"I don't think i have a choice. They protect you, so I can't simply drive them away like I do to other people.”
She offered Callus a smile, grabbed his hand, squeezed it gently, before she turned her attention on Alex, who had began to speak.
”A girl must not use those words now, Isabelle. I can still remember you acting like this in the past, but please, try not to use those offensive words, Isabelle. I do not want to hear you using those words, it is not very ladylike."
Isabelle glanced up, a small smile playing upon her lips. “Halida … You always were the quiet, reasonable one. Of course, you aren't Halida anymore, now are you? Alex. Not a bad name change,” she teased, slowly thawing out and relaxing. With each time that she spoke his ancestor's name, her accent would escape and give it a bit of a lilt, a bit of magic to the single name, as her voice always did when she spoke any of the old Protector's names.
Since the moment the old Protectors had died, she’d always been tense and on alert; now that they were back, she could relax, if only just a little. However, if the Protectors were back, then undoubtedly as was the Darkness, and she couldn't allow her guard to drop enough to endanger her, the Protectors, or Callus.
She turned her head as Eliza spoke up.
“No disrespect ... Belle ... But you do not know who we are, you haven't known us long and we have bonded together because some old Chinese man spouted some crap about how he loved you and how amazing you were. He said you were in danger and that WE ... Are the only ones that can help you. Understand that no-one here was trying to point you out as a bitch ... But this whole thing is new to us ... So if you don't mind, speak to us like we are human and not your slaves.”
She scowled at the woman, her good mood immediately disappearing at the girl’s tone.
“The last time I checked, speaking to a person did not necessarily make it so that they were slaves. I was not speaking to you in any disrespectful way, and if you find it to be such a crime for me to attempt to keep a clear head in order to ensure that none of you die, then feel free to use my phone,” she pointed at the cordless on her desk, “To call the cops,” she finished with a snap.
The girl seemed to 'zone out' for a few moments, before she snapped back to reality. "Uhm... sorry, I have had my power as long as I can remember."
She forced herself to calm just a bit. "You always were a hell-fire, Lucifer, pun intended," she murmured.
"I found out about my powers when I was 14, so I've only had them for about three and a half years. I opened up a pit under some bullies and closed it over them. I presume they suffocated. We were each sent a letter telling us to meet at an old building where this old Chinese man told us about how we were to protect you from this 'darkness. We found you because of me. I can locate and follow you through the odd vibrations through the earth that come from your aura.”
Isabelle offered Vienna a smile, forcing out her irritation with Eliza. “Your skills are highly developed for a seventeen-year-old, although, seeing as you have had them for a little more than three years, that is understandable. However, with all of you,” she looked at each Protector, “I will need to focus time on assisting you in furthering your abilities. Impressive, though, that you could find me after only three years of having your powers. You always were skilled when it came to your powers, Miyara,” she said, smiling.
"Asher Damons. I used to take Kendo, but an accident that cost my Sensei his sword arm revealed my powers over wind. Like Vienna said, we found out about the whole thing via a meeting known by invitation. An old man who cared about you revealed us, but he died shortly after. Thanks to Vienna's tracking powers, we found where you were, and now we are where we are now."
Isabelle pursed her lips and nodded a little, turning her gaze to Asher. “So you haven’t known of your powers for very long, then,” she murmured, looking at each of the Protectors in turn. “At least I know the discoveries follow a trend. With each and every one of you, it has been some sort of large emotional outburst that led you to discovering your powers. I know what to expect, what with the impact of your emotions on your powers. We’ll need to work on keeping them in check.
It was then that Eliza held a note out in her direction, which she stared at for a moment before accepting.
Dear Belle, For many years I have wanted to find you but my aging has made it impossible to keep up with you. Please do not forget me as I will never forget you or your beauty. Because I loved you with all my heart I have died happy. Yours always, an old friend.
She would recognize anywhere, the age-old way that the note was written. Xian-Po ... Tears appeared in her eyes and she pressed her lips tightly together. She turned her head away from the group for a moment, her eyes shut in an attempt to ward off the water in them. When she had her emotions under better control, she drew in a slightly shaky breath, before turning back to the group and returning the note to Eliza's hand, which she promptly burned. Isabelle pushed down her fiery anger. How dare she burn something so ... So ... Valuable to me! Her jaw clenched and her rage bloomed, her face flushed, but she tightened her fingers around the edges of her desk, the tips of them aching from how hard they pushed against the desk.
It was then that Chase chose to exit. Discreetly, she flicked some of the dust on the back of his jacket as he left, and she muttered something softly under her breath, ending it with a quiet, Be careful. When Eliza followed, she did the same, but was a bit more disgruntled in doing so.
"Oh ho ho. So the old man left something like this for Isabelle, eh? Surprisingly, I'm not surprised. So let's start off with the 'How I found out' question. Basically, an accident happened, and it triggered the activation of my powers, and also breaking off the limits of my powers, allowing me to reach my demon form at an earlier stage than any of you, perhaps. As for how long I have known this power, you would probably guess it, but it's already more than 10 years had I found out, including my childhood. Then comes the question of how I found you. It is very much quite from the help of an elderly who passed away by the powers of the darkness. I do hope his soul finds safety, however, it would be hard for his soul to escape the man's grasp. So, would anyone else like to tell us their answers?"
She shook her head a little and pushed away from her desk, made her way over to a wall, and ran her hand across it. "Xian-Po ... His name was Xian-Po ..." Belle mumbled, as she pressed her hand against a panel in the wall. The block sank and a large piece of the wall slid away, revealing a doorway. She stepped inside of it and flipped up a light switch. Immediately a large, long corridor bloomed with lights, almost those that one would see in a hospital. Lining the walls were weapons of every kind, ranging from the smallest of knives to the most complex of bows and guns. She took a few steps down the hall, turned, and then pressed another button. A small panel slid away from that wall, and she switched on another light, before stepping inside the room.
It was large, yet more warm and welcoming than the hallway. Inside of it was what seemed to be both a recreational room and a museum combined. Lining the walls were both ornaments, paintings, and other hanging, antique items. There were also podiums scattered throughout the room, with glass boxes shielding prized possessions from harm. Although some were simple things, such as a small toy, or a plastic ring, each one held value in her heart, and that's all that matter.
The recreational part of the room included Foosball Tables, couches, a long, flat-screen television, comfortable couches and beanie bag chairs, board games, video games, several laptops and cameras, and other various entertaining items. There was also a small combined kitchen, with different snack and soda machines, a fridge, microwave, cupboards, stove, and other cooking devices.
She leaned back out of the room and called down the hallway. "Feel free to come down and check this out, you guys may enjoy it. For some odd reason, I felt as if you would eventually returned, and set this room up for all of you. I also have three others rooms, one to train your powers, one to train your mind and spirit, and the last for anyone to crash and get some rest in," she told them all as she stood in the hall.
