4.33 Gathering Storm Clouds

 Phoenix returned sooner than expected from the minor problem he went to rectify. He was fairly certain things were progressing the way it should be despite disturbing news to the contrary from Quinn. At least that's what he thought until he returned home. He smiled hearing the twins voices as they played among the trees. They'd live in the trees if he'd let them.

"Watch this" Ivy asserted as she produced an apple with a few sparks.

"That's nothing" Ellery scoffed waving his hands around creating a small maelstrom of stars and sparkles before producing a small sapling.

"Cool" Ivy said her tone full of awe "how'd you do that?"

"It was easy" he said enjoying her applause.

Panic stirred within Phoenix.. How was this possible? Neither he nor Quinn had been magical beings before becoming dimension watchers. As far as he knew their powers were not transferable or hereditary. He stepped forward. His foot snapping a fallen twig alerting the children to his presence.

"Dad" they called running up to him.

Phoenix smiled as they threw their small bodies at him hugging him tight. He stroked their flaming red hair they received from him. He knelt on the ground in front of them."When did you learn to make an apple tree sapling?" he asked keeping his voice free of the urgency he felt.

Shrugging the little boy looked over towards his sister. "We don't know" she said "we just think it and it happens."

"Sometimes it's really hard" the boy added.

"And tiring" the girl nodded.

Phoenix bit his lip "when did this start?"

The twins exchanged glances before the boy replied "um a couple of years ago I guess. I don't know 

exactly."

"Yes you do" the girl contradicted "it happened by accident and we've gotten better since."

"How old were you?" Phoenix insisted.

"Ten I think" Ellery said looking to Ivy for confirmation.

She nodded "ten. It was right after our birthday." She took her dad's hand "did we do something wrong?"

"No sweetheart" he kissed her cheek "I wish you had told me so we could have started your training though."

"Training?" Ellery asked "like school."

"Yes like school" Phoenix chuckled. He knew how much is son enjoyed his lessons "you need to learn to control your powers."

***

After watching the twins demonstrate what they could do with him coaching them he had a pretty good idea of their capabilities. No doubt their powers would continue to grow and that's what concerned him. Would the extra power usage draw unwelcome attention from the council? What would the repercussions be?

He paced the floor. Thoughts in a turmoil. What was he going to do? He couldn't put the kids lives in jeopardy by keeping them together but he couldn't separate them either. He couldn't send them away. They weren't old enough.

"Something on your mind?" a woman's voice interrupted his thoughts.

"Quinn" he cried swirling around to face her "we have a problem."

"What no it's good to see?" she asked frowning at his frenzied behavior.

 "Sorry I..." he ran a hand through his long red hair "the kids have developed powers."

"What do you mean powers?" she asked watching him closely.

"Dimension watcher powers like you and I have" he sighed sitting heavily on the couch "I spent most of the evening testing them. Watching them as they showed me what they could do."

"Are you saying they inherited those abilities from us?" she asked picking up on some of his anxieties.

"Yes" he nodded looking at her.

"That's impossible" she cried "we were given the powers we have by the council. It's not something we were born with. It can't be hereditary."

"What if it is?" he asked gripping her wrists "it'd explain how Silver got so powerful."

She opened her mouth to deny it. That couldn't be right could it? What if it was? Maybe her ability as a fertility expert had to be increased by the powers she had been given. Using her DNA in creating Silver she had given him her powers because it was now part of her DNA. "The twins" she cried heart plummeting.

"Yeah the twins" he nodded "we need to teach them to control their powers so as not to alert the council to their presence."

"Are they safe here?" she asked "are you safe?" She took his hand holding it tight.

"I think so" Phoenix sighed "I don't know for how long though. We can't separate them at least not yet."

"We shouldn't move them either" Quinn leaned into him "it might draw more attention then if they remained here."

"What if the council comes?" Phoenix mumbled nibbling on his bottom lip "they'll take them away from us." He gulped fighting for control "I can't let that happen."

"That won't happen" she soothed "we'll come up with something. Trust me we'll keep them safe." She stroked his face letting him know she was there for him. He wasn't going through this alone. Together they'd keep their children safe. She just hoped she wasn't promising the impossible.

***

His hands slid down his well toned torso. His fingers catching on the waist band of his jeans. His lips left a trail down his abs following his fingers. His prize was breathing hard from the stimulus his touch ignited. His fingers fumbled to release his ultimate goal. His mouth watered in anticipation.

"You're not listening to me" Serafino's voice whined at the white haired male seated before him.

Silver blinked having awoken from his stupor. Frowning at the man leaning to uncomfortably close to his face "it was an unforeseen complication."

"You guaranteed this would work" the man complained "you said it would discredit him. Show him as a weak ruler" Serafino threw himself deeper into his chair "you were wrong."

"I'm never wrong" Silver asserted "it would have worked except for the intervention of his son."

"At least that pitiful specimen is not in line to rule" Serafino joked "I have that to be thankful for."

"There's that" Silver nodded letting the vampire know he disapproved of his opinion of his son.

