No distance of place or lapse of time can lessen the friendship of those who are thoroughly persuaded of each other’s worth.

  Robert Southey

  The Police were all over the place. Mr Parker and and his nephews got back after the first police cars arrived and were completely dumbstruck. They joined the women in the Dining room. An hour later Jonathan Oaksen arrived with Henry Bellows. There were so many questions from detectives,and Britney Shafers security team. Then a dark black Range Rover pulled up and a tall man with salt and pepper hair stepped out in normal looking clothes that looked like they cost a fortune. Then form the other side a beautiful woman emerged with deep red hair, also wearing normal clothes that looked really expensive.

  The man from Brittney’s security team, Connor, met them. The woman seemed very distraught, but the man stood there with a calm confidence that seemed to calm the woman also. Once he finished talking to Connor the couple talked to one of the detectives for a while then they went inside. They made their way to where everyone was gathered in the living room. When they entered everyone looked at them with recognition, Barry Shaffer and his wife Amelia, were constantly in the news or just local gossip.

  Mrs Kopcheck stood up when they entered. “Mr and Mrs Shaffer, welcome to my home. I would have wished it to be under better circumstances but, still, welcome. Can I get you anything?”

  “No thank you Mrs Kopcheck, I was sorry to hear that Paul passed away, I worked with him closely when he was on the city council. All we need right now are some Answers.”

  He looked back through the kitchen door where Connor stood as if guarding it and he nooded. Connor lifted his right wrist to his mouth and whispered into it. Within moments the rest of the security detail secured the living room and the exits to the house.

  “Now, that we are not being disturbed, would someone like to tell me what really happened?” Jonathan Oaksen stood up and looked at him.

  “Hi Barry.” Mr Shaffer nodded to him.

  “Jonathan, it’s been a while.” Jonathan nodded.

  “It has. Barry we can give you answers, but you are going to have to trust me. In fact, I’m going to call in that favor you owe me right now. The favor is, that you trust me.”

  Barry Shaffer showed the first emotional response anyone had seen from him in a while, his eyes got wide when Jonathan mentioned the favor, but then her returned to normal.

  “You sure you want to use this on me trusting you Jon? It might be more handy later.” Jonathan shook his head.

  “I’m sure, there isn’t anything that will happen later then what is important right now.”

  Mr. Schaefer bowed his head, close his eyes for a minute. When he looked up, he looked at Jonathan Olson and said,

  “OK Jonathan let’s hear what you have to say” Jonathan Okeson took a deep breath.

  “You had your daughter tagged, didn’t you? our kids probably too correct?”

  Barry Schaeffer nodded his head.

  “And you can’t detect them anywhere right?Anywhere on the planet?”

  Again, Barry nodded his head. “ They’re on this planet, just not in this time. They’ve been taking back into the past, we know this because that’s where Alianna and Jaius were for five months this past year. They went back in time to before the flood. We believe that’s where they are now.”

  He looked at his wife briefly and she nodded her head. “My wife started having a recurring dream in September. The dream was of them at this house, going up and down that stairway behind the house and then tumbling off it and disappearing. It was the same dream every month. Paul Kopcheck, whom you also trust as you worked with him closely, wrote that same exact dream down in his journal in August, before Emily started having the dreams.”

  Emily Oaksen then stood up and recounted her dream that she had. “You can see for yourself in the journal entry date.”

  Jonathan Oaksen pushed the open journal over to Mr. Schaffer. Bradley looked down at it and read what was written there. When he was done, he looked back at Jonathan. Jonathan looked back at him and said.

  “If this is what happened and this is where they are then there’s nothing we can do for them to get them back except wait. I promise you, Barry I’m not lying about this and I need you to believe me. We need you to not call out the military on this one. Just let the authorities do their normal thing. Don’t give up hope, trust us, and pray. We used to do that a lot together remember?”

  Barry Schaeffer looked at him for a long moment then looked back down at the journal for a few minutes. When he finally looked up, he looked back, Jonathan.

  “OK Jonathan, I’m going to trust you. We let the officials just do their normal job for now. I have to put up some form of show of looking like I’m doing everything I can to find her, but I won’t let it get too excessive.”

  Jonathan let out the breath he’d been holding in.

  “Thank you, Barry. You’re both welcome to stay have some pizza and coffee.”

  Barry shook his head. “Thank you, Jonathan but no. The media is going to be swarming the staff at our house. We need to get back there and contain this. I expect that you will keep me posted.” Jonathan nodded. “Thank you Mrs Kopcheck, everyone, for clearing this up, let’s go Amilea.”

  He nodded and then left into the kitchen and out the front door. Mrs Shafer was clearly disturbed as she left. When they got in the car, she turned to him and basically freaked out.

  “What in the world just happened back there Barry? You went in there and basically let a bunch of people tell you that our daughter didn’t get abducted she went back in time. Have you lost your mind and senses? Our daughter is missing.”

  Barry Schaffer calmly turned to his wife. “Amelia, I understand that you are distraught at this moment. I love Brittany too, and I don’t want anything bad to happen to her, but Brent texted me, and Connor confirmed it they’re nowhere on this planet. Connor and his team tagged all the children with some of the most expensive sensors money can buy. These things are protected from EMP pulses, radiation, heat, and interference. One of them may have failed, but not 10. Britney had over five of them on her. Whatever happened to Brittany, my dear she’s not on this planet.” He looked out the window at the house, then back to his wife.

  “Now, unless you believe in aliens, what they’re saying is the most logical answer. Brent confirmed that the children were on the stairway one of them got excited, tripped, and fell and knocked everyone below her down yet none of them hit the ground. None of them, my dear. They disappeared. So unless you believe aliens took them or want to believe that they just spontaneously disintegrated then what Jonathan said is the next most logical answer. Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, coined a great phrase in his Sherlock Holmes novels. Homes would always say, when you eliminated every logical possibility, whatever’s left, however, illogical or improbable, must be the answer.” He took a deep breath.

  ”Our daughter is not present on this planet in this time right now. Neither are any of the other children. If all those people in there had produced some scheme to kidnap our daughter the other children would’ve registered somewhere. They’re not here either. So my dear I don’t believe in aliens, I don’t believe ten children just disintegrated, and I know Jonathan Oaksen for my whole life, and I’ve never known him to not be honest. He saved my life when we were 10. I told him I owed him my life. That was the favor he cashed in today, he could’ve saved that for when his business was failing or some other future thing, but he used it now. He’s not a man that wastes things, if he used such a thing on this, I also have to give it at least some measure of credibility. If what he is saying is true, then all we can do is just wait and pray.”

  Amelia Schaeffer looked at him incredulously, but at least some of what he said, had filtered through her hysteria, enough at least to make her sit back and not continue to argue the point. Just then his phone buzzed. He looked down and saw that it was from Jonathan Okeson.

  It read: “Thanks Barry for trusting me. I’m free this Wednesday morning if you wanna get together and pray?”

  Barry Shaffer thought for a long moment pulled up his calendar, saw he also had that morning open. After another minute, he texted back.

  “I’ll meet you at Saint Michaels, I’ll text Father McCleary and ask if we can have some time to ourselves.”

  ”Sounds good, I’ll see you there.” Came the reply.

