The Empath : The Alterealm Series Book 3
Chapter Twenty-Four

I sat and watched the various conversations taking place, everyone had their own idea on how to proceed. Chase stood there, arms crossed, watching me. I didn’t know what he was thinking, but if body language was any indication, we were going to have words later, most likely hostile ones, while he tried to control me and I refused to allow it. Then there was this whole Queen of the Light thing… With a scowl, he pulled out his phone and then walked to the other side of the room.

Daxx came over and sat beside me. “What are you thinking?”

I looked at her for a moment, tiredness was showing in her posture as she slumped in the chair. “A few things. First, I think I need a nap.” I tapped the empty wine glass. “I may have had one too many… it’s been quite the drama filled day.”

“I agree with a nap.” She grinned.

“I was also wondering if there was a way to delay Mister Hubert from gathering the capital needed to continue, am I being naïve? I imagine he’ll just take it from someone, or somewhere, if desperate enough.”

She nodded. “There is that chance, but if they are trying to stay off the radar…”

“I’ll think on it some more and see what I can come up with, if they do contact me about investments. I may not understand everything… well, very little with this and that realm, but I understood what the elder meant by there being casualties on both sides.”

She sat straighter. “You’re not planning to see Mister Hubert again, are you?”

“Oh no. Not a chance.” I glanced at the empty glass again. “Which puts me in an unfamiliar situation.”

“How?” She frowned.

“I can’t very well leave my apartment if I’ve told them I’m on a trip.”

“Oh yeah…”

“Normally I’d just move on in a situation like this. I don’t like being confined.”

She nodded. “I hear that.”

“So, what am I to do with my time? I can’t sit in front of the screen and look for others all day long, and if we can’t go out, how do we replace the others before they do?”

Daxx blew out a breath, exhaustion clear on her face. “Is it safe for you to go out here?”

I hadn’t considered that, so far, here was an elaborate maze of halls and grand rooms. “I don’t know. With several of them being from here… How do we know if they don’t have people over here right now? Being seen on this side is a neon sign that says liar and it’s pointed at me…”

Leone came over and sat down, laying his head on the table.

I looked to Daxx, who didn’t seem to be concerned. “Voices louder?” I asked him.

He raised his head and looked at me. “No more than the last few days. Actually, I had a few hours today—which was nice, I’m just not sure what Elder Faran meant.”

“What do you mean?” I hadn’t retained a great deal of what was said. Probably because I’d been in a room, in another realm, with twelve individuals that were older than ten centuries. It was a lot to process, to say the least.

“She said solitude… is that, hang out in my room, the witches’ temple or go to the mountains?” He shrugged. “Did she see it or was she just trying to be helpful? She said my questions would have answers. All questions have answers.” He waved his hand in the air. “And what’s in fate’s hands now? That we’re just to let one of us be taken, or was she talking about something else?” He scowled. “Why does she talk in riddles? Crissy doesn’t.”

I glanced to Daxx for input, but she had a blank look on her face, much like Leone did now. I was just about to try to offer some comforting words when Michael sat down looking much like Leone did. I was no expert, but it seemed the elder’s council meeting stirred up confusion more than anything else.

“I just want to sleep.” Michael said. He held his phone up. “Every time I think I’ll go lay down, it rings.”

“What’s going on?” Daxx asked, leaning her elbow on the table and resting her cheek on her hand.

“We’re searching for any that were associated with Willis or Nelson and his sister in the past, to see if that are more here helping them.” He shook his head. “We may have half of Alterealm in the cells at this rate.”

Arius came over and leaned on the back of a chair. “We have lots of room, still.” He winked at Daxx and I. “Even if we run out, I’ll make room for more.” He nodded to me. “Which reminds me. Your father is doing much better now. The doctor feels in a week’s time you may be able to visit him again.”

“Oh. Thank you, Arius.” I wasn’t sure how I felt about that. I’d gone my entire life without my father and now he was here. Another thing that was going to take some adjustments.

“I completely forgot.” Michael moaned. “We found your grandparents, but we haven’t contacted them yet because…” He looked to Arius briefly, “we don’t know if they agreed with what Levi was doing.” He shrugged. “They could be completely unaware, but until we know for sure…”

I nodded. “That’s quite all right. I’ve gone this long with no family. I’m sure I can wait a while longer.”

He nodded abruptly. “Good enough. Well, I’m going to go nap and turn my phone off.” He grinned at Arius and got up.

I watched Michael leave then turned to Arius. “Daxx and I were discussing what I’m to do now. I can’t go out at home if I’ve told them I’m on trip.” I motioned to the door, “Michael is concerned there are more here working with Mister Hubert… so what am I to do?”

Arius opened his mouth and then closed it again and stood there with a thoughtful look on his face. “I’d suggest cloaking, but we don’t know who is on the other side, and if they can see through it.

I gave him a blank look, having no idea what that was about. “Perhaps something I understand?”

He sighed. “I don’t know. Going out on either side, for all of us, is risky right now.”

“I’m so sick of being under house arrest.” Daxx moaned. “Even if the house is this large, not that I know my way around yet like Criss.” She glanced around. “Where is Crissy?”

“She said something about pieces and her tower.” Arius informed her.

“Oh.”

I looked from him to her. “Pieces of?”

“Whatever she’s seeing. Keep your fingers crossed it’s something that will put an end to this.” She said sounding drowsy.

Arius straightened, a serious look on his face.

I turned to see he was watching Chase talk on the phone, in a corner away from the others. Chase’s expression was one of the utmost focus. I didn’t know who he was talking to, but it was quite serious.

“I hope this isn’t a let’s go phone call. I need a nap before I can kick any ass.” Daxx said in a hushed tone.

