Harmonizer's Evolution (Balancer's Soul cycle) (30 page)

Connor
had to downshift while going up a
steep
hill
. “Try being in my position.” They
didn’t
need to
look at each other
to
pay attention. “I’m still extremely new to this
strange
world and yet I’m doing all I can. Somehow I have to deal with the fact that my children will be something new
and unique
to the world. They will be like Keepers and from what Sorono and I have surmised they will be stronger than most Keepers and most certainly more powerful than Balancers.
Somehow Sarah and I will need to properly raise two children who will become the
fourth
race.”

“
The
fourth
race
? What do you mean?” Jack finally look
ed
away from the window to look at
Connor
with a strange expression.

After overtaking the hill he
finally answered. “In time
,
Pearl and Darrel will become Elders of the new race. Right now there are three
classes
, but in time Sorono will allow my children to become the leaders of their descendants, just like he does as the Head Elder
of the Keepers
and similarly with Raphael of the Changers
. One day instead of their being thirty elders there will be forty. I know Sorono will one day do this, but setting something up that grand will take
some
time. And I haven’t a clue as to how my children will turn out.
I just hope that they become passionate and caring, rather than demeaning and malicious.
You know what happens if a child is over-spoiled.
”

Jack and Connor
went silent as
they
contemplated what
had been
said.

Once
they
reached the city
they
found a twenty four hour supermarket and
they
filled up two carts and paid for the purchases. It took up just the right amount of time for one of the butcher stores
to finally open for business. Connor
bought three
large
cows and had them wrapped in wax-paper and had them stuffed into the bed of the truck with the rest of the groceries. The butcher
became
shocked to see
Connor
lift the cow
like a sack o
f
potatoes
and transport it to
his
truck, but he never said anything.

By the time Jack an
d Connor
made it back to
their
street
t
he clock
read ten minutes after nine
,
on the
stereo system
. Already everyone
arrived
. Mark’s
brown
jeep and
David’s
red
truck sat in
Jenny
’s driveway
yet no one wait
ed
outside
. He
pulled into
his
parking spot
in Jack’s driveway. No one was around
here either
as Jack opened up the tailgate.
They
pulled out all of the groceries out of the truck and laid them down on the
cold
concrete driveway.

Connor
focused
his
mind and used Pressure to
create a solid platform beneath the groceries and
lift
ed
all of the items like a
n invisible
forklift
. Jack
walked with Connor
into the woods while the food followed effortlessly behind. About halfway there
,
they
smelled burning wood.

Jack and Connor
entered the clearing to see that the bonfire was relit. Everyone sat in a wide circle of chairs, but not surrounding the fire. Everyone sat just like they did two days ago.

Upon arrival
he
saw that
his m
om and Jil
lian were each holding one of his
children.
It looked like Jillian held Darrel and
Jenny
held
Pearl
.
Only th
is time they were both wearing
one piece clothes
that covered everything
on
their
bodies
except
for
their heads. Pearl wore a pink piece while Darrel wore a blue one.
S
omeone had gone out and bought a blue one because
they
didn’t have one for him yesterday.

“Hey Sorono, I’ve got something for you and your family.” He and everyone turned to see Jack and
him
coming towards them.
Connor
focused and brought forth the
wrapped
cattle. He grabbed two while Veronica grabbed one.

He unwrapped one and smiled.
“Thank you
for this
, Connor. This is just what we needed.”

He
told everyone that the
food needed to be put away. As he
entered the cottage
he
saw Sorono placing the three cows over the fire to get cooked. Shannon
sat
by his side and watched as he began cooking their meal.

After
they
ended th
e day with everyone Connor and Sarah
ate
like a human in terms of quantity
, but
were both
still
very hungry
. A
t least the edge
had been
taken off
till they produced enough over time
. Darrel and Pearl kept studying and listening
to everyone in silence
. And when
ever
Pearl saw her daddy
,
she immediately reached for him
and wiggled her adorable little fingers
.
She really i
s a daddy’s girl. And Darrel
quickly
became fascinated with Mark when he showed his abilities as a changer. Mark had grown his hair
long
and allowed her
son to play with it.
And before everyone relaxed in the morning,
Mark and Connor managed to remove the birthing bed and they broke it apart to put it on the burning pile.

