No distance of place or lapse of time can lessen the friendship of those who are thoroughly persuaded of each other’s worth.

Robert Southey

The Police were all over the place. Mr Parker and and his nephews got back after the first police cars arrived and were completely dumbstruck. They joined the women in the Dining room. An hour later Jonathan Oaksen arrived with Henry Bellows. There were so many questions from detectives,and Britney Shafers security team. Then a dark black Range Rover pulled up and a tall man with salt and pepper hair stepped out in normal looking clothes that looked like they cost a fortune. Then form the other side a beautiful woman emerged with deep red hair, also wearing normal clothes that looked really expensive. The man from Brittney’s security team, Connor, met them. The woman seemed very distraught, but the man stood there with a calm confidence that seemed to calm the woman also. Once he finished talking to Connor the couple talked to one of the detectives for a while then they went inside. They made their way to where everyone was gathered in the living room. When they entered everyone looked at them with recognition, Barry Shaffer and his wife Amelia, were constantly in the news or just local gossip. Mrs Kopcheck stood up when they entered. “Mr and Mrs Shaffer, welcome to my home. I would have wished it to be under better circumstances but, still, welcome. Can I get you anything?” “No thank you Mrs Kopcheck, I was sorry to hear that Paul passed away, I worked with him closely when he was on the city council. All we need right now are some Answers.” He looked back through the kitchen door where Connor stood as if guarding it and he nooded. Connor lifted his right wrist to his mouth and whispered into it. Within moments the rest of the security detail secured the living room and the exits to the house. “Now, that we are not being disturbed, would someone like to tell me what really happened?” Jonathan Oaksen stood up and looked at him. “Hi Barry.” Mr Shaffer nodded to him. “Jonathan, it’s been a while.” Jonathan nodded. “It has. Barry we can give you answers, but you are going to have to trust me. In fact, I’m going to call in that favor you owe me right now. The favor is, that you trust me.” Barry Shaffer showed the first emotional response anyone had seen from him in a while, his eyes got wide when Jonathan mentioned the favor, but then her returned to normal. “You sure you want to use this on me trusting you Jon? It might be more handy later.” Jonathan shook his head. “I’m sure, there isn’t anything that will happen later then what is important right now.” Mr. Schaeffer bowed his head, close his eyes for a minute. When he looked up, he looked at Jonathan Olson and said, OK Jonathan let’s hear what you have to say” Jonathan Okeson took a deep breath. You had your daughter tagged, didn’t you our kids probably too correct? Barry Schaeffer nodded his head. And you can’t detect them anywhere right anywhere on the planet. Again, Barry nodded his head. They’re on this planet just not in this time. They’ve been taking back into the past, we know this because that’s where Alianna’s and Jaius were for five months this past year. They went back in time before the flood. We believe that’s where they are now. My wife started having a recurring dream in September. Of them at this house, going up and down that stairway behind the house and then tumbling off it and disappearing. Same dream every month. Paul Kopcheck whom you also trust as you worked with him closely. Wrote that same exact dream down in his journal in August. Before Emily started having the dreams. Emily Olsen, and then sit up and recounted her dream that she had. You can see for yourself in the journal entry date. Jonathan Olson pushed the open journal over to Mr. Schaffer. Bradley looked down at it and read what was written there. When he was done, he looked back at Jonathan. Jonathan looked back at him and said. If this is what happened and this is where they are there’s nothing we can do for them to get them back except wait. I promise you, Barry I’m not lying about this and I need you to believe me. We need you to not call out the military. Just let the authorities do their normal thing. Don’t despair trust us and pray. We used to do that together remember?” Barry Schaeffer looked at him for a long moment, looked back down at the journal for a few minutes. When he finally looked up, he looked back, Jonathan. OK Jonathan, I’m going to trust you. We let the officials just do their normal job. I have to put up some form of show of looking like I’m doing everything I can to find her. But I won’t let it get too excessive. Jonathan let out the breath he’d been holding in. Thank you, Barry. You’re both welcome to stay have some pizza and coffee. Barry shook his head. “Thank you, Jonathan but no. The media is going to be swarming the staff at our house. We need to get back there and contain this. I expect that you will keep me posted. “ Jonathan nodded. “Thank you Mrs Kopcheck, everyone, for clearing this up, let’s go Amilea.” He nodded abd then left into the kitchen and out the front door. Mrs Shafer was clearly disturbed as she left. When they got in the car, she turned to him and basically freaked out. What in the world just happened back there Barry? You went in there and basically let a bunch of people tell you that our daughter didn’t get abducted she went back in time. Have you lost your mind and