I looked around to see Troy, Victor and a few of the other men also watching him. “It’s something. That silent brother connection has them all paying attention.”

She looked at the men. “I’m supposed to be part of that silent connection thing, but I can’t figure out how to listen in yet.”

“I’m sure it’s just that they’ve had many decades to hone it.”

“I suppose.” She motioned to Troy. “I’ll go ask.”

Chase hung up the phone and came back over to the table. “That was brother Emil.” He waved a hand. “Who doesn’t understand any of this…”

I rolled my eyes. “Welcome to our club, it’s small but contains plenty of confusion.”

Chase smirked. “Sassy Queen,” he winked and was serious a second later. “His son, Ellis,” he nodded, “has been on this side working with a purpled eyed freak, his son’s words,” he shrugged, “setting up boundaries, for what, he doesn’t know, but he told his father he thinks they’re up to more than he’s been told.”

“Does he know where these boundaries have been set up?” Troy asked.

“In the middle of nowhere, which doesn’t help, we have large areas of nothingness here.

“Think he could show us on a map?” Rafael stood up.

“I don’t know. Our brother wants us to detain him so he’s out of this. I briefly explained what they’re really trying to do, and he just wants his son safe.” Chase crossed his arms and looked to his siblings.

Quinton leaned back in the chair. “Detain him how?”

Chase shrugged. “That’s why I’m saying all this, so we can figure it out.”

Arius nodded slowly. “I’d be happier knowing I wasn’t going to cut my nephew in half if we replace another location.”

“There’s that too.” Chase agreed.

“I wouldn’t feel right putting him in the cells, not when he knows something is wrong and he wants out.” Arius leaned back down on the chair.

“I agree, but that still leaves the question of how?” Chase glanced to Victor.

“It has to be on this side, we have control over here.” Victor said in a thoughtful way.

Chase raised one eyebrow at him. “Apparently our control over here is lacking, or none of this would be happening.”

“There’s the guard training grounds. It’s very secure, limiting who enters and leaves.” Rafael suggested.

“That would work.” Chase looked around. “Where is Michael?”

Daxx yawned. “He went to bed.”

Chase chuckled. “Sleep deprivation. None of you can handle it as well as I do.” Nodding to Quinton. “You go talk to Ira about this.”

Quinton got up. “Will do.” He went out through the kitchen.

“We can’t just transport him to the landing room.” Victor crossed his arms over his chest and looked quite stern.

“I’m aware. Emil was going to kidnap him the way duchess did him, but with everything going on, I’d prefer a different landing location, not one in the royal chambers.” Chase looked at Troy, who nodded.

“Which means, we somehow have to meet him on the other side.” Daxx mused. “I’d say my place, but I don’t have a place anymore.” She gave Troy a hard look.

“You’re certain this isn’t some sort of set up? To get closer to one of the royals?” I turned in the chair so I was looking at Chase.

His jaw clenched for a moment, then he shook his head. “No. On Emil’s part, I am. He understands the danger this presents to everyone, but I can’t be sure about Ellis.”

I thought for a moment. “It would be hard to control the situation in a public place.” I was more or less thinking out loud. “How would you know if he was being tracked or traced?” I lifted my hand, looking for a way to explain. “Magically, I mean. Electronically can be dealt with…”

“Good point.” He glanced to Rafael. “We can get Clairee to check.”

“Which still leaves the where.” Troy pointed out.

“Can this Clairee put some kind of protection on my place?” I looked from Rafael to Chase.

“You want to use your place?” Chase’s brow furrowed.

I shrugged. “It’s private, high security. If you and a few others are there, and Emil gets rid of his son’s phone or a transporter device…” I looked around at the others.

Troy nodded. “It’s a solution, a good one.”

The two kings exchanged a look.

Chase nodded. “As it’s technically my watch, I’ll call it.” He turned to Rafael, “you get Clairee over to the duchess’ penthouse, send her with Tim. I don’t care if she has to block magic from the whole building, make sure anything magical can’t enter.”

Rafael got up. “I’ll go get her over there now.”

Chase turned to Arius. “You, Bronx and Sith are going to be there with me.” He glanced to me next.

I smiled. “I have to be present. The security is biometric, so unless you have my red eye signature and thumb, you can’t even open the door.”

He glared at me for a moment. “You do love complicating things while pushing boundaries, don’t you?” He stood there for a second more. “You do what you need, then stay clear of him. We don’t know…”

I held up my hand and pointed to myself. “Big girl, but your concern is noted.”

Growling, he turned and slowly looked at Victor, then Troy. “You two will be on this end at the training office, where I’ll be bringing him. Having our little Seer of Truth there to check out his aura or whatever she does, would be helpful.”

Victor nodded, turned, and walked out.

Chase motioned to Daxx. “I guess you, Leone and Michael will be on duty for the first part of the night shift, so you may want to grab a nap now.”

She sighed and then nodded.

Troy smirked. “You love bossing us around.”

Chase gave him a smug look. “Last I looked it is still daylight out, so my watch.”

Mitz came out of the kitchen. “Oh good, Alona, you’re here.” She smiled and came toward me carrying a small package. “Crissy asked me to get these for you.”

I stood up. “Oh?” I hadn’t asked for anything.

Mitz handed it to me and patted my arm. Waves of love were coming off her. “I suggest you open it later, love, she didn’t feel her style was your style.” With another sweet smile, she walked back into the kitchen.

I looked down at the package. It wasn’t much larger than an envelope. I looked to see that Daxx was grinning and decided if they were both in on it, perhaps I’d open it later when the men weren’t standing there staring at me.

“Oh, you’ll need to send Emil my address.” I turned to Chase and smiled.

He glanced to the package and then held up his phone. “We’ll do that now, so we can meet my nephew.”