Chapter 4

Chapter 4





“Jenna! Jenna!” she called running up the stairs to the closet where she had stashed their travel bags.

“Here we are Ondi, what’s the problem?” Jenna, who had followed her up the stairs, frowned as Ondi dragged a couple of backpacks and soft-sided bags toward the bedrooms.

“We have to leave.”

“Where? Why?” Jenna followed Ondi down the hall to the bedroom where Ondi was throwing a couple of bags on the bed. She talked as she pulled additional items from the dresser and stuffed them into the bags already packed with emergency clothing and supplies.

“I saw a man this morning. He has Majik I did not stop to talk to him I just left, he tried to call me by telepathy but I raised a Circle of protection and the crowd trapped him. I got away but I do not know if he was able to follow me. I have to get Chandra and leave.” Her sentences were clipped as she packedthe bags.

She rushed down the hall to Chandra’s room grabbing another pre-packed bag from the closet.

“Hold on girl. Where do you think you will go?” Jenna grabbed her arm and swung her to a stop. “Don’t you think you are moving too fast? You do not know if this man has followed you. What did he say? Do you know that he was one of Charles’ men? I know you are afraid of Charles because of what he did to your husband, but don’t you think this is a little drastic?”

“No, I know this man has the ability telepath; that he knows more about what I can do than I do. If he is working for Charles, he can use his powers better than I can.” Ondi’s fear had overcome any rational talk, so Jenna patted her on the shoulder.

“I have a friend that runs a resort up on the North Shore. Let me call him and see if he has a cabin for you. I know this is a busy time but maybe he has a cancellation.”

“Go ahead. I’ll finish here. I want to be on the road in less than an hour.”

“Momma?”

“Yes Chandra, I don’t have time to talk, I have to get us packed, and we are going on a trip.”

“Is it because of Charles?”

“I don’t know.” Ondi forced her voice to soften, “A man approached me and tried to stop me. He used some Majik and I am just afraid of anyone I don’t know that uses Majik. He could be a Jaka. You remember that is what Charles calls the men who are in his army and do his bidding. Chandra, I just want us to be safe after what happened to your father. If everything goes well, we’ll be back here before you know it.”

Chandra huddled on her bed watching her mother.

Ondi didn't have time to stop and reassure her daughter. She needed reassuring herself. She brought the bags down to the garage when Jenna handed her a couple of pages torn from a note pad.

“I got a reservation for you at Jake’s Resort. He will hold it for you. Here are the directions. I put a few munchies in the van for you and Chandra. It will take you a good 4-5 hours to get there depending on traffic. Call me when you get there. I worry about you.” She hugged her young, terrified friend.

“Jenna I wish I didn’t have to leave, but this is about Chandra and my life. I never want to happen to us what happened to Gary.”

Jenna hugged Ondi, “I feel privileged that you trusted me enough to tell me your secret. Just let me know when you get there.” Jenna waved at Chandra though the window.

“I will. Bye.” she pressed the garage door opener and sorted the area outside the door. There was no one in the driveway.

Chandra waved to Jenna as they drove out of the garage. Ondi made a wide sweep with her senses sorting all the streets around theirs before she even left the driveway. Everything seemed normal, but one never knew, so she constantly checked her rearview mirror until she was long out of the city limits on the freeway.

“You sure are quiet Honey.”

“I’m being good and quiet so I don’t bother you. I know you are worried.” Chandra spoke quietly to her mother.

“Thank you. I really do appreciate that. I am worried, but when we get up north, we will just blend in with the other tourists that are there to see the Fall Colors. So, my bright and beautiful daughter, what makes the leaves turn the pretty colors?”

The discussion took up many miles, before Chandra fell silent again. When Ondi got to Hinkley she turned off the freeway and pulled into Toby’s Restaurant.

“I think we need a rest and get something to eat.” She didn't sense any Magik use in the area. They had time to eat and relax a bit.

“Especially the cinnamon rolls. Can we get some to bring to the cabin with us?” Chandra skipped along side her mother toward the restaurant that was about half way between the Twin Cities and Duluth. Even if you weren’t hungry, stopping for a famously huge cinnamon roll, or delicious baked goods, was just the tradition. There was a small line, but it was just few minutes before the two were seated.

“I think that is a great idea, they have some good bread too. I think we will load up, but not until after we eat. It is never good to shop on an empty stomach.” The last sentence they spoke together.







Colin watched as Ondi pulled out of her driveway and made her way to the corner and turn. Now the tracer showed a trail leaving the house and continuing down the street. He was just about to follow her when he saw another vehicle slowly pull up into the vacant driveway. A large muscular man in right black pants and black shirt got out and went to the door. He did not knock but walked right in. Normally Colin would have ignored the private conversation but his sense of hearing was very keen and he heard the man mention a strange name, Ondi.

“You think Ondi will see me following her?”

“No, she saw someone practicing Majik in the coffee shop today. I know that wasn’t you, you don’t have that ability.”

“No I wasn’t there, so now what. Where is she?” he was stroking her arm and moved up to her neck, circling it in his large palm.

