Chapter 106: My Hero (1/2)
The journey back was nothing but painful for Zinnia, she had no idea if Alton was alright and couldn't get in contact with Scarlett making things worse for her. The others were less worried about having secured the best way to save Alton. Trying to keep her mind off the matter Zinnia leaned back over her chair talking to the old woman. ”Say, you knew Alton when he was a child, right? What was he like, he keeps his past very secret?”
”Alton? He was a sweet child for the most part. Very timid, he liked keeping to himself that's for sure. His bubble was tiny for many years, only allowing his mother in and me. I knew they went through a very traumatic event, but I never quite knew what it was. But I was able to picture the pieces together more or less.”
Emil sat up, moving away from the window. ”Oh yeah, what was that?”
”Perhaps it's something I shouldn't say. Most likely better to hear it from his mouth.”
”It has something to do with his father, right?” Gale asked, getting the attention of everyone. ”Back at my village, Alton was much more talkative that day. I don't know why, but he told me that his father killed his mum.”
”I was afraid of that.” Helga sighed. ”Those two were always moving every few months, never too far that I couldn't reach them but enough to throw the father off their track.”
”Why did his father want to kill Alton so badly?”
”I wish I knew the answer. But it could be the very reason you brought me here today.”
”His sickness…” The car came to a stop arriving outside the Dawn manor. The window to Alton's room was blown away, and ice had frozen the pathway killing all the plants nearby. Zinnia's eyes widened as she jumped out the car running to the entrance. She began slamming on the door each hit increasing with power before the maid, Tilly, answered the call. Zinnia didn't even give her any time to react as the moment the door opened Zinnia rushed through making her way for Alton. Crashing through the door, she saw the room almost completely frozen. Scarlett shot around dressed in a fluffy black coat, scarf, gloves and hat. She instantly stopped Zinnia in her tracks, holding her back. ”Scarlett… Let me go!”
Scarlett eventually let go holding her head sighing. ”Dearest apologies…”
Zinnia rushed overseeing Alton struggling, shards of ice all over his body as his heartbeat was a fraction of what it should be. ”Alton… What happened.”
Scarlett tightened her bandages wrapped around her hand, tutting. ”Nothing.”
”Were you attacked?!”
”I said it was nothing.”
”Was Alton hurt?!”
Scarlett pulled Zinnia away, staring at her dead in the eyes. ”I said, I handled it.”
”Sorry.”
Scarlett sat down shivering as she began breathing into her gloves. ”To think that bastard had the balls to attack the Dawn family head-on. The next time I see him, he's as good as dead!”
”Whoa, it's ice age all in here,” Emil whispered.
”Which one are we talking about here?”
”The first one, obviously. It isn't even a contest.”
”You look like you all had a little adventure.” Scarlett pointed out.
Emil sighed, shaking his head. ”Long story, but the good news is, we got what we came for.”
Helga walked in entirely unphased by the frozen wasteland as she approached Alton. Looking over him, she gave a deflated sigh. ”You never listen to me, do you, Brantley?”
”That's. What… I'm good at.” Alton coughed, opening his eyes faintly. ”You got old you hag.”
Helga smacked him over the head with her walking stick as she cackled. ”I see your manners haven't improved at all. Still as foul-mouthed as ever. You've been overusing those powers again.”
”Really? I didn't notice.”
Helga turned to the others waving her hand away. ”You can all leave now.”
Zinnia stayed put, shaking her head. ”I'm staying.”
”What is it with you and making friends with stubborn hotheads Brantley?”
”Guess it just comes naturally to me.”
She nodded, turning. ”Very well. You can be his moral support. Helga! It's time.”
”Helga?” Zinnia whispered.
The little girl ran in bowing. ”Yes, Grandma.”
”Wait, I thought you were Helga?”
”Me? Don't be absurd. Didn't I tell you my name? It's Joan. This is my granddaughter Helga. Say hello, sweetheart.”
Helga smiled, holding her hand out. ”It's nice to meet you friend of Alton.”
”Oh, yeah?”
Helga scurried over towards Alton as he slowly moved his head smiling. ”Wow, who's this beautiful woman?”
”Alton, it's me, silly. Helga.” She giggled.
”Helga? Wow, look at you all grown up. You're almost as big as me. How old are you now? Twenty-four?”
Helga laughed falling for Alton's teasing. ”No stupid! I'm eleven.”
”Eleven, that's right.”
”You've got yourself into a lot of trouble.”
”Nothing you can't handle though right?”
Helga smirked clicking her fingers. ”This is me we're talking about. Friend of Alton, I will need you to be over there by Alton's side. When I start the seal, he will be in a huge amount of pain. I need you to comfort him.”
Zinnia ran over as Alton turned to her. ”It's going to be alright now.”