“You built a resort,” I repeated, genuinely amazed by what they’d accomplished. “How did you find this place?”
“We scoured entire galaxies for the right spot, and we dug through the Druid archives for some pointers, too. Most of the older texts were in a dead Druid language, but we were able to identify Meahiri and the names of its planets. We then spent some time studying it from afar,” Serena said. “It took us a while, but we settled on Strava as the perfect vacation destination. Because, believe me, it’s perfect. There are only two seasons, the predominant one being summer. The temperatures are decent, though it does get hot and humid on the more extreme days. Think of it as a perpetual summer in Saint Tropez, basically.”
“And you want us to go on vacation there?” Sofia interjected, frowning slightly.
Harper, Serena, and Phoenix looked at each other, then at us, and nodded enthusiastically.
“Yes,” Harper replied.
I’d never really considered a vacation. I loved The Shade, and I traveled consistently to the In-Between. Technically speaking, I hadn’t had an actual vacation in decades—not since Sofia’s and my honeymoon. And that was okay, because I loved my job of making sure GASP and The Shade operated to the highest standards. Thousands of creatures, both human and supernatural, depended on us. I had a hard time imagining a Shade that didn’t have me in it, even for a week.
“Okay, let’s get something straight first,” Serena said. “You guys have done enough. Seriously. You’ve been at this for centuries. We all understand that you love what you do, but we also think you could do with a couple of weeks away from it all, to just disconnect and enjoy doing absolutely nothing. Strava is beautiful and uninhabited. It’s the perfect place to just enjoy some peace and quiet, and even to explore the area. There are literally thousands of islands with varied ecosystems, yours to wander through as you wish.”
“I mean, think about it. You guys took GASP from a peacekeeping mission in the earthly dimension to a multiversal organization that has successfully restored the peace and independence on twenty-one planets!” Phoenix added. “The Shade is growing bigger, as evidenced by this marvelous extension. The vampires have a home now; the treehouses are theirs. The mountains belong to the witches, the jinn, and the dragons. The Vale belongs to the humans, and there’s a wide variety of creatures sharing the beaches. The Shadian population is thriving. We have peace, love, and diversity.”
“Therefore, for this and everything else you’ve done, Grandpa Derek, you deserve a vacation,” Harper replied. “You’ve earned it. And we’ve gone to great lengths to make sure you make the most of it. We scoured Strava for signs of life. We studied the ecosystem as best as we could. It took us a couple of months to build the resort, and we’ve made it to the highest of specs, just for you, guys.”
“This is amazing,” Vivienne murmured. “It’s a shame Mona and Kiev aren’t here to see this.”
“Oh, they’ll get their chance when they come back,” Phoenix replied. “That resort isn’t going anywhere, anytime soon.”
I crossed my arms, then looked around once more. All our guests seemed mesmerized by what they were seeing. The kids had put in a lot of effort to get this done. It was obvious from the pictures alone. Plenty of work had gone into building the resort. They’d definitely done their homework, particularly after all their experiences in Eritopia and on Neraka. I knew they’d made sure Strava was safe.
But I still had a hard time seeing myself away from GASP.
Xavier didn’t seem too convinced, either. Corrine, Ibrahim, Claudia, Yuri, Aiden, and Kailyn were star-struck and smiling. They were up for the trip. Lucas and Marion… I wasn’t sure. Lucas was hard to read, in general. The shadow of a smile fluttered across his and Marion’s faces, though.
“I don’t know what to say.” I exhaled sharply. “It looks great, but—”
“Grandpa Derek, you have to see it live to understand!” Harper said. “It used to be inhabited. We found some ancient stone structures there. We scanned the planet, and there’s nothing but all this lush flora and fascinating fauna. There’s no sign of intelligent life. It’s not like we’re colonizing it or anything. But no one owns it, and it is such a shame—”
“Oh, and fun fact!” Avril interjected. “We’ve hunted some of the wild animals while we were there, building the place up. Their blood tastes fantastic. You are in for quite the treat!”
“How did you do all this without any of us knowing?” I asked.
