The Vagabond

Chapter 7

Flashback

Boaz and Max were on a mountain looking at the night view of Valdec City.

"Won't you regret your actions?" Max asked.

Boaz pivoted his head to look at Max, and then returned to his previous position.

"I won't. There is nothing to regret." Boaz replied.

"We are two enemies," Max reminded him.

"I am quite aware. At least we'd have to face ourselves later on" Boaz answered.

Boaz bent down, and took the bag on the floor which was beside him. He brought out a box, and gave it to Max.

"This is the box you requested for," Boaz said.

Max collected the box from Boaz...

"Thanks"

"You are welcome"

"Why did you give me the box?"

"Because I want to earn your trust."

"How do you know I won't betray you?"

"We are enemies. And you came up front as an enemy, instead of a friend. That's something some people won't do" Boaz explained.

"So?" Max asked.

"So, the first person to get the three keys has access to the box," Boaz replied.

"That means you are with the key you took from Hagar. And that also means you have the upper hand right now"

Boaz looked at Max smiling...

"Yes, I have. I planned everything. I'm giving you the box to keep for me. I will surely get the keys, and by then I'll come for the box." Boaz said, and Max smiled.

"What if I did not give you the box after you had found the key?" Max asked.

Boaz stared at Max, and smiled.

"Till then" He said and dismissed himself.

Present Day

Ivy's Place

Alisander, Ashley, and Ethan were busy watching TV.

"Remembering your surname always makes me hungry," Alisander jokes.

Ashley stared at Alisander confusingly. Alisander stared back at her.

"His surname is Domino. Domino's" Alisander tried explaining to Ashley, but she couldn't understand.

Ethan looked at both of them shaking his head.

"You will tell me that you don't know Domino's pizza? Or are you just dumb generally?" Ethan said.

"Ethan!" Alisander shouted picking up the pillow beside him, and wanted to throw it at him. Ethan motioned to dodge the pillow Alisander was about to throw, but Ashley distracted him from throwing the pillow.

"Ooh! Dominos Pizza! How come I didn't think that way!" Ashley exclaimed as she turned to Alisander. "You filled my mind." She said, and Alisander blushed.

Ethan turned around as if nothing had happened.

"Why do I feel sick right now? '' Ethan said, coughing out loud. He stood up, and excused himself. But, Ashley and Alisander showed no concern as they both stared at each other.

Ethan entered his room, and locked the door behind him. He went over to his traveling bag, and opened it. He took a pendant out of his bag, he opened the pendant, took out a small steel piece, and he opened up the pieces, and it formed a small key. He had a knock on his door.

"Ethan, why are you locking the door?" Ashley exclaimed as she banged the door continuously.

Ethan returned the pendant into his bag, zipped it up, and returned the bag. He took off his clothes, and opened the door.

"What are you looking for?" Ethan asked, pulling out his head.

"Nothing, I just want to spend time with my brother." Ashley responded.

"Nah, I'm not on anything, you can't come in" Ethan said.

"What is there that I can't see?" Ashley asked.

"Stop being naughty now, go away," Ethan replied.

Ashley gave up turning around to leave.

"If you want to talk to me, I won't answer!" Ashley said, and Ethan smiled.

"I promise I won't beg you!" Ethan assured locking the door behind him.

Max's Apartment

Max and Philip entered the apartment, he met Joan preparing something on the table.

"Welcome Master" Joan greeted him.

"Yeah, thank you" Max answered.

"You didn't use your portion when you were going out" Joan notified him.

He remembered Ethan. "Yeah, I forgot" Max said as he went inside.

He sat down on his bed placing his hand on his forehead...

"I feel so tired," He whispered.

He heard a knock on his door...

"Yes? Come in" Max said.

Philip entered Max's room...

"Master"

"What is it?

"What if we do things in our own way?"

Max stared at Philip...

"How?" Max asked, and Philip just stared at him, and Max returned the gaze.

Ava's Apartment

Davina took the phone on a small stool lying at her bedside. She scrolled through her mails, and dropped the phone. She jumped out of her bed smiling.