senses? Our daughter is missing. Barry Schaffer calmly turned to his wife. Amelia, I understand that you are distraught at this moment. I love Brittany too, and I don’t want anything bad to happen to her, but Brent texted me, and Connor confirmed it they’re nowhere on this planet. Connor and his team tagged all the children with some of the most expensive sensors money can buy. These things are protected from EMP pulses, radiation, heat, and interference. One of them may have failed, but not 10. Britney had over five of them on her. Whatever happened to Brittany, my dear she’s not on this planet. Now, unless you believe in aliens, what they’re saying is the most logical answer. Brent confirmed that the children were on the stairway one of them got excited, tripped, and fell and knocking everyone blow her down but none of them hit the ground. None of them, my dear. They disappeared. So unless you believe in aliens or want to believe that, they just disintegrated, what Jonathan said is the next most logical answer. Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, coined a great phrase and is Sherlock Holmes novels. Home would always say, when you eliminated every logical possibility, whatever’s left, however, illogical or improbable, must be the answer. Our daughter is not present on this planet in this time right now. Neither are any of the other children. If all those people in there had produced some scheme to kidnap our daughter. The other children would’ve registered somewhere. They’re not here either. So my dear I don’t believe in aliens I don’t believe 10 children just disintegrated, and I know Jonathan Olson for my whole life, and I’ve never known him to not be honest. He saved my life when we were 10. I told him I owed him my life. That was the favor he cashed in today, he could’ve saved that for when his business was failing or some other future thing, but he used it now, he’s not a man that wastes things, if he used such a thing on this, I also have to give it at least some measure of credibility. If what he is saying is true, and all we can do is just wait and pray. Amelia Schaeffer looked at him incredulously, but at least some of what he said, had filtered through her hysteria, enough at least to make her sit back and not continue to argue the point. Just then his phone buzzed. He looked down and saw that it was from Jonathan Okeson. It read thanks Barry for trusting me. I’m free this Wednesday morning if you wanna get together and pray? Very Shaffer thought for a long moment pulled up his calendar, saw he also had that morning open. After another minute, he texted back. “ I’ll meet you at Saint Michaels, I’ll text father McCleary and ask if we can have some time to ourselves. Sounds good, I’ll see you there. Came the reply.

Enoch led the way down the very finally built colonnade that went along the outside of the big stone wall they had seen from the stairway. Jaius and Alianna follow just behind him with Anne next to them Nisa, Elise and Lorna follow behind them. Behind them were Carrie and Trudy. And then Britney, Bradley and Megan and bringing up the rear was Olivia and Jim. Kenic followed behind them about 5 feet. Everyone was still scared, somewhere trembling, some looking around nervously. And Bradley actually had to hold Megan’s arms as she was shaking so badly she could barely walk. Britney tried to console her to smooth her anxiety down, but nothing seemed to be working. Enoch, where did all this come from, the last time I was at the cathedral there was no hundred foot stone wall or stone colonnade surrounding it. And I did not stop walking, but he looked over his shoulder. Much has changed son of Maleric. In the last 249 years. Jaius almost stumbled over his own feet , Alianna was so shocked she almost didn’t grab him in time. It’s been 249 years. Jaius exclaimed. Yes son of Maleric, The catha dral has expanded into an entire city. Thousands now reside here. Your lands have also expanded. You are now Lord over an entire city of your own. Your people await your return to the Thron Hyress. The people of Cain ever seek for a way to breach our walls and seize the power of Thron for themselves. You’ve guarded the heart of the Thron for all these many years in your time Hyress, and for that we are thankful. But now the time has come for you once again to sit upon the Thron and defend your people against a terrible foe. The fallen one you encountered at the hearalds estate, was just one of many. And they have not been idle these past centuries. They are working a great evil in the west, and soon it will fall upon the cities that we have lovingly tended all these years. Enoch. Alianna started. “Yes Hyress.” Chi and I are ready to do what we need to do, but what of all of our friends? Do they have to risk their lives too? That, is ultimately up to them. They may simply remain here at the cathedral, for as long as it remains, or if their bonds of loyalty, too are true, you may find great help and what is to come. And I said this last part loud enough for everyone behind him to hear him. Alianna nodded. Enoch, are we all going to get sick again? When Jaius and I were here last time, about two days after we arrived, we became very ill for a couple of days, but then afterwards we became even healthier than we were before. I would expect the same thing to happen again, but worry not, there have been many advancements in the use of the crystals since you’ve been gone, a number of