“I’d go through it all over again if it meant your safety. Now, tell me what happened on your end.
Alix told him about the maze-like hallway and the room with the doors. When she told him about the Nykara that had been infected by the Grynn she shed a few tears realizing they would have been killed by the explosion. This time it was Ben that held her tight. She finished telling him what happened.
“Did you notice that François called me Ashley?” Alix asked Ben.
“Yeah. Do you think that means he doesn’t really know who you are?”
“I really hope so. It would explain why nothing has happened in Sunset Creek. Maybe Kris got to Sonya before they could take get the information back to François.”
“Let’s hope so,” Ben said.
They sat there in silence, each lost in their own thoughts but grateful to have each other to hold on to. The sun was starting to set when they heard the boat that was coming to rescue them. Alix had never been so happy to see something in her life. It turned out to be a large fishing boat that belonged to a friend of Gordon. Alix decided that Gordon knew a lot of people all over the world.
Once on board, Alix could finally breathe a sigh of relief. She hadn’t said anything but was afraid that François would come back to the island to check to make sure they were dead. For once she was glad for his arrogance.
It was dark again when they started back toward Miami. It was going to take all night to get there. Everyone in their group found a place to rest. They had been awake for over twenty-four hours and needed sleep. Ben curled himself around Alix. His warmth and comforting arms had her falling asleep in no time.
* * *
Alix was relieved when the boat docked in Miami. The first thing she did was call her parents and Shay. They had been worried sick with no way to contact her. She assured them she was fine and would tell them everything that happened when they got back.
Since François assumed they were all dead they had to be extremely careful when they got off the boat. Alix was completely cloaked any time she wasn’t in a protected building. They were pretty sure François didn’t even know what the rest of them looked like.
Shelley found a place to take the unconscious Nykara to. It was staffed with part-time Nykara doctors and nurses. Alix was with Shelley and a doctor as they examined each person. They were able to bring all eight of them out of their coma-like state.
It turned out that the Grynn had done the same thing to James’ memory that they had to Lucie’s. Gordon was going to find a place that would be able to care for the two of them. Alix was determined to find a way to get their memories back. Or at least allow them to form new memories.
As each of the other seven people woke up the doctors magically examined them to see if they were okay. They all appeared fine and had no blue auras. They were a little confused as to where they were and how they got there but otherwise seemed fine.
“What a day huh,” Ben said when the doctors were finished.
Alix snorted. “That’s an understatement.”
“How does it feel to be dead?” he asked with a smirk.
“Feels pretty great,” Alix said with a smile.
“Alix,” Shelley said, “I think you need to come over here.”
She could hear the concern in Shelley’s voice and wondered what could possibly be wrong. Alix and Ben went over to Shelley who was talking to the first woman Alix had found in the cells on the island.
“What’s up?” Alix asked.
“This woman says her name is Sharon.”
“And …?”
“Sharon Lawson.”
Alix’s face went white and her knees felt like they were going to give out. “It can’t be,” she whispered.
“What’s going on Alix?” Ben asked. Sensing her distress, he moved Alix away from the woman’s bed.
“Sharon Lawson is my biological mother’s name.”
Ben quickly understood the situation. “How can we be sure that’s her real name?” he asked Shelley.
“I can get the truth,” she said. “Just give me a minute.”
Shelley put her hands on the woman’s head while Alix held on to Ben like her life depended on it. A few minutes later Shelley removed her hands.
“She believes what she’s saying,” Shelley told them. “Either she really is Sharon Lawson or someone has made her believe it to her very core.”
“Where is my husband?” the woman asked.
“What’s his name?” Shelley asked her.
“Sean. Sean Lawson.”
Alix sucked in a big breath of air. This couldn’t be really happening, could it?
Shelley went over to the two older men and asked them their names. Alix and Ben watched Shelly do her thing to find the truth. When she was done, she went back over to them.
“That man, the one second from the door,” Shelley said pointing, “his name is Sean Lawson. Again, he believes what he’s saying.”
“But how can we be completely sure? Alix, do you recognize them?”
“No, not really. I mean I’ve only seen a few pictures and they were much younger then.” Alix thought for a second. “Ben call Shay and put her on speaker.”
“Hey Ben,” Shay’s chipper voice came over the speaker. “What’s up?”
“I’m not sure. You’re on speaker with Alix.”
“Hey Alix, is everything okay?”
