Chapter 31


    “What are you going to do about your Guardian now?” Ayasse asked Sam. He was leaning against the wall of the stairwell.


    Her ankle had turned into a dull roar. She hobbled along with a walking stick as they walked up the stairs to the second floor, one step at a time, in no haste to arrive at the top. She winced with each step. The doctor was going to be very upset with her after this.


    She could still hear the police and tax men interrogating Albert about what other secrets Bob was hiding. When Albert had opened that metal shield, the portal was there, but Bob was gone. There was nothing to tell her where. Most likely, he was in Relancia with Eon, but she couldn’t be sure. Sam tried turning it on with the same button he used, but nothing worked. Albert wasn’t talking as well. Sam needed to know Bob’s secrets, but they could wait. This was more important.


    The bay window at the top of the stairs usually let in the morning light, making Nadia’s room the brightest in the house. Tonight, the moonlight cast a darkening shadow over everything, reflecting the feelings in her heart. She didn’t want to come here. She took another tiny step up the stairs and winced. Her ankle was a convenient excuse. She could see the top getting closer, and her heart thumped harder with each step.


    “Albert said he had no idea how to open the portal, but he’s lying. That bastard was privy to everything Bob did,” Sam said. The words sounded hollow in her ears. She stared at the door. “I have to chase him down over there,” Sam vowed. She put her hand on her heart and turned to Ayasse. “No matter what it takes. I don’t know how he used magic without a chant, but I will find out. He has to pay.”


    Ayasse nodded and stood aside.


    “It’s funny. I spent so long trying to get back here, but now I’d rather be anywhere else,” Sam said.


    Swallowing, Sam reached for the doorknob. She’d faced down Akira, fought with a Demon King, and beat Lord Robert. This was scarier than all of them together.


    She opened the door and saw Nadia sitting in a chair under a standing lamp, reading a book. Her face was turned away from the door, her legs covered by a blanket. There was a teapot on the table next to her.


    The new electric lights framed her with a halo of light. Sam stared at the woman who she considered a sister. She was thinner than the visions, her hair not as smooth, but still beautiful.


    “Come in, you big gorilla. I could hear you and Father fighting downstairs again. Did you work everything out, or did you destroy everything?” Nadia said, closing the book and turning to Sam, putting her hands on her lap. “Do I still have a house?”


    Sam stared at Nadia’s face and felt tears falling down her cheek. Nadia’s eyes were hard. A long, puckering red scar ran down the side of her face. It started under the left eye, causing it to droop and went to her lower jaw. It took up half the cheek. Ugly burn tissue surrounded it that still didn’t look healed. Sam hobbled into the room and squatted beside her, putting the cane on the ground. Her eyes never moved from Nadia’s face.


    “That scar was my fault, wasn’t it? From the explosion.” Sam asked.


    Nadia nodded but said nothing.


    “There’s something else, isn’t there?”


    “You tell me. I know you’re smarter than you pretend to be. Your anger and need to be in charge always clouded your reason. What can you see?” Nadia looked Sam in the face and waited.


    Sam pulled her eyes away from Nadia’s and searched the room. She saw the usual mirror and brush, hairs caught in the bristles. There was another chair with wheels parked on the other side of the bed. Sam looked down at the chair Nadia was sitting in and pulled the sheet back, exposing her legs. They were withered and crooked.


    “What happened?” Sam gasped in horror.


    Nadia reached for the blanket and covered her legs again. “You don’t remember?” She asked.


    Sam shook her head. “I know there was an explosion. After that, I was in Relancia. I don’t know what happened here. They made me forget everything. I only got my memory back a while ago.”


    Nadia sighed and adjusted the blanket in her lap. “I see. Father told me about that. About three years ago, you were researching some of your father’s old notes. He’d been experimenting with radioactive materials, and you wanted to understand what he was doing. I warned you it was dangerous, but you didn’t listen. I don’t know exactly what happened. There was an explosion from the Tesla coil in the shack you were using, and part of the main house was knocked down.”


    “I did all that,” Sam mumbled. Timothy had done something similar. She knew how dangerous that material could be.


