Harmonizer's Evolution (Balancer's Soul cycle) (76 page)

Sarah
stood up from
her
bench and asked seriously “Amber, what happened?”

She shook her light brown hair from side to side. “Nothing did. I figured to give it a shot and found that it was hopeless. I imagined them turning as black as your Fangs, but nothing happened the way it does when I manipulate my metal. Apparently my strength isn’t up to the task
and wouldn’t even let me attempt
.”

As she
sat down again
she
said “Sorry.”

“What for?” Ben asked
, confused. “It isn’t your fault that we don’t have the strength that you do.
We are just amazed at the growth we’ve made since coming here. After all the training you’ve given us has shown me that I can still get stronger at my age. I might not get truly powerful, but my skills are getting more refined and used more precisely. We are grateful for all you’ve done.”

She
began blushing at hearing
such
praising
.
It was kind, but embarrassing.

“Mommy, when I get my powers can you train me too?”
Pearl asked.

Jack
glanced at
his daughter
with his azure eyes and they
had a weak look of pain. Jillian
closed her eyes while Amber and Ban silently
looked at each other.

Sarah’s
heart began to ache, but
her
voice remained upbeat.
Her green
eyes looked between the twins as they sat atop the table and in their car-seats. “Of course I will. When you two get older you’ll be my number one students.”

Their little eyes glanced at one another and they giggled in a way that made everyone begin to laugh with them.

Several minutes later a familiar
Irish
and unwelcome
accent
rang in their
ears. “
Sarah
, may we speak with you
, lass
?”

Ever
yone went dead silent around the
group. Everyone across from
Sarah
ranged in expression from wary, angry, disappointed and even uncaring as they looked behind
her
. Veronica sat to
the
right and
Sarah
heard
a dangerous growl
.

She
turned around to see both of
her
grandparents.

Her
grandfather Ryan stood several paces away wearing a green shirt and brown pants. His dark brown hair
flowed in the gentle breeze and his eyes calmly looked around
them
. His handsome and young expression was impassive.
Laura stood behind him wearing a red shirt and matching shorts. Her fiery red hair was longer and curled. Her emerald
green eyes were Sarah’s only
inheritance, but they actually looked timid and not demeaning for once.

She
stood up and crossed
her
arms to look impassive. Veronica
and the human looking Kara
,
in her leathers
,
followed
Sarah’s
example and from the corner of
her
eye Shannon
and Mark
moved
in
behind to cover the twin’s.
Sarah’s
tone then turned hard and cold. “What do you want?”

“Is that anyway to sp
eak to family.” Her
grandfather said with a calm smile. He looked around at
everyone and his smile faded
when none so much as blinked
. Her
silence told him all the answer he needed to hear. “I guess it isn’t much of a stretch to say our relationship is strained.” He looked up when Veronica gave another unwelcome warning growl. “Hold on, I’m unarmed.” He turned around to show that he didn’t carry his whip.

“He could still be carrying a
hidden
blade.”
Veronica said privately. Then
Sarah
felt her using her sonar for a moment
. Ryan looked at her when her
large
eyes began glowing.
“It looks like he was telling the truth
and the female isn’t holding any weapons either
.”
She then turned her mind for
everyone
to listen
, but spoke to them.
“What business do you have, hatchlings? We do not have patience with you right now. Not after your actions from our last encounter.”

“You’re absolutely right.” Laura said with a truthful accent. “We weren’t on our best behavior and our actions gave you an understandable outlook of us. We’ve never been the best when it comes to the matter of family. We won’t make up any excuses for our actions becau
se the fault
i
s ours alone.” S
a
rah’s
arms slowly began to uncross at hearing something so unorthodox. They just admitted they were both wrong. “We have come to do whatever it takes to make amends…”

Her
young looki
ng grandmother went silent and Ryan
placed a hand over her petite shoulder. “She is right. Laura and I have made many assumptions that proved our ignorance and for that
,
we are sorry.
Sometimes we need to be told how precious life is and how quickly it can end. We know this battle will be bloody and we don’t want any regrets if our time
should come
.” He cleared his throat dryly. “Do you think we can get another chance?”

“Mommy,”
Everyone silenced as Sarah
peered over
her
shoulder
to look at her
son. He was staring directly at his
immortal
great grandparents.
“why not let them get another chance, whoever they are.”

