The Family - Volume 2

Chapter 10

- Thank you so much for your help," said Lia to our ancestors before we left. We couldn't stay long, but you'll be doing us a great favor, so I don't know what more I can say to thank you.

- Don't worry," replied the Queen with a gentle smile, "as members of the same family, we owe it to each other to help each other out.

- And if you're ever faced with a major new problem, never forget that you're not alone," added the King.

I bowed to them one last time in greeting.

- To God.

Without further ado, I reabsorbed my cousins - simply as a precaution - before reciting the formula. In the end I'd never know which formula would be used to annihilate magic, and perhaps that was for the best.

- Γυρίστε μας πίσω στην εποχή μας, we pronounced.

In an instant the Plains of the Tigris and the faces of our ancestors faded away. From now on, there was no turning back, either it would pass or it would break.

Unlike a few hours ago, when Matt and the others had been thinking in abundance during the last teleportation, there were no more dreams. Everyone was at peace and hardly thinking at all.

Thoughts no longer spoke, but the heart did, and I could feel how sad and downcast my cousins and I were. We were about to lose something that was more than vital to us, our powers. Although we wouldn't remember it once we were back in the present, for now we still knew, and it was hard.

- I can't believe this is how it ends," Ken finally said, "if I'd known how it would end when we landed in the past, I certainly wouldn't have believed it.

- I'm going to miss my powers," Jon said sadly.

- You won't remember anything anyway, so it doesn't matter," Matt replied.

- That's true, but I know that subconsciously I'll always have this part of the void that will never be filled.

- Men came into the world without power, and the simple ones have survived until now without their help, which proves that we don't need them. Every family is unique, and powers or no powers aren't going to change that.

- You're right, Joy," said Lia, "and our action should save many lives. We have nothing to regret about our choices.

- That's easy to say," grumbled Jon, "but harder to bear.

- What are you, a man?" laughed his sister. Show some manliness and coolness!

- I get it, I'll stop complaining.

- Finally, a good decision on your part, little brother.

- Don't call me...

- Here we go again," sighed Lia.

I sensed a change in the atmosphere. The composition of the space we were passing through was changing. We would soon be returning to the present, I could feel it. I had a moment's hesitation. How could we return to the present? Time travel was impossible. I sorted through my ideas, already beginning to lose all notions of magic.

- I feel like my brain is being sucked out of me!

- The magic's leaving my body," added Lia.

- What magic?" asked Matt.

- Am I dreaming?" mused Jon. A world full of powers, it's extraordinary!

All this talk was nonsense, and I was having the strangest dreams. Then, all of a sudden, everything went black.

I woke up a few moments later lying on my bed. I looked at the time projected on the ceiling: 9:31. Already! I had to hurry or Rick would be waiting for me. The bus went by in about ten minutes.

I jumped out of bed and dressed quickly, then opened my blinds before leaving my room. I entered the living room, grabbed my satchel from the shelf and atheistically headed for the exit.

- Where are you going, Joy?" my mother asked me from the kitchen.

- I'm meeting Rick for a walk to the mall.

I put my shoes on awkwardly.

- Okay, take care of yourself and don't forget we're going to Aunt Alice's later this afternoon to celebrate Matt's birthday.

- Yeah, don't worry, I'll be home before then.

I opened the front door and stormed out of the house. I almost bumped into my boyfriend as I came through the door, because he was waiting for me.

- Hi, Joy!

He kissed me on the cheek.

- I'd have bet anything you'd forget to wake up," he laughed.

I kissed him back.

- We have to hurry or we'll miss the bus and have to wait for the next one to go shopping.

- We don't have time in two minutes to catch it, Rick pointed out. That's why I came by bike. It's a beautiful day, perfect weather for a little ride.

I smiled.

- I guess you're right.

I finally noticed the bike leaning against the wall. Rick climbed on and I got on the back, wrapping my arms around him so I wouldn't fall off. The best excuse to hug the one you love.

- Let's go!" exclaimed Rick, his face beaming.