The Empire's Descent (First Draft)

Chapter 33: Well then... Training It Is!

"Okay, so, how do we explain the fact that your muscles are not atrophied from being in a two-year coma?" Steel mumbled from the middle of the group hug.

They broke apart and were ponderous.

"I think we should tell them...," Marco suggested.

"No/Hell no!" Steel and Lia screamed.

"I just think Enzo and Emilio should be brought in!" He defended.

"I agree," Luca said.

"It's not safe for netorel beings to know about the Soparnetorel. If they're lucky, they end up like you. If not...," Lia persuaded, unable to finish her sentence as she choked by the end.

"I don't believe in luck, Rosalia," Luca had a bite to his words.

Lia looked at him wide-eyed and the others froze as they looked between the two of them.

Luca felt a twinge of guilt, but then he remembered all the times he had been manipulated and had magic used against him. Even from the time at the hospital that she snuck onto his lap. He knew he didn't sleep so heavily to not notice a whole adult creeping onto his lap!

"We need to talk!" He ground out the words to Lia. She meekly nodded her head.

"Um- I've had up a protective shield for a while now... should I let it go now? We'll probably meet with the humans then...," Lia said timidly.

Steel felt uncomfortable with Lia's submission, but she wasn't sure what she should do.

Marco scrutinized Luca who gave him a look to which he nodded his head.

"Alright!" He clapped.

"Let's head into the real world," Marco continued.

Lia waved her hand and little sounds filtered in their ears that they hadn't noticed was missing before. Like the whirring of hospital machines, the hum of the air conditioning unit and the shuffling footsteps of staff through the staff door.

Speaking of the staff doors... it opened with Emilio coming through, his head down looking over some papers in hand.

"H-," a puff of air left his agape mouth. He stared at the figures in the room. Two of whom should still be lying in comas!

"Honey, what's the- fuck!" Enzo came in after and so eloquently expressed his and Emilio's exact feelings: what the fuck?!

"How in the fuck are you guys standing and who the fuck is that on the floor?!" Enzo continued yelling and pointed at the comatose Zoses.

"Uh- Luca can explain!" Lia blurted and everyone else followed suit in pointing at him.

"Me!? The fuck? I just woke up and had my whole life turned upside down!" He yelled indignantly.

"Yeah, we didn't think this through before taking down the shield...," Marco said unhelpfully while stretching and scratching his stomach.

"No, shit, Marco," Steel sassed.

"Well, I did say we should bring them in on this!" He argued.

"We've got no choice now... I don't think," Steel said looking to Lia.

Lia slumped and gave a nod to Steel.

"Uh... we're supernatural beings now!" Steel threw her hands up in an 'I-dunno-shrug'.

"Supernatural beings?" Enzo wiggled his index finger in his ears and asked again.

"Yup," Steel chirped.