::: FIFTHTEEN :::
I was sitting in our cottage reading a book when the door opened to reveal two people. "Simon! Tori!" I pulled both of them into hugs- I really had missed them more than I realised as my throat tightened at the sight of them.
"Someone missed us." Simon gave me a kiss on the forehead in a brotherly way and moved onto Derek. Tori embraced me in a hug though soon stepped away as she cleared her throat- I knew she isnt the best to cope with emotions.
"Hey Chloe, how is it staying here?"
"Good." Tori raised an eyebrow at me before turning to Derek.
"Having fun with your wolf family? Running around and chasing rabbits, sounds like the life." She had a smirk on her face- I could swear one of her favourite pass times was irrating Derek.
"Tori, we have more important matters."
"And what's that Wolf Boy?"
"Destroying the Edison Group." Whatever was about to leave her mouth stopped there."Let's go see Samuel." Simon and Tori walked out the door and I went to follow as Derek hang back with me. "James, take Simon and Tori to the house. Chloe and I will be there soon." I didn't even notice James standing outside the cottage. I didnt get a chance to react as Derek sat down on the couch running his hands though his hair. "Are you alright?"
"Yeah, why wouldn't I be?"
"Chloe you're a horrible lair, you've been way to quiet." He picked up the book from the couch and placed it on the table as an example of quiet.
"I'm tired." I knew it was a lame and Derek didn't believe it, he didn't push though.
"Come on, let's get the house." Derek and I left the cottage following the stone path.
"Derek, do you think it will work out?" He looked confused but caught on when he saw my expression.
"Everything will be fine before you know it the Edison Group will be destroyed and we'll be free."
I'm coming. I didn't say the words out loud because I knew he'd win, just like our fight last night. If he was going to be there, then so was I - We're a package deal.
Simon seemed to fit in with the wolves but Tori was her usual self, keeping a distance. "Derek, I've run Simon and Tori through the plans." Samuel went to stand by Derek- Why does Tori get to fight and not me?
"Good, now the hard part before the fight. Simon and Tori, you need to learn how to control your powers. We all need to work on our weakness."
Tori that was standing next to me and whispered under her breath to me."Well Derek needs to work on you." I rolled my eyes and hoped no one else heard it, doubtfull-wolves in the house.
"My resources found out that the Edison Group are going to be doing some big time experiments on some of the supernaturals'. We don't want that happening. They plan to do the experiments in five days time. We'll be attacking in four days." Everyone nodded in agreement with what Samuel was saying while Tara and Rebecca took side way glances at me and I gave them a nod.
There was a knock at the door. "Enter." At Samuel's permission a young girl stuck their head into the room.
"Sir, lunch is ready."
"Thank you Emily." She quickly left the room for them to continue. "After this meeting, we are to build our strength and work together, in four days time we attack." Samuel's serious tone lightened up. "Let's have lunch." As people made their way out of Samuel's office- Tori, Simon and Derek busy listening to one of Samuel's stories to see anything else- Tara, Rebecca and I stayed back slowly walking to lunch.
"Derek is going to be pissed when he finds out." Rebecca said, rubbing her belly.
"He isn't going to find out because we're not going to tell him." I glanced between Rebecca and Tara.
"I'm in, he might be my nephew but I hate man thinking they can rule over us women." Tara smiled at me and Rebecca finally nodded in agreement.
"Ok, we need to get away from our mates and meet up at the...spa to plan."
"The spa?"
"I couldn't think of anywhere else and I feel like a spa." Tara just shrugged her shoulders in agreement.
"Seven tonight at the spa." We nodded in agreement and didn't realised we had stopped walking until Derek turned around looking for us.
"Chloe, you sure I can't hit Tori ju- What's going on here?" Derek glanced between us. "Chloe?"
"We're organising a spa tonight." It wasn't a lie.
"Can you take Tori?"
"Yeah, come on lets have lunch." I led Derek to the dining room and as usual Derek and I sat near Samuel while Tori and Simon sat near Luke and little Ben. Everyone dug into the food and conversation flowed down the down. "Tori, tonight at seven we're having a spa. You want to come?"
"Spa?" Tori's voice went almost high pitched. "God, I don't remember the last time I got a spa. I'll be there."
"Good, we need some girl time." It was true- Tori is like a sister to me and we hadn't spent much time together. Hell, we're like a family- Tori, Simon and Derek.
"Spill." Tori was standing in front of me with her hands on her hips only minutes after dinner and we were left alone.
"There is nothing to spill." I picked up the magazine but Tori pulled it out of my hands.
"Chloe."
"I hate it when you use that voice."
"Chloe." I held up my hand in surrender.
"Alright, I'm planning to help with Edison Group." Tori's expression didn't help my boost of confidence.
