 
Only a Boy

By Kimberly M. Quezada

Copyright © 2011 by Kimberly M. Quezada

License Notes

This ebook is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. All rights reserved. This eBook or any portion thereof may not be reproduced or used in any manner whatsoever without the express written permission of the publisher except for the use of brief quotations in a book review.

Printed in Canada

First printing, 2014

ISBN 9780991912124

Kimberly M. Quezada

Edmonton, Alberta

Canada

www.cominghome2spirit.wixsite.com/home

For my son Mateo, my old soul,

May you never lose your understanding

that there's more than what you live here, on earth;

that your energy can never die.

*****

He just arrived. That's what he told me. He just appeared in the middle of downtown while hundreds of people went about their daily lives, rushing to work, running to appointments, booking meetings on cell phones as they waited in line to get their fix of over-priced coffee. He stands in the middle of a street, looking up to the towering sky scrapers; the summer sun reflecting from the windows so brightly that he shields his eyes from their glare. He had requested to come and to be of service; to find what needed to be found and brought back.

He's nine.

I really didn't know what I was thinking, taking him in, when I could barely care for myself. Even so, who leaves a child wandering on a downtown street, when the sun is about to disappear and the people of the night start to show themselves from their shadowy hiding places. It doesn't matter if the child is not what he appears to be. He's only a boy. Who doesn't offer help to a child?

I offered him my help.

Knowing what I know now, I should have kept walking. I should have ignored that desperate look on his face that cried for some assistance. Who can ignore a child with no one around? Should is a funny word. It immediately defines what others think you need to do but there was no one else involved. It was just me.

"Can you keep my secret?" He asks me.

"Yes." I tell him.

Can mothers ever really protect their children from harm? Mothers can try and they can give their lives in an attempt to offer that protection. I was no mother. I was merely a stranger. We can never pick whose lives we are born into or we assume that to be true. I was lucky. He picked me.

And now he was gone.

*****

Owen. That's what They said he would be called. Owen. He liked it. It meant young fighter of noble birth. Owen felt he was of noble birth. Anyone lucky to be given a life is a noble spirit and that's why he had come. That's why he had asked permission to travel to this place. He wanted to bring his brother back. His brother had been gone for far too long and since his brother had journeyed here, Their best guess what that he still remained. They couldn't offer much help and Owen was told he was on his own. The task was simple. Find his brother and bring him back but, if Owen were to be found out, both ran the risk of abandonment. This was a lot for his little mind to cope with as he wasn't of age yet and he didn't understand a lot about how the universe worked.

Still, it was his duty. There was no one else willing to take the risk but Owen's brother could not be forgotten or left behind. They had named his brother Kieran. He had left as an explorer but could not be located after a few months of his arrival here and now was officially missing. So, after seeking approval, Owen was allowed to follow in Kieran's footsteps, to come to this beautiful place and find his brother. He had to admit, though, it looked a lot more beautiful from above.

"Hey kid look out! You can't just walk into people like that." A man glared at Owen as he almost knocked him over.

"I'm sorry." Owen moved quickly and bumped into a woman who glanced back while talking on some sort of device that Owen was not familiar with.

So many people were walking around. So many people were travelling back and forth, in front of him and behind him. Owen wondered if he should enlist the help of one of these people right away but then quickly changed his mind as these people didn't seem to have the time to stop.

Owen secured his bag over his shoulder and walked west from where he was dropped. He had a few coins in his pocket. He was told it was for emergencies only. Owen was not yet in an emergency situation so he walked. The structures were so high here. He looked up to see if he could find the very tops of them but the sun shone so brightly on this place that it was too hard on his eyes. He could almost make out the top of one but then gave up. He hoped that these people knew how lucky they were that the sun shone on them so powerfully. From what Owen was told though, they didn't.

He continued to walk, to try to keep up with the rest of the travelers on the streets, and to get to know his surroundings. He wasn't exactly sure where to start his search. He was given a list of names that could potentially tell him where Kieran had gone off to and nothing more.

It was so busy here. He felt eyes on him from every direction and felt the need to get off these busy streets and find somewhere quieter. He was supposed to go unnoticed and he probably was but he didn't feel it. Owen veered off in a southern direction and to his relief, the flow of people was much less. He continued in this direction, watching his surroundings so he could remember where he was and where he had been.

"Hey boy. Do you have some change?" An old man held out his hands and Owen looked confused.

"Change?"

"Money? Some coins to spare?"

Owen felt the coins in his pocket. The man obviously looked like he was in an emergency situation and needed them. His clothes were rags and stained, his teeth were missing in the front and his skin was like worn leather. Owen offered him a smile and pulled out a couple of his coins. He dropped them into the old man's extended hand.

"That's all I have. I hope it helps you." Owen told him.

"Thanks kid."

"You're welcome."

There were all sorts of people here with different bodies and skin coloring. Owen caught himself staring at certain people that would grab his attention. These people reminded him of the spirits he left. Their faces were warm and glowing. They smiled with their eyes and didn't seem to be in such a hurry. He sat on a bench with one such person and stopped to listen to the conversation she was having with her friend. They were talking about some sort of day called a birth day and there was to be a party.

"Excuse me?" Owen interrupted. "Could you tell me what day it is today?"

The woman grinned down at him. "It's the twenty fourth." She answered.

"Thank you."

"No problem." She replied and turned back to her conversation.

That seemed like a good day to have a birthday. It was his day of birth here and that would be his birthday; the twenty fourth.

There were others that Owen couldn't walk by. These people were busy and serious. The lines on their faces told him these people seemed older than what they were. They didn't smile and they didn't laugh. They were merely here to exist. Owen thought it a shame that one would only choose to exist and not to live. The differences between the people here were astounding to him and Owen knew which type he would stick close by.

He caught the scent of food in the air. There were numerous people lined up in front of structures or walking away from them with wrapped packages that they quickly brought to their mouths. He walked towards one of them and looked at the list of what he could only think was food but he didn't recognize any of it. He did, however, recognize that it smelled very good.

"You look lost." A young man commented from the opening of the structure while wiping his hands on a towel. It took Owen by surprise and he looked up to meet the man's eyes.

"I'm a little lost." Owen answered honestly.

"Where are your parents?"

"They're coming."

"Do they work down here or are you spending the day at the fountains?"

"The fountains but they told me to meet them there. I'm just unsure where the fountains are." Owen was lying now which didn't feel great but he did it only out of necessity.

"Oh, you're going the right way. Just two more blocks that way. You can't miss them." The man pointed to the left of Owen and Owen looked in the direction then back at the board.

"Thanks. What do you put in a breakfast burrito? What is that?"

"It's kind of like a sandwich."

"A sandwich?"

"You're not from around here are you?" The man started dishing out certain foods on a piece of flat bread.

"No. I'm just visiting." Owen answered.

"No kidding." He wrapped the sandwich in some foil and handed it down to Owen.

"I can't. I don't have any money."

"It's okay. Welcome to my neighborhood. Get to the fountains though. Don't wander the streets by yourself."

"That's nice of you." Owen took the sandwich from him.

"Have a good one."

Owen waved goodbye and went in the direction that he was told to. The sandwich was warm in his hand and he couldn't help but unwrap it and bring it to his mouth. He took a tentative bite and decided it was delicious. While walking with a group of people, across a busy street, he ate quickly thinking that this breakfast burrito was the best thing he had ever eaten in his short life here.

*****

Today was one of those days that working in that stuffy old building would be a challenge. It was already hot outside and with the air conditioning out of order it would be that much more difficult. I rolled my eyes at what else the day was handing to me when I saw my coworker for the day waltzing up to the door with a playful grin on his face. He thought he was funny. I thought he was incredibly annoying.

"Gwynne, you are looking extra groovy this morning. That is the term they used when people wore clothes like that right?"

"Good morning Phil. It's always such a pleasure to share a shift with you." I smiled sarcastically turning the key in the lock.

"It's Phillip."

"Whatever. And by the way, these dresses are in style now."

"Well that's good for you isn't it. You won't stick out as much then."

"You're hilarious." I replied dryly.

I shoved the door open and my nose was filled with the scent of used books and old building. I marched towards the fan on the counter and turned it to high, purposely catching the breeze as it turned in my direction. I really didn't mind working in a used book store. It was much better than the new ones with all their silly trinkets and overpriced glossy books that would only turn up here in the next year anyway. I much preferred the worn covers and used pages as it gave the books character. Especially when the grandmothers wrote notes on the sides of their recipe book pages never thinking, that after they passed on, their old books would be dropped off here to be resold to new grandmothers. It was the history of the place that made me stay. The coworkers were a side irritation.

I was always teased for my taste in fashion but being a free spirit, I liked soft and unrestricted. I never liked the clothes that I would find in the windows these days because they seemed to be the complete opposite of that description. Thrift shops were great for me because I was able to find things that I could bring back to life. Who cares what I looked like. I didn't think I looked that bad and I worked in a used bookstore. I wasn't about to make a fashion statement here.

Yes people called me a hippie. They said it to make fun of me but I was secretly proud of it. I lived for myself and those I loved, I recognized who was less fortunate and tried to remain humble. I disliked what had become of this world and tried to be my best self to counteract the negative people that I came into contact with on a daily basis. I didn't want to be locked into an idea of what society thought women should be. I just wanted to be. Some people just didn't get it, including Phillip. Although, some days, I would catch him staring which gave me the impression there was more to his teasing then just trying to be mean.

Walking to the safe in the back of the store, I pulled out the drawer for the cash register. I didn't think we would be very busy today and I hoped, to save me from conversing with Phillip, there would be some donations to go through. I could always pretend to be cleaning the second level. He hadn't been there the day before and wouldn't know that I was just up there doing that exact thing yesterday.

Phillip turned the sign from closed to open and walked towards the stack of books on the floor that hadn't been put away from the night before. All I really knew of him was that he was studying pharmaceuticals at the university. He wasn't married but did have a kid. I didn't know whether the child was a girl or a boy and I wasn't willing to find out either. It wasn't that I totally disliked him. He was okay when he wanted to be. There were just some people that I didn't click with and he was one of them.

The customers started to come in; a lot of them were just here to look and if they saw something they liked they might buy it or they might just go to the library. Some people were weary of buying used books. They were worried about the usual stuff; mostly germs and bed bugs. Whenever I was questioned if I had ever come across a bed bug in a book, I took the usual stance that I hadn't. Little critters were everywhere. If someone was going to live in fear of something or situations, it would eventually happen to them. It was an unwritten law.

"I'm just going to make coffee." Phillip pointed towards the back and I nodded in agreement. I had to admit, he did make a good pot of coffee.

*****

Owen didn't like the way the man in the uniform watched him. At first it was from a distance and then it became closer. He felt like the old man knew something about him but that was a ridiculous assumption. How could he? Maybe it was the fact that Owen didn't have a guardian by his side. Most of the children here, splashing in the pools of water, did have one. He must have looked out of place.

Owen rolled his pants up and stepped into the cool water. He had sat on the bench and watched the world around him for a while now. The water looked inviting but he didn't have the nerve to try it until he thought he should, just to look like he wasn't loitering. It worked for a little bit. The old man got distracted by some older children playing roughly in one of the larger fountains. Apparently there was no one permitted to enjoy that one.

Owen thought it best to move on and he took that moment to walk away. This would be the hard part; not to get noticed as a young person hanging around with no guardian. They told him that would be difficult and yet Owen still insisted that he come here. They were right to question his request and he probably should have thought it out more but he knew there would be someone here to help him on his journey. He just had to recognize them and trust that they would help. Owen thought that he would know who it was when he saw them; it would be an instant feeling of connection.

He walked by an old building. It was oddly placed, like it had been built here before the newer looking ones. It was a wood and brick building with a large window in the front. In the window there were many books on display. They were worn and used but standing proudly as if they were alive and wanted the attention of a passerby. There were people coming and going from its door; some were bringing in bags of books while others were taking one or two out. He thought if they could enter the building there would be no reason why he couldn't. He decided to take a chance and followed a woman into the old wood structure.

The large open room was dusty and you could see the particles of dust floating in the air by the light that shone through the window. The books in the window display were not the only ones. There were books everywhere. Owen was quite happy with this discovery. There seemed to be no rushing those that were looking at the items. Some were sitting on the floor and taking their time reading while others were standing against various walls looking at the literature they had just discovered. This was a perfect place to get familiar with where he was just dropped and smiling to himself, he went about the room searching to see what discoveries he could find.

*****

I saw him as soon as he entered the store. Just a kid following a lady that had no idea a child was behind her. He seemed almost relieved that he had come in here. No kid looks relieved to be coming to a used bookstore. He was just a boy but looked older somehow. Maybe it was the way he carried his worn messenger bag over his shoulder, he stood tall like he had every confidence; a college student in a child's body. His hair was light brown, his complexion fair and glowing. It was like nothing of this earth had touched him yet and he had just been born. He wore a black t-shirt with tanned khaki cargo pants and black sneakers. It looked like his clothes had been picked right off the rack of a high end children's clothing store but they didn't seem to be what he normally wore. I didn't know why I thought that. It was weird to see someone and even think that. Maybe it was the way he looked around, like he had never seen a used bookstore before, or any kind of bookstore for that matter.

I also found myself searching my memory because I swear we had met before. He was so familiar to me but I just couldn't place him. Watching him browse the shelves was literally heart breaking because I felt like I missed him. What were these feelings? They were coming out of nowhere and were so uncomfortable but yet he intrigued me so much that I couldn't stop staring. I must have been staring a little too long because it caught his attention and yet I refused to look away.

Owen saw the woman behind the counter watching him. It was different though. She wasn't watching him thinking he was up to no good. She watched him out of curiosity. He smiled and waved at her and she returned it. This woman was one of the people that he sensed he could be around and wanted to be around. Here face had a carefree happiness to it. She was tall with long dark brown hair that was left loose and fell below her shoulders. Her eyes were friendly and she didn't look like the women that were racing around him this morning. They wore masks of color. This woman's color was natural. As natural as the flowers in the gardens he had just spent the morning in. He would remember her.

I walked around the counter to the boy that was now staring at me. Crossing my arms, I stepped towards him and welcomed him with a smile.

"Hi. Can I help you find something?" I asked.

His eyes held a playful twinkle and shone back at me. They were a hazel brown that turned gold when the sun from the window hit them just right.

"Is it okay if I look at your books?" Owen asked.

"Sure. There's kid's stuff upstairs." I answered cocking my head to the side. "But something tells me that really wouldn't interest you."

"I can try them. I would really like some information on this place."

"What place? This store?"

"No. This city."

"Oh. Alright. Are you visiting?"

"Yes."

"Sure. Follow me."

Owen was happy to follow close behind. He knew why she didn't wear a mask. It was because she didn't need to. She had subtle tiny brown dots that were placed on the bridge of her nose and her eyes were grey, like a storm was coming. He saw her mind and it was open. That was a good sign.

They went up the stairs and towards the back. She picked some books from a shelf and handed him two specific ones. They were full of photos and he recognized the place that he had spent the morning. Apparently it's where they housed the government and the public were permitted to be there. How interesting it was that the government got the beautiful gardens and the people traveled around on hard concrete. Owen didn't think it was fair.

"So you're good?" I asked stepping away from him.

"Yes, thank you." He answered already fascinated with what he was looking at.

"You're welcome. If you're interested, the fiction for your age is just over there." I pointed to the opposite corner from where we stood.

"Is it okay if I sit?"

"Sure. Everyone else does. Can I ask you...are you expecting your parents to come by here?"

"I have to meet them in a little while. They're just meeting with others."

"Meeting with others?" I asked confused. "Like at an appointment?"

"Yes. That's it. An appointment."

The way he tried to explain his parents where-a-bouts gave me more questions in my gut than answers but because he seemed so well taken care of I didn't give him a hard time. Instead, I took my leave and went back down to the main floor to continue sifting through books that people were dropping off.

"Where were you?" Phillip asked taking a stack of books out of a box.

"I was just helping a customer." I told him. "Isn't that why we're here?"

"Nobody ever asks for help when they come in here."

"Well, there's a first for everything." I answered glancing towards the stairs.

*****

The store was starting to empty and Owen knew that he had to figure out what his next move would be. He was hungry and thirsty and being so alone in this place made him miss Kieran desperately. He closed the book and secured his bag across his shoulders. When he walked down the stairs he didn't see the woman that helped him earlier. He only saw a man who stared at Owen with a raised eyebrow as he left the store. Owen felt the coins in his pocket but had a feeling it wasn't enough to buy any sort of food and he wasn't about to walk all the way back to the kind stranger from this morning. That would certainly draw attention to him. Instead, Owen walked the other way but only a little bit. He wanted to wait and see if the woman would come out of the store. She couldn't stay in there forever.

He stood under the cover of a shelter made of clear plastic after noticing that large containers on wheels stopped at these places and people got on and off. It seemed a good place to stay without being noticed. The sun was lower in the sky and he hoped that the woman hadn't left before him. He stared at the door, willing her to step out and see him.

The only one Owen saw was the man and his heart sank just a little bit.

*****

Turning the open sign to closed I stepped out to the setting sun casting grey shadows on the pavement. It would be dark soon. August was a sign that the summer would soon be over and the snow would start to fall. I looked forward to the cooler nights but did not look forward to the long bleak winters and often fantasized about being one of those people that would move to some part of Arizona for the winter. Although the thoughts were nice, those realities needed money and some months I could barely make rent. Still, there was nothing wrong with harmless day dreams.

I walked quickly, glancing at various people as they passed me. A bus was stopping to drop off passengers and to pick up those who needed a ride. I could have taken the bus but needed a walk after being in that stuffy store all day. What caught my attention was a recognizable face, slumped down, looking alone and just a little scared. It didn't register right away and the face turned up to see me as I walked by. I took a few more steps; confused as to where I saw that face before and why a young child was in a bus shelter all by himself. My eyebrows scrunched together even more and I backtracked, stopping in front of the Plexiglas that contained the boy; the boy that had been in the store earlier that day. He got to his feet from the small metal bench, walked around the bus shelter, and came to stand in front of me.

"What are you doing here all by yourself?" I asked confused. "You told me your parents were coming to get you after their appointments."

Owen kicked the ground. "I don't have any parents." He admitted guiltily and shoved his hands in his pockets looking down. It was true. Even where he came from he had no guardians.

I took a step back letting this information sink in. "Should I be taking you to a police station?" I asked.

"Who are the police?" He answered confused.

"Wait, what's going on here? What's your name?"

"They call me Owen."

"They? Who's They?"

"The ones who sent me here. I requested to come."

This kid was now officially starting to freak me out. He appeared well kept. He looked very well taken care of but something wasn't right. He looked like I probably had when I was his age. It wasn't a memory that I enjoyed having. I had nothing; no home and no one and I took care of myself from an early age. This moment was bringing me back to that place that I didn't wish to travel to mentally or emotionally.

"I have to get home, Owen. You better get back to wherever it is you came from." I told him starting to step away.

Owen watched as she left. He thought that she would help him. He knew she was a good person and he was hopeful that she wouldn't leave him stranded. What did he know really? He was on a blind search for a brother, left alone, in this stupid existence, where no one seemed willing to offer anything like help. He was frustrated and scared but frozen in this spot because he didn't know what to do or where to go. Then, when he was just about to go back into the bus shelter, she turned around.

He managed a small smile and I snapped my fingers trying to figure out what to do. I wanted to leave him. My evening plans did not include a babysitting gig but he obviously needed something and someone and I would hate myself if anything bad were to happen to him.

"My name's Gwynne." I told him.

"It's nice to meet you." Owen replied quietly.

"Have you had anything to eat today?"

"I had something called a breakfast burrito. A man gave it to me this morning."

"You took food from a stranger! Why would you do that?!" I demanded.

"He made it in one of those things with wheels. He gave it to me."

"Oh." I crossed my arms and looked down at him. "Well I guess that's okay. You must be hungry."

"Yes." He replied.

"Fine. Look, I don't have a lot but I can't leave you out here. I kind of know how you're feeling right now. I don't want to know your life story but I do need to know what you're doing here. Care for some food while you tell me the basics?"

"I can come with you?" He asked a little surprised.

"Yeah." With a nod of my chin I pivoted on my heel in the direction I was previously headed. "I think so. I'm not sure but I really can't leave you here."

"I promise I won't be a bother." Owen perked up then and came to my side.

"Good. It's nice to meet you Owen."

"It's nice to meet you too." He answered grinning up at me, his faith in humanity restored.

We walked together towards my apartment building. There was a little grocery store across the street from it and I stopped in and got some meager ingredients to make the kid some supper. I asked what he liked but he just shrugged and browsed the shelves like he had never seen anything like it before. In the end I purchased a cooked chicken, bread and some produce. I had nothing in my apartment and this would have to do until I got paid tomorrow. It was my last twenty bucks.

I thanked the cashier for my change and took the bags out the door with Owen right on my heels. He followed closely, watching his surroundings but I could tell he was tired and needed to stop for the day. With the street light in our favor, we crossed towards the walk up apartment building and I let us in. The good thing about living where I did was that my unit was on the bottom floor so it was cooler and more comfortable, especially on a hot and muggy August night.

"Come on in. Like I said, it's not much but it's home." I held the door open for him and he tentatively stepped inside.

Owen studied his surroundings. It was an old place. It had wood floors and plaster walls. There was a floor covering in the living room with a couple old couches. It was clean, it was cozy and it was the best thing, besides the fountains, that he had seen all day.

"You okay?" I asked looking down at him beside me.

"I don't know. I guess so." He answered.

"Well, tell you what. I'll make you something to eat and then you can tell me what's on your mind."

Owen watched as I left him then found a seat on one of the couches. It felt better then it looked and, getting a little more comfortable, he took his bag off his shoulder and set it down beside him. There were pillows tossed about. The couches were covered with various blankets, made of thick string, and faced each other with a blue wood table in the middle covered with colorful glass looking squares. There were candles put on tables as well as plants in little bowls. Books lined shelves that were on either side of a different type of wall than all the others. It had brown stones making a sort of frame for a piece of machinery that he didn't recognize. A piece of reflective glass hung above the brown stone and he stood on his tip toes to see what he looked like. He didn't know yet.

"What are you doing?" I asked bringing in a plate of food and a glass of milk.

"I wanted to see what I looked like."

"You say that like you don't know." I chuckled nervously.

"I don't."

"You don't know what you look like?" I asked setting the food down.

Owen shrugged knowing full well the words sounded very strange.

"Okay, well here. Step up on the couch and then you can see. Just take your shoes off first."

Owen did as he was told and took a step onto the couch. He had to lean over a little bit. He was now Gwynne's height and she looked with him in the mirror. Owen was surprised. He had some idea what they made him to look like, from reflections in windows, but this was the first time he saw his face clearly. He touched it to make sure it was real.

"Gwynne?" He asked quietly.

"Yeah?"

"Am I nice looking?" He asked.

I smiled at him in our reflection. It was the sweetest question from a boy his age.

"Yes Owen. You're very nice looking. You have nothing to worry about."

"Like you?"

Tilting my head, I studied the face that looked back at me. "Sure. Like me."

"What's that stone looking stuff on your wall?" He pointed to the brown rectangles.

"That's brick. I guess it would be called a hearth."

"And that?" He pointed to the black machine that the brick surrounded.

"That's just an old electric fireplace."

"It's nice."

"You don't know what brick is?" I asked watching him come down from the sofa.

"No. I don't know a lot of things about this place."

I rubbed my forehead sitting on the opposite couch. This was starting to get to me now. I had a feeling I would have to hear his whole life story. That, or call the police and I really didn't want to call the police.

"Just eat please." I told him.

Owen looked at the plate of food that I had brought him. He picked up the eating utensil and poked at the chicken then shyly glanced at me.

"What is it?"

"It's chicken." I sighed.

"Oh."

He didn't know what chicken was but didn't think it would be a good thing to say that out loud. Deciding it looked safe enough, he took a small bite and figured he liked it. The more of the items he tasted the faster he ate. He didn't realize how hungry he was until now and he finished every last crumb and drop as Gwynne watched.

"Better?" I asked.

"Much better." He grinned.

"Good. Now start talking." It probably came out more demanding then I intended but I wanted to know who he was.

"I need to find my brother." Owen said.

"Your brother? Well what's his number? I can call him and tell him to pick you up."

"I don't know where he is. I came here to find him."

"Huh. You don't know where your brother is?"

"He came here two years ago to investigate a theory of his. I'm not exactly sure what it was but he requested to come here to see if it would work."

"Okay, so he's here." I reiterated.

"Somewhere."

"And you're from...?" I asked.

"You'll get upset with me." Owen cringed.

"Owen, I will not get upset with you." I replied exasperated.

"You're already unsure about me. I can see you are."

"Just...tell me."

"I'm not from this reality."

I grinned at him like he had just told me the stupidest joke. He never grinned back.

"What?" I asked.

"I was dropped here today from a different place than where you exist."

"You're serious?"

Owen nodded back and the way he looked at me...the way his eyes held mine to reach into the depths of my thoughts; the depths of my life as Gwynne, shocked me like a punch to my gut.

"Oh my God!" I got up and began pacing. I was right. I should have never stopped to help.

Owen let me pace. He sat very stoically on the sofa and folded his hands together. He didn't know if I would believe him. He could only hope.

"Will you excuse me for just a second?" I asked but left without waiting for an answer.

I tried not to run but made a bee line for the bathroom. Shutting myself behind the door I locked it and slid down to the floor bringing my knees to my chest. I had an alien in my apartment, or that's what he was telling me. He didn't look like an alien. He looked like a regular kid. He ate like a kid, he had a childlike curiosity, and he got nervous like a child did. I should know. I had that same look in my eyes, on the street, when I was his age. What was I supposed to do with this information? I had a friggin' alien in my apartment?

The thing was...he wasn't scary. Who was I to think that he could be harmful? Didn't I often wonder if there was more to outer space than just us? Of course I did. I hoped we weren't the only ones floating around in all that blackness. Now I was getting a taste of it; a dish of science fiction handed to me because I asked for it for thinking that way. At least he was in human form. I didn't think I could take looking at a lizard-like thing in my personal space. That's how they were portrayed here but Owen was nothing like that. He was a human child to me and that's exactly how I would think of him. I had to. I didn't want to open any other can of worms right now.

I got to my feet and opened the door. Poking my head out, I looked both ways before exiting and walked back to the living room. I saw him sitting in the exact spot in the exact same position. He heard me coming but didn't turn to greet me.

"How do I know what you're saying is true." I asked.

Owen didn't answer. He simply stood and lifted up the back of his shirt to reveal a silver gray, almost shiny type of symbol that was engraved vertically down his spine. It was between his shoulder blades and I didn't know what it meant but reached out to touch it with my palm. It vibrated subtly under my touch and I quickly withdrew my hand.

Owen let his shirt drop and straightened. He turned to me but kept his eyes to the ground.

"There's something else."

"Break it to me gently." I told him.

The boy before me brought his hands up, palms facing toward the ceiling. I covered my mouth in shock at what he was showing me. There was nothing there but hollowness. No lines, no fingerprints, nothing. The skin of his hands was bare like a china doll's but deep because they held the whole of space.

"Holy shit." I took a step back and then another. "Are you really just a child or is that just what They made you?"

"I'm not of age yet."

"I have no idea what that means! Are you just a child where you come from? Yes or no."

"Yes. I guess you could say that." Owen sat on the couch heavily. He felt defeated.

"Where's your brother? What's his name?" I demanded.

"They call him Kieran."

"And he's just a boy as well?"

"No. He's a man."

"Great. Fantastic." I said sarcastically. "Does he know you're here?"

"No. I think he's lost. We lost contact. I begged them to let me come and find him. If I can't find him they'll abandon him." Owen was close to tears and my guard dropped a little.

I came to sit with him on the couch and, staring at the ceiling, said a silent prayer to whatever angel was with me at this precise moment.

"Why wouldn't They send your parents?" I asked trying to sound calmer.

"I don't have any guardians. It's my responsibility. He's my only blood."

"Please don't say blood." I lowered my face into my hands and shook my head.

Turning, Owen met my gaze with his eyes.

"Can you keep my secret?" He whispered.

I paused before answering him. There was this feeling in my belly of hesitation but the look on his face spoke more to my heart.

"Yes. I will keep your secret."

"Can you help me find Kieran?"

"I can try."

"Now?"

"Owen, if he's been here for two years, another night will not make a difference."

"But..."

"No, it's late. You've been wandering the streets all day. We can talk more in the morning."

"You mean I'm not going back outside?"

"Of course not. You can stay here. Just promise me you won't show me anything I'm not ready for."

"Like what?"

"Well, I just...don't show me what you really look like. Not just yet."

"This is what I look like."

"Do you look like this back where you come from."

"No."

"Well then, that's what I mean. Keep that under wraps."

"Okay."

"Promise me." I told him seriously.

"I promise but it's not scary."

"Says you."

I couldn't help but chuckle. Owen giggled back and I nudged him with my shoulder.

"I hope I can help you." I told him.

"You already have, Gwynne."

*****

Kieran could feel it and the assumptions troubled him. He didn't want to think it. Why would They send him here? It wasn't the time. He was so close to finishing what he came here to do and it was a good thing because he was being closely watched. That he knew for sure.

He found his wallet and paid the large man the cash for a job well done. Kieran only came here to have his skin inked. All drawings, images and words that he brought in were immediately destroyed. The artist knew a thing or two about keeping secrets as he had plenty of his own and warrants out for his arrest to prove it. Kieran knew the people he could trust because they were the most untrusted people here. It didn't take an expert to know secrets attracted secrets.

"Thanks man. That's the last one." Kieran spoke to the large man cleaning up, although not very well.

"Any time. Pleasure."

"You might want to get him to your table. He looks like he could use a lay down." Kieran gestured to a man that had just shot up and was looking like he had been transported into a different kind of space.

"Whatever. I'm not carrying him. I got a bad back."

Kieran smiled sarcastically. "Sure you do. Later."

The music thumped everywhere. The strobe lights flashed around him. In the little flickers, Kieran saw the faces of the night stare at him as he left. He never wished this place on anyone. If the police ever got word that something like this was happening, right under their noses, all these people would be going to jail for the rest of their lives.

He shook his head and rolled his eyes as he passed by a woman that was obviously just paid to do what she was doing to some clown in a suit. Kieran wondered what his wife would think if she knew her husband was having acts of so called pleasure performed on him, in the middle of a sleazy bar, with eyes to watch every move. He only guessed he was married by the gold band that encircled his finger. What did it matter these days? Every type of person kept secrets no matter how disturbing.

Kieran walked the dark streets towards the room he rented. It was a neighborhood that one did not walk in without knowing everything that was happening around them. He thought the suit guy from the bar was an idiot. As soon as he was done paying for pleasure there would be people waiting for him to get what they could. Kieran knew because some had tried with him. They had failed miserably and now Kieran's face was recognized. Only the prostitutes that were new to the area didn't know who he was and tried their best to seduce him. It never worked.

He shoved the motel room door open and stood at the entrance, feeling for anything that was different. He couldn't feel anything so he turned on the light and flung his coat on the unmade bed. Pulling off his shirt, Kieran went to the bathroom and turned around so he could see his back in the mirror. The coding lightly glowed in the low light of the hanging bulb. It was true.

The rage that surged through him was enough to burn a witch at the stake. He drew his arm back, and making a fist, punched the tiled wall. The tile shattered giving way to drywall but Kieran never felt a thing. He screamed out in frustration.

"Why the fuck would you do that!" He shouted to the air. "What the hell is wrong with you?! He's only a boy. You shits!"

Kieran ran his hands through his thick brown hair. Punching the wall again, he turned and left the bathroom. Now he had to find him. He had to get out of here and find him before those that watched knew the kid was even here.

He was livid.

Kieran glanced around then, making the only decision he knew to make, started collecting his few belongings. He didn't own a lot; just a few pieces of clothing, some toiletries and a laptop. He had no use for more than that. He wasn't planning on living here for the rest of his life.

His backpack packed and with a last look around the room, Kieran pulled open the door and slammed it shut. He went towards the office to check out and pay his last bill.

"Did you enjoy your stay?" The old man looked up from his television. He had an old rusty metal fan blowing a little air around but the small office still smelled of cured meats and stale beer.

"Sure. I'll tell all the friends, I don't have, about the place. The service has been superb." Kieran snapped back.

"The chamber maids got tired of cleaning your crap for the last year."

"What crap? You were lucky to rent to me. I'm better than the dealer you pretend not to know about...or maybe you do. Did you get your hit today?"

"Get lost. You make people uncomfortable. If I see you around here again I'll have you taken care of."

Kieran laughed out loud at the empty threat. "You think so? Have a nice life. I have to say you look like you're enjoying it."

Without saying goodbye he walked back into the night.

Kieran had an idea where the boy would be dropped off and decided to start there. He hopped on a bus that went in the general direction and moving towards the back, he took a seat beside a bunch of rowdy kids. Not paying attention to them, he stared out the window.

"Hey look at that guy. He's so serious. Why so serious pally?" A young girl, who was obviously drunk, came and sat in front of him.

"Get lost." Kieran told her.

"Aw, someone's in a bad mood. You're hot. What's your name?"

"What's yours?" Kieran nodded his chin in her direction.

"No way. I asked you first."

"Don." He lied.

"Hi Don. Where are you headed to so late at night?"

"None of your business."

"Come on. Maybe my friends and your friends could have some fun together."

"Not happening."

"Is there anything I can do to convince you otherwise?" The young girl brought a leg up a little too high and he could see she wasn't wearing anything under her already too short skirt.

"How old are you?" He asked feigning interest.

"Why?" She answered sweetly.

Kieran narrowed his eyes at her. "Because you look sixteen!"

"Screw you! I do not. I'm twenty five."

"Bull shit. Now, how 'bout you do us both a favor; go back to your girlfriends and leave me alone. Okay sweetheart?"

She spit on him and stood. Kieran scowled and wiped his face.

"Fine. You're an asshole anyway. Probably a terrible lay." She went back to her friends who were laughing at her failure with him, and crossed her arms to pout. Kieran moved towards the front of the bus.

As he watched the city go by, he wondered what the boy was up to right now. He was probably scared and alone somewhere. He had no idea where the boy would go. He hadn't seen him in two years and didn't even know what They had made him look like. The day Kieran left, both their hearts broke but Kieran promised he'd be back with great discoveries. Well, he had the discovery but now he was on a rescue mission, or what he assumed would be. He needed to get closer to the drop point to know for sure if what he sensed was the truth. The way his signature started to glow he was sure he was right.

Kieran got off the bus and walked south. This was where he was dropped when he first arrived; he assumed it would be the same for the boy. The streets were empty over here. There was no one to see him and he took the liberty of putting down his pack and looking around. Where could he have gone? Who would he have gone to? He wouldn't have just stayed here. He would have found a place of safety for the night. Who would take a lost boy off the streets but the police? He couldn't go to the police.

Kieran felt his back grow a little more energized than earlier at the motel. The boy wasn't far. He had been here. Now Kieran just had to feel his way towards him. This was going to be a long night but it was the best time to search. Too many people on the streets caused a mix of energies and it would be too difficult to feel anything. Kieran went west. It was the only direction he got a solid vibe from.

*****

I couldn't sleep. It was now three in the morning and I was getting frustrated. I hadn't heard anything from the living room for hours but had been too nervous to check on him. Now I thought I would.

Rolling out of my bed, I tossed on an old sweater and walked down the hall to where he slept. Owen had requested that I leave the small lamp on that sat on the bookshelf. He didn't want to be in the dark in a place he didn't know. I didn't mind as the dark made me nervous too. The floor boards squeaked a cry of resistance when I walked into the living room and I cursed silently but didn't hear Owen wake. There he was. He was sleeping on his stomach, his mouth was slightly parted and his breath was soft. His back was visible and I looked down at the markings along his spine. It was as if he was a cow on a cattle farm and had been branded. How awful.

I crouched down to brush at his hair. He was a good looking kid. I wondered what his parents would have looked like if he had any. According to him he did not. I never really knew my parents. My father had taken off when I wasn't even born yet and my mother had every good intention to be a mom but it just wasn't her calling. I was taken away and lived in various foster homes but at sixteen, I couldn't take it anymore and walked away. I had nothing. Owen had nothing. This was what we had in common.

What was I going to do with him if we couldn't find his brother? He wasn't an animal that I could just decide to keep. He wasn't even a human child that I could decide to keep. Not that I could keep a human child to begin with. There were rules about that kind of stuff. I didn't want to think of him in foster care. As soon as they took a look at his hands he would be sent to some sort of research facility and poked and prodded. The thought made me sick.

A soft glow, that only lingered for a split second caught my attention. It came from the symbols on Owen's back. I watched in awe as I saw the movement; soft glow, dark, soft glow, dark. It was like something was making it go off. Owen shifted in his sleep and started talking in some sort of language that I didn't understand. It was so unrecognizable that I compared it to speaking in tongues. What he said in English I was not surprised with.

"Kieran, I'm over here."

Of course Owen was dreaming of his brother being that Kieran was the only thing on his mind. Why wouldn't he be dreaming of him? When the markings glowed silver again I stood and went to the window. I couldn't watch it anymore. As human as he looked, there were obvious differences that I was just not comfortable with yet.

I pulled the curtain back to reveal darkness. A light rain had fallen and painted the streets with a sheen that would rise as steam in the morning sun. Something else was out there though. I squinted my eyes, not really sure that I seen it, but a man had been standing on the sidewalk. He seemed to be staring at my window. It startled me and I put the curtain back. When I peeked out again, there was no one there. I swear I had seen something. I swear there was someone there. The man was only a shadow in the dark but he was there just a split second ago. Maybe it was just someone coming back from the bar. Just maybe there wasn't a stranger looking at my apartment building, or worse, at my window.

Glancing back at Owen I wondered if anyone else knew he had come here. He said he had traveled alone but did he really travel by himself? Was there a protector that he didn't know about? Who knew? Even if Owen was extraterrestrial, he still seemed and acted like a child. It didn't matter because the feeling from who or whatever was outside my window was that they were no protector of anyone. Turning to go back to my room, I wished, at that moment, that I owned a very large dog.

*****

Owen woke to the sound of birds outside the window. He didn't mind. It was a nice sound and he turned over on his back to listen to them. He had fallen asleep without any difficulty and that could have been because he was so tired but he felt like he rested deeply and was ready to start his search today. He heard water running and reached for his clothing to cover up. The bathroom door was locked and that's where the water was coming from. He waited patiently by the door until Gwynne finished. Being in human form, there were things he wasn't used to having to do and using a toilet was one of them. The urge was getting strong. Every second felt like five minutes and, giving into desperation, Owen knocked quietly on the door.

"Yeah?" I asked.

"I'm sorry Gwynne but could I use the bathroom for just a minute?"

"Oh sure." I opened the door and saw him anxiously waiting. "Sleep okay?"

"Yeah. Slept great." He pushed past me and locked the door behind him.

I occupied myself in the kitchen, starting the coffee maker and opening the fridge to find the fruit I had purchased the night before. It wasn't much but with some oatmeal and yogurt it would have to do.

"Gwynne?" Owen asked, peeking his head around the corner.

"Yes sir?"

"Can I use your water to clean up?"

"My water? Oh, you mean my shower?"

"Is that what it is?"

"Yes. You can use my shower. There are towels in the bottom cupboard."

"Great." Owen left and I heard the water turn on not long after.

With breakfast on the go I went to my bedroom and threw on some jeans and a blouse. I only had to work half a shift today and then I promised Owen we would start on the search. I prayed I worked with Meaghan today as she would probably let me skip out a little early and never tell a soul. We had a side deal that way. I scratched her back and she scratched mine.

"Owen, come on. Breakfast is done. I need to get to work." I knocked on the bathroom door and the shower stopped.

Sitting at the kitchen table, I brought my coffee to my lips and sipped. If there was one thing I wouldn't skimp on, it was buying good coffee.

"Sorry Gwynne." Owen sat opposite of me looking at the dishes before him.

"That's okay. So, I have to work for a couple hours today but then I'm all yours. Care to hang out at the store for a little bit?"

"I don't mind. I like to read what I can." He picked up a scoop of oatmeal and eyed it curiously. He then looked to me with questions in his eyes.

"Owen, I may not be a great cook but I do make good oatmeal. Go on. Give it a try."

True to my word, the cereal was good and he ate it quickly along with everything else.

"Okay, clean up the couch and I'll clean up in here and then we have to run." I told him taking dishes to the sink.

"Got it." He walked into the living room to do as he was told.

I needed to ask him about last night. I needed to know if there was anyone else here. The memory of the man standing on the sidewalk outside my living room window un-nerved me and if it was something I needed to be worried about, I needed to start preparing.

"Owen?"

"Yeah?" He answered from the other room.

"Did anyone come with you when you were dropped here? Like someone for protection or anything?"

"No. I can't have others dropped with me. It would draw too much attention."

"Huh." I wiped the last of the crumbs into the sink with a furrowed brow.

"Why?" Owen walked into the kitchen with his bag across his shoulders.

"Nothing. I just thought I saw someone looking into my window last night."

"No one knows I'm here except those who sent me."

"Could anyone know? Is there any possible person that could know you're here?" I dried my hands and went to put on my shoes.

"I don't think so. I'm sorry Gwynne. I don't know much about this traveling stuff."

"Then why would They send you? Why would They send a kid that doesn't know what he's doing? Why not an older person...or whatever it is you are?"

"I asked." Owen answered simply.

"You asked." I stared back at him not believing his answer. "Fine. Let's go."

*****

One night down and nothing. Not one clue about where the boy could be. Kieran decided he would go another direction tonight. The strongest feeling he got was close to this area so he thought he would stick around here for the day. First, though, he did need to sleep and he would grab a couple hours at the library. Kieran had done that a handful of times. Just grab a book and pretend to read. Those were the first couple months of his life here until he found a night job where they didn't ask questions and just expected him to play a security guard. Easy gig, decent pay, and they agreed to pay cash. Plus, it was at the university, so when he knew he was alone he could do his work and no one ever knew. Not until David. Fucking David.

Kieran drank his second cup of coffee and played with his eggs. He wasn't really hungry and didn't have the stomach for the breakfast the waitress gave him. He was anxious because he felt that the time to return home was drawing near but he couldn't because now he had to find this kid.

"You barely ate a thing." The waitress stepped up to the table and studied the leftover food on the plate.

"Sorry. I guess I'm not as hungry as I thought." Kieran put his fork down on the plate and crumpled his napkin, tossing it on the table.

"Can I get you something else?"

"No. Thanks though."

"Alright." She started clearing his plate away.

"Hey. I was just wondering...have you seen a boy hanging around? About nine years old; just by himself?" Kieran thought he'd take a chance and ask.

"No. I can't say that I have." She answered.

"Thanks anyway." Kieran smiled uneasily.

"Do you want me to pack that up for you?"

"Would you eat this as a snack?" He gestured to the cold eggs and smiled at her.

"Probably not." She chuckled taking the plate from him. "I still like to ask though."

He took out the money for the food from his wallet, put it on the table and left. The streets were getting busy with the morning commuters. There were far too many people to do anything now. Kieran swung his backpack over his shoulder. The library was calling to him.

It would be cooler today. There were more clouds in the sky than the previous morning. Kieran walked past a used bookstore and got the sense that he should stop in. He peered through the windows to see if there was any movement inside. All the lights were off and there were just walls and tables of books surrounded in stillness. It wasn't open yet so he made a mental note to come back this way later. There was definitely something in this shop that he had to look into further.

*****

"Hey Meaghan. Sorry I'm a little late." I blew in the front door of the store only five minutes late but still feeling very guilty about it. My constant guilty conscious annoyed me and many people who were on the receiving end of it...except Meaghan.

"Don't' worry. I just got here myself. Hey, who's this?" Meaghan asked coming around the counter.

"This is Owen. He's staying with me for a little bit."

"Oh? Hey Owen." She greeted him.

"Hi." He smiled

"He's too cute. Where'd you find him?" Meaghan followed me into the back. Owen jumped up on the counter.

"Um, he found me. I'll explain some other time."

"Cool. Hey, there were two boxes of books at the front door this morning. Want me to go through them?"

"Sure. I'm taking off a little early today, okay?"

"That's fine. I won't say anything." Meaghan shrugged.

"Thanks. Are you working tomorrow?"

"No. I think Phillip is."

"Crap. Really?" I asked.

"That is what's on the schedule."

"Do me a favor. Can you write a note that I went home sick today and I'm calling in sick tomorrow?"

"Sure."

"You're the best. Thanks."

"Anything wrong?" Meaghan asked, watching Owen pull out some old physics textbooks that were included in the box of books that were left.

"No. Just have some stuff to do." I noticed where Meaghan's eyes had wandered and I watched as Owen looked seriously at the thick book.

"It actually looks like he understands what he's looking at." Meaghan said quietly and just a little bit stunned.

"I know." I watched as Owen got lost in the information he was looking at. "Owen, what's that you're reading?" I asked him, coming to join him at the counter.

"Uh..." He read the title of the book. "Fundamentals of Thermal Physics. It's actually pretty good."

"Pretty good? Are you kidding?"

"No. It's an easy read. Want to try?" He asked seriously.

"Nope." I held my hands up and laughed with Meaghan. "I'm good. You go ahead though. Bring it home if you want."

"Really? You mean it?"

"Oh, by all means Owen, it's yours." Meaghan agreed.

"Wow. Thanks guys."

"Where did you find him?" Meaghan whispered, repeating her earlier question.

"It's a long story." I replied leaving to busy myself with shelving books that were left out from people's browsing the evening before.

Owen put down the book and looked through his bag for the list of people's names that were told to him. It wasn't a long list. There were only three people on it but he thought that maybe Gwynne had some way of looking them up.

Landon Roberts

David Carnegie

Tessa McLeod

"What's that?" I asked peeking over his shoulder.

"It's a list of names that might know where Kieran is."

"Awesome. That should help narrow things down."

"How do we find them?" He asked me, staring at the names.

"Leave it to me Owen. I'll see what I can do." I picked the list out of his hand and winked.

