Plan

The next day was regular Sunday to the rest on the world but a strange one to John's family. John opened his eyes at his regular time. He took in his surroundings and smiled on realizing that he was back at home. He tip toed to his room and grabbed a pair of sweat pants and sneakers. He reached under his bed and grabbed his twin swords. He walked out his door and went on his morning run. The neighborhood was quiet and there were signs of the sun kissing the land as an orange pink hue enveloped the horizon.

This was the first time he realized how small the neighborhood was. He had already ran twice before he felt the familiar ache in his muscles. He quickened his pace and ran two more times before returning home. The horses were still tied to the tree and they seemed asleep. It seemed their 'two year' journey had taken its toll on them. He took a mental note to go buy some hay after everyone woke up. He walked to the back yard and ensured that he was standing in a blind spot to the upstairs windows and drew his sword. He proceeded to do his morning routine until he was covered in sweat. Only then did he sheathe his swords and walked back into the house.

The modern world had something that the painted realm didn't: refrigerated drinks. Placed his swords next to the fridge and grabbed a packet of orange juice and a tumbler from the cupboard. He was about to pour a glass when Ursula walked into the kitchen. He grabbed another glass and poured juice into both and slid it across the marble worktop before she could say anything. He downed it in one swig. Ursula was still looking at him while holding onto her glass. Part of her was still thinking that all that happened the day before was a dream.

"Ssup sis, Its Sunday why are you up so early?" he asked pulling her away from her daze.

"I uh have to get started on breakfast." she said walking towards the fridge.

"Can I help or something?" he asked following her with his eyes.

"Help?" she smirked at him, "what really happened to you, eh? You never used to talk to me like ever?"

"Ah - It's not like I hated you or anything. I was awkward I just didn't know exactly what to say." he replied shrugging his shoulder.

'John, Swords' he heard Noira say and he grabbed at his chest where the strap would be normally before he made the realized that he had been found out.

'Told you' Noir made a snarky comment implying that he was on his own.

"Fuck" he muttered under his breath and raised his eyes with an insincere smile to look at his sister who was now holding the swords in her hands a question mark was floating above her head.

"John, what are these?" she held them up and placed them on the work top. "Are these swords?"

He nodded, there was no point in denying it.

Curiosity got the better of her and she tried to unsheathe the long blade. He made to stop her but then he realized that she was unable to. He sighed in relief and watched the pointless act before them.

'You owe me some beast blood' Noira said waving her hand at John.

"Explain yourself, clearly you left out a lot in your story last night." she said when she realized that it was pointless.

"Okay, I will just not now, mom could be down at any moment." he said in a pleading tone. This might have worked in the past but his appearance now did not help his cause at all.

"Are you not planning on telling her,"

"I don't want her to worry too much. I just got back eh is it so wrong for me to want her to have some peace of mind."

"Then what huh have her worry even more when you disappear again, and don't you dare lie to me."

"It's inevitable," a voice said behind them, "A year and nine moons have passed, God knows what that old man must be thinking now." Miner a walked into the kitchen and looked at the squabbling siblings.

Ursula was taken aback by her words and looked at this black haired beauty in front of her. She looked from her to John and then shrugged her shoulders in defeat. She pointed her finger at John who raised his hands in surrender.

"You better tell me everything."

"I was planning to, I need you're help with something." he said and looked at Miner,"Later though, let's go for lunch or something." He grabbed his swords and made his way to the stairs leaving the two ladies behind.

"Help me out with breakfast. First open the windows, he stank up the place. " Sula said to Miner as she opened the fridge once more.

...................

At burger joint later that day.

Three people were sitting in a booth. Two of them were looking at the third in anticipation. She nibbling at her straw very deep in thought. It was a very noisy Sunday afternoon. The large windows in the place allowed the breeze to flow though relieving the heat. John had just told Ursula everything he had found out and the real purpose of their coming back.

"So you're telling me that it was shorter for you to come here and use the painting linking your destination than travelling directly there."

"Yes" John replied. If the people in the painted realm found out about this seemingly shorter means of transport there would definitely be a mad dash for the portals and then the painting locations would be in chaos.

"So what do you need me to do, not that I have agreed to help you."

"Well, I know that you immersed 6ouself into those paintings and anything related to then so you must probably know the location of the one we need. Can you sneak us in when we need to leave."

"That would be breaking the law."

"You won't get in trouble, I'll - we'll take care of that." John pointed back and forth between him and Miner."

"Is he always like this?" Ursula asked Minerva.

"Pretty annoying right." she replied.

"I'll let you know." Ursula said looking at her buzzing phone. She turned her head and looked at the parking lot like she was looking for someone. Her eyes landed on a white pickup truck and she smiled.

"I gotta go."She took her car keys and placed them on the table. And walked to wards the white truck. She kissed the man who exited the truck and walked to the passage side and waved at them before getting in.

" Ah hehe" was John's reaction as he observed her.