*The Chronicles of F.R.E.E. Atania's Knight - Raquel Festow* Part 1

Chapter 34 - The Doppelgänger Meeting

*Ruth Watson POV*

I waited until the door closed and turned to face the thunderstruck expressions of our friends.
"Where is Ruby and Raquel?" I asked them.
"Ruby is in her room after she won against Natalia." Hodgson said, smirking. "Raquel, we don't know."
"She's at the swimming pool," Micha said, distantly.
"Swimming pool?" I asked, trying to work out where a swimming pool could be in the mansion.
Micha nodded, his tears still falling and pointed to a door in the far corner of the kitchen.
"Right, ok. Rhianna, go and get Ruby out of bed and take her to Rebecca's room. I'll get Raquel and we'll be there soon." I said, looking at Rhianna.
Rhianna wasn't listening. She, too, was staring into the distance trying to come to terms with the information we had just discovered. I nudged her and she snapped back to reality.
"Yeah, right you are." She said, confirming she had heard me. She spun on her heel and left through the kitchen door.
"The rest of you... Do what you have to. I have no idea how long this is going to last, and... we have a lot to go through." I looked at Hodgson, who gave me a small smile to show he understood.
I headed for the door Micha had pointed to, still holding the purple book under my arm but then remembered something. "Get some food in, there's nothing in the fridge." I instructed them, before turning back to the door and opening it.
It opened straight onto a dark staircase that had tall lights in the walls every other step so you could see where you were going. I reached the bottom and saw a magnificent pool. It was the size of one you'd see in a leisure center, with lights in the pools walls to illuminate the clear water, that bathed everything else in a shimmering blue light. The walls were dark grey with the odd dying green plant or bush dotted around to make it feel more relaxing.
I saw Raquel sitting on the poolside, dangling her feet in the water, swinging them back and forth and looking around with a smile on her face, her long hair unbraided and fanning out behind her.
"Why are you down here?" I said, making Raquel jump.
She caught a look at me and froze with her eyes wide, worry casting over her face like a shadow.
"What's happened?" She didn't take her eyes off me as she got to her feet, grabbing her shoes as she did so. "Is everything ok? Your Aura is shivering. Are you frightened?" She caught sight of the purple book. "What's that?"
I looked down at the book then back at her. "This is a book of all FREE members. Rhianna and I found it when we had a nose around. Raquel, Rebecca wants to hold a meeting. Now. That will explain everything."
She nodded, silently and quickly put her flat shoes back on. I led the way to Rebecca's room and let her go in first.
Rebecca, Ruby and Rhianna looked at us as we entered. Rebecca was standing, leaning on a chest of drawers, Ruby was sitting on the edge of the bed, and Rhianna was leaning on the chaise lounge. The room had the same layout as mine and Raquel's rooms, but her room was purple and cream, whereas mine had been blue and gold and Raquel's was pale pinks and greens.
"Can I have a look at the book please, Ruth?" Rebecca said, holding out her hand for it.
I obediently approached her and handed over the book. I went to sit with Ruby while Raquel sat, cross legged, on the floor. It felt strange having all five Doppelgängers in one room with no one else present. Raquel, who still didn't exactly know what the book was about, looked the most innocent but she seemed to be feeling all the tension through our Auras. Rhianna looked angry, Ruby looked confused and Rebecca looked strained.
"Right, well... That wasn't the news I was expecting." Rebecca said, after flicking through the book quickly.
She head to where Raquel was sitting and placed the book on the floor, with it open on the page of Regina Moreno. She beckoned us all over to sit in a circle on the floor. Ruby sat next to Raquel and Rhianna between her and Rebecca.
"No. It's actually shaken me to think there's been someone like us around for almost two hundred years!" I said, lowly as I sat between Rebecca and Raquel.
Rebecca hummed. "Same here. I thought I was the oldest. I haven't heard of anyone reaching hundred and forty let alone..." Her brow furrowed as she did the maths then let out a low whistle. "Hundred and eighty four years old. Damn."