which you helped establish. He did stop and turned and looked at Carrie and Trudy, I am afraid, however you both will suffer the worst of it, the ailments in your bodies run very deep. Both Carrie and Trudy looked at each other, then looked back at Enoch and everyone else the fear plainly deepening on their face. Alianna looked back at them. Don’t worry, it will be OK. We’ll be here with you and we’re definitely gonna help you. They look to her and nodded their head, their faces looked a little less fearful, but not much so. They were on their way through many stone hallways, passing wooden doors that were shut. They also started encountering people. At first, it was more soldiers like Kenic, but then they started seeing other people. Dressed in flowing gowns are very fine fabric and color for women, and leather pants and cotton shirts and leather boots and vests and jackets in both men and women wore very fine cloaks a lot of them studied with crystals. Everywhere they went, people saw Alianna’s hair shock on their faces, but after a few moments they would bow to her and greet her as The Hyress. They saw people with different colored hair walking around, but none of them seem to have blonde hair. This again made Alianna very obvious to who she was. As they caught glimpses inside the rooms as people entered and exited them, it quickly became clear that these rooms were actually houses set into the wall of the city. As they moved farther in. A woman came floating down the hall towards them. The crystals on her cloak were glowing, and yet she was not singing. She had the same look of shock when she saw. Alianna, she floated down, curtsied and said Welcome back my Hyress, it will be such a pleasure to serve you again.” Alianna looked confused at first, as soon as she recognized the woman. She reached down and took the woman’s hand lifted into her her feet. “ and we are very pleased to see you also Madame mol, the food you prepared was always excellent, we look forward to many more meals that were prepared under your expert guidance.” Madame Mol blushed and curtsied again. Thank you My Hyress, you give praise to one who does not deserve it, but I am thankful.” Alianna smiled and nodded to her and then move on past her. The woman waited until she had passed. And then stood up and her cloak began to glow and lifted it up and carried her along down the hallway. everyone else behind them looked at the woman with their mouth hanging open. Eventually, they came into a large courtyard and there before them stood the building that Alianna and Jaius had known as the Catha Dral. It stood at the very center of the city. Everyone stopped and stared at the magnificent building made from crystal . Enoch looked at.Alianna. The cathedral once again welcomes. The Hyress. No one has entered it except the servants for over 100 years. The servants have kept everything as you have left it. Come, come the Thron awaits. As they approached two guards pulled open the massive crystal doors. They followed Enoch inside and then turned right down a long hallway halfway down two large oak doors with Krystal inlays and iron bracings. Stood in the wall before them. The two guards there bowed their arms across their chest. Then they straightened up and open the two doors. They walked into the massive hall. The ceiling over 100 feet. Above them. Krystal rafters spaced out every 10 feet across the top of the ceiling. Windows made of crystal, but yet so thin it made it look like glass. Along dinner table stood for them in the middle of the hall. Behind that. A large obsidian dies Rose 20 feet above them. 13 steps lead up to a platform and on top of the platform stood a very delicate looking chair made out of glistening purple crystal. The room was silent. Jaius looked at. Alianna and smiled and nodded his head towards the chair. “The Thron awaits the Hyress.” he said, as he went to one knee and about his head. Enoch, Kenic Nisa, Alise, and Lorna, also follow his example. After a few moments, Olivia and Anne did also. Jim hesitated a bit more of it than meltdown next to Olivia. Carrie looked at Trudy and nodded her head and so they both melt down. Brittany and Bradley had no idea what was going on, but Britney’s training from when she was in England took over and she melt down automatically out of habit. Bradley didn’t want to feel left out so he melt down also. Megan, however, did not kneel. Even in her distress she realized what was happening and refused to give Alianna any form of laud. Alianna began to walk towards the Thron, but she stopped as if she hit a wall she turned and looked at them. “Please, stand up, I’m just a servant too, and not worthy of such honor.” Jaius looked at her. “Yes you are Ali, In Roman’s Paul says that we are to give honor to who honor is due, and respect to who respect is due. Paul also says in Ephesians that you are a Co-Heir with Christ. You are a daughter of the King now Ali and your station as Hyress dose deserve such respect and honor.” Olivia and Jim smiled at him and nodded, Enoch’s smile was as big and bright as the sun, everyone else, except for Megan stayed knelt down. Alianna paused and thought and then slowly nodded her head and smiled at Jaius. Then she turned and put her hand into the satchel she wore. She pulled from it a purple crystal shard that was about 7 inches long. She looked up at the chair. “Hello old friend .” She said fondly. She held the shard before her and began to sing.

