Episode 3 — The Decision
“Are you sure that’s what you want?” Father Johan asks which Astrid answer with a nod, making the old man sighed, disagreeing. “You don’t have to do this, love, that’s why you have guards- “
“That isn’t enough.” She says, “It’ll happen again and again as long as I’m here.”
“But- “
“They say I have responsibilities to you,” Astrid points out, “but I also have responsibilities to Ash.” Father Johan stared at her. “This is the right thing to do.”
“Very well…” Father Johan says, “I’ll send the boys to the North Star Academy, it is the safest place for all of us,” Astrid looks up at him, doubtful. “Only some Tigers know of its location, so you need not worry. While you,” Father Johan pauses as he took a deep breath, “I’ll be sending you to Russia- “
“Russia?”
“I have a friend there.” He continues, “You’ll learn to fight there, by the time you come back, you won’t need guards, not that I can send you any of them there either. You will leave- “
“Before the boys leave.” She says firmly, “I’m sorry, but I have issues of being left behind.”
“I see.” Father Johan watches her intently as if waiting for her to change her mind. She is still a child, after all, a stubborn one he must add. “Very well, you may go. I’ll talk to the boys.”
“Grandpa, if you don’t mind…” she looks up to him, a blush crawling up her face, Father Johan watches her closely curious of what more she has up and under her sleeve. “Don’t tell the boys that I’m not going with them.”
A tear rolls down her cheek and she quickly wiped it off with the back of her hand before it can reach her chin, then she forces a smile, “They’re as stubborn as I am, they won’t agree; besides…” she pauses. “I might change my mind.”
“You still can.”
“No.” She shook her head. “This is the right thing to do.”
“Very well, the term isn’t over yet, I’ll have your children prepare for NSA.” He says. “You’ll need to gain a little weight and get a bit taller too.”
“Why is that?”
“You’ll need it, I’m sure. You can also take taekwondo and judo classes. Once it’s all taken care of, your father will update you.” With that he goes back to work, “You have two months to change your mind, I’ll wait down to the last minute. You may go.”
Astrid glances at him before she turns to leave.
Two months went by fast, it was quiet and peaceful, there seems no danger anymore, but Astrid’s mind was made up.
“Did you hear that Astrid?” Ash jumps out of the sofa, excitedly. “We’re going to an actual school!”
Astrid nods, “Yes, just like what we’ve always wanted.”
“And you say the others are going too?” Ash asked.
“The whole gang,” Mrs. Matthews says as excited as the boys, “luckily, the doctors had already given the go signal for you to leave.”
“Yes!” Ash was jumping around again.
“But there is a down part.” Mr. Matthews cuts in, “NSA doesn’t allow communication with the outside, so…”
“We won’t be able to talk to you?”
“And we can’t visit you either.” Mrs. Matthews says, forcing a smile, while Ash sank beside his twin sister.
“That’s not fair.” He says.
“But I heard that if you’re good enough and you get really good grades, you can come to visit us.” Mr. Matthews says, trying to salvage Ash’s celebration mode earlier.
“Then we’ll be the best in the whole academy!” Ash announces, as excited as before, standing up again and faced Astrid, “This is it Astrid, everything we’ve ever dreamed of.”
“It is, isn’t it?”
“And we’re still together.” He knelt in front of her looking worried. “Aren’t you happy?”
Astrid smiled down at him, “Of course I am silly, I’m just a bit tired.”
“Are you feeling alright?” Mrs. Matthews asked, sitting beside her and checking on her temperature, “You are looking a bit pale.”
“I’m fine, don’t worry.” She says, “I guess the excitement took more toll inside, than out.”
“Well, maybe you should get some rest,” Mr. Matthews says, “We wouldn’t want you getting sick now do we?”
Astrid gave a small nod, “I’ll tuck you in.” Ash says, he walks up to the Matthews and gave them both a hug, “Thanks mom, thanks, dad.”
Astrid watched them from where she stood and frowned, and so did her parents.
A couple of hours later, Astrid was out in the garden reading, absentmindedly, she reached for the tip of her hair and started twirling and untwirling it around her finger.
Suddenly she felt a tug on it.
“Someone’s serious.”
Astrid, startled, turned around and saw Damien. “You surprised me, Damien.”
He smiles and sat beside her, “What are you doing here?”
“Reading.” She closes her book, “Or was reading anyway.” Damien grinned and gave her a look, one she brushed away. “With all the people coming and going, it’s too noisy to read inside.”
“I know what you mean.” Damien sighed. “Father hasn’t been home for a week since he said he could barely think there. He would have loved to work here like he used to but then again, it's busier here.” Damien pointed, “I hope you get to meet him before we leave for NSA.”
