Adelfried

Still standing with Evan in his lab, Adelfried glanced into the main room. Everyone else had climbed the stairs, and they were alone in the basement. “Who is lying?” he whispered.

Evan grimaced. His eyes snapped to the main room and back to Adelfried. He took a breath as if to speak but hesitated. He knew something, but he was also afraid.

Adelfried tried to comfort him with a hand on his shoulder. “Evan, whatever it is you can tell me. We are safe here.”

Minna appeared at the foot of the stairs. Her voice boomed, “Come, we must hurry. Ying has awoken and she claims the Warlock is near.”

Evan tensed and started towards the stairs refusing to make eye contact with Adelfried. Was it something Minna had said? Was she the liar? What was going on?

Adelfried followed Evan, his thoughts racing. Whatever it was, it was probably best to wait for the right moment so Evan would speak freely. Surely it couldn’t be anything too important. Besides how would Evan know if anyone was lying.

Adelfried turned his attention to Minna’s words. That treacherous snake Harold was close. After all that he had done to help his younger brother, he had repaid him by killing the love of his life. How could he do such a horrid deed? He stopped in front of Minna. “I will deal with Harold myself.”

“Papa.” She placed a hand on his side. Her gentle touch crackled with intense magic. “I’m afraid you are not skilled enough to face him. Magic is no longer the fledgling study of a man in his fort. Harold has studied its ways for centuries and I alone can defeat him. And he knows it. That is why he avoids me at all costs. But now, with Ying’s glimpse into his mind I know where he is right now, and I can deal with him once and for all.”

There was little doubt as to her power, and reputation. But this was Adelfried’s responsibility. “With the Root in my hand surely he can't match me.”

Minna removed her hand and with it the buzz of her magic faded. Her voice was curt. “Perhaps, but not likely and we cannot risk the Root falling into his hands. If the Sovereign Sect ever got control of the Root, even I, with my Wrecht Order, could not stand against them. No, it must stay here for everyone’s safety.”

“And risk them coming here and stealing it?”

Minna took the Root and placed it into the concrete orb Adelfried had constructed to block the Root’s energy. “Normally I would take anything this powerful to the Locker at HQ, but I dare not teleport with it lest I risk a jump through time like you did. Teleportation is a funny thing. Spacetime should be handled carefully, as you now know. And the Root’s power is too much for such precision.” Her voice softened. “I just got you back Papa. I would very much like for us to stay together.”

She replaced the concrete insert into the orb and held her hands above it. With spread fingers she started to mumble under her breath. Sparks arced between her hands and the orb. Cracks and pops sizzled in the air. The orb flashed a blinding bright green light and appeared as it did before.

Adelfried panicked. “What did you do?”

Minna laced her fingers together in front of her waist. “I have locked it into an impenetrable barrier powered by the Root itself. No one will be able to free it from this orb until I return. The Sovereign Sect is not the only one that would be interested in obtaining the Root.”

Adelfried put his hand on the barrier but could get no closer than an inch from the surface. “You will have to teach me this.”

“Yes, I have so much to show you, but now is not the time. We must go.”

Jim now stood in the doorway to Adelfried’s study. “Hold on. Who else would be after it? And should we really be storing it in my house?”

“I assure you this is a temporary measure only.” Minna moved to the stairs with surprising speed. “Now we must hurry while we know where Warlock is.”

Once everyone had gone back upstairs and made it to the living room, Ying rose from the couch. “Look we have to get to the JSC before they do, they are going to steal something...really important.” She started to pace, head turning to side to side. “He, er they really wanted something…it’s the key. Oh no, they used me! They picked my—” Ying’s eyes rolled into the back of her head, and she fell sideways.

Jim only a foot away caught her and placed her on the couch gently. “Ying, can you hear me?” Jim said, gently tapping her cheek.

She sat up and continued her previous sentence without missing a beat. “...brain for information on our research. They know everything...wait, why am I on the couch?”

Jim helped her sit up. “You passed out, again.”

“That’s weird, I feel fine.”

“Are you sure you are alright?” Jim leaned in close to look into her eyes. “Your pupils are as big as dinner plates.”

Stolen from its rightful place, this narrative is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.

“Look, I’m fine but we have to get there before it’s too late.” She rose to her feet slowly with Jim’s help.

Jim squeezed her shoulder. “I don’t think you should be going anywhere in your current condition.”

Ying’s face tightened and she jabbed a finger at Jim, almost snarling. “Don’t tell me what I can and can’t—” She fell back again.

Kae giggled.

Evan said, “Dad, maybe don’t let her get all worked up. That seems to be the trigger.”

“Is that even possible?” Kae added with an evil smirk.

Nina leaned in the doorway to the kitchen with a glass of lemonade. “While she’s on pause, does anyone know what or where this JSC is?”

Jim leaned over Ying to check her breathing. “Yeah, that’s NASA’s Johnson Space Center. It’s where she works. It's a few miles up the road.”

Ying’s head snapped forward. “—do, I’m perfectly fine.”

“Ying, honey, stay calm,” Jim said in a steady voice. “Every time you get upset you pass out. Now, tell us what is going on.”

Ying took a long deliberate breath. “Can I explain on the way?” She stood slowly while clutching Jim’s arm as he stood with her.

