A few hours later John Quinn and Rachel Silverman were on a plane heading towards a small town in California. Which; is where Lynn and Maria lived. Tim was supposed to meet them there. Quinn had certain misgivings about adding Tim to their team, but Thierry had wanted to give him a chance. Rachel Silverman was the reincarnation of Quinn's soulmate Rashel Jordan. Rashel had threatened him just before she had died that if he got himself killed and she did come back in another life then she would come all the way to heaven or hell and kick his butt. So he had survived although it had not been easy. This version of Rashel had curly black hair where before it had been straight and black eyes instead of green. Her build was also different, but she was still a woman of the streets. At least this version had a family although not much of one from what Rachel had told him about them. She didn't like to discuss her family much. From what he knew her father was abusive and beat her mother and her mother was a drunk and just took it, didn't fight back. He tried to beat her to, but she had fought back and then she had run away and had lived on the streets for years until he had found her. She was an only child and had no sisters or brothers. She had most of Rashel's memories, but there were a few things she didn't remember, they would come to her in time Quinn knew.

Before he knew it Rachel was shaking him for he had fallen asleep. "Wake up sleepy head," said Rachel, kissing him affectionately on the lips. "We'll be landing in a few minutes."

"I'm up, I'm up," Quinn protested.

"Yeah, right, you'll go back to sleep if I let you, but we do have a job to do remember?" asked Rachel, glancing at him.

Quinn groaned and stretched his stocky frame as much as he could in his seat. He opened his black eyes and stared at Rachel. That was a little bit of Rashel's personality coming through. His short black hair was slightly mussed from sleeping, "All right," said Quinn yawning so wide he cracked his jaws. "I'm up."

"Good," said Rachel, looking at him lovingly. "Prepare for landing."

~~~A New Life~~~

A few minutes later the plane landed and Quinn and Rachel exited the plane Rachel carrying a duffel bag. The duffel bag contained stakes a bokken and numerous other items that could kill vampires. In her other life she had been a vampire hunter and in this life she still remembered those old skill, though she wouldn't kill unless absolutely necessary. That was how she differed from the Rashel of old. Rashel had killed and could kill even when it was not absolutely necessary.

Rachel and Quinn got their suitcases off the plane and then they headed to the car rental agency. There should be a car waiting for them they knew, but sometimes stuff got a bit messed up. They entered the car rental agency and Rachel strode up to the desk Quinn following behind. "Can I help you miss?" asked the man behind the desk.

"Yes you can. My name is Rachel Silverman there should be a car waiting for me."

"Let me check," said the clerk, punching keys on his computer. "No there is nothing here for a Rachel Silverman."

"What about John Quinn," Quinn spoke up from beside Rachel. The man typed in a few more keys and then shook his head. Rachel sighed in frustration and Quinn put a hand on her shoulder before she did something stupid.

"We might as well take a cab and let me tell you Thierry is going to be paying our cab fare for as long as we have to take them," said Rachel.

"Perhaps it is under another name?" suggested the clerk.

"Try Thierry Descouedres," suggested Quinn, not really holding out any hope of it being there.

"Could you spell that?" asked the clerk.

"T-h-i-e-r-r-y D-e-s-c-o-u-e-d-r-e-s," spelled Quinn.

"Ah here it is," said the clerk. "Somebody put it under his name by mistake. It says you get the four-door Toyota. I will have somebody take you out there it has already been paid for the next week."

"Good," muttered Rachel, still annoyed. Why can't places like this ever get their paperwork straight? Rachel asked Quinn telepathically.

It doesn't happen every time you know, said Quinn.

It happens too, often for my taste, Rachel answered.

Quinn just seemed to mentally shrug and didn't answer her. "This way," a voice suddenly said from in front of them and they both jumped for they had been so involved in each other that they had not noticed him walk up. They followed him and a few minutes later they were on their way.

~~~A New Life~~~

"So I understand that you were transferred here," said the principal whose name was Ian McGovern as they sat in his office the next day. It was 8 o'clock on a Monday morning and they were trying to get into the same classes as Lynn. Tim was with them his shaggy brown hair hanging past his shoulders and his puppy sad brown eyes flicking around the office looking for danger.

"Yes sir," answered Quinn.

"Where is the paperwork?" asked the McGovern, looking at all three of them. One with his black hair, black eyes and stocky frame who was also inhumanly handsome and his eyes made him look older, centuries older in fact. The girl also with black hair, except curly and brown eyes, looked like she could take on any mugger who dared to attack her. The last one with his long, shaggy, brown hair and brown eyes with hints of silver. There was something strange about these three. For one thing the black haired boy and girl seemed to be sitting extremely close together. The principal knew true love when he saw it. As for the other boy he kind of reminded him of a puppy. No that description was not quite right he reminded Ian of a wolf—a very dangerous wolf.

