Keeper's Knowledge (Balancer's Soul cycle) (88 page)

Oddly, as she looked up she
saw a flickering orange glow
out the living room window as she
finished w
ashing the dishes. She
peeked through the window and saw a fire. Sorono and Veronica sat tog
ether in front of the fire and she
noticed
two wild boars cooking over the fire.
She
knew Sorono had a successful hunt and that the
y wouldn’t go to sleep hungry
.
Sarah
smiled and walked over to turn off the living room and kitchen lights.

She
walked into
their bed
room as Connor was making the bed. He was only wearing his pants and his hazel ey
es were concentrating as he
finished a
pplying the sheets to the bed. She
asked “What are you thinking about?”

His eyes came back to reality as he turned to look at
her
. He stood erect and brushed his
fingers through his hair and
smiled. “Sorry about that. I was just putting some minor touches to my plan
s
.”

Sarah
walked over to
her
side of the bed and sat down to take
her
shoes off. Once
she
did
,
she laid back in the soft
bed and tossed
her
feet up.
She
folded
her
arms behind
her
head and crossed
her
ankles.
She then
looked into his hazel eyes and said “Could you let me hear what you have planned so I might be able to throw in a few ideas of my own?”

After a long day he
laid
beside her
and began
informing
her
of
his plans. They were impressively structured
,
like they always are
,
and not a single detail
had been
left out.
One part of his plan made her
blush.
Even his worst case
scenarios
were all well developed. He
i
s a
magnificent
strategist.
She
had only one question “How do you feel about doing this?”

He closed his eyes and sighed quietly. “Honestly
,
I’m afraid. I’m afraid that they’ll misunderstand and that I might
say or
do something wrong.”
H
e rolled from his side
and
to his back
to glare
at the ceiling. “But there are things I need to know and things they must know as well. I know that once the truth comes out everything will change, but will it be for the better or the worst?
I just don’t know what exactly will come to pass.
”

She
rolled on
her
side. “Connor, everything that you have done since we met has always turned out for the best. Even the worst cases that have happened
can always result in somet
hing positive in another way.” Sarah
sat u
p so she
could look him in the eye. “Like the case when you found Maggie. You saved her life and when Mathew came after you he was stopped before anyone could be hurt. Or during the meeting when that Changer bit you and you punched him and showed everyone that you shouldn’t be messed with. Everything you do will work out in the end
, even if pain is a result
.”
She
smiled. “As for your parents,
they will be no exception.
I know this will be a lot for them to take in, but they will deal with it and will
still
love you like they always have. It will be the same for Kara as well. I
just
know it.”

“Thank you for that, Princess. Now let’s get some sleep. Tomorrow’s going to be something else.”

She
took
her
shirt off and cuddled up against him
,
once he turned off the ceiling light and turned on the fan.
She
went to sleep soon after.

Sarah
awoke to the smel
l and sound of sizzling bacon. She
could feel that Connor was in the kitch
en and cooking up a storm. She
looked out the window and the sky was still black.
She
pulled
herself out of bed and made her
way into
the aroma filled
living room.

He
was wearing one of his black sleeveless shirts which showed
off
his impressive arms
while also wearing
black shorts and hiking boots. His hair looked damp and
she
could see he was freshly washed and clean shaved. Connor looked up from the skillet and said “Breakfast will be ready in about
twenty
minutes. Go ahead and take a quick shower before
we
eat.”

She
yawned
and walked into the bathroom. She
stripped down
,
took a quick shower
,
dried
off with a towel and brushed her
hair in
front of the steamy mirror. Sarah
made
her
way back to
their room and opened her
dresser.
She
slid on
her
black bra
,
panties,
her
short black shorts
and
a
sleeveless black shirt with a d
iamond shape exposing some of her cleavage.
It feels good to have a change of wardrobe.
As she
walked out Connor finished preparing breakfast and had the heaping platters of food already on the dining table.

They
smiled at each other once
their eyes met. She
sat down and began eating. He followed soon after. Once
they
were finished
they
put
the
dishes in the sink and filled the tub to let the dishes soak.
They
put on
their properly
boots and
she
slid
Fangs onto
her
belt before following Connor outside.