“Well, he is always welcome here- “
“Why don’t you go to my place when Ash visits?”
Astrid frowned. Ever since the attack during her first night, she had made it a point not to go out in public with Ash. She was scared that he might get in trouble, she knew how her parents and grandfather had tried to keep Ash out of possible threat or enemies, but of course, being who and what the family is, that was somewhat a lost cost.
I smiled, “I’m pretty sure he is a nice man, Damien, he is, daddy’s best friend.”
“Well, they hate the guards, don’t they?”
Astrid rolls her eyes, “Who wouldn’t?”
“Your mother.” Damien points out making her laugh, remembering how her mother can get a little too overprotective. She sighs at the thought, “What’s wrong?”
“It’s nothing.” She forces a smile, “Just thinking…”
“About?”
Astrid faced him and looked at him straight in the eyes. “Damien, would you be mad at me if I leave?”
“What?”
“It’s just a thought.” She said looking down at her lap, where her hands rested over the book and on her lap. “What if the Matthews didn’t keep their promise that I can visit you, boys, at the orphanage? That I can no longer talk with you?”
“I’d probably take you away and drag you back to the orphanage,” Lee says with a grin.
Astrid laughs at how true that statement could be, “You probably would.” Then she gave him a thoughtful look, “But what if I agree?”
Damien frowns and turned to her.
“Damien- “
“I’ll never forgive you,” Damien answers, Astrid looks away. “But I guess…” she looked up at Damien, hopeful, “you’d have reasons if ever that happens, you always do. You are stubborn but you aren’t foolish.”
Astrid smiles and so did Damien.
“Good thing it’s just a thought.” He says, Astrid stifles a nervous laugh and nods. Damien continues to stare at her. “Astrid?”
“Hm?”
“If you do have to go away…” He starts, this again took Astrid by surprise, Damien was looking across the lake, avoiding Astrid’s eyes. “Take care of yourself ok? Cause I’ll be angrier if you don’t.”
Astrid grins, “I don’t break promises, remember?”
Lee smiles and tips his head sideward, “Also, come home. Ash and I will wait, and I’m pretty sure Derek and Jared would as well. We’ll wait as long as you would want us to.” Astrid nods in response.
Damien stands up and reached out his hand, “Good, now c’mon inside, it’s almost dinner time.”
“And I know we’d have the best time there, right Ash?” Derek asks, excitedly.
“Definitely…” Ash answers as he was looking around as if looking for someone.
“Who are you looking for?” Winter asks.
Ash turns to him, questioned, “Am not- “
“Yes you are,” Derek says, “I’m offended.”
Ash rolls his eyes, “You very well know you’re not, Derek.”
“Stop worrying, will you?” Jared whines, “Damien went to look for her already.”
“Then what’s taking them so long?
“They’re probably at the lake, it’ll take a while.” Winter says, “Unless, Damien is right that she is by the gardens.”
Ash sighed, then he gave the hall one last look, and finally, his eyes, caught a familiar sight making him smile. Beside her was Damien, pointing out to different people and they would laugh. Ash frowned seeing that Damien was holding her hand, that was his job. But then again, this is Damien, they’ve been friends ever since they can remember. He had nothing to worry about.
“There you are! We’ve been looking everywhere for you.”
“I was just out in the garden.” She says and lifted her book, “Reading.”
“Exactly what Damien said,” Allana says, impressed.
“Well, they have been best of friends since we all can remember. Like the Rugrats, you know?” Derek says.
“Derek…” The others warned him in unison.
“Hey, it looks like all our little heirs and heiresses are here.”
They turn around and saw a man making his way toward them.
“Hey, dad.” Damien greets.
“Hi, Uncle Rhaumwald.” The others greeted, except for Astrid.
“So are you kids having fun?” he asks putting an arm around Damien’s shoulder.
“I know we will after the dinner party.” Jared shrugged, “Mom said to stay clean until after dinner.”
“Well, good luck with that.”
“That’s what I said.” Derek raised his arms, acting exasperated, making the adults laugh.
Then Mr. Cayce turns to Astrid who was still staring at him, “I’m sorry, I believe we haven’t met yet, mistress.” He said lent out a hand. “I am Rhaumwald Cayce, your father’s best friend, and now your best friend’s father.”
Astrid stares at him then at his hand which he then close to a fist, raise to her eye level.
“Do you prefer a fist bump?”
Astrid felt her face burn up and she forced a smile, “I’m sorry,” she lends out her hand, “I am Astrid.”
“I know.” He says before kissing her knuckles and gave her a wink. Astrid frowns and pulled her hand back.
