CHAPTER 6 - Memories Worth Remembering

VELMONT and Gertrude are standing in Mauritius’ study room waiting for his arrival. Shortly, they were joined by the Elder.

"Nice to see both of you again. How long has it been?" Mauritius asks, in a friendly tone.

"Almost 40 years, my friend," Velmont responded, then gave a friendly hug.

"Ha! That’s a lot of years and yet both of you never aged a day." He responds.

Gertrude welcomed the Elder with a warm hug, "But you aged like a fine wine. Look at you. Still amazing. Dominating. Full of life." She commented and then planted a kiss on both of Mauritius' cheeks.

Mauritius grinned, "Dear Gertrude, you never fail to provide the best compliments as always." He opens one of his drawers, shows a picture to them, and then asks, "Do you still remember when and where this photo was taken?"

Velmont nods.

"Of course. Paris, France 1967." Gertrude responded while smiling, reminiscing how they solved the issue with the blood hunters on New Year's Eve. The photograph shows the triumphant smile of three people who fought hard and won the battle. In the background is the Eiffel Tower and a glimpse of the fireworks.

"Those are good days. Great days. My young days. My days as the third field member of the Cavanaugh Detective Agency." Mauritius mumbles. "But enough of that. How are we with the investigation?"

Their faces quickly change from friendly to dead serious.

"Not good. No forensic evidence. Almost no magic residue or footprint to follow. It’s as if these girls simply vanished and then appeared in random places." Velmont explains with sorrow on his face.

Elder Mauritius' brows furrowed, he then turned his back and stared outside the window, watching how the Omegas tended the garden.

Gertrude sensed Mauritius' distress and walked towards him, patted his back, and assured him:

"We’ll do everything we can. We’ll start from scratch the old-fashioned way. Alpha Qillalon has already set up an interview with Delta Selene and Delta Vicky, the last people who saw Analise alive."

He glanced back at her and said, "I never doubted you. What I’m doubting is myself. This incident made me feel outdated and old. As if I’m losing my power, my hold on power. This is a direct hit on me. Mauritius Carmichael, an Elder Alpha, is seated on the council of wolves. It’s like I’m being taunted and haunted. I can almost see my end."

Gertrude embraced him. "You’ll get through this." She said with certainty.

*

*

*

MEANWHILE, Jolly, Evie, and Emily sat together having lunch in the cafeteria. None of them spoke. The look on their faces says it all. Fear. Distressed. Concern.

Then Ben sat beside them and mumbled, "Did she return to your room?"

The three of them gave him the same answer.

Fear.

Confusion.

Cluelessness.

"Poor Vesper," Lestine says as he sits next to Ben.

"Do you know what she did and why she was picked up like a sack of potatoes?" Jolly asks.

All of them shrug.

Shortly, Gamma Sevy joined them.

"What’s with those faces?" He asks sarcastically.

Evie mustered her courage and asked, "Sir, how is she?"

Gamma Sevy nonchalantly said, "Alive."

All the Omegas lowered their heads and ate in silence.

*

*

*

CONCURRENTLY, the detectives began their interviews.

"I don’t like being questioned as if I’m a criminal," Delta Selene says, sneering at Velmont and Gertrude.

"This is not an interrogation. This is an interview," Gertrude responded.

"Do you remember the last time you saw Analise Nesperato?"

"Yes, it was last month, January 21, Monday. Around ten, she walks back to the barracks after having drinks with me and Vicky."

"Do you remember if she’s afraid, distressed, or any noticeable emotions?" Gertrude asks.

"No, she looks normal." Delta Selene answered with certainty.

"Do you know if she has enemies?" Gertrude inquired.

Delta Selene shook her head.

Next, they question Delta Vicky. The same information was provided. It’s a dead end. "Let’s interview the Omegas that are close to the victims," Gertrude says while checking her notes, then adds;

"Lestine, and Magda for Analise.

Emily and Ben for Erika.

Everyone for Alexis.

So we need to speak to all the newcomers. Great!" Her voice sounded sarcastic.

"Not all. Five people have never met Alexis. When they arrived, she was already missing. We could cross out the following names;

Sebastian Claud (23)

Evie Ballister (21)

Jolly Emberville (19)

Sander Anderson (24)

Vesper Miles (21)"

"Finally, some good news." She says while heaving deeply.

The next few hours, they interviewed twenty Omegas, aside from, telling them that the victims were lively, loud, and friendly. None gave any usable information.

The next move that Velmont thought of was to go to the town where Erika dances with the townspeople. Ask around if they remembered something. Meanwhile, Gertrude wants to use the library as she needs to research the relic she saw in the dumpster. To once and for all identify if the light it projected links to the murder or if it is just a random item that was thrown in the trash. She needed to know what it was and to whom it belonged. Velmont also gave her the black silk fabric. So far, no magic has been found, but they sent it to forensics as they might find something unique in it.

The partners stood up and made their way to their respective tasks. When Gertrude entered the library she saw Alpha Hercule on the ladder returning books from the shelf. "Hercule Perrimont," she says while waving her hand. "I’m Gertrude Fallis, do you have time to talk?"

She has no idea why she asked him to speak to her, but it's hard to get a hold of Alphas in this manor, and she doesn’t want to waste the opportunity.

He nodded.

They sat at one of the tables located on the right side of the library. "Are you familiar with the victims?" She asks.

"No! Never spoke to them or seen them."

"Another dead end." She thought to herself.

"But the way their bodies are arranged piqued my attention."

Gertrude’s face lit up. "What about it?" She asked eagerly.

The Alpha held his chin as he thought deeply. "I thought I remembered reading a book about rituals, but I couldn’t seem to find it now. It’s about sacrificing women to get something in return. The murders made me think of the book." He explains.

Their meeting ended soon when his Beta arrived to report to him. For Gertrude, that brief conversation opened a lot of ideas and avenues she could further check.