On the way back home, Shalt had the duel streaming. This was the tenth Leader, after all. He wanted to make sure his leader came out okay. Lana didn't hear the fights, she was trying to nap but she heard Shalt exclaim something incoherent. She got up for a moment, leaving the babies in the bed to find out there had been a fight where they almost killed Peter. Fex forfeited the match as the leader of his team. Quinn then got Peter onto the ship. His natural healing wasn't working.
"Peter…" Lana said. "Why do they always go for Peter?" Lana sighed. Lana sat there for a minute or two watching this Bonnie woman interview people on what just happened in the match. Lana always viewed fighting as a necessary evil. She never liked it. She didn't understand watching it like a sport. She did understand this was more than sport, though. This event would determine the future of humanity as a new leader was added to the leadership council. It was important.
Still, Lana went back to lay down with the babies. She didn't go back to sleep, though. Shalt had told her with that match, Quinn and Pure were now even. The winner of the next fight would be the new leader. She had no concern about this fight. She knew Quinn. She knew those on his team. They were all strong. How strong were the members of Pure? Apparently, the members of the other faction, Daisy, were shut out. She wondered if she should be concerned.
She heard the next and final fight start from her spot in the bed. She only half paid attention. Something about Quinn not focusing and getting hurt. Layla was ordered to the corner by Quinn, told to stay out of the way. The third person in the team, a man, was given to the other members of Quinn's team via Quinn's shadow powers. They were not engaging in combat. He was literally held on the ground under them, unable to move. The only fight was between Quinn and a middle-aged woman.
Lana heard Bonnie say something about a dome. She knew what that was having seen it before. Not long after, the dome came down and Layla was on the ground with a big hole in her stomach. Lana had enough. She needed to get up. She didn't know Layla well but this was the woman Quinn loved even if he was too daft to know that. She watched as Quinn tried to save her. Hayley, the doctor from school, was there trying to use her ability as well.
Soon, the whole universe was watching as the lady told Layla she hated her. Layla was not conscious, so she didn't hear it. She said something about how Layla always came back to her. She had sent Layla to the school to get her away because she was a reminder of how Layla was conceived and that was painful for her. Lana's heart broke thinking about what she was hearing.
The woman then said she realized how much Layla meant to her now that she was diing. She placed her hand on her daughter and the lady started aging while the hole in Layla's stomach started to close. The woman collapsed, dead. Quinn scooped up Layla and headed back to the ship. The camera then showed Hayley running after Quinn.
Bonnie, on camera, announced that the Cursed was the winner of the duel making Quinn Talen the new leader and would now have the same status as Oscar White of the military, known as the Earthborn, Owen Graylash of the Graylash Family and Mona Bree of the Bree Family. Quinn Talen, someone no one knew, was now on the same level as the most powerful people humanity had to offer.
Lana didn't care about that right now. What she cared about was that Layla and Peter were both seriously injured and she was closer to her home than the Cursed Ship. She started pacing up and down the little ship but not straying too far from the twins.
"You can't do anything about it right now," Shalt told her.
Lana had an indescribably look on her face. "I know that. I also know they are not technically part of the Plantwell Family. They are part of the Tenth Family. The Cursed Family. I still care about them. I need to know. Once we get home, I'm going through the teleporter to check on them."
Shalt smiled weakly. He knew there was no arguing on this one. Even he was concerned, as they were part of his family. He did feel more like an auxiliary member, though. These people were all formerly human and he didn't have as much time with them as Lana did. Still. They chose to give him a chance after he had attacked the leader. They earned his loyalty. He had to admit his life in the human world was far better than it ever had been in the vampire world. Thanks to Lana, Quinn allowed him this opportunity.
Shalt decided since they knew they weren't being followed, they could take the ship out of stealth mode. They were home 30 minutes later. Dobin was there to welcome her home and ask if she saw the fight.
Lana nodded, "I'm heading back through the teleporter. I need to know if Layla and Peter are okay."
Dobin nodded, "I figured as much. Nothing happened while you were gone so at least that much is good. Did you get any information on the sword?"
Lana shook her head as they walked toward the teleporter together. Lana was shocked the babies didn't wake while she put them back on her chest. She looked quite strange with two babies attached to her front. "Mona didn't know anything. She said she'd have someone contact us if they found anything."
"It has been a while."
"Yes, but Alex said this sword is made from an unknown material. Who are we, Dobin?"
"I don't know but I bet Little Miss Sleuth will figure it out," as he gave his sister a light jab to the shoulder.
Lana smiled, "I hope so. I know I'm different. So are you. We have never met anyone who was literally born with their ability. Yet I was and both of my twins were. It makes no sense. Also, I can feel my energy increasing each time I stretch it. Does yours?"
"Based on observation, I would say ours stretches more than mine does, but yes."
Lana nodded as they had finally reached the teleporter. "Did you want to come with us? You know Quinn and Peter at least and you might see Sil as well…"
"No, you go with Shalt and Caser. I'll stay here and take care of things while you're out."
Lana nodded and they all went through the teleporter.
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