Chapter 39: Chapter 39

I heard commotion behind me, and Dustin and I followed the noise into the dining room.  "Oh, my god," I breathed.

The room was packed with people, and every single one had a glowing Aura.  There were brown, green, yellow, rainbow and white.  I drew in a deep breath and entered the room with Dustin.  The Auras didn't bother me anymore, but it was still a shock to see a whole room filled with glowing people.

"Dustin!"  George and Cindy rushed up to us.  "Where have you been, man?"  Cindy and I hugged while the guys did the manly handshake thing.

"It's a long story.  I'll tell you all about it when things aren't so crazy."  Dustin reached for my hand.  "So, what do you know?"

George's eyes darkened, and he glanced at Cindy.  She shook her head, as tears filled her eyes.  "It's okay, baby."  He pulled her close and smoothed down her beautiful long red hair.  "Your dorm room was trashed, man."  He looked at Dustin.  "There was a lot of blood."  He stopped and swallowed hard.  "Shawn was supposed to meet us at the Student Union, but he was late.  I called a few times, and when he didn't answer, we went to check on him.  It looked bad, really bad."

Dustin's hand tightened around mine.  "How long has it been?"

"I talked to him that morning, so it had to have happened that afternoon.  We were supposed to meet around 6. It's been almost 24 hours now, and no word.  No ransom request, nothing."  George looked around.  "I can't believe this is happening again.  It's been exactly a year to the day that they took Dani.  I'm sure they are trying to send a message, but all I can do is think of what I'm going to do when I get my hands on them."  His deep green eyes flashed angrily.

Cindy wrapped her arms around him and leaned her head on his shoulder.  "We will find him, and then there will be hell to pay." I could see the intensity of her feelings emanating from her in green waves.

"Everyone, may I have your attention please?"  Savannah's voice rang out over the conversations in the massive dining area.  A moment later, the room was silent.  "Thank you for coming so quickly.  We have a lot to talk about, so can I please have the faction heads join me at the table."

I looked at Dustin, confused.  He leaned over and kissed me.  "Can you go check on Dani for me?  This is going to take a while."  George and Jeremy flanked Dustin as he headed towards the table.

I met Cindy's eyes.  "Faction heads?"

"Each Supernatural group on campus has a leader.  That person makes decisions to ensure that things run smoothly, and the groups coexist peacefully. Dustin is the faction leader of the Eternals.  Each leader has two people who back them up.  Usually, Shawn and Jeremy accompany Dustin, but George will sit in Shawn's place tonight."

I watched as groups of three moved to take their places, each group representing their Aura colors.  Once everyone was settled, Savannah began.  "Don Vittorio, thank you for being here to represent the werewolves.  We hope we can count on your assistance in this trying time."

"Our forces are at your service."  Don Vittorio stood.  "We have no patience for this unruly group of Shadowfalls.  Shawn is a respected friend, and we will give our strength and resources to his rescue efforts."

She turned to the yellow ringed werecats, as I recognized the female sitting between two men.  It was Mia, the girl from my Art History class.  She stood up and addressed the room.  "We have had an alliance with the Eternals that has spanned many centuries, and it is the consensus of our people that we shall help in whatever manner necessary to ensure the safe return of Shawn Douglas, and the swift termination of his captors."

It was amazing to see how many people I knew from SLU, who were major players in the Supernatural world.  So far, the werewolves and the werecats had pledged their allegiance to the hunt for and return of our friend.

The shape shifters were next, and all three of them were women.  I watched as Dustin's friend Victoria stood up and looked around the table.  "Our peaceful existence has been compromised time and time again by these lawless Shadowfall. It is up to us to eliminate their threat to our way of life.  The Eternals have our full support, and we will not back down until the enemies are eliminated, and Shawn Douglas is returned to his family.  The Shifters have voted unanimously, and we await instruction." She bowed slightly before taking her seat.

I realized that there were two Magic Casters sitting next to Savannah, and they watched her carefully as she rose from her chair.  "Our representation comes as a direct order from the Coven.  The Shadowfall under Kellan Reese have been declared a threat to the Supernatural world.  Our existence hinges on our faction's abilities to follow the rules laid out by our governing bodies, and these Shadowfall have forsaken all rules in favor of a twisted idea of world domination.  We will not sit by while they systematically tear apart the world that we have all worked so hard to build.  Our allegiance is absolute."  She sat back down and looked at Dustin.

He paused a moment, gathering his thoughts, before he stood.  His Aura was pulsating bright green.  "Once again, I'd like to thank all of you for coming today.  It has come to our attention that an attack has been made on one of our own.  We were informed that Kellan and his followers escaped from Tennison and have resumed their efforts to take down the Eternals.  Shawn Douglas usually sits beside me at these meetings, but he is now in enemy hands.  I don't need to tell you that if the Shadowfall succeed in their twisted mission, the lives of everyone at this table will be forever altered.  The Overseers have authorized us to do whatever is necessary to bring down Kellan and his followers.  Your support will help us ensure that this threat is neutralized once and for all.  Now, if everyone is ready, let's talk strategy."

The faction leaders nodded, ready to get down to business.  Dustin looked back at me and met my eyes.  "Stay close.  I love you."

I felt the determination in his heart.  "I love you too."

I stepped out of the room and headed back to the library to check on Dani.  She was still on the couch, her eyes red from crying.  Brandy was sitting next to her, holding her hand.  "How is she?"  I asked Brandy, joining them on the couch.