  ————-

  Enoch led the way down the very finally built colonnade that went along the outside of the big stone wall they had seen from the stairway. Jaius and Alianna follow just behind him with Anne next to them Nisa, Elise and Lorna follow behind them. Behind them were Carrie and Trudy. And then Britney, Bradley and Megan and bringing up the rear was Olivia and Jim. Kenic followed behind them about 5 feet. Everyone was still scared, somewhere trembling, some looking around nervously. And Bradley actually had to hold Megan’s arms as she was shaking so badly she could barely walk. Britney tried to console her to smooth her anxiety down, but nothing seemed to be working. Enoch, where did all this come from, the last time I was at the cathedral there was no hundred foot stone wall or stone colonnade surrounding it. And I did not stop walking, but he looked over his shoulder. Much has changed son of Maleric. In the last 249 years. Jaius almost stumbled over his own feet , Alianna was so shocked she almost didn’t grab him in time. It’s been 249 years. Jaius exclaimed. Yes son of Maleric, The catha dral has expanded into an entire city. Thousands now reside here. Your lands have also expanded. You are now Lord over an entire city of your own. Your people await your return to the Thron Hyress. The people of Cain ever seek for a way to breach our walls and seize the power of Thron for themselves. You’ve guarded the heart of the Thron for all these many years in your time Hyress, and for that we are thankful. But now the time has come for you once again to sit upon the Thron and defend your people against a terrible foe. The fallen one you encountered at the hearalds estate, was just one of many. And they have not been idle these past centuries. They are working a great evil in the west, and soon it will fall upon the cities that we have lovingly tended all these years. Enoch. Alianna started. “Yes Hyress.” Chi and I are ready to do what we need to do, but what of all of our friends? Do they have to risk their lives too? That, is ultimately up to them. They may simply remain here at the cathedral, for as long as it remains, or if their bonds of loyalty, too are true, you may find great help and what is to come. And I said this last part loud enough for everyone behind him to hear him. Alianna nodded. Enoch, are we all going to get sick again? When Jaius and I were here last time, about two days after we arrived, we became very ill for a couple of days, but then afterwards we became even healthier than we were before. I would expect the same thing to happen again, but worry not, there have been many advancements in the use of the crystals since you’ve been gone, a number of which you helped establish. He did stop and turned and looked at Carrie and Trudy, I am afraid, however you both will suffer the worst of it, the ailments in your bodies run very deep. Both Carrie and Trudy looked at each other, then looked back at Enoch and everyone else the fear plainly deepening on their face. Alianna looked back at them. Don’t worry, it will be OK. We’ll be here with you and we’re definitely gonna help you. They look to her and nodded their head, their faces looked a little less fearful, but not much so. They were on their way through many stone hallways, passing wooden doors that were shut. They also started encountering people. At first, it was more soldiers like Kenic, but then they started seeing other people. Dressed in flowing gowns are very fine fabric and color for women, and leather pants and cotton shirts and leather boots and vests and jackets in both men and women wore very fine cloaks a lot of them studied with crystals. Everywhere they went, people saw Alianna’s hair shock on their faces, but after a few moments they would bow to her and greet her as The Hyress. They saw people with different colored hair walking around, but none of them seem to have blonde hair. This again made Alianna very obvious to who she was. As they caught glimpses inside the rooms as people entered and exited them, it quickly became clear that these rooms were actually houses set into the wall of the city. As they moved farther in. A woman came floating down the hall towards them. The crystals on her cloak were glowing, and yet she was not singing. She had the same look of shock when she saw. Alianna, she floated down, curtsied and said Welcome back my Hyress, it will be such a pleasure to serve you again.” Alianna looked confused at first, as soon as she recognized the woman. She reached down and took the woman’s hand lifted into her her feet. “ and we are very pleased to see you also Madame mol, the food you prepared was always excellent, we look forward to many more meals that were prepared under your expert guidance.” Madame Mol blushed and curtsied again. Thank you My Hyress, you give praise to one who does not deserve it, but I am thankful.” Alianna smiled and nodded to her and then move on past her. The woman waited until she had passed. And then stood up and her cloak began to glow and lifted it up and carried her along down the hallway. everyone else behind them looked at the woman with their mouth hanging open. Eventually, they came into a large courtyard and there before them stood the building that Alianna and Jaius had known as the Catha Dral. It stood at the very center of the city. Everyone stopped and stared at the magnificent building made from crystal . Enoch looked at.Alianna. The cathedral once again welcomes. The Hyress. No one has entered it except the servants for over 100 years. The servants have kept everything as you have left it. Come, come the Thron awaits. As they approached two guards pulled open the massive crystal doors. They followed Enoch inside and then turned right down a long hallway halfway down two large oak doors with Krystal inlays and iron bracings. Stood in the wall before them. The two guards there bowed their arms across their chest. Then they straightened up and open the two doors. They walked into the massive hall. The ceiling over 100 feet. Above them. Krystal rafters spaced out every 10 feet across the top of the ceiling. Windows made of crystal, but yet so thin it made it look like glass. Along dinner table stood for them in the middle of the hall. Behind that. A large obsidian dies Rose 20 feet above them. 13 steps lead up to a platform and on top of the platform stood a very delicate looking chair made out of glistening purple crystal. The room was silent. Jaius looked at. Alianna and smiled and nodded his head towards the chair. “The Thron awaits the Hyress.” he said, as he went to one knee and about his head. Enoch, Kenic Nisa, Alise, and Lorna, also follow his example. After a few moments, Olivia and Anne did also. Jim hesitated a bit more of it than meltdown next to Olivia. Carrie looked at Trudy and nodded her head and so they both melt down. Brittany and Bradley had no idea what was going on, but Britney’s training from when she was in England took over and she melt down automatically out of habit. Bradley didn’t want to feel left out so he melt down also. Megan, however, did not kneel. Even in her distress she realized what was happening and refused to give Alianna any form of laud. Alianna began to walk towards the Thron, but she stopped as if she hit a wall she turned and looked at them. “Please, stand up, I’m just a servant too, and not worthy of such honor.” Jaius looked at her. “Yes you are Ali, In Roman’s Paul says that we are to give honor to who honor is due, and respect to who respect is due. Paul also says in Ephesians that you are a Co-Heir with Christ. You are a daughter of the King now Ali and your station as Hyress dose deserve such respect and honor.” Olivia and Jim smiled at him and nodded, Enoch’s smile was as big and bright as the sun, everyone else, except for Megan stayed knelt down. Alianna paused and thought and then slowly nodded her head and smiled at Jaius. Then she turned and put her hand into the satchel she wore. She pulled from it a purple crystal shard that was about 7 inches long. She looked up at the chair. “Hello old friend .” She said fondly. She held the shard before her and began to sing.

  “Amazing Grace, how sweet the sound that saved at wretch like me…”

  A small light appeared in the center of the crystal and at the same time a small light appeared in the heart of the crystal chair at the top of the dias. Then somthing she did not expect took place. The locket around her neck began to glow, energy began to trace along the gold inlays. A white gold aura began to form around it. The shard in her hand erupted with a pure white light. At the same time so did the Thron. There was a loud cracking sound and the light seemed to brake forth through cracks that had formed in the obsidian itself. There was one loud crack and the sound of stone falling. In the side of the obsidian dias an archway of light appeared. Finally free from her shock Alianna stopped singing. She looked up at the chair, terrified that she had destroyed it, but it still remained whole and glowing. The dias remained for the most part. Where before it had been a solid piece of Obsidian, it now had cracks running through the stone that hade bright beautiful light coming from it. in the side of the base of the dias a stone archway now appeared, the light from deep below the floor starting to fade from it. Kenic moved into action as he realized that a door that had not been there before just appeared. He rushed ahead and placed himself between Alianna and the door. Jaius, understanding his concern, lept up and placed himself in front of Alianna. “Peace friends.” Said Enoch as he stood and looked at them. “There is no danger from what has been revealed. Come, let us see what the Eternal has opened to us.” He gestured for everyone to follow. “Uh uh! I’m not going down some crazy lighted tunnel beneath some platform in a place that shouldn’t even exist!” Cried Megan who then dropped herself down with her legs crossed and cried covering her eyes with her hands.” Brittney looked at Alianna. “I’ll…I’ll stay with her if that’s okay your majesty? I’m a bit wigged out now right now and not sure how much more I can take.” Alianna nodded. Brittney breathed a sigh of relief and sat down and put her arm around Megan. Keri and Trudi looked at the glowing archway also and then at Alianna. “We want to go with you Ali but I’m kinda with Brittney, I’m not sure how much more we can take right now.” Alianna smiled, went over to them and hugged them. “I definitely understand what your both feeling, Jaius and I went through a rough time too our first month here, I’ll do everything I can to try to make yours normal not as tough.” They hugged her back. “How…How long will we be here?” Alianna wanted to sugar coat her response but her time here had taught her that here, a spoonful of sugar can help you get dead. “We were here for five months last time, I don’t have any idea when we will get back. People here live for hundreds of years, we have to always keep it in the back of our heads we could be here for a very long time.” She saw the hope pouring out of them. So she backpedaled a bit. “I wasn’t trying to be hard, but you will learn ver quickly here that pretending or sugarcoating things can get you killed very quickly. We aren’t in Kansas anymore, but, I do have belief that we won’t be here forever, that we will get home.” She said the last part with a smile. She then turned to looked at the others. “Kenic, would you please find Madam Mol and ask her to make a meal for us and our friends.” “It will be as you say Hyress.” He said, and she swore she saw a small smile on his face, one of gladness at serving her again. She smiled also. She turned to Niss and Alise and Lorna. “Would one of you be willing to stay with our friends while we see what the Eternal has revealed?” Lorna and Alise looked at the tunnel leading down and they both shuddered. “We will stay with them Hyress, they will be well looked after we assure you.” Alianna smiled and nodded her head. “Thank you Alise and Lorna.” “Ali, I uh mean Hirresss…”. Olivia said straining to get the word out as they say it. Alianna turned to her friend and moved over to her. “It’s okay Olivia, you can just call me Ali.” She breathed a sigh of relief. “Oh good, thank you Ali. Can…can I go with you?” Alianna smiled and nodded her head vigorously. “Of course sillly, I’m still just Ali.” “Count me in too.” Alianna felt a strange peace coming from Jim that hadn’t been there before. Jim, did you become a Christian?” He nooded and Olivia bounced up and down. “Oh yes, Ali, he did. We found my Pap’s Bible and as we read through the notes in it God saved Jim.” Alianna jumped up and down and hugged them both. “Oh my goodness that is so amazing! Jaius…”. She shouted, and berated herself as she found him standing right next to her. In her excitement over Jim, she had not noticed him come up beside her. “Jim got saved.” Jaius said smiling. Apparently she had also forgotten about the super hearing they had gotten here. Jaius gave Jim a hug. “Welcome to the family Bro.” Jim hugged him back. “Thanks, maybe you can help me figure out what I’m supposed to do now.” Jaius clapped his shoulder. “I’ll tell you everything I know, which isn’t that much right now.” “J, can I come too?” Anne asked. Jaius looked at his sister. “Always Anne.” All of suddenly Bradley was there too. “Would it be okay if I came too?” Jaius just shook his head and mentally slapped his forehead. “Sure Bradley.” He looked to Alianna. “Ready?” She nodded. “Lets go.” She looked at Enoch. “We’re ready Enoch.” He smiled and motioned them forwards.. they followed him into the archway. Inside there were steps leading downward Aliana hummed and the throne shard glowed slightlyz. Just enough to light their way down. They descended slowly deeper and deeper below the bottom level of the cathedral. Soon up ahead, they they saw a light coming towards them. As they got closer, they found themselves standing in another archway, deep below the cathedral. They all funneled out onto a large platform made of obsidian with a small wall going around it. All they saw in front of them was an empty chasm. They look down. And whatever was far below was shrouded in darkness. The light however, seemed to be coming from above them. They all looked up and there above them was largest Krystal any of them I’ve ever seen. It was a deep purple and color, and I was currently glowing slightly in time with the throne shard. Behold said Enoch. The true Thron. Alianna gasped. “ you mean that the Thron is not just a chair, it’s a crystal?” “Yes Hyress. The chair as shaped out of the very top point of this one crystal. “. “But Enoch, a Crystal that large could…could…” “destroy the entire Planet, yes, it could.” Alianna went pale and she dropped the Thron shard on the ground and backed away until she bummed into Jaius. “What troubles you Hyresss?” Enoch asked. “I…I.. could have, at any time, destroyed the planet.” She said horrified. Enoch shook his head. “Nay Hyress, you are not able to destroy the planet, that is why the shard had been given to you. Do you remember when the Harold interrupted your wedding ceremony? Her children killed Ye’tul. Yet even in your sorrow and distress and your desire for revenge, you could not bring yourself to kill them. No matter how much evil is in it Aliana, you would not be able to destroy it. There are, however, those out in this world who would think they are powerful enough to destroy this world and make one in their own image. You must guard the throne at all cost. That is the true role of the Hyress. To protect the throne from those who use power for evil. Are you willing to this Aliana?” She she relaxed a little bit. And took a step forward. She looked down at the shard. And slowly, but more confidently with each motion bent down and picked it up. I will except the duty. She said the fear of what she was saying evident in her voice. Well, you won’t do it alone said Jaius, I will help you. As willl, I sister. Said Nisa giving her shoulder an encouraging squeeze. We will too. Jim and Olivia said at the same time. They smiled at each other. Well, you’re not doing something like this without me. Said Anne. Bradley looked at everyone. I have absolutely no idea what’s going on, but yeah, I’ll help with whatever it is we’re talking about. Anne looked at him and smiled. I’ll fill you in once we have dinner. Bradley turned to her and smiled. Sounds good Anne. Thanks.

