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Part Fourteen

A few months passed by and with it came a small two-week break for the students of Demeter academy. The academy allowed them a few times every year to go off campus and return home. This would give the students a relief and a chance to catch up with their family members.

While many students already planned trips to go on during this break, others would rather stay at home.

Katherine was picked up by Nick’s senior brother, who would look after her during the break. Nick has not seen him in a while so he wanted to catch up. It was already in Nick’s plans to give him a visit when he had the chance.

He told Nick not to worry about visiting, but Nick insisted on it.

Although Nick’s sensei’s son was lazy and could not hold down a job, he was a powerful EXO user. If he actually put his skills to use, Nick was positive he could grab a high ranking position working for the government.

For this break, Matthew decided to go home. He gave Nick his address and told him to swing by if he wanted to. Matthew was not planning on going anywhere he would instead be working with his father learning more about the family business.

It seemed like he was a little reluctant to go home due to a previous engagement he had with his father. However, after a phone call between the two of them, things got settled.

Lastly, Freya. She was going on a short trip with her family to go sightseeing. Her family was going to go without her but due to the academy having a break it ended up working out for Freya. Allowing her to tag along.

Nick, on the other hand, did not have any plans for this school break. Other than training he could not think of anything else he could do. His sensei was gone, and he had no way to contact her. Asking her any sort of questions was out of the picture.

Nick did not have any people he could call a friend in his neighborhood.

Nick shrugged his shoulders as he thought about it. Something was bound to happen eventually.

Nick was speeding along the highway on a black motorcycle. The side of the bike glowed neon red, while the tires went smoothly across the road.

Nick was weaving in and out between cars, causing a few of them to beep their horns. However, as soon as they honked Nick was already past them.

The only thing that they could make out was a red streak.

Nick received this bike from Dir. Campbell as it was the main transportation for members of Shadow. It was custom made being made for ground and air transportation. She called them Archwings, being slim but agile.

They were quiet barely making any noise as they ran making them perfect for stealth type missions. The Archwings were also fast, at its top speed it would close into three hundred miles per hour.

Archwings were designed by a friend of Dir. Campbell but she brought it and had it made.

Nick drove for a few hours before he turned onto a side street.

He parked the bike on the side of the road, as he took off his black helmet. Brushing his brown hair back he took in a deep breath.

He has not been home in a few months, he wondered how his mother has been doing.

Nick opened up the black metallic gate as he walked up the small path.

Nick’s house was not that big, it was pretty average. Being a two-story blue and white house, with various flowers planted.

He took out his house key from his back pocket and opened up the door.

“Mom, I'm home.”

Nick shouted out as his voice echoed throughout the house.

He heard footsteps running towards him. Around the corner coming from the living room was a white Bichon Frise. The small tail was wagging back and forth as it jumped on Nick’s leg.

Nick leaned down and petted the small dog's head.

“Hey Jill, long time no see.”

Nick got up and walked into the living room as Jill followed behind him.

Upon entering he was momentarily shocked.

A man wearing a tan suit was seated on the lazy boy chair. In his hand was a cup that emitted steam. His black hair was messy but in a good way. His black eyes made him seem gentle.

Nick’s eyes narrowed as he stared at the man.

“Klyde.”

Nick said in a cold tone.

It has been three years since Nick last saw this man in front of him.

Klyde raised his eyebrow as he stared at Nick.

“Nick. I see you’ve grown since the last time we met.”

Nick took a quick glance at the woman in the silver wheelchair. She was wearing a white one-piece dress that had flowers on it. Her hazel eyes matched her long brown hair well.

When she saw Nick’s glance she gave him a soft smile.

“What are you doing here?”

Nick questioned Klyde, as he walked over next to his mother.

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As he strolled over to her side he could not help but look at her two legs. She was kind, gentle and treated everyone with respect. Beautiful for her age, but not being able to use her legs crippled her image.

Klyde sat his cup down on the brown stand next to him. Crossing his legs and his arms, he looked at Nick.

“Can’t a father see his son once in a while?”

It was almost comical to Nick, this guy had plenty of chances to see him. However, he hardly came around and when he did come around it was a short visit.

Nick knew that some kids never got a chance to see or meet their parents, so he should take this chance to bond. That would be nice, but it would not happen with Klyde.

“What do you want? You just can’t come back whenever you feel like.”

Nick’s mother grabbed onto his hand.

“Sweetie, calm yourself.”

Her voice was soft.

“Mo-”

“Olivia, let him speak his mind. I’m curious as to what he has to say.”

Klyde interrupted the two of them.

Nick wanted to say so much, but he held himself back. He told himself there was a time and place for everything.

Klyde saw that Nick was silent, so he decided to speak up.

“As I was telling your mother before you arrived, you two should move in with me. It is much better than this area, there will be someone to take care of your needs no matter what time, and you’ll be welcomed.”

Klyde explained.

