The Ocean’s City

“Silvestia, stay with us! You hear me!” Dannie’s familiar voice sobbed as my shoulders shook like a demon possessed me.

“Let up!” Dalton scolded, and my eyes shot open. All three of them surrounded me as I lay on a muddy bank. The sound of a waterfall roaring over their words. Dannie instantly wrapped her arms around me when she saw my eyes open. She sobbed like a woman who had nothing else to lose.

My eyes were glued to Dalton. I studied every feature. It was him. It had to be him.

“It’s me, Silvestia. I am here.” He offered as if he understood why I stared at him with so much distrust.

“You look so much like him.” Dalton only nodded his head. He didn’t offer an explanation. “But he isn’t your father. He’s your uncle?”

Again, Dalton nodded his head. “I have a lot of explaining to do.”

“Let’s get everyone comfortable first,” Hutson exclaimed as he wrapped his arms around Dannie. A rosy color bloomed on her cheeks. Then beside us, right before our eyes, a building formed, log after log until it was finished.

“Who?” I asked, but my eyes were still on Dalton, not trusting it was him somehow.

“Me.” Huston offered. “Dalton’s energies are much too exerted right now.”

I turned to Hutson in some kind of understanding. “You made this realm?” He nodded cautiously as if giving too much information would cause me to freak out.

“Soon, you will be able to do the same,” Dalton whispered, snaking an arm around me and pulling me up to my feet.

“Me?” Dalton only nodded again.

“Let’s get you inside of the house first.”

“But Andrewka — he—”

“He will not be a problem anymore. I handled him. Come. Let’s get you cleaned up.”

I didn’t notice it initially, but my whole body trembled, and my legs wobbly. If it wasn’t for Dalton holding me up, I wouldn’t have been able to walk. Dannie rubbed my arms, giving me encouraging words, telling me it would be okay. I knew it would be okay. Now, I would finally get all the answers I had been seeking.

…

The boys gave Dannie and me our privacy to get cleaned up. At first, I fought Dalton, not wanting him to go anywhere, but he squeezed my hand and promised me he would be just in the other room. When they left, Dannie had me in a deathly squeeze.

“I am so happy you are okay,” she sobbed in the crook of my neck, and as I noted how real she felt, I let all my emotions out. Begging her to forgive me with each apology, she promised everything was forgiven.

We took a shower together like we used to when we were younger. Dannie helped wash me like a mother. Given how distant my words were, she felt she needed to help me.

“You’ll be fine. I am sure you’re just in a bit of shock. What’s important is that we are together now.”

Images of Andrewka flashed through my mind, but I didn’t tell her. It was probably from the shock like she said. Dalton said he was dealt with, and we didn’t have to worry.

Dannie helped dry me off, and although I could tell she had a million and one questions, and so did I, we remained completely quiet.

“There, all done.” She exclaimed, and I hurried from the chair without saying a word.

“Silvestia?” She followed right behind me, and I swung the door open to see that the guys were not there. My heart pounded. Something wasn’t right.

“They aren’t here. They had something to handle. They promised to be back soon. We should get some rest before they come back.”

Rest

I didn’t think I could rest. My mind felt numb, and my adrenaline shot, but something wasn’t right. I fell to my knees.

“NO, no, no!! Dannie, something isn’t right.” She shooed me and cradled me on the floor. She forced me to look at her when I finally calmed down enough.

“What’s my real mother-given birth name?”

I searched her eyes with complete confusion but answered anyway. “Daniella.” She nodded, pleased with herself.

“If you ever feel like something isn’t right, you say my real name. Do you understand?”

I nodded. “But why?”

Dalton will be here soon. Please wait for him to explain everything. She wiped away my tears, took my hand, and guided me back to the bedroom, where we lay cuddled up.

My mind ran a million miles per minute. There was no way I could sleep, but I lay there because Dannie had already dozed off, and I was just happy to be reunited with her again.

Despite my mind wondering about all the questions I needed to know, I somehow dozed off with her.