Fading {Book Two of The Descendants series}

Chapter Twenty-One

"Zane?"

Zane couldn't speak. He couldn't move. He couldn't even breath.

"Zane, say something," the voice said.

"You-" Zane said breathlessly. "How?"

"Magic," the man with glasses said. "Don't ask me what kind. I didn't want to know."

"Is it really you?" Zane asked, recovering from his shock.

"Yes!" The man with glasses stepped closer and unlocked the cuffs that held Zane's wrists. Zane thought about trying to make his escape, but he was too shocked to move. "You still look like you don't believe what you're seeing."

"You have been dead for almost twenty-four years, Father!" Zane exclaimed. "Of course I am shocked!"

"Hey! This is the second time I've come back from the dead!" Dr. Julien said laughing. "I came back once! Why are you so surprised?"

"But how?"

"I can't tell you that," he said. Zane thought he looked almost scared. They Dr. Julien looked him over. "You look-very-uh-different since I saw you last."

"I'm titanium," Zane said simply.

"What happened to the synthetic skin I gave you?" His father asked.

"It melted when I blew up," Zane said matter-of-factly.

"Blew up?!" Dr. Julien exclaimed.

"That's a long story," Zane said. "But why did you steal me away instead of just finding me! I was babysitting! It's a good thing Pixal was there too!"

"Babysitting? Pixal?" Dr. Julien asked.

"Pixal is my wife," Zane said smiling.

"You got married??" Zane's father said excitedly.

"Yes...." Zane said nodding. "And I have two kids."

"Okay, I didn't build you-"

"I adopted!" Zane quickly interrupted. Zane facepalmed. His father laughed. Zane smiled and then he frowned. "You're being held against your will too."

"What makes you say that?" His father chuckled nervously.

Zane gave him a "really" look and rolled his eyes, "Gee. I have no idea. It might have something to do with the fearful looks. The fact that I AM CHAINED TO THE MIDDLE OF THE ROOM!"

"You've gotten more sarcastic," Dr. Julien said rubbing his ear after Zane's yelling.

"Having kids does that to you," Zane deadpanned.

"So," Dr. Julien said perking up. "I have grandkids?"

"Two of them," Zane nodded. "And two and a half great grandkids."

"You're a grandfather?!" Dr. Julien looked like he might have to sit down. Zane almost laughed out loud. I guess it was a lot all at once for his father.

"It's been a long time! My oldest son is twenty-two," Zane said. "My daughter is twenty."

"C-can I meet them?" He asked. Zane's eyes brightened.

"Yes! But you have to let me go," Zane said.

Dr. Julien's eyes clouded. Zane looked at him funny.

"I can't! She would be so angry!" Dr. Julien shouted.

"Who? Who would be angry?" Zane asked urgently.

"I can't!" Dr. Julien shouted, covering his ears.