Emma couldn’t contain her happiness when Annabel revealed that she knew the location the coordinates pointed to. It felt like a weight had been lifted off her shoulders, knowing that she had finally solved her mother’s puzzle. She couldn’t help but grin from ear to ear as she exchanged “I told you so” glances with Prescott and Amelia.
Seeing Annabel’s understanding filled Emma with a sense of accomplishment. Left for her alone, she would have spent countless hours deciphering the clue left behind by her mother, determined to unravel the mystery that would have haunted her for so long. And now, her effort in trusting Annabel has finally paid off.
But amidst her happiness, Emma couldn’t shake the feeling of unease that lingered in the air. She could sense Prescott’s lingering suspicion, his eyes darting between Annabel and the coordinates. Despite Annabel’s assurances, he still harbored doubts, and Emma knew that she would have to tread carefully around him.
But for now, she pushed aside her worries and allowed herself to bask in the glow of her success. She had finally found the answers she had been searching for, and nothing could dampen her spirits. With Annabel by her side, she felt like she could actually get to the location.
‘You should be curious about how she knows so much about the coordinates without needing to use the map, or even to do research or think about it.’ Prescott started, through the private mind path he had quickly created between he, Amelia and Emma, immediately Annabel came into the picture. “Yes, I waved you on to tell her about everything that’s happening seeing that she could hear me speak, a feat unknown to many, including supernaturals, we still don’t know who she is exactly, apart from what you told us.’
‘Which I have to admit, Emma, isn’t enough information. She might be working for someone. She can be anyone with an interest in the supernatural. Thinking of it now, how sure are you that it was your mother that left the message? You haven’t seen her before, not to mention her writings, so how could you tell? How would we know if this isn’t some elaborate plan to get you into a trap? Your mother should have tasked you to find her in the pack. Why at the coordinates, which I am sure isn’t the pack?’
Emma held back from sighing, not wanting to intimate Annabel who was still looking at the coordinates, that they were talking about her, that they were questioning her loyalty.
As Emma sat alone in the blue fluffy cute sofa which could pass as a bean bag, her mind wandered back to the cryptic message she had received. She replayed the conversation with Amelia in her head, pondering the question that was nagging at her now: How did she know it was her mother who had left the message?
Yes, she hadn’t met her mother before, so there was no familiarity to rely on. Yet, something deep within her spirit told her it was her mother’s doing. It wasn’t a logical deduction or something she could explain with evidence. It was just a feeling-an intuition that resonated within her being.
However, Emma questioned her thoughts, trying to rationalize this gut feeling. Was it wishful thinking? Was she simply longing for a connection with the mother she had never known? But no matter how hard she tried to dissect it, the feeling remained steadfast.
In the end, Emma trusted her intuition. It had guided her through many tough decisions before, and she couldn’t ignore it now. She decided to follow the clues left by her mother, believing that they would lead her to answers she had been seeking for so long, whatever the outcome.
‘It was from my mother. Don’t ask me how, I just know it. Instincts. The same way I know that Annabel isn’t some crazy killer. She is my friend. If you have any questions about her heritage, or family, how come she is living alone in this gigantic house, then I suggest that you let her know. But don’t question her loyalty, at least not yet. She hasn’t given us a reason to.’
Prescott shrugged his shoulders, and burrowed into Amelia’s arms the more, as if saying that he has washed his hands off the matter, no more concerning himself with it.
‘I know I’m not the best person to be giving advice, seeing that I had almost betrayed our sisterhood, but still…I will ask that we exercise caution in following her, from here on.”
Emma nodded. ‘Point taken. We will follow her cautiously.’
Never mind that she could read minds. After the experience with Maya, she had never tried to do that again. It was an invasion of privacy, and made her feel nauseous to an extent. However, she knew she would do it again, if need be. She hoped she wouldn’t need to use it on her friend.
Emma readjusted herself on the seat, now taking cognizance of the fact that Annabel’s eyes haven’t left the coordinates yet. Was there some other clue there?
“Annabel, is there a problem? You have been looking at the coordinates for quite a while…”
Annabel gaze danced from Emma, after the latter’s question, to the coordinates written on the piece of paper, a flicker of suspicion dancing in her eyes. She couldn’t help but wonder why Emma’s mother had directed Emma to looking for this secluded location, known only to a select few. While she trusted Emma with her whole heart, the secrecy surrounding the address stirred a sense of unease within her.