  When they all returned to the throne room they saw that the table had been set with food, and everyone who had stayed behind, was sitting at their places. They went over to the table and sat down with their friends. Alianna looked at Enoch. “Would you bless the food Master Enoch.” Enoch smiled but looked at Jim. “I believe Master James has a blessing in his heart for this food.” Jim got very nervous until Olivia grabbed his hand. Then he took a breath and let it out. “Dear God, uhm, thank you for this food that we have been giving, and thank you that we are all alive and safe. Please help our families through this time and please help us to get home. Amen.” He said. Olivia smiled at him encouragingly. “Thank you Jim.” Said Alianna. Keri looked at her seriously. “I think, we’ve all calmed down enough to hear it Ali. Would you be able to tell us what you went through when you were here last so we have a better idea of what is going on?” She said the last part with an evident plea in her voice as one would have who was struggling to find any form of answers that would make this make sense. Alianna looked at Jaius who nodded and then she turned back to Keri and the rest. Everyone looked expectantly at her, except for Megan. “Well, I had a not so good day last spring trying to impersonate a new girl at school and had even found my self admitting at Keri’s table.” Keri got red and scrunched down in her seat some. Alianna gave her a reproving smile and she smiled back slightly. Alianna continued. Over the next hour her and Jaius retold their story with input form Nisa, Alise and Lorna, from their points of view.

  Alison was just giving Tiffany and Mandy a hug when they heard the phone ring upstairs. Then there was a knock at Tiffany’ door. Tiffany looked at each of the others with her eyebrow raised. She shrugged and went to the door. She looked through the peephole and suckled in her breath. “Ali, it’s your mom.” Fear flooded the pit of her stomach. Her mom had been on a date with bachelor six hundred and fifty two. She couldn’t keep track of names anymore, so she just gave them numbers. Only something really important , or bad, could drag her mom away from a date. Alison nodded to Tiffany. Tiffany opened the door and Alison’s mom strode into the room and hugged Alison in a bear hug. “Oh, My dear Ali, your safe, oh I’m so glad to see you.” Her mom said practically in tears. Her mom had never acted like this before. “Tiffany!” Her mother Sheiked from upsstairs. Mandy and Tiffany both stiffened and looked at eachother. They heard the pounding down the steps and suddenly Susan Lockman burst into the room. She grabbed Tiffany’s shoulders and looked at her. Tears were streaming down her face and her cheeks were flushed. “Oh thank God your safe. She pulled her into a similar bear hug as Alison’s mom had given her. “Susan.” Said Alison’s mom. “What’s..what’s wrong? On no…not Bradley too?” She said almost crying herself. All Susan Lockman could do was nod her head. Terror entered Alison’s heart as what was happening started to come to light. She looked at Tiffany who was falling into the same pit of panic as she was. “Mom.” Said Alison shrilly. “Where’s Meg?” Her mother didn’t answer. “Where is Megan!” She screamed in her mothers face and then started to back away from her, the answer was plainly written in her mothers anguished state. “Where is she!” She screamed again as she hit the wall and collapsed into a heep. She vaguely heard Tiffany cry “No, No.” over and over again. Eventually there were arms around her. “Ali, Ali, come back to me, I..I need you right now, here with me…” came her mother’s frantic voice. Alison eventually regained enough of herself to look at her mother and be helped up. Mandy was sitting on the couch cradling an inconsolable Tiffany. Texting on her phone with her free hand. Tiffany’s mom was absently rubbing Tiffany’s back but staring off into space at the same time. “We have to go to Wilkes -Barre now and find out what happened.” Said her mom. Susan, you and Tiffany and Mandy can ride with us. Susan Lockman eventually looked at her as if just realizing she was there. Slowly she nooded. “I..I have to text my husband.” She said Numbly. “My dad already texted him Mrs Lockman. They are both on their way over here. She looked at Mandy with tears in her eyes and mouthed the words thank you. Alison’s mom turned to her. “What it the world was she doing in Sugar Notch of all places?” She said a bit too accusingly. Alison winced when she said it, unprepared at the guilt that was now assailing her. “We are doing extra service hours this year at the request of the high school Queen, Megan saw that bi one else had done them yet so she and Bradley wanted to set a good example and so Brittney knew that one of the Eighth graders needed help moving her grandmother and so her Brittney and Bradley left early this morning for Sugar Notch to help them and get the service hours done in one day.” She lied as much as she could so her mom wouldn’t know that it had been her that had forced Megan to go. Her mom looked at Mandy as if seeking confirmation. Without skipping a beat Mandy nodded. It’s True Mrs Trendale, that’s what happened. Tiffany, even lost in her fear for her missing brother, nodded in agreement. Her mother sighed. “I just don’t understand it, Brittney had her own security detail. I see them all the time when we have Practice. You would think she was the President’s daughter or something. How can you steal someone who has that much security around them?” Her question was left unanswered as Mr Lockman and Mr Ferlon rushed into the room. Mr Lockman knelt down and embraced his wife, who dissolved into tears and fell into his arms. Mr Ferlon knelt down next to Mandy and Tiffany and put his arms around both Girls, as soon as he did that Mandy disolved into tears too, finnaly relived by her dad and not having to be the strong one in the room anymore. Alison’s mom almost seems to become angry. “Come on Alison, we will be in the car.” She left quickly through the door. Alison wiped at her eyes and went over and put her arms around Mandy and Tiffany “it will be okay, we will find them okay.” She said, diving into her Queen persona to find some solid ground to stand on. They both smiled weekly and nooded. She let them go and then put on her coat and went to join her mom in the car. The Girls telling the news to support eachother hugged eachother in the back of Mrs Trendale car, the Lockmans’s following behind in Mr Ferlon’s Truck. The hour trip to Wilkes-Barre seems like it took a whole week, but eventually they saw one street lit up with lights from first responder vehicles. They couldn’t get down the hill so they had to park up the street and walk down to the barricade. They had to show I’d and explain to at least two different officers before they could be let down to the house. When they got in the house there was an old woman sitting on the couch. She stood as they entered. “I’m Mrs Kopcheck, Welcome to my home, I wish it were under better circumstances.” “Where is my daughter?” Mrs Trendale stepped forward swatting aside any pleasantries. Mrs Kopcheck seems unphased by Mrs Trendales, outburst. “I do not understand how they could have dissapeared.” Mrs Trendale seems to be about ready to explore on the woman when a woman detective stepped inside from the pourch. “Can I help you?” She said. Mrs Trendale turned on her in both orientation and in pouring her anger on her. “How could ten children disappear in the open with no one around, and their be no trace of them! Have you investigated the adults that were here. I don’t know most of these people, maybe they took them!” The detective took the tirade in stride and waited for her to be done. “Mrs, Trendale, is it? I’m Detective Emerson. Ma’am, right now we believe that your Daughter along with the other children may have been targeted by a group in Nothern Ireland that had threatened Mr Shaffer and his family when they were in the UK two years ago. His Security team has received some threats through email and text the last few months, and right now that is our best lead. Believe me when I say that we are not leaving any stone unturned. We investigated the Oaksen’s, The Bellows and the Parkers before they left and we would also like to ask you and your Daughter, and Mr and Mrs Lockman and their daughter some questions also, to try to understand what your children’s state of mind had been the last 24 hrs. Mrs Kopcheck, would it be okay if we used your upstairs bedrooms to talk with the Trendale’s and the Lovkmans?” “Oh, why of course dear you go right ahead, I’m going o put some coffee on, as soon as I find the coffee maker. Mrs Trendale opened her mouth to protest but Detective Emerson was as quicker. “Please, everyone, Come upstairs and we’ll talk.” When Mrs Trendale still looked like she wa going to speak. “I insist.” Said the detective in a ver commanding tone. Alison walked numbly up the steps, she tried to look calm and collects on the outside but on the inside she wa falling apart. Her sister was gone and it was her fault. “Meg, please be okay.” She followed her mother and everyone else upstairs.