 Eyes widening as he realized his blunder Serafino attempted to backpedal "being raised by that weak excuse of a vampire it's no surprise he turned out like he did."

Nodding Silver remained silent eyes blazing. He of all people knew how strong Adam and Keenan actually were. Deep down they had a hard inner core that was unbreakable. He kept that to himself.
This simpleton didn't need to know Adam wasn't the push over he thought he was. "We need someone on the inside. Someone who can get close to Adam."

Snorting Serafino shook his head as he took his tea from the antique table beside him "not an easy task. He is hopelessly dedicated to that pitiful human."

"Leave her to me" Silver told him reaching forward for the mostly ignored cup. Taking a sip he looked over the rim, his eyes dancing with glee "I have something planned for her."

Serafino chuckled "I'd like to see that" he licked his lips "do you think once she's gone that he'll be coerced into accepting whoever we send to him?"

Silver raised an eyebrow at the man. Could the vampire really be this obtuse? That arrogant that Silver was doing all of this so that Serafino could become the next ruler of Moonlight Falls? He wanted one thing and one thing only. He smiled. One day soon he'd make his day dreams come true even if he had to share the man with Serafino's brainless airhead of a daughter. He would have his man and Serafino would have his coveted Moonlight Falls. That is unless Silver came up with a better plan.

***

"Ori don't run" Phoebe cried after her little brother who took off in the direction of the swings.

"He doesn't listen very well does he?" a voice said from behind her.

Turning Phoebe smiled up at the older boy. "He never listens" she threw her arms wide "but who can blame him? It's a beautiful day."

He smiled her laughter infectious "your the esteemed ones great granddaughter, aren't you?" he asked his green eyes sparkling.

Nodding she shrugged "he's just Grandpa Adam to me. It's seems weird that he's the ruler of Moonlight Falls."

Nodding he thought for a moment "I know what you mean. My dad is the esteemed ones trusted Mage."

"Alanon" Phoebe said when the boy nodded she let out a shriek clapping her hands "so are you powerful like him? Can you cast spells and stuff?"

"No" he sighed "I'm adopted." A shadow fell across his features.

She put a hand out "don't be sad."

"I'm not" he objected "it's just I don't have any memories of who my real parents were. It's like I have a void in my head."

She took his hand as she walked "I have to watch my brother. Knowing Orin he'll run off to something else and I'll never know where he went."

"He sounds like a handful" the boy said allowing her to lead him towards the swings

After a moment of silence Phoebe turned to the boy "you shouldn't worry about that void in your head."

"Why?" he asked "everyone else like the school counselor think its a bad thing when I mention it."

"It's there because you aren't supposed to remember what was before you were adopted" she said "what if the life you had before this was bad? Would you want to remember it?"

He shook his head "when you put it like that I'm pretty lucky."

"Yeah I think so too" she agreed "you know you're loved. You're happy. Whoever your parents were before doesn't matter. Come on let's swing" she said running and hopping onto one of the swings.

Kimberly walked hand in hand with Everett through the park enjoying a moment alone with her husband. "Should we be concerned" she motioned towards Phoebe and Malachi.

Everett watched the two kids talking before they turned and ran towards the swings. "No" he shook his head "they're just kids."

"I know...it's just" she sighed her mind bringing up images of Malachi as an adult. Their first kiss. The way his green eyes lit up the room whenever he walked in "it's just weird. That's all."

"It's only weird to you" he tweaked her nose "you remember what he was like in college. He doesn't have those memories. He's just like any other twelve year old kid."

"I know" she looked away "but they won't always be kids."

"Wow you're jumping way ahead" he laughed "Phoebe's only nine. Way too young to be serious about any boy."

"Now whose kidding whom?" she asked arching an eyebrow "I had my first crush on a boy when I was her age."

"Crushes I can handle" he said with a smile "I'm not ready for my little girl to start dating."

"Neither am I" Kimberly sighed leaning into him "what will we do if those two decide to date in the future?"

His deep chuckle startled her "honey why does it matter? It's not like he's related to us. It's not like he'd be dating her because of old memories or feelings he had for you. Just relax. Let them be kids. If things develop between them let it happen naturally."

Lifting her head from his chest she smiled up at him "I love you" she giggled as he wrapped his arms around her holding her tight.

"I love you too" he kissed her mouth in a quick affirming way "even though your being weird about your ex-boyfriend." He frowned down at her "do you regret the way things turned out?"

"Never" she reached up pulling his face down to hers "it happened the way it should have. I love you."

***

"I hate this dreary old castle" Adam mumbled coming up behind Beverly and drawing her close to him.

"Adam" she chastised him as her ladle fell to the floor.

"Sorry" he murmured between kisses along her neck. He could hear the blood whooshing along her veins. The smell heightened by his desire filled his senses.  Moments like these he had to wrestle the vampire down so it didn't take control. He never wanted to scare or hurt his most beloved treasure. He smiled as she relented moving in his arms and meeting his lips with her own. "I love you so much" he said looking into her ageless green eyes. They were as brilliant as they were the first time they had met.