"Why am I feeling excited this morning?" She asked herself as she entered her bathroom.

She took her toothbrush, and pressed some toothpaste on the brush. She stared at the mirror looking at her face, and smiled.

"Why am I smiling now?" She asked herself again, and started brushing her teeth.

She came out of the bathroom, cleaned her mouth, and left her room.

"Good morning Mom"

"Morning Girl. Hope you slept well"

"Yes, I did"

Evans came out of his room, and joined both of them in the sitting room.

"Good morning everyone" He greeted them.

"Morning" They both answered.

Evans stared at Ava, and Ava noticed. They both remember their discussion yesterday.

"Where is he living?" Ava asked, turning to Davina.

"Who are you talking about?" Davina asked innocently.

"The boy that came home with you yesterday." Ava replied.

"I don't know," Davina responded.

Evans stared at Ava, and Davina stared at both of them.

"What? I really don't know where he lives." Davina answered. "Oh! that reminds me, he helped me see my chain, and now you can't say no... I'm entering the competition." Davina notified them.

Again, Evans and Ava stared at themselves.

"People who haven't shifted, and humans are not allowed to put in for the competition." Ava explained.

"But, I have wolf blood, so that shouldn't be an excuse." Davina protested.

"That means you will have to go to the head council to tell them that" Evans supported his mother.

Davina angrily left their presence. Evans and Ava watched her as she left.

"Will she be fine?" Evans asked.

"She should," Ava replied.

"She had gone through a lot, even up till now"

___________________________________________________________

Max left his room, and Philip followed behind.

"I'll be right back," Max said.

"Okay Master," Joan replied. "Master, what about your portion?" Joan asked.

"Forget it for now, I'm going out for a very different reason than spotting him. Life should bring him to me very soon" Max replied exiting the entrance.

Boaz's Apartment

Boaz sat down on his long chair in the balcony, reading a book. His eyes wandered off, and saw Max coming towards him.

"Max, what do you want again?" He whispered, bringing down the book he was reading.

Max went to where Boaz was seated.

"Hi," He greeted smiling.

"What is it Max?" Boaz answered.

"I want to renegotiate,"Max said.

"Renegotiate?" Boaz asked, looking confused.

Max took his seat beside Boaz...

"I'm planning to destroy the box." Max said.

Boaz smiled. "Destroy the box?" Boaz asked jokingly.

"The box can't be destroyed using a physical method. So, I built up something that can destroy it, and trust me, it is not a physical method" Max threatened.

"Just tell me what you want. If it is to stop the competition, I can't" Boaz said.

_______________________________________________________________

"Just spill Philip," Max said.

"What if we can include humans in the competition?"

"That's weird. It is a competition to choose the Alpha, not the president of a country"

"I know Master, but the last decision lies with Boaz, and if we tell him we have a chance that we will destroy the box. I think he will have no choice but to accept" Philip explained, and Max sighed.

"Then we will have the upper hand, and we will know what's going on in all areas during the competition." Philip explained further, and Max sighed again.

__________________________________________________________________

Max stood up from where he was seated.

"I want you to include humans in the competition."Max spouted.

Boaz was shocked. "What?"

"I said you should allow humans to participate in the competition. Who knows, we might become the Alpha over you all. And remember, the box is in danger, so weigh your thoughts before deciding. Don't worry, I'm a patient man, I'll wait." Max said, and left his presence.

Max's Apartment

"Why should he do that? Do you think he will agree to that?" Joan asked.

"It is bluff to taunt, if not, we will all die in the hands of those beasts" Philip answered. "One last thing, prepare some of our best men for the competition." Philip added.

"How sure are you that he will accept?" Joan asked.

"If he doesn't, he knows he will lose the box. The box is his most prized possession right now. He can't afford to lose it." Philip answered, and walked away.

__________________________________________________________________

"I'll be waiting for your reply, Boaz Udezero" Max said, turned around, and left his presence. Boaz watched as he left.