“Amazing Grace, how sweet the sound that saved at wretch like me…”

A small light appeared in the center of the crystal and at the same time a small light appeared in the heart of the crystal chair at the top of the dias. Then somthing she did not expect took place. The locket around her neck began to glow, energy began to trace along the gold inlays. A white gold aura began to form around it. The shard in her hand erupted with a pure white light. At the same time so did the Thron. There was a loud cracking sound and the light seemed to brake forth through cracks that had formed in the obsidian itself. There was one loud crack and the sound of stone falling. In the side of the obsidian dias an archway of light appeared. Finally free from her shock Alianna stopped singing. She looked up at the chair, terrified that she had destroyed it, but it still remained whole and glowing. The dias remained for the most part. Where before it had been a solid piece of Obsidian, it now had cracks running through the stone that hade bright beautiful light coming from it. in the side of the base of the dias a stone archway now appeared, the light from deep below the floor starting to fade from it. Kenic moved into action as he realized that a door that had not been there before just appeared. He rushed ahead and placed himself between Alianna and the door. Jaius, understanding his concern, lept up and placed himself in front of Alianna. “Peace friends.” Said Enoch as he stood and looked at them. “There is no danger from what has been revealed. Come, let us see what the Eternal has opened to us.” He gestured for everyone to follow. “Uh uh! I’m not going down some crazy lighted tunnel beneath some platform in a place that shouldn’t even exist!” Cried Megan who then dropped herself down with her legs crossed and cried covering her eyes with her hands.” Brittney looked at Alianna. “I’ll…I’ll stay with her if that’s okay your majesty? I’m a bit wigged out now right now and not sure how much more I can take.” Alianna nodded. Brittney breathed a sigh of relief and sat down and put her arm around Megan. Keri and Trudi looked at the glowing archway also and then at Alianna. “We want to go with you Ali but I’m kinda with Brittney, I’m not sure how much more we can take right now.” Alianna smiled, went over to them and hugged them. “I definitely understand what your both feeling, Jaius and I went through a rough time too our first month here, I’ll do everything I can to try to make yours normal not as tough.” They hugged her back. “How…How long will we be here?” Alianna wanted to sugar coat her response but her time here had taught her that here, a spoonful of sugar can help you get dead. “We were here for five months last time, I don’t have any idea when we will get back. People here live for hundreds of years, we have to always keep it in the back of our heads we could be here for a very long time.” She saw the hope pouring out of them. So she backpedaled a bit. “I wasn’t trying to be hard, but you will learn ver quickly here that pretending or sugarcoating things can get you killed very quickly. We aren’t in Kansas anymore, but, I do have belief that we won’t be here forever, that we will get home.” She said the last part with a smile. She then turned to looked at the others. “Kenic, would you please find Madam Mol and ask her to make a meal for us and our friends.” “It will be as you say Hyress.” He said, and she swore she saw a small smile on his face, one of gladness at serving her again. She smiled also. She turned to Niss and Alise and Lorna. “Would one of you be willing to stay with our friends while we see what the Eternal has revealed?” Lorna and Alise looked at the tunnel leading down and they both shuddered. “We will stay with them Hyress, they will be well looked after we assure you.” Alianna smiled and nodded her head. “Thank you Alise and Lorna.” “Ali, I uh mean Hirresss…”. Olivia said straining to get the word out as they say it. Alianna turned to her friend and moved over to her. “It’s okay Olivia, you can just call me Ali.” She breathed a sigh of relief. “Oh good, thank you Ali. Can…can I go with you?” Alianna smiled and nodded her head vigorously. “Of course sillly, I’m still just Ali.” “Count me in too.” Alianna felt a strange peace coming from Jim that hadn’t been there before. Jim, did you become a Christian?” He nooded and Olivia bounced up and down. “Oh yes, Ali, he did. We found my Pap’s Bible and as we read through the notes in it God saved Jim.” Alianna jumped up and down and hugged them both. “Oh my goodness that is so amazing! Jaius…”. She shouted, and berated herself as she found him standing right next to her. In her excitement over Jim, she had not noticed him come up beside her. “Jim got saved.” Jaius said smiling. Apparently she had also forgotten about the super hearing they had gotten here. Jaius gave Jim a hug. “Welcome to the family Bro.” Jim hugged him back. “Thanks, maybe you can help me figure out what I’m supposed to