Define kidnapping

A soft pomf sound wakes me up. A golden scroll lays on my bed near my legs. The warm spring afternoon sun shimmers over the golden paper while the same light is also being completely absorbed in my black sheets and blanket. The warmth of my bed would explain why I slept so late. I quickly grab the scroll and drive back under my blankets to hid from the cold air. Maybe I should have turned the heat on last night.

I open the scroll to read it's contents from the comfort of my warm bed.

[Dearest Hazel,

I found you a new trainee, we just have to rescue her first. Meet me at "the spot" after sundown. Gearing up isn't necessary but you will start training her once she is here.

With love always,

Aba]

Sundown, I start counting on one hand how many hours I have til I need to start getting ready. I let the scroll slip from my hand into the metal trashcan beside my night stand, it combustes into flames to destroy any evidence that I received the message. I look back to my counting hand, I'm holding up 4 fingers. Four hours till I need to start gearing up. My stomach growls since it has been 14 hours since I ate, I should find some food too. Rosy is having a special comfort food night at the local family restaurant. It's been awhile since I had a grilled cheese and soup but her strawberry waffles are the best. You know what, I'll ask for the grilled cheese to go. I take an hour away for getting food so I have three hours left. 

With me having at least two hours to spare I snatch my romance novel from my night stand and bury deeper into my blankets. Just for my bladder to tell me to get up.

##<(~▪︎~)>###           <(°~°)>

I'm geared up in my black leather work pants, leather boots, a leather covered chainmail chest piece, small shield, spears and my heavy war bow with arrows. The black bow glistens faintly in the moon light from its enchantment of easy draw back, the shield is tinted purple from posion protection and spears are a mix of faint colors from other enchantments.

Standing behind the cathedral I pull my light brown gloves on while I wait for Aba to show up.

"Perfect timing?" Aba's deep voice softly breaks the silence.

"Not sure, I have been here for a few minutes but you knew that." I retort.

"Yet you weren't fully ready til just now." I could hear a smirk in his voice. He steps out from the shadows. His black cloak seems to absorb everything and he almost floats down the ally way. His face is hidden in the shadow of the hood. The emence power radiating off of him should be terrifying but a peaceful presence hangs in the air. I have never felt scared in his presence, even when the air was heavy with the power he holds. 

"You enjoy your minor details." I reply to him.

"It's in my nature." Aba's voice is low and smooth while he shrugs. "For instance you want to know about your new trainee."

"Wouldn't anyone?" I ask. 

I didn't need to gear up but it had to wait til nightfall to begin the rescue mission? What kind of request is that?

"As for the rescue mission without gear is due to us going to Earth." Aba says gently.

He read my mind ag... wait. 

"Earth?" I mumble. My blood runs cold. I don't want to go back.

"You're not going back there. We are rescuing a girl from before your time period and returning." Before my past memories try swallowing me whole, Aba's voice draws me close to him. "Listen and know, you are safe with me. This girls powers are finally at the stage of becoming dangerous if not honed. You're the one I'm picking to show her the way."

"W-wouldn't Heather or even Lidia be a better pick than me?" Doubt ripples over me. 

"Heather is retired and Lidia has her own trainee, Ms. Recluse." Aba's words cut a touch. Then he holds up his robe covered hand. "Also while she is here she will be staying at your place. Before you complain I will send you monthly installments. When she is eighteen you two can figure something out."

"Fine. You going to tell me about her? Any tips that will help with training?" I ask reluctantly.

"Samantha is a survivor. Her standoffish quietness does scare people really bad. Once she is brave enough to talk to them or they have to work with her, she does make friends but they never stay long due to moving or graduating. Her shyness draws people into believing she is innocent but under that shell she... she has been through a lot. Those things though have prepared her for this journey though." Aba's voice does get a little sad.

"So a traumatic history like the rest of us? Outside of pretty boy that is." I reply.

Aba coughs holding his hand to his mouth, "James has his own problems. Anyways let's go." Aba says waving open a portal for me.

"Yea, being a player gives you too many ex's." I mumble under my breath stepping though the portal.

If it wasn't for my ability to see decently in the dark I would have been tripping over a wooden stoll while following Aba. We are now standing in a very ran down house. The floors are green painted chip board. The ceiling has some discoloration from water leaks. The wall paper was very faded, the wood around windows is rotted out and the one window didn't even shut right. The smell of dust, smoke from a wood stove and animals gives the place a unique smell. I see Aba wave his arm and the dogs and cats stay quiet and then pad off to another room.

My gaze falls onto a young girl with dirty blonde hair tied in a ponytail. She stirs at our presence, that's when I felt the energy pulse from her pushing me back ever so slightly as it flew through me. In her sleep she was able to put a barrier up to ward off evil spirits.

"Are you sure? She looks so young." I ask Aba. 

She stirs some more and another wave of energy pulses through the room then to the whole house. I see dark shadow figures moving amongst the trees outside unable to come closer.

"She is prepared for this. If we wait she will be lost forever." Aba informs me. "Time to go, she knows we are here."

I kneel beside the bed and the girl's icy blue eyes open to look at me. Freckles splatter all over her nose and cheeks. Fear mixed with confusion makes me stop.

"Have no fear. Let's go." Says Aba. 

"It's alright." I say trying to comfort her. She relaxes back into a sleep as I scoop her up. Gosh she is heavier than she looks.

"Aba, this is kidnapping." I protest.

"No. We are rescuing her." He insists.

"We are taking a child from her room in the middle of the night." I hiss.

"Yes, in a similar way we got you. Now do you describe us taking you as rescuing or kidnapping?" He asks opening up another portal.

"You rescued me. There's no doubt about that." I'm grateful he did take me, even though I wish it was sooner than when he did.

"Besides Samantha here will be traveling back and forth often since I do need her to age. This one can't stay 16 forever." Aba comments.

Now that he mentions it, I have been "18" for quite a few years. He did explain that people brought from earth don't age while on Pelitos or anywhere he sends us.

\(~▪︎~)/#     <(–.–)>

Once back on Pelitos we are standing in my town's inn in a second floor room. I lay Samantha on the red blanketed bed and cover her up. And sit down in the chair by the door. 

"Her mana back at the house. It is stronger than others her age." I comment.

"Yes, you're correct. Do you remember you're lessons here at school about how regular humans gained power? You probably don't, you were sleeping for that class." Aba chuckles. "You're ancestors drank angel blood and gained power to help fight against the shadow figures, demons and supernatural. But now we only hunt them if they are dangerous to others or themselves."

His hood shifts so his gaze can be on Samantha. "This one here. I sent Azreal to watch over her periodically. I guess he grew attached to the child and wanted her to have some way to protect herself while he was gone. For he shared his blood with her and now for the first time in a long time we have an original."

I take a bite of my grilled cheese. "So my blood's watered down and hers isn't. And I'm supposed to train her?"

"Yup! Start with the zombies out on Pine Hill. The hoards are getting bad again." Aba leaves that info with me before vanishing into the shadows.

"Wonderful." I say munching on my grilled cheese.