Nick felt something was off, no one shows up and offers a person a place to live out of the blue. Especially when you’ve had minor contact with the other party.

“No thanks. We are fine where we are.”

Nick paused for a moment.

“You may have more money than us, but that does not mean we have to accept it. We are not some charity case. Also, that wife of yours would she really approve of us coming to live with you? I think not! What will the other members of the family say when you bring home a woman they don’t know and a child you’ve been hiding for fifteen years? I highly doubt the welcome will be ‘warm’.”

“You are mistaken. I do not think of you as that, and I already talked it over with my wife. She does not care about my personal affairs as long as it does not interfere with her work. You’ll be attending school most of the time so this offer does not matter to you as much as it matters to your mother. As for the other family members, you need not pay them any attention. I may not be the head of the family yet, but next year that position is passed on to me. They will not say or do anything to cross me.”

“Klyde I already told you I do not want to move. This house means a lot to me. I have many fond memories here if I were to just leave it would be like a piece of me is vanishing as well.”

Olivia told Klyde.

Klyde shook his head slightly.

Why did she have to be so stubborn?

He knew he has not really been in either of their lives, but he was always looking out for them. Even now, he wanted both of them to be safe.

Olivia’s eyes opened wide.

“Oh that’s right Nick, Akari-san sent you something. Let me go grab it.”

Klyde got up from his chair.

“Let me, where is it?”

Olivia pointed towards the kitchen, and Klyde started walking in that direction.

“What is it?”

Nick asked his mother.

Olivia smiled, but did not say anything.

Nick was curious as to what his sensei would send him, and why was his mother smiling?

Klyde walked back into the living room with an envelope in his hand.

“This girl, she reminds me of that one girl you use to play with.”

Klyde said as he recalled a moment from long ago.

“What are you talking about?”

Nick questioned him.

Klyde passed Nick the envelope.

On the front of the envelope was a small picture of a blonde haired girl, with these azure blue eyes.

Nick felt his heart tighten, as he remembered a girl from his past.

He felt that if she lived till now, she would look similar to this girl in the picture. However, she was dead.

Nick opened the envelope and grabbed the paper that was inside. He quickly read it, before he looked at his mother.

“Surprise.”

Olivia said with a huge smile on her face.

“Why?”

Nick asked her.

“What do you mean why? You’re my son, naturally, I want the best for you. She just happens to be the perfect lady for you.”

Nick rubbed his temples after hearing what his mother said.

“Mom. I don’t want to be engaged, I have other plans.”

Klyde coughed when he heard Nick say he did not want to be engaged. He took the paper from Nick’s hand and read over it.

“Honestly, you should be glad. Now I don’t have to worry about your future.”

Nick clicked his tongue, what did Klyde mean worry about his future? He never worried about him in the first place.

“Sweetie ever since Alex died you’ve never been the same. Me and Akari-san talked it over and we both decided on this young woman for you. Just see if you like her, for me… alright?”

His mother gave him ‘that’ look. Nick gritted his teeth and nodded his head.

He could not believe it, he just agreed to get married to some woman he does not even know.

However, for his mother, he would do anything. She gave him the world and asked for nothing in return. The least he could do was accept this request of hers.

Previously Nick had planned to find someone to settle down with in the future after he had a stable life.

Nick glanced at the envelope with the picture attached to it one more time. This lady really did look like that little girl, Alex who he use to play with a long time ago. It was scary how well they resembled each other.

Klyde clapped his hands causing Nick and Olivia to look in his direction.

“Then it’s settled. You and your sister will both get married next Christmas!”

Nick couldn’t believe his ears, who would want to marry her?

Klyde sat the paper down on the table and walked towards the door.

“I’ll talk this over with my wife, and Olivia do reconsider my offer.”

Klyde walked out the door and glanced at his golden colored watch. A black car pulled over to the side of the road and an elderly man got out of the driver's seat.

The elderly man walked over to the back door on the passenger side and opened it.

“Sir.”

He calmly said as Klyde got into the backseat.

As the door closed Klyde unloosened his tie and pulled out his phone.

“Sir, did it go well?”

Klyde looked up through the tinted window at the driver.

“Everything is on track, just as I previously planned. He’ll do whatever his mother says no questions asked.”

“Sir, might I say you are the reincarnation of Satan?”

Klyde laughed a bit.

“That’s the third time I've heard that. I wouldn’t deny it, after all, I did hypnotize her. I did have this thought that he would see through it, but he was captivated by his mother's charm. If things go as planned I'll have my foot in the royal family.”

“Where are we going next?”

The elderly man asked Klyde.

“I heard that the Wells were showcasing their new project later this evening. Let us see what they came up with this time. After that incident with Diana, they have been secretly experimenting with the little data they managed to recover. I’m quite curious as to what they’ve managed to come up with.”

“And Rebecca? She has been trying to get in touch with you for a while now.”

“Oh that’s right, she should be returning home today. I’ll call her later.”