Sarah
turned
her
calm and impassive expression back on them and said “As long as you do not say or do anything out of line
,
you may ge
t another chance,” She
watched as the
y both sighed in relief. “but” T
hey met
her iron gaze
again and became confused. They thought it would be easy, but they had rules that needed to be followed. “there are a few things that you two need to abide by.
You cannot say anything disrespectful about anyone in my family, especially around my babies. You must also apologize to Father, Mother, Amber and
Ben for your behavior as well. A
s long as you remain within those pleasant parameters you may stay, but if you intentionally make a mistake Veronica will be the least of your problems
,
got it.”
She
said with calm fury a
nd Veronica grunted, seconding the
rules.

They looked between each other and Laura nodded in acceptance.

They stayed put as Amber,
Jillian
, Ben and
Jack
walked up
to her
side.

Amber
and her mate received their apologies and were forgiven with a hug from Amber and a handshake from Ben.
Jillian
received her apology from Laura and they hugged almost like a reunion that has never happened before, but it was different
from Jack
.

When Ryan began his apology,
Jack
walked straight up to him and towered over
his father-in-law
.
Jack
balled up his fist and slammed it into Ryan’s abdomen and used enough force to make him
get knocke
d back over twenty feet away. Sarah’s
father had held back some, but still mad
e everyone go into shock. Jack
turned around with a smile and said joyfully “Damn, I’ve been
waiting to do that for over
seven hundred years!” Jack
then glanced over his shoulder and spoke in the same lighthearted tone. “Ryan, with that
,
all of our disputes are settled.”

“
Agreed
.” Ryan said through his pain gritted teeth and slowly stood up while clutching his stomach. He staggered back and slowly said “That has been coming to me for a very long time. I’m just glad my newest grandson wasn’t here or I would have been launched into the trees.”

“Try landing in the middle of town.”
Jack
said with a laugh and then slapped Ryan across his back. “Come and sit with me and slowly introduce yourself to your remarkable great grandchildren.”

Once things settled
and her
grandparents sat the
furthest away and across from her
, they began introducing themselves to the children. They did remarkably well with the group and stayed true to their word.

At one point Kara tapped Sarah’s shoulder. Kara
lea
ned in close and whispered in her
ear with a feral smile. “I can smell their fear. They are really trying, but look at how they are sweating in this breeze. I’m not sure what they are worried about, but I don’t see any of us threatening them.”

Sarah
whispered
back. “Hold on.” She
entered
her
grandparents minds unnoticed and found the reason to their stress. They might not be able to read each other
’
s mind, but their trai
n of thought ran the same way. Sarah
chocked off a laugh and Kara was the only one to notice over the noise of the crowd.

Her grin wid
e
ned when she whispered “Spill!”

She
couldn’t hold
her
self ba
ck when a small giggle escaped her
lips.
She
cupped
her
hand close to Kara’s ear and said “They are afraid of what Connor will say or do when they see them hanging out with us. Last time they met he had his hatchet to Ryan’s throat. They are thinking of the worst thing he might do if he sees them and
Connor
isn’t prepared.”

“Should we let them keep sweating?” Her liquid silver eyes
lit with mischief
.

They
both knew how Connor reacts to things that are new. He always keeps a cool head, unless someone he loves is in danger.
She
grinned back, matching Kara’s. “Oh yeah.”

When the sun first began dipping behind the trees
Sarah
felt a new m
ind attempting to gain access. She
turned around and looked up to see a female Keeper with grayish-white eyes
peering down at
her
strangely and it felt off for some reason
, unsettling
.
She wore a gray robe belted
closed
with gold that had been spun into rope.
“Might you be the one they call Sarah?”

She
turned completely
around
to give her
,
her full attention. She
smiled
pleasantly
and said “That would be me. Is there something
that
I
might be able to help you with?” I
t became a habit to ask
this
because many people that
she’s
never met
keep
c
oming
up to
her
for only two main reasons, to meet
the
children or to gain information on what strategies were being developed inside
the cabin
when the Elders
counsel
ed
.
They
’ve kept everything a secret pertaining to what will be done
and who will be going where
.

“Actually I was going for a walk and was wondering if you would like to join me? I’ve seen your strength and was hoping to get some pointers on a few questions. It would be a great honor to walk with the mate of a Harmonizer
.”

Sarah
stepped down to the ground and remained polite in
her
tone. “Actually a nice walk will be just what is needed. By the way what is your name?”

Her hands fumbled for a minute until she placed one on her breast.
She smiled calmly, without showing her teeth.
“Please forgive me for forgetting proper etiquette.
You may call me
Agnes.”