It couldn’t last. They couldn’t leave me in peace forever so I was once more hauled up to the room where the man in silver who looked so much like Jonah stood with his arms crossed. I sat in the same chair attached to the roots and rolled my eyes.

  “This method doesn’t work on me,” I said and he nodded, walking up to me. He gazed at me inspecting me, “What are you looking for,” I asked with a nervous tremor in my voice.

  “Tell me. What makes you so resistant to us and our methods?” he asked, tapping a finger on a root.

  “Love,” I answered and he laughed.

  “If that was all, you wouldn’t have driven Medina crazy. She’s still upset about that by the way. I’d steer clear of her for a bit,” he said.

  “I have no plans of going near any of you,” I said.

  “Really? Not even for a good meal?” he asked, smirking. It reminded me too much of Jonah. My eyes narrowed. What was his game?

  Maryanne: That’s what I’d like to know.

  Strength: Yeah! This is suspicious.

  Mark: I concur.

  Jessica: Would it kill you to say I agree? But yeah this stinks to high heaven.

  Roy: Don’t trust him

  Siren: Despite being a cutie I agree with the others he’s a snake.

  Benny: Yup, a lying snake.

  Jack: Don’t trust him, Myra!

  I won’t

  “I thought I was going to be tortured again,” I said.

  He shrugged. “It’s my turn and I find this really unnecessary when we have a Watcher in the council that can answer most questions about the realm. I’m more interested in how one human has evaded a mind witch, a fire witch, an X soldier, a Watcher, and a King,” he said.

  I shrugged and the roots tightened slightly.

  “Let’s get you out of there,” he said and tapped the roots. They pried apart and I was free but I didn’t run for it. I wasn’t stupid, He wasn’t letting me go. Not completely. I didn’t understand the game he was playing but I would play along and so I walked over to him. He gathered my leash and led me to the large dining room. It was huge and made of blue wood! Well, the trees were blue so the wood must be blue too right? I was led to a cushioned chair and sat. Then the plates of food came in and my mouth watered. Kens of different sizes were presented before me. There was some of whatever animal we had eaten that first night and something that looked between a fish and a bird. I glanced at him curious and hungry.

  “Go ahead and take a bite. It’s not poisoned,” he said, demonstrating by taking a bite out of one of the Kens. I chose that one and dug in. It did occur to me that he probably had the antitoxin to whatever was in the food, but I was too hungry to care. A week and a half on stale bread could do that to you. The food was delicious and I said so, thanking the slaves when they refilled my goblet and plate. Finally, I sat back and watched as the room began to spin. He smiled and raised his goblet as I slumped unconscious. It had all been a trick. At least I was well fed. I was ready for whatever came next.

  This narrative has been purloined without the author's approval. Report any appearances on Amazon.

  I awoke to a slap on the face courtesy of a grinning Aithne. I opened my eyes but everything was dark. So they were finally trying sensory deprivation? I read that this type of torture could seriously scar people. I could hear the click of heels on the stone floor and I sent my hands out and touched the roots. I was back in my little corner again. I wonder what they had planned? My vision came back all at once and I was standing in a very blank room. Then everything blurred and I was standing in a familiar room. Was the couch ever that big? And the dining room fit better in our space than that but what had my attention was the woman sitting on the couch. Her dark hair was pulled back by a bandana and she was busy with her Tablet. She turned to face me and smiled.

  “Myra!” she cried tears streaming down her face. I forgot where I was and rushed to hug her. My mother barreled into me crying.

  “Where have you been? We’ve been looking everywhere for you!” she cried.

  “I’m back?” I tried to think if I passed through any dimensional portals but I hadn’t been awake for the first one. How was I to know if I had or hadn’t? I could do it and I had been poisoned. Maybe it was a safety mechanism? I was in danger so I was pulled back? But then why didn’t it work for the T-Rex Pterodactyl? What about Jonah and Datha? I supposed I could go back and get them later. Right now all I wanted was to hold this tiny woman. The front door opened and Juaquin stomped in with a worried expression.

  “They still can’t find...Myra!” he cried and joined the group hug. All that was missing was Mige and he wasn’t missing long as he came from his room and cried joining the group hug. I was passed from my mother to my older brother to my younger brother and back. We cried and hugged and laughed and cried some more. We were blubbering fools. We sat on the couch with Mige on my lap. I told them my fantastic tale and we laughed.

  “Honey, do you need a new dose of Invega?” asked my mother worried.

  I smiled. “No, I’m fine. I’m glad to be home.”

  “Well, wherever you were, sounds like it was a nightmare,” said Juaquin giving me a noogie. I protested. “Nuh uh take your punishment for worrying mama and me like that. It’s been five hours since the party. If you wanted to strike on your own you should’ve called me,” he said.

  “I don’t have my phone,” I said.

  “Why not? Your purse is on the dinner table?” he said.

  “It is?” I looked over to the dinner table and spotted the black bag. Weird. I don’t remember taking it off. I don’t remember having it! I know Katilia took it from me.

  I shrugged. “It never occurred to me?” I said, smirking.

  He sighed and slapped my back, sending me forward and almost sending Mige to the floor.

  “Hey! Watch it!” Mige whined yawning.

  “Alright young man time for bed again,” said my mother and Mige whined some more and clenched onto me. He looked me in the eye. “You won’t disappear again? Will you?” he asked and I shook my head.

  “No, I promise,” I said smiling.

  He smiled and hopped off my lap heading to his room. Eventually, everyone headed for their rooms and we went to sleep.

  “One day you will rue the day you tried my patience.”

  I rolled over and huffed. That’s when the smell reached my nose. Something was burning. I opened my eyes and screamed. My room was in flames! I got out of bed and tried opening the door. The handle seared my hand from the heat!

  “Mama! Juaquin! Mige!” I cried trying the door again. I screamed and tried breaking it down. It was as if it was made of metal. I glanced at the window and tried the clutch that held it closed. It was hot but it was doable and I lifted the window open. I could hear Mige screaming.

  “Hold on! I’ll get help!” I cried. Kneeling on my window sill. The drop could break my legs but it was a risk I had to take. I jumped and landed wrong as a pain jolted through me and I cried. I had hurt my back. I began dragging my body when familiar laughter reached me.

  “I told you. You would regret crossing me. Enjoy my little gift,” said Aithne as she lit the grass I laid upon on fire like she had with the building. I watched my family go up in flames and remembered Mige’s screams and my promise. I stretched my hand to the sky and clenched it back to my chest crying.

  “Why did you leave Mige?” I cried to the sky and curled into a ball letting the fire eat at me too. I couldn’t move. I didn’t scream when my clothes caught fire. Nothing mattered. Aithne had taken away the only thing that mattered to me...my family. I closed my eyes and wept silently, voice too hoarse to scream.