The Hook Family Secret (Former Title:Harry Hook's Secrets) (BOOK ONE)

Chapter 13

With the others… a few minutes before Evie’s first scream…

They were walking through the corridors as they were led down various hallways until they reached a dining room. Mal and Jay had a silent Carlos in between them at all times to show some comfort but they were all mourning the recent death of their family member. Uma had threatened the Ak’s in the wagon before they entered the palace and Lonnie had to be stopped with her comments before a disagreement would turn into a fight on royal grounds. As much as that would be fun, Mal wasn’t in the mood to make a bad impression as well as be in the mood often. Gil and Uma had kept themselves close to the Vk’s as much as they could, since there seemed to be a separation between them all after being captured. The Ak’s apart from Ben were at the back of the group as Ben walked on Mal’s free side. Neither talking to each other. 

Thomas had vanished earlier and the Vk’s couldn’t blame him as they had just recently found out Thomas was Harry’s twin and they were in their own state of mourning and couldn’t bear to understand what he was likely going through at this moment in time.

Persephone led the group of exhausted teenagers and young adults into a dining room where there was a wash room next to it for them all to wash up before they could get some food. Although Persephone knew that food wasn’t on their minds, her mother's side was coming out as she watched the behaviour of the group in front of her. She would mourn later. As she had other children to take care of right at this moment in time. Gesturing to the door for the young group to go wash up before turning to a maid to tell the kitchen to prepare some food for their guests and she asked another to prepare some guest rooms. As she turned back to see Mal, Carlos and Jay leaving the washroom hand in hand together with the youngest in the middle, Jay was quietly speaking to Carlos who leaned into his chest as silent tears slipped from his eyes. The two were very over protective and it could be seen from an outside, Persephone expected for Evie to join them but frowned when she didn’t. Not wanting to interrupt but she had to as she walked over to the three and gently spoke, “Mal where is Evie?”. Mal looked up before turning around to see Evie hadn’t emerged with the other kids, she turned to Doug who shrugged. Fear gripped Mal as she looked around frantically, Jay's arm on her shoulders grounded her as she called out Evie’s name as Lonnie checked the washroom for the missing girl. 

A scream from the corridor they had just come from rocked Mal’s core as she, Carlos and Jay took off in the direction. Footsteps followed behind them, Mal caught sight of Thomas as he was thrown across the ball room doorway. His body crumbling against the wall. They sprinted forward as another scream of pain echoed off the walls of the very large palace. 

Jay reached the room first as he took in the sights, he screamed in fear, “Evie!”. Mal and Carlos arrived next as they took in their crumbled friend on the floor on Anthony’s lap as Diego and Hades fought off the Crocodile on the other side of the room. Magic was being thrown back and forward. Mal shoved Jay out of the way of an oncoming attack as she shoved Carlos backwards. Ben caught the stumbling Carlos in his arms bringing the scared boy to his chest. Persephone ordered the guards to use magic barriers to stop oncoming attacks. Uma shoved her way into the room with Gil right behind her, as she aided Hades and Diego. Gil sprinted across the floor sliding to Anthony’s side as he took in Evie’s state. He gasped as it was like looking at Harry, Mal was at her side trying to heal her. But she couldn’t, she gasped in pain at her ill looking sister on the floor. Jay had wrapped his arms around Mal to hold her up. 

A scream of rage from Diego had the group looking up as his eyes darkened as he unleashed a wave of blackness on the Crocodile. Hades grabbed Diego to calm him down as Uma attacked the Crocodile with her own magic, he waved his hand and she was sent flying through the air. “Uma!” Gil shouted but she was caught by Thomas who was quicker than Gil, he gently placed her on her own two feet before he turned his insane look on the crocodile who gulped as he vanished in a wisp of air. Hades grabbed both young men to try and calm them down, he was struggling. Up until Carlos slammed into Diego’s chest seeking comfort, Diego snapped out of it as he wrapped his arms around his cousin, his only blood family to remain. The two sank to the floor as they shared deep down similar emotions. Diego was exhausted as he curled around his vulnerable cousin as he sneaked a glance at Hades trying to calm down Thomas only for Persephone to take the young man in her arms smirking at her king. Who walked over to the young group on the floor to take in the urgent situation. 

