Missing Kid

Everyone was bounding around like chickens with their head cut off. Alex was walking past and I cracked open the wine he’d bought and poured a glass. When he rushed past again I held the wine glass out to him impeding his progress. He stopped and looked at me with a frown. “I’m sorry. We…”

“I know. Doesn’t he have a watcher?” I interrupted.

Alex shook his head. “Not in the house. And no…” he frowned, “We don’t have cameras in the bedrooms.”

“I’ll go look for him in the park, that seems to be where he likes to go.” I said. Alex was clearly pissed and he didn’t need my help finding his son. I set the glass on the counter, “Dinner’s warming in the oven but it’ll dry out.”

I walked out of Alex’s house again. I took the stairs and out of the lobby before anyone caught up to me. 

“Jesus, Nox. I’m a bit preoccupied I don’t have time for this shit.”

“I’m going. Don’t worry about it. I’ll help look for him. Go back.”

Alex grabbed my arm and frowned. “Nox. Stop.”

“No Alex. This is your life. You want to be an ass when I ask questions then fine, but I don’t have to stick around.” I growled. “Vin, come get me.” And I started walking away.

“Why did you just call Vin?”

“Because he’s mine.” I said and kept walking pulling away from Alex.

“You remember something?” He followed me.

“No.” I walked to the alley and waited. Vin came out of the shadows shortly after I arrived.

“Hunter said you’d call.”

“I remember. Where is he?” I asked.

Vin frowned, “He made me promise not to tell anyone.”

“Vin, he ran away. He didn’t tell anyone. His family is freaking the fuck out. He’s five fucking years old, he can’t do this.” 

Vin nodded, “I’ll take you to him.” He looked resigned.

“Yes, let’s go to Hunter, but how is Vin yours?” Alex asked.

“Hunter will explain. Come on.” Vin took Alex’s arm and steered him towards the shadows of the alley he’d emerged from. I followed him willingly. Though I was pretty sure Vin wasn’t willingly taking us to see Hunter.

Vin held out his hand and I took it easily. And then in the next step we were in the shadows of a summer house way out at the far end of the Hamptons. I didn’t really know how I knew where we were but it looked remarkably familiar. “Why are we here?” Alex asked.

I pointed out by the water, “Hunter’s over there.”

“You can see that far away?”

I shrugged. “He’s looking for rocks against the beach over there.” Vin added.

“You left him on the beach alone?” Alex growled and started running in that direction.

Vin and I followed and when we caught up to him, he was already on his knees hugging Hunter tightly to his body. He at least loved the little boy, though I was still feeling like this wasn’t something he wanted for himself. I wondered why he stayed.

Hunter was safe and now Alex was yelling. Vin and I stayed out of ear shot and Hunter started crying. He ran towards us and wrapped his arms around my legs. “I was just trying to help.”

“Did you?” I asked

Hunter looked up at me with tear streaked cheeks and a bright grin. “I made enough. I can’t wait anymore. Everyone’s so broken.”

He handed me a charm bracelet and as I took it in my hands I felt like I’d always known things I had forgotten. The magic of the spell washed away the fog of my mind and I knew me. I knelt down and smiled, “You made enough?”

Hunter nodded enthusiastically and he held out the palm of his hand with a bunch of smooth rocks with a slight glow and a rune etched into the side. “But nothing to hang it on?” Hunter nodded.

I sat down in the sand heedless of my phobia. I had things to do and Hunter needed help.

“What are you doing?” Alex asked. 

“One sec.” I held up a finger and I pulled my magic about me and I made a simple cord and Hunter burrowed a hole into the stone and we strung the cord through the rock and tied a simple not at the end. I stood up and tried not to freak out as the sand fell away from my ass and legs. Alex’s shorts were no match for the sand and I started to feel the scratchy edges to them and I closed my eyes as I walked towards Alex. He didn’t flinch away from me as I strung the pendant over his head and tucked it inside his shirt.

He blinked at me. The confusion and then the realization and he wrapped his arms around me and he held me tight. “Fuck Pretty Boy.”

Hunter handed Vin a stone and the vampire smiled at me. “It’s good to remember boss.” He chuckled at the word.

Alex turned around and looked at Vin, “You… That makes more sense now. I broke your bond with Ant?”

I shook my head, “No, but Vin’s is strong because it’s one of loyalty and friendship. Ant’s was forced.”

“Ant’s power is what I have though.” Vin said. “I’ve never been a powerful vampire. Shadow walking was never something I could do. And this daylight thing. Yeah pretty sure that should never have happened.”

“It’s all Nox.” Alex said, “He fucks up magic.” He chuckled and looked at me with a bright smile, “I fucking missed you Pretty Boy.” He leaned in and kissed me.

When Alex broke the kiss his eyes were shining with tears too. “Don’t ever do that again!” 

I chuckled, “I didn’t do it in the first place. Why would I want to forget you or our life.”

Alex pulled me close. “I know baby, but that begs the question. Who did?”

I sighed. “I have no idea, but now that we know we’ll work it out.” I hugged Alex tighter. “With you I know we can accomplish anything.”I sighed. “I have no idea how, but now that we know we’ll work it out.”

A shadow passed over Alex’s face, almost like he might already know something, then he rolled his eyes and it was gone, like I imagined it. “So fucking confident,” he teased.

“Why not?” I shrugged and hugged Alex tighter. “We’re back together now, we can accomplish anything.”

“If you can get Cass to clean her room I just might believe that.”

“Me too,” Hunter chimed in, reminding me we weren’t alone. “It’s a disaster dad!”

“Well, I guess we should get back. Vin?” I let go of Alex and Hunter stepped between us, gripping both our hands, then Vin took my free hand and we were back home, back to reality, and all that entailed.