“Kara, Connor and I are engaged. It is only a natural thing to move out of the house when you find the one you love. And I love him very, very much.” Kara cried in Sarah’s arms because she most likely felt like he was abandoning her.
“Listen Sis, I’m not leaving you. I’m only moving out.” She let go of Sarah to look at him with watery eyes and the beginning of a red nose.
“I understand that you two were made for each other, but it’s hard to see you moving out, Brother. I’m ok now, really.” She said to Sarah while wiping the tears away from her damp cheeks.
No one apparently heard their quiet little conversation, which shocked him.
Jillian tapped Connor’s back nearly a minute later and asked “You built a house for Sarah? Within a month? Who helped you do all of this?”
David spoke up proudly. “All I gave him were the supplies. He built this small paradise entirely by himself.”
Jack agreed “I can second that because I know the truth of his words. A few weeks ago I caught him building the roof late in the night. I tried sneaking up on him to see what was going on, but…”
“That’s like trying to sneak up on a viper. He probably felt you before he heard you…” his grandfather laughed and patted Jack on his back. “What did he do when he caught you spying on him?”
“He threw that hammer thing at me and only missed my head by a few inches. It was a frightening experience.” Jack said while wearing a wry grin.
“Well count yourself lucky Jack because he missed you on purpose.”
“I know.” Jack gave a truthful nod.
“Ok… Everyone?” Connor obtained the group’s undivided attention. “You all may take a look around, but do not enter the cottage just yet. I will give a grand tour.”
His mom and grandmother walked around the house to look at the array and strategic placement of planted flowers while his grandfather looked over the building method. She always gave constructive criticism for Connor’s work and it helped him to learn. Jillian and Jack stayed close to Sarah and Connor while the others walked away to scan the property.
Jillian jumped in front of Sarah and asked “What are you two planning to do here?” Her expression became serious, but her eyes were misting.
“Sister, I am going to live here with him. I will tell you like I did with Kara, we are in love and this is our decision.” Jillian stepped up and hugged her daughter with a smile of congratulations. In the present company they had to play their parts as normal siblings.
Kara walked away with Mark to look at the spinning water wheel. Jillian still held Sarah in her arms. He then heard her whisper “Sarah, I need to know when you are going to take Connor as your true mate. I can sense that you two didn’t do it last night.” Sarah went rigid from hearing her mother asking such a personal question. Connor tapped Jillian’s back and she let go.
Leaning down and speaking softly so that only Sarah and Jillian could hear, he said “Jillian, there is still one more week left of school. When that is over with, Sarah and I will tell you when it’s done and you will have a new son-in-law. Will that answer subdue your curiosity for now?” Sarah took his hand gratefully to get out of her mother’s radar.
Jillian pulled away from them and walked over to Jack and whispered in his ear. He crossed his arms as she spoke and his eyes remained closed to focus on the words. He glanced their way moments later and when she finished speaking to him, he nodded. She turned around and walked back casually. Connor asked “What was that about?”
Jillian spoke softly to the both of them. “We decided that you’re trustworthy enough and you two can live together until the ritual is complete.”
Sarah removed her grip from his hand and embraced Jillian. She spoke even softer because Jenny was starting to walk back with Kara and Mark. “Thank you, Mother.” Jillian spoke even softer “Sarah, you are three hundred years old and you have never asked for anything remotely like this. How could you expect us to keep you from the mate you have so longed for?” She smiled and pulled out of Sarah’s embrace and spoke a little louder, but not loud enough for the others to hear. “At least now I can have a little more freedom in my house.” Her eyes glittered towards Jack, but only for a moment because of present company.
Kara asked “Brother, what is the waterwheel for?”
“It allows us to have some electricity all the way out here. It powers an electric turbine that runs a few motorized conveniences in the house.”
David came back just then and said “So that was why you needed those batteries, copper wiring and magnets.” Connor nodded because he got everything correct and understood their meanings.
