Two Years Later
Avril and Alejandro are not married. He never even spoke of it to her. They were much closer than before and Alejandro laughed like a kid whenever Avril told a joke. They were close to the extent that Avril confided in him about Dakar, and why she loved that wolf bracelet a lot. Alejandro was not surprised when he heard about him. He said he was in the Mafia, and had come across things that defied explanation.
“If you want, we can go trace him. Find the island again,” Dakar muttered into her ear one evening by the poolside. They were in the poolroom on his floor, laying on the lean-on bench, with Avril wearing a bikini and Alejandro only shorts. She was sitting between his legs and leaning on his chest, while he smoked cigar as usual. They had just got out of the pool.
“I doubt he's still there. It's been two years,” she replied.
“He stayed there for how many years again?”
“Fifty four, befor
The Vincaso Family needed the sincere help of The Lucian Brothers to back them up against Xpresso, a gang of fearless terrorists who were under the single leadership of a powerful man—Luca Aguero. They had gotten into a very big fight with him and had no way to back out, except if they were able to kill him. They decided to seek the help of The Lucian Brothers, but were scared Alejandro would not agree to help. So, they called for a sudden meeting first. An inside man who was amongst the Vincaso Family leaked the news to Luca Aguero, that they were seeking the help of another Mafia family. This inside man did not know it was going to be the Lucian Brothers, so he did not report it.On the day of the meeting, they sat round a table in the VIP section of the club. It was their own hotel, so having meetings in the VIP room was not a new thing. Luca's inside man had sneaked in men to start shooting randomly at the members of the Mafia. Alejandro was just in a
“Present me to who?”“Luca Aguero. The leader of Xpresso and the real Mastermind behind the massacre today. He would love you as his woman. And you would give him all the information you know about The Lucian Brothers. You will be so much of an asset to him.”Avril burst out laughing and that seemed to put of Miguel. Why was she laughing?“What? So I'm some sort of object that is being passed off from Mafia Lord to gangster now?”“Is that how you see this?”“Yes. And I will not take it,” she said with a deep frown. He smirked and rubbed his goatee. He looked out the window and Avril used that opportunity to do an eye language they used well in the Mafia. She glanced at Chidi and to Miguel, then back to Chidi. This happened between two seconds, and Chidi understood. Even Nana and Xiào Wéi understood.Miguel looked back at Avril.“You don't have a choice. Yo
They reached the top of the hill and began to walk faster in order to get as far away from the van as they could. The ground was covered with leaves from the trees, twigs and sticks, stones and pebbles. This was to the girl's advantage, because they was no way another person could follow their tracks. Their footprints didn't even show a little sign.The girls continued to walk in silence until they got very tired. They had covered more than five kilometers and it was very late into the night. Only the moonlight guided their feet.“Is there anywhere we can get water? I'm so thirsty,” Nana whined and sat on a large log of fallen wood.“There's water in this bag. But it can only last us tonight,” Chidi stated and opened the driver's bag that she had taken. Five bottles of water were in it, with a bar of chocolate.“You only live once,” Nana said in relief and took a bottle from Chidi.&ldqu
The hunting was very successful. Avril returned with two medium sized hares. They had dinner and slept off on the floor. Avril was grateful she was feeling sleepy, but unfortunately, she had a nightmare. She saw bullets raining down on Alejandro and screamed out. She sat up panting heavily.“God,” she muttered and palmed her face. Her friends were still sleeping despite her scream. She looked at the still burning fire and moved closer to it. She arranged the wood untill the fire blazed up even more. She stared into the fire while thinking of what was going to become of her life, now that Alejandro was gone. How were they going to locate Arturo when he arrives Italy to take them back to Mexico? Her phone was probably still at the hotel. And she didn't even know where exactly they were. What if Miguel had successfully driven them out of Milan?It was not until two hours later that Avril could fall asleep again. This time, she had a nightma
They were not taken to the empty room they woke up in, but to a new room with sofas and a coffee table. The men untied their hands and left them there. The room had no windows so, there was no way of escape except through the door. And something told Avril that the men did not leave entirely but were standing by the door.She sat down almost immediately, and placed her hands on her chest, right over her heart. It was pounding hard like it wanted to escape her body.“God,” she muttered and bent her head. She placed her hands in her hair and closed her eyes. What had she just seen? Was it truly Dakar? Oh, she wasn't stupid. She knew him well. She knew those eyes well. But what happened to him? He didn't even move a toe when he set eyes on her. What about that woman? Obviously, she wasn't his sister. She was something more. And the way she sat and held his hand had so much authority. Like, she was next to him. Had he gotten married?