"The spa?"
"Is our meeting spot."
"Our?" Tori raised an eye brow at me.
"Tara, Rebecca and I. Tori, I can't stay here while Derek is out fighting."
"I get you, but...it's...your...I don't want to lose anyone and you...your...not like Simon and I or Derek."
"Tori , I can bring back the dead. I think I can take care of myself." That has to count for something, right? "You guys are the only family I have." Like Tori I couldn't think about the chances of anyone getting hurt, it made me sick in the stomach. "Are you going to help?" Tori looked at me for awhile before she finally made up her mind.
"Yes, but Derek..." I held up my hands.
"Derek can't know."
"You're going to lie to Derek? Are we talking about the same Derek Souza?"
"I love Derek, I can't leave him. You know he would lock me up in a room if it meant keeping me safe." My voice started sounding panicked just thinking about leaving Derek and him never coming back.
Tori was quiet for awhile before she pulled me off the couch and started walking for the cottage door. "Let's get to the spa." She smiled at me and threaded our arms together, walking to the spa room. "You know, I also went crazy spending so much time with Simon."
"You are crazy." I smiled at her in a joking manner.
"Well I think my craziness is rubbing off on you. I'm surprised you came up with a plan like this, but it needs working on."
"That is what Tara, Rebecca and you come in."
"You always have been a smart girl but you're sending us to hell, Derek will have our heads."
"Tori, everything will work out." She didn't look too convinced with my words but didn't push it.
We opened the doors to the spa to find Tara and Rebecca there already. "Ladies come in, the water is great." Rebecca smiled and splashed at us.
We striped our clothes leaving our bathers and joined the other two. "Now how are we going to get you into the fight?" Tara didn't waste any time and got straight to the point.
"We travel to the Edison building and make camp not far, when the sun rises on the fourth day, we attack. I'll have to leave with Samuel and the rest of the group- When were out of sight, you'll run to the left side of the building to the back door, James and Jacks group will be waiting for you. You must be on time, somehow arrive at the same time as James and Jack. They won't leave without you but if you're late, you're putting Derek and Luke in danger. Derek and Luke will get caught if James and Jack can't reach the control room to disabling the alarms." Rebecca tied her wet hair up before continuing. "Jack will look after you, you'll be fine with him. You need to stay away from Derek because if he gets one sniff of you and he won't be far behind. He needs to keep his head in the game, with you around that can't happen. Derek and Luke will head to the holding cells. We will meet in the middle courtyard with everyone, Jack will bring you back to the camp and return to the courtyard like he was always there." She really had thought about this a lot.
"Would it really work?" I asked glancing at Tara.
"I've help Samuel plan all the time, I've never failed." She gave me a light smile.
Tori spoke up."You said, Chloe would have to arrive at the same time as James and Jack. If I stay by Chloe's side, I could take her back and forth. Simon taught me a new spell, traveling from one spot to another."
"Simon taught you something without throwing magic at you?" Tori held up her hands and smiled.
"Who said there wasn't any magic been thrown around."
Tara got us back on track."How well are you at the spell?"
"I could use some practice."
"You and Chloe can practice going from one spot to another. Please tell me you guys aren't defenseless?"
"I'm a witch and I can kick us when I need to." She looked proud with her answer.
"Chloe?"
"I'm a necromancer." Tara raised an eyebrow at me, waiting for more.
"Is that all you've got? What if there's nothing dead around? What are you doing to do?"
"Ahhh..." Tori helped me out. "She knows how to use a knife, she's even stabbed someone." Oh right- Liam.
"Both of you will have to practice fighting."
"What about Derek?"
Rebecca answered me, I almost forgot she was in the room with Tara's stream of questions."We'll keep having girl time."
Tara continued. "Rebecca and I will help you train. Rebecca is one of the best fighters well until she got pregnant but she'll be back in the game soon."
"You girls should get back to the cottage before Simon and Derek come looking for you." Outside it was already pitch black. "See you tomorrow night." Tori and I got out of the water and wrapped ourselves in a towel as we walked to the changing room to shower. When we entered the change room, Tori burst into laughter.
"Why are you laughing?" She pointed at me, I looked down and my skin was wrinkly from sitting in the water for to long- I crossed my arms.
"You should have a look at yourself." Tori was still giggling when she looked at herself in mirror and grasped.
"I look old, I'm a granny." Now I was the one laughing as Tori's expression suddenly chanced.
I threw a dry towel at Tori. "Have a shower and let's get back to the cottage." I walked into a shower cube leaving Tori to look in the mirror- it was good to finally have a laugh with everything that's happening around them.
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PUBLISHED: 06/10/2010
REVISED: 26/05/2013