“Don’t scare her like that Rhaumwald.” Mr. Matthews says. “If father was here, he’d have the guard dogs seek you.”
Mr. Cayce chuckles, “Well, I’d better behave then, wouldn’t want Damien to be stuck in the office with my work, would we?” He looks back at Astrid, “Your grandfather said you have a mean kick.”
“And a sharp tongue,” Winter added.
This caused Astrid to blush more.
“You truly are a Matthews, if you ask me.” Mr. Cayce says, staring at her from afar as if she was a painting that can only be admired from afar. “And Father Johan could not have chosen better heirs.”
Astrid tips her head, “Thank you.”
Then a bell rings across the room, they looked up and saw Albert, “Dinner is served.”
All the guests made their way to the dining hall.
“I didn’t know that there is a party tonight,” Astrid whispers to Damien.
“Dad said it’s because we’ll be leaving for NSA soon and they want to introduce us to the business partners.” He says, “He also said not to expect Father Johan to be here, ironically, he hates the business partners as much as he hates the family.”
Soon they sat beside or between their parents and started to eat. The grownups were talking about work and business.
“I don’t think it’ll work with the stocks almost crashing. It’ll take a miracle to get our revenues back.”
“You seem to be forgetting that Father Johan had never handled a business that went bankrupt.”
“And the 10% rise in the income in such a short period…”
Astrid listens and quietly sat beside her father.
“Are you an okay princess?” he whispers.
She forced a smile which he returned before turning back to his guests when Astrid asked, “What about you daddy?”
“What about me, princess?”
“How was your day?” she asks. “Ash and I read all the books you bought us.”
“And we had fun.” Ash adds, “What about you?”
“Well…” he glanced at his guests who, one by one, were going quiet.
“Derek and I draw a plan for our treehouse and painted it.” Jared shared.
“Yeah. There were blue walls, red doors, and a green roof.” Derek says. “What about you Damien?”
“Dad bought my paint and canvas yesterday.” Damien adds, “I painted the sunrise.”
“What about you daddy?” Astrid asks him again.
He smiled and set down his utensils and starts to think, “Let me see, aside from the usual work, hm…” he looks back throughout his day, then he suddenly lit up. “I made a paper plane and made it fly across my office.”
“Mom?” Ash asks.
“After work, I trimmed some of my flowers outside.”
“Albert says mommy has a green thumb,” Astrid tells the boys.
” Really?” Derek asked, wide-eyed “Can we see it?”
The grown-ups laughed. Causing the younger one looking questioned.
"It means mom is good with plants, Derek," Astrid said.
"Oh..." Derek sat back, "it would've been cooler if it was an actual green thumb."
"Yeah..." the other agreed.
Astrid smiled at them and giggled, causing the other to look her way.
They haven't heard her giggle for weeks, much more laugh. This was, for the boys, turning out to be a good night.
The small talk that the kids started relaxed the grownups and they had forgotten to talk about work.
"Wow, this is new." Mr. Cayce says halfway through dinner, "And here I thought I was the loon in the bunch."
"Why is that Uncle Rhaumwald?" Ash asks.
"Your Uncle Rhaumwald owns a toy factory, he is paid to be a loony." Mrs. Matthews says.
"Unfortunately, that means, you have a loony for a father as well." He says to Damien.
The children laughed and turn to Mr. Matthews who shook his head and turned to the kids.
"The toys we gave you are just a few of his toys." Mr. Matthews added.
"Wow," Derek turns to Mr. Cayce, wide eyes, "Does that mean Damien gets a new toy every day?"
"No," Damien says, "he makes me play with all his new inventions and ask me how it is."
"Nothing beats a kid's opinion when it comes to toys." Mr. Cayce says.
"Do you need to go to school for that kind of job, Uncle Rhaumwald?" Derek asks.
"Yeah, I want to be like you," Ash says.
"If you boys should know, your Uncle Rhaumwald is an engineer and an archaeologist." Mrs. Johnson, Derek and Jared's adopted mother, says.
"Just like daddy," Astrid says.
"That's why they are the best of friends." Mrs. Matthews points out. "They've been friends since they were babies."
"Like the twins and Damien!" Allana says.
"So we'd end up like them?" Ash frowned, "I want the toy kingdom."
"I'll exchange it with you," Damien says. "It'll be nice to be in a quiet place for a change."
Mr. Cayce grins and glances at the Matthews and ends looking at Astrid. "Well, I think that can be arranged."
"Rhaumwald..." Mr. Matthews warned.
"Of course, we’ll see how things go, it’s too early to say." he says, sitting back, "But I don't think there'll be any problem."
