Cara spends a wonderful morning and early afternoon with Ciri, thoroughly enjoying the toddler's company. She missed this stage of the twins after they grew out of it, especially now they are well into their teens. She is delighted by how precocious the tot is, and is startled to find Ciri already knows her letters. Though, given who her parents are she should not be. Andy has done an amazing job with her, as far as Cara is concerned, especially knowing she has spent the past two years as a single working mother.
Not long before three she bundles Ciri up, and calls a car to get her so she can collect the twins from school. The drive to The Dalton School is uneventful and thankfully, the traffic flows smoothly allowing them to arrive just as the 3.15 pm bell for the middle school rings out.
She is waiting outside the car as she sees two red heads flying down the stairs toward her. They greet her effusively before scrambling into the car to deliver hugs to their sister, who is excited to see them. They plead with Cara to take them to the Park, for an hour so they can play with Ciri on the equipment. They know they need to be home by five for Miranda and she gives in, laughing at their antics. She knows the time together will be good for all of them. Cara is most pleased to see the older girls happily accepting Ciri into their lives.
Once at the park, the three girls head for the play equipment, and Cara takes up a post on a nearby bench, able to see them. She pulls out her knitting and continues with that, watching the girls play with a smile on her face. She knows Cassidy and Caroline have felt like they are too old for this part of the Park for a couple of years now, but she is happy to see them return with their sister with an almost child-like glee.
The twins are excited to show Ciri the swings, leading her to them and taking turns pushing her on the safety toddler swing and Ciri squeals happily every time she lifts into the air. Ciri tires of the swing eventually and asks to be allowed out and wanting to go on the slide. Caroline leads her carefully to the top while Cassidy waits at the bottom, ready to collect her when she comes down to prevent any mishaps that might occur. After several runs, the three of them head over to the climbing frame.
Before they reach it though, they hear a rough man's voice speak up behind them. "Well, well. What do we have here now?"
They spin to face the voice and Cassidy sees, from the corner of her eye, that Cara is already on her feet and watches in horror as another man steps up behind Cara and squeezes her shoulder, causing Cara to tumble to the ground unconscious. 'The Others!' She thinks, seeing the very faint, but definite glow about him. 'Mum is going to be so pissed. I need to protect Ciri.' She knows the humans wandering nearby can't see them now.
Both teens grab one of Ciri's arms, pulling her between them.
Cassidy's chin tilts up defiantly and glares at him. "Nothing you want to mess with." She knows her mother is on her way, she just needs to keep these guys away from Ciri, and preferably her and Caro too until she gets here.
He smiles at them lewdly. "My my. The Kit is feisty. I like that."
Caroline just raises her eyebrow at him, looking very much like her mother in the moment. "Oh you're not gonna like it much once we get through with you, Mister."
He chuckles in amusement, even as Ciri growls at him. She rips her arm from Caroline, pointing at him. "Bad mans! Yous hurts Cawa!"
He smiles at Ciri, showing off rotting teeth between two perfectly formed, pristine pointed canines that are longer than the rest. "Oh I am most definitely that, little dragon. Nothing like a bit of dragon blood for dinner, I say. Especially baby dragons." He comments as he begins to circle them, the girls circling to follow him, keeping themselves between him and Ciri, watching him closely. "My boy and I here are rather hungry. And you three will make a wonderful meal."
All three are now growling at him, completely unaware the other is circling in behind them as the main one distracts them.
Miranda is in the air before she is mid-transformation, her wings fully out and carrying her prior to her being fully aware of it. She expands her senses and turns towards Central Park as she realises that is where her girls are.
She is going to roast alive whoever is threatening her daughters, growling loudly with the thought. Flying fast, she sends her thoughts towards her girls, letting them know she is coming.
Getting closer, she can see her girls being circled by two of the Others. She bellows loudly and a stream of fire erupts from her maw as she turns herself downward, speeding towards them.
She watches in amazement as all three of her daughters echo her roar and then Ciri lights up like a Christmas tree, a white glow encompassing them expanding from her tiny body outward in a burst of light, surrounding her sisters before hitting the two men. On contact with the light, they almost seem to break apart into dust before floating away on the breeze. She lands behind Ciri in her human form, tucking her wings behind her, just in time to catch Ciri as the white light retracts and she stumbles backwards.
Miranda lifts her toddler into her arms, and the twins circle her, wrapping their arms around her. 'Safe!' The Editor thinks to herself as Ciri's drowsily reaches a hand up to tap her cheek gently. Obviously, using the unknown white light sapped a lot of her energy.
"Mommy here. All good now." She burrows into her mother's arms and starts snoring softly, leaving Miranda to look down at her in wonder.
She revels in the feeling of Ciri in her arms, with Caroline and Cassidy wrapped around her for long moments. "Are you girls alright?" She asks before looking around. "They didn't touch you, did they?"
She notices it is starting to get dark as the twins respond with a 'no Mom' and then she sees the crumpled body next to a nearby bench.