Mark asked “Where did you learn to make electricity even though you’re not very good in science?”
“Mark, your wrong.” Kara said weakly to him. “Brother struggles only with history. Everything else comes naturally to him. He actually has an eidetic memory that he denies to others so it’s hard to ever slip anything past him. He pretends to not know as much as he does in school because he actually knows more about those subjects than even the teachers do…”
Their mother interrupted. “That’s enough, Kara.” She said softly to his long winded sibling “Connor, Sarah, this is your day. Please show us your new home.”
Sarah stood beside him while saying “Gladly.” She walked up to the door and opened it and allowed his grandparents in and they were followed by Jenny, Kara and Mark. Before Jillian and Jack entered; Jillian looked up and elbowed Jack in his side. She pointed up to the eve above the door and giggled. He turned to look at Connor with a smile while saying “Subtle.” And he entered lastly.
The cottage became a little crowded as everyone looked into every room. Jillian spent the longest time looking at the bedroom. She asked Connor while pointing at the bed’s framing “One day, will you build one for me?” He nodded because she would start begging otherwise. He wouldn’t have that. Kara asked what the two empty rooms were for and Sarah saved him by stating “One will be my study room while the other will be his work room.” Mark and Jack stayed the longest in the power room to study the turbine and electrical systems. Jack said “Fascinating… as long as the water continues to flow, you will have an unlimited energy supply. Even if it’s only just this amount of power to sustain this small property, I’m surprised and impressed.”
As everyone was able to see why Connor disappeared for so long they were all pleased at how well everything turned out.
Everyone filed out the front door a few hours later, once the small tour ended and Connor finished explaining the different household modifications.
Rhoda said happily, as she was the last one left in the house “Wow this place is absolutely beautiful. It’s quiet and romantic. What a wonderfully quaint home. Connor, you have outdone yourself yet again. Sarah you are a very lucky woman.”
“I sure am, Grandma.” She wove her left arm around his right. The look in her eyes alone showed just how pleased she felt.
Sarah and Connor led everyone back to the houses without any complications or injuries. As Mark and his grandparent’s left them by Jack’s home, Sarah turned to look up at Connor with innocent eyes. “So when can I move my things into our new home?”
Connor quickly came up with a proper solution to carrying all of her personal effects, all at the same time. “Ok I have an idea. I will meet you back here in a few minutes. I need to go and get a few things from my old room as well. I’ll be back soon”
They smiled at each other as they now had a home to be together and not be interrupted by anyone.
Moving and Staying
As Sarah entered her bland bedroom at her parent’s home, and after Connor went to get something from his mother’s, she pulled out some cardboard boxes from the recent move from Washington that she hadn’t had the time to dispose of. She packed up all of her clothing into five large boxes labeled Tops, Bottoms, Undergarments, Delicates and Personal effects. As she taped up the boxes with excitement came a soft rasp
at her bedroom door. “Come in.”
She looked up to see her mother peeking around it. “Sarah, may we talk?” She sounded worried and upset about something.
“What’s the matter, Mother?” She walked over to sit on Sarah’s bed after closing the door behind her. This was a side of her she hasn’t seen in quite awhile. Jillian rarely shows such a heartbreaking expression.
“Nothing is wrong, I am just feeling a little lonely all of a sudden.” She looked down at the floor and sighed quietly through her nose. This was very unusual for the one who gave Sarah life. She’s rarely insecure, that’s her daughter’s forte.
“Why do you feel lonely? You have been with Father for over seven hundred years. Did Father do something to upset you?” Sarah sat down next to her because she looked like she needed some form of comfort.
Jillian shook her head and told Sarah what weighed on her mind. “Sarah, you have been my little girl for a very, very long time. And now you are finally a woman and it will be hard to see you leave. It feels harder now than it did when Amber and Pearl left with their mates. We have always been a little closer than your sisters. Make a promise with me please?” She looked up with troubled golden eyes.