I walked into the back room to see if a search on the internet would bring up anything that we could use. Typing in the names, I jotted down addresses. My heart sank thinking of all the bus tickets I was going to have to buy. These people were all over this stupid city. There must have been something to link these three people together. Maybe they were friends or maybe they worked together. I dialed the first number, not knowing what to say but hopeful that they would know who this Kieran was. I held my breath until a voice spoke on the other end.

"Hello?"

"Hi, I'm sorry to bother you. I was wondering if you could help me. I'm looking for Landon Roberts?" I said into the phone.

"Landon's not here right now. He left for work a couple of hours ago."

"Oh. This is Carter's Used Books. He was looking for an old copy of a novel and we happened to find it for him. Is there a work number I could reach him at?"

"Another book? He's always buying books. He works at the university so you'd think he'd have enough to read in their libraries." The woman sounded irritated.

"I'm sorry. He just told me to call when we found it."

"Do you have a pen and paper handy?" She asked.

I jotted down the number and looked at my watch. The university was only a bus ride away. That's where we would start and hopefully that's what these names would have in common; they would all be at the university.

"I think I got a lead Owen." I whispered as I passed him on the way to the cash register where a costumer waited.

"Really? Where?"

"Later." I told him smiling at a teenager with a bunch of old comic books.

Owen nodded in excitement and took his physics book to read upstairs where it was quieter.

"That's it?" I asked comic book guy. He handed over the money and I handed him his change.

*****

Kieran's old library couch was still there and he had quite the doze. It faced the window and he got a pile of books to make it look like he was reading. He really wasn't. He slept and he slept hard. Feeling refreshed, he collected his things and left the building to walk towards the bookstore that he had passed earlier.

He was right about the day. It turned out to be much cooler than yesterday and he welcomed the change. The last few days had been hot and sticky and if a person was stupid enough to walk the downtown streets on a hot day, they would quickly figure out that it gets much hotter in the middle of a concrete jungle.

The bookstore was housed in a quaint little three story brick building. It looked like this particular building had been here since the beginning of time but there was a large sign on it that told the public it was a heritage building. Therefor it would never be torn down; just continuously patched. Kieran turned the large brass nob and walked in. It was a busy place. It looked like people were using this as a library instead of the large one only six blocks away.

He looked around him. The boy had definitely been here. Kieran felt his signature was lit up pretty bright and he shrugged his jacket on to cover it up. Careful not to bump displays with his backpack he wandered around picking up the odd book to blend in. It didn't look like it mattered. The woman behind the counter wasn't watching or noticing what he was doing. She was just going through boxes of books.

Kieran climbed the stairs to check out what was happening on the second level; still more people, none of them the boy. There were a handful of young girls and boys in the kids' section but none felt like who he was looking for. He didn't know what They would have made him look like. Back home that wasn't how they recognized each other. It was by recognizing each other's feelings and energies that they knew who each other were. In this existence, they were a long way off from that ever happening. Nope, none of these kids were him.

He went back down the stairs and took one last look around. He had been here. Kieran was sure of it. He decided to ask the girl, with the box of books, if she had seen him hanging around.

"Hi there." Kieran greeted her.

"Hi." Meaghan was surprised to hear the voice. She was even more surprised at the man who stood before her. He was incredibly striking; tall, dark and handsome. He was almost every girl's dream.

"Are you okay?" Kieran asked. This woman only seemed capable of giving him a blank stare.

"Yes. Yes I am. Do you need assistance?" She woke out of her stupor, growing hot in the cheeks.

"I do. I was wondering if you've seen a boy, about nine years old, hanging around the store? He may have been alone?"

"No. I haven't seen any kids alone here today."

"Perfect." Kieran turned his back on Meaghan looking around the shop, wondering what to do next.

"There was one boy that was hanging out with Gwynne. It was odd. She said he found her. He was cute though; a really good kid. He liked physics textbooks."

Kieran spun around to face her again. That was him. He knew it was him. What kid read physics textbooks?

"Do you know where he went?" Kieran tried not to sound too anxious and hoped that he didn't scare her.

"Gwynne took him to the university. They just left ten minutes ago. Owen said something about meeting his brother. What was his name...Chris, Kevin...?"

"Kieran?"

"Yes! That's him."

"His name's Owen." Kieran spoke softly and smiled. It was a good name.

"Can I ask why you're interested?" Meaghan saw his proud little smile and had to ask.

"I'm Kieran. You are?" He held out his hand to show her he could be trusted.

"Meaghan. You might be able to catch them. The bus may not have shown yet." She took the offered hand and gave it a little shake.

"Thanks. You've been extremely helpful. Owen's with Gwynne?"

"Yeah. She said he spent the night with her last night."

"Oh good. That's great. She's a great girl, hey." Kieran only said it to fish for information.

"Best kind. If Owen's safe with anyone it's with Gwynne."

"If we don't cross paths at the university can you let her know I was here?"

"Sure. Next time I see her. She won't be in for a little bit."

"No?" He asked raising an eyebrow.

"No. She said she had some things to take care of. It was odd but I guess there is a first for everything. Gwynne never misses work."

"Well, Owen wanted to surprise her with a visit. That could be why. Thank you. You'v been a great help. See ya." Kieran gave her a little wave and took off.

The university was the last place he wanted them to go.

*****

The grounds of the university were getting busy. Students were about to start classes and the first year students would want to take a tour of the place, trying to get a feel for where their classes would be. I always heard from students, that came to the store, that some days it would be horrible to get to class. They would be in separate buildings or across the whole campus and in the winter it wasn't the best situation. The campus was huge. I had no idea where to start but would look for some sort of security desk to see where this Landon was.

"Now remember what I said Owen. I'm not Gwynne. My name is?"

"Lynne."

"Good. And you are?"

"Brian."

"Wonderful. I hate making you lie buddy but I think, under the circumstances, we have to be careful."

"It's okay. I don't mind."

"Well, let's see if we can find some sort of directory."

We walked towards a large newer building. I was hoping it would have a security desk and a corporate directory that they could use to locate this Mr. Landon Roberts person.

"Gwynne?"

"Yes Owen?"

"Do you think Kieran would be looking for me if he knew I was here?"

"Of course he would. What kind of question is that?"

"Because we're supposed to be able to feel each other. I thought that he might know that I came here to find him but I haven't felt him looking for me." Owen stopped walking and looked up to me for reassurance.

I sighed and walked back to him. I didn't know what to say to that. I didn't know how these things worked but I remembered what I told myself. To me, he was a human child. So then I would talk to him like I would a child. I squatted down and looked into his concerned eyes.

"Owen, I don't know how things work with you...people but I am positive that if he feels you're here he's looking for you. Maybe he doesn't know yet. You've only been here a day. And even if he did know, it's just like us. We're starting with nothing to work on."

"But we have the names." He offered.

"Well let's hope these names point us in the right direction. Otherwise, we'll have to think of something different." I stood and took his hand in mine. I really hoped we would get some good news.

The building smelled of a new school year. I had never been to university nor did I have any cravings to. My idea was that school would lead to a career which would tie me down. I had a different goal. I wanted to escape one day. I wanted to see different countries and the cultures that came with them. It didn't seem like it would happen in the near future but I still wished for it. There were just some things that you couldn't learn only from books. Experience was a different subject all together.

I saw a corner booth with a bored security guard sitting in it. He was looking at last semester's university newspaper. I didn't think it was the first time he was reading it. Clearing my throat, I tapped a finger nervously on the desk.

"Can I help you?" He asked. He seemed happy at the interruption. Like helping someone would make his day.

"Yes. I hate to ask but I need to find a Landon Roberts. We were supposed to meet him here in ten minutes but I've misplaced the piece of paper I wrote his office address on. Could you help?"

"Sure. What was the name again?"

"Landon Roberts." I repeated.

I took out a small notebook and pen from my bag. Owen looked at the man's fingers typing the name into the computer.

"He's in room H-20987 with the physics department. It's in the Brownlee Building."

"Great. If you could also point me in the right direction?" I hinted.

"Just out the doors, go straight, you'll pass two older buildings and it will be the first building on your right. You can't miss it. It's mostly fields on the right hand side until that building."

"Perfect. Thanks for your help." I said.

"No problem. See ya."

"Bye." Owen told him and walked quickly to the door holding it open for me.

This was it. This was where we would know if Kieran was here and if he could be found. I didn't know what his reaction would be towards me; the fact that I knew what I really shouldn't would probably be an issue. It made me nervous but I would deal with it when and if that time came.

"Is this it?" Owen asked almost running towards the door.

"Yeah. Slow down Owen." I told him.

"Sorry. I can't." He ran up the steps and pulled open the door. I could barely keep up and almost slammed into someone who was ducking out of Owen's way.

"Sorry." I apologized to her. "He's in a hurry."

"Obviously." She answered, watching him race up the stairs.

I rushed to catch up with Owen. The office was on the second floor and we both looked eagerly at the office numbers before us. Pausing at one in the middle of the hall, we looked at each other and opened the door. There was a secretary there who looked up at the disturbance. There was rarely anyone that came to this office during the summer.

"Hi." Owen greeted her happily.

"Hi...Can I help you?" She asked.

"We're hoping we could have a moment with Landon Roberts." I told her pressing Owen back away from the desk.

"Just a second." Her gaze on us lingered longer than it should have. I didn't care. I held her gaze, evenly.

She dialed a number and waited for an answer. When she heard the voice on the other end she sat straight like he was watching how professional she was making a phone call. I could only guess she was an eager beaver in her youth.

"Yes, Landon. I have a woman with a child here to see you. No, I don't know what it concerns. What is it concerning?" She asked me, covering the receiver with her hand.

"Kieran." I said simply.

"She says it's about Kieran. Okay. I'll let her know." She hung up and motioned to the two chairs. "He'll be a couple minutes. You can sit there."

"Thanks." I told her.

We made ourselves comfortable and waited. Owen hugged his bag to his chest and bounced his knee. I was just hoping he'd find what he was looking for.

*****

Kieran. Landon hadn't heard that name in months. He wondered who was here to see him. A child and a woman were looking for Kieran. This intrigued him. Kieran never once mentioned he had any sort of family. He didn't say he knew anyone. The guy was so secretive and suspicious. It was incredible that Landon even got the privilege to see Kieran work. It wasn't often that he opened the lab to him but the guy was a genius and when Kieran asked, Landon did not hesitate to do it for him. Now there was a woman and child looking for him. The surprises never quit even if Kieran had.

When he was finished with what he was doing he got up from his desk and walked to the small lobby. There they were; a little boy and a woman; a beautiful woman. She smiled as he entered the room and he was almost unsure of himself as she greeted him.

"Hi, I'm Landon Roberts. You are?" He asked offering his hand.

"I'm Lynne and this is Brian." I told him.

Owen stood and offered his hand.

"Nice to meet you. Come on in."

Landon led them down the short hallway and into his office. There was only room for his desk and a couple of chairs. He cleared away some debris from one of the chairs and offered it to us.

"Please, have a seat. Sorry, I'm preparing lectures for September and it's been a little crazy." Landon offered while finding an empty space for the stack of work.

"Thank you. It's fine." I took a seat closest to the wall and Owen took the other. "We won't take up too much of your time. We were just wondering if you knew where we could find Kieran." I asked.

Landon took a seat and folded his hands on his desk. "I'm afraid I haven't seen Kieran for a few months. He stopped working here in May. He said something about having to go back home."

"Go back home? He was going back?" Owen exclaimed.

"Brian..." I warned.

"Sorry." He sat back quickly.

"How do you two know Kieran?" Landon asked curiously. "He never mentioned he knew anyone."

"I met him here at the university. I was studying late one night." I took a shot thinking that Kieran would even be here at night.

"Yes, Kieran did prefer the night shifts."

I celebrated for the correct assumption and continued. "My brother, Brian, wanted to meet him."

"Hey, is that an old physics text book?" Landon looked at the cover of the book that was sticking out of Owen's bag.

"Yes. It's a subject that interests me very much." Owen told him.

"Aren't you a little young for subjects like that?" Landon asked.

"He's one of those really smart kids." I told him. I hated every second of this.

"Kieran was a genius when it came to physics. He often used my lab to test theories of his. He only shared with me what he wanted. You must have met him in the physics labs?" Landon asked me.

"No actually, just the study areas." I corrected.

"Ah. Well I'm sorry I can't be of more help. Maybe Tessa would know. Give me a second. I'll give her a call."

"Sure." I replied squeezing my hands together.

If this was going to be Tessa McLeod I would be correct in my assumption that what tied these people together would be their jobs at the university.

"Hey Tessa, would you mind stopping in here for a second? Yeah. Okay." Landon put down the phone. "She's coming."

"Thank you for your help. It's not necessary though. I don't want to put you to any trouble."

"It's no trouble. Oh, here she is now."

"What's up Landon?" Tessa asked popping her head in. She smiled warmly at Owen. "Who's this?"

"This is Brian and Lynne. They were wondering if we had seen Kieran."

Tessa's ears perked at the sound of his name. Her heart still broke even thinking of him and she didn't like to talk of him. It was one of those things that would never work out. As much as she cared for him, it was a severe case of unrequited love because Kieran never felt the same as she did. David had tried to convince her that he wasn't worth her feelings. Kieran, David had said, was different and when he told her what he knew, after a night of heavy drinking, Tessa sobered up fast and was always looking for some kind of proof. Maybe these two had what her and David were looking for.

"I haven't seen him for a while. The last I heard was that he was renting a room at the motel on ninety seventh. David told me he went to see Kieran there but he was gone. No one's heard anything since."

"When was that? When did he leave the motel?" I asked.

"July. David's been looking for Kieran since then but he just disappeared; something about needing to get back home. David's angry because Kieran has something that belonged to him. Apparently it was worth a lot."

"Oh, well we wouldn't know anything about that. I haven't seen him since April. My brother just wanted to meet him 'cause Brian here is a physics kid." I pointed to Owen beside me who now had disappointment all over his face.

"I'm sorry, Brian. I wish I could be more help." Tessa smiled a little too big to make it sound sincere.

"That's okay." Owen replied.

"Well, we won't take up any more of your time. Come on Brian. The bus will be leaving soon." I got up from my chair and Owen slowly got off his.

"Is there a number we can reach you at if we see him?" Tessa asked.

"No no. That's fine. We just took a chance."

For some reason I didn't get a good feeling at the moment. I needed to get out of here. I needed to get Owen out of here.

"Thanks again." I almost pushed Owen out the door and, taking his free hand, I led him away.

Tessa watched us go. I could feel her eyes on my back. I could feel her eyes on Owen's back.

"What was her name again?" Tessa asked Landon.

"Lynne. She never gave a last name."

"Huh. Alright then. See you later." Tessa left Landon's office and went to hers.

She shut the door and went for her phone. She dialed a number and waited for an answer.

"Yeah?" The voice asked.

"Do you know a Lynne or a Brian?" Tessa asked.

"No. Why?" David asked back.

"Lynne and Brian were just here asking about Kieran. Brian's some sort of wizard kid with physics."

"A kid? Physics? Where are they?"

"They just left. She said they needed to catch the bus. They couldn't have gotten far."

David hung up the phone and ran out the door. A kid interested in physics. Very doubtful. A kid that was interested in physics and Kieran; there were reasons.

He ran outside and looked in all directions. All he could see were students and other professors. He wandered in the direction of the bus station, making sure he saw everyone who passed him. A kid interested in physics...more like someone pretending to be someone he wasn't.

*****

Owen was here. He could feel him so strongly that every part of him vibrated. Kieran turned around and looked in every direction. It seemed an impossible task with how big this place was but Kieran felt he was very close. Then, to his right he saw a woman. She had her hand wrapped around a boy's; a boy who looked very upset. A boy who Kieran left two years ago and thought about every second while he existed here. It was him. He walked towards him tentatively and then faster. Soon he was jogging up to him, wanting to grab hold and not let go.

"Owen!" Kieran shouted.

Owen and I turned our heads in the direction of the voice. He dropped my hand and ran towards a brown haired man that was just as thrilled to see him. Soon that run turned into a sprint. Owen couldn't get to this man fast enough.

"Kieran!" He shouted.

"What the hell are you doing here? Why are you here?" Kieran caught Owen in his arms and lifted him off the ground in an embrace that was like something you'd see in the movies. I stopped walking and gave them some privacy, getting choked up as I watched their reunion. "Answer me Owen. Why are you here?"

"I had to come. They were going to leave. You were going to be abandoned. I had to find you."

Kieran put him down and crouched in front of him.

"It's not safe for you here. Did anyone hurt you? Are you okay? Have you been followed by anyone?" Kieran demanded looking the boy over.

"No. I'm fine." He answered.

"God I've missed you." Kieran hugged him again, burying his face in the boy's neck.

"I've missed you too."

"Come on. We have to get out of here."

"What about Gwynne? I can't leave Gwynne." Owen panicked.

"Who's Gwynne?" Kieran asked letting go.

"She's over there." Owen pointed to me and I took that as my cue to be introduced.

I stepped up to them and Kieran got back to his feet. I didn't know what I was expecting Kieran to look like. I thought he might resemble Owen but he didn't. He had dark brown hair cut short, fair skin, and deep brown eyes. He was a foot taller than my five feet nine inches and pretty toned from the look of how his clothes fit. Kieran was a beautiful man. I didn't know why I was so surprised. He wasn't from here.

Still, there was something about him that had me staring a little too long. Like, when I first met Owen, there was a familiarity about him. It was embarrassing to think but I felt like we had been in some sort of relationship and I was irritated, seeing him. Couples fought and I sensed that we had. I also wasn't over it, feeling put off by his presence.

Shaking my head to clear my thoughts, I put my arm around Owen's shoulders.

"Gwynne. I can't thank you enough for taking him in." Kieran offered, trying to be friendly.

"It was no trouble." I replied trying to hide the stupid emotion that was caught in my throat.

"Did he tell you anything?"

"He did." I answered honestly.

"She knows what I am Kieran." Owen interjected. "She hasn't told anyone."

"And I won't." I cut in. "That's probably why you're hiding."

"Partly." Kieran answered.

Kieran saw David walking up to them. He brought Owen closer to his body for protection and pulled at my arm so I would come closer to them. I felt Kieran's body tense up and looked to where he was glaring. A very angry man was heading right for us.

"Well well well. Look at this sweet little reunion." David said sarcastically.

"You stop right there. You know what I can do David." Kieran pointed a finger at him.

"Do what? In front of all these people? You wouldn't dare. I want it Kieran. It's mine. It's my formula."

"You should've written it down then." Kieran shot back.

"I did write it down but you're the missing link."

"I don't know what you're talking about and I'm leaving now. Come on..."

"Brian. Come on Brian. Let's go." I snuck a look to Kieran and he nodded in understanding as I steered Owen towards the buses.

"Kieran? What's going on?" Owen asked trying to look back.

"It's nothing." Kieran shook his head at Owen then shot his attention back to David. "Don't even think about following David. I know you want to but I also know you won't."

"I'll find you. I know who you're hanging out with now. Lynne is it? I have people watching. Watch your back Kieran."

"Let's go." Kieran said quietly turning us away from the man displaying such angry desperation; beginning to attract unwanted attention.

"They're everywhere, Kieran. Don't think you can hide for long!" David yelled as we walked away.

"Keep walking. Don't look back." Kieran put a hand protectively on Owen so Owen couldn't look at anything else but the bus station.

I was starting to think that before Owen went anywhere with this man, he needed to give me some information; some information that would make me trust his intentions because right now, I did not.

*****

Kieran and Owen took a seat in the middle of the bus and I sat behind them. I tried to keep my attention on the scenes passing by my window. It was hard not to watch their interactions. It was like they spoke to each other without words, comparable to seeing two people using sign language while everyone around them could only guess at what their conversations were about. There were no hand signals. There were no body gestures. The eyes spoke everything and it looked like Owen had some explaining to do.

Owen started to argue with his brother. The same language he spoke in his sleep he spoke now. Its sound was nothing I could compare to anything I've heard but I did understand when Kieran told him to keep it down. Owen crossed his arms and stared out the window.

I pulled the bell and excused myself to the woman who had sat with me. Owen saw that I was leaving and started to get up as well.

"Where are you going?" Kieran asked him.

"Looks like he's coming with me. Where else are you going to go?" I asked him. "Come on Owen." I walked to the back of the bus and Owen squeezed past Kieran to follow. Kieran had no choice but to trail behind.

I could smell rain coming and to the west there was a large black cloud. It fit my mood. Since sleeping poorly the night before, to the university, to finding this Kieran fellow, then witnessing a verbal altercation, I was now officially exhausted.

I let us into the old apartment building and we walked silently to my door.

"Allow me." Kieran took the keys out of my hand and unlocked the door for me.

"What are you doing?" I asked. "This is my home."

"Call me paranoid." He answered, opening the door.

Kieran stepped in first and looked around turning on lights as he went. I was not impressed with his take-over on my living space and glared down at Owen.

"This is the brother you wanted to get back so badly?" I asked him sarcastically.

"Yes." Owen answered.

"Has he always been like this?"

"Sort of." He shrugged.

"Sort of." I repeated. "Perfect. Would've been nice of you to mention it."

Following Owen into my small apartment, I kicked my shoes off and put my bag down on the kitchen table. Kieran took off his coat and tossed it on the couch. Everything about this guy was starting to get on my nerves but he was Owen's brother and I liked Owen so I decided to keep my opinions to myself...for now.

Owen waited at the entrance to my apartment. He wasn't looking forward to this conversation. He knew Kieran was relieved to see him but relief was now turning to irritation that he had come. They told him to expect it as Kieran gave specific instructions not to be followed. His journey here was one that he had to do on his own. Owen got nervous though. Kieran had been away longer than most and his time, here in this existence, was running out.

"Come in here." Kieran said, simply eyeing Owen from the living room.

Owen looked at me nervously and I nodded my head in Kieran's direction.

"Go on Owen. This is what you wanted." I said. "I'm right here."

He took off his bag and put it on the floor in the entry way. I watched him walk to the living room, like a puppy with its tail between its legs, and followed close behind.

"What were you thinking, Owen? Really? I was coming back!" Kieran exclaimed.

"I didn't know that. You never sent word to anyone. You disappeared. How come you wouldn't let your own brother know where you were?!" Owen demanded.

"You knew where I was." Kieran argued.

"It doesn't matter. You abandoned me and you were about to be abandoned yourself. You could thank me for finding you."

"And now what, Owen. Huh? Have they said they're waiting for you?"

"They are waiting."

"David has seen me again. How do I know the way is clear and we can actually return? I was fine. Now I have no idea if a person I pass on the street is watching my every move."

"I don't know who David is. What have you done here that made all these people so interested in you?"

"Nothing. It's not important." Kieran turned away from Owen and paced the room.

"It must be important enough for you to leave me alone." Owen stomped away and I heard the slam of my bedroom door.

Kieran looked towards the noise then glared at me.

"Don't look at me." I raised my hands defending myself. "He's your brother."

"Have you noticed anything since he's been here? Since he found you?"

"No..." But then I remembered the site from the window. "Well..."

"Well?" Kieran asked.

"Last night at about three in the morning I was looking out my window when I swear I saw a man watching me from the sidewalk. It was only for a split second. He seemed to just vanish when I saw him."

Kieran made a sound like an irritated chuckle then flopped himself down on a couch.

"That's fantastic. That's really great. They know he's here."

"Who's they?" I asked.

"David's 'friends'. They've been searching for me since I left the university."

"Why?"

"Because I've discovered something that you people would really like to know. That's all I'm saying."

"You're going to have to say just a little bit more than that to me if you expect me to let you take Owen out of here. If he's in danger, I won't let him go with you."

"What business is it of yours?"

"It became my business when I saw that boy taking shelter at a bus stop looking like he just made the biggest mistake of his life. That's why it's my business." I pointed towards my bedroom making myself perfectly clear.

"Look, I really appreciate you helping Owen out. I really do but you don't know what you're getting into here."

"I'm starting to get a pretty good idea. He's your brother and he's missed you, Kieran. I don't know the nature of your relationship but maybe you could pretend that you're happy he found you and that he's safe." I hinted, leaving him alone so he could ponder what I had just said.

Kieran watched her go then rubbed his hands over his face. Gwynne had good intentions but she had no clue and how would she even know the nature of their relationship. Owen didn't even know. She was right though. He had been on edge since May and he just took it out on the one being that was his whole world. He stood up and walked towards the closed door. Owen deserved more than what he just got.

*****

Owen heard the knock and knew who was on the other side of that door but he was hurt and he didn't want to talk to anyone.

"Go away!" He shouted.

Of course Kieran completely ignored him and let himself into the room anyway. Owen lay on his back, on a bed that was just two mattresses on the floor with a stupid amount of pillows and handmade quilts. It did look inviting though.

"I said go away." Owen repeated without even looking at Kieran.

"We need to talk." Kieran replied.

"We need to talk or you need to talk." Owen glared at him then turned his head to look at the ceiling once more.

Kieran went to Owen's side and shoved him over, making room for himself to lie beside him.

"I'm sorry Owen." Kieran started.

"You should be."

"I'm telling you. I'm sorry. I know what it took in you to request to come here. This place hasn't been easy for me. It's better back home."

"That doesn't mean you have to take it out on me."

"I realize that."

"You've changed, Kieran."

"You're right. I have. You've changed to. Look at you. You're so grown up." Kieran nudged him in the side ribs and Owen smirked trying to stay mad.

"Stop it. You still think I'm a kid."

"You are a kid." Kieran corrected.

"Here I'm a kid but I'm not like a kid from here. I'm older. You know that."

"I know Owen. You are. It's not just about age. You haven't realized your full potential. I don't want that injured by coming here."

"You came here."

"I was of age. Look at me. Look at what I've become. This place takes its toll on us. The people here are so unaware of anything bigger than them and greedy for the knowledge that might bring. Knowledge is power here; power to do dangerous things if our collective intelligence got into the wrong hands."

"They aren't all like that. Look at Gwynne." Owen offered.

"What about Gwynne?"

"She helped me even knowing what I am. There are more of her kind here. Have you met them; the kind that you just want to stay beside and never leave?"

Kieran thought about the question. He knew what Owen was talking about. The kind with smiles captured in their eyes; their openness of mind and body, the calmness of their character. Landon was like that. Tessa used to be until something in her changed. He knew it hurt her that he couldn't return her feelings and he was pretty sure David was involved in how she now felt as well.

"It doesn't matter Owen. We're going back and the sooner the better." Kieran stared up at the ceiling and spoke quietly.

"Okay. I'll miss her though."

"Why's that?" Kieran turned his head and Owen met his face.

He spoke in the language only they could speak as they were the same person but in different forms.

She feels like my mother.

Both Kieran and Owen stared back at the ceiling. The pressure in Kieran's chest felt excruciatingly heavy as soon as Owen said the words. It stirred memories that he tried to forget and he felt it then. It was just a twinge but it was there. Was it possible? He knew of universal events or souls being born onto earth but, on this vast planet, could Owen have found the energies of his mother? It was too much to think about right now. Kieran's own power to recognize a kindred life had greatly diminished since coming here. Owen was still new though, his energy untouched. He could easily pick up feelings from others that were not of his blood.

And now Owen was feeling his mother in Gwynne.

*****

David sat alone drinking beer in his living room. Just seeing Kieran again was enough to send him over the edge. His wife was finished with him. He started yelling his frustrations in front of her and the kids and she packed a bag and was gone. This was taking over his life. The information he found could have changed everything people perceived. It would have changed his life but all he had was what he came across one night while Kieran was in the bathroom. Landon had said Kieran was using the lab again. David just went to see if he wanted to go for drinks. What he found, instead, was the path through time and space.

He had never seen equations like it. He remembered looking at the computer screen thinking how it was even possible, but according to the screen, it was. Tipping his beer back, David remembered how he jotted down what he could before he heard Kieran's footsteps. The shadow that passed over Kieran's face, when he entered the room and saw him, was almost terrifying.

"What are you doing here?" Kieran had asked.

"I came to see if you wanted a drink. What are you working on?" David answered.

"Just playing around." Kieran typed in another set of numbers and letters and the screen went black.

"This lab is the property of the university Kieran. Anything that is done on these computers isn't yours."

"What are you trying to say, David?" Kieran met David's eyes without hesitation.

"Who are you? What are you trying to pull?"

"It's nothing." Kieran replied easily. "Just playing around."

Kieran had gathered up his things and left quickly. David had followed. Stupid mistake.

"I can have that computer watched. I can have all those computers watched."

Kieran turned and, walking backwards, shrugged his shoulders. "Go ahead. I just wiped them all."

"That's impossible. You can't just do that." David exclaimed.

"It's done."

"Even if you did, I saw it Kieran. I wrote it down."

Kieran stopped and glared at David with such intensity it didn't seem human.

"What you wrote isn't half of what I've discovered. You need this." He produced a memory stick from the pockets of his jeans.

"That is university property! I head this department! That is mine!"

"Nope. It's not. People like you can't handle this. Go home David."

David, desperate with what he knew Kieran had discovered, stormed up to him; his arrogance rubbing Kieran the wrong way.

"Does Landon know about this? He lets you use his access. Does he know what you do?"

"You don't even know what I do so back the hell off David." Kieran warned.

"I want it." David demanded.

"Back off, David."

"I'll have you arrested. I'll get the cops. Give me the flash drive!"

What David went through next would disturb anyone that was watching. In seconds Kieran had him backed up against the wall with only a flick of his wrist. He was pinned there, unable to move, by some sort of invisible weight. Kieran's hands seemed hollow, producing extraordinary strength with no effort. The guy didn't even have his hands on him. Kieran only held up his palms to keep David immobile easily. Those palms; they looked as if they showed the depth of space in them. David couldn't explain what was happening to him. He couldn't believe what he was looking at. Kieran became fire...ultimate power in human form.

"Are you threatening me?" Kieran growled.

"Who are you?!" David probed.

"You tell anyone about this and it could start wars. Do you understand me? You keep your mouth shut."

"What wars?" David asked in confusion.

"Keep your mouth shut."

Kieran let him down and stomped away.

David stared after him then hurried off back to the labs. He went to the computer that Kieran was using. It was blank. The computer had no programs on it. David went to the one beside and turned it on. Same thing. The next, same thing. David spent the next forty five minutes checking and rechecking all of the computers in the lab. They were all wiped clean. He couldn't believe it.

Shaking his head to clear the memory, David put down his beer and took the piece of paper out of his pocket. He always kept it with him. He wouldn't leave it out of his site and at night, before lying on his pillow, he would put it in the pillow case. It was brilliant. It was so brilliant but it wasn't complete and David had no clue how to finish it. He needed Kieran's expertise and by expertise he meant Kieran's flash drive.

David picked up the phone and dialed the number. It was a call he wasn't excited to make but, since he offered to help him for a cost, David needed to tell him about the latest sighting.

"Hello." The man's voice was deep and always so suspicious.

"Hey. It's me."

"You were not to call me until you located him."

"I saw him today." David admitted. "He was with a kid and some woman. It looked like he knew the kid, like it was some sort of reunion."

"And where was this exactly?"

"It was at the university. It wasn't exactly a private meeting." David answered, rolling his eyes.

"What direction did this party you speak of head to?"

"They took the bus somewhere. It looked like they got on the 135, 125, or 120. I checked the bus stop when they had left."

"This kid, was he one of them?"

"I can only speculate. Kieran was pretty happy to see him."

"And the woman?"

"He didn't give her much attention."

David waited to hear what he would be told next. He didn't like to be mixed up in groups like this. He never thought of himself as the kind of guy to get caught up in conspiracy theories; to him that stuff was junk. He was a scientist sometimes mathematician. David just really needed his help on this.

"It's funny you should mention this to me. I've been getting the feeling that someone has entered recently and I've had some luck locating where they could possibly be. Thank you, David, for the update. Please feel free to call me any time when and if you see Kieran."

"I just want what's mine." David told him with a nervous chuckle.

"You only assume it's yours. I understand what you want. We want the same things. You will get your name, shall we say, in lights. I want Kieran. Good night David."

"Good night." David answered to the click of an ended call.

David hated that voice.

*****

Kieran came out of the room and closed the door quietly. He walked softly to the living room where he found me with a cup of tea and a book. I glanced up at him over my glasses then continued with my reading.

"Where's your brother?" I asked.

"He fell asleep."

"I don't blame him. He's been on the go since he got here." I turned a page, trying to concentrate on what I was reading but finding it impossible with the interruption.

I rarely had guests in my apartment. A child was one thing, a man another; especially a man that looked like this one. Kieran took a seat on the opposite couch and leaned forward, clasping his hands together between his knees.

"I think we need to talk. I don't know what you're thinking but..." He started but I cut him off with my hand.

"I'm not thinking anything."

"Really. So a boy, who tells you he's different, that he's not of this place, comes to you asking for help. You help him without knowing what you're doing, you meet me, stand there and watch as we're being threatened, and can calmly read a book at the end of the day. Do you think I'm stupid, Gwynne?"

"I don't know anything about you and I would prefer to keep it that way. I believe the less I know the safer I am. What I do want to know is how you're supposed to take care of Owen when you're obviously on the run." I closed my book and tossed it to the side.

"We're leaving as soon as possible."

"And where are you staying until that day comes? For all I know, you're just a stranger. As strange as the man at the university, maybe even as strange and spooky as the man that was outside my window last night."

Kieran just watched me. His face was suddenly full of unexpressed emotion and I didn't know why. I hadn't done anything to warrant that reaction. It was un-nerving and I picked up my book again. I could feel his eyes on me, studying me. This was ridiculous.

"What is your problem?" I demanded. "Stop with the looks. I should be the one studying you." I took off my glasses and placed them on the coffee table.

Kieran couldn't speak. He saw a flicker of what Owen had spoken of. It couldn't be possible but it was. It didn't last for long; only lasting for a moment, but it was there. Gwynne had her spirit. Her feistiness was apparent under Gwynne's human skin. Her mind and soul spoke his language even though Gwynne had no idea what she was doing. Then, at the moment when he wanted to run into her arms it was over. He couldn't get it back.

"I...I'm sorry." He stuttered out.

"Why do you look so...like you've seen a ghost."

"It's nothing. Look, I hate to ask but I would really appreciate it if you could help us out, just until we can get back."

"Can you tell me how that is going to happen?"

"How do I explain this?" He asked himself as he stood. Kieran paced the small space then turned to me with an idea. "It's like opening a door but I have to knock first."

"You have to be kidding me." I rolled my eyes.

"It's all I got."

"Okay fine. I'm not even going to pretend to know anything about that. Just, can you promise me that we'll be safe here until you go? Do you have any idea who was on the street last night?"

"I have some idea. David...I believe he's enlisted some help to get what he thinks is his."

"And is this help from here? From my planet?" I asked; the words sounding so ridiculous to me. Now I was living a science fiction novel.

"I can't say for sure."

"You can't say? What is this that makes you so important? What do you have that they want?"

"I can't get into that right now." He answered.

"I think you better start getting into it. What have I gotten myself into here, Kieran? What have you gotten Owen into?"

"Owen came on his own. I didn't ask him to come here."

"He came to get you. What kind of brother are you that you can't be grateful for what he's risked to find you." I stood with him then. I didn't want him to start talking down to me like he was better. I wanted to be on equal footing.

"Do you even realize how many of us are walking around here, taking on a human form or born human? You have no concept of this so don't stand there and judge me with your small, narrow conceptions of what you believe to be true. You have no clue what is really happening around you!"

"So enlighten me!" I stepped closer to him matching his temper with my own.

Kieran was surprised that Gwynne wasn't backing down. She had a passion in her that matched his own. Again there was that glimmer of a soul he once knew. He didn't feel he could hide anything from this woman. Her protectiveness of Owen deserved the truth. The spirit of Owen's mother deserved the truth even if Gwynne had no idea she housed it within her.

"I've discovered how to travel through time and space on earth." He said it quickly and by the look on my face he either said too much or not enough.

"That's not possible." I answered.

"It is now. Let's sit. Can we sit?" He gestured towards the couch.

"Fine. Sit."

I sat back on the cushions and he came and sat beside me. I straightened my spine uncomfortably and eased myself an inch more into the corner.

"I don't bite." He said softly.

"Sure you don't." I replied sarcastically. "Please continue."

"To keep it simple, I came here to see if it was possible to engineer a way of travel that we do all the time. Earth is different. It's stuck in a certain dimension. It was a challenge that I wanted to undertake. When I requested permission, They didn't think it could be done. They told me humans are realizing, slowly, more than what they live but they weren't ready for something like this. I was warned, if I had discovered this prospect, and it fell into the wrong hands..."

"And it has." I finished.

"Not entirely. That's why we have to leave."

"What can I do to help you? I don't know what I could possibly do to protect your secret if they know you have what they want." I asked.

"A place to rest for the night would be great." Kieran smiled at me. It was the first time he gave a genuine smile.

"I think Owen's already assumed that. He hasn't even had anything to eat since lunch."

"Listen to you. You sound like his mother." Kieran said it only to see my reaction.

I gave none except a nervous little Mona Lisa smile.

*****

Thunder rumbled above him. A storm was blowing in but he didn't think it would be a big one. That was July. August was tamer. He drove down the quiet street that he watched the previous night. He had been drawn to it like a moth to a flame. It wasn't hard to figure out that a door had been opened and another dropped to the earth. This was the first time a juvenile had been sent. Its energy was pure and untouched. It was such a better feeling than the souls of age that have come here and were stripped of their innocence as soon as they arrived; Kieran being one of them.

He knew why Kieran had come. His reputation was known by many of the stars. He risked a lot by doing what he was doing but They continued to let it happen, not demanding he return. Kieran was the one that would find out secrets that no one else had the courage to even attempt here. Now he had done it. Kieran had the formula and not just pieces of it; all of it. He wanted it.

He wanted that power. He wanted to be able to dangle this bait in front of the humans that controlled this world and have them beg for it. Kieran would expect to be hunted but the child would not. Now, as he parked in front of the small apartment building, he waited. He would wait, for as long as it took. It only took a moment. Children were taken in moments all the time. This was no different. This child had no knowledge of what he was capable of yet. He was not of age. He chuckled to himself thinking how easy this would be. He had a few people waiting for his instructions and the three of them wouldn't expect it. He turned on the radio to drown out the sound of the rain that was now falling and watched. He would wait.

*****

Owen woke to rumbling in the sky. It scared him and he shot up out of the bed and ran out of the room. He had forgotten where he was. He was dreaming of Gwynne and wanted to see her; he wanted to know she was still around.

He found her in the living room with Kieran. They weren't speaking. She had a book in her hand and he was typing on some machine. Owen walked quickly to her side and sat wide eyed.

"Owen? What's wrong?" I asked startled by his sudden appearance.

"The sky. It's angry."

"What? The sky?" I asked him confused.

Kieran looked away from the computer to Owen sitting stiffly on the edge of the couch.

"What's up Owen?" Kieran asked.

"The sky." He answered.

"I think it's the thunder." I guessed.

"Ah." Kieran said. "You've never heard thunder before."

"No."

"It's okay Owen. It's nothing." I rubbed his back in comfort.

"Sure." He replied.

"Is anyone hungry?" Kieran asked finishing his work, turning off the computer and putting a memory stick in his pocket.

"I am." Owen piped up.

I studied Owen. He looked pale and still very tired. I wondered if it took some adjustment when they came here; kind of like experiencing jetlag.

"Are you sure we should be leaving here?" I asked keeping my hand protectively on Owen's back.

"We have to eat." Kieran shrugged and got his coat.

"But..."

"It's one thing to hide. It's another to live in fear. Come on. My treat."

"Well it would have to be." I said uncomfortably. "My budget doesn't allow for a lot of dinners out. Are you feeling okay Owen?"

"Yeah." He nodded too quickly to be convincing.

Kieran sensed that Owen was feeling anxious. He also knew he was feeling the effects of travelling to such a place as this. It was energetically draining and it took some time to get used to. Owen was just experiencing something that was a lot for his young body and mind to cope with.

"He's okay." Kieran said softly. "Come on Owen. I'll introduce you to the foods of India. I saw a place a couple blocks from here that looked decent."

"Are you coming, Gwynne?" Owen asked standing.

"Sure Owen. I'll come." I answered.

Kieran watched as Owen waited for her to join him and would only continue to the door when he was sure Gwynne was close behind. How would this end? Owen couldn't stay here and Gwynne could not come with them. He felt like the bond that was building between Owen and Gwynne was getting stronger by the second. There was a big difference in a human's definition of time and theirs. Human's judged it by how the minutes passed by on a clock; like their life was timed to the second. With them, it was a moment by moment existence. Time was not important. It was living in moments that moved them along. Every moment that Owen had with Gwynne, since he got here, was changing his life.

Kieran took a sweater, which looked like it belonged to Gwynne, off a coat rack and held it out for her. She was surprised at the gesture but allowed him to help her put it on. He maintained his closeness to her as she pulled her dark hair out and let it fall down her back. The feelings of ache and longing were just sitting there, on his surface, and he breathed deeply, trying to lessen them.

In the couple of hours since he had been in this apartment, the memory of the woman that was living in Gwynne had him missing her so much. If he wasn't careful, he would be just as attached as Owen now was. Kieran had to keep in mind that this was Gwynne. A stranger from a strange world and that was it. Even though the memory of someone else was now shining brightly in her eyes.

He cleared his throat and opened the door. All three of them stepped out into the night. There was a spit of rain that lingered after the thundershowers and Owen turned his face up to the sky to feel it.

*****

He saw them leave. The three of them walked closely together like a little family. He dialed a number into his phone as he eased the car away from the curb.

"They just left. Have the home searched. I want anything of importance. I'll take care of the kid."

"Yes sir."

He clicked off and found the trio easily. Driving to a grocery store parking lot, he parked to see where they would go. He was pleased when they walked into a restaurant. He saw another car park in the front and another to the side. It was almost time.

*****

The scents of India wafted towards us as we entered the door to the tiny restaurant. There were a handful of patrons eating their meals and looking to see who was about to join them. It was a little late for dinner but the waiter told Kieran they stopped serving at ten so Kieran figured the food would still be somewhat fresh. We were led to a table in the middle of the place and, as with the gesture at the apartment, Kieran pulled my chair out before I sat. I thanked him and took the offered chair looking around at the Indian décor.

"I've lived here for a long time but have never tried this place. It smells great." I commented watching around me.

"You can never go wrong with tandoori chicken and anything to do with paneer." Kieran said winking at Owen.

"What's that?" Owen asked.

Kieran rubbed his hands together and leaned forward secretly.

"You will soon find out. I hope you're hungry Owen."

"I am. I'm starved."

"Good."

"Can I get anyone anything to drink?" The waiter came around and filled our water glasses.

"Water's fine." I smiled taking a sip of mine.

"Two mango juices." Kieran told him, holding up the same amount of fingers.

"That's fine. Will you be ordering from the menu or enjoying the buffet." The waiter smiled at Owen. The boy obviously wanted to see what was under the shiny silver lids at the steam table.

"Buffet." I answered.

The waiter went to fill the drink order and Kieran stood. Owen joined him and I watched them from the table. It was the first time I saw Owen truly happy albeit a little tired. They looked so different from each other but their mannerisms were very similar. It was pretty obvious that they were related and had a deep connection. It was funny, I never once felt like an outsider. I felt almost part of them but didn't know how that was even possible. I certainly had never met them before and I was definitely not part of their family, as much as I was feeling I was. Shrugging, I went to join them at the buffet and was greeted by Kieran's friendly demeanor. Obviously this family reunion was what he needed to replace some of the loneliness and bitterness that had set in.

"Will you be able to eat all of that food?" I asked Owen eyeing his heaping plate.

He steadied it, giggling, while catching some dripping sauce with his finger.

"I think so. I'd like to try all of it."

"Good luck." I replied, turning back to a pot of rice.

Kieran smiled in my direction and held my stare. I smiled back, softening a little. I noticed something in his eyes that I recognized deep in my heart and quickly looked away. What were these feeling that were trying to get to the surface? First I was irritated with him for no reason and now I was feeling like we had known each other in the most intimate ways. The feelings of love were there, reaching up from their hiding places within me. I tried to ignore them which wasn't an easy thing to do. This wasn't puppy love or lustful attraction. This was love that spanned years and lived deep within me.

"Are you done with the rice?" A man asked me.

I woke out of my thoughts and looked to see who was speaking to me. I had held up a line of people and blushing, apologized, moving on down the line of food. Suddenly my appetite was not the greatest. Walking back with my pickings, I sat and only stared at the task at hand which was eating.

"That's it? That's all you're eating? This is a buffet. I'm not sure you understand the concept." Kieran joked.

"I understand the concept. Someone's just going to have to eat what Owen can't." I lied winking at the boy who was shoveling food into his mouth.

"I'll eat it all." Owen promised.

"See, he understands." Kieran smiled.

He stared at Owen, so grateful that it turned out the way it did. It could have been so much worse. Kieran reached under the table and patted my knee. I eyed him suspiciously but he only took his hand away and nodded towards Owen who was busy attacking his heaping amounts of food.

"Thank you." Kieran said. They weren't the easiest words for him to say to anyone.

"You're welcome." I replied, understanding what he was trying to say.

*****

"I cannot believe we are stealing a kid. This is so...." Tessa started.

"Exciting. Come on. You have to admit. Your adrenaline's pumping." David told her taking a long piece of metal out of his trunk.

"What the hell is that? What the hell IS that? Is that a cattle prod?" Tessa asked, horrified at what she was witnessing.

"Yes. This is Kieran we're talking about."

"You are not using that on the boy."

"Nope. He gets this." David tossed a Taser to a man who was with them.

"You're going to Taser a child. No way! I'm having nothing to do with this. I'm waiting here." Tessa exclaimed opening the car door.

"This is not a regular child Tessa. You know that. He's not human."

"We don't know that for sure. We've only seen him once."

"Seth is adamant that he's the same."

"Still, there is no way I'm supporting this. You're on your own."

"Fine. Wait in the car. Get in the back seat. I'll hand the boy to you."

