Chapter 57

New York City…

Avery's pov;

Class ends finally and so I can go back home and be back to slacking and eating my ice cream to forget my internal one sided emotional turmoil.

And after seeing Lore with Eric today I feel so much worse. I feel betrayed for some reason.

I feel like he abandoned me and that he is replacing me already. I might just be overthinking but that is what I am feeling as of right now.

And now because of all this I don't think I can muster the courage to go talk to him now.

I am scared of what he might tell me , maybe he doesn't want to be friends anymore, maybe he wants me out of his life for good.

Maybe he is going to tell me him and Lore are dating , I am not ready to hear any of that.

I wouldn't bear to hear it.

I reach home and do some cleaning while listening to loud hype music and just trying to take my mind off today and yesterday . After I did my usual night time routine and just caught up with my favorite show of the moment which is house of the dragons , of course I have my ice cream with me.

An essential.

It is now 8pm and I still feel down , even after doing all that.

You know maybe I just need some change of environment. It's been long since I have gone to Alba , plus once I am there I can start investigating what Helga is up to and stuff just to make sure she is not going to cause trouble.

This is exactly what I need.

I hold my amulet and connect my mental link to Ethera…

"Hey Avery , do you need something?" Ethera ask what on the other side.

"Hey Ethera, I am sorry if I am disturbing you. Are you busy right now? You seem to be." I inquired

"Oh not at all , just fixing certain things at the house that's all. But tell me how have you been? You haven't reached out in a long time" oh no I don't want to talk about how I am doing right now.

"I have been well just busy so I didn't reach out .

The reason I called is because I learnt that my cousin has been traveling in time as well and going to Alba. How? You may ask , she stole the last amulet I had , you remember the one I had lost and had replaced?"

"Yes I do ! Is that cousin of yours dangerous? You seem not too fond of the idea she has a passage to my world"

"You have no idea . My cousin has been causing trouble ever since we were younger and I don't know why she is up to in Alba but I am sure it is nothing good. I wanted us to exchange so that I can investigate this and make sure Alba is safe from whatever catastrophe may come from this"

"Oh this is indeed pressing news! You are absolutely right . You know her better so you have more chances of finding out the whole plan , let's do this"

"Oh and Ethera? I told my best friend about you and Alba. There was a weird incident of magic that occurred through my body and she saw a lot of magic and images from Alba so I had to tell her. She will keep the secret and look out for me in case we both have to exchange randomly and not when I am sleeping , I hope you are okay with this"

"It is no problem Avery , I am actually glad that you have someone to confide in about this and having someone who has your back is important so it's all good" she says reassuring me.

"Okay , let's do this . It might take more time than usual though . Investigating this case will require time . Is this okay with you?" I ask

"Yeah it is . I could actually use some break from what is happening here . Heizel will fill you in as soon as you get here , don't get too overwhelmed but I admit it's a lot so good luck to you" she says.

Oh damn what happened this time? What did those snakes do again?

"Okay let's do this" I say and we both concentrate on our amulet and do the exchange.

I close my eyes as everything blurs out as usual.

SWITCH TO THE KINGDOM OF ALBA…

Helga's pov;

I am done with the major work I had to do at the harem so I wonder around the palace alone in hopes of finding a way to the main palace where the King but mostly his advisor Helton might be at.

I need to get to him asap and learn more about this magic our family has going on.

As I am walking around I see couple of guards passing and I immediately press myself in a corner against the wall to hide from them but suddenly the wall sinks backwards a bit and makes some noise.

I panic because the guards probably heard that , I hear their foot steps approaching until suddenly their superior I guess calls them from a far and so they move back .

*sigh that was close.

I look at the wall and see it went backwards , when I push at it , the wall keeps extending and I see that where I am touching there is a purple glow and when I remove my hand or my elbow it stops. What in the witch craft is this?

I keep pushing of course because I am too curious and I enter this dark entrance , I walk slowly and as silent as possible because I don't want to attract whatever danger that might be lurking in here.

Where even is this place? It starting to give off man cave vibes.

I walk further into the hallway until I reach the top stairs that give view on a big pit in the ground.

When I look closely I see two men but I can't see their faces as they are facing the other way.

I move a bit close to see without walking down the stairs and risk being seen but I accidentally hit my leg on a vase I did not notice before and the vase breaks before I can avoid it.

The two men turn around and I just hide behind a pillar . Oh no , this is where I get coughs and killed and all my life ambition die. This is the end .

"Who is there? Show yourself" one of the men yells with a rough voice.

I try to keep my breathing quiet so as to make minimum noise . Suddenly I don't hear any of their voices and I panic , why are they suddenly quiet?

Before I can answer that a hand grabs my neck and I find myself flying across the room until I reach down near the pit.

The man still holds onto my neck tight and I struggle to break free from his grip.

"Don't bother , I am way stronger . Now tell me who you are and how you entered this place" he asks and I don't even look at him as I have tears in my eyes from lack of breath.

I think he realizes that chocking me ain't gonna help because he releases me and I fall to the ground.

"The real question is who- are you? And why is this place hidden and looking sketchy?" I ask , if I am going to die I might as well know the tea.

"If I told you that I would have to get rid of you young lady . Snooping around is very bad , you see where it got you?" He says mockingly .

I look up at him for the first time and the shock my brain is going through right now is insane.

"Helton Mury? You are Helton Mury . The biggest wizard to ever exist" I gasp as I realize I just accidentally found my uncle.

I guess I am not dying no more.

"And who are you young lady? You seem to know something most people shouldn't" he says eying me suspicious.

Oh the real deal is starting now and I am so ready for this. *smirk.