Hidden Hearts

Chapter 41. Shortie!!

"Alice" I said, the memories flooding my mind.

Alice was a sweet and shy girl, or at least she used to be when she first was enrolled into Hell. The years of hardship and abuse had turned the girl into a though shell, and no matter how much me or her cousins tried to draw her out, she resisted us.

When we made our last move and finally managed to get free from that place I worried about leaving her alone, but it was her choice to stay alone. As it had been mine.

Now she was back and I couldn't understand why. What did she want?

"Are you talking about the bird who was in Hell with you, Sang?" Phil asked me, his face looking puzzled.

I nodded at him, "Yes, I have no doubts. Alice had a fascination with masks and make up, she loved to be able to hide and change her appearance like a chameleon."

Luke frowned, "But, she used to be your friend, right? Why is she stalking you now?"

I glanced at him, "That is what I would like to know. She shouldn't even know I am here. I made sure to cover my trail when I left the school. No one should be able to find me." I paused for a moment, that wasn't quite right. There was one person who had the ability to find a needle in the hay. "Unless Jay is with her, and where Jay goes so goes Roberta."

North grunted beside me. "So you are saying that those girls with who you had teamed up in Hell are here stalking you now?"

I nodded my head in confirmation, the boys looking grim at my response.

Phil merely looked thoughtful.

"So, one of your friends is a chameleon, the other a skilled tracker, what is the skills of the third?" He asked curiously.

"Roberta is a specialist in codes and languages." I told him.

"Huuummm..." He hummed.

Owen frowned at him, "What are you thinking, Doctor?"

Phil looked around at us, his gaze considering "I am thinking that the academy could use these girls' talents, and that maybe they could use the academy's guidance."

Owen looked considering for a second, "That is an option, but we need to get to know them first. We can't make such a decision without knowing these girls."

"But how are we going to contact them so we can meet?" Luke asked

All eyes in the room turned to me and I blushed under their centered gaze, raising my finger to my lips in nervousness.

Luke grabbed my raised hand and interlaced our fingers together.

North dropped his big and heavy hand on my tights, his skin in contact with my own since I was wearing shorts. His touch distracted me from the heaviness of the others' gaze and I relaxed a little.

I thought for a moment, tracking wasn't my specialty but I could manage well enough most of the time. And I knew these girls. Where would they hide?

Suddenly the door to the office opened and in walked an unlikely group.

The group of boys from earlier were here, but they weren't alone, a pair grandmas with of oddly-colored hair accompanied them.

I stared at them puzzled and North jumped up to stand between me and the guys.

"What are you doing in here?" He asked harshly. "This is a family meeting!" He wasn't shouting yet, but his deep voice rumbled like thunder in the tiny office that felt suddenly cramped with the crowd in it.

"Now, don't be so rash, East." Said the scary guy with a strange accent.

"It is harsh and North, you bloody Russian."

The Russian merely raised his hands with their palms turned up and shrugged, in a "whatever" gesture that bust be pretty universal.

"Mr. Taylor, that's enough, sit down." Owen's commanding voice attracted my attention "Miss Sang," He called, "I would like to present you the Toma team, they have been helping us out with this stalker situation."

I looked at the guys once more and they all greeted me in some manner, some with simple nods, others with smiles, but the Russian went ahead and grabbed me from the couch.

I yelped when he pulled me into his hard chest, squeezing the breath out of me in a strong hug.

"Привет, маленькая птичка!" (Hello, Little Bird!) He exclaimed and I hoped he wasn't cursing at me.

Behind me North jumped from the couch again, face red, hands fisted. "Let her go, you bastard!"

The Russian just ignored him.

"Raven" The commanding voice demanded.

The Russian, Raven, finally let me go and I took a step back, trying to put some space between us.

I was okay with my boys hugging me, but I wasn't so sure about being grabbed by this stranger.

The scent of spring soap filled my nose a second before I felt an arm wrapping around my waist and pulling me toward a hard body encased in a gray suit.

I went willingly, feeling more comfortable now about meeting all these strangers with Owen by my side.

"Darling," His voice was emotionless, but his steel gray eyes looked like melted silver when I glanced at him, clearly showing his caring. "These are Yevgeny Ravenstahl and Axel Toma," He presented, indicating the commanding man besides Raven, "Corey and Brandon Henshaw," The twins, "and Marc Weiland."

I nodded at them, forcing a smile.

"Gentlemen, this is our girlfriend, Miss Sang Sorenson." Owen finished the introductions, making me blush scarlet.

The boys just smiled at me.

Phil chuckled a little and Roxanne snorted before leaning closer to Charlene's ear so she could "whisper" to her companion, "They are all overprotective, possessive, Neanderthals!"

Of course the whole room heard that.

Looking around me I saw uncle and some of the boys from the Toma team fighting their smiles.

Raven had smirked and moved to stand beside the grandmas and was now energetically discussing needlework.

My boys were blushing, even Owen and North.

I almost laughed at them but then the reason why Owen was here at the dinner in the first place came back to me.

Turning to him I said, "We need to find them, Owen."

He looked down at me, his eyes still soft and caring. "I know, Darling. And we will. I promise you that."

AN: Very short, I know!! But I didn't have the time to write more today, tomorrow I will give you the rest, I promise ;)