The Psychic Trait

                   The Psychic Trait

Crystal Carma, or CC as everyone knew her, ran down the back allies trying to get away from the recent mob she caused using her ‘gift’.

She would do the old three cups and a ball trick, have people to guess where the ball was, but when she lifted the cup the ball was gone.

She could trick the mind, show what was not there and hide what was there. She lived on the streets, day and night because no one wanted a freak of a kid in their home.

After she lost the last group, CC made her way back to one of her spots, already seeing a crowd forming.

“ok, time for the show.”

She set up the stand, did the trick a few times as fake practice, then enticed people to try their luck.

A man, trained to find the unique ones, sees the crowd gathering around a simple little table. “lets see what is under table one.” he shoved his way closer, and raised a eyebrow at the sight of a teen working the table. He slid one shoe under the table, but felt nothing and moved it back. He was making a huge gamble, “may I try?”

CC glanced at the man, “everyone can try, if you have the money. I have to make a living.”

The man dropped a ten on the table, and CC started moving the cups. He spot the cup easy, but when she lifted it there was nothing. He dropped another ten, but when the cups stopped this time he grabbed the cup and flicked the ball toward himself.

Everyone ohed and ahed, but CC started to freak. “well done. Care to try again?”

The man looked CC in the eye and said, “I know what you are, and if you keep going I will show them the truth. Take my hand and just come with me, say nothing.”

CC slowly stood up and took the man’s hand, following like a prisoner being taken to death row.

The crowd soon went away, leaving only the table and the trick in the area.

Once he knew no one could hear them, the man said to CC, “I know your street name is CC, but I don’t know you real name. my name is Blade Seer. Weird hu?”

CC kept her eyes down, “you made it sound like you were going to kill me.”

Blade let go of her hand, and hugged her around the shoulders instead, “I didn’t mean to scare you like that. There are people who would use you for evil means, and kill you for what you are. I sit between them. I have powers to, and I think they are the same as your’s with time and training. We can talk more back at my place, less people to listen in on us.”

Blade’s place had the basics for any home; kitchen, rooms to sleep in, and a living room full of miss matched furniture. He went to find something for CC to eat while she sat down in a lumpy chair.

“I would like to see how far you have come without training, then I will show you what I can do. How do you feel about fruit drinks?” Blade peered out, and saw CC trying to climb out the window.

He flicked his hand and pulled CC hard back into the room. “why are you trying to get out? What did I do wrong to you?”

CC glared at Blade, and shoved her palm at him as hard as she could.

Blade felt the force, staggered back a few steps, but just shook his head.

“good aim, bad out put. Now, watch me,” Blade shoved his palm down toward the floor.

CC involuntarily fell onto the floor, struggling as if she was pinned down, “ok! I give!”

Blade let his hand fall to his side, and CC gradually got back on her feet. “I said I would not hurt you. What I did there was show you what I could do, after years of training. Do you still want to go back to that worthless life you had been living, or stay here with someone who knows what you are going through.”

CC grabbed her head trying to take all this in. “what are we? How did I get my gift? Wh…” she fell against Blade and cried.

Blade knelled down and hugged CC close, “we can talk later, you need to get some real rest.” he carried her back his room that had the only bed, and just laid her on top of the covers then left to pass the time till she woke up.

*CC was just standing around as people walked all around her. No one talked to her, or bumped into her.

She heard a voice say, ‘they know your secret. They fear you. They hate you’.

Some people turned, and showed they had no face.

She screamed and ran.

Everyone turned and looked at her as she ran by, some tried to reach out and grab her.

She yelled, “leave me alone,” and put up a shield.

They still reached out, as their hands touched the shield a large spark of energy arches and blasts them several feet away.

After each spark CC could feel her energy levels slowly go down. She trips on her own feet and falls down still among everyone.

Several hands shove on her shield, push through and cover her.*

CC screamed, “leave me alone!”

Blade ran in when he heard CC scream. He brushed her hair back, and saw her face contorted in fear, “CC your dreaming. Wake up, come on.”

CC slowly opened her eyes, afraid of what she might see. She let out a shaky breath as Blade came into view, “Blade. There were people everywhere. I heard someone say they knew about me, and hated me for it. They reached out and grabbed for me. I thought…”

Blade cradled CC in his arms, “it was a dream. Your fears came all at once. Your ok now.” he could feel the muscles in her back relax as she calmed down.

He whispered in her ear, “I wont let them hurt you. We are together from here on in.”

CC wrapped her arms around his neck, hugging him so he wouldn’t leave.

Blade could read CC thoughts easily. “we need to work on that,” he thought to himself.

He placed his hand at the base of her head, and gently nudged her mind back towards sleep as he laid her back down.

CC grabbed his hand and pleaded, “don’t leave. What if they come back?”

Blade his hands on both sides of her face, and closed his eyes, “this should block the fears for a few months, after that I will teach you how to block them yourself. Now back to sleep, you need your rest.” he laid the covers back on her, and absently kissed her on the forehead before leaving.

CC stared at the doorway for a moment, thinking Blade might come back and say something. When he didn’t she closed her eyes and tried to get more sleep.

Blade was going through his closet of stuff, hopping he would find a cot setup or a another bed rack so CC would have her own bed in the spare bedroom.

“I know I have a few sheets sets, so no problem there. Maybe in this box here,” he pulled out a large box with the flaps just tucked under each other. “well if I tucked the flaps, it can’t be bad. Ok, open sesame,” he snapped his fingers, and the flaps flew out and down the side of the box.

Inside was a complete bed rack set, and extra wheels and things to keep the rack together. He carried the whole thing into the living room, but glanced at the bedroom door. “better do this later, don’t want to wake CC if she is asleep for once. Back to what to eat.”

Blade finished getting some sandwiches together and two drinks as CC came out of the bedroom.

CC saw the food, and started to drool, “I am starving.”

Blade looked at CC’s middle, “when was the last time you had a good meal CC?”

CC wrapped her arms around her middle to try and hide the inward curve, “I don’t really remember anything like that.”

“eat up then, it maybe one reason your powers are not as strong as they should be.”

CC bit into the sandwich, then nearly ate the rest in one bite.

Blade said while trying not to laugh, “slow down or you’ll,” CC made a gagging noise as to much food got in in her throat.

Blade placed his hand on her back, and helped the muscles get it all down.

When she could breath again, CC said, “thanks, and sorry. How did you do, whatever it is you did?”

“I can control the muscles inside someone’s body, just by holding my hand close to where those muscles are. On top of that I separated the chunk of food in your throat, so don’t eat so much so fast!” Blade stated, pulling the food away before CC tried to shove it all into her mouth.

“ok, ok. So can you control muscles by just,” CC placed her hand on Blade leg, but got a jolt go through her hand instead. “that hurt!”

Blade shook his head, “I said I can. I have years of practice under my belt, where as you have tricks. You need to learn a lot more before I even think of teaching you that one. I can show you how it works else where on the body, but it might scare you.”

“no, show me, I have been through worse in life.”

“ok, just lay back and stay calm.” Blade laid his one hand on each leg, and made them kick out like when a doctor would hit your knee with the small hammer. He then took hold of her arm, and made her hand open and close several times. He moved his hand to her back, but stopped and asked, “are you sure about this?” CC nodded.

Blade lightly pressed his hand against her back, whispered ‘please don’t be mad’.

CC’s eyes sprang open as she felt him slow her heart down a few beats, then speed up to nearly double what is was at first. He finally set it back to normal before moving his hand away.

“ok. That was more then I expected. What use would that be in the real world?” CC slid away from Blade, still shaking.

“I have used it a few times, to restart a person’s heart. I wont do it again, unless your in trouble. Eat up, you need food more then me, just slow down and enjoy the taste.”

CC took a big gulp of her drink, and then grabbed a bag of cheese snacks. “are there more like us? More with mental powers.”

Blade struggled to not read CC’s mind as he answered, “I don’t know that many, and we are Psychics. We keep to ourselves, mostly, and those who take in others do it to for some company.”

“am I for company?”

“No. You just plain needed proper training. I stay under the radar, because we live in a high risk zone.”

“why is it a high risk? I know there gangsters that control parts of the city.”

“they are the thugs the big ones hire to keep watch, though they don’t ask about their doings. In big cities with lots of buildings all together, Psychics with high power levels take control; and hunt us down for fun. Why don’t I go get more for you to drink,” he quickly left before CC could ask another question.

“did I say something wrong?” CC put the bag back on the table, and felt a twinge in her mind. She turned and called out, “Blade?” he didn’t answer. “then what was…wow!” she slapped her hand onto the back of her neck feeling something hot poking her. She headed to the kitchen as she talked out loud, “Blade, how many kinds of…” but fell onto her knees, doubled over in pain as something attacked her from the inside.

“what did you say CC?” Blade asked walking back with a bottle of fruit juice, that he then dropped when he saw CC gasping for air. He kneeled next to her and asked, “CC can you hear me?”

CC nodded, one arm around her middle and the other holding her face off the floor.

“try and show me where you felt the warning sign before this happened?”

CC slowly moved her hand away from her middle, and slid it to her neck.

“ok. I can reverse what is happening, I think, but it could really hurt you.”

CC swiftly moved her hand back around her middle, and said in almost a whisper, “please.”

“hold still,” Blade placed both his hands on the back of CC’s neck, “and stay with me.”

Blade closed his eyes and saw the Psychic veins that directed her powers. Most had a purple-pink hue to them, but one red one stood out like a sore thumb.

