She corrected herself quietly as Winnie picked up two bags. She seemed to have quit complaining about her frail human body. Nissa picked up the remaining three bags and gazed at the red-curled witch. "Winnie. A word with you in the kitchen?" she asked cautiously.

Winnie nodded curtly. "Of course." She said smoothly.

Galen smiled at Chime and Thea as Nissa turned and began to move back toward the kitchen. "I'm going to join them. We'll see you guys later?" he asked as Winnie marched off wordlessly.

"Uh, yeah. Sure." Thea said, less than excited.

Chime looked at her, feeling sad. Then she watched as Galen went off after Winnie and Nissa. She remained gazing after them, sucking on the insides of her cheeks awkwardly. And out of the corner of her eye she noticed Thea was staring at her curiously.

"They don't want me here, Thea." She said softly. She held up a hand to silence the witch's protestations. "I'm thinking this was a bad idea anyway. We should just forget this."

"No!" Thea said emotionally before clamping her mouth shut and merely saying, "No." firmly. "It's just that…they're nervous, Chime. Come on-" she motioned over her shoulder vaguely.

Chime shook her head. "You should just go home. I dragged you into this and it was a big mistake-"

Iliana's voice came from the staircase. "What are you guys talking about?" she asked and when they whirled there was a hurt expression on her face. There was no need for the question. The Witch Child seemed to have an idea what they had been conversing over.

Thea looked at Chime innocently.

Chime narrowed her eyes at the witch. Oh, sure. Make me say it, she thought with a smirk. She looked back at Iliana. "Uh…we were just talking because I was…well-"

"You were changing your mind. About asking for my help." Iliana stated, letting her sentence hang in the air.

Chime swallowed, feeling lower than dirt for some reason. "Basically…" she said, scratching the back of her neck.

Iliana came down a step. "Why?"

Thea was still looking at Chime, hands clasped before her. She arched an eyebrow and motioned, and damn it all, if the girl didn't look more like Hellewise than ever. Right down to the mischievous glint she exhibited when no one but Chime was in her presence. Chime found herself scowling at the witch before turning back to Iliana. "It's too big a thing to ask you to do." She said finally. "I mean, you're the Witch Child. The Legendary Witch Child. And look at your security-"

"It's Winnie." Iliana nodded, obviously shoving aside Chime's excuses. "Winnie is against your being here."

Chime blinked at her momentarily, stupefied and then she chuckled, bowing her head. These days she was just talking to herself. No one else seemed to pay attention to her.

Iliana plopped down on the staircase steps with a sigh and she set her elbows on her knees, dropping her head into her hands. "I knew this would happen." She said, fingers indenting her cheeks and making her look even younger than she already did. She resembled a child who had been punished and was now making up for it with boredom. "Really, I did." She groaned.

Thea moved forward, seating herself beside the Witch Child, pulling her skirt away from her legs to avoid wrinkling the smooth folds of the material. After a moment Chime floated over, awkwardly.

"It's because of Azhdeha." Iliana was saying, still murmuring almost sleepily. "But, Chime isn't like Azhdeha. I mean, you can't feel it, the anger, from her." She looked up at Chime, speaking toward Thea but Chime doubted she even remembered Thea was beside her. Her purple eyes were narrowed thoughtfully as she studied Chime in unabashed interest. "All you feel is…is…"

Thea was also gazing at Chime and Iliana's lazy bug seemed to have been transferred to the witch for she mumbled, "Longing…" wistfully.

Iliana blinked, suddenly returning to the land of the living and she nodded. "That's it. That's exactly what it is." She whispered.

Chime said nothing, merely looking at the witches peacefully.

The Witch Child shrugged, breaking out of her reverie and then getting down to business. "So, tell me then. Tell me all. And tell me what you need me to do."

Thea smiled at Chime, straightening a bit and then she looked at Iliana mischievously.

"Resting place of dragons." Iliana murmured thoughtfully. She shook her head at Chime, silver-blond hair floating around her face. "They're not all resting in one place, I can tell you that much. I spoke a bit with the Mother after the Crone died." She said, casting a quick glance at Thea as well.

