“The Madame of the house is back from the hospital, young mistress.” She answered in her enviable French accent.
Selena nodded.
Just then, Mom Rose walked into the mansion with a huge smile on her face, glued to Arian’s side. In a bout of haste, the maids almost bumped into Selena while dragging several bags up the semicircular staircase.
Without sparing her a glance, they bowed and mumbled apologies over their shoulders, flying two steps at a time.
“….”
“Welcome back, Madame Rose and young master Arian.” Old butler Lee gave a slight bow and graciously relieved them of their coats.
“How are you feeling?” Nanny warmly asked, her impassive aura lifting. Selena noticed and lowered her eyes.
Obviously, no one dared say it. But they all silently blamed her for the current crisis happening in the family.
“Peaceful.” Mom Rose smiled, fondly tapping Arian’s arm which her delicately gloved fingers were clutching.
“Where’s Tommy? Isn’t he back from the Winterfields yet?”
“Young Tommy is back, Madame. But Sir Argent took him out a while back.” Nanny replied.
A look of terror flashed across Mom Rose’s eyes. But it was gone as soon as it came.
“Mom, I have to leave for a while. There’s something important I have to do.” Arian spoke softly which made her smile falter nonetheless.
“But you’ll be back, right? Can’t you leave it for some other time? It’s already so late and….”
“Mom, I promised I’ll stay. It’s really very important.” He gently released her grip on him.
“We’re not yet done with our conversation, okay? Let’s finish when I get back. In the mean time, try to get some rest. You’re supposed to be discharged tomorrow but you insisted on leaving today.” He said with a note of dissatisfaction.
Mom Rose reluctantly nodded and let go.
“Nanny, please make sure she gets a lot of rest. As much as she denies it, mom is more disobedient than Tom.” He said and nanny bowed.
Without sparing Selena a look, Arian kissed his mom, retrieved his coat and walked out. From where she stood, Selena could feel the disgust he felt for her.
She rolled her eyes.
“Nanny.” Mom Rose called as soon as Arian was gone.
“Yes Madame.” She bowed again. She thought for a while.
“Take charge of dinner and make sure it’s ready as soon as possible. Knowing his voracious appetite, Tommy must be hungry by now. I’ll go set up Arian’s room while you…”
Nanny opened her lips to disagree but butler Lee beat her to it.
“I’m sorry, Madame Rose. But let me do the young master’s room my….’
“Oh forget that! Just send a maid upstairs after me and don’t insist. There’s so much to do! I have to change his duvets, the curtains, the pillows, disinfect the place all over, change the flowers, turn on the heaters….”
Selena’s eyes bulged but the rest looked indifferent. And it wasn’t because of their professionalism. No.
Rather, they were used to seeing the over-doting mother!
“And nanny, please add enough food to Arian’s tray. I know I’ld have to force it down his throat when he gets back but it’s a necessity! I tried to hide it from him but he’s lost so much weight. I doubt he’s had anything decent to eat this entire week! And he hasn’t been sleeping well too. It’s so obvious. After dinner, make that special tea…”
.
.
Sighs.
***
( In the middle of nowhere. )
Natalia curled herself up till she looked like a frightened little girl. Her tears hadn’t faded because she winced, making more of them fall as another ferocious lightening bolt slashed through the air and boomed loudly.
It was raining heavily and she could hear the angry ocean waves roaring violently with the storm. Her mind was going overboard, working haphazardly.
The images from the night her parents died clouded her head. It felt like the same night, the same thunder storm.
How could it be raining when there was supposed to be snow? The cold blooded murderer must’ve brought her out there to torment her!.
And it was working.
Natalia hugged her cold body, leaving her ears bare. She was shivering badly and could taste the metallic taste of blood behind her cheek where he’d slapped her.
The weather had considerably dropped but her skin was burning hot. Her headache had turned into a migraine and her throat was dry. She was too weak to reach for the blanket so she stayed still.
Natalia was all alone in the large, dark room. The only source of light which illuminated the space was from the lightening bolts which appeared repeatedly.
The floor to ceiling windows, which had previously been shielded by automatic blinds, covered half the room which in turn only increased her hydrophobia. Whenever lightening struck, her frightened whimpers continued.
Natalia was alone, far away from everyone.
