I find myself in front of my uncle, my son in his arms and my husband next to me behind me.
It all happens in a few seconds: his gaze falling on Levi, my son, his eyes widening in disbelief and the hatred, anger and madness that pass through them. He screams, putting his hands to his head and folding over himself.
With a speed that I didn't know he had, he takes a knife from his pocket and pulls Levi from my arms.
"You are an abomination, just like him!" He screams, pointing the knife at my son's throat.
I try to take a step forward, but he screams at me not to do it, he tightens his grip on Levi who begins to cry and sinks the knife a little deeper into his neck.
I scream at him not to do it, I beg him.
"He is an abomination, he doesn't deserve to be in the world" he cuts his throat
I scream and go towards him, he throws the body rudely into my arms.
I kneel down with Levi, who is choking on his own blood. I cry on him, tears everywhere, on the open wound, on his nose, on his onesie. I don't feel the struggle behind me. A cold sensation makes me turn and I see my uncle plunge the knife straight into my husband's heart.
I scream loudly as I run towards my husband, I grab him and slide him to the floor as gently as I can with Levi's little body still there, lifeless on his chest.
Memories start to surface. My marks, my uncle trying to kill me, my magic. Everything. Images wash over me, a man and a boy. The man calls the boy's name, Credence, the boy answers, Mr. Graves. Awareness rushes through me, my soul mates. I scream, I scream at the top of my lungs.
In the distance I hear a muffled voice, someone calls me, I turn and look around, there's no one there.
I wake up with a start, one of my souls needs me.
I sit on the couch and look over to the other couch where Creed is.
He groans and squirms in his sleep.
I run over to him and kneel down next to the couch. I caress his face, softly and gently, carefully running my hand through his hair and calling his name softly. I put my hand on his chest shaking lightly.
"You're safe, I'm with you. I'm not leaving you."
He squirms a little but leans into my hand.
"You're safe, baby. I got you." I whisper.
I keep calling him and telling him I'm here, with him. He starts to wake up, his eyelids fluttering.
"Sara" he calls unsure, as if he's unsure if I'm real or not.
He puts a hand on mine that is still on his face, makes circles on his palm and brings his fingers down to my wrist.
I move closer and hug him, he hides in my neck, inhaling deeply.
"I'm here," I tell him
"I… I never wanted to hurt people. I didn't know I was an obscurus." He says with a voice that wavers slightly.
"You didn't know, and if you knew how to control it, you wouldn't do it. I believe in you." I say honestly, trying to make him understand that it's not his fault.
"But I've never wanted to hurt anyone like I want to hurt that man who shares your blood." His voice doesn't tremble, it's sure, strong, determined and unshakeable.
"What you saw yesterday… is what you dreamed, right?" I ask, already knowing the answer.
He nods.
"Let's go check on Percy. I have a feeling here," I rub my chest. "He needs us."
We get up and walk to Percy's room.
We knock in case he's awake, and go in.
Percy is in the middle of the bed, squirming and writhing in the sheets. We slump over, me on one side, Creed on the other.
His words are slurred.
"Please, stop." He says in pain, arching in the sheets.
"Don't do this, don't kill them." He continues
He's overlapping his torture with the death of my family.
"Percy, we're here. You're safe." I say softly, stroking his face, Creed squeezes his hand in both of his. He rubs circles on the back of his hand and his inner wrist.
"Creed's here with me, you're not alone. We won't leave you."
"We got you." I continue
"You're safe," Creed says.
After a few minutes of reassurance, he starts to wake up.
His eyes snap open and he tries to get up, but Creed and I stop him by putting our hands on his chest, making him stick to the mattress again.
"Don't worry, you're safe, we're here," I tell him.
"We won't leave you," Creed adds.
He looks at us and then says, "I'm sorry I woke you," he says and looks down.
Credence and I look at each other and return to our companion.
"You didn't bother us," Creed begins.
"You needed us and we're here." I finish.
"And then I woke her up first," Creed smiles.
"I had a nightmare, too," I confide.
After a few minutes of silence, I step forward.
"I think it's a good idea for us to sleep together tonight." I suggest
Credence looks at me uncertainly.
"I can sit in the center, so there won't be much contact. But at least this way you'll feel the presence of both of us" I say as an alternative.
Creed thinks for a while but nods.
I look at Percy, to see if he agrees, he nods too.
We settle down with me in the center, Percy behind me and Creed in front of me.
