Second Chances (The Extinct Race Series)

by Michelle Farrell

  “I will go with you Marcia. I don’t want you to be alone and some of the things you say, yes I want those too. It will be easier with two of us anyway.” Samantha says

  “Thank you Samantha. I didn’t really want to be alone, but I know I don’t want this life.” Marcia says

  “If you are really leaving you will have to denounce your fealty and you won’t be able to come back. You won’t see any of us unless he is dead and we are able to leave freely.” Vivi says

  “I’m sorry Vivi, but that is fine with me.” Marcia says

  “I will ask one of the builders to drive you both to the airport. Zoe and I will come as far as the border and there you will denounce featly and be on your way. Please take the clothing Marjorie dropped by this morning and anything else you may need. Do you wish to say goodbye to the kids before you go?” Kaiden asks

  “No, if they know we’re leaving it will make it a lot harder on them. I think it’s best if we just leave.” Samantha says

  The girls get up quietly and walk to the rooms they were given last night. Twenty minutes later they have two bags each and are ready to leave. Kaiden gets one of the guys to drive the girls down to the border. He and Zoe follow in a jeep. Zoe still has little Lily in her arms. When they get to the border they all climb out. Samantha walks over to Zoe and kisses Lily’s head.

  “Her mother was one of the ones that didn’t come back. Please give her a different life than we all had. I would love to see her grown and happy one day. So when it’s safe please bring her with you and find us. I know Marcia won’t want to know, but I would.” Samantha says. She and Marcia walk to the other side of the border where Zoe instructed them to stand and they take back their vow. Zoe and Kaiden know it worked as soon as it was spoken because the look on the girls faces.

  Kaiden and Zoe drove straight to the training area and walked to the tree where all the portable cribs and playpens were set up under the shade. There were some women there who were helping watch the babies as everyone trained. The oldest of the girls was sitting there helping also. Zoe was not shocked by this, but it did bother her a little.

  “Honey what’s your name?” Zoe asked her

  “I am Mimi.” She responds

  “Hi Mimi, I am Zoe, you know you can play with the other kids you don’t have to watch over the babies anymore. There are enough of us adults to do that. We just all want you to be a kid and play.” Zoe says

  “I know, Megan told me, she is my big sister. Maggie is our baby sister and Lily was born a few months ago. Our mom never came back when she went to the house. I just don’t want them to forget her. Or be afraid of all the new faces.” Mimi says

  “Ok I understand that. You know I got boxes of toys today for the playroom. You think after I am done training you might like to help Justine and I set it up? Lily I think I am going to keep her close to me, so she will be there with us too.” Zoe says

  “I would like that. I am good at organizing.” Mimi says

  “Good, then I will see you after I am done and we will open all those boxes.” Zoe says.

  The training went longer into the afternoon than normal because of the events of the morning. As Zoe was making a round across the track she heard a baby crying. She knew it was Lily and she took off running towards the tree. Kaiden followed her not really knowing why she was running off. He had heard the cries of hungry babies all morning and so had she. Mimi had Lily in her arms and was trying to get her to calm down, but little Lily wasn’t having it. Alexi was there also.

  “Nothing is wrong with her physically or health wise. She has just eaten and been burped. She also has a clean diaper. None of us can get her to calm down.” Alexi said

  “May I try Mimi?” Zoe asks as she reaches out her arms to the crying baby.

  “Sure, I have tried everything mama does, but she won’t stop.” Mimi says

  Zoe takes the baby in her arms and holds her to her chest. Little Lily immediately calms and Alexi giggles.

  “I think you have been adopted Zoe.” Alexi says behind a smile

  “Well this is one adoption I am very thankful for.” Zoe coos at Lily and Lily smiles.

