Knights v Hunters; The Return

“Okay, Sera, don't panic. There are plenty of hours left before the day ends,” Rafe said, trying to calm a still shaken Sera.

Matthew listened to the exchange and then saw Rafe mouth something, as if he was communicating with someone. He looked out of the car, towards Caleb, who was now nodding and realised that Rafe was communicating telepathically with his brother.

In the other car, Caleb calmly listened to his brother. Rafe would inform Ethan and their father about what was coming their way, but Caleb wanted to be home if what Sera heard was true. They still had a few more hours before the Untouchables could launch any attack.

“Is everything okay?” Becca asked, sitting next to him.

Caleb turned towards her and spoke to both her and the Knights. “Seems as if the Untouchables plan on attacking our compound tonight.” He saw the look of horror in Becca’s eyes. “We’ll be home before then,” he consoled.

“They’ll go to Knight town after that,” Eden said.

“Yes, and I don’t think that they’ll hang around the Hunters’ compound too long,” Caleb.

“Why do you say that?” Josh asked.

“Because my father and the other Hunters have secured our compound to such an extent that even we won’t be able to get in without their permission,” Caleb said. Becca had heard the same from Ella.

Josh and Eden thought about their own home – Gabe had informed them that Sam had done his best to secure Knight town, but not too long ago they had also believed that their town was impenetrable! That was before Seth and his team had killed Levi and the other two Guardians. They had to find their mother and get back home tonight. Eden realised that they couldn’t do this without the Hunters.

Jude and Ethan reviewed the photos of the Untouchables who were part of Ginello’s team and who were seemingly poised to attack the compound that night. They recognised a few of the faces and weren’t really surprised that they were part of this mission, but were taken aback that they thought they stood a chance against the Hunters.

“The compound is on high alert,” Ethan told Jude. “Even if they manage to get in, they won’t be able to move far.”

“I know, I pity their chances, but why do they think that they can take us down?” Jude questioned.

“I’ve been thinking about Rafe’s vision of a Hunter being involved,” Ethan began. “We know and trust everyone in our compound with our lives and I can’t imagine any one of them being involved in something like this.”

“None of our people are involved,” Jude said, “of that I am sure. But I suspect that the Untouchables have someone on their team who knows our compound very well and that worries me.”

“It couldn’t be one of the Untouchables,” Ethan reasoned, “as none of them have been in our compound. You remember what happened the last time a Knight came onto our territory?” Ethan and Jude both reflected on that saga from all those years ago. It had not ended well. Could this be linked? Something occurred to Ethan and Jude at the same time.

“Do you think it’s… possible?” Ethan asked, almost afraid to finish his sentence.

“I never thought so,” Jude said, “but you and I both know that anything is possible, especially with Blockers being involved!”

Grace woke suddenly. She hadn’t even realised that she’d fallen asleep, but she had felt so cold and had curled up against one of the walls for a second to rest. She didn’t know what woke her, but she’d heard something, a voice, soft, but strong which reminded her of Ava. She listened quietly again – nothing! Disappointment filled her, but she shook it off, determined to work on the ropes that bound her hands. The stone that she had found earlier was not very sharp, but her instinct told her to continue working. She grimaced as the stone hit her skin and she felt it give way.

“Grace, where are you my friend?” Grace dropped the stone, despondency giving way to fear. Was she hearing voices already? She was dehydrated and starving but nowhere close to losing her mind just yet, so why was she hearing Ava?

“Ava?” she whispered, feeling stupid as she did so.

“Grace, oh Gracie, it’s me! I’ve been worried out of my mind. Where are you?” Ava asked.

Now Grace felt that she had really lost her mind, but decided to go with it. “I don’t know,” she said. “It’s someplace very cold. I’m blindfolded, so I can’t see anything around me. Ava, are you ... for real?” she asked hesitantly.

She heard her friend laugh through tears. “Yes, yes I am and we are going to find you, you hear? Don’t give up, Gracie.”

“I won’t,” Grace said. “Why am I hearing you?”

“Where do you think Rafe and Caleb get this ability from?” Ava laughed. “You’re the sister of my heart, Grace and we will find you. I want you to do something for me. You need to go back in your mind to your surroundings before you were locked up. What did you hear? What did you feel?”

Grace closed her eyes against the blindfold and focused. What did she have to lose? “I remember that I was standing on grass. I could hear the birds, this particular whistling sound which sounded familiar. Then they lowered me to a place below ground. Ava, I could be in a basement or a bunker. It’s cold and really small here – I keep walking into walls!”

