“I am far from pleased.” Soyebi said to his followers. “The four of you will get Luicius back for me,
or there will be a price to pay. Is that understood?”
They nodded.
“Good. I shall leave tonight to head back to Summit Vista. After all, I have more followers than just you.”
As he had brought nothing with him, there was nothing to pack.
“I expect results.” he reminded them as he left. “You have one week.”
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Illyana sat at her desk, tapping the stylus of her art pad lightly against the desk. She was feeling mildly artistic, but wasn’t sure what to draw. So, for fun she drew Billy in different styles. She got an amusing idea and began drawing numerous sketches – it took her nearly the full day. In the end however, she animated it. It was a very realistic crocodile, that morphed into a Billy, which morphed into a dinosaur. The dinosaur, for whatever reason, seemed to be a cross of a T-Rex and a velociraptor…wearing roller blades. She just could not picture Billy without them.
Highly amused, she saved the animation to her phone, resolving to show it to Billy if she saw him again. A fit of giggles arose when she tried to imagine introducing him to her extended family. Oh, that would be too funny – especially as they would look to Timur to give his opinion!
=========================================
Mandy beckoned Lucius to follow her. She looked at Charles for a moment “I’m just going to walk around the center with him. I’ll bring him back.”
Quite willingly, Lucius stood up and followed her, leaving his backpack in the office for now. “That you for seeing me.” he said quietly after a few silent moments. “It means a lot.”
“If I were to be honest with you – and I am – I was willing to do so and come to your defense because of how you approached me. You didn’t as for forgiveness, you didn’t ask for a second chance. All you wanted was to be understood. I may not be able to entirely understand what it was like for you, but I do have a better idea.”
“Many I…I don’t know what I did to hurt you, but I am sorry for it – whatever it was.”
“I know you are. I’m willing to set that aside for now, because you weren’t whole – you were broken.”
Lucius used his left hand to rub up and down his right arm briefly as he looked at the floor a moment, before returning his attention to her. “Do you think…I mean…can we…” he sighed. “Can we at least be friends?”
Mandy smiled at him. “I think friendship is fine. I’ll keep my protectors informed of this.”
“Are…are you sure I’m safe?” he asked after a few moments.
“Positive.” she replied. “I have amazing friends, and Charles has connections. If you don’t want to go back, you won’t. Legally, they don’t have a leg to stand on, as you’re technically an adult.”
“I’d be leaving a lot behind.” he mumbled. “Things can be replaced. Or, if you want, I can get some people to pick it up for you once you get settled in somewhere. Hell, I might even be able to talk Michael into letting you room with him. Maybe.”
“Michael’s on his own?”
“Mmhmm. He’s even holding down a job. Moreover, he’s doing well with it.”
Lucius blinked a couple of times. “Are you sure it’s the same Michael?”
“Positive.” she laughed.
“I don’t want anyone to feel obligated that they have to house me.”
“I’m not going to force anyone. There’s also the possibility of your Aunt having space at her place, but that I’m not sure of. I can guarantee you that your cousin doesn’t have room at his.”
“We’ll see what happens.”
Mandy nodded in agreement. “Come on. I should get you back to the office.”
“Okay.” he said, following her back to the office.