Marvin had made it a point to visit Brianna in prison about once every fortnight. He never held any of her misgivings against her, even when he found that his sister was one of the culprits. In a way that made him a little guilty.
However, the friendship he had forged with Brianna went deeper, as it was ford through so of life’s crises. It ca to a point where Brianna refused to see him, but despite this, Marvin never gave up and continued to visit her. Sotis the prison guards would look at him with pity, but Marvin was past that.
It was so ti after that that he began to wonder where his sister was. He still felt guilty about what he had done to Ava and wanted to make ands, but he was not yet on his feet.
Marvin finally mustered the courage and stood at the magnificent mansion. The him from the past would have been looking for ways to dupe Ava out of so money, but he felt nostalgia instead, looking at the huge sign that read: ’BURNETT MANSION’
Marvin had heard that the man that Ava had married adored her, but he never thought it would be to that level.
He knocked and was ushered in, and now he sat opposite his sister.
"You’re pregnant?"
"Obviously!"
"Ava, I-"
"Marvin, before you say anything, rember what I said last ti? I don’t want to be anyone’s hope in this life.... I can’t be my own hope!"
"It’s not like that, Ava.. I-"
"Marvin, I sympathize with what you went through, but-"
"AVA!"
Ava was startled and glared at him,
"I’ve changed! I’m not here to ask for money! I – I- just want to apologize."
"Oh!"
"Yes, that’s the only reason I am here now. I was a dork then and didn’t cherish the relationship we had. I apologize for all that you went through, but I am also happy that you’ve found a man who cherishes you so much. I know our parents will be happier to see this, though they will forever be disappointed in . I have turned a new leaf and am committed to turning my life around. I- I just wanted to tell you that."
Ava was quiet as she studied Marvin. Rocky stayed out of sight, watching how she handled Marvin, her brother, because, after all, the final call should always co from her, but he was always ready to step in if need be.
"Do you need any h-"
"No, I don’t need anything, Ava," Marvin said helplessly. This new Marvin was very different from the one that Ava had grown up knowing. This made Ava sympathize even more, especially because he had been part of the rescue from that island.
"I am glad that you’re okay, Ava. I will not disturb your new life."
Mavin got up,
"May I hug you?"
Ava nodded, and he pulled her gently in for a loose hug.
As he turned to leave, Ava added, "Let know if you need any help... and our doors will always be open to you, once you stay on track."
Marvin nodded and then turned to leave, but just as he stepped out, a maid rushed out after him,
"Sir... Sir! Please wait!"
He turned as the woman rushed up, "Master Rocky said that call the number on this card to help with a job, if you’d like one."
Marvin received it and then turned to the mansion, bowing deeply.
Though he had said he did not need help, he was grateful and promptly dialled the number on the card. Though he was shocked when he saw the person whose number he had been given, Marvin knew that he was eting him in a different capacity. He was no longer a drug addict but a sober man looking for a job. He rembered so of the people in the group, but still went ahead to accept the job that he was given.
***
Following Level-headed and Doll’s suggestion, the Boss had contacted Rocky, and they had established their own legit business of a sort. By day, the place looked almost respectable. The front bar, polished wood counters and shelves lined with mid-shelf liquor, carried the buzz of a neighbourhood hangout.
They now had regulars, who nursed their drinks while music humd low, and Boss kept a steady eye on the till. So far, nothing seed out of place, and most importantly, nothing that scread trouble.
So, when he received a call from a man referred by Rocky, although he rembered that they had sent this person to the island, Boss and his team had asked no questions and started Marvin as a valet for their front-facing business.
Past this bar, and the picture shifted. A small gym, sweaty and loud, ran nonstop training sessions, so boxing, so weights, so lessons that weren’t listed on any flyer. Level-headed had taken a short accounting course and now handled such paperwork for his team, while Bull-headed was their bouncer for their establishnt.
His voice never fully recovered, and he talked with a rusty touch then. The paperwork and numbers were handled in the cramped back office, where the books were always balanced, though sotis they never quite matched the whisper of bills being counted late at night.
Next door was a dance studio that operated under its own rules, managed by Doll. Instructors taught rhythm, posture, and flow; students ca for exercise, for confidence, for other reasons they didn’t say out loud ... for there was also the kind of different heat-like session that was only privately booked, known on a need-to-know basis.
Doll ran the operation with the kind of astonishing precision that was uncommon.
Rocky had only provided so of the connections and funds, but he was not involved in their activities. He was only happy that they had decided to go legit, but largely stayed out of their hair.
The rest of their team worked the valet service outside, the muscle that doubled as trainers, the clerks who shuffled papers like accountants. They all still answered to the Boss and his circle.
From the outside, it looked almost legitimate. From the inside, it was a web, every piece serving its place, every day slipping into the next, but for them, it was as legit as could be.
***
"Ready, Mum, Dad?" Ian asked.
Obviously, Alex and Geneva were unsure what it ant. They had an extensive discussion about this, and finally, almost the whole family, apart from a select few, including Alicia, stood at a newly created portal.
Brad was a little flustered, but he also wanted to see what the place that his brother belonged to looked like.
The portal had been created in the East Wing of the estate. Ian had one leg in the human world and the other in the Fae. He had deliberated and then concluded that he thought it was favourable.
He waved his hand, and the portal opened, but just before they stepped through, Shelby’s phone dinged. Looking at the ssage, she sighed, then sent a silent command to Murray before they all stepped through.
Fae-land....
As soon as they appeared on the other side and just outside the large castle, Alex, Geneva, Brad, Samantha, as well as the other two kids sucked in their breaths. Geneva grabbed Alex’s hand and held on tightly. Everything was just so different.
’Is this real?’
"Yes, mum... it is all real..."
Ian turned to them and smiled,
"... a heads up. Many of the folks here can read minds, so you might want to guard that..."
"How does one guard their thoughts?!" Geneva mumbled, and the group laughed.
Ian did not question why Shelby had requested that Ingrid and Gabriel co along. He just went along with anything his wife did.
Their guard, surprisingly, an Elder, looked at the large group of mainly humans, but didn’t comnt. The old Faes wanted to show Ian how much they cared, so they had selected the best of the best to welco them.
He stood about six inches tall, hovering in the air by his wings. His long white beard indicated his age. He had a mane of dandelion-fluff hair the colour of lilacs and a pair of translucent dragonfly-like wings rising from his shoulders. Otherwise, he looked almost human, his beauty a distant echo of the lords of Fae.
The contrast was the person who ca with him, who was Brian, whom they were already accustod to. He was about Murray and Currrey’s height, but with his wings spread out, he was also very different. Brad swallowed dryly, awestruck.
It was a lot for any of them to take in. Samantha and the other two moved closer to Shelby, holding on. The place was beautiful but scary as well. Shelby turned to the Elder Fae, who was trying to remain neutral, but he was a blank canvas in front of her, and all mind blocks had been pushed aside. When the old Fae realised this, he looked at Shelby in surprise and then bowed low. In that ti, they noticed that all resistance or negative emotion had been wiped off. She was truly to be their leader, despite her race.
"Take us to him...."
Ian’s calm voice sounded, and the two bowed deeply,
Alex, Geneva and Brad looked on at Ian, surprised, but at the sa ti not, as his crisp command received its due. In here, their son was a different man.
*********
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