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1. Secret Lives – Chapter 5 – People and Plans

2. It had taken the hours but they’d arrived, two cabs and a bit of walking and they’d made it. Jo looked up at the house, it was beautiful, like something out of a story.

3. The house stood on the edge of Downtown, with giant trees engulfing the garden and a pink path leading to a little door. Jo, Nancy and Claire made their way towards the house to see the Mistress.

4. Nancy entered first greeting a man dressed as a knight, she wanted to laugh. Who dresses like that now? He looked stupid but matched the fairy tale style of the house, Jo just went along with it.

5. Everyone gathered in the dining room, Jo however was asked to wait in the backroom. Everyone turned to the Mistress, she looked back at them all “Welcome my friends, I guess your hear about Holden’s quest? He must as you know des- I mean get ride off ‘The Death Shadows’ but he will not be able to do this alone”. The knight butted in.

6. “Sorry Mistress, but as you know we already know this, we need to know how and where?” he said. Every sat still worried as to what she would say “I know this my dear and loyal friend, now I will continue with the task ahead”.

7. “Now, all of us must help Holden defeat The Death Shadows, this will all take place on the Battle Ground Of Souls” she paused. “Now, this battle will be tuff and we will need all the help we can get, I’m sorry to say but Claire must help us”. Nancy frowned “Why her, there’s plenty of others!”Nancy jumped from the seat and headed to change.

8. The others waited for Claire and Nancy to re-join them. The Mistress spoke “Claire thank you for joining us, the battle will take place in 3 days time. But first I need to know something” she fixed her eyes on Claire “can we trust you?” the Mistress asked.

9. “Yes, yes you can I will do all I can do" Claire said turning to Holden and smiling. Claire spoke again “I betrayed once before and now I must clean my soul of evil”. She paused gesturing back to the Mistress to continue.

10. “Good” the Mistress answered, “Now I must speak to Holden alone, its his destiny and his future, I’m must speak to him alone to give him the vital information none of you can ever know about, he must only know other whys the prophecy will not be for-filled” she gestured Holden to the living room.

11. Claire headed to the backrooms in search of Jo, she found her sat on the couch watching Kelly. “Hi Jo, I think we need to talk” Claire said “but first I’m sorry for what I did, I betrayed you and Holden but you must believe me it wasn’t my fault. They tricked me, Nivida tricked me” Claire stopped hoping for Jo to reply.

12. “I know Claire, Holden told me all about it, I should be apologising for not believing you” Jo smiled looking at Kelly on the floor and up to the window.

13. Jo saw Nancy sat upon the bench, just outside the window. She could hear Claire mumbling across the way from her she stood up. “I'm just going outside okay?” she asked Claire. Claire smiled and headed out the room.

14. Jo sat down next to Nancy, “I want to be alone” Nancy said. Jo looked at her “Nancy what's up?” Jo asked. “Stop it…Stop calling me Nancy just stop it” she snapped raising her arms. She took in a deep breath, “I’m Hemera, and I’m sorry Jo” Nancy said.

15. “I’m sorry too Hemera, anyway I’m going to go find Holden” Jo stood up leaving Hemera alone, picking up Kelly she looked for Holden.

16. Jo headed into the room just across from her, Holden sat there with a woman. Jo guessed from the way she looked that this way her house. Holden jumped up kissing Jo, he took Kelly from her arms.

17. He listened to the woman chatting behind him, he looked at Kelly. She smiled at him “Daddy, I lub you” he kissed her headed “Love you too munchkin!” he snuggled her and began tickling her.

18. The Mistress confronted Jo “Well Hello Jo, I’m Mistress. Welcome to my home.” she smiled. Jo looked at her smiling “Thank you, is there anywhere Me and Kelly could sleep?”.

19. The Mistress spoke “Yes of course, head up the stairs and there are two doors next to a small couch you can lay down there for a while”, she pointed out the door towards the stairs and smiled. “I hope we can speak again soon” she said.

20. Jo heeded upstairs towards the two doors, she stopped. Dan lay asleep on the couch, she didn’t want to wake him. After all being a vampire in the day must be tiring, just then Kelly sneezed loudly.

21. Jo looked as Dan sat up yawning, she hoped he wasn’t angry. Jo giggled a bit as her little girl smiled laughing shouting Dan’s name.

22. “I’m so sorry that we woke you” Jo said smiling, Dan smiled back “its fine” he looked at Kelly sat on the floor.

23. Kelly stood up walking towards them, “Tell you what you jump into bed and I’ll look after Kelly” he shimmered a smile. Jo agreed and headed into the first room.

24. Dan carried Kelly into the room, she pointed at the doll house and tried to jump out of his arms. He put her down laughing she ran over to it sitting down “Dan-Dan” she said lifting a doll into the air. Dan sat down with Kelly, he longed for a family of his own but his love had gone missing a long with many others. He hoped to get her back soon when the battle began.

25. Dan lifted up Kelly putting her in the crib, she reached up giggling. She puckered her lips “Kissy, Kissy, Kissy for night-nights”, she smiled more rocking in the crib.

26. Leaning over he kissed her head “Nighty-Night sweetie” he stepped back and smiled. The little girl lay down waving at him and closed her eyes drifting off to sleep.

27. Jo walked in the room, Claire sat upon the seat in the room. She got up and headed over to Jo “oh sorry you probably want to sleep” Claire said. Jo smiled “Oh its okay, I’m fine but thanks” Jo sat in the bed and watched Claire leave the room, something wasn’t right they hadn't told her something but what was it?

28. Jo sat up on the bed in some Pjs she found in the cupboard. She couldn’t stop think, what hadn’t she be told, she stopped she knew what to do. Ask Holden he’d tell her.

29. Jo quickly got Kelly and put her back into her clothes. After getting herself dressed she walked downstairs, Dan sat at the table. He quickly looked at her and looked away he looked worried. After putting Kelly in the high chair she sat down.

30. Jo sat down with a smile on her face, “Hey, what's up? Dan stop ignoring me” she said. Dan still looked away “I cant, I wont, listen Jo its for your own good” he answered.

31. Jo giggled “What are you on? I’m safe you wont harm me” she said, he looked at her “I will so stop it!” he snapped “Oh I’m sorry, its just I’m…Hungry”. Jo looked at him worried and swallowed deeply “I guess that’s bad” she said with her eyes wide open.

32. Holden walked over placing food on the table as if taunting Dan. I looked back at Dan “No, I cant eat normal food, but don’t worry the suns almost down”. Jo smiled “That’s good”, Holden glared at Dan hatred filled his eyes. Holden asked himself ‘could he be trying to steal my wife? No he wouldn’t Dan’s my friend’ Holden stopped himself he felt stupid, he needed to stop worrying he needed to be strong.

33. The sun soon went down and everyone gathered at the table. They all chatted for once just about their interest no worrying, but Jo was still suspicious ‘what are they hiding she thought’. Then she noticed him through the window.

34. He headed out the door, Jo watched him. He stopped and turned to face the window, as if he knew she was watching, he lifted a hand and waved. Jo smiled waving back.

35. Well that’s all for now but tune in next time for : -More Secrets -More Answers -More Drama - And New Faces