'Chapter 26

XxX Two days after the mission in Turkey XxX

I'm packing my suitcase, I don't know where I'll go to, but I'll find something, maybe I can stay with Dante for a while.

I sight deeply while I'm choosing what I take with me, I can't take it all, but I can't leave anything behind from me, I think I'll just change my name or something, the Organization will be here soon.

I'm not going to stay here and rot. I grab my diary and look at it. Waiting until the Organization decides to make me disappear. I lay the diary in my suitcase and open my closet, I look at my old suit and at the little microphone on it, the perfect place to hide a bug... I hear someone knocking.

'Who is it?'.

'Nicolas Pizza' answers a deep manly voice.

'Sure it is' I roll my eyes, grab my ID cards -my old Organization suit ID and my normal Passport- throw the Organization ID in my suitcase and push the other in my belt bag.

I shove the clothes out of my way and look at the bomb against the back of my closet, I start it with a special code and look at 90 seconds I have.

I walk to my suitcase, not knowing if I'll have the time to get it out of the house, I grab a pile of Euro billets and push it with my passport in the belt-bag.

I jump down the stairs and stand in a fighting position in the living room 'Come on in'.

A suit kicks in the door, his partner next to him, and Raypulse burning in their hands.

'Shadowspeed!' I jump over their spells and land next to the male suit, grab his arm and roll him on the ground, I make a round house kick to the female suit who lands against a flower pot.

I look at the window when three suits jump into it, I make a few flips to them and kick one man against the chest. He invoked a Redcap and I look at the titan, dodge one of its claws and run to the brown haired other male suit, I step against his chest, and make a backflip, fire Boltflare at the titan and see how it disappears, I land my feet and look at the girl, she's scared, and she's right to be.

I hear cars on the street, run to the window and see suits standing on the street.

'This place is going to explode, get your friends outta here' I run upside and grab the backpack that works like a jetpack but with wings, out of my closet.

I run to the suitcase and close it, while hearing the bomb making ready to explode 'Thougthspecter' I see how it disappears and run to the bathroom, close the door with my foot and jump into the bathtub.

Then there's the explosion, I feel fire eating my skin and the explosion making everything silence. I'm probably deaf after that blow. I try to keep breathing normal, but the fog is too thick, I open the window and crawl outside, I fly to the other building and land on it, I close the wings and hear the sirens of the Ambulances, police and the Firemen. All that for me... I look back to my house, well, the building that was once my home.

'That's it then, that's the end' I still look at my flat and stand up 'Thougthspecter' think of Venice, of Dante's house, but I land somewhere in the city, not even close to Dante's house, well, closer than I was.

I sight deeply, this was the end of my Organization past, I just closed it off.

I throw the bag in a garbage can and walk through the pouring rain to Dante's house, thunder is hunting through the air and I feel pain in every muscle of my body. My head is pounding heavily and my ears are still painful and softly beeping, I can hear again, that's a relieve.

When I finally arrive at Dante's place, I slowly climb up the stairs and softly knock on the door, holding my arm, it's burned badly. I'm burned badly.

I hear Dante open the door and hope he's home, because he's mostly gone to Metz and I knew he was gone to Metz yesterday. But when he opens the door I only wonder why he's here, just a one day visit?

'Zhalia?' he asks, a bit surprised, and let me in.

'What has happened to you? You're hurt, are you alright?' he closes the door behind me and I seek words to explain about what happened.

'I... I... Can I stay here for the night? Please?' I feel I'm shaking, heavily shaking, I'm not only cold but the wounds are really painful, I feel my whole body getting heavy, I'm tired and my soul is the only thing that keeps me awake.

'Yes of course, come on, you're wet through' he gives me one of his yellow coats and I walk after him to the kitchen, while he's making coffee I explain what happened.

'I already wondered why there was a packed suitcase in the hall' he points at my blue suitcase and my cheeks start to burn red, I'm glad it did come here, I was afraid it would have land somewhere in the sea or maybe in New York. After I landed somewhere on the other side of Venice, I gave up about my luggage. But that did come over on the right place…

'Dante... I'm so sorry...' I look at him, holding the cup, I walk to him, I feel so weak, I want a hug, I need a hug.

'Zhalia, It's alright, everything is alright now, you're with friends'.

'Dante...' I look at him, into his eyes, I see him smile and I feel my heart beat very quick in my chest, I feel my head moving closer to his, he does too, I knew it! He likes me too! but in my head I can only think about kissing him, his lips, his eyes... It feels like everything else is fading away, but I come back to Earth when the door opens and Lok runs in, wet through too.

'Dante! Zhalia! Sophie learned Fineshape and used in on my dad's journal and it totally fixed it and there was a note that said...' he looks at us, how we're standing close to each other, we both moved backwards from each other when the door opened, ashamed, my cheeks blushing red and I saw his were red too.

'Ehh... why are you guys looking at me like that? Ehh... do I have something on my face?' he looks at us with a puzzled face, that kid really isn't 100% good in his head, or just stupid.

