I still live! I am so so so sorry guys for not updating for so long, crap happens and a trip to see family for a few months without your laptop has consequences. Not to say that I didnt have pen and paper and so, the story does continue.
I am going to be jumping around a bit here with the time line, a bit like a doctor who episode for the next… phh 2 or 3 chapters. Should make sense in the end though. Thanks guys!

Refresh! The three just returned from an attack from Zeno, their key team player Jesse injured. They escaped, and with a new ali, or maybe a foe in the form of a shifter. With Jesse healed and recovering, the guys had a bit of time to think about just how serious this situation is, and so Adam phones for back up, Ben unsure how to react to the person on the other end.

...
If I could be like them, I would give anything
Just to live one day in those shoes.
..

Jesse speaks

My eyes opened slowly, soft light blinding me for a moment before I shielded my eyes from the moon with my hand. I was disoriented for a moment, unsure where I was or why I had this uneasy feeling but I could remember being injured and was grateful to be awake.

Gently I sat myself up in the lounge, the itchy fabric rough against my bare skin. The white bandage wrapped around me was tight and I sighed, too tired to get up but too uncomfortable to stay on the lounge. Carefully I stretched out, pulling the bandage away from my skin.

Glancing down to where my injury should have been, I sighed with relief that there was no gaping wound. Gently I touched around it with a wince; the outside had healed but underneath it was still tender. It wasn't unbearable, but it still caused me a bit of grief to lay down and sleep. Besides, I felt like I had been asleep for a year and I couldn't handle the thought of lying back down once again and drifting off into a dreamless sleep, if I was lucky.

Sitting more comfortably with the pillow propped behind me, I stared out the gap in the blinds to the moon that was hanging in the sky.
I used to do that all the time, head out to a beach somewhere or a favourite spot in a different country, but when I had a home, when I had Kiara leaning on my shoulder, that had the best view in the world.

I tried to hide my groan as I thought of her, not wanting to disturb any one, but I couldn't feel them. Part of my gifts was being able to sense other people, other demons or creatures but I couldn't feel anyone, not even Pearl. Worry had set its roots in my stomach and I tossed the blanket aside quickly, silently getting to my feet. Everything seemed to be in its place, a little too well as I moved down the short flight of stairs to the kitchen. No dishes, no beer bottles lying everywhere, the air even lacked the normal smells. Turning around to try and find Adam I faulted as the lounge room disappeared as I blinked, morphing into a room I could barely remember.

As I stepped up into it, slowly things began to take shape, the large poster of Australia on the wall and the neatly made bed. My heart was in my throat and I turned to try and get back to the kitchen, not wanting to go back to that room but it was gone, replaced with a room that I remembered quite well. Kiaras bedroom always felt like home and as I stepped into the room, too saddened to think of what was going on, I could remember every aspect of this place. The bohemian style room was so familiar, I could smell the in-scents and even see a figure lying in the bed a level off the floor.

I wanted nothing more than to go over to her, to lay down next to her and forget the world but the uneasy feeling I had when I woke was making me sick in the stomach. Tentatively I moved closer, wondering if I could actually touch her but stopped when I finally sensed someone, or something.

'Amazing what the human mind can produce.'
I spun around, defences up and boy braced, Zeno just chuckling as he straightened his dark suit. Instinctively I tried to force him from my mind or at least to the opposite wall but he remained firm as he stalked closer.
'What do you want?'
Zeno grinned deliberately, now between me and the bed. He noticed my tensing and casual looked to the figure in the bed.
'The mind is such an intricate organ isn't it, can produce such a convincing lie.' He stroked his hand down Kiaras side and I snarled but he held his hand up, 'and so easy manipulated.' He clicked his fingers and the blanket shifted, settling on the bed

My heart sank but my rage replaced it quickly.
'What do you want?'
'I'm just glad to see that your all still up here…' Zeno smirked and it made my stomach churn, especially when he put his fingers to his temple and I could feel him, feel his mind searching through mine. I blocked him and it got a chuckle from him, enough so that he folded his arms.
'I knew you were good, but I have to give you some credit. Tell me, how did you learn to use your powers?'
'How did you learn yours?'
Again Zeno chuckled and I gave a fake smile, willing the room away until we stood in something of Zenos memory.