“What is it?” Sarah couldn’t say no against that look.
She smiled as she read Sarah’s thoughts. “Stay close to home.”
“I will stay as close as I can, with Connor by my side.” “I mean it, Mother.” Jillian hugged her as the door was knocked on again. Sarah’s mother stood and dried her tears as best she could as she said “Come in.”
Connor opened the door slowly and looked around. “So this is your room? Your dad said it was in the back here…” He looked around her room as she still sat on the bed. “So this is where you sleep.” His expression changed as he saw her mother’s red eyes and knew that she was forcing a smile at him. “Jillian what happened? Why were you crying?” Kara was right, it was hard to slip anything past him.
“It’s no use trying to fool you is it?” She sighed again knowing he would know if she lied to him. “I’m just going to miss my little girl that’s all.”
“Are you stupid or what!” He suddenly seethed frustration as he walked up and grabbed both of her mother’s arms like an immovable vice. Sarah sat frozen in place. But his eyes held no anger or malice.
“What do you think you’re doing?” Jillian struggled to free herself from his grasp with no results. Even with her inhuman strength, she couldn’t budge from his hold for some strange reason. She must not be using her full power.
Then Sarah saw her father suddenly appear in the hall to see how Connor held his mate and murderous rage flared in his azure eyes. Sarah knew her father was going to do something to her true love.
Connor dropped to his knees before Jack called on his element. His anger seemed to vanish as Conner spoke clearly to Jillian, looking her eye to eye. “I asked if you are stupid, Jillian! Apparently you are because if you know nothing of me, you should at least know your own daughter by now.” He closed his eyes tightly in pain and shook his head slowly. “Jack, get out my head! She needs to hear this from someone. Apparently even at her age she still doesn’t know.” His eyes opened and looked at Jack with compassion and intense pain. Sarah knew her father wouldn’t stop until he was satisfied. “I’m not hurting your mate…Trust me.” Jack stood his ground and nodded, apparently satisfied with Connor’s thoughts, but he kept his eye’s zeroed in on Connor’s every miniscule motion.
“What haven’t I learned at my age yet? What do you think you know that I don’t, child?” Jillian stopped struggling when Connor’s piercing hazel eyes froze her still. She just learned how piercing and commanding his eyes can be.
“Sarah will always need her Mom, Jillian. Also Sarah cannot teach me everything about being a Balancer because she needs the two of you for support and so do I. We’re going to be family and that means we stay together and support each other.”
His words seemed to cut the tension in the room.
She finally breathed from under his constant gaze and said “I don’t understand what you are talking about. If you don’t mind, may I get my arms back?” Jillian admitted to him. And Connor looked directly at her father while still holding Sarah’s mother in his grasp.
“I know you read my mind, Jack. Did her parents back in England ever…”
Jack shook his head slowly and quietly said “No.”
Connor gently released her mother’s arms saying “I thought they did. It looks like I have some explaining to do here. Jillian, will you please go sit next to Sarah.” She did sit while obeying his command and his lingering gaze made her move quicker to Sarah’s side. He looked up to her father. “You too!” He also obeyed. Jillian sat on her left as Jack took the right side, on the bed.
Connor stood and pulled the chair from her nearby desk and sat in front of the three of them looking in each of their eyes. “Jillian, I’m sorry, but you need to hear and understand this. You said that Sarah’s abilities are very limited.” She nodded. “I was wrong, forgive my assumption. I thought your parents helped you and Jack to develop your abilities and guide you.” He seemed to be looking for the right words, but he shook his head a little too violently than necessary for some reason. “Not only will Sarah need you, but so will I. I know next to nothing of Balancer’s, let alone know what they are truly capable of. I’m not saying we are only going to stick around until we know everything, but we aren’t going anywhere anytime soon. What I am saying is that we need each other and we always will. That is what family is all about… Jillian, how long did it take for Jack and you to feel like you were comfortable with yourselves and with your abilities?”