  Once everyone was done with training, the men began taking apart the bunks and moving those upstairs, Mary and Mateo were moving their belongings into the rooms they picked downstairs. They chose two of the rooms that were on the same side as Jaco, Carmine and Paulo. That left one open bedroom on that side of the hall. Kaiden had an idea and got some of the builders to help him with it. Zoe, Justine and Mimi were all unpacking boxes in the playroom and setting that up. Halina was working on the mural in their too. They placed Lily and Jacob in one of the portable cribs near the open window. Some of the older kids had found their way in and were helping with the playroom.

  Hours went by and soon Zoe noticed the bunks being taken back out of the house. She got curious and went to find Kaiden. She found him on the second floor. He was looking inside the rooms and was very proud of himself. In the girls room he had bunks built into the wall. There were six beds total, four on one wall and two single beds in the corner, the heads meeting up and then splitting on either side. There was a triangular ledge above the two beds for books or what-not. The four bunks on the other wall were big enough to have a shelf inside and curtains that were able to close on the inside. They had dressers for their clothes and a table set in the middle with six chairs. The closet was full of clothing and the bathroom was made up for little girls.

  In the boys room the longest wall had a row of three bunks long and three high with a rolling ladder connected to it. Then there were two beds similar to that in the girl’s room where the head meets and then splits off. The boys also had a table in the middle and dressers, but the boys had a couch and TV area with a couple game systems set up. Zoe was very impressed with the work, it was done so quickly.

  “Good job babe, this looks awesome. I think the kids will love it. And there are enough beds for when the younger ones grow and move up here.” Zoe placed a kiss on his cheek.

  “Yep now let’s go find the kids and see what they think. I figured older ones get the single beds first, youngest on the lowest bunks and the rest they can fight over.” He smiled and turned to leave.

  They found most of the children in the playroom. Zoe asked Mimi to go find all the others and meet her at the stairs. Once they were all there they followed Zoe up the stairs and to the back set of stairs to the second floor. She had closed the doors before leaving the suite. Kaiden stood off to the side watching. Vivi and Christian had also followed them up. Zoe picked the girls to go first since there were only five of them. Zoe had the girls cover their eyes and she guided them into the room. When she had them uncover their eyes, the girls all looked around and squealed. She told Mimi that she got to pick either of the single beds and then the other girls could choose their bed.

  The boys, Kaiden took care of. He chose the oldest two and had them close their eyes. He walked them over to the single beds and stood them there. He then took the youngest and littlest ones and placed them in front of the wall of beds. Then he guided the other boys in the middle and had them all open their eyes. Before they could say anything he told them little guys on the bottom bunks and oldest get the single beds. The rest of them could pick. The boys were all happy about that, except the smaller ones, but once they all saw the TV area they stopped complaining.

  When they had gone to rescue Marcus, Vivi wanted them to get the kids too. It ended up being a trap, so Vivi just hoped she could save the kids later. She was happy now that the kids had come to her. She was very happy to be able to make them happy.

  Chapter 22

  Playing again

  Three weeks have passed since the children have arrived and it is now the beginning of August. Life has been crazy in the house, but full of laughter. The main addition to the house is now complete and Zach and Halina are busy decorating their suite. The builders have moved on to the individual houses and Rosa and Monica have chosen where t
hey want theirs. Alexi and Gosha are reluctant to pick a place because they do not want to leave all the children to Vivi and Christian. For the most part the nighttime routine is left in their hands when it comes to the bigger kids. Vivi has not taken any toddlers since the big kids moved up there.

  Zoe and Iraina have made Zach and Halina’s old room into a bedroom for four toddlers at a time. There are two cribs in there and two toddler beds. Little Abby usually climbs into Ben’s bed, so Rosa and Monica use her room for two toddlers and two babies. The ladies in the house have the children off and on. Lily has stayed with Zoe full time and Justine has not let Jacob out of her sight.

  Rosa has the library pretty stocked with books and is usually found in there with Michael. Monica and Brad are happy to chase around the kids and keep their eyes on Ben and Abby. Camilla and Sebastian usually stay to themselves, but have enjoyed all the kids in the house, Camilla loves when she gets to hold a baby. When training is done the afternoons are filled with children and looking for the lost.