The darkness outside ever so slowly began to turn to light.
Sarah
was greeted by everyone
being
present.
Her m
other,
f
ather, Mark and Kara were sitting by Sorono and Veronica and they were all sitting beside the now small fire. Connor and
Sarah
walked over to them and
Jillian
was the first to speak. “Have you come up with a plan for your family’s
full disclosure
?”

Sarah
could see
her m
other wore a tight red shirt and white short shorts. Her dark hair was braided tightly.
Jack
had on a light blue shirt with brown pants. He had his silver ha
ir hanging behind his back and
Haunt lay by his feet. Kara and Mark were in their human forms and wore their leather gear and both were sho
e
less
. Sorono and Veronica looked exactly the same as they did yesterday.

Connor sm
iled and said evenly “I have.” They
walked
over
and sat by the fire so
they
could be by everyone. At this time everyone had looked
towards them
. Connor’s voice
remained
calm, but
the
authority
of words i
s unmistakable.
“Everyone except Sarah and I are going to go to the rocky clearing
,
where we do our training. I will bring my family there and everyone
will
hide until I call you telepathically. Mark?” Connor turned his head to look at his best friend. “Do you remember where you hid when you and Kara first met Jillian and Jack out at the field?”

“Of course
.”

“Good. That place should give everyone good cover and allow you to see from a distance… Kara, did you bring your paintings?” She grinned and held up her painting pack. “Good. That will balance out the stress w
e’ll put our family through.”  She
saw Connor look at everyone. “
Go ahead and get started and take your time because it’ll probably take them about an hour
or so
to walk there. Good luck
everyone
.”

“You too, Connor.”
Veronica said honestly.

Connor entwined his fingers with
Sarah’s
as
they
left the group.
They
walked for fifteen minutes until
they
c
ame out of the woods and onto her
parent
’s property. Across the street she
saw David’s red pickup truck and the living room’s light w
ere
on in Jenny’s house.
She
squeezed his hand and he returned it gently as
they
began walking to
her
mother-
in-laws home.

Sarah
knocked on the door twice and was greeted by Connor’s grandmother
,
Rhoda. She wore a pink and purple polka dot shirt and black spandex pants along with hiking boots. Her hair was up in a tight perm. Rhoda looked at
Sarah
first
and
broke into a full grin. “Ah, Sarah it’s good to see you again.
You
’
r
e
as pretty as ever.
” She moved forward to give her
a hug.
Sarah
pulled
her
f
ingers out of Connor’s hand so she
could hug her back.
Rhoda
let go
, raised her eyebrow
and aske
d “Did Connor get you into any trouble during your trip?”

She still hasn’t changed. She is still spry for her age.
Sarah
smiled back and said “Of course he did. Connor wouldn’t be a good husband if he didn’t get me into some kind of trouble.”

Rhoda started a deep belly laugh. “You’re right about that. It sure has been a long time, Sweetheart. I missed having a little friend who plays with their husbands like I do.” Rhoda turned around and yelled into the house. “Jenny! David! The kids are here!” She turned around and looked at
her grandson
. “What? You don’t have a hug for your
dear old
grandma?” Connor embraced his grandmother easily
and affectionately
. “That’s more like it.”

The first to show up was David. His face and arms were well tanned from working with his forge for so long.
He is well built for a man his age and extremely smart. He wore a plaid shirt with brown pants. His gray hair was brushed back the same way that Connor usually does it
when his hair is longer
. He had himself a proud
and wrinkled grin once he saw them
. “Welcome home, kids. You’re looking better today than you sounded yesterday. Now get over here and give me a bear hug.”

Connor said “Gladly.” He walked forward and gave David a big hug. “It’s good to see you as well
,
Granddaddy.” David playfully slapped Connor on the shoulder
as they all
walked onto the lawn
.

David turned to
Sarah
an
d opened his arms expectantly. She
walked up and gave him a hug
as well. It was warm and very loving. She
smelled his aftershave and tried to not giggle.
She
said “It feels good to be home
,
Granddaddy.”
Connor’s grandparents will only allow
her
to call them either Grandma or Granddaddy.

After today that will change.

“Them are some nice daggers you have. I hope there isn’t a need for them.”
David said with
honest
humor.