She did as she was told, chewing her thumb nail as she watched the men enter the restaurant. Three entered the front while David and another entered from the back. She saw as David handed a waiter, who was smoking by the rear entrance, some money and the waiter nodded as he opened the door for them. David looked towards the car and then entered the premises.

*****

Owen sat back with a sigh. He was so full he could barely sit straight. I chuckled at the sight and sat back myself.

"Full Owen?" I asked.

"Yes." He admitted.

"Well, I'm suspecting that tomorrow is a big day for you guys so why don't we call it a night. I'm exhausted." I got up out of my chair and they followed my lead.

"Sounds like a plan. I'll get the bill and stop at the restrooms." Kieran said as he put his jacket on.

"Me too." Owen announced.

"Alright. Come on Owen. This way."

"I'll meet you at the doors." I told them.

Kieran nodded his approval and left me. I gathered my sweater and bag and slowly headed towards the entrance.

"Thank you for coming this evening. Have a pleasant night." The host told me.

"It was great. Thanks. I'll just wait here for the boys."

"Yes ma'am." He answered smiling, then walked away.

I leaned against a wall and studied an Indian statue as Kieran and Owen did what they had to do.

*****

Kieran washed his hands under the tap then splashed his face with the water. He took some paper towels to dry off and, staring at his reflection in the mirror, noticed they weren't alone. David's face looked back at him and Kieran quickly turned to confront him, glaring in his direction.

"What the hell is this?" Kieran asked.

"What?" Owen told him as he opened the stall door.

"No Owen! Stay in there." Kieran demanded.

It was too late. One of the men took a device that Kieran didn't recognize and held it against Owen's chest as the boy came out of the stall. Kieran watched as Owen's small body shook and tumbled to the ground.

"No! You son of a bitch!" Kieran yelled going to attack the one that did it. The largest out of the three men took Kieran from behind and David did what he had to do fast. He lunged at Kieran with the cattle prod and made contact immediately. With so much energy coming off Kieran and the device, it was difficult for David to hang on until Kieran fell to the floor with a thump to the back of his head.

"Move him against the wall. Hurry up." David directed. "Search him. The flash drive is probably on him."

As two men searched Kieran quickly, a third watched the door. They couldn't find any sign of the flash drive. The largest man gathered Owen into his arms and snuck out the back just as a cook was leaving the kitchen.

"Head's up David." The man at the door told him.

"Fuck! It's not here." David exclaimed.

"Time to go!" He demanded.

David groaned then kicked Kieran in the hip. There wasn't time to do anything worse. The cook was coming closer and David and the rest of his crew left the rest room first, just making it out before allowing the cook and another patron to enter. They were out the door before anyone had a chance to realize what had happened in the small bathroom tucked into the back of a tiny Indian restaurant.

David unlocked his car and threw open the back door. One of his accomplices placed Owen on the seat with Tessa. She caught his head as Owen slouched down. David went around to the driver's side and turned the key in the ignition. His cohort got in beside him as David dialed a number into his phone and eased the car out of the parking stall.

"Is it done?" The person on the other end asked.

"Yes. It's done. Kieran didn't have the stick on him and there wasn't enough time to drag him out. We barely got away unnoticed."

"It's fine. The boy is what I really want right now."

"It's not what I want. You promised me, Seth. You told me Kieran would have it. He didn't!"

"Don't you dare raise your voice to me. We have the boy. That's enough for now."

David swore silently while listening to the man that he thought he had employed but now it was turning into a completely different story.

"What now?" David asked.

"Bring him to the warehouse. Tomorrow you will find Kieran and tell him about the kid. He will have no choice but to give you what you want in exchange for nothing happening to Owen."

Tessa kept one ear open to the conversation while feeling around the clothes of the child that was slumped against her. He was starting to come out of his sleep. She felt around where she could reach then slowly propped him up so she could feel his back pockets.

"What are you doing?" David asked.

"I'm getting more comfortable. Do you mind? He's waking up."

She hurried with her movements and finally felt something hard in his back pocket. She reached with her fingers and pulled out a black flash drive. Knowing who it really belonged to, she dropped it into her purse that was sitting on the floor. There was no way David would see this before its rightful owner had the chance. They had no clue how Kieran's mind worked. She had a little bit of an understanding. She wrapped her arm around Owen's shoulders in case he woke and started a struggle. It was the last thing she wanted to do, but in a car with David watching, she had no choice.

*****

They were taking way too much time in the bathroom. I didn't think men liked to linger in there for very long. It was more of a go and leave type thing. Women were more inclined to see how they looked and re-apply lipstick or fix the odd hair out of place. I decided to wander over that way seeing as how the bill was paid and I was just feeling like an idiot standing by the doors.

I noticed one of the cooks go in to use the washroom. Within seconds he was running out, spouting frantic words that I didn't understand. My stomach fell to my knees seeing that something was terribly wrong. My throat wanted to give back all the food that I had consumed. Dread was a horrible feeling and it was taking over my whole body. Not caring about the tiny stick man above the door, I let myself into the men's room.

"Oh my God." I whispered, seeing Kieran up against a wall. He was being brought around by some guy that I had noticed earlier, eating with his family. "What's happened?" I squeaked.

"I just found him like this." He told me.

"Kieran, where's Owen?" I asked feeling sick that Owen wasn't the one crouching over his brother.

"What?" Kieran asked rubbing his neck.

"Where is Owen? Wake up and tell me where he is!" I knelt by his side patting his face.

"He was with me. I..."

"Do you want me to call 911?" The man asked pulling out his cell phone.

"No!" Kieran jolted up.

"If someone's missing I have to call. Something's definitely up when you're slumped against a wall and someone's missing."

"What happened to Owen, Kieran? Where is he?" I asked again.

Kieran glanced around then got to his feet. It took a moment to get his balance and he shook his head to try and clear it.

"They were all in here. Maybe five of them."

"Five of who?" I asked.

"David was in here. He took...oh my God." Kieran covered his face with his hands.

"He took...he took Owen? He took Owen!"

"I have to...I have to go. I have to get him." Kieran stumbled out the bathroom door while the man that assisted started making the call.

"Please. No police. We know where he went." I told him shakily.

"Lady, are you sure?"

"Yes. It's fine. Thank you for your help." I stood patting his arm in reassurance, probably more for my own then anything else.

The man that I had seen; it wasn't just my imagination. He had been real and he had been looking at my apartment. The glow from Owen's back, it must have indicated something was wrong or something was around. Did Owen know someone was around or that he was in danger? He had been unusually anxious all through dinner. There were so many questions floating around in my mind that I didn't know where to start. Kieran was supposed to be able to protect him. What the hell happened in the span of a few minutes?

"Kieran!" I called after him, outside.

He was well on his way down the street. He had his stability back and was on a mission to recover his brother.

"Kieran! Wait!"

"I can't stop, Gwynne. I'm kind of in a hurry here."

I ran, catching up to him and grabbed his arm to stop him. He turned and shrugged me off.

"What happened in that washroom, Kieran?"

"Obviously they took him."

"You were supposed to watch him. What the hell!"

"I was watching him! You can go live your life now Gwynne. I'll get my stuff and leave you alone."

"But...what about...?"

"No. Let me into your place to get my things so I can get Owen and get the hell off this bloody rock." He turned and continued walking quickly.

I had no choice. I had to let him in. There was something I felt he wasn't telling me and I wanted to know what it was before he went anywhere. I beat him to the door and pulled out my keys. When we walked towards my suite we found that it was no longer locked.

Kieran groaned in frustration and pushed the door in. The chaos that appeared around the room was incredible. They had obviously searched every inch of this place not taking care with anything they touched.

"Oh shit." He murmured.

"Why? What's wrong?"

When I saw what was done to my apartment I gasped and stepped over garbage and broken glass. Sofas had been turned over, pillows had their stuffing removed. Everything had been searched.

"My apartment. All my things, everything's been ransacked." I spoke softly from shock.

"Gwynne..."

"No! Shut up!" I yelled at him.

Kieran closed his mouth.

"Who are you? What have they done with Owen?"

I started slapping and punching him. I was so angry and wasn't able to control my attack. I blamed Kieran for everything that had happened in the past couple of days. Now Owen was gone and anything could be happening to him. Kieran would pay.

"Where is your brother you son-of-a-bitch." I demanded.

"Stop Gwynne. Stop!" He found my wrists and held them down easily. "Stop it. This isn't helping. You don't know what you're dealing with here."

"Then tell me. I deserve to know. Look at my place. Look at what's been done to it. I'm holding you responsible for this. Your brother has been taken, Kieran! My apartment is destroyed! You owe me an explanation!"

Kieran let go of my wrists and stood before me. What choice did he have? After seeing what they did to Gwynne's place she deserved whatever truth he could give. This wasn't easy for him. He thought living a lie would be easier than living the truth because the truth was so bitter in his mouth. His heartache and memories were easier to cope with if Owen was told one thing and never the other.

"Owen is not my brother." Kieran's voice was flat.

I glared not believing him.

"Pardon me? He told me you were his brother."

"He thinks I'm his brother. He wasn't lying to you." Kieran answered uncomfortably.

"Who are you then?" I spoke evenly, punctuating every word.

"Owen's my son."

"He's your..." I swallowed hard. "He's your son?!"

Kieran let the information settle with me. My eyes changed from disbelief to instant rage. Kieran noticed the change, saw it happening, and raised his hands in defense because he knew what was coming.

"That is even worse! How could you let this happen to your own son?!"

I pummeled him until I was exhausted and then I took a moment to catch my breath.

"How could you hide who you were from your own son?! What kind of person does that?!"

"Are you done?" Kieran asked but quickly regretted it.

"No I am not done you asshole." I swatted him again and this time he didn't let it go on for very long.

In an instant I was picked up by invisible hands and pinned to a wall. I didn't realize it was happening at first until I couldn't move my arms and my feet were a couple inches from the floor.

"What are you doing to me?" I demanded.

"I could use a break from your tantrum. You have a pretty heavy hand."

"Put me down, Kieran, or I swear to whatever god there is..."

"You'll do what?" He asked, raising his eyebrows. "What could you possibly do to me that hasn't been tried already? Get a grip Gwynne."

"Get me down from here. Get your crap and get lost."

"Gladly." Kieran obliged then turned to see if any of his belongings were still left.

There was an empty backpack and the clothes from it were tossed around the floor. His computer and books were gone. He wasn't worried though. There was nothing that they took that would give them the information they wanted.

"Well they didn't leave much for me to pack." Kieran mumbled, gathering his things.

"So they have what they need. They'll return Owen?"

"No. They don't have what they need."

"Then where is it?" I said helplessly.

Kieran dropped the backpack and stood in the center of the room. He maintained his eye contact with me as he pulled off his clothing; his jacket, a long sleeved sweater, and lastly a t-shirt. He presented his torso as proof of what they didn't have.

"It's here." He told me. "They need me."

I stood with a blank stare studying the tattoos that were imprinted on his skin. They started under the left collar bone, shoulder, down the arm. There were a couple on his chest and one on his right forearm. All of them symbolic, all of them I didn't recognize at all.

"This is what they need?" I asked.

"Yes."

"And you'll give it to them?"

"You don't understand what could happen if they get a hold of this." Kieran answered helplessly.

"Maybe not but what I do understand is there's a young boy who has been taken from you and he is your son. This crap that you have drawn all over your body seems more important to you than Owen. How is that even possible? I can't even look at you right now." I turned away and left the room. "You're disgusting."

"Gwynne..."

"Get out of my apartment." I told him as I walked to my bedroom.

*****

"Get away from me!" Owen exclaimed as he squirmed in the grip of a man and a woman.

Owen saw that he was brought into a large room that was worn down. It had concrete walls and a high ceiling with metal bars crisscrossing it. The ceiling was a different type of metal and had light bulbs hanging from old wires everywhere. The floor was cement; bare, cold and damp from the rain that had leaked through the roof earlier. Other than that, the room contained nothing but an old couch and a table with empty food cartons on it.

"Settle down. We're not about to hurt you." David told him letting him go.

"I know you. You're that guy that yelled at us at the university." Owen pointed to David accusingly. He then switched his finger to Tessa. "And you talked to us with Landon. You said you hadn't seen Kieran."

"Smart kid." Tessa commented.

"I want to go. I haven't done anything wrong." Owen demanded.

"You haven't but until Kieran hands over what we want, you're staying with us." David said. "And he will hand it over."

They both turned when they heard the footsteps approach. They knew who it was and stepped away from Owen. A tall man came in; he wore black cargo pants like Owen's and a black t-shirt. His hair was a sandy brown, left longer than Kieran's. He had a presence about him that got a room's attention. Owen could feel he was more than human. He was the same as Owen but Owen didn't think any others were here besides Kieran.

"Well, Owen. That's a great name. They did well." He ignored Tessa and David and went straight for the boy.

"Who are you?" Owen asked glaring at him.

"Calm down. My name is Seth. I knew your mother. I know your father." Seth stood before Owen and crouched down.

"My mother and father are gone. I have no guardians."

"What about your brother, Kieran? Is he your guardian?"

"I came to get him back; before They abandoned him."

"Yes." Seth nodded. "Abandonment can be tough. I was here far too long as well. It's very honorable of you to come here and do that for your brother and at such a young age. I respect that."

"You were abandoned?" Owen relaxed a little and looked surprised at the man before him.

Seth's eyes were blue green and their depth, so deep, someone could get lost in their stare. He studied Owen with sympathy and understanding.

"Unfortunately, yes. I was kind of like Kieran in a way. I wanted to learn of other worlds, of other beings. This universe is so vast. There is so much happening all at the same time, all the time. It's all very mysterious and exciting."

"I never knew my mother." Owen admitted.

"I know. I did hear of her death not long after your birth and I am very sorry. She was a beautiful soul but you cannot choose when it is time for your rebirth. Only destiny can do that. She's been reborn here, actually."

"Here? On earth?"

"That's the story I've heard. I don't know where though. Rumors spread; souls come and go with little tidbits of information from home or elsewhere."

"Why do you speak of my father like he's still alive?" Owen asked suspiciously.

"Because Owen, he is."

"He's not." Owen argued.

"No one has ever told you about him?" Seth asked.

"I only knew he had disappeared after my mother died."

"Do you and Kieran share the same mother?"

"No."

"You did." Seth got up and stared down at the boy.

Owen was confused. He tried to figure out the riddle in his head but couldn't. He was smart in other ways but relationships and lineage always had his young mind confused.

"It's not in the way you think, Owen. You shared her yes but Kieran shared her in love." Seth continued.

"What do you mean?" Owen asked as his eyebrows came together in puzzlement.

"Kieran is not your brother. He is your father. Get comfortable. You'll be here until daddy comes and gets you." Seth left the room. David and Tessa followed closing the door and locking it from the outside.

Owen stood not wanting to believe what he had just heard. His little brain couldn't understand why Kieran had never told him such a personal truth. He had always struggled seeing the others his age being raised in the security of their guardians and he always felt an emptiness because he never knew his. Young souls were always given important direction from both parents until they were ready to live their life through their own hearts and minds. Owen had Kieran, and Kieran had done his best as a brother but he never was more to Owen than that. So Owen would try to teach himself the lessons that he could never receive as the others did. Why didn't Kieran want to be a father to him?

He was angry. That was Owen's reaction to the news. It wasn't relief. It wasn't longing. It wasn't love. He always wanted a family and he had a father but his father never wanted him as a son. Owen wanted answers. He never dreamed that a visit to this reality would unveil such a truth that he deserved to know about, so long ago.

"You owe me Kieran. You owe me so much and you can start by finding my mother." He whispered.

An energy filled him at that instant that was different. It was mixed with rage and it snaked up from his toes, worked its way up to his knees, up his legs, his stomach, chest and throat. It spread to his hands, making them hot, and he looked at the old table that was in front of him. Owen raised his hands slightly and the table was off the ground. He flicked his wrist and the table flew to a wall. With the force of the impact, it shattered as if hooked up to a bomb.

With that out of his system, Owen walked to the old sofa and sat. Now he waited for Kieran.

*****

Kieran had pretty much everything picked up and straightened. He tried to arrange the living room how he remembered it to be. The clock on the stove read 9:27 and it felt like it had to be past midnight. He felt Owen to be safe. That he knew for sure. Gwynne hadn't come out of her room but she wasn't asleep either. He knew she was worried about where Owen was. Kieran was more worried that he wouldn't be able to get him back without starting something that could never be undone. He needed to get help. He needed to request help from Them; the keepers of his dimension. The Ones that had a say in his destiny. The Ones that chose when his people could come and when they could go. They who decided if they were even allowed to return to where they began. Kieran needed Their guidance on how to proceed and if they would help. Doubtful. He was told that if he decided to come here it was his choice and Their influence in this existence was minimal at best.

Kieran's ears perked to the sound of a door opening. He stood from the kitchen table to greet her. Until this was over, Gwynne, whether she liked it or not, was involved. She appeared around the corner and stopped when she saw him.

"I thought I asked you to leave." I told him.

"You did."

"So why are you standing in my kitchen?"

"I thought you might want to tag team on getting Owen back." He answered.

I felt my mouth drop to the floor. I couldn't believe the nerve of this guy. Not even a guy; this thing.

"You have to be out of your mind." I crossed the room and went to my kettle to fill it with water. "Get out."

Kieran wasn't about to give up. "When you first met Owen were you drawn to him and didn't know why? Did you remember feelings that you had toward him but didn't know where they were coming from? Did you feel like you had known him before, not as this boy, but a new soul?"

I stopped what I was doing and hunched over the sink. Kieran was right. Since I had seen Owen in the bookstore, I was instantly drawn to him. When I saw him at the bus stop I was surprised to see him again but relieved at the same time. When he told me what he was I was shocked and a little horrified but it didn't last long. To me he was only a boy but so familiar that I almost assumed we were related.

"And what about me? Did you know me?" Kieran pressed on.

"I did not know you." Waking from my thoughts, I put the kettle on the stove rolling my eyes at the ridiculous question.

"I don't seem familiar to you at all."

"What is this about? I did not know you. I don't know you. Let's keep it that way."

Kieran was disappointed but knew better than to think she would know him just hours after they had first met. Owen was different. She was a guardian to him right away whether she knew it or not. Kieran suspected she felt more than what she was willing to admit.

"I'm going to ask for help with this. I'd like you to come with me. The people who took Owen are souls like me." Kieran said.

"I thought you said David took him." I poured the now boiling water over a tea bag and gave it a quick stir.

"I'm pretty sure David asked them for help."

"And how would David know where to find them?"

"I don't know. I have no idea, Gwynne, and that's the honest truth. I'm sure we'll find out as we go.

"You don't seem to hear me or understand me, Kieran. There is no we. There is you."

"I just want my son back, Gwynne."

"That has nothing to do with me." I snapped back.

"Yes. It does." Kieran came around the table and stood with me at the counter.

"Why?"

"He told me you felt like his mother. Those were his exact words."

"Stop it." I tried to walk away but he grabbed my arm. I forcefully took it back.

"He was right." Kieran finished.

"You need to get out of here before I call the cops." I glared at him. "I was kind to him. I took him in when he needed a safe place. That's it."

"Just let me tell you Gwynne. Stop being so angry with me and let me explain this to you. I know I fucked up okay. I have to live with that right now. I'm alone here. I've been alone since I got here. I've never asked for help from anyone. I'm asking you now. Just like Owen did."

I was ready to let him have it again but there was a fear in his eyes and emotion in his face that forced me to stop and take notice. He had been alone. That was true. How did I like being alone all the time? Sometimes it was okay. Sometimes it killed me. I always had a talent for stepping into another's position; to try to see their point of view before making any judgments. Something was telling me I had to do it now.

I took a deep breath and reached for my mug of tea.

"Okay Kieran. I'm all yours."

*****

We sat on my bed with crossed legs. He picked at the bedspread and I held my warm mug. I just waited until he was ready to start. There was no way I would start this conversation. He wanted to fill me in so he would have to find the words. Kieran cleared his throat to fill the silence. I simply took a sip of tea.

"Okay." Kieran began.

"Ready?" I asked.

"Yeah." He shifted uncomfortably finding the words. "It's our belief that when spirit's find each other they move through lives finding ways to be together again. I think the saying here is a soul mate?"

"I guess." I shrugged knowing full well he spoke the truth.

"I lost mine. I was lucky enough to find her. She died when Owen was, well now what would that be here. He was still pretty new."

"Like a baby?" I asked.

"That works. Her name was Nia and the day she died was the day I changed. I couldn't look at Owen without remembering her. It was the worst part of my existence."

"I can imagine Kieran. I'm sorry."

Ignoring my attempt at pity he continued.

"It came to a point where I had this stupid idea that if I just made Owen believe that he was my brother, that some of that pain would be gone. If he didn't call me his guardian, or father, it would be easier because then I wouldn't have to remember that he had a mother."

"That's the dumbest thing I have ever heard in my entire life." I told him.

Kieran glared at me and I glared back. I didn't care what he thought of my bluntness, he deserved it. His stupid idea had left I child feeling like an orphan, or I only assumed Owen felt that way.

"Please. Don't hold back on the account of my broken heart." Kieran snapped.

"I'm sorry but, to save your feelings, Owen was made an orphan. I wonder how he felt about that?"

"I realize my huge mistake. It has not gone over well with those closest to me. I get that. Have you ever lost anyone so close to you that most of you had died as well?" He asked. "That wasn't fair to Owen either."

"How could I when I never had anyone that close to me to begin with." I answered honestly. "And I'm not about to get into that discussion with you because I'm really not ready to share how I have lived the past twenty years of my life. Let's just say, Owen and I have a lot in common when it comes to dead beat parents."

"Can I finish?" Kieran asked sarcastically.

"Please."

We stared at each other, summing up that we were both hot heads and neither would give up our stance on the situation. Kieran, trying to justify and explain why he was an asshole and me, trying to feel sorry for his loss but instead, seeing what he'd done from an orphan's point of view. It wasn't a good situation.

"I'm not going into the details of my relationship with Nia. I don't think you would care anyway. What I do think has happened is that she has been born to this place. Owen told me that he felt like you were his mother."

"Sure. I cared for him in the short time he was with me. He was alone and scared. Why wouldn't he put that on me?" I asked.

"There's something you don't get here, Gwynne. We're not humans. We feel. We don't see what's on the outside of someone. We feel what's happening on the inside. That's how we know each other; on a very transcendent level. Only a select few of you here would even know just the tiniest detail of that. So for Owen to say that he feels you are his mother is something very real. He wouldn't just say that without knowing for sure."

"I'm sorry Kieran. I can't just say okay, that sounds good. I have a son. What do you want from me?"

"I feel it too!" He shouted.

Kieran wanted it out. It was one thing for Owen to admit that he felt a mother he never knew in Gwynne. It was another for Kieran to admit his soul's true love, his soul's promise was now very apparent in the woman that was sitting across from him. It was killing him slowly. His son was missing and his lover was appearing and didn't even know him or what they shared.

"Kieran..." I started.

"Do you think I enjoy this? Do you really think I could sit across from you and tell you this if I didn't mean it? I couldn't even call my own son mine because of her death. Now, I sit in front of a stranger and tell her that she's who I've known in lives past and will know in a future existence. Can you really sit there and think that someone like me could do this?" Kieran demanded. "I hate this. I hate that I don't know you at all but I feel so much that it brings back that pain again; even more so. I see her in your eyes. I feel her in your heart. I know she knows I'm here. I know you've sensed something stirring deep inside since Owen first walked up to you. You can't hide that from me!"

"Stop it! God Kieran. Just stop!" I stood up from the bed and raked my fingers through my hair.

"And now..." Kieran stood as well. "I am calling on her to help me get our son back. Can you hear me Nia? I want our son back. I want you back. Stop fighting me!"

"You're insane!" I shouted.

He took both of my arms and held me in front of him. His face came close to mine, eyes on the verge of tears, desperate for a miracle to happen. Desperate to know if his heart and soul were being heard.

"Wake up. Look at me, Gwynne. I understand this is very hard for you to hear. I wouldn't be doing this to you if I wasn't sure. I need your help so badly."

I turned my face so I couldn't look at him. There was something tugging at my chest. It felt like it was about to explode. My breathing was rapid and my heart wanted to jump out of my body and into Kieran's.

"Please. Let go of me." I felt like every word was on the beat of a sob but I wasn't crying. My knees gave way and I started sinking to the floor. "Please Kieran. It's your hands. Something..."

Kieran let me fall and slid his hands to grasp mine. He crouched before me, refusing to let go. The emotion he was experiencing was now starting to show in the form he was given, his skin seemed like it was alight with electricity.

"Nia." He whispered.

I didn't mean to do it. I was scared at what was happening but my eyes locked with his, immediately perceiving feelings and information being exchanged at lightning speed. There were memories there. Just on the edge of my consciousness; of a different place; of brilliance from a world different than this one. There was some recollection of the man before me but not how he was at this moment. Only how he was when he was mine.

I fought whoever was coming forth, not wanting them there. They weren't invited. The confusing part was that it was still me. It wasn't like I was being possessed. It was like a part of me that had been buried very deep, for such a long time, that only a moment like this could ever uncover it.

Past life regression was one of those things I believed possible but never really gave a serious thought about. If the universe was this never ending place than how could there only be one lifetime? Possibilities were just as expansive as how far the stars could reach. Now, it seemed, I was in the middle of a possibility I could never have prepared for.

Searching Kieran's face with new eyes, I recognized him but it was recognition like you were staring at a person, trying to remember their name or where you knew them from but couldn't put a finger on it.

"I know you." I whispered to him.

He nodded quickly.

"Come back to me." Kieran stroked my cheek barely containing his elation at finally seeing the woman, he could never forget, on the surface of the one he didn't know.

"I'm not sure how." I admitted.

Kieran let go of my hands but kept physical contact with my arms. He didn't want this to end. He wanted me to know him. He desperately wanted me to know who we once were. Even though he didn't deserve it, this was the miracle he prayed for every day. Half of the miracle had come true. He found me. The other half was getting me to know who I was and who he was.

"We have a son." I told him.

Kieran's attention came back from his hopeful thoughts.

"Do you remember?" He asked gently.

"I'm not sure." I shook my head as the fogginess started settling in. Part of me wanted this to stop. Another, stronger part needed to know. A memory surfaced and I spoke the words that I had spoken so long ago. "You didn't listen to me." I told him, sudden sadness coming over me.

"What do you mean?" He asked.

"I knew of your dream to come here. I knew of what you wanted to accomplish. I told you not to leave him. You left him anyway."

The lump in Kieran's throat could no longer be contained. He spilled tears from his eyes recalling what Nia had said to him before she died.

"I'm so sorry, Nia." He bowed his head in regret.

"I'm not Nia anymore. My name is Gwynne. Did you find what you were looking for, Kieran?"

"Yes." He answered.

I put a finger under his chin and lifted his face to mine.

"Was it worth it?" I asked.

"No." He cried.

I cautiously leaned forward then, slowly allowing what my gut was telling me not to do but my heart was demanding otherwise. I reached out and wrapped Kieran in a close embrace. When my arms encircled his neck and our bodies touched, I knew him. I knew who he was to me and I pressed myself as close as I could to him. His arms encircled my waist and he buried his face in my neck.

"You're not alone anymore." I told him.

*****

Seth walked slowly down the hall towards Owen. It was late but he didn't think the child was asleep. He doubted that Owen would even try to make a run for it in the dark of night. There was no where he could go anyway.

Owen was very much like his mother in the sense that he had a passion in him. They all had passion. It was how they lived but Owen's had not been touched by anything which would be easier to manipulate and mold to Seth's advantage. That's what he was hoping for. Seth already started; planting the seed, dropping the knowledge that Kieran was really Owen's guardian was meant as a beginning in turning him. Owen was probably so distraught and confused wondering why Kieran never admitted paternity. Any child would. This is what Seth intended. Kieran had a mind for invention; Owen had a mind more powerful. He was given the gift of creation and when you can create you also have the ability to destroy. With Kieran's discovery of teleportation here on earth and Owen's abilities of creation, Seth knew his influence could reach very far indeed.

Seth unlocked the door and pulled it open. Across the room was a shattered table with garbage strewn across the room and a boy sitting on the edge of the couch, very still and very much awake.

"Can't sleep?" Seth shuffled towards him glancing at the shattered table and splinters of wood that reached the door he had just entered.

"I need a bed." Owen responded not looking at him.

"You need to get some rest. You're not of age yet and travel here has taken its toll on you. Although, I believe that's changing quickly."

"What do you mean?"

"Look around you. I know you did this. A child is not capable of doing these things unless it is their time."

"I'm still too young." Owen argued.

Seth shrugged. "Different times for everyone."

"When did you?" Owen asked.

"What? Come of age?" Seth replied. He sat back on the old sofa beside Owen. "That was so long ago. It was later though. I had a tougher time. It's probably why I came here. I felt like I had something to prove. Ever feel like that, Owen?"

"No."

"Oh come on. This whole adventure of coming to earth to bring Kieran back, you don't think you needed to prove yourself? To all those young souls who had it easier because they had their guardians? You didn't have to prove to them that you were more than capable even though yours were not around?"

"It wasn't about that." Owen told him flatly.

"Okay. What was it about?"

"I wanted my brother back."

"And now?"

"Are you sure you don't know where my mother is?" Owen changed the subject quickly, not interested in talking about Kieran.

"I'm sorry Owen. I have no idea."

"Gwynne..."

"Who's Gwynne?" Seth asked but realized who he was speaking of and snapped his fingers. "The woman that found you. The one you were staying with. She's Gwynne."

"Yeah. She felt like...I don't know." Owen stood up from the couch and kicked at a piece of garbage.

"Go on. She felt like what? Your mother?" Seth pressed.

"She did. Do you think it's possible?" Owen asked, his eyes getting wide with hope.

"That would be some luck if you found your mother's soul when you first arrived here." Seth chuckled finding the humor in what Owen was thinking.

"But maybe that was Their intention; to drop me with her so we could find each other again. They have a hand in each soul's destiny. Do you think it could be true, Seth?"

"I don't know. I try not to think of any divine plan as Their plans for me have never resonated with my own wishes. I think you have developed an attachment to her because she took you in when you were lost. She was kind to you when so many here are quite the opposite. What does Kieran think?"

"He never said anything. He never acted like he knew her. But he was only around her for a little bit." Owen answered.

"Don't you think that if they were the lovers they used to be, it would be an instant feeling, an instant knowledge on his part?"

"Sure but he's been here for so long. It's changed him." Owen stared in Seth's direction. "You've been changed as well."

Seth was uncomfortable with Owen's intuitive assumptions. If this Gwynne woman was really Owen's mother it would create a huge problem. On the bright side, there could be no way she would wake up and realize it in time. She was human. Seth didn't give them much credit.

"I hope you're right, Owen. Get some rest." Seth stood to leave but Owen touched his arm to try and stop him.

"It's cold in here. Is there a different place I can go?" He pleaded.

Seth studied the boy and nodded in approval.

"Sure. You can stay with me. Put this on first." Seth took a sleep mask from his pocket and tossed it to him.

Owen looked at it confused.

"Why do I have to wear this?" He asked.

"I don't want you to know where you are." Seth answered simply. "Put it on."

Owen did as he was told and was guided out of the room and into a waiting car.

*****

Kieran stood underneath the small shower head, letting the water take everything away. He braced himself against the cool tile of the wall while the hot water rained down on his neck. He was exhausted. Everything in him was tired down to the last hair on his head. Kieran left Gwynne in her room. She was still really confused about what was going on with her. After their embrace, she let him go and told him she needed time to sort through feelings that she didn't understand.

Here was a woman that had no clue about him when they met and now she was in the midst of a storm of uncharted feelings. She now knew Owen as her son and she now knew him as her beloved. But her son was missing and her beloved was the cause of his disappearance. It was not the happiest of reunions. He had no idea where they stood but he wasn't expecting to share with her what they once had. Not yet and maybe not ever.

He shut the water off and pulled back the curtain to reveal a room full of steam. Wrapping a towel around his waist he opened the door to allow the steam the chance of escape. The contrast in temperatures between the bathroom and the hall was enough to send goose bumps across his skin. Kieran walked into the living room to retrieve his bag with the couple items of clothing he had found thrown around the living room.

When he glanced back up, Gwynne was staring at him from the entrance.

"Sorry I took so long. I didn't mean to..." He spoke quickly but was silenced by the wave of her hand.

"It's fine. Kieran?"

"Yes Gwynne?"

"How do we know if Owen's okay? How do we find him?"

"He's okay. They won't hurt him. They can't. They know what that could mean." Kieran answered honestly.

"What could it mean?"

"Let's just say it could bring change here pretty quickly. We wouldn't be a figment of imagination anymore."

"If They don't want one of you harmed then why were They so willing to leave you abandoned." I asked.

"Because it was my choice to come here. Owen was stolen. Even worse, he was taken while trying to retrieve me. It's completely different."

"So They care?"

"Of course They care. That's why we're asking Them for help."

He decided that he wasn't getting out of this Q and A session just because he needed to dress, nor did he shy away from doing so. While she stood there, he stripped the towel off and proceeded to put his clothes on. She didn't even bat an eyelash.

"Where are They? How do we get there?"

Kieran pulled his t-shirt over his head and down his torso.

"We need to go underground."

"Like a basement?"

"No. Deeper. We need to get to the subways."

"They live in the subway tunnels?" I almost laughed at the thought. All those people who had no homes; they really were from different worlds. Some certainly acted like it.

"If I can find the perfect spot, there will be a gateway. We'll find it. There's a few throughout this city."

"Then why have you never returned?"

"I couldn't. That was the deal. When I finished I was allowed to go back. Too much coming and going and there would be a risk that our travel would be seen. Plus, we're in a situation here. I'm sure they won't object to seeing me. Or you for that matter." He gave me a long look and I smiled shyly.

Cautiously walking his way, I came before him and traced one of the tattoos on his arm with my finger, recalling what I had seen with only a towel around his waist. Kieran stayed frozen in place. Now it was his spine that stiffened with nerves to my close proximity.

"I like the tattoos." I said softly.

Kieran cleared his throat. "He did a good job." He tried not to feel my touch too much but was finding it very difficult not to.

"He did." I agreed then turned and walked away. "Let's go."

*****

By now the streets were quiet. There were a few people smoking outside pubs or bars that lined the streets but there was no one who took notice of a man and a woman walking quickly towards a subway station. I was holding onto my last shred of energy. By now my body felt like it had been hit by a train; very fitting since that's where we were headed. The last forty eight hours were very apparent on my face, especially in the dark circles under my eyes. I wasn't moving my body because I wanted to. I was moving out of necessity. I had to get Owen back.

I understood what he was supposed to be to me. I knew he was my son. I felt horrible guilt for not feeling as much as I thought a mother should. Granted, I had only known him for a short time but the soul inside, that gave Owen life, was fighting my mind and heart and winning. Kieran had asked, only once again, if I had any more memories or feelings coming to the surface. I lied and said I hadn't when, in actuality, my surface was bubbling over. I'm sure he wasn't stupid. I'm sure he knew what he was doing to me as soon as he laid his hands on my arms, called her name and told me to wake up. Well I was waking up at an alarming rate and I was physically, mentally and emotionally drained.

He pulled a door open and let me pass first. We descended the stairs and met a security guard at the pay stations. He watched us with an eagle eye as Kieran searched his pockets for change to buy the ticket that would ebb suspicion.

"I'm short." Kieran whispered.

"Wait, I have some change." I dug into the bottom of my bag. "How much do you need?" I asked.

"Fifty cents."

"Here." I handed him a couple of quarters and flashed the security guard my last bus ticket, exaggerating the movement of having it stamped by the machine. "Have a good night." I waved as I let myself through the metal gate.

"You too. Last train will be here in three minutes."

"Right." Kieran smirked then followed my lead.

We took the stairs to the bottom level where we heard the recognizable sound of a bell signaling that the next train was on its way.

"We'll take this one." Kieran told me. "I'm pretty sure the guy is watching us on the cameras. We'll travel south."

"How south?" I asked.

"Just to the university. I know there's one there for sure."

"Of course there is." I said sarcastically.

"It made my research easier." He answered defensively.

"Have you tried it out?" I inquired.

"I have but not to go back home. Ever been to Italy?"

I stopped in my tracks and just stared at him with my mouth open. I didn't know if I had heard him correctly.

"You...you travelled to Italy? With one of these doorways?"

"I had to test it. Rome's amazing."

"You're serious?"

"Yes. When we get through this maybe we'll go." He joked.

The train came and glided to a stop. A couple people decided this is where they would get off and we squeezed ourselves past them to get a seat. There were lots to pick from. I sat closely beside Kieran because I questioned everyone around me.

"Have you been anywhere else?" I asked quietly.

Kieran sighed and stared up at the ceiling of the train to think.

"Grand Canyon, New York, Mexico, Greece. I think that's it."

"Wow. And you won't share your secrets?"

"No. I just wanted to know if it could be done here. Sharing information like that could fall into the wrong hands. There's enough power struggles on this planet right now. Plus, I tried it. I'm not human."

"Agreed but if humans knew you could use it for travel here do you think they would try to discover secrets of your world? Or others?"

"What do you think?" Kieran asked flatly.

I took a moment to think. Yes, we would try to travel and discover and some of us would try to pull rank that we thought we had but really didn't. Considering how far reaching galaxies went, I was sure there were more powerful beings out there than us.

It wasn't a very long ride, only about five minutes and we were only two of a handful of people to get off. There was construction blocking one of the tracks and it stopped Kieran. That was the side he needed or else he would have to walk the tracks and risk getting caught. It was only about fifty feet north but he knew how many cameras were down there. They would have to stick to the shadows and Gwynne would have to learn quickly.

"We can't linger here. Follow me." Kieran walked towards the escalator that travelled up. There was a service door that had a small opening to the tracks. He had used it before and there was no camera in it. He got out his small tool kit from his back pocket and shrunk against the door.

"What? Now you're a cat burglar. Why don't you use your super strength? You know, what you used to hold me up against the wall..." I said.

"You don't seem to understand the big picture here do you Gwynne? I can't. I can't draw attention to myself." He looked up at me for a second before continuing his work with the lock.

"It's a little late for that, don't you think?" I looked around us trying to press myself as close to the wall as possible.

Kieran heard a click and twisted the knob of the metal door. It opened easily and he slipped inside pulling on my arm to follow him. He quietly shut the door behind me and walked to a small staircase that would take us to the tracks.

"You've done this before I assume." I whispered following closely.

"I'll let you think about that for a second." He shot back.

The door to the tunnels was locked as well and, producing a pen light, he crouched down to work on that door. He hated all these obstacles but they were almost there and traveling through the gates would be the simple part of the night. For him anyway, he didn't know about Gwynne. He was hoping, because he had awakened the soul of Nia, it would be no trouble.

I felt nervous. I had never done anything remotely illegal in my whole life. Now, I was an accomplice in breaking and entering a subway station. This was insane. My adrenaline pumped at full capacity but as I watched Kieran work it helped to ease my worries just that little bit that I wouldn't run. I trusted him. As much as we snapped at each other, there were some pretty intense feelings and I knew he would never let anything happen to me, or Owen. Energetically and spiritually, I shared a son with this man. We had an existence beyond this one and I had awakened to it. I would have much preferred to catch up over a bottle of wine but this sneaking around would have to do.

"Done. Stay close to the shadows and follow me. Move as I do and we should be good." Kieran stood and packed away his small pouch of tools.

"Okay. Just go slow." I told him hesitantly, watching how tense his jaw had become.

"Can't. We don't have much time. Keep up."

"But..." Now I was scared.

Kieran rolled his eyes and placed his hands on my shoulders. He stared into my face and, finding my heart, spoke to it.

"You will be fine. It's not that far. Do what I do. When we get to the gate I will open it and we will step through together. Good?"

"Fine." I replied.

"And..." He wanted to finish before I had an argument. "I realize I haven't been the best father and I've learned my lesson. I will not let anything happen to you." Kieran brushed my long hair behind my shoulders and kissed my forehead. Closing my eyes I accepted it. "Physically, we don't know each other, but emotionally we know all there is to know. I love you. You're safe with me."

My insides turned to mush. No man had ever told me he loved me and meant it as much as I felt Kieran did. In a matter of hours I knew what real love felt like but was still scared to show that I felt the same way. I wasn't stupid. I knew he knew of my fears but it didn't matter to him. He saw the woman who he had loved and the woman who he would love and there was no difference to him. The most important parts were the same.

"I'm ready now." I told him quietly.

"Good. Let's go home."

*****

Seth checked his watch. It was nearly three in the morning but he wasn't able to sleep. There was so much coming and going around him that he decided it wasn't a good idea. The Powers That Be knew what was happening and they were furious. What choice did he have? He was warned a long time ago about his decisions but he never listened because Seth felt his time of power was near. They weren't just furious with him. They were furious with Kieran as well. Kieran made some very stupid choices. Seth would have loved to be a fly on the wall when Kieran went back to beg for assistance. What else could Kieran do but that? Seth had no idea if They would come. They were angry enough for sure but were They angry enough to chance having Their reality discovered? If They felt Owen was important enough then yes, They would risk it.

Owen wasn't the only one with his abilities. There were others of course but only a handful of individuals were so blessed. It took the union of two very unique and harmonious souls to create someone as exceptional as Owen. Seth never understood why Nia's life was taken so soon after Owen's birth. Kieran was gutted and he hadn't been the only one.

Owen had fallen asleep quickly after entering Seth's house. He was a trooper staying up for the long car ride to Seth's country estate. Now, he slept in one of the guest bedrooms and Seth sat in a chair beside the bed watching. He wasn't just watching a young boy sleeping. He was watching the young boys back, the symbols they were all given. Their identities shone when another of the same was around. Owen's shone silver, indicating Seth's presence. He was waiting for it to turn a different color, a color that would signal that the blood of Owen's blood was near. He wanted to be ready when Kieran came to find him. For now, the symbols glowed only silver.

Seth heard the footsteps and turned to see who was there.

"What is it?" He demanded.

"Not sleeping?" Tessa walked into the room, not caring if she was invited or not.

"No. Shouldn't you be?" He asked turning back to Owen.

"Come to bed Seth. You're no good to anybody without any sleep." Tessa began massaging his neck and shoulders, continuing down his arms. He moaned with the touch, and seeing she had permission, she continued to try and relax him.

"When do you think he'll come, Tess?" Seth asked.

"I'm sure he's finding a way right now. That's why you need to rest. I'm positive Kieran isn't sleeping. He never did. You have to be able to overtake him, if the situation arises." Tessa answered.

"That's not a problem. That's the easy part. Owen...he'll be harder to contain."

"Well, he has no idea of his abilities so far, does he?"

"He has some idea. I've seen it. He doesn't know how to use them though."

"Well that's good news. Owen's fine Seth. Come to bed. You have people watching every part of this house. Get some rest."

Seth looked up into Tessa's face. He often wondered if she only came to him out of heartbreak over the one that really mattered to her. He never asked. David had told him what her and Kieran's relationship had been. Tessa, trying everything to win Kieran's affection, and Kieran doing everything not to succumb to her endearing ways. Tessa was a sight; her red hair and blue eyes could grab any man's attention. Unfortunately, Kieran was still in love with a memory and he told her so one evening. She thought she had finally won him over; he had other ideas and wanted to be left alone.

"Okay. You win. I'm coming." Seth eased himself up from the chair as she smiled relieved. He cupped her chin in his hand and pulled her mouth towards his. "Are you ready to face him?"

"With you, I can face anything." She told him.

His kiss was tender and he clasped her hand in his. They walked out of Owen's presence and shut the door behind them.

Owen cracked an eye open; only pretending to sleep and had heard every word.

*****

"I have to get out of here." Owen said looking around the room.

There was no way he could walk out the bedroom door. Tessa had said that Seth had people everywhere. They were watching out for Kieran and making sure he didn't try to run. Owen was desperate. He needed to find Gwynne and find out if what he was feeling was really true. If it was true, he wasn't going back home. He was staying here with her and he hoped that she would have no objection to it.

There was a window towards the back of the room and Owen quietly walked to it to peak out. It was a long drop. To the left of him, he saw a couple of men bringing little white sticks to their mouths, which glowed red, and blew smoke. They were discussing something but he couldn't hear what they were saying. To the right of him was a large field and in the distance, lit by a single lamp post, was a dirt road. Owen wanted to go that way.

It was a long way down.

He paced around the room trying to think of a way he could climb down the wall. Those two men would be hard to hide from. He supposed he could jump. He was scared to jump that far.

He would have to try.

Owen stuffed blankets around pillows, trying to give it a form of a sleeping being. He then went to the window and opened it. His heart raced as he looked down. This was the perfect chance. The men at the bottom weren't on this side of the house anymore and it seemed this was his only shot.

Breathing in the early morning air he bowed his chin slightly.

"I call upon the spirit of my mother and the spirit of my father. I call upon the energies of those higher than me and I humbly ask for your protection for what I'm about to do. I know you told me that I was alone on this journey but I know, when I think of you, you are here. I ask for my freedom."

The tingle started in the bottom of his feet and, as before, traveled through his body but this time entered his head. His mind swam with images of Gwynne and Kieran. The Higher Souls that granted Owen permission to travel here were watching and nodding their heads in approval. He would be okay. All he ever needed to do was ask.

"Thank you." He told them.

It all happened so fast but passed in slow motion. He climbed up onto the ledge and looking towards the horizon, he let himself drop. There were hands that guided him. He didn't feel like he was free falling. It was like jumping into someone's arms and those arms were quickly and safely piloting him to the ground. He hit the ground with some force and rolled to his side, jamming his shoulder. He tried not to yelp and backed up against the side of the house.

Owen eyed his shoulder and rubbed it. He held back the tears that he felt forming and cleared the lump from his throat as quietly as he could. He couldn't be scared now. Now, he had to run. He looked left and right and saw which direction he wanted to go. Giving his shoulder one last small movement, he sprinted across the yard and into some trees. There was no time to look back. His only focus was to get to that road and run as far as he could until the sun rose. It wouldn't be until morning where he would stop and rest somewhere, and then try to find out where he was. As soon as he knew that, he would get a better idea about what direction to travel in.