  Zoe has added a dance bar and mirrors to the long wall in the music and art room and the girls love dancing and goofing off in there. Halina is also teaching some of the older kids how to paint. She is very good at teaching them and loves to be able to paint all the time. Zach is constantly pestering Zoe to play for him, but she just hasn’t had the need to play, so she brushes him off. They still meditate for an hour before dinner and Kaiden has joined them. Kaiden is mainly there to keep Lily quiet since Zoe doesn’t want her far from her.

  Tonight as they are meditating Zoe’s hands start to twitch. Zach felt something different so he opens his eyes and looks at her hands. Zoe still is deep in her meditation with her eyes closed so she doesn’t notice her hands. She also doesn’t notice when Zach stands and leaves the area. They meditate on the back porch in the open air with the sun shining down on them. Zach returns quietly and has Zoe’s Guitar. Zoe sits there eyes still closed and fingers twitching away. Zach gently lifts her arm and places the guitar in her lap. She doesn’t even flinch. Zoe moves her hands to the right spot and begins to play.

  As she plays Jaco hears the haunting melody and comes out of his room to find it. There is a crowd around the doors to the back porch and Jaco nudges his way to the front of the crowd. He sees Zoe there, guitar in hand, playing the most haunting and riveting sound he has ever heard. She has her eyes closed and doesn’t even appear like she knows she is doing it. The baby that is always with Zoe is wide awake and just staring at her totally enthralled by the song. Jaco turns and notices that all the babies are wide awake and staring, even the toddlers are all still and just watching.

  Soon Jaco finds himself sitting with his eyes closed. He sees fire and clowns behind his eyes. He also sees tents and rings, he is not sure what he is seeing, but the visions are very vivid. Then he sees a man with dark auburn hair and sunglasses on his face. The smile the boy has is very familiar to Jaco. Then the song ends and so do the visions. Jaco opens his eyes and makes eye contact with Zoe. She looks like she wants to say something but it is stuck.

  “What was that?” Jaco asked

  “Zoe just played I have been trying to get her to play since I got here.” Zach smiles

  “No man that was more than just playing. She told me something, I just don’t know what it means.” Jaco said

  “Wait what? What are you talking about?” Kaiden asks

  “Dude I saw things, pictures in my head of stuff I have never seen before.” Jaco says

  “The Circus.” Zoe says

  “Huh?” Jaco is confused

  “If you saw what I saw, then you saw the circus, where is Carmine?” Zoe asks

  “Right here doll, good playing by the way. I have never heard something as beautiful as that.” Carmine says

  “What color hair did your nephew have?” Zoe asks

  “Oh my god the smile, that is Carmine’s smile.” Jaco says

  “He was a bald little guy, but you could kind of make out that it was going to be dark red like my sisters. And what do you mean smile man?” Carmine asks

  “Dude the circus!” Jaco says getting up and running off.

  “What the hell is he talking about?” Carmine asks

  “I think my song showed us where to look for your nephew.” Zoe says

  “What?” Carmine is confused. “You lost me there doll, you just played a song.”

  “No she is right, she hasn’t had the need to play since she came here, but she played every day until I found her. The damn song would play in my dream and it was the same song over and over again. Then she played the morning after I found her and for some reason I knew I could just tell them both what they were. Then she played at the cabin and it was right before we would have been attacked. She hasn’t played since, her hands never told her too.” Kaiden said. “And the song she just played is nothing like what she played for me.”

  “So then we just figured out her ability or she used magic.” Carmine says

  “Must be her ability, because if it was magic shouldn’t I have seen it too?” Zack asks

  “Zoe you need to play more and find them all.” Carmine says

  “Can’t. My fingers are done. I can only play when my fingers tell me too.” Zoe says

  “Huh.” Carmine says stumped

  Dinner was ready soon after that and they all sat to eat. Jaco hadn’t come out of his room yet though. Carmine sat at his usual spot deep in thought. The conversation of the night was about Zoe’s song. The kids were also unusually quiet as they ate. The little ones all sat still and ate their food. Usually there was already a huge mess on the floor that the puppies loved to clean up. Jaco came out and snagged a plate mumbling that he almost had it.