  Megan only half listens to the story that was being told. She didn’t care what hell Alianna felt like she went through Megan was in hell now. Being coupled up with that I posted in the same house for ten hours was bad enough, but now she is stuck with her somewhere that wasn’t on earth, for possibly her whole life. Her brain felt like it was tearing itself apart. She had no idea who these people were and what they were going to do to her. She remembered some movie that she saw called ready player 1, where the main character had to go into a video game. “That’s it, they jacked me into some high tech VR suit and now I’m just thinking I’m in a medieval castle with her pretending to be Queen. I just have to get the headset off and I’ll be fine.” She even mostly convinced herself that this was the truth, but deep isside she knew that this was real and she couldn’t run to Ali or her mom, all she had was Brittney and Bradley, and she had begun to notice that both of them liked this sixth grade girl with dark hair that was with them. She had caught on that it was that Jaius kid’s sister. She felt betrayed by both Brittney and Bradley but she also knew she couldn’t alienate them, at least until they got out of here.

  Soon the story was over and the plates were being removed from the table. Alianna came to notice that all of the servants were wearing blue body suits under their cloths. She froze. Nisa noticed it and leaned in. “Sister, what troubles you?” She looked at Nisa and saw the same blue fabric under her blouse. “Nisa, why is everyone wearing those body suits, they almost got us killed when we were here before.” Nisa smiled and shook her head. “It’s okay Ali, you they do the same thing, but there is no chance they can be used to harm as the Herald uses the red suits against us. There are now features of the suit that make it fall off if ot begins to tighten for any reason. There is one for each of you in the rooms we have made ready.” Alianna let out her breath. “That’s good to hear. They were awesome for what they did c but not for the price that came with it.” Alianna looked around the table at everyone and could still see the fear evident on most of their faces. She sighed and looked at Nisa. “Sister, would you be able to have the Knights move the beds and everything else for the girls into The Hyresses rooms, I think it would be best if I were with them for the first few nights anyway, to help them through this. I’d like you and your sisters to join us too.” Nisa smiled and nodded. “It will be as you say Hyress.” Alianna grabbed her hand. “Please don’t do that Sister, I would just as soon serve you as you me. “. Nisa smiled and patted her hand. “As you say Ali”. She smiled. She then left the table to carry out Alianan’s request. When Kenic returned to the room Alianan motioned him over to her. When he got to her he bowed with his fist across his chest. “How may I be of service Hyress?” “Kenic, you served us very well under Ye’Tul, and you have been faithful to the white rose all these long years.” She nodded to the white sash tied around his arm and the white rose emblem on his cloak. “Therefore, you are now the Captain of the Knights of the White Rose and of our personal safety.” He knelt down and took her hand. “I swear my Hyress to serve you to the utmost in life and even to the death I will serve you unwaveringly.” He said. She placed her hand on top of his head. “Then rise Sir Kenic, First Knight of the White Rose.” Kenic rose and bowed. “How many Knights are there currently?” She asked. “Five hundred Hyress, with thirty more in training.” She almost let her mouth drop open. “Kenic, that is most impressive and we ar most pleased at this. These are our first two commands to you then. First, I want a guard of seven Knights to guard this room around the clock, especially that new archway at the base of the Thron. Secondly, I want you to send word out to all the peoples of the Catha Dral and the lands of the Son of Maleric for all able bodied men that would like to become a Knight of the white rose or of the Hyress’s army, to report here two weeks hence.” He slapped his fist to his chest and bowed slightly. “It will be as you say Hyress.” He then turned on his heel and headed out of the room. A short time later a group of men I. Crystal armor, carrying swords and Shields came into the room and fanned out with three of them standing Guard on the new archway that had formed.

  Jaius looked at Alise and Lorna. When they saw him looking at them they smiled and leaned in. He leaned into them. “Enoch, said that I had my own city?” The smiled and nodded. “We named it Arewman, after the name we gave you. Our father has been its steward in your absence, but I know he will gladly step back now that you are here.” Said Alise. Jaius shook his head. “Why would I deprive our people of a leader who had led them so well, I would like to see it thought.” “We will take you tomorrow Jaius, our parents will be thrilled to see you.” He smiled, but shook his head. “I think it will need to be a few weeks from now. We are all about to get very sick.” They looked shocked and then worried. “Jaiusc what do you mean, how do you know you will all get sick.” He sighed. “Where we are from there are many poisons in the air we breathe and the food we eat. They stay in our bodies and corrupt them. Here in this place the air is pure and so is everything else. Our bodies have to empty those poisons once we’ve been her a few days. It happened to Alianna and I when we first got here.” They nodded. “We will help you all get better when it happens.” Said Lorna. Jaius looked closely at them. “It has really been 249 years since we left? Yet you both look pretty much the same as when I left. “ ther looked at eachother intensely and then at him. “You also have not changed in 248 years Jaius.” Said Alise in her matter of fact way. He was about to say simonyhing to the contrary but then began to laugh. They looked confused which then changed to looks of hurt, he also saw an odd look from Ali. She leaned in toward Nisa.

  “Sister.” Alianna whispered. Nisa leaned in.”yes Sister” “ are your other sisters married”. Nisa shook her head but then paused. “Fear not for your love of the Son of Maleric suster, his love for you is true. As for my sisters and I Enoch told us that we would one day meet three sons from the same Father and those would be our husbands. He said that we must stay as we are until then.” Despite herself Alianna breathed a sigh of relief.

  Jaius looked at the two Sisters. “ I’m sorry I did not mean to cause you harm, it’s just that you were right Alise, except that for me only three months have passed since I saw you last, at least for me.” Tey looked at him with their mouths open. “ How can this be Jaius? Were you not Alison on this world all these years with us? You and the Hyress went west and we just assumed you started a life there.” That was when the true reality of the nature of thief ignorance hit Jaius. He shook his head. “We went west and found the Garden of Eden. After we encountered the eternal we were sent home, not to a different world as we had originally thought, but to a different time. We aren’t from another world, we are from many centuries in your future.” They looked down and then at eachother for a minute. “So.” Began Alise cautiously. “You come from our world, but a different time? Many many times hence?” Jaius nodded. “That means they you and the Hyress are the same as us, descendants of the first. If you saw the Garden of the Eternal, then you must have met the first. Please tell us everything.” Jaius nodded indicating he had met Adam. He took a deep breath and then recounted everything that happened to them after they left the Heralds estate.

  Keri sat trying to keep everything together in her head. They were walking down a stone staircase, Megan fell, and knocked them into another place and another time? Nothing computed right now inside her brain. Her photographic memory had nothing to latch onto to relate to this. She felt like she was caught up in a tornado. Trudy grabbed her hand. Carrie looked at her I could see the same fear and turmoil on her face. Carrie, what is going on? Where are we? Why is everyone treating Ally like a queen? And why is she acting like one? And what just happened with that crystal chair in the burst of light and carry what’s going on? Carry opened her mouth to try to give her sister some explanation something to hold onto but quickly she shut it because she had nothing. I…. I don’t know true but Ally and Jaius seem to be pretty calm and confident in what’s going on, so right now I’m standing on that fact. They aren’t panicking so I’m trying not to. Trudy looked at her and slowly noted her head. You’re right, I know you’re right I am just realizing that we’re not in Pennsylvania anymore. And I’m not sure there’s a way back. We may not see Mom) or Dad again. Or anyone. Tears started to leak out of Carrie‘s eyes. I…I no Trudy keep doing whatever Ally and Jaius are doing.

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  Bradley sat there nervously Wibling with his thumbs. He had nothing right now. His mind was a blank, which was odd for him because usually there was 1 million thoughts flying through it at once. He’d never been this scared before. One minute he was on some old stone steps in the back of Olivia grandmother‘s house next thing he knows he’s in some medieval land that shouldn’t even exist with crystals that produce massive amounts of energy men and crystal armor who knows what else. He glanced over to where Anne was. And she was just sitting there while her brother talked to the two women who seemed to know him really well.

  She looked like she was trying to be strong, but he could see if she was also fidgeting with her thumbs. He looked up and saw that Brittany was trying to talk with Megan. So he got up and moved and sat next to her. Hey, he said quietly. She glanced over at him, glanced back at her hands and looked at him again. Hey, she said. How are you doing? He said. She shook her head. I’m barely holding it together. She said. He nodded, looked at her. Yeah me too. I feel like this is just some really bad dream that we’re gonna wake up from. Or that when we all fell down the steps, we all got concussions and some shared freaky dream or something. She laughed a little. Yeah me too. I was thinking the same things. I’m afraid though that it’s not any of those Bradley. I’m afraid that it’s actually real. His face fell a bit, but then he regained his composure. Yeah, I know. Like we’re in a room full of sign saying this is real but all we wanna do is sit around and ignore the signs. She glanced at him. That was almost poetic she said. He smiled a bit. I like reading it. I just don’t know if I’m very good at making it. I don’t know I guess I would have to say maybe Longfellow. I like the meter in the canter of his poems. Anne’s eyes got wide. You mean, you’re actually read poems and know some things about them. Bradley nodded his head. I mean, it’s not my only all the time hobby but I do like it. So they began talking about poets and rhyme and meter.

  Brittany looked at Megan, who was absent finally sitting there playing with her food. You should eat something Meg, she said. Megan gave her a reproachful look as she said, glanced at her and then went back to playing with her food. Meg. Look, I know that you’re probably in the worst place. You could probably imagine, but you need to eat something. Megan looked at her. Britt, we’re not even here. This is some virtual reality experiment that we all got sucked into somehow.” Britney scratched her face up and sugar head, and looked incredulously at Megan. Wake up, Megan. I know you’re in denial mode but right now you need to snap out of this and you have to set aside your anger and your anger and hatred for Alianna right now. Because this is real Megan, this is reality. We’re actually here we aren’t in the United States of America anymore I’m not even sure we’re on earth anymore. But right now the only person who seems to have any clue as to what’s going on or how to survive is Aliana and Jaius so now is not the time to be shunning them we need them right now Megan we need to know what’s going on and what we need to do to get home. Because right now I wanna go home Megan I wouldn’t even care if my parents lived in a shack right now I would just want to be with them. I don’t want to be here. I don’t know where I am. I don’t know what to do. I’ve never had that feeling before and I hate it so I’m asking you as your best friend. Please snap out of this and get involved. Megan looked at her at first her face just showed a lot of hurt, but eventually, some of what Brittany said, started to filter through. Slowly, but eventually with more effort and speed, Megan picked up her fork and put it into a slice of meat. Then she shoved it in her mouth and started to chew. I’m sorry Meg. I didn’t mean to freak out on you, it’s just you’re the one I know the best here and I need you. Megan looked at her sideways again and smiled a little bit and kept chewing.