do now.” Jaius clapped his shoulder. “I’ll tell you everything I know, which isn’t that much right now.” “J, can I come too?” Anne asked. Jaius looked at his sister. “Always Anne.” All of suddenly Bradley was there too. “Would it be okay if I came too?” Jaius just shook his head and mentally slapped his forehead. “Sure Bradley.” He looked to Alianna. “Ready?” She nodded. “Lets go.” She looked at Enoch. “We’re ready Enoch.” He smiled and motioned them forwards.. they followed him into the archway. Inside there were steps leading downward Aliana hummed and the throne shard glowed slightlyz. Just enough to light their way down. They descended slowly deeper and deeper below the bottom level of the cathedral. Soon up ahead, they they saw a light coming towards them. As they got closer, they found themselves standing in another archway, deep below the cathedral. They all funneled out onto a large platform made of obsidian with a small wall going around it. All they saw in front of them was an empty chasm. They look down. And whatever was far below was shrouded in darkness. The light however, seemed to be coming from above them. They all looked up and there above them was largest Krystal any of them I’ve ever seen. It was a deep purple and color, and I was currently glowing slightly in time with the throne shard. Behold said Enoch. The true Thron. Alianna gasped. “ you mean that the Thron is not just a chair, it’s a crystal?” “Yes Hyress. The chair as shaped out of the very top point of this one crystal. “. “But Enoch, a Crystal that large could…could…” “destroy the entire Planet, yes, it could.” Alianna went pale and she dropped the Thron shard on the ground and backed away until she bummed into Jaius. “What troubles you Hyresss?” Enoch asked. “I…I.. could have, at any time, destroyed the planet.” She said horrified. Enoch shook his head. “Nay Hyress, you are not able to destroy the planet, that is why the shard had been given to you. Do you remember when the Harold interrupted your wedding ceremony? Her children killed Ye’tul. Yet even in your sorrow and distress and your desire for revenge, you could not bring yourself to kill them. No matter how much evil is in it Aliana, you would not be able to destroy it. There are, however, those out in this world who would think they are powerful enough to destroy this world and make one in their own image. You must guard the throne at all cost. That is the true role of the Hyress. To protect the throne from those who use power for evil. Are you willing to this Aliana?” She she relaxed a little bit. And took a step forward. She looked down at the shard. And slowly, but more confidently with each motion bent down and picked it up. I will except the duty. She said the fear of what she was saying evident in her voice. Well, you won’t do it alone said Jaius, I will help you. As willl, I sister. Said Nisa giving her shoulder an encouraging squeeze. We will too. Jim and Olivia said at the same time. They smiled at each other. Well, you’re not doing something like this without me. Said Anne. Bradley looked at everyone. I have absolutely no idea what’s going on, but yeah, I’ll help with whatever it is we’re talking about. Anne looked at him and smiled. I’ll fill you in once we have dinner. Bradley turned to her and smiled. Sounds good Anne. Thanks.

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When they all returned to the throne room they saw that the table had been set with food, and everyone who had stayed behind, was sitting at their places. They went over to the table and sat down with their friends. Alianna looked at Enoch. “Would you bless the food Master Enoch.” Enoch smiled but looked at Jim. “I believe Master James has a blessing in his heart for this food.” Jim got very nervous until Olivia grabbed his hand. Then he took a breath and let it out. “Dear God, uhm, thank you for this food that we have been giving, and thank you that we are all alive and safe. Please help our families through this time and please help us to get home. Amen.” He said. Olivia smiled at him encouragingly. “Thank you Jim.” Said Alianna. Keri looked at her seriously. “I think, we’ve all calmed down enough to hear it Ali. Would you be able to tell us what you went through when you were here last so we have a better idea of what is going on?” She said the last part with an evident plea in her voice as one would have who was struggling to find any form of answers that would make this make sense. Alianna looked at Jaius who nodded and then she turned back to Keri and the rest. Everyone looked expectantly at her, except for Megan. “Well, I had a not so good day last spring trying to impersonate a new girl at school and had even found my self admitting at Keri’s table.” Keri got red and scrunched down in her seat some. Alianna gave her a reproving smile and she smiled back slightly. Alianna continued. Over the next hour her and Jaius retold their story with input form Nisa, Alise and Lorna, from their points of view.

