Night 25

  Nicolette Sintonarta arrived back home. It was instant, she was holding hands then she was alone in the garden of her home.

  Time had been kind to the garden.

  Nanny Katie came running out of the house.

  “Nikki!” she exclaimed in delight.

  “You have returned. The police didn’t believe you disappeared before my eyes. I have been worried sick. I have been truly ill.” She stated.

  “It is good to see you.” Nikki said “Are my parents home?”

  “Yes, they are, your cousin Ricardo is also here.” Nanny Katie told her.

  “I hope my parents didn’t give you too much grief. It was not your fault, there was nothing you could have done.” Nikki said.

  She walked into the big house. It was just as big as she remembered yet it felt different. Everything was in its place. Nikki went into the tea lounge where she found her family.

  Her mother Bonjoletta, jumped up.

  “Nikki is that you!?! What happened to you?” she asked.

  Her father came over.

  “Nicolette, where have you been. You had us worried! What are you wearing?” Frank asked.

  Nikki’s torn clothes were dirty and she was cover in scratched and bruises.

  Ricardo hugged Nikki.

  “You look terrible. Are you alright?” he asked while hugging her.

  Nancy, Ricardo’s girlfriend hugged her too.

  “We have been really concerned about you.” She said.

  Nikki looked at her clothes and the perfect furniture.

  “Shall I go and bath and change?” Nikki asked.

  “If that would make you more comfortable.” They said.

  Nikki didn’t hear the rest she went to bath. She enjoyed the luxuries of hot water from a tap, shampoo in a bottle and warm bathrooms. It was nice to have a bath and feel clean.

  While Nikki was in the bath, Bonjoletta called the doctor. They had a family doctor that came out to the house.

  Nikki dressed in a light pink dress and blow dried her hair. She looked at the scratches on her face in the mirror.

  Nanny Katie came in.

  “Miss Nikki, are you alright?” she asked.

  “I will be. Now that they are here, I do not know what to say to them.” Nikki said.

  “They are your parents and you love then very much.” Nanny Katie said.

  Nikki went down in her light pink dress. Her hair was done up with a ribbon in it. All her color was hidden away. She presented herself to them.

  “Where have you been? What happened to you?” Her father said.

  “I was kidnapped, they didn’t know who I was, that I have important parents. They wanted me for the slave trade. To be a sex worker.”

  Nikki’s mother gasped. Nikki’s father was red in the face.

  “I was able to get free and a nice girl named Fiona helped me. But we got caught so they tried to drown us both. An old man who spoke a language I didn’t understand with gold tattoos on his face saved us. He brought me back to the country and got me home.” Nikki finished.

  “How did he know where you live?” her father asked.

  “I showed him on a world map. I couldn’t call my phone was taken.” Nikki said.

  Ricardo sat down. The gate bell rang. The doctor had arrived.

  The doctor came in. The room was silent and uncomfortable.

  “Doctor, Nikki has been though a lot. Please take blood and test for all std’s. Also, anything else.” Bonjoletta said “She was raped, so maybe a private examination.”

  Nikki took the doctor to the guest room.

  “We have been worried about you.” Dr House said.

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  “I was not raped. My mother presumes. But blood tests are a good idea to put her at ease.”

  The doctor looked at her scrapes and bruises.

  “What happened to you?” he asked.

  “I was taken far away and getting back here was not easy. But I made a friend so life has a funny way of making something good come from the bad. I was not rapped I escaped before that.” Nikki sighed, “They tried to kill me. Drown me, it was awful and scary. I am worried my parents are angry.” Nikki added.

  The doctor saw her clothes and shoes she was wearing before she had bathed.

  The doctor and Nikki returned to the entertaining room.

  “Nikki will be alright physically. I advise counselling. I will let you know what the blood results show. You will need to call the police and have this wrapped up.” Dr House said.

  “May I eat?” Nikki asked.

  “Of cause, why are you asking?” her mother said.

  “You can all go back to work. I am sorry my disappearance was so interruptive to your life.” Nikki said.