He mentally grabbed the line, and heard CC gasp and shiver. ‘ok, new approach.’ he wrapped his powers around the line, and took control.

CC shut her eyes tight and squealed as her neck grew hotter and hotter. ‘hurry’.

With one final surge the red line broke and vanished.

Blade started to draw his mind back, when several small pale lights surround him. ‘great, now her mind thinks I am the enemy’. he raised his hand to block them, but a small one came up behind him and  nuzzled his neck. ‘oh, is this a thank you?’ the lights swirl around and blind him for a moment.

When Blade opened his eyes, he was still kneeling on the floor, but CC was fast asleep in his arms. “I’ll be hunting down who did that to you, after you recover.” he carried her back to his room, and tucked her into bed. “think I’ll work in the spare room now.”

*CC was sitting in her usual spot, and racking in the cash with her trick. Things were better then every.

The crowd around her table divides, letting a man dressed in all black walk up to the table.

CC asked as she had rehearsed, “care to place a bet?”

The man raised his right hand, holding a red and black glowing knife in the air.

CC jerked back in shock, “just trying to make a living. No need to…”

He swung the knife down, right at CC.

CC thrusted both her hands in front of her to try and block the attack.*

Blade heard a loud thud coming from his room, where CC was sleeping. He walked in to find CC with her hands out in front of her. “CC you ok?”

CC looked around the bedroom, surprised at where she was. “I was back on the streets. A man came at me, with a glowing knife. He attacked me, right in front of everyone.”

Blade narrowed his eyes as she asked, “do you remember the color of the glow? Red, blue, pale green.”

“it was red…no, red and black swirling together. Why does the color matter?”

“red and black. Normal red would be someone trying to scare you. Red and black, someone was trying to get to you through your dreams. I need to start teaching you the finer points of telepathy before the attacks get any worse. Lets go to the woods, and see what you know already.”

Getting to the woods was easy, trying to show what she could do was hard.

CC had just gone with whatever she could do, and it normally worked out. She did her little trick with the three cups and ball, then a air shift move she had learned to dodge fast mobs of people.

Blade waited until CC sat down to catch her breath, then started pacing, “higher level than I thought. The air move is advanced, a level five you could say. The three cup and ball trick, basic level that most learn to do before they turn ten. We are to go back to basics, hovering and energy reading.”

“why do you sound so stressed? don’t I just learn what I can, and hope for the best?” CC commented, pushing herself back to her feet.

Blade closed his eyes as he calmed himself, “those attack on you were not some gang trying to scare. Someone is after you, and neither of us know why. I have to train you, but I have never trained anyone. For years I thought I was the only one like me in this city, hiding who I am and barely using my powers at all. I was dragged to a place where I learned what I was the hard way, and left when I was ten and could use my powers to do so. Where do we start?”

CC gathered some loose pebbles nearby into a pile, “we can start with that hover thing you mentioned. Is it anything like the three cup trick?”

“no, it deals with a different mind set.”

Blade showed and explained the best he could of how he did various moves, from hovering and throwing rocks ranging from small and huge to the air shift which he went from standing right in front of CC then being feet behind her.

CC then tried to do the moves, but nearly split herself in half with the air move, and knocked herself out when she threw herself back into a tree instead of the rock forward.

Blade carried CC home, and set her on the bed he managed to finish in the spare room, sheets and all. He tucked her in, and left her to hopefully sleep peacefully. “this is going to take a while. Rest up, you’ll need the strength for the coming days of training.”

*little CC walked downstairs and into the kitchen, where her mother was working on something.

CC hovered her toy from the table to her hand, “what are you making mom?”

Her mother stood up straight, turned and glared at the toy in CC’s hands, “I told you it is not safe to do that.”

CC hugged the toy close, “I’m sorry. I just came to see what you were doing.”

Her mother sighed, “I know. If I had told your father…”

A loud knock at the front makes both girls jump.

CC’s mother kneeled down and said to CC, “take the back way out while I keep them occupied.”

CC gasped and dropped her toy, “what about you mom?”

Her mother shook her head, “don’t worry about me, just get out of here. I love you Crystal.”

CC hugged her mom, possibly for the last time, “I love you too mom.”*

CC sniffled as she woke up, the memory-dream fresh in her mind. “what happened to you mom?” she headed for the kitchen to find something to eat.

Blade was making sandwiches for him and CC, when CC walked in sniffling. He held out a damp cloth and asked, “you ok CC?”

CC whipped the tear trails that were on her face with the cloth, “a dream that reminded me of a sad day. I guess you could call it a memory-dream.”

“good name for it. May I ask what it was about?”

CC shook her head, “I would rather not talk about it.”

Blade gave a nod, “fair enough. You hungry? I made enough sandwiches to feed an army.”

CC nodded enthusiastically, “I’m starving.”

Blade took the basket full of the sandwiches he had made in one hand, and CC’s hand in his other hand. “let us fix that right away.”

CC tried to drag Blade to the living room so she could start eating, but Blade tugged back and made it to the couch in his own time. He handed a sandwich to CC, who took a small bite to taste what was inside.

She swallowed and said, “basic ham and cheese.”

“at least you tasted it before inhaling,” Blade commented, taking a bite of his own sandwich.

CC then took two huge bites, chewed for a minute, and then reached for a drink that was not there. ‘uh, oh’. she hurried to the kitchen, and came back with two glasses of water. “we kind of need a drink to wash this all down with.”

“forgot to get that. Thanks.”

CC downed two more sandwiches after finishing her first, and was about to take the basket to the kitchen for Blade.

Blade raised his hand, and froze CC in place, “I can handle clean up young lady.”

CC managed to brake Blade’s freeze hold on her, and staggered backward, “I was trying to help since you have done so much for me, and I have done nothing in return.”

“why don’t you tell me about your mother, if you remember her.” Blade leaned back into the couch, and fixed his eyes on CC.

CC felt like she was getting stuck in a corner. “my mom…it’s been a few years. I…she…I’m sorry,” she sobbed, running back to her room and slamming the door shut.

“bad time to ask about that then,” Blade said to himself as he got off the couch.

He shouted through the door, “did I say something? Are you mad at me for something?” he heard a small click of the lock undoing.

Blade stepped in, to see CC curled up on the bed crying. “did I upset you when I asked about your mother?”

CC hid her face behind her knees, but her whole body trembled. “she told me not to. They came, for me. She stayed behind, kept them away from me. I was barely passed three when it happened. I don’t even know if she is alive.”

Blade slid his arms under CC’s legs and behind her shoulder, cradling her as she cried. “I should not have pried, I’m sorry. When you are better at your powers, we can go look for her.”

“thanks,” was all Blade could understand as all the crying made CC’s voice sound quiet.

Blade carried CC back to the couch, and sat there whipping the tears away from her face.

When she felt she could cry no longer, CC asked, “can we still train today?”

“you don’t want to relax?”

“I don’t want to think about it, and training will get my mind off it.”

“ok, but we’ll train right here.” Blade took out a box full of junk, “hover as many items as you can in the air, and hold them there for as long as you can.”

CC smiled as she flouted item after item into the air. She nearly had the box empty when the door bell rang and startled her into dropping them all.

Blade quickly caught everything, placed it all back in the box, and signaled CC back to her room. “I’ll tell you when it is safe. Stay quiet.”

Blade walked to the door, but waited till CC was in her room before opening the door and saying, “may I help you.”

“we have reason to believe you are housing a street urchin in your apartment.”

Blade raised his free hand and stated, “I can assure you, I am not housing a child in my house. Is there anything else?”

“no, but if you see any running around.”

“of course. Goodbye,” Blade shut the door, and breathed a sigh of relief. “that was a little close. Better make sure CC is ok, if she heard anything.” he opened her bedroom door, and saw her laying on the bed. “how much did you hear?”

“you saying you don’t have any kids here. What am I then?”

“I said there is no child, I did not say there was no teen. Only a teen would be able to hover so many items in the air at once, and not black out from doing so.”

“but, I dropped them.”

“everyone gets startled. But when it happened, you didn’t make a sound. Most teens have to be taught to hold their tongue, and not tell everyone what they can do.”

CC rolled her eyes, “I would never tell anyone what I can do, cause they might through me in the mental ward. Could I try hovering the stuff again?”

Blade lifted CC’s face so he cold see her eyes, “not today. You are not use to using so much power at a time. Try to get some rest, and maybe we can do something later.”

“I have never slept so much in my life,” CC commented as she pulled the covers over herself.

Blade adjusted the blankets for her, “sleeping recharges our powers, so naps help in a pinch. If you can’t sleep, just relax, that works to.” he shut the door, but heard CC groan in annoyance.

After making CC rest for a few hours, Blade let her go the library so she didn’t go stir crazy.

“yeah, I would really rather be reading then sleeping. Does he even know about teens?” CC complained as she walked the sections made by the shelves full of books.

She settled in the fiction section, skimming a book on math and mind power. She flipped the book closed, and saw a piece of paper fall out. When she picked it up to put it back in, she saw that the paper was not the same and the words were hand written.

“I think I’ll show this to Blade, see what he thinks.” CC scooted out of the library, not knowing someone was watching her.

Back at Blade’s, CC ran into the kitchen to get a drink and see if Blade was there. She gulped down some fruit juice before calling out, “Blade you here?”

“of course I am. Why are you home already?” Blade questioned, his arms crossed across his chest as he walked in from his room.

