I left Carrianne in the room to watch her terrible show about some annoying famous family. I was scared if I watched anymore I'd lose my brain cells, so I went out to find Garrett.

I walked around a bit before I noticed the hum coming from our car across the lot. I walked over and found him sitting in the car with his head leaned down against the steering wheel.

He jumped up as I knocked on the window. His face looked so sad, and his eyes were striking with the tears in them. He tried to hide his face from me, but I pulled the car door open and sat in his lap. Wrapping my arms around his neck. "I'm sorry." He whispered against my skin. "I'm just worried about everything."

I brushed my hand through his thick hair and he held me close. "I'm worried too, Garrett. But it's going to work out. We have to believe that."

He turned so that he could see my face. "Did you mom mention anything about my parents?"

I had omitted the part about his mom and Natasha when I told him and Carrianne everything. I don't want them to be even more concerned than they already are. I looked down to avoid his eyes, but I couldn't lie to him. "They have your mom, I think your dad is working with them. They also have Natasha and Charles."

Garrett brought a hand up to his face and rubbed his hand along the stubble that was starting to grown on his chin and around his mouth. "I swear, I hate that man." He said icily.

I didn't have to ask to know he was talking about his father. "I know what you mean." I said back gently. "They have my mom, too."

Garrett kissed me gently. "I know you understand. You've always understood." He nodded, his eyes distant. "I think I sensed it in you." He said quietly. "When I met you, I mean." He explained. "I knew there was something about you, pulling me in. It all made sense the night your dad tried to hurt you. I've watched my father do that to my mother for years and years, and I could never do anything about it." A tear ran down from his perfect eyes. "I'm her son, I should have been able to protect her, but I couldn't. Dalton is too strong, I never could do anything. I've always hated that I am supposedly blessed to have such a unique talent. If I had one worth having I could have done something to stop Dalton a long time ago."

I didn't know what to say to him to ease his hurt. I knew as well as anyone else that sometimes you can't say or do anything to help someone who is hurting, no matter how badly you want to. I just pulled him to me tighter and kissed his head over and over. "I am sorry, Garrett."

He sniffled. "My mom is a good person." He said firmly. "She's a fighter, and has never just taken it from him, but she isn't strong enough to stop him either. If anything happens to her I will kill him. No matter what I have to do." It was no threat, it was clearly a promise.

We stayed in the car for a long time, holding onto one another, until we saw a large red blazer pull into the lot. I checked the time and knew it must be the Shepherds.

If I didn't already think it was them, I would have known for sure the second they got out of the car. Potente genetics sure were strong. They were a very good looking, and well-dressed family. The first to get out were the grandparents. If you could really call them that. They only looked to be maybe in their thirties at the oldest. They both had deep brown hair that showed hints of red in the sun light. Next out of the car were the parents from the backseat. They too had dark hair, but the father's hair was closer to black than brown. Lastly was a young girl. To say she was beautiful would be an understatement. Scarlett stepped out of the car looking like a Victoria secret runway model. I couldn't help thinking that even Carrianne would take a hit to her self-esteem from being around this girl. She was tall, with long slender legs. She had a perfectly angular face, and big round brown eyes that made her look like an angelic doll. Her auburn hair fell around her face in big loose waves.

Garrett and I made our way over to greet them.

"Oh my, Garrett McDuffie, how you have grown." The mom crooned as we got close.

The father came to clap Garrett on the back. "Such a strapping young man." He complimented with a warm friendly smile.

"Nice to see you all again." Garrett smiled back to them.

I heard our hotel room door open, but I couldn't tear my eyes away from Scarlett, or how she couldn't tear her eyes off of Garrett.

"Scarlett!" Carrianne squealed as she ran to hug her. Both girls giggling giddily as they embraced and jumped up and down. "I can't believe you're here!"

Scarlett smiled sweetly at Carrianne then reached down to hold her hands. "It's going to be just like old times." She grinned.

I had to fight myself not to roll my eyes. These people were here to help us and all I could do was be jealous of someone I don't even know. "I'm Cadence." I announced to everyone.

