Zane: The Atlantean Prince

CHAPTER 29: ZANE IS HOME

Zane and Aera arrived at Cole's residence. He saw his father working on his car in the garage.

"Dad," he called his father's attention who was busy on the car's engine.

"Zane!" He quickly grabbed the towel hanging on the hood and wiped his hands, then hugged his son. "Glad you made it home safe." He glanced at Aera. "Is she your girlfriend?"

"N-no, Dad." He shook his head several times. "She's a good friend. I'm sorry, Aera, Dad was just joking."

"Don't mind it." She smiled sweetly. "Hello, Mr. Cole."

"Glad you came. You both should go inside. Your Mom is in the kitchen. I just need to finish this."

"Okay, Dad." He and Aera went inside the house.

"Hey, brother. You're home!" Wane raised his hand for a high five. "Got anything for me?"

"Of course, for my favourite brother." He opened his backpack and gave a wrapped rectangular red box to Wane.

"What's this?"

Zane laughed. "Open it."

Wane tore the wrapper. "Wow! It's a Nintendo Switch! Thank you, brother!"

"Just promise me you will study hard. Understood?"

Yes, brother." He looked at Aera. "I'm sorry I got excited. Are you my brother's girlfriend?"

Zane almost slapped his forehead. "Why do they think she is my girlfriend? I don't want Aera to have awkward feelings," he said to himself.

"Maybe," Aera replied. "Are you in favour of me?"

"Of course, you're so pretty and you look kind." Wane gave a two thumbs up.

"Thank you!"

"Zane, welcome home." Anne went out of her room located on the ground floor. Holding the wheels of the wheelchair, she gave a welcoming smile to her brother. "Are you staying overnight?"

"Probably, and will go back to the dorm tomorrow morning." He took out a white rectangular box and handed it over to Anne. "For you, Anne."

Her smile went wider when she opened it and saw a set of paintbrushes. "Thank you, Zane. I love them!"

"Anything for the princess of the family." He hugged her. He still feels sorry every time he sees her in the wheelchair. "If only I

had a healing power, I could probably hear her to end her suffering," he said to himself.

"Hi," Aera greeted Anne. "I'm your brother's friend.'

"Welcome to our home." She pointed in the kitchen's direction.

"Mom's there." She pulled the wheel and turned towards the kitchen.

"Let's go, Aera."

"What happened to her?" she asked in a low, soft voice.

'It's a long story. I'll tell you everything later." He signalled to follow him.

"Mom," Zane called his mother's attention who was busy in front of the stove.

"Zane!" She put down the soup ladle and hugged her son. "How's my son? Do you eat well in your dorm? You don't starve yourself, do you?"

"No, Mom. I am perfectly fine there. No need to worry." He pointed at Aera. "She's my friend, Aera."

"Hi! You are so beautiful!" Althea held her hand, fascinated with her beauty. "Are you my future daughter-in-law?"

"Mom!" Zane's ear went red.

"What? Everything starts with friendship." She looked at Aera.

"Are you staying here overnight? There's a vacant room, you can use it. I'll clean it later.

"Thank you, Mrs. Cole." Aera gave Zane's Mom the sweetest smile she could give.

"You cannot go to the living room, let me finish my cooking. We will have a chat later, sweetie."

"I'll help, Mom," Wane said. "Go there, brother, entertain your guest. You wouldn't want her to regret choosing you."

Aera couldn't help but laugh at Wane's joke.

"Wane?! Why is my family like this? Arg!" He stormed out. "Let's go, Aera."

Aera could not stop laughing. "You have a great family."

"I know, but sometimes they put me in a humiliating position. I'm sorry about their jokes."

"Don't mind it." She grinned. "It's cute."

Zane sighed. "Let's go to my room. I'll tell you what happened to Anne."

They both walked upstairs and went to the room at the corner. He opened the door and peeked inside. He breathed a sigh of relief. "It's clean. Let's go."

Aera looked around. "It's tidy."

"Mom probably cleaned it before we arrived. Have a seat." He pointed at the swivel chair. 'Your study table is cute." She paused for a few seconds. "What happened to Anne?"

"She became like that when we had an accident eleven years ago."

"I'm sorry to hear that. That's probably hard for you and for your parents as well."

"It wasn't just an ordinary accident. A kakodaimon blocked our car and we hit it. That monster was able to turn our car and we hit a huge tree. Anne wasn't wearing her seat belt and I felt responsible."

Zane recalled what exactly happened that time.

"Wear your seat belt, Anne," Zane reminded his sister, but the little girl unstrapped it.

"It's so tight. It pulls me whenever Dad steps on the break and it's hard to breathe," she complained. Zane just lets his sister do what she wants.

They were happily singing along with the kids when a man in black clothes suddenly appeared in front of their car and bumped them. It was too late for Bren to step on the break. They hit the man but the car was pushed and skidded to the side of the road, then it bumped into a large tree. The man did not appear to be affected and was still standing in the middle of the road while looking at the crashed car. The front of the car is wrecked.

Bren hit his head on the window, and Althea lost consciousness because of shock. Anne was unconscious on the car floor. Zane remained hugging his younger brother Wane while one arm was strongly holding onto his seat belt.

"Brother," Wane said, crying. "Mom, Dad!" He continued crying.

He looked outside the car and saw the man they bumped into. He was still standing in the middle of the road. Zane saw the scary face of the man, and another three men walked out of the bush from the roadside. They are all scary-looking. He felt danger while the men walked closer to their car. The scary men reached their car and started banging it. The scary man they bumped into went to his side and started banging the window.

He stared at his face. His eyes are full black, his skin is pale, and his fangs are yellowish. Zane can see his saliva, he is drooling at them. The car window broke and the glass pieces hit his face. The man tried grabbing him but he reached Wane's arm instead of him. His baby brother cried so loud.

"That's exactly what happened. They could not remember the kakodaimon since they all went unconscious, but I remember him clearly." Zane lowered his head, his eyes became moist. He discreetly wiped it using his finger. "I still blame myself for what happened to Anne."

"Stop blaming yourself. No one wanted that to happen. Blame those monsters who did that to your family."

"I just think she will not be paralyzed if I force her to wear her seat belt. I am the eldest but I didn't do anything to make her safe at that time."

"I'll help her. I can cure her," Aera said with conviction.

"What?" Zane could not believe it. "You can?"

Aera nodded.