“You want the human girl?” Alpha asked with a look of uncertainty. Was it a mistake? His son hated humans and didn't even like it that they traded them.“I want the human girl,” Prince Dakar stated firmly, his eyes rooted in Avril's figure. She gulped and looked down, something about his cold eyes freaked her out.“Alpha, I am willing to pay a huge fortune for—” the nobleman tried to bargain but Prince Dakar scoffed and cut him shut.“I am taking the woman. If I have to pay three times your amount, I will,” he stated and sat back gently against his seat. The nobleman sighed and shot Avril a greedy look. But he couldn't argue with the Prince, so he went back to his sit and sat down.“It's settled then, the woman is for the Prince. But Dakar, how much are you willing to pay?”“Father, I give ten rubies for her,” he answered and his father smiled.“Goo
“Wait here. I'm going to get you food,” she added and with a speed that belonged to no human, she dashed out of the room. Avril swallowed a lump in her throat and walked to the bed. She sat down gently and heaved a very deep sigh.“Things are happening too fast,” she muttered to herself. She slipped her hand into her back pocket and pulled out her golden bracelet. It was then she realized that the bracelet could be hundred percent gold. From what she had seen so far, and what Aida said, the pack was very rich. There was no way the prince's bracelet would be fake gold.She lifted the object to face the light shining from the ceiling. It shone as it swayed under her finger.“My island wolf,” she mumbled as the memories of what he had said to her before he clasped it on her wrist, came back to her mind. She kissed it and pocketed it. She felt Alejandro's ring in there too, so she pulled it
Prince Dakar needed to get to the roof of his castle. He pulled off his animal fur regalia and wore a black dress shirt. He tied his hair in a very messy bun and wore black pants alongside black boots. He grabbed his phone and walked out of his room.“She is beautiful,” Derek, his wolf said in his head. He stopped walking and frowned.“Stop-talking-about-her,” he gritted angrily.“Don't command me... I'll talk about whoever I want,” Derek snapped back. Dakar heaved a deep sigh and rubbed his hand on his forehead. He looked at the lines on that arm, snake-like and black. People had thought they were new tattoes since they were on the same side of his wolf tattoo. No one, not even Camper, his closest knew they caused him pain on a regular. Whenever he thought about her, they burned deep into his body and soul, he would regret ever seeing her face in his head. He lived two years in fear of his own mind. Everything s
“No! No! Give me those!” she screeched and flew at Camper who didn't move an inch. But before she could reach him, she was blasted off into the cage Avril's friends just vacated. Camper hurried over to Prince Dakar.“You came right on time. They've hurt Avril,” Dakar said. Camper looked at the white fog and clenched his teeth.“Verona will help. She's coming. They are coming.”Dakar nodded and took one of the clear crystal balls and lifted it up.“Camper feels emotions more than anyone else can. Which is why he's a playboy, he enjoys the pleasure a hundred times than an average person. And when someone is overexcited, or is hiding something where they've channelled all their protective information... Camper can trace where all those emotions are headed,” Prince Dakar said as Athena began to rise.“Where your treasure is stored, there will your heart be,” Camper recited. “While you were busy flirting and trying to make him take you there on your garden floor, he was looking deep into
Avril had only just slept for a half an hour when she heard a masculine scream pierce through the serenity of the room. She jerked awake, causing a terrible headache to erupt in her head. The scream continued on. Obviously, that person was in deep agony. She rubbed her weak eyes with her weak fingers and realized this agonized person was right there on the floor in front of her. Then she realized it was Dakar.“Dakar!” she screamed and ran out the bed, only to fall on the bed because of how numb her legs were. She groaned but crawled on foura to where he lay. His scream and cries were terrible. She grabbed his arm but he shoved her off as he continued to twist and contort in pain.Avril burst into tears when she noticed he was bleeding from his nostrils, mouth and ears.“Help, please!” she tried to shout but no way her voice could be heard above his.She crawled back to the bedside, grabbed the pitcher of water and tossed it over him. He stilled immediately and lay unconscious. Avril
“Gently get the girls to wake up. We're leaving. Pick up everything. Leave no personal belonging behind,” Dakar warned strictly. The two men nodded and darted into their room.“Where's Verona?” Avril asked.“I'm here,” she replied and showed up too. Verona looked agitated and vigilant.“I can't believe I was such a fool to bring you all here,” Dakar said to himself and looked her he could slap his own cheek. The candlelights were enough to show the look of regret on his face. He held Avril's good hand and led her out while Verona also darted inside the room. The others were already frantically moving and packing stuff.In less than ten minutes later, everything had been packed as affirmed by Camper. They then quietly started out without a word or sound from anyone.They got to the throne room which was empty and dark too. Instead of them to go through the main entrance, Prince Dakar turned them to a different direction. He tugged gently on what was like a door and a secret passage ope