    “Yes. It turned out my father had taken the portal your father had opened a few years prior and was able to contact King Eon in that world. They shared some ideas and materials, but nothing big. Father’s portal was small and difficult to move. You probably saw it downstairs. What you did with your accident opened up a big portal and allowed more material to go back and forth. Yours was also moveable. It had taken father a long time to figure out how to move your fathers safely,” Nadia coughed, took a sip of the tea, and continued. “When Father found out you were there in Relancia, he wanted Eon to kill you.”


    Sam had to stand, even if her foot was broken. She couldn’t keep looking at her. It hurt too much. “How does that explain what happened to you?”


    “I was in the house, making some lunch for you. I was worried you’d forget to eat again. When the explosion happened, I was bringing it to you and was pinned by some of the wood. By the time they got me out, my legs were as you saw.” Nadia rearranged the sheet on her chair and stared at Sam. “A fire broke out as well, and the smoke damaged my lungs. Father could get me out of there before anything more happened.


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    Sam fell to her knees. “If I hadn’t been playing with my father’s journals, none of this would have happened.” Tears flooded Sam’s eyes, blinding her. She dropped her head to Nadia’s lap and began wailing.


    She felt Nadia place a hand on her head. “Yes. That’s true, my dear cousin. However, you cannot blame someone for following their nature, even if it will kill them. Father believes otherwise. He vowed revenge.”


    Sam raised her head.


    Nadia continued. “When they searched the rubble and couldn’t find you but found the portal, Father contacted Eon immediately. Eon convinced him to change his mind. The king wanted to use you for something. When I woke up, I begged Father not to harm you. I told him to forgive you.” She reached over and took another sip of tea. “I wanted you to come home, but Father refused to even consider it. I don’t know what happened after that.”


    Sam wiped her tears on her sleeve. “How do you know all this?”


    Nadia smiled. “Father told me. He let me know everything that had happened. In the beginning, I followed the reports Eon would send, and I tried to convince him to bring you back every time, but you know how stubborn he can be. As the time passed and the realities of my condition set in, I was happy you weren’t here. When I learned I’d never walk again, I hated you.” She placed the cup back on the table and leaned around Sam.


    “Who’s your friend?” Nadia asked.


    Sam turned and gestured for Ayasse to come inside the room. “This is Ayasse. One of the friends I made on the other side. He helped me get back here. You’d like it over there. There are magic and demons and so many wonderful things to see.” Sam choked, trying to make the introductions seem light to hide the heaviness in her heart.


    “Hello, Miss Nadia. It is an honour to make your acquaintance. Your sister spoke quite highly of you.” Ayasse lowered his mask and bowed.


    “Very polite. It’s nice to make your acquaintance as well. Thank you for taking care of Samantha for me. I know she’s a handful. I’ve been where you are. However, we aren’t exactly sisters, but close enough.” Nadia said, frowning.


    “What do you mean? ‘We’re not sisters,’” Sam bit her lip. “I know we’re cousins, but I’ve always thought…”


    Nadia turned to Sam and took her hand. “I have always loved you, Samantha. You are the sister I’ve never had, but this accident has put things into perspective for me. After the struggle downstairs, I think I know what you are going to do.”


    “What?” Sam wiped her nose on her sleeve again. Nadia smiled and handed her a tissue.


    “Father left through the portal, didn’t he? He always said it was just a matter of time. He’s always talked about getting me a healing potion to fix everything. Eon has sent some over, but they never worked completely.” Nadia rubbed her legs and grimaced. “They were worried they’d have to remove them, but the potions he sent were able to save them, so there is that.”


    “I’ve seen the potions over there do many things, but they couldn’t replace everything,” Sam said, gulping.


    “I know. I told him I was okay with this. However, Father was never satisfied. He had to see for himself and find that secret elixir he was sure Eon was hiding. With you here, he must have found the missing piece he was looking for,” Nadia turned her head. “You won’t be staying here, will you? Ayasse has to return, and you will probably join him to find Father.”


    Sam stared at her in shock. “How did you know that? Do you know what I had to go through to get here?”


    “As I said, Father told me everything, and I know you came here for revenge, not for me.”


    Sam shook her head and reached for Nadia’s hand.