"How comes they knew about her?" Ruby said, twisting the book round so she could see the drawing of Regina better.
Rebecca shrugged. "No idea. They've obviously done their research. But a Moreno? Really?!" Rebecca rubbed her eyes. "I've fucking arrested them and they're sitting in the ja-"
She stopped midsentence and stared at the book, her mouth open.
"Of course." She breathed. She spun the book round and looked at her details again. "It's starting to fit together."
Her lookalikes all stared at her. She seemed to be getting excited about something.
"The story of the First Realm Jumper." She muttered, pointing at the drawing. "They say he or she was a Moreno, according to the story in Atania. Natalia was the one who told me about it. This Moreno discovered the secret of the chreek reeds and then proceeded to create the first ever Portal Bracelet. Travelled through the Realms, discovering their secrets and wonders. Then they suddenly stopped when they started a family." Her finger moved down to the list of her children. "Once the child was old enough, they planned to continue travelling the Realms as a family, but the child fell in love." She pointed at Crystal's name then over to Neville and Penelope's. "When their first grandchild was born, they shared their knowledge of how to control the chreek reeds along with the secrets of the Realms with them." She suddenly leapt to her feet, and started pacing. "When I was told to seek out Penelope Moreno, when I needed to get to Cristis to stop their war, Penelope agreed to help me on one condition." She spun round and stared at everyone. "You will never abandon our family and will ensure their safety."
I gaped at her. "You think she realised you looked like her husbands Grandmother?" I asked in amazement, getting onto my knees.
Rebecca nodded. "She must have or thought I was the same person. That's why she made me promise her." She thought for a moment before looking back down at the book. "Eighteen eighty seven..." She muttered, sitting back on the floor. "I wasn't even born when she disappeared. The Order took over Neonia in nineteen oh five." She studied Regina's picture closely.
"You don't think she's part of the Order, do you?!" Ruby asked, panickedly.
Raquel shook her head. "I don't think she would be in this book if she was." She looked at Regina's photo too. "If only I could see Aura's through pictures."
Rebecca took the book back, looking at Ruby's page, Rhianna's and mine before she stopped on Natalia's. Her face looked conflicted as she looked at Natalia's photo, tracing her finger over her face.
"Rebecca..." I said, quietly. "Could it be possible that Regina is still alive?"
Rebecca frowned at me. "Possibly. Unlikely, but possible." She looked back down at Natalia's photo before turning the page and looking at a photo of a man that had a red cross through it. "Death says battle of Neonia. That was wrong. He commited suicide when his wife died." She murmured to herself.
My heart skipped a beat at the way she said it so emotionlessly.
Rhianna had stayed silent up until now and suddenly sat up straight.
"Let's cut to the chase then, Rebecca." She said, curtly, looking down her nose at Rebecca. "Can Micha and Oren be trusted?"
Rebecca looked at her, scrutinising her face. "They are my sons. I've trusted them for over thirty five years. They're the ones who have given us most of the final calls, so they haven't given me a reason not to trust them."
"Micha's Aura has lightened considerably." Raquel told us. "He's now red. Whereas, Oren has lightened a shade or two, but he's still purple."
Rebecca thought for a moment. "I'm surprised at that. They have a history of being the torturers and responsible for sending a lot of people to Deathea."
"How did they find you, exactly?" Rhianna asked, folding her arms.
