I Am Number Four

Chapter Thirteen: You Never Stop Learning

Sitting in the make-shift bedroom, Avalon couldn't believe what had happened in the past few days; she was still trying to wrap her head around the fact that she wasn't human. 

The last few days had included trying to avoid the Mogadorians that had set themselves up on every main road that left Paradise; so that they could catch any Lorien's fleeing after the brutal murder of Lillian and Avalon. 

During that time, Avalon had learnt a lot about Camden and Mason; Camden was one of the nine selected by Lady Adela like Avalon had been. 

His Cêpan, Markus, had been killed a few months earlier and he had joined up with Mason after hearing that her was on earth; he seemed to have taken up as leader of their small trio while they were in hiding. 

Then there was Mason, also known as Number Eight, who was one of Pittacus Lore's nine; he too had lost his Cêpan, Steven, who had spoken highly of Akela before he had died. 

Avalon found herself dedicating her time to learning more about her home world and her new abilities; since Garde were Loric citizens of Lorien that possessed Legacies, she found herself finally feeling at home with people who understood her. 

Avalon spent time learning about her natural abilities that all Garde were endowed with; superhuman strength, speed, reflexes, endurance, and durability, which they are born with and hone them so that she was prepared for the coming battles. 

However, Avalon couldn't help but feel angry that Lillian and James had hidden all of this from her; they were meant to prepare her to protect herself and yet had hidden her away. 

It was Camden, who had pointed out that Avalon had a legacy, which she apparently shared with her Grandmother; Premonition was something that all female members of her line had and they were well-known for the sight.

Leaning back on her bed, Avalon tried to concentrate on the book that Mason had let her borrow about their home planet; she wanted to learn as much as possible since she felt like she was behind on everything.

Everyone else had been taught these things for years and Avalon was just learning them now; she wanted nothing more than to be prepared for the battle that was too come. 

Camden and Mason were taking turns in training her to fight, they wanted her to be able to defend herself if things went south with the Mogs; they needed to be prepared for everything. 

Midnight, who had also survived the attack, was sitting with Avalon within her new room; it hadn't surprised the trio when the Egyptian Mau had let herself into the house and settled in, though it had caused quite a stir for Mason before he started to sulk as she had over took his bed. 

Avalon smiled before pushing herself up and closing the book she had been reading, she wanted was pleased with the process that she was making. 

"Hey Camden," Avalon greeted when her door opened and she grinned at him as he shook her head in amusement; it had taken her a bit of practice to start getting frequent visions of the future. 

Mason chuckled before plopping down next to on the couch before he smiled, they had only popped out into town to pick up some things so that living here was easier for them. 

"Did you miss us?" Mason asked making Avalon roll her eyes, she was surprised how well she got along with the two of them and they were becoming good friends. 

They were all they had in the world and if they wanted to survive this then they needed to trust one another.

***

Henri smiled before allowing John to stand from the table, they had been working hard the last couple of days and they deserved a little break for a while; he knew this hadn't been easy on him after what had happened. 

"That went well, in about a week you should have the rest of your body covered," Henri mused wishing that this could be easier but there was little that they could do to avoid what had happened. 

John moved to sit on the couch; he still had tears in his eyes from the visions he had had of Lorien destruction, he was also covered in a sleek layer of sweat from the heat produced by Lumen. 

Before Henri could speak to John, there was a rustling from the bushes that surrounded the house, making to two jump before Henri reached for his Lorien blade in case they had been discovered. 

He didn't know if the Mogadorians had left the area yet but he didn't want to take any chances, not after seeing how they had destroyed Lillian's home without so much as a care in the world. 

"Stay here," Henri warned making John frown before he stood and watched his Cêpan slowly open the front door; another rustling sound from the bushes before Henri disappeared out of the door leaving John alone. 

John stood quietly for several seconds before he moved to follow after Henri, he knew it wasn't the wisest thing in the world to do but he had to know what was out there. 

As he stepped outside the door, John was surprised to see a dog sitting in the garden watching him and Henri as it wagged his tail at the sight of them. 

Henri looked back at John and shrugged before making his way back into the house, while the dog looked expectantly at John who sighed before heading outside and picking the dog up. 

Watching John, Henri smiled a little allowing him to step into the house and closing the door behind him once he had made sure that there was no one outside.

The last thing they needed was for trouble to find them here and the only reason that they hadn't left after what had happened to Lillian and her family was that they knew it would attract unwanted attention. 

Setting the dog onto the floor, John frowned at how oily to touch the dog's fur was; he slowly moved to check the dog's collar and he couldn't help but smile at the name on the tag. 

There was no sign of an address and John looked to Henri wondering if they could keep him, it would be something to take his mind off what had happened to Avalon. 

Everyone in school was still talking about how she had died and John didn't feel like he could truly talk to Sarah or Sam about what had happened to her. 

"He doesn't seem to have a home, and he looks hungry," John commented making Henri chuckle, this was the first time since Avalon's death that he had seen John smile about anything. 

He wanted nothing more than to make things easier for John especially knowing how hard it had been since Avalon had died and he wanted nothing more than to make this better. 

"Is that your way of asking to keep him?" Henri asked making John laugh before Henri stood and headed into the kitchen, he knew that things had been hard on John since Avalon had died and he hoped that the Garde would snap out of this funk. 

Listening to Henri moving about in the kitchen, John sighed hoping that Henri would consider it; he was a little tired about being alone in all of this. 

"He'd be someone I could talk to," he continued loud enough for Henri to still hear, he couldn't imagine what it would be like to be able to talk to anyone about how he was feeling. 

He wanted nothing more than to be able to talk about Avalon without having to lie about what she really meant to him.