“Annabel? Is there a problem?” Emma tried again, not pleased to be on the receiving end of suspicion.
Amelia and Prescott looked at Annabel then.
Annabel still didn’t speak. Rather her mind raced with questions.
How had Emma’s mother known about this place? And more importantly, why had she kept it a secret from her own family? How did she get the coordinates so accurately? Who was Emma’s mother really? She has heard the whole story from Emma, well the little her friend knew, but still… This knowing, the realization, that remained shrouded in mystery left Annabel feeling unsettled.
But despite her doubts, Annabel knew that Emma would never intentionally lead her astray. She had seen firsthand the determination and dedication with which Emma had pursued her mother’s puzzle, and she had no reason to doubt her now. And yet, the lingering sense of uncertainty remained, a nagging voice in the back of her mind.
“Emma, how did your mother know about this place?” Annabel asked, her voice tinged with curiosity and apprehension. She hoped that Emma would have an answer, something to ease the doubts that gnawed at her from within.
Emma hesitated for a moment, her brow furrowing as she searched for the right words. “I’m not sure,” She finally admitted. “I don’t know if you did forget, but I haven’t met her before.”
Annabel ignored the mild sarcasm in Emma’s words, knowing that her friend’s patience wasn’t really large.
“Sorry, it’s just that this location is quite…secret. It isn’t known to outsiders, unless let in by a select few.”
Emma exchanged glances with her group. Prescott for one had a furrow on his forehead, suspicion flaring its ugly head again.
“What do you mean? What is located there?” Emma inquired, folding her arms across her chest, trying but failing to keep the overwhelming curiosity in her voice.
Annabel took a deep breath, preparing to reveal the truth about the mysterious location. “That place is a training ground for supernaturals,” She explained, her voice steady despite the weight of her words. “It’s been entrusted to a select few humans to keep it safe from those who would seek to exploit its power. Rare humans who are gifted by the gods to act as middle men.”
She paused, allowing her words to sink in before continuing. “Unfortunately, we can’t go today or tomorrow,” She admitted, her eyes centering on Emma whose mouth has dropped open on the revelation. “But in two days, after Emma’s shift, we should have a clear window of opportunity.”
Prescott’s brow furrowed further in confusion. “But how would you know about this place?” He asked, his voice tinged with suspicion. “I can understand that Emma’s mother might have trained there, but still…how could you?”
Annabel hesitated, knowing that she was about to reveal a closely guarded secret. “My family has been involved in protecting this location for generations,” She confessed. “It’s part of our lineage, a responsibility that has been passed down through the years. I’m a rare human.”
***
Damon and Daniel stood straight and tall, in front of their grandmother that had sent for them, that late in the night. The twins loved their grandmother so much, but they hoped that she had a very good reason for interrupting their sleep when they had already tapped the seventh dimension.
“I need you to go to Florida,” Zipfarah instructed, the urgency in her tone unmistakable. “Retrieve Emma and bring her back here.”
Damon and Daniel exchanged a wary glance, uncertainty written across their faces.
“What’s going on?” Daniel asked, his voice tinged with concern.
Zipfarah sighed, frustration evident in her tone. She stood up from her throne, na began to pave the room.
Damon frowned. His grandmother was rarely flustered.
“Prescott has blocked the mind path between me and him,” She admitted, her voice tight with sheer incredulity and exasperation. “I can’t reach Emma directly too, and I fear for her safety.”
A notable silence broke out in the room.
Daniel shook his head. “Prescott wouldn’t…” He paused mid sentence, shock washing over him. “Why would he do that?”
“I’m not sure.” Zipfarah answered. “But I need you two to retrieve them.”
“We’ll leave right away,” Damon promised, determination shining in his eyes. “We won’t let anything happen to Emma.”
With a sense of urgency, Damon and Daniel left the throne room to make their preparations to leave for Florida, their minds focused on one goal: bringing Emma home safely.
Just by the second door to the throne room was Lily. And the realization that Prescott was unreachable and that Emma was in danger just sent a shiver down her spine, and her mind racing with questions.