The room was filthy, old and the smell of mould was almost too strong to handle. Zeno looked a bit disappointed but didn't force me from his. Children were spread out over the area, some playing on the floor, others reading quietly.
'Did you know that in an orphanage back in my day, the chances of dying while you were a child was extremely high?' he nodded as I raised an eyebrow, 'Oh yes. Poisoned milk, filthy living areas… monsters under the bed, and it never mattered how long you prayed for, no family was coming to get you.'
'That's why I went out and found my own.'
Zeno smiled and with no effort we were standing back in Adams kitchen, something I had no part in thinking.
'Which is why I am stronger than you.'

I huffed, feeling cold suddenly and folded my arms, Zeno titled his head as if waiting for me to challenge that, and I did. I threw my mind open, catching him off guard enough that I could see his memories, feel his emotions and could see everything that had been and might be. Zeno roared, lunging at me and I braced for the collision.

Jerking awake, I could feel my side pinch as I gasped for air, the familiar smell of alcohol and dirty dishes lingering in the air. It was oddly comforting and with a sob I fell back onto the lounge. I had no idea what just happened, it felt like a dream but another part of me felt as though it had all just happened. Frustrated I sat up on the lounge, my head in my hands as I struggled with a splitting headache and conflicting emotions.

I was awake now, I could sense it but my thoughts were everywhere. Some were my own; some were Zenos and some I just couldn't pin down. Feeling angry as images began to flash before my eyes I clenched my fists as I saw people, broken bodies that looked barley human, young and old. All of them innocent.

A hand gently touched my shoulders and I reacted, grabbing the arm tightly and leaping off the lounge, pinning the person to the wall as a glass fell to the ground. I was going to demand Zeno for answer, was going to beat it out of him and then give him a death worse than all those that had died at his hands.

'Jesse-'
The voice was soft and I had to blink a few times to be able to differentiate between what was real and what wasn't. My blood was pounding in my ears and I could feel the hairs of my arms stand on end when I looked into fearful blue eyes. Still unsure, I pushed the body against the wall harder, unsure if Zeno was playing a trick but as I watched, Claire tried to give a smile, her voice gone as I pushed my arm against her throat. Behind me Pearl was growling low, confirmation that something wasn't right and I dropped my arm from Claires throat, snarling myself as she gasped for air, rubbing at the red mark forming across her white skin.

'Too much of a coward? You have to hide yourself in as someone I care about?' I took a step back, bracing myself as I allowed the body to drop to the floor. Holding out my hand, I made sure he wasn't able to move, my power pressing down on him enough to make even breathing a difficult task. I was ready to attack him again but Pearl placed herself between myself and Claire, snarling with such a warning that I hesitated in my advance. Eyes looked up at me and I realised that the fear that was in them was real and I released the breath I had been holding. Dropping my hand, Claire slumped more onto the ground, blonde hair falling around her face to shield her from me.

'Claire I'm-' Pearl stopped me from helping her up, barking angrily. She wouldn't stop and I couldn't get around her so stepped further back towards the lounge, Claire slowly lifting herself up as lights flicked on in the kitchen. Adam tried to calm Pearl, who refused to take her eyes off me and Ben rushed to Claire, helping her to stand up.
'I'm alright, I'm alright.' She told him as he fussed and I dropped back onto the lounge, angry at myself for not stopping myself. I could have killed her so easily and I wouldn't have known until it was too late.

