Keeper's Knowledge (Balancer's Soul cycle) (6 page)

When the first rays of the sun brightened the sky
they
slowly
got out of
the warm bed. Connor and Sarah
made breakfast together and ate quickly. Connor walked into his workshop
room
that
is
situated opposite
the power room.
Sarah
felt him using his power
for some new project th
at he said would be amazing as she
entered the power room to do some
last minute
laundry.

Throughout the past few months Connor would bring things home and put it in his private workshop
, a place she respected as his personal space
.
Although bound as one, they were separate entities.
He would bring in bought wood or scrap
s
that he could
re
use.
She
would also sometimes smile
when he would bring home
chunks of
scrap metal. Last week he brought home a solid sheet of stainl
ess steel and when she
asked what it was for, he just smiled. He is a recycler and a good one at that. He never brings home anything that doesn’t serve a usable purpose. He doesn’t collect junk
luckily
.

Sarah
took a quick shower and put on lacy black undergar
ments along with
thick
white pants and
a
long sleeved black shirt.
She
walked into t
he living room and strapped up her
boots
because tennis shoes would be ridiculous to travel through the snow
. Connor finally came out of the wor
kroom and had a pleased smile
etched into his features
just before
he took a quick
shower. He soon came out of their
room wearing a black long sleeved shirt and black pants.

When he finished putting his boots on
they
left the cottage to go meet up with Kara
and Mark over at Jenny’s place
.
The sky
continued
brighte
ning in the early morning sky. Sarah
looked down and saw that
they
didn’t have any fresh snowfall during the night
, but the snow still
lay heavily
everywhere
.

As
they escaped the confines of
the trees an
d crossed through the back of her parents property, they
crossed the street to see Jenny; Connor’s mother.

In the driveway of her house were two vehicles
;
a
brown Jeep which belonged to Mark and a
silver Honda that belonged to Jenny. The house
’s walls are
a semi-glossy white and looked almost like the snow that covered the ground and the roof.
It looked like an igloo, but with straight edges.
The front yard didn’t have any trees, but it held its own kind of beauty.

Sarah
interlaced
her
fingers
timidly
with Connor’s and it was re
ceived with a gentle squeeze. They
walked up the driveway and
over to the front door. Sarah
knocked before he
had the chance to
barge in
unannounced
.
It’s an old habit from living here his whole life.
“Coming!”
T
hat voice
announced it to
be none other than
the hyperactive
Kara. She opened the door as chipper as ever.
“Come on in you two.”

Kara instantly grabbed Sarah’s
hand and dragged
her
inside the house.
Connor and
Sarah
quickly took off
their
wet shoes before entering deeper into the house.
Kara
attired
a pink blouse along with silver pants. She also had in her chocolate brown contact
’
s which she had
to wear around her family because that was her original color before she became a Changer. Conno
r asked quietly “Have you told M
om anything yet?”
S
he shook her head as
she
brought the Balancers
into the living room.

All of the walls in the living room were painted
earthy colors
and held pictures
and paintings that Kara made
herself. They are all exquisite
and very detailed
paintings.
The floor is polished hardwood
and rather warm compared to outside
.
Off on one wall
sat
a red brick fireplace that
continuously
warm
ed
the room with its soft
crackling
glow. In the middle of the room
lay
a leather sofa that Connor made a
nd two recliner
s
he didn’t. The three seats were facing the TV that was plugged into the far wall
, beneath the window facing the front yard
.

“Good morning, Buddy.” Mark was here and stood up from the sofa. He wore a
thick
silver t-shirt along with
heavy
brown pants.

“Good morning.” They bumped fists
like usual
.
Sarah then
saw Connor
’s eyes focusing
and
knew he was entering Mark’s mind.
Feeling
jealous
,
she
openly
listened in on their conversation.
“Are you ready to lie your butt
off?”
Connor smiled wickedly.

Mark returned his own version of a feral smile.
“Can you pull it off…?
Oh, w
ho am I kidding. You can do
just about
anything.”
Connor knew she
was
eavesdropping
in on their conversation, but he didn’t
reveal so
on his face.