  As dessert was being served Jaco came flying out of his room with papers in his hands. He slammed them down in front of Carmine.

  “Look at these, there are none without the sunglasses, but could this be your nephew?” Jaco asked. Carmine looked through all the pictures, he studied each very closely. Jaco sat and grabbed a slice of pie that was for dessert. As he was eating Carmine started mumbling.

  “His smile is very similar to mine. All the males in my family have it. Also his nose it looks like his fathers. But without seeing the eyes I can’t say. You can’t find anything without those sunglasses on?” Carmine asks

  “Nope, I looked pictures up first. I wanted you to see them and maybe we could go from there, they call him Donny though, could be short for Donovan. I was just about to see if there were any videos of his act. He works with fire.” Jaco said

  “Works with or moves fire?” Carmine asks

  “Man I just read, we would need to see a video to tell, either of us will be able to tell if that is him after seeing a video. So let’s go look.” Jaco said. Both men get up without a thought to the others at the table and went to Jaco’s room.

  “Well that was interesting.” Paulo said

  “Yeah, anyway I was thinking of making tonight a movie night and putting on a movie for the kids.” Monica said

  “Oh that sounds great. They had a hard day playing outside today, would be good to keep them all quiet for a while longer.” Rosa says

  “Hey Alexi, Jacob here is cutting a tooth. You know of anything that can help him with the pain?” Justine asks

  The door to Jaco’s room came flying open and Carmine is breathing hard. “It’s him.” He gets out. “I am going to go get him.” Carmine wheezes

  “Slow down man, first, where is he right now?” Kaiden asks

  “Romania in a week, they have a show scheduled for in a week. That gives me enough time to catch trains and flights and get there or borrow a jeep and drive it.” Carmine says

  “Ok so we have a week to plan. We will take the jet and get there in an hour or two the day before the show. Does he look like he knows?” Kaiden asked

  “I don’t know hard to tell, even when he was a baby, when he cried if there was fire in the room, it grew and danced for him. I am starting to think
maybe he could manipulate fire all his life. I couldn’t until I found my mate, so either he has his mate or he has the ability to manipulate fire. Either way he is in danger being out there. Especially now we know for a fact he let them all loose. The kid knows one thing though. He is never photographed or performs without sunglasses on.” Carmine says

  “So do you think then your sister might be with him still?” Kaiden asks

  “I really hope so Kaiden, I really do. She was so lost after her mate died. As soon as we had word of the killings she disappeared with Donovan.” Carmine says

  “Ok then you have a week to prepare. I will have a team ready to go in a week and we will go get him. We need to be smart about this. He may be being watched or they may have a lead on him. So we need to be very smart and leave either very early or very late. Zoe and I both need to go too and now we have Lily to think about and the safety of everyone else. I think it is time to put teams together anyway.” Kaiden says

  “So you think we are ready to go out and search then?” John asks

  “I was going to talk with Zoe tonight about it. If her fingers told her anything I was going to go off that. I just don’t want to send anyone out there if we are not ready. I am not ready to lose any of you.” Kaiden says

  A loud buzz and cracking breaks the conversation. Mateo grabs his radio and shakes it and then listens some more. Nothing comes out. This is the one night that Charles does not eat with them. It is his and Penny’s movie night. Kaiden breaks out his cell and calls Charles.

  “Hey is anything over your radio?” He listens “Yes, Mateo’s went off and now nothing is coming through.” Kaiden hangs up the phone and stands.

  “Alright we don’t know what is going on. Charles is going to send the half-blood women up and they are going to watch the kids. Everyone else outside, shift and find who made that call. Charles is getting every Dragon to shift and go out. When you find out what it is tell me and Zoe as loud as you can in your mind. We will be able to hear you.” Kaiden says