  “Hey, we were worried. You are not an inconvenience. We are proud of you.” her father said.

  Nikki smiled.

  They all ate and even though there was a lot of silence her parents tried to talk with her.

  Frank was a rocket scientist he worked a lot and was never home. Bonjoletta was an international pilot so she also was not home often. When her parents were home, they tried to spend time with each other, leaving her to be raised by nanny Katie.

  As a result, her parents didn’t know her and she didn’t know them. She got good marks in school and university. She went to the best schools and had any extra she could want that upheld the family image. But all she wanted was her parents to love her enough to spend time with her. How she was grown and working, on a logical level she understood seeking parental approval was pointless and a recipe for unhappiness. Yet she still wanted it.

  That was why she hid the color in her hair and dressed in dresses when she disliked wearing dresses.

  Ricardo her cousin lived with her. His mother was an ambassador from Iceland to England. His father lived in England and he would go stay with his father during school holidays. His parents were married but neither wanted to relocate, so they lived apart and it worked for them. Ricardo saw more of his parents then Nikki did of hers.

  Ricardo worked as a lab tech researcher for eco-friendly products. He loved his job and his girlfriend Nancy. Nancy was a hair stylist and a sweet girl who was thoughtful.

  “Now that everyone is together maybe we can have dinner as a family every night?” Ric suggested.

  “While we are here it is a good idea.” Bonjoletta agreed.

  “Sure.” Frank said.

  Nikki smiled. She liked the idea of family dinners.

  In the morning Nikki was taken to the police station to do the report.

  The police took her statement and efforts to stop kidnappings and the sex trade where increased.

  The day after, Nikki’s blood work came back and she was fine. But there were enzymes that could not be identified.

  Nikki went back to her job and her best friend cried when seeing her.

  “I was so worried about you? I thought you must be dead. Fallen while climbing or something. We looked at all your favorite places but there was no trace that you had been then.” Valletta said.

  Nikki told her the truth, how she had been taking to another world met others from earth and how they finally got back home.

  “That’s intense. If I didn’t know you, I would think you are making it up. I cannot believe you met a real duchess and she became queen! Why did you return?”

  “Maybe all the killing and… I had to kill someone. Well, T?ra and I killed him together. It was terrible. I know earth has problems but no one is trying to kill me here.” Nikki answered.

  Nikki told her what she told her parents and the police.

  “If they find out you are lying you will be in so much trouble.” Her friend told her.

  “I will be in a mental hospital if I tell the truth.” Nikki answered.

  When Nikki got home, she was greeted by a very formal nanny Katie. This was a sign that her parents were home and that she needs to be presentable. Tie her hair up and hide the color.

  Nikki tied her hair up quickly, just in time too. As her father came to the door.

  “Nikki this is Marcus. He is your new body guard. You refuse to be driven around, even though you have a driver. You want fitness by walking this is an ex-military man now in private security. He will walk with you.”

  “Miss.” He greeted.

  “Hi, I am Nikki.” She introduced herself.

  Marcus stood while the family ate dinner.

  Nancy chatted about her difficult client. It made the dinner light hearted.

  “I will be returning to work on Monday. Maybe we can go shopping together.” Bonjoletta said to Nikki.

  Nikki smiled and nodded.

  “That would be nice.” Nikki said.

  “Mmm,” her father said, “I am also returning to work. If it’s too soon I can ask for more time.”

  “I am back at work too.” Nikki said.

  “I think normal will help. But maybe we can have dinner as a family every Sunday night?” Nikki requested.

  “I can’t make promises but if I am here then dinner together will be great.” Bonjoletta said.

  “I will make sure I am here.” Frank said.

  “When is my counselling appointment?” Nikki asked.

  “You are not going for counselling. You are not mentally ill, see a priest if you must.” Frank answered.

  Nikki was not surprised. Her family was big on appearances and counselling was not an accepted thing, unless you were mentally ill. However, seeing a priest was acceptable and being religious was not frowned upon.”

  “Strong Sintonarta face.” Nikki mumbled.

  “Do you feel you need a shrink?” Frank asked.