  Jim looked at Olivia. She seemed fairly calm considering the situation they were in. He definitely felt more secure then he knows he would have been if this had happened yesterday. Coming to really understand the message of salvation and know he was saved was a huge rock under his feet, where he didn’t feel like he was always falling. But Olivia seemed even more sure, which made him feel a little less sure because he felt like he was missing something. “How are you handling this so well.” He asked her. She turned away from staring at the purple crystal chair and back at him. “I’m probably not doing as well as it may look like Jim. I feel like I’m a mess inside, but I also feel God’s peace. I guess, also, since Ali told me about this place and what happened to her here back in August, I was kinda prepared for it in a way. I believed what she aside was true because I heard no lie in it, and Anne told me Jaius told her a similar story, so, I guess I’m just not as shocked they this is where we are right now.” Jim nodded, hearing their story had helped him a little bit. He figured it was because Olivia had months to sort through it instead of just minutes, which gave her that much more confidence in what was going on and what would happen. He looked at her and smiled. It is kind of cool how music seems to play such an important role in this place. She smiled also, and her smile touched her eyes. You are so right Jim I hadn’t really been thinking about that but it’s so true. Maybe maybe they’ll be a place for us here. He smiled and nodded.

  That night Alianna, lead the way towards the Hyress’s swuites. All the girls went with her, Megan, however, had absolutely refused to sleep in the same room with her, and so Alise and Lorna had agreed to stay in the had agreed to stay with her and Brittany in Nisa’s old quarters that had been right next to her rooms. Jaius had taken the boys. To the rooms he had stayed in when Malerix had come to the Catha Dral all those years before. When Alianna shut the doors to Nisa’s old rooms, seaside heavily, still trying to understand why Megan hated her so much. She turned and saw Kenic behind her. A tear left her eyes in that moment he looked a lot like. Ye’Tul who always took the first night shift, guarding her rooms. He close his eyes and bowed his head, a sad smile on his face. He looked at her. I am not Ye’Tul, Hyress, he was far greater than I am, but I will do everything in my power to do as good as a job as he did. She smiled. I know you will Kenic, Ye’Tul counciled me that if anything should ever happen to him I should name you as his replacement. His trust was in you Kenic you have our full trust also. He smiled slightly and nodded. Thank you. Hyress, that means more than either of you know. One thing Kenic, especially aware of this room. Our very dear best friend sister sleeps there, but for reasons we cannot tell, she is vexed towards us. I fear that she may try to run away. This must not happen she would not survive long outside these walls. He slapped his fist across his chest. It will be as you say Hyress. I will make sure she does not roam around in escoorted. Alianna nodded her head. Her name is Megan, she straight brown hair Kenic nodded agwin. She smiled. Good night Kenic. Good night, Hyress. Alianna. She said.. he smiled and nodded. Alianna. She turned and entered her rooms. They had been kept exactly as she had left them. Even though 2 1/2 centuries had gone by they were the same. Meticulously repaired and kept. It was almost like she hadn’t left at all. Most of the space in the rooms now was taken up by seven comfortable beds. When she shut the door, they all looked up having already chosen their beds. Eliana looked at them all. Look, I know for most of you. This has been a terribly hard couple of hours. Everything you’ve known is gone, separated from your families, having absolutely no idea where you are or what’s happening. I know this cause Jason and I experienced it for a month. When we first arrived here. I want you to know right now that we’re safe here inside these walls. With the power of the Thron, the chair that set upon that dias, I can protect us. Do you have any questions that are tale of our time didn’t answer? Carrie raise her hand. You don’t have to raise your hand Carrie, just speak. Keri blushed. You mentioned being very sick when you first got here, that this place healed your body but as it did it you became very sick. Enoch told Trudi and I that we would become sicker then anyone, do you, do you think we’ll die? Alianna w Dr over to them both and hugged them. Not on my watch you won’t. I’ll do everything I can to make sure that what’s coming isn’t as bad as it could be. Nisa steeped over to them. We have those here who can sing the crystals for healing. We will help you.. Keri smiled at her. Thank you. Ali. Said Anne, are we ever going to get home?. Alianna went over to her and hugged her. It’s not up to us. Anne, that we were brought here and not up to us. How long we stay, but if I can find a way home for us, I will. Thank you Ali.

  Just saying there was a soft knock at the door. Nisa went to answer it. She opened it slightly and looked out into the hall. Then she shut the door with a big smile on her face. Ali, I believe there are a couple people here that would like to see you. Alianna looked at her smiling but Quizically. She mouth the words “who is it?” Nisa mouthed back, friends. Alianna laughed and told her to let them in. The door opened and two girls with fiery red hair came bursting into the room and ran towards Alianna and embraced her. “Ali, Ali, your back.” They shouted for joy. Alianna laughed and cried. At the same time as the twins did. Over their shoulder she saw a third person slowly stepping into the room. It was a girl with a long, brown hair, braided behind her with big whide eyes. She was looking at the floor, shame covering her face. Alianna’s face softened and she pulled away from the twins. “It is so very good to see you both. She said with warm smiles that were returned by the girls. And you also Clara. Alianna said as she lifted her head and smiled at the girl that was still standing by the door. Clara whiped at her eyes but didn’t look up. Alianna sighed and walked over to her. She felt her tense up as she approached. Alianna wrapped her arms around her and pulled her in. “I…I’m so sorry Hyress for what I did you you.” She wailed. Alianna ran her hand down the girls hair. “Clara it is okay. I forgive you, only if you forgive me. I was absolutely terrible to you Clara, I never should have threatened your life. Please for give me.” All Clara could do was cry and nod her head. “Thank…thank you Hyress.” Was alll she could get out. Alianna whispered to her ear. “Call me Ali.” Clara really let loose the floodgates then, but her cries were not as guilt ridden as they had been. Anne had moved over to sit next to Keri and Trudi because she needed to be near people she knew , as all these strangers continued to flood the room. She leaned in to Trudi. “Ali really does have healing hugs.” Trudi smiled and nodded. “Yep, it’s definitely a gift. I feel like I’ve picked up a book and started reading it

  from the middle instead of the beginning.” Anne smiled and so did Keri. “Yep, that’s exactly what I was feeling.” Said Anne. “Me too.” Said Keri. Eventually, they all went to sleep except for Alianna. She went over to her vanity and there was the shards she had used to create that sword and the golden hilt and the new tiara she had created. She ran her hands over them wondering when shoe would need them again. The Herald was dead, but what dangers and evils had filled the gap left by her passing? She went out onto the balcony that overlooked her private garden and saw someone looking up at her. At first her hand went instinctively to the Thron shard, but then she recognized who it was. It was Jaius. She let her breath out and smiled at him, and held up her hand signaling to give her a minute. He nodded his head and waited. She turned back to her room and went to the secret door and pushed the hidden switch’s. The wall pushed back and she opened the door that led to the hidden stairway down to her garden. Within moments she was out of the hidden door and running. Towards Him he held out his arms and as she entered the hug she knew why he had come. She disolved into tears. She would have fallen to the ground if he had not held her up. He picked her up effortlessly and walked over to the stone wall that surrounded the small pool at the other end of the garden and sat down ,cradling her in his arms. She hand not realized how much she had pent up and shoved down since they got here. The joy of all these reunions she thought she would never have had pushed down all the terrible emotions that had arisen when she realized they had come back here again. She kept crying that her mother had known she was going away and how horrible this whole thing had to have been for her. Jaius let his own tears fall, but that was all he allowed himself, she needed him more right now. She cried over being taken from her family again, and also over bringing everyone else into this also. She also cried for all the families who must be freaking out right now. This went on for an hour or So. Eventually she stoped crying and just rested her head on his shoulder. “Thank you for always being there for me Jaius. How…how did you know?” “I saw it in your eyes when we both were able to breath again. I saw that you knew what had happened and saw the emotions welling up, but then they were pushed down by the Hyress. I knew they needed to come out.” “I love you Jaius.” “I love you too Ali.” She felt so comforted right then, and a huge peace fell over her. Her knight had rescued her again. “What do you think we should do, now that we are here?.” She said softly. “The heartald is dead, but when I read the Book of Genisis, it seemed like the time of Enoch wasn’t a bad time, but eventually he will be taken up into heaven and then it will get bad.” She looked at him in horror. “What? Taken up to heaven? Why?” Jaius shrugged. “I’m not sure, but the Bible says that Enoch walked with God for three hundred years and then he was not, for Fod took him. It basically means God raptured Enoch up to heaven. He’s one of two people in the Bible that never died. Her face fell. “So, since there may be time coming where he will be taken away and it falls on us to defend against evil, I was thinking we need to get prepared to fight. Apparently I have not own city, Alise and Lorna’s father is stewarding it for me. After we get over our sickness, I was going to go see it and see what defenses it has to offer.” She nodded. “I’ll stay here and dig deeper into the Thron. I need to find out as much about it and the crystals as I can if I am to be helpful to you.” He got sad at that. “I was hoping we could stay together.” She smiled sadly. “I do too Jaius, but we don’t know how much time we have and so, if we split things up, I e can get done faster.” He nodded reluctantly. “I’ll take Jim and Bradley with me, I can train them some along the way.” She nodded sadly. Wanting so much for the conversation to not be going this way, but realizing that they had to split their time or else they may not have enough of it. “I’ll keep the girls here with me, I’m hoping some of them can sing the stones, and maybe even have some other talents, like your mimic abilities.” He nodded. “I’m hoping the same for Jim and Bradley.” “Jaiusx. How soon do you think till the sickness starts?” He thought for a moment. “We made it through two nights before I got sick, and then it was two more days before you got sick. Maybe it affects boys more quickly then girls.” She nodded. “If it does, then I’ll be right there at your bedside taking care of you.” He smiled. “And I, you my lady.” She blushed. They sat there talking and planning for a few hours but eventually Jaius thought it would be wise for them to not spend all night together. She agreed and nodded her head. She hugged him and gave him a kiss on the cheek. “My favor to my brave Knight who saves me once again.” He smiled and blushed. He took her hand, bent down and kissed the back of it. I will always be there for you, my lady. They waved at each other as they parted. She went back up to her rooms. Everyone was still asleep. So she quietly opened the door. Kenic tense as the door open at a time of night when it shouldn’t have. But relaxed as soon as I saw who it was.. Kenic. Yes Hyress, there’s one more reunion I need to have tonight. Are the Horouses still here? He smiled and nodded. This way, Hyress. She followed him through the halls and out a side door. They walked down a large broad Street, until they came to a very large circular building. Smells of animal hair and horse manure flooded or nostrils. Years ago she would’ve turned up her nose at such a smell, but now it brought a wave of peace and stirring of joy. They were on their way through the intricate aisles within the building until they step foot into the stables. Rose and rose and rose large animals had heads sticking out of the stalls. Every one of them looked up at her as they approached. But one in particular in a very elaborate stall. A white mare. Began weaning and nickering and raising her head up and down. Alianna ran all the way to the stall and threw her arms around Emily’s neck. She buried her head into the soft hair and cried tears of joy. The horse continued and Winnie and knicker. She spent the rest of the night, grooming her and talking to her.

