The ride to the school was uneventful and boring. Mr. Harper was constantly droning about how he loved antique cars and how this one we were in was an antique too. Jake suffered the brunt of his talks because they both sat at the front.
He was constantly asking questions and Jake looked like he was going to cry. I caught his eyes on the side view mirror and he begged me with his eyes to rescue him. I could barely hold back my laughter.
The school was a 30 minute drive. The car had hardly stopped before Carlos, Alberto and Diego jumped out. Mr. Harper sighed. He caught my eye in the rear view mirror and asked, “Do to boys want to come in? Or you’d prefer to go back to the mansion.”
“Um – we’d better go back to the mansion. Jake?”
“I agree with him.” Jake groaned with relief.
“Okay then.” He gave us a wad of notes. “Take a cab or bus. Watch each other’s back out there.”
Then he grabbed his briefcase from Jake and stepped out of the car. We both stepped out too and told him bye. We walked out and into the fresh air. The road was busy with low bottom, long cars.
“A little trek can’t do us any bad.” Jake said.
“No, it can’t. Which way did we come with?”
“I don’t know. Left maybe.” He said.
“You’re not sure? But you sat in the front. I don’t know about you but I’m not ready to get lost again, Jake.”
He looked in the left direction. He squinted in the distance and said. “It’s definitely left. I remember seeing that billboard om our way here.”
I looked at the billboard advertising a skin lotion. A beautiful lady was lying on her back wearing nothing but bikinis. Her skin was shining in the normal Mexican brown. Her skin looked supple and moisturised. “Of course, you’d remember it.” I muttered. “Come on.”
We started walking, slowly. Soaking in the early sun and taking in the scenery and just looking around.
“I can’t believe this.” Jake said beside me.
I gave him a quick glance. “Believe what?”
He shook his head and gave a way smile. “I’ve never been out of Europe before. This is my first time in another continent.”
“And it was by mistake.” I laughed lightly.
“Yeah.”
“Eventually, you’d have later travelled out of Europe.”
He looked at me. “What do you mean?”
Roadside shop doors were being flung opened as shop owners prepared for the day. There were greetings called from one street to another.
“Buenos dias, amigos.” A pot bellied man with a thick moustache greeted us. We saw he was selling some kind of local drinks. We bought some after asking for the price and fumbling with the unfamiliar currency in put pockets. The man helped us calculate the amount we needed and bus fare in case we layer decided to take the bus.
“Gracias ” We both thanked him.
“De nada.” His thick moustache quivered as he smiled. And patted Jake’s back.
“Brazilians are so nice.” Jake said, gulping down his drink.
“… and beautiful too.” I agreed. I swallowed some of the drink. It tasted like blended mangoes.
“Yeah.” Jake said. “never forget that. Brazilian girls are beautiful.” He drank more.
“You were saying I’d have eventually travelled out.” Jake reminded me.
“Oh yes.” I nodded. “Haven’t you heard of The Meeting. A general meeting of the magicals.”
He shook his head. “Never heard of it.”
“My dad used to tell me about it sometimes.” I said. “All major leaders of different races come together to decide on something.”
“How come I’ve never heard of it?”
“I don’t know.” I shrugged my shoulders. “Ask your dad when you see him.”
“I will.” I said, thoughtfully.
“My Dad told me one time about the Eldest Vampire. Henri. You know him?”
“I’ve heard of Elder Vampires. I know they’re about 6…”
“No. They’re 5.”
“Oh! My bad.” He drank again.
I looked around, the sound of birds called above our heads. “They have their meetings everywhere and anywhere in the world.”
Jake looked at me wide-eyed.
“When you become alpha, you’ll be attending them.”
“I will?”
“Yep.” I nodded. “There was one meeting my Dad told me about, they had it in Romania.”
“Romania? Where is that?”
“I seriously have no idea. But it sounds really far.”
“It does. I’ve never heard of it. And you’re sure my Dad attends it?”
“I’m sure. He takes my Dad along. He is one of the powerful alphas in the world. Our Pack is one of the biggest, you know.”
“Yeah. I know our Pack presents power but I never thought of just how much power we hold.” He said thoughtfully.
We walked in silence for a while. Just drinking the still cold fruit drink we brought.
