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Talia
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I heard my mom call out to Lex, but I couldn't make myself open my eyes to look at the two of them. I heard Lex get up and go over there, his scent passing behind me and then kneeling between me and my mom. I could sense it all, but I couldn't see it. I was almost asleep already.
“Come here, Talia.” Those words were whispered softly next to my ear. I don't think that Lex even expected me to hear him.
“Lex.” I could barely move my mouth when I spoke so even that little whispered word was slurred. “I'm so sleepy.”
“I know, Talia. I know.” I felt his big arms wrapped around my back and under my legs. He was cradling me like I was a baby or something. I probably looked like a baby in his arms, he was such a big man. But I felt safe and comfortable in his arms. This was a place that I knew I would never be hurt. No matter the situation, as long as Lex was able to, he would protect me. He was the best guard, and my best friend in the world.
.....
“Mr. Alexio, I will show you to her room.” That was the new girl's voice. Telyn, she was already proving to be a big help for us.
“Thank you.” Lex nodded but didn't correct her. He should have. He has a last name after all.
“Ptolemy.” I barely got the word out, it was so slurred that both Lex and Telyn seemed to not understand me.
“What was that, Princess Talia?”
“What did you say?” Lex was closer to me, so I answered him.
“I was telling her your last name. You are not Mr. Alexio. You are Mr. Ptolemy. You have an actual last name.” I had to struggle really hard to pull myself out of the stupor of sleep just so I could say that properly. I was ready to let myself drop back into it though. I just needed to relax a little.
“Oh. I was not aware. We have not been properly introduced yet.” Telyn sounded embarrassed, but I didn't bother to say anything else to her. I was too tired.
Lex carried me up the stairs as he followed behind the girl. I wanted so desperately to just go to sleep now. Then again, I knew that if I did go to sleep now, I would end up sleeping in my clothes, and I wanted to be comfortable so that I could get a lot more sleep. Not to mention that it would be so much less awkward for Lex if he didn't have to stress over me. For that reason, and that reason alone, I decided to stay awake as he carried me up the stairs. It was hard though. That constant swaying motion as Lex walked was really trying to pull me under.
“Here you are, Mr. Ptolemy. This is Princess Talia's room. The room for you and Mr. Desmodius is right next to hers. This will allow you to protect her as you intend to do.” She was smiling as she showed him the door, I could just barely make that out as I peeked out through my lashes.
“Thank you.” Lex's voice was calm, and he didn't seem at all tired from carrying me for so long or for so far. He just waited for Telyn to open the door and let us in.
Once we were inside the room, Lex set me down on the bed. I took a moment to look around the room while he investigated the space. He was not able to do this without bringing me inside the room with him, since he had been carrying me.
“I assume that Rudy checked the room, but I cannot be sure unless I check it myself as well.” He was nothing if not thorough when it came to being safe.
“I know.” I took in my surroundings while he checked to make sure I was safe. The room was simple, nothing overly special. There was a large, king sized bed with lots of fluffy pillows. One dresser, a chest at the foot of the bed, two nightstands, two lamps, a door to the closet, a door to the private bathroom, and the door to the hallway. That was all that there was in the room, aside from my luggage, Lex, and me.
“It's safe. There is nothing here.” He had checked every drawer, the closet, and the bathroom.
“So it is. And it's quite quaint.” I was used to a castle, so these other Alpha homes were something different entirely. I didn't hate it. I actually loved it. It made me feel secure since there was less space in the room.
“You should get some sleep.” He nodded at me. “A nap at least, and then you can sleep again later tonight, when it is dark out. It is still morning here after all.”
“I have completely lost track of time here, Lex. I left Colorado at like one or two in the morning. I had already been up the entire day before that, and then I was up the entire day in Wales as well. And that just felt like so long. And now it is morning here in Sydney. What time is it at home now? How long have I actually been gone? I don't even know right now.” I laughed about it, but it felt a little bitter. In truth, I was feeling confused about time and all that other stuff.
“I believe that it is close to dinner time back in Colorado. Almost six in the evening if I am correct. So, you have been here for about fourteen hours. Longer than me by about five hours. And I am not ready to sleep yet, since I slept through last night when you did not. Sleep, Talia, please. Get some rest.”
“I will.” I nodded at him, getting ready to head for my bag. I wanted to change my clothes in the bathroom, but my ringing phone stopped me. “Heh, at least I have international calling.” I smirked as I looked at the caller ID. “What does Rika want?”