Alison was just giving Tiffany and Mandy a hug when they heard the phone ring upstairs. Then there was a knock at Tiffany’ door. Tiffany looked at each of the others with her eyebrow raised. She shrugged and went to the door. She looked through the peephole and suckled in her breath. “Ali, it’s your mom.” Fear flooded the pit of her stomach. Her mom had been on a date with bachelor six hundred and fifty two. She couldn’t keep track of names anymore, so she just gave them numbers. Only something really important , or bad, could drag her mom away from a date. Alison nodded to Tiffany. Tiffany opened the door and Alison’s mom strode into the room and hugged Alison in a bear hug. “Oh, My dear Ali, your safe, oh I’m so glad to see you.” Her mom said practically in tears. Her mom had never acted like this before. “Tiffany!” Her mother Sheiked from upsstairs. Mandy and Tiffany both stiffened and looked at eachother. They heard the pounding down the steps and suddenly Susan Lockman burst into the room. She grabbed Tiffany’s shoulders and looked at her. Tears were streaming down her face and her cheeks were flushed. “Oh thank God your safe. She pulled her into a similar bear hug as Alison’s mom had given her. “Susan.” Said Alison’s mom. “What’s..what’s wrong? On no…not Bradley too?” She said almost crying herself. All Susan Lockman could do was nod her head. Terror entered Alison’s heart as what was happening started to come to light. She looked at Tiffany who was falling into the same pit of panic as she was. “Mom.” Said Alison shrilly. “Where’s Meg?” Her mother didn’t answer. “Where is Megan!” She screamed in her mothers face and then started to back away from her, the answer was plainly written in her mothers anguished state. “Where is she!” She screamed again as she hit the wall and collapsed into a heep. She vaguely heard Tiffany cry “No, No.” over and over again. Eventually there were arms around her. “Ali, Ali, come back to me, I..I need you right now, here with me…” came her mother’s frantic voice. Alison eventually regained enough of herself to look at her mother and be helped up. Mandy was sitting on the couch cradling an inconsolable Tiffany. Texting on her phone with her free hand. Tiffany’s mom was absently rubbing Tiffany’s back but staring off into space at the same time. “We have to go to Wilkes -Barre now and find out what happened.” Said her mom. Susan, you and Tiffany and Mandy can ride with us. Susan Lockman eventually looked at her as if just realizing she was there. Slowly she nooded. “I..I have to text my husband.” She said Numbly. “My dad already texted him Mrs Lockman. They are both on their way over here. She looked at Mandy with tears in her eyes and mouthed the words thank you. Alison’s mom turned to her. “What it the world was she doing in Sugar Notch of all places?” She said a bit too accusingly. Alison winced when she said it, unprepared at the guilt that was now assailing her. “We are doing extra service hours this year at the request of the high school Queen, Megan saw that bi one else had done them yet so she and Bradley wanted to set a good example and so Brittney knew that one of the Eighth graders needed help moving her grandmother and so her Brittney and Bradley left early this morning for Sugar Notch to help them and get the service hours done in one day.” She lied as much as she could so her mom wouldn’t know that it had been her that had forced Megan to go. Her mom looked at Mandy as if seeking confirmation. Without skipping a beat Mandy nodded. It’s True Mrs Trendale, that’s what happened. Tiffany, even lost in her fear for her missing brother, nodded in agreement. Her mother sighed. “I just don’t understand it, Brittney had her own security detail. I see them all the time when we have Practice. You would think she was the President’s daughter or something. How can you steal someone who has that much security around them?” Her question was left unanswered as Mr Lockman and Mr Ferlon rushed into the room. Mr Lockman knelt down and embraced his wife, who dissolved into tears and fell into his arms. Mr Ferlon knelt down next to Mandy and Tiffany and put his arms around both Girls, as soon as he did that Mandy disolved into tears too, finnaly relived by her dad and not having to be the strong one in the room anymore. Alison’s mom almost seems to become angry. “Come on Alison, we will be in the