“Nicolai, this is my mother, Irene, and my father, Matthew.”
Nicolai nearly fell over as the ghostly specters appeared near the fountain. It was very clear that they were not alive. The man appeared strong, stout and much too young to be dead. The woman, Irene, was beautiful and full of mischief.
“Now, don’t faint on me,” laughed Irene. “You’re too big for me to pick up. Don’t you worry ‘bout nothin’. My grandson and the other boys will find out what happened on your island.”
“I-I must be dreaming,” he whispered.
“No. It is no dream,” said Matthew.
“Can you, can you see my beloved? Can you see Marie Nicole?” Matthew stepped closer to Nicolai, gently squeezing his shoulder.
“I do not see her or feel her in our presence.” He nodded, sadness covering his features once again.
“Nicolai, my mother is the true green thumb of this garden. Are you still willing to hear her lecture?” Nicolai looked up at the strange group and nodded.
“More than ever.”
CHAPTER SEVEN
“What are the Greek authorities saying?” asked Ian Robicheaux. He and Frank joined the group in trying to find more information about Nicolai and his attackers.
“It doesn’t look good for Nicolai. The authorities are saying that he is not a prince, and that there are no royals in Greece. They said he was the unelected mayor of the island and informally a community leader. That’s all.”
“Do you believe that?” asked Frank. Luke stared at them and shook his head.
“No. There are no cameras or security features on the island for us to tap into. If we want to know more, we’re going to have to go to that damn island. The Greek authorities are not going to like that but honestly, I don’t give a damn.”
“I’ll go,” said Ian.
“Me too,” said Frank.
“Do either of you speak Greek?” asked Cam.
“Not me,” said Frank. Ian shook his head as well.
“I do,” said Devin.
“I do as well,” said Bodhi.
“Then it’s the four of you. The challenge will be that you need to get on that island without the authorities knowing about it. There are no airports and only one ferry from the mainland out there. I think we’re going to have to use our own resources to get on that island,” said Luke.
“Maybe we try the conventional way with a ferry ticket first,” said Bodhi. “No one will think anything of it if we simply say we’re going out there to explore and dive. There’s great diving off the coast of Greece, especially if you’re looking for history.”
“Okay,” nodded Eric. “Try it the normal way first. Then just make it up as you go along if they don’t play nice.”
“I do have a question,” said Frank. “How are the Greeks erasing hundreds of years of history with his family, when it’s well-documented that they were royal?”
They all stared at one another, then back at Frank.
“Great fucking question,” said Luke. “Even if they claim he is no longer a prince, they cannot erase the fact that his ancestors were royals. Something is seriously fucked up here.”
“Isn’t it always?” frowned Bodhi.
“Take whatever equipment you need, additional men if you think it will help. Keep comms and tracking on at all times. Do not turn that shit off or I will come and get you myself,” said Hex.
“Yes, daddy,” they grinned leaving the room.
“I hate when they do that. It was funny when we did it to the elders. Not funny when we’re suddenly the elders.”
