Chapter XXVII

The Bering Strait, as William rightly said, was already frozen, although the ice was not yet strong enough to cross on foot. Nevertheless, they did so at a slow pace. The three were grateful that the weather was on their side: there was no wind and no strong currents. Even so, the 85 kilometers they covered in a matter of minutes would take longer this time. The Celt stumbled, but Cyrus managed to catch him in mid-air to avoid falling and breaking the fragile ice.

"Thank you!" he says haltingly, as he sits up. "Your brother has been very quiet."

—Since she died, he's barely spoken. Especially the fact that he saw her go to hell because of her suicide.

—What? No! She's not there, I say it, I went to get her into nowhere.

—he stops walking to wait for the eldest—. You and I, let's clear something up.

—Hey! What's going on? — without understanding what's going on.

—Your girl, she's fine, she's not in Tartarus, if she were I would never have found her.

—But I saw how a sea of fire swallowed her.

—She is in nothingness or limbo, it is true that her soul is not at peace, but it is not suffering either, she is fine and it would be better for you to forget about her and live your life, you have a lot to live for yourself, you have repeated it to me a hundred times, "my children, my grandchildren, my great-grandchildren, all my lineage must live for them"

—I gave my word that I will do it, you know I keep my word.

— You better.

—Hey! Respect my gray hair, don't talk to me like that, we're not the same.

—I know that, I'm more handsome, more dashing than you.

—Yeah, of course. You want to be like me.

—What? No way. — They both burst out laughing.

In the distance they see Alf and company greeting them very enthusiastically.

— We have arrived – The Celt smiles with satisfaction.

Athens, Greece.

The village is maintained by a few people, among whom are teenagers. Night hasn't completely settled yet, and the honey-eyed black-haired man's cell phone vibrates incessantly. He lazily answers the call only to realize it's a text message. He answers, sets the phone on his nightstand, and covers his head.

It's ten in the morning, Elena enters Emilia's room who is still tired from the trip, but above all from not stopping crying over her mother's death, the brunette sits next to her friend, caresses her brown hair, settles down next to her, hugs her, closes her eyes, Emilia complains and she comforts her, the Sonoran wakes up sobbing, curls up into her friend.

—We'd better get up, Estrella is already in a bad mood.

—So early? That woman needs a vacation.

Elian's passion

—Yeah, well, you see… as the owner of here, I doubt she wants to leave my dad alone.

—Dad is already too green to have his bags looked after, don't you think?

—Before you say anything, could you translate what you said into Spanish?

—Sigh—Our father is already old, big, mature, long-lived, veteran enough to need his reproductive system taken care of; in other words: He's grown up and knows how to take care of himself.

—Oh! Next time, please speak to me in Spanish.

—That's what I did. —He gets out of bed and goes straight to the bathroom and showers.

"I have a surprise for you," Elena says from the bed. "What is it?" comes from the shower. "You'll find out in the afternoon."

The day passed normally for Elena, fascinating for Emilia, who couldn't believe her eyes at the library she possessed, books in every direction from right to left, upstairs, downstairs. They had a room filled with antiques, another with solid gold, silver, bronze, titanium. The tour of the villa seemed endless. When they least expected it, afternoon arrived. An excited Estrella follows the girls' scent until she finds them in the sports wing.

—They've been doing nothing all day, Elena, you're the oldest, behave like one.

—But I've been doing it. I already called the school. They'll be there tomorrow. My uncle will be with us, as will Hector. Delfina will be the one to teach him Greek and Latin.

—Hmph! By the way, Rose just arrived. She's not alone, Michael is with her.

—Who are they?

• English, we're going to greet them. Follow me. Estrella, I'm waiting for someone else—she looks at her wristwatch—as soon as they arrive, let me know. If you continue with the English, tell Emilia. The eldest nods. They leave the room. “Listen, I'll try to speak to them in English out of consideration. I don't want you to interrupt me unless I ask for your opinion.”

understood?

• Understood and noted.

—I'll tell you something about Rose, she's very, very dark-skinned.

—So? What's up with that?

• She doesn't like to be seen "with contempt" she has a fickle character, be careful how you look at her.

—I'll keep that in mind— her cell phone rings—It's Jon Jon!—she says happily. They reach the hall—when she enters, Emilia sits down apart from them.

—Welcome back — he greets the two boys, who are in their twenties, although both are over 400 years old, effusively — long time no see!

—Unfortunately, that's how it is. How many? Twenty?

—Don't be modest, Michael. We've been in high school since the '90s. Rose, Rose, you still owe me a bet.