Chapter Twelve

"Good luck, dear."

"Thanks, Mom." Adam opened his door and stepped out to join Stella in the hall.

"Ready?" she asked.

He shrugged. "As ready as I'll be."

She gave him a sympathetic smile and wrapped an arm around his waist. He returned the gesture and wasn't surprised to feel a sheathed knife underneath his hand. He just hoped she wouldn't have to use it this time.

Adam knocked on the door of the small, one story house. He had never been anywhere but the city of Girasol and was surprised when Stella drove them outside its limits and suburbs into a green forest. A few back roads led them to the small house in the middle of the trees.

The door opened to a man the same age as Adam's adoptive father. He looked at them with tired grey eyes and pushed up the glasses perched on his nose. His hand scratched the scruff on his face before running through his messy, mouse brown hair.

"Can I help you?" he asked, yawning.

"I'm sorry we're here so early. I'm Adam Prustin, Jennifer's son," Adam replied. "Are you James Helson?"

"Oh, yeah." His eyes widened, fully awake. He stepped aside, saying, "Come in."

The two stepped into the house. The sparsely decorated dwelling was as small on the inside as it had looked from outside. There were books and various electronic devices and parts scattered on every flat surface, and there were even a few pizza and take out boxes scattered across the kitchen counter.

"I apologize for the mess," James said, clearing away the garbage and attempting to make room for them at the table. "I tend to bring work home with me a lot."

"What do you do?" Stella asked.

"I sell books and fix electronics on the side," he answered. His grey eyes turned confused as he looked at her. "I don't mean to sound rude, but who are you?"

"Stella Matthewson." She smiled and pointed a thumb at Adam. "His girlfriend."

"She's been helping me find out about my birth parents," he explained.

"Nice to meet both of you." James moved back to the kitchen, offering, "Coffee?"

"No, thanks," Adam answered.

Stella shook her head. "I'm good."

James shrugged and turned to make himself a cup. Stella looked at Adam to see his signature unreadable mask on his face and the tense rigidity of his shoulders and back. She tapped him in the stomach with her elbow and gave him a reassuring smile, but they both knew it wouldn't really help the situation. Depending on what this man said, his mother's death was either going to be proven as a random act or a planned murder.

"You two can take a seat," James said, sitting himself at the less cluttered table. Once they sat in the chairs across from him, he asked, "How did you find out she was dead?"

"We went to her apartment, and a neighbor told us," Adam replied. "A friend of ours managed to find a police report, validating his claim."

"Let me guess, the report said she was killed in a robbery."

"Yes."

"Do you think otherwise?" Stella asked.

"I do." James took a sip of his coffee. "Nero killed her."

"He killed her?" Adam asked, shocked.

Stella snorted. "I hate the guy, but now you're telling us he killed the woman he slept with?"

"Yes."

"Why?" Adam demanded.

James sighed. "Let me start from the beginning. Nero had hired Jenny to take a few pictures of a place he was selling. He ended up asking her out for a drink, and after that she fell in love with him. He was bored, so he kept asking her on more dates until the two started being in this pseudo relationship. It was completely one-sided. Jenny was hopelessly in love with him, while Nero was just using her as a source of entertainment."

His tone turned disgusting and bitter. "After a few months he lost interest and dumped her. She came to me, her best friend, completely broken and, as she found out later, pregnant."

"Didn't she know how evil he was?" Stella interrupted.

Shaking his head sadly, he answered, "No, hardly anyone does. Nero likes to keep a positive public appearance. To her, he was a young, good-looking rich guy that was showing interest. Few women wouldn't jump at that opportunity."

"What happened after she got pregnant?" Adam asked.

"Nothing, at first. Life remained pretty much the same the first few months, but then around Jenny's seventh month, Nero found out she was pregnant."

Stella snorted. "Why would he care?"

"Do you two know about Nero's plan to take over Earth?"

They both nodded.

"He realized it was probably going to take longer than his lifetime. When he found out Jenny was pregnant with his child, he saw the perfect opportunity to assure the future of his scheme." James looked at Adam. "He wanted Jenny to live with him so he could raise you."

"Is that why she snuck me through the portal to Earth?" Adam asked.

He nodded. "As soon as Nero found out you were missing, he tried forcing himself into Jenny's mind, but she had strengthened it against him. Next he tried torturing her, but she still wouldn't tell him where you were."

His sad eyes looked down at his coffee cup as his voice turned quiet. "She came to me, battered and bruised, and told me everything. I didn't know how much trouble she was in until then. I told her we would run away, maybe go to Earth. She went back to her apartment to grab a few things, and we agreed we would meet by the portal."