Right now, though, he ran.

*****

We walked along the walls that lined the metal tracks. I could tell some people had been able to pull off what Kieran had done and for quite some time as little make-shift homes dotted empty corners. There were even people that had curled up in small crevices or walls, trying to get so small that they weren't detected by security or police. It was their only safe place and all they wanted to do was rest.

It was chilly down here. Any sort of noise and I was turning my head in its direction. The only lights that lit the tunnels were small and were more like a night light than anything else. I was constantly trying to hear for any trains that would be coming because sometimes we would only have room to walk along the tracks, which made me pretty nervous.

"This is really narrow, Kieran." I said pressing myself closer to the wall.

"There are no more trains tonight." He answered simply.

The sound of his voice was different. It seemed clearer like it had been produced from a studio recording. I thought it was the echo in the tunnels but my eyes shifted to his back. Kieran was different. There was something about him that was changing. He still had a human form but he was almost translucent. What bothered me about it the most was that he was in the process of physically changing and he looked like he had stepped out of ghost story.

"I can't do this Kieran. I'm sorry. I have to go back." I turned to leave but was stopped by the visions before me.

We had now entered some sort of long corridor; the sides of this corridor were transparent and on the other side of this long window was blackness.

"You can't go back now Gwynne. We've passed." Kieran made an attempt to take my hand but I stole it back quickly when I barely saw any hand to take. He was a phantom like figure, almost transparent; a shadow that was blending into the environment around us.

"What's happening to you?" I asked uncertain.

"Same thing that's happening to you. The body I have on earth is not my true form. It's just a costume to put on and play in. When the show is over though, the costumes must come off."

I glanced down at my hands. He was right. My skin was dissolving and becoming something else.

"Gwynne, you'll be back. You will be back to what you believe to be you when we are finished here." Kieran held out his hand and I hesitantly took it in my own.

We continued to walk along this glass-like matrix. The further we traveled the more flashes of light darted around us; different hues of color; pinks, oranges, greens, purples. I had come to believe that stars only shone white but it wasn't true. Each seemed to have a uniqueness all their own and it was amazing.

Kieran caught the wonderment in my gaze and gave a little smile.

"Do you know what those are?" He asked his voice sounding more and more like an echo.

"No." I admitted. "Stars?"

He gave a chuckle and shook his head. "Those are souls traveling on their destined paths. If you look closely you can see different corridors, each veering off to another reality, because of the choices they've made in their lives."

"Wow." I gasped.

Hearing voices, I watched around me. It was my voice that I heard and the route I was walking started revealing paths in different directions. I heard voices of people I knew in the past and voices I knew at the moment. I saw faces and situations that I did not remember being part of and it was confusing to me why I would be seeing memories that never happened.

"Kieran, I see..."

"Your path?"

"I guess. But the things I'm seeing, well, some of them never happened or happened slightly differently."

"The paths that are behind you are the paths you have taken. The paths in the distance are the branches of possible realities. The paths all around you, at this moment, are the choices you will make now." Kieran stopped walking and turned to ask. "What path will you choose at this moment?"

He had fully transformed as I had. He was still a masculine form but he glowed with gold, as if the sun was shining right through him. We had become pure light and in the center of our chest was a vibrant green that glowed brighter the more we studied each other.

"Which path will you choose Gwynne?" Kieran repeated.

Kieran stared at the woman he had been missing for lifetimes. He understood that it was Gwynne now and that it would always be her. This was the test that was before them. Which life would Gwynne choose? He could not bring her any farther on his choices. This was her life, her calling. He knew what he had to do but he could not see what trails were laid out before her eyes. That was for her heart and mind only and all he could do was ask, wait and hope.

*****

All around me were decisions. There were choices about every aspect of my life; people, places, situations, and thoughts. Daydreams surfaced and realities beside them. Some dreams did not parallel some of their realities but crossed each other like an intersection. It was a confusing maze of events and I dropped my head with the stress of it.

"I can't think." I told him, bringing my fingers to the temples of my forehead.

Kieran could see my heart dimming, the anxiety of the choice overwhelming me. There was nothing he could do or say. He could only stand beside me and watch.

"What's in here is what's important, Gwynne." He placed the palm of his hand on my chest and I raised my head to meet his stare.

Nodding in understanding, I stepped away from his hand and turned, viewing all the arrays of possibility. I felt which ones didn't resonate with me then turned and walk in a different direction. I was only looking for one face. I was only listening for one voice. I couldn't hear it right away. When I stepped in a direction there was yet another doorway into another matrix. Nothing was revealing anything that I wanted to experience. Refusing to move anymore I remembered the boy in the book store. I remembered the boy who slept on my couch, who didn't know what a fireplace was. I remembered when he asked me if I could keep his secret and I remembered saying yes.

Owen's voice was distant but distinct. I seemed fully immersed in a crowded room, many voices talking to me at once, but I know what I heard and I concentrated on where it was coming from. Stepping towards it, I heard the same words being repeated over and over again.

I call upon the spirit of my mother and the spirit of my father.

The closer I got the louder he got. I walked faster, with a determination that encircled my heart and made it grow in size. The matrix was outlined and opening for me. It seemed to know where I was headed and that my mind would not be changed. Soon, branches of tunnels around me started disappearing and there was just one path I was taking. My mind could not be persuaded of anything else. It was Owen that I needed to get to. Everything else was just a useless existence if I didn't find him first.

Apparently I had chosen to walk the path alone because I could not see Kieran anywhere. I didn't feel scared. I felt like I knew this place and had been here to make choices before. Sometimes they weren't the right ones but in the end they all worked and made me who I was. I watched around me as the shooting stars now became explosions of fireworks. This was the end of the road, where souls would see the results of their decisions. Mine did not have fireworks. Instead there was a figure ahead that waited for me. The pull of him was like a magnet and I traveled more swiftly to where he was.

Kieran's speed matched my own. Before we met, I saw how much hope was in his face and the elation that replaced it as I got closer. We collided; each dissolving into the other's light, completing what was missing within our hearts. It was then that my path burst into sparks. Fireworks, like I had seen around me, filled our space and I knew just how significant this was and how correct I had been. For now, Kieran and I were on the same journey to recover what was stolen from us.

I spoke to him in the language that I now knew. There was no need to use voices when hearts and minds were connected as one being.

He knows who we are and he's calling for us.

*****

Seth had not slept well. He was uneasy about his plans. He had every confidence before he came back to the house and now he felt like something could be wrong. He didn't feel like he was on top like he was before. Something had dramatically changed in the last few hours and he didn't know what it was. Kieran wasn't close. That he knew as he had received no signal that he was around. Seth assumed They knew by now what he had done but he didn't know if They would risk it all for the sake of one soul, no matter how important this soul was.

He pushed open the door to the bedroom. No one had heard a sound out of Owen and it looked like he was still in bed. Seth needed to see for himself. When he saw the curtain at the window being pushed by the breeze outside, his stomach fell. Seth quickly looked to the bed where he saw the lumps. Storming towards it he ripped back the blanket to find the pillows and wadded up sheets.

"No." He whispered.

Panic settled in. Owen had gotten away. Seth had taken every precaution and the boy still slipped away. He needed to find him before Kieran did. If Kieran found him first, they would be gone and Seth would have nothing.

He walked towards the window and looked down. That was a far jump. There was no way Owen could pull that off without getting hurt unless he had help. Seth stood very still, listening very carefully to the room. A voice was energy and lingered where it was spoken. Owen's voice could be heard, faintly, as the curtain's soft flapping harmonized with it.

I call upon the spirit of my mother. I call upon the spirit of my father.

Seth rubbed his hands over his face. Of course he would call on them. The question that remained to be answered was simple. Had they heard him?

"The car's ready." David entered the room but stopped at the doorway and looked around. "Hey, what happened here? Where's the kid?"

"He's gone. Find him. I want every inch of this house searched and I want every road driven. I don't care how long you have to walk in the heat, I want him found." Seth spoke without force but his tone reflected that he didn't want to be questioned.

"He could be anywhere, Seth."

"I said I want him found. Have you been to the university? Has Kieran been there?"

"No. No one's seen him. I talked to Landon."

Seth scoffed at the name.

"Landon. Landon doesn't know his head from his ass. Get out of here and get me Owen. If Kieran gets to him first it's over."

"And Gwynne? She's not at the apartment."

"Keep eyes on the place. If you see Owen or Kieran I want to know and I want to know what he's doing. Those are the only two I want. The woman, well if she's gets in the way, there are ways to deal with that."

"You told me no one would be hurt." David argued.

"The game has changed. Find Owen and Kieran and no one will get hurt."

Tessa heard the voices as she walked towards the bedroom that Owen was staying in. She stayed out of sight listening to their conversation. The kid had gotten away and Seth was surprisingly calm about it. Calm or seething inside and like volcanoes, enough pressure and they explode. She had never seen Seth come undone nor would she want to. Tessa had a feeling it would be something to fear.

She took out her cell phone and walked away from the room. Speed dial was a beautiful thing especially when feeling nervous.

"Come on. Pick up." She whispered.

"Hello?"

"The boy. He's gone." She spoke quietly.

"Where?"

"I don't know. It seems as though he fled."

"Thanks. Keep me up to date."

"I will."

She clicked off and, hearing footsteps approaching, tucked the phone away.

"We have to go. The kid is gone and Seth is...well I never know what he is but he's upset. We have to find him." David dangled the car keys in front of her face and she grabbed them. "Hey!" He objected.

"I think I know where he could go." Tessa walked towards the staircase.

"Where could he possibly go?" David asked.

Tessa kept quiet. She really had no idea where to start but she needed to be believable.

*****

I was now where I began. I recognized all of it but it was no longer mine. What I did know for sure was that this was only a visit. I was not welcomed back to this place for good. Only when my time was done on earth would I ever be able to walk these paths again. Being granted a special day pass was even more than what They would ever give anyone else and I assumed it was a very special circumstance. Either They would welcome me with smiles on their faces and love in their hearts, or, as a parent welcomes a teenage child missing their curfew; with love in their hearts but angry as hell.

The Soul's Temple, as Kieran called it, could be seen in the distance, its white ivory like walls reaching, as pointed fingertips, up to the heavens; in the center of these walls stood a tower. The remaining space had no cover or roof to speak of. We were all safe here. There was nothing to fear in this realm. This was the place of rebirth; of energy so pure that only babies could contain it as they had never been touched by anything different.

We walked in silence. There was no exchange of thoughts or emotions. Their sun was rising, illuminating the tower in soft pinks and yellows. Instead of appreciating its beauty I could only think that time was passing quickly and the more time we spent here, the less of it we might have to get Owen back.

Sensing my anxiousness, Kieran took my hand in his and squeezed it gently. "Time is not relevant here."

"Meaning?" I asked.

"It's on our side."

Walking up to the gates, neither of us knew what to expect. They opened willingly to our presence. Apparently we were expected.

We faced yet another hallway. I felt like that was all I was ever doing here; walking down long corridors that seemed never ending. Large pillars, shining white, rose above us. The symbols chiseled into them were similar to what I had witnessed on Owen and Kieran's back. The architecture seemed so familiar and I smirked when I realized what they compared with.

"What?" Kieran asked.

"I feel like I'm walking in a temple from Egypt." I answered.

"Where do you think the ideas for those temples in Egypt originated?"

"You mean to tell me the Egyptians got their architecture designs from here?" I was surprised with his admission.

"Places that can't be explained, certain structures that were constructed but humans don't know how...some weren't built by humans, and if they were, they received some help. All these places that have no explanation have a spiritual quality. Their energies are so intense because they originate from places that are attuned to higher vibrations; vibrations that humans cannot yet grasp." Kieran explained.

"Even though I'm here, and I know a lot more than what I did several hours ago, the truth of it is still unbelievable to me." I replied.

"Hopefully not for long." Kieran walked faster now as he sensed the elders were waiting.

"What's that supposed to mean?"

"Later. Let's go. They're ready."

We entered a large circular room with men and women above us standing in spots delegated to them. The floor, like a giant mirror, reflected their images as if we had souls watching below and overhead. These beings shone white. We remained golden but They shone brighter for They were purity in its rarest form. They controlled the universe and her fates.

The man directly above Kieran started speaking. His was a kind face but his concern was clearly visible.

"Kieran, dark one. You have chosen to come back but this is not the time. We have seen what has happened on earth. We have been called on by Owen, the young fighter of noble birth. We have heard his call for help but cannot assist in the way he needs. Tell us why you are here alone."

"I require your assistance to get him back. He was stolen from us."

"From us?" He turned his eyes to me and smiled warmly. "Ah yes, Gwynne the fair and blessed. You have found each other once again. This is a very unique moment; a moment that does not happen very often."

"Obviously you meant for it to happen." Kieran interrupted. "I'm sure it was designed as soon as Owen arrived on earth, that he could find his mother; to be in her protection."

"Yes, it was our intention for your family to be whole again, if only for a small amount of time. Owen has been deprived of a guardian in your care, Kieran. A young soul is in need of a guardian. You were never able to give him that." A woman spoke now, obviously bothered by Kieran's past actions with his son.

"You took her away from me. You sent her away." Kieran gestured towards me and I took a step back. "You were involved in my destruction. Half of me was dead. I was, in no way, capable of raising him. Thanks to you!"

"It was still your obligation. We hesitated in letting him go after you but thought better of it when Gwynne appeared in the same reality. Should he be abandoned to earth for the rest of his days while you live out the rest of yours here? Would Owen be better for it? Is his mother what he needs now?"

"I need his mother! I've needed her since our first encounter, lives ago. The two of us created him. He was born in greatness. His birth was celebrated throughout the ages. You killed his mother when hers was the only greatness comparable. Owen needed her lessons."

"But we did not kill his father. Owen still needed and craved whatever you could have taught him. You were to protect him but you ran away. Even after Nia forbade it as she died. That was the path you chose whether you liked it or not. We only let you leave on your quest because Owen needed care. You could not provide that. Can you now?" A woman above me stood stoically and raised her eyebrow with the question.

"Yes. He's my son. I regret my decisions and want to make it right. I humbly request your assistance."

"Are you aware he knows of your relationship to him? Will you face him? Will you apologize and ask his forgiveness."

"I will." Kieran replied, not removing his gaze from her face.

"And you Gwynne?" The man who started the meeting turned towards me. "Now that you know who you are. Now that you know who these souls are to you. What do you say?"

I met his eyes not wanting to sound desperate but was sure that I was.

"I want my family back. I don't know if that's even possible. I just want what I never had the chance with. May I, when I find Owen, may I come back here? Can I live with him among the stars? With Kieran?"

He smiled sympathetically at me.

"I'm sorry Gwynne. Your life on earth is not yet over. Until that time, you cannot come back."

I turned away hating what he had just told me. "Will you help us at least?" I asked.

The room was silent. Some of the spirits whispered to each other while others just stood staring. I had a feeling Kieran had been a rebel here; the black sheep of this existence. As much as they loved him, his actions had irritated and shaken them. A young man with long black hair held up his hand and the rest quieted. He paused before speaking, trying to find the right words.

"What do you expect of us, Kieran? Your request has implications. You would be risking us all. You have been putting us all at risk since you needed to start investigating your theories. Are we to expose our lives for the sake of a boy's, no matter who he may be? Owen went to earth for you and now he has fallen into the hands of another that knows of your secrets. He knows of your discovery. If you are unsuccessful in recovering your son, we have no choice but to leave this space. We cannot be discovered. Not at this time. If the one who has Owen acquires your knowledge, there will be drastic change; change that could end worlds. You know this."

Kieran looked at me then looked to them all. He saw in their faces they were hiding something.

"Who has Owen?" Kieran asked.

"He doesn't have him anymore. We assisted Owen in escape but cannot do more than that."

"Who has Owen? Tell me now!" Kieran demanded again.

An elderly man stepped to the front. His hair was pure white and his skin fair. He held a sphere in his hand that contained swirling images that grew larger and larger the longer I stared at it. It was earth as seen from above and it was coming towards us at such an alarming rate that I shut my eyes expecting a crash.

The last thing I heard before the blackness came over me was the old man. His voice was matter-of-fact with no emotion.

"Your brother, Seth."

*****

Owen woke to the feeling of a cold wet nose poking at his face. The feeling moved to his ear and then he felt a large wet tongue where the nose had been. He tried to brush it away. He was having one of those dreams that you didn't want to wake up from. The nose wouldn't be put off so easily. Owen cracked an eye open and saw the large face of an animal who's fur was black and white. The dog sat before him and waited, panting and smiling.

He had found shelter in an enclosure that housed some sort of grass. It was comfortable and out of view so he didn't hesitate hiding there and resting his eyes. Now that his rest was interrupted, he decided that he may as well start moving. He needed to find a way to get to the city. Owen thought about asking for a ride but if someone saw a kid in the middle of nowhere there would be questions; a lot of questions.

He patted the dog's head in greeting. It was a happy thing and when the animal felt approval from Owen, he jumped onto the hay with him. Owen enjoyed his company and brought his knees up to his chest watching the furry beast make itself comfortable with him.

"My name is Owen. Were you given a name?" He asked the dog.

The dog's response was to cock its head to the side and stare back. It made Owen smile.

"I guess you wouldn't be able to tell me that right? It's okay. Sometimes it's just better to listen. Would you mind listening to me?"

The dog lay down and dropped his head onto his paws.

"I'm in trouble. I was taken from my family, well, one of them I know for sure is my family. The other I want my feelings that she is, to be right. Anyway, I have to get back to them. I don't know how. They live in the city and I don't even know which direction that is. I got here the other day. I was looking for my brother to bring him back home. We're not from here. We're from somewhere up there." Owen pointed to the sky and the dog followed his finger. "I found out my brother, Kieran, is actually my dad. I'm kind of mad at him for lying to me. I still love him. I'm sure he had reasons to do what he did. I don't want to be so mad because I still want to be with him. Gwynne helped me find him. I think she's my mom. Ever since she took me with her I felt like she was my home. I saw that she was the same as me. We're the same on the inside. I want to find out if she's really my mom. If she is, I want to stay with her."

The dog sat up and started panting again. It was a warm morning and the enclosure they were in was getting kind of stuffy. Owen looked out the opening and saw that the sky was blue and probably would stay that way for the remainder of the day.

"It's really pretty here. Not as pretty as where I'm from but I like all the green. I read that will change soon. I'd love to see something like that. The colors of fall look like fire on trees."

The dog's ears perked to a noise outside and he stood very still. Owen heard someone whistling a tune and sat up very straight and tall. He never expected anyone to be around this shed. He didn't know what he was going to do. His heart beat fast because there was nowhere to go. The dog jumped off the hay bale and went out the opening of the structure.

"What're you doing in there, Gus? Chasing cats?" A man's voice carried from the side of the shed and was coming closer.

Owen closed his eyes and asked for protection but didn't think that he would get any sort of invisible cloak to shield him from the man that was coming. He squeezed his eyes even tighter as if that would hide him from whoever was coming and his breathing quickened like he had just finished a sprint across the field. Owen stayed as quiet as possible until he heard a second voice. This one was a female voice and was further away.

"Clarence!" It called and Owen heard the man groan.

Footsteps walked away from the opening and towards the back of the old building. They stopped a few steps away.

"What is it, Jeanette?" Clarence called back.

"It's the vet. He needs to talk to you about the mare that's ready. I can't answer his questions."

"Oh good. I'll be right there. I'm coming."

Owen opened his eyes and heard Clarence walking towards the voice that had just called him. Jumping off the hay and onto the floor he quickly stepped out and snuck around the side. Making sure to keep close to the wall, he now noticed the farmhouse that wasn't very far away from where he was. Owen rolled his eyes and cursed himself. He had been careless and, again, was helped out by others more influential than he could ever be.

"Thank you." Owen whispered as he watched the old man go into the house.

The woman came out of the house and went into the garden. Owen sat against the wall contemplating what he was going to do. His ears perked to the sound of a car coming towards the house. He could see it slowly coming to a stop and the woman looked from her garden at the unexpected company.

Owen's stomach lurched when he saw the man and woman step out of the car to question Jeanette.

David and Tessa were on the hunt.

*****

"Good morning." Jeanette walked towards them with a smile on her face. "You've come to see a horse?"

David looked at Tessa and shrugged. Tessa rolled her eyes thinking he was the biggest idiot.

"No. But I do see you have some lovely ones. How long have you had them?" Tessa asked.

"Oh, we've been doing this for fifteen years at least. We needed a hobby when the kids left the nest. That way we stay busy so we don't hurt each other." Jeanette joked and Tessa couldn't help but laugh at her easy going nature.

"This is very true. We were actually wondering if you've seen a boy around. Maybe hiding out or walking down any of these roads, he's nine. Has short light brown hair and hazel eyes. He's wearing tan cotton pants and a black shirt. Have you seen him anywhere?"

"I haven't seen any child out here by himself. Is he in your care?"

"He ran away from a foster home last night. We're asking the farms around here if they've seen anything. We doubt he could get very far on foot." David added looking around. There wasn't really anywhere he saw that Owen could hide that he wouldn't have been found out yet. "Could he be in the barn somewhere?"

"I don't think so. Clarence has been in and out of there all morning and it's quite open in there. No one could hide without getting noticed." Jeanette glanced toward the house when she heard Clarence coming out. "Clarence, have you seen a young boy come around here this morning?"

Clarence eyed the company suspiciously.

"You lost a boy out here?" He asked.

"We didn't. He's run away from a foster home. Just wondering if you've seen him."

"Well, I haven't seen a child walking down a dirt road and I happen to know there's no foster home around here. Who did you say you were?"

"I'm Tessa and this is David. We work for Seth Drearden. He actually funds the foster home where the boy was from. He had the boys over to his home last night but Owen decided to run." Tessa covered.

"Oh. Seth. I didn't know he did that. Well, we haven't seen him but we'll let Seth know if we do." Clarence's tone was such that it was obvious Tessa and David were excused.

"Thank you. That would be appreciated." Tessa smiled as warmly as she could and turned to get in the car.

Jeanette and Clarence watched as the two of them drove off. Jeanette turned towards her husband and crossed her arms.

"Clarence? What's the matter?"

"I never liked that Seth." He answered plainly. "Now these two people are coming 'round here asking about a lost boy. If there was a boy, he ran for a reason. That guy has always given me the creeps."

"Do you want me to call the police?"

"No. Keep your nose clean. I don't want cops out here because of Seth's secret business."

"And if we see the boy?" Jeanette asked.

Clarence grumbled and started to walk away when he saw his dog go towards the hay shed again. Gus never went over there which raised Clarence's curiosity. He looked to see the car, that contained the couple, had left; creeping slowly down the drive way back to the road. Clarence wasn't stupid. He knew they were making sure they weren't hiding anything and they weren't; so far as he knew.

He took a bale of hay and made it look like he was on his way to stack it but he really didn't intend to stack anything. There was something around the hay shed and he thought it would be the perfect hiding place for a boy who was hiding from a couple driving around dirt roads. Walking around the opposite side that Gus had, he tossed the hay to the ground.

"I want to know what you're doing on my property and why those two clowns are looking for you." Clarence demanded.

Owen went white and got to his feet.

"Yes sir."

*****

"David, it's been two hours. I have to get to work. Landon and I have a department meeting and I can't miss it. You're on your own now. Just drop me off so I can get my car."

"You're kidding. You can't leave now. We have to find this kid." David argued.

"No, actually, you have to find him now because if I don't show up to this meeting I will be fired. I have a life besides this one that I would really like to keep as normal as possible. You dragged me into this and now you can finish."

"I didn't drag you into anything."

"Yes you did. The minute you wanted me to start spying on Kieran and look what happened. Look what happened to me."

"You getting feelings for the guy was not my fault." David scoffed.

"Just take me back to the house. I can't lose my job over this thing."

"And what am I supposed to tell Seth? I have a job too you know. I run that department."

"But you have always been more interested in your so called rise to fame than your job. I need my job." Tessa said flatly. "Bills don't pay themselves."

"What about rich boyfriends. You and Seth seem pretty close."

"That is none of your business."

"From one alien to another." David pressed on teasing.

Tessa wound up and punched him in the shoulder. David yelped in surprise and discomfort.

"Ow! What was that for?"

"For being a total asshole. Don't ever call them aliens again. They are not. You, with all your friggin' science knowledge should be a little bit more open to what's out there."

"Fine. Jesus, Tessa. What's gotten in to you?"

"Take me to my car. I'm already late and it's an hour into the city."

David turned away from the old farmhouse and drove towards Seth's home. He knew Tessa would get out and walk if he didn't take her back and he needed to take a break anyway. He watched the farmer carry a bale of hay towards the back of the property and he hadn't come back out. He wondered if Clarence had found something but he didn't dare go back to see. For starters, it wasn't David's property and second, David knew if he went back, Clarence would get out a shot gun like in the movies. That disturbed him even more. David would quickly drop Tessa off then head back in this direction. This was the only road that was around and David didn't think Owen would be the type to run through fields or wooded areas. It was dark enough last night that if he wasn't detected falling from a second story window, he wouldn't be detecting running in the dark down a lonely road.

They traveled in silence, the gravel could be heard from the tires of the car and the tail of dust that it left made everything behind them disappear from view. Every now and then they could hear the pings of small rocks hitting the undercarriage, telling David to drive a little more slowly or there would be some damage. He didn't care. He had way too much on his mind right now to worry about a paint job on a car that could use a paint job anyway.

Seth was outside and about to leave the house when he looked towards the car that was pulling up. He didn't see a child inside which irritated him. David pulled up beside Tessa's car and killed the engine. Tessa got out of the car and slammed the door behind her.

"Where's Owen?" Seth asked.

"He hasn't been located yet. I have to get to work." Tessa told him.

"You have to get to work?" Seth repeated.

"Yes."

"Your work is what I have asked you to do."

"My work is in the city and I need to keep my cover up. Even you've said that. This whole thing can't be leaked until you say."

"And that is exactly why you need to find Owen." Seth argued.

"Well, David's still here." Tessa gestured in David's direction then opened the door to her car. "I'll be back."

"Keep in contact." Seth called to her but she shut the door, turned the key in the ignition and was off. Seth turned his attention to David who was rubbing the back of his neck with a handkerchief. "And you?" Seth asked.

"I'm in this all the way, Seth. Let me check in with the university and I'll get back out there. I have just as much at stake to find Kieran as you do."

"I doubt that very much." Seth grumbled.

"I asked for your help, Seth, but I'm not about to give up my information to you without some heavy compensation." David stood straighter trying to seem like a bigger man than what he felt he was.

Seth smirked at him but David only saw sarcasm in his eyes. There was no genuine smile there.

"You're right David. I apologize. You'll have your gateway. That's not what I'm after anyway."

"Then what are you after?" David asked.

"Bring me Owen. Call me when you find him." Seth got into his car and left the same way Tessa had.

David just watched him go.

*****

Owen sat at a large kitchen table staring down at food that he really wanted to eat but was too scared to touch. It wasn't as if this man and woman were upset with him. It was quite the opposite. They wanted to know why he was hiding in their hay shed and they wanted to know if he was okay. Owen didn't know how much to tell them or how much was too much.

Jeanette came and sat beside him then looked at Clarence. She glared at him for standing over the boy and he sighed and pulled out a chair for himself. They both watched as Owen studied his food, keeping his head down, not looking at either adult.

"Is it not good? Don't you like pancakes?" Jeanette asked.

Owen slowly picked up a fork and forced a small piece on to it. He put it in his mouth and chewed, smiling politely as he did.

"What's your name son?" Clarence asked.

Owen swallowed before answering.

"My name is Owen."

"Okay, Owen. We were told you ran from a foster home run by Seth Drearden. Is that true?" Clarence asked.

"No. It's not true." Owen replied putting down his fork.

"Then what's the truth Owen." Jeanette spoke, cutting off Clarence and trying to talk gently.

Owen looked into her kind eyes then looked at Clarence and took a risk. Even though the facial features Clarence was displaying were not as friendly.

"I was having dinner with my mom and dad at a restaurant in the city. My dad and I went to use the bathroom and these guys knocked him out and took me. I was brought to a big building that was made out of cement and metal and then I was brought to Seth's house. I jumped out of a window when no one was looking and ran. I found your shed and slept there for a couple of hours before your dog found me. I just want to go to my parents. I'm sure they're looking for me and I just want to go to them."

Jeanette's mouth hung open and Clarence's face softened. It was obvious Owen was telling them the whole truth. He didn't mumble or trip over words. This wasn't rehearsed. This was a boy that wanted to get back to his parents.

"We have to call the police, Clarence. Seth cannot do this and think he can get away with it." Jeanette exclaimed.

"No police. Please no police. Just my mom and dad. Please. I don't want Seth to find me." Owen pleaded.

"But you were kidnapped. That's illegal. Did he hurt you? Did he do anything to you?" Clarence inquired.

"No. Nothing." Owen shook his head. "He just gave me a bed to sleep in. Nothing bad was done to me. My dad is really smart and figured out a way to...he does physics. He solved a problem. I'm not sure what but that's why Seth took me. He wanted my dad's information. If I can find my dad I can tell him then my dad can take care of it."

"Who's your dad?"

"His name's Kieran. My mother's name is Gwynne. My dad works at the university and my mother works at a used bookstore downtown."

"Clarence. We have to call the police." Jeanette insisted.

Clarence studied his wife and shook his head. If Seth had people that could kidnap a child from a public restaurant then he had people to do damage control if Clarence ratted him out. He never trusted that man. He only met him twice but he had a look about him that was hiding many secrets and he would go to the ends of the earth to keep them quiet. A big one had gotten away and was now sitting in their kitchen. Clarence didn't want any part of this.

He stood and looked out the kitchen window. There was that car again; the same car that had stopped in his driveway earlier. It was coming down the road and slowed as it drove past the house. The signal light warned Clarence that they were coming for another visit. He flipped the curtain closed and spun to face his wife.

"Take Owen upstairs and don't make a sound. Nothing. Not even a cough."

"What's the matter?" Jeanette asked.

"They're coming for another look 'n see. Take the plate. Just go."

Owen shot up like a dart and pushed his chair in. Jeanette followed his lead and took the dishes. She quickly led the both of them up the stairs as David was getting out of his car.

"Son of a bitch can't take a hint." Clarence squared his shoulders and went out the door. "Hey! What're you doing back here? I told you we haven't seen anything. Get off my property or I'm calling the cops."

"I just want to ask if I can check your shed. That's all." David told him raising his hands. "This kid is trouble. I want to make sure he's not hiding out anywhere and you and your wife are safe."

"No you cannot check my shed. I've checked it. There's nothing in there. Get lost."

"Your farm is the closest to Mr. Dreardon's. Owen left the house early this morning. You must have seen him."

"I haven't but you know what Mr. who-ever-you-are. I don't believe your story. I don't think Seth owns a foster home. I don't think you can really own a foster home. I think you, Seth and that woman are full of shit. I think this kid ran because he was held against his will. Now you go tell your boss that I have not seen the boy and if you ever step foot onto my farm again, I will take the law into my own hands. You understand me son?"

"Is that a threat?" David glared but was nervous just the same.

"Yes. Yes it is a threat. And I will be making a police report about your visits so it's documented that I had asked you to leave twice now and you refuse to listen. I don't like people sneaking around my property. Get off of it!"

David studied him and wished he had a sixth sense about people but he didn't. All David recognized was a grumpy old man that was losing his temper and would do something about it if he had to. David's welcome was well worn out.

"Fine. I'll leave. Sorry to bother you."

"I'm leaving for town right now to let the cops know about my visitors, just to be sure they stay away." Clarence walked David towards his car. "If I see the kid, I won't be taking him to Mr. Dreardon's place. I'll be taking him to the authorities."

"I understand. Thank you for your time." David opened the car door and sat in the front seat. He eased the car out of the drive and down the road.

Clarence stood there watching what it would do. When it was just a speck against the sky Clarence turned and went in the house.

"Jeanette!" He called getting the keys to his truck.

"What is it? Are they gone?" She asked coming down the stairs with Owen at her heals.

"Get in the truck. We're taking him back to his parents." Clarence told her and went out to start the vehicle.

*****

David dialed Seth's number and waited. Seth picked up quicker than usual.

"Have you found him?"

"No but I did talk to your lovely neighbor, Clarence. He's adamant I'm not allowed back on his property. He says he hasn't seen Owen but then turns around and tells me he doesn't believe the cover story and that he thinks the boy was held against his will. Why would he say something like that unless he knows something? He also said he's filling out a police report concerning his visitors today."

"Clarence is an old man who likes his horses. Let's leave him alone. He doesn't want the trouble and I don't want the cops." Seth parked on the downtown street and pulled the keys out of the ignition.

"But Seth, he knows something."

"Sure. Owen has a free ride into the city. There are only two places that he'll want to go and I'm at one of them. Keep me updated."

"I'll let you know if I see or hear anything."

Seth hung up, left his car, and let himself into an old bookstore.

*****

I woke up in my bed. I didn't know how long I had been sleeping for and I was irritated that I had slept even for a second. I felt renewed, like I hadn't been awake for the last couple days and sat up only remembering certain bits of what the last twenty four hours entailed. The first thought I had in my mind was it had just been a dream. Had I really met Owen and Kieran? My question was quickly answered by the form of a man lying beside me, eyes open, staring into the air. He wasn't looking at the ceiling. He was looking much further than that.

Pushing myself up, I brushed the hair out of my eyes and crossed my legs. My mind was blank and I didn't know what to say to Kieran to bring him out of his trance, instead, I studied the tattoos on his arms. If we were to get our son back, he would have to give himself up. I wondered if Kieran would do it. Would that be what had to be done to right the wrongs that have been made? On the other hand, if Kieran took Owen's place, would we have a world to call our own anymore?

"Where are you right now, Kieran?" I asked softly.

His look never changed. He was obviously somewhere that I couldn't be. I rested my head on his chest and curled myself up around him. It was all I wanted to do but it felt nothing like what I had experienced, for a moment, in that different realm. Kieran's arm came to encircle me and his body turned towards mine, wanting to find that connection as well but was unable to do so.

"Where were you?" I asked again.

"I was trying to see Owen. Where he could be, what he's doing right now. All I can feel is that he's okay."

"What's our next step in this whole thing? It's just us. What do we do?"

"I think I'm going to have to admit to some people what I really am. I want to go to the university to see if David's been there. If I can find him, I can find Owen."

"What if he doesn't give him up?"

"David will take me to Owen."

"David's working for someone else, Kieran."

"I know and now that I know who it is, I have a better idea how to handle it. We have to get going."

"Who's Seth?" I asked.

Kieran rolled away and got out of the bed. He took his sweater from the floor and pulled it over his head.

"You know who Seth is." He answered.

"Why would I be asking if I knew who he was? All I know is what I was told. He's your brother."

"Yes. Seth is my brother. We were created as one but separated at birth." Kieran walked out of the room

"Like twins." I followed him so he couldn't escape my inquiries.

"Sure." Kieran opened the fridge to find something to eat. He found a carton of juice and brought it to his mouth.

"I have glasses." I hinted heavily taking one out of the cupboard and placing it on the counter before him.

"Really? We're in the midst of hell and you're going to rag on me about using a glass?"

"Yes. Yes I am."

"You've changed." He shook his head, smiling sarcastically, emptying the juice into the glass and wagging the empty carton in front of my face.

Grabbing it away from him I picked at the opening, too hurt to meet his eyes.

"The important parts of me haven't."

Kieran knew I was right. He felt an old and new love rise within him every time he felt me near. He liked the new parts and he should have known better than to say something like that. He got another chance, if only for a small time, and he didn't want to fill it with bickering.

"I'm sorry, Gwynne. You're right. The most important parts are there but it's not just the important parts that I need. It's all of you." He reached out and stroked my cheek and I allowed it.

"This is really hard." I tossed the carton on the counter and walked away.

Doing what I normally do when I'm uncomfortable, I started tidying up. It was pretty tidy already after Kieran had cleaned the night before but I still found some things to straighten. Kieran watched me from the entrance and leaned against a wall.

"Talk to me, Gwynne."

"It's fine." I choked on a sob and turned to fluff some cushions that I had owned for the last ten years. They were beyond fluffing anymore.

"What can I do?" He offered.

"Nothing! There is nothing you can do. I'm in love with a stranger. I have a son who's a stranger to me and yet I know him like I've known him since he was born. I'm introduced to lives past and yet feel stuck in this body that is now foreign to me. I feel like this is incredibly unfair but lucky at the same time. I want to feel thankful but I'm just pissed off. And when this is all done, I won't even be able to come back home with you! I can't even raise my son with his father and I will know that for the rest of my life! What kind of existence is that for me? What have I done that was so terrible that I deserve this?!"

"You've done nothing to deserve this." Kieran replied watching me vent while beating on a pillow.

He walked over and laid his hands on my shoulders. I quickly wiped the tears off my cheeks and kept my back turned to him. I couldn't let him see how undone I had become. It had been a lot to take and I was, after all, only human.

Kieran pulled me closer to him and held me against his chest. It was the first real act of sensitivity and comfort he had shown here. It wasn't a side he liked to show very often.

"Seth and I were born from the union of two very high souls. Our birth was highly anticipated. We were celebrated for what They assumed would happen. Seth and I would join Them at the steps of the Soul's Temple. Our birth was planned as a succession to our Guardian's. It didn't work out as intended.

"Who are your Guardians?" I asked.

"I only knew my father. He controls who comes and goes. He's the one that gives the final word. I guess I got my interest from him. He always talked freely of 'what if' and 'could you imagine'. His ideas and theories were our bedtime stories, which would be the only way I could describe it. Seth left before I did. I knew he left. He left without permission. My father was to blame. I guess you could say They failed at what They tried to accomplish with Seth and I."

"Wait." I spun around and met him with a cheeky smile. "Is my father in law the ancient looking man that sent us back here? The guy with the ball?"

Kieran squared his shoulders defensively. "So? What are you trying to say?"

"Nothing. I'm not..." I chuckled.

"You are a very sick individual." Kieran said accusingly.

"Oh come on. I'm sorry. Please continue."

Kieran sighed and let a grin escape as well.

"They hated the idea that I was poking around with ideas and theories and the only way to stop that from happening was giving me you. It worked. I was and am completely enamored. There was no one else and then we had Owen. Owen was what Seth and I were supposed to be."

"Did Seth know?"

"Yes Seth knew. Jealousy makes anyone become bitter and angry. But he brought it to a whole other level. Obviously he wants Owen and I for a reason and it isn't just for opening doorways."

"So what can Owen do?" I asked.

Kieran looked into my eyes and mind. What he was about to say was something that was not to be taken lightly.

"Owen is creation. Owen is destruction. He is the beginning and he is the end. He needs to be taught how to use that. Seth is not the best candidate to have control over someone like Owen. We have to find him and it has to be now.

*****

Landon checked his watch for the third time in ten minutes. He understood that the official first day of class was a week and a half away but when he made plans for meetings, he expected to have meetings; especially if he wasn't the one who requested it in the first place. David was never in his office anymore. He was supposed to run this department but was always distracted lately and a lot of the duties now fell on Landon's shoulders. Landon dreamed of the day when he would have a clean desk again. He seemed to be the only one working but he had other interests at the moment that needed his attention. He could not run a physics department right now.

"Landon?" Tessa knocked on his door and poked her head in.

"Come in." He invited. "Any news?"

"We couldn't find Owen. I don't know, Landon. All this lying and pretending...I feel like he's going to find out." Tessa sat across from him and leaned forward nervously.

"I know how you're feeling. Playing a dumb ass is not rubbing off on me very well either. I don't know Tess. I don't know where to go from here." He folded his hands on his desk and tapped them a few times.

"How did we get so wrapped up in this situation?" She chuckled, exhausted.

"There are bigger things involved than just us. We can't question why right now. I really wish I knew where Kieran was. This whole thing started with him."

"Trust me. I wish I did too." Tessa looked down at her shoes and rubbed off a scuff that wasn't even there.

"It would never have worked, Tessa. You know it wasn't possible." Landon offered the words in sympathy. "He was fond of you. You know that at least."

"I know. I just couldn't compete with the memory of a ghost."

"Nor should you have to."

Tessa smiled sadly at him.

"I guess I can call Seth. Try to find out anything from him. I'm assuming he came back into the city. He was ready to leave the house when I had left." Tessa stood and leaned on Landon's desk.

"I'd hate to ask you to do that but I don't think we have a choice." Landon agreed. "What else is bothering you Tessa?"

"I have tremendous guilt, Landon. I handed Owen to Seth and David. I just gave him up. That poor kid."

"You did what you needed to do to protect yourself. Now let's just try and find him before anything happens."

"You trust me right, Landon?" Tessa asked hopefully.

"Of course I do. Why would you ask me that?"

"Because I feel like I can't even trust myself. I gambled the life of a boy's."

"What boy?"

Tessa turned and paled in the spot she stood. She had to hold on to the desk to steady herself. Landon pushed himself away from his desk and stood slowly.

"What boy?" Kieran repeated knowing full well who she was talking about.

"Kieran. What...? How...?" Tessa sputtered but couldn't finish. She was shocked to see his face and it was so obvious on that face what he had heard. Or thought he did.

"Where is my son?" Kieran demanded.

*****

Kieran pulled me gently into the room. I recognized Tessa instantly. Both Landon and Tessa were surprised to see me with Kieran but it wasn't me that needed to start explaining. It was them.

I shut the office door behind me and leaned back into it so no one could come or go. Kieran walked up to Tessa, trying to act casual but finding if very difficult to do so.

"I'm not asking again." Kieran told her.

"Kieran, wait. This can all be explained." Landon raised his hands to try and stop anything that Kieran was thinking about doing.

"You were working with David. I know you guys hung out. I know he told you who I was. How do you know Owen?" Kieran asked her.

Tessa clasped her shaking hands together. For some reason, Kieran scared her more than Seth did right now.

"It's not what you think, Kieran. I swear. I didn't know he was your son."

"It's true Kieran. She didn't know." Landon interjected.

"I want to know what's going on. I came here looking for help when I seem to have walked in on the ones who are conspiring against me!" Kieran snapped.

"Calm down Kieran. We can't talk here." Landon told him gruffly. He wasn't an intimidating man but he also couldn't have Kieran getting upset in his office. It was too public. "How come you're here?" Landon asked me. "What's your part in all of this?"

"I'm Owen's mother. I have every right to be here."

"You're Owen's mother? How is that even possible?" Landon asked.

Kieran looked to Landon then to me. He narrowed his eyes at Tessa and stepped away from her.

"You're right. We can't talk here." He agreed.

I moved out of his way as he reached for the door handle. He left the room knowing that everyone would follow him because they did not have a choice. Landon watched him go then grabbed his keys out of his desk drawer. He had a feeling this day at work would be cut short.

All four of us moved down the hall. Landon took the lead and stopped at the secretary's desk. She eyed us suspiciously not understanding why Kieran bullied himself in and why Landon and Tessa were now leaving with him. It was none of her business really. She just would have liked something juicy to tell the girls during coffee.

"Hey Karen, is the lab in use?" Landon asked reaching for a pen and writing on a sticky note.

"No. I don't have it booked off. It's all yours if you need it."

"I do. Can you give this to David if he shows his face here? I'm cancelling this afternoon's meeting."

"David called and cancelled anyway. Something about needing to see his wife."

Tessa rolled her eyes. She knew his wife left him the other day and didn't want any contact with him until he stopped his insane behavior. What she didn't realize was that it could only get worse.

"Never mind then." Landon crumpled the paper and tossed the pen back on her desk.

"Shall I be expecting you back today?" Karen inquired, taking the crumpled note.

"No." Landon saw Kieran's expression and shook his head realizing he really didn't know when he would be back. "I won't be back today. Same goes for Tessa."

"Alright."

"Thanks Karen."

Landon left first and we followed.

"Start talking Landon." Kieran told him.

"What do you want to know?" Landon asked.

"Don't give me that bullshit. Start from the beginning."

Landon came to a door and stuck a key in the deadbolt lock. It turned easily and Landon opened the metal door with a push of his shoulder.

"You know a Seth Dreardon?" Landon asked.

*****

Landon and Tessa led us into the lab. Tessa went to turn on a computer and Landon stood in the center of the room as if he was about to give a lecture. Kieran had no idea what they were doing and followed slowly, making sure his feelings of safety were actually correct.

"How do you know Seth?" Kieran asked.

"About four years ago I had a student. He kept to himself a lot but he intrigued me. His papers were brilliant, his experiments were beautifully executed. I thought I was boring him; he could have taught my classes. One spring, David and I were coming back from a lunch with the faculty. You know, one of those things to celebrate that classes were over, and we passed by this lab. Seth was walking out but there was no lab admittance at that time. I mentioned to David what I had seen but he didn't believe me seeing as how the room had been locked and David and I had the only keys."

"Locks aren't an issue." I told him.

Landon, surprised by what I had just said, stopped talking and Tessa looked at me puzzled.

"Who did you say you were?" She asked.

"You don't recognize me?" I answered.

"I know you were here with Owen the other day asking about Kieran. How do you know Kieran?"

"What business is it of yours?" I questioned.

"So what was he doing in here?" Kieran interrupted and shot Tessa a look to shut up. She closed her mouth immediately.

"I found this. Tessa, if you don't mind." Landon nodded his head in her direction and she loaded an image of a ship with some scribbling on the bottom.

Philadelphia Experiment

Unified Field Theory

"What is it?" I asked staring at the large screen.

"The Philadelphia Experiment was about a ship called the USS Eldridge. These researchers thought that Einstein's Unified Field Theory could be manipulated to enable a person to utilize large electrical generators to bend light around an object to make it completely invisible."

"Because if light were bent, space and time could be bent which could open the door to time travel." Tessa interjected.

"Right, theoretically. Of course it has never been proven. So the US army was quite interested in this theory and supposedly wanted to test it out on one of their naval ships; that ship being the USS Eldridge. In true military fashion, they denied this ever happening."

"What was the experiment?" Kieran asked.

