FORTITUDINE (COMPLETED)

19) Home

"Alexa wake up. It's Stephen." A deep voice whispers into my ear.

My eyes flash open so fast that the light in the room temporarily blinds me.

"Oh my goodness, Stephen! I have missed you so much!" I practically screamed into Stephen's ear as he hugged me.

"Ow! Alexa, I'm right here. No need to holler." I laughed and leaned back in my bed.

"Hey, Thomas is here too." Thomas says as he walks into the room.

I giggled and ran over to him and hugged him tightly.

"Someone's in a good mood considering that we are pulling into the port of New Or-King's Tomb." Gasped Thomas as I squeezed the breath out of him.

"I've decided I'm not going to be afraid of Thanatos any more. He doesn't deserve my fear or my attention. I blocked him from the mind link and am keeping my emotions in check. I will not let him get to me again." I say boldly.

Thomas smiles down at me. "That's great, but, could you perhaps let go of me so I can breathe again?"!

I laugh and let go of him. "Sorry." I say in between chuckles. 

Just then Jacob walks into the room and grabs his and my bags. "It's time to go." He says without looking at us and walks out of the room.

Stephen and Thomas quickly grab their bags and we follow Jacob and the steadily growing black cat, Riki, to the top deck of the ship.

"There are two carriages waiting for us just ahead." Muttered Jacob over his shoulder.

Thomas and Stephen give each other knowing looks. "Let me guess..." Mutters Thomas. "Thomas and I ride in one and you and Alexa ride in the other." Finishes Stephen more as a statement than a question.

Jacob just nods his head and tosses the bags to the driver. I frown but don't argue because I already know the answer. 'Thanatos doesn't trust them to be with me, strangely.'

I could feel the frustration and anger pulsing off of Thanatos as he tries to contact me through the mind link that I am keeping closed.

I smirk and take Jacob's offered hand and step into the large carriage. Jacob soon follows and tells the driver that we may go now.

"So are you ready to see your family again?" Asks Jacob breaking the silence in the small room.

I look up at him shocked that he would talk to me. We may have practiced combat together but that didn't mean we really liked each other.

"I haven't really thought about it." I mutter trapped in his deep and serious stare.

'Those coal eyes hold some very dark stories. I wonder what happened to make such a young man seem so aged.'

"Hello?" Asked Jacob as he clapped in my face.

I snapped out of my thoughts and my cheeks flushed as I realized that I had been staring at him.

"I'm sorry, I have a lot on my mind. What were you saying?" I ask him.

"I was saying that most of your family must miss you." Says Jacob as he slightly raises an eyebrow.

I sigh and shake my head. "Unless Thanatos told them...they think I'm dead." I mumble looking out the window.

I hear shuffling from where Jacob is but don't look up.

"I'm sure they will be happy to see you then." Says a deep voice from directly behind me.

I jump and spin around to be face to face with Jacob-well almost, he's a good bit taller than me so I was really looking at his neck.

I look up and frown. Jacob smiles down at me and we lock eyes for a second before he starts to chuckle.

His eyes flicker downwards and my eyes follow down to where my fist is being held in his hand.

My eyes widen and Jacob laughs even harder. "You have fighting on your brain still!" He shouts as he lets go of my hand.

I cross my arms and begin to pout. "It's not funny. I could've hurt you!" I mumble.

Jacobs laughing fit dies down and he puts on his usual stoic expression. "You can't hurt me." He says as he moves back to his seat. "You're still not strong enough. Don't just rely on your hands to defeat Thanatos or you will surly die."

With that the conversation is over and I stare awkwardly out the window.

~~~~~~~~~~

We are now pulling up to the place where I was born and raised. Everyone is going a out their daily business-until they see the large black carriages passing by that is.

People begin to follow the carriages to the center of the small village. I can see my entire family waiting along with the other elders.

I suddenly become very nervous. 'What if they think I'm a coward for going to London?' I ask myself.

I take a shaky breath before Jacob opens the carriage door and steps out. I take his awaiting hand and tenderly take the two steps to the ground.

I keep my eyes locked with Jacob's but can still hear the gasps of nearly every clan member as they see who I am.

Stephen and Thomas hop out of the carriage behind ours and walk over to me and Jacob cautiously, not accustomed to have so many people stare at them I guess.

"Alexa?" Asks Stephen quietly into my ear.

I shake my head and look over to Stephen and Thomas' worried faces. I give them a weak, reassuring smile and turn around to face my family.

I open my mouth to say something but pause. There, standing beside my smirking twin brother, is a beautiful young girl. She has blonde hair and hazel eyes. She looks up at me and smiles.

I tilt my head to the side, clearly confused, before I realize that she's looking behind me.

I frown and turn around to see a frozen Stephen. Him and the girl were staring at each other with wide eyes.

"Julia." Whispers Stephen.

I know...it's not that good. I've been really busy lately and haven't had much time to update.

Sorry to make you wait so long and to give you this piece of crap. I'm trying to rush things and get on to the ending but it's hard to fill in the blanks when you don't know what words to use.

It'll get better, I promise! Until then, please be patient.

Please notice the copyright on the picture above does not belong to me.

Au revoir mes amis!