15
Alec stood before the towering glass building, mouth agape, as he stared at the reflection of the modern world around him. Nicholas was frequently reminded of his brother”s fascination with the present day. It was a far cry from the time they once knew, and Alec”s urge to adapt was evident in the wide-eyed wonder he displayed.
”Look at this!” Alec exclaimed, holding up a small device in his hand – a smartphone. ”I can talk to people across the globe, read books, and even listen to music on it!”
”Indeed,” Nicholas replied with a smile, watching as his brother clumsily navigated the screen. ”It”s quite remarkable how far technology has advanced.”
”Remarkable, yet complicated,” Alec admitted, his excitement giving way to a furrowed brow.
”Take your time, brother,” Nicholas smiled. ”You”ll get the hang of it soon enough. Didn’t you already get some woman’s phone number?”
Alec grinned, uttering a low chuckle. “Yeah, not just one. Two. Do women always give out their numbers in stores?”
Nicholas snorted. “No, it appears you’re quite a Casanova.”
“What’s a Casanova?” Alec asked.
“Never mind,” Nicholas muttered.
As they continued walking through the bustling city streets, Nicholas couldn”t shake the nagging feeling that something was amiss. Alec was trying valiantly to embrace his new life, but there was a lingering unease that seemed to follow him. Nicholas quickly dismissed the errant thoughts; there was no need to worry about Alec anymore.
Later that evening, Nicholas sat down with Connor in the quiet study, nursing a glass of whiskey as they discussed what had been weighing on his mind.
”Connor, I”ve been thinking,” Nicholas began, his voice somber. ”Alec is in control of his own life now. He can leave whenever he wants. I think it’s a matter of time before he wants to return to Eastview, and we can’t keep him from it.”
He saw Connor’s throat tighten, and the lines in his face tensed. “I’ve been thinking the same thing. I don’t think he should, but we can’t stop him, anymore than anyone could have stopped you when you were hell bent on the same damn thing.”
“Well, perhaps it”s time we attempt to return to the past, to see my parents. We should go with Alec, instead of try to stop him.” Nicholas was surprised at the way Connor’s face paled somewhat, as if the notion stirred something uneasy in him. His uncle quickly recovered, shaking his head.
”Nicholas, you know the risks involved in altering the timeline—and if we all return to Eastview and try to have a family reunion, it will not end well,” Connor warned, his brow creasing with concern. ”The consequences could be dire.”
”I understand that, but maybe if we can reconnect with our parents, at least one last time, it could help him adjust to this new life.”
”Or it could make things worse,” Connor pointed out. ”We have no way of knowing how our actions in the past might affect the present or future. You didn’t know who Sophia was when you pursued your plan to stop Alec’s death. There are thousands of people like Sophia that are affected when we change things. You know that’s why the immortals watch over the Blooded Ones.”
Nicholas blanched at that. He did not need to be reminded that he nearly erased the love of his life from existence. “Yeah, I’m quite aware of that. You don’t think that haunts me every day?”
“Well, I didn’t say it to hurt you. Only to remind you how dangerous it is. Your parents—and everyone in their lives—believe Alec is dead. They buried him in a plot at Eastview. I’ve dreamed of reuniting with them just as much as you have, but I know we all have a place we are meant to be. I truly believe you and Alec should remain here.”
Nicholas argued, grasping for any shred of hope. ”Surely, there must be some purpose to it all.”
”Perhaps,” Connor conceded, his expression softening. ”But we must tread carefully, Nicholas. The fate of not just Alec, but countless others, may rest on our actions.”
”I know you are right,” Nicholas conceded, well aware of the gravity of their choices. ”But for Alec”s sake – and for our own, I think we should consider how we might safely do it.”
It was then that Alec emerged from the shadows, his face pale and his eyes wide. ”You’re both right. I want to see my parents,” he said, his voice wavering slightly. ”I’ve done everything you asked. It’s time.”
Nicholas turned to face Alec, torn between his uncle and brother. He wanted desperately to grant Alec”s wish, but the potential dangers weighed heavily on his mind.
”Are you sure about this, Alec?” Nicholas asked, searching his brother”s eyes for any signs of doubt.
”More than anything,” Alec insisted, his jaw set. ”I”ve spent so much time trying to understand this new life, but I feel like I”m missing a crucial part of myself. I want to see them, at least to say goodbye.”
Connor cleared his throat, drawing their attention. ”While your desire is understandable, Alec, we must consider the potential dangers of tampering with the past—especially our own timeline.”
Alec”s gaze hardened, but Nicholas could see the vulnerability lurking beneath. ”I know the risks, but doesn”t our happiness matter? Don”t we deserve a chance to find closure and peace?”
”Of course, you do,” Connor answered, his voice gentle but firm. ”But we must weigh the consequences against our desires. You are no longer only a Blooded One who can travel through time. You are an immortal who must consider how changing things affects us all. We can”t put the lives of countless others in jeopardy for our own sake. That is our duty as immortals.”
Nicholas could see Alec”s frustration and desperation growing, and he couldn”t help but feel the same emotions bubbling inside him. Was there truly no way to give his brother what he needed without endangering everything they held dear? Nicholas wondered, grappling with the harsh reality of their situation.
”Let us continue searching for the safest path forward,” Connor suggested, nodding at the bookshelf. ”Perhaps we can find a way to satisfy both our hearts and our duty to protect the timeline. Can we all agree, at least on that?”
Alec issued a surly nod, the creases in his mature face rigid. Nicholas considered his brother’s acquiescence, and then nodded to their uncle.
”Very well,” Nicholas relented. ”We’ll figure out a way to make it work.”
“Yeah. Figure out a way,” Alec muttered.
Connor sat down hard in a chair, and Nicholas watched his brother leave the room.