Chapter Nine: Mission Status
~ Amaya's POV~
Three days...
Three long days...
Three long diaper filled days and I was ready to hunt Jack down myself. He hadn't showed up yet, so Jay was still in my custody.
Admittedly it wasn't as bad as I'd thought it would be considering Jay was only a few months old, but he was a silent child. Until Keira and Memphis played with him that is. Then things started to get weird.
I found myself staring at whatever movie I was watching and suddenly I would be thinking very disturbing thoughts. Like, 'Why didn't they end up together?' or 'They would go well together.' Jay would always giggle as if he knew what I was thinking. Then it hit me that he was indeed Love. He'd know those. That thought always prompted me to go back to work.
Which was what I was doing when a knock on the door sounded. I stopped reading the final report from Ali on her hunting of the Banshee (they were worse than a percussion grenade). I put Dark Knight on the desk, despite his meowing, and went to answer the door hoping none of the Elders had found out about Jay. (Just because I was one of six Animorphi left didn't mean I was immune from their wrath.)
"Keira, Memphis, don't play with his ears like that." I called absently.
"Sorry!" They chimed before playing some crazy game I really didn't understand. I opened the door after a brief hesitation. Jack stood on the other side looking victorious.
"Hey Aya-" I punched his stomach again. The breath left him with a satisfying 'oomph'.
"About damn time you lazy oaf." I grinned. "I was starting to think I'd have to hand over the thing to the proper authorities." Jack glared up at me.
"Why do you enjoy hitting me?" I smiled motioning him inside.
"That's what you get for disappearing for two years. I would've hit you harder and in the jaw, but I need you alive." I walked into the living room to see Jay giggling at Darknado, and Pinky as Keira and Memphis asked them questions about love. "Kids, Jay's… uncle is here for him."
"What?" Keira asked dropping Pinky who took the time to run away as fast as possible.
"No!" Memphis cried when Jack came in looking like he hadn't been hit a few seconds earlier.
"I'm sorry kids but I need to get Jay back to his other aunts and uncles before they come hunt me down." Jack said. He grinned at Memphis. "I may have kidnapped my nephew so I could spend some time with him."
"But we haven't seen you here." Keira said suspiciously. I snickered as Jack figured a way out of this one.
"Jack was in trouble with his sister and she and her brothers were holding him hostage until he told them where he hid Jay." I said sparing him from the inquisition.
"Exactly." Jack was quick on the uptake. He stood up. "And if I want to be able to have kids one day, I'd better get Jay home right now." He swooped Jay up before the kids could say anything.
"Can't Jay stay one more night?" Keira asked.
"Yeah he was about to tell us a secret!" Memphis cried. Well, wasn't that a very scary thought?
"I'm sorry kids but Jay needs to go home now." I said firmly. "His family misses him."
"Aww… okay." Keira sniffed. I smiled ruffling her hair. "Can we see him again?"
"Yeah can we please?" Memphis asked clinging to Jacks leg.
"We'll see." Jack said doubtfully.
"Why don't you two go and play Fruit Ninja? I barely managed to unlock the Flame Sword this morning."
"YAY!" Memphis yelled before he and Keira ran to my room to get the tablet. I looked at Jack.
"I trust you and Haddock have made up?" Jack's grin was very evil.
"Let's just say he won't be walking anywhere any time soon." I rolled my eyes.
"You pervert. But you will be coming by again right?" I asked seriously narrowing my eyes. "I miss one of my best friends."
"I'm not sure." Jack said vaguely as he looked to the side, avoiding eye contact with me. "Are you still going to hit me?"
"Maybe." I grinned. "You'd better get going."
"Yeah. Thanks for this Aya, I really owe you one." I snorted hugging him.
"You owe me several favors." He grinned before walking towards the door. "Take care Jack Frost."
