“No. No. Usher, no. You can’t do this to me.”
Usher remained unmoved. His decision was firm, even as Mireya continued to plead with a trembling voice. He was completely unaffected, even as her tears continued to fall.
“Usher, please. This is all just a misunderstanding,” Mireya said, still not giving up. She tried to approach Usher, but the two guards Garth had summoned were ready to take her away. Each of them held one of her arms. “Please, believe me, Usher.”
Usher remained silent. Far from feeling pity, Mireya’s pitiful face only made him feel disgusted. As a result, he snorted, and this reaction caused Garth to signal the two guards.
The guards nodded and became more energetic. They ignored Mireya’s painful moans as they tightened their grip on her arms. Then, without hesitation, they began to drag her away as Mireya still stubbornly refused to leave.
“Usher!” Mireya cried desperately, a mixture of sadness, pain and hope in her voice. “Please, don’t do this to me. Usher!”
Mireya’s heartbreaking struggle and pleas were in vain. Usher paid no attention to her, his gaze remained cold. Then, as Mireya’s screams gradually faded with her departure, he left the scene as well. Together with Garth, he went to the underground prison to make sure that Mireya was indeed imprisoned there, just as he wanted.
Usher watched the footage from the surveillance camera in the control room of the underground prison. He saw on the monitor that Mireya was now in the cell. She was angry, and the sadness she had shown earlier was completely gone, replaced by an expression of rage.
“Garth,” Usher called, moving his eyes to another monitor. He watched the state of the underground prison as he gave his orders. “Give Phillip to Mireya. A mother should not be separated from her child.”
Garth nodded. “Yes, Alpha.”
Usher had taken care of the most urgent matters. The assets and security for the Frostholm Pack’s continuity were safe. The palace had been cleared of intruders, and most importantly, he had Mireya imprisoned. Now he only had to remain vigilant, for he was sure that the Nimbria Pack would not remain idle.
“Additionally, prepare the warriors and guards, Garth. Instruct Berg to reinforce the defenses along the borders and in the Amerotha Forest.”
It seemed that history was about to repeat itself. A war with the Nimbria Pack was the most logical outcome, something that could happen a second time. So, Usher would make sure that the Frostholm Pack was fully prepared.
Usher left the control room shortly afterwards. But that didn’t mean he’d left the underground prison altogether. In fact, his footsteps led him to the place where Vione had once been imprisoned.
His footsteps stopped. Usher looked around, then muttered, “Of all the cells, Vione was kept in the worst.” He took a deep breath to ease the tightness in his chest. “She must have suffered greatly, and now I have no idea where she is.”
“Alpha,” Garth said carefully, trying to ease Usher’s fear a little. “Storm is already looking for Luna. He will find her soon.”
Usher remained silent, his emotions swirling inside him. He vividly remembered every detail of the cruel treatment he had inflicted. He had hurt Vione. He had hurt her feelings. The guilt surged through him, causing him to reflexively close his eyes.
“No. I will never escape from here for two reasons. First, I don’t trust you. I don’t know your true intentions. Secondly, I’ve done nothing wrong, and running away from here would only be an admission of guilt for all the accusations.”
“I know you’re innocent, Vione. I know you’re trying to preserve your dignity, but please, this is for your own good, for your own safety. You have to leave before it’s too late. Please, you must leave here soon.”
“I will say it again. I will never escape from here. Even if I have to die in this prison, I will do it.”
“No, Vione. You must not die.”
A fleeting, unfamiliar memory flashed through Usher’s mind. His brow furrowed as more unfamiliar memories surfaced. Then his eyes snapped open and he said, “I think I know where Vione is.”
*
Garth moved quickly. There were many tasks he had to attend to, but his priority was to accompany Usher to the Amerotha Forest. He immediately summoned Berg, Storm and Cora. He instructed Berg to fortify the defenses along the borders and in Amerotha Forest, just as Usher had ordered. He gave Storm the task of preparing the warriors.
Then Garth turned to Cora and said, “Take Phillip and give him to Mireya.”
Cora paused for a moment before a knowing smile appeared on her lips. “Give Phillip to Mireya, who is in the underground prison?” She nodded. “I’ll take care of it.”
For Cora, no order during her time in the palace had ever been more satisfying than this one. She would never forget how arrogant Mireya had been when Vione had been thrown out of the palace. Mireya had flaunted herself as the only woman Usher loved, and it had made Cora very sick. So now she was very grateful to Garth for the commission she had received.
When the meeting was over, Cora went straight to Phillip’s room. She entered without any regard for etiquette. She didn’t knock, but threw the door open with such force that Greisy jumped.
“Oh, my goodness!” Greisy exclaimed, holding Phillip tightly in her arms. She turned to Cora with a shocked look on her face. “What are you doing? Can’t you knock before you come in?”
Cora scoffed. “I don’t remember Mireya ever knocking when she boldly entered the palace.”
Greisy’s eyes widened. “You…”
“I don’t have time to argue with you. You see, I’m very busy,” Cora quickly cut her off, dramatically adjusting the ends of her bangs. “I also have to prepare the welcoming ceremony for Luna Vione’s return.”
Greisy was stunned. Her face changed and not a single word escaped her lips.
“So, I hope you won’t stand in the way of my duty,” Cora continued with a knowing smile. The satisfaction she felt at seeing Greisy’s shocked expression was immense. To her, it was a fitting revenge for all of Greisy’s overbearing and outrageous behavior. “Now, give me Phillip.”
*