A/N: not edited.

Chapter 40 – Chelsea POV



Nonno, Marlon, Lukas and Jack are in the office with us, Remy on the couch, still researching, and the best distraction from all the tension in this room. We had left the Pascal’s, taking the floppy disks and notebooks with us, but called Logan back to us, giving him the floppy disks. WE couldn’t take the risk that this floppy disk could lead the Elders to us, installing a bug or virus to infiltrate our systems here, or back home. It was surreal, Gabriel and I were on the same page, it was to be expected but since I had met him I hadn’t truly felt this connected to him, both of us using our individual strengths to come to one ultimate goal and execution. There were things that I hadn’t thought of, that I’m sure I would have done that would surely give our location away, especially the floppy disks. Malware had never crossed my mind; over eagerness to see just what Philip gathered was my main concern.



I hated to even think it, but for a moment, the time it takes to blink, I realized how all the training George punished and forced onto Gabriel, plus his own intelligence made him this way.



See the world in a way only he does.



It was precious and intensely sexy to watch him this way, be focused and on top of all things that were currently going on.



We still had to deal with Robert Delaney, but again we had Logan handling that current situation with Wolf, as per our instructions. Wolf was one of those people, like George, Mina, Pat and the other Lawson’s that didn’t know that we were truly alive, just bidding time.



“What’s on the floppy disks?” Logan began questioning him, everyone in the room focused on the large 50 inch television on Gabriel’s wall.



Philip, even where he was our mind was open to him, he seemed resigned, whatever happens at least Judy is safe, the Elders won’t find her or the kids, was his every other thought, “It’s all from seventeen years ago, but each one has nearly 10 files on them, I didn’t have time to research what I was taking, I didn’t have that kind of time, I just loaded them on there and made myself scare…” he answered truthfully.



At this point Philip decided death was coming and he unlike any one Gabriel had interviewed, was very forthcoming, but it all made sense to him… tell us what he knows, we will keep his children and mate safe. Even if we killed him, and the Elders knew he was dead, they’d still go after Judy and the kids, assuming that they knew vital information.



Just four loose ends.



“But the computer that I copied document folders from, it was Elder Caelums, it was his own private system, and I didn’t have much time, minutes to get what I could, then get out. I know that on that system however, it held all blueprints, studies, contracts and all his information on the fifth Element,” some things falling into place, his words making more and more sense as I continued to listen, as Gabriel fed Logan questions.



“Whatever the Elders want, they want that fifth Element, it is their kryptonite, however or I should say unfortunately they would be able to use it to their ultimate advantage.”



Could one simple this small stone be the reason for all this struggle, oppression and death, the lives that were taken… for a ring that sat comfortably on my finger?



“How do they know that – if this is something they want, why tell anyone about it? Then to go a step further, they don’t seek it out on their own?”



“They hide behind the people that follow them, if a protest was to form, a march of sorts, do you know where you would find the Elders?” Philip asked Logan, who didn’t bite.



His face neutral, “You’d find them in their homes, surprised that the protest formed, threatening individuals to halt, killing and injuring protestors just to keep up the pretense of innocence, all while they planned the protest down to the final last detail.”



He scoffed, “Yet when you’re following them, when you’re risking your life for them, you’re unaware that the same protest could have just been a diversion. You follow blindly, and the more you do so, they higher status you acquire…”



Enjoying the fruits of your labor, he thought sourly, “They’ve taken what they’ve seen working results for to create an army, “Why wait for Heaven, when you can have that on Earth now,’” he says in a mocking tone. I’d bet he was mimicking Elder Caelum, I thought with an eye roll. “It’s a cult, a religion with all the obvious forms of manipulation, but they pick wisely,” he shrugs and I sit back against Gabriel, thinking over his words.



“People follow for money and power…” I say a loud, “others have followed charismatic psychopaths for less that than,” Nonno mutters, my eyes fly over to him. He would know, as old as he was. That’s what the Elders had on me. Anything strategy we went with now, no matter what would be like bringing a stray twig to a gun fight.



Everything with the Elders was highly self-serving and despite the destructiveness to others, those people are still following? I don’t understand… I couldn’t wait to get away from Leo and Gabriel’s old pack, even my father… they know who to prey on, Aria told me.



“What happens at the facilities?”



Philip pursed his lips, “That is not exactly my area, we do not know the research exactly, that is what the Researchers do. If an Unseen lives near a facility we make well with those around us in that area. We make sure that locals don’t ask questions, that they remain oblivious as well as setting traps that help those Researchers know if they are going to be infiltrated, giving them a heads up,” he said gesturing with his hands.



“As an Unseen you help find recruits, men and women as young as ten years old, or human experts, those focusing on Molecular Biology and Genetic engineering, anyone that shows the hint of promise to strengthen them they find someone that can be close to them, to lead them into the cause…” my jaw went slack as I listened, a sickening feeling in the pits of my stomach.



I couldn’t even begin to thing just how low they were going to achieve their goals, “They are watching everything, they plant people everywhere, and there is nothing they won’t sink to the lowest to achieve. Bribing, extreme force-” he shook his head.



What do they need researchers for? Genetic engineers? Gabriel sends to Logan and we await the answer, “They can control the weak minded, and even with me… I was a follower, and I left. They are searching for something that makes sure that they have total dominance and control, over everyone, something that is greater than even the fifth element, and can work on humans, shifters and or any other supernatural beings.”



Philip continues speaking, just giving us data, anything he can think of whether he finds it relevant or not, “They believe someone else will gain power, from the start they want to be the ones on top,” they want power, total domination, to rebuild in ways that leave them with no opponents.