car.” She left quickly through the door. Alison wiped at her eyes and went over and put her arms around Mandy and Tiffany “it will be okay, we will find them okay.” She said, diving into her Queen persona to find some solid ground to stand on. They both smiled weekly and nooded. She let them go and then put on her coat and went to join her mom in the car. The Girls telling the news to support eachother hugged eachother in the back of Mrs Trendale car, the Lockmans’s following behind in Mr Ferlon’s Truck. The hour trip to Wilkes-Barre seems like it took a whole week, but eventually they saw one street lit up with lights from first responder vehicles. They couldn’t get down the hill so they had to park up the street and walk down to the barricade. They had to show I’d and explain to at least two different officers before they could be let down to the house. When they got in the house there was an old woman sitting on the couch. She stood as they entered. “I’m Mrs Kopcheck, Welcome to my home, I wish it were under better circumstances.” “Where is my daughter?” Mrs Trendale stepped forward swatting aside any pleasantries. Mrs Kopcheck seems unphased by Mrs Trendales, outburst. “I do not understand how they could have dissapeared.” Mrs Trendale seems to be about ready to explore on the woman when a woman detective stepped inside from the pourch. “Can I help you?” She said. Mrs Trendale turned on her in both orientation and in pouring her anger on her. “How could ten children disappear in the open with no one around, and their be no trace of them! Have you investigated the adults that were here. I don’t know most of these people, maybe they took them!” The detective took the tirade in stride and waited for her to be done. “Mrs, Trendale, is it? I’m Detective Emerson. Ma’am, right now we believe that your Daughter along with the other children may have been targeted by a group in Nothern Ireland that had threatened Mr Shaffer and his family when they were in the UK two years ago. His Security team has received some threats through email and text the last few months, and right now that is our best lead. Believe me when I say that we are not leaving any stone unturned. We investigated the Oaksen’s, The Bellows and the Parkers before they left and we would also like to ask you and your Daughter, and Mr and Mrs Lockman and their daughter some questions also, to try to understand what your children’s state of mind had been the last 24 hrs. Mrs Kopcheck, would it be okay if we used your upstairs bedrooms to talk with the Trendale’s and the Lovkmans?” “Oh, why of course dear you go right ahead, I’m going o put some coffee on, as soon as I find the coffee maker. Mrs Trendale opened her mouth to protest but Detective Emerson was as quicker. “Please, everyone, Come upstairs and we’ll talk.” When Mrs Trendale still looked like she wa going to speak. “I insist.” Said the detective in a ver commanding tone. Alison walked numbly up the steps, she tried to look calm and collects on the outside but on the inside she wa falling apart. Her sister was gone and it was her fault. “Meg, please be okay.” She followed her mother and everyone else upstairs.

Megan only half listens to the story that was being told. She didn’t care what hell Alianna felt like she went through Megan was in hell now. Being coupled up with that I posted in the same house for ten hours was bad enough, but now she is stuck with her somewhere that wasn’t on earth, for possibly her whole life. Her brain felt like it was tearing itself apart. She had no idea who these people were and what they were going to do to her. She remembered some movie that she saw called ready player 1, where the main character had to go into a video game. “That’s it, they jacked me into some high tech VR suit and now I’m just thinking I’m in a medieval castle with her pretending to be Queen. I just have to get the headset off and I’ll be fine.” She even mostly convinced herself that this was the truth, but deep isside she knew that this was real and she couldn’t run to Ali or her mom, all she had was Brittney and Bradley, and she had begun to notice that both of them liked this sixth grade girl with dark hair that was with them. She had caught on that it was that Jaius kid’s sister. She felt betrayed by both Brittney and Bradley but she also knew she couldn’t alienate them, at least until they got out of here.

