Balancer's Soul

by H. Lee Morgan, Jr

Moving and Staying

  As Sarah entered her bland bedroom at her parent’s home, and after Connor went to get something from his mother’s, she pulled out some cardboard boxes from the recent move from Washington that she hadn’t had the time to dispose of. She packed up all of her clothing into five large boxes labeled Tops, Bottoms, Undergarments, Delicates and Personal effects. As she taped up the boxes with excitement came a soft rasp at her bedroom door. “Come in.”

  She looked up to see her mother peeking around it. “Sarah, may we talk?” She sounded worried and upset about something.

  “What’s the matter, Mother?” She walked over to sit on Sarah’s bed after closing the door behind her. This was a side of her she hasn’t seen in quite awhile. Jillian rarely shows such a heartbreaking expression.

  “Nothing is wrong, I am just feeling a little lonely all of a sudden.” She looked down at the floor and sighed quietly through her nose. This was very unusual for the one who gave Sarah life. She’s rarely insecure, that’s her daughter’s forte.

  “Why do you feel lonely? You have been with Father for over seven hundred years. Did Father do something to upset you?” Sarah sat down next to her because she looked like she needed some form of comfort.

  Jillian shook her head and told Sarah what weighed on her mind. “Sarah, you have been my little girl for a very, very long time. And now you are finally a woman and it will be hard to see you leave. It feels harder now than it did when Amber and Pearl left with their mates. We have always been a little closer than your sisters. Make a promise with me please?” She looked up with troubled golden eyes.

  “What is it?” Sarah couldn’t say no against that look.

  She smiled as she read Sarah’s thoughts. “Stay close to home.”

  “I will stay as close as I can, with Connor by my side.” “I mean it, Mother.” Jillian hugged her as the door was knocked on again. Sarah’s mother stood and dried her tears as best she could as she said “Come in.”

  Connor opened the door slowly and looked around. “So this is your room? Your dad said it was in the back here…” He looked around her room as she still sat on the bed. “So this is where you sleep.” His expression changed as he saw her mother’s red eyes and knew that she was forcing a smile at him. “Jillian what happened? Why were you crying?” Kara was right, it was hard to slip anything past him.

  “It’s no use trying to fool you is it?” She sighed again knowing he would know if she lied to him. “I’m just going to miss my little girl that’s all.”

  “Are you stupid or what!” He suddenly seethed frustration as he walked up and grabbed both of her mother’s arms like an immovable vice. Sarah sat frozen in place. But his eyes held no anger or malice.

  “What do you think you’re doing?” Jillian struggled to free herself from his grasp with no results. Even with her inhuman strength, she couldn’t budge from his hold for some strange reason. She must not be using her full power.

  Then Sarah saw her father suddenly appear in the hall to see how Connor held his mate and murderous rage flared in his azure eyes. Sarah knew her father was going to do something to her true love.

  Connor dropped to his knees before Jack called on his element. His anger seemed to vanish as Conner spoke clearly to Jillian, looking her eye to eye. “I asked if you are stupid, Jillian! Apparently you are because if you know nothing of me, you should at least know your own daughter by now.” He closed his eyes tightly in pain and shook his head slowly. “Jack, get out my head! She needs to hear this from someone. Apparently even at her age she still doesn’t know.” His eyes opened and looked at Jack with compassion and intense pain. Sarah knew her father wouldn’t stop until he was satisfied. “I’m not hurting your mate…Trust me.” Jack stood his ground and nodded, apparently satisfied with Connor’s thoughts, but he kept his eye’s zeroed in on Connor’s every miniscule motion.

  “What haven’t I learned at my age yet? What do you think you know that I don’t, child?” Jillian stopped struggling when Connor’s piercing hazel eyes froze her still. She just learned how piercing and commanding his eyes can be.

  “Sarah will always need her Mom, Jillian. Also Sarah cannot teach me everything about being a Balancer because she needs the two of you for support and so do I. We’re going to be family and that means we stay together and support each other.”

  His words seemed to cut the tension in the room.

  She finally breathed from under his constant gaze and said “I don’t understand what you are talking about. If you don’t mind, may I get my arms back?” Jillian admitted to him. And Connor looked directly at her father while still holding Sarah’s mother in his grasp.

  “I know you read my mind, Jack. Did her parents back in England ever…”

  Jack shook his head slowly and quietly said “No.”