"Take care Black Night." He smirked. I threw a pillow at him for using my old moniker. I sighed rubbing my forehead. A meow had me looking down to see Dark Knight, Cutie, and Scarecrow looking at me. I picked up Cutie and balanced him on my head while Scarecrow and Dark Knight were on my shoulders.
"I suppose this is my fault for wishing for more non-violent friends huh?" I shrugged lightly careful of my fuzzballs. Keira and Memphis were playing on the tablet, from what I could hear.
"Memphis let me play too!"
"Wait let me just get the three pineapples!" I snorted, walking to my office as a phone rang.
"Poor pineapples. I can never kill them. They remind me of Shikamaru." Scarecrow meowed.
"MAYA!" Memphis came running in with Oreo and Sleepy. Keira wasn't far behind him with Beauty and Brittany. I sighed putting my pen down. No sense in wasting paper by trying to multi-task.
"Yes?" I asked politely turning my attention to the kids.
"Can we watch Frozen?" Keira asked.
"No! You've seen that movie already!" Memphis cried. He held up a familiar movie. "Can we watch Godzilla?"
"Frozen!" Keira shouted folding her arms and pouting.
"Godzilla!" Memphis yelled. "We watch Frozen all the time."
"Godzilla's a stupid movie!"
"You're stupid! Godzilla is awesome!"
"He's an iguana!"
"He's a dragon!"
"He's a lizard!"
"What lizard breathes fire?"
"OI!" I yelled slamming my hand on the desk. They looked at me. "You," I pointed to Keira. "Want to watch Frozen again?"
"Yes." I nodded.
"And you," I pointed to Memphis, "Want to watch Godzilla, yes?"
"Yep!" I nodded.
"Then this is quite simple. Keira watch Frozen on the laptop and Memphis watch Godzilla on the tablet." Keira stomped her foot.
"No! I want you to watch Frozen with me." I raised an eyebrow.
"Watch the attitude Miss Thing." I warned. Keira only glared at me.
"I want you to watch Godzilla with me." Oh dear goddess. One thing about these two was the fact that they wanted me around 24/7. Not that I minded but at times when I needed to work it did get a bit strained.
"I'm busy guys." I said indicating my paperwork, running computer, and laptop. "Why don't you watch TV with your kittens?" I asked offering the scapegoat and hoping they took it.
"But I want to watch TV with you." Keira and Memphis chimed.
"Please!"
"I'm sorry guys but I can't." I said sadly. "I have work to do. We don't get to pay the bills with just the potions I make." Not that we really had many bills considering we owned the house and land. The only things I paid on was the necessities for the kitchen, bathroom, electricity, internet and phones. Not to mention the streaming services. Yeah those add up. Thinking about it all brought the familiar headache and nauseating feeling of expectations. "I'll join you two when I'm done okay?"
"Okay." Keira's tone was all it took to make me regret saying no. She grabbed her brother's hand. "Let's go watch Godzilla Memphis. We can watch my movie after that."
"Okay." I watched them leave feeling like sh*t. I picked up my pen and started on my paperwork again, but I couldn't stop the feeling of guilt and disappointing them.
"Meow?" I looked up to see Scarecrow looking at me.
"I wish I could make a double and do two things at once, but I can't." I whispered. "I hate disappointing them."
"Mrow?" Dark Knight and Cutie jumped up onto my lap. Cutie even moved to my hand and stopped it by laying on it. I raised an eyebrow.
"You want me to go watch TV with them?" Kit jumped onto my lap and looked at me with his big blue eyes. "You know someone has to work." Kit glared and started to growl. "Do you want me to send you on a trip like I did with Sparkle?" He didn't back down.
"Me~ow." I looked to the side to see Beauty and Brittany looking at me from the floor.
"What has the world come to?" I muttered dropping my pen. "Fine. I'll go watch TV with the kids." The cats immediately meowed and jumped off me. I sighed turning off the computer and laptop before leaving the paperwork where it was. I could finish it later tonight.
