P A R T T W O
C H A P T E R T E N
When Nola was twelve she ran away from home. She had gotten all the way to the Vessel boundary line when Alex had found her. He knew who she was; not just by her petite figure that resembled their mother's, but because he couldn't compel her to do anything.
"So this is what's going to happen," Alex still sat across the table from a helpless Enoch, with Adamok lurking by the steps; her arms folded across her chest. "You are going to convince Nola to come to the Wastelands instead of the Badlands."
"I'm supposed to meet her in the Badlands." Enoch pointed out.
Alex paused. "Okay." He got up and started walking towards the front door.
"Where do you think you're going?" Enoch stood up.
"I'm gonna Jump," he said as if it were obvious.
"To go where?" he ordered.
Alex stood in front of Enoch. "Whose Nola's entwined?"
Enoch struggled to get his words out. "She hasn't found him yet."
"She hasn't found him yet or you just don't know?"
Enoch swallowed. "I don't know."
Alex slapped his shoulder. "It was wrong of Mother to choose you."
Enoch glanced over at his mother and she didn't do a thing. "Yeah, but who does Nola trust?"
Alex chuckled. "You don't wanna know." Enoch followed Nola's brother out of the house and into the open. "You," he said to Garfield, who'd been staying in the same spot for some time. "come with me."
Garfield followed behind Enoch and Alex, into a basement door that was under the ground. Walking down the steps and into a bunker, Enoch's face was in awe when he saw the Portal; illuminated with a bright blue hue, activated by Alex's presence.
"When I was a child, Elysium found me when I discovered my castor abilities and he taught me how to Jump." Alex explained.
"Jump?" Garfield asked.
Alex glared at the descendant of Demetrius; Garfield never learned how to be proper in a god's presence, to never speak unless spoken to. "Teleportation," Alex said, using a more complicated term. "you two are going to go to the Badlands," Alex instructed. "look for Mavis, the Control's second—she's very hard to miss, very promiscuous. I will meet you there when I have everything sorted with my—"
"You aren't coming with?" Enoch interrupted.
"No Enoch, I have far more better things to do than save all of mankind from going extinct yet a second time." he replied sarcastically. "If you would let me finish, I will meet you once I have gathered my warriors in Eden's Pass."
"There's nothing in Eden's Pass." Enoch stated. "just pathways from the Woodlands to the Shad'ands."
"It is also where all of the delinquents end up when they reject your offer of shelter." he informed him. "I am their co-leader."
He chuckled. "You run your tribe with a vessie?"
"She's the Chancellor's daughter and a far more superior leader than I can say for you, heda."
