18.03.2015, 10:30am
Brooklyn House
Walt Stone
So, Aya learned about the curse and about me calling out to Anubis for support. Not to be cocky, but I didn't expect anyone to beat me when it comes to shocking news. She did.
One of the most powerful magicians in the world was potentially seeking out the Lord of Chaos. From what I'd heard in the recording, Set didn't seem like the type you'd call over for a nice cup of tea. Maybe to a Ru Paul binge-watch, though. But I doubted Amos watches Drag Race. Either way, I'd be lying if I said I didn't tread more carefully around the magician from this day onward.
I understood Ayanna's dilemma. I had never seen anyone be so close with a parent, her father meant everything to her. It reminded me of how Carter had mentioned once, how hard it had been to always be strong for his father's sake growing up. I wondered why they haven't talked about that, but then again, I'd really only ever seen Carter be vulnerable with Sadie.
I couldn't blame him, the two of them had gone through so much together, things only they can understand. It still hurt to see them both brush Ayanna to the side without realizing she needed them, too.
By half past ten, we were all seated on the veranda for early lunch. Amos was spreading butter on his bread in a very normal, not evil, way.
I must have been staring, when I heard it.
Help.
"Sadie."
Everyone stared at me. Amos tried to keep his voice steady, but I could tell he was getting anxious.
"Walt, is everything alright?"
"I- I'm not sure."
Walt answer, you bloody idiot!
"I think Sadie is trying to contact me. She's talking in my head."
Aya rolled her eyes. "Does she have her phone?"
You have your phone?
Yeah…?
Before I can nod, Ayanna was already dialing. "How many times do I have to say it, mundane over magical."
Amos smiled at her softly. How could a man, filled with so much love, be involved with the god of evil? "Magic is still new and exciting for them, Pumpkin. Let them use it."
Sadie picked up rather quickly.
"Way to kill the fun, Yeye."
I smiled at the nickname and Aya kicked me under the table. "Sorry, hun. We've all missed your voice, why should only Walt hear it? You good?"
"Oh, it's nice to hear you, too. Yeah we're good. Chilling in Alexandria. We need some help, but I'll tell you in a bit. How's the Nome? How's Uncle? How's Jazz?"
"Have they been feeding the Griffin?" We heard Carter yell out from the other side.
"Everyone is okay." I assured.
Sadie gasped dramatically. "Oh, so you put me on speaker now, do you?"
"We figured your news would concern everyone, sweetheart." Amos said.
Sadie sighed. "Well, fair enough. Me and Carter have kind of decided to… No, well, you'd say so wouldn't you... Sorry, Carter's being annoying. We… fine, we'll wait till they're… Aya, we are going to need some help over here and we were hoping on you and Walt."
Yes! Oh, I was getting restless in the mansion, not knowing what was going on with Carter and Sadie. Weirdly enough, I'd be calmer on a mission with them, than at home, waiting for news. I reckoned Aya felt about the same, but she looked hesitantly towards Amos.
Right, she would hate to leave him. Especially for a dangerous mission. Before our silence can be read as the hesitation that it was, Amos took the phone.
"Understood. Send your coordinates and they'll be there in two hours."
Before we can say anything, he closed the phone.
Ayanna opened her mouth to protest, but Amos lifted his hand. "Can we talk? By the stairs?"
She nodded and we watched them walk back into the Great Room.
"I guess I'll go get ready." I announced to the room. Looking back, I was way too excited to be in immediate danger.
Amos Kane
We sat on the stairs in silence for a moment. I wrapped my arm around Ayanna as she leaned her head on me. It had been so long since we'd had a proper talk. We used to talk all of the time. Now I don't know what to say. I don't think there's anything I can say. Especially now that she's leaving.
My memories took me back to a similar morning, the day I left for First. I held her even closer today, afraid to let go. If I could, I would always make sure she's around me, always where I can keep her safe. And still, I found myself saying:
"I know you want to leave. You'll be less worried about them."
"I'd still worry about everyone here. About you. I can't just leave you alone."
How do you convince someone to do something you really don't want them to? If it was up to me everyone would be home right now. If I had managed to convince Michael to be on our side, maybe things would have been different. We could have sent out a trained team to guard the kids, there wouldn't be an attack threat hovering over our home.
Unfortunately, Michael Desjardins was out of my reach. My mental state while at First didn't help either, just solidifying and validating the snake venom that Menshikov was feeding the Chief Lector.
I almost backed down and changed my mind, but then I thought about how restless Ayanna had been all day, how worried. The way she would jump at every message and every phone call. I wanted to keep her safe, more than anything. If I lost her, too, because of my own stupidity, because of my uselessness…
The truth was, I would be unable to protect her, even if she stayed in the mansion. The House of Life was planning to massacre the entire Nome, and as a Kane she would be one of the main targets. She might just be safer with Carter and Sadie. The three of them would always protect each other, they'd find a way to go on, even if the Nome didn't. And if I was to die, while shielding the Nome's children, I didn't want her around to see it.
Carter would keep the girls safe. That was what good brothers did, and he was better than me.
"Ayanna, you need to go." I sighed and pulled her closer. "I won't be alone, I promise. Everyone here will be alright, hopefully the Nome's defenses will buy us enough time, if push comes to shove."
"But you said you wanted me to stay here!" she protested.
I sighed. "Yes, want. Not need. I am your father, you are supposed to look to me for support, not the opposite. I will be alright."
"Promise?"
Inhale. Exhale. Inhale. Exhale. Inhale.
"Let me know you are okay every hour or so, alright?"
"Dad, do you promise?"
If they attacked us before the equinox, we wouldn't be ready. I wondered if my full energy will be enough to keep up the borders. At least burning up would be better than simply dying. The kids wouldn't have to come home to a body.
Unless there was someone who might guard the Nome instead. Was I desperate enough to face what might be worse than death?
"Dad!" I'd stayed quiet for too long.
"I love you, pumpkin." I kissed the top of her head. "My little angel."