.



.



Oakley POV



The light from the window was fading, the darkness around us, and the crisp homely scent of old books eased my racing heart as I looked at Kieran, shocked and confused as I’m guessing he was. I couldn’t understand anything about why I felt the way I did with him, the ease he put me in and the need to seek him out. None of those things were me, I had never done them before back in Middleburg, I had always been content to be alone and away from everyone.



“I confuse you?” I repeat his question, my hands settled on my thighs, as he just stared at me blankly, but it was his eyes that I was paying attention too, expressive bluish gray eyes that focused on my face. That took in everything, he was watching me, but I knew just how closely he was, because as my twisted my mouth, his eyes darted to that area of my face, “You seek me out?” again it’s a question but it makes my heart race, and my stomach flip, “Do… do you want me to leave you alone?” I force myself to say, the words leave a bitter after taste.



“I think you should leave me alone,” he said after a moment, looking away from me, “I’m not safe to be around,” again so nonchalantly that I don’t answer right away.



Was I once like this? Did I push people away like this back in Middleburg? Yes I did, but that’s because it was easier, even when there was a new student that showed sign of maybe befriending me I pushed them away. Or I just ignored them, because I had learned by age ten that when those rare new people would eventually hear the town gossip.



My heart thudded in my chest, sounding like boulders clashing together.



I didn’t want to be hurt, so I pushed. If I pushed away first when they stopped being my friend it would be on my terms, it would hurt less. It was rare, but I had done it at least four times in my whole life. Is that what Kieran was doing now?



“Why isn’t it safe to be around you?”



I asked facing him completely now, trying to understand, “I mean you think I should leave you alone, but you didn’t say that you want me to leave you alone.”



I pointed out waiting.



“I’m not good.” Good? Good at what? I wondered silently not voicing my thoughts, pausing for him to give me more. “I – I can’t be your friend,” he said in a very decisive tone, that made my heart sink to my belly, and my stomach turned as I looked away.



“Is it because I came to see you on the mountain?” I whispered knowing that I invaded his space, and then I did it again today, I thought horrified. “I knew better, I didn’t like it when Sarah came in and ruined everything, but I did it to you…”



The light on the screen on the ipad cut out and my face was reflected back to me, my lips turned down, my eyes empty.



Kieran huffed loudly, my head snapped up to observe him. He lifted his hand over his chest, rubbing over his heart. Glancing at me from the corner of his eyes briefly.



“Why do you seek me out? You’re smart and nice, what do you want?” I blinked. A small smile on the inside, he wasn’t mad, and he thought I was nice. “At the beach-”



“You saw me at the beach?” I blurted out, “I mean I followed your scent but I thought that it was old,” I said tilting my head to the side noting his leg begin to shake.



His entire form vibrating.



“Yes I saw you… I saw River and even some of the others looking at you, then I left,” he shrugged, putting his left hand on his thigh. The movements of his hand doing nothing to the shaky leg.



“Everyone has been telling you to stay away from me,” he said again, “everyone else stays away,” he said in way that didn’t seem like it was something he wanted, but something he accepted.



“You said you aren’t good… who said that?”



He scoffed, “Everyone, all the time.”



“Everyone has been saying things about you, whispering, but I can hear them, they think you should stay away from me,” he added.



“Well I’m used to people whispering, they can whisper until they are blue in the face, I don’t care… anymore.” I added at the end.



“I won’t make a good friend,” he said that before. Although, I was happier that it had went from can’t be my friend to, he wouldn’t make a good friend. I hid my small smile.



“I’ve never had any other friend besides Ben, so you don’t have anything to live up too with me,” I said honestly my face burning.



“I’m the only one you’ve stalked?” he asks not looking my way.



“Yup!” I pop the ‘p’ at the end.



“Why?”



“Because you don’t think I’m weird. You let me read and you enjoy when I do it out loud. I can talk to you, and even when you were a wolf and I wanted to touch you, you didn’t run away,” I reveal, my eyes darting around his arms, noting the scars that were on either arm, and the tattoo on his forearm, R-43. But I watch as he tenses at my revelation, and he moves a way a bit, “I mean I wouldn’t touch you because I know you don’t like it, but I wanted too, I’d never hurt you Kieran,” I try to explain; his fur had looked very soft. Silky. But then, I wondered to myself, how long has it been since someone touched Kieran? In a nice way like how Ben, Uncle Grant, Chelsea and Aunt Julia would hug me or just hold my hand? I don't dare ask him though.



I don’t get a verbal response to my explanation, but he does nod his head minutely.



I leave it alone, because now that I have the numbers R-43 in my mind I begin to wonder what they stand for? I mean his last name is Ryan, so that could be what the R stands for. That leaves the number ’43.’



His large hand comes to cover up the tattoo and I look up, and away, red from being caught. Biting my lip I turn back to him, “What – what do the numbers mean?”



Abruptly he stands, but only moves to another chair but now, all I see are his shoulders up and I dislike that he didn’t want be here, “You don’t have to answer that…” I say when there is a lull.



“We finished the Hobbit… are there any books that you liked that we can read together?” I push forward, ignoring all his comments about being friends. If he didn’t want to be my friend he would have left me alone in the library. That is what my understanding was to these sorts of things; after someone told me they didn’t want to be my friend they never stuck around, unless they wanted to see my cry. Other than that, they left like I had something they could catch.



“I – I don’t know –" there is an abrupt pause, "I don’t have anything I’ve liked… do you have another one you want to read?” he asks, and I smile, he did want to be my friend.

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