“Okay, that’s good enough. I’m going to speak to my husband, see if we can identify where you are. We know that you’re not in New York with Seth,” Ava said.

“Ava, stay close, even if you’re just my imagination. If anything happens to me, please tell Gabe and my children that they have always been my world and I have no regrets,” Grace whispered.

“Nothing’s going to happen to you,” Ava said forcefully. “The best thing you can do for your family right now, is to hang in there. We’ll find you, I promise.”

Kyra and Nate walked the boundaries of Knight town together with Sam and Peter. Their town was as secure as it could be. If the Untouchables managed to get through their gates, then it wasn’t because of poor security. Kyra wondered what the Untouchables would do when they invaded Knight town. Were they planning on taking over the town and killing the Knights who lived there? Her sister and brothers weren’t any closer to understanding the reasoning behind the Untouchables’ mission. Kyra was aware that Nate had not left her side since her siblings had left. Had he received an instruction from her father, or was he a willing companion?

Not too far away, Gabe returned to Michael’s home after hosting a strategic session with the majority of the Knights. The Knights had been resolute in their willingness to defend their town and their way of life at all costs and Gabe was grateful for their response. Now, he needed to check up on Noah, to see whether the man they had thought was their foe, was more lucid. Michael opened the front door before he reached it. Gabe smiled at the Healer, as he was welcomed inside.

“Nothing more to report, I’m afraid,” Michael announced. Gabe looked in on Noah. He didn’t look as gaunt as he did when he had been found and his wounds seemed to be healing.

“Has he had any moments of consciousness?” Gabe asked.

“A few, but he didn’t say anything. I sense he is getting stronger though. It should only be a matter of days before he is on his feet again.”

“I wish we had a few more days,” Gabe said softly.

“Are they coming soon?” Michael asked, referring to the Untouchables.

“Later tonight or early tomorrow. I wish we had more intelligence on this. Noah might know a bit more than we do,” Gabe said.

“I’ll communicate should he say anything,” Michael offered. Gabe thanked him and left his home, making his way to his own, which seemed eerily empty without his wife and children. His thoughts were still consumed by fears for his wife’s safety, but he knew that she was resilient and would stay alive until they found her. And they would find her!

Lena had untied Sawyer’s hands as soon as their kidnappers left. She didn’t know if the kidnappers were still outside, but she couldn’t discern any sounds to indicate a presence. Where were they being held? she wondered and why were they taken? She looked at the metal pole and the chains that were attached to it and knew that they wouldn’t be able to work their way out of it.

“Do you think the captain is wondering where we are by now?” Sawyer asked, also checking out the chains that bound their ankles together.

“Not yet,” Lena said despondently. “He knew that we would be spending some time at Emerson’s apartment, so he doesn’t expect us back yet. He’ll only wonder in a few hours,” she added.

“Let’s stand up,” Sawyer suggested, lifting himself off the floor. He could only move further if Lena moved. He helped her off the floor, felt her almost sway into him before she righted herself. What did the kidnapper mean when he said that they would be in each other’s lives for a long time? he wondered. Oh no! Was Lena going to marry Carter?

“It’s so dark in here, I can barely see you and I’m standing right next to you,” Lena remarked, unaware of Sawyer’s chain of thought.

“Well, it’s because you’re almost night blind in any case,” Sawyer joked, trying to dispel troubling thoughts about Lena and Carter, “whereas I can see that we’re in a very small room – looks like an old bathroom which has tiled walls and floors which is why it’s so cold in here. And our kidnapper was not lying when he said that he left us food and water. Look, there,” Sawyer pointed.

“Wow, a honourable kidnapper,” Lena said sarcastically, as she spotted the water after furiously squinting. “Okay, so how do we get out of here?”

“I don’t know yet,” Sawyer admitted. “We can’t easily break these chains and it’s so quiet outside, that I don’t think that us shouting at the top of our lungs will have any effect.”

“Are you suggesting we wait it out?” Lena asked, surprised.

“No,” Sawyer responded, “I suggest that we try to figure out why we were kidnapped in the first place.”

“Well, I don’t think that these are the same men who kidnapped Emerson. They used excessive force in that case. I think that these two know Emerson, they might think they know where he is and will try to rescue him. If they wanted to hurt us, they would have by now,” Lena reasoned.

“I believe that,” Sawyer said. “Did you see how strong they looked?”

