Chương 78: Chapter 77 – Sometimes All You Can Do Is Dance

"Mommy, that was fun!" Thai cried out.

"Can we do it again?" she asked as she pulled away from the group that was still huddled together.

"Thai, come back here," Sheera called out after her wayward daughter.

"Welcome to the head office." Elena snickered breaking from the group.

"This is what we like to call the nerve center." Sheera and Rowan looked around the room visibly awestruck. Coming from the Elven realm, they had never seen anything like it. It was only then that they realized how primitive their world must seem in comparison.

"You guys must look at us as totally unevolved simple folk. We have technology, sure, but it must look pretty outdated and antiquated to you." Sheera said, her eyes darting from one piece of equipment to the next. Alex caught a flash from a monitor.

"Looks like we have incoming, Elena," he said pointing to the screen. Sheera turned her gaze to where Alex was pointing, unable to make sense of the data flashing on the screen.

"Incoming what?" Sheera asked, pulling Thai closer and wrapping her arms protectively around her.

"Nothing to worry about." Regina said, placing a reassuring hand on Sheera's shoulder.

"It means an agent used the emergency teleport, like we just did."

"You guys might want to get out of the way," Roxie said, motioning the group out of the designated landing area.

"I wouldn't want a collision when they arrive." No sooner had the group moved off the pad, Ray landed with a woosh.

"I didn't know we were having a party! My invite must have gotten lost," he said, looking around at the unfamiliar faces.

"Ray, this is Sheera" Elena said motioning to her, "Rowan, and Thai." she said, shooting Thai a wink.

"You know the rest." She said, moving to her chair.

"Well hello," he said, before casting Alex a confused glance.

"Are we recruiting children now?" Sheera and Rowan moved closer to Thai and cast Ray a cautious glance, before looking over at Regina.

"He's harmless." Regina said, "He's squishy like a teddy bear," she said, winking at Thai"Says you," Ray said, laughing.

"Seriously? Way to ruin my image, Regina. I prefer people to think of me as a grizzly bear, not a teddy bear," he said, walking toward Regina.

"Guys, make yourselves at home," Elena said.

"It may be just that for a little while. Let me show you around," she said, motioning the family to follow her. The narrative has been illicitly obtained; should you discover it on Amazon, report the violation. Ray waited until they left the room.

"What's up? Who are they? And more importantly why are they here… with a… kid?"

"You don't pay much attention, do you?" Regina said, slapping his arm.

"That's the family, with the emphasis on the." Ray looked down the hall taken aback.

"You mean that kid… is… the kid?" he said in hushed tones.

"Yes, she is. We ran into a strange encounter while at her birthday party. I'll let Alex fill you in on the details… but we had to bug out. A hostile attack was imminent." Regina whispered. Ray looked at her and sighed.

"What are we going to do with them? I don't think this is the kind of place to raise a kid, even one as special as her," he said softly.

"Seraphina and Celestia are working on that as we speak. I agree, keeping them here is not ideal, but under the circumstances we didn't have a whole lot of options." Regina said while looking at the screen.

"What are you looking for?" Ray asked, seeing her hyper focused on something on the screen.

"I am checking to see what chatter is on the message boards about a reemergence of some old tech that Blackwood used years ago. I am trying to determine if what happened at the party was a one-off or a larger plot," she said, becoming annoyed with the distraction.

"I see you started a shitstorm at the capitol today," she said, turning to him, half smiling.

"It was kinda fun." He snickered.

"Do I get combat pay for the bloody nose?" he asked.

"Oh yeah, we don't get any regular pay, so I'm guessing combat pay is… probably out of the question."

"You know you're an ass, right?" Regina asked, shaking her head. Ray got up and started dancing, shaking his backside.

"Why thank you Regina, I must admit, I like my ass too," he said, moving in circles. Thai started giggling, "Mommy, he's funny," she said, rushing over to him and mimicking his dance.

"You go, girl," Ray said, shaking his backside faster, encouraging her to join.

"She's got moves," he said, taking her hand and twirling her around. Thai's laughter filled the room, causing Rowan and Sheera to relax a little, but still kept a watchful eye as Ray danced with her.

"I think we need some music, little one? What do you think?" Ray asked.

"I can hear the music in my head. Close your eyes for a minute and you will hear it too," she said, smiling at him. Ray stopped for a moment and did as Thai requested. His eyes flew open wide as an upbeat melody began to play in his head.

"Do you guys hear that?" he said, looking at them with wonder in his eyes.

"Nope only you and me can hear it," she said, taking his hand. Ray shrugged his shoulders and went with it. He and Thai danced like no one was watching... but they were watching… all of them. This big man was twirling this tiny girl, laughing and singing the song that only they could hear. Ray didn't care, after the day he had just had, he enjoyed every single second of the innocent fun he shared with this amazing little girl.

As the pair danced, they began taking the hands of the others, first Regina, then Roxie, Thai went and grabbed both her parents' hands, as she touched each one, the melody began to play in their ears too. Elena and Alex walked in and watched silently from the corner unnoticed. Seraphina came up behind Elena.

"Well I'll be," Seraphina smirked.

"That's a sight I like to see. An impromptu dance party is just what we all needed." She danced her way to the others, Thai touched her hand and Seraphina giggled as the melody took over. Elena and Alex looked around the room. Someone was missing.

"Where's Celestia?" Elena asked Alex as Thai made her way closer to get them to join the rest of them.

"Not sure," Alex said, taking Thai's hand. Elena slipped out of the room unnoticed, not wanting to disrupt the others, but also feeling the need to have eyes on the wayward fairy.