Mediator Mom
By: ChocolateEclar
Disclaimer: I don't own anything that has to do with the Mediator Series by Meg Cabot/Jenny Carroll, including Jesse (please?), Suze, Paul, Father D, CeeCee, Adam, etc.
Claimer: I fully own Shaun, Charisma, Carmen "Carmenita" De Silva, Rosalinda "Rosie" De Silva and her pets, Tobias "Toby" De Silva, Jacob "Jaco" De Silva and his dog Hiei, and Dominique "Unique" De Silva. I also own the plot. I may not own the fact that Jesse has five sisters (ages 6-16 when he died), but I do own who the five girls are – i.e. their personalities and names. In short, I also own Juanita "Nita" De Silva, Estefana De Silva, Felicidad "Felly" De Silva, Dolores "Dolly" De Silva, and most of all Carmen De Silva.
To Sweetest Reject: You're free to use Fred. (laughs) Thanks for reviewing.
To Pens in potatoes, Allimba, & doodilydoo: Thanks for reviewing!
To UnangelicHalo: I didn't update while you were gone, so you haven't missed anything. (laughs) Thanks for the review.
To Gen. Kenobi: Dorklove! (laughs) Sorry I haven't updated in awhile. Billowy, ruffled shirt vs. sexy colonial waistcoat? Who would win? Hehe. Thanks for reviewing.
To Clavel: I didn't forget Toby this time! Yay! Well, I did last time. Good catch. Thanks for the review.
To Sarah: The mighty Chocolate... I like that. (laughs) Cliffies are my…thing, if you will. I know readers hate them, but I love writing them and seeing people's reactions. Hehe. Thanks for reviewing!
To JesseLover20: Hmmm… Antonio... I'll think about it. I like that one… Thanks for the review and suggestion!
To Lauren: I don't want you to be sad and stuff. (laughs) I've never been called Chocolate Lady before. I'm only 14. (chuckles) Thanks for the review.
A/N: Sorry! Gomen! Lo siento! I'm just so sorry, guys. I had writers' block, and then school started, and then I had a blasted cold! I'm back though! I hope you like this chapter.
Chapter 9: Together
The house was very calm as I searched it. It was quaint, and, except for the upturned chairs and fallen shelves, it looked like no one had lived in it for quite some time. The mess was probably from the struggle with the shadow ghosts I realized. That worried me.
Pase told me one of them was left, but whom? And then, I heard it, the faint rustle in one of the rooms. I was out in a long hallway with my skirts brushing the floor. I lightly bumped the door inwards and poked my head inside.
Lying in wait on the floor just beyond the door was a wraithlike shadow. It leaped at me as I jumped backwards. I tripped on my dress and landed on my butt. Damn!
I reached behind me to get back to my feet – just as someone shouted, "Darkness abate and return to thy origin. Pray thou shan't hunt again until safety is in reach. Be gone now!"
I scrambled to get up as the shadow ghosts vanished. Panting slightly, Toby was standing to my right. He looked very much like Jesse there, but shorter and green-eyed.
"Hey, Mom," he said, looking slightly pained.
"Toby!" I hugged him. It was so good to know that I had at least found one of my family members. He was in a loose white shirt and breeches. It made him look older, and yet, by the vulnerable glint in his eyes, I knew he felt very small.
"What happened?" I asked.
"When were attacked, I was locked outside by the shadow ghosts," Toby began, running a hand through his hair.
"Why were you outside?" I queried.
Looking guilty, Toby admitted, "I was feeling claustrophobic."
"Oh," I mumbled. Duh. I should have known. Toby has been like that since he was little. He hates small spaces and being cooped up in a house for too long. At first, he would sneak outside through the backdoor until Jesse waited by the door for him to come inside one time – and naturally scared the heck out of Toby. After an explanation, we let Toby out freely.
"So, when you finally got inside…?" I sighed.
"Everyone was gone," finished Toby.
"C'mon," I said. "Let's eat and discuss what we have to do."
Toby nodded, mutely. I didn't blame him. I felt like curling up and crying for my family, but atleast we had each other.