The kids stared at him with curiosity as he goes back to eating with a smile.
A few hours later, after the visitors left there were only the Johnsons, Cayce, and the Matthews at the front of the house.
“Well, dinner was amazing, as usual, Hannah. Thank you for such a wonderful night." Mrs. Johnson says.
"I'm glad you could make it Josephine, I know how busy you are, especially now with two boys with you."
"Oh, you have no idea." she says amused, "But the boys are such a tease, they practically make taking care of them almost like a game."
"They are good boys." Mr. Johnson says, "We are nothing but happy to have them bear our name."
"Thank you." Mr. Matthews says, "You do not know how much you made my daughter happy."
"Ashton, you never really thought I did this for you, did you?" Mr. Johnson teased, making the others laughed. "They are quite a treasure, aren't they? I'm sure our families' future is in good hands."
"So, we'll see everyone at the airport?" Mr. Cayce confirms.
"Yes, after lunch." Mr. Johnson says. "Has the date been set yet?"
"Father has not called in yet, but he will be there waiting for them." Mr. Matthews says. "I'll call all of you the moment he gives me his instructions.
"Good. Now, where are those kids..." Mr. Johnson says, "Derek! Jared!" she calls sweetly.
The gang was by the main hall running around.
"Coming mom!" Jared says, "Well, we better go, we'll see you tomorrow?"
"Yup, we'll pick up Damien and go to your house," Ash said. "If mom and dad agree."
"Great! Bring your blades ok?" Derek says as they ran off toward the main doors.
"Hey, we'll see you off." Ash ran after them.
Astrid was about to follow, but Lee held her back. "I want to give you something." he let goes of her hand and reached for his pocket. "It’s supposed to be a birthday present, but I can't wait to give it to you."
Astrid opened the silk-covered box and inside saw a necklace with a pendant of a sword with wings.
"Dad said it’s called Angel blade." Damien said, "According to him, the one who wears it is almost invincible, a fighter. Just like you."
"It’s beautiful Damien." Astrid runs her finger on the pendant. Then she looked up at him with a smile and gave him a kiss on the cheek. "Thank you."
Damien smiled; glad he made her smile.
"And look at this," he said, he lent out his hand and showed a mark on the inside of his right wrist.
"Damien, it’s all red," Astrid says, reaching for his hand and holding it in her hands carefully as she checked on Damien's tattoo. "Does it hurt?"
"Not anymore." he says, "Thank you for asking."
"Damien, what were you thinking of having this done?" Astrid was more worried than mad.
"It’s the mark of the Cayce family, it’s called Mystique Chronicle, dad has the same mark. Here's the best part..."
He took the necklace out of the box and put it over his tattoo, and it fit the mark, perfectly aligning the wings.
"It's some sort of puzzle." then he stepped behind her and put the necklace on her, Astrid pushes her hair aside. "Now you have a piece of me wherever you go." he stepped in front of her and admired the necklace on her, "A half that will not live without the other..." he smiles, Because I have your wings."
Astrid just stared at him her plans hovering on top of her mind, badly wanting to tell her best friend. "Damien..."
Damien raises his pinky finger, "Just come home..."
"Promise." Astrid wraps her pinky around his. "I promise never to take it off, I will take good care of your half Damien, always." then she gave him a look, "But that doesn't mean I like you getting tattoos."
Damien chuckled and nodded as he watched Astrid check on his tattoo again.
"Damien!"
"Well, I need to go," Damien says.
"I'll see you off," Astrid says, walking beside him to the door.
"We'll see you tomorrow," Derek shouts from the car.
"See you!" Ash answered as the Johnsons' car drive off.
"I guess we'll see you again tomorrow." Mr. Cayce grins toward his best friends.
"It seems like it." Mrs. Matthews chuckles, Ash stood in front of her and she wrapped her arms around his shoulder and kiss the top of his head.
Damien and Astrid stepped out of the house talking and laughing as they joined the others.
"Well, it was nice meeting you, princess." Mr. Cayce smiles at Astrid, "Rumors don't justify how clever you kids are." then he sees the necklace and smiled, "As meek and innocent as you are, you kids are already the jewels on Father Johan's crown."
"Thank you," Astrid says.
"By the way Damien, we heard you were marked today." Mr. Matthews says.
"It was unnecessary," Damien grins and glanced at Astrid, "I would have saved Astrid with or without anything in return."
"Well, I'm sure your father disagrees." Mrs. Matthews said. "If you weren't there my twins would have been endangered."
"Giving you a worthy family is the least we could do to thank you." Mr. Matthews says.
"The twins would have done the same thing," Damien said.
"Without a doubt," Ash says as the Damien does the boys' handshake.
