Lost Ones (The Extinct Race Series Book 3) (5 page)

Chapter 7

Magic in the Strings

Zoe was fully aware this time as Zach placed the Guitar in her hand her fingers found their mark. The whole table quieted and stared as the melody Zoe played reached their ears. The melody was hopeful and sorrowful at the same time. Some closed their eyes as others sat up a little straighter. Zoe stood and played until her fingers could not play anymore. When she was done she looked around and no one said a thing. It seemed that this time the music affected no one. Zoe was a little disappointed as she sat down and everyone started to eat. She heard how good she played and some said it was beautiful she thanked them and continued to eat.

“MAP MAP MAP!” little Maggie yelled.

“She really wants a map sis.” Zach told Zoe. “Rosa do we have a map? Little Maggie is about to flip out if she doesn’t get one, just warning everyone.”

“Oh yeah she is her intent to show us something is overwhelming. You think the song affected her this time?” Christian announced. That got Zoe’s attention and she stood. She walked over to Maggie and picked her up. “Halina you think you can draw a map on the big mirror in the playroom?”

“I have a map in the library I will get it and meet you in the playroom.”

Zoe nodded and took Maggie into the playroom. Maggie squirmed until Zoe set her down and Maggie ran over to the coloring station. She grabbed a few colors and then stood in front of the large mirror patiently waiting. Rosa came in then and Zoe already had four pieces of tape ready. They attached the map to the mirror and Maggie attacked it with her markers. She only marked two blue spots on the map and then another blue spot way below the map to the left. Maggie then made a green dot directly below the map and another to the right of the first dot. She then made a red dot way to the left of the map and another red dot to the bottom right of the mirror and then an orange dot near the two blue ones that were directly on the map. She stood away from the map and looked at it. Then she started making all sorts of dot on the map right at Ireland in all the colors of the races. When she was done she looked up at Zoe and said “Food” and quickly walked back to the table.

Rosa and Zoe both looked confused and then Jaco came running in the playroom with a world map he had printed. He studied the dots and then the map.

“She marked all of us here in Ireland. Then the ones here are in France. This blue dot here appears to be in maybe Brazil. This green dot appears to be in Africa and this other is in Iran or Afghanistan. Then this red dot here looks like Australia and the other one to the left looks like Alaska. If she just marker all the remaining Dragons then we know this one is Aldrich.” Jaco stated

“Ada was right.” Zoe stated.

“What do you mean she was right, right about what?” Rosa asked

“I told them that I traveled a lot and that I haven’t felt another Dragon in over fifteen years, until I came here. The locations she marked on the map I have not been to though.” Ada said

“So we are the last? Besides the ones marked we are the last? I don’t want to believe that.” Rosa cried. Michael felt her sorrow and came running into the room. Everyone else followed and soon the playroom was full. Everyone was staring at the map and the dots Maggie had made. Jaco was doing his best to mark the dots on the small map he had to the ones Maggie had made on a much larger scale.

“It looks like Maggie has marked the last of us. We need to find them and soon.” Kaiden announced. “Alex how is the training coming?”

“I can keep it up to six hours right now. Even through distractions and attacks. I just need a few more days to get to eight hours and then a few more to make sure I can hold it.” She replied

“Alright you have it. I also need to make that announcement that I was going to make. Can we please all get back to the table I would like to eat.” Kaiden chuckled and they all walked back to the table. Kaiden finished his meal along with everyone else. When dessert was brought out he stood. “Alright so we have locations and that is a good thing. I was going to announce that Zoe and I are going to put together another team and we were going to go to the remote locations. Which, according to the map are now Africa, Brazil and Iran or Afghanistan also Australia. There are four dots around France and that is a more populated area so that is where Alex’s team will be heading. For the second team we will be unprotected without Alex’s block so I would like volunteers to go. I would also like to take a team of six. Zoe and I along with four more and I would like you all to sleep on this before you volunteer.” Kaiden sat back down and started to eat his dessert.

