Chapter 9: home

The day after the wine thing, Nicholas nearly gets a heart attack when he looks down from the broom and finds Haochen Xia standing out on the lawn with his arms crossed, long hair swaying with the light breeze.

Nicholas thinks about just flying away but Haochen Xia could definitely catch him. He coasts down and swings off the broom, offering up his most charming smile. "Morning. What a perfect day for not-murder."

"Collect your things, I'll be taking you home," Haochen Xia states.

"Ten minutes!" Nicholas cries and shoots off – dumping the broom into its closet and racing up the stairs. He grabs his bag (which he transfigured wandlessly and it took four straight hours to do because he’s hopeless without a focus) with all his clothes that Lambros got him during the first segment of the kidnapping, and then rushes back.

Nicholas is so excited going home that he barely flinches when the high mage takes his upper arm so they don’t get separated during the port spell.

Vinaya rips open the front door, the wards having alerted her as to the heir coming home, only a brief few seconds after the two land outside the sprawling sand-coloured Ayad Manor that’s dressed in sleek, sharp lines. Vinaya is in draping fabrics of green and gold, perfectly put together except for the clench of her jaw. She remains cordial -if tense- as she ushers her son inside.

Jordan quickly grabs Nicholas' arm and backs them up. Vinaya doesn't move from the doorway but Haochen Xia doesn't leave either. Watching her stare up at his tall form is anxiety inducing.

"Dear," Vinaya says to her husband, head half turned but keeping Haochen Xia in sight. "Our son must be tired. Why don't you take him upstairs to get some rest while I invite our guest into the sitting room for a chat."

Jordan hesitates but he's also very clear on what kind of woman Vinaya is and so says a polite if wooden welcome to Haochen Xia and quickly takes Nicholas away.

---

Vinaya leads them to an inner courtyard cracked through with streams of water, with rattan chairs and the Egyptian skyline a gorgeous clear blue over the open ceiling. This is where she takes the people she doesn’t like, sits them in an uncomfortable chair right with the sun in their eyes.

Vinaya gestures for Haochen Xia to take a seat, only sitting after he does. "Shall I call for some tea?" she asks.

The Ayads don't have housemaker fairies, not when the Ayad Family Magic is strong enough to act when they call. Most heritage families have such a thing but it costs the caster's magic, unlike housemakers and so the convenient pests are often preferred.

"No need, this will only take a moment," Haochen Xia replies, crossing his legs at the knee and lounging like he owns the place, the chair smoothing out under him to be more comfortable.

He did that without a focus and had to tear the protective charms to shreds so he could transfigure the chair. Vinaya certainly notices. It makes no difference to her, she already understands what kind of monster a high mage can be.

"Right then," Vinaya mutters. "Go on, please tell me why you kidnapped my son with only a polite letter to inform my husband and me of the…change in plans."

"I saw an opportunity and picked up the boy because I had a meeting with some heritage families from Spain scheduled," Haochen Xia says simply like there's nothing wrong with impulse-buying a child. "An heir has been a great boon."

"Then I believe we can call this a fair trade," Vinaya states. "Thank you for saving my son, regardless of your intentions. Please never come near him again."

Haochen Xia's eyes are half lidded. "Unfortunately, the boy works too well."

Vinaya purses her lips. "Speak clearly, High Mage Xia, my hearing is going in my old age."

"We can negotiate the details later," the high mage dismisses, not even acknowledging the dig at him being younger than Vinaya, and being the youngest high mage by a good few decades.

"No," she says. "No, there will be no deal. This is the end."

"He will not be hurt or made to do anything he doesn't wish," Haochen Xia says calmly. "I will have no contact with him unless absolutely needed, and it will only take a few hours every few weeks."

"Pick another heritage heir," Vinaya argues. "You have many to choose from."

"None from the west," Haochen Xia points out and since he’s the only east Asian high mage, the sects who follow him don’t really have a choice if they want their voices to be heard.