"Very well." Mr. Cayce walked toward their car, "Enough drama, we'll see you tomorrow Matthews."
"And bring your latest toy." Mr. Matthews reminds.
"Definitely." Mr. Cayce says, "Especially with all the kids there, and with the princess, I'll finally be able to see if those dolls are pretty enough."
"I'm sure they are, Uncle Rhaumwald," Astrid says.
"Thank you, princess." Mr. Cayce says, "Very well, let's go, Damien, a growing boy needs sleep. Call me if anything occurs Ashton."
"Good night uncle Ashton, Aunt Hannah!" Damien says. "Good night Ash! Good night Astrid!"
"Good night!" Astrid and Ash shout as the car drove out of the gates and into the night.
Then Mr. Matthews picked up Ash and groaned under his weight, "My, someone's growing fast."
"Well, grandpa said it was the only way he'd let us go to school." Ash laughs, struggling from his father’s hold.
"But if you grew up too fast, I won’t be able to carry you anymore." Mr. Matthews whined.
“It isn’t our fault you’re getting old.” Ash shrugs, giving up.
"Is that so?" Mr. Matthews raised a brow and starts to tickle him.
"Stop it, dad!" Ash shouts between laughs.
Mr. Matthews finally stops, out of breath himself, trying to make sure Ash doesn't fall from his hold the whole time he was twisting and turning.
"Well, how about riding piggyback, I think I am getting old," he says.
They laughed as he carried Ash piggyback style, while Astrid and Mrs. Matthew were finally able to walk beside them again, without the threat of being kicked by Ash.
"So did you kids have fun tonight?" Mr. Matthews asks.
"Yeah..." Ash laying his head on his dad’s shoulder, "Though I did miss grandpa, he called and said we'll see each other tomorrow."
"Well, looks like you have a busy schedule tomorrow." Mrs. Matthews smiles.
Ash yawns, "Not too busy for family..." he snuggles closer and closed his eyes.
"Someone drained himself from playing." Mr. Matthews teased, but no answer came. "Son?"
"I think he fell asleep daddy," Astrid says as she too lets out a yawn.
"And what about you?" Mrs. Matthews asks.
"I sat at the garden, I better wash up," Astrid says.
"Why don't you tuck the prince to bed," Mrs. Matthews tells her husband, "I'll help Astrid prepare for bed."
Mr. Matthews nods, "I'll see you in a while."
He walks to Ash's room leaving the girls going to Astrid room which was across from Ash's room.
"You don't have to go with me mom, you must be tired," Astrid says.
"Not too tired for my princess," she says and runs her hand through Astrid’s hair.
Astrid smiles and entered her room, Mrs. Matthews helped her out of her clothes and into the tub. Astrid sat in the middle of the tub rubbing her face and arms, while Mrs. Matthews knelt beside the tub, rubbing a sponge on Astrid's back. Then she noticed Astrid's necklace.
"Hm, the Angel blade."
"Oh," Astrid reaches for the pendant and smiles, "Damien gave it to me."
"That’s nice." Mrs. Matthews says. "Do you know what it means?"
Astrid shook her head, "Damien just said that the one who wears it is thought to be almost invincible."
"She was a fighter," Mr. Matthews says, "to her nothing was impossible."
"Was she a knight?" Astrid asks, "She sounds like the knight I read in my books."
Mrs. Matthews laughs, "Well, she was no damsel in distress, that's for sure."
Astrid looks up to her, "You know her?"
Mrs. Matthews stifles a laugh, "I might know a particular owner of the same necklace you have." she said. "Her name was Lucille, she was smart, spontaneous, and a troublemaker. She was my best friend."
"Where is she?"
"She died saving her child and mine."
"You had a child?"
"Yes," a sad smile now etched her face, "twins."
"Twins too?" Astrid's eyes widen, "What happened?"
"We gave birth in the same week, and we were having our mom and kids’ day at their home. She asked me to buy some stuff at the grocery while she takes care of the kids. She was great with babies and children; it was like they have some unknown way of communication." Then she frowns, "When I came back the house was a wreck, we found her at the nursery, lifeless. Then in the closet, we found the empty cribs, bloody and torn, but we never found their bodies."
Astrid watched her with a frown and reached for her hand. "I'm sorry."
Mrs. Matthews took a deep breath. "You deserve to know this, princess," she said. "I couldn't bear the thought of my babies dying and it affected my health, the doctors said I'm too weak to have a baby again. So, we decided to adopt, no one came close to what we'd want for a child until we met you." She ran her hand through Astrid's wet hair. "You and Ash are beyond a dream come true. It was as if faith wanted to give us our twins back."
