Chapter 16: Elemental Truck Stop: fifty miles from the Whitlock Ranch

[Pete's POV]

I love my woman, but sometimes she has me do the strangest things. I pull up to the entrance to the All Night Café. I walk in taking off my hat in the process. I walk up to the single seats bar. There is a grizzled old coot sitting there in flannels, no hat and I can see the outline under his jacket. The man is carrying a gun.

The waitress sees me and slides a cup of coffee my way. "Heya, Pete how's things on the ranch?"

"Slow. Trying to talk the Boss into getting a few Quarter horses this spring," the waitress laughs. "Good luck with that." I nod back at her. The Cook just called up an order.

Charlie's mustache twitches. "Pete want to tell me why Charlotte has me meeting you here and not going straight to the ranch? You look different. All that whiskey must be catching up to you."

I see his dark eyes dancing with merriment. "Something caught up to me I'm not sure what."

"We have company at the ranch. Mr. Fancy Britches family decided to join the party. We had a couple of freezers go belly up the other day."

"Wonder how much that's going to cost."

"No telling. If you need a couple of days of work, the boss is hiring."

"I'll take you up on that." Charlie and I finish our coffee and head out the door.

When we get to the truck, Charlie swats me across the back of the head. "You had Cold Ones on the ranch and didn't call me?"

"Jasper took care of them."

"Charlotte thinks you could have been followed. We are taking the long way back to the ranch."

A few miles down the road. "So you don't sparkle any more. When did that change?"

"The other day, we did some research and everyone pooled information. Bella used her abilities and created an awesome pool for us. Everyone used their Leylock abilities. Charlotte, Jasper and I are regular vamps now. Bella lost her cold one scar in the process."

"Is there any chance you were followed?"

Charlie laughs. "I'd like to see them try. I left via a fishing boat from the Quileute Reservation. They don't dare get close to it. As far as anyone else is concerned I am on my annual Fishing Vacation. I'm not on the planet. I turned in my resignation. They got an experienced officer from Chelan as my replacement; all he has to do is learn the town. That will take him all of two days."

"How long have you been planning your escape?"

"I always planned to follow Bella when she left for college. I just implemented my exit plan a little sooner."

"You crafty old coot, you got one of your fishing buddies to take over your job."

"If you say anything to Bella, I have a mean right hook and you will feel it now."

I check to make sure we aren't being followed and turn on one of the backroads leading to the ranch.

Caverns near the Ranch TX

[Charlotte's POV]

Elijah and Angela are consummating their mating bond. It's about time. I bet Angela made a move. Bella is training Kol on how to use his Earth affinity. Pete is retrieving Charlie. Damon, Elżbieta, Sage, and Rebekah are working on water spouts. Jasper and Finn are working on creating mini fire vortexes.

Everyone is finally occupied so I can channel the Astral side of Leylock energy, gathering information. The Mikaelson's older sister is about to wake up from a century long sleep. I am trying to see if I can contact her mind. "Freya, can you hear me? I am a friend of Finn's. I want to help rescue you from your curse."

"I hear you, who are you?"

"My name is Charlotte Whitlock. Your brothers and sister are staying with us learning a different kind of magic available to your family, Leylock magic. I am using it now to contact you."

"Where is here?"

"A ranch located near Lubbock TX. When you are ready you can mind talk to me like we are now. I'll bring you to the ranch via Astral travel so you can be reunited with your family members."

"We can come up with a plan to rid you of Dahlia's curses. I think it's time your mother needs to pay for the wrongs she has done to your family."

"I cannot agree with you more. I have a few things to do when I awaken. I will mind talk with you again soon. I want to be reunited with my family."

[Damon's POV]

I use command voice to be heard by everyone in the caverns. "Everyone please meet in the cavern by the pool. We need to evaluate our experiences with Leylock energy."

Bella walks up behind me putting her hand in mine. I relax. I'm not aware of the tension until she is near. I pull her into a hug. This discussion will be interesting. Hopefully we can come up with some useful projects for everyone to get the feel of their 'new' abilities. I have a feeling we are going to need all Leylock abilities we have soon.

Everyone gathers by the lightly glowing pool. It is self-illuminated still. Kol can't help himself, "How did you get the sparkly layer effect?"

"Jasper, Pete and Charlotte's magic adhered to the sides when they converted from Cold Ones to regular vampires. We still haven't figured out why it has its own light source," I point out.