“I don’t know. Are you close to my mom?”
“No, I’m in the classroom. Do you need me to find her?”
“Yes please, and leave us on speaker when you find her.”
“Okay,” Shay said. They heard Shay calling for Heather. A couple of minutes later they heard Heather answer.
“Mom, it’s Alix.”
“Hi, honey.”
“Do you have your phone on you?”
“Yes.”
“Okay. I’m going to be sending you a couple of pictures. But I need you to sit down before I send them.”
“What’s going on Alix?” her mom asked.
“I’m going to send you two pictures and I need you to tell me if you recognize the people in them.”
“Is that all? I thought something bad had happened.”
“No, nothing like that. But do you trust me, mom?”
“Of course I do.”
“Then trust me when I tell you to sit down.”
“Alright, I’m sitting down,” her mom said.
“She really is,” Shay added.
Alix got her phone out and took a picture of the man and woman. She sent them to her mom’s phone. Alix heard the ding that indicated her mom had received them.
“Oh my God,” her mom said. “Can it really be them?”
“Mom,” Alix said to get her attention. “Mom, do you know who they are?”
“Alix, I can’t believe what I’m seeing. It’s Sharon and Sean, just older.”
“Are you positive?”
“Yes, I’d know their faces anywhere. Where did you get those pictures?”
“I took them just a minute ago.”
“What do you mean?”
“They were two of the people we rescued from the island where they Grynn had James.”
There was silence on the other end of the phone.
“Mom?” Alix asked.
“Alix,” Shay said, “your mom looks like she’s in shock or something. I don’t know what to do.”
“She might be. Get Natalie or Rick and tell them everything you’ve heard. Can you also call my dad and tell him he needs to come home.”
“Sure.”
“Thanks, Shay. I owe you one.”
“No problem,” she said. “I’ll talk to you later.”
Chapter 45
Alix was kind of in shock herself. Could it really be that her birth parents were in the same room as she was? And if it was them, how did they get to the island? How long had they been with the Grynn? There were so many questions.
“Shelley,” Ben said, “I’m goin
g to take Alix out of here for a while.”
She nodded and Ben led Alix out of the room. He took her to the place where the doctors and nurses took their breaks. He sat her down on the couch and tucked her under his arm. He didn’t say anything and just held her until she was ready to talk.
“I don’t know what to say,” Alix finally said. “I have so many questions. I honestly thought they were dead.”
“I wish I had some words of wisdom, but I’ve got nothing.”
That made Alix smile just a little. Ben was very good at making her smile. They sat there, not talking for a long time. Eventually, Shelley joined them.
“I’ve spoken to Natalie and your mom is going to be fine. She was understandably shocked by the news, but she’s recovered. Natalie is bringing your parents here to talk to Sharon and Sean. We aren’t going to tell them anything. We want to see if they recognize your parents and we’ll see what happens from there.”
“Oh, okay,” Alix said.
“How are you holding up?” Shelley asked her.
“I’m not really sure, to be honest.”
“That’s not surprising. It’ll be at least an hour before your parents get here. I suggest you eat something. It might help you feel better. Ben, there’s a Chinese place a couple of blocks down the street. Why don’t you go and get us all something to eat? I’ll stay with Alix.”
“Uh, yeah, sure. You okay with that?” he asked Alix. She nodded. He gave her a kiss. “I’ll be right back.”
When Ben got back with the food, she hadn’t realized how hungry she was until she smelled it. She ate until she was stuffed.
“Where is everyone else?” Alix asked when they were done.
“Rand, Wills, and Baxter are on patrol around the building. Benton went to get your parents. Gordon, Olly, and Sal are trying to determine the location of François or Victor. So far they’ve had no luck. Ruth has been filling in the rest of the Council on what happened and until we find François, they’re still under safe house protection.”
Shelley was called to go talk to one of the doctors, leaving Alix and Ben alone again. About twenty minutes later Alix heard the unmistakable sound of Shay’s voice in the hallway. She got off the couch and went to the doorway where she was practically tackled by Shay.
“Shay, I can’t breathe,” Alix managed to say a minute later.
“You’ve got to quit scaring me to death Alix. My heart can’t take it.”
“I’m sorry Shay, but you’re going to have to blame François for this one … again. Not that I’m not happy to see you but what are you doing here?”
“You can’t think for one second I was getting left behind again.”
