Nikolas by Faith Gibson Read Free Book Online Page B

one knows where it is.”
    Sophia sighed. “Great. I’m no closer than I was. Why give me a useless clue? That doesn’t make sense.”
    “You said someone was watching you. Maybe they wanted to see if you would follow their directions. Or maybe they wanted you to have the disk, and they would contact the authorities. That would tie you up for months. Do you know anyone who would want to do this to your family?”
    Sophia wasn’t sure how much to tell her aunt. Did she explain how JoJo was ostracized for mating with a human? How he cloned the first human baby and disappeared from society afterwards? Or did she explain what a brilliant man he was, creating all sorts of technology that was used around the world? “If it were only my dad, I’d say no. Since he’s the son of a full-blooded Gargoyle who comes from the original line? It’s possible. Jonas, your father, is sort of a rebel. As far as we know, he was the first of his kind to mate with a human. This didn’t go over well with some of the purists, and he was banished for it. That was over two hundred years ago. If he is being targeted, I’m not sure why his enemy would wait this long.”
    “What are you going to do now?” Xenia asked.
    “I don’t know. I guess I could go back to the zoo and pretend to look for the disk. Maybe that will appease the kidnappers, and they’ll give me another clue.”
    “Won’t they suspect you going a second time? I mean, if they wanted you to have it, I would think they would have been watching. I know I would.”
    “I’m impressed, Xenia. You think like they do. Are you sure you’re really a history professor?” Sophia joked with her aunt.
    Xenia waved her hand in the air. “I watch a lot of movies. Back to my question, won’t they recognize you?”
    “No, I didn’t exactly look like myself when I went. As a matter of fact, I don’t look like myself now. Remember I told you your father is brilliant? He is an expert in the art of disguise.” Sophia removed the prosthetic from her face allowing her aunt to see the real her.
    “Oh my god. That’s amazing. Now I see the family resemblance. You must take after your father.”
    “I do. And I have to get him back. Is it okay if I leave the disk here with you? If I don’t have it on me, they can’t accuse me of taking it.”
    “I can’t believe I’m saying this, but yes. I will put it in my safe, that way nobody will know of its whereabouts. But Sophia, what are you going to do with it when this is all over?”
    “I will turn it over to the authorities. Anonymously. Unless you would like the honors? You can give your father credit posthumously.”
    “I will think on it. Right now, I have more pressing matters, like controlling these stupid new appendages.” Xenia looked down at her hands. Within a few seconds, her claws extended.
    “You seem to be getting the hang of it. The hardest part is controlling the phase when you’re excited. Scratching your nails down Keene’s back just took on a whole new meaning,” Sophia said and winked.
    “Yeah, well, I doubt he’ll want me when he finds out what I am.” Xenia sighed and retracted the claws.
    “Don’t sell him short, but only tell him the truth if you trust him implicitly. Now, I’ve got to find my parents. Thank you, Auntie.”
    “I guess I should be thanking you. If you hadn’t come along when you did, I’d think I was going insane.”
    Sophia took a pen and paper out of her bag. After writing a few lines, she handed it to her aunt. “Here is my number as well as Caroline’s, should you ever wish to contact her.”
    “Thank you, little dove. I will consider it. Please be careful out there, and if you need a place to hide out, my door is open.” Her aunt pulled her into a surprising embrace.
    While waiting for a taxi to arrive, Sophia replaced the disguise. After saying goodbye to her aunt, she headed for the train station. On the ride back, Sophia considered her options. She could stay in her