“Another painting before the pack split?”
“She saw the painting move? How? Did the painting talk?”
“She spent the night at the alpha’s palace at one time? Were they that close?”
“She had dreams too? Like little Eva? Were they visions too or mere dreams?”
“After all this, they still sent her away? Will she ever come back? I will understand if she doesn’t. There is no higher betrayal than this.”
“Do you think our warriors are safe? Did they put these demons inside them? You know, when they exchanged them.”
When Sheila heard the last part, she couldn’t help but ask herself the reason why Arnold had suggested a change in warriors. Could it be that they had been used somehow to propagate Arnold’s plan?
Maya thought the same too. She was wondering if it had been the reason why Leo had betrayed her. Could it be that he had been possessed by a demon that had taken the reins of his mind at the last moment?
Kane sighed. They would have to check the warriors too. He said that too. “We will check the warriors after the painting that your luna just talked about, so as to be on the safe side. This is how it will go. We will check the painting, then the warriors, then talk about the dreams that Emma had been having all this while. That way, we won’t get caught up in confusion or something. The painting, where is it?” He asked Melvina, after addressing the people who were beginning to get saddled with fear and dark premonitions.
“It is in the living room. I will get it.” Anthony said, quickly jumping down from the podium and heading out of the hall, purposefulness in his gait.
Freya could read off the anger that was flowing around him. The dude was so angry that he would have killed Arnold if the latter was present.
Melvina sighed. She could also read off the anger waves on Anthony. She was also aware that the anger wasn’t only reserved for Arnold and his cohorts, but also for her, for her mate and for Derek. After all, they hadn’t informed him, before pushing Derek to make the most costly mistake of his life.
She hoped that they would be able to resolve this so that they could be one big happy family again. She couldn’t afford to lose Anthony whom she saw as a son, not even to the group of seven. She knew that if worse came to worse, Anthony might choose to group with the ancients. And that was what killed her spirit. the knowing that Anthony wasn’t a hundred percent with them now.
***
“Are we going to stay here till this meeting is done? Remember that you are supposed to be checking on Margo, and what Leonarya might be doing with Casper’s spirit.” Ketura whispered, as she dragged Tempest with her out of the hall into the open, and took off the invisibility cloak.
They had followed the group of seven into the hall, from a distance though, but had decided to stay at the far end of the hall close to one of the entrances if there was a need to exit, just like now, so that they wouldn’t clash with someone, thereby exposing them to the public.
She was aware that Tempest wasn’t ready yet, or rather the timing wasn’t right for her aliveness to be broadcasted.
Ketura had decided to follow Tempest after an afterthought had besieged her mind. Now seeing Tempest’s tear stained face, she was sure that she had made the right decision.
“Tempest, please say something. I know this is a lot to take. Just say something.” Ketura pleaded, making sure that the voice cover spell was active, so that no one could listen in to their conversation. They were behind the wall now, away from the eyes of any incoming person or anyone leaving the hall.
Tempest opened her mouth to speak. Then shut it. She didn’t just know where to start. She had been blown out of mind when she had seen Sheila alive and harty with two girls that looked like her, that looked like Emma.
She had been torn when she had seen Sheila weep for her loss. She had been aghast when she had heard Peter’s side of the story. She had been angry with Derek and Melvina for being stupid.
She had been angrier at Arnold and her sister for being too cruel when she had seen the spy demon. And then she had been nervous when she had heard Eva speak. Her feelings were all over the place, and she didn’t know which to express first.
“Let’s go in first. We can talk all about this later. And yes, we will be staying till the meeting is over.” She finally said, after a few beats, looking keenly at the wall like she could see through it, like she could see that Anthony was back with the painting in his hand, his face, a canvass of anger and disgust.
“But what about Casper and Margo?” Ketura asked, not understanding Tempest’s opinion.
“That can wait. I need to know the full details. I need to be sure of the next step to take. I need to know more.” Tempest answered, attempting to walk inside the hall, biting her lips hard when Ketura stopped her by clasping her arm.
“You know I will always be by your side, Tempest, no matter what. Right?” Ketura asked, peering closely in Tempest’s eyes.
“Yes, I am aware, Ketura. Thanks for staying with me all these years. I will never forget that.” Tempest replied, taking the invisibility cloak and throwing it over them.
“I know you are concerned about your stance since Sheila is back. But don’t worry, Sheila is not as you think. Neither would I abandon you because my old friend is back. You have to cut me some slack. I don’t do that. I don’t do what you are thinking right now that I would do.” Tempest said, a short smile slithering across her lips when she saw Ketura smile.