The same glass of water sat on the bedside table with some painkillers. But Natalia would rather die than accept them!. All she wanted was Arian by her side.
Where was he when she needed him?
She cried as her shaky fingers found their way to his pendant, grateful they didn’t take it off. No matter how hard she tried, Natalia’s frightened eyes couldn’t leave the raging ocean. It felt like she’ld drown if she ever closed them.
The storm had been raging for hours and the Royal doubted that it’ld stop until she was dead!.
She couldn’t breathe properly and her fears were driving her insane! The pressure kept building as time ticked away like a bomb set on a timer.
Natalia’s mind went overactive and she could see shadows lurking in the darkness. She was slowly losing it as nothing made sense any longer!
So when the next terrifying lightening struck, she screamed out her lungs and fell into a welcoming darkness…
***
( Beverly Hills, California. )
“Don’t you get it? I can’t wait!” Arian De’ Argent breathed helplessly. “I’m so restless that I can’t even sit!” He pointed and tugged his hair in frustration.
“Arian, I know how you feel. Do you think any of this is easy for me too?!” Elva heaved out from across Natalia’s table. He turned his back on her and continued his restless pace.
“I don’t know what to do. I feel so useless! Why can’t we involve the cops, huh? We should have a full blown investigation to rat out this criminal before it’s too late. Every second we waste in here, she could be dying out there!.”
“As it currently seems, fully involving the force is only gonna cause more problems. These gangsters will know how desperate we are to find her and might hurry up their plans and hurt her. The cops might even be infiltrated for all we know!
“Then there’s the media. And Astheria! How are we gonna start an explanation?? Setting the Empire in a state of emergency is only gonna cause more harm than good! We have to be rational and not narrow-minded in our thinking, Arian. Natalia would want that!”
“Hell, Natalia’s more important to me! From what you told me, she’s ALREADY hurt!” He bluntly pointed out. “Who knows what horrible state she could be in right now?!”
“Arian, stop being pessimistic! We’ll find her. We just need more time.”
“Time and time again, there’s no time! I can feel it deep in my heart! She needs us! Natalia’s calling out to us! How do you expect me to stay optimistic, rational and consider the bigger picture when we haven’t had a single positive report!” He snapped in a fit of rage.
Arian knew he was probably being unfair but that was how he felt! From the worry and tears glistening in Elva’s eyes too, it was obvious she felt the same way.
“This is a private matter relating to an Empire. Weighing all sides with the sole aim of ensuring order and balance, we don’t have to bring in external parties.” She gritted with a frosty voice.
Arian knew her meaning went deep but he caused it. He was unconsciously acting like a schoolteacher scolding a student and he was sorry.
The French heir took in a deep breath and placed his agitated aura under control. He raised his gorgeous mint green eyes to Elva and continued on a more softer tone.
“Okay, let’s try something different?” Elva relaxed also and folded her arms.
“It’s been proven that the bullets the gangsters used to scare Natalia are from the kelion’s signature gun, right?” He asked and she nodded in agreement.
“If these guys are smugglers and you haven’t yet figured out their major means of transportation in order to pinpoint their location even after searching all the shipping companies in California, then maybe… just maybe, their head base isn’t in the country?”
Elva looked away thoughtfully.
“Even though he’s faceless, the bastard clearly knows he’s hotly wanted around here, so his head base really can’t be in here right? Isn’t it possible that he’s somewhere out there but still close enough to keep his businesses in motion and the force on the wrong tracks??”
“Think about it. You said Natalia primarily returned to California because of the Intel you got from the force that the Kelions head base is right here! The criminal must’ve made it seem that way to lure her out from her safe place to his supposed playground.”
“And as soon as he got her, he took her away to his original head base and still kept up the ruse to keep everyone diverted from his tail.”
“It could be.”
“Yes! And I bet Natalia’s with him….”
“…. and probably knows his identity.” Elva completed, a wild spark in her eyes.
“We have to inform Jake!. He’s the head of security and her personal body guard.” She added when Arian looked lost.
The gorgeous French tried not to make a dirty face remembering memories of their brief collisions…. which wasn’t usually in a so pleasant way.
Why was his little blacklist so elongated?!
“Where is he?”
“He’s currently undercover but I’ve….” A knock sounded on the door interrupting Elva and Max walked in…