Chapter 34: The Calm Before the Storm

Morning arrived quietly over the forests outside Vancouver. Pale sunlight stretched across the frozen lake behind the cabin, turning the ice into a mirror of gold and silver. The storm from the night before had passed, leaving the world calm and still.

Inside the Thorne cabin, however, calm was a relative concept.

Finn ran across the living room in thick socks, clutching his toy hockey stick like a prized trophy.

“Score!” he shouted.

The stick clipped a pillow and sent it flying.

Liam waddled behind him with determined focus, holding a foam puck in both hands.

“Goal!” Liam added proudly.

Alex leaned against the kitchen counter with a mug of coffee, watching the chaos unfold with a tired but amused smile.

“Future all-stars,” he said.

Jake stood beside him, arms crossed, eyes still heavy with thought from the previous night.

“Or future disasters.”

Brody, sprawled on the couch with a blanket and half a bag of chips, lifted a finger.

“Both can be true.”

Finn tried to shoot the puck toward a toy net.

The puck slid halfway across the floor… then suddenly lifted slightly into the air before dropping again.

Everyone froze.

Liam looked delighted.

“I did it!”

Jake exhaled slowly.

“Yeah,” he muttered. “You definitely did.”

---

The Problem Grows

The television in the corner played highlights from the previous night’s game at Rogers Arena.

Alex’s goal replayed again and again.

The commentators were excited.

But the broadcast had also caught something unusual.

During the brief light flicker in the first period, several cameras had glitched simultaneously.

The sports anchor leaned closer to the screen.

“League officials say it was a minor electrical issue.”

Brody snorted.

“Sure.”

Jake muted the TV.

“They’ll be back.”

Alex didn’t ask who he meant.

He already knew.

“The Crown Court,” Alex said quietly.

Jake nodded.

---

A Visit from the Council

Around midday, another vehicle approached the cabin.

Not black this time.

A simple gray SUV rolled slowly up the snowy road.

Jake looked out the window.

“They’re early.”

Alex sighed.

“Council again?”

Jake nodded.

“Looks like it.”

The vehicle stopped.

Adrian Vale stepped out first, followed by Mara.

Behind them came someone new.

A tall older man with silver hair and sharp eyes.

Brody sat up straighter.

“Well that guy looks important.”

---

The Archivist

Inside the cabin, the newcomer introduced himself.

“My name is Lucien.”

His voice was calm but carried the weight of someone used to being listened to.

“I am an archivist for the council.”

Finn immediately wandered over and poked Lucien’s coat.

“Hi.”

Lucien looked down.

A small smile appeared.

“Hello.”

Liam followed and lifted a puck proudly.

Lucien studied the child for a moment.

“Remarkable.”

Alex folded his arms.

“Okay, enough mystery.”

He gestured toward the table.

“Explain.”

Lucien nodded.

“Very well.”

---

The Truth of the Bloodline

Lucien placed a thin metallic case on the table and opened it carefully.

Inside were several ancient-looking pages sealed in protective film.

Symbols and drawings covered them.

He pointed to one illustration.

It showed a warrior standing on ice surrounded by glowing light.

Two smaller figures stood beside them.

Alex frowned.

“What am I looking at?”

Lucien answered quietly.

“A prophecy.”

Brody groaned.

“Oh great.”

Lucien ignored him.

“This record predates modern vampire clans by centuries.”

He pointed again.

“The central figure represents a guardian—someone capable of balancing multiple supernatural bloodlines.”

Jake glanced at Alex.

“That part tracks.”

Lucien moved his finger to the two smaller figures.

“These represent heirs.”

Finn climbed onto a chair to see better.

“Is that me?”

Lucien smiled slightly.

“Yes.”

Liam clapped.

“I’m in the picture!”

Alex rubbed his temples.

“Please tell me this isn’t about destiny.”

Lucien paused.

“It may be.”

Brody groaned louder.

“Called it.”

---

Why the Crown Court Wants Them

Lucien straightened.

“The Crown Court collects rare bloodlines to control supernatural power.”

Jake’s voice hardened.

“They’re not getting ours.”

Lucien nodded approvingly.

“I suspected that would be your answer.”

He slid another page forward.

This one showed a darker image.

A throne surrounded by shadow.

“This symbol represents the Crown Court itself.”

Mara added quietly, “They’ve been building their power for centuries.”

Jake looked at the drawing.

“How many of them are there?”

Lucien answered.

“Very few.”

Brody shrugged.

“That sounds manageable.”

Lucien looked directly at him.

“They control armies.”

Brody blinked.

“Oh.”

---

Hockey Life Continues

Despite everything, the hockey season didn’t pause.

That evening the Vancouver Grizzlies practiced again at Rogers Arena.

Alex skated drills while Coach shouted instructions across the ice.

Brody leaned against the boards.

“You sure you should be focusing on hockey right now?”

Alex passed the puck hard off the boards.

“Hockey is the normal part of my life.”

He caught the rebound cleanly.

“I’m not giving that up.”

Coach blew his whistle.

“Nice shot, Thorne!”

The team cheered.

For a few minutes, everything felt normal again.

---

Training the Twins

Back at the cabin, Jake and Mara began something new.

Training.

Nothing serious yet.

Just small tests.

Mara rolled a puck across the floor toward Liam.

“Focus.”

Liam squinted with intense toddler concentration.

The puck lifted an inch off the ground.

Jake nodded.

“Good.”

Finn tried next.

He pointed his toy stick dramatically.

Nothing happened.

Finn frowned.

Then he sneezed.

Every light in the room flickered.

The fireplace flared brighter for a second.

Jake laughed quietly.

“Okay,” he said. “That’s something.”

---

The Hunters Prepare

Far away, in a high tower overlooking the skyline of New York City, the Crown Court gathered again.

The leader stood before a large window.

A report played on a tablet screen.

Footage from the arena.

Finn and Liam laughing in the luxury box.

The leader spoke softly.

“Power confirmed.”

Another member asked, “Shall we proceed?”

The leader turned slowly.

“Yes.”

He tapped a command on the screen.

“Deploy the retrieval team.”

A map appeared.

Red markers spread across North America.

Many of them were hockey cities.

The leader smiled faintly.

“Let the game begin.”

---

Night at the Cabin

That night the cabin was quiet again.

Snow drifted gently outside.

Alex sat on the couch holding Liam while Finn curled up beside Jake.

The twins were half asleep after a long day.

Jake brushed Finn’s hair gently.

“You think we can keep them safe?”

Alex looked toward the window, where the frozen lake stretched into darkness.

“We have to.”

Finn yawned loudly.

“Play hockey tomorrow?”

Jake chuckled softly.

“Maybe.”

Liam lifted his puck sleepily.

“Goal.”

Alex smiled and kissed the top of his head.

“No matter what happens,” Alex said quietly, “we’re staying together.”

Jake nodded.

“Always.”

Outside, the snow continued to fall. 

And somewhere in the dark, the Crown Court’s hunters were already moving.