  The next day was filled with explanations for the newcomers and also for Alianna and Jaius. As much have changed since they last been here. Enoch told them how the crystals in the city were powered by the voices of the chorus. The chorus is made up of 200 volunteers. That sing in shifts their voice is power of the operations of the city. They had developed many advancements. They had outfitted wagons with Krystal ‘s. That allowed the wagons to move themselves and even fly. People flew to and throw among the towers of the city because of the crystals. Study and use of the crystals had allowed them many advancements in the building of structures. The crystals allowed them to produce measurements for architecture down to the molecular level. They developed healing treatment, using crystals and medicines. They even had to develop weapons using the crystals. As the people have Kane in the west had also become very numerous and also adapt to the use of the crystals. Enoch had been able to stay one step ahead of them through the guidance of the eternal. There were now tens of thousands of people. Were before they would only been hundred scattered hair in there. The Krystal‘s helped their crops grow well and now that the thron was able to be used, it seemed like the possibilities might be limitless. A lot of time is also spent explaining to the newcomers what it happened. What was going on how to survive here in this place. That night, the sickness did start. Jim got sick first, then Bradley. And by the morning, Jaius became ill. Jaius didn’t seem to get it as bad as the other two. Olivia and Anne stayed by their side as much as they could, and Alianna kept her promise Jaius. She tended him in every way she could. Seeing what he was going through and dreading what would happen to her soon. The healing and the medicine of the people, and also the bodysuits did make very much difference in mitigating some of the symptoms. After two days, the boys began to improve. And like last time as they improved, Aliana and the other girls got sicker. Like Jaius, Aliana didn’t suffer as badly as the others. And like last time, the girls symptoms were not the same as the boys. Nisa prevented the boys from seeing them far more than the girls were restricted from seeing the boys. But they didn’t fight it, the boys just took every moment they could to help them. Eventually, Eliana and the other girls got better, except for Carrie and Trudy. They really did have the worst of it. They would cry out in pain and anguish through most of the day. They described as if their bodies were being torn apart from the inside. Especially Trudy began to lose a lot of weight, and everyone feared that she was dying. Alianna, Jaius, Olivia and Jim prayed night and day for her. Enoch I assure them that she would live. But it was hard to hold onto that assurance as they watched her waste away. Carry recovered even before Trudy. Eventually though. At the end of the second week Trudy recovered. All of them experienced the same increase in their stamina and health and abilities that Geus and Aliana had. Trudy, however. Got even more than the rest. After she recovered, they all found out that she hadn’t been wasting away, but whatever had caused her to become obese had been healed. She emerged at least as beautiful as her sister, and Carrie had emerged twice as pretty as she had been before the cancer. Trudy couldn’t stop crying every time she walked by a mirror. She only dreamed of this never thought it would happen. Soon the time came for jaius to depart. He explained everything to Jim and Bradley. They had not wanted to go at first. But eventually after they recovered. They had agreed to go. It was a day of sad partings. But they promised to be gone only a few days. Jaius,a said he was only a days right away. And Aliana promised to send word if there was problems.

  Jonathan Olson met with Bradley Schaeffer Wednesday morning. They went into the large Catholic Church in town. It’s a beautiful piece of architecture. It was built 200 years ago. The north act was all wood paneling of cherry wood candle stands, lined the walls with the light from the candles flickering in the window as they open the door. They looked around, soaking in the memories of when they were Altar Boyz here. There were such a still quietness in the church that they didn’t speak for fear of breaking it. The carpet was red velvet very soft and absorbed. A lot of the noise two stairways let upwards on either side of the north X there was a coat closet and two doors stood in the Walls which they remembered with the doors to the crying rooms where mothers would have to take their little children when they started to cry uncontrollably. The four doors that led into the sanctuary had stain glass on them and each one had a different face at the top. One had the face of a man one had the face of a bull one had the face of an eagle and the other, the face of a lion after reading revelation, Jonathan Olson finally understood what they meant the the four living creatures that surrounded the throne in heaven, one had the face of a man one had the face of a bull one had the face of a line and the other the face of an eagle so many things were clicking into place for him now since he’s been saved. He rode towards the door with the face of the man and opened it Barry Schaeffer followed him Barry actually dipped his hand into the little bowl of water on the other side of the door and made the side of the cross. Jonathan didn’t. Lost your faith, Jonathan? Barry said. Jonathan’s head. Nope, just found it. This is not here in the church anymore. Bradley Arden eyebrow, but moved on and sit in one of the pews. So what did you wanna talk to me about Jonathan Jonathan down in him and sat down next to him. I wanted to know if you really did believe me what I told you. Bradley Schaeffer looked at him, sizing him up evaluating him. I’ve known you a long time Jonathan I’ve never known you to make up stories or fantasies, and I’ve never known you to tell a lie what you’re telling me is beyond fantastical, but the reality is that our security team They had Brittany tagged your children. Also, the children are nowhere on this planet less buried 40,000 feet beneath it. I don’t believe in aliens Jonathan so cord in Mr. Holmes whatever is left however impossible or improbable must be the answer. I’m not gonna be sitting here writing the papers about what you said. I’m only at the baseline believing it because I have no choice but to believe it right now. Jonathan nodded. That’s a good place to start. I saw you make the sign of the cross Bradley why’d you do that he looked at him, shook his head, force of habit mostly, I remember you believed in God, though when we were boys, Bradley nodded. I did. But then I got out in the real world Jonathan we have to fight for what you have you have to earn what you have. I understand that Bradley. But I want to tell you about how my life got changed and Emily‘s life got changed. Our daughter‘s life got changed by God by Jesus. Bradley made a noise and turned his head and turned back. Come on Jonathan. This is not the time for this kind of thing. Jonathan took his head. It’s exactly the time Bradley I know you love Brittany. I know you don’t show emotions as Riley as anyone else, but I know you love her and you want to tear the world apart to find her. You should be feeling that way too, Jonathan how can you and Emily be so calm? Jonathan let the sadness he was feeling touch his eyes believe me Bradley. We’re going through it too Emily especially because like I showed you she had to go through this whole thing knowing that Ally would be gone and not able to stop it. So you believe God did this. I believe God is in control , and nothing happens by chance. When they came back last time that they had been saved, they knew Jesus as their savior and they’ve been changed. I don’t know what’s going to happen this time. So you think they’ll be coming back I believe it in my heart how could a loving God do this? Barry spat. A loving God brought our daughter back to us redeemed with eternal life ahead of her, and I am praying and believing that the same can happen for your daughter. You can give her all the money in the world Barry, but it means nothing if she dies as lost. But if she knows the truth that Jesus died for her sins and she’ll live forever and so can you and so can Amelia. Barry almost lost his cool I was able to regain it. Jonathan on the baseline I believe you let’s leave it at that for now. Jonathan did hear a tone in Barry’s voice, though that echo of softness like you can almost see a door opening. When we get together like this again, Barry. Barry thought for a long moment. He took a deep breath and then nodded his head. How about same Bat time…”. Jonathan laughed, same bat channel.

  Emily Olson drove the Bell’s car home as Patricia Bellows was beside herself. Elaine Parker. Kept wiping her eyes and blowing her nose, but she was able to hold it together. Why said Patricia Bellows. Why did this happen? I don’t almost feel better if they had been abducted at least they’d be on this planet here. But if what you say is true, will they even come back? Emily Oak, and took a deep breath and let it out. God brought them both back to us last time Patricia, we have to believe in trust that he’ll do it again. That’s just it Emily she wailed. I haven’t thought of God since Henry died. I was so mad at God for taking my husband from me. I found Bill, but I’m not sure that the anger of went away. Elaine Parker looked up. We all die Patricia. And no person goes to this life without some sorrow hurt. But God is good alianan and jaius we’re gone for five months, but they came back knowing God and saved. We have to continue to hope for them. But what you’re saying is true Patricia cried they’re in very great danger. They are in danger but no more danger than they are here. How many school shootings have they been in the past 20 years? Our children are just as much in danger in our world as in that world. And we can’t even protect them here. All we can do is reach out and rely on God to protect them and guard them and keep them safe. Patricia started to calm down. You’re right, Emily. But I don’t know if God would ever accept my apology. None of us are worthy of him or his forgiveness. Patricia said Elaine. But he gives it still. That night in the car ride home Patricia Bellows believed and was saved.

