Chapter 7

• I needed my notebook, many things I’d put in it were standing right in front of me, for real. I couldn’t write down everything that came to me, some were so brief I didn’t even see them, but the ones that last long enough to note, or those that played on repeat, I did write down. Turning, I went back to my pack and squatted down to dig through it. Someday I’d empty this and see what long forgotten treasures were in it.
• “I was just going to put coffee on, does anyone else want some?”
• I glanced around the chair I was behind to see a normal sized lady coming out the door Quinton had run through. Her aura had such warm vibes, I could feel them from this far away. She had a sweet smile, understanding eyes and her pretty strawberry blonde hair was twisted up like she was going to a party.
• “Oh. Hello, dear.” She started walking toward me. “Aren’t you just too cute for words.”
• I stood up slowly and glanced to Daxx quickly, she nodded.
• “Mitz, this is my friend Crissy.”
• She stopped in front of me and gave me a fast hug, then clasped my face between her hands. “I’ve heard a lot about you, dear. Are you hungry?” She let go of my face when I nodded.
• “I’d like toast and marmalade, please.” I nodded again, “three pieces, white bread if you have it.” She smiled at me. “Two always feel like I need more, but four is too sweet and makes me feel ill.”
• “I’ll go get that. Would you like some juice with it?”
• Quinton and Rafael had both told me all about Mitz, and brought her food often. It was no wonder they were all so large, her cooking was so tasty. “Cranberry if you have it.”
• “I’m sure we do.” She smiled at me again then turned and walked back through the door.
• I looked to see everyone there going through the papers I’d set on the table. Grabbing my pack, I turned slowly until I spotted a corner with a small table in it. Going over, I sat under the table and pulled out my notebook. It took me longer than I’d like to find a pencil, confirming I needed to clean out my pack soon. Flipping through the pages of writing and sketches, I tried to find the one that kept playing through my head.
• New voices had me looking up. The man with the red hair, Victor, was back, and with him was another man with short, spiked red hair. It may have just been my view from the floor, but they looked as large as the others.
• “What do you mean children?” Victor asked.
• “Is that possible?” The man I didn’t know asked.
• Troy shrugged, “Our lost brother…”
• “Would you like to know his name? I mean, I don’t know who he is now, but I know what his name was when he was born.” I frowned, “so you can call him something other than lost brother. He’s not lost to him, only to you.”
• Everyone looked around, then Rafael turned and tilted his head at me and smiled. I smiled back, you had to with him, even if you didn’t feel like smiling. Coming over, he squatted down and looked under the table at me. “You don’t have to hide here.” He held out his hand.
• I took his hand and grabbed my pack, clutching it and my book to my chest as he helped me out. “I feel better in little spots.” He didn’t let go of my hand. “I feel safe then.”
• Pulling my hand gently, he went over to the table. “You’re safe here. I promise.”
• He didn’t let go of my hand until I stood by the table again, surrounded by so many tall men it was like land of the giants. I looked at the new one, him I didn’t know. He looked more scared of me than I did of him, which was completely silly. Hesitantly, I held out my hand to him. “Crissy.” I said with a soft voice, knowing that tone always made me feel better when I wanted to run the other way. His eyes flicked to my hand then back to my face. He took it and squeezed once, then dropped it.
• “Leone.”
• I smiled at him and then remembered. “Oh. Emil.” I nodded and looked up at them. “That was your brother’s name when he was born.” I exhaled like I just told a secret held for too long. “He always changes it to another one that starts with an E, which took me a hundred years to realize, but that’s who he was when he was born.”
• “Emil.” Victor said quietly. “Wasn’t our great grandfather’s middle name Emil?” He looked to Quinton who nodded. Exhaling slowly, he glanced around at the others. “That confirms it then, father had a hand in naming him.”
• Chase snorted, “and making him, then leaving him to live on the other side with no clue.”
• “You’ve found him?”
• I looked around Raf to see Mitz coming back with my toast, her brows were knit together with worry. “No, but I’m close.” I told her. “I promised to find Emil, and I will.” I nodded, hoping to make her feel better.
• The plate in her hand started to shake, so she set it on the table with a clank. “Emil?” A soft smile appeared on her face. “Emil,” she repeated with more reflection as she set my juice beside it. With hurried steps, she brushed through the tall bodies and hugged me tight. “I can’t thank you enough for trying to find him.”
• I looked to Quinton for help. I wasn’t big on being touched and her emotions were enough to drown me right now. He understood my silent plea and came over and gently peeled the lady off me.
• “We’ll find him, Mitz.” He wrapped his arms around her small body.
• She sniffled, “he needs to come home. He’s been out there alone for so long…”
• “Not as alone as you’d think.” Arius said with a smirk.
• Quinton grasped her shoulders and leaned back to look down at her. “You need to sit down, Mitz. Everyone does, we have some interesting news to share.”