Secret in Hiding
Disclaimer: I own nothing.
Chapter 11: Rescue
Amelia looked in from the door at Cassie and Diana. Diana was sitting upright on the couch with her feet up on the table. Her head was back and eyes were close. Cassie was resting her head on her sister's lap and was lying down across the entire couch. Diana's arm was around Cassie. Every once in a while the blonde witch would moan in pain and her hand would go to her leg. At that time, Amelia saw Diana tighten her hold on Cassie and use her other hand to pat her head. Amelia couldn't help but wonder if they were doing their silent conversation. If Diana was somehow whispering words of comfort to Cassie, Amelia couldn't help but want to do that herself.
"Amelia, looking at them is not going to help." Jane whispered to her daughter.
"She's hurt," Amelia said. "Can't you do something?'
"I've seen her injury. It's too bad for me to heal completely without a crystal. Besides Cassie being hurt helps us." Amelia gave her mother a hurt look. "I'm sorry. I don't want to see her hurt, but she's the enemy right now." Amelia nodded understanding.
Jane looked at the others who were with her. Jake and Adam were sitting on the steps. The two boys refused to look at the girls anymore. Jane knew they had and probably still did love Cassie and Diana. Henry and Royce had come back to the house too after getting Charles and Dawn here. The two had to get their neighbors to babysit the younger ones. Then the door opened and Penny, Kate, Faye and Melissa all walked in.
"Got your car back," Faye called throwing the keys at Jake. The keys hit the boy in the face and Jake gave Faye a nasty look before picking them up.
"The house is clean. The crystals aren't there," Kate informed the group.
"I don't know where else they could have hid them. Only they know where they are," Penny said looking at the two girls. "We're going to have to question them."
"Th-the last time we had them trapped liked this and questioned them I got tortured," Melissa said fear clearly in her voice.
"No one is getting tortured this time," Jane told the girl trying to calm her down. Melissa had good reason to fear the two girls in the living room. "The girls' magical core is completely drained. They don't have the energy to use magic."
"Not now," Henry spoke up causing everyone to look at him. "Magical cores recharge and those girls are no idiots. Have you seen what they've been doing?" Everyone looked into the living room to look at the girls.
"Looks like they're sleeping," Faye commented.
"No, not sleeping, although that would be helpful to them. They're mediating. They're trying to recharge their core faster." All the elders look back at the girls and realized Henry was in fact right.
"Those girls with their magical power; all they really have to do is recharge half their core each before they become a problem for us," Royce said. "And if we do any magic right now. Anything on them or around them we can just help speed up their recovery."
Dawn was listening and decided to do something. She walked right into the living room stunning everyone. She pushed Diana's feet off the table causing the girl to open her eyes and move. Because of Diana's movement Cassie moved and then screamed in pain as her hand went to her leg. Dawn could see tears in Cassie's now opened eyes and she also notice Diana's hand went to her leg too. That was weird since Diana wasn't hurt, but Dawn decided to ignore it.
"We have to talk," Dawn stated and the two girls just looked at her. "Where are the crystals?" Dawn hadn't expected them to answer and they didn't surprise her. "Cassie is badly injured and if you tell us where the crystals are we can heal her." The two still didn't respond. "Girls, Cassie is injured, your here, your magic is drained. You girls are smart. There's no way out." There was still no respond. "Okay, let me put this into words you'll understand. The game is over. It's checkmate. We won. Now hand over your king."
Diana laughed. "I think you better take another look at the board. This isn't checkmate." Diana put her feet back up on the table and closed her eyes. Cassie once again closed her eyes and got back into the position she was in before Dawn had come. Dawn knew she wasn't getting anymore from them
She walked back to the group. "Checkmate? What does that mean?" Faye asked making everyone give her a look and Jake actually laughed.
"You've never played chess have you?" Jake asked.
"Do I look lame?" Faye asked.
"In chess the object of the game is to get your other players king. When you get them into a position where you can get their king, but they can avoid it you say check. If you get the player into a position that you will get their king next turn and there is no way for them to stop it you say checkmate." Charles explained to Faye. "I don't understand why you said it Dawn."
"They told me John Blackwell taught them life was like a game of chess. I was trying to tell them the game is over. That we won, but apparently they think they have a move left," Dawn explained.
"Recharging their magical core," Penny said. "That's the only move I can see that they have."
"Even if they do recharge their magical core Cassie is still injured," Amelia pointed out. "John was good at magic, but he was never good at healing spells. Could barely do them; you think those two would be able to heal Cassie." It was a good point and no one had an answer for her. They didn't know what the two girls knew and didn't know.
