Lana sighed. She remembered well her time there. Of course, things are different now with those two but she still didn't trust the vampire leaders.
"Is everything okay on your end?" Linda asked noting the concern on her face.
Lana nodded. "I'm more worried about what's happening on the other side of that teleporter. They welcomed me into their family when they didn't have to. I was more of an intruder if anything. If I can help them, I will."
Linda nodded, "I didn't want this life and probably wouldn't have chosen it if I had the option. I am grateful to Quinn, though, for saving me and giving me a second chance at life. Do you know? Am I still a drauger or have I become something else?"
"It smells like you have just become a stronger version but ask the Tenth Leader," Shalt responded.
"Tenth leader?" Linda asked.
"He's talking about Quinn. He's more special than most people know."
Shalt looked at Lana, "Does he just keep everything secret?"
Lana laughed, "pretty much. He's got all these pieces to the various puzzles in his head. Many view him as just a kid but there's more going on in there than most would believe. How else would he have achieved so much at this point in life. You heard him. He's 9 days older than me! He's a world leader."
Shalt had one more question, "do you think he's happy with the job I'm doing? Am I doing enough?"
"Shalt!" Lana was flabbergasted. Linda didn't even know Shalt could talk because she had never heard him do so before. "Look. Has Quinn ever said anything negative to you?"
Shalt shook his head, "not since that incident."
"Of course not. You earned his trust. Seriously, do you think he would let just any vampire near his best friend's wife and kids?" she said this part quietly. Linda could hear it but no one else.
Shalt blushed, "I didn't know I gained so much trust. Is your husband really his best friend?"
Lana nodded.
"I guess that never really hit me until now," Shalt felt a little choked up that his family leader would put so much trust in him after so little time. "How…?"
Lana chuckled, "by earning my trust and Fex explained to him the way things work in your world. It was quite simple. Your own actions earned you this position."
Linda asked, "may I ask what happened that got you were you are?"
Shalt filled her in on the events leading up to him making a promise to support Lana.
Linda looked guilty, "I owe you another apology, Lana. I didn't understand and I didn't give you a chance."
"You're part of the family now. I don't want to keep you from your work. Where can I find Wevil?"
"Check the game room." She gave Lana a room number and the small family was off.
Lana found the room number in the hall of training rooms to discover there was a sign on it "Game Room". She opened the door and looked around. The room was quite busy. She guessed the ship wasn't as empty as she thought. Perhaps the people were simply using all the training rooms to hone their skills. It was quite loud with all the excitement.
Lana raised her voice, "Is there a Wevil in here?" She couldn't recall if she had ever met this person. The name rang a bell as a story Sil told her about what happened with the Parasites and that Wevil helped him take those factions. He must be a good person since Sil didn't have anything bad to say but she needed to make sure.
A man turned around and looked at her, "who's asking?"
Lana smiled and approached him, "my name is Lana and I was wondering if I could talk to you for a moment?"
Wevil shrugged and stepped out of the room with her. "What's this about?"
"Linda." Lana waited for a reaction from him while watching his aura. Nothing seemed to change so she continued. "She told me what happened. I am extremely loyal to Quinn. I need to make sure you won't betray him by telling others what happened." There was still no change in his aura.
"Look, I don't know who you are but Quinn earned my loyalty when he rescued us from Mantis. For the first time in my life, I feel like I'm home under the Cursed, under Quinn's leadership."
Lana nodded, "that's what I needed. Thank you." She was getting ready to leave when Wevil stopped her.
"Who are you to him?" Wevil looked at Shalt and the babies having never seen any of them before.
Lana didn't want to give him to full information for so many reasons. She decided to say, "I went to school with him. I met him through one of his roommates. I hung out with him and his friends over summer vacation and now we view each other as siblings. I won't take too kindly to any betrayal toward him." She stared him in the eyes when she said that.
Wevil looked at her and the babies. He placed a hand on each of their heads and locked eyes with hers, "only a stupid person would do that," he grins.
Lana nodded with a smile and went home. She felt she had been on this ship for too long. She needed to be among plants again. Lana breathed deeply once she returned to the surface of her shelter. The fresh air, the trees talking to her. Everything was back to normal. I think you should extend the trees of the forest over the cleared areas, Lana heard one of the trees say.
The tree has a point, Lana thought. What do you think, Max? I placed the settlement here to prevent it from being discovered. Is it hidden enough?
From above, it stands out like a sore thumb, Max replied.
Lana sighed. She wanted to go hunting again but it would be prudent to wait for Alex to work his magic. Then she smirked. "Shalt, let's go get Mandy, Dawn and Fiza."
Fiza had returned on her own after making sure her mother was okay. She had gone initially because she wanted to become Lana's assistant but she had no idea where the boss had gone so she came home.
She found the trio in the training center working on their martial arts. Lana handed the babies to Shalt and traded out with Fiza's sparring partner. "You're not hitting hard enough. You should end up with bruises from this kind of training. Practice punches. Try again."
Fiza threw a punch which Lana easily blocked. She screamed because it hurt. Lana responded by healing the injury. "The body gets stronger through healing from injuries. If you want to increase your chances of surviving out there, you can't fear pain."
Fiza nodded, "I never planned to be in dangerous situations."
"Most never do. Then things like the Sunshield attack happens. If we want a happy life, we have to be ready for anything. Be as prepared as we can for what life throws at us."
"You are so young. How are you so strong? Are you related to our Quinn?"
"Not by blood but by circumstance. We were both taught at a very young age, we are in charge of our own survival. Let's do this again. I want hard punches. Everything you got."
Fiza nodded and they worked for a full hour despite the girls complaining they were almost done for the day.
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