In hindsight, I should have known what my sister wanted from me. I should have braced myself for it or not answered the call or something. But no, I answered it, and I was immediately blown away by her intensity.
“Hello?” I know that my voice was calm, and that there was no reason at all to panic from my tone. Still, my sister and brother, both of whom were on the other end of the call, seemed like they were about to die.
“TALIA!”
“TALLY!” They sounded so scared and angry as they said my name at the same time.
“Hey Reagan, hey Rika, what's up?” I made myself sound cheerful as I engaged them in conversation.
“DON'T HEY ME YOU LITTLE BRAT!” Rika snapped at me.
“Do you know what we went through this morning, Tally? Do you?” Reagan sounded more upset than I had ever heard him being before.
“I'm sorry. Mom asked for my help, and she told me that I would be going home right away, but something happened to change that. I didn't mean to scare anyone, honest. Please don't be mad at me.” I hated how scared they were for me. And I wondered for a minute how the others must feel. “How was Nona and Lola? Papa and Móraí too? Are they upset with me too? Are they mad at me?”
“No one is mad at you, Talia, it's just that we were so worried about you.” Rika sounded like her anger was finally subsiding as she spoke in a normal voice.
“I'm still pissed at Mom and Dad though. They are the ones that did this and scared us all. And they called to let everyone know except for us. Rika and I were looking for you, Tally. And we didn't stop until Nana called to tell us where you were. It was the worst morning of my life. I swear.” Reagan sounded so heartbroken. I knew that if I could see his face, I would probably see that he had red rimmed eyes. He was one of those that tried not to get angry like this because you could usually see it. Not for minor things, but the major things that affect his family would make it look like he had been crying.
“I am sorry, Reagan. I never wanted you to worry about me. I will be home when the investigation is over.” I tried to sooth them, but as it turns out, I just piqued their interest more.
“Why do they need your help? What is going on?” Rika jumped on that trail right away.
“Well, I don't know how much I should tell you, but I don't want to hide things either. So, I will tell you a little bit. There are people that are being killed. They have been murdered by this group of people that, to me, seem like humans. They are trying to kill off all nonhumans, or that's what I gathered. And, well, the people are using these runes that are trapping the souls of the dead in their bodies.”
“That is horrible, but is it worth you missing your senior year?” Rika was always the one that got to the point like this.
“These souls that are trapped inside their bodies, they can feel everything that happens to them. They feel the cuts of the autopsies, and it's horrible. And what's worse, if I don't release them before they have been cremated, then they will feel that as well. They will feel like they are burning alive even if they are dead. I can't let that happen to people.”
“Oh my goddess.” Rika gasped.
“What the fuck! These people are sick!” Reagan sounded angry.
“That is why I am needed. I need to help these people. And I am the only one that can do it. I even have Lucifer working with me to find other souls that might have moved on before I get to them. It's a big process, and I hope you can understand why I had to leave.”
“Yes, we understand.” They said this at the same time. Sometimes, that whole twin thing was really true for them. The same went for Zachary, Zander, Zayden and Zaley, only that was even weirder, hearing the same thing four times.
“I am going to go to sleep now, we've been working all day and now it's morning.” I yawned loudly.
“Where are you? I thought you were in Wales.” Rika sounded confused.
“We were. Then we went to England, Ireland and Scotland. Now we're in Australia. And the time difference between here and home is massive. Plus I haven't slept since the night before I left.” I was yawning again, this time it was accompanied by a big, full body stretch.
“That was just last night. That you left that is. So, you haven't slept since the night before. Yeah, that is a long time. Get some sleep sis.” Reagan's voice was fading away from me as I started to drift asleep already.
“Come on now, Talia, lay down before you fall asleep.” I felt Lex catch me then, my eyes wouldn't open, but I knew that he was probably looking annoyed.
“Alexio?” I heard Rika's voice.
“Hello Rika, and you are well Reagan. Talia is falling asleep as she sits up, please kindly end the call so that I can put her to bed.”
“Yeah, she is tired.” Reagan laughed. “Goodnight Tally, love you. Take care of her, Alexio.”
“Good night Talia, love you. And thank you for being there with her, Alexio.” Rika's voice barely registered in my mind.
“G.. nigh..” I couldn't get the words out, I was already asleep. Consequently, I don't remember anything else that happened until I woke up later that day.
