The Pearls (26 page)

The sun is shining through the windows bright and wonderful. Justine slips out of bed and down the hall. Mary is in the kitchen cooking up
a huge breakfast.

“May I help?” Mary jumps in surprise

“Oh Justine you scared me. I would love some help, do you cook?”

“I love to cook and yes I think I cook quite well. Zoe never said anything anyway.” She laughs

“Well dear if you can cook you will make Gabe happier than he already is. That boy can eat a whole cow and still ask for seconds.”

“I think I can handle that.” Justine teases

They make a huge breakfast and are placing it on the table as everyone walks in.

“This smells so good
!” Tia exclaims

“Heck ye
ah, better than a roughneck breakfast.” John agrees

“John, Tia do you think you can handle breakfast with the
half-blood? I have a feeling he needs some sunlight and company. I have a few things I would like to talk about and he is the one with the answers.” Kaiden looks at them

“I will be good.” Tia says

“I will be good, but I have a condition. If he does anything stupid can I be the one that gets to catch him and beat him?”

“Yep, sure thing.” Gabe says
grinning

John smiles and nods his head and sits down. They all take a seat as Gabe goes down to get Blake. A minute later they are walking into the room. Blake looks like he showered and is in the change of clothes Zoe picked out for him.

“Alright we are going to eat and while we eat I have some things that I need addressed today.” Kaiden looks blankly at Blake and Blake nods his head.

They all make their plates and begin to eat. Mary and Justine have made a feast. There
are pancakes and waffles, eggs and bacon, sausage and muffins, toast and every jam you could want. There are even homemade croissants with little chocolate pieces inside. She made tea and coffee and well as juices. Blake clears his throat after a minute and looks around the room.

“I think it is time for me to tell you how to find my father. You guys have been good to me and I don’t want to make you mistrust me anymore. I want to tell you everything, but I am afraid to.”

“Why are you afraid, Blake?” Zoe asks

“Because you might kill me for what I am about to tell you. Because I truly do w
ant the life that the half-bloods at Kaiden’s home have. Because I do want my sister to have a happy and full life. Because I want to be a part of your family.”

“You heard us then in the car?” You took off the headphones?”

“Yes”

“Now or after he speaks?” John asks

“You better start talking half-blood before you have three very pissed off Dragons beating you to a pulp.” Gabe hisses at him

“There were two different plans that we were given the night we were sent to the cabin. The initial plan was to kill Kaiden and Justine and capture Zoe. But father knew you had someone watching over you since two of my brothers kept getting beat up without seeing anyone do the actual beating
. Father knew that you would try to take one or all of us alive. We were to tell you just enough for you to take us with you. I am supposed to find Vivi and where the Ireland Sect is located, and then, lead you all into his camp.” Blake hesitates taking a drink of his juice. He then stares at his plate and begins again.

“
As soon as I called and told him she was dead he knew I was lying. It was a code word. Kyle and Kael was the code word. My brothers were Jacob and Sean. I don’t want to lead any of you to his camp. Marcus isn’t even held at his base camp. Marcus is at the secondary camp where he will send all the pregnant mothers and the small children. Any child under twelve will be there.”

Blake looked at the others
, the two new ones were gripping the table, and were full of rage. They were very young, but he knew they were strong. Zoe looked hurt and so did Justine. Kaiden looked like he knew Blake was lying and Gabe looked like he was about to murder him.

“I am sorry. My father is in Alaska. He is
near Bristol Bay just on the south side of town. The secondary location is east of town. The secondary location will have no guards as I am supposed to lead you to the main location. If you send in the right people you can have her father out tomorrow. And there is something else.”

Kaiden’s phone rang then breaking the tension in the room. It was Mr. Steinman.

“Hello?”

“That is great news let me put Mary on with you she can give you the address and can you have them overnight the stuff here? Thank you”

Kaiden hands the phone to Mary and she quickly gives him the address. Kaiden looks to John and Tia and smiles at them

“Your packages have been located and hopefully will be here tomorrow.” He tells them but they just nod and stare at Blake.

“The something else?” Zoe asks

“
How many days has it been since I made the call?”

“Four”

“Ok well all my brothers and sisters have been called in. They would all be in Alaska by now. So if you turned you would be safe to fly. Also-”

He was cut off again by Kaiden’s phone.

“Hello?” he didn’t even look at the caller id this time

“Kaiden its Charles”

This time they all could hear the deep voice on the other line and Kaiden sat there and continued the conversation. Blake and Mary were the only ones that could not hear.

“Charles my favorite man I have some news for you”

“Save your news son, I have some of my own. What is the closest airport to you?”

“What
? Why?”