  “No, I will be fine. But can the bodyguard please sit with nanny Katie when we ate as a family. Having him loom in the corner is uncomfortable.” Nikki said.

  “I was going to suggest he eats with us.” Nancy said.

  “Marcus you can be at ease while in this house. No need to stand in the corner. This estate is safe. You only need to follow Nikki when she leaves the estate.” Frank said.

  “Thank you, sir.” He said leaving the room.

  “Dad why did you choose Marcus?” Nikki asked.

  “He is very capable. Special forces. Only the best to protect you.” He said.

  Once dinner ended Nikki went to the stables.

  Marcus appeared.

  Nikki forced a smile.

  “Marcus, you seem like a…” Nikki was going to say a nice guy, but she didn’t feel that was true.

  “A guy, who doesn’t want to baby sit a spoilt princess. So, let’s be straight, I don’t need or want a baby sitter. I am capable despite appearances. If you want to follow me and be my shadow fine, but do not spy on me. Nor run to my parents with everything.” Nikki said.

  He just looked at her. “Miss, I am sure there is nothing you can discuss that would interest me.” He said.

  Nanny Katie burst out laughing.

  “You are in for a surprise.”

  When Nanny Katie and Marcus were alone while Nikki was sleeping. Nanny Katie said to Marcus.

  “Make friend with her, she is the nicest of them all and she is worth it.”

  Nikki had told Nanny Katie the truth, that she went to another world and what happened there. After all Nanny Katie was her only friend that truly knew both sides to Nikki. The proper girl from a respectable family and the capable fun girl who loved adventure.

  The next day Nikki went shopping with her mother. They bought some dresses and hair accessories.

  “I hope you are fine with me going back to work?” Bonjoletta said to Nikki.

  “Yes, of cause I am.” Nikki looked at Marcus.

  “Is he necessary? Is this dad’s way of keeping tabs on me?” Nikki asked.

  “He wants you to be safe. We discussed it and we do not feel your job at that camp is safe. I never understood why you wanted to work there.”

  “Mom, you know I love sports, you know I am good. I get paid to do what I love. I teach children and I help people. I get to do all the fun stuff and get paid. I don’t want to quit my job.” Nikki said.

  “Because you are so strong willed, we got Marcus to protect you. I want you to find a safer way of enjoying life.” Her mom said.

  “My work, my extreme sports, is how I enjoy life. I cannot sit at a desk or stay cooped up. I know what happened was scary. But like you said Marcus is now here. So, let’s let things settle before wanting me to quit my job. Consistency is good for me. Do you want me to have a job I enjoy?” she asked.

  “Yes, you know I do.” He mother answered.

  “Then we can agree to let me work and settle back into things before trying to change too much.” Nikki pressed.

  “I will talk with your father. But for now, you can do what will help you.” Her mother said.

  Nikki and her mother Bonjoletta went home. They enjoyed their shopping and Nikki even got some new rock-climbing equipment.

  Nikki explained to her parents that she was not raped. She escaped before that. But they wanted her dead for running away.

  Her parents were relieved and they went to church on Sunday. They felt they had a lot to be thankful for.

  A few weeks later, Nikki received a phone call from T?ra Trazzie.

  T?ra invited Nikki to her wedding. T?ra had requested her special agents find Nicolette Sintonarta from Iceland. T?ra had been very surprised to discover that Nikki’s parents were very rich. But T?ra knew who Nikki was even if she hadn’t told anyone that her family has a lot of big people in it. Like an Aunty that was an ambassador and a father that is a rocket scientist.

  Nikki went to the wedding which was only five months after they returned from Chayim.

  Nikki and T?ra remained friends, Nikki would visit T?ra in her country. T?ra made the offer to go to Iceland but Nikki declined. She felt it was better for her to go to T?ra.

  Nikki’s parents started making family time. As the relationship developed. Nikki got to know her parents and they got to know her. Marcus however stayed her bodyguard. But he turned out to be way more fun than Nikki ever imagined. He even raced her with skateboards from time to time. She always won but he always tried.