Th
at’s another remarkable thing they
can do.
It’s possible that they
can enter the min
d of a Changer. Sarah
ha
s
known only Keepers who could
do such
things
, but never another Balancer
s
o maybe Connor is right about
not being a Balancer
.

Suddenly Jenny walked into the room. Her golden hair bounc
ed
behind her as she came
in
from the kitchen. She ha
s
a lovely
, fair
complexion
,
even without any makeup. She has
a fit figure
and
always
walks with
fierce
determination.
S
he stopped by the recliner
a
nd looked at the four of them
.
A
light blue cotton sleeved shirt and denim jeans
kept any chills at bay
. Her
chocolat
y
brow
n
irises
looked at the four
with a critical eye. Her tone
remained
as pleasant as her features. “What does everyone want with me so early in the morning? Am I in trouble or what?”

“You bet, Mom!” This came
from the hyperactive Kara. “I’m just kidding… We might be the ones in trouble
though
!”

Sarah shifted her
eyes to
her
right. Kara stood relaxed and still smiling
happily
. She
entered her mind
quickly
.
“Kara
, be careful about what you say!
Do you want your mother to be exposed to the danger that you have become so comfortable with?”
At that
,
Kara’s
smile vanished a
s she stole a quick glance at her
upset
sister-in-law
.
“We have to be careful or else she will become a liability for us.”
She barely nodded
. Sarah
shifted
her
gaze to Connor as
she
felt his mind with blending
in
with
hers
. He was doing what
she
just did between him and Mark.
“Did I say something wrong?”

“Not at all. I was going to tell her
practically
the same thing, but not as gently as you just put it.”
He
didn’t betray any facial emotion, but through
their
bond she
knew he was upset with his sister’s carelessness. He
turned his eyes back to his mother
not a second later
.

Jenny now had a hand on her hip as she asked in mild humor “What have you four gotten yourselves into
this
time
?”

As Connor removed his hand from
his wife’s
and stepped forward
to pull the attention of the room upon himself
, Mark stepped to the side
giving
Sarah’s
mate extra space
. Connor spoke with a calm and placating voice. “Mom, Kara’s just yanking your chain. We’re not in trouble. We’re just going away for about six months.” Jenny’s eyes widened in
both
fear and shock
at hearing this turn of events
.
Her hand came off her hip as
Connor
continued with his
well thought out
plan. “Jack won
some
tickets for six people to go on a cruise down to South America
the other day
.
He was the first to call into the radio station and won the grand prize.
He invited Kara, Mark, Sara
h
and I to go with him and Jillian.”

Sarah
sm
iled inwardly as Jenny asked “Why are
y
ou
going
so suddenly
?”

Sarah
remembered being in his mind as he thought through every possible scenario
yesterday
.
This one was the best cover story because not too many people have connections in South America, living in Minnesota that is. Connor continued.
“Because Jack said that we should all go and explore other parts of the world.”

His mate
stepped forward and added
“I don’t know about you, but I’m just going because it is warmer down there.
Also I want to bask
out
in the sun and try to get a tan.
It would be a great reprieve
from all th
is
snow
.
”

Jenny’s brown eyes looked at
Sarah
and softened. She sighed
quietly
then said “I can understand that reasoning
well enough
.” She looked back at Connor. “So when are you leaving?”

Connor said evenly “Tomorrow morning.”

Jenny sighed quietly a few times before
saying “Will you be careful and take care of everyone.” She sounded defeated.

He
walked forward and gave his mother a gentle hug. He looked like he was going to engulf his mother with his massive form. As he pulled away he spoke calmly
,
“I will make sure everyone returns home safely.” He turned his head to
the
group. “There is still a lot we have to do before tomorrow get’s here.”

Sarah
was next to give Jenny a hug follo
wed by both Kara and Mark. As they
put on
their
shoes to leave
,
Sarah
realized that Jenny is a well grounded woman.
She knows that time always allows change and you have to go along with it.
A
ll said
their
goodbye’s and headed back outside. Mark and Kara decided to ride with
them
in Connor’s truck
as
they
finished
preparations
to depart
.
The cabin of the enormous
truck
i
s
ultimately
warmer than Mark’s soft covered jeep.