Turns out, I just had a few more feet to go before I reached the second basement door. And behind that door, is light.

An orb of swirling light hovering in the middle of the room, just above the stain from spilled wine.

They have a Light Bearer. Perhaps this is how they managed to capture Mum?

I scan the room, but still don't see her.

"Where's my mother?" My voice is hoarse and weak, but loud enough for them to hear.

"Mother?" The guy who has my arms pinned behind my back laughs, "Kid, you should be more worried about yourself!"

Right.

I'll worry about me later.

They lead me past rows of wine and set me down in a magic circle. I stare at the bright glowing purple carvings. This is stronger than most circles. It covers only one specific area of magic.

They knew my magic type.

I am an Adaptable Thinker. Meaning I only have to think the spells and they happen, and I can do many different kinds of magic.

Something cold brushes against my ankle and I can't help the smile that comes across my face.

Alexis is a centipede as she climbs around and circles my chest, her tail at its usual place.

"Why do you have to be so cold." I breath out and try to relax.

I swear I just her her giggle.

"You wouldn't have it any other way." I roll my eyes and whisper,

"Well..." A man walks by and we both fall silent. I'm sure to let my hair fall over my face so they don't see my mouth moving. "How did you get past them?"

"They let the dog outside, therefore giving me time to be a bug and slip in as the door shut." I smile again and nod before falling silent. No need for me to give them suspicion.

"... got him?"

Mom?

My head lifts and I look around.

"Shut up! There ain't nobody talking to you!" The voice of the man who sent me down here.

So the circle is how they've kept her, but how did they manage to catch her to begin with?

"Alexis, send all the information about what's going on now to them." She vibrates in response as she gets to work. "Tell them to be careful, and that there might be trouble." With those parting words, she becomes a worm and wiggles off.

"What are you muttering about?!" A closer male with his spear comes walking towards me, "Well, you heard me!" I narrow my eyes at the flickering spear,

"N- Nothing sir. Nothing at all." His lips part in a really ugly smirk with yellow teeth and rotting gums. As he kneels down in front of me, I can smell the liquor on him.

"Good, because you have no idea how much most of us want to tear you to shreds." I have to lean away from his technology to avoid being stabbed, "Once Boss gets here, I think we'll all be able to have a little fun, hm?"

They all laugh.

I do what I'm best at, I ignore them. That is until one of them shouts,

"His mother can even join in!"

My vision is gone. Replaced by a red hot fury.

"Stay away from Mum." I snarl loud enough to silence the room.

Apparently even when trapped I can silence a room.

"What did you just say, punk?" I lift my head to make eye contact with them. My eyes spark with pent up magic.

"What, you're deaf too? Well let me spell it out for you." I don't take my eyes off him. "Stay." One of my knees manages to get off the cement. "Away." I'm standing now, up to most of their shoulders. "From." My binds undo themselves. "My." Magic sparks from my feet as the ones closest to me back up. "Mother." The magic circle explodes.

Mum taught me that one.

Shouts of frightened men fill the air as I look off in the direction I heard Mum from earlier.

I still don't know what those spears can do, better to avoid them.

I duck into another room and said to a stop as my eyes widen.

"M-Mom?!" She looks physically healthy but there's something in her eyes. Almost like she's... broken inside. Her arms are pinned behind her with a set of glowing, spiraling shackles that meet at the base of the circle.

"Stop it. The illusions stopped working on my a while ago." She snaps, glaring angrily at me. I want to take a step back, run back away from this look-alike that can't be my mother, get into me room and hide, wait for my friends to show up.

But I don't.

Instead, I take a nervous step forwards.

"Mum, I'm not an-"

"Shut up! You don't get to talk to me with my babies voice!" Tears sting her eyes as she pulls against the bounds. I almost cry too.

"I can't talk any other way!" There are people banging on the door, I see spears beginning to break through. "I'm not one of them, Mum! I'm Lincoln!" I feel her magic before it happens. The burst of energy. I barely put up a barrier in time.

My light blue magic is see through, so I have to close my eyes as her white magic blinds me. A few seconds later, when it clears out, I find myself wrapped in a very tight hug.

"Oh God it really is you, my little baby." I feel her tears on my shoulder.

Yes, I'm taller than her by six inches and still proud to be called her "little baby". Deal with it.

"Yeah, it's really me." I run her back with a small smile. We stand in silence for a bit longer before I realize what changed.

It's completely silent. I glance over to the door and have to stifle a laugh.

Violet is leaning in the doorway with Stephen right above her, both with the goofiest grins I've ever seen.

We're safe from the bad guys Mum. You're safe.