"She never came," Stella said softly, feeling pity for the man in front of her.

James shook his head and sighed, forcing himself to look up at the two. "I went to her place the next day to find it was a crime scene. One of the officers told me it was a robbery gone wrong. Even to this day I can't believe it was a coincidence Jenny was murdered by some random stranger right after she was tortured by Nero."

"You think he killed her?" Adam asked.

"I've never been more sure of anything," James answered.

Stella looked at Adam to see his face harden, eyes glinting with anger. She grabbed his hand, thinking, I'm so sorry.

I am too.

"If it makes you feel any better, you look a lot like her," James said, giving a smile that only held pain.

"Thanks." Adam gave him his own sad smile. Standing, he said, "I appreciate that you told us all this, but we should go."

James stood, holding out a hand. "I'm glad I finally got to meet you. Stay safe."

"We will."

Both shook his hand and then went back to the car. Neither spoke as Stella drove away from James' house, back toward Girasol.

"I need to talk to him again," Adam finally said, gaze on the trees flying past them.

"Nero?" Stella asked, already knowing the answer.

"Yes."

"Want me to call Ricky?"

"No."

"No?" Stella glanced at him. "But won't you need-"

"I have to do this alone," he interrupted, finally looking at her.

"But how will we know if you're alright?"

"Stell," Adam pleaded softly, "I need to talk to him. I need to know why."

She sighed, gripping the steering wheel. "I don't like this."

"I know."

She parked the car across the street from Nero's building and shut it off. Turning to Adam, she said, "If anything happens, call me, and I'll be up there right away."

"I know." He smiled, reaching out to cup her cheek with one hand. She placed her hand on his, gazing at him with worried eyes. Adam felt a pang of guilt for making her worry, but he needed to know. Hoping to make her feel better, he leaned in and touched his lips with hers in what was suppose to be one innocent kiss, but turned passionate as they both let their feelings take control.

Stella finally pulled back for air, forehead resting against Adam's. She let her mind relax, allowing her mental wall to fall away completely. He felt and heard every thought and emotion, from the sorrow filled little girl tucked in the back of her mind to the strong young woman that was being overwhelmed with love and fierce protectiveness.

Adam smiled and opened his eyes to look into her green ones. He kissed her again and said in response to her thoughts, "I'll stay safe."

"Good." She gave him a small smile in return.

He stepped out of the car and walked across the street to Nero's building. The moment he was inside, men from a car that had parked a few spaces away from Stella got out and walked toward her. She saw the blades in their hands and growled in frustration.

Now, of all times? She thought, drawing her blades and jumping out of the car.

The building was strangely void of Nero's men, but Adam didn't let it deter him from his purpose as he walked into the apartment.

"Hello, Son," Nero said, seated in the chair Adam had occupied the first time he was there. "I had a feeling you would show up."

"Don't call me that." Adam glared at the man.

"It's the proper title, is it not? After all, you are my biological son." He stood. "Why are you here this time?"

"Did you kill my mother?"

Nero said nothing.

Adam stepped forward and pressed through gritted teeth, "Did you kill my mother?"

"Yes," Nero answered simply.

"Why?" Adam demanded.

He gave a shrug. "After you were gone, she was of no use to me."

"You heartless bastard," Adam spat, inches from him.

"I've been called worse." Adam opened his mouth again, but Nero held up a finger, "Before you say anything else, I would look who's here."

Adam turned and felt his stomach drop. He saw two bruised and bleeding men dragging an unconscious Stella through the door. Nero stepped past him and took two bracelets out of his suit jacket. After clamping them on Stella's wrists, he gestured to take her over to a blank section of wall. The bracelets attached themselves to the hidden magnetic strips in the wall as Stella slumped to the floor. The two men left to take care of their injuries, leaving the three of them alone.

"What is she doing here?" Adam growled.

"I'm using your girlfriend as persuasion."

"She's not my girlfriend," Adam said, trying to save her from being a bargaining chip.

"Don't lie to me, boy." Nero's eyes narrowed. "I've had men watching you since you left here. I know of your relationship with the girl."

A groan came from Stella, and Nero gave a cold grin. "She's waking."

Stella shrugged off the darkness, forcing her heavy eyelids to open. The effects of the drug one of the men had injected into her was still weighing on her mind and body, but she was lucid enough to recognize Adam's anxious face and Nero's smug look. Her eyes went up to her wrists stuck to the wall, and she gave an annoyed sigh.

