Later that night, Sil told Minx later there was a worry about Laxmus, Pure, Truedream, and the clone of Jim. Sil said he vowed to end these threats with his friends.
Minx nodded.
Her husband had spent all this time as a hero; he was raised to be one by Caser. She expected it. Over the coming weeks, the Cursed held meetings to discuss the way forward. Logan said he thought Quinn would be ready to return in 10 years so they used that as their goal of taking down all the threats.
Layla had vanished shortly after putting Quinn in his resting place. The Blades were all ready to go after the Chained on their own but Sil had mixed loyalties. He decided to help the Blades and have Sam contact him for the other threats. Minx provided assets to help track down the known threats. Logan built them a custom ship. The Blade kids all joined them on the ship once they turned 18.
Serene decided to help Minx with her research since things were not the same in the vampire settlement. Most of the leaders had died and there was no king after Quinn. The leader of Serene's family was gone. A new leader was put in places, Rokene ultimately took control, his sister unable to function though the grief of losing their mother and the guilt she felt in leaving her behind. Since Serene was such good friends with Minx and Minx was close to Quinn, Rokene insisted she help Minx in any way she could.
At the ten-year mark, Quinn still didn't wake up. Sil quit supporting the Cursed because they all took portions of the threats upon themselves as their duty to Quinn. They didn't feel right with Quinn not being there. It was his faction and all the credit rightly went to him. The Blades focused on the Chained because those that remained at large were big threats.
Minx focused on research in her mother's lab. Logan joined her when he was able to. She still had every intention of going to her father's side, if he was still alive. All attempts to discuss this with Sil met with his saying he'd have time soon to go with her.
At this point, Owen and Olivia were 11, Angelina was 10 and they had a new set of twins aged 3.
Sil had just returned from another adventure saving a town from one of the chained that got away when Hilston attacked the Cursed Ship. He held Minx close and they watched the children play.
"Sil, now that you're home, do you think we can go and find my family now?"
"I can't yet. Shiro has a lead on another chained and I may need to leave soon to go get them."
Minx sighed.
"Hey, I promised I'd go with you, right? It's just not a good time right now. Wait just a little while longer, okay?"
Minx didn't say anything. Her nightmares had morphed from what happened in the orphanage to images of what her mother endured before she was exiled to this realm. She needed answers and wasn't going to have any peace until she had them. She felt her husband wasn't listening to her. She decided she was done waiting for him to decide this was important.
That night, while Sil slept, Minx packed. She put everything they needed for their trip in her bracelet that she got back from Vorden when they fought Graham. She didn't know how much the magic area held so she used both. She had Shalt and Serene do the same while and Midas used his own magic storage area. He was only one person she felt should be fine. Only family was coming and Shalt and Serene were now considered as such. With Quinn in eternal slumber until he healed, now was the time to undertake such a journey. She told everyone to get well rested. As soon as Sil left again, they were going through and needed to be prepared for anything.
The family enjoyed each other all the next day. The children got to play with their father for the first time in months. Minx savored the joy on their faces. She wanted this moment to last forever. The next morning, Sil was woken up by a message from Shiro. They found a particularly terrible person and needed Sil there immediately. Minx woke everyone up and they escorted Sil to his ship.
The Blade family was now located on a ship much like the Cursed ship. When Quinn didn't wake at the 10-year mark as Logan had anticipated, the Cursed Faction broke apart. They all felt they could do something to bring his ideals to life but the faction itself was being blamed for everything wrong in the world. It hamstrung their actions and some in the Blade family had already begun the search for the bad on their own.
Those Blade Family members who were in the Cursed faction simply joined them and made it more organized. Sil and Minx maintained their children were Botan Family to protect them from the remaining chained. The number was quite large. Hilston spent countless decades collecting people with unique abilities.
At Sil's ship, Angelina complained that daddy was leaving again and didn't love them. Sil's eyes teared up hearing her words.
"Angelina, daddy leaves us because there are bad people in this world. He goes out to fight them rather than risk they find us and do bad things to us. He leaves to keep us safe. Please don't be sad," as Minx pulled her daughter close, "he's doing what he feels he needs to do to protect us."
Angelina hugged her mother tight, not wanting to look at the man she had played with so much the day before.
Minx went to her husband and gave him a passionate kiss then pulled away. "I hope to see you soon."
"You will. I won't be gone long."
She gave him a look like she didn't believe him. They watched him board his ship and take off.
"Midas, take the kids. Shalt and Caser, go with him. I'll be there soon."
Back in her bedroom, Minx took one last look around. She had everything she needed plus things she wasn't sure she did but she packed them anyway. All that was left…
My Love,
This is the hardest thing I have ever had to do. I can't wait any longer. I need to find peace. I'm glad you have found happiness in being the superhero you have always wanted to be. But I need a superhero as well. I have decided to be my own. I'm bringing the rest of the family with me so I won't be alone. We will be back as soon as I have the answers and find a way back.
I love you, always.
Minx.
She read it back to herself and found it corny. She had only left herself this one sheet of paper so she sighed and turned it over.
I'll come back to you in one piece and breathing.
Satisfied, she left it on her pillow and joined her family in her mother's workshop. Logan was there setting things up for her.
"You remember what to do with my stuff once we are gone?"
Logan sighed, "Of course. Everything is ready and you're stalling."
"This is going to break him," as her tears began to fall.
"He has me and he has his family. He'll be okay, just hurry back."
Minx nodded and sent her energy into crystal in the center of the portal circle that was on the floor. She screamed in pain but they all grabbed hands or tentacles as Caser, Gridlebone and five of their kids were going a well, some with bags on their back. Suddenly a bright light flashed and the family was gone.
Just as his space ship hit the outer atmosphere of the planet, the nagging feeling in Sil's stomach was bugging him too much. He called Shiro and told him he needed to go back really quick.
Back in his room, he read the one sentence message Minx left him and his heart went into a panic. He couldn't breathe as he thought back to the last time he read a message like this. It was when they were getting ready to fight the vampire leaders in an impossible fight to rescue Fex from execution. She had been prevented from participating in the fight due to his own decision and had not taken her needs or desires into account. He was stricken by fear but willed his feet to move.
He arrived just before the flash of light. He watched as his family, his reason to fight, vanished from his sight. Logan watched him crumble but also noticed the note in his hands.
"What's the back side say?" as he got up from his stool to give it a closer look.
With trembling hands, Sil read the part she decided she didn't like and had put a line through. He realized he had pushed her away by placing other things above her.
"Sil, I know you're hurting and you'll miss them but the mission you assigned yourself is still ongoing. The Blades are waiting for you. If you stay here like this, they could die. Vorden could die."
This got Sil moving though tears ran from his face. Logan walked him back to his ship then asked Raven to help him pack the belongings of the Head of the Botan Family. They were to be placed in her personal ship and the ship was to be parked in the lab which was then to be sealed. The only way to open it would be from the inside, upon Minx's return. That was a big if because no one knew if that was even possible. Logan assumed it would be but with Minx's lack when it came to technology, he just prayed he'd see his friend again.