“I want you to be careful. Do not contact her. She will be watching everyone that comes within eyesight of her and Chandra. Just find some way to see if anyone else follows her and tries to make contact with her. This guy must be true Kindred. I don't know any others in this area. I am going to contact Charles.” The woman continued; “Steve, here are the directions to Jakes North Shore Resort. It is north of Split Rock Lighthouse and it is off the road on the lakeside of the highway. You will have to use some of your skills and very little Majik of which you have very little anyway.”

“Jenna, you presume too much. You have no abilities. It does not matter that you think you are a special friend of Charles. You are watched also and since you have no abilities, you are most vulnerable.”

“Don’t threaten me Steve. One call to Charles and you are history.”

“Don’t even try it. I will be on my way. How far am I behind her?”

“She just left a few minutes ago. I am sure she will stop and eat or at least grab a bite to eat on the way. When she gets to Duluth, she will probably stop to get groceries, so you have a little time.” Colin could see through the doorway, that she stood close to the large thickly built man.

“So you want something from me woman?” he grinned down at her and slowly ran his hands from her shoulders down her arms to her wrists, which he then held behind his back, drawing her up against him. He plundered her lips in a kiss. There was always time for sex. The paper lay on the counter, forgotten for the moment.

Colin used Majik to retrieve the paper. He memorized the name of the resort and the directions, making some minor changes on “Steve’s” copy, which he replaced. He pulled away from the house but not until after he had loosened a few very vital wires that would take a very good mechanic or a Kindred with some skill to detect and fix.

Colin picked up the cell phone. He didn’t dare telepath, even though this distance, communication would be dicey at best. with Jaka around. One never knew for sure what gifts they had.

“Jereth here,”

“Jereth, I found another Kindred woman and she is definitely in trouble. I will leave finding the little girl until I can rescue the woman. The friend that the woman trusted is mixed up with Charles’ group. The friend is not Jaka but she is connected to his group some how. She had a meeting with a Jaka and is sending him to follow the woman.”

“Doesn’t this woman you are rescuing have a name?”

“I’m sure she does, but I’m not sure what it is. Sounds like Onee or Annie. I don’t want to alert the friend by sorting her mind.”

“Do you want me to send some of the guys to help out?” As the leader of the Gathering, Jareth could call on the security squad for help. Colin was really the Sentinel of Kindred security, but he was supposed to be on a sabbatical.

“No, I will just follow to make sure there is no funny business going on. I wanted to alert you to where I was and what was going on. If I do heed help it will be immediate, so be aware. I’ll check in later.”

“Don’t do anything foolish. We are here to help.”

“I know don’t worry.” Colin signed off before he heard Jareth mutter, “but we do brother.”

He could just go to the resort and wait for her but he needed to make sure that she would be safe along the way. It was going to take her a few hours to get there. That is if she did not use Majick. He didn't think she would but just to be on the safe side he homed in on his tracer and found he was not that far behind her.

The nice thing about being Kindred was that one never needed a “fuzzbuster” No radar would ever detect his car, or see it for that matter.

It was not long until he had covered the miles between them and followed her until she exited the highway driving into the parking lot of Tobys. She got out and looking fervently at every one who was near her, she hurried a small child in front of her and into the restaurant.

He parked a ways away from her car, but didn’t go into the restaurant.

Colin sorted the restaurant to see if it was safe. It took a few minutes to sort but they were all just regular humans, do Colin relaxed for a moment.

She was at a booth with a young girl. He concentrated on the woman dressed in jeans and a sweatshirt that zipped up the front with a hood. Her hair was still in its clip. He turned his mental eyes to girl seated across from her and then sucked in his breath in surprise. It was the little girl from the fair. She was inside and with the woman. He felt as if he was hit with a sledgehammer. Their safety was the most important thing now. What were they doing together. The woman was her mother. The wife of the man Charles had killed.

Flashes of converstaion leaped through his memory. Could this be the woman and child he was to care for? The two he couldn't find for eight years? The hope and fear were almost overwhelming. He got a hold of his senses. He had a job to do. He not only had to rescure these two but somehow convince them to come to Heartland. To meet Moira.

He looked around the parking lot, which was completely full, and people were waiting for cars to leave. This must be a very good place to eat. Most of the people were carrying bags of food with them to their car so the place must be generous in their portions. He would have liked to gone in and seen what they had but the prospect of just being sat down and having the woman and girl leave was more a reality than fiction.

It wasn’t long until he began to feel the tingling sensation that alerted him that a Jaka had come into the area. It didn’t take Colin long to figure out who it was, a man was circling the woman’s van. He contemplated going into the restaurant and confronting the mother but that would cause a scene. If he telepathed her directly she would freak, so he concentrated on the girl.

‘Honey don’t be afraid. I am the man you saw at the fair. There is a bad man in the parking lot. I am going to get rid of him but you have to get your mom to leave, right away. Okay?’

There was no answer and just as he was about to repeat himself she spoke to him. ‘Are you with Charles?’ There was a sensation that she was sorting him, the familiar tickling behind his ear. He resisted blocking her but let her sort his short term memory, very short.

