Fusion

52: Treasured Gem

CADE POV

The sun started to rise and Cyprus was starting to wake up too. All of the girls were still out... except for Lilly and Amanda who are no where to be seen. I shot up, shaking Narah gently awake before telling her I'd be right back. I walked slowly out of the storage unit and looked around. It was still dark but the sun was just coming up so there was a sliver of light shining through. 

I walked through the doors, shutting them behind me. I looked up and down the line of sheds. When I didn't see anyone I decided to go to my left, making my way down into a field. Trees lined the perimeter. They were tall and dark green. 

"Lilly?" I wanted to yell but instead I was whispering. I don't want to wake up the others. "Lilly?? Amanda?" I stood still to listen around me. I heard twigs break in the woods and I ran in. 

"Cade?" Lilly asked, "what are you-" 

"What are you doing?" I asked and looked around, "where's Amanda?" 

"I caught her sneaking out so I ran out after her," she shook her head, "she had this bag, I managed to pull it off but-but she kept running and then when I ran after her she had just disappeared. I-" 

"She's cloaked," I shook my head, "come on, come back up there. She'll come back for her things." She nodded her head and we started back. I watched the doors open and Cyprus walked out, looking all over. 

"What are you-" He went to talk but Lilly cut him off. 

"I tried to stop her from running," she shook her head, "here, I managed to get this." She tossed the bag and he asked where she was. "We don't know," she sighed, "Cade thinks she's cloaked." He nodded his head. The three of us walked back in. The others were starting to wake up now.

"What do you wanna do?" I asked him, "do we go looking? I mean I figured she'd come back for her things." He pulled the bag in front of him and started to look through it. He pulled out a box that had a small lock on it. "Is that?" 

"I don't know," he set it down and started to pry at the lock, "it could be." I watched the lid pop open and we all sat to watch. He reached in the box slowly and pulled out a stone. A smile from ear to ear covered his face and I couldn't help but do the same. "This is it," he held it for all of us to see, "this is the third stone." 

"Someone needs to get it to Kira and Jace," I nodded, "or dad or someone there."

"I agree but we aren't leaving without my mom," he shook his head, "here, take this, hide it. I'll go looking for her." 

"I'm coming," I walked with him. Everyone else started to walk out with us. 

"I-I'll stay here with Caitlyn," Anna called out, "come back fast, please." He gave her a kiss before we set out. Fen did the same. We walked down into the woods as a group. 

"Okay," Cyprus said loudly, "split into two groups. Cade, Narah and Lilly, you come with me. Fen, Cami and Aelia, you guys go that way. Howl or something if you find her, we'll meet back at the shed. We need to move fast. I don't want them up there alone." 

"Agreed," Fenrys nodded, "because I don't feel right." 

"What do you mean?" I asked, "what doesn't?" 

"I don't know," he shook his head, "lets just... lets look and then go back. Alright?" He spun around and the three of them headed off. I turned to face Cyprus who had a look of worry on his face. We started to look around. I was listening for any thing, smelling for anything abnormal. When I thought I heard something I had them stop immediately. Another twig broke and I started to run, Cyprus and Lilly right behind me. 

"MOM!" Cyprus yelled, "what happened!" She was laying on the ground, a large wound right in the middle of her stomach. Lilly dove down to her, placing her hands over the hole. 

"D-D-Daniel," Amanda struggled, "he-he-"

I spun around and went to let out a howl to warn the others... but it was too late. 

"CYPRUS!" Anna screamed. 

"FEN!" Caitlyn's voice cried out right after. 

"I'll get her, go!" Lilly yelled. I didn't hesitate, I started running back to the unit. As I made it to the field I saw a group of witches I know barely anything about. A man had Caitlyn on her knees facing us, her hands were zip-tied together. Anna was the same way, except she had a cloth in her mouth keeping her from biting anyone and from talking. 

"CAITLYN!" Fen blared, "let her go!" 

"Oh that's not going to work," a woman walked from the group. She must be Dory, their leader. "You see, you have someone AND something that's very important to me. I'd like them both back." 

"Well we don't know what you're looking for," Cyprus walked forward, "and I'm sure as hell not letting you take my mother. He was gonna kill her. Don't you know that? There's an entire binder in there full of rancid ideas from one of your own!" 

"Amanda has always been a means to an end," Daniel stepped forward, "and you, Cyprus, I should have kept you around." 

"I'm glad you didn't!" Cyprus stepped forward and threw his hands out. I watched a wave of magic roar through the field towards them. "GO GO GO!" he yelled and I took off running towards them. I held my hands up to create a barrier, hearing the booms of other witches' magic. I made it to the group of them, jumping behind them. A few of them spun around and I waved my hand out. Six of them collapsed on the ground, I was hoping to hit more but any is better than none. 

"Cade down!" Lilly screeched. I ducked quickly to watch a ball of fire fly over my body. It made a loud boom and I grabbed another witch. I stood with them in my arms and threw him into another group of them, knocking them to the ground. I grabbed Caitlyn when I had the chance and ran with her back down to the others. I broke the tie around her wrists. 

"It's okay," I nodded frantically, "it's okay, stay here. Just- just stay here." I spun around to survey the area. Everyone is fighting someone and we are outnumbered by double, at least. I watched Fen launch backwards. 

"FEN!" Caitlyn cried out. I ran towards him, managing to catch him before he hit the ground. His skin was hot to the touch. By the time I set him on the ground Caitlyn was diving to the ground with him. I saw what looked like a tiny red button attached to his shirt but he rolled over on it before I could get a closer look.

"Go," he coughed, "go-go." I turned around and ran to Cyprus who was making his way to Anna. 

"Cyprus we have to go!" I shouted, "Aelia! Narah! Camille! Come on! We have to go! Pull back!" He grabbed Anna and ran back down the hill towards me and following the others. I watched Daniel stand up, Dory following him. I held my hands up to create a barrier, Lilly grabbed my hand, doubling it. I looked back to check on the others, seeing that they were all running into the woods. 

"Come on," She pulled me, "lets go, now." We barely made it behind the trees before they started sending in balls of fire, winds that are enough to blow a house down... 

We jumped over bushes, logs.. wove in between trees. Finally when we ran into the rest of the group we were able to stop. Narah walked over to me, wrapping her arms around me.

"We  have to move," Cyprus shook his head, "do we know where my mom is? Cade, do you-" 

I reached in my pocket and pulled out the stone, "I've got it." 

I looked over to see Amanda walk out from behind a tree. She had a sad look on her face. She started to cry, walking over to Cyprus, "I'm so sorry. I never-I never wanted this to happen. I-" 

"I know," he nodded, "it's okay. Will you just... will you fight with us? Or atleast come with us? He will kill you, mom. He will, you know that right?" She looked down at the ground before nodding her head slowly. Her heart is racing and her hands are shaky. We heard their voices yelling in the distance. "We have to go," he nodded, "Cade, Fen and Lilly you guys need to shift and we need to run. They're going to follow. We need to go. Aelia, can you tell them we're on the way?"