The group smiled at me. The grandmother was the first to speak. "My name is Gretchen, and this is my husband Ron." She pointed to the man beside her. Now that I was closer I could see the beginnings of smile lines on their faces. "And this is my daughter Mary, and her husband Kevin." We exchanged handshakes and forced smiles.

"We've heard so much about you." Kevin said looking me over. "I can't wrap my head around the prophesy being real. I'd always thought it was a tall tale."

I shrugged my shoulders. "Well, I guess you can believe it."

"Cadence." Scarlett said sweetly stepping forward and hugging me tightly. "It's so nice to meet you. I can't believe Care has a sister. I'm so so sorry about all that you have been through. I can only imagine how I'd feel in your position. I sincerely hope we can help you."

"Thanks." Was all I was able to articulate. I felt so bad for my apprehension of her. She really did seem to be sweet. She looked away from me, and over to Garrett, smiling widely at him. He grinned in return and she reached up to hug him around the neck.

"Good to see you again, Scar." He said nicely then stepped away to put his arm around my waist. "We should get going, the others will be arriving before long."

Carrianne and Scarlett skipped off to the room to gather our things while the rest of us made small talk around the cars waiting for them. They had wanted to be filled in on what exactly had happened, who was taken, who was working with them, and what my powers were. You would think as many times as I've had to answer that question, that I'd be more comfortable with it by now, but it is still just as strange to say out loud as it was the first time. Although I was happy by the surprised look on Garrett's face when I said I had mastered fire. He seemed so genuinely proud of me.

"Well, dear, I'm not sure how much help we can be when you can do all of that, but we are at your disposal. I have been waiting a very long time to get to see The Order get what they deserve. They can't be allowed to get away with their evil corruption any longer." Ron said firmly. "Gretchen, Mary, and Scarlett all have the gift of speed. I have strength, and a limited ability to read minds. And I do mean limited. I have to have a developed relationship with a person to be able to do it." He shrugged. "Kevin also has strength and is a skilled fighter."

Kevin tilted his head at his father-in-law's praise. "I am pretty good." He joked.

Carrianne and Scarlett came out of the room giggling and tossed our small amount of things in the trunk of the car and climbed in.

"I guess we should go meet the others." Garrett whispered to me as he went to get into the car with everyone else.

I started to follow but then I hesitated. "I'm going to check the room one more time to make sure Carrianne didn't miss anything." I told them.

"No faith in me!" Carrianne yelled from the back of the car.

I laughed as I made my way back into the room. I looked under the pillows and under the beds, but she had gotten everything. I had my hand on the doorknob when a voice popped into my head.

"You really think you can beat us?"

I stopped dead in my tracks, looking frantically around the room. My heart jumped into my throat as they spoke again. "Do you enjoy seeing your friends and family killed? If that's the case, then please, do continue what you're doing."

I slammed my back against the door and tried to breath. "Stephen? Mom?" I begged for one of them to answer me. I could feel all of my energy draining, but I didn't even care when I felt the cool rush in. "Cade, it's me, what's wrong?"

"A voice, I hear a voice! I don't know who it is!" I mentally screamed to him.

"Hold on." Stephen directed me calmly.

"How many more do you want to see dead?" The voice taunted me again. I put my hands on both side of my head trying to block them out. "Stupid, stupid girl. Come on and find us, come watch us kill them one by one."

"Stephen?" I screamed.

"Cade, I don't know who it is. I'm not a magic genie, ok? Just calm down. Mom is watching them, keeping tabs on their movements, she will let me know, but I can't be with you and with her at the same time. Just breath, I will be back."

My vision began to get foggy, I felt completely drained of everything. "Mom?" I called to her. My whole body began to tingle from the exertion. I couldn't wait on Stephen, I need to know now. "Mom?" I called again.

I could hear the voice again. Clear as if the person was sitting beside me, whispering into my ears. His voice bounced all around in my head. "Here Cadey Cadey." I could hear the smile in his voice. "Which one should we kill first? Do you want to watch? Do you want to hear their screams? Come on, Cadence. Come on and play."

I collapsed back on the floor screaming. I could feel something warm and hot pouring from my nose and when I brought my hand away from there I saw the blood.

The last thing I remember before it all went black was Garrett's frantic screams when he found me in the floor.