Peter stood between Anthony and Julius, right before a black door, which led to the cave his father had entrusted to him, without any significant reason. Seeing the latest happenings, he couldn’t help but wonder if his old man had foreseen this circumstance.
But that wasn’t what was troubling him. For the past fifteen minutes, he had been feeling a strong burden over his heart, like a stone had been placed there. An evil foreboding? Had something happened to the group that had been sent to the Fauger’s pack?
At intervals, he had asked Julius for any news from the ancients with the group. At intervals, he had asked Anthony through their mind path, if the latter had gotten anything from Derek. But his adopted son’s answer was just as the same as his. Derek had blocked the mine path. Peter didn’t want to think that something had caused that. He chose to believe that his son had blocked them out, so he could concentrate on battle.
Furrows outlined his forehead, when he saw Julius sigh wearily suddenly, as if the ancient had just gotten a bad news.
“What is happening?” He asked immediately, turning aside to face Julius who dreaded being the one to give this news to the Alpha.
“It’s about the group that had been sent to the Faugers pack. It had been a trap, to get one of Sheila’s daughters. But fortunately, just as Freya had turned up and saved the day here, Lucille had done the same over there…”
That should be good news. So, why was the ancient looking grave? Did something else happen?
“Julius, what happened?” Anthony asked, without cutting corners, not pleased with the tension on his shoulders. He had heard from Melvina, through the mind path, about Freya’s outburst of power, and how the latter had saved the day. He knew that they had won the fight here, and that there was no reason for them to kee guarding the cave-the shadow warriors were not coming here. Hearing Julius speak of the trap, validated his feelings.
“It’s Derek. Lucille had lost control of her powers and Derek had tried containing her, since no one else could, but…”
Anthony and Peter didn’t wait for Julius to finish his reply, before hurrying out of the entrance of the cave, back to the pack environs.
“Mel, what’s happening? Is Derek back?” Peter sent down the mate bond, cussing loudly when his mate gave him no reply.
***
Melvina stood at the entrance of the Alpha’s residence, her hands wet with sweat, clutching the tiny hand of Eva who had almost gone into a fit, but for Yodah, when they had gotten news about Derek’s condition. Sheila had thought it wise to pre-inform her.
Her heart pounded like distant thunder. She had waited through endless seconds, counting each one with the fervor of a prayer whispered into the wind. Now, as she strained her eyes against the setting sun, she saw Derek at last-her boy, carried on the back of Aiden.
Melvina’s breath caught in her throat. He looked dead. She gently removed Eva’s hand from hers, and ran the remaining distance between the group. Tears blurred her vision when she got to him, when she took in the sight of him. She reached out, trembling fingers brushing against his cheek, tracing the lines of weariness etched into his face.
She placed her ear to his lips. He wasn’t breathing.
Not this again! She shouted in her mind, as her lips refused to move. Aiden had wisely stood still as the mother perused her son. He watched, sorrowfully, as Eva began to cry, having covered the distance between them too. The little girl was holding her mother by her skirt.
“Do you think he will survive?”
She finally spoke to Dobah. But Dobah had no words to give her. And when she wailed, lifting her hands to the skies as if asking why the gods kept testing her, Sheila rushed to her, and held her in a deep embrace, hoping against hope, that Derek wouldn’t die. If he did, Lucille will never forgive herself.
Meanwhile, Peter stood by the door, and watching the spectacle before him, his hands clasped tightly behind his back, trying to steady the tumult of emotions raging within him.
He remembered the moment his boy had joined Lucille’s group, full of youthful bravado and a sense of duty that seemed to transcend his years. Peter had tried to hide his own fears, masking them behind a stoic expression and words of encouragement. But now, as he watched his mate weep over his son, he heard his heart break.
And then his eyes found Lucille, the redhead who had lost control of her powers when she had fought against Legardo’s enhanced shadow warriors.
Nathan had calmly given him the entire gist of the matter. Whether the ancient had done so to prevent him from getting angry at the redhead, or just to inform him, Peter found out that he couldn’t stay annoyed at the girl. It could have been happened to anyone. With her head bowed, not minding Freya beside her, muttering to her, maybe words of encouragements, Peter felt compassion for the young mage. He knew also that his son wouldn’t have wanted him angry at the girl that had saved their lives, that had saved the Faugers pack.
“Please, let’s all come in. We are gathering attention.” He finally spoke, calling Eva to him with his eyes.
***
“Aunt, how was Derek able to get past the cage, when the ancients couldn’t?” Anthony queried Sheila, seeing as no one was speaking. After putting Derek in a healing chamber created by the joint efforts of Nathan and his people, they had convened at the sitting room.
Sheila shook her head, unbelief suddenly coloring her features. “I don’t know, to be honest. It had just happened. One moment, we were all trying to call Lucille back, and the next moment, Derek was stepping out of the cage. We don’t know how he had walked past it-according to Dobah, it was supposed to be impossible-but there hadn’t been any chance to inquire, as he walked up to Lucille, and just hugged her.
Lucille shifted uncomfortably on her seat, and sent a prayer to the gods, to keep her friend alive. She owed him her life.
***
Legardo gasped for air as Diana and Noah appeared with him in his sitting room. They had saved him from the brink of death, never mind that they had followed him without his permission.
“Thank you,” He managed to rasp out, his voice hoarse from the ordeal. His gaze locked onto them, filled with a blend of awe and admiration. He hadn’t know of their special ability of invisibility. He would need to harness it.
“You’re welcome, Dad. For the ability, I know you are curious, but it only works if I’m with Noah. Probably because we are twins.”
Legardo nodded, even though he battled with his thoughts inside. The children weren’t twins, so how were their powers connected?
***
“Annabel is a rare human. I’m sure your grandmother will know about that….” Ketura was bemused when Daniel waved her response away.
“Tell me yourself. She seems to be sparse with her explanations most times. I will like to hear from you rather. Please tell me. What are rare humans?” Daniel inquired, refusing to acknowledge his grandmother’s sigh, or his his sisters’ gasps.
He just wanted something to work with. He needed to find Emma. He needed to keep her safe, he needed to tell her how he really felt about her. He would do anything just to achieve that. He was tired of waiting around for crumbs from his grandmother.
Keturah darted glances between grandmother and grandson, and when Zipfarah gave her a subtle nod, she sighed and reclined deeper into her seat.
“Rare humans are humans blessed by the gods with varying gifts to keep supernaturals safe from the world, which seem to oppose something they are not attuned with. It could be picking a certain family and entrusting them with the responsibility, it couid be random. In this case, Annabel’s is family. Her family has been doing the job for centuries. By fate’s orchestration, they had met in the plane and had become friends quickly.”
There was a pause where she perused the young wizard thoroughly, wondering his intention with Emma.
“Well, when Emma showed Annabel the coordinates that Sheila had left to her based on instincts, Annabel knew the place. The rare human had chosen to direct them to the location. So, they are going together to the training institute.”
“Was the location of the institute disclosed?” Daniel and his grandmother asked at the same time.
Damon watched them quietly, whilst organizing his own thoughts.
“No, not at all. It’s top secret. Even Emma doesn’t know the place. This is quite necessary. I’m sure we will find out how she is in the next few weeks.”
There was silence in the room for a minute, before Keturah asked the question that was also on Damon’s mind.
“Would you make the alliance with Alpha Peter, with the Ancients? I know you might say that the war isn’t ours to fight, but Leonarya will bring it to our doorsteps whether we choose to fight or not. Sheila is one of us, even though not of the community, and so is her children. I think we should fight.”
Zipfarah sighed tiredly. “I will think about it, Keturah. Let’s call it a day.”