Carl directs Damion to drive to the town museum. It is actually the largest museum in the city. When Carl asks Damion to stop right in front of the museum, he exclaims, “You’ve got to be kidding me! You are saying that you have kept the Alexandrite stone in the museum. That it was here all along?”“Yes. But I doubt anyone would find it unless they know exactly what they are looking for and exactly where to look.”“But still,” Damion says, “the stone is so important to you, and you kept it in a place that hundreds of people visit regularly.”“The best hiding places are in plain sight,” Carl replies, as Damion parks the car and all of them get out of it.The sunset is not far, and the sky now has a tinge of orangish-red. The museum has reached its closing hours. So, Carl compels the museum guard, and they walk inside.Carl directs them around the paintings and then through a photo gallery where a lot of small relics are kept. All of these have historical significance. Tasha looks around
Damion has been following Carl stealthily for over ten minutes now. He has walked away from the museum and seems to be walking back to the place they had met him and Luther today. Damion wonders if Luther would be waiting there for him, though Carl does not seem to have contacted him. He hadn’t called him, at least. Maybe he had sent a text, and Damion had missed it. But why go back there? He could simply climb up the hill and go home. The car wouldn’t take him there anyway. Once they have walked, jogged, and jumped for over twenty minutes, Carl finally reaches the spot. As there is an open field around, Damion cannot get much nearer, so he hides behind a tree that is closest to Carl and observes him carefully.Carl took out his phone and called someone. Damion focuses all his attention on hearing what he is saying.“I am here,” Carl says. “Where are you?”“Almost there.”Damion hears a faint voice from the other side. It most probably is Luther, and sure enough because now he can see
Tyrus and Sabina have spent their morning in the house like everyone else. Damion had returned late last night, and now that they know Carl is working with the Junta, the anticipations in the house are running high. They don’t really know what to expect from the entire thing. Tyrus and Sabina are standing on the balcony, looking into the distance.“You know what,” says Tyrus, “just sitting around the house and doing nothing is making me restless.”“Same,” says Sabina. “Why do you think the Junta has collaborated with Carl? What can they possibly want from him?”“More protection?”“Maybe, and maybe in exchange, he will get Lilia... this is dreadful...”It surely is. Even thinking about it is making Tyrus’ blood boil.“Let's go out for a bit,” he says.“Okay.”The town does not have a lot to see. It seemed like they had seen everything there was to see yesterday. But they still keep walking and talking around the same streets, the same houses, shops, and parks.*Carl had reached the Ju
Tasha has been practicing all day. She stopped for lunch when she heard about the attack on Tyrus and Sabina, which only made her resolve to get better and stronger. The quicker she is ready, the quicker she can save Lilia and maybe handle other things as well. All the while she has been practicing, Evarius has been giving her advice and assistance. He has been really helpful. Tasha has been doing most of the practice in the garden behind the mansion.“You don’t have to stay out here all the time, you know?” Tasha says to Evarius.“I know, but I want to.”“Aren’t you bored?”“By what? You? Never.”He looks at her so intently that it makes her blush. She looks away, and it takes a few minutes for her to get her concentration and focus again. After about half an hour, Evarius asks, “Would you like something to drink? A smoothie, perhaps?”“Sure. You going out to buy some?”“Oh, no, I’ll make two.”“Okay! I’ll come inside in fifteen.”Evarius leaves, and Tasha continues her meditation. B
It feels like a million stars are exploding in Evarius’s mind as he pulls Tasha closer to him and kisses her, savoring the feel of her soft lips. He moves his hands into her hair as their lips move in sync. He feels her hands on his back as her tongue slowly explores his mouth. They kiss as if their life depends on it, on this moment with each other.It feels like an eternity before Tasha moves away, and Evarius looks into her gray eyes as she smiles. He has no idea what to say. The number of times he had imagined what it would be like to kiss her was nothing compared to what it was actually like. He is speechless.“I... well... um... wow,” he stammers.Tasha laughs softly.“Maybe I shouldn’t have,” she says.“Maybe.”“But I did.”“You did.”“And I don’t regret it.”“Neither do I.”They stand there looking at each other. Tasha takes a deep breath, “Maybe a few more things that I won’t regret... if you’re okay with it, of course.”“You bet,” he says as he pulls her closer by her hand a
Lilia has spent the last two days in the same room. She has no idea what is happening outside or what will happen to her. Chiara comes in occasionally to give her food. At least the food is good. They have started giving her a healthier diet now. This is one of the things that has assured Lilia that she is pregnant. The other thing happened in the morning today when she felt nauseous. Her breasts also feel more tender than usual. Her period is still due next week. If she misses that, it would be a sure-shot sign, obviously.She feels so tired and is wondering if it’s because of the pregnancy or the stress that she has been put through the past few days. Maybe both. Chiara had said that they had stopped the ritual because they found out that Lilia was pregnant. Does this mean that they would not do it for the next nine months? The thought that she might have to stay here for nine months, probably alone and locked up is terrifying. She doesn't know what they are truly up to. She feels
As going outside has become dangerous, the occupants of 24B in Arrowall have been spending more and more time inside. But they have all taken to patrolling the nearby areas in groups of twos and threes. Since the attack on Sabina and Tyrus, they haven’t seen or felt anything that can be termed as problematic or dangerous. Tonight, Tyrus and Sabina are patrolling the edges of the jungle, hoping to find something that can help them out or hint at what they are possibly facing.“Does Tasha like Evarius?” Sabina asks out of nowhere.“What?... um... I don’t know,” says Tyrus, taken by surprise. “They are friends... I guess... If that’s what you mean.”“No, I mean more than friends. Is something there?”“If there is, I have no idea. Maybe you should ask Esther. She is good at this stuff and is also closer to Tasha than I am.”“Oh, I see. They really love each other, Brent and Esther. Don’t they?”“Yeah...”“It’s very sweet," Sabina muses.“Why did you ask about Tasha though? Does Evarius li
The news of what Sabina and Tyrus had overheard reaches Tasha and Evarius, and Tasha thinks that it’s finally time to go to Arrowall. The time she has spent with Evarius in the past few hours now seems like a dream as the reality of the situation they are in sets upon her.“Are we telling the others that we are a thing now?” Evarius asks as they sit in the car to leave early the next morning.“What thing are we?” Tasha asks playfully.“Whatever you want us to be...”“Umm... I think we should wait till we rescue Lilia. What do you think?”“I think that would be appropriate.”After five more hours of driving, they finally reach Arrowall. Tasha has brought Valkyrie’s book with her this time and a few other books. They have also brought a supply of vervain, wolfsbane, wooden bullets, guns, and pelters. The rest of the group had also gathered some stuff for themselves.Tasha had barely reached the door of the house when Damion opened it from the other side and started questioning her about