Family Ties - Chapter Four
AN – Thank you for all the comments and questions so far, you might get some answers in this chapter but otherwise please be patient. I think we'll get to everything mentioned but you'll have to trust my process. Some people thought the last chapter was a bit of a filler, and that may be true, but its contents were necessary. I hope you like what happens next and continue to read this story of mine.
I do not own any characters or stories from the tv show Grimm. Some dialogue is lifted from various episodes in Season 3. No infringement or copyright is intended. It's all for fun, no profit being made here.
-G-
"It's called Nuukh Suens and it's a concealment spell. It can be used to hide and cloak someone, most often a child, from magical detection." She explains and both Grimms look impressed.
"That would be pretty handy, especially when you've got a lot of people aware they're looking for a magical baby," Kelly frowns as she talks. "Magical detection is something we will have to contend with, as well as the more usual means."
"I can help with the legal route," Nick pipes up. "It's my job to track people down so I know the ins and outs of the system, and a few ways to work around it."
"So, this might just work," Adalind states and although it's far too early, she can't help the hope that takes anchor in her heart. Her baby might just be ok.
"What if we could boost it? The spell? Then used it to conceal both Diana and you?"
"Boost it? I'm not sure, you'd need something pretty powerful to be able to create that kind of magic and then to sustain it," Adalind shakes her head even as she thinks it through. "I mean, theoretically it's possible, with the right source and intent behind it. Diana and I share a familial bond, a blood tie, as well as magic so putting us together wouldn't be as complicated as say, two strangers being concealed together. If prepared right, it could be done as a focus on one individual with the other as an extension. But, I'm not sure what we have that would be able to do that." Nick looks just as bewildered as she does when she glances at him but Kelly has a set to her shoulders that puts Adalind at unease.
"We have blood, Grimm's blood," she states and it's fair to say both she and Nick react in the same way.
"What!?"
"You took her powers with your blood, that means she already has it inside her. We can use that, use it as a tie to bring more magic and strengthen it, use Grimm blood as a boost to the spell and protect them both." Nick is gaping at his mother, seemingly thoroughly lost for words and Adalind, whilst just as shocked, can't seems to stop words from spilling out of her mouth.
"What? How is that-that's possible? What's so special about Grimm's blood? It has magic? If it's in me is it in Diana? Will it affect her? Could she lose her powers? I don't want her to feel that pain! How do you even know it would work? How do you know any of this? What if we do this and-wait, is this a trick? Are you finally just going to get rid of me and my baby and kill us both?" She's backing away now, in full panic mode as she thinks of the danger she's put her child in. Trusting a Grimm. And this particular Grimm! She should have known. She woges, building her energy under her skin to blast them away so she can run.
"Adalind!" Her name is said sharply, a command, with power behind it and she jolts, retracts, stopping in her retreat. Nick is holding his hands up but his face is stern. "We are not going to hurt you or your baby." He says each word slowly and with intent, his tone deliberate and full of authority. "We are not going to do anything without your knowledge and understanding. This is a conversation, that's all." She blinks at him, studying his face and clutching Diana close. She's put herself in this position, she chose to trust them so she really needs to work on that. Freaking out isn't going to help, although with their past history she feels justified in her emotions.
"Ok," she whispers and nods, "Sorry."
"It's alright. This is a … unique situation. We're all going to have to work on communication and trust." Nick nods before turning back to his mother. "Now, mind explaining what the hell you meant with all that blood talk?"
"Being a Grimm is more than just being a hunter or fighter, Nicky. We're descended from the first Grimm, yes, and that carries its own weight but there's very little to go on about how Grimms themselves, as a species, how they came into being. When I was away, getting those coins destroyed, I met and was put in contact with many different people. One of those was the last Grimm in his family line and he researched everything he could about being a Grimm. I won't go into everything he shared with me now, that would take too long, but he discovered we have our own brand of magic, and it's in our blood. It's what helps us be faster and stronger. What gives us that sense and instinct when something around us isn't right. What helps us heal and improve as we grow. And we can use it to give power and strength in times of need." Nick is blinking rapidly, mouth opening and closing as he listens, and Adalind feels just as stunned.
She knows there's little known facts about Grimms, most Wesen too scared to want to find out more. She supposes others may have gathered information, perhaps the reapers, in their quest to hunt the Grimms, but otherwise all she's ever been told is to be afraid, very afraid, if she were ever to run into one.
"That's …" Nick trails off and Kelly grimaces.
"A lot to take in, I know. There's so much to our ancestry that even I had no clue about. And I grew up with a father telling me about the history of our family and the passing down of our bloodline." Adalind sees Nick's shoulders hunch with a shudder and she wonders at that before Diana lets out a cry and she's distracted by her daughter.
