The Devil's Web | Sequel

The Porch

I twist and turn in my bed, pulling the covers off my body as I feel my legs and face heat up,the nagging hot flashes coming back again,for the fifth time in the past hour, it might be from all the medication I took in desperate need for some sleep,or to put it better, some desperate need for peace.

What makes me think I'll have peace in my sleep? Even then all the worries haunt my dreams.

Too many stresses and problems,way too many,after the uncomfortable encounter with the whole family,I cut the 'mingle mangling' short and left the house, I didn't say my goodbyes with anyone except Dove

I sigh and sit up, a groan escaping my lips,why the hell aren't these pills helping anymore?

I wipe the sweat off my forehead with the back of my hand and grab my phone, checking the time.

2:17 am

"Great,back to being an early bird."

I get up and put my robe on, usually I wouldn't bother covering up since I'm only in shorts and a short shirt but Nasius spent the night here on the couch...safety reasons...apparently,but I'm pretty sure the 'safety reasons' is code for 'I am too scared you'll do something to yourself now that you know that there's a possibility of your husband being alive' which I don't understand, because if he was alive I would be the happiest I've ever been.

I can't imagine someone getting the news that the love of their life is alive and the first thing they do is harm themselves,who the hell would have that reaction? Me, according to my brother-in-law.

But sadly here,he can't be,why would he fake his own leaving, ignore his whole family and kids knowing we're all grieving for him? It doesn't make sense, he's not that kind of a man. All this is just a sick joke someone is making out of boredom,now all I want to know is who can be so jobless and heartless.

I grab my phone and walk out of the room, deciding to check on the kids on my way down.Evander fell asleep on the couch so Nasius had to carry him to bed,he wanted to wait for some news on Kingston but knocked out right after dinner.As for Princess, we didn't tell her about Kingston yet so she went to sleep as soon as we got home.

I crack the door open and peek in,both of them sleeping peacefully with their little night lights on.I smile and close the door. At least they are able to get a good night sleep, they're probably the only ones in the family that still have that ability, I'm starting to think it's a talent many of us don't have.

I tie my robe tighter and make my way downstairs, hearing faint whispers coming from the kitchen.

Must be Nasius or Vanessa.

I get to the bottom of the staircase and tiptoe to the kitchen.

"How are we going to tell her?"Vanessa asks, clear distress in her voice.I stop in my tracks and take a few steps back, making sure I'm out of their sight.

"I have no idea,I don't understand how he pulled this out, he even got Nancy involved."

I frown in confusion, Nancy? As in Nancy the babysitter? Who the hell are they talking about?

"He was trying to protect them,in a very idiotic way,I don't think she will forgive him for disappearing, it's been years and he hasn't considered sneaking around to see them, it's unforgivable."

Nasius groans at her words"How would you know? She loves him."

"Are you out of your mind? She thinks he's dead and he's walking around this town like he didn't break his whole family, would you forgive something like that? Or sorry, you wouldn't know anything about that since you knew he was alive all this time."

My blood runs cold and I feel my heart triple it's beats,I can hear it in my ears and feel it in my throat.

He's alive,it can't be, impossible.

My legs weaken under me and I feel myself slide down the wall,landing on the floor with a loud thump as the shock consumes me.

Vanessa and Nasius run out and Vanessa gasps."Oh my God,Adelaine?! Are you okay?!"She squats down beside me and grabs my shoulders, shaking me gently.

Tears build up in my eyes and I cry out hysterically, throwing my arms around her and holding on for dear life.

"Adelaine? How much did you hear? Adelaine, answer me, please."She whispers in my ear and I shake my head.

"He—He is here, he's a–alive,my boy is alive."I cry out and her grip on me tightens.

"He's alive, he's coming back home,Adelaine."My eyes widen and I pull away, smiling through my tears.

"Really?"She nods, smiling sadly at me.

"He is,he was going to—"Nasius clears his throat warningly.

"Vanessa, it's not safe yet,he told us not to tell her until the coast is clear."Her eyes darken and she stands up, turning around and squaring with him, she's much taller and much skinnier than him but for some reason,her energy is scarier,she's way more intimidating.

"I don't care about what he has to say, he's an idiot for leaving her, he knew the state she was in and he did nothing to help her, what will his arrival change? Nothing,all it will cause is a fuss."She snaps at him angrily and he runs his hand through his hair in frustration.

"You're playing with lives because you're angry, he can't go anywhere near her or the kids,If he does we're all targets."

"I don't care, we'll use you as a shield if someone pulls a glock out,but she's seeing him,I will make sure of it, you're only keeping her away because you're in love with her."She drops the L bomb and Nasius and I look at each other.

She's not wrong,he told me how he feels about me years ago,but I can't be with him for obvious reasons,he understands it and he knows I will always love Kingston more than anyone besides my kids,I guess Kingston's disappearance must've given him some hope that I might fall in love with him.

He breaks eye contact and storms into the kitchen, Vanessa helps me up on my feet and puts her arm around my waist, steadying me.

"Will you be able to walk? You're shaking like a leaf."I shake my head and she walks me to the barstool.The awkward tension between them cutting into the silence but I don't care, their bickering isn't as important as Kingston's return.

I don't want to know what happened,or why it happened,all I want is to see him,to make sure this isn't another dream.

I wipe my soaking wet cheeks and look at Vanessa, pleadingly.

"Where is is? When can I see him? How did you find him?"I bombard her with questions as she puts her hand on top of mine.

"Relax,okay? We'll explain everything–"

"No,you will explain everything, Kingston told me to keep my mouth shut and I plan to."Nasius adds and pours himself a cup of water, chugging it in a second.

Vanessa rolls her eyes at him and shifts her attention back to me,her face softening.

"Maybe we should let him explain to you what happened,he said he will be waiting for Nasius on the froth porch,go outside."

In that moment,I stop breathing, I feel a spinning sensation inside my head as her words ring in my ears,I don't know what's shaking more,my legs or my hands,but I feel like I've gotten a bad case of the Fall fever.

He's a few meters away from me,after years he's so close to me.

"If you're not ready—"

"He's here."I whisper to myself and stand up, knocking the barstool on the ground before making a run for the front door.I don't know how I'm able to run but I'm running,not even caring about the fact that I can't feel the ground under my feet.

I unlock the door and rush out on the porch,my eyes widening at the sight in front of me.

Suddenly,the crickets stopped chirping,the street lights now looked darker and seemed further away from the house,the wind turned into a light breeze,and that grief and utter saddens I felt in my chest for years,gone,just like that,like someone flipped a switch.

There he is.

Kingston.