Athena plastered a too wide smile on her face as she smoothly walked towards them like she was gliding and not actually taking steps. Her outfit was all gold, blending too much with the throne room itself. If her visible skin and hair were also gold, she would be invisible in the hall.“Pleased to meet you again, Athena,” Prince Dakar said with courtesy. Athena turned her full attention to him as she stood a few feet away.“Ah, my handsome nephew. You look amazing despite everything you've been through. I guess strength and good looks runs in the family. How is your father?” she asked and cocked her head to the side.“He is doing very well. Sends his kind regards,” Prince Dakar answered. Athena grinned and moved closer to him. A little bit too close. She looked up into his eyes and tucked loose hair behind his ear.“When this is all over, I would love to see his final look,” she said then grinned again.Avril frowned but quickly tucked her face right. What did she mean by ‘his final l
Prince Dakar got up, then jerked his jacket by the lapels to get it aligned with his body. He took a deep breath, relief flooding in that Avril was not dead. And she was right at the other side about to come over. He heard a feminine gasp like the one had made and made a quick turn to see the person who had come out. But he was disappointed to see the slim, black friend of Avril. Chidi. She wasn't crouched down like he was, but she was standing straight and breathless.“Are you all right?” he asked as she stood rooted to the spot, oblivious to him standing there. After he spoke, she raised her eyes abruptly and saw him. Then she looked back at the innocent look archway.“Congrats. You got out. Come over, let's wait for the others,” he said again and walked a few feet from where he was standing. Chidi followed silently and leaned against a tree with her eyes closed. Dakar was tempted to ask her what she saw, but he didn't want to intrude. Chidi however surprised him.“T saw Avril fall
The Porta Metus was situated in a vast region of land that was very mountainous. Solid, smooth rock was the ground and scorpions could be seen tittering around. Flying, giant bee-like creatures swarmed about and scared the living daylights out of the traveling group.The gateway itself was an archway of smooth grey rock that began on the ground but went over to cover the small bridge. There was a deep ditch dividing the rock terrain, and earthy terrain.“We have to be very careful. The Porta Metus is the archway. It doesn't come up this time of year so I'm worried about you all. The Porta Metus brings out your greatest fear. Between you and your greatest fear, only one will make it out. To reach your destination, you must defeat your greatest fear against all odds.”After Prince Dakar's information, everyone stared still at the harmless looking archway of rock.“What if you do not have a greatest fear but just little little fears?” Xiao Wéi asked.“Then I consider that person the luck
“What in the world are those thing?” Nana yelled amidst the screams. The horses that were at the far end of the cave startled up and began to neigh and thump around.“Stealth wraiths. Half-dead creatures but more dead than alive. Which means you can't see them. They're very rare!” Camper shouted out.“How do you kill what you cannot see?!” Avril shrieked as Camper sliced through the air again and black blood poured out of nothing.“They are as cold as ice. You feel their chill and strike,” Verona answered as she trotted to the entrance to assist Camper. The rest shifted back but didn't lose their guard. The horses were causing a scene on their own and Avril instinctively ran over to calm them down. It didn't work.A cold chill was taking over the entire cave, the entrance had turned into a battle ground. Camper and Verona were fighting invisible, shrieking creatures that seemed to be pushing them backwards and not the other way around. Whatever does things were, they were plenty and t
They trespassed through the Soot Forest, as Camper had called it, for five hours straight. They only rested at most ten minutes while standing because of the human girls who were not as tire-proof as the wolves. Avril and her girls even surprised Prince Dakar. They didn't tire as easily as other humans.“One more hour and we'll be out,” Camper announced to the group.“I hope there's a place we can sit our butts down?” Nana grumbled.“Well, I see sitting your butt down is very important to you. Seeing you carry a lot over there of course,” Xiao Wéi joked and the girls burst into laughter except Verona who had not smiled since the journey began. As was usual of her.“If we don't sit soon, I'm afraid I'll lose all my assets,” Nana replied. Avril slapped Nana's butt.“Nope, you're still good even if you walk the whole day,” she teased and Nana butt-kicked her. Avril wasn't expecting that move and it pushed her, making her feet unbalanced on the ground. She yelped as she felt herself desc
Avril laughed loud again and everyone rushing food at the table looked over at them. “Is there a comedy show going on there, Fiorella?” Verona asked grudgingly. “Are there any tickets left? I need a good laugh also,” Nana spoke and Chidi elbowed her. “Don't mind them. Just talk and laugh all you want. You're not bothering us,” Chidi said and glared at Nana who shrugged. She looked away and her eyes caught Camper staring at her friend in amusement. He had his fork twirling in his salad as he stared at Nana. “It's going to be too obvious that you like this girl. Put that face straight,” the new guy ordered with a frown. Everyone at the table frowned except Camper who smirked at him. The way he spoke was so authoritative and haughty. Who was he? Avril's laughter rang up again but nobody looked back at them this time. “Why are you all looking at me like I said something bad?” he questioned. “That's because you sound like a nagging mother. It doesn't suit you,”