Glaring at Nero with eyes beginning to swirl red-violet, she started to stand on her shaky, weak legs. She snapped, "Why am I here?"

Nero shrugged. "Ask my son."

"Adam?"

His face hard, he stepped in front of Stella, facing his biological father. "Whatever you want, leave her out of it."

"Don't worry. I won't hurt her," Nero gave a cold smile, "as long as you agree to help me."

"With what?"

Nero sat in the chair. "I've been having trouble getting any of my people past the guardians, so I've decided to go myself. With you by my side, we should easily be able to slip past them."

"Adam, don't."

He looked back at Stella's desperate face. She said in low tones, "I don't care what he does to me. I can take it. Just please, don't lead him there."

Or my parents died for nothing. she added in her mind. He gave her a curt nod and turned back to him.

"I won't."

"You might want to think about that before you answer so quickly."

"No," Adam growled, "I will never take you to Earth."

Nero shrugged and waved his hand. Behind him, Adam heard a sickening noise and Stella grunt in pain. He turned and stared at the blade sticking through her stomach, shocked. Another wave of Nero's hand set the blade sliding back into the wall.

"That was pointless, you idiot," Stella snarled through gritted teeth. "I heal."

"Yes, I know that." Nero smirked. "That's why after my men drugged you they also injected you with a compound of my own creation. It slows the part of your brain in control of healing. Until it wears off, your body will heal itself at the same rate as non-healers. You'll be dead before long."

Stella glared at him before staring down at the wound, willing the familiar red sparks to stop the bleeding and pain. Not even the smallest spark appeared.

"What is your answer, Adam?"

His eyes went from the blood slowly staining Stella's white shirt to Nero. He couldn't say anything, but shook his head. He heard Stella give a gasp and turned to see a knife stuck in her side. He recognized it as one from Stella's boot.

"Stop," he demanded.

"What?" Nero asked innocently. "This?"

The knife twisted in the wound, sending a wave of pain shooting through Stella's body. She bit back the cry in her throat, eyes squeezed shut.

"You'll kill her!" Adam exclaimed, stepping toward him with blazing eyes. The lamp next to Nero started shaking.

Grinning triumphantly, Nero waved a finger at him. "Careful, Son. Don't lose your temper."

"Stop calling me that!" Adam shouted. The lamp flew off the table toward Nero's head, but froze inches from it. His grin faded as he stared coolly at Adam.

"I would appreciate it if you wouldn't destroy my furniture."

"And I'd appreciate it if you wouldn't kill my girlfriend," Adam snapped.

Nero stood, approaching him. "Help me get to Earth, and I'll call a healer."

"No."

Adam turned, looking at Stella's desperate, pained face. She managed to get out, "Don't, Adam. Let me die. You can't-"

The knife in her side twisted again, making her cry out in pain.

"What will it be?" Nero asked, standing next to him. Finger pushing back a strand of red hair behind Stella's ear, he continued, "It's such a shame to see a pretty girl suffer. Only you can make this stop, Adam."

"You're right," Adam said, looking from Stella to Nero. "I am the only one."

"I'm glad you see it my way." Nero grinned. "I have made preparations to leave tonight-"

"I didn't say I agreed to your terms," Adam interrupted, voice dangerously quiet.

The other knife from Stella's boot hovering behind Nero shot forward, piercing Nero's heart through his back. Face shocked, he gaped at the stony face of his son before falling to the ground, dead.

"Adam," Stella whispered.

Forcing himself to look away from the man he had just killed, Adam turned and gently pulled the knife out of her side. She couldn't stop the whimper from escaping her throat. Looking at her with sorrow filled eyes, he said, "I'm sorry. It wasn't suppose to happen this way."

She gave him a pained smile. "It's okay. Just get these things off me."

Nodding, he found the release buttons on the bracelets. Rubbing her wrists, she tried stepping forward, but pain exploded from her wounds and she felt her legs give out. Adam caught her and gently helped her lay on the ground, asking, "Where's your phone?"

"Right pocket," she answered with a grimace.

He dug it out and managed to find Ricky's number. Holding Stella's hand, he waited in breathless anticipation as it rang.

"Hey, Stell!" a bubbly voice exclaimed on the other end.

"Vivi?" Adam shook off the confusion and said quickly, "This isn't Stell. It's Adam. Where's Ricky?"

"Right here."

There were some muffled sounds, and then an annoyed, groggy Ricky said, "This better be good, Adam. I was sleeping."

