Chapter 14

I lay there staring at the ceiling, hoping answers would pop into my head. I had no hints that led me to believe that Crissy was stating facts. I knew nothing of portals and the other things that had been happening because of a disgruntled madman and his crazy mage. Until the family sat me down and explained everything that had happened, I didn’t even know magic, real magic existed.

Sure, my mother had told me of the various factions in Alterealm, but until now they were stories, like the palace on the mountain.

I sat up and looked around. The palace on the mountain. I giggled. Okay, so some of the stories were fact.

Sighing, I stood up. Best to go get this over with. When I’d agreed, it was more out of curiosity, but now that it was real, my nerves were getting the better of me. King Troy was going to look inside my head for clues. Clues that I apparently had but was unaware of.

I had to go through with it. If I, even unknowingly, had the answers to end this, there was no other option. At the time, I thought if we found the answer then I wouldn’t have to go into a basement of a building where horrible things had happened. The modern facility was once housed inhumane and torturous procedures done in the name of curing mentally ill patients. More than one of us had tears in our eyes as the historian listed off procedures practiced in the name of cure. I didn’t believe in ghosts or leftover bad spirits, but even I had to admit that a basement of torture had to harbor some sort of vibes. Vibes I really wanted to avoid.

Taking a deep breath, I nodded to myself and opened the door. Hopefully I wasn’t late to meet Bethany. I was one step down the staircase when Autumn came rushing out of a room on the other side of the hall.

She stopped and pointed to me, a panicked look on her face. “I need help. Now.” She ran back into the room.

I rushed to follow her. Had someone been hurt? When I stepped in, she stood there, a large book in her hand.

“If I can’t even figure this out.” She looked up at me, “how am I going to do the others?”

I went over and looked at the book. It was full of paint chips and fabric swatches.

“What color should a nursery be?” She blew out a breath, then looked at me. Not waiting for an answer, she hurried over and held the book against the wall. “What are you supposed to do, hold it against the wall and hope the right choices pop out?” She glanced over her shoulder.

“I-I’m not sure.” I looked around the room. “Babies and homes are not something I’m familiar with.” I watched as she came over to me. “My last home was an old utility shack on a roof.”

She studied the book, before giving me a quick glance. “I lived in the back of a gym before here.”

I nodded slowly. “Okay. So, uh, do we know if it’s a boy or a girl?”

Autumn shook her head. “Not yet. I just want to have this started before Rena comes over, you know, so she sees I’m serious about raising the baby if she can’t,” she shrugged, “come to terms with how it happened.”

I nodded slowly, then tried for an encouraging look. “Well,” I motioned to window, “with the great light from that you could go neutral.” I had no idea what I was talking about. I looked back at the color choices and pointed to one, “like antique white.” I nodded. “And use decorations,” she frowned, “like pictures of teddy bears, or-or balloons for accents.” I shrugged, “if it’s a boy, you can change the pictures and curtains.”

“Curtains.” She nodded and pointed to one of the fabric swatches. “I was thinking something frilly.”

I smiled. “The lace would look good.”

“Okay.” She heaved out a breath. “This is good.” She nodded. “Do you think I should get a crib right away or one of those bassinet thingies?”

This was so far from anything we knew. “Maybe-maybe the bassinet and save the crib for when you know the gender, or the baby is bigger.”

She nodded her head quickly. “That’s a good idea.” Eyes-wide, she pulled a piece of paper from the back of the book. “What about these safety things? For outlets and doors, should I get them now? Do you think I should do the whole palace?”

I looked at the printout she held. “Well, the baby doesn’t come out running, so I think you could wait on those for now.”

She considered it, then nodded.

“There you are.” Michael came into the room and gave Autumn a look. “You didn’t answer your phone.” He said gently.

Autumn frowned and touched the pocket of her hoodie. “I think I left it in our room.” She opened the book. “We need antique white paint.” She gave him a serious look. “And curtains made from this,” she tugged on the fabric swatch. “Where do I get a bassinet here?”

Michael looked down at the book briefly. “you do know you’re a princess, right? You tell Mitz all of this and she will get the right people on it.”

Autumn looked relieved. “I was worried I’d have to learn how to sew.” She looked at the walls, “the painting would be good exercise though.” Leaning into Michael’s shoulder as he put his arm around her, she sighed loudly. “I want everything to be perfect when Rena comes over, you know, so she knows I’m serious about this.”

Michael kissed the top of her head. “The number of times you go over to check on her, I’m sure she knows you’re serious.” He took the book from her hand. “Let’s track Mitz down and get this started.”

Autumn blew out a breath. “Yes.” She turned to me. “Thanks for the assist, I was freaking out a bit.”

“Can we take you anywhere?” Michael asked.

I shook my head. “I’m meeting Bethany to go see the king so he can look in my head.” I raised my eyebrows, “I don’t know how I feel about it.” I frowned, “Doctors, tests, now a brain exam.” I grinned, then sobered, “do you have an eye doctor here?”

Michael looked concerned. “Are you having eye problems?”

I shrugged. “No, not really, just sometimes lately I see like a green hue when I’m looking around. I just want to see if that’s an issue.” I shrugged, “might as well get those checked too, then I’ll be good for another hundred years.” I laughed, even though my nerves were getting the better of me.

His expression was serious. “Ask the doctor, he’ll get you in touch with the other medical staff.”

“Righto. Thanks.” I left them standing looking at each other.

~

“Nothing that stands out.” Troy announced to the others staring at us. He looked back at me, “you took a lot of chances during the wars.”

