Beyond: Snillotia Trilogy Book One by Donna Wagner (books you have to read TXT) 📕

“Retep. I remember you.”

Peter nodded, recognizing this boy. “Please call me Pete.”

Tim watched the exchange and then said, “Derf, we’re going to take you all back with us. But first, we need to go talk to my uncle. While we’re gone, please have everyone gather anything they wish to bring with them. We shouldn’t be long.”

Derf nodded, and Tim could see the excitement in his eyes. He turned towards the other children. “Okay! It’s time to go! Go get your bags and fill them with anything you want to bring. Remember, important items only! We can’t bring everything!”

The children started scrambling to do as Derf instructed. Not a question was asked. He must have already discussed this with them. “We’ll be back soon,” Tim told him.

Derf nodded in understanding and closed the door behind them as they left.

“Okay, Pete. Lead the way to your father.”

CHAPTER FORTY-SEVEN

In a short time, they were approaching a group of industrial looking buildings. Peter paused and turned to them. “The center building there is the house,” he said, pointing to the place he was referring to.

Anna and Tim looked at him, a little confused. “That doesn’t look like a house. It looks like a warehouse,” Anna stated.

Peter shrugged. “Father wanted to be always be at the center of all Rebel actives. Those other buildings hold the meeting rooms, the arena, and the arsenal.”

Tim and Anna exchanged a glance. They had run across no other people in the short walk from the castle, but did that mean no one was around or everyone was gathered, ready to ambush them? Anna reached out with her mind, trying to sense her parents, wondering if they were being held in one of the many rooms of those buildings. “Come on. Let’s get this over with,” Peter said.

He started to walk forward, and then stopped again, realizing that Anna and Tim hadn’t moved. “What are you waiting for?”

“Uh, Pete, are you forgetting the Rebels don’t like Anna or me much?”

“Oh right. Well they won’t hurt me. Just turn invisible and follow me,” he said bluntly, and started walking again.

Anna held out her hand towards Tim, who took it in his own. Peter had stopped again and was looking towards them. “Are you following me?” he asked, being unable to see them any longer.

He had allowed the power to work on him, so he knew no one else could see them. “Yeah, Pete. Go ahead, we’re here.”

Peter started towards his house again. No one approached him. Not a single soul actually appeared that Tim could see. As they reached the building Peter had indicated was his house, Tim looked around looking for the front door, and then watched in fascination as his cousin approached a blank wall. Peter reached out and touched the bricks of the building, apparently in a pattern, and an open doorway appeared. Peter walked inside, motioning for them to follow. “Are you in?” he whispered.

“Yes,” Anna whispered back.

Peter reached out touched a panel on the wall next to him and the doorway disappeared. “Wonderful. You can become visible again now. No one can get in here except my parents and I.”

Tim let go of Anna’s hand, but she didn’t reappear. “Anna?”

Her voice appeared right next to his ear. “Maybe I should stay this way, until we know how Ronnoc will react to us being here.”

“That’s fine with me. Pete, Anna will stay invisible until we see how your father reacts to me being here.”

“Good idea. He doesn’t need to see Anna right now,” Peter muttered, leading them further into the house.

Tim frowned at his cousin’s odd choice of words, but let it go. As they went further into the building, Tim began to recognize it from the last time he’d been there. “Father? Mother?” Peter called out, looking for his parents.

Arat appeared first. “Oh!” she ran to her son and threw her arms around him. “Teppy! My baby has returned to me!”

Teppy?

Anna fought the urge to laugh at Tim’s reaction to Arat’s pet name for her son. Shh!

Tim smiled and watched as his cousin’s cheeks turned red in embarrassment. “Hello to you too, Mother,” he said, patting her on the back.

Tim could see he was trying to act cool in front of him but was thrilled to see his mother again. Peter pulled away from his mother and motioned towards Tim. “Mother you remember my cousin.”

Arat looked at him for the first time, just realizing he was there. “Oh, hello, Tim,” she said calmly, motioning towards the couch, “Please have a seat.”

Tim walked over and sat on the end of the couch and felt Anna sit next to him. “Would you like a drink, dear?”

Tim shook his head, his patience wearing thin. Peter seemed to understand. “Where’s Father?”

Arat looked from her son to Tim for a moment, and then said, “I’ll get him.”

She turned and left the room. Less than a minute later, Ronnoc burst into the room. “Retep! My son! You are here! Stand up, my boy!”

Peter stood and let his father embrace him. “Oh my boy, I am so happy you’ve returned to me! I have been searching everywhere for you! Where have you been? It’s been years! Why did you not keep in touch?”

Tim tensed, hoping his cousin had enough sense to not reveal where they have been. “That’s not important, Father. Tim needs to talk to you.”

Ronnoc hesitated for a moment then looked at Tim. “Well, nephew! Come give your uncle a hug!”

Tim stood and let the man hug him, noting that he was now about an inch or two taller than Ronnoc. Since Ronnoc had only seen his thirteen-year-old self’s projection previously, he wondered how Ronnoc would process that. He didn’t have to wonder long. “My! You have grown, haven’t you? Must be our good genes!”

Tim watched as Ronnoc looked from his son to Tim and back again. He knew Ronnoc noticed that Peter