Alix had to smile at that. “Mom, dad!” Alix said seeing them over Shay’s shoulder.
Shay let her go so she could go see her parents. She hugged them as hard as Shay had hugged her.
“We’re so happy to see you, honey,” her mom said. “Sorry if I scared you earlier. I just couldn’t believe I was actually seeing them.”
“Trust me, I understand. Are you ready to go see them?”
“As ready as I’m going to get.”
“Dad?”
He nodded and took Heather’s hand. Shelley led the way to the room where they were being looked after.
“We’ve moved them so they could be together,” Shelley told them before she opened the door.
At first, no one paid attention to more people coming in the room. It wasn’t until Heather took in a sharp breath that their presence was known.
“Heather, is that really you?” Sharon said.
That was all it took, and Heather was in tears. She ran over to Sharon and wrapped her arms around her. Sean recognized her dad and it was the same reaction, just without the tears.
Alix had stayed by the door, not really knowing what to do. A minute later her mom gestured for her to join them. She was very nervous. Ben tried to let go of her hand but she wasn’t having it, so he went with her.
“Angela,” her birth mother said. “Sorry, I mean Alix. You’re such a beautiful girl. I’m sorry I missed you growing up.”
Alix had no idea what to say. She had wished to meet her birth parents and now that she was had was speechless.
“I understand this is very overwhelming,” Sharon said. “I just want you to know that we’ve never stopped loving you and we can’t wait to get to know you.”
“I’m sorry,” Alix said and ran out of the room and out the back door of the clinic.
Shay and Ben were right behind her.
Alix was feeling so many feelings she didn’t know what to do with herself.
“Let it out before you explode,” Shay told her.
For the next couple of minutes, Alix tried to express everything that was inside her. Most of it was mixed with tears and sounded like gibberish. By the time she was done Both Ben and Shay had her in a group hug.
“Better?” Ben asked.
“A little.”
“Ready to go back inside?”
She nodded.
In the time they’d been outside it had been decided that when Sean and Sharon were fully healed, they would be going to live with them in Sunset Creek. Alix could tell how happy her mom was and there was no way she could take that away from her, but it was going to be very strange having them there. Good thing it was a big house.
Alix was really ready to get home. She wanted her room, her bed, and her books. Once again Alix cloaked herself and got into a car with Ben and Shay. Benton drove them while her parents and Natalie were in a second car that followed behind them.
Once they were back at the safe house outside of Miami they used the blue door to get back to Sunset Creek. Alix went straight to her room and looked out the window. She knew she was home and had never been happier to see snow in her life.
Shay and Ben had followed her to her room.
“You okay over there?” Shay asked.
“I’m not sure. Everything is so strange right now.”
“Strange should be your middle name,” Shay told her.
Alix couldn’t help but smile. “I guess you’re right. Why should finding my birth parents be any different from learning I was a magical being? It should actually be easier right?”
“Not necessarily,” Shay said. “It’s a big shock and will take some getting used to.”
“You’re right.”
“Of course I am,” Shay said grinning.
Even Ben smiled at that one.
“So, what happens now?” Shay asked.
“Well first, I guess I get to know my birth parents. Second, we continue with our schoolwork. Don’t look at me like that Shay, life still has to continue between disasters.”
“Ugh, fine.” Shay huffed. “Anything else?”
“Yes. Third, we wait for Gordon to find François, Victor, and any other Grynn strongholds.”
“What happens after that?” Shay asked.
Alix turned to them and said. “We finish the Grynn, once and for all.”
Author’s Note
Thank you for reading my book. If you enjoyed it, please consider
leaving me a review at your favorite retailer.
Thank you!
Katie Holland
Please look for more books in the Nykara series coming soon!
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Table of Contents
Copyright
Table of Contents
Dedication
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Chapter 11
Chapter 12
Chapter 13
Chapter 14
Chapter 15
Chapter 16
Chapter 17
Chapter 18
Chapter 19
Chapter 20
Chapter 21
Chapter 22
Chapter 23
Chapter 24
Chapter 25
Chapter 26
Chapter 27
Chapter 28
Chapter 29
Chapter 30
Chapter 31
Chapter 32
Chapter 33
Chapter 34
Chapter 35
Chapter 36
Chapter 37
Chapter 38
Chapter 39
Chapter 40
Chapter 41
Chapter 42
Chapter 43
Chapter 44
Chapter 45
Author’s Note
Chaos Page 30