"I love you too" she smiled up at him her mind going back to the first time they met. He had come to the door in his robe that had fallen open. She couldn't keep her eyes from staring at his toned chest and abs. Even after all these years he had only gotten better looking.

"What's for dinner?" he asked sniffing the air "it smells good." It was a plasma fruit dish he recognized as a favorite of his youngest son along with a human dish. Over the years Beverly had gotten quite adept at cooking for him and Keenan. Giving them a variety of dishes to enjoy like they were normal instead of blood sucking monsters.

Turning to the stove she busied herself with the last of the food prep before saying "I hope you don't mind I invited Keenan and Lydia over for supper."

"Of course not" he said stepping back giving her room to work. "Need some help?" he asked feeling useless standing there like a lump while she worked.

"Would you mind setting the table?" she asked without turning from the stove.

He moved towards the cupboard to pull out the everyday dishes when Beverly's voice stopped him "not those Adam. Use the good china" she pointed towards the cabinet they seldom used.

"What's the occasion" he asked. He hated fuss. The good China reminded him of state dinners with the clan leaders.

She turned smiling at him "I think they've got an announcement to make."

"Oh" he smiled "must mean we're going to be grandparents again." He saw the look of astonishment on her face "well they're not getting married. They did that last year."

"Don't spoil their surprise" she admonished him.

"I wouldn't do that" he shook his head his mind going back to when he found out about each of his children The only one he had been truly happy about was Jonah. He was the product of his and Beverly's love for each other. His one regret was that they didn't have more children together. Jonah was grown now. Married with children of his own living in Twinbrook. By now he looked the same age as Adam. His visits had become fewer and fewer as the years passed.

It had been heart breaking watching their son leave home for a normal human life. The only one of his children wholly human. He couldn't begrudge him that decision. If he had the choice he'd leave Moonlight Falls for a normal life to. He wasn't normal so there wasn't any sense dwelling on it.

He shook his head finding Beverly gazing up at him in concern. "Stop it" she said firmly "whatever it is your thinking about just stop."

He grunted "you know me too well." He didn't bother to deny his thoughts had slipped into unhappy territory

"She's had years of experience" the sound of his son's voice brought a smile to Adam's face.

"Keenan it's good to see you" he enthused.

"It's not like we don't see each other at least once a week" Keenan pointed out giving his dad a hug.

"Don't mind your father" Beverly smiled at the young couple "he's in a melancholy mood today."

Keenan gave his dad a concerned look asking in his head "anything we need to be concerned about?"

Giving his wife a quick concerned glance Adam responded back "there's a rumor that Serafino is appealing his case."

"He can't do that" Keenan shouted forgetting to keep the conversation just between his dad and him. He felt Lydia and his mom staring at him with identical looks of concern upon their faces. 

"I hate it when they carry on a conversation we can't hear" Beverly chided giving her husband and son a pointed look. Taking Lydia's hand she led the girl to the kitchen "let's give them some privacy to discuss whatever they need to."

Lydia nodded turning to follow her mother-in-law after giving Keenan's face a piercing look. He nodded giving her a slight smile urging her to go with his mom. 

"Well?" he asked expectantly when the girls were absorbed in meal preparation.

"He's claiming he was set up" Adam explained abandoning all pretense to keep his voice down.

"That's ridiculous" Keenan growled "if he gets out he'll come after you again. I hope the elders realize that."

"He's still incarcerated" Adam assured him "he won't be doing anything yet."

"How can you be so relaxed about this?" Keenan demanded.

"Because there's nothing I can do about it" Adam gave his son's shoulder a firm shake "until he poses a threat I can't do anything. I have to sit back and wait." He looked over his son's shoulder towards the girls "while we wait we plan. I won't be caught off guard a second time."

The woman opened the door leading into the lab where a lone man worked humming softly to himself. She walked behind him careful not to disturb him. 

"Are you here to check on my progress?" he asked looking up from his notes.

"The sooner we have a solution the better" she replied.

"It'd help if I had a sample of the DNA used in the original experiment" he said.

"No" the woman refused "it was the use of that DNA that caused the problem we have today."

"We have this mess because you took unacceptable short cuts" he gave her a severe no nonsense glare.

"I thought I was helping" she shot back feeling attacked.

The man made hand dampening motions "alright alright calm down. You made a mistake. I get that." He sighed leaning on the table "It makes my work so much more difficult."

"What would that particular DNA tell you?" she asked her anger all but abated.

"I don't know" he sighed lifting his head to stretch "All I do know is I'm working with half the information I need to piece this together. It's like trying to put a puzzle together without all the pieces. The piece I need could bring everything together."

"Keep working" she demanded walking towards the door "do what you can with the information you have."

"It's not going to work" the man called after her.

She kept on going as if he hadn't said anything at all. What he wanted. What he needed. He couldn't have. She wouldn't give another intelligent being a sample of her DNA no matter how trustworthy she might think he is. It was too dangerous