“I
need to know where you are, I am coming to you.”

“Hot Springs” Gabe whispers so Blake would not hear

“Did you get that Charles?”

“Loud and clear
, I hired a jet I will see you tonight. Kaiden I have reports that the Half-bloods here have all left and ones in other countries are gone too.”

“Yes it seems we have been set up again and played a fool
, they have all been called home and are awaiting our arrival.”

“Hmm well that is good and bad news. Don’t let him speak anymore I will talk to him when I get there. Have you gotten a location?”

“We can do that and yes we know where his father is.”

Blake pales and looks down at his plate. He feels sick now and just wants to crawl in a hole.

“See you soon Charles.”

“Kaiden do me a favor and go turn I am bringing some friends and some need to be turned for what I have planned.”

“Oh? You’re not going to tell me are you?

“Nope, see you soon kiddo the jet is waiting.
”

“Sorry Blake but you don’t get to finish talking.” Gabe says and stands to take him back downstairs.

Blake starts to cry and hangs his head low he whispers because he can’t talk any louder “I am truly sorry please believe me. I just want to save my sister.”

Gabe takes him back downstairs and chains him back to the floor and walks back upstairs. The women are all cleaning the kitchen and the table. And John and Kaiden are sitting in the living room.
Gabe walks to the living room to join the men.

“What do you think that is about?” Gabe asked

“Well it has to be good. Charles has never once told me it was ok to turn. He always told me that it wasn’t safe unless I was home. I am just so confused right now I don’t know which way to go.”

“Well man if he says to turn what the hell you waiting for, go take her back there and get busy.”
John laughs

“I am nervous ok
? She is well, and I am not, and I don’t want to force it, and I would really like to fly. I really miss that feeling.”

“Dude you have flown?” John asks

“Yes I told you my parents used to take me up.”

“Right, sorry man was a lot to take in.” John says

They all stand their staring at the girls and lost in thought. Gabe has to be in town in a couple hours and is torn at his choices. Gabe stares outside at the sunny blue sky and exhales loudly.

“Well I guess I need to start heading to town. Either way we can’t do it
until tonight when the midnight sky will hide us from the humans.” And as he finished his sentence, a rumble filled the air, and the loud crack that followed made them jump. The sky turned black in a second and the heavens started to cry big fat wet tears.

Gabe and Kaiden looked at each other and smiled.

“I think this is a sign that we need to turn and like right now.” Gabe said and Justine turned around and just stared at him a silly grin sliding into her lips. She runs to Gabe and they are off and down the hall before Kaiden can look to Zoe.

Zoe is also grinnin
g and Tia swats her on the butt. Zoe takes a step toward Kaiden and then launches herself across the room and into his arms.

John and Tia just stand there grinning at each other. They know what is about to happen and they go to the backyard to get ready. Mary is confused and stands at the window to watch the two teens dance in the rain.

The sky is still black and the rain does not seem to have an end. The thunder is loud and the lightning is fierce. It cracks through the sky and illuminates the hills. There is a loud commotion in the back and soon Justine and Gabe are running outside almost naked as the day they were born. Soon after them Zoe and Kaiden come barreling down the hall and through the back door. Mary watches in amazement as six large Dragons appear on her lawn. She rushes outside, tears streaming her face as they take flight and soar through the air. It is fascinating to watch from the ground.

A second later she is swooped into the air and cradled in huge black
talons. Mary cannot tell if this is Gabe or Justine, but she truly doesn’t care. She is flying in the rain and it feels so incredible. She is going up and down and side to side and then is placed back on the ground and a loud roar rips the air.

The skies were once again blue and sunny. Gabe and Justine lay in the grass with Kaiden and Zoe next to them.
Tia and John were still dancing away. They were all excited and in a perpetual bliss.

Mary broke the moment by yelling at them to get some clothes on. The boys laughed and got up. They took
the girls inside and they all got dressed and were out in the living room. Gabe looked over at the clock and swore.

“Shit I am supposed to be at Mateo’s right now. I need to call him.” Gabe jumped up and to the phone. He was back a second later. “Well when
the storm hit Mateo got worried and he is on his way. I guess he got a bad feeling with the sudden rain and left when it started so he should be here any minute. I didn’t realize until I looked at the clock that we were outside for almost two hours.”

John laughed “That sound
s like him, he is one superstitious guy.”

The sound of tires on gravel caught their attention. Gabe went to the door and as soon as Mary noticed she grabbed the shotgun and followed him out. It was a delivery van coming over the small hill. Mary pointed the shotgun and the man driving the van stopped. He rolled down the window and yelled out “Got a package here for Mr. Michaels”