Ascension - Book Eight - Man x Man

Chapter 39

Crossing my legs, I settle into the passenger seat of the sports car. One of the few things he allowed himself to splurge on, there were few options if one were to look for a vehicle that wasn't controlled by Artifice. Most people in modern times didn't drive, they took the tram or a variety of shuttles. All-terrain vehicles were becoming more popular but even they could be tapped into. 

While we'd seen plenty of vehicles in America, here in Europe there had been much less progress on the front of transportation for the common man. Verando had put into our agreement originally that his car be shipped to our new home and he seemed happy to have it back. Special ordered, it was difficult to find someone who could teach him to drive a manual for they were few and far between. Though, with his push to have such a thing, the need for them was returning. 

It required a person to be engaged, the car was difficult to hack and hard to steal. More and more of the officials on our team seemed pressed to get one though the option for me to have my own seemed a sore subject. It was as if he still wasn't convinced that I was going to try and run away. 

Watching out the window as we pass through the separate zones and head towards the beach, I listen to the idle chat of Darrius, my phone wedged between my ear and my shoulder. I was trying to make a more conscious effort to speak to them, I knew that he did, I wanted them to look for me as they did for him. 

"And I ran super fast! Uncle Stef said one day I could fly!"

I nearly choke. "Baby, just remember that Stef is a big dreamer."

"I could do it, Tata!" He says eagerly. "Is Daddy ok?"

My heart fractures just a hair, shutting my eyes, I wish that a three-year-old would never have to ask me that. "He's just fine, baby. We both just miss you boys so much." I couldn't help but resent myself for the 6 months I was practically dormant. How much I had missed, how much time I'd wasted. 

I know that I can't stay long, the risk of our phones being tracked by anyone on the other side was enough to make Verando twitch. "I love you, please give your brother a kiss from Daddy and me," I tell him, enjoying the giggly voice I get back in response before I hang up. With a shaky breath, I glance over to see he looks just as upset as I feel. Though it doesn't show clearly on his face, his eyes hold the discomfort of being apart from these two children. 

"They're going to be okay." He tells me, his voice low, reassuring. 

This, I know. We just have to do our part to make the world a better place for them. "I'm just ready for this to be over with." 

More travel and more planning, we would do a small tour following the beach up towards Belgium where they would be keeping 'our' Caspian in a maximum-security prison. We would have until our arrival to decide what to do with him, meanwhile, our campaign had to continue. 

In our time apart, Verando had amassed quite the following as a musician and there was no hiding that his popularity had grown since he'd joined with Tiberius and his band. Now that they were short their racey female character, it lead to an opening for Verando to step in though he was not the largest fan of their genre. Using their popularity, we would campaign through concerts as a motivator. 

The music attracted all walks of life, it was time to 'come out' as magical beings in a real sense. It was time to stop hiding and bring light to our situation. With the news calling for the end of time travelers, the government could only do so much to keep us safe. 

"Any more word on the 'cat' situation in America?" I attempt to change the subject. 

"The Dead City is doing all the can to handle it but it's not at the top of the priority given the state of the pollution. We've taken all the Solomonari, the world is getting a touch rocky in those parts. We need to schedule a trip or perhaps send Tyler to mend the weather patterns. I think the cats are diversions, a distraction from the state of things. They're too opportunistic."