  Connor gently released her mother’s arms saying “I thought they did. It looks like I have some explaining to do here. Jillian, will you please go sit next to Sarah.” She did sit while obeying his command and his lingering gaze made her move quicker to Sarah’s side. He looked up to her father. “You too!” He also obeyed. Jillian sat on her left as Jack took the right side, on the bed.

  Connor stood and pulled the chair from her nearby desk and sat in front of the three of them looking in each of their eyes. “Jillian, I’m sorry, but you need to hear and understand this. You said that Sarah’s abilities are very limited.” She nodded. “I was wrong, forgive my assumption. I thought your parents helped you and Jack to develop your abilities and guide you.” He seemed to be looking for the right words, but he shook his head a little too violently than necessary for some reason. “Not only will Sarah need you, but so will I. I know next to nothing of Balancer’s, let alone know what they are truly capable of. I’m not saying we are only going to stick around until we know everything, but we aren’t going anywhere anytime soon. What I am saying is that we need each other and we always will. That is what family is all about… Jillian, how long did it take for Jack and you to feel like you were comfortable with yourselves and with your abilities?”

  She spoke honestly. “We are still learning ourselves, even at our ages.”

  “Well don’t you think it will go smoothly and learn far more with study partners?” He smiled weakly and began breathing oddly. The piercing quality of his eyes were losing their effect.

  She beamed, coming back to her usual self. “And it will be more exciting.”

  Jack finally relaxed on the bed. “Connor, please forgive my actions. When I saw how you looked to be hurting my mate, I almost killed you.”

  His breathing became labored slightly. “No harm done, but you used too much power to read my thoughts. I’m trying my best to st.a..y… awak…”

  “CONNOR!” Sarah yelled as his head suddenly dropped and he went completely limp. She didn’t understand what was happening. He abruptly slid out of the chair and to the floor unconscious. She tried to get to him quickly enough, but couldn’t. His head hit the wood flooring with a loud crack. “Connor! Connor, wake up!” Sarah’s eyes started to tear not knowing what was happening to him. Her heart was beating in worry for his safety.

  Sarah looked up to see her mother with wide eyes and her father’s face going sheet white. “Oh no, Jack we need to hurry!” Jillian stated while taking his hand in hers.

  “Mother, what happened?” Sarah’s voice shook as Connor’s limp head laid on her lap, as she sat on the ground. He was barely breathing now.

  “Your father used too much force to enter Connor’s mind. Connor’s energy is slipping away, if we don’t do something now he might slip in a permanent coma or worse. Sarah, move!” She felt her father silently pick her up and moved her over, out of the way.

  Jack straightened Connor’s contorted body on the floor. “Sarah, stay back and don’t say a word. We’ll fix the problem.”

  Jillian moved the chair out of the way as she knelt at Connor’s left side and Jack took the other. Her left hand rested on her mate’s ri
ght palm. Sarah suddenly felt the temperature rising in my room. It had to of come from her father. Where their hands touched, their skin began to slightly give off a glowing sheen that could barely be seen. It looked just like how you’d hold your hand over a flashlight and see your skin glow, but the only difference is that it was her parent’s power being called forth and mixed.

  Their other hands began to faintly glow as well, but this time Jillian placed her other hand over Connor’s exposed chest, directly in the center of his scar. Jack placed his hand on top of hers and Sarah faintly saw the power flow from their hands and get absorbed into Connor’s body. They really were trying to help him by feeding him their combined energy. Jillian had her eyes closed in concentration just as Jack did.

  Five minutes later they stopped and sat back in complete exhaustion. Sarah was still frantic with panic as she asked “How is he?”

  Jack leaned back and looked at her with hollow, exhausted eyes. “Sarah, we gave him as much energy as we could and we are out of strength ourselves. He will be better in time, at least he won’t die on us. He’s a large person so it took more to stabilize him. Now that everyone is weak, will you bring us as much food as you can manage? The more calories the better.”

  Suddenly Sarah heard a groan from the floor. She peeked over her father’s shoulder and asked “Connor? Is that you?”

  He turned his head to the sound of her voice and spoke weakly. “Wha… What happened? Why am I on the ground?”

  Jack cursed under his breath. “What the hell is this kid made out of? He should be asleep for the next five days at least.” He then looked at his mate. “My Love, are you alright?”

  Jillian leaned up from the floor weakly. “Yes…just really drained. Connor, are you hurting anywhere?”