CC held out the paper for Blade to look at, “I found this when I was looking in a book. I took a quick look, but didn’t get much of it. What do you think?”

Blade took the paper, but glared at CC, “I think you were skimming, found a page that was torn and an excuse to come home before I came and got you.”

“the book I was checking out has different paper, and the words are printed. This has written words. I am not making this up! If you don’t care I’ll figure it out myself.” CC reached to take the paper back, but Blade blocked her with his hand.

“ok, ok, I believe you. Lets jut take a look here,” Blade led CC back to the living room, and spread the paper flat on the table. “I have seen this before. It’s in old Psychic, when they would write words in the air and send them to someone. The practice has been lost, as far as I know. This talks about a legend; the one of energy will take the essence away. That sounds bad. Wait…energy here has more then one meaning. It can also mean…” his eyes went wide as the thought crossed his mind.

CC asked, “what does it mean?”

“it can also mean karma, stuff having to do with fate.”

“karma…but, my last is Carma with a C. is it talking about me?”

“I don’t know, and I don’t care. This is a legend, that could have happened already.”

“yeah, maybe. What about the essence?”

“for Psychics that is an object, like an orb. So fate would take the orb away? I think the elders were having fun and wanted to see if they could scare the later generations.”

“I don’t get it, so I guess it didn’t work. Do you want me to return it to the library?”

“no, don’t bother. Someone may have left it for someone else, and they may have never come or to store for some reason. Get out the junk box and you can try hovering again.”

CC hastily grabbed the junk box while Blade tucked the paper into his pants pocket to double check later. This time she hovered all but three items in the air for half an hour, before fainting into Blade’s arms and letting everything fall to the floor.

Blade tucked CC in, talking as if she could hear, “impressive. In time you can do a lot more, but right now you to sleep and recharge. See you in the mourning.” he leaned in to kiss her on the forehead, but stopped short and just shut the door as he left.

~

In the middle of the night, a man walked up to Blade’s apartment and stuck a note into the mail slot.

“lets see what you make of this.”

Then ran down the street, vanishing into the night.

~

CC woke feeling stiff for some reason. “I didn’t sleep in the street. What caused this?”

Blade knocked and came in before CC answered, “came to see if you were awake.”

“I am, not sure about the rest of me.”

Blade sat on the edge of the bed, “why, what’s wrong?”

CC squirmed, “I can hardly move.”

“oops,” Blade blushed, “forgot to tell you. The first few times you use up all your power, you wont be able to move easily for a while. You should be fine in an hour, and in that time I can get out the cereal and milk.” he grinned at CC as he swiftly left the room.

“great. How much more do I have to learn?  Might as well chill here, cause I am not going anywhere fast.”

When she could finally sit up right, CC walked into the living room and saw a note sitting by the front door. “didn’t you get your mail Blade?”  she shouted out, carrying the note to the kitchen where Blade had the table set.

Blade had his back to CC, trying to get the cereal. “I don’t get mail, not even junk mail.”

CC tossed the note onto the table, “yeah well, you have now. It’s weird, I only found a note.”

“are you saying I have a secret admirer,” Blade chuckled as he turned to see what CC was talking about. “I can tell you one thing, that is not a note from an admirer. You red it?”

“it’s your note.”

“right. Ok, it says to meet them in the park so we can talk about the legend. Someone else knows about that?”

“I thought we weren’t going to do anything involved with that legend.”

“we weren’t, but someone saw you take the paper and come here. If we ignore this he may come after us.”

“then, this is my fault. If I had just left it alone…”

Blade took CC face in his hands, “it’s better that we took the note instead of someone who would not know what to do, or how to handle things if they get crazy. Eat some toast with spread, it will settle faster in the stomach.”

CC popped two slices of bread in the toaster, but then turned to see what Blade was doing.

Blade grabbed the paper with the legend on it, a coat for him and CC, and then shut the door to his room while he looked for something.

“why is it when I need it, it is never…got ya!” Blade came back out with a locked box with doodles all over it.

CC giggled, “looks like a kid got to your box there.”

Blade set the box on the table, waving his hands over it. “those are not kids drawings. Psychics have used some etchings to seal things away, or keep unworthy out. I have collected these over the years, and now I will show them to you.”

“are they good or bad?”

“depends on how you use them. One teleports, one puts to sleep. There is one in here I alone will use, because I know how. Make two for me please.”

CC slapped on some fruit spread before dropping two more slices of bread in, and proceeded to her toast. “why are we taking anything? Do you know something I don’t?”

Blade sighed, “you didn’t see the energy radiating off the note. That means another Psychic is behind this, and trying to lure us out. He won’t be alone, but all I have is…” he averted his eyes from CC.

CC got the message though. “all you got is me. I can dodge and fight, and draw them away from you. Let me see that note again.”

Blade flicked to CC, “what do you expect to find?”

“you saw energy, but I didn’t. I can see your energy through this whole house, so maybe…a Psychic wrote this, but someone else left it. I see fresh energy because my level is low.”

“I see later because I am higher level. Why didn’t I think of that?”

CC smiled and shook her head, “cause you are paranoid. All we really need are some flashlights incase whoever is late.”

Blade went to the closet, and held up two flashlights with hooks. “clip them to our belts.” the toast popped, and he spread on jam before devouring both. “let’s get this over with.”

They make it to the park in an hour, but take several more to search the whole park for whoever was looking for them.

They take a break on some large rocks.

CC panted, “this is a lame prank. Where is he, or she?”

“behind you, and ready.”

Blade and CC turn to see a man, aiming a gun at them.

Blade stand between the man and CC, trying to give her cover. “we don’t want trouble.”

“you got it the day you were born freak,” the man said, keeping the gun steady, “now I want you and the girl to help me find the orb, so then she can use it to remove all the telepaths powers from the world.”

CC chuckled, “why would I do that?”

The man aimed the gun at Blade, “you want to be on your own again, kid?”

Blade gulped, “ok, we’ll work with you. May we know who we are working for?”

The man sneered, “like it matters. I go by Simon, but most call me Sigh. Now, GET MOVING!”

Blade keeps himself between CC and Sigh, fearing what he might do.

CC clutched Blade’s arms as if it was a life preserver. “guess he hates our kind.”

“with a passion. A Psychic probably did something to him, and now he wants revenge. I have no idea what will happen, or if we can get out alive.” Blade stated, rubbing CC’s arm with his free hand.

CC leaned into Blade’s shoulder, “at least we won’t be alone.”

Blade kissed CC on the top of the head, just before Sigh turned and ordered, “use your powers and show the cave.”

Blade looked around, “I don’t see anything, not even a waver that would mean someone hid the cave. Are you sure…”

Sigh glared, “it’s there! Make it show, no matter what.”

Blade shot a blast toward open air, and they all saw it hit something. He whipped energy across the thing, and made it shatter like class.

Sigh grinned and headed in.

Blade and CC stared at the sight.

“I didn’t see it.” Blade stammered.

CC shrugged, “the lost old ways maybe.”

Sigh ran back out and shouted, “get in there, and find the orb!”

CC quickly went inside, Blade right at her heels.

The cave had a odd blue hue to the rocks, with a few you could right through.

“why are the rocks that color?” CC asked aloud, hearing her voice echo.

Blade ran his hand along one wall, “the orb may be causing it. Its energy out put may change how the rocks formed, down to their color.”

“you two can talk rocks later. Find the orb,” Sigh demanded.

The three of them walked the caves, trying to find an orb that for all CC and Blade knew didn’t exist. As they reached what they thought was the end, the cave opens into a large area with something flouting in the center.

Sigh half laughed, “I finally found it. Yes!”

Blade frowned, “we did nothing.”

Sigh turned back to CC, and ordered, “now you will take the orb and get rid of all Psychics for good.”

CC looked to Blade for advice, but he bit his lip in worry. She walked toward the orb, and slowly the orb landed on the floor.

Sigh snickered, “now my wife will come back; no one to control her mind.”

Blade turned on Sigh and shouted, “this is about your wife. How do you know she didn’t leave you because of what you did?”

“shut up freak,” Sigh shouted back, and tried punching Blade.

Blade dodged and swung his own fist at Sigh.

CC turned as she heard them fighting. “that can’t end well.”

To try and stop the fight, CC grabbed the orb off the floor and held it high, shouting, “you want it, you got it. Full power.”

Blade stopped fighting and turned as he heard CC shout. He had an idea of what would happen, and shouted back, “Crystal don’t do it!”

But was to late.

The energy in the cave slammed into the orb, and CC, then shot straight up into the sky and fanned out over the planet. The energy wave let drops falls toward the ground, landing on people and taking any powers they may have had.

CC tumbled to the ground, letting the orb fall and shatter.

Blade ran to her side, and cradled her in his arms. “CC stay with me. I am not losing you now, not after everything we have been through.”

“oh bo-ho,” Sigh said, “you can always find another pet.”

Blade turned his head sharply, and tossed Sigh hard against the wall, “she is not a pet!” he shouted so the cave made his voice echo. “Crystal hang on, I’m will get you to a hospital.” he hugged CC close as he ran out of the cave.

~

CC woke feeling groggy, laying in a hospital bed with various monitors hooked up to her. ‘how did I get here?’ she turned her head hearing a door open, and saw Blade walk in.

Blade smiled wide seeing CC awake, “you scared me back in the caves. How do you feel?”

CC had trouble just feeling her mouth to move it at all.

Blade kissed CC on the forehead, “you took a beating back there. The doctor said you should be ok to go home in a few days, which means we can go back to my home.”