Rocking her back and forth, she checks her over and realises that she needs a change. She walks back over to their make-shift bed and sets her daughter down, using her powers to summon the bag with the changing supplies to her. She murmurs and talks to her as she goes through the motions, ignoring for now the fraught words being shared behind her. They have so little privacy here, and probably going forward too, but she can give them a moment now. It seems Nick's life wasn't as rosy as she always imagined it to be.
Once her daughter is cleaned and comfortable once more Adalind returns to stand with them and pushes her unease aside. They seem to have come to an agreement or understanding as the air between them is no longer as tense.
"How would we do this?" She asks softly and Kelly regards her carefully.
"You would do the spell as you know and we would add the blood in at the last moment. What do you need to do for this to work?"
"The serte ervas are ground and then mixed together in a cylindrical container before the nazar is placed on top. This, with the added magic from the Hexenbiest casting the spell, will cause a reaction that will turn the ingredients into a fine powder, which can then be sprinkled over the child and the concealment is activated."
"Has it been used on adults before?" Nick asks and she shrugs.
"Not that I know of, although that may be because most adult Hexenbiest or Zauberbiest are more likely to find a way to fight than hide."
"And the concealment works how?"
"It's a cloak from magical detection. If someone were to scry or use a lost call spell then the concealment would flare up and whoever was looking would get inconsistent results." Nick cocks his head and Adalind hurry on to explain. "Like, the spell will still work in a way, as we're still alive and magic when cast like that has to make a connection but it won't give any further information. It'll be like throwing a pebble into the ocean, your actions are still valid but you have no idea where the sea has taken that pebble and it's hidden from your view now, in the blue depths."
"Alright, so if we're to do this Adalind will have to start the process before handing the container to me, I'll add my blood and then we can spread the powder over them both."
"No, it should be me," Nick objects. "You said already that my blood is in Adalind, so there might be connection there for the spell to work with. Plus, it might be better if we keep someone untangled of any magical ties, just in case."
"Are you sure Nick? This is just theoretical at this point, if we do this there could be side effects, magic and reactions we have no idea of." He looks at her, her daughter and his mother for a long, tense, moment before swallowing and nodding.
"I'm sure."
"Then let's do this so we can get ready and go." Kelly steps towards her and goes to take Diana. "I'll hold her while you prepare, then we'll switch back." She nods and lets her daughter go before bending to gather the necessary items. From the corner of her eye she see Kelly swing a familiar looking locket above Diana.
"I'm going to cleanse the space quickly first," she tells them, "I doubt much magic has been done here but I'd rather take that extra step, to give this the best chance of working." Kelly nods as she sways with Diana, locket moving with them, and Nick watches on. Adalind works quickly to put together the simple charm and woges as she casts it out into the space.
"Alright, that should do it. We're ready," she calls and then arranges the seven herbs inside the cylinder. "I'll add the charm as I cast the spell, whilst woged, and then we'll have to trade quickly, so you can add your blood as the reaction starts and then you'll spread the powder over us. It will work best if you're already bleeding before you take the jar. Kelly should probably step back, just in case her presence causes any interference and so the concealment can be focused on Diana and myself." Adalind can't help the slight command in her tone but she is the Hexenbiest here. This, magic and building spells, is what she knows.
Nick turns to Kelly and gestures to her hip, before reaching out and producing a knife from her belt as she holds Diana higher to help his movement. Adalind raises an eyebrow at that and wonders where Nick might keep hidden weapons before remembering he doesn't need to hide them; his gun sits on his hip with his badge.
"Ok, once I hand Nick the jar then I'll need you to give me Diana and we'll have to be quick. The reaction starts almost instantly and we don't want to lose too much powder to the floor." Kelly nods and Nick grimaces as he brings the knife to his palm.
She glances at both of them and when she receives two nods, she woges. Holding the jar in one hand and the nazar in the other she gathers her magic and pushes it into the charm, willing the spell to work to keep them concealed and safe from those that would do them harm. Keeping her energy focused on that objective she drops the charm on top of the herbs and quickly hands it to Nick. He takes it with one hand, the other curled into a fist around the cut in his palm. Kelly steps forward with Diana and Adalind happily takes her daughter back, holding her close as she turns to gaze at Nick.
Black eyes glare out at her but his face is otherwise calm. She takes a deep breath and concentrates on keeping her focus on the spell. This is for her daughter, both of them are working together to protect her. His blood adds dark red to the otherwise light coloured powder but it sinks in quickly and seems to add a glow to the aqua-blue colour.