Claire coughed a few times, Adam going to pour her a drink, not wanting to speak to me. Ben helped her to a seat before he marched over to me, myself rising to stand in front of me.
'What the hell did you do?' he bellowed, eyes blazing with rage and confusion. I glared at him myself but didn't answer, I didn't know.
'Answer me or by God I'll-'
'You'll what, Braeden? What can you try and do to me?'
I saw Bens fist clench tight and I tensed my own jaw, not going to stop him and knowing he could pack a punch.
'Shut up! You're such children!'

We both turned our attention to Claire who was standing know, a glass of water in her hand and Adam helping himself to a bottle of whiskey after wiping up the spilt water and unbroken cup.
'But he-'
Claire made a motion to her lips to silence Ben and as I went to speak she did it again. We both stood there like children being punished and even Adam had a smirk on his face.
'Is it just a man's way to solve things? Get in each other's faces and buck horns like three year olds?'
'But he hurt you Claire!'
She rubbed at her neck, taking a deep breath.
'You don't think I know?' she glared at him but it softened. 'But I am sure there must be a reason why.'

All eyes turned to me know and I sighed heavily, my mind becoming clearer.
'I am sorry,' I started at Claire who just nodded softly, 'I thought you were Zeno.'
She raised an eyebrow and I took a seat, Ben refusing to move.
'While I was asleep, somehow we… he got into my mind.'
Adam looked startled, sitting up in his chair and watching me with a concerned face.
'Does he know where we are?'
Shaking my head, I kept my insecurities to myself, I couldn't see where he was, so he couldn't see mine either, could he?
'No but I know what he is planning.'

This had everyone's attention now, even Ben relaxed his stance and moved to stand beside Claire.
'How?'
'I don't know. It was almost the same as when I helped you get your memories back, except his memories got mixed with mine and that's why I thought, why I hurt… sorry again Claire.'
She waved a hand, mumbling something about it being in the past and I felt a sigh of relief escape my lips but I was still angry at myself for hurting her, how could she trust me now? Being what I am is bad enough but using it on Claire? I don't trust me, I looked at Adam, speaking to him telepathically that I needed to work more on my abilities with my mind, not so much the body.
'It's fine boy, what did you find out?'
Closing my eyes, I tried to sift through the memories again, trying to keep my own mind from being lost in what wasn't real.

'We've said and heard before that Zeno has plans for the world, like some old fashioned villain but he wants to take it a step further.'
'In what way?' Claire asked softly and I opened my eyes, everything clear now.
'His powers. He is going to use his powers to become the next God, to rule the world his way.'
I was met only with silence and I could understand their confusion, it sounded farfetched, but how did I explain all of this to them in a way which doesn't make them lock me up like a mad man?
'Zeno is like me, a being that is stronger than human and demon and everything in between. I was told once that my powers would be the end of heaven. Zeno is twice as strong as I am, nothing stands a chance of escaping him.'

'Ok, why does he want to destroy the world like something out of a comic?'
'He doesn't want to destroy it, not all of it anyway. His childhood wasn't the best, he feels that everything worked against him, he just wants peace.'
Ben scoffed, 'we've all had a rough childhood, we don't want to kill half the population for it.'
'He isn't human.'
'Neither are you,' Ben said, 'you don't want to rule the world.'

I tried to give him a brief smile, glad that he said that, maybe things between us really weren't as unfriendly as it felt.
'No wars, no demons, no monsters. He wants to make the perfect world, only this world has no heaven no hell.'
There was another unsettling silence and I rubbed at my bare arms, feeling a morning chill break across my skin.
'But, one person can't do all of that. The angels will stop him, and not to forget the people on this planet that will rival against him.' Claire said as she scratched behind Pearls ears.
'Not a problem to Zeno, he thinks the world is too over populated with humans anyway.'
'The demons? All those other monsters and gods and whatever, they won't go quietly and a million to one isn't too fair.'
I looked up with a frown and half a laugh on my lips.
'He's got a plan for that to.'
'Scales.' Claire answered softly and I nodded.
'The scales.'

Are things starting to piece together for them?

xXx
Silver-Kirin