Chapter 5
Coming home
2022
Talia's POV
Alex hugged me after I came out of my room. "Tai!"
"Hey… buddy." I patted him on the back.
"Up." He raised his arms. I picked him up.
"Alexander." Owen frowned.
"Mine." He nuzzled me.
"Young Talia." He corrected.
"Where's Adri?" I looked around.
"She is waiting with your parents." Owen decided to let Alex stay in my arms.
"Is it dinner time?" I asked.
"You would be correct." He nodded.
We followed him to the dining room and I said hi to David and Fox. They seemed to be pleased. I sat next to Adri and we ate our steaks and sweet balsamic roasted carrots. She glanced at me as I chewed. She set her fork down.
"What?" I swallowed.
"I just wish our first dinner with your family was different." She whispered, taking a drink.
"Sorry." I shrugged helplessly.
"It's not your fault." Adri shook her head and ate some more.
Dad got dessert, chocolate fudge cake, and Alex tried to cut a bigger piece for himself. Fox scolded him and he gave it to her. She sighed. David happily suggested they share. I looked at Adri and made a face.
She nudged me. "Behave."
"You're no fun." I pouted.
"Shush." She kissed my cheek.
"XANATOS!" Goliath shouted, throwing the door open. Elisa must have told them what happened.
Talia's POV End
2017
Talia's POV
Owen had gotten Adri and me and we went to eat dinner. It was lemon rosemary chicken and honey roasted vegetables. I watched Adri as we ate. She ate another bite of vegetables before noticing me.
"Babe?" She asked.
"This should be a happy occasion, eating dinner with my family and girlfriend. But it's not." I frowned.
"I know." She touched my thigh.
"At least the food's good." I stuck a piece of chicken in my mouth. "Hey, I want some cider."
"No, Talia." Owen said.
"I'm 23." I reminded him.
"No, Talia." He repeated a bit more forcefully.
I got it myself. Alex took it away. I pouted. I looked at my glass or water, eyebrows furrowed. Alex sighed before giving it back. I popped the cap and drank. Owen went to get dessert, raspberry fudge, and we finished up. I tossed the empty bottle to Owen and got a couple more.
"I'm not sending you home drunk." He frowned.
"You know this won't do it." I said.
"Sorry to barge in, but we can't find the vacuum- Why are you letting Talia drink?" Elisa asked.
"Alexander." Owen sighed.
His eyes glowed then I heard some confused roars. Then Goliath sprinted all fours and tore up the floor. I ate my raspberry fudge and drank a bit more as everyone yelled at each other.
Talia's POV End
2022
Talia's POV
"This Talia is from another timeline?" Golaith asked after Dad explained everything. "And the storm is what brought her here?"
"Yes." Owen nodded.
He growled.
"In my defense, I knew there was a possibility of the lighting striking the castle somewhere, but the calculations of striking the very tower we were in are beyond me." Puck told us.
"The magic must have something to do with it." David shook his head.
"Blame the magic for everything, sure." He rolled his eyes.
We blankly stared at him.
"Children, you may go play with the gargoyles now." He told me, walking to Adri.
"I wanna hug goodbye." She hugged me tightly. "Be good to your Adri."
"I'll do my best." I hugged back, smelling her floral shampoo.
She hugged Alex and Goliath next. Then he left. Alex wanted to be carried again so I did. We cuddled while we watched TV with Hudson. Everyone visited. There was a heavy, mournful air that hung in the background. It was most obvious when I didn't understand what they were talking about. Alex got his lesson first. I gave Bronx belly rubs. His ears perked up after a bit.
"Alright, Talia, your turn." Puck stood in the doorway.
Talia's POV End
2017
Talia's POV
Alex took me to the clan's part of the castle and we hung out with Hudson. The others visited before they had to go out. Alex wouldn't let me go. I reminded myself that this Alex wasn't mine. I still had time before mine grew to be his size. He kissed my head as he left for his lesson.
Bronx decided that he wanted my attention and I played tug-o-war with him. Bronx whined as Puck came. I scratched his ear and told him to be a good boy. We went to the classroom.
Puck set up the mirror. "I never meant for this to happen."
"I know. And Dad?" He looked at me as it thundered. "Be there for her. Listen to her."
"Ok, repeat after me, Mirror to mirror now connect, let my call be heeded. Sliver and glass used to reflect, a clear way to safety what's needed!" He chanted. The mirror turned into a portal for a minute until he cut off the magic. "Your turn."
Talia's POV End
2022
Talia's POV
"It was a bad decision on my end that made this happen. I'm sorry. And Talia?" I watched Puck set up the mirror. "Talk to us when you're upset."
"Alright." I frowned, looking at the window as it thundered.
"Ok, repeat after me, Mirror to mirror now connect, let my call be heeded. Sliver and glass used to reflect, a clear way to safety what's needed!" He chanted. The mirror turned into a portal for a minute until he cut off the magic. "Your turn."
Talia's POV End
Third Person
"Mirror to mirror now connect, let my call be heeded. Sliver and glass used to reflect, a clear way to safety what's needed!" Talia chanted and her magic made a portal in the full length mirror.
Then she walked through it. As she did, she heard a loud boom. The magic carried her as she felt another presence with her. She looked and saw another her. There was almost no difference except her eyes and the scars. A thousand words passed between them as they went by each other.
She fell out of Elisa's bathroom mirror. Puck caught her. He hugged her and cried.
Third Person End