[Charlotte's POV]

Before we get off track, "Let's discuss what Leylock abilities everyone has. Then we can discuss useful projects that we can do to demonstrate our abilities. Discretion is the key. We don't want other beings to know what we can do while we are still learning. Does anyone object to this suggestion?"

No one speaks up. "I have an affinity to Astral energy. That is why I get brief visions of people that are and will be associated with me in some way. Pete has been my voice to protect me from unwanted attention in the past. Both Jasper and Damon have threatened him on his message delivery. His being cryptic I blame on his sense of humor, he can't help himself. So you are forewarned."

"Angela you and I have the affinity for Air and Astral energies. Damon you and Rebekah have the affinity for Water and Astral energies. Bella you are the only one with the combination of Earth and Air. Pete's affinities are Air and Electricity. Elżbieta's are Water and Electricity. Jasper's are Fire and Electricity. Sage yours are Air and Water. Kol yours are Earth and Electricity. Finn's are Earth and Fire. Elijah's are Water and Fire."

"We will be grouping up to practice using these affinities. I'm sure we can come up with projects that will be useful for all of us and some improvements to our living conditions. Reasonable suggestions are welcome. Let Jasper know what your suggestions are and we will compile a list for the group to vote on."

[Elijah's POV]

"Charlotte, are we through with the Leylock exercises for tonight?"

"Unless there are any other Leylock exercises anyone wants to experiment with, as far as I'm concerned we are done for tonight."

"I would like for my immediate family members to remain for a family reunion meeting." Sage and Angela nod their understanding. Finn, Kol and Rebekah remain as the others leave the caverns for the Hacienda.

Rebekah angrily asks, "How could you fall for Sage again Finn, Niklaus and I worked for decades to erase any knowledge of your whereabouts in the supernatural community."

I silently signal for Finn and Kol to keep their council and let Rebekah vent. I also have a few choice words for her if she vents like I think she will.

"Elijah, how can you propose to a girl you have only known for five seconds? How do you know she isn't just seducing you for your vampire status, looks and money?"

Kol walks over to the pool and sits on the ledge and crosses his arms. "Too bad I don't have popcorn for this show."

Rebekah turns to him, "You are no help. Your brothers are making bad choices and you just want to sit back and watch?"

I decide to respond allowing Finn to cool down before he says anything. "Rebekah, it is my life and I will live it as I choose. I have always chosen to put family first: Always and Forever. You and Niklaus have failed to do that over and over. Sage is Finn's other half. They managed to find each other early on from the time of our transformation. You and Niklaus have done our brother a great disservice by preventing him from being with his mate for eons by keeping him daggered and in a coffin. Both of you have also sabotaged any relationship I have formed with a woman. I have found my mate in Angela, due to the activation of my Leylock powers. I know she is my true mate. She is now family. I suggest you get over your bias and accept both Sage and Angela as part of our family. You should also extend the same curtesy to Kol, he will discover his mate soon. God help your mate you are behaving like a spoiled brat."

"I agree with everything Elijah has said. I always left the family because you never accepted me for who I am. I saw our mother give away our sister that I loved more than life itself to our aunt Dahlia. So family Always and Forever has no meaning to Esther. I have rarely seen Always and Forever from any other member of this family. Elijah has put up with you and Niklaus for decades. He keeps hoping for a change in both of you for the better. You both keep getting worse in your own narcissistic lifestyles. He has found his mate. If you want him and I in your life get over yourself and accept that Angela and Sage are full members of our family just like you are: Forever and Always," Finn eloquently points out.

Kol gets up and walks over and hugs Finn. "Thank you for speaking the truth. Every time I point out the same problem I get daggered again. Rebekah, did your truth stone heat up at all during this conversation?"

She shakes her head no. "So you heard the truth in what my brothers are saying?"

Rebekah has her head down, she nods. "Are you going to accept Angela and Sage as full members of our family?" Again she nods, yes.

"Kol you have been daggered for other reasons also. Your anger has revealed our true nature more than once. Can you keep it together this time enough to keep our secret from the rest of the world?"

"I can keep it together, now that we can have honest conversations with each other. I only acted out when I felt rejected by being daggered over and over again. These people have shown me another way to deal with my issues. I have a truth stone now and I can work Leylock energies. I have my magic back."

"Elijah,' Rebekah starts to say.

"Rebekah, actions speak louder than words. I don't want to hear you are sorry. I just want you to change your behavior for the better." She nods.