"Then kidnap a different one," Vinaya scoffs. "You had Nicholas for a few days - but you wouldn't be able to stand him for any greater length of time. He's too curious for his own good, doesn't know when to shut up, and barely even pretends to be obedient. There must be a better option for you."

Haochen Xia raised an eyebrow at that stupid comment and Vinaya sucks in a breath through her teeth.

If Haochen Xia showed up with a nice, meek heir who acted like a servant then it would clearly broadcast just how wrong the situation was to any potential allies for the high mage.

Haochen Xia needs someone fearless, who can manoeuvre in a political situation, and most of all doesn't need to be handheld constantly. He's not going to waste time on them, he just wants to be able to parade them around for a few minutes before sending them away.

Nicholas kept himself entertained without getting (too) underfoot, learned the layout of the manor without prompting, and reacted perfectly to meeting company.

"It's been a pleasure," Haochen Xia drawls and rises from the armchair, shaking out his large sleeves that ripple like water. "I'll be in contact."

You are reading story The Future Comes Calling at novel35.com

Vinaya stands as well, her brooch focus sparking with magic on her lapel but she knows it would be foolish to jump into things without a better plan.

She sees Haochen Xia to the door and waits until he vanishes with a port spell before rushing upstairs to Jordan and Nicholas where she tells them what happened in a panic.

Then they all panic, for quite a long time, and nothing really gets done or explained further until they manage to calm down again.

"I have had such a month," Nicholas says to his parents, flopped over the arm of a three-seater couch in the library.

Jordan sits beside him, and Vinaya sits on an armchair across, angrily sipping tea. They share a look between themselves.

"Were you hurt?" Jordan asks immediately.

"All self-inflicted," Nicholas admits with a sigh.

"Who was the first kidnapper?" Vinaya demands instead. "What did they want?"

Nicholas groans loudly. "This - okay, so time travel but the extreme sport version." He suddenly jerks upright, a wide grin splitting his face. "I have a son and he's adorable!"

Vinaya shatters the teacup in her hand.

"Not like that," Nicholas swiftly corrects. "In the future I have a son, who was made when I am an adult, with someone I love and not a strange time traveller - who I should mention is a man and not capable of having babies."

"Sweetheart, you need to explain things better." Vinaya brushes off shards of porcelain from her sari onto the ground and Jordan leans over to vanish the spilled liquid with a wave of his ring focus.

"So who was the man?" Jordan insists.

Nicholas pauses because he can't say Stavros - his parents might not like Stavros any longer if they knew. "It...was a Lambros."

"Was it Stavros?" Jordan deadpans.

"How did you know!?"

"Who else would it be?" Jordan cries. "You said time travel and the man apparently told you stories about an adorable son, so it was either Stavros or Rafael."

Nicholas hunches forward, face his hands as he props up elbows on his knees. "Okay, so let me explain because I think it needs an explanation."

"Was Stavros trying to protect you from something?" Vinaya guesses. "And took it too far. Maybe Adam was involved with something in the future that hurt you."

Nicholas looks up. "Alright, I don't need to explain."

"Are you…" Jordan trails off. "Are you okay, with that older Stavros?"

"I believe Lambros is…telling the truth, but Adam didn't do anything yet," Nicholas says seriously. "And I hate Lambros for that, for taking those years where Adam was still my friend."

"Do you want to tell us the story?" Vinaya offers. "Forewarned is forearmed, and all that."

Nicholas nods. "Yeah, I…yeah..."

"...You weren't listening."

"I was listening to the important parts," Nicholas retorts sharply. "About my baby son who is a duelling prodigy, I might add."

Jordans stands. "I'm going to go get a memory catcher."

"Bring more tea as well," Vinaya says with an eyeroll. "This will take a while."

You can find story with these keywords: The Future Comes Calling, Read The Future Comes Calling, The Future Comes Calling novel, The Future Comes Calling book, The Future Comes Calling story, The Future Comes Calling full, The Future Comes Calling Latest Chapter