Soon the story was over and the plates were being removed from the table. Alianna came to notice that all of the servants were wearing blue body suits under their cloths. She froze. Nisa noticed it and leaned in. “Sister, what troubles you?” She looked at Nisa and saw the same blue fabric under her blouse. “Nisa, why is everyone wearing those body suits, they almost got us killed when we were here before.” Nisa smiled and shook her head. “It’s okay Ali, you they do the same thing, but there is no chance they can be used to harm as the Herald uses the red suits against us. There are now features of the suit that make it fall off if ot begins to tighten for any reason. There is one for each of you in the rooms we have made ready.” Alianna let out her breath. “That’s good to hear. They were awesome for what they did c but not for the price that came with it.” Alianna looked around the table at everyone and could still see the fear evident on most of their faces. She sighed and looked at Nisa. “Sister, would you be able to have the Knights move the beds and everything else for the girls into The Hyresses rooms, I think it would be best if I were with them for the first few nights anyway, to help them through this. I’d like you and your sisters to join us too.” Nisa smiled and nodded. “It will be as you say Hyress.” Alianna grabbed her hand. “Please don’t do that Sister, I would just as soon serve you as you me. “. Nisa smiled and patted her hand. “As you say Ali”. She smiled. She then left the table to carry out Alianan’s request. When Kenic returned to the room Alianan motioned him over to her. When he got to her he bowed with his fist across his chest. “How may I be of service Hyress?” “Kenic, you served us very well under Ye’Tul, and you have been faithful to the white rose all these long years.” She nodded to the white sash tied around his arm and the white rose emblem on his cloak. “Therefore, you are now the Captain of the Knights of the White Rose and of our personal safety.” He knelt down and took her hand. “I swear my Hyress to serve you to the utmost in life and even to the death I will serve you unwaveringly.” He said. She placed her hand on top of his head. “Then rise Sir Kenic, First Knight of the White Rose.” Kenic rose and bowed. “How many Knights are there currently?” She asked. “Five hundred Hyress, with thirty more in training.” She almost let her mouth drop open. “Kenic, that is most impressive and we ar most pleased at this. These are our first two commands to you then. First, I want a guard of seven Knights to guard this room around the clock, especially that new archway at the base of the Thron. Secondly, I want you to send word out to all the peoples of the Catha Dral and the lands of the Son of Maleric for all able bodied men that would like to become a Knight of the white rose or of the Hyress’s army, to report here two weeks hence.” He slapped his fist to his chest and bowed slightly. “It will be as you say Hyress.” He then turned on his heel and headed out of the room. A short time later a group of men I. Crystal armor, carrying swords and Shields came into the room and fanned out with three of them standing Guard on the new archway that had formed.

Jaius looked at Alise and Lorna. When they saw him looking at them they smiled and leaned in. He leaned into them. “Enoch, said that I had my own city?” The smiled and nodded. “We named it Arewman, after the name we gave you. Our father has been its steward in your absence, but I know he will gladly step back now that you are here.” Said Alise. Jaius shook his head. “Why would I deprive our people of a leader who had led them so well, I would like to see it thought.” “We will take you tomorrow Jaius, our parents will be thrilled to see you.” He smiled, but shook his head. “I think it will need to be a few weeks from now. We are all about to get very sick.” They looked shocked and then worried. “Jaiusc what do you mean, how do you know you will all get sick.” He sighed. “Where we are from there are many poisons in the air we breathe and the food we eat. They stay in our bodies and corrupt them. Here in this place the air is pure and so is everything else. Our bodies have to empty those poisons once we’ve been her a few days. It happened to Alianna and I when we first got here.” They nodded. “We will help you all get better when it happens.” Said Lorna. Jaius looked closely at them. “It has really been 249 years since we left? Yet you both look pretty much the same as when I left. “ ther looked at eachother intensely and then at him. “You also have not changed in 248 years Jaius.” Said Alise in her matter of fact way. He was about to say simonyhing to the contrary but then began to laugh. They looked confused which then changed to looks of hurt, he also saw an odd look from Ali. She leaned in toward Nisa.

“Sister.” Alianna whispered. Nisa leaned in.”yes Sister” “ are your other sisters married”. Nisa shook her head but then paused. “Fear not for your love of the Son of Maleric suster, his love for you is true. As for my sisters and I Enoch told us that we would one day meet three sons from the same Father and those would be our husbands. He said that we must stay as we are until then.” Despite herself Alianna breathed a sigh of relief.

Jaius looked at the two Sisters. “ I’m sorry I did not mean to cause you harm, it’s just that you were right Alise, except that for me only three months have passed since I saw you last, at least for me.” Tey looked at him with their mouths open. “ How can this be Jaius? Were you not Alison on this world all these years with us? You and the Hyress went west and we just assumed you started a life there.” That was when the true reality of the nature of thief ignorance hit Jaius. He shook his head. “We went west and found the Garden of Eden. After we encountered the eternal we were sent home, not to a different world as we had originally thought, but to a different time. We aren’t from another world, we are from many centuries in your future.” They looked down and then at eachother for a minute. “So.” Began Alise cautiously. “You come from our world, but a different time? Many many times hence?” Jaius nodded. “That means they you and the Hyress are the same as us, descendants of the first. If you saw the Garden of the Eternal, then you must have met the first. Please tell us everything.” Jaius nodded indicating he had met Adam. He took a deep breath and then recounted everything that happened to them after they left the Heralds estate.

Keri sat trying to keep everything together in her head. They were walking down a stone staircase, Megan fell, and knocked them into another place and another time?