Creed and I touch each other's shoulders, with Percy's knees. The three of us are in a supine position, face up. A few minutes later I feel Creed's breathing become even, followed by Percy and then me. We fall asleep.
I wake up slowly, my eyelids heavy, satisfied. When I finally manage to open my eyes without them closing again, I finally notice the position we've ended up in.
I'm on my side, Creed in front of me with his head under my chin, his lips a breath away from my windpipe with his breath that gives me chills, and our bodies close practically glued, his arm hanging on my side.
Percy is behind me, my back matching his chest, the arm on my side that brushes Credence's and the hand that rests on my chest at the height of my heart, my breast nestled in the crook of his elbow.
I try to stay calm but my heart is beating like crazy. What the fuck, I relax, I'm with my companions, I want to enjoy it.
I settle better between them, my hold on Creed, my arms wrapped around his neck tightens, but not too much.
I close my eyes and focus on the sensations that come from my heart, enveloping it gently.
Peace, love, confidence, freedom, pride and joy. All these emotions and sensations that I feel, what I feel even though we are at the beginning of the bond, the closeness with my soulmates is a panacea.
They do me good, and I hope to do the same to them. A little time passes and I feel movements from behind me, Percy is waking up.
A few seconds later I feel Creed move. I open my eyes again and wait to see the eyes of my special boy. When he does I remain enchanted watching him.
I give him a smile "Good morning little one, how did you sleep?" I ask him
"Good" he answers me, and asks the same thing and I answer.
"Sorry little one." I say and I signal to him that I am turning, he nods and moves away slightly.
I feel him approaching again leaning on my back and looking from my shoulder. Face to face with Percy, who has moved back a little to make me turn, his eyes immediately point to mine and I smile at him resting my forehead on his.
"Hey, good morning to you too" I speak softly, I kiss him on the forehead, we don't leave each other's eyes for a moment.
"Good morning." Creed says, turning to Percy who returns it with a smile at the corner of his mouth.
We slowly walk away and all three of us agree to get up for breakfast.
While Creed was about to get up from the edge of the mattress I put my hand on his, he turns around questioningly, I turn him slightly by the chin with my index finger and thumb and kiss his cheek.
He blushes. I smile playfully and get up, he follows me and we go to the door where Percy was looking at us with a smile and his eyes shining. We go out and we find ourselves in front of Gellert already ready for the day.
He stops and looks us all up, still in pajamas and messy hair and relaxed faces.
He goes from surprised to provocative with a smirk on his face.
"Good night, huh?" He asks amusedly
"We had nightmares and decided to stay together. We did nothing but sleep" I snort indignantly.
"Not that I don't want to, of course," I continue playfully, giving credence to his teasing.
Credence blushes at the statement up to his ears.
Percy has a light dusting of red on his cheeks but he quickly turns away, trying not to show it.
I chuckle lightly.
I turn to them and grab each of their hands.
"Sorry, I didn't mean to make you uncomfortable. Let's just say that in my time, women have become much more provocative and less prudish." I say, smiling slightly.
They nod.
"And you? Are you okay?" I ask, looking at Gellert, he seems unsettled for a second, but puts on a forced smile.
I look at Percy and Creed "Go ahead, we'll get there right away," they nod and leave.
"If you need help, to talk, or even to sit and be quiet, I'm here. I won't leave anyone behind."
He sighs and nods but says that everything is fine for now, for now I accept it and we go to the kitchen and have breakfast.
After eating we sit in the living room. Gellert in the armchair and I between my soulmates on the sofa.
We read for a few minutes.
"We have to find a way to make it seem like the Obscurus follows the path you saw in my memories, there should be a spell to create an illusion" I say suddenly, everyone focuses their attention on me.
"Pretend he's dead, without revealing who Credence is. An illusion. They'll think they've solved it, and we'll have a free hand."
I continue.
"Or do nothing. No one is actively looking for the Obscurial, or is actually sure it's there and hasn't done any damage yet. Except Gellert." I think out loud.
Slowly, they nod in understanding.
"We'll see what approach would be best. We'll look for the spell, whatever we decide we'll be prepared either way," Gellert says.
I turn to Creed, turning to him.
"Baby. I was thinking about going to your sisters and finding a place for them." I watch his reaction, helplessness and regret flowing from him. He feels guilty for leaving his sisters with that woman.
"She won't be able to hurt him anymore." I say determinedly.
"Do you want to come with us?" I ask cautiously.
His eyes widen, fear taking over at the mere thought of seeing his mother again.
"We'll all be with you. Me, Percy, and Gellert."
