Savannah and Dustin were in the parlor, engrossed in a serious discussion. "I think we are good for today." Kaitlyn interrupted them. "Katie did great."
Dustin held out his hand to me, and I took it, sitting down next to him. "What are you guys talking about?"
"Mostly Post-Modernist art." Savannah grinned. "There are so many artistic movements that helped to shape the history of the world. Just look at all the architecture from the era. We are seeing a lot of it coming back to influence the current state of new buildings."
"Well, all of this has been super enlightening, but I'm feeling a headache coming on." I gave Savannah a cross eyed grin.
She put her hand on my arm. "I think that's enough for today. Why don't you go out and enjoy some of the beautiful weather? I'm going to have to do some research and see what else we need to cover. You have excelled at most of the skills I have to teach you."
"Feel like a hike?" Dustin stood up and wrapped an arm around my waist.
Savannah and Kaitlyn headed out the door, discussing my next training session, leaving Dustin and I alone together. "We need to talk." I pulled him to the couch.
"What's wrong?" He looked concerned.
"It's time for us to leave. It's been too long, and I'm sure I have screwed up this semester. We need to get back to campus and get on with our lives. I haven't talked to my parents in weeks, and I miss Dani. Savannah has taught me everything she can, and now I need to go back to the real world."
He looked thoughtful. "I see. Are you unhappy here?"
"It's not that." I replied. "I love it here. It's like some magic training fairy tale. But it's not real life, at least not for us. For Savannah and Kaitlyn, this is every day. They travel, they eat, they shop. We have to go back to SLU and get on with our lives. We were only supposed to stay for a few days, and now it's been almost three weeks. I'm afraid that if we don't go soon, we might never go."
He linked his eyes with mine. "Do you feel ready? Can you sit in a class with a bunch of Supernaturals and not have frightening visions? Can you handle emotional turmoil without shattering the windows of the room you are in? Those are the reasons we came here, and if those problems have been solved, then it's time for us to go back to our lives." His voice felt comfortable in my head.
I snuggled into him. "It's time."
"Then that's it." He kissed me softly. "It's time to go home."
I nodded. "But you have to tell Savannah."
He gave me a nervous look. "Thanks. I get to break the bad news?"
"I'm sure she's going to understand, I just don't want her to think I'm ungrateful. If we could stay here forever in the mansion of Eden, I would. But we have lives, and we need to get back to them. Let's stay through the weekend and leave on Sunday. That gives us another three days to get ourselves ready for the trip back to reality."
"Okay," he said, simply, out loud. "You're in charge. Now how about that hike?"
I smiled and pulled him up off the couch. "Let's go."
Three hours later, Dustin and I returned from our walk to find Savannah waiting on the porch. She looked up, nervously, as we approached her. "We need to talk." She turned and headed into the house.
I glanced at Dustin questioningly, but he just shrugged.
We followed her into the library. "There's been an attack at SLU." Savannah faced us solemnly.
Dustin looked up sharply. "Dani?!"
"No, Danielle is safe. Someone has taken Shawn."
I felt my heart drop. "What? When? Why?" I knew I sounded like an idiot, but I was stunned.
"I assume it was Kellan. He has been quietly planning his revenge for some time now, and it makes sense that he would start by going down the list of people who were involved in Alicia's death."
"Oh, my God, Dani." I whispered. I jumped up and grabbed Dustin's hand. "We've got to go, NOW."
"I have already dispatched Kaitlyn to the school. She is bringing the faction leaders here, so we can discuss our next move. This is serious, and we will need all our allies, now that Kellan has decided to strike. I promise we will do everything in our power to get him back."
I felt sick inside. I had gotten a glimpse of the horrible way Dani was treated when Kellan had her, and I was sure he was doing way worse to Shawn. I struggled to stay calm, but the anger radiating through Dustin was overwhelming.
"Katie," Savannah warned me. "This is the first true test of your control. You must stay calm if you intend to be helpful to those you love. Keep yourself reined in tightly, and remember everything you have learned."
I nodded, trying to keep my breath even, amidst Dustin's rage.
"Savannah?" We heard a voice from the foyer, and moments later, Brian and Brandy rushed into the room.
Dustin stood and went to his siblings. They embraced each other, looks of fear mixed with anger spreading on their faces. "What do we know?" Brian turned his gaze on Savannah.