“I did,” Lena confirmed. “I also think that the second kidnapper is a woman.”

“What, why do you think that?”

“Just from her stance, the way she moved. If it’s not a woman, it’s someone very effeminate,” she stated.

They had sat in their cars for over an hour and yet there was no further movement in the bakery. Whatever was being discussed by the Untouchables was taking time, Rafe realised. He wondered if they had detailed maps of the Hunters’ compound, if they knew where the leader lived, where everyone lived. Would they make it back home on time, before the Untouchables struck?

Meanwhile, Matthew had spent some time engaging with Rafe and Sera and knew that the woman had feelings for Rafe, but he sensed that Rafe was conflicted. Could he still be carrying remnants of emotions for Eden? That had never happened to any of Matthew’s “clients” before, although until Rafe and the detective, he had only ever used his abilities on Knights. So anything was possible. He would try to right the wrong he had committed on Rafe, as he had promised Caleb, but now was not the time. Now they had to be focussed and all on the same wavelength, even if his sister despised him!

“Look, I think that a few of us should stay here and the rest should re-group away from the bakery. We need to keep the same mix of Knights and Hunters, otherwise, with the number of Untouchables in that bakery, the Knights will be sitting targets,” Rafe announced to Sera and Matthew. “Sera, stay here with Matthew. I’ll ask Becca to join you and I’ll join Caleb. Time is running out,” he told Matthew, “and we need to do everything we can to track your mother fast so that we can all go home, but we can’t get into the bakery unseen. We have to find another way.” Matthew agreed – his mother was his priority right now.

Rafe met Becca halfway between their cars and explained to her what he needed her to do. She nodded in agreement as Rafe went to join his brother, Josh and Eden.

“Change of plan,” Rafe explained as he entered Caleb’s car. “The Untouchables are still in discussions, but we have to move if we are to find Grace before the end of the day.” He saw Eden flinch as she sat further back in her seat. This was not going to be easy, he realised. This Knight did not care much for him!

“What do you suggest?” Josh asked.

“First, we need to get out of here,” he said and sensing Caleb’s concern for Becca and the others, he said, “The Zolfars will ensure that the rest of our team remains unharmed. Also, James is our inside man right now. He’ll let Becca know if there’s any movement.”

Caleb drove away and as if by common understanding, they landed up at the diner, which had become their unofficial meeting place. “We need you to tell us all you can about Seth,” Caleb told Eden and Josh as they emerged from the car.

“Well, after what he did, we obviously didn’t know him well,” Josh reasoned.

“Tell us about some of his missions, anything you can remember,” Rafe suggested.

“Uh, he liked to work alone, but now I understand why,” Eden began. “He’s offered redemption to many condemned Normals over the years and from what I can tell, most of them are leading really good lives now. He uses intel well, and if he has a partner on a mission, he usually takes the lead. He’s a leader by nature.”

“He had a mission many, many years ago where he really messed up. I heard a few stories about it, but not from our parents,” Josh said. “He apparently offered redemption to a condemned Normal who was not deserving, which is against our covenants, but he justified it by saying that the condemned had agreed to assist the Knights while living in Normal society, that he would help former Knights settle in better. I guess the Council always felt guilty about how former Knights were released into Normal society, so they forgave Seth for his mistake, but took him out of consideration for any missions for about six months.”

“Yeah, I heard that one,” Eden continued. “The Council’s forgiveness had a lot to do with the fact that Seth’s son had been banished not too long before that and they felt that they shouldn’t have sent him on a mission so soon because it compromised his thinking.”

“Any idea who that condemned Normal was?” Caleb asked.

“Nope, I never heard a name,” Josh replied and Eden agreed.

“Well, it may be nothing, but ask your father if he remembers. Maybe Seth started to lay out his plans from then,” Caleb said.

Rafe was very silent and seemed to be concentrating on something far away. Caleb knew not to interrupt him when this was happening, but the Knights unfortunately didn’t. Josh’s question to Rafe brought him sharply back to the diner.

“What?” Rafe asked him.

“I asked if you had any more thoughts on Seth’s partner,” Josh reiterated.

“No,” he replied cautiously. He didn’t want to tell the Knights that he strongly believed that the third partner was actually a Hunter. “Sorry, I was out of it for a second,” Rafe apologised.

“Where were you?” Caleb asked, noticing his brother’s coloured cheeks, his elevated breathing.

“With Grace,” he replied simply.

“What?” Eden cried, “You saw our mom?”