"I received a cryptic message from the orphanage I gave birth in, telling me to return there and collect my 'belongings'. I knew it wouldn't have been from them, because, one... they wouldn't have had the first clue on how to contact me and two... I didn't leave any 'belongings' there, so I was intruiged. It was the year before Ruby went to Astrovia and I was busy enough sorting everything out, but curiousity got the better of me. I went back to the orphanage and they were standing at the door, waiting for me." She let a small smile cross her face. "The first thing Micha said to me... 'Axaczi, Viaxaw.' I thought Jarod had gotten someone else pregnant without me knowing, as all I could see was him, couldn't see myself in them at all, until Oren handed me their birth certificate." She sighed heavily. "I didn't believe them at first. I ran back to Natalia and asked her. Showed her the birth certificate and everything. Still don't know if that was a good idea or not, she always believes in second chances. She advised me to 'bring them home.' I went back a few months later, this time with Jarod and they were still there, staying in a tavern near by. As soon as Jarod saw them he said he could see the resemblence to me straight away. They openly told us both that they were adopted at birth by an Ilene and Zain LaCroix... Tiana LaCroix's brother and sister in law. They had been Realm Jumping for too long and decided to adopt, specifically twins." Rebecca's face turned sour. "They took my boys from me. The labour had only just started, and they just sliced me open and took them both away, leaving me to bleed to death alone and in agony. I never got to hear their first cries, or even see them. Jarod was the one who saved me. He sewed me up, even though he had no idea what he was doing." She lifted her shirt and showed us a very ugly, wonky scar straight across her stomach, just below her belly button. "It was a fucking miracle I survived that. I lost a lot of blood and was bedridden for a few months until I built up my strength and returned to work." She lowered her shirt and slouched. "But it was just another reason for me to fight, along with," she started ticking the reason's off on her fingers "forced labour, beating us continuously, sending numerous people to Deathea, and beating my mother so harshly, she became a shadow of her former self."
Raquel leaned across me and took Rebecca's hand as Rebecca closed her eyes. The pain of the memory become too much for her.
"Rebecca," I said, gently. "What do we do? I mean, there isn't much we can do from here, but when we go back, what then? Search for her? Leave her be?"
Before Rebecca could answer a loud doorbell run. Rhianna, Ruby and Rebecca all leapt to their feet with their swords drawn. I still sat on the floor with Raquel.
"It was just the doorbell. Someone's come to visit." I said.
"We know!" Rhianna said in a 'duh' voice.
I realised why they had reacted and yanked Dragonwrath out of my baldric as I scrambled to my feet, pulling Raquel up with me and pushing her behind me.
"Stay here!" Rebecca ordered us and went to the door to see what was happening.
"Why would someone come and visit?" I whispered to the others, suspiciously.
"Glad you finally caught up." Rhianna mocked, sourly.
Rebecca came back in and raised her hand. "Nothing to worry about, just someone here to cook dinner, apparently."
We breathed a sigh of relief and sheathed our weapons.
"I think we'll call it a day for now. I want to see if Jarod can make the Neonian pudding from the ingredients we've been given." Rebecca said, sheathing Cometfell and picking up the book.
"I can help with that. I should have told them to get a battenburg cake. That's very similar, but a lot sweeter." I said, smiling.
Rebecca pulled a face, considering it for a moment then putting her nose up. I chuckled as I shook my head.
Ruby went back to her room, asking us to let her know when dinner was ready while the rest of us head down stairs for the kitchen. Upon entering, there was a woman unpacking all the food shopping from crates onto the counter. Jarod was helping her by holding the crates up for her, while the others were back outside, chatting. Raquel dashed straight outside to sit with Hunter. Rhianna mentioned something about practicing and head for the middle of the field. Rebecca and I went to the other side of the counter to look at the woman.
She had thick, fake eyelashes on, tons of blue eye shadow and her lips were devil red. She looked a bit like Marilyn Monroe with her long, curly blonde hair and curvy figure. She had a large mole on the right side of her chin. She looked up as we came round to look at her and she froze for a moment.
"Twins!" She said, in a very thick italian accent. "Oh my! You so beautiful!"
She grinned at us and we gave her tiny smiles back.
"I cook you good meal, tonight!" She said. "You sit and I cook."
"That's quite alright." Rebecca said, bluntly. "Jarod is the only one who cooks for us."
The woman looked shocked for a moment then looked at Jarod. "You strong, sexy man can cook?" She asked him.
I couldn't help but snort at her remark. Jarod blushed and nodded, looking awkwardly at Rebecca who rolled her eyes.