"The paperwork should be on its way sir," answered Rachel. Hopefully they would be gone before they realized there was going to be no paperwork.

"All right, you may head towards your first class," said McGovern, handing them each a schedule. "But if the paperwork doesn't get here within the next few days, we are going to have a discussion about that."

"Yes sir," answered Quinn sighing mentally. The things he did for Circle Daybreak, he thought

They walked to their classes together. Quinn and Tim had history together while Rachel had math. Quinn and Tim walked into their class and handed the teacher the note from the principal. The teacher read the note and then said, "Class please say hello to our new students—John Quinn and Timothy Malcovicci." The class said hello as one and then the teacher said, "John, Tim please take your seats."

Quinn flinched at the use of his first name and said, "Just call me Quinn ma'am," said Quinn, taking a seat at the back of the class his eyes roving around the room looking for Lynn. Finally he spotted her over in the corner her head down. He couldn't see much of her face at the moment. I've found her, he sent telepathically to Rachel.

Good, Rachel sent back. Hopefully this will all be over soon. I forgot how boring school could be; said Rachel, seeming to yawn telepathically. Quinn cut off the contact and started studying the girl. She had long blond hair, so blond in fact that it was almost white. It also had red highlights running through it. The girl lifted up her face as if she had felt him staring at her. She was quite pretty. Not as pretty as Rachel of course, but pretty nonetheless. Her gray eyes were slightly slanted with dark circles underneath them and she had dark skin as well as full lips.

He could sense the sadness radiating from this girl in palpable waves. He tried to read her mind, but all he could get from her was what had happened to Maria. He could sense from her that she was extremely worried about her friend. Suddenly a door was slammed in her mind and Quinn was so shocked that he barely got out in time. Lynn was staring at him now an open question in her eyes, but then she turned towards the front and continued to listen to the lesson, ignoring Quinn for the rest of the class.

~~~A New Life~~~

A week went by and Quinn could tell Lynn was beginning to get suspicious. Rachel thought it was just his imagination. "Ah excuse me Quinn," said the principal approaching him one day about a week after they had gotten there.

"Yes, Mr. McGovern?" asked Quinn, suspecting he already knew what the man was going to ask.

"Your paperwork has still not arrived Quinn and if it doesn't arrive within the next few days I'll have no choice, but to send you back to your old school."

"I'll see what I can do," said Quinn. McGovern nodded and headed towards his office and Quinn headed to his next class.

~~~A New Life~~~

Later that same day Lynn approached him at lunchtime and literally dragged him into a more quite corner. "Why have you and your friends been following and watching me?" asked Lynn. "And you had better give me a; honest answer because your life may depend on it."

Rachel, he called mentally. Could you and Tim get your butts down here I've got trouble.

What's the trouble? Rachel asked.

Lynn's got me backed into a corner and I really don't want to do anything, because I might hurt her, answered Quinn.

All right we're on our way, responded Rachel.

"Ah, if you'll let go of me," said Quinn soothingly. "I'll explain."

Lynn loosened her grip slightly, but didn't let him go completely.

"Can we sit down somewhere and discuss this like grownups?" asked Quinn. Lynn let go of him, but still kept a hand on his arm. Suddenly Rachel and Tim ran up and Rachel sized up the situation and immediately sprinted towards Quinn. "It's okay Rachel," said Quinn. "I'm okay we were just going to somewhere more private to discuss it."

Rachel nodded and a look of love passed between them.

I told you she was getting suspicious why couldn't you have listened? Quinn asked mentally.

Rachel mentally shrugged and didn't respond, but followed Lynn as she led them outside and around the back. "All right who are you and why have you been following me?"

"We bring greetings from Maria," said Quinn.

"Maria sent you?" asked Lynn, in disbelief. "How do I know you are telling the truth?"

"She told us to tell you that Venus is in the seventh house," said Rachel.

At the look of shock on Lynn's face they knew she believed them. "Maria and me are the only ones that know that particular pass phrase," said Lynn, letting; herself slide to the ground. "Who are you?"

"I'm Quinn this is Rachel Silverman, and Tim Malcovicci. We work with an organization known as Circle Daybreak."

"It might be better to discuss this after school. say at your place," suggested Rachel. Quinn nodded agreeing with her.

