Chained

Chapter 27

*Andrew*

"So," Cross said. "How's it going?"

He'd finally calmed down and changed back but he was sitting on the floor, naked, with nothing to cover him but a pillow.

"I think we're all aware of why we're here." Zita's dad, Cecil, said.

"Um, because we're in trouble?" I said.

"Big time. "My dad said.

"Where's Zita?" Nanti said, looking... exhausted.

"I'm sure she's here somewhere, dear." Cecil said.

"I haven't been able to see her in my visions lately. Oh, where is she? I must see her!"

"Where is my daughter?"

Everyone looked at me and I swallowed the humongous lump in my throat.

"She was kidnapped. "Astreaus said for me. "By the ones we fear most."

Nanti gasped and leaned on her husband. 

"That's why I haven't seen her," she said. "They're hiding her."

 She held her head with trembling hands as her husband held her close.

"It will be alright," he said, stroking her head. "We'll find her soon."

"No, we have to find her now. Her future is slipping from my mind. This is dangerous."

"Well, we were actually in the process of doing that." I said.

"We have the... item you sent us." Astreaus said.

"Item? What item?" Cecil asked.

We showed everyone the small pouch and the dust inside.

"I don't understand," Nanti said. "I never sent you anything."

"But that Minotaur guy told us you did!"

"Minotaur? What Minotaur?"

"You mean you really didn't send this to us?"

She nodded and sighed. Maybe she was lying. Keeping the truth. Either way, it was still suspicious.

"Anyways, we should open up a portal as soon as possible." I said.

"Yes, yes," Cecil said. "But we are going to need-"

"Materials, we know."

"Andrew," my mom said with her motherly tone. "No interrupting. Even if you 'know',"

"Yes, mother." I mumbled.

"I have that covered," Nanti said, reaching into her robe and pulled out a small velvet bag, just like the one we had. "I saw this coming but didn't know what it meant. I'm guessing this is it."

"Alright," I said, grabbing the pouch from her. "So, what do we do? Pour all this stuff in a circle and sprinkle a little dust over it?"

"Actually, yes." Astreaus said.

"Oh, I was joking but okay."

"Wait, there's someone who should stay behind," Astreaus said, pointing at the human. "You, stay here."

"What?" he said.

"You won't last a second in the fey land. There's traps and spells that are made specially for humans to get dragged into that hideous world."

"But-"

"Your not coming. You're going to stay here with Cross."

Lanny opened his mouth to say something but it closed and he sank to the floor.