Rafe looked at her and then Josh. Eden had avoided directly engaging with him. Until now. “Yes. She was speaking to someone, but I didn’t sense anyone around her.” He thought for a moment, turning to Josh. “Does Grace have the ability to communicate telepathically?” he asked.

“Not that we’re aware of,” Eden said honestly. “If she does, she has never used it with anyone in our family. Is she okay?” she asked hesitantly.

“She’s tired and she’s very cold, but she seems mentally stronger. She’s trying to cut the ropes around her wrists,” he said, watching the emotion on Eden’s face. Instinctively, he reached out and took her hand, but she recoiled in horror, taking him completely off guard. “I’m sorry,” he said instead. He shouldn’t have touched her, but he realised that it had been such a natural reaction for him, which she obviously didn’t appreciate. Boy, she really disliked him!

“We’ll find your mom,” Caleb assured Eden. “Rafe has connected with her and we’ll use that to track her, but,” he paused as he said this, “we might all have to go our separate ways before we locate her.”

“We know,” Eden said, “but I can’t go home without her.”

“We’ll have to,” Josh said. “Father needs all of us there. Mom would want us to be there.” It was difficult, but Eden knew that her brother was right. She avoided looking at Rafe, because the need to have him wrap his arms around her was overwhelming. She missed him, missed his cool, assuring voice. This Rafe didn’t know her, didn’t want her and had already moved on. Eden felt guilty having these thoughts about Rafe, when she had been the one to walk away. Maybe Matthew should have cleaned her memories of Rafe, for she would never forget him otherwise!

Leo and Harper Zolfar stood side by side in Lucia Ginello’s cramped office, listening to the strategy for the mission that was to unfold later that night. Lucia had welcomed them and introduced Harper as if she was royalty, because she would be the first Guardian to willingly join them. Leo knew that Noel Emerson’s chances of survival were slim if they no longer needed another Guardian, but Harper assured him that Emerson was still very valuable, because his brother was also a Guardian, currently assigned to protect the gates to Knight town. The Untouchables wanted to use Emerson as a key to open the gates, but they didn’t understand the psyche of the Guardian, Leo realised. You couldn’t make them do anything they were not ordered to do by the leader of the Knights, which was the reason that Seth and his partner had killed three Guardians all those months ago, in the most gruesome manner. Harper was still smarting over that!

“The Hunter compound has never had the best security,” said the man who stood next to Lucia and Seth and who was presumably the third partner. Leo and Harper were certain that they had never seen him before and knew that he wasn’t part of the Untouchables, so who was he? “They never had a reason to fear for their safety. But now they do. They know we are coming, they just don’t know when. Don’t underestimate them,” he said. “They’re more powerful than any Knight you will ever encounter and they can use their arrows faster than the blink of an eye.”

Harper wondered how close this man had been to the Hunters. She knew that the Hunters were notoriously private and didn’t usually invite Normals into their compound. Of course, Knights were not allowed in at all. And yet this man spoke as if he knew the Hunters intimately.

“These are the points of normal entry into the compound. Those are not the entrances we will use. This part of the compound,” he said, pointing to the map of the Hunters’ compound, “will be our point of attack. There has always been limited security here and the Hunters moved their homes further back from this area years ago. They won’t be expecting us here. When we get into the compound, spread out, they can’t take us all at the same time. Remember, this is our target,” he said once again pointing to the map, “this is what we need to destroy so that they will never again have the ability to hunt us down!”

There was a small cheer around the room. “Make no mistake,” the man said, “we might lose a few of us in the process, but our long term goal remains. We want to live our lives without interference from the Knights and Hunters – they have ruled us for too long and have curbed our natural instincts and robbed the Normals of their predilection to self-destruct! It’s time that we get our power back so that we can lead Normal society like we were meant to!”

So that was the reason? Harper thought. They want to be able to live without recriminations, without censure! What kind of world would that be? Especially with all the abilities the Untouchables still possessed!

“Once we have destroyed our target in the Hunters’ compound, we move to Knight town,” Lucia began. “We are fortunate that many of you know the town well, none better than Seth himself. And we have a Guardian amongst us, one that we know will guide us well once we’re inside the town.” She looked at Harper and smiled at her fellow conspirator.

“Knight town is currently in lockdown,” Seth began and both Harper and Leo had to hide their disgust at the situation. Their families still lived there and would now be living in fear. “Unfortunately, we just have to power our way in there but we won’t be leaving in a hurry. In fact, I won’t leave until I have removed the abilities of all Knights living there. I will be more compassionate and leave their memories intact so that they know what it is like to live in this world without any powers!”

