The Family - Volume 1

2 parti : Present

CHAPTER 1

As soon as the landscape around me disappeared along with my cousins and me, the sensation of teleportation took over. Once again, I had the sensation of falling forever, but unlike the last time, I wasn't afraid.

Without the terror, the trip became pleasant, there were no more noises to disturb me in my comfort zone and, I felt as if I were flying through the sky, feeling the wind refresh every part of my body as if I were flying like a hawk.

- We agree that the ride is too good when you're not freaking out," Lia said.

- It sure is," Matt replied, "it calms me to the core. But at the same time, it's exhausting.

- Logical," said Jon, "we need an energy source to be able to teleport, and this is us.

- It's thanks to the book's spells that we've been able to do time travel," I said, "which just goes to show how powerful it is and that it mustn't fall into the wrong hands.

- You're right, but between the protection of the Ancestor and the AS, there's nothing to fear.

I let myself be transported by the teleportation in a silence that made me want to fall asleep. Then, after a while, Ken asked:

- Do you think we'll reappear from the sky like last time?

- I don't know, at least I don't hope so," said Lia.

We stayed in a long silence for the rest of the trip, and it wasn't a bad thing - if I could, I'd stay here as long as possible. Nevertheless, after a time that I couldn't determine, the sensation of freedom faded and little by little my senses returned one by one.

All around me, my cousins seemed to be slowly coming to their senses. We'd returned to the same time and place from which we'd started, in Lia and the twins' cellar.

I was about to start a sentence, but the sudden opening of the door stopped me.

- We can find out what's going on here!" cried Aunt Alice as she entered, followed by Uncle Zack.

None of us knew how to react, then it all came back to me: the argument with Ken and the arrival of my aunt and uncle, surely caused by the mix-up. Of course, we couldn't afford to tell them what had really happened.

- Nothing important," Lia told them first. There's nothing to worry about.

- I can clearly see a lie," replied her mother harshly.

It was the worst-case scenario for us, impossible to lie to Aunt Alice, she could detect anything, especially about her own children, the only way out was to reveal part of the truth without saying too much.

- We had a fight with Ken," I confessed, "I lost a duel to him and didn't take it well.

I tried to sound as disappointed and frank as possible. Aunt Alice looked me up and down.

- I feel you're not saying everything, but...

She stopped in mid-sentence, lowering her eyes to my wrist, then looked at my cousins' as well.

- Where have your bracelets gone!

Ken put on a marvellous performance, trying to look as embarrassed as possible.

- To tell the truth, I got a little carried away and melted them, but that's okay, we'll go and get some new ones right away.

Aunt Alice looked at us with a troubled expression, behind her Uncle Zack seemed just as confused.

- There's no way you're leaving here without a bracelet, I'll go and get you some," he warned us anyway.

We barely had time to reply in the affirmative before he left, leaving us and Aunt Alice in the cellar.