Chapter One #2
Ajani effortlessly carried his suitcase up the front steps Ekon followed with Marvin after waiting for him to get Mandla out of his seat. The toddler ran up the steps straight to Alexi. He picked up the eager boy with ease, but his attention remained on Ekon.
“What’s it been? A year?”
“About that,” Ekon answered, picking up an awkwardness that was all him, he knew. He just couldn’t seem to relax.
Inside the elegant entrance way, Marvin disappeared off with Mandla.
Ajani wordlessly took his suitcase upstairs to the room they had given him years earlier.
This left Ekon no choice but to go with Alexi to the large living area that held multiple chairs and couches.
More than the last time he was here he noted.
Ekon could see Marvin’s personality stamped in this room, with how it catered to the children and was more relaxed than any other in the Thalassa building.
“Can I get you a drink?” Alexi asked when Ekon sat on a couch by one of the large front-facing windows.
The sun streamed through, and he noted the dust motes dancing in the light as he shook his head. “I’m good, I had something on the plane, and thanks for sending it.”
“You’re part of our family Ekon. You were there when we needed you most, our krakens never forget that.”
Ekon could see Alexi’s animal there lurking in the depths of his eyes. Krakens were magical creatures.
Could it see what was inside Ekon?
He hesitated about asking, feeling it might be rude, and then the moment was lost when Alexi’s sons ran into the room, covered in… Ekon couldn’t say but it looked dubious. He cringed at the mess they’d create if they touched the furniture.
Alexi’s hands became tentacles before Ekon could blink twice, and he had both boys dangling midair before they could touch anything. “What have I told you about leaving the kitchen without washing your hands first?”
Danik appeared behind, breathless, disheveled, and wearing whatever the boys had touched on his chest, and there was a smear on his handsome face.
Ekon bit the inside of his cheek to stop the chuckle at the once-revered police detective being a sticky mess.
“Feeding time in the zoo would be easier than playing with you two monsters. What did I tell you?” Danik asked in a firm tone. Yet his eyes sparkled with amusement.
They didn’t appear in the least bit cowed as they replied in unison. “Don’t leave the kitchen without washing up first.”
Danik’s lips twitched. “Then why are you covered in marmite?”
“Forgot,” Marin promptly said.
Zale pointed his thumb at Marin and gave a toothy grin. “What he said.”
Alexi heaved a sigh. “What are we to do with you pair?” He strode to Danik and deposited both children into his arms.
“Don’t know,” Zale replied, the cheekier of the two, which he followed up with an angelic smile, getting a groan from Alexi.
“I’ll take them up and give them a bath.” Danik then seemed to notice Ekon, and a grin appeared. “Good to see you man, welcome back to the madhouse.”
“What’s mad about it?” Marvin questioned scurrying in, looking between the men.
“Everything,” Alexi answered, clapping Marvin on the shoulder. “I’ll leave you to catch up with Ekon and go help Danik with the kids.”
“I’m perfect—”
“Yes, you are, now let’s leave these two to catch up.” Alexi sent a pointed look at Ekon before he pushed Danik out of the room.
Marvin looked confused as he came and settled on the couch next to Ekon. “They didn’t have to leave.”
“Alexi is picking up my need to talk to you,” Ekon hazarded.
“Oh… so I was right something is wrong, and that’s why you came home?”
The sadness in his voice left Ekon conflicted. He didn’t say this wasn’t his home, as that would hurt Marvin. “I’m back because I want to ask you some questions about what you saw in the places they held us. About if you know what they were injecting me with?”
Marvin scratched the side of his neck looking lost. “I never met you… which isn’t unusual, as there were lots of boys.
What I know is they used lots of shifters over the years.
It’s hard to say which batches they used on you.
I didn’t know which batch you were in either, so it’s impossible to say and I wouldn’t want to guess. ”
“I can’t remember when they introduced me into Ajani’s group. It’s bollocks,” Ekon cursed in frustration. “Shit, don’t get upset,” he urged at the tears glistening in Marvin’s eyes. “Do you think Todd would have any ideas?”
“Can you tell me why you want to know now?”
Marvin’s quivering voice made Ekon’s stomach dance unpleasantly, making him rush to explain about the feelings inside him and the recurrent dream.
He missed the part about the figure showing up in daylight.
He didn’t need anyone thinking he was crazy, or not yet, until he exhausted every avenue as to why it was happening.
Next thing Marvin was up and dragging him out the door. “Let’s go speak to Todd, if anyone can find the information you want it’ll be him.” Marvin gave him a reassuring smile.
Ekon let himself get dragged upstairs and along to where Todd worked.
His office was a mass of electronic bits everywhere in some form of construction. Ekon made sure to tuck his hands in his pockets.
Todd glanced up, blinking behind the black framed glasses that magnified his eyes. “Hey Ekon, good to see you.”
Marvin danced at Ekon’s side. “Todd, we need your help.”
Todd sat back in his office chair, after placing down the tiny screwdriver he held. “What do you need?”
Ekon took a deep breath and released it slowly. “Can you help me find out what I truly am?”