  Allison was an absolute mess. Lacey came over when she got home. She’s just sat there and listened to Allison spill everything out. Everything except what happened at the formal even in her distress she knew she had to keep that ultra secret. She cried out to Lacey that her air was gone. The brother of her keeper was gone. The table was breaking apart. Lacey hit her with a hard truth. That she would need to bring in other people to fill the spots. She could keep the position open until the end of the year, but if Megan didn’t come back before, then she would have to announce a new heir. This hit her like a ton of bricks. Steven remembers asking Lacey what it meant if she would’ve stepped down. Lacey was firm with her and saying that Mandy would become queen Tiffany most likely her second. Allison could theoretically stay on at the table, but any queen that has step down has never really ever returned. It would be the end of her rule of her year and her influence at the table. This rocked, Allison deeply her love for her sister, ran deep, but so did her desire for her mother’s affection and attention. And right now that was threatened the only way she could keep it at this point was to stay queen and keep the table together. After Lacey left, she texted Bo. I so need to talk to you right now with second he called. She cried out everything to him again, except for the what happened at the. Formal he assured her that everything would be OK. He will be there for her she knew that he may not fully mean it at the moment she didn’t care

  Mandy walked away from Tiffany’s bed. The doctor had had to give her a tranquilizer as she was hysterical, she turned off the light and went downstairs and went out to her father‘s car when she got there and shut the door she looked at him. Her father was always a joke, sir. He’s a big comedian, but when he looked into his daughter’s eyes, he knew that now was not the time for jokes he put his arm around her, and the unfamiliar gesture broke floodgates, and Mandy that she didn’t know were there she hadn’t lost a family member that night but she loved her friend Tiffany very deeply and she loved Ally too so she grieved for them. She liked Megan and she liked Bradley. She’d watch Bradley grow up so she cried for all of them and her dad just held her as a moment that neither of them had ever had together, but when they would never forget.

  The news broke on Monday. The media wouldn’t contain any further. National international news lit up with report that the daughter of Bradley Schaeffer had been abducted was missing along with nine other children from Black Canyon, Pennsylvania. This massive news story over shadowed one about a boy at Saint Pius the 10th Catholic high school who had used a military grade drone to pour blood all over one of the students. Billy Polk was arrested for terrorist activity his scholarship to Saint Pius the 10th was revoked he was deemed mentally unstable claiming that he was innocent Even the aliens had set him up. Allison was able to sigh a relief at that at least one threat was gone the whole reason she had done it was gone. Also, she had to move on, though she sat at the head of the table on Monday at lunchtime when everyone had gathered, she stood up, looking around tears in her eyes. Today is a heavy day. She said three of our tables are missing. We don’t know where they are or when they will return my own sister Megan is one of them and Tiffany’s brother another and Britney they are missing and we don’t know where they are, but the table must go on the table must indoor to that end. I’ve sent invitations to three people if our beloved table mates return we will just add seats, but the table must be hole. Trent Britney‘s brother talk to me on Sunday and he said that we all handled their property really well and so they would definitely be willing to allow us to continue up at the mountain retreat and at the lake house, I express our deep and endearing gratitude to their family, especially in such a time and so the table will go on, and we will continue in the traditions that have been set down. Will continue in what we have planned and what we have set our minds to And we will not fault nor give up. Everyone at the table, applaud and clapped and cried. Allison felt cold inside, especially as the three new table members join the table. It should be her sister there. It should be Britney and Bradley there, but it wasn’t. She wasn’t sure it ever would be again. She did everything she could, but her grades began to slip a little so she started to go see father Clement, whose role wasn’t just disciplinarian, but also counselor.

  Brittany stood out on the balcony, looking out over the alien landscape Amne joined her on the balcony hey hey Brittany replied how are you doing? I feel like I’m falling apart. Britney said I know the feeling I mean Jaius told us about what happened to them when they got back so I’ve been able to crunch on that for a while, but it’s still massively. Unbelievable now that I’m looking at it. At least you had that kind of warning. I still have no idea what I’m looking at. According to to what they told us Brittany, where about 5000 years in the past before the flood of Noah. The time of Adam and Eve in the garden. Britney looked at her sideways. Do you believe this? I know my brother wasn’t lying and now I’m standing here faced with it. I can’t deny it. Britney. She looked at her, but then that means that we have to believe it we have to believe what the Bible said is true. True about everything. About heaven and hell and God and sin. Anne what do I do with that? I don’t know Brittany, but I trust my brother, and I trust Aliana, and I believe that we will get through this. Brittany put her head in her hands and cried. Anne wrapped her arms around her and held her. I know something that might cheer you up. Brittany looked at her. What. Aliana let me know that they have horses here. Are you serious? Anne nodded an excitement. Ali told me that she would take us to the stables soon and that we could go riding. Britney‘s face lit up like a Christmas tree. Oh, Anne I can’t believe it. I wonder if they’ll have one like Ulysses’s here. They have a lot of them so I have to assume there will be.

  They did go riding the next day. Out along, rolling Hills, the full cloud cover in the sky, making Britney look up and wonder.. they reveled in the wind rushing through their their hair. It was far more amazing than anything. Her father’s farm had had, and she felt renewed. Later that night anne wrote a poem about a stairway to nowhere.

  Alianna gathered all of the newcomer girls in the grand hall once they were all recovered and the boys had left. Megan had come, but lay in a couch at the far corner of the hall. They had brakefast together. Alianna had brought all her ladies in waiting with her this morning. After introductions and eating Alianna stood up. “Thank you all for coming.” She said it loud enough for Megan to hear. Megan made a sniffing sound and turned away from her. Alianna sighed but then continued. “Today we ar going to see if any of you have the ability to sing the stones, or any other abilities. You will all find that your senses will start to become heightened, seeing, hearing, smell possibly, or touch. For Jaius and I we could see and hear ten times what we could before and we could also run faster and farther then before and we could stay away for two days before becoming tired. They all nodded as it seemed like a lot of this had already begun to happen to them. Alianna motioned to Levin and the Knight brought over a heavy wooden chest. He set it on the table and opened it. Inside were crystals of all different shapes and sizes. Alianna took one and began to hum a note. The clear crystal began to glow and after a few moment of this the crystal began to lift into the Air. Alianna held onto it tightly and soon she was lifting g off the ground into the air. Everyone’s mouth dropped open as she hovered there for a minute then stopped singing and slowly settled down again tot he ground. She walked over to Olivia and handed her the crystal. “Try singing to the crystal Olivia.l. Olivia looked at it like it was a snake. “But, Ali, It’s Magic, Magic is not allowed. She said nervously. Alianna bent in. “It’s not Magic, it’s science. It’s the special make up of the crystals and the radiation that comes from the ground, it all has a scientific explanation.” Olivia looked at the crystal, then back at her, and then her head snapped back to the crystals. “Ali, I see pathways inside the crystal. I…thought I saw something moving and changing inside the crystal as you sang, it must have been those pathways, they were twisting and vibrating as you sang.” Alianna’s eyebrow shot up and she looked at the crystal. She squinted, but couldn’t see what Olivia was talking about. Alianna hummed and the crystal began to glow. “Yes, I see them glowing and twisting and changing. As they twist energy comes out of them. They are moving so fast sometimes i can’t follow them, but I can see it.” Aliana. Looked at her. “Olivia that’s amazing. You might be able to help us unlock hidden secrets about the crystals.” Olivia smiled but still seems reserved. Alianna was about to press her but in that moment remembered something Julie had taught her from Romans 14 about not pressing someone against their conscience so she didn’t keep going. “It’s okay Olivia, this is an awesome start for now.” Olivia let out her breath and smiled. Thanks Ali. Then Alianna moved towards Keri and Trudi. She set a crystal before each one and backed away. They looked at it then at Alianna. Keri took a deep breath and then grabbed the crystal and began to sing. Her voice was even prettier then it had been. But as she sang, nothin g seemed to happen. She stopped sadness flooding her face. Alianna placed her hand on Keri’s, and smiled. “It’s okay Keri, Jaius can’t either but he developed other skills.” She smiled and nodded but still seemed sad. Trudi gave her a side hug then she tried. She began to sing but after a few stanza’s nothing happened. She also had sadness flood her face. Alianna gave them both a hug “Don’t worry, I’m sure something else will happen.” As she gathered the crystals and began heading towards Anne, Enoch was walking through the hall as hie passed her he said , without looking up from the scroll he was reading. “You should have them sing together Hyress, and also with you.” Alianna stopped and got red as she mentally slapped herself for not thinking. Of it because they are twins. She turned and went back to them and handed each of them a crystal. “Try again, except this time together.” They looked at eachother and then took a crystal and smiled. “Row, row, row your boat?” Keri said with a smile. Trudi smiled back and nodded. So they both began singing at the same time and both their crystals began to glow. But as they sang, both their crystals changed shape into two row boats. They both stopped when that happens. Alianna’s mouth dropped open. “That’s amazing! Together, your both able to change the crystals into different shapes.” They looked at eachother and smiled. She then grabbed her crystal and looked at them. One more round of Row your boat.” She said with a smile. They laughed and nodded. Keri began, then Trudi joined in, and then Alianna sang. Her Crystal began to change shape in her hand so she set it down. It turned into two crystalline men and walked over and got in the boats and began to row them, and the boats moved as though they were on a river. When they stopped they all stared at what had happend. Everyone gasped. they all stopped singing, and the boat stopped rowing. Aliana Carey and Trudy all smiled at each other. Aliana then went ti Anne. And looked at it dubiously. Ally can’t sing. My voice sounds terrible. Eliana was about to push her, but then something jumped in her mind. Why don’t you recite one of your poems Her eyes perked up a little and she thought for a moment. Listen my friends, and you will hear of the midnight ride of Paul Revier . The Krystal pullers in time with the meter of her poem. All of a sudden Anne disappeared. And then reappeared at the far corner of the room next to Megan. Which made Megan jump off her couch and run over into the far corner ventilating, her eyes going kind of wild. “What kind of crazy place is this?” “It’s okay Meg…” started Alianna. “Don’t tell me it’s okay. It’s not okay. We’re all living some sci fi geeks fantasy except none of us are geeks, we’ll, at least some of us aren’t! All I wanted was to get these stupid service hours done and look at where I am. Light years away from anything I know stuck here with you!” Her face flush, she stalked her foot and then ran from the room. Brittney rose to go after here but Nisa put a hand on her arm. “Stay Brittney, we will go check on her.” Nisa looked at the other Ladies and nodded her head. They all got up and went outside after Megan. Alianna caught Nisa’s eye and mouthed the words. “Thank you.” Nisa smiled and nodded and left the room. Alaina a ran over to Anne. “Are you okay Anne.” Anne had dropped the crystal. “I…I think so. It looked like all my parts are here”. She said patting herself down. “Ali, how did that happen? That poem always reminds me of taking a trip and all of a sudden there was streets of light and then I was halfway across the room. “ the crystals react to what your thinking about. But I’ve thought similar things and just flown. You dissapeared and then reappeared. Either it is your gift, or it happens for poems instead of songs. But Annie, this is awesome!” Anne smiled abs nooded. Alianna then went over to Brittney who looked terrified. “What….whats going to happen to me? I’m not going to turn into anything am I?” She said in a weak voice. Alianna reassured her with a smile. Britney looked hesitantly at the crystal that Aliana held in her hand. Eventually, she reached out and took hold of it. She began to sing. She sang the national anthem of the USA. As she saying, the crystal began to glow, but it’s not a normal glow. It kept getting brighter and brighter and intensity. See the particles radiation being drawn into the crystalline. “Ali”. Olivia shouted. “ the Krystal is storing more and more energy. Like a battery. Britney stop singing. Britney stopped, but the crystal kept glowing. Ariana grabbed the crystal and pointed it at a side table. She’s just hit one very brief note and the energy discharged into the table destroying it. Brittany, this is amazing. You’re actually able to pour energy into the crystals and store it there, until it’s needed. This will be so helpful. Well, my friends. It seems that we all have some talent or another. Now we have to set to work, exploring them and understanding them.

