Chapter Thirty-Eight – The trip to France

First, tell your cousin she’s an experiment. Second, find out just what kind of experiment she is. And why.

The first task had been easy enough, all things considering. His back was still sore from where it had connected with the ground, but it didn’t stop Xavier from planning his next move. He’d promised her to get answers, and the only place he could get those was in France. But it wasn’t like he could just walk there. It took a bit more planning, especially since he couldn’t just up and create portals like that witch friend of his. So he had to fly out – but Nadine had promised to meet him there.

It had taken him two days, mostly due to the horrible flight schedules up north, but he was finally standing in front of the old vineyard that belonged to his grandparents. Why they had ever moved from the south of France and to the north of Norway was an answer he’d never get. But also, he didn’t care to ask either.

“Xavier! What a surprise!” His grandma exclaimed as he walked through the gate. Her and his grandpa were both seated out on one of the many patios, enjoying a light breakfast out in the sun.

“I’m sorry for coming unannounced, it was sort of last minuet urgent planning” Xavier excused himself as he hugged his grandma and shook hands with his grandpa. They had both moved back to France after the whole incident, retiring to a slow life on the country.

“It’s very nice to see you, we haven’t heard from you in a while! How are you doing?” Grandma Bell continued to talk in an excited tone, while her husband turned back to focus on the newspaper.

“I’m doing well – can’t complain” Xavier answered politely as a housekeeper came out to see what the fuzz was all about.

“Can we get a third setting?” Grandma Bell asked, and the housekeeper nodded before going back inside, arriving back with both a plate and a cup for Xavier shortly after.

“Ah, thank you” He thanked the woman with a polite nod before helping himself to some croissants and a cup of coffee. He hadn’t had time to eat just yet. His flight had landed in Paris late last night, and he’d taken the train from there to Toulouse, and then a taxi. It had been a long day of traveling.

“So, tell us. Why are you here?” Grandma Bell took a sip of her own coffee, her big smile still visible from behind the cup. Grandfather Bell was still sitting quietly with his newspaper, minding his own business and not paying attention to anything but the paper.

“I have some questions I need answering” Xavier answered cryptically. He didn’t know how much his grandfather new about what his darling wife had been up to, and he didn’t want to cause any alarm. He’d rather corner her later, when he had a quick escape.

“What kind of questions?” Granma Bell continued to ask questions. But Xavier didn’t answer her, focusing his attention over to his grandfather instead, striking up a conversation about the vine stock and if they had any new vines for him to taste. That got his grandfather talking, and they spent the rest of the morning chit chatting about the new grapes and vines his grandfather was planning on trying out.
–
Grandma Bell had retreated to her study sometime after breakfast, while Xavier was getting a tour of the old yard. He hadn’t been there for many years, and a lot had changed. His grandfather was a fae with the taste for the finer things in life, like vine and good women. Xavier had met several young women working at the vineyard, either with harvesting, production or in the house itself.

“How has life treated you lately?” Grandfather Bell asked once their tour had come to an end in the vine cellar. “Not too bad if I’m being honest. Plenty of things to do to keep me busy” Xavier answered with a glint in his eyes, making his grandfather crack a smile.

“A healthy way of life I would say so. A man sitting around doing nothing will wither away”

They continued to walk around in silence, making their way up to the kitchen where two cooks were preparing a rather large lunch.

“Your grandmother had invited some of her friends for lunch. Nothing to formal, just a way of keeping herself busy now that…” His voice died out, and Xavier could have sworn he saw the old man blink away a tear.

“It’s been a rough couple of years for us all. How is Evelin and Thomas doing?” Xavier asked. He hadn’t spoken to his aunt and uncle for probably five years, they had gone off the grid, the grieve too much to handle.

“They lost their only child – they are doing the best they can” Kristoffer answered truthfully. “We haven’t spoken to either of them in a long time. Your grandma visits now and then, but she’s always in tears when she’s coming home”

Xavier felt his heart sink. He knew how to make it better for all of them, but he couldn’t do that just yet. Not until he knew how much of a threat his own family was.

“Have you spoken to your parents lately?” His Grandfather asked, pulling him out of his own head.

“No – not in a while. Why?” Xavier asked. His parents had decided to split a long time ago, their love for other people taking a toll of their relationship. And they had done their duty and ensured the continuation of both bloodlines.

“Your father has found himself a new and younger wife. They are expecting twins”

The news got Xavier to stop dead in his tracks.

“What was that?” He blinked a couple of times, the words slowly sinking in. His father had a new woman, a new family – and he hadn’t even bothered to call him. Now that was cold.

“He didn’t tell you?” Kristoffer raised a brow. What kind of father did that to their only son?

“No. We’ve been at odd ends ever since the divorce and I sided with my mom” Xavier shrugged. It had been a rather messy divorce, since neither of them wanted to give the other anything. If he hadn’t been an adult when it happened, they probably would have fought over where he should live as well.

“Well – I don’t blame you” Kristoffer shook his head. His son had been somewhat of a fool both before and after the marriage, never settling for one woman at the time. He admired Elena for putting up with it for how long as she had. Though, she hadn’t stayed faithful in the end either. But he didn’t blame her. Any man paying attention to other women will drive his own woman into another mans hands.

“But good for him. He’ll have his hands full, and hopefully this time not with another woman” Xavier couldn’t help himself. Not that he could judge too much. They were all known for their desire and hunger, though, when first settled Xavier believed being loyal to that one person.