Everyone was quiet as they ate. When dessert was done many went to their rooms or outside. Kaiden and Zoe took Lily up to their suite and sat in the living room area. They had put a movie in when a knock sounded at the elevator door.

“Come in” Zoe called out

Marcus and Iraina stepped through the door. “Baby girl I would like to talk to you about this second team. You need to be here when they bring those four back from France. How will they get past the border if you are gone?” Marcus told her

“Daddy we have been talking about this for a while. We know the risks and the chance of us not being here. We had not planned to go that far from home just yet. But things also changed tonight we know that there are only eight Dragons left. Four water, two Earth, One Fury and Two Blood. One of which is Aldrich so we know we aren’t going there just yet. We need to get the others and then we make our plan to get him out in the open.” Zoe tried to plead with her father

“I understand all that Baby, I do. But let the team go to France first and get the four there. It is only a short distance and shouldn’t take long at all to get them. Then maybe you wouldn’t even need to go Alex could cloak another team and go.” Marcus pleaded

“Daddy I have always said that I will not sit here while others go and do all the dirty work. We are a Family and Family sticks together.” Zoe assures him

“I know. Ok how about this then. Let them go they already have the team together and then you and Kaiden can get your team together and leave once Alex gets back. Then you can take her and Zach too and many others. I would feel a lot better if you were blocked too. That is the only reason we are ok with Halina and Zach going on this team. Zoe what you are not understanding is that this land is Kaiden’s lines. His direct descendents are Briec and Neala. Marsali is yours. But Marsali gave this mountain to his line. There is no other of his line alive. If you and he go and are lost, no others will be allowed in. Have you thought of that?”

“No we didn’t. You have been spending time with Rosa and Michael haven’t you?” Kaiden asked

“Yes well once the journal was found and she stated that it was her line that would hold the magic I kind of guessed. It also stated in there that the mountain would belong to Briec and Neala’s line. Obviously that is you Kaiden.” Marcus stated

“Okay we will wait a while and inform everyone at breakfast.” Zoe said

“Thank you baby girl, you just made your old man a happy old man.”

“Daddy we always welcome both of your counsel and advice, we are still learning as we go.” Zoe stood and hugged Marcus and then Iraina. She then walked them to the elevator and said goodnight.

After the left Kaiden gave Lily a bath and then put her to bed. He then drew Zoe a bath and helped her relax. They had a lot to think about and needed to think about what they would say that wouldn’t make them seem like they were trying to get out of going.

In the morning everyone met downstairs for breakfast. Before Kaiden could announce anything Alex stood.

“Kaiden we would like to leave this morning after breakfast. France is small and we should be able to cover it fairly quickly. I know I can hold it for six hours and maybe we can get it done in that time. There are four of them and only one was at the edge of the map away from the others. We should be back by tonight.” Alex explained and then sat down to eat.

Kaiden thought for a moment going over what she said and it was not a bad idea. Three of the dots were pretty close together. One was on the land and the other two were half way between here and there in the water. “Alex you are right and I am fine with that. Marcus came to us last night and gave us some pretty important information that I would like to share with you all.” Kaiden started and was cut off by Marcus.

“What Kaiden needs to tell you all is that Zoe and him need to stay here. You see Kaiden is the only left in his line and his line is Briec and Neala the original leaders who Marsali blessed. Zoe is of Marsali’s line, if they leave and are lost to us no one will be able to enter the border. I know that Iraina and I are Pearls as well as Zach and Halina, but Kaiden is rightfully the only King of this land. Trust me when I tell you that they do not want to sit back and watch you all go out and not join you, but they have to. There can only be one team that goes out to get the survivors at a time. Alex is also a big piece of this team thing. She is the only reason I am allowing my son, the other half of the magic that is left, to go out. Her ability to block the pull mixed with his emotion teller and Christian’s intent teller are the only reason I have not pulled the dad card. I don’t want to lose anyone else, especially my children.” Marcus announced and then sat hanging his head.