There was a fresh loaf of bread on the table in the little kitchen that Toby explained Shaun had snitched. "It was for our good though," defended Toby. "We didn't have any money that would work here and…"
Nodding, I took the bread and tore it into two pieces. Heck, I was so hungry I didn't care where the food had come from. I handed Toby one piece as I paced the room. He wearily sat at the worn wooden table in the center of the room, while we both munched on the bread.
Jesse…
I winced and tried to put away the thought.
Where was he? Were any of the children with him? They had to be for him – just a mediator – to have gone through time, right?
"What are we going to do?" asked Toby, looking at the floor, when we were both finished eating.
"Well, we're going to have to see if you're like Unique and Shaun," I replied.
"A shifter?" Toby questioned skeptically.
"Yeah," I answered. "Do you remember what Shaun said to get you all here?"
"Oh yeah!" Toby exclaimed. "But I doubt I'm a shifter."
"Don't doubt. Believe," I said in a deep voice, laughing.
Toby, who knew that I was in no disposition for his moods at the moment, reluctantly stood up and recited, "Time hast cometh for change. Let the passage of time take us to a new place – "
"Wait!" I shouted. The sudden wind that had picked up in the room vanished instantly, setting down my hair. "We don't know where to even go to look for them."
"Oh," Toby mumbled sheepishly. "Well, maybe they left a clue."
That was why we spent the next two hours searching through the big house, seeking out some kind of indication of the whereabouts of any of the others. Finally, I found it in the basement in the form of a hurriedly written note…from Jesse.
Susannah,
I have no doubt you will find this. Shaun Slater told me you were in good health and, as always, that means you will not be far behind us, querida. I believe Shaun, Rosalinda, and Carmenita are safe together in another time. As long as Carmenita can keep her thoughts about Shaun to herself that is.
I am with the younger two. Dominique is sending us to the royal palace in Ancient Egypt 2600 B.C. Apparently, she has been there several times before.
My time writing this is over. Jacob, Dominique, and I send our love for you, querida.
Love,
Jesse
My heart, which had been feeling pained all along, now, felt like it would just stop beating. "Jesse…" I whispered.
"Mom, did you find…?" trailed off Toby at the look on my face. I must have seemed ready to cry to my chagrin, so Toby came closer and hugged me.
Letting a few stray tears fall, I handed Toby the letter written on a bit of old parchment. After awhile, he said, "They're safe then."
"Yeah," I agreed.
"Then, isn't that what counts? And now, we can find them," Toby said. His excitement was contagious.
"Let's go," I said with a smile.
"We won't really fit in Ancient Egypt with these clothes," he pointed out.
"We'll have to steal them like in those time travel movies," I laughed.
Laughing too, Toby grinned and began to chant again. "Time hast cometh for change. Let the passage of time take us to a new place in thy flow. Bring us forth to Egypt in the year 2600 B.C!"
That strange wind picked up around us as I grabbed Toby's hand. We had to stick together.
The last thing I heard before we were sailing through the tunnel was, "I really am a shifter! Cool!" Underneath it all, he's a typical teenage boy all right.
We went flying through that darkness. It was hard to tell the difference, but I knew something else was with us. Toby didn't seem to notice – too pleased that he had helped us.
But it was there. I realized what it was when it sprung onto our locked hands. It was inky black and strong in the colored glow of the walls of the tunnel
"Get off of me!" snapped Toby.
"Just don't let go!" I hollered. Damn shadow ghosts. I just want my family back, you freaks!
"Darkness abate and return to – " began Toby before the shadows reared up and clamped over his mouth. "Mmph!" Toby yelped, struggling.
"Darkness abate and return to thy origin," I whispered hurriedly. The shadows couldn't hear me. Good. "Pray thou shan't hunt again until safety is in reach. Be gone now!"
The ghosts vanished in a swirl of shadows, and Toby panted, trying to regain his breath. "Thanks…" he gasped.
I nodded as the tunnel began to end. We were flung out of it and into a stone corridor. I could hear the distant clump of footsteps around the corner.