Astrid smiled, "What about her husband?"
"Lucille's husband?" she laughs as she continues rubbing her back, "Well, he never married again. That's how they are, once their partner is gone, that's it. Besides, Lucille is your uncle Rhaumwald's first and only love, he said she's irreplaceable. He wears her Angel blade necklace, one just like that."
"She's Uncle Rhaumwald's wife?"
"Yeah, back then the four of us traveled the world one assignment after another. But after Lucille died, Rhaumwald gave his time to the toy factory."
"Why?"
"We still try to believe that our kids are still alive. He thinks that this way, one of his toys will reach his son, it’s the only way he can compensate for his absence.”
Astrid frowned.
"What are you thinking about?" Mrs. Matthews asks.
"Well..." Astrid still had her thinking face on. "Ash and I will be leaving, and I didn't even bother to ask you if it’s ok."
She smiled, "Astrid, you are a smart kid, I know this is important to you, and as a mother, I will support you and give you my full trust."
"Thank you," Astrid says.
"No, thank you." Mrs. Matthews says, "In the short span of time you are here you have enlightened so many people of your innocence, your father and I are very proud of you." she stands up and took the towel, "Now, let's get you rinsed and dry, your father should be here soon."
She helped Astrid out of the tub and dried off. Soon, they were on her bed, while Mrs. Matthews combs her hair.
"You haven't told me..." Astrid turns to her mother.
"What haven't I told you, love?"
"What Angel blade means."
"Eternal Bond." They turned and saw Mr. Matthews standing by the door.
"You took your time." Mrs. Matthews teased.
"Yeah, I had to wrestle Ash out of his clothes and into his pajamas. I don't think the maids would be happy with the mess we made in his closet." The girl laughs as he sat beside Astrid. "So Damien gave you his necklace?" Astrid nods.
"You must really be special to him."
"We used to only have each other, the three of us." Astrid points out, "That's what makes us special for each other."
"True," Mr. Matthews said. "But each pendant is unique and could only fit one mark..." he reached for my necklace and placed the pendant on his palm where, surprisingly, has the same mark Damien had. But her pendant didn’t fit his. "But if you find the person who fills the empty parts of you..."
This time he reached for Mrs. Matthews who pulled out a pendant that was wrapped around her wrist underneath her long sleeves, Astrid saw an Angel blade but a bit different than hers, but its fit Mr. Matthews' mark perfectly.
"Losing you will be painful for him and Ash." Mr. Matthews says. "You are part of a whole."
"Damien understands." Astrid mumbles. "I'm sure Ash will too."
"What about you?" Mrs. Matthews asks. "How much do you understand?"
Astrid doesn't answer.
"If you think it is right then we won’t stop you." Mr. Matthews says. "You can still change your mind."
Astrid shook her head, the same way he answered Father Johan two months ago. "No, I've made my decision."
"Then remember that you have a home to come back to, once you think you are ready, come home." Mrs. Matthews wraps her arms around her and kissed the top of her head. Astrid lean back and rested her head under her chin, "I will miss you dearly, princess."
"So will I mom," Astrid says, before turning to Mr. Matthews who pulled her toward him, sat her on his lap, and hugged her, tucking her head under his chin.
"My princess," he whispers. "Come home as soon as you have finished your business, I will miss you so much."
"I will dad..." Astrid buries her face on the crook of his neck, fighting away the tears.
After a few minutes, Mr. Matthews laid her in bed and tucked her in. "Rest well, my princess. I love you very much." he kisses her forehead.
"I love you too," she says, snuggling underneath her comforters. “You too mom.”
"Now go sleep, we'll stay with you until you are in dreamland." Mrs. Matthews says as she ran her hand through Astrid's hair.
"I’ll be fine, mom." Astrid smiles, "You and daddy should go rest."
"But-"
"I'm a big girl," she says, "I am Damien’s angel blade, aren't I?"
Mrs. Matthews smiled and nodded. "Very well," she gives her another kiss, "Good night my little angel blade." Astrid smiles and watches the couple walk to the door.
"Oh, and you can turn the lights off tonight daddy." Astrid snuggles underneath her comforter. "I don't think there's anything to be scared of here."
Mr. Matthews chuckled and closed the lights. "Good night princess." he says, "Sleep tight, don't let the bed bugs bite."
Astrid closed her eyes, "Albert caught all the bed bugs."
The couple laughs again and finally closed the door. Astrid smile and turns to her side feeling tired and sleepy. She finally fell asleep, but not long after the peaceful silence took over, someone roughly pulled her comforter off her and grabbed her around the waist. She starts to struggle and scream.