"This ship was given the necessary equipment to start testing. According to some, one test made the ship almost invisible; surrounding it by some spooky green fog. When the test was complete, some of the crew said they were feeling sick to their stomachs, others went crazy. It was also hinted that crew members where embedded in the steel of the ship. Others simply vanished without a trace."

"What does this have to do with Seth?" Kieran didn't want to hear any more conspiracy theories. He hated them and was only interested in fact.

Tessa loaded another picture into the computer. This one was very dated and grainy.

"We looked into it further. We had to. If students are breaking into labs and able to bypass security on computers and the equipment, we don't have a choice." Tessa stared up at the photo that was now on the large screen. "This is the crew of the USS Eldridge in 1943. Recognize anyone?"

Kieran searched the black and white photo. When he saw who stood at the end, he couldn't believe it. He didn't even need to see him in human form because everything Kieran recognized was in the eyes, even if they were out of focus.

"Fuck me." Kieran whispered softly. "He did it."

"Of course he did it Kieran! This was kindergarten stuff to him. Jesus Christ!" Landon let his frustrations out. Everything he had been keeping hidden for four years was now coming to light but it wasn't good news. He was scared thinking about what Seth was planning to do. "And then look who shows up a couple years later. A security guard that asks to use my physics lab with work similar to Seth's but so fine-tuned that Seth's couldn't compare. Funny, don't you think?"

"You knew what I was?" Kieran asked.

"Yes I know what you are! You pin David to the wall one night, scare him half to death! David searches my class lists from two years prior and confiscates Seth Dreardon's file."

"How did you know I did that? David would never tell you that." Kieran argued.

Landon loaded a video and I watched in horror seeing Kieran and David arguing in the hallway outside this very lab. Then, in a matter of seconds, Kieran is enveloped in a huge ball of light and David is up against the wall. Landon paused it and turned towards us.

"The university doesn't know about this. I put the camera there. I shared what I knew with Tessa after Seth had disappeared. She agreed to help me when I saw Seth's file had gone missing."

"I got David drunk one night and he told me everything knowing how upset I was after our last conversation." Tessa looked away from Kieran and cleared her throat. "I agreed to help him only to keep Landon in the know. Seth is up to something. He needs Owen and he needs you, Kieran. We've been able to protect your information until now but the game has changed. He's kidnapped a child." Tessa said crossing her arms.

"Did you have a hand in that?" Kieran demanded.

"I did. I had no choice." She answered.

"You had a choice! That is total bullshit!"

"That boy could end my world if he is persuaded into going with Seth. You know Seth told him you were his dad? You know how he took that?! He's pissed with you Kieran. He made a large table explode! All Seth needs to do is convince Owen he's better off with him. Once he does that, and he gets you, earth is done."

"That doesn't explain to me why you helped him kidnap my son!" Kieran yelled.

"I am behind enemy lines, Kieran! I am risking my life! The only reason why Owen was able to escape was because I left a window unlocked. I saw where he was this morning. I saw him peak around a hay shed at a farm when I was questioning the owners. I could have told David. I could have ran and taken him again but I didn't. Instead I got David out of there. I am doing all I can do because if Seth gets a hold of your theories we are all in a lot of trouble." She fished out a black flash drive from her pocket and chucked it at Kieran. He caught it with one hand.

"Where did you get this?" He asked.

"David searched you but couldn't find it. He gave up. I didn't. You knew you were being hunted. You didn't think Owen was. You slipped it into his pocket. I found it before anyone else did."

"It's encrypted. No one would have been able to open it."

Tessa laughed and turned to shut down the computers. Landon slumped in a chair with a groan of despair.

"Seth could have. Okay Kieran. It's your turn. Start talking and you can start by telling us who she is." Landon pointed to me and I glared back defensively. "She better not be one of you."

*****

Kieran didn't know how to start this conversation. He wasn't expecting them to know what he was and now that he did, it totally threw him off. He scratched his head in frustration and took a deep breath. How was he going to explain Gwynne? Tessa sure as hell wasn't going to like it. She was obviously still hurt but he didn't want to lie to her either. It was apparent that she was working in his best interest as well as hers.

"Gwynne is Owen's mother." He told them flatly.

"How is that even possible? Owen's nine. You only arrived a couple years ago." Tessa asked in shock.

"I'm not physically his mother. I had him in a different realm than this. I've only known this for the last twenty four hours." I answered collapsing into a chair.

"How is that even possible?" She repeated. Tessa couldn't believe what she was hearing.

"Gwynne and I were, how would you say it here?" He looked at me not knowing the right word.

"Lovers?" I offered.

"Lovers? We were so much more than lovers Gwynne." He turned back to Tessa and Landon. "We were united souls back where we started. She died shortly after Owen was born and was reborn as Gwynne here."

"She's...she's the one you told me about?" Tessa asked. "The ghost I couldn't compete with?"

"Yes." Kieran answered simply.

"And now? What is she now?" She asked.

"The same, Tessa, and now we need to find our son." Kieran told her.

"Do you believe this?" Tessa asked Landon.

"Right now, anything is possible. Their relationship is not important. What's important is that we find this kid. What's your relationship with Seth?" Landon questioned Kieran directly.

"Seth is my brother. He left without permission. We didn't know why. He was abandoned for leaving. The only contact I had with him was when Owen was born. He wasn't happy because Owen was taking our place because we refused the path that was laid out for us. I travelled here with a different purpose. Mine did not have bad intent behind it. His plans, whatever they are, obviously do."

"Why did Owen never know you were his father?" Tessa asked.

"I couldn't tell him. Those are reasons between his mother and me. Now he knows and I need to apologize to him. He needs to know the truth of his birth."

"Do you remember anything about what Kieran's saying?" Landon asked me.

I remembered everything. Even though I constantly told Kieran I only remembered some, it was a lie. There was no question who I was or where I came from. My purpose was to give the universe a soul that all worlds could feel, for this child would be the one that would create them.

"I am Nia in the form of Gwynne. I was created from the light of the brightest star to shine into the corners of the dark to show him where he was needed. Together we had a child who had made history even before his birth. He is creation of light and destroyer of dark; the combination of his guardians. Death brought me here, to my next lesson, to learn how to live in human form. To have a human experience so I could go back and share what this experiment, this earth, was really about. So far, it hasn't been easy which was probably the point." I answered.

"You remember? You told me you didn't remember." Kieran looked at me with hurt in his eyes.

"I wasn't sure what I was remembering. Look at it from my point of view; as a human being told she's really something different then taking her on a spacewalk back to something that could only be explained in movies."

"That is a really narrow minded way of looking at it." Kieran argued.

"Kieran, how else am I supposed to describe it? Don't start at me again."

"Alright, time out." Landon stood and faced Kieran. "I understand that you two haven't seen each other in a really long time and you would think it would be a more loving reunion than this, but there are things that need finding."

Tessa's phone rang and she quickly took it out of her pocket. Noticing the number she cringed.

"It's Seth. No one talk."

Holding our breath, we watched as she enabled her speaker phone.

"Hi. Anything?" She asked holding out the device so we could all hear.

"Where are you?" Seth asked quietly.

"I'm at the university. I have Gwynne."

"You have Gwynne? Where's Kieran?" He demanded.

"I don't know. She came here looking for him. She was by herself. Why is she so important? I thought you wanted Kieran?"

"Turns out Owen thinks Gwynne is his mother. I'm disappointed Kieran's not with her but I'm sure he will be soon enough."

A bell rang in the background and my ears perked to the noise. I recognized it. I heard it almost every day and I knew where he was. I knew why he was there. It would be the place Owen would go if he couldn't go back to the apartment. Seth thought the same thing.

"I'll call you when I'm ready to meet. There's someone I have to pick up before that."

"Have you found him? Seth? Hello?" Tessa shook the phone thinking it was a bad connection but really knew he had ended the call. "That's not what I was hoping for."

"Where would Owen go if there was no one at the apartment? Where would he go, knowing there were lots of eyes to watch? A public place where he felt safe." I looked at Kieran who was desperately trying to hold in his temper.

"What the hell are you talking about?" He snapped.

"Owen's at the bookstore and so is Seth. We have to go now."

"Are you sure?" Kieran asked.

"I heard the bell from the door. It's our only lead and it's the only place Owen would go."

"I'll drive." Landon was at the door to the lab in three strides. Kieran wasn't far behind him in two.

*****

Clarence had arrived at the bookstore and grabbed change for the meter that sat eagerly, waiting for some poor sap to overpay for the permission to use six feet of downtown road. Jeanette got out of the car and reached for Owen's hand which he gladly took. He kept himself behind her and they waited for Clarence to finish with the meter.

"So your mom's working today?" Jeanette asked.

"I think so."

"Let's hope so or I have no choice but to bring you to the police." Clarence grumbled.

He pulled the door open and held it for Jeanette and Owen. The place was busy. They were having a clear out sale and apparently word had spread. Owen looked to his right and left but did not see Gwynne. He saw Phillip at the counter and cringed with the thought that he would have to speak to him. Clarence had other plans. He stomped up to the counter with Jeanette close behind.

"I'm looking for Gwynne. Have you seen her?" Clarence asked.

Phillip looked up from what he was doing, annoyed. He couldn't believe the nerve of some people, cutting in line.

"Hey Meaghan! Can you give me a hand for a second?!"

"Sure." Meaghan walked over from the back room. "Owen? Hey, what are you doing here?"

"I'm looking for my mom. Gwynne. Have you seen her?"

"Uh..." Meaghan stood completely stunned. Seeing the look on Owen's face, she thought better not to argue and just to go along with him.

"Yes Owen. She just had to go to the university to see your..."

"My dad. She's with my dad?" Owen asked and showed her to agree by giving a small wink.

"Your dad? For sure. He needed her to meet him there."

"I don't know what's going on here but I found Owen here on my farm. He says he was taken from his mom and dad last night. Why would his mother be working if her kid is missing?" Clarence asked, irritated at the charade that was going on.

"Gwynne was here sir. She was. She keeps checking to see if Owen will show up. They're desperately trying to find him. She'll only be gone for an hour. She'll be back. Owen can stay here with me.

"What are you talking about Meaghan? Gwynne doesn't...Ow!"

Meaghan kicked him in the ankle while keeping her eyes glued to Clarence.

"What's that now?" Clarence asked.

"What I mean is, Gwynne was going to her place first to see if this one had shown up. Then she was going to the university."

"She'll be here. I know she'll be here." Owen told him.

"I don't know." Clarence was not convinced.

"I can call her. I'll call her." Meaghan said.

She started dialing a number that didn't belong to Gwynne and hoped that the person on the other end would go along with it. It was her best friend who she used as a rescue on blind dates. She could sure use a rescue now. She didn't know what was going on but had a feeling it was serious.

"Hello Owen." Seth emerged from the left and Owen turned to the sound of his name.

He acted casually so as not to alarm anyone. The last thing he needed was to get Clarence all riled up. When Clarence saw him he pushed Owen behind him. Jeanette sandwiched Owen between them placing her hands on his shoulders protectively.

"Please my dear. Put down the phone. Owen's mom and dad will be here shortly. I've called them."

"I don't believe you." Owen told him.

"Stay away from the boy, Dreardon. He's told us what you did." Jeanette warned.

Meaghan slowly put her phone down and inched her way closer to Phillip. Phillip was secretly trying to call the police but Seth leaned back and smiled at him.

"No cops. There's nothing going on here. Put the phone down, son."

Phillip hesitated, wondering how this man knew what he was about to do, getting Seth irritated in the process.

"Now!"

"Alright. It's down. Geez." Phillip exaggerated the move and inched closer to Meaghan.

The people in line started to look concerned; some dropping their items on the floor and walking away. Seth paid them no mind but he was anxious that the police would be here in no time and he didn't want the hassle. Owen noticed what they were doing and wanted to buy as much time as possible.

"I'm not going with you. You can't make me." Owen squeezed closer to Jeanette.

"Remember your little incident with a table last night?" Seth asked.

Owen thought back to what had happened and nodded.

"So."

"So, I have a few tricks up my sleeve as well. Would you like me to show them? With everyone here?"

"You can't. Someone might get hurt."

"Well then, you're in quite the situation, Owen. I'm not here to hurt you. I've been nothing but kind to you. Come with me now. We have a lot to discuss about getting you and your dad back home."

"You're taking us home?"

"What do you think all of this is about?"

"But that man said Kieran had something that belonged to him." Owen said.

"He does but that's not my issue." Seth lied. "My concern, right now, is trying to get home. I've been here a long time, and now we can all go together."

"With Kieran?"

"With Kieran."

"I need to say goodbye to Gwynne." Owen demanded.

"I know where she is. Let's go."

Owen stepped away from Jeanette and Clarence. Clarence tried to stop Owen by taking his shoulder.

"No Owen."

"Let go of him." Seth told him.

Clarence felt a lightning bolt of pain sear through him. He collapsed to the ground grasping at his arm. He found it difficult to breathe and started to sweat.

"Stop it! What are you doing to him?" Owen demanded.

Seth didn't stop to answer. He quickly put the boy over his shoulder and ran out the door with Owen screaming in protest. People started taking out their cell phones to call the cops. Jeanette knelt down by her husband who had collapsed on the floor.

"Someone call 911! Please!" She begged. "Clarence?" She patted him on the cheek but by now, he had passed out.

*****

"Let me go!" Owen screamed. "Let me go!"

"Shut up!" Seth answered back.

I saw them from my spot in the passenger seat of Tessa's car. I saw a man toss Owen into the back of a black sedan like he was a pile of laundry. Kieran saw him as well and bolted out of the car that was still pulling up to the curb.

"Hey! Stop that car!" Kieran yelled at anyone, running as fast as he could after it.

"Kieran!" Landon called after him. "The cops are on their way!"

Landon heard the sirens and saw people, taking photos with their phones, of Kieran crouching to the ground and holding his head as a car drove away. He walked over to him and tried to get him off the street.

"We have to get out of here." Landon told him.

Kieran glanced around, hearing the sirens as well. He saw the people with their phones out and wanted to grab each one and destroy them. Instead, he walked back to the car but it was starting to move. Kieran banged on the windows and yelled at Tessa to stop the car but she pretended not to hear him.

"What are you doing?" I asked her trying to get the door open.

"Seth thinks I have you. I can contact Seth and find Owen."

"But we need Kieran."

"We need to get out of here now. I'll let Landon know as soon as we know where he is." Tessa stepped on the gas and drove through a green light, passing a bus that was moving way to slow for her.

Landon swore at Tessa's moving car.

"What the hell is she doing?" He asked to anyone that would listen.

"Landon, if she does anything to harm my family I'm holding you personally responsible." Kieran pointed a finger at his chest and glared at him. "How well do you trust her?"

"I have to trust her." Landon argued.

Kieran seethed and wanted to knock Landon in the head. He didn't care if it was irrational. He needed to blame anyone but himself. Landon didn't shrink away and tried to be sympathetic to this man who could end his life on the spot. Instead of Kieran losing his control he turned away and entered the bookstore, sending out a wave of energy that destroyed every single piece of technology that was as close as five feet.

"Hey! What happened to my phone?" One complained.

"Mine's out too. What's going on?" Another said trying desperately to turn hers on again.

Landon rolled his eyes knowing exactly what had happened and followed Kieran into the store.

They found a crowd of people around an older man on the floor. Kieran bullied his way through the crowd and saw a woman trying to hold her composure cradling the head of her husband.

"What happened?" Kieran asked roughly to the woman.

"That man, Seth Dreardon. He did this. My husband was trying to protect a boy and Seth did something to him."

Kieran studied Clarence's body and felt how much energy Seth had sent into the man laying here. It was almost fatal and his heart was literally burning out. Kieran rubbed his face in frustration knowing what had to be done but hated to do it in front of all these people. He first closed his eyes and sent signals into the air to disrupt any phones. He then laid a hand on the chest of the old man who was barely alive.

"What are you doing?" Jeanette asked.

Kieran only looked into her eyes to calm her down. Somehow she knew he wasn't here to harm her husband but to help and she nodded, approving of Kieran's actions but still unsure what was truly going on.

"Everything is simply energy. It's how you use it that can either create or destroy." Kieran whispered to her.

Landon couldn't believe what he was seeing in the middle of a bookstore, downtown, in broad daylight. With a simple hand to the chest, Kieran was bringing a man back to life. The old man fluttered his eyes open and instead of looking grey, he had a glow that showed everyone around him that he was alive and well. Kieran didn't just undo what Seth had done, he made the man younger.

"Clarence?" Jeanette asked smiling through tears. "Are you okay?"

"What happened? What's going on?" He asked.

"Stay down." Kieran told him. "You'll be okay."

The crowd parted as paramedics and police officers made their way towards the center of the action.

"Excuse us. Please let us through." A woman demanded.

Kieran got up and slowly backed away out of the crowd. Landon followed his lead and they snuck to the desk where Meaghan and Phillip waited.

"Kieran?" Meaghan asked. "What's going on? Where's Gwynne?" She asked anxiously.

"Gwynne's in trouble. I need a back way to get out of here."

"We could also use a ride back to the university. My car's there." Landon added. "We need to get to Gwynne as soon as possible.

"That man...he took Owen. He told Owen he was taking him home and then he just ran with him." Meaghan was distraught.

"Home?" Kieran asked.

"Yeah, he said he was taking him home with you. That it was time for you guys to leave."

There was a large police officer that started questioning people. They all tried to speak at once telling him what happened, especially about the man that took the boy.

"Get us out of here." Kieran told her.

"This way." Phillip answered leading them to the back.

It led out into an alley and Phillip stepped outside with them. He took some keys out of his pocket and handed them to Landon.

"It's kind of a shit box but you can take it." Phillip told him. "I'm really worried about Gwynne. We didn't get a long that well but she's a good person."

"Thanks, I'll have it back to you soon." Landon replied, taking the keys. "I'll call you here. Try to find out the hospital they're taking Clarence too."

"Will do." Phillip said. "The car's just over there; that brown rust box. Sometimes it takes a couple tries to turn her over but once she starts, she'll drive forever."

"It's perfect. I'll be in touch." Landon turned to see the car that he was talking about. "Holy shit. This thing still runs?" He asked Kieran.

Kieran shrugged and took the keys from Landon.

"It doesn't matter. I'll make it run."

"Hey, do you even know how to drive?"

"Of course I know how to drive. Just get in." Kieran demanded hopping into the driver's seat.

Landon took passenger and Kieran started it with no trouble. It figured. Kieran seemed to have no trouble with anything that needed a jolt.

"Let's just go to the university and get my car. I'll find out where Clarence gets admitted and we'll question him there."

"Fine." Kieran cut someone off by getting into a lane and was honked at for his reckless movements on the road.

"I thought you knew how to drive!" Landon yelled at him, closing his eyes to the oncoming traffic. "The cops will already be looking for someone of your description. Don't give them another reason to arrest you."

"Would you stop? I'm in a hurry." Kieran glared at him and continued driving the way he thought it was done.

*****

Tessa dialed a number when she couldn't see Seth's car any more. She glanced at me as she waited for him to answer.

"What?!" Seth answered.

"I have Gwynne. Where are you?" Tessa asked. "You said you would call and she's not exactly the most cooperative hostage, Seth."

She could hear a child crying in the background and tried to tune it out. Now was the time where she had to put her mind on trying to get him out of it and not to be found out.

"I'm headed to the warehouse. You still haven't seen Kieran?"

"No. I haven't been looking either. Has David seen him?"

"I haven't heard from David. Listen, I was seen taking the kid. We have to get this done now."

"Get what done?"

"Just meet me in the next twenty minutes at the warehouse."

"Fine. I'm coming." She clicked off and put down her phone. "He's at the warehouse."

"So call Landon!" I exclaimed.

"You call him."

I rolled my eyes and took the phone.

"What's the number?" I asked.

She quickly spit it out and, with shaky fingers, I dialed it into the touch pad of the screen. These things were impossible to use and I had to punch it in a couple of times as my nerves were making it tough to have a steady hand. I listened for a dial but instead got a recording that the customer that I was trying to reach was out of service.

"That's great." I groaned, giving up after a third try.

"What?"

"The phone is out of service. It doesn't work!"

"Do you have a phone?" Tessa asked.

"It's not your phone. It's Landon's phone."

"Okay, look..." She started as she turned north. "Follow my lead. Do what I say and go along with whatever happens. I'll buy us some time."

"Is this guy really as dangerous as I'm starting to think he is?" I asked.

"Yes." She answered with no hesitation. "He wants ultimate power and he won't let anyone stand in his way."

"What does Owen have to do with this?" I asked frustrated.

Tessa bit her lip and took a deep breath.

"Owen is the power, Gwynne."

With her answer I remember what Kieran had said. I remembered what I had said. What I remembered about my son.

"He's creation." I whispered.

"And destruction." Tessa added. "All Seth needs now is Kieran and our world, as we know it, is over."

"Owen would never destroy anything." I defended.

"Owen is pissed at Kieran for lying to him. He's confused about who he is and who his parents are. Seth has a way of making people think that he understands them. He's started with Owen. Mind you, taking him like he did might be a little set back but Owen's a kid. He'll latch onto anyone that will tell him what he needs to hear."

"Maybe. If I can just talk to Owen..."

"Good luck with that." Tessa told me. "Really, good luck."

I sat back staring out the window. The city passed me by as Tessa drove, weaving in and out of traffic. My mind went to David. I still didn't know what he had to do with anything.

"What about David?" I asked.

"What about him." Tessa replied.

"Kieran said he found out about his doorway theory. Does Seth really need that? I mean, he's travelled back in time."

"No, Seth is only humoring David until David gets Kieran. Seth doesn't need anything from him. Doorways are doorways. Kieran found one, yes. Seth found time travel. Just imagine. Doorways to past and futures combined with the ability to create and destroy. David's nothing. He can have the formula. He can't do anything with it once Seth has it all."

"Oh my god." I realized what she was saying and it didn't sit well. "We're in huge trouble."

"Exactly. Huge." Tessa reiterated. "David finding out about doorways is nothing. Seth, well...that is a whole other ball game."

"What can I do?" I asked.

"Follow my lead." She said simply.

*****

"Owen, could you please stop crying." Seth asked.

"You stole me!" Owen yelled at him.

"The police were coming. What did you think was going to happen? Remember your signature? Remember your hands? I am trying to protect you. Protect us."

"I want Gwynne! I want Kieran. You told me we were going home!"

"We are going home. Just trust me."

"Why should I?!"

"Because I'm Kieran's brother. I'm your uncle, Owen."

Owen stopped crying and straightened. It was one thing to find out that he had a father and mother. Now he had an uncle. How was this happening?

"I don't believe you." Owen said.

"It's true. Kieran and I were created as one and separated at birth. We didn't follow the path that was laid out for us and, for that reason, you were created to replace us. We were to join Them; those who ran the show, so to speak. That is your purpose. I need to get you back without being seen. I'm not lying to you Owen. Your father denied you. I'm not Kieran. I would never do that."

"I...I'm to sit with those of the highest?" Owen was shocked.

"Didn't you know?" Seth asked.

"No. No one told me."

"Because you had no guardian. Owen, it's important to know who you really are. You are creation and destruction and you are coming of age very quickly. I need to get you back. Kieran would never tell you this. I am. So calm down and start listening to me!"

Owen didn't know what to say. He had no idea who he was. He had felt very lost for a very long time. He had no direction and if he was who Seth was telling him he was, he should have been told everything so he could prepare. His lineage was universal and now he was told he was to control it all? This was way too much. This lie that he was living was snowballing very quickly and he had no idea whose truth to believe.

"Does Gwynne know who I am?" Owen asked quietly.

"Owen, I'm sorry to say this, but Kieran wasn't the only one to lie to you. Gwynne has known who you are since the day you arrived here. She just didn't want to tell you."

"That's not true. You said you didn't know if she was my mother and she was surprised when I told her where I came from."

"I'm sorry Owen, I only found out about Gwynne after you ran. I had her followed as soon as you arrived. She knew who you were all along. I have told you everything. Who else can say that?"

Owen sat back and stared out the window. Seth was right. He was the only person that seemed was telling him the truth. Owen still had a feeling that something wasn't right though. He was still young but instincts were instincts and they were not to be ignored. He would trust no one until he could figure this out on his own.

They stopped at a metal and concrete building that looked like it wasn't in use. Seth got out of the car and went to open Owen's side. He leaned down so he could see Owen's face.

"If you run, I have no choice but to stop you. Do you understand me?"

"Yes."

"You know who I am now. We are family but I swear Owen, if you bolt..."

"I understand!" Owen shouted at him.

"Good. Get out of the car."

Seth stepped to the side and Owen climbed out. He knew this place. This was the same place that he was before. A chain link fence was being closed by people dressed in black. Seth glanced around him but didn't see Tessa or David's car. It irritated him that his plans were now on hold. He walked towards the entrance to the building and Owen reluctantly followed.

"Mr. Dreardon, The machine has been completed." A woman walked up to him and continued to walk closely by his side.

"Great. Thank you Lauren."

"Do you have the test subject?" She asked walking through a door that was being held open.

"She's on her way." He answered.

"And the power source?"

"I have it with me." He told her looking towards Owen who wasn't paying attention.

"Very well." She answered looking toward Owen. "When you're ready, Seth."

"I'll let you know. I want to see it." He demanded.

"This way, sir."

She led the way down the hall towards the back of the building. The only sound that could be heard was the shoes on their feet as they walked quickly toward the sealed lab. He had spent so much time and money on this project. That wasn't the issue. He was able to secure funds from his own travels. It was the security of the project that made him nervous. His staff were screened and re-screened. Lie detector tests were given on a weekly basis and personal interviews between Seth and each one of them were completed at the same time. It was upsetting that he had to let a handful of them go. Their faces were still on the missing persons list at the city's police stations. He felt for the families. He really did. He also cared about his future in the universe and that weighed more heavily on his mind that a simple human life.

The woman took her pass and swiped it. She then entered a sequence of numbers, that only she knew, on a screen and a steel door slid open. Owen didn't see this part of the building. He remembered being housed in a rather run down place. This was much different. From the outside you would think it was abandoned. When you walked in, however, it was brand new.

Seth led the way into the large room after passing segregated computer areas within it; a lab within a lab. He was pleased to see that it contained very little, only the circular doorway; the ring, as he liked to call it. He had designed it after the diagnostic's tools that he had seen at various hospitals but left it much larger so a person could stand in the center of it. Once Gwynne was here he would have his human test subject for time travel. Seth was told that Kieran's ideas were more subtle and refined. He didn't need large amounts of computers or power sources. He only needed a flash drive, or what looked like one. Combining their knowledge was the only thing that Seth was after and with the addition of Owen's abilities, well, it was almost done.

"Congratulations Lauren. It looks fantastic. Owen, come with me." Seth told him.

"Is this the way home?" Owen looked at the machine then followed Seth to another room away from this one.

There wasn't anything special about the room. There were two narrow white beds but that was it. Seth excused Lauren, taking off his jacket and tossing it onto one of the beds. She left without a word.

"So Owen..."

"What is this place?" He asked.

"My work. It's what I've been able to accomplish during my time here."

"What does it do?"

"Well, you know how when you travel back home, you go through doorways that lead you down paths of your choosing?"

"Sort of. I haven't done that a lot." Owen admitted.

"I know. Well, I've built a passage way here on earth. But instead of being able to go from one place to another, you can go from pasts to futures."

"We aren't supposed to change the past." Owen declared. "You can't go through those doorways anymore. They're sealed."

"Who says? Is it not us, you, me or anyone, that creates our own destiny? If it's ours to choose than why couldn't we go back and change it?"

"I guess that makes sense." Owen replied.

"And Owen, would you not change some things about your past if you could?" Seth asked.

"I'd make Kieran stay. I'd change what happens to my mother. I'd make my family." Owen told him.

"So, if I told you that were possible, would you do it?"

"I can't."

"Yes. Yes you can. You can create any life and end anything that doesn't fit with what you desire Owen. Just imagine. That is your gift. You, Owen, can create worlds. You just need the proper guidance to do it."

"Will you show me?" Owen asked.

Seth grinned from ear to ear.

"Yes Owen. Of course I'll show you. We'll start now. You know what? If Gwynne was never born, then your mother never died."

Owen thought about that for a second. Seth was right. If his mother lived in Gwynne but Gwynne never existed in the first place, then his mother would never have had her life cut short. If his mother never died then Owen would never have been left alone. He would have been raised to know who he was. Kieran would never have left and he would've had guardians.

"Can I change that?" Owen asked. "Me?"

"You can change anything you want. Trust me. Stay close to me and you will have everything that your little heart wants. You can have your family whole again when we arrive home. They will welcome you with open arms and be the teachers you so desperately needed. You will never have been lied to. Instead you would have known love."

Owen threw himself at Seth in an embrace.

"Thank you Seth. Please show me."

Seth hugged him back, feeling the signature of Owen light up, becoming drawn to the pure energy that radiated from the boys skin. Having Owen this close was like getting high on the most addictive drugs and he wanted more. If all he had to do was absorb Owen like a needle to the vein, it would be a hell of a lot easier. Owen knew what he desired but Seth wanted something very different. Seth wanted a signature.

*****

The hospital loomed before them. Phillip had found out the location of Clarence right away. Now Landon and Kieran walked toward the building with determination. This wasn't a visit to see if someone was okay. This visit was necessary to find out information about where Seth may have taken Owen and what Gwynne was walking into.

With the help of the administration desk at the front, they easily found the room that housed Clarence and Jeanette. To Landon's surprise, Clarence was getting dressed as they walked in.

"Oh sorry." Landon exclaimed backing away.

"Who are you?" Clarence asked.

"Clarence, that man saved your life." She scolded then eyed Kieran. "Come in. Thanks for coming by."

"I see you're getting out of here." Kieran told them.

"Clean bill of health. It's a bit of a puzzle because my heart was never very good but it seems it's perfect now. I don't even have to take my heart medication anymore."

"That's great. Congratulations." Landon told him knowing exactly why his heart was now in good health.

Kieran wanted to get right to the point. He didn't have time to make pleasant conversation right now. He tried to put on a softened expression but wasn't sure if it was coming off the way he meant it to.

"I need to know what you know about Seth Dreardon. The boy he took was my son. Now my wife is headed towards wherever he may be and I need to know where you think that is. I have this feeling, in my gut, that they're in very real danger."

"That Seth Dreardon." Clarence muttered, shaking his head. "I never trusted him. Then I find that boy around my hay shed. He had run there in the middle of the night; was hiding from two people that were looking for him; a man and a woman. Owen told us he needed to find his mom and dad. I didn't want to call the cops because that bastard has goons that follow him around, doing his bidding, and I'm sure they're used to doing away with people." Clarence told him.

"Clarence! He would never kill anyone." Jeanette argued.

"Look what he did to me. The guy just looks at me and I have a heart attack. Tell me it wasn't him."

"It wasn't him. It's all that bacon." She snapped.

"Bah!" Clarence waved her off.

Landon smirked and glanced down to the floor finding the humor in their quarrel in the midst of an unthinkable situation. Kieran's patience was running out.

"So you didn't call the police?" Kieran asked.

"No way. I'm staying out of his business but if I see him on my land he'll be shot."

"Can you tell me where he lives? He has my son. I believe he is as dangerous as you say and I'm afraid if I get the police involved he'll kill my family. Please tell me where he lives."

Jeanette clutched at her chest and gasped.

"You don't think he could ever..."

"Yes, we do. It's imperative that we find him as soon as possible. Where is his home?" Landon asked again.

"About forty minutes out of the city."

"Forty minutes?" Kieran repeated but had a hard time accepting that distance. "He could kill Owen and Gwynne in less time than that."

"I'll try Tessa." Landon said pulling out his cell phone. "I'm surprised she hasn't called yet." He left the room.

Kieran crossed his arms and started to pace the room. He couldn't believe what was happening. As he waited for Landon, he closed his eyes and only thought of Owen and Gwynne and begged for their protection. The only one he had to trust was Tessa and he still wasn't convinced that he could.

"My phone is dead. Damn it Kieran!" Landon walked back into the room and shook it in front of his face. "What the hell did you do to all the phones?"

"I was trying to keep this quiet. We already have the risk of the police because of Seth's stupidity." Kieran shot back. He then turned to the older couple who watched them. "Address?"

"Of course." Jeanette took out a pen and grabbed the pad of paper beside the hospital bed. "Now once you hit our farm, Mr. Dreardon's is two miles west of that. It's one road. You can't miss it." She tore off the piece of paper and handed it to Kieran.

"Perfect." Landon intercepted the paper and glanced at it politely. "That helps a lot."

"Thanks for your help." Kieran offered heading towards the door.

Clarence cleared his throat and held up his hand.

"Wait." He told them before they could escape.

Kieran turned towards him but wouldn't go any closer. He wanted to leave and didn't want to talk anymore.

"I just want to...thank you for my new heart. I don't know what you are but you're an angel from heaven to me. You gave me my life back."

"I'm no angel. It's the least I could do after you took care of my son. Good luck." Kieran answered and didn't linger long enough to hear any more talk.

Landon gave them one last wave and followed Kieran. As much as he hated to admit it, Kieran's shell could be cracked to let out the tiniest bit of sympathy for a little human being.

*****

A chain link fence was opened for Tessa's car. I watched all the people trolling around the area, watching for anyone that wasn't permitted behind these gates. I had no idea that this was even here. I thought this whole area was just abandoned warehouses that the city was going to tear down. Apparently they had been rescued.

Tessa parked her car close to a doorway and was immediately flanked by two men. One stood to the side while the other opened her door.

"Miss McLeod." He greeted her as she stepped out of the car. "Mr. Dreardon is waiting for you in the labs."

"Thank you. Please Gwynne. Follow me. There's no where you can go." She made sure to bend and look me in the eyes. As much as it appeared as if she was on my side, I still had some reservations.

My side door was opened and I cautiously stepped out, automatically raising my hands. I didn't want to appear as though I was hiding anything, especially with this large fellow in front of me who could squash me with his massive hands. A door was opened for us and I followed Tessa into the decrepit looking building. I was wrong to assume the same ugliness would flow to the inside. The walls were tiled and white as well as the floors. It was impeccably clean. Various doors to rooms were a soft yellow with small glass rectangular windows that would allow visual access to what was happening inside. Every door had security on them. You could not enter without a pass which I saw Tessa taking out of her bag now. The whole place was very sterile and very creepy. As bright as it was, the whole understanding of who was running this place unnerved me. If I lived through this, I would never watch or read anything that had to do with science fiction ever again.

"Where's Owen?" I asked.

"I'm not sure where he would be right now. It actually depends on his behavior."

"Behavior?"

"We have other places around here that aren't this nice."

"This is nice?" I replied.

"Nicer than next door, yes." She gave me a quick look then swiped her card to open a door.

Seth stood from the comfortable leather chair he had been occupying. His desk was pristine with only a laptop on it. Again, I had this instinctual feeling that we knew each other. It wasn't me that knew him though. It was Nia and she was pissed off but terrified as well. I kept my distance and hugged the doorway with my body. I didn't want to enter the room. Tessa left me as the door shut and went to greet Seth.

"Hello." She told him giving him a quick kiss.

"Hello. Who's this? Gwynne?" Seth kissed her back then eyed me suspiciously. "Or is this Nia." He walked around his desk and leaned on it, crossing his arms. "You must forgive me. I'm a little out of practice with my senses. I've been here a while and your dimension has buried them."

"I don't believe you." I told him quietly.

Seth shrugged and smiled arrogantly.

"Hello Nia."

Ignoring his words, I looked around for Owen. He wasn't anywhere in here.

"Where's Owen?" I asked.

"He's here. He's quite upset. I guess the boy doesn't like being lied to."

"I'm sure you haven't been completely honest with him either." I replied.

"Honest about what? I've told him everything. He knows who I am. He knows what he is. He's asked me to teach him some things."

"Like what?" I demanded.

"Like what he's meant to do. Pity it's under my direction. I'm sure I'm not the one that They would want to be teaching, well now what would he be, a god?"

"Why Seth?" I asked. "Why would you do this? You have broken so many laws..."

"Who's laws?" He cut me off. "The council's? Kieran's? Yours? We are supposedly born with free will and choice."

"You had a choice."

"I did not have a choice! Since the day I was created I never, once, got to choose my own path."

"You did! So did Kieran! You both made decisions that disrupted everything. Owen was the one to fix that, to bring this universe, and all It held, back into balance. You know of his purpose as it was yours and you take him for your own selfish benefits!" I yelled. "You had your chance. Give him back so he can do what he is meant to do!"

"I don't think so." Seth shook his head. "You can even give him the choice. It's his right. Ask him yourself."

Seth signaled for a side door to be opened. Owen appeared in the doorway and looked at me. He kept his eyes on me as he walked towards Seth. He wouldn't dare come any closer.

"Owen! Are you okay? Did he hurt you?" I asked reaching out to him.

He wouldn't come towards me.

"Owen, be respectful. That's your mother." Seth told him.

"She's not." He said.

"What?" I asked surprised.

"You are not my mother. My mother is stuck inside of you but you aren't her."

"Owen..." I answered.

"Okay so here's the deal. Gwynne here, would like you to return home to do what you're meant to do. Here's your choice Owen, you can return home, now, with your dad and resume the life you were leading until this little adventure. Or, you can stay with me and I can teach you everything that you've wanted to know but couldn't because your guardians were never around." Seth told him.

"That is not fair!" I argued.

"What will it be Owen?" Seth ignored me like I hadn't said anything. "Would you like to return home, when you've learned your purpose from the one that's never hid it from you, or just return home?"

"Show me what my purpose is." Owen said out loud, not looking at anyone else but Seth.

"No! Owen no. What did you tell him?!" I demanded from Seth.

Seth put his arm around Owen's shoulder. Tessa walked quickly towards me but before she could get to me, I felt hands at my arms to bring them back in a captive hold.

"What are you doing?" Tessa asked.

"Put her in the lab. Have her secured."

I struggled as much as I could until I felt a prick and sting at my neck. Everything started becoming hazy and I slumped my head. I was still awake but had no clue what was going on. My body felt heavy and I tried to lift my head to search for Owen but my whole world went blurry. I spoke his name, sounding normal to my brain but my ears heard differently. My words were slurred and slowed, sounding like I was heavily intoxicated.

"What lab? Seth?" Tessa demanded.

"I need a human test subject, that is, unless you care to be it?" Seth asked her.

"Is she okay?" Owen asked not quite understanding the sudden activity that was taking place.

Seth patted his head and squeezed his shoulder in comfort.

"She'll be fine Owen. Just fine."

"Can I talk to you for just a minute?" Tessa walked toward the back of the desk expecting to be followed.

Seth followed Tessa while Owen was taken back to his room. Seth watched him go then turned his attention back to Tessa. She crossed her arms defensively.

"We never discussed human experimentation. Jesus Christ, Seth."

"We didn't discuss a lot of things. You may have helped me with the experiment, finding Kieran and Owen and we may share a bed at times but this is what I came here to do. I've had people try and stop me and they are still missing. Do you understand me?" He warned raising an eyebrow.

"That's it? That's all I am to you? I have been at your beck and call for almost two years now! I have broken laws for you! Now you dismiss me as a mistress? You would have none of this if it wasn't for my help."

"And all I was to you was a replacement for a brother you wanted more. I seem to remember how enthusiastic you were, having at least one of us between your legs. An alien, that's what we're called is it not? An extraterrestrial? That's what got your heart pumping; sex with the unknown. It was never the work."

Tessa slapped his cheek so hard that her hand stung and burned in response. She didn't care. She was humiliated. Seth barely flinched.

"You bastard." She seethed.

"How about I put you back to the moment that you met Kieran and you just walked away. How about that?"

"I am out of here." She turned and started to walk away but he grabbed her arm.

"You're not going anywhere. You agreed to help me. If you will not help me with Kieran and Gwynne, you will be Kieran and Gwynne."

"Is that a threat?" She asked while he fished around in his pocket.

Before she could fight free he buried a needle in her arm. She yelped in surprise and started to struggle to stay up. He caught her on the way down and sat her in a chair. He didn't have time to convince her to stay and by the hate in her eyes, that was never going to happen. He took his cell phone out and dialed a number. Seth stared at Tessa as she moaned in the chair.

"Yeah, I have another test subject. Prepare surgery and prepare the labs. I'm not waiting any longer."

He nodded at the confirmation from the other end then, sticking his phone in his pocket, walked out of the room.

*****

"The place looks deserted." Landon said as they crawled up the driveway.

He peered through the windshield and the window beside him. There seemed to be no one here. Kieran looked around as well. He didn't like the feeling he got from the place. The energy of it was heavy and he knew that whatever was happening in this house was not and had never been for the highest good.

"Landon, if you want to take off I would completely understand. I don't want you being put in danger. You've done a lot already." Kieran told him.

Landon put the car in park and looked over to him.

"It's nice to see you have a sweet and sensitive side Kieran but if you haven't noticed, I'm already in this and have been for a number of years."

"In the university. Not in this type of situation." Kieran argued.

"I can't have you doing this alone. I'm well aware that you can handle yourself but...Tessa's out there Kieran."

"You trust her?" Kieran asked surprised. "You really trust her."

"Yes. I absolutely do. She loved you. I get that you couldn't return it but for Christ's sake Kieran, have some understanding."

"I care about her okay." Kieran replied defensively. "I do have feelings for her just not the ones she wanted. She was the only person that ever showed any sort of affection toward me, even knowing how I am. I am in love with Nia. She's always been a part of me, even in death. I wasn't ready to move on nor will I ever be."

"And Gwynne?" Landon asked.

"I don't think she realizes how identical she is to Nia. They've almost become the same person. Once Gwynne realizes that, she'll destroy Seth. Still, we can't wait for that to happen."

Landon sat back and looked at Kieran in sarcastic surprise.

"Aw, that is so sweet. You said we."

"Shut up. Get out of the car." Kieran pulled at the door handle rolling his eyes and letting himself out.

Landon followed suit and they stood at the front of the car, listening for any sort of movement or sound. There was nothing so Kieran walked towards the front door while Landon followed close behind. He watched as Kieran tried the handle. It was locked up tight.

"Shall I try the back door?" Landon asked.

"You really think Seth left a back door open?" Kieran asked irritated, studying the entryway and the door that blocked his way.

"Well, it is the country. My grandma had a farm and she never locked up."

"This isn't granny's house." Kieran replied.

Kieran lifted his leg with the speed of an electrical current and before Landon could stop him, Kieran had kicked in the door so intensely that there was nothing left of it including part of the wall that held it in place.

"Nice one. I hope there aren't any alarms going off." Landon told him, following him through the doorway while stepping over pieces of door.

Kieran just stood in one place. He closed his eyes and stood very still. Landon covered his ears as an intense, high pitch ringing filled his brain and made it vibrate. It wasn't painful but as uncomfortable as nails on a chalkboard was, this was a thousand times worse. When the silence came back Landon removed his hands and rubbed the temples of his head.

"Jesus Kieran, I think you just took five years off my life." He moaned. "What the hell was that?"

"I broke your phone already, I just broke whatever was here on different frequencies. Sorry."

"About that...I need my phone." Landon told him. "My wife is going to lose it on me if I don't call her and tell her I won't be home for supper."

"Pray you'll be going home at all." Kieran snapped back.

He walked around the main floor. There was really nothing here. No office, no secret doorways to even more secretive rooms. There was nothing but an impeccable living space. They walked up the stairs, keeping eyes and ears open for any movements or any sounds that could be giving anyone away.

"I don't understand why there is no one here. This is Seth Dreardon's house. Why is there not anyone here?" Landon wondered out loud.

"Because he needs them all where ever he is. He's made a decision to move forward."

"Move forward with what?" Landon asked coming to the top of the stairs.

"Whatever it is he's planning to do. It involves Owen therefore, it can't be good. A sail on a ship is nothing compared to what could happen now."

"Creation and destruction." Landon understood remembering what Gwynne had said about their son.

"Molding this place as his own." Kieran confirmed. "And everything else."

"Everything? Meaning universal?" Landon stopped and stared at Kieran.

"Owen is the universe." Kieran told him.

"How the fuck can you be so calm at a time like this?!" Landon demanded.

"Who says I'm calm?" Kieran replied leaving to enter a room that was left open.

Landon shook his head and tried his phone again. All he wanted at this moment was to hear his wife's voice. He wanted to cry seeing just a black screen with no options to call out. He took some deep breaths to try to calm his reaction. He pretty much knew that Seth's plans were on a huge scale but now that he knew how huge, he wanted to panic and hide in his basement with his family. It really wouldn't save them but it would be comforting. His daughter was only a year old. He just wanted to hold her again. Taking another look at the black screen, he shoved the phone into his pocket and followed Kieran.

Kieran noticed Landon's coloring was a little pale. He knew of his worries. He could feel them. He opened up a laptop on the desk, refusing to make eye contact.

"You okay?" Kieran asked.

"That's funny. Am I okay." Landon repeated.

"I offered you an out." Kieran replied, turning on the computer, not using the power button.

"Let's just find him." Landon answered, opening drawers to search their contents. "Can we just concentrate on that instead of trying make each other feel better with sugar coated lies?"

"No faith." Kieran shook his head while pulling up a chair to sit on while he studied the contents of the computer.

Landon pulled out a folder with a bunch of receipts and addresses on it. He narrowed his eyes at all the medical receipts; MRI and CT scanners, surgical equipment, it wasn't the stuff that Landon expected to find.

"This doesn't make any sense." Landon said quietly.

"What?" Kieran asked.

"Why would Seth be purchasing medical equipment?"

"Where's the delivery address?"

"Here." Landon showed him the papers.

Kieran took them out of his hand and studied them. They were telling him nothing and neither was the computer. The machine was wiped down to the smallest file. Of course it would be; he had done the same thing.

"Huh." Landon woke him from his thoughts and Kieran turned his face up to look at him.

"Huh?" He asked.

"No, this is just really strange. Why would Seth have a house all the way out here when he never used it?"

"What do you mean?"

"What if this is just a staging ground. What if this place isn't really where he did his thing?"

"Why would Owen be brought all the way out here then?" Kieran asked.

