Usher didn’t know exactly how long it had been since he had last set foot there. As he remembered it, he and Vione used to share the same room. They stayed in the same room. Then everything changed when Mireya arrived. He didn’t care about Vione anymore; he didn’t even visit her. Strangely, there were some flashes that kept replaying in his mind.
“Promise me, Vione. Whatever happens, Vione. Promise me. Promise me you’ll never leave me. No matter what happens, promise me you’ll stay by my side. No matter how foolish and disappointing I may be, please, never leave my side.”
Usher closed his eyes tightly. His expression showed that he was in pain; his mind kept replaying memories that felt foreign to him. However, the strange thing was that these memories also felt very familiar.
There was something else that confused Usher even more, and that was the presence of a half-moon pendant necklace around his neck that he was holding. He was sure that he had never owned this necklace before. However, he was also certain that the necklace was indeed his. This certainty was as strong as the certainty that Vione had a similar necklace. He gave Vione a similar necklace. To be precise, in this room, Vione’s room, where he and Garth were now.
“Alpha.”
Usher blinked and the focus that had been lost in his reverie returned. He exhaled and looked at Garth, who was standing next to him. “How are you, Garth?”
“I am perfectly well, Alpha,” Garth replied firmly, assuming a vigilant posture. He suppressed the turmoil of emotions that still swirled inside him. Frankly, he never thought Usher would save his life. He had already reached the point of surrender. He had done everything he could, and so far, Usher hadn’t believed him. So out of desperation, he decided to commit suicide rather than let Mireya sentence him to death. But who would have thought that it was Usher who saved him with his own hands. “Thank you, Alpha.”
Usher rose from his seat and approached Garth. “As long as I live, never think of leaving me.” He stared at Garth sharply. “Do you understand?”
Garth nodded once. “I understand, Alpha.”
“Good.” Usher took a long breath. His concern about Garth’s condition was gone. “Now, tell me about your meeting with Ayla.”
Garth’s expression changed to one of confusion. “Alpha?”
“You met Ayla, didn’t you?” Usher asked, looking at Garth. At the same time, voices and flashes of other events reappeared in his mind. Then he asked again to search for the truth in these flashes. “Because Mom suggested it?”
Garth’s expression changed even more. “Alpha. How do you know that?”
Usher pressed his lips together. He didn’t answer, but continued to question himself. Damn it! What is really happening to me?
“Alpha,” Garth said a moment later. He seemed to have difficulty speaking, afraid that Usher would see it differently. “I did, but it was all for your own good, Alpha.”
“I know.”
Garth was confused again. He hoped Usher wouldn’t misunderstand him, but Usher’s accepting answer confused him as well.
“I know. Mama must have told you to meet Ayla,” Usher continued, exhaling. Then he gave a weak smile. “Then you and Ayla decided to seek help from a witch named Rowena.”
Garth couldn’t help but be more than shocked, unable to speak. He was silent.
“Because of Rowena’s antidote, I was able to come out of the coma.” Usher looked at his hands. His gaze showed disbelief, as if he had seen something impossible. He had never thought he would be able to stand like this again. “She freed me from the influence of that magic.”
Even so, Usher could feel the remnants of magic still lingering in his body. He may have been freed, but everything wasn’t completely resolved.
“Set up a meeting with Ayla, Garth. Tell her to come to The Palace and meet me as soon as possible.”
Garth nodded. “Yes, Alpha.”
“There’s something else I want to ask you,” Usher said, walking slowly. His brow furrowed slightly. “What do you know about the mysterious man?”
“I don’t know him, Alpha. The photo Mireya showed me was true. I met him, but it’s more accurate to say that he met me.”
Garth recounted the events that happened when he was on his way to Ayla’s house. The mysterious man intercepted him and said some things he didn’t understand. “He forbade me to meet Ayla, Alpha. He said now is not the time to heal you.”
Usher was silent. In short, Garth’s explanation suggested that the mysterious man did not want him to recover. But he knew otherwise. Since the mysterious man had met him, Garth was surely alive.
“Think carefully, Usher. You have to find a way to save Garth and Mom. You have to find a way to make sure the trial doesn’t turn into a mess.”
Usher closed his eyes. He let the voices and flashes spin around in his head. Then he spoke in a low voice. “The mysterious man was forced to do it. He only wanted to save you.”
Garth was silent for a moment. Usher’s words brought back the suspicions he had buried deep within himself. “Alpha, is the mysterious man you?”
Usher opened his eyes. Garth’s question was the perfect complement to all the confusion he felt. He was sure that the mysterious man was not him. But he had seen the resemblance between them with his own eyes.
No. Usher rejected the thought. He and I are not alike. We are not alike. We are exactly the same person.
“Because honestly, Alpha, it’s not only me who feels the strangeness, but Storm as well.”
“Storm?” Usher mentioned Storm’s name and his eyes widened. Another flash went through his mind. “He fought the mysterious man in the forest when Vione escaped from prison.”
Garth was shocked. Because Usher was in a coma when that event happened and he was sure that Mireya wouldn’t report it. “How do you know that, Alpha?”
Usher remained silent; his hands clenched tightly. Now he could no longer ignore the flashes. They were exact memories of events he had experienced.
A possibility crossed Usher’s mind. It seemed that he could get a clue. But there was another important matter he couldn’t ignore.
“Garth, I want you to gather Storm and Berg. Tell them to clear out the warriors and guards. I’m afraid there might be an infiltrator among them. After that, make sure they search all areas around The Palace, especially the Amerotha Forest.”
“Yes, Alpha.”
It didn’t stop there. Usher knew there was something more important than all this. “Also, don’t forget The Palace, Garth. I don’t want a single stranger in my palace.”
“I will do it immediately, Alpha.”
Usher waited a moment for Garth to leave Vione’s room. Then he moved and approached a wall, touching it slowly. The wall shifted and a secret passage opened in front of him. He entered without a second thought.
Usher’s thoughts were mixed as he walked. There was doubt, but his instincts told him otherwise. Then he found the answer when he arrived in the secret room.
Usher didn’t have to look twice. He was sure that someone had been in the secret room. Some clothes and food were missing. And there was one more thing to add to his certainty: the video footage from the surveillance camera there.
The video played. Usher’s eyes widened. The evidence he had received only led him to more confusion.
*