chapter 29

    "Are you positive that's what you heard." He asked Felix,

       "Yes, your majesty."

        "Are you certain." He asked once more, Felix had heard the queens conversation and warned Malicay but Malicay found it difficult to not trust her, she was his wife after all and she stood by his side. He thought for a while.

       "I would never lie to you, Queen Elsa does have other plans for the young Egos." He had other thoughts on his mind but Felix was so persuasive.

        "Alright then where is she?" 

         "At your mothers place." He rose his head up and said.

        "Good, the twins are still away, pack up as much clothes as you can. We're leaving."

        Felix looked up in surprise, "What! But your majesty." 

        "No buts, just do what I say." 

        "Yes your majesty." He nodded. 

         "Do you have the address of the pianist?"

        "Yes."

         "Take me there." He said, he took his things and left the mansion without telling anyone. This was his best chance to leave so he fled like his mother leaving the throne unoccupied once again.

         He knocked at her door and soon it opened, she was confused and just stared at him, but then she finally opened her mouth. "What are doing here Mr Ego." She said, like she hated him or something, she just wanted him gone.

          "Would you like to get paid to keep me and my children here for a very long time, Miss Rebecca." He said, but she still was confused.

       "I, I don't understand." She said.

        "My children's lives are at stake and I need your help." He told her, but that would sounded impossible since they hardly had enemies.

        "What about Elsa?" 

         "I believe she and some others are responsible." She jerked at once and drew near to him.

         "That is impossible, a mother will never hurt her children." She shouted.

         He didn't look at it that way, the Ego's were a different kind of people entirely and if only she knew who their mother was. "Our family is very complicated, actually that is nothing compared to what I've witnessed Miss Rebecca." 

        "But if you're right, she'll come here looking for you all." She said.

        "Not quiet. In two days time I want you to head to the mansion and meet Elsa, act natural and tell her your here to see the kids, and that they dropped something at your place, of course with the children disappearance and your presence she won't suspect a thing just act natural and one more thing, try to look bold and confident while lying." He said, after giving it a thought she shook her head.

        "Very well then." The children ran towards her and stood once they saw their father, their behavior returned to them and the smile on their face soon disappeared, she hid them behind her back and sighed. "You may stay at my place, but not because of the money, rather because of the children. And one more thing, why did you come here, don't you have a family or siblings?"

         Another complicated question, he didn't trust a single soul in the mansion, they were all after his mansion, the only person he had was his mother, but she hasn't spoken to him since he got married, Felix was his only friend so he at least had a spot for him. "Miss Rebecca, I came to you because my children trust you." Trust, he said it again, he does trusts her. Felix was shaken by what he heard, those were heavy words coming out from his mouth, it was almost like he was praising her.

        She smiled a smile so bright that I remembered how peaceful they all were, now I understand how they immediately formed a bond, it was their trust for each other, thats what keeps them going. "So you trust them, don't you?" She said but he said nothing, Eos popped her head out and said,

      "Papa. What are you doing here?"

      "Eos, Edwin, there's been a change of plans, the mansion and the family are experiencing a few dangerous problems, so until it is safe to return we shall be staying here for the meantime is that clear."

       "Yes father." They chorused, but Rebecca was slightly offended.

        "Mr Ego, this is my house and because this is my house you shall handle things my way, including the children am I understood." She yelled.

         "Yes, Madam." Felix said.

         "Not you." She said as she pointed at Malicay. "Him, I don't like his attitude." Felix and the children were staring at Malicay, it was a shocker, the way she spoke to him was totally disrespectful to a Prince if she knew who she was facing she wouldn't dare to speak back but he kept quiet and bowed.

       "This is your house after all so I respect your decision."

        "Good." After she did as she was told, she was indeed spared and no one suspected her. Every morning the children watched as she watered the rose garden and decided to join her.

        "May I help." Asked Eos as she bent down.

         "Certainly Eos, two hands are always better than one." She said with a smile.

         "If I may, why do always do this alone, you do have many servants." Eos said, but as always she smiled.

         "That is because I love doing it myself and I can't pressurize them, they are people after all. But isn't there something you love to do."