Right then the door blew open and in walked three boys and one girl. "What is this?" Henry yelled running forward and trying to throw them out with his magic.
One of the older boys held out his hand. Suddenly Henry felt his chest tighten up. Everyone watched as the color drained from Henry's face and he dropped to the floor. "Grandpa," Faye yelled running to her grandfather and getting on the floor. "Grandpa."
Jane was besides Faye and checked on Henry. "He's dead," Jane confirmed making everyone look at her and then the four unknown people.
"No," Faye yelled and went to charge at them, but was stopped by Jake who held her back. He knew these four were dangerous. Everyone did.
"Cassie, Diana," the younger boy and the only girl yelled running into the living room and basically jumping on top of the two causing Cassie to yell out in pain. "Oh sorry." The two backed away. "We were so worried about you two. When we saw the witch hunters take you. We ran right away to get help. Cassie you were so brave protecting us like that..." The two were talking so fast that no one knew who was actually doing the talking and most of what they said no one understood.
"Dylan, Claire, shut up," Cassie and Diana yelled at the two and they were quiet right away. The older two walked into the living room and everyone else stood in the doorway wanting to see the interaction and was very curious what was going on. Not one of the elders were going to get in the middle with someone who could just kill one of them so easily. They decided to observe what was going on first. The younger witches were all comforting Faye and Amelia, Charles, and Dawn were powerless to do anything.
"How the mighty have fallen. Needing us to rescue you," one of the older boys said.
"Shut up Ryder," Diana said and then looked at the other boy. "And don't you say anything Lucas."
"Guys, don't fight," Claire said.
"Shut up," Diana, Cassie, Lucas, and Ryder all said together.
"Can you guys say anything else to us?" Dylan asked making everyone look at him. He held up his hand. "I know. Shut up."
Diana then looked at the elders standing in the doorway. "How rude of us. We didn't introduce you. Meet our Circle." Diana pointed at Lucas and Ryder. "Our older brothers Lucas and Ryder" Diana then pointed at the younger two "and our younger brother and sister Dylan and Claire."
The elders were shocked and looked at each other. Four more Balcoins! No one, but maybe Royce had expected this. Even Royce had only had his theories. "Now, are you going to step aside and let us go?"
"We still outnumber you," Faye yelled running into the living room before anyone could stop her. The others in her Circle followed to stand besides Faye and the elders decided it was better to stand with the kids for their protection. Lucas´ eyes hardened and his expression was twisted enough to make Faye take a step back even while angry.
"Maybe you outnumber us but that can be easily rectified." Lucas said and everyone got the hint.
"Lucas, killing is so messy and unnecessary at this moment. I think we can even out these numbers in a more subtle way." Diana said with a smile.
"You got a plan?" Ryder said interested. Ryder was always the more subtle between him and Lucas. While Lucas had a temper and like to blow things up and kill, Ryder liked to manipulate his way around things.
"Cassie, do you think your magical core is recharge well enough for a spell?" Diana asked.
"They're talking to each other out loud and not through their link. That's bad," Adam said making all the elders look at him.
"You never mentioned a link," Jane said thinking it made sense. The two had developed a mental link with each other. It was the reason they could talk to each other silently.
"Yeah, I think so," Cassie said sitting up. "Lucas, help me stand." The group realized Cassie was giving the boy an order and the older boy followed. Lucas basically lifted Cassie up.
"We should do something before she says a spell," Faye said and went to throw the two against a wall, but was stop by Ryder who lifted her up. The elders themselves didn't know what to do, but they started a spell. Before they could finish they were stopped by the lamp behind them exploding. A couple of the elder hit the floor.
Dylan gave Cassie and Diana a smile. "See we got the exploding head spell down."
"You're supposed to do that on someone's head. That's why it's called the exploding head spell," Ryder said and then looked at Cassie. "Whatever you're going to do, do it now. These distractions are not going to last long unless we start killing." Ryder was right the elders were just starting to pick themselves up
Cassie held up her hand and pointed it right at Melissa. Melissa saw this and tried to back away, but suddenly she felt a pain in her stomach. The pain became so bad Melissa screamed out and fell to the floor in pain. "What did you do?" Penny asked bending down beside her granddaughter.
"Outside that mine I started a spell that connected me to Melissa's magical core, but never finished it because Faye handed over the last crystal. Since I never finished the spell the link stayed open." Cassie laughed. "I just finished the spell."
"Get out of my house," Jane said pointing at the door. She knew if they continued to fight sooner or later the Balcoins would start killing. It was better to let them go,
Lucas lifted Cassie up and carried her out followed by Claire and Dylan. Diana was limping out. "What's wrong with you?" Ryder asked.
