Prints on our hearts

Chapter Eighteen

        He led them inside where Matt was nursing his mouth and nose. He scowled at Alex who smiled back at him. Alex and Dakota sat on a couch across from her father. "I guess introductions are in order.", he said leaning back into his chair and crossing his legs. They both nodded. Dakota was still on the defensive but Alex seemed fixated on the man before her. "I am Raoul Grey." he said lifting his head high. Dakota narrowed his eyes at him. "Raoul. The is nordic isn't it?", he questioned almost harshly. Raoul smile. "Smart boy. Yes it is. I have crossed many loops. For many years. I was originally Raoul the grey. A Viking warrior. Once my loop became too old I would allow it to collapse and move elsewhere.", he said proudly. Alex was the first to speak this time. "How did you meet my mother? I want the whole story.", she said staring at him as a young child would a storyteller. His smile faltered for a minute. "I would often travel out of the loop. Usually daily. My shepherd loved it. She loved the park. I would usually allow her to run on a long leash. One day she slips from my hands and runs to a dark haired woman who I had seen quite frequently, your mother. She was so beautiful. Zasha seemed to love her. Since Zasha only seemed to like peculiars, I had to ask her. She was peculiar. She would have premonitions. We began to talk every day at that park and soon fell quickly in love. The problem was that she was married. To a normal man.", he began to explain the long story to them. Alex watched him intently. "We were only able to hang out for a couple hours every day. Sometimes we would come back here. She was planning on leaving him when she got pregnant. After we found out, she wasn't able to visit the park as often because that wretched husband of her kept her in bed. She was able to escape sometimes and see me. She was so happy to carry you. We had our whole lives planned out for us. Then she had you. He complained that he never felt a bond with you. That you had rejected him somehow. He began to grow suspicious when she would bring you to see me. The last night I saw her, she was distraught. She was in tears and frantic. I was unable to understand what she was saying. When I held you, you changed in my arms. Only a few weeks old and you had changed just as quickly as I could. But your claws caught my jaw. Your mother became even more distraught and left. I was never able to find either one of you. Until miss Swift contacted miss Barred. My ymbryne. She kept me updated on everything you did. All of your firsts. She sent me pictures of everything. We never found your mother though. It is rumored she faked her death and hid from her husband. As I later found out, he was planning on killing you both the night I saw you. He had a funeral for her but never did a thing for you. He doesn't even visit it. He married and had children not long after. I do search for her still.", he finished. Alex's eyes had begun to tear up. Dakota reached over and held her hand. She wiped at her eyes. "Would you like to see your granddaughter?", Alex asked after Raoul had put his head into his hands. His head shot up in surprise, his eyes wide. "A granddaughter?", he asked, his voice was slightly shaky. She sniffled and nodded. He cracked a large smile. "Of course. Miss Swift never told me You had a child.", he said. She nodded and finished wiping her eyes. "She didn't know. I stayed in a friend's loop until I gave birth and took her there for miss Swift to take care of.", she said rising slowly to go get her bag. Dakota watched her carefully and walked to the door. Raoul followed and stood behind him. "You take very good care of her. Thank you.", he said to Dakota. Dakota smiled and bowed his head respectfully. Alex ran back up the steps with her phone in her hand. She was still wiping away the tears. She pulled up a picture first. Amelia was smiling proudly on top of her horse. She named him Loki because he constantly caused trouble. "She's beautiful.", he said fighting some tears. Alex nodded. "It's funny, she named him Loki.", Alex said smiling up at him. "The god of mischief. He cause her much trouble?", he asked with a smile. "It took her a year of cursing and training to even mount him. But she loves that horse to death.", she said proudly. "Oh I have a video of us training.", Alex said. He smiled widely and opened the door. "I would love to watch it!", he said excitedly. They went back in and sat on the couch. She hit play and hand him the phone. He watched with pride as he watched his daughter and granddaughter expertly battle it out. Alex smiled as she remember that day. It was the first day she let Amelia wield a sword. To Alex's surprise and joy, she was excellent and even caught Alex off caught and sliced her shoulder. She touched the scar fondly as she watched the video with him. He laughed as the video ended. "She seems to be an excellent warrior! She cut your shoulder?", he said appearing to be filling over with joy. She nodded and showed the raised scar left by the blade. They heard nails tapping on hard floors. Raoul gently touched her cheek. "You look so much like you mother. I wish she could see you now.", he said softly. A German Shepherd came around the corner and slid to a halt. Alex and the do stared at each other before the dog began to step forward slowly. "Zasha be nice.", he said sternly. Alex held out her hand and Zasha began to carefully sniff her. Her ears suddenly perked up and her tail began to wag hard. She leapt forwards into Alex's lap, kissing her all over. Alex broke out into laughter. "It appears Zasha remembers your scent. I don't know how but she does.", Dakota said. Zasha laid down right in her lap. Alex smiled and rubbed her head. "If I have a granddaughter does that mean I have a son-in-law?" Raoul asked. Alex smiled. "Umm not exactly. Amelia was conceived on accident. Sort of.", Alex began. He raised an eyebrow in confusion. "I was working with someone and he disappeared. We knew they were looking for him and we were just best friends but that night we did things. I have had a piece of him since.", she said turning a little red. He nodded. "James.", he said. She looked up at him. "You knew him?", she asked almost shocked. He nodded his head. "I sure did. I know him actually. I've seen him recently too. He went after a man. I have yet to hear from him though.", he said scratching his chin in thought. Alex's heart ached for her lost friend. "You have a future daughter-in-law.", Alex blurted out. He looked over at her and raised his eyebrows. "Really?", he said calmly. Alex nodded. "Yes. She's an ymbryne.", Alex replied relieved that he wasn't mad about it. They heard a loud screech and turned to see a barred owl fly in the window. She flew over to a robe that was hanging up and changed, quickly wrapped the robe around her. The older dark haired ymbryne ran her fingers through her hair. "Ah yes. Miss Alma lefay Peregrine correct?", she said smiling. Alex smiled widely thinking about the woman she loves. The ymbryne nodded. "That is wonderful but we need to focus on the wolf that kidnapped your partner and daughter.", she said seriously. Alex's heart plummeted. Raoul stood up and looked down at Alex who had to steady herself with her hands to keep sitting straight. James was alive and now Charles had Amelia too. Anger boiled up in Alex as she stood. Zasha stood beside her. "I want to kill him. He won't get away this time.", she said.