"Daddy! Mommy!"
"Shut up you little brat!" a man hissed as he carried her out to the balcony.
"Let me go! Ash! Ash!"
"Shut her up!" another man cover her mouth.
"There are people coming!" Astrid struggles again and bit her captor’s hand away.
"Ash!" she screams, "Ash!"
"This will shut you up." another man says and injected her.
"No...." Astrid felt sleep take over her again.
"Astrid!" the door shook, "Astrid open the door!"
"Ash..." she called out before she blacked out.
The men had started scaling the wall when the door crack open and footsteps followed. By the time Ash sees his twin, she was being carried across the roof. Gunshots from below broke the silence of what was a peaceful night.
"What the-" the man moves out of range, "Fire back!"
"No!" Mr. Matthews yelled holding up his arms, "Hold your fire, Astrid is with them!"
Then like earlier that night, everything fell silent, until a faint sound of a helicopter echoed in the darkness.
"Let my sister go!" Ash shouts.
"Please, we'll give you anything you want," Mrs. Matthews pleads, "just let our daughter go."
"No." the man turns to leave.
"Please, I beg you..." Mr. Matthews says.
The man looked back at them from the roof, "Am sorry, but this is what she wanted."
This surprises the Matthews and the man hops on an awaiting helicopter.
"No, no..." Ash ran toward the edge of the terrace, but Mrs. Matthews ran after him and wrapped her arms around him, as they fall down on the floor, crying, "Astrid... ASTRID!"
Damien lied in bed, staring at the ceiling. For some reason, he kept on thinking of what Astrid said earlier and it had caused him to lose sleep. He sighs and sat up, deciding to go to the kitchen to get some milk.
He steps out of the room and walks past his father's office, where he can hear his father talking with someone, probably on the phone. He peeks between the ajar door and sees his adoptive father pale with shock, urging his curiosity to eavesdrop.
"I see." Mr. Cayce says on the phone. "And the boy? That's good, Damien and I will be there in a few minutes."
"We’re going somewhere?" Damien steps inside.
"Damien, I thought you were in bed."
"I couldn't sleep." The boy quickly explains.
Mr. Cayce sat on the chair across his table where his guests usually sit, he gestures for Damien to sit on the chair beside him.
"Is there something bothering you?"
"It’s Astrid." Damien answered as he walked to him and sat, "She asked me a weird thing today."
"Weird?"
Damien nods, "She asked me if I would be mad if she leaves."
"That isn't weird."
"It is for her." Damien frowns, "She's scared to be alone since we were younger. She'll never leave without us." Rhaumwald stares at Damien, who in return looked up at him, seeing his father worried. "What's wrong dad?"
"Damien, there's something you need to know..."
"Astrid!" Damien shouts as he steps inside the Matthews' home. "Astrid!”
Everyone who was in the main hall turned to look at him.
"Damien..." Mrs. Matthews walked toward him and knelt in front of him, reaching for his hand.
"Where is she?" he asks, "Did you check the garden? The lake?"
"Damien she's not here..." Mrs. Matthews says, reaching for his face, "She was taken away and-"
"No!" he shouts again pulling his hand away from her, "This is just one of her stupid pranks! Astrid, this isn't funny!"
"Damien, love, please..."
"With all these people here no one can find here?" he points at the guards.
"Damien calm down." Mr. Cayce says.
"NO!" he shouts again and turned to Mrs. Matthews, "You promised you'll take care of her! You promised!"
Then Mrs. Matthews put her arms around him and held him tight, and Damien cried with her.
"I'm sorry Damien... I’m so sorry..." she whispers as she cried with him. "I didn't... I thought she'd be happy..."
"Astrid..." Damien gasps, "she wouldn't leave without saying-"
Mrs. Matthews shook her head and looks down at Damien, holding his face in her hands and made him face her. "She will come home, I know she will." she says, "We will find her Damien. There is no reason for goodbyes."
"But those men-"
"She's your angel blade, right?" Damien gave a nod, "Then she'll come home."
"Damien, I think Ash would like to see you." Mr. Cayce says, "Albert?"
"Of course, Master Rhaumwald, come Master Damien."
Mrs. Matthews let go of him and watched as he walked beside Albert going to Ash's room.
"Josephine and James are on their way..."
"How are the boys?" Mrs. Matthews asks.
"They haven't said a word according to James." Mr. Cayce says. "They're a bit worried about Derek though, Jared had asked a few questions, mostly about Ash and Damien, other than that..."
Meanwhile, Damien walked toward Ash's room but was surprised that Albert moved to Astrid’s door.
"Albert, I thought we're going to Ash's room?"