"All right after school then I want an explanation."

~~~A New Life~~~

Right after lunch Lynn was headed towards her next class when the high school bullies approached. Tim who was following behind saw that there was going be trouble and Quinn and Rachel both weren't around to help out so it looked like it was up to him.

"Hey Lynn," said one of the bullies, "Where's your little friend?"

"That is none of your concern. Now if you'll excuse me I have a class to get to," said Lynn, trying to dodge around them.

The bully whose name was Vic tried to grab her arm, but before he could do anything Tim was there beside her. He gave Vic and his friends such a fierce look that they backed off, slightly. "Who's your friend?" one of the bullies asked, looking at Tim nervously.

"Leave her alone," growled Tim. He was unsure as to why he felt so fiercely protective of this girl. He just knew that he would protect her with his very life if need be.

Tim growled again and the bullies backed off another step. Vic the main bully was the only one brave enough to approach him and when he did Tim's eyes turned almost all the way silvery and his expression turned dead serious, almost deadly. Vic threw a punch and Tim ducked and then threw one of his own. It landed right in his stomach, making Vic loose what little breath he had left. Finally, Vic decided it wasn't worth the trouble and turned to leave with one final warning. "He won't always be there to protect you so I suggest you watch your back."

"Thank you for protecting me Tim," said Lynn slowly. "But I can take care of myself!"

"It was my pleasure," said Tim, and as he turned away his hand brushed against her arm and there was like an electrical flash that surprised them both and they were in each other's mind, What's; going on, were Tim's and Lynn's first frantic thoughts. They could see into each other's minds. Tim's mind Lynn realized was a strange place. She could actually see his memories and feel what he was feeling. His mind was mostly different colored lights as well as planes and angles, but there were some dark places and suddenly she could see his memories. The memory was of his parents being killed by wolves, leaving the baby Tim to survive on his own at the tender age of five. That's awful! Lynn thought, not realizing Tim could hear here thoughts.

Get out of my head! Tim exclaimed, trying to force Lynn out of his head.

That's not what it should be like, said Lynn.

So some of us have led a tougher life then you, said Tim, angrily still trying to get her out of his skull. Tim for his part could see into Lynn's thoughts to and feel what she was feeling. Lynn was shocked for one, Tim realized. Nothing remotely like this had ever happened to her before or to him either for that matter.

They broke apart after what seemed like an eternity and to their relief nobody had seemed to notice, their dazed state.

But Rachel noticed and she smiled. "Soulmates," she whispered, almost sad. But she had found her soulmate so why was she so sad? She didn't know, maybe she was just wishful for something she didn't yet comprehend.

Lynn and Tim meanwhile, had jumped away from each other trying to figure out what had happened. Tim already suspected what it was and was in denial.

~~~A New Life~~~

"So how are you doing Maria?" Ash asked. They had gotten on Thierry's private jet and the pilot had flown them to parts unknown and now they were staying in a safe house until the danger was past. That was a week ago.

"Bored," muttered Maria.

"I know you're bored. So am I, but we need to stay here at least for the moment," said Ash. He had not let Maria out of his sight in a week, for he was afraid she would do something stupid if he did. He tried to keep her distracted, by making love to her, playing card games and doing whatever it took. But she was still bored and worried about her friend. Their safe house was being watched twenty-four hours a day by members of Circle Daybreak. A couple of times Ash had caught Maria staring off into space and when he had asked her what she was thinking about she would reply nothing.

Every night a member of Circle Daybreak would come to the house and let Ash drink his or her blood since he couldn't get out too hunt. Most of the candidates were human, but a few were witches and Ash took just enough to satisfy his hunger.

Ash looked at his watch and noticed that they were late tonight. Suddenly just as he was about to go look for food there was a metallic squeal then a crash. Maria looked up at first surprised, then fearful. Ash knew that sound it was the sound of the front door being knocked off of its hinges.

"Come on Maria," said Ash, "It's time for us to get out of here." Ash picked her up and silently headed towards the backdoor until there was another crash and the backdoor too was gone. Ash looked around frantically for a way out of this situation and the only option he saw was one of the upstairs windows. He headed upstairs and opened a window looking around to see if anybody was around. There were two men standing guard on the ground and he looked around frantically for another option. "Go without me," said Maria looking at him. Ash looked at her the shock registering on her face. "You can make it if I wasn't weighing you down."

"I'm not leaving without you," whispered Ash, harshly. Finally, making a decision when he heard them coming up the stairs he jumped out the window and as silently as a stalking cat took out the two men. Maria clung to his back and held on as tightly as she could. The two men were only human so it was easy to hit them on the head from behind. Ash ran as fast as he could and headed on foot to the airport. When he got far enough away from the house he called a cab.

Less then an hour later they had taken to the skies and headed towards a new unknown destination.

~~~A New Life~~~