        "Something I love doing? Well I love to read and play the piano and dance and..." She kept mentioning names after names until Mirabel stopped her.

         "Did your father make you do all that?" She laughed.

       She didnt have to think twice to say, "Yes."

          "Well Eos, there's a big difference between something you love doing and something you are forced to do. When I was a little girl, my mother made me attend silly parties and practice etiquette, I didn't like them at all but I loved the piano, the difference is I did one to please someone you see, I derive joy in one and I just do the other, so what do you love to do? There must be something." She said waiting to hear her reply.

         The girl finally opened her mouth and let out a sigh, "Well, lets see, I always wanted to paint and practice archery, but I can't do any, but I do love my piano it is my only companion." She said, 

         "That is wonderful, I'll get you enrolled in a school soon enough." She said as she continues her work.

         "School?" Eos repeated.

         "Yes. Don't you like it."

         Eos frowns a bit, "Well my brother and I were always homeschooled."

         "So what? If you want to do all that, a prestigious school is all it takes." She said.

        "Really."

        "Yes."

       "Madam..."

       "Eos." She interrupted. "call me Rebecca from now on."

    Eos stood up, she took a closer look at her, "Miss Rebecca, you switch your accent now and then why?" She asked.

       "Oh, my mother was Russian and I was raised in Russia so I have difficulty maintaining my accent." 

        "Really."

        "Yes, and by the way, what would you say if I asked you to come with me to Russia."

     She was overjoyed, it would be a dream come true for her. "I would be delighted, but father..."

       "No need to worry, I have already spoken to him about it and he paid for the trip."

        "He did?"

        "Yes he did, we've been here long enough haven't we."

        "Its only been five months."

        "So what, we leave in three days time so get ready and I've already spoken to Edwin about it so he knows."

        "How wonderful, thank you." The girl warped her arms around her, although she was dirty none of them seemed to care.

        "You're most welcome." From a distance watched Malicay and Felix, he was focused on her relationship with his children, something his wife hasn't really accomplished, they were always so formal with everyone and yet she was different, he began to reconsider giving life another chance to see what it could offer and soon they left the country.

       "Careful children." Rebecca shouted as they ran around the market, almost bumping into a little boy about their age.

       "Hey, are you two alright." He said offering them a hand.

        "Yes." Edwin said,

       "Edwin, Eos thank goodness." She shouted as she ran up to them, she took out a napkin and wiped the dirt off.

         "Rebecca!" Someone shouted at a distance, I turned towards the voice and found the stranger three feet away from me. She turned and walked up towards the person.

        "Ramon." She happily said, she looked at the kid Eos nearly bumped into, and smiled, "Anastasius, you've grown quite a lot."

      The little boy was cheerful, he stood in front of the kids, "Am sorry I almost ran into them, are they your children miss Rebecca." He politely said.

        "Yes."

        "Adopted?"

        "No, their father's a friend of mine, they are his children but they are my kids anyway." She lovingly told the child.

       The child moved forward and introduced himself. "Hello, I am Anastasius."

        "Hello, I am Edwin and this is my younger Sister Eos." Edwin said with a smile, their first human friend, what an accomplishment.

        "Let's head somewhere less crowded so they can have some space to run around." She said. As they drive to the park I once again come face to face with the Queen.

       "I never imagined them this happy, and although I never saw them this way our memories are all connected so I know everything. She did a fine job." She said,

        "Who? Mira."

        "Yes. They felt like they now had two mothers who loved them a lot, the only difference was one was stronger in a fight but never with her husband and the other yells at him whenever he's wrong, she made them feel at home and never left out, she even called them her children." As I watch them I see the love they all share. Edwin and Eos became much more popular, everyone loved these children, and they were well composed they adjusted quite well, and even Malicay loosened up a bit. They forgot about their problems very quickly and blended in and even the children forgot about returning back to the mansion, they forgot about their mother, about succession and power.

     "Hey." Malicay said looking up at her, they were having a picnic at the park almost near the bushes, and Malicay laid his head on her laps.