"Safe keeping. It didn't work but he tried anyway. There has to be something we're not seeing." Landon left the room and searched another. Kieran followed him out of interest. "There's nothing here that he's hiding. If there was something, this place would be heavily guarded. There is no one here. You think you can just bust down a door and not have swarms of individuals come out of hiding and kill you for it if there's nothing here."

"You're right. I know you're right." Kieran agreed. "So what now?"

David rounded a corner with the cattle prod in his hand. He had arrived after Landon and Kieran had but recognized Landon's car as soon as he saw it. He didn't hesitate to confront them and seeing David standing there, Kieran rolled his eyes while Landon raised his hands in surrender.

"Seriously?" Kieran asked.

"Give me the stick. Just give me the fucking flash drive!"

"Where is Owen?" Kieran asked calmly walking towards him.

"Stay where you are." David demanded raising the metal higher.

"Where is Owen? I am losing my patience with you. You want it? You really want it?" Kieran fished the flash drive out of his pocket and tossed it at David. "There. Take it."

"It's a fake." David told him looking at the black flash drive on the floor.

"It's not a fake. It has everything you want. Just tell me where Owen is."

"Why would you just hand it over now? Without a fight? That information is liquid gold."

"You would think so wouldn't you? All you humans are the same. Taking things at face value. Understanding nothing deeper than what your own egos tell you."

David knelt down and picked it up, turning it over in his fingers to study it. It felt like a flash drive. It looked like a flash drive. So why did he feel so disappointed when he finally had it.

"What's missing?" David asked lowering the cattle prod.

"Me." Kieran answered simply. "Nothing on any of the sticks that I have will work without me. I'm the missing piece." Kieran removed all the clothing he wore on his torso and tossed it to the side. "Do you think that I am so stupid that I would put everything on a little flash drive? Sure there's all the equations, you can study for the rest of your life, on it but you will never get anywhere without me."

David studied the writing and symbols that were inked onto Kieran's skin. He couldn't believe how stupid he had been. Of course it wasn't that simple, that it could just be put on a stupid computer. Kieran was, physically and mentally, more than any super computer that was ever made on this planet. He needed to dumb down his knowledge so it would actually work here. David didn't need a little black stick that would fit into a computer's USB port. He needed Kieran.

"How do you do it?" David asked. "How did you create it here?"

"I want my son. You will never get the knowledge you require from me so give the fuck up. I want my son."

"Where's Seth hiding?" Landon asked stepping up to David. "He doesn't need anything from you now that he has Owen. This earth, this universe, as we know it, is about to change and not in a good way. Just tell us where he has Owen, David."

"He'll kill me." David admitted.

"You're already dead! If you help him get away with whatever it is that you're letting happen, all of you have just been handed a death sentence!!" Kieran hollered at him.

"He has Tessa and Gwynne. We don't know if they're safe or not." Landon interrupted.

"Seth and Tessa are lovers. Seth would never hurt her." David answered easily.

Kieran stared at Landon with blame written all over his face.

"Were you ever going to tell me that?" Kieran asked. "They're lovers Landon!"

"I didn't know, Kieran!"

"Bull shit you didn't know!" Kieran pointed a finger at his chest and Landon could feel what it could do and he prayed it wouldn't.

"I swear, on the life of my daughter, I did not know about that."

"Seth doesn't have all that he needs." David interjected. "He wants Kieran. He wants your work as well."

"What for?" Kieran asked. "He's discovered as much as he needs. He has Owen."

"He just wants you. I'll take you to him but you have to promise you'll get me out of there."

"I don't owe you a god damn thing!" Kieran yelled at him.

"Kieran calm down." Landon warned.

"No! How dare you! You demand your safety? You don't seem to understand that I can't protect anything when Seth has OWEN!"

David was off his feet in the wink of an eye and smashed into a wall so hard that the imprint of his body was left in the drywall.

"I know where your son is but go on Kieran! Kill me! Then you've helped Seth destroy everything that you want to save."

"Listen to him Kieran! He's our only shot at finding Owen and Gwynne." Landon begged.

Kieran felt so much anger and guilt that he had a hard time listening to anyone. He sure as hell wasn't listened to. He hadn't listened to reasoning when he needed to either.

You didn't listen to me. I told you not to leave him and you left him anyway.

Kieran heard Gwynne's voice as if she was standing right beside him. It woke him up enough to let David down. Landon blew out an audible sigh of relief. Kieran went to collect his clothes and quickly put them on. David knelt on the floor to steady himself.

"I can't guarantee anyone's safety. You know this so don't ask me again. Get in the car and show us where Owen is." Kieran told David sternly then walked out of the room.

Landon watched him go then stared down at David himself.

"I warned you about Seth when I saw him leaving the lab that day of the lunch and you didn't believe me. Thanks a lot David. I might never see my wife and kid again. I blame you if that happens. I might even kill you myself."

Landon left the room. David saw the flash drive on the floor and scooped it up before getting up himself. He pocketed it and followed reluctantly. He had been such an idiot.

*****

Seth waited for Owen to be brought to him. There was a panic that was rising inside of him and he didn't really see why. Everything was working as he had thought it would. Tessa was a minor setback but it didn't matter. She was never supposed to be a permanent fixture in his life anyway. He was never to experience eternity with someone. That option was never offered. Kieran got it. Kieran got everything handed to him. Now, Kieran would hand him what he wanted. It was his turn.

Some would argue that Kieran also had everything taken away. That was not true. He had his beloved taken, yes, but Kieran pushed his own son away through no fault of Owen's. Owen was an innocent player in Kieran's neglect and, for that, Owen was now stupid enough to think that Seth actually cared for him. Owen was so desperate for love from a guardian that he was falling for every single thing Seth was saying. It was perfect; almost too perfect.

He looked up from his thoughts to see Owen being brought in. The boy looked tired and nervous. He actually looked like he had given up a fight and was just going through the motions of where he was supposed to be and who he was supposed to listen to. He didn't struggle anymore which made Seth's job a hell of a lot easier.

"Sorry to keep you waiting, Owen. I hope you're more comfortable here than the building you were in the last time."

"I'm fine." Owen answered quietly.

"You sure?" Seth asked.

"I'm sure. When can we bring back my mother?" He asked.

Seth studied him and understood his anxiousness. He nodded and got up from his chair, carrying with him an apple.

"Let's start small." Seth produced the apple in front of Owen and squatted before him. "I want you to completely destroy this apple."

"How?" Owen asked.

"You've done it before. The table that you decimated, how did you feel when that happened?"

"I was mad. I was mad that Kieran lied to me." Owen replied.

"So, let's pretend that this apple is your father, or even Gwynne."

Owen smirked and shook his head.

"I can't."

"Sure. Look at the apple and see in it who you are just so mad at that you don't want to see them anymore. Who's the soul; if you thought they were gone, you would have the life you dreamed of. Who's the one that is in your way of obtaining the life that is meant for you?"

Owen stared at the apple as he listened to Seth's words. His mind entered a tornado of thought and emotion. His mind drifted back to the day Kieran first left him. He remembered watching the other young souls like him, being guided by their guardians, with no one to teach him. He remembered what it felt like to sit alone, in a bus shelter, waiting for anyone to come along and thinking that the one that came would be for reasons of great intent. Not of selfish lies and secrets. The energy was there. It started from the bottom of his feet like it had before. The more he thought and felt, the stronger the current became. It made him feel better. It made him feel stronger than anyone and anything that could try and keep him prisoner with lie after lie. Owen felt like he could play with the energy between his hands as if it were pliable; able to be molded and melded to what he absolutely wanted to see.

"I can feel it. I can make it my own." He whispered to Seth.

Seth could see the transformation in Owen and it was exhilarating. It was exactly what he wanted and now that he knew Owen was capable of such things, this world was closer to being his and his alone.

"Make it your own, Owen. Destroy it. You don't want it here so get rid of it." Seth taunted.

Seth saw Owen concentrate so hard that he let go of the apple. It stayed there; floating in midair with an aura of electricity around it that was pure white. Its brilliance was amazing; only a single thread of an angelic glow. Seth watched, drunk with the prospect of what this moment meant. Before he could take his next breath that apple exploded to the four corners of the room. Nothing remained of it and Seth was thrilled.

"Owen..." Seth wiped a drop of juice from his cheek. "You're a god."

Owen smiled wickedly at what he had just done. It was only an apple, something so small, but it wasn't just the apple that impressed him. It was the fact that he could actually do it.

"I'm not a god." Owen disagreed.

"So modest." Seth chuckled. "Alright, so you can destroy but can you put it back together."

"What? I can't put it back together. It's gone."

"It's like a puzzle Owen. The pieces are just smaller."

"We can't undo what we've done." Owen argued.

"You're right. We can't. You, Owen, can. That's what I was talking about before. You are a very special spirit. There is only one of you at this moment in time, in the entire universe, there is only one of you and there will only be one until you choose otherwise."

"Only me?" Owen asked surprised.

"Only you. I would never lie about that." Seth placed a hand on his shoulder. "Now put it back together."

"How?"

"I can't tell you how because I don't have the ability. I can only encourage and support you."

Owen thought about it. If Seth taught him how to destroy by feeling what he would like to get rid of or end, he could also feel what his greatest desire would be and feel what it would be like to make it; to have it come to life just as he wished it to. He, of course thought about his mother. He didn't know her. He only felt her and that's what he used to gather what he thought he needed to create. That one wish of a woman he never knew but wanted so badly. If she had never died than he would be whole. His family would be whole. Owen closed his eyes and used his hands to feel that energy again. It was a softer energy, it wasn't so charged. It was like a soft stream of water that pooled in his body and in his hands. He liked it more and was drawn to it because the feeling of creation was filled with an unconditional love. He didn't know if it always felt that way but it did right now and that's what he held on to.

Without seeing what he was doing, Owen extended his hand and, as if time was moving backward, the apple rebuilt itself bit by bit before Seth's eyes, becoming whole, appearing better than when Seth had first shown it.

Seth ran his fingers through his air and stood, pacing with excitement. It came so easily to Owen it was shocking. Of course it was a small thing. Seth would get into the much bigger things later, when Owen trusted him more.

"I did it." Owen exclaimed.

"How did it feel?" Seth asked.

"I can't wait to do it again." Owen replied smiling.

"You won't have to wait long. Come on Owen. Gwynne's ready."

Seth walked to the door and Owen realized what he had said.

"I'm not ready to do that Seth."

"Yes, Owen, you are. Let's get your mother back."

Owen had no choice. He had to follow. He only hoped he knew what he was doing.

*****

I walked up and down a large room with a big circular structure placed at the far end. I had no idea what it was used for and it looked harmless but the hum that was coming from it was starting to give me a headache. I didn't think I heard it at first but the longer I was held here, the louder the hum became. It started at the surface of my ears but now it was inside my skull and I was having a hard time not banging on the oversized window that, reminded me of an interrogation room, to be let out. I was sure there were people in there watching me walk around the room like a caged lion but I didn't care. I was on high alert, not knowing what was going on and not seeing Tessa anywhere. I was by myself.

The sound of a security beep from the locked door caught my attention. The handle turned and Seth let himself in followed by Owen. Not trusting any of this and knowing how Owen truly felt, I kept my distance which had me standing closer to the ring. This didn't make me feel any better. It was actually quite nauseating.

"Gwynne." Seth greeted me.

"Huh, that's funny. Earlier I was Nia."

"One in the same I guess, isn't that right Owen?"

Owen hesitated and wouldn't look at me.

"No. It's not the same."

"Owen, I don't understand where this is coming from. What is he saying to you that you can't even look at me? This is me, Owen. I promised you I would keep your secret and I have."

"But you kept secrets of your own. You knew you were my mother and you lied to me!" He snapped.

"Wait, Owen. I did not know. Seth might be telling you otherwise but I only found out after you had been taken. I swear to you."

"I can't believe you." He flinched as he said it but glared at me quickly trying to cover his slip up.

I thought I saw him wince and that small millisecond movement had me doubting his anger and, crossing my arms, I studied him closely even though it was very difficult for me to concentrate on anything with the humming and whirring.

"What's going on? Why can't you believe me? You can't or you won't?"

Owen rubbed his face in frustration and stepped away from Seth. Seth looked towards me but I only shrugged. Noticing how difficult this was becoming for him, Seth thought he would help him out just a bit.

"Owen, I know this isn't the easiest discussion to have but you have to tell Gwynne how you feel. What do you want Owen? Hhhmm? You want to hang around here or do you want to go back where your mom will be waiting?"

"Waiting? What are you talking about? Go back?"

"I want my mother!" Owen bellowed. "I want that life that I never got! I want what every other young soul like me got; that I should have had from the beginning!"

"Owen, it doesn't work that way. It was her time." I told him sadly.

"No! I can change that! I can undo it. Seth showed me how."

Seth watched, recognizing the look that came over him. I was stunned at his sudden outburst of anger, watching as Owen changed, right in the middle of the room, cultivating his frustration and rage. As he moved his hands in an odd motion it appeared as if he was grasping for something in the air that we couldn't see.

"What are you doing? Owen?" I asked, suddenly feeling frightened feeling the energy that was coming off of him.

The ring came alive, also attracted to what Owen was giving off. There was an electrical current, a magnetism that was feeding off of this small boy, and in return, it was giving Owen an extra boost, making his skin come alive in light as I had seen on the video that Landon had showed of Kieran doing the exact same thing. Only Kieran wasn't manipulating anything with his hands. Owen was using the universe, the infinite that was seen in his palms, and weaving something together that only he could.

"Holy shit." I whispered. "Stop! Owen stop!"

"I wish you had never been born. If you were never born then my mother would never have died!"

Behind me the space in the ring was turning an electric blue. It was moving incredibly fast and vibrating at such a frequency that waves of energy poured out of it, wanting to wrap itself around anything that was of flesh and blood. Seth escaped through the door as it started sucking. I braced myself on the floor but felt its pull; it wanted me.

"You never existed! You never lived! Only Nia lived!" He screamed.

"No!"

I was shrieking for my life.

"Help me!" I begged. "Stop Owen!"

Owen through his hands up and I was shot into the ring, painfully dissolving into its pool.

When Owen was finished and he was alone, the ring stopped as if it had been shut down. He took a last look at it then collapsed onto the ground. Seth ran into the room with Lauren and rolled Owen onto his stomach, whipping up his shirt. Owen's signature was the temperature of molten steel. Lauren didn't dare touch him as she could feel the heat from where she stood over his body. Seth moved his hands over the boy's back. He would do what he could but it wouldn't be much.

"Mr. Dreardon?" Lauren asked. "I am unfamiliar with a child of this kind. I'm not sure what medical treatment I can give him."

"Yeah, I understand. Have the infirmary readied. He's in a human body; we'll treat him as such."

"Yes sir." She nodded and went to make the call.

Seth crouched beside him placing his shirt back where it was. He rolled Owen onto his back and placed a hand on his forehead like a loving father would do but it was not a loving gesture. He swore to himself for his hastiness. An apple was one thing; a human another. He wondered where Owen sent Gwynne. He would be the only one to know that and Seth would never ask. It was done. Owen made a wish and had it come true. Gwynne was no longer a problem here so Seth didn't need to worry about Nia anymore.

He cradled Owen in his arms and kicked at the door for it to be open. His wish was granted and he stepped through, ignoring the reactions of what everyone just saw. He walked swiftly to the infirmary where Lorne was waiting to examine the child he carried. She had no idea where to start but would carry on as she would in any other emergency situation that she received in her medical career.

"Get that IV into his arm please." She spoke confidently to her assistant and kept a watchful eye to see if Owen would react any differently than a human child would.

"It's in." The assistance confirmed to her.

"Wonderful." She listened to his chest and heard the thump of a heart and the breath coming and going from healthy lungs. Nodding, Lauren glanced up at Seth. "So far so good."

"Keep an eye on him would you. There are some things I have to do, namely finding out how the ring stood up to Owen's abilities."

"If it's anything like Owen, it'll need a recharge." She answered.

"You're probably right. Keep me updated on his condition." Seth said walking out.

"Absolutely." She agreed and continued to monitor Owen.

As Seth left Owen fluttered his eyes open. He glanced at the cool sensation happening underneath the skin of his arm. He noticed the plastic tubes running up towards a bag that held clear liquid.

"Owen, welcome back. How do you feel? That was quite an achievement with the ring." Lauren asked smoothing his hair back.

"Is Gwynne...?" He started but couldn't continue.

"She's gone." Lauren confirmed.

Owen turned his head to look at the bag again. He let a single tear roll down his cheek. He thought of her face that held eyes containing a storm, her kindness and her gentle manner and he remembered her open mind and soft heart.

"I'm so sorry." He whispered, closing his eyes to mourn her.

*****

Kieran rode in the back seat of Landon's car. He stayed quiet, concentrating on his family and praying for their safety. David played with the flash drive in his hand, thinking of ways it could be useful in helping him escape Seth's wrath. Landon only thought of getting to these warehouses and what would happen when they finally got there. David assured him that Tessa would be fine but Landon wasn't so sure. He couldn't even contact her on David's cell phone. It was unusual that she wouldn't answer his calls since this whole thing began, and if she couldn't she would always text him a small message. It was a terribly tense ride in the car and nobody dared to speak.

David peered out the window seeing something in the sky that caught his eye. He strained his neck to keep his eye on it as Landon continued down the highway.

"Weird!" He exclaimed straining his eyes to look closer.

"What?" Landon asked, trying to concentrate on the road while following David's gaze.

"I've never seen a shooting star during the day like that."

Kieran shot his head up and looked out the window. Terror gripped him as he noticed it and he grabbed the headrest of Landon's seat.

"Stop the car!" He yelled into Landon's ear.

Landon pressed on the breaks, more out of surprise at the sudden outburst, trying to control the vehicle as it screeched to a stop. Horns honked from everywhere and Landon eased the car onto the side of the road.

"Jesus Christ, Kieran! You almost got us killed!" Landon shouted.

Kieran ignored his anger and opened the car door. He watched the light grow in size from a pin to the size of the sun if you were to look straight at it. Other's stopped their cars on the side of the road, getting out and taking a look. No one knew what it could be.

"Look at that...is that a meteor?" Someone asked.

"Where is it coming from? Why is it travelling up?" Another chimed in.

Kieran couldn't take his eyes off it and covered his mouth with a shaking hand as he watched it leave this place. He shook his head not wanting to feel these feelings again. It was exactly how he felt when he saw Nia die, as he held their new son. Owen was smiling, he was crying; sobbing in fact. It's what he wanted to do now.

"Gwynne." Her name sounded broken in his throat and he collapsed on the ground, shoulders shaking in a silent cry. "No."

Uncontrolled tears rolled from his eyes. It was true. Nia was Gwynne, her light traveling back where her next life would be decided and where he could never see her again. The only one that could have ever sent her like that was Owen. He knew his son had done it but he could also feel that Owen was very conflicted and saddened as well. How could he have done this? Owen was so connected to this woman in so many ways. Only after a couple of days, did they share a bond that, to anyone else, would have been ridiculous. To Owen and Gwynne, it was normal and meant to be. Even for himself, the memory of joining with Gwynne in the matrix and feeling that he was now whole was what gave him his strength through this whole thing, up until now.

"What did he make you do?" Kieran asked to no one in particular, each word choked on as he sobbed, trying to catch his breath.

"Kieran?" Landon asked wanting to touch him but feeling it wouldn't go over well. "What's happened?"

Kieran stood wiping his eyes and nose. Barely composed, he looked at Landon then looked away just as fast to see Gwynne shine as she traveled out of this atmosphere. When the light erupted into pieces his heart shattered with it.

"Gwynne's dead."

"What? How do you know?" Landon asked seeing the smaller pieces fly with the bigger one higher and higher when they should have been falling to the ground.

"That much energy surrounding her soul, Owen had something to do with it. Seth's using his power. It's started."

"What's started?" David asked.

"A great change and not for the better." Landon spoke softly, eyes wide as he continued to watch what was left of the huge fireball. "I'm so sorry, Kieran."

"Not as sorry as you will be if we don't get to those warehouses and fast." Kieran shrugged off Landon's condolences and got back in the car.

Landon let the cold shoulder go, understanding full well that Kieran had just lost his wife for a second time. Landon could barely imagine losing his once. Squaring his shoulders, he decided that was not going to happen. He got in the driver's seat again and stepped on the gas.

"I'll get us there." He told Kieran. "I'll get us there so you can end this."

"You think he can end this?" David asked gesturing to Kieran with his thumb. Kieran wanted to take it off at the knuckle.

"I know he can." Landon looked at David. "The good guys always win."

*****

Tessa paced the room she had been locked up in, thinking of ways to get out of this mess. Everything was gone, her purse, her security card. Everything. She had no idea what Seth had in mind for her. She didn't even realize he was feeling any of what he had told her; unless this feeling of power was now affecting his brain. She never let on that he was second best. She had always placed him high on a pedestal and she assumed he believed it. She felt he did. This was all coming out of left field. Tessa was aware of Seth's jealousy even before they started sharing a bed. When he would lose his temper over the smallest thought of his brother, she wouldn't say a thing but pamper him even more. It was exhausting but it was what she had to do to stay on the inside of his plans. Never once did he mention a human test subject. It was always Kieran and when Owen arrived, it was always the boy that he would speak of. It was always the boy he wanted. Kieran, at that point, had been a consolation prize.

She leaned on the wall and stared at the white ceiling. What had she done? She helped build this place. She was just as guilty as Seth was. Tessa regretted everything and now Gwynne, an innocent woman in all of this, would probably be killed. Tessa felt completely finished with all of this. Maybe Seth would send her back to the first day she met Kieran. Maybe then she would know better to just walk away.

"Tess."

She looked up when she heard him but stayed where she stood.

"I hope you feel better now, Seth. After accusing me of things that I have never done and now keeping me locked up for absolutely no reason. Are you here to threaten me again? To send me back to the day I met Kieran?"

"No. I'm not. I don't need to." He admitted.

"What's that supposed to mean?" She asked defensively.

"Gwynne's gone. Owen sent her somewhere; I'm assuming to a place that she never existed. That's what he wished for anyway. The ring worked Tessa. It was amazing."

"Congratulations." Tessa gave him a weak smile but the thought of Owen killing Gwynne was almost too much. "You have your ultimate power."

"Not quite."

"Seriously Seth, quit talking in riddles."

Seth closed the door and tentatively walked towards her.

"I need a surgery done and you will do it." He told her.

Tessa laughed sarcastically and crossed her arms.

"I have a newsflash for you...I'm not a doctor."

"No, you're not a doctor, but you're a physicist. An amazing scientist and I need you to direct Lauren."

"What is this all about?" She demanded.

"I have Owen but what am I going to do with a kid? Seriously? A kid pretending to be human. Same with Kieran. I have no room for an entourage."

"What does this have to do with surgery?"

"Their signatures; I want them. I want them joined with mine."

Tessa was stunned at his words. She straightened and walked towards him.

"You're joking."

"I don't joke."

"I know nothing about your signatures, Seth. Nothing! Do you even know if they can be removed?"

"Yes. But they need to be immediately transferred; within seconds they need to be absorbed."

"How do you know this?" Tessa asked.

Seth placed his hands into his pockets and stared into her face.

"There have been others that have traveled here."

"Others?"

"Yes. Unfortunately, they were discarded at various hospital emergency rooms when I was done with them. The aging process speeds up dramatically in those cases. I was only a son taking his aging parents for care. Of course, I never stuck around."

"You mean those news stories of seniors being abandoned in hospital emergency rooms...that was you? The ones with Alzheimer's?

"Owen isn't the first to come looking for Kieran or myself."

"You...you've done these surgeries?"

"It was easy. Kieran and Owen are different, as you now know, and I need assistance with that much power."

"Why would you never tell me this?" Tessa asked.

"I'm telling you now. So?"

Tessa turned away, thinking, trying to figure this out as quickly as possible. Kieran would know what was happening. Owen might as well. Seth was so egotistical that he couldn't read anything from anyone anymore. It was his obsession that was cutting him off. So, if she could be in that operating room, maybe she could finally do some good.

"Are you giving me a choice in the matter?" Tessa asked, making this the deciding factor.

"Sure, you have a choice. I don't have a gun to your head."

"Not a gun, no." She glared at him. He smirked back but there was no humor in his eyes. "I'll do what I can." She told him confidently. "I'll assist with the surgeries. I'll need a crash course on these signatures."

"I think that you made a very wise decision. Owen's already in the infirmary."

Tessa didn't move and Seth turned back wondering why he wasn't being followed.

"Before anything happens I want my stuff back. If I'm part of your team there is absolutely no reason why I should be watched."

"Oh no?"

"No." She insisted.

He studied her closely but she held her ground. She did not waver as he watched every muscle in her body, any sign that she was lying, anything to give her away.

"Fine." He told her and sauntered out the door.

She followed him down the corridors; the only sound that was heard was the shoes on the tiled floor. They rounded a corner and found one of the larger guards at the door, policing the comings and goings of anyone that entered the room.

"Is this really necessary?" Tessa asked gesturing to the man. "For God's sake he's only a human child."

"Do I really have to answer that?" Seth replied looking at her while he swiped his key.

They entered the room and found Owen sitting up, playing with the blanket, as Lauren tried to give him something to eat. He refused. Owen eyed who was entering with suspicion. Even Seth felt that Owen was weary of him.

"Owen." Seth greeted him.

"Hi." He answered quietly.

"Hello, Owen." Tessa told him.

"I want to go home. My mother will be waiting. I want to go now." Owen insisted. "That's what you promised. You told me when I learned what my purpose was and when Gwynne was gone I could go. I want to go now!"

"Calm down, Owen. I understand. I'm preparing the journey. You've just exhausted yourself. Get stronger so you can make the trip." Seth told him.

"But I'll get stronger when I return to where I began."

"Okay, well, I know for a fact that Kieran is on his way. As soon as he's here we'll leave together."

"Kieran can go back on his own. I want to go now." Owen jumped out of bed, toppling the IV bag and pole onto the floor. He ripped the needle out of his arm and threw it aside.

"What's going on Owen?" Seth asked. "I promised you and I haven't gone back on anything I've said to you. Quit with your impatience. I don't want to risk your health. It's different here on earth. You know it's not the same dimension and we can't travel the same way. I will not explain this again. You will go home when your father gets here and that is my final word. Do you understand me?"

Owen glared in his direction. Seth backed off; feeling like Owen could explode at any time. He was not prepared for that to happen. He needed Owen to stay on his good side. Everyone except Owen stared upwards as the lights dimmed and flickered.

"Alright Owen, I know you're exhausted. We both are and we're both a little frustrated. How about we just take a breather."

"You're not listening to me." Owen answered.

"I am. I have heard everything you've said."

Tessa wished she had her cell phone so she could prove to Owen that Kieran was on his way but that might not calm him down either. She cleared her throat at the child who was so visibly upset before her.

"Seth, could we have a minute?" She asked.

"A minute? With Owen? No." He answered.

"Seth, please. If you asked me to help you than obviously you trust me. I don't see the problem."

Seth glared at her then threw his hands up in the air.

"Fine. Lauren." He signaled her to follow.

The room was cleared out as Seth led the way. She knew he would watch; she wasn't stupid but she wanted just a minute to try and do some good. Tessa watched as the last one left the room then turned towards Owen. She smiled at him hoping that he would see that she was honestly trying to show him a comforting smile. She knew he didn't trust her.

"May I sit?" She asked gesturing to a stool with wheels.

"Okay." He agreed not moving.

"Would you like to hop back up on the bed? It might be better if you relaxed just a little bit. I can see how worked up you are and I'm not here to make it worse."

"You stole me." He answered.

"I know." Tessa took a seat on the stool and straightened her spine. She patted the mattress as she wheeled herself up to the side of it.

Owen gave up and walked back to the hospital bed then climbed into it. He refused to cover himself with blankets. Tessa noticed that he had been changed into a white t-shirt and pants combo. She caught a glimpse of his back shining silver blue, presumably from the marks along his spine that she was so used to seeing on a man.

"We have to talk quietly Owen and you need to try and understand everything that I am saying to you." She spoke quickly bringing her face close to his.

"About what?"

"Your mom and your dad. Seth is not here to help you sweetie. You need to know this. I need your help in protecting my friends who are coming here to get you; including your father. Owen, where did you send Gwynne?"

"I know! I know he's not doing good things. I know! I couldn't stop. I didn't know what to do and now she's gone!" Owen spoke frantically, believing Tessa and finally feeling relief knowing there was a good and decent person in front of him that only had the best intentions. The feeling wasn't as pure as Gwynne's but it could be trusted.

"Alright. Ssshhh. Calm down. Owen, please calm down. You need to stay focused."

"Help me." He begged.

"I am trying. Okay, I'm trying. Obviously you know what you are and what you can do so, if you can't control yourself, we are in trouble. Take a breath." She told him.

He did as he was told, sat back on the pillows and covered himself with the blankets. She helped him and he turned his body towards her bringing the covers to his chin.

"I didn't mean to do it." Owen whispered; his guilty eyes tearing up.

"I know. I didn't mean to take you from her. I am so sorry Owen. I needed Seth to think I was working for only him when, in fact, I'm trying to help my world from a scary future." She stroked his cheek in comfort. "What can he do with you Owen? What am I up against?"

"He can do anything he wants." He whimpered.

"Why can't you destroy him? Why can't you end this yourself? You're more than capable of it."

"I can't kill. I can't take a life. It's against the rules."

"I see." She nodded in understanding but then got confused and drew her eyebrows together. "Owen, you killed Gwynne."

He looked down before answering hoping that what he was about tell her would go no further than this room.

"I didn't. Seth just thinks I did."

"Where is she Owen?" Tessa pressed.

"I sent her back to the day she was born. It's her choice if she wants to live or die."

Tessa covered her mouth with her fingers. She couldn't believe this. This kid, who Seth thought was working with him, was actually trying to stop him in the only ways he could. He was playing along just as she was but she didn't know how much longer this could go on.

"Owen, Seth was only testing you." She took his hand in hers and squeezed it. "He doesn't have any more use for you now, after seeing what you did with Gwynne. What do you know about signatures?"

"Our signatures contain the energy of the stars. They contain our purpose; what we're meant to do."

"Are they all the same?"

Owen removed his hand from hers. Flipping one of her hands over, he pointed to the fingers and the lines on her hand.

"We are all unique. Just like these lines are." He started to trace her palm, knowing exactly what was to happen in her life. He smiled at her secrets even she was unaware of.

"Owen, your hands..." She noticed the depth of them. Seth's weren't like them. Kieran always hid his away. She held them and felt the weight of them but she did not see her hands underneath. His hands seemed like voids; so deep, like a swimming pool that had no bottom and shimmery as if light was reflected on a ripple of water. "You hold..." Her breath quickened as she studied them.

"I hold everything." He finished for her. "Seth wants to take my signature and you will help him." He repeated the message that he felt on her palm.

She was speechless and met his eyes nervously.

"It's okay. I've asked for help." He smiled.

She couldn't help but smile back.

*****

"What happened?" I asked quietly sitting up confused.

The scenery around me was very different from what I had left. I felt like I still lived but didn't feel solid. I wasn't real, only a phantom in a corner as the world rushed around me, oblivious to the fact that I was even there. Shaking my head, I tried to clear out the fog that settled into my brain so I could try and remember what had happened to me. I remembered Owen, and an argument. I remembered feeling scared about what he was trying to do. It didn't make any sense that now I was in a hospital, on the floor, with the world rushing around me.

"Hello?" I asked, but being a phantom, no one paid any attention.

I stood and stepped aside as a nurse rushed passed me. I heard babies crying, women groaning and various people standing around looking anxious or completely overjoyed.

I wish you had never been born...

The words hung around my body in a thick fog. They weren't loud but surrounded me with the power in which they were said. I was starting to understand why I was in the middle of a maternity ward in a time period I only recognized thanks, in part, to outdated social studies textbooks that were always disposed of at the bookstore. The other part of me remembered a photo of a woman, in my dresser drawer, with long thick blond hair, holding a very tiny infant, and smiling because she had decided to keep the girl as her own. Funny how things never work out the way we intend them to. What kind of life would I have had if she had never even looked at that infant's face but left her for another mother that had every intention of having a child of her own but just couldn't. Would I have been better off?

We choose who we're born to because those are the lessons we wanted to learn. Where was my head when I chose my mother? I guess it was because, eventually, it had led to a reunion with my son; a son that hated me now because he believed another's lies. Something was very odd about this. Owen pretty much said he wanted me dead. As I stood here, I was neither dead nor alive, just waiting for something or someone to give me the choice about what I wanted to be.

"Get Dr. McLean! Cassie Broker is about to have this baby and its heart rate has almost stopped." A nurse poked her head out of a room and told a nearby aid.

"Right away." She answered and ran to page him.

Hearing my mother's name was surreal. I hadn't even spoken her name in twenty years. I didn't even know if she was alive. Not sure what I was going to see, I walked into the room that I heard the nurse holler from. It was organized chaos. Lights were being turned on. The poor young girl who was in a severe amount of discomfort was alone, with only a young friend by her side looking just as scared as she was.

"What's happening? Why can't I hear the heart?" Cassie demanded through short breaths. "What's wrong with my baby?"

Tears of fear were sliding down her cheeks. The girl next to her was almost white and had a chair brought to her so she could sit.

Dr. McLean whirled in and a nurse quickly slid some gloves on his hands. Pediatricians stood around as well, waiting to grab the infant as soon as it was available. There was no heartbeat by this time and I walked closer to the woman who was naked from the waist down and bleeding heavily.

"We need this baby out now." He told the room. "Come on, Cassie. Give me a push."

"I'm so tired." She whined.

"Cassie, your baby needs your help. Come on."

Cassie tucked her chin to her chest and gave it everything she had.

"That's a girl." Dr. McLean encouraged her. "Get the vacuum please." He instructed his nurse. She nodded and prepared it.

I viewed the scene with mixed emotions. I now knew why Owen sent me here. He really didn't want to kill me. I knew I had sensed his confusion and hesitation. Now it wasn't up to me if I lived or died. It was up to Cassie, Dr. McLean, and the pediatric team that was now assembled by the bassinet.

"What will you do?" A man spoke to me from behind and I turned to see who was addressing me. I recognized him immediately.

"I'm not sure." I told him honestly. "Why are you here?" I asked.

"Do you know who I am?"

"Yes, I do. And by the way, congratulations on your sons. They turned out so well." I answered sarcastically.

"Isn't it funny how life never turns out how we intend it to."

"Reading my thoughts?" I asked. "This was never my intention. This was not my choice to come here; to watch this." I gestured to the scene before me.

"You have a choice now. What will you do?" He asked again.

I turned to address him directly but he was now gone. Cassie gave an animalistic groan and the doctor pulled out a purple wet infant that had no sign of life in her. I cried silent tears seeing my mother sob and beg for anyone to save her baby. I knew this was not how my birth happened. I was born healthy and shrieked for a long time. Now I was being manhandled by a doctor to try and get my little heart to start beating again. What did I want to do? Good question. There were a lot of questions that came with that large one. Should I die now and start again, hopefully finding a life that I would enjoy more. Or, should I live, and from what I already know, live differently; even better.

I crept over to the baby, stealing a spot in the corner close to her face. She was still quite purple; such a tiny thing. Wiping my eyes, I smiled at her and stroked her cheek. In any other situation, if the baby did live, there would be some serious repercussions, not having oxygen for this long. I wondered what I could do.

"Hello baby Gwynne." I whispered. "It's time to open your eyes. There's a lot for you to do this time around. You're more important than you think you are. You know why? Because you gave birth to a boy who loves you and would even send you back to the day you were born to try and save you."

I smiled down at the tiny girl. Placing a hand on her chest I sent her as much of me as I could.

"We have a heartbeat!"

The words reverberated around the room and there was a collective sigh of relief. I closed my eyes and continued to poor myself into her heart, feeling it grow stronger with every tiny breath her lungs would take. There was a whimper and a small cry. Tiny oxygen tubes were placed in her nose and she was strapped to monitors via cords from every direction. I would not move my hand from her heart. I could hear the voice of my mother, groggily asking to hold the baby. People told her no; that the baby needed to be in intensive care for observation.

"What's her name, Cassie?" Dr. McLean asked.

As I followed the baby out the door I heard it spoken for the first time.

"Gwynne."

I followed my young self closely. We entered a nursery that was of a different kind. The infants in here needed extra special help and it was heartbreaking to see all of the tiny things hooked up to various machines, as I was. Looking on, I found myself wondering if Cassie would make better decisions, seeing how she almost lost this child that she thought she wanted. I didn't know if the decision that I made to save myself would create some different reality than the one that I was just taken from. The universe worked in mysterious ways. That was the old saying and I happened to agree with it, more so now than ever.

People scattered, leaving little Gwynne alone for whatever reason. I watched as her small chest rose and fell in quick little movements. Every now and then a small squeak would come out of her mouth. I took her small hand in mine and stroked it. I had to say, I was pretty cute with my head full of dark hair and barely there chin. What an experience to be able to see oneself as brand new, with a whole life just waiting to be lived. I had no words of wisdom to give her because I really had no regrets.

As the time wore on I found myself being drawn towards her. She was slowly absorbing me in, bit by bit. Instead of a large scary ring bursting with energy, I was now softly being guided into her little heart. I was humbled. Was this what an angel felt like, being called upon by a child and being enveloped into their divinity? If it was, those angels were so very blessed.

When I had joined with Kieran in the matrix it was an explosion of ecstasy unlike any feeling of love you could ever experience on earth. This was more tender and I reveled in it until I was no longer in a cold hospital but in the warmth of her soul, identical to mine. This was a doorway to her path and I now stood in a place that I recognized but it was slightly different. This path was an opening that led to an outside world. It was my world and, leaving the tunnel, I found myself in a park. The sky was blue with soft clouds drifting by. The grass was cool and green and the trees swayed gently in the breeze that came and went. Laughter and cheers from children, hanging like orangutans on playground equipment, made me laugh. What was I doing in a park?

"Cute aren't they?" The same voice spoke to me and I turned to see him sitting on a bench holding a cane between his legs.

My 'father-in-law' wore brown shorts with a button up short sleeve shirt and a sweater vest. His tweed brown hat sat snuggly on his head and white sports socks rose up his leg just below his calf muscles with black sandals to cover his feet. He was the epitome of what one would think of a grandfather.

"Especially that one. Look at her go. What a happy little thing." He smiled and pointed at one child in particular.

He watched as small girl ran around with another girl, quite a bit bigger than her, with a broad grin on her pale skin. Her long dark hair was tied back into a simple ponytail and the jeans and shirt she wore were stained with dirt.

"I just love watching children be so free and happy, not a worry in their little minds."

"No, I didn't worry then." I answered watching the child, I was, play without a care in the world. "May I join you?" I asked him gesturing to the seat beside him.

"Of course. How are you Gwynne?"

"I've had better days." I answered honestly. "Can you tell me...my mother?"

He nodded in understanding and held his cane up to point towards a woman who couldn't care less what her daughter was doing.

"As much as you try, the decision to change lies with the person that needs it and only they can choose when that will be." He told me. "But you shouldn't worry. You know how this turns out. I think you've done very well for yourself."

"Thanks." I muttered.

"I should introduce myself. I don't think you remember me. I mean, you saw me at the Soul's Temple but we go much further back than that. My name is Kairos." He extended his hand to me.

"Gwynne." I told him shaking it. "But you already know that."

"I do." He answered.

"Why, Kairos? Why would you let this happen?" I asked. "Why did my life end after I had Owen? Why? This whole thing would have been avoided if I had been able to raise Owen like he deserved."

"You had a much greater purpose my dear. We needed you here. We needed you to protect your son on earth because we can't."

"My son hates me. He thinks I knew who I was when he got here. I had no clue. I only knew that night when Kieran told me and now he's doing Seth's bidding. He wanted me to die. He never wanted me to exist. He wanted to have Nia back."

"Is that really what you think?" Kairos asked staring at my face.

"I don't want to. When Owen sent me to my...birth day, I felt like he was unsure. When he said he couldn't believe me it sounded strange. Like he couldn't because if he did he would get into trouble or something."

"Gwynne, try not to look at it from your eyes but look at it from Owen's. He gave you the choice to live or die. You chose to live. He knew you would."

"What can I do? I've failed." I said sadly.

"You're still alive. You have not failed." Kairos insisted.

"Will you send me back with your little crystal ball?"

"I don't have to send you back. You have the power to choose where you want to be. You human's really don't understand how powerful you are; what kind of life you can create for yourselves if you only listen to YOU."

"And Seth? How do I beat Seth? He's strong and smart. What happened there?"

Kairos took off his hat and wiped his brow. The thought of his son saddened him, and, placing his hat back on his head, he looked to the sky as if praying for strength.

"As any parent, we think that we are doing the best we can. You can't stop curiosity. Especially my boys'. Seth was power driven right from the start. He thought, because of the influences surrounding his birth, he was entitled to many things. Of course he was not. That's not how it works, so he remembered the stories I would tell of earth and how different it was. He thought it could be easily manipulated to his desires. A lot of beings from earth think that way even today. Kieran never felt that way but he loved my stories of exploration and travel. He also thought of earth and wanted to try his theories there. I had already lost one son, I wasn't about to lose another. Kieran may have been Seth's twin but he was...he is exceptional. He has a deeper understanding about how the universe works. No...Kieran was meant to direct the course of time and space. The one great teacher as was his birth right. Seth knew this. He was jealous and thought he could obtain more if he left."

"So you brought me to Kieran to make him stay."

"Yes, of course."

"And what's so special about me?"

Kairos smiled and turned to the young Gwynne who smiled and waved at him. He waved back enthusiastically.

"You, my dear, are pure love, the ultimate truth and a harvester of light; what this universe is built on. There is nothing more important than that. Creation does not start without you."

It all suddenly clicked when Kairos spoke his words. I now had total understanding about why I was put on earth in the first place; why I chose to be there at this time. I had to protect my son so he could return.

"Owen...he's needed back. He's the part of me that is the light." I said remembering my death as Nia and my journey into who I was now.

"Owen is the sum of his parents and the lineage that is the council itself. He is desperately needed back." Kairos agreed. "Seth has broken many universal laws and as much as I love my son, he needs to be stopped. Owen will not be able to do it by himself on earth. He needs you and his father."

A ball tapped my feet and I bent to retrieve it. The little girl with long dark hair ran up to me and waited before me for her ball back. I held it up for her and placed it in her waiting hands.

"Thank you." She told me.

"You're welcome." I answered.

"What will you do?" Kairos asked me.

"Didn't you already ask me that about her?" I told him pointing to the girl.

"Who says I was asking about her? That was obvious. Even Owen knew that."

I rolled my eyes and chuckled. Taking a deep breath, I turned to address him directly.

"Show me the way home." I said.

"Then you'll need this." Kairos produced a sphere the size of a softball and held it out for me. "I'll show you the way if you send him back to me."

I gingerly took it from him and looked upon it like I had with Owen's hands. They were exactly the same.

"It would be my pleasure Kairos."

*****

The gates opened for David who had traded places with Landon before they arrived at the warehouses. Kieran kept his head down but made sure he could be seen. David insisted that Seth knew Kieran was coming. David didn't hold a lot of power over this guy anymore and they needed to get into the building. Having Kieran was the only way that was going to be possible. Kieran didn't put up a fight about it. He didn't have much of a fight left. The only thing he wanted to find was his son and understand why he would kill his mother. If Owen was under Seth's control, there wasn't much more he could do. That would mean that Seth had unleashed Owen's ability and from the amount of light enveloping Gwynne's soul, he had a strong feeling that's what happened.

David parked the car and recognized Tessa's beside his. Landon saw it as well but didn't know how to feel about the sight of it. She still did not return any calls or messages and from what had already happened today, Landon was just a bit concerned.

"Mr. Carnegie, welcome. What brings you here?" A guard asked, opening his door.

"What brings me here? That's funny. This is as much mine as it is Seth's."

"You missed the show."

"I didn't miss it. That fucking lunatic. Half of this population saw the show. Why not broadcast everything we're doing on television. You may as well have. God damn fireball travelling up?!" David yelled.

"Hey, we were not expecting that much power."

"Well you should have! Look who you're working with. Be on the lookout for snoops."

"Who's this? Dreardon doesn't want visitors."

"I think he'll change his mind when he sees his own brother." David insisted. "Excuse me."

The security guard stood back and David slammed the car door. The secured doors to the building were opened for all three of them and they walked through them, not prepared at all for what might happen. Landon glanced around his surroundings impressed by what was built.

"Nice digs, David. Where'd you get the cash for something like this?" Landon asked.

"My plans, not my money." David answered walking straight.

"I could only guess where Seth got the funds. Manipulation of the past I assume."

"You assume correctly. Money's running out though. Seth couldn't use the lab in the university any longer once hot head over here arrived." David gestured to Kieran. "That doorway was shut but now that Kieran has one that works without having to build a physical one, well, Seth wants it."

"Over my dead body." Kieran growled.

"If it comes to that." David didn't flinch.

They continued down the hall and turned a corner. Seth waited for them confidently. He was joined by Tessa and Lauren but Owen was nowhere. Lauren took a step back when the three of them stopped in the hall; Tessa stood her ground because she had no choice. It was a western film in the pristine hallways of a laboratory. David stopped walking and kept his distance. Landon and Kieran took their cues from him.

"Did you get what you were looking for David?" Seth asked.

"Yes, in exchange for Owen. Where is he?" David asked.

Seth laughed loudly and put his hands in his pockets.

"You think so, do you? I thought it was money and glory."

"Things change." David answered. "I can't believe how sloppy you were. Did you know that you caused a HUGE fireball that travelled up? People stopped their cars on the highway to watch it."

"I doubt very much they know where it's coming from."

"And you want to risk that?"

"Let them come. I'm almost finished." Seth answered eyeing Kieran.

Kieran could feel Seth and sensed that it wasn't the same man that left so long ago. He had changed. Kieran's signature was alive and vibrating at a high level. The same feeling he had when he found Owen at the university. Owen's signature was the one that Kieran was attracted to; it wasn't Seth's. Seth was closer so it should have been joining with his by now so they could read each other from the inside. That wasn't happening but at least he knew Owen's was still there and it hadn't changed. It was pure. Kieran took a breath sensing that all was not what it seemed, for the better. Seth was very muddled in dark forces. Kieran needed to be careful.

