The Hunt for Sviederbach

Disclaimer: I do not own Shake it Up

A/N:

Chapter 27 (One Step Closer)

The next morning, Aveline was elated to read the clue for the next person she needed to grab, it seemed clear-cut that it was her mom! She dressed in her suit, but kept the giant dress off, only replacing it with some protective garments. She wasn't underestimating the cunningness of the Lamont family, not after what happened the other day. If indeed anyone tried anything, she was sure to tear them limb from limb this time around.

She stared down at the paper on the end table beside her bed with and slowly grinned at the note. A fatal robbery took your grandmother, I never thought I'd see this place again in my life, but here I'm trapped within the vault. You have five hours to find me. "Don't worry mom, I'll get you out of there." There was nothing she wouldn't do to get her mom now that she knew where the woman was. All of the strenuous training would pay off, but the only question that remained was: How was she supposed to get into the vault? Likely the bank teller would know the combination.

Astor opened up the bedroom door and Aveline quickly looked over to him, "Hey Sis, are you ready to start up?" The stress over what those cousins had done was slowly wearing off, but she couldn't let it stop her. "You're sure about where we're going?"

"Yes." She knew the story of her grandmother's death, Cece had told it to her several times over the years. She knew the location of the bank as w well. "Can't say I'm surprised they'd put mom there." Being there must be terrifying for her, as it would be forcing her to relive those memories of losing her own mother. She also had to wonder about the Lamont's choosing the bank as a place to put her mother. After all, Cece lost her mother there, why not set it up to where Aveline would lose her mother at the very same bank? This, however, was not in Aveline's plan for the day. "We'll just have to get the bank teller to open the vault and get our mom out, assuming she is locked up in there. Let's just hope the Lamonts don't try anything cheap…" She had to admit, she was a little afraid of what the family might try next. It was a fear she hadn't even considered until her run in with Brad.

"I'll be right there, sis. If anything happens, I'll catch it if you don't." She smiled at her brother and moved over, hugging him. Fortunately he was able to keep her calm during all of this. "What do you think should happen after this? I mean after we save Mom, there's still Noak left to save, right? It sucks that everyone else in the world can see what's going on with everybody, but we can't."

"Actually we can, we just haven't had the time." Astor raised an eyebrow. She was shocked he wasn't aware that they could technically view everyone! How else was Estelle able to tell what was going on? She led him out into the living room and flipped on the television, revealing the same screen shown to them when Martin first started everything. The only difference was the captives left were Gunther, Ander, Frankie, Karin, and Cece. Noak, on the other hand, was running? "What the hell? Astor, look at Noak…"

Noak's camera was moving swift through grass, and on occasion looking back at some girl chasing him. The girl had long brown hair, large round glasses, and a freckled face. She was shout at Noak through some sort of book she was holding onto. "Oh my god, that's Noak's ex!" The first girl Noak ever dated was a young girl that practiced witchcraft, much like her mother. Granted, her mother was strict about not using magic without there being a good enough reason. Her mom was a strange and tall woman named Dakota, she never did much, and never revealed anything of her past to anyone. This was what Noak said of her when dating the woman's daughter. "So…Quinn has her?"

"No…" Noak's camera shifted to a woman in front of him. The woman was covered in blood and screaming like a banshee. Aveline's eyebrows rose and Astor's hand cupped over his mouth. Astrid walked into the room and froze upon seeing the screen. Aveline and Astor looked back at her as she pointed to the screen.

"That's Erin! Eric's wife! What was she thinking taking Noak to Quinn's place?" From what she understood, Dakota and her daughter were able to truly practice the art of black magic. This included certain spells that allowed for controversial issues as time travel, which was a black art in these times, considering nobody wanted to tamper with the past. In fact, she wouldn't be surprised if it was black magic that had a hand in creating those soul-disks, or the other controversial inventions. "Quinn's going to kill them! Maybe not Noak, but probably Erin…"

"Great." This troubled her deeply, and she found herself torn between two options. She really wanted to see her mom, but she knew Noak needed rescue. "I want to save Mom. I miss her, I want to be with Mom, but then there's Noak here…I don't know what to do…"

"Seems Noak's in more of an urgent state," Astor said under his breath. They all knew Noak was more than capable of taking care of himself, but it would be bad to risk his life based off a judgment. "I don't see any landmarks that I recognize." Astrid moved closer to the screen and knelt down, narrowing her gaze intensely. After a few seconds, she nodded and looked back over her shoulder.

"Noak's at the school. I can recognize the big track field."

"I wonder what Erin did to piss off his ex."

"Probably decided to take him to her house, that might be enough to do it." Although they'd been there for a few days now, Quinn hadn't been chasing them, so she was allowing the stay. Apparently something happened to change this fact.

