Chapter 348: 1-1

Chapter 40.1– Chelsea POV Nonno, Marlon, Lukas and Jack are in the office with us, Remy on the couch, still researching, and the best distraction from all the tension in this room. We had left the Pascal’s, taking the floppy disks and notebooks with us, but called Logan back to us, giving him the floppy disks. WE couldn’t take the risk that this floppy disk could lead the Elders to us, installing a bug or virus to infiltrate our systems here, or back home. It was surreal, Gabriel and I were on the same page, it was to be expected but since I had met him I hadn’t truly felt this connected to him, both of us using our individual strengths to come to one ultimate goal and execution. There were things that I hadn’t thought of, that I’m sure I would have done that would surely give our location away, especially the floppy disks. Malware had never crossed my mind; over eagerness to see just what Philip gathered was my main concern. I hated to even think it, but for a moment, the time it takes to blink, I realized how all the training George punished and forced onto Gabriel, plus his own intelligence made him this way. See the world in a way only he does. It was precious and intensely sexy to watch him this way, be focused and on top of all things that were currently going on. We still had to deal with Robert Delaney, but again we had Logan handling that current situation with Wolf, as per our instructions. Wolf was one of those people, like George, Mina, Pat and the other Lawson’s that didn’t know that we were truly alive, just bidding time. “What’s on the floppy disks?” Logan began questioning him, everyone in the room focused on the large 50 inch television on Gabriel’s wall. Philip, even where he was our mind was open to him, he seemed resigned, whatever happens at least Judy is safe, the Elders won’t find her or the kids, was his every other thought, “It’s all from seventeen years ago, but each one has nearly 10 files on them, I didn’t have time to research what I was taking, I didn’t have that kind of time, I just loaded them on there and made myself scare…” he answered truthfully. At this point Philip decided death was coming and he unlike any one Gabriel had interviewed, was very forthcoming, but it all made sense to him… tell us what he knows, we will keep his children and mate safe. Even if we killed him, and the Elders knew he was dead, they’d still go after Judy and the kids, assuming that they knew vital information. Just four loose ends. “But the computer that I copied document folders from, it was Elder Caelums, it was his own private system, and I didn’t have much time, minutes to get what I could, then get out. I know that on that system however, it held all blueprints, studies, contracts and all his information on the fifth Element,” some things falling into place, his words making more and more sense as I continued to listen, as Gabriel fed Logan questions. “Whatever the Elders want, they want that fifth Element, it is their kryptonite, however or I should say unfortunately they would be able to use it to their ultimate advantage.” Could one simple this small stone be the reason for all this struggle, oppression and death, the lives that were taken… for a ring that sat comfortably on my finger? “How do they know that – if this is something they want, why tell anyone about it? Then to go a step further, they don’t seek it out on their own?” “They hide behind the people that follow them, if a protest was to form, a march of sorts, do you know where you would find the Elders?” Philip asked Logan, who didn’t bite. His face neutral, “You’d find them in their homes, surprised that the protest formed, threatening individuals to halt, killing and injuring protestors just to keep up the pretense of innocence, all while they planned the protest down to the final last detail.” He scoffed, “Yet when you’re following them, when you’re risking your life for them, you’re unaware that the same protest could have just been a diversion. You follow blindly, and the more you do so, they higher status you acquire…” Enjoying the fruits of your labor, he thought sourly, “They’ve taken what they’ve seen working results for to create an army, “Why wait for Heaven, when you can have that on Earth now,’” he says in a mocking tone. I’d bet he was mimicking Elder Caelum, I thought with an eye roll.  “It’s a cult, a religion with all the obvious forms of manipulation, but they pick wisely,” he shrugs and I sit back against Gabriel, thinking over his words. “People follow for money and power…” I say a loud, “others have followed charismatic psychopaths for less that than,” Nonno mutters, my eyes fly over to him. He would know, as old as he was. That’s what the Elders had on me. Anything strategy we went with now, no matter what would be like bringing a stray twig to a gun fight. Everything with the Elders was highly self-serving and despite the destructiveness to others, those people are still following? I don’t understand… I couldn’t wait to get away from Leo and Gabriel’s old pack, even my father… they know who to prey on, Aria told me. “What happens at the facilities?” Philip pursed his lips, “That is not exactly my area, we do not know the research exactly, that is what the Researchers do. If an Unseen lives near a facility we make well with those around us in that area. We make sure that locals don’t ask questions, that they remain oblivious as well as setting traps that help those Researchers know if they are going to be infiltrated, giving them a heads up,” he said gesturing with his hands. “As an Unseen you help find recruits, men and women as young as ten years old, or human experts, those focusing on Molecular Biology and Genetic engineering, anyone that shows the hint of promise to strengthen them they find someone that can be close to them, to lead them into the cause…” my jaw went slack as I listened, a sickening feeling in the pits of my stomach. I couldn’t even begin to thing just how low they were going to achieve their goals, “They are watching everything, they plant people everywhere, and there is nothing they won’t sink to the lowest to achieve. Bribing, extreme force-” he shook his head. What do they need researchers for? Genetic engineers? Gabriel sends to Logan and we await the answer, “They can control the weak minded, and even with me… I was a follower, and I left. They are searching for something that makes sure that they have total dominance and control, over everyone, something that is greater than even the fifth element, and can work on humans, shifters and or any other supernatural beings.” Philip continues speaking, just giving us data, anything he can think of whether he finds it relevant or not, “They believe someone else will gain power, from the start they want to be the ones on top,” they want power, total domination, to rebuild in ways that leave them with no opponents. . . Oakley POV The light from the window was fading, the darkness around us, and the crisp homely scent of old books eased my racing heart as I looked at Kieran, shocked and confused as I’m guessing he was. I couldn’t understand anything about why I felt the way I did with him, the ease he put me in and the need to seek him out. None of those things were me, I had never done them before back in Middleburg, I had always been content to be alone and away from everyone. “I confuse you?” I repeat his question, my hands settled on my thighs, as he just stared at me blankly, but it was his eyes that I was paying attention too, expressive bluish gray eyes that focused on my face. That took in everything, he was watching me, but I knew just how closely he was, because as my twisted my mouth, his eyes darted to that area of my face, “You seek me out?” again it’s a question but it makes my heart race, and my stomach flip, “Do… do you want me to leave you alone?” I force myself to say, the words leave a bitter after taste.