The Letter

Nine

The beauty of a well-kept secret was its ability to stay hidden under the noses of those it had been hidden from. Yolks had that, a city packed completely and thoroughly with werewolves shielded from prying eyes by the normal civilization. A fully run town by all means, is not an easy feat, but trust the elders and the tight ship they run. Same reason the airport was located in the zone, and that was what it was called by the Vom, The Safe Zone.

‘’I told you something about a town in a much bigger town. Does it make sense now?’’ Jeff inquired.

It did make sense. A lot of it actually, as they drove through the city. It was hard to believe they were headed somewhere totally different. She had to know something though ‘’Do these people know?” she whispered, leaning close to him. Too bad, Steve sat in the front seat. Her father, taking no such precaution as the driver had loud classical music on, no doubt a big fan of Mozart.

‘’The beautiful thing is that our area is believed to be for the elite so only a select few are allowed to enter. The security is so tight. DNA-oriented actually so you see, dear child, it is almost impossible for non-Vom people to get in. Make sense?’’

‘’Just seems a little hard to believe and accomplish, even’’

‘’Why so?’’

‘’How can they keep track? Considering it is an active place’’

‘’I forgot to mention a very important part though’’

‘’What is that?’’

‘’Forget all you know about carbon dioxide and oxygen because to us, you, your brothers, and the rest of our kind, they are both one and the same.’’

‘’How did I not know that?’’

‘’Sweetheart, we wouldn’t want you or your brothers messing around with these things. Especially Steve,’’ he said, by way of an apology.

The car was coming to a stop now. And a huge sign welcoming its visitors once again to the city of Yolks. That seemed odd but considering all she just heard, it suddenly seemed so normal. As she stepped out of the taxi, she saw someone familiar. Now that was strange, she didn’t know anyone matter of fact, she shouldn't. She only saw the side of his face but was almost certain she had seen that somewhere. Tempted to walk to the person, she was grateful she didn't have to, he turned. Regretting that thought as soon as their eyes met. She remembered. Trying to recover, she moved away as quickly as she could but he had already seen her.

"Hey, Emily. Emily!"

She couldn't pretend to be deaf forever. It was either she answered or her father heard. Speaking of which, where was he? A fast check showed that he had gone to the security stand, apparently one had to do that to get in. A toll gate, of sorts, where instead of money, you cleared with the guard. Seizing this moment, she turned to her caller.

"Fred, it's so nice to see you"

"I like it when you use my name"

"You stay around?" He wondered

"I was going to ask you the same" It was quite weird that they stopped at the same place. Recognizing the man she was with from earlier, standing at the gate caused his eyes to nearly pop out of their sockets.

"Are you…?" He tried and trailed off. "You are, aren't you." He concluded. He felt a cold stare, and looking behind her, he saw why.

"Is that your father?" He asked

"Yes, why?"

"Well, he has been looking at me like I stole from him," he said, with a knowing smile.

"I need to get back to my dad, it was nice running into you for the hundredth time today," she said, with the right dose of sarcasm and rolling of eyes.

"Wait up, we are headed the same way," he said as he talked to her moving back. "Might if I walk with you"

"Yes I mind and my dad would not be too happy with you tailing me, so kindly back off," she said over her shoulder. But he wasn’t over her shoulder, he was directly in front of her, heading towards her father with intentional steps. What were his intentions? She intended to find out but she was too late. They had already started talking.

‘’Hello, sir. The name is Fred. Your daughter is a friend of mine.’’

‘’Friend is not the word I’d use, Fred’’ she chimed in quickly, albeit shakily.

‘’Jeff. I am her father but I guess you already knew that’’ he was not smiling at all but somehow the man in front of him kept at it. Reminded him so much of his first son. Where was he anyway? No doubt he was smirking at them all from a distance. And rightly so, he sat on the pavement and enjoyed the scene. Seeing this as a cue to make an appearance, he strolled towards them.

‘’I’m Steve, Emily's elder brother. How did you two meet?’’ He wasn't moved by the chilliness coming from his sister’s direction. Jeff was correct, she had come of age and should have started entertaining these kinds of gestures. She could take a break from parenting for a while.

Grinning from ear to ear, he went on ‘’I am Fred. Your beautiful sister and I met at the airport and chatted briefly on the plane. ‘’I am delighted to meet you.’’

‘’We didn’t chat playfully’’ She said through gritted teeth

Steve was loving this. He choked playfully on the words ‘chatted playfully’ and looked at his father, to be sure he was getting all of it. And he was, as clear as day, never disappoints. ‘’We should get going, Dad’’ he said with a simper, almost invisible to any who didn’t know him. He had accomplished what he set out to and went back to watching them conveniently.

"Mr Frederick George, sir" the security guard called out.

Jeff went suddenly pale. Shakily, he asked as though dreading the answer. "Do you know any other Frederick George, son?"

"That'll be my father. You see, I am Frederick George Jnr." He said. "Do you know him?"

"Do I know him?" He sneered at him. "Emily, we leave at once." And he left him without looking back.

Picking up the pace as pain and anger welled up in his heart, he remembered all as he stepped on the soil that birthed him. His children had reached him, so sad she had to see him like this.

"Dad, what was that about?" She expected coldness from him toward Fred but not outright rudeness.

"Frederick George Snr is an Elder." He said with a finality that shook them all.