Seek (Book 2 of the Hide and Seek Duet - Completed)

3. Plans

We trained hard for the next two weeks before I decided I was ready, the thought of returning to my childhood home had been playing in my mind during that time and I know my boys were all worried it would be too much for me.
I hid as much of my angst as I could but our bond made it difficult, despite Chase having taught us to block our minds, when any of us got too emotional our thoughts leaked.
Chase had been in and out during that time, watching the council and still on the hunt for the prince consorts and keeping us informed about the bounty, I knew he had been dealing with hunters who got to close, keeping us safe by laying false trails or making the hunters disappear.  And he had updated our training regime, adding new challenges for us to master.

"All you have to do is picture where you want to go and the portal will take you there, keep in physical contact when passing through and close it behind you, especially if the area is protected, it can allow entry otherwise" Chase explains and I nod, not trusting my voice.
"Any problem and hint of danger, you get yourself to safety.  I want your promise" he orders.
"I promise" I croak and hear my boys say the same.
"Look after her" he instructs before stepping back, exchanging long looks with the boys over my head.
"Ready?"
"As I will ever be" I reply and picture Tiana's cottage in my mind, summoning a portal, smiling as the shimmering space appears before us and we grasp hands and step through.
"Close the portal baby" Talon whispers in my ear as I stand transfixed by the tiny cottage in front of me, the gardens wild and full of colour.
I do as he instructs, Talon taking my hand and leading me slowly forward as the others look around.
"Remember the plan, look for anything that may mention either the prophecy or Penhaligon" Stone reminds us and  we all nod, silent in our contemplation of what we were looking for.
Inside the cottage was just as I remembered it, Tiana's books and herb jars resting on a shelf in the kitchen, the background smell of lavender, she used to bunch around the house. Her chair, still with its handmade quilt ready to cover her legs when it was cold.
Talon guided me to her chair, helping me to sit as I lost myself in the memories or growing up here.  I could hear the boys searching, the opening and closing or drawers and cupboards, the swish of pages as a book is thumbed.
I think about Tiana, where had she kept the important paperwork, would she have left me a clue, leaning back I close my eyes and relax, waiting for inspiration to come.

A soft breeze caresses my cheek and I smile, keeping my eyes closed, I know Tiana left something for me, she would have known I would come looking, she would have planned for it.
A picture of a small rosewood chest, bound in silver, a flash of a familiar room, a crest on a letter all flashed together, fixing on a picture of a family, my family...
"Guys" I call shakily, the photo still swimming in my vision. "We're looking for a small chest, its in her room, it has what we need in it" I tell them out loud as well as opening my mind to let them see what I saw.
"Got it" Blaze calls back and I hear their footsteps coming closer before he places the chest on the table in front of me. "It won't open" he says, trying the lock again. But I just reach for it, feeling the powerful spell contained with the lock and releasing it, allowing the lock to undo.
River steadies my hand as I open the lid and we look inside, my heart jumping at the photo resting onto of other documents, my family.
I slowly reach for it, my heart racing and my eyes watering, as I trace my finger over the faces of the family I've lost.

Stone reaches into the chest and pulls out the rest of the paperwork, spreading it out on the table, as he and his brothers start to read through it, leaving me to hold onto my memories.

"I've found something, a letter from Penhaligon to your father, warning him of trouble at home, it says he will look into it and report back" Blaze reads.

"What does he mean by home, here or Fearie?" River asks frustratedly. "Keep looking there may be more".

I stare at the picture in my hand, 'help me' I pray and a flash of writing crosses my mind, I slowly turn the photo over and there on the back is the names of the people in the photo and an address and date.

"Stone" I whisper my voice cracking a little with emotion but he hears me.
"Baby, what is it?" his hand on my knee as he kneels at my feet, his gaze searching my face.
I hand him the photo, showing him the back.  "I think we need to go here"

"Okay, it's the Penhaligon Estate, do you want to go there now, or..." he trails off and I feel his love and support through the bond.

"After.  I need to see the house first" I whisper, hoping I can be strong enough to face it.

The boys surround me, each touching me in some way and I crave their strength and support.
"Then we have a plan" Stone tells me before pressing his lips to my forehead.