    “Please pay attention,” Nadia said curtly. “I’m not finished. All the men he sent there couldn’t last more than a few days. The same with people from over there who came here. If he’s gone to Relancia, he’s solved that problem,” Nadia said, taking hold of Sam’s hands. “I don’t hold this accident against you anymore, Samantha, but seeing you now is difficult. Part of me wants to blame you for what you did. I thought I was over that.”


    Nadia cupped Sam’s face and kissed her forehead. “I need time to find my place with you in the world. And if what I heard downstairs was any indication, you’ve just made my life much more difficult.” Nadia chuckled. “I don’t know if I want you here.”


    Sam turned her head so Nadia couldn’t see her shame. She was right. Sam couldn’t stay here, and there was no way she could fit herself back into Nadia’s world. She had wanted to defeat Bob so badly that she didn’t think about what it would do to Nadia. Her anger had consumed her for so long that it blinded her. Even her revenge was all about taking him down rather than doing the right thing.


    “I’m sorry. I wish things could have been different, but…” Sam tried to finish, but Nadia silenced her with a finger on her lips.


    “That’s enough for now. It’s late, and I will probably have to talk to the police downstairs. We’ll talk about what to do with you tomorrow. I know how to activate the main portal if that’s your wish.” Nadia rang a bell, and a nurse came into the room. She turned to Sam. “Goodnight, Samantha. You should see a doctor for your ankle and the burns. There is an ambulance on standby at the local hospital. I often had problems that needed an emergency response. When you’re finished, your room is still the same, and I’m sure we can find somewhere for your friend to stay.”


    “Goodnight, Nadia.” Sam stood up and hobbled out. She closed the door and leaned on the wood. It hurt to see Nadia like that. She was so similar to what she remembered, yet so cold.


    “What are you going to do now, Sam?” Ayasse asked.


    “Have you heard of a potion curing someone like her?” Sam asked.


    Ayasse was silent as he thought. Sam knew he was trying to give her the best answer he could. “I’ve never heard of a potion fixing this amount of damage, especially after so long. My Master has a library filled with rare books. She never let me look at most of them, but now that she is gone, there might be something we can consult.”


    She turned to Ayasse and wiped her nose one last time. “I’m going to see a doctor. Then sleep. After that, we’ll see about getting you home.” She turned back to Nadia’s door. “She’s right, you know.”


    “What do you mean?” Ayasse asked.


    “I will have to go back with you. There’s magic over there that might heal her even if she’s given up on it. Bob is looking for it, and he has a head start.” She pounded her fist. “I wanted to hate him, but now I can’t, not in the same way as before. I also have some important unfinished business over there.” Sam turned and went down the hall to her room.


    “What business?”


    “I left Akira there, and I didn’t punish him. He is probably causing trouble as we speak.” Sam raised her fist and punched her other hand. “I’ll have to take care of him before I can do anything else.” Sighing, she opened the door to her room and went inside. There were the toys her parents had given her, the dolls standing on the dresser. She’d sit and tell them about her day each evening. The clothes hanging in the closet were outdated now but important when she bought them. None of it mattered. Not now. She didn’t need them anymore.


    She was home. She made it. This was what she rejected the other world for. What she wanted more than anything else, and she couldn’t stay. She was no longer the innocent, fighting for her place here. Nadia hated her. She no longer fit into this world, but that was to be expected. What she had done in Relancia had changed her. Part of her needed this–to say goodbye to Nadia, to Emma, to everything before moving on. She still didn’t want to leave, but until Nadia was ready for her, she couldn’t stay.


    “It’s my turn to help you now,” she said to Ayasse. “You sacrificed everything for me. It’s my turn to return the favour. Let’s go downstairs. The police probably will be here for a few more hours, and my ankle’s killing me. Besides, I have to get things ready for Timothy.”


    Ayasse nodded and turned away. He wobbled as he went down the stairs. Ever since Mrs. Willings had given him some coffee, he’d taken to the beverage, drinking ten cups a day. He’d been here two weeks, and Sam didn’t think he could last much longer.


    Sam closed the door to her room and followed him down the stairs back to the library. She would make things right if it was the last thing she did.