The kids all looked at each other, making it easier for me to identify the “culprits”—Harper, Serena, Phoenix, Avril and Heron, Kailani, Jovi and Anjani, Aida and Field, Dmitri, Elonora, Vesta, Caia and Blaze, even Vita and Bijarki… Ben and Rose, my own flesh and blood, didn’t seem surprised, either.
I had to give them credit for this project. It was big and ambitious, and yet they’d pulled it off without either of us getting word that it was happening. We’d all raised them well, it seemed.
“We’re very good at planning and keeping secrets, I guess,” Harper replied, grinning. “Plus, we’re trying to promote a healthier work environment. You haven’t had a vacation in, what, ninety years? I mean, come on, what kind of example does that set for the rest of us, huh?”
I couldn’t help but chuckle.
It looked beautiful. It sounded amazing. But the pang in my stomach refused to go away. It wasn’t instinct telling me there was something off—in fact, it was the absence of any reaction from my subconscious that made my stomach tighten itself into a marble.
I was usually able to recognize patterns, to have one look at a scenario and recognize the potential outcomes, both good and bad. This time, however, I had nothing. No bad omens. No butterflies in my chest. Nothing. A big, flat nothing.
And I didn’t know what to do with that.
For the first time in… many years, I didn’t know what to say.
Sofia
The research and effort that had gone into all this was simply overwhelming. Moreover, my heart swelled with pride at the sight of what our grandchildren had achieved in the course of a few months. There was definitely some magical assistance involved, though, and, based on the smiles plastered on Viola’s and Kailani’s faces, they’d had a key role to play in all this.
Strava was beautiful. By all possible standards, it could very well be a secluded paradise, a hidden gem of a distant galaxy. Everything about it screamed “Yes!” at me. But, knowing Derek, it would take more to convince him to leave The Shade and GASP behind.
“We’re proposing a two-week vacation on Strava,” Harper said. “The nights are long and gorgeous. You can rest during the day and explore the backyard jungle at night. There are ten islands within reach. There are boats, and we’ll supply you with all the equipment and swamp witch magic for whatever you might need out there.”
“And we even created a device for you. It’s not just a communication device, for you to let us know if you need anything,” Phoenix added, showing us a metallic sphere that could fit in the palm of his hand. “You just tell it what you want, and it either does it or tells you how to do it yourself. It’s practically a tiny AI system that knows everything we’ve learned about Strava, too. It’ll give you live weather updates, details about the indigenous animals and regional fruits, anything you need, in one cool little sphere! We call it Bowie, for no particular reason.”
“It uses radio waves for communication, and it’s been fitted with a little bit of swamp witch magic. Just a couple of charms to make sure all messages are sent out in real time,” Serena said. “We’ve thought of everything.”
“So! Who wants to go?” Harper asked, the enthusiasm twinkling in her bluish-green eyes. “Derek, Sofia? Xavier, Vivienne? Lucas, Marion? Cameron, Liana? Claudia, Yuri? Aiden, Kailyn? Corrine, Ibrahim? Come on, guys, don’t be shy!”
Derek sighed, shaking his head slowly.
“I am honestly impressed. You’ve done an amazing job, kids,” he said. “But I just don’t see mys
elf leaving GASP behind like this. This work is a part of me, of who I am. Besides, someone needs to look after all our operations, especially since our Nerakian expansion. We’re looking into nearby solar systems, as well. I can’t leave all this work behind.”
“Grandpa Derek,” Harper replied, pursing her lips, “Ben and Rose have agreed to take over for you. It’s only for a couple of weeks, anyway! Besides, Mom, Dad, River and Caleb, and Victoria and Bastien will help them. Plus us! We’re all here, ready to cover for whatever. It’s not like you’re leaving The Shade or GASP’s affairs unattended. We’re perfectly capable of taking care of all this for you while you just disconnect for a while.”
“I wouldn’t be surprised if you called us via Bowie in a couple of weeks and told us you’re extending your stay because of how amazing Strava is!” Phoenix said, chuckling softly.
Claudia scoffed, resting a hand on Yuri’s shoulder. “Screw this, I’m sold,” she said, then looked at her husband. “How about you, lover boy?”