‘No, I am here to make you and your mother safe from Charles and his Jaka. Do you know what they are?’

‘Momma told me.’

‘Good, now see if you can get your mother out of there and back on the road.’

‘Okay’

‘Good girl.’ He sent her a strong comforting menthe.

Stepping out of the car he intercepted the man as he was heading to the restaurant.

“Steve! It has been a long time since I've seen you. How have you been man?” his hand outstretched. The Jaka was surprised and automatically held out his hand to Colin who took it and immediately took control of Steve’s mind. Guiding him back to the man’s car, he put him in a deep sleep that would last a few hours.

Colin went back to his car just in time to see the woman hurrying her daughter out to the car, looking around to see if anyone was following her. Once she was out on the road, he pulled out onto the highway and followed her.

‘Did I do good? We left right away.’

Colin was surprised that the girl was able to contact him. Telepathing was like a phone connection, once established the conversation could flow. One needed to know the other persons “frequency” to establish the contact. Her mother must have taught her early.

‘Yes you did very well. I’m sure your mother is very scared for you so you will have to be brave for her. Stay close to her and don’t talk to strangers.’

‘Like you?’

‘You got me there girl. My name is Colin.‘What is your name?’

‘Chandra.’

‘Your name means Chosen One.’

‘I know, that is what my mother says. She gets very worried about me ‘cause she says that someday I will meet the ancient one and will learn many things.”

Colin almost drove off the road. 'Chandra was the next Ancient one? Maybe her mother was just telling her a story. She couldn’t know if Chandra was really a Chosen One.'

‘Yes she does. My mother told me that she and my father had a special sign when I was born. One of the Few came and told her that I would have to be protected.’

She could sort Colin and he couldn’t even tell. Maybe she was special. He put up a very strong thought shield so that she couldn’t sort his mind.

‘Did I do something wrong? I can’t hear what you are thinking.’

‘Right! It isn’t nice to sort others thoughts if they aren’t aware that you can.’

‘Oh, I’m sorry.’

‘Its okay. It is a pretty special gift to be able to do that. Not everyone can do that.’

‘My mother can’t, but my Dad could.’

‘What is your mother’s name?’ he couldn’t keep thinking of her as ‘the woman.’

‘Her name is Ondi. It means ‘The One Mother’.’

This was pretty freaky. It was as if he was being read to from the Kindred’s historical ‘Book of One’ and he was sure this little girl had not read that.

All of the sudden there was silence. Her mother must have sensed she was talking to someone. Colin relaxed as he followed them up along the beautiful tree lined highway to Duluth.

He was going to have to figure a way to get them to Heartland and safety. One he got them there, Moira would make sure Chandra had the training she needed if indeed she really was a Chosen. Moira was the only Ancient One alive, at least that he knew of. Maybe there were others, Moira would know. There was always an Ancient One to act as a guide but finding them was the problem. Only Moira knew who and where the Few were.

Colin followed them thru Duluth and they stopped at a store. Both got out and Colin followed at a distance.

‘Are you watching over us?’ Chandra asked him.

‘Yes.’

‘Good, I feel safe even though my mom doesn’t know you. You look very nice.

‘Thank you.’ He felt a little embarrassed being complemented by a kid.

Colin saw they were starting to leave so he grabbed the basket of things he had picked up and headed for the checkout. They were in a longer line so he was finished first and headed out the door.

‘Are you leaving us?’ she sounded a bit frightened.

‘No, I want to be able to make sure no one is in the parking lot when you go to your van.’

‘Oh, okay.’

He smiled to himself. If felt good to have someone checking up on him. He had never been around kids much but he knew they could be a pain in the neck at times. Her concern and trust caused him to walk a little taller.

The area was clear and he watched the two leave the building and go to the van. Chandra lagged behind just a bit and looked his way. He smiled as she wiggled her fingers at him and then he felt a very warm sensation surround him. She had sent him a menthe, he hadn’t felt that warm sensation in a long time. The girl was indeed something very special.

The rest of the drive north was quiet. The afternoon was bright and he wished he had the time to stop and look at some of the towns they passed through. There was Two Harbors, with its unique storefronts. Farther on there were small village type communities with a general store and a post office, sometimes in the same building.

It wasn’t long after they had passed over Gooseberry Falls and the Split Rock Lighthouse turn off that Ondi began to slow down, then turned off the road into one of the resorts near the lake. He went on passed.

‘Aren’t you coming? Didn’t you see us turn?’ Chandra’s voice was anxious.

‘You don’t watch too many detective shows do you?’

‘No, I’m not allowed, I get nightmares.’

‘If I had turned right after you, your mother would have been very suspicious and she might have got right back in the car and went on. If you want to catch a butterfly, would you just walk right up and grab it?’

‘No.’

‘Well, I have to be very careful how I meet your mother, she is very protective of you and rightly so. I have to win her confidence.’

‘What’s confid-ince.’

‘Trust. So we will do things my way. Okay?’

‘Okay.’

‘Let me know what cabin you are in.’

After a few minutes she told him they were in 14A and it was the last cabin on the road.