  Why Ali? Said Carrie. Because some dark times May be ahead of us. And we need to be prepared for them. We need to understand the power of the crystals even more, and also understand each other. She said as she looked over her shoulder with a sad face at the door when Megan had run out.

  Nisa followed Megan till she came to a dead end. Megan turned and saw the four women following her. What do you want? She spat. Why are you so bitter towards that Hyress? Her name is Alianan and she is not a queen. What is a queen asked Nisa? Megan was about to reapond but shut her moth and stormed past them. She eventually found her way up to the rooms she had slept in last night. She shut the door and flopped down on the bed. Nisa looked at rhe guard on duty. You know what your orders are concerning her correct. The guard saluted her. Yes first lady. I’ll make sure she does not leave unattended.. we will stay Nisa so that she does not feel alone. Said the twins. She smiled at them, thank you both very much.

  Jaius. Traveled the day journey towards the old compound. He tried to answer Jim and Brad’s questions as best he could. Ali had given him some crystals to test them with when he got there. As the light began to fade, they saw and a innumerable amoun of lights in the valley below them. They went down to the gate and knocked. And had provided him with the signet ring and his white sash with the two gold bars. A third gold bar had been stitched onto it before they left. Malerics harness had also been repaired and given to him. As the guard looked down from the top of the gate. He said the gates closed for the night come back in the morning. Jaius looked up at him. I am the Son of Maleric returned to see the lands I have inherited. The guard looked suddenly confused and scared. Motion for another guard to come over. They talked and then a guard who had been there ran off down the wall into the city. About 15 minutes later. A group of people came back up to the wall along with the guard. They were led by a very familiar man to Jaius. “Sa, it’s very nice to see you again!” “The pleasure is ours Son of Maleric. We held this and guarded it for you as we felt you would always return. Open the gate quickly. The guard open the gate and Jaius S. and Jim and Bradley rode rheoguh through. They let them through the streets of this massive city. Jaius marveled at it. “Sa, how long did this take to build?” The most distant houses we’re finished about 50 years ago. That was around the time that our population reached the point that it’s at now. The people made cloth they grow food they dig digging the mines for crystals. That’s amazing. It’s all yours son of Maleric. He turned to look at Sa. I wouldn’t dream of robbing their people of such a great leader Sa, you have Shepherd of them well so I have no intention of taking that from you. I have come to assess their army and their defenses as we may be facing some very dark times ahead. Sa became sad, but also very seriousl.

  We stand ready to serve you, son of Maleric. The next day Jaius Jim and Bradley took walks through the city. They saw wonder sites people flying through the air, also carts hovering going from one place to another. They saw it look like Chevy Chase’s on the walls, but it looks like they robbed large crystals. They also saw men in different types of armor sword daggers. Shields, all form of weaponry. They were large crystals, stood on tripods along the wall. Sa told them that these crystals would fire heavy powered beams of energy, your enemies. They spent a few days there expecting everything. Then they went back to the cathedral

  A month later, they tried to bring some of the original world to this place.

  Alianna gazed down from the dias that the Thron set on. Her Knights had procured a pine tree from a forest in the north and it now stood at the base of the Dias where the Thron sat. Olivia and Jim were tying ribbons to the branches, and Jaius was hanging clear crystals that were in the shape of Icicles. Bradley and Brittney were weaving garland made of string with wooden balls of different sizes strung upon it.

  About a hundred crystals of different shapes and colors lay at Alianna’s feet. Trudi and Keri stood beside her. Alianna looked at them and smiled. “Are you both ready to bring some Christmas cheer to

  The Catha Dral?

  They smiled at her and nodded. “We are ready Ali.” Said Trudi. Alianna still could not get over the transformation that had happened to Trudi since they got here. She looked completely different, the beauty on the inside had come out all over her outside. Keri looked as stunning as she always did. Alianna pulled out the heart of the Thron, the crystal shard that controls the power of the chair she sat on. She began to sing.

  “Cold are the people, winter of life

  We tremble in shadows

  this cold endless night

  Frozen in the snow lie roses sleeping

  Flowers that will echo the sunrise

  Fire of hope is our only warmth

  Weary its flame will be dying soon.”

  As she sang a light appeared in the middle of the shard she held in her hand as it glowed the Purple Crystal Chair she sat on also began to glow with a deep purple light. Energy began to crackle around her. Keri and Trudi began to sing also, the twins voices mingling almost as if they were identical twins.

  They both held a clear crystal shard in their hand and sang these words as Alianna started the next verse of her round.

  “Silent night! Holy night!

  All is calm, all is bright

  round yon Virgin Mother and Child,

  Holy infant so tender and mild,

  sleep in Heavenly peace!

  sleep in Heavenly peace!”

  A brilliant bright light emerged from the shards they held. As the words of the intermixed songs mingled in perfect harmony and unison so did the light from the Thron and the light from Keri and Trudi’s shards. Energy crackled all around them and slowly the Crystals at Alianna’s feet began to change shape and morphed into different forms.

  Some became reindeer and others became sleighs. Some became people and others became polar bears. There were cats and dogs and children and the detail of the sculpting was almost lifelike. As they sang the menagerie of crystal figures marched down the steps and toward the tree. As they got near the tree their forms morphed slighly again and small crystal hooks appeared at the top of each figure. Then all the figures began to climb up the tree and filter themselves throughout the branches.

  Everyone had stopped what they were doing to watch the amazing display before them. When all the figurines finally stopped they had arrayed themselves to cover each branch end and so the ornaments of the tree were in place.

  Five golden crystals remained at Alianna’s feet. Alianna and the two sisters focused on them and they merged together and formed a glowing star. The star had a golden cone at the bottom of it. As they sang the star lifted from the ground and floated over to the top of the tree.

  Even Megan, who had destained any cooperation with anything Alianna, looked up from her couch in the far corner of the room and her mouth dropped open at the event taking place before her. Everyone in the room stared at the Christmas tree that had gone from ordinary to brilliant beyond even the one at Rockefeller Center in just a few moments.

  As the song reached its crescendo, the illumination on the tree erupted with glorious light, which kept shining even after the singing stopped. Alianna stood up and declared. “ Merry Christmas everyone!” They all turned and cried “Merry Christmas Ali!”

  Jaius looked up at her and mouthed the words “Your Amazing!” She blushed profusely and then mouthed back. “So are you.”

  The next day they celebrated Christmas and they told the story to those who were present of a savior who would be born. And there was much hope we had among those who would live their whole lives here. Anark told them of how the eternal had promised Adam and Eve that a redeemer would come to save their fallen race from that which narrated them from the eternal. They all had dinner together, and it was a magnificent feast. They all sang Christmas songs and the crystals illuminated the entire hall. it was the most glorious of days insights and one that they remember from many many years to come. do they know that a month from now an army would be receiving the cathedral. And all of their friendships and skills will be put to the test