Yuri seemed to think about it for a while, then gave her a broad smile.
“Well, you’re obviously not going there alone,” he replied. “With your penchant for trouble? No way. We’re going, and we’re making the most of it, too.”
Claudia giggled with delight, then kissed him full on the lips. She looked at Derek and me, raising an eyebrow.
“You two need to get out more, anyway,” she announced. “Stop being old sourpusses and join us!”
“We’re in,” my father, Aiden, chimed in, holding Kailyn close. “It looks amazing, and it’s a whole new world altogether. I’m looking forward to exploring it. It’s been a while.”
“It’s been six months, Dad,” I shot back, slightly amused. “Remember Neraka? You couldn’t get enough of it.”
Dad laughed. “What’s the point of immortality in this vast universe, if you can’t go out and explore it, sweetheart? The world is a big place, and we have the knowledge and ability to explore it. You heard the kids. The Shade’s in good hands!”
I let out a sigh, then looked at Derek. He’d yet to get on board. I could see it in his eyes.
Cameron groaned, briefly glancing at Liana. “Eh… She’ll have me sleep on the couch for the next twenty years if I say no to all this awesomeness.”
“Hah!” Harper exclaimed and clapped her hands once with excitement. “Okay. Three pairs of the legendary founders club are in! Lucas? Marion? You know you want to!”
“Mom, Dad, come on,” Avril interjected, resting her hands on her hips. “The kids are okay. You two need a break away from all this. It’ll be therapeutic!”
“Therapeutic for what?” Lucas replied.
I stifled a chuckle, remembering what a dark and gloomy fiend he used to be.
“Dad, seriously,” Avril shot back. “It’s a beautiful place, with endless beaches, delicious animal blood, and nobody to bother you and Mom. Tropical paradise at its finest. Let us do this for you. You deserve it!”
“Sweetheart, thank you,” Marion replied. “Don’t worry, we’re going. Whether your father likes it or not, we’re going.”
“I didn’t say I didn’t like it,” Lucas said. “I just don’t see what’s so therapeutic about it.”
“Lucas, it’s a tropical paradise with clean air, zero noise, and good food. What isn’t therapeutic about that, you old fool?” Ibrahim retorted with a smirk, then looked at Harper and the others. “I’m inclined to say yes, too, but I’ll let Corrine make the final decision.”
We all shifted our focus to Corrine, who noticed the sudden flow of attention toward her. She took a deep breath, then narrowed her eyes at Shayla and Arwen.
“You two!” she snapped, sounding like an army general. “Think you can hack it for two weeks without me?”
Arwen scoffed. “Puh-lease. It’ll be a joyride, trust me.”
“I wouldn’t go without Eli, and he’s not coming back soon enough for this, but I’ll happily take the next trip to Strava once he returns,” Shayla said.
“Besides, Grandma, you’ll have some time to think about this whole swamp witch business,” Kailani interjected. “Who knows? Maybe, by the time you get back, you’ll embrace the idea of my transition!”
“Yeah, that doesn’t make me feel more at ease, honey,” Corrine replied. “But you all are right. We do need to disconnect for a little while,” she then conceded. “All of us. Even these old bats,” she added, pointing at Derek and me.
“I don’t know, for an old bat, Derek is still devastatingly handsome,” I shot back with a grin, placing a hand on my husband’s broad chest. I relished the feel of his black suit against my fingertips, and the hard, toned muscles stretching beneath.
“Now you’re going to make me blush,” Derek muttered, his gaze darkening as he looked at me.
“How about you, Grandpa?” Jovi cut in, nodding at Xavier.
Xavier and Vivienne suddenly looked like deer in the headlights. Their expressions were so hilariously transparent, I couldn’t help but feel their “pain.” They were mesmerized by Strava. Vivienne, in particular, had a hard time looking away from the screen. But I knew that, deep down, Xavier wouldn’t say yes if Derek didn’t say yes. Xavier’s loyalty to his brother-in-law knew no bounds. They’d been through a lot together, and they relied on each other for pretty much anything where GASP was involved.
