The Return - A Michael Vey Fanfic

Chapter 42

Axel hung up after that for fear that Quentin or Tara would find him talking to us and everyone began to disperse again. I took the opportunity to escape up to my room, or the room I had been using since I came here anyway. I quietly closed the door behind me so I wouldn't attract attention.

Once safely inside my room, I picked up a book and threw it against my bed to let out the anger packed into me. I couldn't believe Nichelle wasn't letting me go. So what if I couldn't get control my powers? I was in Texas to defeat Tara and Quentin and now Nichelle was going to make me miss the actual defeating of them. And what's even worse, something could happen to Ethan or Jacob or Raymond or one of the others and I would ever find out what because I wasn't able to go. It's not like I could just sneak out and go with the others anyway.

I had just collapsed onto my bed in defeat when an idea dawned upon me. Maybe I could sneak out and go with the others. I would have to figure out how to get there and past the fence and the door to get into the compound but then Ethan and Jacob would have to make me stay.

A knock on my door suddenly startled me out of my fantasy world of not being left behind.

"Who is it?" I asked, don't scared it was one of my brothers or Nichelle. I didn't want to talk to any of them right now.

"Raymond," the voice answered and my shoulders relaxed.

"Come in," I said.

Raymond slipped into the room, careful to close to close the door behind him. "Hey," he said. "How are you doing?"

"Oh fine, you know, considering the fact that I just got banned from going with you guys." Yet I may actually still go.

Raymond sighed. "Yeah, I do apologize for that," he said.

"Why are you apologizing?" I asked. "It's Nichelle who isn't allowing me to go, not you."

"Well I kind of suggested it to her," Raymond said and looked down as his feet as my scuffed his shoe on the carpet.

I gaped at Raymond. "You told Nichelle to not let me go?"

"No, I only suggested it and I did it only because I don't want you getting hurt," he said. "I'm apologizing though because I know how badly you want to be a part of this."

"So you're solution to that was to tell Nichelle to not let me go?" I asked, fuming.

"Only because I can't let you die," Raymond snapped. He blinked in surprise then shook his head. "I mean we," he corrected himself.

I crossed my arms.

Raymond breathed out and sat on the bed next to me. He didn't look at me though. He folded his hands between his legs and stared at the wall. "Look," he said, "there were seventeen original glows and two nonels originally included in this giant mess. Out of those nineteen people, twenty two kids were born. Fifteen of them were glows, counting you, and seven of them were normal. That's fourty two people in all, Emily, and do you want to know how many of them Quentin and Tara killed?"

I really didn't.

"Twenty eight," Raymond said matter of factly. "Quentin and Tara killed twenty eight souls simply because they wanted to, and I don't want to make that number twenty nine."

"So why is it me that has to get left behind?" I muttered. "Just because I'm not useful or can't protect myself?"

"No, in fact, even if you could control your powers and protect yourself, I still wouldn't think you should come because you're the most important of all of us," he stated. "And not just because you survived your death sentence but because Quentin and Tara know nothing about you and the person you are. Just think about it, before you even showed the possibility of having powers, why did Quentin and Tara try to kill you?"

"Because they do that to everyone?"

"Wrong. Well, yes, they do kill everyone but they tried to kill you because they could see initiative and intelligence and strength. They tried to kill you because they were scared of what you would become even without your powers. If you came with us to stop them and they found out you had powers mentally and physically, you would be their main priority and they would mostly surely kill you."

I leaned back on my bed, not sure what to say. So Raymond just wanted me to stay safe. I get that, but I don't care so much about keeping myself safe.

I uttered softly, "What time are you guys leaving?" I tried to make it sound like I was just curious from having to see them go.

"As soon as possible, after everyone is awake," Raymond answered.

I nodded. "Just don't leave without me being awake, okay?" In reality, instead of just wanting to be awake to see them off, I was going to sneak out after them, follow them in Nichelle's second car and use the power I know I do have to climb the fence and get the building even after the electricity is turned back on. After that, I was in.

I knew my small plan would work too because I refused to believe it wouldn't.

Raymond shook his head softly. "We won't," he confirmed.

"Thanks," I said.

Raymond sighed, rubbed his face then got off the bed. "Well, I don't know about you but I'm calling it a night," he said.

Raymond had just placed his hand on the doorknob when I said, "Raymond, wait."

He turned back toward me.

"Thank you, for everything," I announced, and I really did mean it. At least he, unlike Ethan, didn't keep me from going because he didn't think I was capable. Just too capable.

Raymond smiled, but the smile didn't reach his eyes. "You're welcome," he said. He started to leave the room but then turned back to me again. "Hey, why did the chicken cross the road?"

I rolled my eyes. "You're not gonna make me laugh with a cheesy joke like that, Raymond," I said teasingly.

"Oh whatever. Goodnight, Emily."

"Night," I said then just like that, Raymond was gone.