Here is another chapter…

The boom rolled across the valley, announcing the start of what the brooding cloud layer had promised since dawn. The boughs of the trees swayed in the strengthening gust, surrendering their fall leaves without a fight. It was a dark and stormy night and the rain fell in torrents except at occasional intervals when it was checked by a violent gust of wind. We had no choice but to bunker down for the night, It was a cave mouth of impenetrable blackness, as I stepped in I watched my shadow dissolve into the surrounding darkness. It was dank and the only sound was the dripping water.

I raised my hand and the broken branch's piled themselves in a pile as Warren lit them, the cave glowed now as the wind was tearing everything up. "We need to block the entrance," he was right my body moving closer to it, feeling the power of the storm outside.

I was tired but let my power roam like small snakes slithering over my arms as soon enough smaller trees grew in a perfect line, thick enough to block the storm out for now. "Nice work, the horses are resting and feeding. Now we eat and rest as soon as day breaks we ride again," the cave was growing warm, the rock behind us was dry now as he flamethrower it so the horses and us could rest, drained my body gives and crashes to the floor wanting to sleep. He just covered me and slid down alongside me handing me some bread and dried meat, "Thanks,"

I was hungry and never seemed to eat enough, and money was not a thing we had a lot of. Only used when necessary now, I curled into him both of us warm but not being alone was worth cuddling with him as I was the first to drift off with growing worry.

Daybreak and the storm had passed but we knew we see the storm again as we rode, I talked to Warren. "small settlement on the River Wisla. However, it didn't grow into a town until the 14th century. In 1413 Warsaw became the capital of the Duchy of Mazovia," I knew the Stronghold family history as much as my own, and we have no blood relations.

Grimacing, "Good they will not be hard to find," agreeing. "No, and not because that, they are show-offs during this time. Pretty sure they're the very first of us along with your mother's family and mine," I knew him, and knew what was coming even when he tried to keep his trap shut.

"Oh right, because they in no way are show-offs in our time,"

I could deny it, but I defend them. "Get over it," it grew cold and then warmer as we traveled, we slowed only when the horses need water or rest. We walk and they walked beside us eating apples from trees we refused to halt time was not on our side.

He told jokes and told me stories. "Lucie was a charmer, very beautiful too, she looked like my mother and her sister. I loathed Kai before her, but she went to Hawthorne, your age too. She was popular and had power and that drawls Kai in, I protested and so did my Aunt when they started dating. But we saw it heading downhill faster and faster, she was scared. I got the call while in New Orleans' that she left him, she begged me to come home cause she was scared. I was on my Ninja heading home since no flights until the next night and it was hours away, got the text they found her body torn, like a wild animal got to her," I stopped pulling him into a hug, I remember that day my Uncle came and hugged Layla and me so tight.

I continued to talk letting him mourn, "I remember that day, my Uncle the Commander came to my Aunts and hugged Layla and me so tight, I thought he kill us. He was crying, Aunt Josie took him home after and I didn't see him for two days but Will said whatever he saw and took care of tore a part of him. Kai had already been talking to me since I was new, he knew who I came from, my power, and who my dad was. Kai, well he is sick he gets off on fear and for him, it's better if he inflicts anything to cause that fear," I wanted to drop this.

And his question was why "Has he hurt you?"

"I rather this never came up, surprised it took this long. Before we left days ago when bathing I was glad you didn't peek, I mean I would have known if you had. I am okay with being a virgin, marriage and all that jazz. Don't give me that smile, god. He got so upset once he cut me from my color bone to hip, nice purple scar, that was days before I changed schools and left him," I tried to keep my tone light but the memory was trying to bubble up when a snap was heard and Warren turned to grab the smiling boy.

My heart exploded, "My fellow travelers, but seems to this one you have traveled farther than me. My name is Gino, I hail from Spain my presence was asked for in Poland for Queen Jadwiga of Poland," beaming at us even feet off the ground as I smacked Warren. "Drop Gino," he did like a wet sack as I helped him to his feet before touching his face.

Grinning, "I have followed you, not him. My lady, something about your drawls me much like my voice to others," yup, in these times Vic's family had a charm speak or the first hero of them.

I laughed and Warren took over, "Finally some luck, listen to you skinny oddball. You are following her because you're descended in hundreds of years gave her a kidney, so she is connected to you. We have come hundreds of years in the past to save our families, and yours, your kin is her best friend and a great evil wants your family cleaned out," I would have been kinder to Vic's family.

Something was wrong his face paled and crumbled, "I am the last, the plague took them a year ago,"

My eyes turn to Peace, "Best we keep the joker close, but not to close," shoving him from my side. He traveled and knew many languages, and dreamed of traveling to America and that was good, he is safe there but from what I knew he took a wife with him. "How long?" I asked as Warren gave me a look. "I don't have GPS, go back to chatting," someone was pissy.

"Hours," Gino chimed in as he pulled a pipe out and stuffed herbs into it, it smelled like weed as I bolted away from him and into Peace. "A stoner in every timeline," was muttered as we walked into a small village, it was fairytale worthy everyone was all smiles and laughter.