CC managed to twitch one corner of her mouth in an attempt to smile.

“don’t force it Crystal…or CC,” Blade blushed at his mistake, and took a seat in the spare chair by the bed.

Waiting until they released CC from the hospital was agony, and all Blade was given to do was fill out papers for her. He got as far as parental caregiver, and felt stumped. He didn’t feel like a caregiver, he really cared about CC and would like her to continue living with him.

He asked the doctor, “is there a way I can adopt her, so she is not just a teen I am looking after?”

The doctor handed Blade another clip board, “you can file this, in that time period she may stay with you if she wants. It might get through, but could take months before they get to your file though.”

“as long as they get to it, and she can stay.” Blade stated.

Finally the day came, and both CC and Blade were excited.

CC for getting out of the hospital, and Blade for getting to take CC back home.

Not long before they got home, CC fell fast asleep in bed.

Blade tucked her in, and kissed her good night on the forehead. “sweet dreams.”

CC slept comfortably in her bed, not having dreams of someone attacking her.

Blade peered in, watching and waiting for her to wake up so he could tell her his big news.

His shoulders slumped as his memory went back to the cave, and the fact that the orb took all the telepaths of the world powers away. “you look happy, so your dream can’t be that bad.”

He went back to his room, and laid down on the bed with his hands locked together behind his head.

He didn’t know what to do until she woke up, and he didn’t see the need to sleep if he had no powers to recharge. “the legend said the one would take all the power away. I am started to wish it wasn’t…what the!”

Blade nearly jumped off the bed when he saw his books on the night stand flouting into the air. “she was not the one! Then that means.” he ran back to CC’s room, where she was already sitting up with her own eyes wide.

“I thought I took away the power. What happened?” CC asked, pointing at her cloths flouting in the corner.

Blade sat down on the end of the bed, “not to disappoint you, but I don’t think you were the chosen one.”

“but it said the karma would take the orb!”

“I said energy would take the essence away, and translated it to karma and orb. We thought that because your name is Carma that it was about you, but maybe you name isn’t Carma.”

“but…mom said,” CC turned her head so Blade didn’t see her cry.

Blade gently turned her to face him as he said, “but now, you may take a different last name.”

“why?”

“because…because I have decided to take you in, as my adopted daughter or step daughter if you prefer.”

CC’s eyes and mouth open wide, “you want me as your kid? But I am nothing but trouble!”

“I think you just need a home, a stable one with someone who cares about you. It’s up to you, I wont force you. If you don’t want that, you can still live here and I will mentor you on your powers. What is your choose?”

CC’s mind felt like it was on a rollercoaster. “I don’t…I have never…could I call you dad, if I ever get the nerve?”

Blade kissed CC for a long moment on the forehead. “I would love it.”

“then…yes. I will be Crystal Seer. I guess you can call me just Crystal from now on.”

“it would be easier, and make sense. Sleep tight sweetie.”

Crystal giggled, “you too…dad. Sounds weird.”

Blade smiled ear to ear as he left her room, shutting the door behind him.

He took the junk box, set it on the table, and flouted a few items into the air. “everything is back to normal.”

~

Crystal tried to shatter Blade’s energy shield, but she hardly made a crack in the surface. She down on the grass with a huff, “this aint easy.”

“that is why we train. We can rest for a moment, then move onto entering the mind.” Blade sat down next to Crystal, letting her lean on him.

It had been just under a week since the Crystal had been home.

They were in the woods practicing moves, getting Crystal to a higher Psychic level before they came under attack again.

“can you really do what you are having me do?” Crystal asked.

Blade hugged Crystal close to his side, “I can, and I have had to on several occasions.”

“what about going into someone else’s head?”

“oh yes. I try to only do it to other Psychics, but normal people sometimes get in my way and I have to do something to get away. We will start with you trying to go through a mental shield I’ll put up in my mind, see how far you get before passing out.”

“yeah, I am really good with that one,” Crystal rolled her eyes at the factoid.

Blade kissed her on the side of head, before standing up and taking his place for training again. “going into a person’s mind is very different from the other moves I have shown you. You use a memory you know they have, and try to gain entry using that thought.”

Crystal pushed herself off the grass back onto her feet. “sounds like the rookie way of doing that move.”

“it’s how I was trained, and in turn that is how I am training you. If the memory doesn’t work you can try imagining the shield I have around my mind, but that requires you know what it looks like. Come on, try and get in.”

‘maybe I can try the orb moment to get in’. Crystal closed her eyes, and could see a wall of energy crackle in front of her. She touched the energy, and felt a jolt ache through her body.

Crystal gasped awake with Blade holding her close, her back to his front.

Blade whispered in Crystal’s ear, “calm down, I’ve got you. Training is done for day.”

“what happened?”

“you did something few others can do. You touched my powers with your powers and self. Done properly you can take control of a Psychics mind and body, make them do stuff.”

“self? How did I do that?”

“self is your brain, hands, feet, what people see. How you did it? I don’t know. It’s a high level thing, something your born with. Lets forget abut it, and go home.”

“I am all for that, and a nap.”

Blade led Crystal back home, holding her hand tight in his own hand. It felt like the day he first found her and took her back to his place to talk.

Blade reached for the doorknob, but jerked back, “another Telepath has been here.”

Crystal looked around, “how can you tell?”

He pointed at the door, “their energy is all over the door. We can’t go in without knowing who and what they want.”

Suddenly the door swung open, and standing there was a girl dressed all in goth. “good to see you again Blade.”

Blade breathed a sigh of relief, “glad it’s you Arachnid.”

Arach looked past Blade at Crystal, “your project?”

Crystal turned red, “the name is Crystal. I’m his step daughter.”

“then you are the first person he has cared a lot for since Glen took him under his wing. Speaking of Glen, that is why I am here.” Arach moved aside, allowing Blade and Crystal in.

Blade snorted, “I have not seen him for years, and I don’t plan on looking for him.”

“good, cause he is looking for you.” Arach dropped into the arm chair. “he is, was, a great mentor for Psychics. He looked after them, trained them, and let them go when they wanted to. When you left he was fine for a while, but then he slowly went weird. If some kids wanted to out to a party, he would follow and crash the party. He has lost all his students, and now I think he is going after his favorite one.”

Crystal headed for bed, but asked, “why would he go crazy when you left, if so many have left before you?”

Blade cleared his throat several times, “because he thought I had something else, but left before he could tell for sure. Get some sleep, Arach and I will keep watch out here.”

“ok. Night.” Crystal shut the door to her room.

Blade sat down with a sigh on the couch, “the last thing I expected was to have to deal with him again. Do you know if he knows I have taken one in?”

Arach shrugged, “I didn’t stay long after you left, cause everyone thought I was a bad egg or something. As you know, I have a link with the mental waves, and that is how I found out about his doings and goings. The higher up think he has really lost it though, to the point that they may take his powers away.”

Blade raised an eyebrow at this info, “they hardy ever take powers away, and I have only heard of a small handful of time thy have.”

“yes, but there are others that have hidden away to keep their powers. You brought me back to the grounds, and I am repaying the favor by telling you. be careful and stay on your guard.” Arach stood and left, quietly shutting the front door.

Blade looked at the door to Crystal’s room. “all I can do is put up shields to keep him out, and warn us if he is coming. What did I drag you into Crystal?”

He chanced waking Crystal to see if she was asleep or had been listening to them talk. He nudged the door open, peered in, and saw her snuggled deep in the bed.

“I should get some sleep too, but I can’t leave you unprotected with him on the loose. What can I…” but was interrupted by his own yawn. “ok, just lock everything and hope for the best.” he double checked all the locks, climbed into bed, and fell asleep in minutes.

“Blade.”

Blade woke to the sound of a child’s voice in his ear. He looked around with one eye open, and saw Crystal standing by his bed with a blanket wrapped around her. He motioned for her to sit and asked, “you ok? Your face looks strained and streaked.”

Crystal rubbed her neck, and spoke with a ruff voice, “I was fine at first, normal little dream, but then everything went black as night. I barely had time to realize someone was in my dream before they attacked me. I could feel hands around my neck, choking me. I was so scared I woke up, but could still feel where they had gripped me. I was too scared to go back to sleep.”

Blade moved over to give Crystal room. “I’ve had similar ones. You sleep on top of the sheets with your blanket, and I sleep under the sheets.”

“you…you don’t mind.”

“since Arach told me Glen was back, I kind of wanted us to bunk together for safety…and all that. Just relax, I’ve got you.”

Crystal did as she was told, laying down with the blanket tight around her body.

Blade gave a small tug and draped the blanket over them both, then hugged Crystal close.

Crystal pressed her face into Blade’s chest, and started crying. He tucked the extra blanket around her, and laid his head next to hers. As the tears slowed down, they both finally fell back to sleep.

Blade woke again, this time because the sun was shining through his bedroom window. ‘mourning already?’ he stretched one arm, but found his other arm stuck. He lifted the blanket and smiled seeing Crystal still sound asleep, on his arm. ‘I don’t want to wake her, but I need my arm back’. he gently rubbed her cheek and said, “time to get up Crystal.”

Crystal moaned and turned her face toward the pillow. “five more minutes.”

Blade chuckled, “I remember you had a rough night at the start, but we both need to get up.”

Crystal opened her eyes and looked at Blade. “are we going to train harder today, because of what you heard about Glen?”