“I hope so to” Kristoffer laughed before leading Xavier into another part of the house, a vast library.

“You said you had questions, maybe you’ll find some answers here. I’ll leave you to it”

Xavier watched as his grandfather walked away and listened to his steps before leaving the library himself. Though it may hold some answers, it didn’t have the ones he was seeking.

Though located on a big property the house itself wasn’t too big of a maze, Xavier quickly found his way to his grandmother’s study and stopped outside the door, just listening for now. Waiting for the right signal.

His one buzzed in his pocket.

‘I’m here’ The text was from Nadine. Finally.

‘Thank you’ Xavier responded back before opening the doors to the study, finding his grandmother hunched over what looked like some sort of advanced chemistry set and a large book.

“Xavier!” His grandmothers’ eyes widened when he saw her. “What are you doing?” She tried and failed at hiding the surprise in her voice.

“I was just about to ask you the same” Xavier responded as he closed the door behind them, giving them all the privacy they needed.

“What do you know?”

Grandma Bell sat the equipment done and eyed her grandson. He knew more than he let on, she could tell. But what – that remained a mystery.

“I know that you once experimented on a little girl. And that little girl developed some special kinds of power. And I also know that the little girl is not so little any longer” Xavier started and watched how his grandmother’s face were drained of all color.

“How did you…” Her voice was but a mere whisper.

“I have my ways” Xavier simply answered, picking up one of the little journals that laid on the table. “I like to explore, and on occasions I find thing of interest. Things that tell a dark and twisted story”

He put the journal back down again, slowly lifting his head to lock his eyes on his grandmother. She was pale like snow, her eyes wide and expression bewildered.

“You have to understand…” She started but stopped when Xavier slammed both his hands into the table. It made his grandmother jump away as the vials on the table shook.

“No – there is nothing to understand. You experimented on a young innocent child. Your own flesh and blood. And I only have one question – why?” Xavier’s voice was cold as eyes, his eyes burning with anger.

“I never meant to hurt her. But after – I only wanted to help your father get his element back. I only wanted to find a way from a fae to get their powers back. And she – she was special. She was the perfect…” She stopped talking once Xavier slammed his hands in the table again.
“She was a perfect little child with her entire life ahead of her, and you used her as a gunnie pig for what? To maybe find a way to restore powers to those who lost it? Do you realize how insane that sound?”

She couldn’t do anything but look down, because she knew. She knew just how horrendous that sounded to someone who hadn’t been there. To someone who hadn’t lost their touch with the element. But for the people who had – it was like losing another half of them.

“I only tried to help” She whispered. Was she ashamed of herself? Yes and no. She had used her own grandchild as a gunnie pig, not knowing if the experiments would harm or her not. But she had to try, because someone had told her this girl could be the key. And she believed them. Believed them without asking questions.

“But why her? And why you? There are lots of why questions you need to answer”

“I only did what they told me to do”

The answer caught Xavier by surprise.

“Them? Them who?”

But before his grandmother could answer the doors slammed open, three hooded figurines walking into the room.

“Don’t say another word” One of them warned his grandmother.

Xavier’s eyes narrows as he took in the hooded figurines. Witches. He should have guessed.

“You stupid…” He didn’t get to finish the sentence before he was flung into one of the many bookshelves. He could hear his grandmother gasp in surprise.

“Oh now you’ve done it” Xavier muttered to himself as he got to his feet, swirling his wrists around and watching as the many vials on the table started to shake as the liquid inside of them started to swirl around, threatening to spray all over the bystanders. He didn’t know what they were but judging from the look on his grandmothers face it wasn’t something they wanted to come in contact with.

“Answers, now!” Xavier shouted as the liquids started to swirl out of the vials, creating thing tentacles of liquids in all colors.

“You fool. You don’t know what you’re tampering with!” One of the hooded creatures shouted. But he didn’t care. He was there for answers – and he wouldn’t leave without it.

“Chaos! Chaos! She’s Chaos!” His grandmother shouted; her eyes filled with fear as two of the figures advanced on her. The third figure turned its attention on Xavier, a small dagger drawn.

“Good luck” Xavier heard a female voice spoke before a gust of wind whirled at the intruders, sending them headfirst into the window at the far end of the room, shattering the glass on impact.

“What the…” Grandma Bell wasn’t able to move, just stared at the shattered window. “That won’t buy us much time” The female spoke, and to Xavier’s relief he was the friendly face of Nadine walk through the doorway.

“We should leave – now. Grab whatever you need” Nadine turned her back around, closing her eyes and focusing on drawing circles in the air. Creating a portal of liquid light, bathing the room in an intense blue and white light.

“Take these” Grandma Bell showed several books into Xavier’s hands.

“You should come to” Nadine looked at the old woman, who shook her head.

“We’ll be there soon, I promise. She survived, didn’t she?”

Xavier couldn’t help it, he nodded gently, and his grandmother fell to the ground. He wanted to comfort her, but the urgency in Nadine’s face told him not to.

“Adeline, are you okay love?” He could hear his grandfather come up the stairs, they had to move.

“Alright, we’re going” Xavier walked through the portal, closely followed by Nadine. His surroundings swirled, the light blinding, and then it was dark.

“Xavier?!” He knew that voice. Once the light faded he looked right at Talia. Nadine had taken them right into the library at the pack house. And by the looks of it, they were crashing an important meeting.