We are greeted and welcomed, Gino asked. "We need a meal," his tone was directed to her alone and she offered us a meal, Warren and Gino sit to eat as I nibbled on cheese, which tasted so creamy and fresh.

I leave them heading back outside, seeing a man a beefy man with no top on, his skin so white and pasty looking. He muttered something before crushing a bolder between his hands, my Uncle's kin with flaming red hair like Layla. I walked up to him, "English?"

"Aye,"

I held my hand out and a small boulder shot into it, I crushed it making him smile. "Talk now,"

"Aye, Sara comes," a beautiful girl with pale brown hair took his hand her voice low. "I am from England, how to help you?" but no words can be said when I am knocked to my knees. Kai never liked even odds. Playing fair was for idiots. He placed his boys in strategic positions, I got to my feet with he girls help. "Those men want to kill your family; I am your kin. I came from hundreds of years in the future to save our family," my eyes glowing with power seeing rage real hot rage burning in his yellow eyes. He spoke in his native tongue as men emerged from the inn, stands, and the houses.

"ZNISZCZ ICH," an old-world cry as the clans clashed, Kai was coming right at me, but Sara just shoves me back and a glowing shield stand in front of her. "PEACE WE HAVE COMPANY," and like that he smashed the wooden door like a fucking freight train, I grab the girl and drag her away noticing a bump on her belly. "Stay put, Gino, watch her,"

It was a battlefield.

I fight the fight, I was thinking of looking at Kai, he never planned this out he rushed into this plan head-on. The shadows are already dissolving into the nighttime darkness when I hear a footfall only two meters behind me. In this area, there are only two people who could get so close to me without detection and I know one wants me dead. It wasn't my fault Kai loved me, that he chose to go on this adventure and forced us to tag along to battle him in time. I stop, he must have too. The fight will be on and only one of us gets to walk away - or perhaps neither.

I move and so does he, I snap. "I hate you, you killed a Lucie. You are trying and failing to,"

His face slacked, "I am after you and Peace now, I will kill him and I will have you," his plan changes, I sensed no lie. "Every family has been warned, so best come up with a new one and soon. Your men if you challenged those mean ass Norse Viking will die," intensifying his anger.

He smiled, "I already have Bexley babe, I have someone killing them all as we speak. I figured Warren would follow me, never thought you would. We will once again return home, and all you hold dear will be gone," oh no he wasn't lying.

"But Warren has to die here and now,"

His angry voice echoed, "Than bring it," Warren moved in front of me.

But neither attacked as Kai was nailed with a tree, Gino was riding on Gunners back as if he was riding into battle. "KILL HIM NOW," but I latched on to Kai. "Finally got your power," in a bellow of rage his men pulled him before they all vanished.

This is what that tiny human happy meal destroyer meant; he changed his original plans. I asked, 'What did the happy meal destroyer say to you in private? She alerted me Kai would change his plans to focus on us, that once he did that all the families would be safe,"

He was smoking the now graying smoke was slowly starting to disappear. "That we will be here a long time, that everything we thought will change. That Kai is going into hiding because he has to re-charge to come at us in a few months. He came by a stone, it drains him to be here and to try and take us he needs rest,"

We have a few months. Smiling, "Good, we need to talk about what we learned in school. And Gino is coming with because I feel he should be with us,"

I nabbed Gino before we too walked into the black mist.

This was the way to go, it wasn't horrible but it felt wrong, evil. Warren looked unhappy when we walked from the mist seeing what we are calling home. It was such a small village it was rustic and warm even we walked together; my body close to Warren's. "Are you okay?" returning home I feel like a tortoise retracting into her shell. The troubles of the world evaporating. To anyone else, this is a house like all the others exactly like it in the village, but to me, it is a sanctuary, it is a cocoon, it is rest.

A small smile was all I got before his kin rushed us making Gino scream, "This is Warren's family, I'm sure you're meant to be here with us. But where will he sleep," Warren pointed to a small house. "It is for a guest, and Gino is as such," Daro and Wirich are the first to us as Warren spoke in grunted Austrian but Gino smiled in understanding.

He spoke his own accent thick, "I am welcomed, thinking this is good," but his eyes are not on me but behind me, turning and seeing Mina guess she would be a cousin to Warren in our time but here a distant cousin. "That tis Mina," my hand waving to her but it was Wiklow who jumps into my arms. We've been gone rather long and he was excited we returned.

My heart, never really desiring a child but being around Wiklow was sparking something in me. This is such a different era, a different time and my views have changed on many issues. Willo was holding a small bundle, a baby, I never knew she was with child and felt terrible as I rushed her smiling.

"Baby Ambala," a female, the Peace line is nearly all male and no female for hundreds of years, but I say nothing as I take Ambala into my free arm, Wiklow was not giving his spot up. Tiny fingers curl around my pinky. I watch the newborn peer through brand new eyes at what must be such a strange world afterlife in the womb. Her legs kick in a tiny jagged motion, looking for that resistance they are used to I guess, but finding nothing but air. I wonder if that's unsettling or relief, it must have been pretty cramped in there. When she stretches her hands barely rise above her head and I think of how strange we'd all look if we kept those body proportions as we grew. "You look good holding kids, but here I am scared you'll yeet them. We need to rest after the battle, I alerted them we will be here for a few months planning before our last great battle. So hand Willo the kids so we can sleep," it was dark out, the lights coming from candles.