"All right. Astor, first things first, we go collect Noak…then get mom." Astor agreed and Aveline quickly hurried to the teleporter on the table. She didn't care if this was against Martin's rules or not, she wasn't going to let anything happen to Ander's siblings.

Within minutes they appeared directly in the middle of the track field, amazed by how good the teleportation device was becoming. Aveline scanned her eyes over to the voices yelling in the air. She could see Noak and Quinn, but Erin was missing. Noak looked over to them, his eyes wide and bloodshot. "Would you stop her before she makes me disappear!"

"Quinn!" Aveline barked out. The girl stopped and looked over to her, humming as Noak rushed over to Aveline and Astor. During the time Noak dated Quinn, which was about three years ago, Aveline and Ander had spent some time getting to know this girl. As crazy as she was, she only needed someone to talk to her with a little more patience and effort than Noak was giving. "Quinn, what's the problem?" Quinn closed her mother's spell book and crossed her arms.

"That woman brought Noak into my house, just randomly, and then they started fighting. They ruined the antique dolls that I have!" Aveline sighed and slowly shook her head, letting the irritation subside so she could hold onto her patience. Quinn was a collector of dolls, so it made sense for her to be angry over it. "I used a spell in my mom's book here, sent that woman to your castle to be locked up."

"That's specific, how'd you know to send her there?"

"I just took the current events, that's all…" Quinn walked over to the group and pointed an accusing finger at Noak. "He wrecked the most priceless doll in my collection! You know those antique Barbie dolls? The very first one ever made?"

"Oh no, don't tell me…"

"He crushed it!" She screamed angrily and Noak quickly ducked behind Aveline. Aveline put her hand to her forehead and slowly shook her head. "It was in mint condition and everything! I was going to wait until 2050 or 2060 to sell it on the 100th anniversary! That thing could be worth a lot by then!"

"Oh Quinn, you and your mother practice witchcraft. Dark magic…you can restore the Barbie doll…" Quinn bowed her head and started muttering. Aveline smiled at the girl and put her hand to her shoulder, patting it gently. "I know you're just quick to anger, and it makes sense. After all, considering who your mother is and the friends your mother had back in high school…it makes sense…"

"Noak told you all that?" Quinn's voice fell flat and her eyes narrowed. Noak shifted further behind Aveline. She sighed heavily and nodded her head, choosing honesty over dishonesty. "What else did he tell you?"

"That your mother's best friend led some group in high school and killed a guy." Quinn gasped and pointed a finger up to her.

"Kelly had a bad upbringing, and the guy that died…it was justified. That man was a womanizer, a stalker, and he tried to assault one of their friends. Mom says Kelly just needed someone to care about her…" That was really sounding familiar, like Martin seemed like he could change his ways if he had someone who cared for him.

"Oh yeah…and whatever happened to her?"

"…She took her own life in prison…" Aveline winced and slowly led the group off the track field. It was time to get her home, then to pay a visit to the bank and retrieve her mother. Quinn looked over to Noak with a sad smile. "Sorry about the chase, I just…I act before I think, you know."

After reaching Quinn's house, her mother was waiting on the front lawn with her hands at her hips. Dakota's long brown hair fell over her shoulders and swept her waist. She was wearing a long sleeved purple shirt with a floral design and chiffon sleeves. Her green eyes were narrow and her lips flat. Quinn smiled nervously at her mother.

Dakota pointed to the door and Quinn groaned, knowing full well how much trouble she was in. "Your room now, Quinn. We will talk about your taking my book without asking."

"Sorry mom…"

"You know better." Aveline watched Quinn depart into the home and looked up as Dakota turned a smile her way. "Thank you for bringing my daughter home. I didn't even know that woman had been staying in my house, much less near my daughter. Had I known, I would never have allowed her to be in my home, I don't know what I'd do with myself if I ever lost Quinn." Dakota tapped her fingers on her forehead and heaved a heavy sigh, pausing for a brief second before gazing sincerely into Aveline's eyes. "Listen, if you ever need anything…let me know. I owe you a favor."

"I'll keep that in mind." She smiled graciously and waved as Dakota moved back into the house. What favor could Dakota really do for her? She rubbed her chin and looked down to Astor, smirking subtly. Maybe Dakota could help Martin out somehow with that black magic of hers. She'd have to think about this, but for now, there were more imperative matters at stake. "All right Astor, and Noak…let's go get mom. We've taken enough of a detour here."

You've met Dakota, the sorcerer who will be important later on. (Which isn't too long as there aren't that many chapters left, hence why I'm updating daily now). Dakota will lead us into the next and final installment. Anyhow, what did you think of this chapter?