I took a deep breath, deciding to do what Derek didn’t seem ready to do himself.
“We’ll all go,” I said.
Derek’s head turned in a snap, his wide eyes fixed on me.
I gave him a shrug. “What?” I asked. “We need a vacation. And you know Xavier won’t agree to go without your blessing. We all need this. The kids are right.”
“Xavier can go!” Derek replied, then gave his brother-in-law a soft nod. “I mean, if you two want to go, please, by all means! You’ve earned it. I just don’t think it’s for me.”
“Oh, please!” I groaned, slightly frustrated.
“What?” Derek asked, visibly befuddled.
“Baby, come on,” I said, smiling. “You and me… An endless beach… A lush jungle… A turquoise ocean as far as the eye can see, sprinkled with virgin islands just waiting to be discovered. Two weeks in paradise, Derek. Why say no?”
Derek thought about it for a moment, not taking his eyes off me.
“I haven’t taken a vacation in—”
“Almost forever, I know.” I cut him off. I knew my husband better than he knew himself. I understood his reluctance, his subconscious fears, but I could also see that, deep down, he really wanted to go. “Derek, The Shade is not going to burn down without you. GASP will continue to work without you. You’ve done it, baby. Our world is self-sufficient and perfectly capable of taking care of itself. You know it.”
He sighed, a smile stretching his lips.
“What would I be without you?” he replied, his gaze softening.
“A pile of ashes?” I replied, raising an eyebrow.
Xavier cleared his throat, politely demanding our attention, while the kids looked as though they were on the edge of their seats, along with the rest of the crowd. The only possible happy ending for tonight was if we all agreed to go to Strava. The kids had put in all that work—I refused to let it go to waste.
“If you think about it, we’ve got comms open with GASP at all times via Bowie,” Xavier said.
“Yes, and we’ll have a telescope constantly aimed at the island, too!” Jovi added, following his grandfather’s reasoning. “I mean, it’s not high definition or anything. You’ll all just be tiny black dots, but we’ll have eyes on the resort, if security is your concern.”
“Actually, security isn’t our main concern,” I replied gently. “We’ve got Corrine and Ibrahim with immense magical abilities, and you said the planet is uninhabited, anyway. It’s not that. Derek and I… Well, all of us old folk… We’re not used to taking vacations, kicking back and doing nothing. Please, forgive our initial reluctance. It’s just our knee-jerk
reaction to the idea of a vacation. We’ll go. We’ll all go.”
The kids cheered. The crowd erupted in thunderous waves of applause.
“Why is everybody so happy to see us leaving?” Derek muttered, giving me a sideways glance. He made me laugh so hard, sometimes.
“It’s just proof of how bored everybody is with us,” I replied, chuckling. “I don’t think it’s about us needing a break from this. I think it’s about them needing a break from us.”
Derek burst into laughter, then wrapped his arms around me and held me tight, covering my face in cool, sweet kisses.
“I know you’re joking, but at the same time, I can’t help but think you might be right,” he replied, tucking a lock of hair behind my ear.
“Besides, we could use the time away, babe,” I said softly. “We could strengthen our relationship, talk about what lies ahead. Eternity is a long time, Derek. But we still have to use it wisely.”
He nodded slowly.
“I look forward to it.” He sighed, then looked at the kids, who were high-fiving each other like they’d just won the Super Bowl. “All right. We’ll go. It’s a shame that Mona and Kiev won’t be with us, but I guess they’ll get their turn when they come back.”
“Awesome!” Serena exclaimed. “You’ll love it. I promise. Who knows, after you guys get back, maybe we’ll arrange another trip for The Shade’s second generation. Strava could very well become the Novaks’ favorite vacation destination!”
Derek chuckled, then gazed at the screen again, no longer hiding his own enthusiasm. He was already head over heels with Strava.
“It does look amazing,” he murmured.
Rose
A couple of days later, Ben and I met with our parents, Corrine and Ibrahim, and Xavier and Vivienne. The others were in the process of packing for their Strava vacation. Mom and Dad had insisted on a briefing session prior to their departure, which made all the sense in the world, especially for my father, who was going away for the first time in so many years.