Minna took a step towards the front door. “Come, we will take a vehicle. I don’t want to teleport there with her in her current condition and I will need to be at full strength to face the Warlock. Adelfried and I will accompany her. Nina, stay here and guard the Root. There is a FIST detail outside so you should not have any problems while we are gone.”

Jim stepped in between them. His voice was angry. “Hold up. Why do you need to bring her to some deadly faceoff? Did you forget that in the last few hours, she’s been killed, made a Sov, knocked out, forced to gouge her own eyes out, tied up, and cured and God only knows what else. You’re all the experts in this magic ESH crap. Go do what you do. You don’t need her.”

Ying wrapped Jim in a hug. “It’s okay. And they do need my help. I know where he was going, and I know that place better than anyone else. Besides I’ll be safe with her.” Ying nodded toward Minna. “Trust me, he is afraid of her for a reason.”

Jim leaned back from the hug still holding her shoulders. His face was tense. “There’s no way in hell you are leaving my side. Remember? You, me, and Adelfried talked about this. I have veto power.”

Ying’s face wrinkled up and she hugged him. “You’re right.” She leaned back again. “Okay...how about a compromise. You come with us? The kids will be safe here in the basement. Adelfried can restore the barrier. They couldn’t break it before, and they won’t be able to break it now. Plus, with a FIST team outside the Sovs won’t be coming back. Trust me. They really only want to increase their ESH material, and their best bet will be the JSC.” Ying smiled. “Well until we show up with Minna.”

Minna raised her head high, her voice boomed as if magically enhanced. “You will address me as Mistress Kreeg.” She aimed a scowl at Ying. “Am I clear?”

Ying cocked her head. “Look, I’m not one of your lackeys. I’m—”

“Minna.” Adelfried snapped. “Is this really necessary? Is now the time and place for conversing about station? As far as I am concerned the Harpers are family. There is no need for posturing.”

Ying smirked as she continued to stare Minna down until Jim broke the silence. “Fine, I’ll go with you.” He pointed to one of the FIST agents who was standing in the hallway. “But I get one of those guns.”

Minna threw her shoulders back as if preparing for a fight. Her voice was indignant. “I am not arming you with a deadly weapon that is not required. We only allow our elite agents carry those.”

Jim snapped his fingers and pointed at Minna. “That’s cute. But my wife and I are a package deal. If you want her help I’m coming along. Armed. I’m not going to be target practice for the Sovs. I’ve done that already.”

Adelfried tried to hide the smirk sprouting on his face. It was good to see Jim assert himself. It must only be Ying he is afraid of, not all-powerful wizards.

Minna seethed. “Do you forget who I am and what I can do? Ying will be safe against anything or anyone.”

Ying locked arms with Jim in solidarity. They both stared at Minna saying nothing.

“Fine.” Minna’s hand jutted out towards the FIST agent’s rifle. It sailed through the air into her hand with a snap. “Here,” she said handing it to Jim. Now, move it.”

“One more thing, or well two more things actually.” Jim said before whispering something to Evan.

“What?” Minna roared with a thunderous, unnatural voice.

Jim smiled. “I am now officially turning our friend Federico over to you.” He pointed to Federico who was sitting on the floor in the corner of the living room, surprisingly quiet. “He’s got issues. Maybe your doctors could have a look.”

Minna waved her hand dismissively. “Yes fine, fine. And the other thing?”

Evan came back into the room holding a large white helmet lined with holes. He handed it to Jim. “Ying honey. You’re going to need to wear this for now.”

Ying narrowed her eyes. “There’s no way I am going out of the house wearing a bicycle helmet.”

Jim curled his lips in, forming a flat line. “It is for your own safety. Someone won’t always be there to catch you when you fall.”

“I look stupid enough when I wear it riding my bike, I’m not wearing it to the office. I don’t care how late it is. There’ll be people in the office I know.” Ying said, starting to get more upset.

Adelfried started. “Ying, if I may—”

“No, you may not,” Ying snapped. “I am not walking around looking like a short bus special.”

Jim paused for a second to consider his approach before finally starting again. “I know you’re hardheaded, but it isn’t that hard.”

“It’s not happening.” Ying said defiantly.

An evil smile crossed Jim’s face. What was he doing? “Aren’t you forgetting your wifely duties? Remember, the wife obeys the husband, and your husband is telling you to put your brain bucket on.”

Ying’s voice rose with anger. “Why you—” She passed out.

Jim caught her and laid her on the couch and immediately put the helmet on her. Adelfried chuckled to himself. Effective.

Jim pointed to Minna and then Ying. “I suggest we get her in the car while she is unconscious. It will be faster.”

Ying immediately became wrapped in a green aura and floated out the front door followed by Minna.

Adelfried pointed to Nina. “I assume you are Nina, please come here and I will encode the barrier to allow you to pass. But no one else may pass this barrier unescorted. Do you understand?”

Nina nodded. “I’ll tell the team.”

Adelfried walked over to the hallway closet and squeezed her arm. He held his breath. His body warmed and tingled as he reinstated his barrier while adding Nina to the passible life forms. He let go of her arm. “Anyone else will die. Don’t forget.”

“Don’t worry I won’t.”

Satisfied, Adelfried headed to the front door. “Okay Jim, we should go before Ying wakes up.” Adelfried smiled.

“You don’t have to remind me.” Jim wrapped Evan and Kae in a hug. “You two stay in the basement until we get back. No matter what. Understand?”

“Yes, Dad.” They both replied in unison.