Ancient Prophecy.
Hey! Another chappy I hope you're still enjoying it!
Chapter Eight:
Elyssa hummed to herself as she cooked breakfast, the boys could be heard practising in the dojo and she knew they would be finished soon. Once her grandmother had told her they were to stay in New York to keep an eye on Hex and Zuko, along with finding the book hidden in the city, Splinter had insisted that they stay down in the lair saying that there was safety in numbers. Something told her that Splinter was more concerned about keeping them around so that they could defend against Hex should she find their little home. She, Serena and Rose had already cast several spells to add to Donatello's security and she herself was going through his systems to see where she could add a little magical tweak here and there. She smiled to herself when she thought of Donnie, he was his own worst enemy and her nerves were getting a little frayed. As far as she could tell the turtle in question had only had a few hours sleep in the last few days as he worked on all of his systems to ensure the safety of his family and it was starting to show. Not that she minded her long chats with him about mechanics or computers.
"Morning!" Serena made Lysie jump as she entered the kitchen and sat down holding her stomach.
"Are you okay?" Lysie asked frowning.
"I think I'm coming down with something." She replied and resisted the urge to go back to bed and curl up under the covers, preferably with Leo curled up with her. She was brought out of her thoughts by Elyssa placing a hand on her forehead.
"You don't feel hot." She turned the kettle on, "I'll make you some basil tea in case it's a cold or something. Think you can eat anything." Renie raised an eyebrow at the mother hen mode Elyssa seemed to easily slip into.
"If I don't I'll probably feel worse." Renie shrugged.
"Toast or porridge?"
"I think I'll stick to toast, thanks."
"One round of toast coming up." Elyssa popped the toast into the toaster and looked through the cupboards where the tea was kept, "Urgh, basil is the oldest cold remedy I know and they don't . . ." she waved her hand and a bag of dried basil appeared, "I swear I am going to have to have a talk with Splinter, all these herbal teas and I've never heard of half of them."
"I could explain them to you." Serena offered as Mikey walked into the kitchen.
"Hey dudettes!" he yelled cheerfully.
"Oh, good!" Elyssa smiled and grabbed a bowl from the side, "Mikey could you keep an eye on the breakfast while I take Raph some food?"
"Sure thing!" Mike looked at Renie and frowned, "You okay girl, cause you look kinda green." She groaned and rested her head on the table.
"The toast is for her and so's the tea that's brewing." Lysie told him and served up some porridge and poured a glass of milk. "I shouldn't be long unless your darling brother's in one of his uncooperative moods again. Has your brother always been so damn stubborn?"
"Yep!" Mikey said yelping as Lysie slapped his hand when he went to sample the bacon cooking on the stove. She then placed everything on a tray and left the room. Once she reached the room Donatello had set aside for the infirmary she gritted her teeth when she found Donnie in there changing Raph's bandages; she felt he should be going back to bed first before breakfast.
"Donatello!" she snapped making both boys jump, "you have not slept nearly enough and you look dead on your feet! I am more than capable of doing that so go to bed!" She placed the tray to one side and snatched the roll out of his hand.
"I've had sleep, and I would prefer to do it my self Elyssa!" he narrowed his eyes at her and resisted the urge to growl.
"Oh really?" she placed her hands on her hips and pushed out her chin determined to win the argument. "Well I say you haven't and I'll have you know my grandmother has made sure that I am more that capable of treating various injuries and further more if you do not go and get some sleep not only will I make sure that none of your gadgets and gizmos will work no matter what you do," Donnie paled already knowing full well what Elyssa could do with her magic to his precious inventions, "but if that doesn't work then I can cast a sleeping spell that'll keep you asleep until I decide you have had enough. And don't think I won't cause I will!"
"I . . . You . . . Urgh!" Don stormed out of the infirmary and went to his room muttering obscenities and gesturing with his arms the whole way earning a worried glance from Leo who had slipped back to his room before breakfast.
"Man you're good." Raph chuckled and shifted carefully.
"I don't know what you're talking about." She said innocently, grinning whilst she picked up some cream that her grandmother had prepared for his cuts, "let's finish what Donnie started shall we?"
"I don't think anyone's ever won the sleep argument with Donnie," Raph said squirming at her touch, "even Master Splinter's given up tryin' ta get Donnie to sleep enough."
"Can't April get him to?" She asked having noticed the obvious attraction the turtle in question had for his human friend, much to her disappointment.
"Nope." Raph shifted so she could re-bandage him more easily. She then turned to the tray she'd brought in and placed it on his lap.
"Eat." She said simply and sat as she watched him pick up the spoon and grimace at the porridge.
"Can't I have cereal?"
"No, porridge is good for you," she stated leaving no room for argument, she then picked up a book off the side table and looking at it to find a fantasy novel, "you finished this one already?" He nodded and took a sip of the milk, "You want me to find you another one from your room?"
"I've read em all." He shrugged feeling full already.
"Not got many huh?" he shrugged and she smiled.
