CHAPTER 4: A STEP TO THE PAST
2289 Words
The police officers roamed around Luna's house, claiming to find clues. Two sat with her and her friend, Rose, while the others kept walking around the house, checking things out.
"Do you, by any chance, know if any friends of your kids had a misunderstanding with them or anything like that?" Officer McKellen asked, ready to take note of Luna's response.
"No, not really. I would know if anything like that happened," she replied vaguely, looking at Rose with a side-eye.
"How about your clients? It seems your work sometimes gets unpleasant when you encounter some toxic clients," he asked again.
"True, but I doubt my kids would be their target. If anyone, it would be me because if they cleared me out of the way, they could give someone else the position and manipulate the contracting system," Luna said, and the officers scribbled down her words.
"What if they try to use your kids to blackmail you into signing some documents? Can you give us a lead on the pending documents you are currently handling?" Officer McKellen tried another approach.
"Even if I signed them, another upper hand signature would be required. Eliminating me and replacing me with someone else would be their best choice," Luna replied once again.
"Give them the list, Luna. They are only trying to help," Rose said, placing a comforting hand on her shoulder.
"Oh, really? What exactly have they found out?" She faced Officer McKellen. "What leads do you have?"
"We are trying our best, ma'am. We have our men working on the site of the foundation and asking passersby what they know, including those who attended the event. So far, we haven't found anything," he said, slowly issuing the last part.
"Checking through my things, searching my children's room, rummaging through my house, and questioning me all morning, and you can't even search for the spot of the incident and find any clue. I'm sorry, officers, but I think I want to be alone for a while," Luna said to the officers.
"We understand." Officer McKellen called in all the other officers, and they left Luna's mansion. A breath of relief left Luna's mouth. "I'm sorry, Rose. I know they were just trying to help, but I just can't concentrate," she said, and Rose held her as she pulled her into the seat next to her.
"I'm tired of what I'm hearing. They are no good, Rose," she said, using the tip of her fingers to massage her aching head.
"It's okay, Luna. We need to face reality now. Those police can't get us anywhere. You are right. You need to decide and take this step," Rose said, taking out her phone and passing it to Luna. Luna stared at the phone as though it was a nuclear bomb. Immediately, she tossed it back to Rose.
"No, no, no, no, no. Rose, I can't. You don't understand. This man is the worst guy I've ever come across. He was my Lucifer, and his kingdom was my hell. I can't," Luna stood up and started pacing the living room space.
"Luna, you're just being paranoid. It's been over seventeen years now, and you've become a woman of your own," Rose tried to comfort her.
"He could kill me, you know. I disobeyed him," Luna resisted.
"He won't, Luna. I just know he won't. They are also his kids, you know. He deserves to know," she passed the phone to Luna again, and Luna stared at it, swallowing a lump forming in her throat.
"You know what to do," Rose encouraged. Luna shut her eyes tightly before opening them again. She tried to steady her breathing. A sudden wave of confidence took over her, and she dialed the number.
"Hello, Orion Spears?"
***
EDEN woke up to the smell of rotten fish. His stomach content almost rose to his mouth, but he succeeded in pushing it back. Adding to the already foul smell of the room wasn't an option; a room that he still couldn't recognize.
He couldn't make out much from the dimly lit room. Chains hung from the walls, and there was a small air vent in the far corner. No windows, only an iron bar door, presumably the exit.
In the dim lighting, he caught sight of figures moving. The clanking of chains and groans indicated the others were waking up. "Where am I?" Ember groaned lightly.
"Ember..." Eden called desperately, his voice choking. His throat felt dry.
"Why are we chained?" Eldric asked from across the room.
Only then did they realize their necks, hands, and legs were securely chained to the wall with a long chain.
"Oh, goodness, we've been kidnapped... and this place smells awful. Is this the best room they could offer?" Ember faked a gagging motion.
"Are you expecting a hotel suite then?" Eldric asked sarcastically. "At least, they shouldn't kill us with this smell before we even figure out what the hell is going on." Ember rolled her eyes.
"That's not the point. We need to think of a solution," Eden said, scanning the room.
"Well, there's very little we can do while chained up," Eldric added.
"Then let's do whatever we can while we're chained up," Eden suggested. "Let's try calling Mom."
"Too bad, because we don't have our phones anymore," Ember replied sadly.
"Who needs a phone? We're the kids of an Alpha demigod. According to Mom's stories, our father is an Alpha Wolf. We have full abilities. You both seem to have forgotten who you are," Eden said.
"But she never even told us who he truly is. Do you just believe everything she says?" Ember asked uncertainly.
"You even exaggerate his description more than Mom did, as if she hadn't done enough already. We don't know this man, we don't even know if he actually exists. If he did, there should have been some sign or vision, at least," Eldric stated.
"What if all those little itches that torment your butt at night are signs?" Ember said, laughing as she watched her brother shift uncomfortably.
"We're in a public place, Ember... hush," Eldric said, itching his butt again, causing his siblings to laugh.
"Listen, guys, even if Mom doesn't tell us his name or where he lives, I trust every word that comes out of her mouth," Eden said.
"Alpha wolf... we hope so," Eldric muttered slowly. "So, how do we do this? It seems like you're the only child of the 'almighty alpha demigod' that knows how to go around this," Ember added, gesturing air quotes, which made Eldric erupt in laughter. But he quickly composed himself when the collar around his neck tightened, choking him slightly before letting go.