I reassure as I caress his face, cradling it in my hands.
"If you don't want to, that's fine. I won't force you if you don't feel like it." I say honestly, I don't want him to go when the thought of it causes him fear and phantom pain.
He relaxes slightly with the attention and revels in it, sighing as he reopens his previously closed eyes.
"No. I'm coming with you. I know you won't let him hurt me. Me or my sisters." He stands with courage and intimacy, giving us his trust. Trust that he shows, lighting up his face. For us. In Us.
"Let's ask Tina to come, she'll be happy as a clam with the possibility"
Credence chuckles slightly at this.
We go back to reading and Percy texts Tina if she's available to do this tomorrow; he also asks to have everyone come here, after lunch today, to talk to come up with a plan.
With that done Percy settles back on the couch with us.
I cross my feet on the coffee table and feel like I'm being watched, I turn around and Percy gives me a dirty look, so I very maturely rest my legs on his knees. I smile amused, he blushes.
I move more towards the back of the couch, I rest my head on Credence's shoulder. Credence moves a little closer to the armrest and turns a little to the right, he makes me lean better, his arm rests on my hip and his hand rests on my belly. He smiles at me and goes back to reading, I follow suit.
Before lunch, Tina answers, declaring that they will be there. For lunch we eat salad with grilled chicken.
We take our places in the living room.
We read until a knock comes.
Percy gently pushes my legs off the floor and goes to open the door. They all come in and sit down. New sits in the armchair, then Tina on the couch as close to Newt as possible. Jacob goes next to Tina and then Queenie.
I tell him about how I want to create an illusion of Creed destroying the city, have him chased and make him believe that they killed him trying to keep his identity from being discovered, or do nothing.
"We'll figure out what to do together. We'll look up the spell so that we have the option open."
Tina nods, Newt agrees immediately, Queenie and Jacob nod.
"Now let's talk about tomorrow. I bet you're dying to do this for a while now" referring to taking Creed's sisters' custody away from that harpy of a woman.
Her face darkens with anger.
"Credence agreed to come with us"
She asks if he's sure, he nods determinedly.
"Percy, Creed, Gellert, Newt and you Tina will go" I look at them to see if they have any objections, but they don't say anything.
They stay for dinner, after eating we chat for another hour and then they go home.
I talk to Percy and Creed asking if they mind if I spend some time with Gellert.
"I'm really sorry for making you think so. I just really don't want anyone left behind and he's with us now. I won't leave anyone."
"I don't really know how to convey or comfort without touching, I… I've always been very tactile and I understand if it bothers you" I lower my eyes in shame.
Someone makes me look up again. It's Percy.
"You don't do it on purpose. And helping others, it just seems to be a part of you. I believe you when you say you don't do it with ulterior motives" he caresses my cheek.
"I believe you. I feel like you wouldn't hurt us on purpose" Credence says, lending Percy a helping hand.
"Thank you. I won't abuse your trust" I say gratefully, genuinely touched by their trust.
I get up from the couch I was sharing with them, and walk over to Gellert, sitting on his lap. "Don't worry, I've never taken someone who's already taken. And I'm gay." He shrugs, putting a hand on my hip.
We hang out for a bit, but later we get up and ready for bed.
Percy and Gellert go to their rooms.
I look at Creed "Shall we sleep with Percy?" I ask quietly.
She thinks about it but finally nods.
We stop not even halfway to make the sofas and go to Percy's room. We enter just as he takes off his tank top.
Credence blushes next to me, I stay there watching him with my eyes and Percy, hearing the door open, turns around suddenly, blushes and immediately puts on his pajama top.
"Sorry, we should have knocked" Creed says
"I'm not really sorry.. but it's polite to knock" I say amused and then give a sort of excuse.
"We wanted to sleep with you" I say
"I've never slept so well" I confess
"Me neither" Creed adds
"It seems that being in contact with each other unites us and benefits us with..." Percy stops himself not finding the word.
"Emotions. Our emotions ground us, they make themselves felt more and the bond grows stronger. The time will come when we will be able to understand each other's emotions, to understand if they are hurting, if they are in danger. We could even locate each other. We are magnets for each other" I say a little excited at the thought.
They absorb the information a little overwhelmed. Finally we settle into bed. Like last time, me in the center and Creed in front of me and Percy behind me.
I roll onto my side and rest my head on Creed's shoulder, who is on his back. Percy approaches me from behind. His forehead in the center of my back.
In a short time we all fall into the arms of Morpheus.