"Well if I see any you might like I'll pick some up for you," she took the tray of now empty dishes and placed it back on the side, "if I were you I'd be going nuts just sitting around doing nothing all day." Raph shrugged rubbing his forearms absent mindedly. "You know it helps to talk when we're feeling down. Me or Grandma would be more than willing to lend an unbiased ear if you need one."
"Thanks," he said looking away, "but I just wanna handle this on my own. Besides Donnie says I can start movin' around again soon."
"If that's what you want." She replied and turned to the monitor to Raphael's right, "He hooked that up so you can watch TV yet?" He shook his head and shifted again to get more comfortable, "Well just between you and me," she waved her hand and the TV flickered on to show a new action movie showing in the theatres, "Hope you like it." She winked.
"This ain't on DVD yet." She shrugged and left the room with the tray to finish preparing breakfast. She arrived to find Mikey serving out the food, he had already served Serena's toast and tea and she was picking at it looking very uninterested. Leo sat next to her with a worried expression on his face ignoring the food he'd been given, Casey had joined them and was eating his whilst sitting on the counter eating in the most unmannerly way Elyssa could think of.
"Were you ever taught manners Mr. Jones?" Lysie asked glaring at him and he gulped as he jumped off the counter and sat down at the table, "And Serena please eat that and stop playing with it. Leo stop fussing over her and eat that food before it gets cold!"
"Wow, I always wondered what it would be like to have a mom." Mikey grinned.
"Very funny Mikey." She placed the tray down and took out a bottle of tablets; she took a glass and filled it with water then took a deep breath, "Grandma! I know you're just waiting for me to leave again but you have to take your pills!" Grumbling was heard and Rose appeared followed by a chuckling Splinter.
"I seem to recall I am the one who is supposed to be caring for you Elyssa May McKenzie." The old woman grumbled and snatched the tablets from her granddaughter's hand ignoring the snickering from the younger occupants of the room.
"Oh please! I dread to think how many tablets you missed when you were out of my sight."
"I remembered just fine." Rose grouched and thanked Mikey as he handed her a plate of scrambled eggs on toast then sat down at the table next to Splinter.
"Serena," they all turned to see April with her cell in her hand, "they've released you aunt's body." She said taking a deep breath, "we can organise the funeral now."
"Oh." The young girl pushed her plate away and felt the nausea get worse, "Okay." She got up and was glad that Leo immediately stood up and placed an arm around her shoulders all thoughts of food forgotten. They followed the red head to the living area where she stopped and turned back to them, biting her lip from nerves and rubbing the ever growing bump on her stomach.
"I have to ask you what you want to help with Serena," April said quietly, "I mean she's your aunt so you're the one who'll know what she would have wanted. I mean I know the two of you weren't Christians so I guess I need to find out about an alternative person to cover the service and a coffin will need to be selected." April blinked when she realised Serena was no longer there and only just caught the end of blue bandana tails disappearing towards the nearest bathroom.
Serena coughed up what little food she'd had in her stomach and felt her body still retching. She barely registered the gentle hands holding her hair away from her face to keep it from getting soiled. As soon as her stomach had settled she rested her head on the toilet seat and began to really sob. She'd managed to keep herself busy since Bella had been murdered by Hex and once Donatello had organised for April and Casey to be named her legal guardians, but now the reality of the situation had suddenly crashed down on her like a tonne of bricks. She felt herself pulled into a tight embrace and heard the words of comfort her lover was offering but all she wanted to do was to go to sleep and forget anything had happed.
"When did everything go so wrong?" She sobbed.
"It's okay baby," Leo felt his heart break, "we'll get through this."
"But I'm all alone now, an orphan." She held on tighter as if trying to borrow some of his never ending strength.
"You'll never be alone Serena." He whispered and picked her up to take her back to the room they now shared, "As long as I live I will never allow it, I swear." He placed her on the bed and kissed her forehead, "I'll speak to April okay. You get some rest; you've been looking a little peaky these last few days."
"I love you Leo."
"Love you too Serena." He smiled and left the room to find April who no doubt thought she had done something wrong. It was then he noticed Sayuri arrive through the main entrance looking like she'd done nothing but fight all night, "Where have you been?"
"Hunting." She replied as she headed to the infirmary to get something for a deep cut on her sword arm.
"Demons?" he asked she merely looked at him and left towards the room she was currently sharing with Elyssa. He shook his head and went to find April but not before stopping by Mikey and reminding him that he hadn't been into the infirmary to see Raph at all since they'd brought him home. "Mike you can't keep avoiding him." Leo said irritably, "He's been asking where you are. Don says Raph's worried he's done something wrong. He's didn't mean to upset you."
"He didn't upset me," Mike shrugged and made to leave, "I upset him by being a jerk and hurting him."
"I doubt he even remembers it." Leo frowned.
"Yeah well I do. Have you seen Clunk?"
"Not this morning." Leo watched his brother leave for Don's lab.
Xxx
"That looks like it hurt." Raph raised an eye ridge at the cut on Yuri's arm as she rummaged through the cupboards for what she would need to dress it, "maybe you should get Donnie to look at that?"
"And have your dear eldest brother find out and think I'm incapable of taking care of myself," she said as she wiped the wound with a damp cloth, "I get the distinct feeling your Leonardo doesn't trust me."
