It's My Life

Chapter 33 - Progress for Vance

After the swim and subsequent testing, I was taken home. Mum and Dad were waiting for me, and I filled them in on the day I'd had, and the phone call with Director Jones. Mum frowned, but Dad looked determined.
"I will find out all I can about...him, don't worry. If there's something to find, we'll find it. Until this threat is over, though, be very careful where you go. Other than swimming and the Embassy, you best avoid going out. I know you hate being cooped up, but it's for your own good." Dad said. I watched him.
"I know it's for the best. I don't know why, but he scares me." I said, shivering. The very thought of him sent a deep chill through me. Mum frowned.
"Maybe you should stay at the Embassy." Mum said. I looked at her.
"Maybe we all should. After what we've all been through I don't trust anyone. I couldn't relax thinking you two were in probable danger." I said. Mum came over to me.
"If the hospitality was offered to us, then yes we will. But if not, then we will deal with it. Mum said. The conversation with Andreas came to mind. 
"I think you'll definitely be invited, Mr. White has suggested they give you a jo in a secretarial format, he said someone of your caliber would be welcomed." I said.
"What about your father though?" She asked.
"He can work from home, or it'll be a shorter commute. Either way, all three of us would be safe. As long as he's breathing down our necks we need to be extremely careful. I couldn't bear it if anything happened to either of you." I said. Mum hugged me.
"Are you free?" I heard, and this time I knew instantly that it was Tom.
"In a minute, I'll call you." I sent back, and I looked at my parents.
"Can I help with anything?" I asked. Mum shook her head.
"Not at the moment. You go and rest, I'll call you down for dinner." Mum said. I walked slowly upstairs, my head full of everything I'd learned during the day. Out of habit I pulled my mobile out and rang Tom. He was chuckling as he answered the call.
"What's so funny?" I asked.
"Nothing. I just thought you meant you'd chat telepathically. You need to practice. No doubt Mum said the same today." He said. I blushed.
"I'm still learning I can do that. Takes me a bit to remember. Give me time." I said.
"I know hun. Starting tomorrow you need to practice using your mind. What did the doctor say?" He asked. I slumped on my bed and pushed black hair back.
"Not a lot. He was shocked at what had been done to me and, hearing it from his mouth, I admit I was too. I didn't know what they'd done to me whilst I was unconscious. It scares me. And now..." I stopped, realising Tom probably didn't know about Vance. He caught my thoughts.
"Mum told me about him. She told me how he makes you feel. Are you sure you've never met him?" Tom asked. I shook my head.
"No. I should probably do a Google search on him. That way I'd know what he looked like. And I should organise a visit to Crystallia. I'm sure Mother and Father would like that, and Shanthe, and Leira. I need to get to know them more, and warn them. Do you think I can?" I asked. Tom sighed.
"Stand up, Cass." He said. I frowned but did as I was told. "Walk from your bed to the door, then to your window. If you can do that in ten seconds, then you're ready. If not, then no. You aren't strong enough yet. I know, I'll ask Dad to arrange an envoy to take you there and back, but you need to practice your communication." Tom said. I sat down on the bed and sighed. He was right.
"If you could, that'd be great. I want to get to know them. Nearly twenty years to catch up on, it's going to be interesting, questions galore." I said, rubbing my eyes. 
"I'll talk to Dad, maybe we can arrange catch ups at the Crystallia underwater bunker." Tom said.
"There's a bunker? Why couldn't I have gone there?" I asked, and I felt his amusement.
"It didn't occur to us at the time. The bunker is a sort of in-between residence, people on land and people from under the sea can come and go from there, it's a safe haven. It's only been there a year or two." Tom said. I nodded.
"Sounds very interesting. I'm sure I'll see it soon." I mused.
"Probably. Anyway, I'll talk to Dad about arranging get togethers, and you just rest. Tomorrow we'll talk without mobiles." Tom said. I laughed softly, and then we said our goodbye's. I hung up and slowly walked downstairs.
"Dinner will be ready in a few minutes." Mum called out to me.
"Okay, thank you." I said, and moved to the shared computer. Booting it up I opened up the search engine on the internet, and typed in Vance Ashton's name. My hand trembled slightly as I moved the mouse to click the search button, taking a deep breath. The image of a tall thin man with dark brown hair and blue eyes that, in this picture, were twinkling as the man smiled, but a cold chill crept up my neck as the image on the screen seemed to turn dark, the eyes piercing, a sneer on his face, and I pulled back from the image, the chair toppling as I sprawled on the ground. Dad hurried in at the sound.
"Cass? What happened?" He asked, moving to help me up. I pointed at the screen, but the man looked normal.
"It...the image changed. He's bad. A bad man. I just know it." I said weakly, my head pounding as I sat down again.
"We know, honey, and you're safe." Dad said.
"What happened?" Two voices said at once, Mum hurrying into the lounge, and Tom in my mind. Dad filled Mum in, so I told Tom what I'd seen.
"Sounds serious." Tom sent back.
"Cass!" Mum said, and I looked at her.
"Pardon?" I asked.
"What happened?" Mum asked. I shivered and wrapped my arms around myself.
"I'll tell you more later." I sent to Tom, received his affirmation, and then turned to Mum.
"I was merely checking out who this Vance Ashton was, what he looked like and the picture changed, he looked mean, almost...evil." I said, knowing it would scare her, but I had to say it. I hated lying. She frowned.
"I don't suppose that's just fatigue showing." Mum said dejectedly. I shook my head.
"Sadly no. He scares me to my very core, and I don't know why, but I feel I will find out, and soon." I said, rubbing my arms. Mum went back to the kitchen, but I could feel her despair. I stood up slowly and moved back towards the computer, but Dad put his hand on my shoulder.
"No more tonight. You can do more tomorrow. Let's go have dinner." Dad said. I looked at the computer, and then nodded.
"You're right." I said, turning off the computer, and we walked into the kitchen where Mum was serving up dinner.