My silent footsteps weren't heard as Keira and Memphis set up the TV. I still amazed me that a six-year-old could hook up the XBOX, PS3, and BluRay. I couldn't even figure it out unless I was given directions.
"What movie were you two going to watch?" I asked. Keira and Memphis turned around quickly. Their smiles were worth procrastinating.
"Godzilla!" Memphis said imitating a soldier. I smiled.
"Well in that case, I suppose I should make some popcorn."
"Can we have soda too?" Keira asked. I flashed back to the last time they'd had soda. Did I want a repeat?
"You two are sharing." I said sternly.
"Okay." I had to hand it to the cats, they might leave hair on my favorite pillows but at least they were good at making me feel better. Somewhat.
As the rolling credits came on screen for Frozen, I looked to the side to see Keira and Memphis already passed out. Oreo was in his usual place in Memphis' arms while Keira cuddled with Rose. Chucky was sleeping on Keira's chest while Beauty had her stomach. Sleepy was lightly dozing on Memphis' back while Sparkle was on his feet with Brittany keeping him warm. Pinky, Darknado, and Kit were laying sprawled out on the ottoman with Scarecrow. Cutie and Dark Knight were the only two awake on my lap.
I smiled briefly before looking back at the screen.
While I'd been watching Godzilla I'd gotten a bad feeling, and I never got those unless something life changing was about to happen. During Frozen the feeling had intensified so much that I could barely concentrate on the movie. Something just didn't feel right, and it was making me itchy enough to consider putting another layer of protection on the house and grounds.
That was really an overkill move I admit. This house had always been in the family and so over the years every Matriarch who'd ever lived in here had put a layer of protection over it that only strengthened every time it had been renewed. I'd made sure to put an extra layer after my mother… but now I really thought I should put another layer on.
"Meow?" I looked down into Dark Knight and Cutie's concerned eyes. Or I could just do something else. I petted Dark Knights ears making him purr. He didn't stop looking at me.
"Cutie, Dark Knight," Another weight landed on my lap. "Scarecrow, I have a really bad feeling." I murmured.
"Meow?" Cutie tilted his head to the side.
"You can accept or not, it is your choice." I touched his forehead along with Dark Knight's. I sent a pulse of magic into them making their eyes widen in surprise. I quickly touched Scarecrow's forehead before he could run off on me. As with Cutie and Dark Knight his eyes widened. I put my other hand over my heart. "I, Amaya Black, Firstborn daughter of Connie Black and Ren Black, choose you three, Dark Knight, Cutie, and Scarecrow to be my familiars and to help me protect my family. Genus est et qui mihi semper erit. Nunc vos familiam. Nigri generis, in sempiterna secula (1). So, I have wished it, so shall it be." My magic spiked as it suddenly coursed into the three kittens.
Since their bodies were too small to contain all the magic their bodies instantly started to shift, and their fur turned a deeper color than it already was. Their eyes dilated, their claws came out looking sharper than they had been, and their bodies bulked up, so they were leaner. I felt a brief pulse as their life force connected to mine making me wonder what was with the unusual feel of their 'magic'.
When my magic had settled they looked to me.
"I guess you all choose to accept huh?" I smiled. I opened my mouth again but snapped it shut when I sensed the magical signature approaching. Gently I moved the cats to the side before getting up and answering the door. Instinctively I sensed my familiars following me.
The giant mahogany door opened silently to reveal a hooded figure dressed in the usual hunting garb.
"Amaya Black." I nodded. "I must speak with you." Considering she made it to the front door I supposed she was part of the Guardians. I moved aside for her to come in. She didn't hesitate to go to the library. I followed her lead aware of the scent of blood, sweat, and slight fear on her. (Cats and dogs really are the best people to sense that stuff.) Cutie, Dark Knight, and Scarecrow followed me in as I closed the door to the library.
"What's wrong?" I asked seriously. She didn't take her hood off, so I was assuming she was still in hunting mode. I waited while she collected her thoughts.
