Chapter 16

Aftermath

"Owen, Owen…" I shook his arm. "Dad, wake up." I said softer.

"Talia, let him rest." David said.

"It's my fault this happened." I sniffed.

"It's not your fault. He knew what protecting you meant." David told me.

I frowned before putting my hands on his chest and trying to heal him despite how much it hurt. My adoptive father tried to stop me, but I wouldn't let him.

"Talia?" Owen asked, opening his eyes.

"Daddy!" I tried not to spit blood on him.

"What happened?" He asked, rubbing my back.


Earlier

David and Fox had left to go on a date, leaving Owen as Alex's and my babysitter.

"Dad?" I asked.

"Yes, Sweetheart?" Owen asked.

"Are we going to tell Alex that you're my dad?" I asked, playing with my baby brother.

"He already knows." He smiled.

"What?" I looked at them, disbelieving.

"Alexander doesn't age like you did, Talia. His mind is very sharp. He understands that our bond is similar to his and his father's." Owen explained.

"This is going to make life so confusing for him." I frowned and Alex tried to make me smile by putting his hand on my face. "Ok, ok. No grab."

"I will teach him that this must be kept a secret like his magic. I must take Alexander out now." Owen took the baby and turned into Puck.

"Why can't I go with you?" I asked.

"Three people is too many. And I'd rather have time to focus on you and your magical abilities and limits." Puck answered.

"It's your fault my magic is tied to my life." I huffed.

"Talia…" Puck looked at me sternly.

"You'd do it again if you had to." I sighed.

Puck smiled. "Give me a goodbye kiss." Alex gurgled. "And Alex too."

I rolled my eyes before indulging Puck's request. I kissed the baby's head and got a sloppy kiss on the cheek back. I wiped it off before kissing Puck's cheek. He kissed my other cheek and brushed my hair behind my ear.

"Be good, little trickster." Puck said and Alex waved bye bye as they left.

I smiled before going to my room and reading. A few hours passed before the lights flickered and they shut off. My eyes glowed before I conjured a flame-less candle light.

"This can't be good." I said as I got out of bed. "Is all the power out? I should go to the clan till Dad gets back."

I slowly made my way to the clan, partially because it was dark and partially because it was a dark, old castle. Suddenly, there was loud bark and my candle turned into a small jet of flames.

"Bronx, be quiet. Are you alright, lass? He didn't mean ta scare ya." Hudson and Bronx came into the light.

"I-I'm ok. Is the power out where you are?" I breathed in and out before petting a sad Bronx.

"Aye. It's strange. Xanatos said the castle has its own power supply, separate from the building. Lexington has already told Goliath. Where're Puck and Alex?" He asked.

"Out. It's just me. I was coming to you guys." I told him.

"Smart lass. C'mon, then, let's go." Hudson led me to the clan's living room.

The small area was lit with flashlights, but it was still very dark. "Hey, Talia." Lexington smiled.

"Hey, you have any idea what's going on?" I asked.

"Well, there was no explosion so the generations are probably still fine. Something else must be wrong." Lex thought.

"I don't like the castle being this dark." I told them.

"Me neither, lass. It's always been lit in some part of the castle before." Hudson sat in his chair.

"He would have told us if they needed to be turned off." I frowned.

"You think someone did this on purpose?" Lex asked.

"Yeah." I nodded.

"We should go see what's wrong." The small gargoyle said.

"That's not our job now, lad. Our job is protecting Talia until Goliath gets back." Hudson reminded him.

"Ok." Lex frowned.

"Puck knows I'm safe with you guys. Don't tell him I said his name." I paused.

"Never thought I'd live to see the day where one of Oberon's Children would insist a Halfling call him 'Dad'. Much less be as affectionate as Puck is to you." Hudson told me.

"Yeah, it's weird." Lex added.

"He's just, I dunno, he loves me." I shrugged.

"I'm just glad he's decided to acknowledge you." The younger gargoyle said. "Doing something as powerful as bond a soul and body and he just drops you in Manhattan and hopes you'll live long enough to cross paths with Xanatos. Never mind that there could have consequences to you."


Present

Owen huffed indignantly. I looked at him. "I spent months making sure your body wouldn't reject your soul. I kept my eye on you all that time, keeping you safe."

"Well, you didn't show yourself until I got powers." I said.

"I could protect you from behind the scenes until you got your powers." He said.

"You're such a great father." I deadpanned.

"I'm better than Xanatos." He said.

David frowned.

"I know." I smiled.

Owen frowned slightly. "Lexington needs to learn some respect."

"Daddy, don't be mean to him." I whined.

"He'll be ok, Sweetheart. Promise." He kissed my forehead.

I made a pouty face at him. He ran his hand through my hair. "You can't woo me that easily."

"I don't know about that, Owen." David said as I nuzzled him and I knew he was smiling.

"Go back to the story, Talia." He tried to keep his voice his normal monotone, but I sensed his annoyance at being proven wrong so quickly.


Earlier

"So, Dad's not the best. But he's slightly better than David and that's something." I said. "And Dad won't let Anubis take me so I'm kinda stuck living here for now."