"Yes, he can. So, your services w-" Rebecca started to say.
"Oh, I show you how my mama used to cook. She made the best pizza in whole of Venice. You like pizza, James?"
"It's Jarod." I corrected her quickly.
"I-I don't know-" Jarod put the crate down, not knowing what a pizza was.
"He is fine cooking on his own." Rebecca persisted, getting annoyed now. "You can leave."
The woman completely ignored Rebecca. "You know pizza, yes?" She asked, frowning at Jarod. "Oh, you must try my mama's! Only the freshest olives, spinach, pancetta, mozarella and musharooms..."
She went off on a tangent as she pulled out the ingredients for her pizza. Rebecca scowled and looked at me for help.
I shrugged. "I haven't had a pizza in fucking years, you are not going to take this opportunity away from me." I mocked her, sternly. "Get Jarod to cook yours and Natalia's and the rest of us will have..." I realised I didn't know her name. "I'm sorry? Excuse me?"
I waved my hand at the woman who was still showing Jarod all the ingredients.
"Yes?" She said as I finally managed to catch her attention.
"I'm sorry, we don't know your name..." I said, politely.
The woman paused for a split second which I thought was a bit strange but then laughed. "Oh, you want to know my name, yes! It's Penelope." She beamed at me.
I gave her a smile and a nod in thanks and raised my eyebrows at Rebecca. "The rest of us will have Penelope's pizza."
Rebecca glared at her, not trusting her but relented. "Fine. Don't blame me if you get poisoned!" She hissed at me angrily.
"It'sa not poison! It good for you! You will like. I promise!" Penelope told her, taking her comment as a joke.
Rebecca gave her a very fake sweet smile before disappearing outside to sit with the others. I watched her go before turning to Jarod.
"So, what you making them two, chef?"
"Knowing Rebecca, the usual. She doesn't like to stray away from the norm." Jarod shrugged.
"You make her pizza, she will love you forever." Penelope said, flicking her hair back. "Best place into woman is through stomach, right?"
I snorted again. "I think he's already managed to find the best way into her." I said, quietly.
Jarod scowled at me and I held up my hands in surrender very quickly.
"Sorry! I couldn't resist!" I said, grimacing through my grin.
He let out a small chuckle. "I'll see what we have and what I can do with it."
"You can always call Dean and ask for her help." I offered.
"Jarod, where's Natalia gone?" Rebecca returned, looking annoyed.
"I don't know, Rebecca. Last I saw of her, she was talking to Darren about you." Jarod said.
"But Darren's outside." I said, pointing at him.
"Fuck sake." Rebecca muttered, rubbing her arm and looking around. "Where is she?"
"You look upstairs, I'll take a look round here." I said to her.
Rebecca went storming upstairs and I started looking in the rooms on the ground floor.
I searched in every room twice but couldn't find her anywhere. I met up with Rebecca in the hall.
"She's not upstairs." Rebecca said, scratching her head.
I shook my head. "She's not down here either."
Rebecca was starting to look worried now. I grabbed her hand to reassure her.
"Beccs, she's probably gone for a walk on the grounds. Let's go and look outside with the others." I told her. We both went outside and I called out to everyone. "Anyone know where Natalia is?"
"Rebecca has already asked us." Hunter said. "No one knows where she's gone."
"Search the grounds. She can't have gone far!" Rebecca ordered and everyone split into teams of two.
Jarod searched with Rebecca, Hodgson and myself, Raquel and Hunter, Clara and Xavier, Rhianna with Fabian and Micha and Oren. Penelope was to stay in the hall in case she was to return and she could contact Micha and Oren.
While everyone else took the back garden, Micha and Oren stalked the front drive while Hodgson and I took to the country road just outside.
We jogged along the road, calling out Natalia's name, looking this way and that, hoping and praying to catch a glimpse of her. A car was driving up the road towards us and Hodgson flagged it down.
"Evening, fella." He said to the man driving the car. "You seen a girl with long black hair and bright blue eyes today?"