"As well as can be expected, I guess."  She sighed.  "It's like we are back in the same nightmare, wondering whether we will find him alive, whether we will see him again.  She's been through so much, I don't know how much more she can take."

"She's strong."  I replied.  "We have to remind her of that.  We can't let her go back to that place again.  It's up to us to keep her focused on what's important, and that's kicking some Shadowfall ass!"

Brandy looked at me, surprised.  "You're very different from the last time I saw you.  You radiate confidence and power, when before you were just a scared little girl.  What happened to you?"

I looked down at the ring on my hand.  "I finally accepted my new normal."

She smiled and touched the diamond on my finger.  "Welcome to the family."

"Katie?"  Dani whispered.

I leaned over and brushed the dark curls out of her eyes.  "I'm right here."

She took my hand and placed it on her cheek.  "Make me forget."

"I can't."  I pulled away and took her hand in mine.  "I'm sorry.  You have to be strong, and I know you can do it."  I looked at Brandy.  "WE know you can do it.  Shawn needs you, and you can't let him down.  When you were missing, he didn't rest until you were safe and back in his arms.  Now, you are going to do the same for him."

Her eyes searched mine, and I projected all my happiest memories of her and Shawn into her mind.  She inhaled sharply, and sat up, her eyes clear.  "How did you do that?"

"Learned some new tricks."  I wrapped my arms around her and hugged her tightly.

"It sure looks like you have."  I heard Brian's voice behind me.

I turned to see him walking into the library.  "Savannah is a great teacher."  I gave him a quick smile.

He nodded and came to perch next to Dani.  "We're going to need your skills when we go after Kellan.  Savannah told me you would be important, and now I realize she was right."

I was about to respond, when Dustin came into the room.  I jumped up and rushed into his arms.  "How is it going?  Do you guys have a plan?"

He pressed a kiss to my forehead.  "The first search party should be departing SLU within the hour.  Each faction has contributed four members for the initial search, and we will send out another at first light.  The Casters have started locator spells, but Kellan must have one working with him because his location is too fuzzy to pinpoint."

Brian scowled.  "So, he found himself a rogue Caster?   I'm not surprised.  He will stop at nothing to take us down."

"Katie, Savannah needs to talk to you.  I'm going to head upstairs and pack our stuff.  We need to get back to SLU as soon as possible."

I looked at him, confused, wondering why Savannah would need to talk to ME with everything else that was going on.  "Is she in the dining room?"

He nodded, as he bent down to hug Dani.  "You look better.  How do you feel?"

She glanced at me with a smile.  "Ready to find my man and dispatch of the bastards that took him."

He looked at her incredulously.

"Thanks Katie."  She gave me a firm nod, as I headed to find Savannah.

I found her sitting alone at the table, an empty coffee cup in front of her.  She looked up and linked her eyes with mine.  "I need you to do something for us."  She telepathically began the conversation.

"Of course."

"I need you to go to Shawn's room on campus and see what visions you can uncover.  We need as much information as we can get about what happened, and your abilities make it possible for you to see both the past and the present.  Your information may be invaluable to his rescue.  Can you do that?"

I nodded slowly.  "I'll do anything to help.  What do I do with the visions?"

"Project them to Dustin.  He will know what to do with the information you uncover.  Katie, there's one more thing."

I kept my eyes firmly on hers.  "Name it."

"We can't be sure that there aren't traitors close to home.  Kellan has a Caster working for him, so he has the ability to cloak someone, to keep us from knowing that there is a fox in the proverbial hen house.  You can see Auras, and no amount of cloaking can change the energy of a Supernatural.  You must keep your eyes open, and let Dustin know the minute you suspect that anyone is not really who they say they are.  Be aware of everything around you and know that you are protecting the people you love, so stay vigilant.  This is war, my dear, and the first true test of your training.  Don't let me down."

I took a deep breath and stood up.  "This is what you and Kaitlyn have been hinting at.  Did you know this was going to happen?"

She shook her head.  "I knew Kellan would rise again, and I knew you would be a part of the war, but I did not know that Shawn would be a target.  Even Casters can't see everything.  Now, you must hurry.  The sooner you get to campus the sooner we will have more information to help us locate Shawn, and ultimately, Kellan."

She stood in front of me, her young face searching mine.  "I will protect you as much as I can."  She touched the charm hanging from my crest necklace and closed her eyes.  When she opened them, I could see fear clouding her child like features.  "If you need me, I will be there.  Be careful, Katie, not everything is as it seems.  Now go, and remember, nothing is impossible if you want it badly enough."  She hugged me tightly.

I hurried up to my room to find Dustin packing the last of our things.  "Is everything okay?"  He zipped my duffel bag and handed it to me.

I nodded.  "Let's go."

Savannah and Kaitlyn were waiting for us by the front door.  "Be safe.  Do not hesitate to call on us if you need to."  Kaitlyn looked at me, pointedly.  "Stay strong."  They hugged us both.

Dustin's car was waiting in the drive way, and Dani and Brandy were in the back seat.  "Where's Brian?"  I tossed my duffel into the trunk.

"He went on ahead with Jeremy.  They'll meet us on campus."  Dustin shut the trunk and slid into the driver's seat.

Savannah raised her hand in a silent wave, as we sped away from the mansion.  I felt a feeling of impending doom as we hit the highway and headed back to SLU.

A/N- Supernaturals unite! Time to kick a little butt! Who's your favorite supernatural? Vampires, werewolves, werecats, shapeshifters or Magic Casters? Comment below and don't forget to vote!! Luvs as always!! AM