"How do you know Anubis?" Hudson asked.

"They had a fight a little after the Gathering." I explained.

"For what it's worth, he made the right choice. Puck." Lex said.

"I'm pretty sure he would die for me." I frowned.


Present

"There was no choice, Talia. I fought Oberon for you. I wasn't going to lose to him." Owen told me. "And there's no 'pretty sure' about it, I would die for you."

"That kind of talk doesn't suit you." I said, perturbed.

"It doesn't suit you either, little trickster." He countered.


Earlier

Bronx started sniffing the air.

"What's the matter, boy?" Hudson asked.

He growled and looked at the door.

"Stay with Talia, Lexington." Hudson told him.

Hudson and Bronx left through the door and soon they were fighting something. Lexington frowned. I concentrated and felt two more people coming for us.

"We're not safe here." I said.

"How close are they?" He asked.

The sound of a laser gun firing answered. The wall behind us blew up and we were thrown forward. I groaned and got up as quick as I could.

"He will pay handsomely for you." Someone said as the lights turned back on.

My magic flared and adjusted my eyes faster than normal, but it wasn't good enough. I was still disoriented. I heard someone coming toward me and I threw an energy bolt at them.

"She has some kind of new weapon!" They yelled.

I couldn't let them get close to me while I was still recovering so I tried to keep them away and not die. I used my magic to push the goon away and trap him in the floor. As I got my balance back, I started to fight them. However, I wasn't prepared for iron made, spiked brass knuckles breaking my shield and I defiantly wasn't ready to get punched in the gut with those said knuckles. I coughed up blood and fell.


Present

"I'm sorry I couldn't make it sooner. I had to get Alexander to Elisa so you both wouldn't be in danger." Owen frowned.

"I did not last very long in that fight." I said.

"You did the best you could, Talia. You used all the resources you had at your disposal." David told me.

"I got stabbed!" I growled.

"That's not your fault." Owen kissed my forehead.

"Ok, Dad." I rested my head on his chest.

"Alex wanted to see you." Fox walked in with Alex.

He cooed and was given to Owen. Alex hugged him. I smiled a little and then tried to get up, but Owen wouldn't let me. "I want both my students right now."

"What's the verdict?" Fox asked.

"The doctors want to keep an eye on him for another few weeks. Due to his sensitivity." David told her.

"Talia?" She looked at me.

"Still kinda hurts." I said.

Our magic didn't work against iron which meant iron made wounds stayed with us. It sucked. And in my case, it made it harder to do magic. It made it dangerous. Life threatening.

Alex's magic washed over me and he gurgled, pleased with himself. "Was it obvious?"

"I could feel your magic drain. Smell the blood on your breath." Owen scolded. "You know I can't turn into Puck in here. Don't do anymore magic until you're fully healed."

"I'm not sorry." I said.

"Don't force my hand, Talia. Alexander won't always be there." He frowned.

"I'm not more important than you! Al-" I said loudly.

"You are my daughter! You are important!" Owen snapped. "Don't you dare tell me otherwise!"

"Why?" I scowled.

"Because I saw a brilliant mind. Because I saw someone who wanted to do amazing things. Who had done amazing things. One day, you'll see what I see. And I know they feel the same way." Owen gestured to David and Fox. "I found a sharp minded girl. I see a girl who's ready to fight for what's hers. I see a girl who wants better than what the world gave her. Who wants Alexander to have better. But he needs to see what you can do. Fight for yourself as well as him." He smiled.

"I think I know where Talia's love for dramatic speeches came from." David smiled.

"Mmm hmm." Fox agreed.

"Shut up." I said.

"It's stronger in my daughter." Owen brushed my hair back.

I huffed. Alex giggled and then reached out to me. I took him and tickled him. He laughed and nuzzled me.

"I was so worried when I found you bleeding." My father kissed my forehead.

"You had a broken arm and multiple stab wounds. From an iron weapon." I said.

"You know that's nothing to seeing you hurt." He rested my head to his chest.

"Mr. Burnett?" A nurse walked in.

"C'mon, Talia, give Owen one last hug." David told me.

I hugged him. "Bye, Dad."

"I'll see you soon, Sweetheart." He whispered.

Alex nuzzled Owen's chest. "I'll be home in a bit, Alexander."

I got up and walked over to David and Fox. He put his hand on my shoulder and we left. I shrugged his hand off and we went home with Owen's replacement driver.

"I'm still your father, Talia." He told me. "I'm not just trying to keep our image up."

"You're the one I ask money for. Owen's the one who cares." I said.

"Give me a chance. You gave Fox one." He said.

I glanced at Alex and I think he nodded. "Fine."

"Excellent." He smiled.

"But I still like Owen more." I told him.

"Of course." He agreed.

I checked my wound when I was alone. Alex only stopped the bleeding and restored my magic. I read in my room before dinner. David was coming to get me, but we had met somewhere in the middle. Dinner was like when I had first been adopted. David and Fox talked about stuff I didn't really get. I knew they made the people who broke in and tried to kidnap me pay, but they were speaking way too vaguely for me to understand. I played with Alex and he showed off the spells Puck taught him. Then I went to bed.