“we are. It has been years, and who knows how strong Glen has become let alone what state his mind is in. we will go to the deep part of the woods, close to some caves I know of.”

“can we eat first? I’m hungry.” Crystal rubbed her stomach to get her point across.

Blade grabbed the edge of the blanket as he said, “sure we can eat first.”

Crystal fell out from under the sheets, just before Blade tossed the sheet on him onto where she had just been laying. She ran for the kitchen, hearing him right behind her.

They munched on cereal, tossing pieces of dry cereal at each other with their powers.

Crystal air shifted a napkin onto Blade’s head, and asked while giggling, “what should I expect if I ever meet up with Glen?”

Blade flicked the napkin off his head. “he could do some amazing things, but didn’t teach you until you were ready. I was well ahead of most everyone at my age level, and just wanted to do my own thing. I have seen him doing the higher level moves, like a massive energy orb and controlling another Psychics energy once they have released it. He was probably up for the highest rank on the council at one point. He will have a few new tricks up his sleeves, but then again, I have a few of my own. I will teach you my tricks, and together we may be able to take him on.”

“do we have to though?” Crystal kept her eyes on her cereal, nit sure how Blade would react.

Blade ruffed up Crystal’s hair on top of her head. “no we don’t, it’s just a precaution in case we do. Put the bowls on the counter and let us be off.”

Blade nearly ran the whole way to the caves, almost losing Crystal a few times. He stopped at the entrance to the caves, giving her a chance to catch up and breath.

Crystal sat on a rock, but then slid in front and leaned on it. “did we need to run the whole way?”

Blade looked around with his eyes narrowed. “thought I felt someone following us.”

Crystal rolled her eyes at him. “you are paranoid. Lets go train, so I can go back and hide from you in bed.”

“yeah, go ahead,” Blade half motioned at the cave mouth.

Crystal walked in with her hands in her pockets, not wanting to be here in the first place and Blade barely paying any attention. She jerked as she felt him grab her arm and lead her farther in.

“dad are you ok?” Crystal looked back, and thought she saw something.

Blade ducked into a smaller cave, and then another before stopping and saying, “I think Glen is following us.”

Crystal’s eyes went wide, “your Glen!? The one you and the spider girl think has lost his mind?”

Blade peered around the wall, “the same. I didn’t think he had found me, or us, that quickly. We’ll have to sneak around him and get out as soon as possibly.”

“wait…spider girl said he was fine for a while. How old were you before you left?”

“what? This is not the time…”

Crystal grabbed Blade’s face with both her hands, and forced him to look at her. “how old were you?”

Blade closed his eyes to think back. “I was in my late teens. When she said for a time, it means a few years…he may be…”

`CRASH`

Crystal and Blade cover their ears as the sound echoed and doubled in sound in the cave.

Blade chanced a look, and immediately started dragging Crystal through the many caves when he saw Glen walking towards them.

Crystal looked back once, and saw Glen for the first time. To her he looked like he had lost his mind, and held a mad goal in mind.

Blade turned several corners, thinking he lost Glen, but turned another corner and came face to face with him.

Glen pointed at Crystal and said, “I’ll be taking her now.”

Crystal squeezed Blade’s hand tight in fear.

Blade squeezed her hand back and said, “you’ll have to fight me for her.”

Glen shrugged, “fine. Have it your way.” and fired a energy orb, splitting up Blade and Crystal.

Crystal hid behind some rocks that grew like columns, trying to stay out of the fight.

Blade fought his former mentor, trying to give Crystal a chance to get out. He glanced to the side, and saw Crystal cowering behind a pillar. ‘she can’t move without fear of getting caught in the fight. I have to knock him out!’ he tried a focused blast, but Glen somehow did a spin and shot it back at Blade and slammed him across the room.

“give it up Blade. She is mine, get use to it. I trained you, I know all your moves.”

Blade pushed himself up and off the wall, “it has been years, and I have a few new tricks. Know the three cup and ball trick?”

Glen snorted, “that is a lame old trick.”

“but I know who is the best at it.”

Crystal covered her mouth to keep from gasping to loudly. ‘he wants me to do the trick. I don’t have…air shifting.’ she turned and saw where Blade and Glen were standing. ‘be ready Blade’.

Blade leaned on a rock formation, “you are old, and set in your ways. Time for you to see things in s new light. Patha!”

As the shout echoed, the room filled with fog.

Glen batted his hands in front of himself, but just ended up finding rocks. “Blade! I will find you, and get that girl!”

Blade ran through the tunneled with Crystal close behind him.

“I can hardly believe it worked,” Crystal stated.

Blade chuckled, “yeah, same here. Let’s get before he…” but came to a halt as Glen dropped down in front of them. “finds us.”

“she is mine, back off,” Glen rammed his hand as if he was hitting a wall, and sent Blade across the chamber and slamming into the wall.

“Blade!” Crystal cried and ran toward him.

Glen wrapped Crystal in a Psychic hand, holding her up in the air, “you are coming with me.”

“no. Blade is my mentor, my friend, my dad.”

“what? You have powers no other Psychic has, that they can only dream of having. You work for me,” Glen said with a evil smirk growing on his face.

“she works for no one.” Crystal and Glen turn to see Blade standing up.

Glen’s jaw hung open, “how can you still be standing? Anyone one else would be out cold.”

Blade laughed, “you did say I was hard headed. Now let her go.”

Glen laughed out loud, “why should I?”

Blade looked into Crystal’s eyes, “because I wont let you leave with her in you clutches.”

“try and take her,” Glen taunted.

Blade gave Crystal one last smile, then rammed into Glen.

Glen lost control of the Psychic hand, and dropped Crystal before he and Blade fell down the slope.

Crystal ran to the edge of the drop, and shouted, “Blade!” but only heard her own echo. “I have to find him,” she ran down the winding staircase rock formation toward the bottom, and hopped Blade was still alive. She slowed down as she reached the last few steps, and peered around.

As she walked, Crystal made an orb of light and screamed at the sight of Glen right in front of her.

She started to run back, but then saw no light in his eyes.

“he’s dead, but that could mean…Blade hang on!” she ran passed Glen’s body, light shinning several feet ahead of her.

Just as she feared she had gone to far, the light glazed over a familiar coat. she got on her knees and moved closer, and found Blade with nasty cuts and bruises all over.

Crystal pressed her ear to his chest, and breathed a sigh of relief at the sound of a heart beat, “your alive, thank goodness. You got me to safety once before, now I can return the favor.”

Crystal formed a Psychic board under Blade’s body, and gently lifted it into the air. She slowly walked back up the stairs, and out of the caves heading for the hospital.

~

This time is was Blade who woke feeling groggy in a hospital bed. He looked around at all the monitors and wondered, ‘how did I get here?’ not far from the bed was a large arm chair, with Crystal curled up fast asleep. ‘did…did she carry me all the way here? She deserves the sleep’.

The doctor and a nurse walked in. the nurse checked on Crystal, while the doctor talked to Blade. “you are very lucky. Any longer and you would have been gone.”

Blade looked over at Crystal, who didn’t want to wake up. “I owe it all to her. How long has she been here?”

“sense we finished setting up the monitors around you. We have told her to leave, but she wouldn’t budge.”

Blade smiled, “she can be stubborn. How long till I can go home?”

The nurse turned at the question and said, “we found something out when we looked at your file. You and a young lady did come in for something. When we saw that, we did a DNA comparison between you and this girl that brought you back.”

The nursed stopped talking so Blade could take it all in.

Blade just wanted to know. “what did you find out?”

The doctor cleared his throat, “she is your daughter, by birth.”

Blade stared at the ceiling in shock, “my daughter. But I never…Holly. Can you find out her mother’s first name?”

The nurse nodded, “already did. A miss Holly Carma, she changed her last name when she was born. How close were you and…”

The doctor shot a glare at the nurse, “that is to personal. We want to keep you under watch for another day, then you may both go home. Let’s let them have some alone time.”

The doctor motioned for the nurse to leave first. The nurse held her head high, until the doctor lightly shoved her out the door before leaving himself and shutting the door behind him.

Blade stared at the door for a moment, but then turned to Crystal who couldn’t decide if she wanted to wake up or not. ‘we had planned on…the attack happened…was it that night?’

Crystal finally sat up with a groan, “not the comfiest place to catch a nap.” her eyes cleared, and she saw Blade awake. “your ok!”

“thanks to you. Was I very heavy?” Blade joked.

Crystal smiled at the joke, “not as I carried you on the Psychic board, but a little when I had to carry you in myself.”

“I should have told you. Hospitals don’t question when they see Psychic powers, they just do their work and let the rest be.”

“that would have been helpful to know before hand. How long before we can go home?”

“they want to watch me for another or two, but they told me something. You mentioned your mother, but never your father.”

“mom didn’t talk about him much. I thought he was a random flirt, and left her. She did wish a few times she had told him, or something like that.”

“I think I know, knew your mother. don’t go crazy…was her name Holly, Holly Carma?”

Crystal’s breathing quickened, “how could you know her name?”

Blade laid his back into the pillow, “because we dated for a time, and fell in love.

She knew I was different, and accepted it completely. We wanted a quick marriage, so those after me wouldn’t have time to get there.

I stayed away for several weeks, and then came late one night and proposed to her. We both got excited, and maybe went to far seeing as we were only just engaged.

As I prepared to run down the aisle with her, I get a signal that hunters were near.

I sent her a letter, explaining why I had to leave and that I would try and come back for her. I ran for so long I lost track of time, and when I got back I tried to find her but she seemed to vanish.