"Ricky, we're at Nero's place, and Stell's hurt really bad." His worried eyes looked down at her pale face. "I need you to send some healers, now."

All traces of grogginess were gone from Ricky's voice. "We'll be there as soon as we can."

"Hurry." Adam snapped the phone shut, and he kissed Stella's hand, saying softly, "Everything is going to be fine. Ricky's going to get some healers here."

"I hate feeling so useless," Stella said with a wince. Her gaze went to Nero's body. "I'm sorry you were forced to do that."

"I'm not," Adam said, eyes hard. "That man may have been related to me by blood, but he was never my father."

Stella tried giving him a smile, but the pain made her grimace again. She said, voice just a whisper, "It hurts so much, Adam."

"I know, Stell." He held her hand in both of his. "Just please, hold on."

"Okay."

Adam leaned forward and pressed his lips to her forehead. He hated seeing her in pain and not being able to do anything but wait, hoping the others wouldn't be too late. She had already lost a lot of blood and was losing even more every passing minute. "I'm so sorry, Stell."

"Stop apologizing," she said, forcing herself to keep blinking her heavy eyelids. She could feel herself fading, but she fought it.

"I just don't want to lose you," he said softly. "I love you, Stell."

"I love you too, Adam." She smiled and gave his hand a squeeze. "Don't worry, I'm not going anywhere. Not today."

"Good." Adam returned her smile, but it faded as she grimaced again. He thought, looking down at Stella's phone, Where are they?

Shouting outside caught their attention. Adam stood and stepped in front of Stella, both of the bloody knives hovering in the air by him, ready. More sounds accompanied the shouting until everything turned quiet after a few heavy thumps. Eyes trained on the door, Adam waited.

The door burst open, and a wild eyed Ricky fell into the room, exclaiming once he saw Adam, "Where is she?"

The knives clattered to the floor, and he stepped aside. Ricky dropped to his knees by Stella's side, beckoning the healer over. The small man knelt on her other side, murmuring comforting words as his hands gently touched her wounds.

"How's she doing?"

Adam turned to see Vivi step into the apartment, contrasting eyes worried. He answered, looking at the three on the floor, "She's been better."

The healer sat back on his heels, asking Stella, "Any more wounds?"

"No," She shook her head and pushed herself up on weak arms, "but I feel like crap."

"You lost a lot of blood."

"But she's going to be okay?" Ricky asked, voice anxious.

The healer smiled. "After some fluids and rest, yes."

Ricky threw his arms around her, exclaiming, "I was so worried! After Adam called, I thought we wouldn't get here in time and you would already be dead and I'm so glad you're okay!"

Stella laughed, patting his back. "Breathe, Rick."

He pulled back, giving her a grin. The healer stood and stepped back, allowing Adam and Vivi to kneel beside her.

"Geez, Viv, your hair is a rat's nest," Stella commented, hugging her. "Did you just get out of bed or something?"

"Well..."

Stella pulled back from the embrace to see her friend's face turn cherry red. She noticed Ricky was also blushing and finding sudden interest in the hardwood floor. Gaping at the two, she accused, "You two slept together!"

Ricky just shrugged, saying while Vivi giggled, "Yeah, so?"

"I thought you two... and you... how..." Stella looked from Ricky to Vivi, trying to form a coherent sentence to express her shock. Accepting that it wasn't going to happen, she laughed and shook her head. "Never mind. I'm happy for you guys."

"What are we going to do about him?" the healer asked, pointing at Nero's body.

"I'll go call the others and tell them what happened," Vivi said, standing. Seeing Stella and Adam staring at each other, she pulled the oblivious Ricky to his feet and drug him out of the room. The healer followed with a smile, shutting the door behind him.

"I told you I wasn't going anywhere," Stella said softly, smiling.

Adam found he couldn't speak, but he didn't need words to express his emotions. He pulled her into his arms, holding her tight as he pressed his lips to hers in a fervent kiss. The fear, the worry, and the anger all melted away as they held each other tight, trying to get as close to each other as possible to assure themselves that the other was real.

Stella broke the kiss and whispered, "I love you so much."

"I love you too," Adam said, holding her against him. He felt relief trickle into his stressed mind as it hit him that she was alive and going to stay that way.

Author's Note: My dear readers, we have reached the end. Thank you all for reading. It brightens my day to see people actually reading my stories all the way through. So, did you love it? Did you hate it? Are your feelings toward it somewhere in the middle? Feel free to let me know using that wonderful review button!