"Cassie and I have a sister bond because of that I feel her pain," Diana explained not caring that the elders now knew. It didn't matter anymore. Ryder rolled his eyes and then lifted Diana up.
"Come on, father is waiting and he's worried about you," Ryder walked out holding Diana and the group heard a car leave.
Dawn looked at Amelia and then Jane. "Father is waiting?" Dawn questioned them. "Did you two ever see John Blackwell's body?"
"No," Amelia admitted. "We were just told he was dead."
"John Blackwell faked his death twice?" Charles asked. "Why?"
"To play us," Dawn said. "He faked his death once to get away from us and the witch hunters. Then he kidnaps Cassie and Diana to train them and make them what he wants. Then it's time to put his plan into action, but he needs the crystals. Who better to get them then Cassie and Diana?" Dawn looked around. "So he fakes his death again to get the girls to us. We should have seen it. Those girls are in no position to make a plan like this. They know nothing of this world. They're just the pawns. They were told what to do and they did it well."
"I don't know if you could call them pawns," Kate said. "Pawns are usually thrown away and not protected. No John Blackwell needs them and his other kids for some reason. They're knights, bishops, those two girls might even be considered queens, but John Blackwell is the king."
"We were looking at this all wrong. It's not them we should be worried about. It's him," Royce said. "This has just gotten ten times for dangerous then it was before."
"It was always this dangerous. We just didn't know it," Penny said from her spot holding Melissa. "The spell isn't that strong. It will wear off soon." Penny whispered into Melissa's ear.
"Can you bring him back?" Faye asked going back to her grandfather's body. "You said you have done things like that before."
"I'm sorry Faye, but you need a crystal for that. Even if I did have a crystal that boy, I think it was Lucas, stopped Henry's heart with dark magic. There's no way for me to bring him back." Jane explained.
Faye broke down as crying took over her. She loved her grandfather more than anything. Dawn took her daughter into a hug and Charles went to be with them. "Why? Dad, tell me. Why him?" Faye looked at the only person she had ever known as a father; the man who had comforted her at nights when she had a nightmare.
"He tried to stop them. That group will do anything to complete their goals. We're lucky they didn't just decide to kill us all." Charles said.
"I hate them," Faye said with such anger in her voice. "I hate them all. This John Blackwell, those four whatever their names were, Cassie, and Diana." Faye then looked at Charles. "I know she's your daughter..."
"No," Charles said before Faye could finish. "She's not. She once was. She was once my little girl, but she has proven time and time again she is not that person. She is John Blackwell's daughter and your mine. You're my daughter Faye; have been for the last 12 years." Charles let Faye cry for a while longer. "Let's go get Elizabeth and Thomas and go home." Charles then turned to Jane. "Unless you need us."
"No, I'm going to call the police and say Henry had a heart attack. I think it's better Faye isn't around when they take the body away," Jane explained and Charles nodded. The three of them left as Jane made that call.
-TSC-
When they got back to the motel room Lucas put Cassie down on the bed and Diana got next to her. John Blackwell looked at his daughters. "Leave us," John ordered. "Go get ice cream or go to a movie or something. Just get out." Lucas and Ryder nodded and took the youngest two out.
"My poor girl," John said taking a look at Cassie's leg seeing how bad it was.
"It hurts daddy," Cassie said with tears in her eyes.
John Blackwell took out one of the crystals and held it to Cassie's leg. He started mumbling something under his breath and Cassie felt a lot better. John took the crystal away "I'm sorry. I wish I could heal you completely, but I'm not great with healing spells. It should be able to heal nicely on its own now." John took Cassie into his arms. "How does it feel?"
"Much better," Cassie said. "I think I could walk with it now."
"Don't just yet. Let it rest," John said and then turned to Diana. "How are you?"
"Can barely feel any pain anymore,' Diana said.
"That's good," John held out his other arm and Diana curled in closer to him. "You two are exhausted, both physically and magically. Go to sleep." John tucked the two girls into bed and watched as they both shortly fell asleep. When they were asleep he moved hair out from in front of their faces and kissed them both on the forehead. "No one will ever hurt you again. Not after we're done."
AN: okay, here is the chp. Did everyone like it? Yes Henry Chamberlain won the vote, but I got to tell you it was close. I got like 15 votes or something like that and Henry only won by one. I guess this was a vote you didn't want to win though. Lol. Anyway REVIEW and like always go check out The Secret Circle Project. Chapter 8 is up.