She must have changed her last name to hide from the hunters, possibly the same ones that came when you were three.

If I had known, I would have come for you Crystal.”

“so you’re my dad, my real dad. I have been living with my dad this whole time. I wish I had been easier to deal with.”

Blade motioned Crystal to the bed. “I don’t regret anything we went through, you me or anyone else involved. We found each other, and we are staying together. I don’t even need to worry about those adoption papers anymore.” He commented, giving Crystal’s hand a squeeze.

Crystal looked at Blade, her dad, with almost new eyes. “how did you get your name Blade?”

Blade looked confused for a second, but then smiled, “I will answer all your questions when we are home, away from listening ears.”

“ok dad.” Crystal said before yawning hard. “maybe I should go home, and get some real sleep. Will you be ok here by yourself?”

Blade tugged Crystal closer, and kissed her on the forehead. “I am awake, so my powers will keep an eye on me until I can get home to you. Sleep tight Crystal.”

Crystal tried to say goodnight back, but yawned instead. She waved goodbye and walked out the door.

Blade laid back in the bed, now feeling how sore his muscles were from the fight. “in a few days, everything will back to normal. I might as well get some sleep to.”

~

Crystal was still asleep on the mourning that Blade was coming home from the hospital. She didn’t get to sleep for hours the night before, being so excited about the next day.

“Crystal wake up.”

Crystal groaned as she forced her eyes open, “what’s going on?”

“how late did you stay up last night?”

Crystal blinked to clear her eyes, and nearly screamed seeing Blade sitting on the end of her bed. “dad your home!”

Blade chuckled at her reaction, “yes I am, though I thought you would be up when I got here.”

“I couldn’t sleep, even after doing every one of your work out videos.”

“at least you are well toned. While you slept I made some calls, and the custody thing over you is taken care; in other words you are mine.” Blade tried to say with a mad look on his face.

“dad, you look like you need the bathroom.”

“I kind of do. Excuse me,” and ran out before he made a puddle on the floor.

Crystal laughed until her sides hurt, and almost rolled out of bed. Once she could stand up on her own, she headed for the kitchen to grab a bite to eat. She searched for the fruit bars, but then found them on a high shelf. “great, and I don’t know if they might be caught on something. Maybe I can…” she climbed onto a chair, and reached for the box.

Blade walked in just as Crystal slid one foot off the edge without knowing it, and caught her in his arms. “what were you doing?”

Crystal hugged Blade around the neck, “thanks for the catch. I was trying to get the fruit bars, but their up there.” she pointed at the top shelf.

Blade hummed for a moment, snapped his fingers, and the box jumped into his hand. “don’t know how they got there. Lets eat in the living room, and you can ask those questions that have been piling up in your head.”

Crystal ran to the living room, and bounced onto the couch. “first, how did you get the name Blade?”

Blade sat down and handed Crystal a fruit bar, took one for himself before answering. “my name was originally Blake, but I thought it sounded to much like black the color so I changed it. Few people knew me from before I changed, so it stuck fast.”

“how did you and mom meet?”

“I was working at a temp job, one where no one cared abut anyone else. I was trying to get my lunch, when out of nowhere she ran into me. She apologized for running into me, but I didn’t mind because she felt sorry for it. We slowly started to see each other more often, and one day she saw me using my powers. I tried to make up a story, but she didn’t mind that I was so different from everyone. The rest happened so fast, and I wish I could have taken her with me.”

Crystal leaned into Blade’s shoulder. “I kind of wish you had too.”

Blade moved Crystal to sit in his lap. “when I came back from running, I looked around but didn’t find Holly; her last name was skirt-something or other before she changed it. After a few years I settled down here, made a living for myself, and kept trying to find her. I promise I will keep looking for Holly, and wont stop until I know something.”

“do you have any more former friends or enemies we need to keep an eye out for?”

“no, I think we have faced all my known foes. Today we can just hang around, use our powers around the house, or what ever you want to do Crystal.”

“thanks dad.” Crystal closed her eyes, letting their first quiet moment last a little longer. “this is the best…OW!” she jerked and fell onto the floor, rubbing her neck.

Blade helped Crystal back onto the couch and asked, “are you ok? What happened?”

Crystal pressed her head against Blade as she tried to figure it out. “something hurt.”

Blade laid his hand over Crystal’s hands that were gripping her neck. “your under attack again?”

“no. it’s feels real, like I am feeling someone else’s pain somehow. It…ow…really hurts.”

Blade took Crystal’s face in his hands, and lifted it so they look eye to eye. “let me in, and I’ll see what I can do.”

Crystal moved her hands from her neck, and grabbed onto Blade’s wrists. “hurry.”

Blade closed his eyes, and was pulled along a red and brown line.

‘if I don’t get wherever soon, I am going to be mentally sick’.

He came a fast stop in a holding room with windows high on the walls. He could see men snickering at whoever he was.

The person turned their head, and he saw Holly glance at a mirror. ‘Holly!’

He sent a shock wave of Psychic energy down the line, and blasted it out throwing the men away from Holly.

Blade’s eyes snapped open after using that much power at such a distance. He looked down and saw Crystal trembling in his arms. “I’m sorry about that Crystal. Are you ok?”

“that…was…really…intense, but…I’m here. What did you see?”

Blade place his mouth close to Crystal’s ear and whispered, “Holly, your mother.”

Crystal looked at Blade with wide eyes. “she’s alive!”

“yes, and we will get her back. Go lie down, I’ll go and ask Arachnid if she can figure out where Holly is located. One way or another, I will bring Holly home, and we will be a family like we should have been.”

Crystal stumbled back to her room, memories from when before she was three flooding her mind.

Blade grabbed his cell phone and called up Arach. “Arach, I need a favor.”

Arach groaned on the other end, “what is it?”

“can you locate a person, one that does not have Psychic powers?”

“I can, it would help if I could connect with someone who knew said person, and better if they are telepathic. Why, someone do you wrong?”

Blade struggled to keep calm. “it’s Holly, Crystal’s mother and my old girlfriend.”

“she is, was, more then a girlfriend I am thinking. I can come over, and with Crystal’s help we can get her local within feet.”

“I await your arrival,” Blade turned his phone off and fell onto his bed.

‘you’ll be home soon Holly, and we’ll have a million things to talk about; least of all our little girl’. before he knew it he had dozed off, and woke to the sound of the doorbell ringing. “I don’t think I have ever napped that hard.”

Blade barely had the door open when Arach walked in with a bag of gear over her shoulder.

Blade eyed the bag as he asked, “what is that for?”

Arach dropped the bag on the table. “it is what I use to find people. Where is Crystal? We need to start our search.”

Blade knocked on Crystal’s bedroom door, and then went in saying, “Crystal you up?”

Crystal was sitting up, with tears rolling down her face. “I saw something while I was asleep.”

Blade sat on the end of the bed, giving Crystal’s hands a squeeze. “what did you see?”

Crystal kept her eyes low as she answered. “mom. They dragged her to another cell, a dark one with hardly any light. I tried to tell her we would be with her soon, but I didn’t know how.”

Blade lifted Crystal’s face back up her chin so he could she her eyes, “it’s hard to send messages unless the other is a Psychic like us. Arach is here, and said with you helping we can find Holly.”

“why are we sitting her then,” Crystal tumbled out of bed, and nearly over the back of the couch in her rush.

Arach place hovering bangles on each of Crystal’s, her wrists, and in a circle between them.

With everything set Arach told Crystal what to do. “hold your hands at the edge of the circle like I am doing, and hold an image of your mother in your mind. If you only have old images that will work, but a recent one will make this go faster.”

Crystal looked to Blade. “you saw mom, somehow, in a mirror?”

Blade kissed Crystal in the middle of her forehead. “now use that image to find her.”

Crystal placed her hands and closed her eyes, easily calling up the image of her mom Holly.

Arach placed her hands opposite Crystal’s, and followed the energy the image gave off. As she followed, a map appeared in the circle of bangles which allowed Blade to see where Holly is.

The map zoomed down roads, dashed through back allies, and finally stopped at a run down building in a lower part of town.

Crystal slumped against the back of the couch when it was done, while Arach doubled check the place.

“that is a rough part of town. Maybe I should come to, too help.” Arach offered as she gathered her things, gently taking the bangles off Crystal.

Crystal pushed herself off the couch, and fumbled her way around towards the door. “we need to get moving then.”

Blade wrapped his arms around Crystal, feeling her muscles hardly holding her up at all. “you need rest after doing that.”

“she is not drained,” Arach stated, “she was feeling what her mother was feeling, which was beaten and bruised. Men were trying to find info from her, probably about our kind. The more she moves the faster she will get back to herself.”

“I want mom,” Crystal nearly wailed to Blade.

Blade was now feeling the weight of being a parent. “alright, but we get back up as we head there, we will need all the help we can get.”

Arach was already at the door, and kept one eye on Crystal as she grabbed a flashlight.

Blade grabbed his pack with a first aid kit inside, and almost tore the door open in his rush to get out.

Crystal knew a fast way to the building, and led them through several back allies where homeless people slept. They soon reach a barrier with several guards standing around.

Blade tried to see inside their heads, but got a big block from them. “they are Psychics, and trained to block anyone from getting anything and anywhere. We need a big thing to even get them away for a moment.”

“you need some help there?”

Arach Crystal and Blade turn and see several of the homeless people walking over.

Blade pulled Crystal behind and said, “yes, but not something I would have to owe later.”