Their eyes connect and she feels a pulse in the air, a swirling of energy and magic that surrounds them. He lifts the jar slowly, carefully so none spills and tips it over her head before bringing it down to hover over Diana. Through the cloud of blue she sees her daughter's eyes glow and hopes she understand that this is a good thing. That she and Nick are doing this for her. A slight trail follows Nick as he moves the empty jar away, seeming to swirl around his hand. The glowing powder settles on their skin before sinking inside and Adalind is relived to feel no pain or discomfort. If anything, there is a tingle in the back of her head but it's not a horrible feeling and fades quickly. Then it's over.
"Thank you," she breathes out at Nick and he regards her for a moment longer before nodding and stepping back.
"Concealment spell done, bags packed, what's next?" He asks and Kelly grimaces.
"Time to say goodbye."
-G-
He helps load the bags into the truck, not liking them getting back into a stolen vehicle but knowing it's really no safer than getting into and possibly being seen in his car. Still, they don't have far to go. He's arranged for another car and the lot it's in has no cameras so the switch should be easy for them to do.
Adalind is quiet as she sets Diana into the new car carrier and his mother bustles about with her usual efficiency. He grapples with the fact his part is mostly over now, there's nothing to do or fight right now so he's going to have to get used to this dis-quiet sensation.
She looks up then and meets his eye, pushing her blonde locks behind her ear as she steps closer to him.
"I just wanted to say- I mean I-" she struggles with her words and Nick doesn't know why but he reaches out and pats her shoulder. "I mean we -when we-" she sighs.
"I've never put much stock in Wesen prejudices." He says quietly, thinking of the cases he's already worked where Wesen history and politics and 'that's how it's always been' dictum have had influence. "We've been so focused on that, Hexenbiest and Grimm, who can hurt who and gain the upper hand. You've said you're not that any-more and I've seen plenty of times the power the bond between parent and child is, for good and bad. I believe you and I believe that child is worth protecting. We can focus on that."
"So, what, forgive and forget?"
"How about acknowledge it and move on. Work towards something better." She smiles, soft and slow and Nick thinks back to the first time he saw her face. Another beautiful smile on a gorgeous woman's face before his world was irrevocably changed.
"Ok. Thank you, Nick." His name sounds different from her lips but this time there's no undercurrent. No hidden meaning or slight. Just simple thanks.
"Take care, Adalind, of yourself and Diana." She climbs into the seat next to her daughter and he closes the door, thinking momentarily how strange his life has become and how he never would have pictured being so close to that woman without things being a lot more violent, before joining his mother by the driver's side. He stands and stares at her before moving in for a hug. His mother grips him back firmly.
"Be careful," he implores, "and contact me if you need anything."
"I will Nicky. And you look after yourself, there's going to be a fallout from this."
"I know. I'm not going to do anything to jeopardise either of you." She smiles at him and cups his face before stepping back, opening the door and getting in. Nick moves to his own vehicle and climbs inside as they drive off.
He didn't intend to follow them. Really, he knew it would piss his mother off and be unnecessary but he does it anyway. Pulling across the street to watch as they trade vehicles and then drive off into the early evening light. He doesn't follow this time, instead disembarking from his car and crossing the street to check the truck. Wipe down anywhere fingerprints might have been left, look in the small spaces to make sure nothing has been dropped and that any evidence that could tie them to this truck is gone. Then he walks back to his car, puts it in drive and goes home to this new version of his life.
-G-
Sean Renard paced around his office before pulling out his phone, the other untraceable one, and dialling.
"Any news?" He asks as soon as it connects.
"No," comes the reply. "We know they got on the plane. We know it took off safely but after that all communication was lost and they never made it to the next pick-up point." He glares around the room and tries not to let his anger take over.
"Do we know anything?" He growls out.
"We know the Royals don't have them. There are just as confused and on the hunt. From the little we've gleamed; they are even more in the dark than we are."
"That doesn't help with finding them!"
"We might have to give this some time. They will have left a trail we can follow. No one just disappears unless it's in a more permanent way. We have no evidence for that as of yet but accidents with planes do happen."
"Not in situations like this," Sean barks. "We don't stop looking until we find them, be it their bodies or themselves." He ends the call and resists the urge to throw something. He hadn't asked for a child and certainly not one with that witch, and he may not want any part of this situation but he'll be damned if his so-called family get that baby. Not when he can use it for himself. He sits and stares out his office window, not seeing the people in the other room.
"Where are you?"
-G-
AN – Thoughts?
P.S - So, just a note on Sean. I 'm of the opinion that he didn't really, truly care about Diana until he held her. Before that I think he saw her as an abject concept of child, family tie and yes, as something he could use. Now here's perhaps a slight spoiler, maybe, just after being asked about it - I'm not saying he's going to be the bad guy or a good guy but he hasn't met Diana yet in my world so his path forward is definitely going to be bumpy….