     She drew near and asked, "What is it?"

      "Nothing, I was just thinking." He said, as he turned away.

      "About what?"

      "About having a little one to run around and cause chaos." He said with a smile,

      "A child, well that was sudden, are you sure the children will like this idea who knows they might become jealous." She said,

     "Jealous?" He said in surprise.

     "Yes, I've seen it happen tons of times, when I was little, I had a friend, I can remember his family they had five children and the four of them were jealous of the last one which was him, I may not remember them exactly as they were but I do remember they were jealous although they had no idea." She said.

    He sat up and said, "They were?"

     "Yes. But that's not our problem now is it, how about one little one." She said,

     "Two."

     "Three."

     "Two." They argued.

     "Two it is, so twins?"

     "Already got that." He said with a laugh,

     "True."

     "So just one then?"

     "Yes."

     "Alright, just one."

     "Hello people, we're still here." They raised their head and looked at Ramon who was smiling at them with his wife by his side,

     "Ramon, we're so sorry." Malicay said,

     "So we hear you're planing on having a little one, Mal." Oh, so he changed his name.

     "Yep, we are." Mira said 

     "Lovely, so you and Elias finally parted ways." The lady said, Mira's face looked saddened by this, Elias who was Richard was her former fiance, seems he came in between them.

     "Yes, but that's in the past now, that was his decision but I thank him for that." She brightened up and smiled,

     "Of course." Malicay said.

     "I don't know about you but I am pretty hungry." Ramon said.

     "Sure thing, hold on. Eos, Edwin, Anastasius come over here." She shouted but there were no response. 

     "Where are they?" Malicay was already frowning, he was looking at the bushes and stood up. 'That scent.'

     "They must be here somewhere." The lady said.

     "Eos, Edwin, Anastasius?" She shouted once more, this time they were worried, so worried they left their lunch and ran into the bushes, they were terrified and searched everywhere before they met again,

     "Did you find them?" Ramon asked,

     "No." The others replied,

    He held out his hand, "Shh, we're not alone." 

     "What do you mean?" Mirabel shouted, he held her hand, and hid her behind him.

     "That smell, Eos, Edwin." Malicay shouted. "Come out." Soon, there was a movement in the bushes and out came, The Twins.

    "Hey Emerald?" Jack said, Malicay was dumbfounded and shocked, he could hardly say a word, they had found him and there was no escaping his fate.

     "Brother?" He said, he was shaken and filled with fear.

    "Are these your pups perhaps?" Jake said, 

     "Papa." Eos shouted.

    Mirabel turned to look at him, "You're brothers?"

     Jake took a closer look at her and gasped, "Rebecca?" He shouted,

     "Yes." She quickly responded.

     "My you've grown up so fast." He said, she got confused at what they were talking about, nothing made sense to her.

     "What?" She said.

      Jake snapped and shook his head, "Oh, I forgot." He looked disappointed at something but then what could it be.

     "So it is true, you did run away from home like a little child?" Jack mocked him.

     "You got us all worried?" Jake shouted, he held out his hand, "seven years, you were gone for seven years Emerald."

     "So these are your brothers? Am so glad to finally meet you both." Mirabel said with a smile,

     "Hi am Evan and this is Elis." Jack said,

     "Rebecca." She said.

     "Of course you are." He said. He stood before Malicay and whispers, "Emerald you have to come back home, mom's worried sick, the council..." He came closer, "they aren't taken it easy on her." He said.

     "I've made up my mind, I won't return." 

      "But you have to." Jake begged,

      "That's enough." Mal shouted, "I don't want to hear any of this, now have I made myself clear?"

     The power in his words reminded them who he was, they couldn't persuade him even if they wanted. "Yes." They both responded.

But Jack being stubborn said, "Well if you aren't leaving, you must at least tell them the truth, they don't even know who they are anymore is that what's best."

       "Enough, go home." Malicay said, careful enough not to shout.

       "We're staying here until you change your mind." Jake said. That night was a sleepless night for the all of them, he couldn't return when he just started his family and she couldn't compete with Elsa and the twins couldn't lose their mother.