The next day was going to be a busy one, but I was distracted. My mind kept going back to my visit with BJ. "I want to go home!" she had cried. My heart was breaking. I would do anything for her…but not that. We needed each other, but it wasn't going to be easy saying goodbye after each visit.Alexis said he needed to return to his territory to take care of business and would be meeting with Monica.After he left, I went back to the front room where King had discovered one of the many Star Wars movies. "Let's go, son. While Papa's running errands, you and I are going to spend the day together."I took him out to a late lunch at a real restaurant. He ordered too much off the menu and felt bad about wasting it. I had to give him permission not to try to eat it all. Afterwards we looked at two houses that Kat's real estate agent had found for us.Kat knew what we needed, which was basically a house that I already had and one that Kat was now putting up for sale. Ugh, I didn't want t

"Kim and I created King," Alexis said. "When we were something other than what we are now. The Elders sent us to the Underworld, but you can be assured it was something more powerful that decreed it." His eyes flickered red."While we were there we learned some secrets," I said carefully. I didn't want my eyes to start bleeding. "Secrets that would upset the balance," Alexis said. "Secrets that we intend to share with you."Everyone gasped, but no one dared to speak. Neratomay secrets weren't widely known by even high-ranking Council members. They were only conjectures or tales and fables of a possibility that might have existed. I was pretty sure that none of them had ever bled from their eyes and ears trying to reveal a secret."When they sent us to the Underworld and kept us down there for ten years, they didn't realize the grave mistake that they were making," Alexis continued. "It was a perfect storm of power and opportunity. King could not have happened if everything hadn't

"How would you get the Rectors to read your memories?" Tony asked."Once we're overseas," Alexis said, "we intend to announce King's existence to the Neratomay. The Rectors that sit in their throne rooms, content to have their essence move about in the world, will gather and want knowledge of how this was possible, knowledge of how this power can be shared with the Collective. One by one they will seek the information from our thoughts, and one by one they will be killed.""And then the Elders come for you," Tony said. "But your Golden army will take them out.""Yep, that's the plan," Ran said."No, not good." Tony said while shaking his head."Why?" I asked. "There are some holes, but that's why we're talking to you.""First, who is going to make this Golden army?" Tony asked. "You made Monica, and she is not Golden."Monica had been silently listening, surprising me that she had no input."A bite doesn't make you Golden," I said. "You're born that way. And we got a guy…and he

"Bassma?" King called as he darted toward the house. "House" was a loose interpretation. Bassma's place resembled a treehouse, although there were three levels, the main one being on the ground.Bassma came running out of his place. He had transformed to a child again, just for our son. They hugged each other like true friends, and after so many years they truly were friends. Bassma seemed to enjoy reliving his childhood again with King."King!" Bassma shouted. "I thought you were gone for good!""I came back so that I could give everyone a proper goodbye," King said.Bassma smiled. "Thank you.""I want to tell you everything I saw," King said. "It's not like what you remember, Bassma. It's so much cooler."They talked and sat on the porch, swinging their legs as King told him about the things he had seen and the foods that he had eaten. Ran and Oni said they were going to find a fruit that only grew on Bassma's land. I suspected they were going off to make out.Alexis and I enj

I contacted Alexis about what I wanted to do. He wasn't happy about it but didn't object. A few moments later, I called King and brought him to me.King gave me a hug and then looked at Paul."Hi, King." Paul gave him a half smile."Hello," King said. I could tell he was uncomfortable."King, the last time you saw me I bet I sounded like a pretty grumpy person, huh?" Paul asked.King nodded after a momentary pause."I'm sorry about that," Paul said. "I took out my frustrations on you and your mom. I don't want you to think that I don't like you. Far from it." Paul glanced at me. "You happen to be related to one of the best people I know."King nodded and then looked at me."King, would you like to meet your sister?" Paul asked. "She's awake now and didn't get a chance to say goodbye to her mommy."King's eyes lit up. "Yeah! Mama, can I play with my sister?"I nodded and smiled. Paul could have waited until next time. There was lots to talk about, but he had shown me with this