Fearlings Two (The Fearlings Series Book 2) (7 page)

The way they have their lights setup in the kitchen allows for three feet of darkness in the back corner of the room. It allows
Kynar
to visit with them but pins the Fearling to the corner. If they want the entire room lit, they flip the second switch.

Right now Ann isn’t worried about seeing a Fearling because there are no
Vauns
in the house. She flips the first switch then walks across the room to the cabinet and grabs a glass. A quiet soft toned voice startles her from behind.

“H e l
l
o.”

“What the…” Ann says as she quickly turns around. She has never experienced this before. There has never been a Fearling without a Vaun. The tall shadowy figure is bigger than
Kynar
and his presence scares her. She tries to hide the fear from her tone. “What, who are you?”

“
Nanlar
.”

“You’re a Fearling, how are you here? There are no
Vauns
in this house.”

“Wrong. Not a Fearling.”

“What?” Ann asks. She knows what that means. “You’re, you’re a
Molawner
aren’t you. Like Rick’s
Sevol
?”

“Yes,”
Nanlar
nods as he answers. “You, the Vaun is living within you.”

Ann steps back. She understands. The baby inside of her is going to be a Vaun. She still doesn’t understand how the
Molawner
is here. “Are you the baby’s
Molawner
?”

“One,”
Nanlar
says.

“What?” Ann asks.

“I travel here in need of only one.”

“One what?” Ann asks again. She doesn’t like the Being’s evasiveness. She knows that his words can mean many things and not all are good for them. Her tone is more forceful. “What do you need?”

Julie enters the room but stops when she sees the image of
Nanlar
in the darkened corner. She has enough experience with Fearlings to know not to panic but to be ready for anything. Her thoughts are about reaching out to the light switch.

“Mom,” Stewart says. He walks down the hall toward his mom who is not moving, “Mom?”

“Stay there, Stewart,” Julie says. She knows that there is plenty of light in the living room and hall. She turns back to Ann as her friend continues her conversation with
Nanlar
.

“Are you here for us?” Ann asks. Her tone shows her fear of the answer as she repeats the question. “Are you here for one of us?”

“You,”
Nanlar
quietly says. “I am here for you.”

Ann turns to Julie. Their eyes meet and Ann can tell that Julie is about to flip the second light switch. She shakes her head no. “Not yet.”

“No,”
Nanlar
says. He turns his shadowy head towards Julie standing at the entrance. “She wishes to learn so allow me to stay without struggle.”

“Julie, my phone is in the other room on the coffee table. Please get it and call Rob then bring it to me.”

“Ann?” Julie asks. She doesn’t want to leave the room, doesn’t want to leave the switch. “No.” She flips the switch and the
Molawner
vanishes within the light.

CHAPTER 10

James sits at the table quietly as the others continue to talk.

“I didn’t know that,” Jeff says. The more he hears on the current conversation the more he feels helpless.

“Yes,” Rob says. His experience shows in his tone. “They can walk through light. Or in Nancy’s experience reach through the light.”

“It slows them,” Professor interrupts. “The light weakens them and even causes them pain. But yes Rob is right. They can travel through light. Not fast but they still can.”

“
Molawners
,” Jeff says. “I know they can appear in lighter conditions. There are times when
Rel
visits me and it’s not that dark. Before, when he was a Fearling he would not have been able to visit me with any light.” He looks at Nancy. “You said that your Fearling
Lelah
is resting.”

Nancy nods yes. She knows everything that Jeff is saying but they have all learned that it is good to let the new Vaun speak his thoughts.

“So you guys know that,” Jeff continues. He has a thought and he doesn’t like. “Does that mean that the
Molawners
can travel better through the light? I mean they’re more powerful or whatever, so what?”

“Yes,” Rick says. His tone is as always, serious. “They travel differently through the light but it still limits them and it still causes them pain.”

“I have two Fearlings,” James says. He is tired of listening and he wants to share his excitement. He sees the reaction on the faces of most of the
Vauns
sitting around the table. “I do. Ask my Dad, ask the Professor or Rachel.”

“It is true,” Professor says. “The boy has two. Their names are
Hydron
and
Drawk
.”

“We met them yesterday,” Rachel says.

“Yesterday we learned a couple things,” Rob says. He was going to wait to tell them all that Ann is pregnant but he figures now is as good as time as any. “James has two Fearlings, and, and my wife…” The words are still very new to him and still a little awkward to speak. “Ann is pregnant.”

