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

hadn’t really changed, and Tim had changed greatly. He began to wonder if he should have made himself appear younger again, but then discarded the thought. If he needed to use one of his powers this time, he wasn’t going to hesitate. Ronnoc would know, either way, something was different. When Ronnoc didn’t say anything else, Tim decided it was no or never. “I need to speak with you about something serious. In private please?”

Tim’s eyes had flickered to Arat and he knew Ronnoc understood. Tim didn’t want to talk to his overly exuberant, but loving uncle that Ronnoc became under the influence of Arat’s power. He wanted to talk to Ronnoc the Rebel who didn’t like him much. “Of course! Retep! Please visit with your mother. She’s missed you so. Tim and I will have a chat in my den!”

Ronnoc led Tim, who felt Anna follow, through to the dining room and stop at the door to his copied room. Ronnoc opened the door and motioned for Tim to enter. Tim made sure he felt Anna enter first before following her. Ronnoc entered and closed the door behind him. “Give it a moment. The effects will be gone soon.”

While he waited, Tim looked around the room. It was vastly different then it had been the last time. It was painted a bright white and accented with dark greens. There was a desk in the center of the room, which Ronnoc was settling himself behind. The walls were covered in bookcases, but before Tim could read any of the titles, Ronnoc said, “I did not think I would see you again, boy. Or that you would willingly walk right back into my house.”

“I trust your son. My cousin and I have become friends in your absence. You cannot harm me. He would not forgive you,” Tim stated, exaggerating slightly about he and Peter’s relationship.

Ronnoc studied him for a moment, with narrowed eyes. “Very well. What did you come here to talk to me about? I told you everything I could the last time we met.”

Tim doubted that. “Anna’s parents have been taken. I need you to tell me who has them.”

Ronnoc laughed. “Oh! Pretty little Anna! How horrible for her. Is she very distraught? Is that why you are without your shadow?”

Tim said nothing, out loud.  Anna, stay calm. If you get mad because of what he’s saying, you’ll make both of us mad as well. We do not want to be in that situation.

I’ll try.

Tim refocused on Ronnoc, satisfied that Anna would try her best. He found Ronnoc watching him with narrowed eyes again. When Tim continued to stay silent, Ronnoc finally spoke. “Why do you think I have anything to do with her parents’ disappearance?”

“I didn’t say that. I just need you to tell me who did. See, whoever took them left this behind,” Tim stated, holding up the portal key.

Ronnoc’s eyes widened, but he remained silent. “I know this is Aaron’s portal key. I also know Aaron hasn’t been seen since he tried to kill us all in the castle. I need to know who would have taken his key and how to find them.”

He could see the questions in Ronnoc’s head. Ronnoc wanted to know what had happened to Aaron. He only knew that whatever it had been had destroyed most of the castle. He also wanted to know why Tim looked so much older that before when Retep did not. Tim was tired of waiting. Anna go block the door so he can’t run and when I say your name again, reappear.

“To answer your questions, Uncle Ron,” Tim started, knowing his uncle hated when Tim called him that, “What happened at Aaron is simple. Anna happened.”

Ronnoc’s eyes widen as he realized Tim answered a question, he hasn’t asked out loud. He visibly jumped when Anna appeared by the door. Tim heard his thoughts immediately jump to the fact that Anna had grown as well. “What is it you want to know? Oh, why I look older? Why Anna looks older? All I can tell you is you know nothing about me or Anna and the way we look is the least of your concern.”

Tim focused on Anna for a moment, projecting her as she was at thirteen, then releasing the projection. He saw Ronnoc stand up from his chair and start towards her.

“Stop.”

Ronnoc froze about a foot in front of her. Anna smiled and started playing the same game. “You want to know if I’m really here? Yes, I am.”

She grabbed his hand to prove it to him and he collapsed in fear. “Stand up and go back to your chair and sit down,” Tim told him.

“We didn’t come here to scare you. We simply want you to answer our questions. Just know we will learn the answers one way or another.”

Ronnoc just nodded, not trusting his voice. Tim asked him for the second time, “Who would have Aaron’s portal key?”

Ronnoc’s mouth started moving. It took a moment for him to actually speak. “His.. His.. his son!”

Anna and Tim glanced at each other than both focused on Ronnoc again. “Any son he has wouldn’t be old enough to kidnap my parents!” Anna said, picturing Adam, who was only in his late twenties.

Ronnoc shook his head, disagreeing. Suddenly, the whole story came tumbling out of his mouth. “Aaron used that portal key constantly. He always went back and forth between here and the backwards world. He was the one that told the Rebels that was where your parents had escaped to and that you and Anna even existed. Each time we saw him, he looked different. Sometimes he was older- middle aged even. Other times he was in his early twenties. He said that time was different in the backwards world and he never knew when he’d get here or there when he went through. Sometimes when he would come back, we would know things he had told us, but he didn’t even know them yet!