She spoke honestly. “We are still learning ourselves, even at our ages.”
“Well don’t you think it will go smoothly and learn far more with study partners?” He smiled weakly and began breathing oddly. The piercing quality of his eyes were losing their effect.
She beamed, coming back to her usual self. “And it will be more exciting.”
Jack finally relaxed on the bed. “Connor, please forgive my actions. When I saw how you looked to be hurting my mate, I almost killed you.”
His breathing became labored slightly. “No harm done, but you used too much power to read my thoughts. I’m trying my best to st.a..y… awak…”
“CONNOR!” Sarah yelled as his head suddenly dropped and he went completely limp. She didn’t understand what was happening. He abruptly slid out of the chair and to the floor unconscious. She tried to get to him quickly enough, but couldn’t. His head hit the wood flooring with a loud crack. “Connor! Connor, wake up!” Sarah’s eyes started to tear not knowing what was happening to him. Her heart was beating in worry for his safety.
Sarah looked up to see her mother with wide eyes and her father’s face going sheet white. “Oh no, Jack we need to hurry!” Jillian stated while taking his hand in hers.
“Mother, what happened?” Sarah’s voice shook as Connor’s limp head laid on her lap, as she sat on the ground. He was barely breathing now.
“Your father used too much force to enter Connor’s mind. Connor’s energy is slipping away, if we don’t do something now he might slip in a permanent coma or worse. Sarah, move!” She felt her father silently pick her up and moved her over, out of the way.
Jack straightened Connor’s contorted body on the floor. “Sarah, stay back and don’t say a word. We’ll fix the problem.”
Jillian moved the chair out of the way as she knelt at Connor’s left side and Jack took the other. Her left hand rested on her mate’s right palm. Sarah suddenly felt the temperature rising in my room. It had to of come from her father. Where their hands touched, their skin began to slightly give off a glowing sheen that could barely be seen. It looked just like how you’d hold your hand over a flashlight and see your skin glow, but the only difference is that it was her parent’s power being called forth and mixed.
Their other hands began to faintly glow as well, but thi
s time Jillian placed her other hand over Connor’s exposed chest, directly in the center of his scar. Jack placed his hand on top of hers and Sarah faintly saw the power flow from their hands and get absorbed into Connor’s body. They really were trying to help him by feeding him their combined energy. Jillian had her eyes closed in concentration just as Jack did.
Five minutes later they stopped and sat back in complete exhaustion. Sarah was still frantic with panic as she asked “How is he?”
Jack leaned back and looked at her with hollow, exhausted eyes. “Sarah, we gave him as much energy as we could and we are out of strength ourselves. He will be better in time, at least he won’t die on us. He’s a large person so it took more to stabilize him. Now that everyone is weak, will you bring us as much food as you can manage? The more calories the better.”
Suddenly Sarah heard a groan from the floor. She peeked over her father’s shoulder and asked “Connor? Is that you?”
He turned his head to the sound of her voice and spoke weakly. “Wha… What happened? Why am I on the ground?”
Jack cursed under his breath. “What the hell is this kid made out of? He should be asleep for the next five days at least.” He then looked at his mate. “My Love, are you alright?”
Jillian leaned up from the floor weakly. “Yes…just really drained. Connor, are you hurting anywhere?”
“Only a massive headache. Will someone please tell me what just happened?” His voice became stronger with every moment. He weakly sat up and Sarah put her arm under him, to help him get into her bed. He was larger than her single mattress.
As she stood, her father said from the floor. “It was my fault. You went unconscious because of my mistake. Jillian and I poured our energy into you before…”
Connor’s head lay on her pillow with his eyes now opened. His hazel eyes weren’t as piercing, but at least they were calm. He said in awe “Amazing!”
“How is that Amazing? I could have lost you.” Sarah said in a worried tone.
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