  “Only a massive headache. Will someone please tell me what just happened?” His voice became stronger with every moment. He weakly sat up and Sarah put her arm under him, to help him get into her bed. He was larger than her single mattress.

  As she stood, her father said from the floor. “It was my fault. You went unconscious because of my mistake. Jillian and I poured our energy into you before…”

  Connor’s head lay on her pillow with his eyes now opened. His hazel eyes weren’t as piercing, but at least they were calm. He said in awe “Amazing!”

  “How is that Amazing? I could have lost you.” Sarah said in a worried tone.

  He shut his eyes slowly while saying “It was amazing because your parents poured their energy into me to save me. I never knew that it could be possible.” He opened his eyes to look at her again. “Sarah, your parents aren’t the only ones who need those calories. Could you please bring me something as well?”

  “Right! I’ll be right back. Don’t you die on me, do you understand?” He smiled at her command.

  “I will always obey my princess.” As Sarah left for the kitchen she heard Connor speaking. “You two are incredible; in a good and a bad way.”

  “I can’t wait to hear this… Go ahead, let’s have it.” she heard her mother say. Sarah quickly grabbed everything she could manage to carry from the pantry and started back to the room.

  “I asked for you to get permission to read my mind, but I am glad that you had the ability to save me.”

  “You’re taking this quite well.” Jack said rather calmly.

  “Don’t get me wrong. I’m disappointed at you alright, but I understand why you did it. From now on you will know this.” Sarah heard the mattress springs shift and knew he shifted how he laid. “I never hurt my family, I protect them. I also include you as a part of my family. We need to rely on each other, not harm. Got it!” Connor actually scolded her ancient parents.

  As Sarah came back into her room her father said “You’re right, we are family.” He and her mother laid on the floor together now. “Welcome back, Sarah.” Jack smiled up at his child.

  Sarah handed her parents a package of cereal and a bottle of soda. They sat up and ate quickly, trying to replenish their depleted energies. She walked around them and sat on the edge of her bed while looking at Connor. He now rested on his back wearing the X on his chest proudly. “What did you bring me?” He didn’t sit up, but he smiled her smile. Sarah looked down at his resting hand.

  “Please don’t ever try and upset Father like that again.” She looked up again to see him wearing the same smile.

  “What else are son-in-laws for then?” He smiled softly.

  Jack chuckled quietly. “He’s got a point, Sarah. It’s a guy thing. I too like giving your grandfather a hard time, especially when he’s not being kind.”

  “Men.” Jillian shook her head and Sarah agreed.

  “It doesn’t really matter then.” Sarah said and Conner smiled. She handed him a granola bar and a banana along with a bottle of water.

  He took the food first, but he seemed so weak after this ordeal.

  As everyone finished eating, Connor was at last able to sit up on his own again. His eyes winced, but he pushed himself. Jack and Jillian now stood with renewed vigor as their energy levels came up again. “Connor, I’m sorry about tonight.” Jillian apologized while looking at him on the edge of the bed.

  “I’m not. It was educational for me. Besides that, I have a surprise waiting at home for me.”

  “I forgot all about that…” Jillian suddenly looked at Sarah and smiled. And as she read her mind her jaw continually dropped lower.

  Jillian spoke with her mind. “Well he has completely shattered your shell, my daughter. It now looks like you want to break his too.”

  “Mother, please don’t get carried away.” She shrugged indifferently.

  Connor changed the flow of the room by commanding “Jack, help me up.”

  “You really shouldn’t move just yet.” He said softly while looking down.

  Connor looked at him with the piercing stare of a natural born leader. “I wasn’t asking. There is just one more thing I need to do before it gets dark and I’m going to accomplish it.” Connor stretched his hand out and Jack grabbed his wrist and helped him to stand. Connor wobbled for a minute trying to get his equilibrium back. Her father patiently waited till Connor could stand properly.

  Connor looked at Sarah and smiled that he was ready. He slowly bent down and picked up two of her heavier boxes of clothing. As he left her room Connor called from the hallway “Sarah, please get the door for me.” Using her petite size to an advantage she rushed under his arm to open the doors and saw the wagon he pulls Kara to school in. Inside were two suitcases which held his things. He placed the two boxes inside the wagon as her father brought the other two boxes and stacked them on top of the suitcases. “Sarah, were you grading papers yesterday?” Connor smiled weakly at her as Jillian brought out the last box.

  “Gotcha.” She ran inside the house and grabbed her school bag that was filled with the papers that she forgot to put up before she left yesterday. “Mother, thank you for putting my work in my bag.”

