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What the heck?

In 1990, Nick would have been six The “Nick” in the photo couldn’t be more than three or four

“I’m in another coma” At least that made sense to his scrao with that Instead of being sent to the Nether Realm, he was trapped here, wherever here was Caleb or Kody would wake hi would be back to noret sucked into a hell realured this out and perforuys, hurry He wasn’t sure how long his sanity would hold

Cringing at what he saw in the bathrooe to see so back at him While he’d never been vain, he ht He really uys stand it?

Giveon the shower, he took a h his mind He’d been in Le Monde au Delà du Voile—the world behind the veil—where hiskidnapped by dee deet her and his father out His dad had died in the fighting and he’d given Nick all of his Malachai powers Powers Caleb and Kody had bound up tight until Nick could learn to use them, and to better protect him from the supernatural predators that wanted to kill him and take those powers for themselves

Nick froze as another fear went through hi potion froht be the reason for all of this? Had it backfired and changed everything?

Made sense He’d once turned his friend Madaug into a goat byinto a douche…

And me into a short loser

As he left the shower, he winced at his reflection “And I thought I was skinny before…”

Dog, he looked awful His arms were so frail, he was surprised he didn’t snap thee he wanted for the rest of his life Toweling his now-blond hair, he tried not to think about it as he dressed and headed downstairs The only good thing about this weird life was the lack of tacky Hawaiian shirts in his closet It appeared his one shopping soape at the photos of hi, is there not one incarnation of my life in any alternate universe where my mom didn’t take a photo of me nakd in the bathtub with a rubber duck? Really? He didn’t knoas , those weird non-doctored photos or the ous house

For that matter, it took him severalto navigate Kyrian’s mansion At least there, he had Rosa to ask for directions whenever he got lost

Eyes wide, Nick hesitated in the doorway as he saw Bubba at the table, reading The Wall Street Journal while his as stove That thing alone looked like so out of an alienscene in his life And that scared the bejeezus out of hilanced over to hi better, baby?”

Hardly …

“Sure, Ma”

Bubba checked his watch “You better grab it to go I don’t want to have to talk to Mr Hutchins again about your tardies”

Nick scowled at the unfamiliar name “Mr Hutchins?”

“Principal” Bubba folded the paper up and placed it on the table

Nick was even et another principal? What happened to Mr Head?” Did zombies eat him, too?

“Who’s Mr Head?” his mom asked

Nick stopped while he ay behind At least until he caught sight of the date on the newspaper by Bubba’s hand His heart stopped No flippin’ way It had to be wrong “April 22, 2002? Is this a fake paper?”

Bubba frowned at him “Maybe we should take you to a doctor”

That was all he needed A visit to a psych ward “No, I’m fine Really”

Discreetly, Nick pulled out his license and checked his date of birth His stoht, he was still sixteen, but that wasn’t the right birth year for hi

How is this possible? How?

“I better get to school,” Nick breathed “Where’s my backpack?”

His mom ruffled his hair “I think you left it in your car”

“The Jag?”

Bubba burst out laughing “You wish I’hteen, buddy It’s in your Jeep”

Okay, go with it Don’t react

All is right in ht or noriven his royally screwed-up life, said a lot He wanted to scream until it went back to the way it was supposed to be

His ht the keys to hiain “Are you sure you’re all right?”

Better a lie than a straightjacket “Fine”

“Michael … I’ht need to take hi him so He’s a man with a job He says he’s fine He’s fine”

Nick arched a brow at that Could he still be working for Kyrian or Liza in this place? If Kyrian was around, he ht be able to help Surely a two-thousand-year-old ioddess would know soht be able to borrow Kyrian’s ring and su overdue answers

His h Nick’s hair “He’s still ave her a quick hug before he headed for the front of the house

Bubba cleared his throat “Where are you going, son?”

“The curb”

“Why? Your Jeep’s in the garage”

They had a garage?

Nick looked up at the ornate crown e…