Hades dropped to his knees as he took in the broken forms of the children in front of him. He pulled something out of his pocket, the ember as he passed it to Mal. Nodding in thanks she tried with Uma’s help to heal Evie and success was made. As the wound healed up and the blood vanished from all of their clothes and the floor. Minutes passed as Evie didn’t move, Mal looked down at Evie as she felt she had failed, she found herself in Uma’s arms as she shook with tears. Jay was rubbing her back as he looked over his sister before turning towards where his brother lay in Diego’s arms. The Ak’s didn’t know what to do as they stood over the group and mourned their friend, Doug stood in shock as the two girls wrapped their arms around him. Ben kneeled behind Jay as he took in the sight.

Jay got up as he wasn’t thinking before he grabbed a nearby sword before throwing it across the room narrowly avoiding Thomas and Persephone who looked at the weapon which had taken away both Harry and Evie. Tears fell silently from Thomas' face where he was in the Queen’s arms. The clang of the sword hitting the wall had Mal looking up, she watched Gil walk over and comfort Jay as he allowed Jay to crumble in his arms, behind a pillar out of everyone’s vision bar Diego’s. Who kept his tight eyes on them as his cousin had cried himself to sleep in his arms. Diego got up with Carlos in a bridal carry as he slowly stepped over to the group who looked up as his footsteps got closer.

Jay and Gil joined them as soon as they saw Diego make a move. Jay gently took Carlos off Diego as he watched Diego kneel on the floor next to Evie's body. Hades noticed what he was going to do as he put a hand on his shoulder in a gesture of ‘Are you sure?’, receiving a nod. Hades backed off towards his wife and Thomas on the other side of the room. Mal looked up in confusion but was greeted by a smile of Diego. She backed up a little with the help of both Ben and Uma as they gave him some room. He placed his bracelet on Evie’s wrist as he put a hand on her head and one on her arm as he focused his power on her. She started to glow a blue colour as Diego drew power from himself as he put it in Evie. Uma shared a look with Mal as they watched Diego work with his own magic. Hades looked over in sadness nodding, confirming Mal’s suspicions. Diego was sharing his own life force but struggling at the same time, Mal stepped forward to join him as she focused her own magic. Uma realised what they were doing as she stepped forward but was pushed back by Diego’s magic, she looked confused as her magic protected her body. 

Uma didn’t know what had happened; her powers never reacted like that unless something was wrong with it. Diego’s magic must have detected something. Uma collapsed backwards into Gil’s arms as her powers spread around the room creating a bubble around Diego, Mal and Evie almost like a protection spell. It weared off quickly as nausea filled her body and she quickly found herself vomiting in a bucket. Gil holding her hair back, confusion evident in his own features as well as her.

Once she was finished, Gil picked her up with ease as he led her back to the others whose sole focus was on Diego and Mal at the minute. Mal suddenly found herself shoved backwards into Ben’s arms by Diego as a white light shone through the room. Many of them had to shield their eyes. The light faded to reveal Evie sitting up as she shouted, “Harry!”. Mal sprinted forward to her best-friend grazing her knees across the floor as she pulled Evie into a desperate hug, Evie clung to her as Jay kneeled down having passed Carlos to Ben as he brought the two girls into a hug. Uma and Gil joined in despite protests. Hades took Carlos off Ben before laying him on a comfortable cotton navy futon that was to the adjoining lounge room. Persephone sat at his head gently running her fingers through his black and white curls. Thomas was sitting at Carlos' feet, slumped into the cushions. Hades standing next to his seated wife as he watched the kids interact. Emotions were running wild in Hades head despite being god of the underworld he still had a heart as he looked at Thomas without his twin, made him feel things he wished to never feel again.

Movement caught his eyes as he watched Diego struggle to his feet from the doorway view, having gently taken his bracelet off Evie's wrist as he stood on wobbly legs. He was much paler than he was before as he walked towards those on the futon. Once reaching them he slumped to lean against the futon. Making himself comfortable next to Persephone’s legs just below his cousin's head. Exhaustion was obvious in his features as he pulled his legs up to his chest to rest his head on, putting the bracelet back on his wrist securing it tightly. Diego didn’t move as footsteps came closer to them all.