I shrugged, “I don’t like seeing innocents suffer.” I tried not to look relieved, but I was. A few times I thought I felt something happening, but there was no pain. The king had to tell me to take a deep breath and relax a few dozen times, but other than my fears it had been harmless.

He inclined his head. “I agree.” Sitting back in his chair, he glanced at Victor. “There are no faces I recognize.” He rubbed the bridge of his nose, looking a little tired.

“Was there fog?” Crissy leaned forward on the table.

“None that I saw.” Troy told her.

Crissy frowned, “there has to be a piece missing.” She squeezed her eyes shut, “why can’t I see it.”

“It will come to you, heart, I have no doubt.” Victor told her.

Opening her eyes, she looked at him. “Maybe my head is broken. I keep seeing a blank, nothingness…” she gave Daxx a wide-eyed looked, “how is that possible?”

Daxx shrugged, “I don’t think your head is—broken, Criss, maybe you’re not seeing it all yet.” She glanced to Rafael, who also shrugged.

“You’ll get it, little sis, you always do.” Rafael assured her.

“If Crissy says Reagan and fog are somehow the solution we need, I believe her.” Kara said. “She’s always right, even when she can’t explain it to us.”

Crissy sighed, “if I’d told you to wear warm socks because you were going to end up in the middle of nowhere in the snow,” she waved her hands around, “it would have changed everything you did up to that point.” She nodded, “then you wouldn’t have found Tawny.”

Kara sighed. “You’re right.”

“Knowing before changes the during, then the after isn’t right.” Crissy nodded.

Everyone paused for a moment and looked at each other. I wasn't sure what she just said, but the others seemed to agree with her.

When I turned back, Troy was quietly watching me.

“I am sorry about your mother.”

My breath got stuck in my throat. “You could see her?” He nodded, “I wish I could.” I squeezed my eyes shut for a moment, trying to picture her, I opened them and looked at him again. “Her image fades more each year.”

“I'm sure her family will have a painting or sketch of her.” Alona said softly.

“She was a very strong woman.” Troy's tone was low.

I nodded, “she held on for a long time.”

“Unknowingly with your help.”

I blew out another breath, “you saw that too?”

“Mmm, I did.”

“You guys really need to set up a hotline or something.” Paisley crossed her arms and looked at Troy, then Chase. “it wouldn't have worked then, but it will now.”

“A hotline?” Arius looked amused.

She nodded. “Yes, anyone going over should have a number to contact in case they get stuck over there or something.”

“An emergency contact number.” Bethany nodded.

“There are safe houses for those that live over there, a number to call makes sense for those visiting.” Alona gave Chase a steady look.

Chase held her gaze for a moment, then turned to his twin, “seems like a modern idea, brother king.”

“While I agree, we need to focus on finding Arwan and Willis Hubert.” Victor glanced at Crissy, “or there won’t be realms for people to visit.”

“If all we're doing is sitting here doing nothing, I have something else to do.” Quinton stood up.

“What?” Leone asked him.

Quinton scowled at him. “More than sitting here.”

“That helps.” Rafael mumbled.

I studied the space around him, there was a faint trace around him that hadn’t been there earlier. It wasn't red, but there was a faint enough trace for me to know he wasn't feeling well.

Giving Rafael a hard look, Quinton shook his head and walked out of the room.

I got up quickly, “I'll be right back.” I hurried after him.

When I caught up to him, he barely gave me a glance. “Are you all right?”

“I'm fine. I just hate sitting around and doing nothing.” With his brows drawn together he stared down at me.

“I was talking about your health. I can see...”

“I'm just tired. It’s been months of broken sleep.” He started taking longer strides.

“Quinton.” I had to struggle to keep up with him, without jogging. “It’s more than sleep deprivation.”

He stopped so suddenly I almost went past him. “I said...”

“I heard you talking to the doctor.” I admitted.

The expression in his eyes changed. “How much did you hear?”

“Enough to know that you are not well.”

With his hands on his hips, he stared at me, too many emotions going through his eyes for me to define them. He looked down the hall one way, then the other. "You can't tell anyone."

“That something is wrong?”

“Yes. I caused my brothers enough heartache for a century. I can't put them through that again.”

I started to ask what he was talking about, but he interrupted. 

“It’s complicated and everything else that’s happening right now is more important.” 

I couldn't argue with that, not when it involved more than one realm. I held up my hand, “maybe I can help.”

Quinton looked at my hand then took it in his own and squeezed it. “This isn't something even your touch can heal.”  There was a sad look in his eyes now, but he still smiled. Touching my hair, he continued to smile as his gaze moved over my face. “I always wondered.” He said softly. Releasing my hand, he stepped back. “Too bad it’s too late.” He nodded at me, then vanished. 

I stood there, my heart beating like an enamoured teen. I had no idea why. I had no idea what he was talking about. Biting my lip, I pulled out my phone. Smirking at the fact that I had a phone. Opening up the contacts I touched the screen and scrolled through them. I had no idea who to call in hopes of an answer. One of his brothers probably had the information I needed, but family bonds and loyalty were strong. I considered each of the women but knew none had been here long.

“Are you lost, love?” 

I jolted and turned to see Mitz standing behind me.

“No. Well not physically at least.”

She smiled. “That’s the easiest lost to be, physically.” 

I sighed, “very true.”

She motioned down the corridor. “I was going to the kitchen for a cup of tea, you’re welcome to join me.”

No one did that anymore. Paused to enjoy a cup of tea. My mother insisted on a few quiet moments a day over a cup of tea. “I would love to.”

She nodded, then paused. “Do you mind if we pop back to the chamber’s kitchen? My favorite teapot is there.”

I grinned. “Not at all. I love porting.”

She laughed. “You were definitely meant to be here.”