Urging her twins to let go, she moves over to the body and realises it is Cara. "Bobbsey," She says, looking at Caroline. "Sit on the bench and hold your sister while I check on Cara, please."
Caroline sits down and Miranda hands over Ciri before turning back to Cara, kneeling on the ground beside her. She presses two fingers to Cara's neck with a softly whispered prayer and sighs in relief as she feels the pulse thrumming strongly under her fingers.
"Just unconscious then." She murmurs quietly, before turning her head to inspect both sides of her neck, pleased to see there was no evidence of bite marks. She surmises Cara is untouched because human blood is far less appealing than dragon blood. She wonders if they used their talent on Cara and presses a soft fingertip to the sensitive spot behind Cara's left ear, reassured as she sees Cara's eyelids begin to flutter.
Cara's eyes finally open, and she sits up in a rush, looking at Miranda with fear. "Miranda? What…" She looks around frantically. "The girls?!"
Miranda places a gentle hand on Cara's shoulder to calm her. "It's alright, Cara. They're here. They're safe." She pulls out her phone, sending a quick text to Andrèa letting her know they are safe and will be home as soon as possible, then calls Roy. "Roy, be a dear and collect us from the Park please. The girl's usual playground." She snaps the phone closed and stands up, helping Cara to her feet.
Cassidy hands Cara her knitting bag, having put the hastily thrown aside knitting back into it and then gives her Nanny a tight hug. "I'm glad you're okay, Cara."
Cara sighs and returns the embrace. "Me too, sweet-cheeks. Me too. I am also glad you are okay."
Andy is pacing around Miranda's den, unable to calm the flurry of trepidation that is balling itself in her stomach. I hate this. She thinks as she runs her fingers through her hair, pulling at the ends somewhat. She knows something is wrong with her daughter and feels utterly helpless. She felt worse than useless when Miranda ordered her to return home with Roy. She finds it unacceptable. There has to be a way to prevent this. She should be rushing to her daughter's side with Miranda, not left to her own devices to wonder and panic over what is happening.
She could be about to lose everything and not know it. Ciri. Miranda. The twins. She refuses to deny the connection she feels growing between herself and the trio of Priestly women anymore and she can feel them. She can't continue lying to herself about it. It's like whatever happened when the jolt of alarm careened through her when Ciri was in danger, connected missing threads between her and the twins. Forcing her to also acknowledge the connection to Miranda she has always felt and has been growing these past few days.
Finally, the vice grip in her stomach begins to ease and she breathes out a massive sigh of relief. They are safe. Several minutes after her stomach starts to settle her phone buzzes in her hands and she glances at the screen, heaving a shuddering sigh of relief at Miranda's text saying they were safe and on their way home. She couldn't wait to get Ciri into her arms. To get the twins into her arms. She acknowledges that, yes, what Miranda had said before she left is true. Caroline and Cassidy were hers, just as much as Miranda's. She can feel the truth of that settle into her very being, something she never would have believed several days ago.
It was a torturous thirty minutes later when Andy hears the front door open and she flings herself out of the den and down the stairs, eager to see for herself that all her girls were safe.
She pauses at the bottom of the stairs, her eyes locking on to Ciri enfolded in Miranda's arms, looking lifeless. Tears begin to well up.
Miranda notices the look on her face and speaks up quickly. "Andrèa, it's ok. She's just sleeping. See?" She steps forward and lays her very-much-alive daughter into Andy's arms.
Andy looks down at her daughter, pulling her tightly to her chest, and then back up at Miranda, the tears flowing freely.
Ciri mumbles and snuggles further into her as Miranda wraps her arms around both of them. "Shh, it's ok. I got there in time. She's safe. Our girls are all safe. Even if Ciri actually did most of the saving." She utters the last part quietly.
Andy looks at her in surprise, but doesn't question it right then, too relieved that they were all safe. The twins gather on either side of them, wrapping Miranda and Andy into a hug.
Cara watches with tears in her eyes before turning to head to the kitchen to gather her belongings to head home. She feels at fault, taking the girls to the park because Miranda assured her they would have a few weeks to prepare and would be safe in the meantime. Miranda had told her otherwise on the way home, apologising for not letting her know immediately after being informed that morning, that Ciri needed to stay within the wards of the townhouse.
When she returns to the front hall, Miranda is waiting for her. Andy and the girls have headed upstairs to put Ciri down.
Miranda looks at her knowingly. "You are not to blame, Cara. It is just unfortunate timing. You did as you always do and weren't to know otherwise. Go home, hug your husband and get a good night's sleep. I will see you in the morning. No arguing!" She waves her finger at the housekeeper as it looks like she is prepared to argue. "You are a part of our family, Cara and I will not release you for a simple mistake." She gives Cara a quick hug before shooing her out the door. "I'll see you in the morning."
Miranda closes the door, shaking her head and sighing before turning to follow her girls upstairs. She finds Andrèa and the twins in the den.
"Shall we order in?" She announces her presence.