Rob’s cell phone rings and steps back as the others react to his words. He answers his phone. “Hello.” His smile fades as he listens to the person on the line.

Rick watches as Rob talks on the phone. He sees his friend’s reaction and knows that it is not good news. He motions to the Professor.

“Wait,” Professor says to all in the room. He motions all to notice Rob. “Hey, quiet, quiet.”

James sees everyone stop talking and stare to his dad. He looks up and sees the look of worry as his dad talks.

“Do it now,” Rob says. His tone shows serious focus and sincere emotions. “Do it now. I love you Ann. I will call you right back but you do it now.”

“Is she, ok?” Rachel asks as Rob ends the call and puts the phone on the table. “Is Ann ok?”

“Right now my wife and Julie are in my kitchen talking to a
Molawner
,” Rob says. Instantly he has everyone’s attention. “She says that his name is
Nanlar
.”

There are multiple reactions from the
Vauns
but Jeff doesn’t give them much time to react. He knows something that they might not know and he needs to share it now.

“Your wife,” Jeff asks. “She cannot be in the dark.”

“What?” Rob asks. He instantly recognizes the tone from the new Vaun. “Why?”

Jeff looks to the boy then back to the father. He knows that his next sentence is going to change the entire night. “The
Molawner
is there to take her and he is not bound by the same rules as a Fearling.”

“What?” Rob says. He needs to know more. He needs to know everything now.

“From talks with
Rel
,” Jeff says. “I have learned that
Molawners
have nine months of pregnancy to attack the mother. It is one of the reasons I don’t date. You guys do not know that?”

“No,” Rob says. His tone shows instant worry. “What do you mean nine months?”

“The baby’s
Molawner
cannot protect the baby till after birth,” Jeff says.

“They don’t have a Vaun with them,” Rob says, “Julie and Stewart are with her. They’re defenseless.” He reaches for his phone on the table.

The Professor motions to Rick and Rachel as everyone intensely watches Rob on the phone. “Rick and I will go with Rob. You all stay with little James here.”

“Professor,” James asks. He sees and hears the tone in his father’s voice. He looks to the trusted Professor. “Is my Mom safe?”

CHAPTER 11 - HOUSE

It has been six minutes since Rob called and warned them about the
Molawner
. The living room is fully lit and Julie is in the kitchen while Ann is upstairs, both are lighting all lamps and candles throughout the house.

Stewart sits on the floor in the middle of the living room with two flashlights, one on each side of him. He has been watching his mother Julie and Ann walking around the house lighting lamps and checking the flashlights to verify that they are working. He is scared. He is young but he can tell the fear in the adults eyes and in their tone when they speak.

Ann holds a flashlight as she walks down the stairs and turns into the living room. She is trying to think of everything that she can do. She knows what the Fearlings are capable of and she knows that Rob says the
Molawners
are stronger. She sees Stewart on the floor with the flashlight and she sees the flashlight in her friend’s hand as Julie enters from the hall.

“All the candles are lit,” Julie says. Her tone shows the nervous fear she tries to control, “How long till Rob and the Professor get here?”

“Less than twenty minutes and Rick is with them.”

“Mom, we aren’t safe are we?” Stewart asks. “James always says that we are safe when a Vaun is here because their Fearling will protect us.” He is eight years old and he knows what is happening. He is very aware and his fear is growing. “There’s no Vaun here.”

“You heard Ann,” Julie says. She stares at her son as he nervously looks up at her. “Rob and the others are on their way home and they will be here soon.”

Ann looks at her friend and Stewart. Her eyes tear at the thought of something happening to them. “You two could leave. Then he wouldn’t be able to reach you. You don’t have to stay with me.”

“Not really a good plan,” Julie says. She takes a breath as she looks around the room. “If I did try to leave who’s to say that the
Molawner
can’t shatter the lights outside and attack us? We don’t know how far his reach is. No, even if I wanted to leave we are safer here with more lights. We are safer in numbers.”

“Julie,” Ann starts.

“And,” Julie interrupts. Her next thought is one she has lived with for eight years. “I wasn’t with you when Rob and Grandma were taken. I promised myself that would never happen again.”

“Is James with them?” Stewart asks.

“No,” Ann says. She looks at the eight year old. “James is staying with Rachel and the others at the cafeteria.”

“They are going to pick us up then we are going back to them,” Julie says. She looks at her watch then to her son. “They’ll be here soon.”

Ann nods and wipes her eyes. She scans the room. All lamps and candles are lit. Everyone has a flashlight and there are more around the room. She knows that they are as prepared as they can be.