“They will be less prone to harm us,” Seth’s partner continued, “since they don’t believe in attacking their own. However, you never know what could happen when you are forced to protect your home against invasion. It can bring out the worst in anyone.”

“We will help keep order while Seth performs his role as Cleaner,” Lucia said. “I will block all Sensors in Knight town, so they can’t get to us. Once their abilities are removed, we will move them into Normal society, like they did to my parents, like they did to you,” she declared.

Leo knew that Lucia was stirring up her team – the energy levels had gone up threefold since the meeting began. The plans to attack both the Hunters’ compound and Knight town were laid bare; each of the team knew their responsibility, knew the timing of the attack in detail and yet Leo still didn’t know the name of Seth’s partner. He turned around and asked the Untouchable closest to him who looked at him in surprise. He whispered the name to Leo – it meant nothing to him, but Leo repeated the name a bit louder, so that James, who was just outside the door, could clearly record the name that could mean everything to the Hunters and Knights!

To Lena, the room in which they were being held now appeared completely dark. She knew that Sawyer stood close to her- they couldn’t move too far into the room, but they could reach the food and water. She was thirsty, but she didn’t want to drink anything, lest she needed to use the bathroom in front of Sawyer.

“Hey, Peck, it’s almost 6.30pm,” Sawyer said, reading off his watch. “The good news is that we are sure to be missed now, although the captain would have no idea where to look.”

“I’m going to miss my date,” Lena said and realised she had spoken aloud, wishing she could take it back. She had no intention of discussing her personal life with Sawyer Channing!

“Do you want to sit down?” Sawyer asked. He didn’t want to discuss Lena’s date with his brother, even though he had given Carter the go-ahead. He was still smarting over his stupidity.

When they were both settled, Sawyer looked at Lena – he could see more of her than she of him and he saw her shiver slightly. “You cold?” he asked.

“Just a bit,” Lena admitted and almost jumped out of her skin when Sawyer put his arm around her shoulder and pulled her closer.

“Better?” he asked.

She nodded. It wasn’t just better, it felt too good and she had promised herself that she would not think of Sawyer as anything but her partner. Instead she inched closer to his warm body, felt him shiver and wondered if she had any effect on him.

“I’m glad, you know,” Sawyer said suddenly, breaking into her dangerous thoughts and Lena was relieved that the darkness hid her blushes.

“Glad about what?” she asked instead.

“I’m glad that you’re missing your date.”

“What? Why?” Lena asked surprised.

“Maybe I don’t want you dating my brother,” Sawyer said quietly.

“I know I’m just your partner,” Lena began furiously, “but do you think that I’m not good enough for your brother?”

“You misunderstand me,” Sawyer said as Lena angrily shoved his arm off her shoulder.

“I’ll have you know Sawyer Channing, that I don’t have an active private life, despite what you may think! I can’t remember when last I even went on a date, not that it’s any of your business. I don’t fool around, so I might be boring for you, but …” Lena’s words were cut off by Sawyer’s lips. She was too stunned to respond when he moved his lips over hers. They felt warm and inviting.

Sawyer drew back, his hands still on her face. “That’s not why I don’t want you dating my brother,” he said gently, looking into her eyes, knowing that she could barely see him. He bent his head once again, reaching for her lips and rejoiced when she met him halfway.

James found Becca waiting for him in the car park. “The Zolfars wanted me to give this to you,” he told Becca. “I hope it helps you and I hope that you eliminate these Untouchables. It has the name of Seth’s partner, but I don’t know him. Maybe the leaders will.”

“Thanks for your help, James,” Becca said. “You have no idea how important it is to us,” she acknowledged.

“I wish I’d acted earlier,” James said regretfully, shaking Matthew’s hand.

Becca, Sera and Matthew listened to the recording that James had handed them. It was explosive and it laid out the plans for the attacks. The Hunters and Knights would need to go back to their respective homes immediately. She called Caleb and told him what she had heard and that they would meet up shortly.

Caleb ended Becca’s call and relayed the information to Eden, Rafe and Josh. “Leo found out the name of Seth’s partner. It’s someone named Zeke Le Chasseur,” he announced.

“Zeke, the Hunter,” Rafe whispered.

“You were right bro. The third partner is a Hunter, or someone with that surname!”