"He is in the princess' room. Like you, he's been going crazy looking for her."
Albert opens the door and Damien sees Ash in the middle of the bed, sitting with his legs cross holding a toy but staring at the balcony door.
Damien sat at the edge of the bed and followed his friend’s gaze.
"They took her while she was asleep." Ash starts, "They probably wouldn't be able to handle her if she was awake. Dad said she was drugged, that's why she wasn’t fighting back."
Damien listened to him, but he knew why he was sent here. He knew what Astrid would have wanted to know at that very moment about her twin. "Are you ok?"
Ash looked down at the bear, "Damien..." his voice cracks and a tear rolls down from his cheek, "I was in the next room and I couldn't help her, I heard her call me. But I didn't make it in time."
"They were armed men-"
"I didn't even try." Ash shook his head, "Then the man said that it was what Astrid wanted." Damien frowns, "She'd never leave us, Damien, we promised."
For some unknown reason this calmed Damien enough to reach for his friend’s shoulder and say, "She'll come home, Ash, she promised us."
The next day, Matthews' residence was full of armed men. The boys sat in Astrid’s room while their parents talked in the study.
“Have they called?" Mrs. Johnson asks.
Mr. Matthews shook his head. "I doubt that they'll contact us. They could've negotiated while they were here."
"That is what she wanted... what sort of kidnapper would say that?"
"You'd be surprised at how many psychos are out there." Mr. Cayce says Mr. Matthews gave him a look; Mrs. Matthews shrugged. "But Astrid is a smart kid, she'll do her best to stay alive."
"Rhaumwald..." Mr. Matthews warns, flinching at the mention of alive.
"I shouldn't have left her." Mrs. Matthews shook her head running last night’s events over and over again in her head. “Damien said she's scared of the dark, that she easily gets cold..." then she looked up at her husband, more worried than before, "She could be freezing by now!"
"Hannah, love..." Mr. Matthews knelt in front of her, "Rhaumwald is right, Astrid is a smart kid-"
"A kid! Exactly! She is nonetheless a child Terrence!” Mrs. Matthews snaps. "Everyone knows she's smart, her kidnappers don't care about that! She's a little girl who gets scared of the dark!"
Mr. Matthews wraps her in his arms, calming her as she cried.
"Hannah, she's an angel blade, you told Damien she would come home, you should believe in your own words-"
"Well, they don't know how cruel life can be, do they?"
"They're from an orphanage, life's been cruel to them since they can remember." Mr. Cayce says.
"I don't care!" she shouts, "I want my daughter home! I will not lose another child..."
"We won't." Mr. Matthews says, "We'll take the boys to NSA then we can focus on finding Astrid."
"Will the boys agree to leave without Astrid?" Mr. Johnson asks.
"That's what we're about to find out." Mr. Cayce says.
"No." The boys say firmly.
"We're not leaving without Astrid," Derek argues.
“But we are looking for her son." Mr. Johnson says, "We can't give our hundred percent seeing that they may come back for one of you."
“Then we'll wait," Damien says, "they can take us to Astrid, and we'll bring her home."
"That's stupid and foolish-"
"It’s the only way!" Damien shouts.
"But do you think Astrid would agree to get you in danger because of her?" They all turned and saw Father Johan by the door. "Do you really think she'd like you to risk your lives?"
"Father..."
"You boys will go to the NSA and will stay there until you earn yourselves a rank." Father Johan says with so much authority that the boys knew that they didn’t have a choice.
Damien stood up and shook his head, "No! We will look for Astrid-"
"You will do no such thing!" Father Johan snaps back, "I will not bring my granddaughter home only to find you are not here, young Cayce," he pauses, "You will not break her like that."
This took Damien by surprise; no one spoke for a minute until Ash stood up.
"Excuse me," Ash says.
"Where are you going, Ash?" Mr. Matthews asks.
"To NSA." he said, "The quicker we leave, the quicker they'll find Astrid. Let's go." Damien frowns and held his ground. "Damien?"
Damien steps up and glares at Father Johan. "Be sure to find her, old man, or I'll come back for you." He turns around and storms out of the room. The boys looked up at Father Johan and followed Damien.
"Sharp tongue." Father Johan says with a sigh. "I like him more, reminds me of Lucille."
"Father you're supposed to be in NSA." Mr. Matthews says.
"My granddaughter needs me," he said as he sat beside his daughter- in- law, "besides, I can't disappoint the boys." he smiles and turns to his daughter in law. "I promise to find her Hannah, we will protect this family. Even if it is the last thing I do."
"Father..." Mrs. Matthews leans on him and cried.
"We will find her." Father Johan repeats and hugs her. "We will bring her home..."