Gino was gone into his tiny house while we walked into their side house, it looked the very same as when we left weeks ago. Warren walked in front of me with a sudden snap of his fingers the candles illuminated casting glows around the room. I wanted to eat but it was late and my rumbling belly would have to wait as we both get ready for bed, my eyes find him and I finally question something that has been on my mind since I first arrived. "Who is the beloved they all talk about," he flashed a grin cheekier than any monkey and was all the more adorable for it.

Waiting for him was like waiting for Magenta to decided on what shade of Magenta she wanted her hair dyed to. His face was flushed, "You, Bex. They refer to you as my beloved, now bed,"

I wanted to ease the tension, "Aren't you hungry?" rubbing my sore and blistered feet. "Yes, and I take it you're brought it up because you're hungry. I will be back, don't expect a warm meal either," I so wanted a burger right now, double cheese too. Knowing how different my frame was now, my face and hair, we figured by doing the math we have been here around seven months. Warren pointed out that I haven't even had an attack and I shot back because the problems there do not reside here, even confessed my worry the panic attacks might be worse since I was shifting era's again but we knew only time would tell.

I was nestled into my bed after making his for him, he carried a wooden board, like a cutting board in our time but this was thicker. "Some fruit, cheese, bread, and dried meat," he was tired as we sit eating, I liked this cheese and would have to locate it again he said he get her recipes but I wasn't hopeful he remembered. With the tray put away did I get back into my bed seeing his face contorted, his voice low and filled with emotion and not fluffy ones. "I am not sleeping over there,"

Asking, "Should I?"

"Dense. We're in the same bed, it just makes me feel better with you close at hand,"

Offering, "The bed is feet away, if Kai came bet you could-" I stop mid-sentence something clicked, something I learned in a set of scrolls Magenta filched from the Hero files. I mean no one sees these scrolls, we had them for a solid thirty before her mother tried to murder us.

His fingers are snapping in front of me bringing me back. "BEX!" the tone was urgent and worried. I recall sitting in her closet with her and the scrolls with a small lamp, hand-drawn pictures of great skill, her laughing at Killjoy looking like me, but the scene behind those. "Warren, Kai is coming here," his body was up and heading to the door.

"NOT RIGHT NOW, SIT,"

Scoffing, "Not a dog,"

"I've seen who you've been with, I classify you like a dog in constant heat,"

He was angry with me.

So I drone on, "Magenta and I, we stole the lost scrolls, not some villain. But they didn't want us arrested when we just wanted them for a class project, heroes are sly and cunning. But again we had them for thirty minutes, we hid in her closet and went over them. She laughed that Killjoy this powerful being looked like me, these were handwritten with pictures and Killjoy looked pissed. Warren, Kai he brings us the battle here to us, it just hit me. He will destroy this village in the battle, but maybe because I stole the scrolls we can change that, you have to talk to your kin they have to know," but we had time and knowledge, I knew Kai was not big on history.

He just stood outside, "Tell me everything you remember, the adults knew, they fucking knew what was on those scrolls. Left out vital information that could have helped us," his body was firm against the doors leading to the village of his family. "I was wearing a flowing dress and you were beside me, maybe some here is getting hitched because it looked like a wedding celebration. Next was the village being destroyed and I was in a circle of flame with Kai on the other side, I had people with me, a dragon, last was Kai on the ground and us standing. It was all scribed in Mandarin and it is not a language we knew," he just glanced back at me, something flashed in his eyes that worried me.

"Let him come, we plan for battle, we know the location," I cut him off. "Warren, we have two months, but need a safe way for the woman and children to escape," my eyes pleading with him and he understood.

He agreed, "They will want to stay and fight," I would ensure that was not the case, they had to get out and I was going to tell the biggest lie to do so, they trusted me and all I wanted was for them to be safe.

"You know you are in the presence of your Uncle," smiling, some facts I knew and his mother filled me in on his line before we left, begged me to protect him. "What,"

I should have kept my mouth shut, "Wiklow is your Uncle. You come from Ambala, she will be their first heroine, Wiklow never gets powers but he still becomes great," but my mind was mush and I was not thinking right as I wrapped my arms around him from behind, it felt good when he wrapped his around me pulling me closer to his side.

I strained my eyes, "Is that Mina heading to Gino's?" I laughed and the girl stopped dead in her tracks her eyes in the dim light she carried looked worried, but together we waved her in. "Man, somewhere in my family I am related to your pothead friend," I laughed until he joined in dragging me to what was a shared bed since I wasn't going to hustle or fight him, his heat made my bones and muscles loosen up. He didn't seem to mind as he was the one refusing to exit the bed, nope he just pulled me to him, the same rhythmic soft lulls of his fingers were pulling me into darkness.

I couldn't wait to go home, well half of me that is.