"That's Leo for ya. Ever since Karai stabbed him he's been less willing to trust people. Especially women who can fight." Raph shrugged, "Not that I'm much better but I never trusted Karai in the first place. Leo on the other hand fell for her hook line and sinker. I guess that was before he and Renie were actually datin'," he leant over and pulled her closer then took the cloth and began cleaning the wound himself, "Karai was psycho, but because she occasionally had a conscience Leo thought she might just come round and kept makin' excuses for her. Went kind of psycho himself for a while after she hurt him, Splinter sent him away to train with the Ancient One in Japan because of it."
"Did it help?" She asked with her head strategically turned away in an attempt to hide the blush creeping to her cheeks.
"He came back sane if that's what you mean," he finished what he was doing and held out his hand to her for some bandages which she handed to him, "but he's been less trusting of people ever since."
"Being cautious isn't a bad thing."
"Maybe not." He wrapped the bandage tightly around the wounded arm and fixed it in place.
"How'd you get that anyway?"
"Someone got a little too close with a blade." She shrugged then looked at him, "Um, thanks."
"No problem." He smiled, "I was gettin' kinda bored anyway."
"Elyssa says you'll be allowed to walk around soon." She said feeling more than a little awkward.
"Yeah, Doc Don says I gotta wait until he thinks my ribs are strong enough to support me or something. I gotta use crutches ta get around." He rolled his eyes wondering if it would be better to simply stay in bed.
"Sounds fun." She smirked.
"Raph, is Klunk in here with you?" Mikey ran into the room forgetting that he had been avoiding his brother for last few weeks.
"Sorry Mike." He and Yuri blinked at the youngest turtle, "You okay bro, I ain't seen you in a while."
"Um yeah bro," he shifted from one foot to the other then looked at Yuri and put on his famous puppy dog look, "Yuri! Klunk likes you and everyone's busy, will you help me find him? I let him out last night and no one's seen him since and it's not like him and I'm worried and what if something's happened? What if. . ?"
"I'll help you!" she said desperate to stop the look he was giving her.
"You will?" He squealed and pulled her into a hug failing to notice her freeze up in his arms, "Thank you! Thank you! Thank you!"
"Please let go of me." She said coldly making Raph snicker. Once he had he grabbed her wrist and pulled her back out of the layer before she'd even knew what was happening, making her wonder how in the seven hells any one could possibly possess as much energy as he did. Raphael shook his head knowing full well he would have been collared into looking for Klunk if he'd been well and making a mental note to make it up to the newest edition to their home.
"He likes the junk yard and the park, oh and there's a really nice Italian restaurant that he goes to that feed him scraps," Yuri stifled a yawn as Mikey rambled on not really listening to what he was saying but all the while looking around her for any sign of the fluff ball that had taken a liking to curling up on her lap whilst she meditated. Apparently he'd tried the same thing with them on several occasions but she was the only one who simply allowed the cat to get comfortable and carried on as if nothing was out of the ordinary, she'd received an odd look from both Donatello and Leonardo the first time she'd let it happen but Yuri chose to ignore them, "I hope he's okay."
"I'm sure he's fine Mikey."
"Do you have pets where you come from?" he desperately tried to stop his mind thinking of all of the awful things that could have happened to his beloved cat.
"I used to have several," she replied listening down one tunnel, "especially when I was little, my parents had many fine horses that they bred and cared for for the Queen."
"Wow really?!"
"Yes, my mother and father were once renowned warriors both on foot and on horse back and when they settled down to start their family they began to breed and produce horses that the royal guard could use in their battles."
"Produce?" He stopped and looked at her quizzically.
"Oh, um it means that they trained them, in this case to be war horses." She smiled then looked down a tunnel to her right, "Do you hear something?"
"What? Is it Klunk?" his tone was excited.
"I'm not sure come on," she took the lead down the tunnel the noise would be coming from hoping that any echoes weren't deceiving her. The further they went the louder the sound became and Mikey yelped when he realised it was a cat crying out. The worried turtle ran on ahead despite Sayuri's shout not to and was soon lost in the darkness. Yuri frowned not caring for the footing underneath that felt too unstable and she had one of her feelings that she got when something bad was about to happen, she really hated those feelings.
"Ahh!"
"Mikey?!" She called, "Michelangelo?!" She was sprinting as fast as she could unable to see a thing through the dust and darkness when suddenly there was no floor and she fell, that was all she knew before she blacked out.
Well I have now officially re-written this for the seventh time, I'm not all that sure about it but I do hope somebody likes it! I will try to get another chapter up soon but my horse has been given the all clear to be ridden again and you've all heard of withdrawal right? Well I have been riding for 23yrs now and I'm 25, I haven't ridden in three months and my ex-racehorse and I have some serious catching up to do! note the evil grin as she thinks of all the large fields I can sneak into to gallop my very VERY fast horse, tee hee! As my sisters keep telling me I am sooooo weird! Ah well I'm a freak and proud of it woo hoo! Anywho enough of the rambling, I'm off to have fun so till next time toodles Angel xxx!