“You are right and they should not feel bad. It has somewhat always been this way and only us older ones know this. It was and is out job to protect the Pearls. That is the way she worked it in the spell kids. She could not change certain things about her original Dragon race, but in the spell she put love in it and made sure that the Pearls had the abilities of a King and Queen.” Monica stated

“SURVIVORS IN THE FOREST!” was screamed over the radio on Charles’s hip.

“On our way” Charles spoke back over the radio and looked around the table. Nods were thrown his way and soon everyone was walking outside. Colby and Makayla shifted along with Cara, Carmine and Zoe and Kaiden.

Chapter 8

Real Terror

Scott decided he did not want to wait after the last one they had encountered. That couple put up a real fight until the very end. He wanted to get this over with quickly and then he could enjoy his time. The kids were all out on summer break anyway, so this should be an easy job. The only hard part was going to be the body guards and getting past them. He convinced his brothers to go along with the plan and they planned to go that afternoon. After they saw her they all went and celebrated and got pretty drunk. When they woke it was noon and they were headed out the door.

“Carl, don’t forget your gun. You either Declan. You know those guys are going to have guns too.”

“We know Scott, we didn’t forget them. You got yours?” Carl asked

“Sure do let’s go.” Scott demanded.

When they got to the house, they went quickly to the apartment on the left of the house. It was the one closest to the street and quickest to get to. The house was a huge house so they knew they would not feel the girl until they were within a few feet. Carl kicked the door in and they found the apartment empty. This surprised them a little, but they moved on to the house. The door was unlocked so they walked right in and found two bodyguards standing there with their guns pointed at them.

“GET OUT OF THE HOUSE NOW AND YOU WILL NOT BE HURT!” one of the bodyguards shouted.

“Fuck off man we are not here for you, we’re here for the girl.” Scott boomed.

“Well good luck finding her.” Bodyguard two announced.

A woman screamed from the right of the house which spooked Declan and he shot her. Bodyguard one quickly reacted and shot Declan in the arm. Bodyguard two threw his body behind a large pillar in the room and started shooting at them.

Scott ran behind the other pillar and started firing back. Carl grabbed Declan and pulled him behind a couch and then started to shoot at bodyguard one. Screams were heard throughout the house and then an alarm went off. Scott got pissed off and walked out from behind the pillar.

“Mother Fucker, face me like a man!” he shouted at the bodyguard behind the pillar.

“Alright” Bodyguard two said as he stepped out from behind the pillar and took a shot at Scott. Declan saw his chance and shot the bodyguard in the head taking him down. Now there was only one other bodyguard to find and then the girl. The three brothers split up and found the bodyguard in the back room protecting an older female.

“You can’t have her!” The woman shouted. Bodyguard one went to take a shot, but Carl was faster and took him down with another head shot.

“Where is she?” Carl asked

“I will never tell you!” the woman said as an older man ran into the room with a shotgun and shot Carl right in the chest. Scott and Declan came running in the other direction and shot both the woman and the man before the man could get another shot off. Then they went in search of the girl. When all they found were maids they got angry and killed them all. The girl was not in the house and her room gave nothing away of where she might be. They would have to wait for the girl to come home. Declan and Scott were both hungry so they went to the kitchen to eat and wait. They also decided to call in and report what they found. However, Scott did not call his father. He dialed his brother who he knew was only an hour away in Paris with two more brothers. They would be able to help find this little bitch quicker.

Finley had said goodbye to her parents last night and was now on her way to school. She had a very bad feeling in her gut, but tried to shake it off. All four body guards drove her to school, well two drove her and the other two followed in another car. Once she was dropped off the two that drove her stayed at the school and the other two went back to the house. They would not be back until school was over. Finley went to an all year round school so she didn’t get long summer breaks.

She felt really bad that she had turned her mother and father away, but she just wasn’t ready to leave her life. Ireland wasn’t that far away, so she knew her parents would be back often and she was ok with that. Her class periods were flying by and she was on her way to lunch when she felt a strong pull. It wasn’t her parents, but it was someone. Because it was a strong pull she knew it was somewhat safe to approach them. She went to the lunch tables and looked all around. She went in the direction of the pull and spotted a woman. She was tall with long dark hair and she was looking right at Finley. Finley walked in her direction and her two bodyguards followed at a distance behind her.