THE ATMOSPHERE IN North London was tense. Calls had been made and are being received. Jamie and Claude called each of the high chiefs of the board. Preston, the Alpha of the most powerful pack in the world trued using his influence.
But nobody seemed to know anything about the missing boys. Nobody except the elder Vampires. Those ones didn’t say anything nor give any reply. Even as the dead Vampires had been confirmed to be Rosetta’s boys. She still refused to say anything concerning the matter.
Dark circles had appeared beneath Jamie’s eyes to show the kind of stress he was under. He didn’t want his pack to get hysterical or to feel insecure so he had to remain strong for them. He shielded his weaknesses away in his house where only a few people – Charlotte, who was his wife. Jaja and Claude, who were his best friends and second in command respectively. And Lydia, who was his sister – knew about it.
He made sure the pack still ran on smoothly. Schools were opened and the little pups were being taught properly. As he was on the train of thoughts about children, his mind drifted to his son.
Jake.
He sighed and poured himself a drink. He dialled the mansion of the Red moon Pack, Brazil. He sipped his drink as he heard the dialling tone and waited for the call to be picked.
“Alpha Jamie Morton speaking.” He said when the line connected.
There was a pause. Then, “Yes, Alpha Salvatore knows me. Can I speak with him now?”
Another pause. Longer one this time. Then, “Salvatore, how are you doing?”
A pause.
“Yes yes. We’re doing well here. You’ve heard of the minor war here?”
A pause.
“I also hope it doesn’t escalates to something bigger. How are the boys?”
Another pause as he listened to Andrés.
“Jake? Going well with little children? That’s news to me.” Jamie smiled and shook his head. “How is Jason?”
A little pause.
“Can I speak with them?”
A long pause.
Jamie sighed. “It’s alright. When they get back, I will try again or can you tell them to call me?”
A pause.
“Thank you, Andrés. You’re doing me a big favour.”
The line went dead.
Jamie drank down the last of his drink and went out the door to where Claude was going off the phone too. A drink was in his hand. Claude hardly drinks during the day, unless he was under pressure and stress.
Claude looked up as Jamie entered, His face was whitely pale. “Rosetta has finally said something.”
A TALL RED haired woman walked in. He was hooded in a thick long robe and a sickly flowery scent followed her as she stopped in front of the cage where the boys were being held. They looked at her with wary eyes.
She pulled back the hood and there was a collective gasp as they saw her eyes. It was mismatched. The left eye was the colour of rich honey. Deep brown. The right eye had the colour of a clear sky. She had a smirks smile on her face like she knew something nobody else knew.
Maybe she did know something not many people knew, because she touched the padlock and murmured a word and the lock shifted and sprang open. Along with the mouth of the boys as they gazed in shock.
“Yeah, that was magic.” She said with an American accent.
She looked at them and took in the sight of them then she sighed at their hostile and somewhat scared stares and said, “Look, I’m not going to hurt you. Okay?”
They didn’t reply.
“My name is Sofia.” She brought out a little vial containing a milky substance. “I want all of you to drink this.” She removed the stopper.
They still did not move.
“Listen, I don’t want to hurt you boys, okay? I’m a good person.”
“Then Let us go.” Billy said.
“I’m not the boss here. The Vampires would play baseball with my heart if I try it. Just drink it.”
“Why should we trust you?” Jeff asked.
“Because I know Jamie. He helped me once when I was in need of help. And I know you’re Jamie’s boys. Now drink.” She stretched out her hand holding the glass vial.
Arthur, who was closest, collected it and sniffed it.
“It’s out poison.” He pointed out.
“Even if it was, I’d have masked the scent from you. Just drink.”
Arthur took a gulp and passed it to Jeff, who drank and passed it to Billy.
The tiny vial went round the five of them and shockingly, still remained. Sofia drank the remaining of the liquid and grimaced. “Now, I want you to listen carefully, what ever happens tonight, don’t say a word. Think of home, Think of Clover, your pet rabbit.” She looked at Zach, who gulped. “Think about Imelda.” She looked at Arthur. Billy sniggered.
“What is going to happen tonight?” Zach asked.
“You are all going to try to kill each other.” Sofia said, getting up and packing her robe with one hand.
The boys gulped again. And watched her as she walked out. The padlock snapped locked, behind her.
Then she walked away.