  She smiled and replied with “Goodbye, Sarah. Enjoy your night.”

  As Sarah came outside, her father and Connor were discussing something. Connor wore the chest harness as he waited. Connor said “…of course, I probably will not see you until Monday morning.”

  “Good.” Jack smiled as he walked into the house.

  “What was that about?” She asked while walking up to Connor, slinging her pack over his shoulder.

  “He’s just worried about me.” He looked her over with tired eyes. “Are you ready to go to your new home again?”

  “Our home,” She corrected with a possessive smile. And he pulled the wagon through the woods, still breathing hard. She knew he was still weak because she’s seen him run well over eight miles at a dead run and not even break a sweat. He really was hurting.

  When they eventually arrived at the cottage, he pulled the wagon straight into the living room. Sarah heard him curse under his breath. Walking around to see what was wrong she spotted him trying in vain to unclasp th
e strap connecter. Sarah casually walked up to him and raised her hands in offering. “Let me help.” His fingers were shaking fiercely because they weren’t responding properly. As she removed the straps off his shoulders she told him “Go take a hot shower, it will help. While you do that, I will make you a better meal for dinner. The bar and banana won’t be enough.” He nodded and started for the bathroom.

  Sarah walked back into the kitchen and pulled out some ground beef and made a quick meatloaf. She set the timer for about thirty minutes and slid the meal into the preheated oven. Connor must have been having a hard time in the shower because the water had only been on for a minute as she finished making dinner preparations and slid it into the oven.

  She took a very deep breath. “It’s time for your reward for going shirtless all day for me.” Sarah walked to the bathroom door and cracked the door to peek inside. Connor stood in the shower and it looked like he was leaning on the tile wall for support, letting the water beat against his body. It was difficult to see him through the glass sliding door because the steam.

  Sarah walked in as quietly as she could. Taking off her clothing, she carefully slid the glass door back and entered. Connor leaned heavily on the wall, allowing the hot water to cascade off him. His eyes were closed, almost looking asleep. Seeing him nude was more than she ever expected. His upper body muscles were one thing, but his lower body was built more like a warhorse. His calves bulged in a massive knot and his thighs were the same. Even with him always wearing pants she couldn’t have imagined anyone with legs like his.

  Connor must have finally sensed her because he spun around rapidly. His eyes went wide as he finally noticed what stood before him. His eyes looked up and down at her before he shut his eyes in embarrassment and delayed passion. Sarah tried forcing herself to keep my eyes on his face, it didn’t work. Not one aspect of him could be considered small. His attraction for her fully revealed itself and she shivered as it stared at her with a primal hunger only she could sate.

  “Sarah, what are you doing?” His voice was still weak.

  “Just turn back around. This is your surprise, it’s a shame you can’t enjoy it.” He didn’t turn completely around, but he opened up his eyes and looked only at her face which was now dripping wet from being in the steamy shower.

  “I’m surprised.” He smiled weakly. “Well?”

  “I’m sorry?” He caught her off guard.

  “What do you think of your fully naked fiancé?”

  “Wait… didn’t we have a similar conversation this morning?” “You really are my very own personal Greek God.” And he smiled weakly, looking even more tired than she originally thought.

  Speaking softly he said “And you look like my Goddess.” He finally turned around to look at the showerhead again.

  Wanting to get him to bed quicker, she told him “Hand me the soap and the sponge.” He did and she washed his back and chest. Sarah didn’t dare go lower or she might lose what little control she had left and take him as her own. As they both finished drying off she stepped out of the room first with a towel wrapped over her middle and hurried into the kitchen to take out dinner. Connor came out wearing the towel, covering only his waist. He walked to the wagon and pulled it into their bedroom. “Dinner is ready!” she yelled into the back.

  Connor came out of the room, now wearing black pants and sat at the dinner table.

  They ate in complete silence. As he ate she saw him shake his head violently to stay awake. Sarah took his plate immediately once he finished and placed it in the sink. “Let’s get you to bed.”

  “You won’t get any arguments from me.” He stood and walked into the bedroom, she followed in worry because he didn’t make an insinuating retort. He collapsed on the bed, belly down, and was sleeping within moments. Sarah put on a t-shirt and panties to join him.

  “Since he isn’t going anywhere tomorrow I need to do some shopping.” Sarah fell asleep as she heard his deep sleeping breaths and knew he would survive the night.