Chapter Three: In Which We Receive News

The next day began like any other, but Arwen new that she must continue her quest. It was time to find a new "sator." Arwen prefers me to use this term. She says it makes the whole situation sound less like a science experiment and more... formal. Besides, Latin is her favorite language; it was always that of the most educated and well-traveled in her time.

It means "sire," "founder," or "father." I think it's appropriate. And besides, I knew you were uncomfortable about what to call them anyway. We needed some continuity.

Of course. Now, back to the story. Arwen made breakfast for little Sundara and herself and left for work soon after. She hoped the next sator would be found soon after.

Isn't he just adorable? It must be his genie heritage.

The babysitter arrived almost instantly; they must have some kind of sixth-sense about these things.

Maybe she's just posing as a babysitter, but she's really a Scorpion.. Maybe she's been waiting in the woods for me to leave just so she can sabotage my mission! She could hurt my baby!

Arwen, calm down. You're just being paranoid. No-one in this town really even knows you.

Fine. But if something happens I'm blaming you.

I don't care. This is childish. Just let me tell the jinn story! As I was saying, the babysitter arrived soon after Arwen left for work. Immediately enthralled by Betty, our adorable cow-plant, the babysitter tried playing with her. Maybe she was just senile, but one does not simply play with a stranger's cow-plant. Unfortunately for her, Betty has a sweet-tooth for humans.

I didn't like her anyway. She was probably part of the Order.

Strangely enough, her calling of caring for infants lived on, and Sundara enjoyed floating through the air in the arms of her spirit. I found this amusing; Arwen not so much after I told her about it.

Granted my existence is supernatural, but this is just creepy. I hope  Grimm keeps her  once she leaves

again.

When Arwen got out of work, she happened to find this stud right outside and proceeded to charm him. His name is Xiabo Shen; he's a tourist from China and was easily ensorcelled.

I suppose his name was Xiabo Shen, and he was a tourist from China, because shortly after canoodling, Betty... had her dinner.

I think it's strange that his spirit became so skinny. I feel, slightly, bad for him.

Shortly after her new baby bump appeared, Arwen began construction of a garden. During the full moon zombies had continuously ravaged the plants, so a fence was definitely in order.

Sundara eventually aged up into a healthy child. His school days were upon him. He most enjoyed to paint, and when he wasn't doing schoolwork he could always be found at the easel on the porch. Arwen's pregnancy slowly progressed and she spent most of her time on her latest novel. To prevent any publicity, she had been writing under a pseudonym. The less attention the better.

As it happens, it was when Arwen was finishing her latest work that the labor pains hit. Later that evening, tiny Cordelia Von Hellse was born. Our family was growing, and so was the hope for the genie race. 

The next day a letter arrived in the mail- the energy from its materialization still sparkling. It read as follows:

Lady Arwen Von Hellse,

                  It is more urgent now than ever that your mission succeed. The Order of the Scorpion has stricken again- this time on the White Palace itself. Lord Fereydoun, our Third King from the time of Emperor Hassan, ruler of the Unseen World for five-hundred years, was flown to his hall in the seventh corner of the world. Dire times are made ever darker by this attack. No further communication will be possible until the Order has retreated. Only two of your comrades remain active in their duties; our fate is in your hands and we pray for the future of powers of Light. Tell Lady Galadriel to seek out the lost knowledge of her ancestors, for that may be one of the few weapons we still have at our disposal. You cannot let this information be know by the Order. Memorise it, then destroy it. We all pray for the best, but you must always be prepared for the worst. Remember your duty and follow your instincts.

                                                                         ~Lord Apkallus

As Arwen burned the note, we both realized that we were on our own. If something went wrong there would be no-one to help us. We had to prepare as quickly as possible. Training for the children would begin as soon as they became teenagers. Our family must become formidable to the forces of Darkness. So far, well... let's just say we had a long way to go.

Our family is beautiful. We mustn't lose hope.

Apkallus, an old friend of mine, had told me before we left the palace to search for my ancestor's knowledge in times of great peril. I knew where to begin, but I also knew I couldn't get there on my own. My spiritual form harnesses a great deal of power; through the millennium I have become the oldest of my kind. Long ago, I had given up my corporeal form to devote myself to the Tree of Life. Assur, my own sator, was the first genie to have ever abandoned his somatic existence. Strange that I would then be the first to try to do the opposite.