KotLC: Eclipse (KotLC X Magnus Chase)

Chapter 24

Sophie's POV

I froze when I heard his voice.

"Sophie?" He repeated hesitantly, as if he couldn't believe his eyes.

I turned slowly, my heart hammering in my chest. Grady stood a few feet away holding a bunch of swizzlespice, his usually calm demeanour replaced with a shocked and broken exterior. He looked as if he hadn't slept for days.
His wide eyes flickered between me, Magnus, and lingered on Jack, who had floated closer to Magnus and was talking quietly to him.

A wave of emotions crashed into me. I hadn't realised just how much I had missed my parents and the Lost Cities the past few days.
"Dad," I managed, my voice cracking.

He took a step closer and put the swizzlespice on the ground, putting his hand on a nearby fence for support.
"It is you... but how? We saw your- body," his voice cracked, and he suddenly seemed multiple centuries older. He shook his head, as if to clear any of those thoughts. "We saw the wound. H-how did you survive?"

"Uh-." I glanced at Magnus, who had been looking at us with a mixture of curiosity and unease. He just shrugged as if to say:
You got yourself into this mess. You get yourself out.

Jack, however, seemed unfazed, his runes glowing brightly as he jumped to my rescue for the second time that day. "Hello, Grady."

"Jack!"

Grady's gaze snapped towards Jack, a spark of recognition flickering across his face, followed by something I couldn't quite place- surprise, maybe? "Sumarbrander? What are you doing here? I thought you were lost centuries ago."

"Wait. Jack. You know this guy?" Magnus asked.

Jack twirled in the air, clearly enjoying the attention. "Of course I do! Grady and Edaline were around long before you fished me out of that river, Magnus," he sighed, "Good times."

"You were insufferable back then, Sumarbrander."

"And I still am!" Jack said cheerfully. "Also, I prefer 'Jack' as my name now."

"I'm sure you'll be able to update us. But first, let's get inside. The gnomes should be able to handle things here for a while." Grady ushered us up the path towards the main house. "By the way, Sophie, I haven't forgotten about you. I'll be expecting an explanation soon."

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When we reached the house, he held the door open for us, I hesitated before entering. Inside, I was hit with a wave of relief that I was finally back home.

I glanced at Magnus, who was looking around in bewilderment at the crystal walls and the massive rooms.

We entered the kitchen, where we found Edaline baking some custard bursts.

She turned at the sound of our footsteps, revealing the darkest shadows under her eyes that I'd ever seen before- like she hadn't slept for days.
"Grady, you're back alre-" she trailed off when her eyes locked onto mine.
The bowl she was holding clattered to the ground, spilling flour and dough everywhere.

Without making another sound, she strode over to me in two steps and wrapped me in a tight embrace, as if she was worried I'd dissappear.
"Is it really you?" She sobbed.

I swallowed past the lump in my throat. "Yes, Mom, it is."

A choked sob escaped her throat, and she clutched me even tighter. She hugged me so tight, in fact, that it felt like she almost broke my ribs. I didn't care, I just squeezed my eyes shut and hugged her just as tightly.

"Eda, she won't disappear if you let go." I heard Grady say with a thick voice.

"I don't care." Edaline mumbled into my shoulder. "She's here."