It has been exactly three weeks since the disappearance of Pandora. My life has not remained the same ever since. I have checked every nook and cranny of the pack, but I couldn’t find her. It was like she disappeared into thin air.
Kiara has been staying in the palace since I asked her to, she has also been an absolute emotional wreck. I had called her parents, but they were not available as they were on a cruise and had no cell service.
I sent them voicemails and hoped that they would reach out to me as soon as they got it. I did not want them to panic, so I did not involve details of the attack.
“Hey, Rolan. Do you have a minute to spare? I need to talk to you about something.” Kiara asked me as she walked from behind me to sit just opposite me in the sitting room.
“Yes, Kiara. Is everything okay?” I asked, seeing the worry on her face.
She had barely stepped outside, aside from going to work and straight back to the palace. I have heard her countless times crying in the dead of the night.
“I am pregnant with Eric’s child.” She said and my mouth dropped.
“I thought you said that you were done with him, how then did this come about?” I asked, genuinely surprised and a bit angry.
She should understand that I was not in the best of headspace right now to help her get back with Eric.
“It is a cryptic pregnancy and I did not know about it on time. I found out on the same day that Pandora was kidnapped.” She explained, and I understood why she had kept it to herself all this while.
“What do you want to do about it?” I asked, not wanting to make any decisions for her but sticking to the sidelines and supporting whatever decision she decides to make.
“Eric found me that day. I would have pressed the remote, but I threw it in the trunk of my car. He only came to talk to me and partially threatened me. I do not want him to have anything to do with my child either. I need protection, Rolan, and I am sorry that I am asking for such a favor at such a time.” She begged.
I was quite surprised as to how Eric was able to have access to my pack without being identified by any of my men. Something was definitely fishy about that.
“Alright, Kiara. You do not have to worry. I hope Griffin brings good news home today as to the general search for the Queen.” I explained.
“Thank you so much, Rolan. I promise that Pandora will be back, and she will be fine.” She thanked me and stood up to leave.
“Kiara?” I called.
“Yes?” She answered, stopping in her tracks.
“Do you miss him?” I asked and watched her face become moody all of a sudden.
“I don’t know what I feel for him anymore. I only know I do not want him close to me or this child that I am carrying in my stomach.” She said, her eyes were distant and soulless.
A lot has happened in recent times to her too. She had lost a lot of weight, and I knew that that wasn’t good for either her or the baby.
My mind flashed to Pandora and I remembered that she was also pregnant. I prayed that she was fine and had only missed her way home. My mind then went down to Uncle Joe and I decided to pay him a little friendly visit today as I had not bothered to go there since we captured him.
“Go upstairs and rest. I will ask the chef to make you something. I expect you to eat. You do not look healthy for someone who is carrying another life in them. Pandora will be brought back here safe and sound.” I said, even though I was scared, I knew that I needed to appear tough, so Kiara did not lose all the emotional strength she had left.
“Alright, Rolan. Thank you very much for your kind gesture. We are all very lucky to have you in our lives.” She said calmly, and I nodded before she started going up the stairs, supporting herself with the railing as she climbed the stairs.
As soon as she disappeared into her room, I picked up his phone and punched Griffin’s number on his phone.
“Hello, Griffin. Where are you?” I asked.
“Good morning, boss! I am at the clinic. One of the patrolmen got injured last night at the end of the border fence. I just got in to check in on him. He is doing better boss. I was going to come to the palace immediately after this to give you a breakdown of everything that happened.” Griffin replied, and I listened to him with rapt attention.
“Alright. Meet me at the torture house. I want to pay Joe a visit.” I said calmly.
“I will meet you there in ten minutes tops.” He replied and I dropped the call. I picked up my coat and my car key and headed out.
When I got to the torture house, I met Uncle Joe strapped to the wall, his hands, and legs bound and latched to the wall with a secure cuff.
“Hello, Uncle,” I said gently, and he looked at me, barely able to open his eyes as my men had dealt with him before my arrival. There was dried and caked blood all over his body. I saw a big gash on his arm, and the agent quickly informed me that he had tried to pick up the cuffs he was bound with to escape.
I chuckled, he was really as stupid as my parents claimed.
“You know Joe, this is why you were never a great candidate for the throne. I will teach you some lessons, but first, where is Pandora?” I bellowed, holding the pliers to his nails and pulling them out.
His painful screams rented the air as I dropped the freshly pulled nail on a tray. And then picked at another one.
“Let us try again, Uncle Joe, where is Pandora?”