"Brother, it's nice to finally see you. I've been looking for you for a long time." Seth told him.

"You've known where I was. I'm assuming you were only waiting for the perfect time to come and get me."

"It's true. I've been watching your work; whatever Tessa could show me. It's incredible really. What you've been able to accomplish here has really been fascinating. I wonder Kieran, if you ever thought about the consequences if someone, shall we say, like me, ever got a hold of that."

Kieran glanced at Tessa but felt something different from her. Something buried deep down that he recognized from the first day that they had met. She met his eyes but didn't waver in her stance beside Seth. Appearances were everything at this point.

"I don't think you need me anymore. You have my son. You had him kill his own mother. What do you need me for?"

"Oh, so you know about that."

"Of course I know about that. Owen killed her so he killed a lot of me as well. I'm done Seth. I'm done covering for your mistakes, hiding what you've done. I'm tired. This place is exhausting and if I'm not going home than I'm ready for another life. I have no idea what you're waiting for, why you haven't gotten rid of me like so many of the others."

"How did you know about them?" Seth inquired.

"Please. A soul drops down from heaven and you don't think I'm attracted to their brilliance when they get here? But it's here for such a short time. For some reason their light goes out and we both know that the light doesn't disappear within a matter of days."

"No, it doesn't." Seth agreed. "It takes longer than that."

"So what are you using them for? Power? Youth?"

"I needed their power, yes. I'm surviving...until now. Now it all comes together."

"I will give you nothing until I see Owen." Kieran snapped.

Seth ignored him and walked away.

"Seriously? You're just going to let him walk? Do something Kieran? End this now." Landon hissed.

"I can't kill him. That is not permitted."

"Owen killed Gwynne. Bullshit that's not allowed." He argued.

Security guards had them surrounded. Landon rolled his eyes and David stepped away from them following Seth.

"David! You asshole. I knew you were a liar!" Landon hollered at him.

David didn't bother looking back. There was no way he would be taken with them. He was actually surprised that Seth didn't have him locked up. Kieran was his ace up his sleeve.

"Seth, wait up." David called.

"I really don't have time David. You will not get Owen."

"Whatever. Here." David handed him the black flash drive. Seth studied it then studied David.

"Is this it?" Seth asked.

"It is. Kieran said something about needing him. I don't know what it means. That's all of Kieran's data anyway."

Seth watched as Kieran didn't put up a fight as he was led away. He stared at his brother's back. He wanted to be able to feel what he used to be able to. He couldn't. The remnants of that ended the morning he found Owen missing. The last part of him was gone after he heard the vibrations that Owen had left in the room; the call for his parents. Seth only assumed they let him hear it as a punishment for his last action against the high council. Now, he didn't feel young and strong but older and heavier. He needed Owen and Kieran's signatures. It was the only way he could continue here and have what he assumed he deserved.

"Lauren?" He asked.

"Yes Seth?" She answered.

"Prepare the surgery."

"Right away." She answered, taking her leave.

Tessa and David continued to follow him to his office. He proceeded to unlock the door and allow them to enter behind him. He sat heavily at his desk, still toying with the flash drive. He would only look at it when he was alone.

"Owen was still quite upset when I left him." Tessa told him sitting as well.

"Good." Seth replied, not really caring.

"Would you like me to take Owen to see Kieran?"

"Why?" Seth asked.

"I agree with Seth. You don't want them planning anything." David cut in.

"Owen would never plan anything with Kieran. He's so hurt." Tessa replied. "He can't send him anywhere because he's not near the ring."

Seth just wanted to be left alone. Tessa was fine. It was David's presence that was irritating him very much. He needed them gone so he could prepare for the surgery. Nerves weren't a feeling that he was used to but as his signature slowly dimmed, so did he; replaced by heaviness that he could not feel his way through.

"Tessa, do whatever you need to do. I need to be alone. I trust you to take care of Owen and Kieran and have them ready. I need two hours."

"Absolutely." Tessa stood and went over to him. This was her last-ditch effort to make him believe in her and the only way she could think of to say goodbye. She came up behind him and wrapped her arms around his shoulders. He placed a hand on her arm and held it there for a second, needing to feel something familiar as the sensations coming over his human form were unrecognizable. "I never thought of you as a replacement for anyone." She whispered in his ear.

Her words bounced off the walls of his heart and left him speechless. She kissed his cheek then straightened and left the room. David watched her go sitting back in his chair, disgusted.

"I can't believe you're allowing this."

"Get out." Seth told him.

"But..."

"Get out!" Seth demanded.

"Fine."

"Oh, and by the way, what the hell is Landon doing here?"

"He had Kieran." David told him simply.

"And now what? You've put me in a very bad spot, David."

"You've made others disappear before Seth."

"Yes, I have. Yes I absolutely have. Remember that."

David didn't like the way Seth was now looking at him. He slowly got up from the chair and crept away. David did not like the feeling one bit.

*****

Tessa moved quickly, not stopping, almost running. She had lost David back at Seth's office and she had plenty to do before he found her. That little weasel wanted in on everything and she didn't know how much longer she could keep this up. Every time she thought of Seth and how much he had changed in such a short time broke her heart. Of course she had feelings for him. She wanted to see the man she only saw in glimpses from time to time but he was now gone. It was the same with Kieran. It wasn't the gruff and angry exterior that she saw. It was the spirit that drew her. That's what she would miss from both of them when this was finally over and it needed to be over today.

With shaking hands, she slid her keycard and entered her ID on the keypad. The door slid open and Kieran glanced up, surprised that is was her.

"Follow me quickly. We don't have time to talk." She told him.

"And where are we going?" He asked sarcastically.

"To see your son." She snapped back, turning away not waiting for him to decide if he would join her.

Kieran jumped up from the floor and followed her before the door could shut again.

"Where is he being held?"

"In a sealed room that he can't do a lot of damage in. Seth's request, not mine. I would've liked it better if Owen was left in the infirmary." She answered.

"You have him in a prison?"

"It's not me Kieran. It was never me."

Kieran slowed and pulled gently on her arm. She stopped, annoyed at the delay towards the boy.

"I know." Kieran said quietly. "And I'm sorry."

"Wow, an actual apology." She answered sarcastically.

She continued on her way with no desire for any sort of deep conversation in the middle of a hallway. He followed behind her until she stopped at an unmarked door. She slid her key card in the same way and the door flew open. Owen had a more luxurious suite, if by more luxurious you meant a cot and slippers.

Kieran eyed him, lying on his side, staring at the wall. He was obviously exhausted and worried, not glancing up to see who was coming into the room. Tessa didn't enter, only allowing Kieran passage.

"You don't have long." She told him sternly.

"Thanks." He replied stepping inside.

Immediately he was connected to this boy. Immediately they were absorbed into each other. It was such a relief to feel it that tears filled Kieran's eyes. He wasn't used to such emotions and felt they needed to be expressed instead of harbored, to fester on the inside. Owen felt him as he entered but only sat up from his lying position. This was no grand reunion but awkward, because of the lies that separated them. Kieran cleared his throat and grasped at some composure.

"Can I sit with you?" Kieran asked inching closer to the small bed.

"Sure." Owen shrugged.

Kieran sat gingerly beside Owen. He rubbed his hands over his face thinking of what to say. Owen was extremely hesitant. Kieran could definitely feel it.

"The very first thing I have to say to you is that I am so sorry I lied to you about who I was. There's just so much pain there and I still don't know how to deal with it." Kieran told him with a wobbly chin. "But that is, by no means, an excuse for how I have behaved towards you."

"So you're my guardian." Owen stated.

"Yeah, I'm your guardian." Kieran admitted uneasily.

"How come you couldn't tell me? You didn't want me?" Owen asked.

Kieran jumped down and kneeled before him. He placed his hands on Owen's knees and stared deep into the boy's eyes.

"It looked that way Owen but I swear to you I always wanted you. I swear it. When they sent your mother away I went crazy. I just wanted to run but it was never from you. I understand that's hard to understand but it's the truth."

Owen saw that Kieran's soul lay bare before him. He believed him and it was hard to feel so much anger towards this man who had so much anguish within. Owen blamed Kieran for a lot of things that were happening but he also knew of his conflictions and it pained him to feel them as well.

"I believe you." Owen said quietly.

"Why did you kill Gwynne, Owen? You can never return now. Why would you do it?"

"I'm trying to save us." Owen confessed, starting to cry as well, mostly out of exhaustion and worry. "I didn't kill her." He whispered.

"Where is she then? I saw her leave. I saw what you did. Only you could do something like that." Kieran asked.

"I sent her to the only place I knew where she could make the choice for herself. I wanted Seth to believe that I could do it." Owen squeaked barely able to get the words out. "Please don't hate me."

"No Owen. I could never hate you." Kieran wrapped his son up in his arms and held him. "I could never ever hate you." He kissed the top of Owen's head. "You are my son. I love you and you deserve nothing less than that."

Owen, for the first time, knew what it felt like to be loved unconditionally from a guardian. It was the most beautiful feeling in the world. This love, with no questions or demands attached to it, was humbling. It was freeing to be able to feel so vulnerable and know that he would be taken care of no matter what he had done here.

"I'm so sorry Kieran. I'm so sorry. I didn't mean it. I was stuck. I'm so sorry." Owen cried.

Kieran didn't know what else to do but rock him. He held him close while Owen unleashed all of his worry, sadness and loneliness. Not just about what was happening now but what had happened when he was left alone with no one back home to turn to.

"What are Seth's plans? Do you know?" Kieran asked gently.

"He wants our signatures." Owen sniffed.

"Our signatures?" Kieran pushed him away so he could look at his tear stained face. "Are you sure?"

"Tessa told me. She's helping with the surgery. I read it in her hand. She's not sure how she can help yet."

Kieran thought quickly. This was not good. Seth didn't want anything to do with them physically. He was planning on disconnecting them and that could not happen. Using them physically was one thing, having their signatures combined was completely different and world altering. Seth was smart. Using Owen to destroy Gwynne at this age had him crippled to a point where he could be easily manipulated. That, along with the effects of travel and no rest, had Owen exhausted and in desperate need to get back home.

"Let me see your back." Kieran demanded.

Owen stood and turned so Kieran could lift his shirt. What was supposed to be shining golden, as if the sun was peeking through, was now a dull yellow. Kieran was right. This was way too much for a young spirit. Kieran placed his hands on the boys back and closed his eyes. Owen gasped with the sudden empowerment he was being given. It had him standing on his tiptoes and he wanted to pull away because of its strength but yet, wanted to lay back into this energy. Owen had never experienced ecstasy before but he was sure that is exactly what he was feeling now. He was weak at the knees and stumbled but Kieran was right there to catch him, for his reaction was expected.

"What was that?" Owen asked sounding intoxicated.

"Something that should have waited until you were of age. I had no choice but to gift it now. Owen?" Kieran turned his little body to face him. "Focus because we need to have a talk and I have no time to repeat myself."

*****

Landon sat on the floor, back up against the wall and head bowed in defeat. What the fuck was he doing? He was nuts. This whole situation was insane. He had no idea what was happening beyond that locked door and, if Seth was getting his way, his family was on the other side of town without him. Added to that stress, was the sight of Tessa playing her role as she stood beside that maniac. At least he hoped it was an act because if it wasn't, he had been so wrong and there was nothing he could do but sit and wait. He heard the security of the door beep and slowly stood up, not knowing what to face. He wasn't a fighter. Even in high school he was the opposite of jock. He had no clue how to fight. So, he just stood and waited.

Tessa walked through the door and looked relieved that he stood there. Her shoulders dropped as she tried to hold it together because she really didn't have that much time before she was to perform this stupid surgery. She brought her hand to her forehead and started to sob.

"Landon! Thank God. This is such a disaster." She exclaimed.

Okay, so she was acting. He ran to her and held her, trying to console her, knowing this was not the time for her to fall apart. Tessa took deep breaths but it wasn't working. She felt like she was hyperventilating. Breaking away from Landon, she walked the room flinging her fingers and bouncing her shoulders. She sighed out of her mouth, lips shaped like a large O, and stared at the ceiling.

"I'm guessing that things are not in our favor." Landon told her. "For starters, I'm trapped in here."

Tessa chuckled nervously and agreed with a nod of her chin.

"Yes you are. Why are you here?!"

"David found Kieran and I at Seth's country estate." Landon spoke sternly. "I tried to call but Kieran destroyed all cell phones within a friggin' city block. Kieran demanded to see his son and David said taking us was the only way to get in here. All lies! Was that really Gwynne? The fireball? The big attention getter?!" He put his hands on his hips. "I'm surprised NASA hasn't arrived yet for Christ's sake, Tess."

"There was a fireball?" She asked.

"Where have you been?!"

"Drugged. Okay! I was drugged then held in a room, same as you. The only reason why I was let out is because Seth wants me to perform a surgery." She answered. "The signatures I told you about. The light codes on the back of these... things! He wants them removed. I'm supposed to do it."

"You agreed?"

"Of course, I agreed! What the hell did you expect me to do? What am I going to do? As soon as Seth absorbs Kieran and Owen's...whatever it is...it's over."

"Stall the surgery."

"Are you serious? Nothing can raise eyebrows in this building! Nothing!"

Landon turned away scratching his head. There had to be something that they could do.

"When do you go in?" He asked keeping his eyes on the floor.

"An hour."

"Where's David?"

"I don't know. I left him with Seth. He could be anywhere." Tessa admitted.

Landon suddenly had an idea. He doubted it would work but he had to try. So much was on the line that his life was chump change and at this moment, he didn't mind risking it all.

"Where did Owen send Gwynne?"

"He used Seth's...he calls it a ring. Owen used it to send Gwynne back to the day she was born. Beyond that I have no clue."

"So she could be alive?" Landon realized.

"Sure but she's not here. What is this all about?"

"This ring, is it hooked up to a computer system?" Landon walked up to her with ideas behind his eyes.

"Of course. Why? What are you thinking? This is sophisticated equipment."

"That didn't stop David trumping Goliath now did it? I need your pass. A pass. Any pass that will get me to that lab."

"I don't understand." Tessa replied shaking her head.

"A virus." He answered.

Tessa thought about what he was saying and as she slowly realized what his words meant he nodded and smiled wickedly. She looked hopeful as the idea took shape in her mind. There would be risks but what else could be done? Not much.

"Okay." She let the word hang a little longer in the air, still hesitant.

"It's really archaic. I mean, I dabbled with it in college. But I'm thinking that it just might be so old that it could possibly do the trick."

"Always a nerd? Really?" Tessa asked scrunching up her nose.

"Now's not really the time, Tess."

"What does it do?" She asked.

"Changes written code."

"But that would make none of the computers in this place work. It wouldn't even...be able...the surgery couldn't be done." Tessa was on the edge of eagerness.

"I need access to the most important computer you got in this place."

"That's Seth's." Tessa answered uneasily.

"Okay, second most important."

Tessa thought about it, finally nodding her head in agreement.

"The ring. Give me ten minutes. If you don't see an access key under this door we're SOL." She walked away, quickly opening the door.

"What does that mean?" Landon asked.

She didn't wait to get him an answer. She needed to get Kieran back where he belonged and she needed to get Seth readied for surgery. Only then could she obtain his access card.

*****

Tessa let herself into Owen's room. They were in heavy conversation but did not say a word to each other. Their heads turned as she entered the room. Crossing her arms, she stood and addressed Kieran.

"You need to go." Tessa told him quickly. "I'm sure I've given you enough time. I've spoken to Landon. That's all I can say."

"Understood." Kieran took a last look at Owen as he prepared to leave. "Okay?" He asked.

"Okay." Owen answered. "Hi Tessa." He smiled at her.

She noticed how his face looked renewed. He had this calmness about him and easiness. It was the complete opposite of the boy that was in the infirmary. That boy was tired, stressed and very angry.

"Hi Owen. It's almost over okay."

"I know." He told her.

"Hey?" She asked as she held up her hand.

"Yeah?"

"Will there be a tomorrow?"

"The sun always rises after a storm." He winked. "Your grandma said that to you. Remember?"

She smiled sadly, remembering with fondness how those words would always calm her after a bad day. She hadn't heard them in fifteen years.

"I'll be back." She told him.

Kieran left without another word and followed her silently. His only concern was for what was about to take place. No one else grabbed his attention and when she opened the door to his room he stepped in, refusing to look anywhere else but ahead. The door shut and she walked in the direction of Seth's room. David was waiting outside of it.

"How did the reunion go? You were gone for a while."

"It didn't. Owen wouldn't say a word." She answered.

David laughed sarcastically and she glared at him.

"What is your problem?" She asked.

"You are so naïve. I can't believe how much crap you fall for with these things."

"They are not things David. To me, they are people. What are you doing here anyway? Don't you have corners to creep?"

"I'm just waiting for direction." David shrugged.

"Seth hasn't come out?"

"Nope."

"Something's wrong." She quickly unlocked the door and stepped inside. There was no one there. "The ring."

Tessa walked quickly in the other direction with David close behind. She opened another door; still no sign of Seth, so she travelled deeper into the lab. She found him at a computer, typing feverishly, sweat glistening on his brow. He only glanced up to see who was there, not missing a beat with what he was doing.

"Seth? Everything okay?" David asked.

"Kieran, his work, it's all here."

"It's not all there. Remember, I told you that."

"Yeah yeah. I need him. I'll have him soon enough. This is flawless. Absolutely stellar." Seth studied the screen with such intensity that David glanced at Tessa with a look of concern.

She shook her head at him and stepped towards Seth. Glancing over his hunched over body, she eyed his pass beside the computer. It was her Holy Grail at the moment and that's the only thing that she would spend extra energy in getting.

"I think they're about ready to start, Seth. I need to get you to the infirmary." She told him. "Can I finish anything for you?"

"No. It's fine. I've got the information secured. David, have the outside perimeters on lockdown. No one is to leave or enter this building." Seth stood, leaving the computer on.

David felt the hum of the ring and grew increasingly uneasy being in its presence. Obviously Seth was screwing with it, adding Kieran's information to it. It was a sick black hole, something David should have been proud of for being included in such a discovery. He never trusted it when Seth took over. David had no objection with being told to leave its vicinity.

"No problem." He said leaving the room.

"What can I do?" Tessa asked.

"Owen is prepared?" Seth inquired.

"Yes."

"Kieran?"

"Not a peep. He has completely shut down."

"That's not like him." Seth said concerned.

"He keeps muttering things about Gwynne. He didn't have much to say to Owen. Owen told me Kieran blames him for the death of Gwynne and barely looked at him."

"Ah, that's quite the family riff I've created. It doesn't matter. They won't know each other in a few minutes." Seth picked up his pass, keys, and memory stick. He took Tessa's hand and placed the small stack in her palm.

"Since you agreed to do this for me, and for what you said earlier, I need you to take these and put them in my safe."

Tessa eyed the stack suspiciously. Seth would never just hand her his key card.

"What's going on here? Why are you all of a sudden so trusting of me? Earlier it was the complete opposite." She glared trying to figure him out.

"There's no one else I can trust. You don't fear me. Everyone else fears me. I need courage at this time. Feelings seeped in fear cannot be trusted. A lot of these people would flee if something went wrong."

"What about David. It was both of us you hired to help you." Tessa asked.

"Let's be honest." Seth smiled. "David would lead those that ran. Tessa, I'm not the easiest person to work for or care about. I know that. I appreciate all you've done. Especially with what you are about to do."

Tessa studied him one last time, and closing her fingers around the items, looked into his face.

"You're such a charmer. Fine. I'll take them to the safe. I'll drop you off at the infirmary first."

He laughed quietly.

"That's the Tess I know and love." Seth smiled weakly.

"Even though you could never say it." She turned away. "Come on."

They left together and strolled towards the medical wing. The halls were empty, David having cleared them to have the perimeter watched. Lauren stood at the door waiting eagerly. Seth peaked inside and saw the room contained a handful of people and the equipment that he had built to do this specific job. Tessa walked into the space and saw what she had spent only ten minutes with. It was a pretty ingenious set up. Thimble shaped tapers, made out of ultrathin layers of metal, semiconductors and insulators, were housed in large MRI machines that had been rebuilt to Seth's specifications. Owen and Kieran would be placed into these doorways and drained of their light. This light energy would then be sent to canisters, resembling those that would hold nuclear matter, and then be emptied into a larger one that would ultimately be absorbed by Seth. Only he knew the intricacies of that procedure. Tessa was only to concentrate on Kieran and Owen.

"Looks great. Lauren, you've really impressed me. Thank you." Seth told her.

"I'm excited to finally see it happen." She admitted.

"So am I." Tessa offered. "I'll be back." She held up Seth's objects and he nodded in approval going towards the machines himself, only to be the one to have the last word on how they were working.

Tessa turned and tried not to run. She would have to take the long way around towards Landon so as not to draw suspicion to herself. She had no idea who would be bringing Kieran and Owen and didn't really care at this point. She and Landon had a way to stop this thing and that was her goal now.

Now further from Landon she started to jog down the hallways. There was no one here but she expected someone to pop up with ever turn she took. Landon's door appeared in the distance. Her heart was beating out of her chest and the faster she traveled the further the door seemed to be.

With shaking hands, she slid the card and punched in the numbers. She purposely tried Seth's card just to make sure she remembered the numerical code that would gain her entrance into the room. It was accepted and the door slid open.

"Here." She held out the stack of belongings to Landon who was surprised to see her back with the actual item.

"For real?" He asked.

"As real as it's ever going to get. Come on. We need to run."

"Let's go." He followed her and kept pace as she raced down the halls.

They stopped at every turn just to be sure the way was clear. This was too easy. Owen had told her he had asked for help. She had no idea who that could be from but she didn't question it. If he had some sort of ability to ask for help from a mother ship or something, she was all for it. Landon heard voices behind them as they turned the last corner. The race was becoming too close for comfort.

"It's here. It's here. The passcode is every second odd and every third even number on the pass. The computer is at the end, you can't miss it. It's right next to the ring."

"What's this ring look like?" He asked as he swiped the pass and studied the barcode on the bottom.

"You can't miss that either. You'll feel it before you see it."

She ran off and Landon didn't stare after her. He quickly plugged in the numbers she told him to. The light on the keypad turned green and he was in. It was an incredible room but he didn't stop to take it in. As a physicist and a science buff, this was the ultimate playground but not today. Today he had to shut it down.

*****

There were no lights and he would keep it that way. His thigh hit hard on the corner of a table and he sucked in a breath, trying not to cry out. He felt his way with his hands and the soft glows that were coming off various pieces of equipment. The deeper he got the heavier the air seemed. His whole body, inside and out, was vibrating from some sort of high frequency hum that rattled his brain. It wasn't the nicest thing to feel and it made his feeling of anticipation double.

He found the computer easily but what really got his attention was the heavy pieces of metal and electrical equipment that formed the large ring in the center of the room. It was something that he could only describe as having come out of another world. It had a slight gravitational pull and he steadied himself because it didn't just try to pull at him, physically, but was attracted to his mind and his heart specifically. His stomach started rolling. Was this what it felt like to be between two worlds? He didn't know and he didn't care to find out. It was unnerving and he decided it was best to wake up from its hypnotizing pull and get to work on the computer.

Landon sat at a chair and found the computer was still on. He wiggled the mouse so the screen came alive. It flashed a box that asked for a password.

"Are you kidding me? You have to be kidding me. Shit!" He exclaimed.

He glanced at the key card and hoped for the best. His fingers were unsteady and he glared at the ring, blaming it for not being able to concentrate.

Incorrect Password. Access Denied.

"Okay Landon. Calm down. It's only the world and maybe a little bit of the universe that's riding on this. Just calm down. You can do this." He whispered.

Taking off his suit jacket, he rolled his head and shoulders like he was preparing to compete in a large sports event. He cracked his knuckles and began again. The whirring from the large ring stopped him and, curious about what was happening, Landon looked towards it. Fingers of energy started appearing. He held his hands up wondering what buttons he was pushing but it was definitely not him. His hair began to stand on end and the nauseating feeling that he had when he entered the room was intensifying.

"What is going on?" He wondered, confused.

Landon's wedding ring and watch started to get pulled towards the power that was building in the center of the machine. He took that as a big clue to get the hell out of the room. Looking around he viewed a control room and dove into it shutting the door behind him. The large windows gave him a perfect view as to what was happening. Lights of blues and violets were swirling and threading themselves around the large room. Sparks of light emitted from the center and he had to squint as the soft lights became so bright that they blinded him. He turned his face away and was thrown off his feet by a silent explosion. There was no sound. Just that sickening hum that wouldn't quit and was now so strong in its sound and feel. Landon crumbled to his knees, unable to watch any longer. He began to vomit and grasped a metal garbage can that appeared to his left.

"Holy shit." He gasped. He held his abdomen as the pain from his gut was too intense to bear.

As soon as it started it was over. Within the blink of an eye the light was gone and the hum was now very slight. Landon wiped tears from his eyes and shakily got to his knees. He spit into the garbage can and shook his head to clear it. He took a few deep breaths then, feeling steady enough to stand, he slowly straightened and looked into the room.

What he saw made him forget everything that had just happened to him.

"Gwynne..." Her name hung in the air as if to soon to be spoken.

Landon ripped open the door and entered the room again.

"Gwynne!" He exclaimed.

I turned my head to see who had said my name, fully prepared for it to be Seth. I was surprised to see that it was actually Landon.

"Is it over? Did he win?" I asked.

"No. In fact, I was just about...Holy Shit! We thought you were dead!"

"I almost was." I told him. "Do you know where they are?"

"They're in surgery. There's no way we can get in there unless..."

"Unless what?" I asked studying his face.

"I need to get into that computer and send a virus that will shut down this whole system."

"So what are you waiting for?" I demanded.

"You just came from that...thing! I'm a little surprised is all." He exclaimed.

"We can talk about that later. What is that smell?" I asked sniffing around.

Landon looked embarrassed and walked to the computer.

"That ring, it's a little intense. Sorry, I couldn't help it."

"Oh, I know what you mean. Coming back is way better." I smiled in comfort knowing exactly what he had been through.

I followed him to the computer and looked on as he tried the numbers as the password again. The password box disappeared and the screen lit up with various file folders with names I wouldn't even know how to pronounce.

"I'm in." He clapped his hands and rubbed them together. "What bloody language is this?" He asked. "I don't recognize any of it."

"They have their own." I told him.

"Huh. Okay. Watch this Gwynne, I'm about to go completely old school on this high-tech computer system. It's the only thing I can think of to do."

"I trust you." I patted his shoulder.

"At least someone does." He muttered.

"Why do you say that?" I asked.

Landon took over the programming screen and typed feverishly letters and symbols that I didn't realize was computer language. He shrugged at my question as he continued to write his coding.

"I don't come off as a guy that knows a lot of stuff." He admitted.

"I think you did that on purpose." I answered. "Obviously you do."

"I had to play a part. I had to play the dumb one so I didn't look suspicious. I'm done playing."

"I'm glad. If this works Landon, you are a superhero."

Landon snickered at that as he studied what he wrote. Looking up at me, he hovered his pointer finger over the enter button.

"Do it." I prompted.

He tapped the key and watched the screen. The whole thing went black.

*****

"The doorways are open Owen. It's time to go home." Lauren spoke with a large grin on her face.

"I can go home? I can see my mom?" He jumped up from the bed and went to her.

"Yes. Your uncle has readied everything. Your dad has been taken there already."

"My dad?" Owen asked stopping in his tracks.

"Yes Owen. You are all going back. It's time to go home. You can't be here anymore. Seth has explained that to you."

"But I don't want to see him again. I don't want to see Kieran again."

Lauren folded her hands in front of her and took on the appearance of a strict teacher.

"I'm afraid, Owen, that's not up to you. You are to come with me. We can't wait any longer."

Owen scowled and stuffed his hands in his pockets.

"Fine." He said quietly and followed her out.

They walked the short distance to the infirmary and Lauren let him in. He looked around and saw that the room was completely different then when he was here earlier. Large tubular structures were set in place, beds ready to be rolled into their gaping mouths. He got a little nervous seeing all the equipment and didn't know if he was going to be able to pull this off. He glanced around the room trying to find familiar faces. Tessa was there, standing by and waiting. Kieran was sitting on a bed but would not look at him.

Kieran?

Be strong Owen.

"Is this the way home Seth?" Owen asked.

"It is. Did you get some rest?" Seth asked in return.

"Yes. A little."

"Let me see your back." Seth told him.

Owen did as instructed and lifted his shirt for everyone to see. As Seth had hoped, it was shining brilliantly. His anticipation was tangible and he reached out to touch Owen's back. Kieran watched barely able to control himself. He didn't want Seth to lay a finger on his son, especially with what he was intending to do to him. Owen drew away, feeling a darkness radiate off of his uncle. It was so dark and malicious that Owen's light got brighter in reaction; readying for a battle it was assuming Owen would have to fight.

"Please don't touch me." Owen told him sharply. "Don't touch me."

"Why?" Seth asked. "We're the same."

"Let me see your back." Owen dared him.

Seth narrowed his eyes trying to read what was going on but couldn't. It didn't matter. Soon he would be able to read eternity. He turned away from Owen and walked to Kieran.

"Your back." His tone was not so pleasant.

Kieran pulled off his shirt and Seth noticed the symbols and marks that were engraved on his skin. They came alive as Seth watched; swooning and dancing before him. It was true. Kieran was the doorway. His brother turned around, and like Owen, his signature glowed. It flowed, looking for similar energies. Seth groaned in frustration as it encircled him but vanished as soon as it felt him. Kieran turned back to him and smiled sarcastically.

"You are not deserving of it anymore and for that it will not enter. Your connection with what is, what was, and what will be has ended."

"Says you." Seth replied.

"How do you expect to enter through me when your light has been extinguished? I am the way." Kieran growled.

"There are ways around that and I am not interested in traveling back when I am much more here than where I began."

"You think so? Alright let's get this over with." Kieran shrugged the shirt back on, to break Seth's stare at his torso.

Kieran laid back on the gurney without a fight. Owen was steered toward his. He was hesitant but Seth was watching him closely so he climbed up onto it and laid back. Pleased that they were in position, Seth walked to Tessa and watched as she readied the machines.

"How could you do this to me?!"

Tessa snapped her head up, hearing the anger in Owen's voice.

"Owen lay down!" Seth demanded.

"No! I don't want to go back with him! He lied to me. He never wanted me!"

Kieran rolled onto his elbow and looked at Owen with no emotion on his face.

"Look! He doesn't even care!" Owen told him. "I want to go home with you Seth! You care about me. He doesn't!"

"Owen! Lay down!" Seth hollered at him, stomping towards him.

"We're going home, Owen. We're going back to the way it was." Kieran spoke with indifference, laying back down.

Tessa hurried and started the machines. They lit up without hesitation and warmed the room with the power that they radiated.

Seth took Owen by the shoulder and steered him back towards the bed. Owen shrugged away, feeling the energetic assault. It tried to strip him of his innocence as Seth's energy craved to suck it up.

"Don't touch me!" He yelled.

"Seth? Get away from him. Something's wrong. He's doing something to the equipment." Tessa declared typing and watching the proceedings with wide eyes.

Seth ignored her and went for Owen again. Kieran sat up and watched, waiting for the moment that it would be appropriate to take over what was happening. He jumped off the gurney and stomped toward Owen. Grasping him by the arm, he glared at the boy.

"We are going home now! Do you hear me?! This is over!"

"No!" Owen ripped his arm away.

It was working. Owen was obviously vibrating with some force that only he could feel. Kieran stood back, getting nervous because he had no real clue what Owen could do. He had only heard stories about this apparent power. The lights began to flicker and the room started to rattle. Tessa glanced all around her, fearing what was happening. She glanced down at the computer screen and her heart bottomed out.

"Seth! Something's wrong!" She yelled.

Seth ran to where she was and looked at the computer screens in front of him. One by one they all went black. An arcade looking image of a skull and crossbones flashed in every single one of them. Tessa hit buttons and power buttons but nothing would clear the sinister laughing image that was used as a poison sign except this one had glowing red eyes.

"What have you done?! Tessa!"

"I've done nothing. I swear to God I don't know anything about this."

"It was working two minutes ago." Seth exclaimed.

"Aaaaahhhhh!" Kieran screamed.

Seth and Tessa looked up as Owen had thrown Kieran across the room and attacked him with his light. Owen was no longer a boy. Light radiated from every inch of him. His eyes burned with intensity. Tessa couldn't look at him for it was blinding. Lauren got down on her hands and knees and crawled towards the door. Her assistants followed close behind. Seth saw what she was doing and bolted for the door.

"You are not going anywhere!" He hollered at them.

He went for the door but Owen saw what he was trying to do and tossed him to the opposite end of the infirmary with an unseen force. Seth landed with a crash into an MRI machine. He slid down to the floor but didn't stay down for long.

"Owen, stop this. You win okay. You don't have to go home. Stay with me. We can stay together. We can create worlds together." Seth said calmly.

"He must die." Owen announced turning back to Kieran; his voice deep and echoing as if he was now years older and lifetimes stronger.

"Sure. He dies. Finish it and then we can be together." Seth repeated his words.

Tessa got under the table she stood at. She brought her knees up to her chest as the ceiling started to crumble. If Owen didn't stop this assault on Kieran, this whole area would come down on top of them. She saw Lauren had escaped and left the infirmary door open. Now it was only the four of them in the room. She didn't know how much more Kieran could take of this assault and started praying feverishly for anyone to help him.

*****

Landon and I raced down the hallways, not knowing which way this infirmary was but running for every doorway that we encountered. After Landon had executed the virus we ran out of the lab. The hallways were still empty of anyone although we didn't think we were totally alone. Something was happening in the building that was making the electrical systems go nuts.

"There! Landon!" I pointed to an intense light coming from an area that we had almost passed.

"What the...? Landon gasped. "Come on!" He bolted ahead of me.

A woman came crawling out on her hands and knees. She saw us but didn't care to stay and explain what was going on. Three others followed her.

"Get out of here if you want to live!" She shot back at us.

We stared at their escape then went for the open door. The images that were in front of us were horrifying. Tessa was shaking under a table, Seth looked to be trying to compromise with Owen and Owen was slowly killing his father. Landon ran toward Tessa and dove under the table with her. Seth looked at the intrusion and his mouth dropped open.

"Owen! Stop! You're killing your father!" I screamed at him. It was barely audible as the amount of power that he was creating was deafening. "Owen please. If you kill him you never existed! Please Owen!" I begged running for Kieran so he could see me.

Kieran turned his head up to look at me, wondering if I was real or not. I quickly produced the crystal sphere and held it out so he could see it.

"Owen, please. Please stop." I begged, using my thoughts to try and persuade him.

Owen. It's time. Kieran conveyed to him raising his body from the wall and laying a hand on my knee.

Owen lowered his hands and stared at me like he couldn't believe I had returned. When Kieran had told him what needed to be done he didn't mention that Gwynne would be here. He stared at us confused. It was the first time he was seeing his parents together. They were together and they were both here for him. He saw what Gwynne held in her hands. He recognized it but didn't want to believe that it was here. It was home. It was the way home and it was starting to open.

It's time to send him back Owen. Kieran insisted. And I'm not the way home anymore. Kairos is. Send Seth to his father.

I stood and held out the sphere. Kieran stood as well and, mustering every thread of strength he had left, he moved his hands in a scooping motion and held them in front of him. Then, as if he were casting a net, he swung his hands in Seth's direction. Seth saw the sphere and laughed loudly.

"You think that will work? You think you can send me back with that!" He demanded. "Look at you, Kieran. You have nothing left. Owen destroyed you. You can barely stand." He laughed again and walked defiantly toward me.

"Stay away from her!" Owen hollered at him.

Owen joined Kieran in the hand movements. At first nothing was happening and Seth continued to come towards me. I stood my ground and held the sphere high. I could see the face of Kairos in the center of the crystal, his movements the same as Kieran and Owens. Soon he was not alone in the picture. As the sphere grew larger so did the image. It was the same room Kieran and I had stood in the center of and as I looked away from the crystal I watched to see it wasn't its reflection that I was seeing. This room, this place where I stood was coming alive as the Soul's Temple. The council encircled the room and did the movements that Kairos was displaying. If it wasn't for the drastic circumstances, it would have been beautiful to watch.

Seth stopped in his pursuit of me. He tried to keep his composure, squaring his shoulders as if nothing could touch him, not even the creators of time and space. He oozed intimidating confidence and for a moment, it appeared to be stronger than what these spirits were doing. It didn't last long though. The sphere's atmosphere grew in size and was in search of one person and one person only. Seth's facial features started to change. As I had seen in Kieran, when we arrived in the matrix, Seth became almost translucent; his light, albeit dull, started to shine through. His heart was not the intense green that had lit mine or Kieran's but faded and grey. It was still there though. All was not lost.

"Your time here is done." Kairos told Seth.

"I will never go back." Seth backed away but it was useless as he was surrounded.

"Your time here is done." Owen told him, unwavering in his movements that were synched with his fathers.

"Your time here is done." Kieran repeated.

Landon and Tessa relaxed in their curled postures and watched with complete amazement at what was happening. The show before them was beyond physics and science. It was beyond the scripted reality that they lived on a daily basis. What they were witnessing was something out of a dream. Tessa stood and watched a spirit beside her and his movements. She started to do them as well. Not as fluidly but as she grew accustomed to them she did them with more determination.

"I will never forget you Seth." She said quietly, needing to say the words that she felt. Too many people had trouble conveying their feelings. Now was not the time to let that happen. "I love you."

Landon stood as well and eyed the woman beside him. She permitted him to join her and, as with Tessa, his movements were jumbled but he did them and as he moved, so did his feelings.

"I was honored to be your teacher and your student but your time here is done. You can't hurt anyone anymore." He whispered.

Seth's form sparked and waved. The fight was gone from him as he was being pulled away from this realm and into the next. We all watched as he faded into the sphere's gates and just as fast as it had started, it vanished, leaving the five of us standing around the room in respectful silence.

Owen crumbled to the floor. Kieran and I quickly went to him and knelt by his side.

"Owen?" I asked stroking his cheek.

"I'm so tired." He whispered.

*****

David saw Lauren and her assistants running out the door. He quickly went up to them to inquire what was happening.

"What's going on? Why are you running?" He asked grasping Lauren by the arms.

"It's Owen, he's gone nuts. He's killing his father. Gwynne's back. She was there with your friend Landon. It's over." She replied frantically.

"Gwynne's with Landon?" David asked confirming what his ears heard.

All Lauren did was nod.

"I'm getting out of here. Everyone get out of here!" She yelled. "Owen's destroying it and Seth can't stop him!"

"No! Wait, it's not true. I'll see what's going on." David announced.

He pulled the doors open and ran towards the infirmary. What stopped him was not seeing Owen destroying anything. His feet slowed to a hesitant walk. This whole building was engulfed in an overwhelming sense of love and forgiveness. David was walking into an ultimate embrace; this feeling that had him walking on air was something he had never experienced before. Not even from his own family; his wife, or his children. It was higher than that. It was, as if, he was walking into the arms of God. David had never been a religious man and he rolled his eyes every time his wife would recite prayers with his children before bed. Now, he knew, he had been so terribly wrong in doing that.

Just as soon as those feeling surrounded him they were gone. He started to jog towards the infirmary again. The door was left open and he saw them all just standing around. Seth was nowhere in the room. Landon's head shot up as he saw David's form come into view. He hated that man and David saw that.

"What did you do?" David asked. "Where's Seth?"

"I'll fucking kill you!" Landon yelled running for him.

David jumped and shut the door so there was a barrier between them. He swiped his card and entered digits on the keypad. The lights went out and red sirens called from overhead. David saluted them as they stared in his direction.

"So long suckers!" He yelled as he ran back towards the doors and to his freedom.

Tessa went white as a ghost. Landon kicked the door and punched it, not caring about the pain that shot through his knuckles.

"What did he do?" I asked Tessa as I straightened from the floor.

"Oh my God." She choked up eyeing me and trembling from head to toe. "It's not over."

"What did he do?" Landon repeated my question but with more authority.

"Self-destruct." Tessa stammered. "He initiated self-destruct."

"This place is going to explode?" I asked shocked and angry.

Kieran stood as well and looked around the room. It was dark with dangerous red overtones. She wasn't kidding. Tessa shook her head at me indicating that my assumptions were wrong.

"It won't explode. It will implode. The ring will take everything." She said quietly.

I frantically looked to Kieran as Landon's mouth dropped open to the floor.

"How much time do we have?" Kieran asked calmly.

"Five minutes." She answered shakily. "Four now."

Kieran studied the room. He knew Owen had nothing left in him and neither did he. Their human forms were now weakened so badly that standing was becoming an effort. Kieran studied the worried look of Gwynne and smiled at her, trying to give her some comfort.

"What do we do?" I asked.

He didn't speak. He only held out his hand to me. I felt the crystal in my hand and pressed it towards my heart.

"No Kieran. You need it to get back."

"It's okay. Trust me."

"Can you override this thing?" Landon asked Tessa.

"Nope. A virus is a virus." She answered.

Landon swore loudly. Kieran quickly took the crystal sphere in his hand and threw it as hard as he could at the door. We hit the floor as the door exploded into tiny pieces, flying like shrapnel from a bomb.

"Move! Now!" Kieran demanded picking up Owen and running for the door.

We followed him and waited for Tessa to take the lead. She didn't lead us where David had run. She led us in another direction. We ran at full speed. As before, when Owen was near to destroying his father, the building shook. There was a repulsive hum that hung in the air. The hum that was all too familiar to Landon and I. The halls were a never-ending maze with its turns and passageways. I, for one, was finished with hallways and pathways. I just wanted to travel in a straight line. I think I deserved a straight road to travel on for a while. Of course, life never worked like that.

"This way!" Tessa yelled.

She nearly missed getting hit in the head by a ceiling fixture that fell to the floor. This place was barely hanging on to itself. Landon jumped, missing a door that flew open. This ring wasn't just able to work in its solitary lab. It was powerful enough to ingest a whole city block. Kieran trailed behind and I slowed to offer him my arms to carry Owen. He gratefully slid the boy into them and I hugged him close to me as we ran to catch up.

Tessa came to a door and slid her card into it. She pressed numbers in sequence but it failed.

"Where's Seth's." She held out her hand to Landon.

He slapped it into her palm and she slid it through, desperately pressing a numerical password into the screen. A loud crash and the sound of an electrical shock had us turning our heads towards it. Tessa closed her eyes as she pressed the last digit.

An orange and pink sunset greeted us through the open door. It was the most beautiful sight I had ever seen. We ran through the open doorway, towards a rail yard with rusted tracks. That was the goal. It was our finish line and we didn't turn back when we heard the nauseating sound of a building starting to be ripped apart from the inside.

Safely on the tracks, we all turned to witness the warehouse. It was literally folding into itself. The sounds of crushing metal made us cringe. There was a loud screeching as if a train was breaking and the wheels were grinding on the track in front of us. The whole area was now wrapped in the fingers of the ring. The energy of it grasped at the whole area. We could feel its pull but were far enough away that it couldn't feel us to take us with it.

Owen turned his face towards my chest and I turned away so my back faced it. I thought I was getting used to seeing the brightest of lights but this could burn a retina and the heat on my back was so intense I wanted to roll on the ground thinking my skin was in flames. Landon groaned, walking a bit further away, and Tessa turned as I had, covering her ears to the destruction. Kieran didn't look away. He wanted to make sure it was completely gone and if it wasn't, he would destroy the rest.

Sirens could be heard in the distance. I wasn't surprised. I was sure that what had just happened could be heard near and far and it wasn't a normal sound. Soon there would be emergency personnel crawling this place and we needed to shake off the shock and get the hell out of here.

"My car! It took my car!" Landon exclaimed gesturing to the mess that was left; what the ring didn't have an appetite for. "How the hell am I going to explain this?!"

"We just escaped being sucked into a black whole and you're complaining about your friggin' car?! Get a grip Landon." Tessa snapped.

"The car was stolen. Okay. It's gone. I'm sure the insurance will cover it once you go and report it stolen. How do we get out of here?" I asked anyone that was listening.

Kieran stayed silent, still not being able to divert his eyes from this nearly catastrophic event that he was partly responsible for. As much as he wanted to believe that it was over, it wouldn't be until he could get Owen and himself out of here. What he really wanted was to stay with Gwynne, now that he had seen her again, but there was no way he could risk it. The potential for this whole thing to get out, from those who worked for his brother and escaped, was huge. As the sirens grew closer, so did the need to get him and his son the hell out of there. Landon glanced around and found a side street with an adjacent sidewalk. He stomped towards it without waiting for us to join him.

"I'm calling a cab. Tessa, I'll need your phone."

Tessa searched her body then dropped her head in defeat.

"I don't have it." She called to him.

Landon threw his hands up in the air and continued towards his freedom.

*****

My apartment building loomed ahead of me. I sat in the cab, unsure of what would be waiting for me when I opened my door. I knew it had been watched but that was supposed to be over now. It was all over now. In the span of a couple days, I was going to go back to my life as if nothing had happened to change everything that I had perceived was right. I was fine. I thought I was fine, with the way I lived. Now, after being told I was so much bigger, this life had a huge question mark hovering above it. I was a mother to a son I couldn't keep. I had to let him go and I had to come back to this small apartment, alone and live knowing he was real but never being able to lay my eyes on him again.

"That'll be thirty-five bucks." The driver told us.

"Here." Kieran handed him the money that Landon gave him and pulled on the handle of the door.

"Thanks." The cabby curled his fingers around the cash and started counting it.

Kieran came over to my side and opened the door. I shifted so I could hand over Owen. Kieran took him and I eased out of the cab.

"Are we home?" Owen asked.

"Depends on what home you're talking about." Kieran answered.

"Can we stay at Gwynne's?"

Kieran glanced at me sadly but smiled at Owen anyway.

"We can stay for a bit." He told him.

