24 Dreams Of You And Me

29) He's A Child

"At the age of 19, you always think you are prepared for everything, and you think you have the knowledge of just what's coming ahead. That's youth for you."
-Princess Diana

***

"Why'd you lie to me?" Alyssa whispered.

"Because I couldn't face you just yet. Moreover, you're working with him." Robb gestured towards Levi.

"I.." She trailed off. She felt an unsettling feeling in her core. It felt right and wrong.

"What's wrong with that?" Levi narrowed his eyes.

"Sorta.. everything?" Robb said. "We've never met but that doesn't mean we don't know everything about you. Mom would give anything to meet you and Uncle John."

"My father.. is not.. anything to you." Alyssa spoke slowly with a little crack in her voice.

"We've been raised to believe he is. So no matter what you believe, Alyssa.." Robb shook his head.

"We? Your brother Ian?" Levi asked.

Robb smiled. "So you know about us too."

"Of course we do." Alyssa said as she stared right at her brother. Her physical body would've responded with angry tears filling her eyes.

"So what made you work with him? I know you two are like, sworn enemies."

"We had a deal." Levi said. "She and I both wish to get out of here alive."

"Well bang up job on that." Robb chuckled. "Had I been a minute late, you two would've been nothing by now."

"Why are you here?" Alyssa asked when she was able to think what to say to him.

"I wanted to tell you who I am."

"Not what I meant. Why are you here? Bound to Aradia's spell."

Robb's eyes narrowed. "You're both bound in one spell?"

"Do not act as if you don't know, Lassiter." Levi said.

"There are things you don't know about me, Cahill. So how about you shut up?"

"Robb, answer me or you shut up." Alyssa stated firmly despite the feelings of weakness.

"I'm here from a portal. Not because Aradia casted me. My brother travelled to the spiritual realm to fight her with some other people. They are all dead except him. Their bodies turned black, but not his. He's alive and out somewhere. I've come to find him. Instead, the portal landed me near you both."

"You just opened a portal and your spirit walked right through? It's not that simple." Levi protested.

"It's not simple with simple magic. But with hybrid magic which only my parents know about.."

"Not even your tribe members?" Alyssa asked and Robb shook his head.

"It's too dangerous. My father experimented a lot with it before he could come to the final spell."

"Basically, you being here is a crack in Aradia's spell and you can get out of here whenever you want?" Levi raised his eyebrow.

"No, I can't. The portal closed. But yes, I'm a crack in her spell."

"Closed?!" Alyssa asked.

"Yes. I don't know how. Maybe my skills are rusted." Robb shrugged.

"Are you really being that casual?" Levi asked.

"I wasn't going anywhere till I find Ian anyways. Once I do, he'll open the portal again."

"How come you can't?" Alyssa frowned.