"We need your help Black Night." I tensed at the name. My newly made familiars tensed as I did but before they would do anything to get rid of my unease I spoke.
"I'm retired. I stopped working a year ago to take care of my family." She nodded.
"I wouldn't have come to you unless it was an emergency." She pulled out a file with black tape on it. She handed it to me. I opened the 'Black Out' file and read the papers. My eyes widened in shock before snapping to her.
"Are you serious?"
"I was injured when they caught onto our last attempt at an ambush." She pulled her arm forward to show her blood dried, stitched, slash that went from her wrist to her inner forearm. "The poison didn't have time to set it, thank the Goddess, but others weren't so lucky."
"So, what, you want to go in and take them out? With another team?" I asked. "That is the stupidest thing I've heard all year."
"You are the only Animorph we have based close to this den. It's time to get back into the field and do what we were trained to do! For our families as well as the humans." She flipped the file open. "Fifty-two human's dead, in one month. Last month it was thirty-four. The Demons are getting bolder."
"I made a promise." I growled ignoring the feeling's all those dead humans brought. What? I wasn't that heartless. "I would stay here to protect my siblings."
"And what will you do if they end up being targeted? They know who you are, Amaya. They have a file on everyone in the Olympian Generation. Goddess knows they probably have everyone's precious people already on target." My teeth poked my lower lip as I struggled to keep in check. I heard Cutie growl low.
No one and I mean no one, threatened my family. Especially my brats. But going back would bring with it the potential that I would die. This was a nest of Demons, and the nest was usually protected by the strongest demon, which always ended up being a Level 4 or 5. I could take it on, but I couldn't turn into a phoenix. They didn't exactly let you touch them every day.
"We need your help Black Night. You're the strongest Animorphi we have. You can turn into anything."
"Doesn't mean I want to. I like it but turning into something like a dinosaur is stretching it."
"But you can turn into a dragon only dragon's fire can kill a Level 4."
"And you're all sure that the demons are only Level 4, right?" I asked suspiciously.
"Yes." She answered calmly. I thought about this mission. I didn't have the luxury of time to think long as they were going to move tomorrow night on this. The Council would need my answer today. But this was odd that Andromeda hadn't contacted me first to let me know about this. She must be busy on her end.
"When were you thinking of infiltrating?" She stared at me hearing the tone underneath.
"Tomorrow night. We need you with us." I shook my head.
"No, you need a dragon. Get one of the other Animorphi to touch a dragon."
"Not everyone has the magic to survive that." I had a feeling that if she allowed it, she would have yelled at me.
"I survived." I pointed out.
"You were in your suicide year. You were looking for ways to die, not everyone else will actually want to die." Well, I couldn't exactly argue that as I hadn't been thinking straight that year. "Can't you just think about it Amaya? We need your help for this to work and then you can go back into retirement once we've finished this mission."
"You know that's the exact same thing the Elders said when I told them I was retiring." I spoke. "I'll say the same thing I told them; I'm not going onto the field. I'm retired and I'm not going to risk my neck just so my siblings can grow up with my other relatives who probably won't even care about them like I do."
Silence was the only thing that was heard. Until the sound of creaking floorboards alerted me to someone listening in on our conversation.
"Get out of here Guardian." I murmured softly. "I'm not joining this mission. My place is here with my family."
"We are your family too Amaya." She murmured before she chose to teleport via swirling lights. I looked at the file that was still on my desk. My fists clenched as I saw the pictures of the dead. They'd died of fear. (That's possible, it causes human hearts to go into cardiac arrest.)
"I'm not going back." I muttered before closing the file. I walked to the door and opened it to see the rest of the cats looking at me. My eyes went to the living room where Memphis and Keira were lying down a bit too neatly to be true.
Great. If my aunt didn't tell her children about our jobs soon they'd find out on their own from sheer curiosity and stupidity.
GM NASAI: (1)Family is who I am and always will be. I now make you apart of my family. The Black Family, now and forevermore.