Dante just chuckles and I sight deeply, looking at the boy angry.

I explain about everything that happened an hour ago while Lok is shivering, listening and looking at how Dante fixes my wounds with a spell that is supposed to make my wounds heal faster.

When Dante walked to the closet to give Lok his coat I raise my eyebrow, asking myself why he has two coats. But I leave the question as it is and go to the guest room that Dante told me I could use, I dress myself in a new outfit and take my Teknonomicon with me to the living room.

After Sophie arrived we all sit in the living room, me and Dante on the couch and the teens in the chairs.

'How many of these do you have Dante?' asks Lok, my question, but I'm thankful he asked it first.

'You know in this line of work you burn through your wardrobe pretty quickly' he winks at me when I'm about to take a nip of my coffee, but I don't because I start to laugh like a teenage girl and quickly stop when I notice I'm laughing very childish, very embarrassed I look at the teens who're looking at me with open mouth.

'Ahem' Dante scratches his throat to save me and I'm thankful for that 'I know the area mentioned in your father's notes'.

'Well we're seekers, let's get down there and seek'.

'Lok...' starts Sophie, a bit annoyed.

'You know your father wrote that note ten years ago, you understand what that means right?' asks Dante, interrupting Sophie.

'We have to find him, or at least we have to look'.

'Don't forget, there's still that little matter of discovering Atlantis' points Sophie out.

'Oh, I don't forget' I grab my Teknonomicon from next to me, open it and give them a good look at the place we have to be and send the exact coordination's to Dante's Holotome.

'Seekers, we have a mission' tells Dante us all.

After Dante found out the next flight to -the city near the place Atlantis should be- takes off the next morning very early, we all agreed Lok and Sophie would stay here for the night, so we can go together to the airport the next morning around five O'clock.

XxX

That morning I wake 'cause Dante is shaking me softly.

'Zhalia, wake up, we've to get ready' he whispers softly in my ear, I moan softly and turn around, I hear him chuckle and then I feel the cold of a bed without a blanket, I curl myself up and open one eye to look at him.

'You're just like teenager on the first day of school after summer break' he lays his hands on his hips, he looks at me, the blue shorts, the light blue short top that reaches my mid-riff and me, my body in it.

'And you're acting like my father' I mumble and slowly get up, I don't want to get up, the bed is so soft and comfortable, I haven't got a good night rest in days, and this bed was like laying on clouds.

'It seems like I have to' he sits next to me, takes my arm and looks at the wounds, they're almost healed, after he used the spell.

'It seems like the spell did its work good' he looks at my arm and then into my eyes.

'Dante... I...' I want to tell him I'm sorry I'm such a bargain but I can't finish my sentence because we're getting closer, I feel my eyes slowly close and we kiss, our tongues dance and I moan when he softly pushes me on my back, he lays on top of me, his weight giving me pleasure thrills in my stomach. Something is tinkling and it almost hurts, but his hands caress the sides of my body and then my upper legs, I moan softly his name and feel his hands start to make their way to my breasts.

I gasp air and my hands are grabbing his hair when I feel his fingers almost reach their goal.

'Zhalia?' he asks me then a little concerned, his hands moving away from my body.

'Yes?' I look at him, a little confused.

'Zhalia?' he raises his voice and I feel scared.

'What's wrong Dante?' I answer, embarrassed by his action, is there something wrong with me?

'Zhalia! Zhalia!' he's now yelling in my ears, his voice coming from everywhere.

I wink with my eyes and look at Dante's face, full off concern.

'Zhalia?' he asks me, to be sure I'm awake, sitting next to my bed.

'Yes... Yes... I'm awake...' I try to get up but almost fall, out of the bed, Dante catches me before I fall and lifts me back on the bed.

'I'm trying to wake you for minutes, you were acting like you were death' he lays his hand on my forehead.

'I'm alright, just a bit sleepy... I also think that spell you used yesterday does it's work very good and I'm sorry for being such a bargain...' I look at him.

He raises and eyebrow and then smiles 'It's nothing Zhalia, don't apologize for anything, you're a part of my team and my friend' he looks at me, like looking for something that can tell him I'm feeling ill or hurt.

'I'm fine' I smile 'Like I said, just a bit sleepy and I'm addicted to this bed' I grin and slowly get up, I walk to the window and open the curtains, I look at the dark sky and roll my eyes 'How early is it anyway? I'm dying...' I yawn and turn around, Dante's just staring at me, till I wave at him and he looks at me a little bit shocked.

'I see you're not fully awake either' I grin and open my suitcase, till I remember I wore my outfit yesterday, I walk to the chair and throw my clothes on the bed, I sight when I remember this is the only clean outfit I took with me from my old house.

'Zhalia, you OK?' he asks me then.

'Yes… only… do you have a comb and olive oil?'.

'I think I have a comb somewhere but why the olive oil?'.

