“Tea?” JP holds out a cup of Billow Tea, pulling me out of my musings. If the calming fumes didn’t already tip me off to what I will hear, JP and Moni’s emotions do. They’re wound tighter than a mini slinkee.
“I take it I won’t like what you have to say?” Taking a sip of the warm liquid, I glance at my kids. Moni’s fingers twitch as her skin starts flickering between green and blue, indicating her nerves. JP’s doing a great job in stowing his facial expressions, but he can’t hide his feelings from me. He’s nervous and...wary?Hmm. What’s going on there?
Setting down my drink, I lean forward and rest my arms on my legs.
“Okay, kiddos. I’m taking off the dean cap. Talk to me. What’s wrong?” That’s apparently the right thing to say because Moni flies into my chest and starts crying. Wrapping my arms around her, I send my thoughts to JP and quickly tighten my barriers. ‘Okay. It’s up to you, Jacques. What happened?’
Soothing Moni as I rub my hand up and down her back, I listen to JP explain about their room being destroyed last night, and how Ms. Teal is blackmailing them for replacements. Now that makes sense why Moni is sobbing. The woman has a blacker heart than the devil himself. “Shhh, Moni. It’s okay. I won’t let it come to that,” I try to soothe her.
“Really?” Moni hiccups as her brown eyes look up at me with wonder. Those damn puppy dog eyes and her sweet nature do things to my heart.
“Of course.” I smile down at her, and she returns it as she climbs out of my lap and moves to sit next to JP once again.
“But,” I start, looking back at JP. “That doesn’t answer what happened to it in the first place. There is no way an earthquake would have done that much damage where you would have to replace the entire living and dining room. Plus, you have fist-sized holes in the plaster,” I point out and JP gulps audibly.
Before he opens his mouth, agony consumes me out of nowhere and leaves me disoriented as a scream comes from another room. JP shoots up off the couch and runs into what I can only presume is a bedroom, Moni flying close behind him. Stumbling out of the chair, I follow as the pain comes at me in waves. Whoever’s pain I’m feeling, it’s potent and all consuming, making my progress slow.
Finally, I make it to what looks like JP’s room; I lean against the doorframe to take in everything. Moni’s hovering in the air, flashing between a pale white and blue color, while JP’s wrestling with someone as sobs ring through the room. Blinking to clear my head, I stagger into the room and drop before him only to see his arms wrapped tightly around Nerezza. I’m taken back for a bit as I am momentarily shocked over the anguish I’m feeling coming from her, but I quickly reach for her, not caring about my status. I can’t let someone suffer.
“Nerezza!” I say as I gently grab ahold of her shoulder. “What’s wrong with her?” I ask, looking at JP who’s whispering soothing words to her and running his fingers through her hair.
JP glances at me and winces. “We still don’t know the full extent, but when we got home last night Rez was on the floor crying for Lynx.” His voice cracks as pain lashes through him.Is it possible that he’s feeling her pain also? That shouldn’t be possible for him.
“What happened to her Familiar?” I inquire as I try to block out her suffering. I throw up another solid wall, but her anguish smashes through it. Andhow is she breaking through my defenses?I’ve never had anyone even crack my walls before, and here she is, smashing through them like a tornado without even trying.
“We don’t know, but she was calling out for him last night when we found her,” Moni speaks up over JP’s shoulder. My heart breaks for her over and over again until her sobs slowly abate.
“He’s...gone,” Nerezza’s voice comes out in a broken whisper.
“What do you mean, he’s gone? Ho—” she cuts me off with a wail.
“I didn’t see it. He’s gone because I didn’t read the note.” Miss Taylor peers up at me and wipes away a tear. Her eyes beg me to understand, but I’m completely lost.
“What note?” I ask, completely lost to the situation. This was the last thing I expected today. I came up here to check in on them for two reasons. One, just to make sure they were okay after the earthquake we somehow missed in Nova, and two, I wanted to see how their first week of school was going. Especially Moni, since she’s my little girl, and I know she was ecstatic to start her education here.
Nerezza shakes her head and buries it back into JP’s shoulder, clinging to him like he’s her lifeline. Sadness radiates out of her but it’s not as potent as before. “Mo, can you grab that red letter on the island and bring it here, please?” JP requests, and Moni nods before flying out of the room. A few moments later, Moni comes in and hands me a crumpled up red piece of paper. Smoothing it out, I quickly read the contents and my stomach drops.Shit!
“I wanted to check on all of you after the earthquake, but it seems I owe you all an apology on top of everything,” I confess, looking down at the threat in my hands. “It’s my job as a father as well as the Dean of this school to protect you and the students that attend, but it seems I’ve failed and left you defenseless.” Looking up, I meet three sets of eyes giving me their full attention. “On top of the Withering Sulks showing back up, we’ve noticed some Rebel activities in and around Nova.” Picking up on a spike of nervous energy, my focus swings to JP, but it changes so fast, I’m not sure I really interpreted it right in the first place.
“Is that who you think wrote the note?” Moni questions as she shrinks down to her two-inch self and perches on Nerezza’s shoulder. My heart warms at how accepting she is of Moni's soothing caress on her cheek.
Letting out an exasperated sigh, I decide to bring them in on what’s going on since it seems the Rebels are targeting Miss Taylor. “For a while now, I’ve been hearing whispers about the Rebels coming out of hiding and their numbers are growing. I fear this letter might be proof of that.” I run my hand through my hair as I look down at the offending material.
“What’s that?” Nerezza’s tiny voice pulls me back to the present.
“They are here to stay, and won’t be easily defeated like they were last time.”
ChapterFive
HOLY BUBBLE BUTTS
Moni
Climbing out of my tree house, my bark-like skin cracks and pops as I stretch and look around. Pixie farts. I’m not ready for school, especially without Rez. After yesterday’s visit with Matthew, he decided it would be best to allow Rez time to grieve for a couple of weeks while we continue on. Although, she’ll have to see a nurse every other day for a check up. I knew Familiars were important to magic users, but I didn’t know you could DIE without yours if separated for a certain time, so it’s extremely important that we find Lynx! As of right now, the Door Knights are searching, Dean Caldron has a few friends on the lookout, and the guys said they would look for Lynx. Honestly, I think they’re trying to get back on Rez’s good side, but we’ll take all the help we can get.
I love Matthew like a father, hell, he’s the only father figure I’ve ever had besides Gus. I miss my old confidant and boss. I mean, can you really call him a boss when he pays you in coffee and you really don’t do much but smell coffee beans and make him laugh.
Anyways, I’m a little upset that Matthew won’t let both JP and myself stay with Rez. He’s only allowing us to switch off every other day to keep our eyes on her. She slept off and on for the rest of the day after Matthew left, only getting up to use the bathroom. My heart breaks for her, and when I get back from classes, I plan on trying to cheer her up.