“Hi.” Finley stated as she got close to the tall woman.

“Hello little one, do you know what I am?” the woman asked

“My real parents told me last night, but you are the first other person I have felt and I didn’t believe them.” Finley admitted

“You need to little one, you are in danger out in the open. Tell me where I can find your parents? I would like to speak with them. Are those yours?” she asked pointing to the two men.

“They are. My parents hired four of them. The other two are at home and will be here after school, so I am fine for now. Thank you. You can’t find my parents unless you go to Ireland. They left either last night or this morning.” Finley informed her

“Rumors are true then or they are trying to follow them. Tell me where you live I would like to make sure there are none around you or following you.” She demanded

Right as Finley was going to ask why she wanted to know the alarm on her bodyguard’s beeper went off and a feeling of dread come over her. The woman walked right up to the men and grabbed one. “Tell me the address now and keep the girl here, the danger they hired you for is at the house and she is safer here. NOW!” she screamed the last part.

Her bodyguard mumbled the address and then pointed her in the direction and told her it was about a thirty minute drive. The woman took off at a speed Finley had never seen. Her bodyguards went on alert and ushered her into the school. Finley paced until the bell rang letting telling everyone that lunch was over and then she bolted out the door. She was supposed to have swim practice today, but she had a need to go home. She jumped in the car and the men followed her to the car. They took a different route and when they got close to the street Finley smelled smoke.

She jumped out of the back of the car and ran up the street. Her home was on fire and that woman was fighting with a group of men. There was another man watching the group fight and then her turned and spotted Finley. Her bodyguards had just caught up with her when the man that spotted her started to shoot at her. One of her men fell and the other pushed her away. Finley then remembered what her mother had told her and she ran. As fast as she could go she ran to the water. Rain and thunderclouds had opened up and the waves had started to crash on the beach. Lighting had started to crackle all around too.

Finley did not care she jumped in the water and swam as fast as she could. Nothing had ever scared Finley as much as this moment. She had just found out her parents were right and she didn’t want to believe them. But the nightmare was true and she had almost just died. She would be lucky if she survived until her parents came for her. She swam and swam as fast as she could. Her muscles haven’t been worked this hard in a long time, but she pushed them. She was not going to give up. She was going to make it. She would never let her stubbornness hold her back again. Everything she grew up with, she knew was lost. The house was on fire and burning.

After an hour of swimming she saw the little island. She pulled herself up onto the sand and cried. She realized her Maman and Papa were at home today. They were probably dead and she couldn’t help them. Finley sat there crying for a while and then remembered her mother said there were things here. She needed to hide and find the things her mother told her about. She pulled out her cell phone. Her parents had gotten her a water proof case after she went through five phones. She held onto it waiting for her parents to call her, anyone to call her.

The three brothers had just arrived and were sharing what was in the kitchen when they felt the girl come through the back door. Scott was the first to react he jumped off the stool he was just sitting on and ran in to the open hallway. He was startled to see that it was not the girl. It was a Dragon though and she looked downright scary. Scott started to pull out his gun, but she was faster and before he knew what happened a knife was in his chest. Scott crumpled to the floor.

Declan saw his brother fall and he went to catch him before he hit the ground. When he got to the hall he noticed the woman and the knife that was flying at his head. Declan ducked back into the kitchen and looked at his other three brothers. “Not the girl, but this bitch killed Scott.” He whispered. Then all hell broke loose as she came into view in the doorway. She started to grab the knives that were attached to her chest and they went flying before any of the brothers could react. As Declan turned to miss a blade that was flying at him he knocked over a table of candles. They fell to the floor and over to a window immediately catching the drapes on fire. The linen went up in a whoosh and quickly spread to the walls. It was a distraction to the woman and they quickly returned fire with their guns. She ducked out of the way in time and then her pull was gone.

“We need to get out of her or we are gonna be burned alive.” Declan screamed

“Split up and bring that bitch down!” Tom yelled