The Millionaire and The Witch

Chapter 20

Duke paced anxiously, his heart heavy with worry. The physical stats showed Nina and Felix were stable, yet the unnerving silence in the room hinted at something deeper. He had opted to pump fluids into their bodies, ensuring they were hydrated, but the fact that they remained unconscious gnawed at him.

After convincing the concerned crowd to disperse, Duke found himself tethered to his phone, fielding calls from Nina’s mother, who was frantic for updates. A contact from the East African chapter had reached out, confirming that Lulu was in the fairy world, trying to help Nina. The uncertainty was suffocating, and Duke struggled to maintain his composure.

Across the room, Brody was deep into his research, following up on the parcel of land that had set everything in motion. This land, shrouded in secrets and ancient ties, was the key to understanding the forces at play. He felt the weight of his own blocked magical powers, a constant reminder of the lineage he was part of but could not fully embrace.

“Duke,” Brody called, pulling his friend’s attention away from Nina. “We need to focus on the land. It’s more than just a parcel—it’s tied to everything happening now. I can feel it.”

Duke nodded, watching Nina as she was still unconscious. “What have you found?”

“Legends surrounding the land speak of a connection to the human ancestry realm,” Brody explained, urgency lacing his voice. “It’s said that powerful entities guard it. If we can access that realm, we might find clues about my mother, Cynthia Blackgale.”

Duke’s brow furrowed. “But how? Your powers are—”

“Blocked, I know,” Brody interjected, frustration creeping into his tone. “But maybe Nina can help. She’s already navigated realms we can’t comprehend. If she can wake up and remember what happened, we could piece this together.”

Suddenly, the stillness in the room shifted. Felix stirred in his bed, prompting Duke to approach cautiously. Felix’s eyes fluttered open, confusion evident on his face. Duke felt a rush of relief wash over him.

“Felix! Do you know where you are?” he asked, urgency creeping into his voice.

Felix blinked, taking a moment before nodding. “I remember… we were in the portal together. Where’s Nina?”

Duke’s heart sank. “She’s still out. You both entered the portal, right?”

Felix nodded again, concern furrowing his brow. “She should be here. We were holding hands.”

Duke’s panic surged as Felix’s words echoed in his mind. What could have gone wrong? “But you said something about complications…”

“There might be issues because she’s in the fairy realm, not the human ancestry room,” Felix explained, his voice shaky. The implications of that statement hung heavy in the air.

Just then, a flicker of movement drew their attention. Nina stirred slightly, her eyelids fluttering. The room fell silent, all eyes on her as she opened her eyes, looking bewildered but present.

“Nina!” Duke rushed to her side, a mix of hope and fear coursing through him. “Do you know who I am?”

She managed a small smile, fatigue evident in her voice. “I can see you… I just feel a bit tired. Maybe I should sleep.”

“No, no,” Duke urged gently. “You need to stay awake. Let me get a doctor to check on you.”

As he moved to call for help, Brody felt the urgency clawing at his insides. Finding Cynthia was more than a personal quest; it was about reclaiming his identity and understanding the magic that flowed through his veins.

“Let’s give her some time to recover,” Duke suggested. “Once she’s stable, we can delve deeper into this mystery. The fairy realm holds secrets we haven’t even begun to explore.”

Brody agreed, though the sense of urgency remained palpable. As they stood there, the two unlikely friends from different worlds prepared to face whatever challenges lay ahead, driven by the hope of discovering not just the truth about Cynthia Blackgale, but the depths of their own powers as well.

* * *

For the next couple of days, Nina rested in the safe house. By the end of two days, Felix was feeling better, but Duke remained focused on providing regular updates to Nina’s mother. As her guardian, he understood the importance of keeping her informed, especially given the strange circumstances surrounding Nina’s recovery. While physically okay, Nina seemed spiritually drained, her energy waning despite her stable condition. Duke did everything he could to ensure her comfort, coordinating with a doctor to check on her once a day.

“Nina’s sleeping a lot,” Duke said to Felix as they sat in the dimly lit room. “I just wish she would wake up and tell us what happened.”

Felix nodded, frustration evident on his face. “I feel like I’ve been in a fog. The last thing I remember is us stepping into that portal. What if we don’t figure this out in time?”

Duke placed a reassuring hand on his shoulder. “We’ll get through this. We need to focus on getting Nina back on her feet first.”

Nina spent most of those days in a cycle of waking, eating, showering, and then returning to sleep. Duke kept a close eye on her, noting how she appeared more fatigued each time she awakened. In the early days, they worried she might relapse, but it became clear that she simply needed a lot of rest. Felix had returned to the local chapter, hoping to piece together the fragmented memories of their experience.

“Duke, I don’t think I can remember anything useful,” Felix admitted one evening. “It’s like I was asleep for ages. All I know is we went in together.”

“Let’s just focus on the here and now,” Duke replied. “We need to help Nina recover. Maybe once she’s awake, she’ll remember more.”

The elders had drawn conclusions about Nina and Felix’s journey to the fairy spiritual realm, suggesting it had been an emergency access point. However, no one could explain how they ended up there in the first place. Consultations between the fairies and the spiritual world confirmed that Nina was safe but suggested that her nightmares indicated deeper unrest. Duke noted how troubled her sleep looked; each time she drifted off, her face reflected anxiety rather than peace.

On the second day after Nina woke, Brody received a call from his aunt Lucy.

“Brody, it’s good to hear from you,” Lucy said warmly. “I just wanted to let you know that Theodore wants to meet you. He’s been updated about your search for Cynthia.”

“Th-theodore?” Brody stammered. “Why would he want to meet me now? He hasn’t been part of our lives for years.”

“I know it’s surprising,” Lucy replied. “But he’s expressed interest in getting to know you better. He might have insights that could help.”

Brody shared the news with Duke and Felix afterward.

“Are you sure about this?” Duke asked, skepticism in his tone. “Theodore has always kept his distance.”

“Maybe he’s changed,” Felix added. “But I can’t shake the feeling that it could be risky.”

“Let’s at least hear him out,” Brody said. “I need to know what happened to my mother.”

Brody called Samson to see if there were updates on the investigation regarding Jefferson’s death and the land parcel.

“Samson, what do you have for me?” Brody asked as soon as the call connected.

“Not much, unfortunately,” Samson replied. “But I did learn something interesting. Theodore is quite wealthy; he owns a marketing agency that caters to some of the biggest brands. His success is puzzling, though.”

“Puzzling how?” Brody inquired.

“Despite having no special tactics or magic involved, his results are exceptional,” Samson explained. “Honestly, if I believed in the magical world, I’d think he was using some kind of spell to boost their popularity.”

Felix, overhearing the conversation, interjected, “That’s exactly what I was thinking. What if Theodore has access to something we don’t?”

“Keep your eyes peeled,” Samson suggested. “I’ll compile the performance stats of the brands he works with and send them to you. If he’s using magic, we’ll need to find a way to counter it.”

As they wrapped up the call, Felix found himself staring into a metaphorical crystal ball, observing orange stars that represented different cities around the globe.

“Samson, can you tell me which companies are performing best in which cities?” Felix asked curiously.

“Sure,” Samson replied. “I’ll gather that information for you and send it over.”

As Brody, Duke, and Felix navigated these revelations, the looming presence of Theodore added another layer of complexity to their already tangled lives