Before they
called it a night
,
Jack
said he would have a surprise for
them
in the morning.

Connor and Sarah
awoke after a very restful night. As he made breakfast, Pearl and Darrel were woken up to have their morning feeding.
Sarah
also changed their wet diapers.
After their bellies were full
,
they went
right
back to slee
p like she
didn’t even interrupt
their sleep cycle. Connor and Sarah
ate together and his skills as a cook were
still
very adept.

Just as they
finished cleaning the dishes there
came
a knock on
the front door. Sarah
walked to the door a
nd opened it to reveal
her m
other. S
he looked as stunning as ever in a ruffled red top and a
classy skirt. Her dark hair was pulled back with a hair tie. Her golden eyes were searching as she saw
Sarah
wearing a fresh t-shirt and long pants.
Jillian
looking as buoyant as ever. “Good morning, Sarah. Did you sleep well?”

“Yes I did. It is still very early.
Especially
for you, Mother.”

“You
’
r
e
observant.” She said nonchalantly and with a smile. “Actually your father had to go do a few things this morning. I didn’t have much to do except wash a load of laundry. That didn’t take too long and I wanted to come see my delectable grandbabies.” She then smiled like she did when she handed
over
Pearl for the very first time.

“What else are you neglecting to tell us, Jillian?” Connor asked while coming up
from
beh
ind
.

Jillian
smiled and looked up into his eyes. “Your mother said she was called into work this morning. She didn’t sound very happy being called to work during this time of day. Oh and she said Kara couldn’t skip any more class time and she would be here when she could.”

“Anything else?” Sarah
’s
husband
’
s tone became suspicious and he only gets that way when someon
e is hiding something from him.

That in turn made
her
a little suspicious too.

“Nothing you need to concern yourself with.”
Jillian
said cryptically. “Oh and I would appreciate it if you didn’t try and read my mind.” When she added that little detail she knew Connor wouldn’t
infringe
because of his ethics against intrusion without permission. He would only break them if there was a threat.

Sarah
glanced to see him give
her
mother a heartfelt smile.

They
stepped back and
allowed her to enter
. She shut the door and asked “How are they doing this morning?”

Sarah
smiled and explained “They were just fed
and burped
about thirty minutes ago. I suspect they will still be asleep.”

Jillian
grinned and pointed. “Let me check for myself.”

Connor
went into the back bedroom as Sarah
followed
her m
other into the twin’s room. To
her
immediate surprise she was remarkably silent. Both Darrel and Pearl were si
lent. Connor had explained to Sarah
how to tell if they were re
ally asleep or faking it. Jillian
walked to the separating bar that individualized each of their cribs. She then leaned forward
and rested her arms on the rails and propped her chin on those arms. Her eyes had calmed as she took in the sight of her first grandchildren.

Sarah walked to her and wrapped her
arm around her
mother’s
shoulder and joined
her in
watch
ing
the newest generation of
their continuing bloodline. She
spoke at a soft whisper. “Since you have forbidden us access to your mind, what are you thinking about, Mother?”

Jillian’s
tone matched
hers
. “Actually I was just marveling at how absolutely
beautiful
they are. Even when I imagined what my grandchildren would look like…they were hideous images compared to the real thing
s
. They are both absolutely perfect.” Then
Jillian’s golden
eyes shifted to meet
hers
. “So how do
es it feel to be free of them? D
oes it feel good to have your figure back
?”

“It does, now that I have a figure to look at.”

Jillian
grinned with
her
and then she poked
her daughter’s
left breast. “You’ve definitely filled out quite well.”

While
they
were on the subject
she
just had to ask “Mother, will they go back to the way they once were
,
like the rest of my body has?”

She
shook her head slowly
, pointed to her chest
and said “Mine haven’t.
I never told you that my original sized breasts looked once like yours.
I might have quit lactating, but these
babies
haven’t changed in any way since having all three of my girls.
The best part is we don’t sag afterwards.
”

“Sweet.” She
smiled a little more with
Sarah
.