"Someone's coming," muttered Toby. We both scrambled behind a pillar as a boy of around ten-years-old appeared, carrying a small torch. He had long, black hair and sun-darkened skin. He passed us by without seeing us and went down the hallway. When he was out of sight, we began to follow him on tiptoe. I had to bunch up my stupid skirts in my fists to keep them from rustling on the stone floor, while Toby nervously trailed behind me.
We both peeked around a corner and found ourselves in a bizarre, glittering room. It was huge and held up by stone pillars embellished in little winking jewels along the top and bottom. Candles on tall metal bases lined the walls, bathing the room in a warm glow. It was pretty really. What really had my attention though was Unique.
She was talking to the boy. What was odd was they both were robed in a beige material with gold bands on their feet and wrists.
"You don't understand!" hissed the boy. It surprised me he was speaking English really. I don't know how I knew, but it seemed like he usually spoke in a language very different. He had very brown eyes that pleaded with Unique.
"What don't I understand?" Unique snapped back. "I can take you back to the present with us when this is all over!"
"No!" riposted the boy. "I don't have the Time Ruler's token anymore! I can't go back without getting killed!"
"No, you won't! I know how to take you back! You'll die if you stay!" Unique growled. What the heck were they arguing about? The candles along the walls flickered then, simultaneously.
"You must go back!" the boy whispered sharply, grabbing Unique's wrist. It wasn't the broken one – which was bandaged up in tight brown cloth. The ring around her good wrist was loose and jingled at the sudden movement. "They're coming for you and your father and brother! They want you back in your time so you don't meddle in others and stop their pursuit of your family."
"No, I can't leave. I –"And then, Unique's eyes became very large. Shadows were stalking towards them. Long and menacing, they ran across the floor with seemingly nothing leading them. I could see them glide towards Unique's own shadow.
The boy grabbed a chain at Unique's neck that I hadn't noticed tucked in her dress and whispered, "Go with your family. The shadows' master knows you're here. When you return to the present, give that to my mother." Attached to the chain was a set of silver dog tags. What the heck was going on? Who was this kid?
It was then that the shadows latched onto both kids' ankles. "Ah!" screamed Unique. I knew I had to act then. "Darkness abate and return to thy origin," I yelled. "Pray thou shan't hunt again until safety is in reach. Be gone now!"
Unique and the boy fell to their feet as Toby and I rushed to them. "Mamá!" shrieked Unique, clambering to her bare feet. "Toby!"
The boy stood up slowly, as if not sure if we were to be trusted. I couldn't blame him.
"You came! Papá said you would, and he was right!" Unique exclaimed, bouncing up and down.
"Where are your papa and Jaco anyway?" I asked as Unique went to hug Toby too.
"I had to hide them in my room," Unique explained. "They'd be killed otherwise for being in the palace. I've been here enough times that I'm considered an orphan that works here."
"I need to see them," I insisted.
Nodding, Unique took my hand. "C'mon. It's not too far. Oh! And this is Con," she added, indicating the boy.
"Con?" asked Toby.
"Short for Constant normally," replied the boy. "But here it's short for Kontar, means "only son." I picked it as a joke before I was stuck here."
Stuck here? Then…Where was this kid from? He seemed to know quite a bit about the shadow ghosts and us.
"Con is a shifter too. He's been stuck in this time for six months because he lost his pendant from Pase," sighed Unique in response to Toby and my puzzled faces.
"More like it was stolen, and by the guards here!" grumbled Con.
"I told you we'll help you!" hissed Unique as if she had done that a hundred times. She probably had, knowing the many times she had disappeared. "Now, let's go see Papá and Jaco," she added, turning away from Con.
Con made a face and said, "Don't worry about me. Later!"
He certainly sounded like someone from the present. The six months had darkened his skin a lot if the way his bare feet were crisscrossed with sandal lines was any indication. He had probably been a very pale, shy boy back home. Now, he was very dark and longhaired.
I had other things to think about right then though.
Like Jesse and Jaco.
I HAD TO SEE JESSE!
A/N: Once again, sorry! I don't know if I like this chapter that much, but I left you guys hanging long enough, so here it is… PLEASE REVIEW!
