Memories hit her like a ton of bricks. All she saw was moments from Ashley's life, before the Cabal came and took it all away from her. She swayed on her feet. John was instantly there to catch her. For a split second, she saw him as he had been in the late 1880s with his thick, dark hair.
He followed her gaze. Flashes of pictures that he had seen taken of Ashley during her early childhood numbed his mind. His jaw went unusually slack as his body froze.
Will came forward to see what could possibly have this affect on both of them. He blinked at the small child crying before him. She appeared to be about seven with light blonde hair and blue eyes. Other features drew in his attention. She had overly long, vampire-like fangs that prevented her from closing her mouth; and muffled her sobs. There were also the long claws that only Tesla and the super abnormals possessed. "Magnus," he barked.
Helen didn't seem to hear him; that, or she chose to ignore him. All she said, in a relieved low whisper was, "Ashley." Tears of overwhelming joy fell down her cheeks.
The girl heard Helen. Will could see the fear and alarm in her eyes. She launched toward Helen. Will shot a dart from his gun at the girl. She teleported upon being hit to sleep in Helen's lap.
Helen stroked the girl's hair affectionately. She held the child close as both claws and fangs began to retract.
"Magnus, we need to get back to the Sanctuary," said Will urgently. He locked eyes with John and signaled him to take Helen first.
Helen brought the little girl to the infirmary before John went back to retrieve Will. She strapped the girl down in order to keep Henry silent. She took a blood sample and requested that Tesla run the analysis.
John cam in an hour after they found the super abnormal child. "I managed to find and retrieve your hairy friend," he informed. "And Nikola has kindly asked me to tell you that the DNA matches Ashley's. It seems that you were right about our daughter. I just never imagined that we would find her as but a simple little girl."
Helen shook her head. She blinked away the tears. "No, not simple. She's a very special little girl."
"Yes, well, what are we going to do about her abnormal abilities?" inquired John.
"We teach her how to control them, of course." She forced a smile.
"Really? Why don't you ask your friends about that."
Helen shot him a glare. "What is that supposed to mean?"
"Talk to them, Helen," urged John.
"Fine, but I want you here in case she wakes up. I will not make the same mistake twice." She walked through her home to her office where she called everyone to her.
Tesla was the first to arrive. He watched Helen as everyone walked in one by one; Will, Big Guy, Kate, and then Henry. They were all silent, waiting for an explanation from Helen.
"I'm sure you're all aware by now that we found Ashley, alive," she began.
"Woah, Magnus, it could be a trap," said Kate bluntly.
"The Cabal are no longer a threat," replied Helen. "Nikola and John assure me of that."
"Despite that being true, I agree with Ms. Freelander," Tesla interjected. "For all we know, what's left of the Cabal might have just slipped underground, waiting for the next opportune moment to strike."
"It would be foolish of the Cabal to use the same tactic twice," argued Helen.
"That is what they want you to think."
"I agree with Tesla, Magnus," said Will. "Since when have the Cabal been rational with anything?"
Helen began to feel like she was being trapped in a corner. She turned to Henry and Big Guy for their support.
"Hey, don't bring me into this." Henry put his arms in the air.
"It could be a side affect from teleporting within the EM shield," suggested Big Guy.
"And if it isn't?" snapped Tesla. "What happens when she does whatever the Cabal sent her to do?"
"Hey, we could be overreacting about this," Will said calmly. "Lets just wait and see what happens before we jump to conclusions."
"This has the Cabal written all over it." Kate crossed her arms over her chest.
"Why are you taking such a negative attitude towards all this?" demanded Helen.
"Because it seems that the freak with the claws and fangs and I are the only ones with our heads on straight," retorted Kate.
"She's my daughter!" yelled Helen furiously. "I will not lose her again!" She got up and stormed out of her office with another set of tears rolling down her cheeks. She stopped at the infirmary where Ashley was sleeping and John sitting, reading a copy of Hamlet.
He glanced up at her. "Did it go as bad as I feared?"
"No one really trusts my judgment," she confessed wearily.
"Ah, to be or not to be," he murmured.
"For that is the question." They quoted various lines of Shakespeare as they watched Ashley sleep.
A/N: I may not have time to update for a couple weeks or so. I might however surprise myself. Ideas are welcome, and preferably sent to my personal e-mail account.