"Nah, sorry, mate." The man said, shaking his head. "But I can help. You guys want a lift or anything to help look for her?"
I grabbed the chance. "Hodgson, go with him and search in the opposite direction. I'll head back to the house and see if they have managed to find her."
Hodgson shook the mans hand and ran to the passenger door as I turned and ran back to the house. When I entered the gates to the estate, I saw all the garage doors were open, every car that was inside them had their doors open too. Micha and Oren were searching the perimeter of their fence in case they could find a clue.
"Any news?" I shouted to them.
"No one can get through to her phone!" Oren yelled back.
I suddenly turned very cold with dread. She wouldn't wander off like this! This isn't like her! Rebecca and Natalia were always attached at the hip.
I entered the house, said a quick hello to Penelope and ran into the kitchen, which was empty with everyone looking around. I was about to go into the gardens, when I remembered the door to the swimming pool. Oh fuck sake!
With the panic inside me disappearing instantly, I headed down the stairs. I could hear the sound of someone pushing their way through water in a slow rythmn, and suddenly stopped. Natalia.. in a swimming pool... Best get her wife first.
I ran back up the stairs, leaving the door to the basement open.
"REBECCA!" I bellowed as loudly as I could into the garden from the patio area just outside the door.
Rebecca came into view straight away, running as fast as she could.
"You found her?!" She wheezed, trying to catch her breath.
"Go and have a word with your fucking wife! She's been in the swimming pool all this fucking time!" I snapped, pointing at the open door.
Rebecca sighed in relief, but her expression was showing she was pissed off.
I walked back down the stairs with her and as we reached the bottom, just as I had expected, Natalia was swimming butt naked. I immediately turned my back while Rebecca stormed over to her.
I heard the thrashing of water and couldn't resist turning to look at the scene.
Rebecca was wading through the water towards an oblivious Natalia who was swimming under the water. She grabbed her foot and yanked her back, Natalia broke the surface and screamed.
"DO YOU HAVE ANY IDEA HOW FUCKING WORRIED SICK I'VE BEEN WHEN I COULDN'T FIND YOU AND DIDN'T KNOW WHERE YOU WERE?!" Rebecca screamed at her, pulling her by the wrists to her chest.
Thankfully, Rebecca was blocking any view of Natalia's nudity. Natalia was frozen against Rebecca, realising what she had just told her.
"I've been here all along, my love. I came here when you went up for your meeting, and decided to have a swim." Natalia said, gently, putting a hand in Rebecca's hair. "I wouldn't have gone far, you know me."
"We still had no idea where you had gone to!" I shouted. "I've been running up and down the fucking road, calling for you. You weren't answering your phone, you didn't tell anyone you had come down here... Natalia, you fucking scared everyone shitless!" I rubbed my temple, feeling a pounding headache coming on.
"You are never leaving my sight again! Understood?!" Rebecca snapped at her, turning and pulling her out of the pool by her wrist.
I closed my eyes as Natalia quickly dried herself off, and put her hot pants and tank top back on. I felt a hand on my arm and I cautiously opened one eye to see who it was.
"Thank you." Rebecca murmured to me. "Thank you for helping me find the stupid bitch."
I pulled a face. "Actually," I said slowly. "It's kinda my fault. I forgot this pool existed when I searched everywhere and if I had been paying more attention, I would have found her... But, I'm actually feeling better that I got you to come down here with me." I finished in a grateful tone. "I wouldn't like walking down here to find your wife in the nuddy. That's your job."
"Fucking Atanians." Rebecca whispered under her breath. "Seriously, they never have their clothes on for longer than five fucking minutes."
"And you're complaining because...?" I jeered, earning a jab in my ribs.
"BECCS, YOU DOWN HERE?" Came Jarod's voice.
"Yeah," Rebecca called back, exhausted . "We found her. She's been down here all along."
"I've got Asuna on the phone. Says she couldn't get through to you and she wants to talk to you. It's urgent!"