"Nothing yet," she replied, quietly. "Everyone should be here in a few hours. Kaitlyn is personally escorting Danielle. It's going to be a full house, and a long night. Coffee and food are being set out in the dining room." She rose and hugged Brandy. "I've missed you dear. Come along and we will check on preparations in the kitchen." They linked arms, and headed out of the room.
I stood up and went to Dustin, feeling his fear seeping into me the closer I got. I laced my fingers through his and gazed into his emerald eyes. He squeezed my hand reassuringly. "I love you." His anger was palpable in the words he threaded into my mind.
"I love you too." I projected all my love into him with my words. I saw his body relax slightly, as he received my message.
"Katie, how are you?" Brian leaned over and gave me a hug. "I trust your training with Savannah has been going well?"
I nodded. "Better than expected."
"We were actually getting ready to leave this weekend, before we got the news," Dustin told him. "Now it looks like we may be postponing our return."
"This isn't going to pass easily, Dustin. We are in for a fight."
"We knew he was going to retaliate, we just didn't know when. It's time to make this problem go away once and for all."
I saw the determination in their identical eyes. They stood together, ready to fight to the death. I just hoped it wouldn't come to that.
I felt a painful spark ripple up my back as I heard a car pull into the driveway. I rushed outside and jerked the car door open, dragging Dani out and into my arms.
Her face was pale, and her eyes were blood shot red. As soon as she saw me, her face crumbled. "Oh God, Katie." Her anguish tore at my soul. Her legs were weak, and she was having a hard time staying on her feet. I picked her up, fully expecting to be burdened by her weight, but she felt as light as a feather. I carried her into the library and laid her down on the couch. She searched my eyes with hers. "Tell me he's going to be okay. Please, Katie, tell me we are going to find him."
I took her hand and looked in her eyes, projecting as much calming energy as I could muster. "Dani, we are going to find him." I hoped to God I was right.
She leaned her head against the back of the couch, briefly closing her eyes. "This is all my fault." Her words were slurred, and I realized that the calming energy I had given her was affecting her like alcohol. "I'm the reason they took him, and if he dies, it will be because of me."
I pushed my face into her line of sight. "Dani, no. This isn't your fault. That crazy bastard is going to get what's coming to him, and we are going to get Shawn back. You have to have hope."
"Dani!" I heard Dustin's voice behind me. I stood up and moved out of the way as he, Brian and Brandy converged on their fragile sister.
Dani was still feeling the effects of my mind control, and she looked at her siblings with tired eyes. "Why?" she choked out. "Why Shawn?"
Brandy cuddled her close. "It's not your fault, baby. Kellan is a monster, but we are going to make him regret ever messing with our family." Her eyes flashed angrily, even as tears streamed down her cheeks.
Dustin fell to his knees in front of his sisters and wrapped his arms around them both, pulling them into his protective arms. Brian moved behind the couch and took Dani's hand, his face set in grim anger. I felt the strong intensity of their bond, the kind of bond that never breaks, the bond of family.
I slowly walked out of the library, letting them have their privacy, and bumped into Kaitlyn. She stared into my eyes, and her voice wove into my mind. "Are you okay?"
I shook my head. "Not really, but I need to be strong for the people I love."
She nodded. "Remember when Savannah told you that you would play an important role in the lives of the people you love? That time has come. You are incredibly strong, Katie, and your family will need you. Remember everything you know and trust your instincts."
She took me by the arm and led me towards the dining room. "Come on, let's check on the food. It's about to get very crowded in here." She glanced towards the front door.
The long table was lined with chairs, and the side tables were filled with food and various drinks. Savannah was bustling around, ever the hostess, checking coffee pots and platters of finger foods. She looked like she was going to say something, but the doorbell interrupted her. She took a deep breath, and glanced at Kaitlyn. "It's show time." She headed towards the foyer.
I went back to the library to check on Dani and ran into Dustin in the hall way. He pulled me to him and buried his head in my neck. I could feel him trying to control his raging emotions, fighting the urge to lose his composure. "I'm here," I whispered in his ear. "I'm right here."
He lifted his head and stared into my eyes. "Katie, this is bad, and it's only going to get worse. Promise that you will stay near me every minute. I can't risk anything happening to you, and no one is safe right now."
I put my hand on his cheek and projected all the love I could muster. "I'm beside you all the way, forever."
He kissed me softly and laced his fingers through mine. "Forever."
A/N-You knew things couldn't stay calm for too long! It's time for Katie to put her new gifts to the test. Will she be able to help find Shawn? Comment and vote below!! Luvs as always!! AMð