“the guy here has ticked a lot of us off. It will be a pleasure to get back and help you in some way.”

Blade pointed at the thugs, “get them out of the way, then I and…my student can go in and retrieve something that was taken from her years ago.”

The Psychics chuckled. “you don’t think we can tell. She is your kid, and you are going in to get her mom your wife out.”

Blade blushed deep red.

“just get in there and get your girl out.”

Blade Crystal Arach and a few other Psychics station themselves behind a dumpster, ready to run in.

The Psychics run at the thugs, have a small fight, and then manage to drew the whole group away from their post.

Blade and his group run in, blasting the doors open. Inside several more thugs are waiting.

Arachnid cast a web of Psychic strings, and pulls the thugs into the air. “I got these ones. Keep going.”

Crystal closed her eyes and reached out for her mom. “she is still here. The path is going everywhere. It may get clearer as we get closer.”

Blade stayed at Crystal’s side as they headed in, and slowly the group thinned out to only five Psychics left.

Crystal tried again, but grunted in frustration. “this building is making it hard for me to find a way to mom. I’m sorry.”

Blade kneeled so he was looking Crystal in the eye as he said, “it’s ok. Now that we are this close, I may be able to locate her myself.” he closed his eyes for only a second, then started running. “I got a lock. This way!”

Crystal focused on keeping up with Blade, and didn’t see the last three Psychics with them take on the a group of high level hired Psychics. She only stopped when Blade came to a stop in front of a bared door. She laid her hand on the door, and felt a surge. “mom?”

“stand back Crystal,” Blade ordered as he readied to blast the door down.

~

Holly huddled in the far corner, waiting for the men to come back and try to get information out of her.

They kept asking about Blade, and her suddenly missing daughter.

Holly didn’t say a word about any of it. She would never betray Blade, or give up her little girl to such people.

She jerked as a loud thud came through the door.

‘their back! What will they try now?’

~

Blade leaned against the wall to catch his breathe. “stronger then it looks.”

Crystal touched the door again, feeling where the blast hit. “I have a better idea. Curve in the edges, and then pushed in the door.”

“worth a shot.” Blade held up his hands, and took hold of the door edge.

~

‘why are they taking so long to get in?’ Holly leaned out from the corner, but jerked back as the door fell in. “I will never tell you anything!” she shouted at the top of her lungs.

“mom?”

Holly gasped at the familiar voice. ‘baby’? she turned and saw Crystal stepping into the room. “Crystal. Is that really you?”

“mommy!” Crystal ran to her mother with tears running down her face.

Holly leapt out of the corner, and caught Crystal in a tight hug in the middle of the room. “my sweet baby girl. How did you find me?”

“daddy helped me.” Crystal turned her head towards the door, where Blade was now coming in.

Holly trembled with joy at the sight of Blade. “Blade you found me, and our little girl.”

Blade sat by Holly’s side, and kissed her lovingly on the cheek. “I never stopped looking. I wish you had told me about Crystal.”

Holly smoothed Crystal hair with her hand. “she came as a surprise to me too. When I got the note saying you were running, I put everything I had planned to take with me for when we ran into a box for later. I was feeling odd so I went to the doctor’s, and he told me I was pregnant. I wanted to tell you, but I didn’t know how. The day she was born, I thought my happiness was bursting so much you might feel it too somehow. The past doesn’t matter now, what matters is that we are together at long last.”

“not to disturb the happy moment but…we are still in a holding cell. May we leave before the big guys get back.” Crystal glanced back at the door, expecting more hired hands to barge in.

“that is the best idea I have heard all day. Lets go home,” Blade helped Holly onto her feet and out of building.

That evening the three of them sat together for the first time in Blade’s home.

Holly grasped Crystal and Blade’s hands, thinking this was a dream. “if this is a dream don’t wake me up.”

Blade gently turned Holly head so he could see her eyes. “your not dreaming. We are finally back together, and I will never let us be separated again.”

“and I have my mom and dad,” Crystal squeaked out, new tears flowing down her face.

“come here you,” Blade picked Crystal up, and placed her so she was between him and Holly on their laps.

Holly and Blade squeezed Crystal in a sandwich hug, getting a giggle out of her.

“if you two don’t mind, I would like to go to bed now.” Crystal asked, then yawned right in their faces.

Blade picked Crystal back up, and carried her to her room. “course. Gives me and Holly time to catch up.”

Crystal said over Blade’s shoulder to Holly, “just don’t get to caught up in the old days that you forget what you are doing now.”

Holly gave Crystal a wink, “we can’t promise anything like that baby.”

Crystal groaned as Blade set her on the bed and pulled the covers over her. “give me a warning if you two plan on any more kids.”

Blade raised an eye brow, “we will marry before we do anything like that again. Sleep tight.”

“you two should get some sleep as well.”

Blade chuckled, “we will, don’t worry.” kissed her goodnight on the forehead, and shut the door when he left.

“how long did you have her before coming for me?” Holly asked as Blade sat back on the couch.

Blade hummed a sigh, “not that long, at a month or two at the most. Found her doing tricks on the streets to earn money. At first she didn’t want to be near me, but that changed fast when she realized she and I are so alike. We had a few close calls that drew us closer friendship wise, and that made it easier for her to want to learn what I knew about Psychics.

Several people have been after her, but it may be that they want to train her their way to be a tool. I have wondered what she went through the ten or so years she was not with either of us.”

“in time she will tell us. Right now I think I will take a shower then go to bed. Oh…where do I sleep?”

Blade wrapped his arms around Holly and drew her close, “in my arms.”

Holly leaned into Blade, put her lips close to his lips, but stated, “after I shower. You have no idea what I have been through.”

“I can look into your memories and find out.”

“no. they are my hardships, I don’t want to burden you with them.”

“you have been keeping me and our girl out of the hands of some not so nice men for years, the least I can do is help you through what you went through.”

Holly wriggled out of Blade’s embrace and headed for the bathroom, “go get ready for bed, I’ll meet you there.”

Blade made a pouting face, but headed for the bedroom anyway.

~

Holly woke to sun shining into the room. She looked around trying to remember where she was, and then felt a hand flex on her back. ‘it wasn’t a dream. I’m home, with Blade’.

She looked at Blade, still sound asleep. ‘should I wake him?’ she planted a kiss on his lips, “wake up honey, it’s mourning.”

Blade blinked his eyes open hearing Holly call his name. “already, thought I just fell asleep.”

“we have a new life starting today, and we need to start by waking our daughter up.”

“I’ve been letting her sleep and wake up when she wants, with all the training and fights we have been doing.”

Holly pushed her way out of bed, grabbed her cloths, and headed for the bathroom. “and have done nothing for her education. I am going to change in the bathroom, and then go and wake her. If I were you, I would get up and dressed so I can get some food out for breakfast.” and shut the door behind her as she walked out.

“yeah, ok.” Blade dragged himself out of, and pulled on some cloths.

In the kitchen Blade pulled out three bowls and glasses, set them on the table, and then went back to get the cereal down. He was reaching for the high shelf, when he got a twinge at the back of his mind. “don’t try it Holly, I can read your mind.”

“do you ever not feel something with powers?” Holly asked as she got out the milk.

Blade set the boxes of cereal on the table as he said, “I can turn it off, but I have had bad moments when I was caught off guard. From then on I have always…OW!” he suddenly slumped against the wall clutching his shirt.

Holly ran to his side. “Blade you ok?”

“Crystal…something is wrong.” Blade pushed Holly out of the way and ran to Crystal’s room. He pushed the door open, and saw Crystal on the doubled over on the floor. “Crystal what’s wrong?”

Crystal turned toward Blade, but he saw she had no face.

Blade stepped back as Holly came in and gasped. “what has happened to Crystal?”

“that is not Crystal,” Blade waved his hand and the fake Crystal vanished. “someone broke in and took her last night. I was so…I should have know they would come for her. It felt to easy with no guards at the door to your cell. I should have seen this a mile away.”

“it’s because of me. We lost her because of me.”

“no. it was all my fault. I let my emotions over ride my powers. I will do everything in my power to get her back.”

Holly turned Blade around to face her as she said, “you are not going it alone. She is our baby, and we will bring her home together.”

“you are really…no! not now!” Blade nearly slapped himself to stay on task. “I have a bat and a whip you can use for defense, while I use my powers.”

“how do we find her though? She could be anywhere by now.”

“it was hard to find you because you are not a Psychic, but she is. I can track her using her powers, by following her line of energy ever Psychic leaves behind. If I just…got it!” without warning Blade ran out of the room and grabbed his Psy tool box.

“if you have the line, shouldn’t we get going,” Holly motioned at the front door.

“you have your gear, and now so do it,” Blade stepped into the living, tugging some tech onto his wrists.

Holly raised an eyebrow at the sight, “what are you wearing?”

“these will amplify my powers, and help me keep a lock on the line. I’m ready, lets go.” he strolled out the front door, gently taking Holly by the hand on the way out.

They ran down the street, dodging and ducking people as Blade kept his eyes on the energy line.

When Blade took a break to double check the direction the line was going, Holly leaned against a tree to catch her breathe.

“can you tell if we are getting any closer?”

Blade scratched the back of his neck in frustration. “it’s as if she is asleep. I can see the line, but I don’t see it become thicker or brighter to show we are going the right way. I wish she could give us a sign, or something.”

“don’t worry, we’ll find a way.” Holly grabbed Blade’s hand, and they both felt a jolt go through them.

