172 Strange Connection (2/2)

”Why do that when you could just text me?”

Kennedy just sighed as Malene took the other seat at the table and picked up the tablet to order food, almost as though this was her own place.

”So what did I miss?”

”I was telling big sis here all about bug brother Laz,” Vivi responded with a smile.

”All about him? What kinds of trouble has he gotten into now?” Malene asked, looking over at Vivi.

”I thought you said you were done with that uesless guy who only knows how to take advantage of women and never gives anything back?” Kennedy said with a smirk. Although she had been feeling rather down for a while over several things, being together with Vivi and Malene did much to improve her mood. While Vivi started retelling her story to Malene, Kennedy got up and grabbed some glasses from the bar area and grabbed some juice out of the refrigerator. There were actually many different types of alcohol here as well, but that wasn't something for the girls that were even younger than her to drink.

Sitting back down, she poured a cup of the juice for both girls and just sat back while sipping on her own, enjoying the mood. It was truely relaxing to be able to just sit and talk without having to worry about something or another. It was a feeling she missed from when she was younger.

Seeing the juice in front of her, Vivi reached down and took as sip and was so stunned she almost dropped the cup.

”What is this?” She asked, surprised.

”What do you think it is?” Kennedy responded back.

”It tastes... great, but the interesting part is that it contains a trace of cold energy that reminds me of the cold blue pond from where we used to live...” Vivi said while searching her memories as though trying to confirm it.

”That's exactly what it is actually,” Kennedy said while laughing. Even Malene was giggling,

”But... how?” Vivi asked.

”OOHH. Let me.” Malene said before Kennedy had a chance to answer.

”So. After sis Kennedy her started getting stronger and taking over running parts of the company, she set quite a few things in motion. She got a hold of me and started having me work on an outside secured server system so that we would be able to chat freely soon. I'm kind of good with computers afterall. Also, she ended up buying the land that ”The Shack” was sitting on and purchasing the building that is now a burned out husk. Because of that, the park area in the wooded area behind that came into her personal possession and we've started doing experiments on both the nectar of the flower and the water in the pond. That's actually how we've started an outside business so that all of the funds used to set up the server and start funding our group have been covered without having tracks back to this place.

One could tell by Malene's expression as she explained things that she was very impressed with Kennedy's ability to do all these things in a short amount of time. And the business was booming. Just a drop of the special water in a large vat of juice would be enough to several hundred gallons with this taste which was not only amazing but also good for a normal person's health. Of course, that was just one product that had come from this as there were many others. There was also other things which the research had unearthed. For example, after various testing, the girls figured out that both pond and plant seemed to generate one drop of spirit liquid a day and using more than that required a longer amount of time to replenish it. But using more of it wasn't a bad thing as the nectar or water that came back to take the place of the now missing bits were actaully more concentrated that they had been before.

Soon, the girls even had plans to start making products that were benefical for energy users only. Although how much they would sell it for or how it would be done, they were still working on that. Even now, there were only a few people working on the project for Kennedy and all of them were outside contracts not related to the company. She was being extra cautious to not keep ties too close to it, almost as though she knew that she would not be with the company forever. For now though, it was a useful tool.

As the food came and the girls started eating, Vivi finished the story and Malene, who had also cried when she heard about Kat, couldn't help but sit back and lose herself in thought, much the same way that Kennedy had done earlier. Seeing this, Vivi couldn't help but feel something was wrong.

”What is it?”

”What is what?” Kennedy asked, asnwering for Malene.

”So far both of you have seemed to start thinking about something after hearing his story. I would have thought you two would be angry about him being involved with other girls. Arn't you worried that he's just being a jerk and going to forget you two?” This was the primary question in Vivi's mind. Why did it seem like neither of them had this concern? Or was it that they already had stopped wanting to be with him?

The girls exchanged a look before Malene reached out and grabbed Vivi's hand that was resting on the table, setting her own on top of it.

”It's not that,” Malene started off saying.

”Actually, we could never be apart from him even if we wanted to..” Malene's voiced trailed off, but the words confused Vivi.

”What do you mean?” Vivi asked.

”How much have you learned about Laz's ability?” Kennedy asked, not explaining right away.

”He's really strange. His black flames, his body, his ability to use runes like I explained. It's like, he's not even covered the surface of what he is capable of and yet there is so much underneath that remains a mystery,” Vivi answered honestly.

”No one like him has ever appeared before, or at least, my awakening memories don't recall someone like him,” Vivi finished her thoughts and looked at the two girls.

After exchanging another glance and a nod, both girls stood up. Kennedy removed her suit jacket and started unbuttoning her blouse while Malene lifted her shirt and pulled down the high waist of her skirt. Just as Vivi was going to ask what they were doing, she noticed something on their skin that she had seen many times before.

On Malene's waist was a very detailed and finely drawn black, leafless tree that matched perfectly with the one on Kennedy's chest just above her breasts. Unike the tattoo that Ruby had from her organization, these weren't tattoos and didn't have any other details with them. They looked like newly grown and young trees, remarkably similar to the ancient one that was on Laz's chest. The other difference was that there was no full red moon behind it. It was just the tree itself. Despite looking like a younger version of the one Laz had, it still carried with it an innate feeling of power that couldn't be imitated.

”The reason why we arn't worried about him ever being able to leave us is because he is already connected to us, through his own doing...”