I lead them towards the front door and rang my landlord. I prayed he would be around to let me in. I had nothing anymore; it was all gone. I really didn't care at this point. My identity had changed in a matter of days. I didn't know who I really was anymore, so a missing ID and bank card was not something I was giving much attention to.

"Yeah?" A voice crackled back at me.

"Hey Mr. Squires. It's Gwynne Broker from downstairs. My keys fell into a sewer today. Can you let me in?"

There was an audible irritated sigh and another crack of the speaker.

"Come in. I'll be right down with the spares."

The glass door buzzed open and we went towards my door that was locked up tight. Mr. Squires eyed my company curiously then handed me a couple keys.

"Sorry Gwynne but I'll have to charge you for them." He told me.

"It's fine. I deserve it. Clumsy fingers."

"Thirty days." He added as he walked away.

"Sounds good. Thanks."

Turning the key in the lock, I pushed the door open and walked in, not bothering to take my shoes off. The place seemed untouched. Of course the remnants of the break in were still around, things that Kieran didn't get to cleaning, but the place seemed normal. It was relieving because normal, right now, was okay.

Kieran walked Owen to the couch and sat him on it. Owen looked around, his eyebrows drawing together in confusion.

"What happened in here?" He asked.

"Some people messed it up after they took you. It's okay. It's done now." Kieran answered sitting beside him. "How do you feel?"

Owen shrugged concentrating on the slippers on his feet. They were white when he got them. Now they were grey and dirty.

"I guess I'm okay. Is it over?" He asked.

"It's over." Kieran answered.

"What happens now?"

"I'm not sure yet." Kieran admitted. "I'd like you to get some rest though."

"Will you be here? Gwynne?"

I came around to face him and knelt in front of him.

"I'm not going anywhere. We'll be right here but you've been through a lot and I think your dad's right. I think you need to rest. We'll talk later." I promised him.

"Okay." Owen agreed.

I took his slippers off and reached for some pillows. Patting them invitingly, Owen laid his head on them and Kieran covered him with a throw.

"I need to get cleaned up." I told Kieran quietly.

"I'll stay with him. Go ahead." He answered.

I stood up but before leaving I smoothed Owen's hair. He smiled at me and I bent to kiss his forehead.

"I'm really proud of you, Owen." I said quietly.

"You're not mad?" He asked concerned.

"Not at all. I know why you did it. Get some rest okay."

"I'll try." He answered looking content.

As he said it I knew it wouldn't be long before he would be asleep.

Kieran watched me go and listened as the bathroom door shut. He heard water being started and assumed the tub was being filled. Keeping a hand on Owen he leaned his head back and closed his eyes. His feelings were torn. He wanted to leave as soon as possible but being in this small space with his family, leaving was the hardest thing he would have to do. His eyelids became a screen and his visions were ones that he was not surprised with. He was shown the underground train station that he had traveled in just the other day with Gwynne. He was shown where there would be an opening and understood that he was now being told that it was his time to return. Kieran heard that all who were here were being called back for obvious reasons and they would not be able to return until the remnants of this event had passed from memories.

Please let me bring Gwynne. He thought over and over again. His thoughts about her hit a brick wall and told him what he didn't want to hear but wasn't surprised at anyway. Now is not her time.

Kieran stared at Owen. His breath was soft and heavy. It didn't take Owen long to feel safe enough to fall asleep. Kieran would make sure that he was well rested before attempting any travel. As his guardian, that was his role and this summons that insisted on repeating itself in his mind would not change that fact. Slowly getting up, he looked around the room for a phone. He found one easily and dialed a number he memorized in case of emergency, but never used until now.

"Hello?" A woman's voice answered.

"Is Landon there?" Kieran asked.

"Sure, just a moment."

He could hear as she put down the phone and waited patiently for Landon to get on the other end.

"Hello?"

"Hey. I just wanted to see if you got back okay." Kieran told him.

"I'm fine. Thanks. Thanks for calling." Landon answered.

"I need a favor and I realize that I have no right to..."

"What is it?" Landon cut him off.

"I need a ride. I'm being called back." Kieran said quietly.

"Oh, uh...sure. I'll come before work. Where do you need to go?"

"The subway. The university station."

"Perfect. It's no trouble."

"Thanks."

Landon had so many questions but thought it best to just leave them. He cleared his throat and drummed his fingers on the kitchen counter.

"Do you have an address?" He finally asked.

"Oh, yeah..." Kieran searched around for anything that might have Gwynne's address written on it. He finally found a piece of mail in a drawer and rattled it off as Landon scrawled it down quickly. He tore off the paper from his wife's grocery list and stuffed it in his pocket.

"Great. I'll be there at around seven."

"Sounds good. Thanks Landon."

"No problem."

"Really, thanks. I won't forget it."

Landon chuckled softly and rolled his eyes.

"I will never forget it. Have a good night."

"Bye." Kieran told him and hung up the phone.

*****

The faucet had always dripped. I watched the tiny droplets fall heavily into the chilled water of the tub. Goosebumps rose up on my skin, every once in a while, telling me that I was cold but I ignored them. I didn't want to face what was on the other side of that door and felt it would be better for me in here, in this old small bathroom with the yellow tub and brown tiles. How would I tell Owen that he had to leave without me? How would I make a young boy understand that even though his mother existed, we could never be together? I found myself whispering to Kairos, begging him to let me back into his realm but there was never an answer. For the last hour I didn't receive any answers and that was probably the point. He wouldn't give me the answers that I wanted which was the biggest answer of all.

I heard the soft knocking at the door but didn't look to see who it was. I enjoyed my view of the drippy tap. It wasn't a lover or a son that I couldn't have in my life. It was only a drippy tap. Kieran poked his head in and knocked softly again.

"Everything okay?" He asked.

I laughed sarcastically and shook my head.

"That's funny. I'm curled up in a tiny bathtub, freezing because the water's gone cold and feel like I can't move because I'm scared of what will happen if I do. Other than that, I'm pretty good."

Kieran let himself in and sat down on the floor. He leaned up against the side of the tub facing the vanity; his back towards me. I turned to look at his back, laying my head on my knees. His signature shined behind the fabric of his white t-shirt.

"I talked to Landon. He's picking us up at around seven to take us to the subways. We've been called back." He spoke slowly, forcing the words, he didn't want to speak, out of his mouth.

"Okay." I answered. "It was inevitable wasn't it?"

"I guess it was. What will you do?" Kieran asked.

"Oh I don't know, go back to work I guess. Try to live like I have been before this whole thing started."

"If we could bring you back Gwynne..."

"Please don't. That doesn't help me." A sob escaped and I covered my eyes with my hands mortified that I couldn't be stronger than this. "It doesn't fill this incredible loneliness that is taking over my heart. You mourn her and she feels that but it's me now. I'm Nia and I've missed you so much. Now you'll be gone tomorrow and I have to try and live without you again. I gave birth to a boy who I've held only a handful of times and he's being ripped from me; and for what reason? Because he needed me for three days on earth instead of a life time among the stars. I was only good enough for three days on earth."

My shoulders started to shake in a silent cry. The kind of cry where you can't catch your breath because you can't breathe. The kind of cry where you're drowning in sorrow and cannot come up for air nor did I even want to. Kieran turned and knelt by the tub, wrapping me in his arms and holding me as best he could.

"I'm so sorry. I'm so sorry about what you've been through. It's not fair. This has never been fair to you or Owen." He whispered softly.

"Or you." I added turning my head to look into his face. "It's not fair to you either."

Kieran stared at me and smoothed back the wet hair from my face. I brought his mouth to mine and kissed him softly. It surprised him and he drew back for a moment.

"I'm sorry. I shouldn't have done that. It was a moment thing." Embarrassed, I grabbed my towel from its place on the toilet and wrapped it around myself as I stood.

Kieran stood as well but blocked my way to leave. He tilted my chin up towards his and gave me a crooked smile.

"I've never experienced anything like that before. Would you mind..?" He asked softly.

"No." I answered simply, taking his lips again.

It was this moment that Kieran had now felt something amazingly different in this world. It wasn't the ugliness that he had felt on a daily basis. It was a softness and a beautiful longing. It made him want to laugh and cry at the same time. These emotions that were pooling in his belly and rising up into his chest were taking his breath away. As they stood together, exploring each other with lips and gentle touches, Kieran felt overwhelmed with feelings that could not be suppressed any longer. His breathing began to quicken and as his did so did hers. Her towel dropped to the floor but she didn't seem to mind being naked and in front of him. He got the feeling that it was meant to be that way. Kieran reached for the bottom of his shirt and peeled it off trying to maintain his closeness. Her skin pressed up against his and her hands stroked his back. He shuddered as her fingertips brushed his signature. It seemed to know what was going on and lit up as if they were back in his realm and willing to create life. This human body was taking over as well, knowing what it needed and what it wanted to give.

Kieran broke away and opened the bathroom door. He scooped me up easily and cradled me into his arms. I shivered with cold and anticipation. He noticed the chill that traveled along my skin. After placing me on my bed, he loosened the belt on his pants.

"Cold?" He asked.

"A little." I answered.

"That's about to change."

I laughed and he chuckled as well. Joining me on the bed he caressed my skin, enjoying my reactions.

"Gwynne?" My whispered name echoed around the dark room as if we were in the matrix again.

"Yeah?"

"There will never be anyone else. I promise I will find you again."

Stroking his chest, I let myself hear his words, ignoring the negative reaction to them because I knew Kieran and I knew that he was telling me the truth.

"I'll wait." I answered. "If not in this lifetime then the next but I'll wait for you to find me again."

There were no visible fireworks as we joined. Nor were our bodies absorbed into one. In the darkness of the night it was just him and I forgetting what was and what would be and only feeling each other in this time. Little did we know, that as our bodies moved together, a lonely old woman stood on the street with her small dog outside my window. She looked up into the sky as the wildest light show was happening right above her. There was no news of a meteor shower which may have been a mistake. The stars that were streaking across the sky made her smile. There were so many lighting up this August night that she felt like she was in the middle of a large celebration. It reminded her of her granddaughter's wedding. Sparklers were lit and waved high in the air as the bride and groom ran off to their wedding night. It seemed she was watching it again on a much grander scale.

"Look at that Toby. The angels sure are happy about something." She smiled at her dog and he watched the sky, his tail wagging at what his owner had just told him.

*****

Owen cracked an eye open when he heard the birds outside. He sat up and looked around, forgetting, for a moment where he was.

"Good Morning." Kieran told him quietly.

He had been watching his son sleep for about an hour. He couldn't sleep after making love to Gwynne and as she dozed he only held her and stared at the bedroom door knowing that it wouldn't be long before he would have to tell Owen they were going back.

"Good Morning." Owen replied still half asleep.

"How'd you sleep?"

"Good. I was really tired."

"I know. Are you feeling a little better?" Kieran asked.

"A lot better. What are we doing today? Does Gwynne have to work?"

Kieran rubbed his hands over his face not knowing what to say but thinking that spitting it out would be the best way to tell his son.

"I'm not sure what Gwynne has to do today but we have to go home, Owen. We've been called back. All those who are here have been called back."

"What? Why? We did nothing wrong." Owen complained.

"I know that but...after yesterday, we're not safe here right now. I don't know how else to make you understand this but it is what it is and we can't say no."

"I'm staying with Gwynne. We're staying with Gwynne. We're a family again. They can't do this." Owen stood getting upset and Kieran stood with him.

"I don't agree with it ,Owen. I would love to stay with Gwynne. I've missed your mom so much but she's human. We're not. We can't stay."

"It's not fair!" Owen shouted.

I walked into the room hearing Owen's complaints. I took a big breath and put a smile on my face as he turned to see me. Kieran came to me and kissed the temple of my head.

"What's up Owen? Why are you getting so upset?" I asked.

"Because Kieran said we have to go! I don't want to go. I want to stay with you." Owen told me.

I nodded and left Kieran's side. I knelt before him and tried to maintain a relaxed face so he wouldn't see that I was just as upset as he was about what was about to happen. Owen suddenly looked like he had the best idea and smiled, relieved.

"But you can come with us. You know who you are now. You can come back."

I shook my head and sighed heavily.

"No love. I can't. That is not where I belong. This time and this place is where I belong right now. My time with you passed long ago."

"But...No! You're my mother. Please." Owen begged, chin quivering and eyes blinking back tears.

"I'm so sorry Owen. I'm not permitted." I said softly.

Owen squared his shoulders and glared at Kieran.

"You love her! How can you just let her go again?!" Owen demanded.

"That is exactly why I have to. Because I love her." Kieran answered coming close to us and kneeling with me.

I smiled sadly at Kieran then looked into Owen's tearful face.

"And I love you so I'm letting you go." I told him.

"But...will I ever see you again?" He asked.

I gently wiped a tear away from his face and frowned.

"I don't think that's up to me." I answered.

The buzz from the old speaker at the door got our attention. Kieran slowly got to his feet and, not bothering to hear the voice, pressed the button to let him in. He unlocked the door and stepped back. I got to my feet and held Owen against my side. This was happening way to fast and yet, not fast enough. I wasn't sure if a long goodbye was worth the pain but a short goodbye left little closure.

Landon opened the door and poked his head in. He got the instinctual feeling that things were not going well but what goodbye was a happy one anyway.

"Hey guys." He said coming in.

"Hi Landon. Everything okay?" I asked, faking a smile.

"I think so. No fall out yet, at least I haven't heard about any. I'll keep you posted."

"Thanks." I answered hugging Owen closer.

"I guess you don't have any luggage that you need help with?" Landon asked looking around.

Owen left my side and found his messenger bag. He swung it on without looking at anyone. Kieran cleared his throat and addressed Landon.

"Uh...could we meet you at the car?" He asked.

"Oh, sure. Take your time. I'm just out front." He nodded and left us quickly.

Kieran walked towards me and took me in his arms. He held me for a couple minutes refusing to let go. His kiss was soft but longing and I broke away first. It was getting to be a lot.

"I love you." I told him. "Remember that."

"I'll never forget it." He answered. "I love you. Thank you."

I turned to Owen who was now completely broken emotionally.

"Can I have a hug?" I asked him.

He flew himself at me and sobbed. I hushed him and rocked him soothingly.

"You will be my every thought. You are my son and I will always be with you." I told him.

"I love you, Gwynne. I love you so much. Please don't forget me."

"I could never forget you. Every night I will pray to you and hope that you hear me."

"I'll pray to you too. I promise I will. I'll tell you everything. That's how we'll talk together."

"It's the best kind of conversation." I told him.

I pulled away and stroked his cheek.

"I'll keep the door to my dreams open for you. Come in anytime okay."

Owen nodded without a word.

"I guess..." Kieran pointed to the door taking his pullover.

"Okay." I agreed sadly.

All three of us walked to the door as we had before going to the Indian restaurant and before this whole thing started. I held Owen's hand as he slipped on his shoes. I had no idea what to say but felt as if I was crumbling inside. Kieran took the doorknob in his hand, wanting to forget about being called back and wanting to lock himself in here with his family. He couldn't though. He knew, if he didn't show up, they would. He didn't want to take any more risks. He opened the door solemnly looking in my direction.

"Bye Gwynne." He said.

"Bye." I replied.

"Goodbye, Gwynne." Owen cried.

"I'll talk to you soon okay." I bent to kiss the top of his head. He wrapped his arms around my waist one last time then, with a gentle pull from Kieran, released his arms and walked out with his head bowed.

Kieran left behind him, closing the door. He waited on the outside of it with his hand on the knob. His tears finally escaped their prison and he drew a sharp breath trying not to have a complete breakdown in front of his son. Owen hugged his father and Kieran lifted him into his arms and walked him out. Landon opened the car's back door for them and they slid in. Without another word or look towards the apartment, they rode off towards the university.

My body shook with loud sobs. I slid to the floor in an emotional puddle holding my knees to my chest and trying to feel any remnants of their voices or scents. There was nothing left. My heart panicked and I tried to breathe but my cries wouldn't let me. I slid further to the floor so I was lying there with my cheek pressed to the cold linoleum tiles. I didn't know if I would ever recover from this. The look on Kieran's face when he left told me that he was second guessing his decision but what choice did he have. He knew he would never be here forever. It didn't matter that I had shown up. It was written in the stars that we would not be able to be together in this lifetime. Is this how a mother and wife felt when hearing that her husband and child were killed? This shock that took over a body and made it immobile? She would never see her family again and yet she had to find the strength to pick herself up and move on. It wouldn't be today though. Maybe someday I would allow myself to be open to another but it wouldn't be today and if today lasted for the rest of this life, than that's how long it would last.

I picked myself up off the floor and went to my room. I curled up in the space that Kieran had taken the night before and covered myself in his blankets. No, it would not be today.

*****

Tessa walked into her office with gossip buzzing all around her but had no desire to hear any of it. She opened the door to her small office and took a seat at her desk. The red light of her phone shouted at her that she had messages waiting. It taunted her to pick up the receiver but she didn't have the energy. The only reason why she came into work today was because classes would start in a matter of days and she was way behind on her lesson plans.

"That's what a TA is for." David had told her when this all began.

The stupid slacker.

Ignoring the phone for now, she pulled out some file folders with memos to professors and tried to concentrate on what they were telling her. It was mostly agendas for meetings she didn't have in her calendar yet, which reminded her. She could use a new phone. Everything about being a professor seemed so trivial now after realizing how small they really were. She was teaching physics that didn't mean anything. They were so behind the times and it was disillusioning.

The previous few days were a mad dash to get all the contents of her personal life back. She needed to replace her banking cards and IDs; which was sending her through the roof with the amount of red tape she had to go through. Thankfully she had just renewed her passport and kept it at home. It was her only source of identification which made it a little easier. After all the phone calls and visits to banks she swore she would only have one credit card and deal with only one bank.

"Knock knock." Landon smiled from the door. He was a welcomed sight.

"Hey you. I haven't heard from you since..."

"Yeah, I took a couple days off. I really needed an extra-long weekend to be with my girls. I assumed you would be doing the same."

"I couldn't face work. Who could come here after what happened right?" She smiled putting on a brave face. "What's with all the talk out there? What's going on?"

"Oh! You haven't heard?"

"Heard what?"

Landon took a seat across from her and put his feet up on her desk. She gave him a raised eyebrow but decided it didn't matter and snickered at him.

"Does your wife let you do that at home?"

"No, so I'm taking liberty with an easier going woman."

"Sure you are. So what's up?" She folded her hands on her desk trying to ignore the large shoes in front of her.

Landon twiddled his thumbs, making her wait in anticipation.

"Landon?" She scolded.

There was no anticipation.

"Fine. I got a call on Friday to get my butt down here. Apparently, David has been arrested."

Tessa smiled wickedly.

"You're joking?" She replied.

"No! Can you believe it? I thought, for sure, some government official would be at my door but I haven't heard a peep."

"Well how 'bout that. Karma is a bitch...to David."

"Yeah. They've issued warrants for the department's computers and files. It seems as though someone tipped them off about some sort of money theft from a couple of banks over the years, conspiracy crimes. I mean, this is all hearsay but I wonder who would do such a terrible thing to such a stand-up guy." Landon made it look like he was thinking really hard. Tessa only shrugged back. "How is it that David is the only one responsible when Seth was working with two people and not just one. Come on Tessa, your information had to be all over Seth's home and files as well. It wasn't just David's."

"How stupid do you think I am?" Tessa asked. "My picture was on the pass but it was David's codes. Everything I did only pointed to David and Seth. Plus, some other deviant would-be scientists that were lingering around the warehouses. I didn't feel safe if they were to get out unscathed."

"You're good Tess. I'm proud of you. If it wasn't for you, Seth would still be out there and we might not be sitting here, talking right now."

"It wasn't just me. I couldn't have done it without you...or Gwynne."

Landon got quiet and nodded in agreement.

"Have you spoken to her?" Tessa asked.

"I did. Just for a couple of minutes. She went back to work right away but couldn't talk much. She's pretty broken up about the loss. I asked if she wanted a private memorial or something."

"For God's sake, Landon! They're not dead." Tessa was horrified.

"They are to her!"

Tessa shook her head in disbelief.

"Seth had some money left in an account of mine he used. I closed it and had a cheque made out to her. I was hoping I would be able to deliver it myself." She took the cheque from her purse and handed it to Landon. He took it and, with a whistle, handed it back.

"That's a very generous inheritance from her brother in law. From the work she missed she could probably use the help. She can only work half days right now. At least her co-workers are being supportive." Landon replied. "So Tessa..."

"What? Make it fast Landon. As much as I love you, I have loads of work ahead of me." She sighed gesturing to the piles.

"Understood. I'll get to the point. The powers that be need a new department head. I mentioned you. Interested?"

Tessa was shocked. She sat back and crossed her arms.

"Wow Landon. That's really nice of you. I'm flattered."

"It would be a great opportunity. Everyone knows that you really took the reins of this department when you started here."

"Did they offer it to you? You've been here longer than I have." Tessa inquired not wanting to step on her friend's toes.

"You know...I like teaching better. I may get a psycho alien as a student from time to time but overall, I quite enjoy my job."

"Ugh! For the last time, they are not aliens."

Landon chuckled and she smirked back at him.

"I'll think about it." She told him.

"That's my girl. Lunch later?" He asked as he stood. "Liquid lunch?" He raised his eyebrows in temptation.

"Sounds great. I'll see you later okay."

"See ya."

Tessa's mind floated to Kieran. She swore, angry with herself that she would even think of him but held up her hand anyway.

"Hey Landon?" She called to stop him.

He poked his head back in, holding on to the side of the door.

"Did you see him before he left?" Tessa asked.

"Kieran?"

"Yeah? Was he okay? Was Owen..."

"It wasn't a great goodbye; for either of them. He told me to tell you he owes you a lot and he'll think of you often. I was going to tell you about it at lunch."

Tessa cleared her throat and looked away.

"He really said that?" She asked.

"He did. He loves Gwynne but he knows what you risked. You're in his thoughts, Tess. You helped save his son. You mean a lot to him."

"Thanks Landon." She gave him a shaky smile.

"Hey, we are all going to need some time to get over what happened or what could have been. But, just think of it this way, like Gwynne said, we're superheroes." Landon winked and Tessa couldn't help but laugh a little.

"I guess we are." She agreed taking a breath.

"Liquid lunch. Be ready." He pointed at her sternly.

"I will be." She nodded. "Have a good morning."

"Bye."

Superhero...Tessa liked it.

*****

It took a few weeks for Tessa to park in front of the bookstore but she was here now and she needed to see how Gwynne was doing. Gwynne was always in her thoughts and even though Tessa felt alone at times, missing a man that she should've hated forever, she couldn't imagine what Gwynne was going through. She didn't know if Gwynne would be working today but she thought she would take a chance and try.

Getting out of the car, she plugged the downtown meter with the coins that would guarantee her a ticket free hour and walked to the front door of the store. She opened it slowly, the bells above the door bringing her back to a day that she could never forget. It was a quiet morning. There was a chill in the air. The October mornings were now frosty with warm afternoons. It was her favorite time of year and she looked forward to the next weekend where she would drive herself to the mountain farm she grew up on to have turkey dinner with her family. It was a much anticipated short escape.

She walked up to the counter and saw a young man checking off items on a list of paper. He looked up and smiled warmly at her.

"Hi. Can I help you with something?" Phillip asked.

"Hi. Yes, I was hoping Gwynne would be around."

"She's upstairs. I can get her for you if you want."

"No no. I can go. Thanks." She smiled at him and turned towards the staircase.

It was such a great little shop. It reminded her of her grandmother's old office with the tattered books that she insisted on keeping. Of course, this was on a much grander scale. Getting to the top, she glanced around her. She couldn't see her right away and crept around the low shelves trying to find her.

"Gwynne?" She asked looking everywhere.

"Yeah?" I asked popping up from dusting a bottom shelf.

Tessa jumped and brought her hand to her chest.

"Jesus! You scared me." Tessa smiled in surprise.

"Tessa? What are you doing here?" I asked just as shocked.

"I thought we could grab a coffee. I've been meaning to see how you are but for some reason was unsure if you cared to see me." Tessa admitted.

I played with my feather duster, hesitating with answering because she was partly right.

"To be honest I really haven't wanted to see anyone. Landon insists on calling every Sunday though." I rolled my eyes but secretly appreciated his efforts.

"He's a great friend. He worries about you."

"I know." I agreed. "I'm sorry Tessa, it's not that I don't like you. It's just everyone that was involved is a reminder and I'm still having a tough time with it."

"It's okay." Tessa shrugged. "I understand. Do you have time for a quick coffee?" She prodded, not giving up now that she was here. The store did seem pretty quiet.

I got the feeling that she was really trying and for that I was grateful. I nodded and led the way down the stairs. I saw Phillip at the cash register ringing in an order. He looked up at us and grinned. We had been getting along a lot better since he admitted helping Landon and Kieran. It was the least I could do to befriend him more than I had in the past.

"I'm on break if that's okay with you." I told him, going to the back to get my coat.

"It's fine. Take your time." He answered.

"I just might do that." I teased.

We let ourselves out into the breezy October morning. We didn't speak but moved quickly towards the nearest coffee shop. I grabbed a table while Tessa ordered the hot beverages. She sat across from me and slid the large mug toward me. Taking off her coat ,she watched as I dumped a packet of sugar and stirred in some cream.

"How's work?" I asked. "It must not be the same after everything you know now."

"No. It's...I know that there's so much more that I could teach but can't for obvious reasons. It's a little disappointing. I took a promotion so I'm not teaching after January."

"That's great. Congratulations." I told her happily.

"You look tired Gwynne." Tessa studied me stirring her coffee with a wooden stick.

"I am." I admitted. "I still have dreams and I purposely stay awake in case I hear them trying to talk to me. It's so stupid. When they left I told Owen he could talk to me anytime; kind of like a prayer before bed but I haven't heard his voice." My own voice got stuck on a crack and I covered my mouth to try to hold the emotion in. I was so tired of crying. "I'm sorry."

"It's okay." She held my other hand. "I understand."

"Thanks." I squeezed hers in return then stole it back.

"Okay, so after Seth reluctantly left for home, I closed an account he used. I didn't want what money was left but thought you might need it. I'd like you to have it Gwynne. Don't say no right away. Just cash it and if you want to give it to charity that's okay with me. It was never really mine." She reached into her bag and pulled out the envelope.

I shook my head not even wanting to look at it.

"I can't take that." I told her quietly.

"Why Gwynne? If anything, it could do some good instead of what it was intended for. Please. Just take it and if in a week or so you feel the same way just rip it up or donate it somewhere in your family's name."

I stared at her then hesitantly took the envelope. I peeked at the cheque inside and raised my eyebrows.

"That's a lot of money, Tessa." I said nervously.

"I know." She answered sipping her coffee. "It's yours."

"Thank you." I answered tucking it into my coat pocket. "Thank you for everything. I know what you did and I know it wasn't easy."

"It wasn't." She admitted. "But you...you went through something that I couldn't even pretend to understand. I think it would take anyone a long time to be able to breathe or think normally after that."

"Breathing is difficult but it's getting better." I told her. "It's a moment to moment thing."

"Isn't everything." She smiled.

We drank our coffees in silence and Tessa saw the first snowflakes of the season starting to fall outside.

"Hhmm. It's a little early for this don't you think?" She asked me pleasantly.

"It comes faster every year." I answered staring at them as well.

"What are you doing for Thanksgiving?" Tessa asked.

"Oh, cooking a microwavable meal and drinking a whole bottle of wine while reading in front of an electric fireplace that stopped working years ago." I replied.

"Sounds wonderful and oh so cozy." She told me sarcastically.

"It's the usual holiday feast."

"Okay. What about something different? How about you come away with me for the weekend. I'm heading to my parents' farm in the mountains. It could be just what you need; a getaway to get away. It's just for a couple of days."

"I don't know." I answered hesitantly. "I'm not good with meeting new people ,Tessa. Especially since I'm such a pathetic mess these days."

"Come on. We could go horseback riding; maybe some shopping...it would be nice to have you there."

"You really mean that?"

"I do. We've been through a lot. Landon's a good friend of mine. I'd like to get to know you better. Trust me, sometimes I need someone to talk to about things that not just anyone could understand."

"You have Landon." I told her.

Tessa shrugged.

"Sometimes, it's nice to talk to another woman about a broken heart over a man that I should have walked away from. As much harm as he did, I still loved him. Don't ask me why. I was the ultimate double agent and, towards the end, I really hated what he had become. I loved what Seth didn't show very often. There was some good in him even if no one saw it but me. I was always a sucker for brothers."

"Kieran?" I asked needing to know.

"I loved Kieran but it could never be. He was in love with you and only you. He couldn't move on and as much as it hurt I understood. I think I started working for Seth out of revenge from a broken heart but that changed."

I studied Tessa's sad face. I now understood that it wasn't just me that had lost something. She evidently did too. It didn't matter who it was she lost. Love was still love. This time, I took her hand and gave it a squeeze.

"Sure, Thanksgiving sounds great Tessa."

"Thanks." She answered quietly.

Now it was her turn to hide emotion that she didn't want anyone to see.

*****

Kieran kept watch over his son. Owen refused to leave the matrix. It had been a long time that he just stood in one spot. How long he didn't know. Time here was not linear but if he were to guess, it would be weeks, maybe months, back on earth. Kieran knew what he was looking for; he knew what his son listened for. Owen only wanted to walk one path and that was toward Gwynne. He had to hand it to Owen; he didn't give up easily. Kieran couldn't see Owen's paths that were laid out before him. He could only assume they were towards his duty. Owen's paths would only lead to a destiny that had been laid out for him eons ago, one that Kieran, nor Seth, wanted either. Kieran never pushed, he never tried to pull him away. He decided to give him his space and when Owen came to him for guidance, Kieran did his best to give his son what he needed. He tried to make up for what he should have provided to his son a long time ago. The little that Owen required of him was not even touching what this boy truly deserved.

When they first arrived back, they met many others that shared stories of what they saw, of lives they were living and what they didn't want to experience again. Some held feelings of betrayal for Kieran which he accepted. News of what almost happened was told to everyone. The council had to give a reason why no spirit could travel to the earth plane again for a long time. It wasn't just of Kieran's kind. Beings from near and far were told to use the utmost caution when deciding to enter the human realm. It wasn't the first time that Kieran would be branded an outsider or the 'black sheep'. He didn't care. He was only here for one spirit and that was the spirit of his son.

Kieran assumed that any image or idea of Gwynne was being held back on purpose. It wasn't working. In fact, it was making it worse. Owen's light had dimmed. Even the light of his heart did not shine as bright as is needed to. His purpose was to create worlds using his heart. How could he ever learn to do that when it wasn't whole? So Kieran watched over him, and protected his son's fragile being. He would watch until Owen decided he could move on.

All of Kieran's energy went to his child. It was his mistake when Nia was first taken from him. Kieran regrettably spent his energy on trying to escape this realm and everything that reminded him of it. Sometimes, when Owen would take a rest, Kieran would travel his own path. They were taught never to look back but he often did. He never saw her image but her voice was always there, distant but clear. The paths laid out before him were never towards her. No matter how much energy he put into his memories of Gwynne, she would never appear in his future. That didn't stop him from trying. Love only created bridges; not walls.

So, after Owen refused to take his place in the Soul's Temple time and again, Kieran was summoned. The council was not happy but he wasn't on his way to Band-Aid the situation. There was no way that Kieran could give them what they wanted. Kieran told Owen where he would be but that he would be back soon. Since coming back from earth, Owen needed to know where Kieran was at all times. Even though they felt each other, if Owen couldn't see him, he started to panic. His boy needed both in order to feel safe.

Kieran walked the ivory floors and viewed the pillars that Gwynne had asked about. It was all so new to her even though she had been there many times before. The memory made him smile. Whatever happened, Kieran was sure that her experience here with him, had changed what she perceived forever.

The gates were opened for him as he stood outside them. He sensed a worry and an irritation that yet another spirit that was anticipated and celebrated from the thought of his creation was not turning into what they needed him to be. There was to be order in the universe. Since Owen's birth there had been only chaos.

He sauntered to the middle of the room. If he was in a clothed human form he would have had his hands in his pockets like he was strolling without a care in the world. This would not be his problem. They sent Owen to his mother to begin with, they could clean up the mess from the fallout. He stood waiting for them to start. There was no way he was going to ask 'what's up'?

"Kieran, please enlighten us on why Owen will not leave the matrix. That is not his place. He has been summoned many times and he refuses this council."

Kieran shrugged, looking above him at the man that had refused Gwynne's entry back into this world.

"That's not something I can answer for him."

"You are his guardian and yet you refuse to teach him his place here. That is your duty. As his guardian, you are to prepare him for his life's purpose." A woman's voice confronted him forcefully.

"As his guardian, I am also to protect his spirit. It is broken and will not mend. What do you expect of a boy that had a mother's love dangled in front of him like candy in front of a baby, only to be taken away with a taste?"

"That was your doing, Kieran." She replied strongly.

"No, actually it wasn't. I was coming back. You sent him. YOU sent him. Tell me, what the hell were you thinking?"

There was no answer so Kieran continued.

"Exactly. You weren't."

"So what is your relationship to him now? Has he forgiven you? Does he question your loyalty to him?" A man behind Kieran asked.

"I wouldn't blame him if he did but that is between me and my son. I align with him and no other at this time. I choose not to. He needs all of me and I will sit with him and given him all of me until the time comes when he can move on. I will not assume when that will be. Those are his choices and his alone. You all are well aware of that fact. I will not force him into anything that he is not ready for."

"We are aware of what he desires but that is a path that will not be presented to him or to you."

"That's your choice." Kieran said quietly. "But with every choice there is a consequence. Who would know better about that than me?"

"Kieran, my son. You cannot live your days in a matrix without taking a direction. So many paths have been graciously rolled out for you, yet you refuse them. For one human woman?"

Kieran looked at his father and tried to be understanding of his place. Kairos was part of this council, yet, he was also a father. To be fair in this situation must have been tearing him in half.

"You know her father. You know her so you must know why we are broken. You gave her to me, created her for me. We are the same. She is my twin flame. There will never be another and that is because you made her for me. You and all of this council that I stand before know that we could never choose another existence if it didn't contain both of us. Now, it must contain all three of us."

Kairos looked at Kieran tenderly and nodded his head in understanding. He stepped back, no longer able to keep up this argument for he saw what truly mattered now and there was no changing it.

"We demand you leave the matrix at once. You and Owen are no longer permitted to be there. You have been offered many choices. You will get no more." Another woman told him sternly.

"You don't seem to get what I am telling you and I am losing my patience. We dwell in the matrix waiting to be presented with the path of our choosing. That is where we will stay until we are shown a life that we can live with the one we cannot live without!"

The council's shocked, insulted cries were heard all over the room. They had never had anyone demand a path. Kieran stood adamant about what he had just done.

"I have admitted my fault even to the ones I have harmed the most. When can you admit that after eons of time and space you have actually screwed up and it needs to be rectified immediately? The boy you call creator will never be able to create anything now that he is broken. Can you honestly stand there and think that your refusal to mend his broken spirit would actually get you what you want? You messed up! Deal with it! Admit it and fix it! If I don't have a life with Gwynne, that's fine. I'll survive. I have before. Owen won't!"

Kieran could feel his heart radiate so vibrantly that those in the purity of white that was the Soul's Temple were now washed in green. This was his stand. Nothing was perfection. Change was constant. That was the meaning of the branches along one's life path, and, ultimately the choice belonged to that spirit that walked those paths. No one could choose for them. This council's purpose was to merely guide. It's time they started doing that once again.

Kairos appeared before Kieran, his eyes shimmering with tears. Not because he was upset or angry at Kieran's stance but because he was proud. Kieran had the courage to question. Kairos instilled that in him from an early age. He taught both his boys to question everything even if it came from a higher source. Only if something ever resonated with who you were could you ever accept it. He placed a hand gently on Kieran's face and Kieran placed a hand over his father's.

"I'm proud of you, Kieran. You were never one to back down from a fight. I think you've finally won what you've been at war with for so long. I love you my boy. I will let you go."

"Father?" Kieran couldn't believe what he was hearing. This was not the council that was deciding. His father was making a stand as well.

Kairos walked away then turned back forcefully producing a crystal sphere. It engulfed Kieran and sent him flying back into the matrix. Kairos did not mourn the loss of his son. He celebrated that all would be well in his heart and he would finally find his peace.

*****

Owen waited for his father to return. He had been gone a long time and even though he knew where he was, he did not like being left on his own for very long. Something had happened. Something was changing around him but he didn't dare to look. He got accustomed to seeing the blaze of celebration when others chose a path that was truly meant for them. He refused every path. He did not dare enter anything that may never lead to where his heart was left.

Owen was thankful for Kieran. He could never harbor bad feelings towards him. They suffered their homecoming together and Kieran gave him time while patiently being there for him; just outside but still within reach. He loved his father tremendously. The only time he shone with the tiniest bit more light was when Kieran was around, guarding his broken heart and guiding him towards anything that would offer some sort of comfort. It wasn't much, but to Owen, it made a world of difference. Little by little he became stronger. Little by little he could start smiling again, but as all things, it would take its own time.

"Owen..."

He heard his father call him but couldn't see him. New paths were being laid out for him but this was normal. Every once in a while the council tried to tempt him with another future. This was different though. He never heard his father down any branch of the matrix before.

Owen didn't understand. He caught flashes of a place he recognized but never thought it could be. There were trees and blue sky. He heard laughing and it belonged to a woman.

"No Owen. Stop!" She laughed as she was being sprayed by a hose that he was holding.

"Do you see her?" Kieran's voice was a whisper; a gentle call from the same path that this woman was on.

Owen squinted, trying to understand what he was being shown. He took one cautious step, then another. There were more visions. The same woman was laying a large cake with lights on the top while Kieran was covering his eyes. Kieran lifted his hands away and Owen saw himself being surprised. He started blowing out the lights while everyone was singing a song.

"Happy Birthday, Owen." She kissed his cheek then took some frosting off the cake and touched his nose.

His lips wavered and his lungs heaved a sob. He took another step towards this path.

"Gwynne?" He croaked.

"Owen, I'm waiting for you. We'll find her together..." More whispers from his dad.

"Kieran?" Owen asked nervously.

He walked a little quicker. His feet were almost matching the beat of his own heart. More images of her were coming into view. More of Gwynne. More of Kieran. More of him. He was part of a family. He had two guardians presented to him and had never wanted to get to any place faster than this one.

"Kieran! Dad!" He screamed as he saw him. Kieran was in human form, patiently waiting for him. Their smiles matched. Their happiness was the same. "Dad! Wait! I'm coming! Wait for me!"

"I'm right here Owen." Kieran laughed.

Owen's tears were no longer of sadness. They were of elation and joy. He jumped into his father's arms and Kieran caught him, hugging him close and twirling him around.

"Is it true? Is this real?" Owen asked quickly sending up a prayer that it wasn't just a dream.

"It's real Owen. However, this life won't be easy." Kieran looked into his face with a seriousness only a father could pull off. "But we will be together."

"I'm ready." Owen giggled.

Kieran put Owen down; the boy he knew from earth, the spirit he felt from birth. His son finally had a smile on his face that he would never lose again. Kieran took his hand and ruffled the sandy brown hair.

"Let's go home."

Colors of every hue lit up the sky. Owen found his life's purpose and he finally got the celebration he had longed for. They took a moment to stare in fascination, hearing their standing ovation from spirits and angels above, below and around. No one questioned them. They simply let this father and son go because they loved them enough to do that.

As they walked to their destiny the matrix closed behind them. One day, years from now, they would be back but it wouldn't be today.

*****

"I'll see you Saturday, Gwynne." Meaghan shrugged her winter coat on and donned a wool hat. "Are you sure you don't want to come for drinks tonight?"

"I'm sure. I'm almost finished here. You go and have a good time. Don't worry about me." I waved her away punching numbers into a calculator because I couldn't cash out without one.

"Well if you change your mind we'll be at Sherlock's." She hinted.

"I have taken it into strong consideration, Meaghan. Be safe." I looked up and gave her a reassuring grin. "I'm fine. Honestly."

"Okay." She shrugged.

The draft from the open door entered the whole first floor. They were calling for snow tonight, which wasn't abnormal for November but the chilly temperatures I could do without. This was January weather. I was not impressed.

Finishing up and feeling good about a balanced day, I walked to the safe in the back and slid the cash drawer into it. I double checked that all the lights were off but left the window lights on for 'security purposes'. It wasn't my idea. The owner seemed to think it was a deterrent. I seemed to think it was wasteful.

I took my coat and bundled up, flipping my hood onto my head and wrapping my neck with a large scarf. I put my mittens on and held the key in my fuzzy hands. It was difficult to manage turning the key with no fingers but the bite of the wind was nasty and I needed my mittens. I double checked that the door was secure and waited for a woman to pass me on the sidewalk before I could turn towards my bus stop.

The only other person at the bus stop was just as bundled up as I was. They sat on the metal bench, patiently waiting for a ride that would take them to a warmer destination for the night. I smiled politely as I joined them in the bus shelter, taking refuge from a frosty wind.

As we waited, a taller figure joined us and it appeared as if these two people knew each other. One stood while the other sat. I assumed they were related but paid no more attention than that. For some reason, my mind floated back to the night I had decided to take Owen in. He was scared and I was hesitant. It was in these moments, appearing from out of nowhere, that hit me the hardest. I wiped my nose with my mitten and walked out of the bus shelter. These individuals were just reminding of me of times I wanted to forget.

The bus pulled up and I hurried on before they could get any closer to me. Producing my bus pass, I flashed it and the driver nodded in approval. I took my seat in the front of the bus. I was always nervous to venture to the back, with no real reason to feel so.

The individuals from the bus shelter got on after me. I realized it was a child and an adult. The child dropped his change into the holder but the man stood with an open hand confused and patted around his coat.

"I'm short."

That voice. I knew that voice. I stared at the wrapped up man and my breath was knocked out of me. It was stupid. He was only a reminder. I dug into the bottom of my bag and produced a few coins. I dropped them into the holder and turned away without making eye contact.

"Thanks." He told me sitting two rows away.

I politely waved and stared out the window. I couldn't speak.

As the bus drove on, the boy came and sat beside me. Turning from him as much as I could, I hugged my bag close to me, trying to ignore him, deciding to watch those on the sidewalks that walked against the cold.

Owen looked to Kieran for permission before attempting to speak. Kieran only sat forward, elbow to knee, watching and waiting. Owen was warned that this moment may not go how he wanted it to as they were both, pretty much, coming back from the dead.

"Please don't be scared, Gwynne." He said softly.

I couldn't breathe. The walls and the surrounding people rapidly started closing in on me. I needed to get out of here. I rang the bell and stood, almost tripping over the child that spoke.

"Stop the bus! Please. I need to get off." I begged, anxiety filling my chest.

"Lady? Are you okay?" The driver asked.

"Please. I just need to get off this bus." I gasped, loosening my scarf

He stepped on the breaks and let me off at the next stop. I ran down the steps but felt I was not getting off alone. I walked as quickly as possible in the direction of home, panic rising in me. I did not need the ghosts of a memory. Not their memory. Knowing they were trying to keep up I whirled on them and tore off my hood.

"Stay away from me! Get away from me! This is the cruelest joke that anyone could ever play and I have been through enough! Go back to where you belong!" I demanded.

People stared at my sudden outburst; some stayed to watch the show, some scattered thinking I was insane and probably yelling because I was off my meds.

"Gwynne, this is not a joke." Kieran pulled off his hood. "This is not a joke." He rose his hands as if it would calm me.

"God! Why is this happening to me?! Why?" I cried. "I can't do this again. Just go!" I demanded.

Owen pulled off his hood and looked at me sadly. Kieran had warned him that she may not believe it. As upset as they were about leaving, Gwynne was human and could only take so much.

"Please Gwynne. I'm real. Please believe me. Look." He turned around, showing his small frame from every angle. "See..."

"You're real?" I shook my head not wanting to believe it. I couldn't believe it. "I don't understand. You left...you had to go back."

Owen slowly stepped up to me while Kieran kept his distance. It upset him that I was in such denial so he took his time, even though the cold cut through him and his cheeks and ears were starting to burn. Owen tilted his face up to look at me. He managed a nervous smile and wiped his nose with a glove.

"We're back Gwynne. We're not leaving ever again. We can be a family." He told me happily. "It's the truth."

I smiled through my tears and glanced at Kieran. He nodded with just as much emotion in his eyes. Kneeling down to my son, I felt his face and his shoulders. I felt his arms and his hair. I felt everything that I could easily grasp, proving that my one prayer had been heard.

"You're here." I whispered.

I brought him close to my body, gasping with relief and wonderment. He held on to me tightly, burying his face in my neck. Owen couldn't get close enough. This was the moment he waited for and he absorbed every bit of it, pressing himself against me so hard that I nearly fell over. I pulled away and brought his hood up to keep him warm. I giggled like a little girl which turned into laughter. I couldn't help myself but he didn't seem to mind and joined me.

Kieran came to my side then and waited for permission to join our celebration. I straightened and took his hand in mine, bringing it to my heart and holding it there. He wiped my tears away offering me comfort in his stare.

"Forever? Please say this is forever." I said softly. "Because if this is only a visit, I don't think I'll survive it."

Kieran wrapped me in an embrace as Owen watched on, enjoying the view. He brushed his lips against my ear and whispered a promise.

"No world or no one could ever take me away from you again."

Even though our lips were stiff and frozen it was all we wanted to feel from each other to solidify that we were together. Persons standing around started to clap, the sound being muffled by gloves and mittens on their hands. We parted and Kieran pulled his hood on and shrugged against the bitter chill.

"Now can we get out of here? I forgot about this cold." He laughed.

"Yes please! Let's go." I agreed.

We all joined hands and started travelling in the direction of our new life; our second chance. Clouds in the evening sky parted, revealing that those, living among the stars were in full celebration. It wasn't fireworks but some shooting stars were just as fitting. As one caught my eye, I turned my face up to the sky and said a silent message of thanks as I walked towards a new life holding the universe in both my hands.

*****