Chime lifted her blue gaze toward Iliana slowly. "The Mother?" she asked slowly, face darkening.

Iliana blinked.

Thea placed a hand on Iliana's wrist. "The Mother wants Chime. She knows that she's a dragon and that she's awake." She explained quietly.

Iliana looked from Thea to Chime and her eyes were wide in disbelief. "Really?" she asked.

Chime shrugged and then nodded to her. "You were saying?" she persisted.

Iliana brought her eyebrows back down from her hairline. "Uh, yeah. The resting place. The Royal House was in what was Persia, back in the day. And I know if you search for dragons there you'll find some. But only the witches knew this information. The Night World came across it somehow and raised one of them."

"Azhdeha." Chime nodded in understanding. She paused thoughtfully. "The name is actually quite familiar." She murmured to herself, speaking aloud, "A Royal Guard perhaps." She shrugged again.

"Well, whatever the case," Iliana continued, "I know that the Witches have a list of all dragons asleep, name for name, starting with what was their current Prince." Iliana wiggled her eyebrows suddenly, looking far too mischievous for her own good. "I can find out about your soulmate, where he is. Maybe he was moved while you slept…"

"Persia." Chime whispered, breaking off. Then her eyes closed and she lifted a hand to her forehead. "I'm such a fool. No wonder none of this ever looked familiar."

Thea blinked at her in confusion. "What?"

Chime looked at her and realized that the two witches were staring at her as if she had grown another horn, this one from her forehead. "If the Royal House was in Persia, that's also where I'm from, the place I considered my home." She shook her head, "Cassandra…she must've…" she stopped and exhaled. "It never occurred to me that I was moved while I was asleep. I was always searching the area close to where I woke and it's no damn wonder I never found anything. It never occurred to me that I was really far off. It should have…"

Iliana was nodding. "I can talk to the Mother. Discreetly ask about the dragons. Ask for the scrolls to be returned so that I can look through them."

Chime remained silent, lost in thought. She chewed on her lip, staring at the floor blankly but her eyes flickered.

Thea nodded with Iliana. "Sounds good. We can find Rayne on the list, see where he's buried or hidden-"

"The Mother knows I'm here." Chime whispered faintly.

Iliana and Thea both broke off and looked at her.

Chime started up again, this time in a stronger tone. "The vampire and his companion in the airport. The Mother knows I'm here." She began to tap her knee in thought, unaware of the strange looks she was receiving. "I bet if you ask to see the scrolls she will ship them right over."

Iliana and Thea looked lost.

But Chime was growing excited. "Goddess, that's it." She murmured. "They won't get me here because attacking me while I'm here would be a direct violation of Daybreak rule. It would be an act of War to attack me in the House of the Witch Child. And they failed in the airport." She smiled, looking at Iliana and her gaze was clear. "They'll give you the scrolls if you ask for them."

"Why do you say that?" Thea asked with a frown.

But Iliana's face was registering understanding. "Once you find where Rayne lies they'll be there, beat you to the punch line. They'll probably be monitoring you and already be there when you get there." She whispered.

"Bingo." Chime sang.

Thea's face saddened as she caught on. "Oh…" she uttered and she looked at Chime. "I'm so sorry, Chime." She glanced at Iliana as the Witch Child looked at her but quickly looked back to Chime. "But we have to do this. We have to!" she said adamantly, clenching tiny fists.

Chime and Iliana looked at her with arched eyebrows.

"You're more eager than I am." Chime said jokingly and she felt better when Thea smiled shyly.

"I'll ask anyway." Iliana stated. "I'll ask to see the scrolls, see what I find out. And hopefully, when you go looking for him you'll look like someone else and they won't think you're you." She shrugged. And then she frowned. "Did that make sense? That was a lot of you's. I feel dizzy…"

"We're going to do this." Thea said, still on her kick of determination. Then she nodded firmly. "After I sleep. I am beat!"

Chime laughed and realized she had to agree. "Sounds good." She said. She looked up toward the second floor landing. "Maybe I can unscrew that red bulb in my room…"