'Because it's a cheap and natural way of removing make-up, I didn't shower yesterday after I didn't have any energy left to get myself in the bathroom… so I must look horrible and my make-up is probably all over my face' I grin when he smiles softly.

'You're don't look or smell that bad'. The door opens and we both look at Lok, standing in the doorway.

'Why are you talking in the middle of the night?' asks Lok, looking at us with sleepy eyes, only wearing a pair of boxers and a T-shirt.

'Lok, we're leaving in two hours' Dante looks at his watch and nods at the boy.

'I'll wake Sophie then, she needs her time in the bathroom' Lok walks back to the room where Sophie is sleeping and I stand up.

'I'd better chance and take a shower' I grab my clothes and look at him, asking him to leave with my eyes.

He nods and stands up, closing the door behind him.

XxX

I look into the mirror, my face looks ugly without make-up. Sophie's leaning against a pillar, looking at me.

'You look different without make-up'.

'I can't help it, I blew everything I own up besides the stuff in my suitcase' I roll my eyes.

'Didn't bother to take mascara with you, I see'.

'When you're about to die, you don't only think about make-up' I answer coldly.

Dante comes in with two bags, one with groceries and one with unknown stuff, he tosses the white bag to me and I take out a brush.

'I let the shop assistant help me with choosing some basic stuff for you, I also got you a brush, toothbrush and soap' explains Dante.

'Clever way to tell me I stink and look ugly' I roll my eyes.

'I know, I wanted to say it straight away, but I decided to tell you in a more casual way' Dante grins at me and I can't hide a smile, Sophie chuckles softly while I look back at him.

'Thank you' I whisper and make my way to the bathroom.

XxX Crecean coast, Thessalonica, Greece XxX

'The oracle must be around here somewhere, alright everybody, up and over we go' says Dante when we're standing before a big wall.

Dante and I throw the hooks on the wall, I want to give the rope to the teens so I can climb after them, but Lok spits on his hands, when Sophie looks at him angry because of that, he gives her a goofy smile while wiping his hands off on his shirt.

'Boy, this is just like gym class' says Lok, while starting to climb the wall, I walk to Dante who gives me the rope first.

'Yeah, except in gym class climbing the rope is pointless, here, we get to visit Atlantis!' answers Sophie excited.

When I get on the edge of the wall I look down and see it's not much of a jump down, so I nod at Lok who jumps down and when Dante sits next to me he jumps down too. I myself make the hooks lose, giving them to Dante who lays them on the ground.

When I'm about to jump, I feel Dante catch me and softly lowering me on the ground, I smile softly at him and he just smiles back. I can't stop smiling when he's doing such stupid things, I hate it, but my mouth has to smile like I enjoy it!

A while after Lok had fallen down into a hole, which reminded me of the story Alice in Wonderland (only he didn't follow a bunny but his nose into the hole).

However, Dante told me we were getting watched, and a few minutes later, after Lok ran back to us, hugged by Sophie and explaining us what happened down there while he points out the way to Atlantis.

And then Lok bonded with a titan and we got attacked by the Organization, Rassimov again.

We escaped thought a hidden passage and walked through a battle field where Lok's father must've fought a battle once.

So now we're swimming through the water when Cherit gets eaten by a shark. of course, we didn't know there were sharks in the water here!

Dante and I swim back to him while the teens make room for us and the shark. It attacks us and Dante uses Stonehand to open the sharks mouth, wide open, and I swim inside to get Cherit, which is very nasty if you ask me.

But after I get Cherit. Dante stores him against the head and it swims away like a dog with his tail between the legs.

When we're near the big shield around the drowned city, Dante's the first one going down.

I follow but remember I can't use featherdrop. Really, I have to do something about this damsel in distress thing, I HATE it!

But of course, Dante catches me and I smile, I can't help it but smile at him again, when Lok lands next to us he tells Sophie he'll catch her but they fall down on the ground, I can barely hold my laugh while holding on to Dante tightly, we look at each other, grinning because of the teens while Sophie is rubbing her head.

I ask casually: 'So, where to now?'.

'The big building in the center has got to be a Casterwill compound, it's covered with my family's symbols, let's start there' answers Sophie.

When the teens get up they just look at us, I notice Dante's still holding me and I look at him 'You can let go of me now' I grin when he blushes slightly and gently let me stand down.

'You know, I like that new act of yours' he tells me while we're walking to the Casterwill compound.

'What new act?' I raise my eyebrow.

'The damsel in distress act' he grins and probably knows I'm feeling hopeless without those spells, so I store him against the shoulder and he grins the boyish grin again.

'You'll have to teach me when we're back'.

TBC

Hope you liked it! maybe a little different form the plot with the parents and stuff, but I think it's more interesting this way, and also, I had to find people who killed Zhalia's parents, I had to blame somebody and it just happened to put all those people together in some sort of mystery, in the end, it'll all fit the real story line, so don't worry, there won't be any chanced further in the plot.