Chapter 3

The next morning Rachael woke first and went to find Esme but a noise downstairs attracted her and she went to see who else was up already. She found that it was everyone. They were in the kitchen and Esme turned when she entered, Rachael went to her and Esme knelt down and hugged her tightly. Rachael giggled and asked why she looked so sad….

"Oh." She said when they finished telling her what happened to Lilias, "But are you sure Emmett?" she asked, she was still wearing his shirt. He nodded. "Okay, Esme?"

"Yes honey?"

"What will happen now?"

"We're going to send a word to a couple dimensions and Europe that we have two children- lost and without their parents. Hopefully someone will come for you in a couple days. In the meantime, you need to stay with someone at all times- or at least in the house. We have a security system and its set now so you should be safe. Don't open the windows or doors leading outside." Rachael nodded and said she was going to tell Deidre about the new rules and she hopped down from the stool again as she had last night and walked upstairs, rubbing her eyes sleepily as she went.

They could hear Rachael telling Deidre about the window and door rule, "What about our guardian? Is she here too, downstairs?" she asked and they heard Deidre push the blankets back. Rachael must have shaken her head because Deidre asked, "Why, not- where is she?"

"Kristoff burned her in the fire. He went earlier then he was supposed too," Rachael whispered. "Mommy and daddy… mommy is in pain, they all are. Losing a sister is very painful. Remember when Auntie Kaderin died the fire serpent?"

"Yes, momma screamed so loud the windows burst. Do you think she did again?"

Rachael nodded, "I see daddy helping to clean up glass- mom is crying in our room." She forced a smile, "She has the teddy bear Lily got me and the blanket Aunt Myst made you, she's holding them very tightly." She mumbled and climbed onto the bed, "Deidre- Lilias-."

"Maybe Uncle Bastian will use the key to turn back time," she whispered suddenly. "Lilias is a princess, remember, they can't let her stay gone!" Her voice cracked as she spoke, it broke a couple times. She swallowed but Rachael shook her head, "Why not Rachael- Lily is supposed to lead them into battle and win. Remember your dream about that, Lily was supposed to save mommy from Kristoff when he catches her."

"Someone else will have too now. Mom is stronger then she looks Deidre, remember she killed Deme herself."

"Grandpa Deme was a bad man, he had it coming. At least that's what daddy says," she smiled. "Mom killed her dad and now a dad… never mind," she wrapped her arms around her knees tightly and lay her forehead down on her arm. They were silent for a couple minutes.

Then, Rachael touched her older sister's arm, "Mommy did it to revenge daddy, remember? Lilias died for us Deidre- she was our guardian and we let her down. I should have known Kristoff would go earlier. "

Deidre looked up from crying silently for the last couple minutes, "When will mom and dad find us-." Rachael smiled, "What is it?"

She shook her head, "Never mind, I thought I saw something else." She held her hands on her head, "I see everyone talking about Lilias. Furie felt it too and it's killing her faster then before," she said. "Kristoff just killed someone else," she whispered in addence. "Do you think daddy will come to take us home?"

Deidre shrugged, "I don't know. Probably not, dad has the kingdom to take care of- maybe Bowen and Mariketa will. Mari's a real witch and Bowen is dad's cousin."

"Possible," Rachael said and groaned. "I can't see them anymore, it went dark!" She fell onto her side, hiding her face with her arms. She muffled her next sentence.

"What?"

"I don't like this Deidre, I can't see anymore. It all went blackish," she grumbled angrily.

"Nix said that'll happen if you're using it too much, remember? You're probably just tired too, try to get more rest." She said and pulled Rachael's arm to the pillows and covered her again, Rachael turned to her back, "I promise to come get you if something happens. Alright?"

"You're not a seer, you're an enchanter, can't you just say 'Ka Boom- be alive' and then Lilias is all… not dead?" Deidre shook her head and Rachael frowned, "Why not?"

"It doesn't work like that Rachael- besides I bet Lily is happier wherever she is now, would you do that to her if you could."

"She was happy here, with us- she's our aunt too Deidre," Rachael snapped angrily.

"But I just can't, I don't know how and even I could, I still wouldn't. She might- she might be… different," she whispered. She had to search for what to say and how to say it without scaring her or something.

"She won't be a zombie."

"They eat brains."

"They do not!" Rachael growled.

"Yes they do, mom said and so did Uncle Nickolai."

"No, they don't. Myst said so and she's smarter then Nickolai is."

"You're taking a boys side? You're not supposed too-."

"Nickolai is bettered then Myst is when it comes to this stuff-."

"Don't be stupid Rachael- Esme!" She yelled and Esme and Carlisle ran upstairs to see the girls wrestling on the ground, they couldn't help but laugh, "Ouch! She bit me Esme!"

"Oh really?"

"Now you'll go all gar." Rachael giggled and held up her fingers like claws and Deidre glared at her and stuck her tongue out.

Esme went over to Deidre and looked at where Rachael bit her; it was small and barely anything. She kissed her and looked up at the girl, "Better?"

She nodded slowly, "Yes. Thanks Esme." Esme looked at Deidre and took Rachael in her arms and held them both closely against her shoulder. Jasper felt the love she had for them, She wants to keep them Edward; Alice said that no one will come for them. I think we just got two new sisters.

…

Aubrey went back later that night to the stake out and saw the pile of ashes that had gotten smaller since last night. Eventually, the girls had gone to bed tonight, not easily but now that they had their own room together- they got a small guest room to themselves for now. He was staying there too for a couple more days, in case Kristoff returned. He approached the small pile of ashes and reached out to touch it but then the wind picked up and blew a large portion into his face and he jumped back and shook it off.

He heard someone coughing, at first he thought it was him and he didn't realize but he knew he was being stupid and looked around. He didn't see anyone. "Hello?" he called but no response. He didn't hear thoughts either. He looked back at the even smaller pile of ashes; "I vow to protect them." he told the pile of dust. "I'll give my life if I must, as you gave yours. Kristoff will die," he growled and bit his wrist and let the blood drop onto the ashes as if signing a devil's book to make his promise mean something. "He won't get away with your murder and he won't go near those girls," he whispered and held his fingers over the cut he gave himself and traced to the Cullens. Edward looked up as the others just watched each other or Esme as she and Carlisle talked about giving the girls a room together or separate. Alice said that no one was coming for a long time- they couldn't risk going to their home in Scotland. Kristoff was sure to have hundreds of more men to attack them with and not even Emmett could fight off that many.