“what was…that did something.” Blade could now see the line pulsing towards him from wherever it was coming from. “I think a combo of both our thoughts boasted…something. Lets go before we lose our chance.” he bolted, nearly dragging Holly along behind him in the process.

Blade and Holly just avoided knocking over several people as they turned the finally corner and faced the building Crystal had to be being held inside.

Holly shivered at the sight, “this looks far to familiar to where I was held up for so long.”

“just swing at anyone who looks mean, I’ll handle what comes after that. How do we get in?” Blade looked for even a outline of a door somewhere on the building front.

For no reason they could see, a set of doors swing open, allowing them inside.

“creepy way to invite someone in.”

“maybe, but Crystal is in there and I am not leaving without her.” holding Holly’s hand tight, Blade walked through the open doorway.

Inside was a continuous hall, with bared and locked doors lined up like holding rooms. They could hear what could have been humans or animals crying out.

After walking for what felt like several blocks, Blade and Holly reached the end where one door had no bars or lock and just one small window. They slowly stepped in, not sure what they would find beyond.

Holly peered around, “can you get a lock on her…Crystal!” she shouted and ran to Crystal, who was just lying on the floor.

Blade jogged over and felt Crystal’s forehead while Holly cradled the rest of her. “Crystal can you hear me? It’s dad, wake up.”

“she will not wake for you anymore.”

Blade and Holly turn and see a small man standing a burly man with something glowing in his hand.

Blade had to know, and asked, “what do you mean ‘not for me’? what did you do to her?”

The little man chuckled, “just what I said. She is under my control. Girl, wake!”

Crystal’s eyes snapped open on command.

Blade and Holly stumbled away, not even knowing what was going on.

The man chuckled again, “I have perfected the control of people with Psychic powers. You may have heard as you walked in the sounds of my other attempts, but they paved the way for what I did with her. You maybe be wondering why I let you in. well, it is so she has her first opponent right here. Girl, attack!”

Crystal turned on her parents, showing nothing in her eyes.

Blade pulled Holly behind him and ordered, “hold on tight.”

Holly shut her eyes and hugged Blade close.

Blade slowly breathed out, causing a small wisp of fog to fill the room for a moment, and when it cleared he and Holly were gone.

The little man turned red with rage. “girl, find and destroy.”

In a small crack in the walls, Blade pushed Holly in as far as she could fit and said, “stay here, I’ll handle this.”

Holly grabbed Blade’s hand and asked, “what about Crystal?”

Blade smiled weakly, “I will get her back, even if I die trying.”

Holly sob as he ran back to the fight.

Crystal turned at the sound of running, and faced Blade in the middle of the room.

Blade talked Crystal back to him. “Crystal it’s me remember, Blade. I know I was rough at first, but we didn’t know each other. You have to remember me Crystal, remember us, what you went through. Please Crystal you have to remember.”

The little man glared, “enough! Get rid of him, then look for the woman who was with.”

Crystal formed an energy orb, and slammed it into Blade’s chest.

At the last moment Blade pinched Crystal wrist where she powers flowed, and slid his hand onto the back of her neck. He showed her how they met, the mishaps they went through, how close they had become before they found out they were related, and found Holly.

Crystal blinked hard, and opened her normal eyes to look at her dad. “dad…what’s going on?” she looked down, and saw her hand at his chest. “dad, did I…?”

Blade put his mouth close to Crystal’s ear. “I know how to block such an attack, though I may ache in the mourning. Come back to me baby, hold onto to the real you.”

“dad…arg!” Crystal tried to push out of Blade’s grasp.

Blade hugged Crystal closed, and took a look at her powers from inside. All her powers looked the same, but had a dull appearance. ‘they are holding apart of you hostage. Time to share here’. he moved some of his core into Crystal, letting her take back control of herself.

Crystal breathed slowly as she regained the feeling in her body. “dad, it wont last long.”

Blade rubbed Crystal back, happy to hear her voice. “we have to fight them, to get what they took back. Are you ready?”

Crystal moved her hands, took hold of Blade’s shoulders, and kissed him lightly on the cheek. “yes. Lets get me back.”

Blade threw an energy orb at the two men at the door, getting their attention away long enough for him and Crystal to get close and really get them.

Crystal surrounded the burly man with black cord that whipped around like snakes, and made some snapped out hitting him like a snake would bite.

The small man could see everything falling apart, so he reached passed the fake cords and ran with the Crystal’s core.

The burly man fell as Crystal leaned against the wall to collect herself.

“you ok?” Blade asked out of concern.

Crystal nodded, “yeah, just get him good.”

Blade gave a nod and ran after the man.

The man ducked into a secret room, clutching his prize to his chest. “they will never find me in here.”

“are you sure about that?” a voice echoed in the room.

The man shivered in fear as the room was coated in darkness. He walked in one direction, trying to find the door, when out of nowhere Blade appeared and said, “you will not get away with this.”

The man shrieked and ran the other way. He soon grew tired, and couldn’t understand why was stuck in a room he knew was small.

Blade’s voice echoed around the man. “you picked the wrong girl to kidnap. Give it up, and I might take it easy on you.”

Out of fear the man gave the core a squeeze, and Blade felt Crystal cringe from the drain.

Blade had to do something. “that is it. You are mine!”

The darkness dived onto the man, covering him and stopping his screams.

~

Holly led Crystal down the hall, and they saw Blade standing over the man.

“Blade, you ok?” Holly asked, noticing something in his hand.

Blade turned toward Holly and Crystal, a very serious look on his face. “yeah, I’m fine now. Lets get home.”

Blade took the led as Holly led Crystal out of the building and back home.

Once back inside the apartment Blade laid Crystal on the floor, flat on her back. He explained to Holly the best he could, “I am going to put her power core back. I need you to hold her body while I hold her arms. If she struggles to much, it could go bad.”

Holly set her leg on top of Crystal’s and her hands at her rib cage. “ok, I think I’m ready.”

Blade gathered Crystal hands in one hand, and held the core out with the other. “some Psychics try and steal other Psys power cores, but it has never done good either way. Try and hold on for us baby.” and pressed the core into Crystal’s open mouth.

For a long moment nothing happened, but then slowly Crystal started to move. She was just barely moving, but that grew into her jerking about.

Holly put all her weight on Crystal’s body, trying to hold her down.

Blade pinned Crystal’s arms to the floor with one hand, trying to make sure the core reconnected by holding his other hand over her mouth. “come on, just a little longer.”

Holly and Blade could see the core glow as it went down Crystal’s throat, and beat twice once it reached her heart. All at once Crystal fell limp under their hands.

Blade quickly checked her pulsed, and breathed relief. “she’s fine. Just tired.”

Holly got off Crystal and leaned on the back of the couch. “how many times have you done that?”

Blade sat next to Holly and shrugged, “first time I ever did it. Had it happen to me once, and the person told me about it after saving me. He said something about the body shutting down moments after the core leaving, and it shocks the body awake again. All I know is I ached for days after that.”

“so Crystal may be aching for a while then?” Holly inquired.

Blade glanced over at the resting Crystal. “yeah, but I can alleviate some of the aching. Right now though, I think I could sleep for a week.”

Holly rested her head on Blade’s shoulder. “we all could. Should we leave her here, or try and get her in bed?”

“the couch is big enough, we could all doze together.” Blade pushed himself back onto his feet, and somehow found the strength to carry Crystal around to the front of the couch.

Holly came around and took the end seat, letting Blade sit down next to her. He set Crystal so her head was in Holly’s lap, and her lower half in Blade’s lap.

They sat there for could have been hours, hardly moving after the days events.

Blade abruptly asked, “would you be up for moving, to someplace away from here?”

Holly shrugged, “as long as we are together, I don’t see a problem. Why?”

“to much has happened in this city, to all three of us, and I want to put those memories behind us. I can find work elsewhere. What about you?”

“I can take odd jobs here and there, but I haven’t work at a job in a while.”

“sorry, bad topic. Will Crystal be ok with this? I want this to be unanimous.” Blade let his hand hang by Crystal’s side, close to her own hand.

Crystal felt the slight shift and grabbed Blade’s hand in her own, hugging it to her side.

Blade raised an eyebrow as Holly giggled. “so she is the same as you on this. In the next week, we get everything together and once she is moving we leave here, forever.”

“there is nothing to keep us from even staying in one place. We could see the world if we want, or maybe find our own little island to live on. I have always wanted to try my hand at farming.” Holly rambled on with her ideas.

Blade smiled at Holly’s enthusiasm, “we can do all of that, after we get a goodnights sleep. I think I can get her into her own bed, if you go ahead and move the door and sheets for me.”

“gladly, just give me a second to move.” Holly grunted as she pushed herself off the couch and walked around.

With team work they got Crystal tucked into bed, and then climbed into their own bed before falling fast asleep. The following week Holly and Blade gathered everything they thought was their, and arranged for a car for the three of them to ride out of the city.

At the end of the week Blade climbed into the driver seat, Holly in front passenger, and Crystal behind her mom in the back seat.

Arachnid doubled checked the ties, and said to Blade, “you are good to go. Just remember, you can always find a Psy with the same point of view who will help any way they can.”

“thanks Arach. Crystal you ok back there?” Blade look in the rear view at Crystal.

Crystal yawned be answering. “yeah. Hope you don’t mind me napping along the way.”

“nope, go right ahead. Bye Arach.” Blade put the car in drive, drove out of the city and into a new world for him Holly and Crystal; together.