Lonely

Chapter 49, Hanger

We were almost there. I could feel it. In just a few hours, we would be back at Arianna's. The guys would get to see their long lost friend, and I would get to see Sadie. For now, they were content with teasing each other and pulling pranks. Rex had showed up and ignored me, perching on Liam's shoulder for the duration of the day. "Ah, and when we get to Arianna's our path will be even more fraught with peril than it is now." Nicco said grandly. Dodger snorted. "No duh. We're not going there for a tea party. She damn well better have something there for us to eat other than this crap we've been getting from her magic back pack." Nicco frowned. "Níorbhris focal maith fiacal riamh"

"Stop speaking in gibberish, you moron. We can't understand you half the time when you're not speaking in another language." Boomer said. Levy chuckled and then continued his conversation with Max about all the grungy places they lived, debating who had seen worse. "A good word never broke a tooth is what that means. I suggest you take it into account." Nicco sniffed. Liam laughed. "You're such a drama queen." They all laughed.

I walked ahead of them, ignoring their constant banter. I wondered what Arianna had in store for us when we got back. I didn't know enough about what I was doing, and I had learned that ignorance was, ultimately, death. I wanted to fight, to kill those who had taken my memory, robbed me of my life. Don't get me wrong, I didn't feel that I had missed anything terribly important. I just hated the fact that they hadn't given me a choice. I looked down at the ugly scars on my arms. If I ever encountered that dog again, it was going to be the things last. I looked at Rex, the only reminder I had of the castle. I looked down at the newly torn gash in my shirt where the monster who had attacked the night before had raked its claws. It hurt terribly, and I knew it would only get worse. But that was not the time to worry about it. Instead, I remembered how I had come back from a quick check on the area around me and Sadie to find her asleep, with Rex curled up next to her.

Max yawned. "Can be stop soon? I'm not meant for this kind of activity." He complained. Levy flicked his stomach. "Defiantly not with abs like those." They all started laughing. Dodger lowered his glasses. "Dude, you ever heard of a thing called working out?" Max smiled good naturedly, and Dodger swayed then tipped over. He lied flat on his black, blinking up at us stupidly. All the guys started laughing hysterically and patted Max on the back. "What the hell did you do to him?" Liam asked in between chuckles and snorts. Max shrugged. "I made him a little drunk." Boomers eyes widened as Dodger got to his feet and glared at Max. "That was a dirt trick." Max smiled smugly at him.

"It's something called pay back. But you wouldn't know about that." Max said. Dodger looked shocked. "I can play that game! Revenge is a dish best served cold, my friend. Best.Served.Cold. I could get more dirt on any one that you would ever imagine." Dodger said. Max let his eyes widen and nodded his head slowly like you do when listening to a kindergartener.

Liam and Nicco fell back and quickly got in one of their arguments that Boomer joined. Levy and Max picked up another conversation about girls. Dodger hung back for a while before joining their group, apparently forgiving Max. I was glad. The last thing I needed was them fighting when we got to Arianna's. Well, except the twins. I doubted there was much I could do about that, and Arianna probably expected it. Almost there.

*******

"Nice. She's gotten a much better place since I was last here." Liam commented. I wanted to dart into the house and find Sadie, but I had to stay with the guys. The sun had just set, but the mansion was still alight. Un able to help myself, I led the group across the vast lawn quickly, taking the stairs by two. They followed closely, excited to see Arianna. I didn't even bother knocking. I just through the door open. Arianna was standing in the middle of the living room, her eyes already on the door. The guys pushed past me and each one wrapped Arianna's in massive bear hug, Liam making her hair stand on end. Boomer picked her up and swung her in a full circle.

"You've all gotten so much bigger!" she went through the normal pleasantries of saying hello to each and every one, giving them a hug and kiss on the cheek, making some form of comment. "I know that you have food waiting for us after our long journey." Dodger said. She smiled hugely and shoved them down a hall. They shouted and whooped as they made their way down towards the kitchen following the delicious scent. "Where's Sadie?" I asked tensely. Arianna tried to smile. "She isn't back yet, honey. I expect her very soon. No worry, though. She had more people and was expected to take longer." I didn't say anything and tried not to panic. Arianna took in my torn shoulder. "We'll have to bandage that up until Jett gets here." She murmured. I didn't know who Jett was and at the time didn't care. I ignored her comment and went back to the task at hand.

Arianna was probably right. She was just running a little late. Arianna put her hand on my arm. "Why don't you join the boys? I'm sure you're hungry." I wasn't. I was tired and missed Sadie. "You did a fine job of getting them all back to me in one piece. I know they can be a handful. Especially those twins." She said with a laugh. I nodded blankly. She sighed. "Those boys don't remember a thing. All of their parents were killed in the first war. The enemy didn't realize they only made the next generation stronger." This caught my attention. "The first war?" I repeated. She looked startled, as if she didn't realize she had said it aloud.

"WE don't need to talk about this now. I need you all here before we discuss. Now come." She urged me down the hall where we found all the other guys already eating. They stopped talking as we entered. "There you are, our fearless leader. We've been waiting for you." Levy said. I raised my eye brows and took in the greatly diminished food supply. "I see that." They all started laughing and then went back to their stories. I sat down and Arianna stood at the top of the table, listening to the guys and laughing with them. She looked genuinely happy to see them. She ruffled Nicco's hair and he didn't mind a bit. She kissed Boomers forehead and he didn't even flinch. It became clear to me, as I watched, that she was like a mother to them, and they had not let on how much they loved her.

As happy as they all were, it didn't make me feel much better. Because when it came right down to it, the one person I loved wasn't here, and the one person they loved was.