"Shut the heck up, Ember, and both of you, keep it down," Eden hissed at them.
"Guys, this neck chain almost killed me!" Eldric exclaimed with wide eyes. "Probably because you're too loud and a big jerk. That's karma for you," Ember said, folding her arms across her chest.
"This is not the time, guys. You can't possibly be at each other's throats right now. Take a look around you; this is not home. We need to leave as soon as possible," Eden stated firmly.
"Aye aye, captain. Lead the way with your spiritual incantations," Eldric said sarcastically.
"It's not a... Oh, well, let's just start. You two are too hard to relate with right now," Eden declared. He earned a laugh from both of them.
"We've done this before," he said, his voice filled with determination.
"We have?" Ember questioned, her eyebrows furrowed in amusement.
"Yes, Ember. We... have... Remember when you couldn't look after your puppy, and we used our powers to get it back for you? We had to keep that secret from mum because she specifically told us not to use our powers for irrelevance. Wolves hunt wolves so we don't become prey to hunters," Eden said.
"Ms. Cuts weren't irrelevant. She was my everything," Ember muttered slowly.
"Wasn't it the same, Ms. Cutis who got run over by a car because you were too careless to know when it got stuck in the middle of the road?" Eldric asked for the humor of it, and he got what he wanted... a good laugh.
"Oh... But I took care of the fish afterward because I realized my calling is more for aquatic creatures. We have a stronger bond."
"You didn't feed that fish for three weeks until the maid discovered it was dead. You are the worst pet keeper I've ever seen though," Eldric laughed.
"Focus, people, focus," Eden called out.
"Oh right," Eldric said, sitting down with his legs crossed, fingers crossed on his lap, back straight, getting into position. Ember snapped out of it too and did the same.
They both closed their eyes tightly, focusing on channeling their mother's energy. "Remember, clear your mind and only focus on Mum. Focus on her smell. No two people have the same smell, so we can easily fish her out of the billions of energy I can feel right now," Eden said, relaxing his nerves.
"Yeah, I can feel them too," Ember said, focusing more.
"Mom smells like fresh flowers awakening to the greetings of the morning sun. Fresh and scented. Relax your nerves and focus. Her energy is strong and dynamic."
They were in a trance, pushing aside other energies they came across that weren't their mother's. They channeled their entire energies into it, not remembering where they were. In a few minutes, luck hit them. They caught onto the smell and located her. The kids were glad they found her. Eden was about to transfer their message when a sudden jolt of electricity hit them, cutting off their transmission immediately. Their minds were thrown into thick darkness that seemed to go on forever until they began to feel their bodies once again.
The kids groaned and opened their eyes, realizing they were already on the floor and not in their sitting position. A clap ensued from the corner of the room, and a man in a black suit walked out of the shadows into the dull light.
"Nice try, guys."
***
Luna's hand was covered in sweat; she was really trying hard to keep her composure. In contrast, Orion hadn't even made the slightest expression. He sat in front of her, seemingly uninterested, and stared at her indifferently.
"I made an arrangement to see you, Orion," Luna struggled to get the name out of her mouth but continued anyway. "Something happened, and I've come to tell you just that." She glanced at his face, hoping for a reaction, but there was nothing.
"Out with it," his voice was stern and commanding.
"Okay, I had a triplet for you. That was what our union did, but now you know what? They got kidn*pped. Someone took them, and I didn't know where to look. Please, I need your help. I know you can locate them for me." She looked for any signs of emotion but once again... nothing.
Orion remained silent, prolonging the silence and making Luna impatient.
"Look, Orion. I don't know what's wrong with you and why you have to be a f*****g asshole all the time, but I need your help to find my kids."
Orion squinted his eyes at the disrespect, balled his fist tight under the table, and still maintained a straight face. "Meanwhile, I want this meeting to remain confidential, between you and me. None of my pack members should know I had come back, understand?"
"You don't have anyone. You don't exist either," Orion said in a flat tone. His words hit Luna where it hurt the most. Luna knew he was right. She had no one. She thought she had an auntie, but it turned out she could not be trusted. After being forced to be Orion's mate, several other people suddenly appeared, claiming to be her family with historical follow-ups. She hardly knew any of them, but did it even matter? They came running when they heard she was the mate of a very wealthy wolf, only seeking the rites and dues a male mate pays to the family of his female mate. He even upped the dues and gave them an unnecessary amount each week. They were in bliss, but she was in hell.
The fact that they were nothing but greedy thieves didn't stop her from accepting them. She also wanted to call them 'her pack', but now, where were they?
"Whatever, are you helping or not?" Luna fought back the hot tears that threatened to fall. She wanted to act tough because, in all honesty, she was weak. Every time she found herself around him, she felt weak. He could see through her mask. She wasn't as tough as she pretended to be, and he could tell.
"No," he said, devoid of any emotion. His words were cold and hurtful. Her head spun on the inside; she knew she had tried her best. This was, if not the best, a very composed way to act after seeing a man who had been in her world for seventeen years, and now he treated her as even less significant than he did back then.
"WHAT!? Those kids are your kids too, you heartless piece of crap. If you have a grudge, take it out on me. Why should my kids suffer because of it? Do you know how many calls I had to make just to find you again and your s**t hole? Do you think--" she was interrupted when Orion snapped his fingers twice.
Two henchmen approached the table, and he gave them the order while maintaining eye contact with her.
"Throw her out."
- Writer
