Chapter 29
Camila and Serita arrived moments later. Armed with machine guns. The family explained briefly what happened and in a few minutes. Camila and Serita were escorting the family back to Cats Cradle.
In no time the Family were gathered with the rest of the Crew. Hanna explained what happened during the attack, even the dream leading up to it. Finally Camila and Serita explained why they went over to the Silva’s house in the middle of the night, armed.
“He stole a child and is using her to hunt the Hybrid down” Beatrice spoke through gritted teeth.
Ava turned to her wife, took her hand and held it tight. A small sign to let Beatrice know, she wasn’t thrilled about the discovery either.
“It explains why we couldn’t find anything about him” Serita comment. “The man doesn’t exist, it’s very possible he’s angelic”
“Lou Lou said we were in danger” Hanna piped up. “That an Angel was coming”
Persephone shivered in her seat. She turned to the adults and asked fearfully “can I go to sleep now?”
They turned to her, worriedly.
“Sure kid, Sweetpea do you mind showing her to bed” Ava asked. “And you better go to sleep to, it’s been a long night”
“But I want to stay up and fight” Hanna pleaded.
“Not tonight”
“But-“
“Your mother is right” Beatrice interrupted. She smiled at her daughter, taking her hand into her own. “You fought enough and all warriors need their rest for the next one”
Hanna groaned “fine, but can you tuck us in”
“Sure thing” Beatrice got up and took both of their hands. She escorted the children out of the room, straight to Hanna’s old room.
Once out of sight and out of mind, the crew turned to the matter at hand.
“fucker needs to be tracked down and stopped before he tries that bullshit again” Ava stated darkly. “I don’t want him anywhere near my family”
“Good thing she’s improving with her powers” Lilith pointed out relieved. “Otherwise right now will be a very different case”
“Yeah”
“Perhaps its time to give Hanna a blade” Mary pointed out.
Camila turned to her concerned “she’s still just a child”
“And is being hunted yet again, besides aren’t you the one who gives her gun training”
Camila bit her lip. “That’s different, I only give her a gun for training use and I take it away after training”
“Very least a small knife” Serita agreed. “But only as a last resort”
“First thing we need to do is track him down, while the rest of us keep the girls safe” Ava stated. “Beatrice will no doubt lead the fight, she’s already got the scent of the fucker”
“I’ll go” Serita volunteered. “I still got my old sniper rifle”
“And me” Lilith volunteered. “He won’t escape this time”
“Then it’s decided, you three track him down, I want to know if he’s working alone or not. I want information and I want that fucker dead” Ava commanded.
Lilith and Serita nodded content. Lilith leaned over her knees and stated grimly “don’t worry, he’s not getting away with this”
From Inside Hanna’s old room.
Hanna pressed her side against the door frame, holding the door open a creak. She could just make out the voices of her family. The hallway was lit by candle light and if she craned her head just right, she can make out the door her family’s meeting resided behind.
“why didn’t you tell me?” Persephone voice croaked from the other side of the room.
Hanna turned to her friend on the bed. The little girl sat upright, hands curled around her legs and chin hidden behind her knees. She starred at Hanna frighten. Hanna couldn’t tell if it was fear of her or Baron. “I barely understand it myself” Hanna admitted. She pulled her attention from the door, facing Persephone. “I’ve always known im not like anyone else. My mums always taught me that I’m special and my powers need to be controlled when outside this place…it’s hard sometimes, being in control…but it’s gotten better”
“why is he after you?”
“I don’t know”
Persephone tighten her grip. “okay”. She looked around then focused back on Hanna confused. “but why here?” she asked, gesturing to this place. “why are we here?”
“cause we’re safe here. I grew up here most of my life. My family made this place a sanctuary, for people who aren’t. normal”
Persephone smiled “well normal or not, your still my best friend”
The comment made Hanna grin. “Thanks, you too”
Persephone smile faded a moment later. She dropped her head and whispered “it’s my fault”
Hanna frowned. She crawled to her feet and walked back to her bed. Taking a seat beside Persephone. She shook her head “it’s not your fault”
“it is” she huffed. “my dad is after you and I led him straight to you”
“Well that’s stupid, it’s not your fault!”
“If I leave now, I can find him and I will take him away from you”
“No”
Persephone looked to her dishearten “yes”
“No” Hanna insisted. “No I’m not letting him hurt you again!”
Persephone pulled herself up from her legs, starring at her friend. “he won’t…he-he-he doesn’t mean to. He just gets angry when I run away”
“you still don’t deserve it”
“I do, I run away a lot Han, it’s my bad habit..sometimes he’s scary and I run, then I get in trouble for leaving him. Then after I learn my lesson he’s good again, then he gets scary and I run” Persephone turned away from her friend to the bed. “what if the only way to keep my friend safe is to run again”
“please don’t”
Persephone eyes craned back to Hanna and was met with her friend’s fearful eyes starring right back at her.
“please. Stay here with me, with my family” she gulped. “i-i- I don’t want to loose you. I don’t mind that you runaway for a habit, but please not tonight, not while he’s out there”
“he’ll kill you if I stay”
“I can live with that” Hanna answered with a soft smile. “Besides, as scary as he is, you haven’t seen my mummies when one of us is hurt”
Persephone giggled. “okay, I’ll stay”
“Yes!” Hanna squealed relieved. She rushed forward and took Persephone into her arms.
Persephone laughed openly as she held onto her friend, but moments later that laughter died in her throat and the terrifying thought of her father remain. “we’re safe here, right?”
“right”
Persephone stayed in the Cradle as promised. The two girls didn’t leave each other’s sight for a moment. Thick as thieves they played like all happy children did. It especially helped relieve their minds when the Family played with them.
By next morning Hanna woke to cold mattress. She opened her eyes and frowned at the empty space where her best friend should be. She rolled over in her bed and sat up. Hoping her friend was at breakfast or taking a walk through the garden.
All hope vanished at the sight of a note on the bedside table. She didn’t read too far ahead. A chill crept up her spine at the very sight of the first sentence and it read 'to Hanna, I’m sorry'