4 | The Eavesdropper

Seasons changed but the stories remain.

Still drawing us like monsters on a chain,

We’re forced to hide util we don’t have to feign,

But sooner I know we will rise and reign.

-G

-==-

It was nearing dark when Chessa remembered that she was supposed to look for her I.D. card. Crossing the hallway again, half-running toward the registration room, she smiled as she turned the knob, relieved that the door wasn't closed yet. Lucky her. She scanned the floor, thinking she might have dropped it but the it was clean and neat. Walking toward the booth, her feet was forced to a stop the moment she heard voices.

"I'll do what I want. You can't make me leave." The voice sounded way too familiar.

There was a commotion then, like a body being dragged, forced into submission. Chessa turned to her heels, trapped whether to look for her I.D. or flee the room quietly.

"Are you afraid to expose your true colors? Terrified on your own story? People will hunt you down, chase you like a dog."

"You'll bleed dry before you know it. You better watch yourself." Another familiar voice. Deep, cold, and sharp.

"Stop it now, you'll hurt him for real."

In a matter of three seconds, Chessa figured there were three guys at the other side of the booth. Two seemed on a fight, while one was maybe a look out. Just then, footsteps neared her and before Chessa could hide or leave the room, Charleson emerged, clutching his collar. He did not bother looking at her. He looked mad as he walked away, banging the door shut behind him. In a beat, two guys emerged from the other side of the booth.

"Oh." The guy stopped on his tracks upon seeing the transfer student frozen in place. "Hello, you need help or something?"

Chessa found herself in an awkward position.  She didn't want to appear like she was snooping around while they were busy fighting at the other side. But when her eyes moved past the charming guy and saw the familiar cold eyes of Augustus, she knew there was nothing different on her first day in school.  Even at Taren's, her day ended up being awkward and terrible.

"I know you," the unfamiliar guy said. He turned at Augustus, a knowing smile playing on his lips.

Chessa looked away. "I'm just looking for my I.D. I think I dropped it somewhere here yesterday."

Augustus reached out from his bag's side pocket and handed her the card. "You didn't drop it. You forgot to take it with you."

She took her identification card, securing it inside her bag, avoiding his stare.

"Lucky you my brother kept it safe. Considering he rarely keep anything, or anyone, safe with his hands."

She wasn't sure if that meant to comfort her.

"Gin, please, just stop talking." Augustus shook his head, walking toward the door.

Without thinking, Chessa blocked his path. "When can I get the badge?"

Augustus stared at her, annoyed at her closed proximity. He didn't like it. Not when he could smell her scent and the way her neck was exposed, as if tempting the devil inside him. "You’re not getting it."

"But I'm entitled to have it," Chessa insisted, returning his cold stare. She wouldn't let him intimidate her. "I need that badge."

"Are we speaking different language here?" He asked, glancing over his shoulder at his brother then looked back at her. "Listen, not all is entitled to have the badge. If you wanna play the piano, then you're welcome to go the chamber. But that doesn't mean you're getting a badge."

Patience was one of Augustus' strong suit. But there was something in the guest student that made him uncomfortable.

Chessa stood her ground. "They won’t let me in unless I have a badge."

"Have you tried to show them the stamp on your invitation?" He asked in equally defiant tone as hers.

Chessa said nothing. She didn't show the stamp.

Augustus knew the answer by her silence. He smirked. "Why not try showing it to them as instructed? Or were you too shallow to follow simple instructions?" Before she could even react, he walked away, leaving her dumbfounded.

Algene sighed. "He means you should try again. His stamp is a special pass to be allowed inside Mulvar Chamber." He started to follow his brother's trail when he stopped and slowly leaned down at her. "Sorry for his behavior, Francesca. He's not usually PMSing like this. Hope you understand, it's that time of the month." He winked.

With that, he left, gently opening the door. Chessa seemed to be paralyzed at what just happened.

-==-

The Raganzo brothers were all silent for the first time. They were living in huge three-storey house, a fifteen-minute drive from the university. Their home looked simple from the outside, with high black gates barricading the property. They were all gathered at the basement they called the Hub. It was their meeting area, intended for serious plans and missions they had to accomplish.

Augustus just devoured his meat, trying to satiate his hunger, licking his plate clean from the bloody steak. After all, he did some quite heavy lifting upon his visit to the tunnel.

"Are you sure he's gone? Like, he's nothing but dusts now?" JP asked, wanting reassurance.

Kiba wiped his mouth, smudging a bit of blood on his lips. "We burned the vermin. So yes, he's literally dust and ashes now."

Augustus rested his back at the chair, ruffling his hair as he relaxed. His bad mood vanished the instant he got his stomach full. "It's a close call, Ram. He almost reached the seal. Had they got ahold of it, we're doomed. All of us."

“The question is,” Ram said, his intuition seemed sending him a different kind of warning. “How did the hunter find us? What is he doing in our town?”

Jamuel was looking at his older brothers closely, watching the barest hint of worry in their eyes. “What if the hunter isn’t alone? What if there’s more of them and they attack us when we least expect it?”

“That’s why I keep telling you to be careful. Always.” Ram pointed at him, his hand then moved to Vannix and Kiba.

Jamuel forced a smile and leaned toward the table. “Why are you only pointing to us three?”

“Because you three pups are the most chaotic,” Augustus deadpanned.

Ram shook his head and waved his hand. “Let’s all be careful. We’re the last pack of this race.”

JP nodded, running his hand down his hair. "Glad I was able to see it in the mirror, then.  It's still got something to do with the prophecy, considering they’re trying to reach the seal."

"And good thing G thought of securing the tunnel first." Ram slightly tapped the table, his relaxed demeanor put everyone in relief. "It's still a good day for us, boys. We're safe. The humans are safe."

Vannix stood up from his seat then. "Great news warrants great party." He glanced at Ram, silently waiting for his dismissal. When his brother nodded his head, he tapped his twin Jamuel and cocked his head at Kiba, gesturing for them to leave. "We'll be late, don't wait up."

Augustus pushed back his chair and stood up, stretching his arms and back. "I'll go sleep. Don't disturb me, please. "

Ram looked over at him, watching how he suddenly looked too tired.  "You okay? Don't you wanna attend the welcome party for this summer's workshop?"

"I'll go," both Algene and JP said in unison.

Augustus just waved them. "Not now. I'll sleep first."

JP chuckled. "Lazy side of Augustus strikes again. The party will be over by the time you wake up. You sleep like a dead, bro."

He smirked, shaking his head. "Well if you do what I did today you would probably do the same thing," he added and headed toward the stairs up to his room.

Augustus couldn't sleep. He tossed and turned and even counted sheep but nothing worked so far.

Just when his body ached for some decent sleep now that he had the mansion all by himself, sleep just evaded him. Damn.

Maybe he needed a drink and a little bit of distraction. Grabbing his black hoodie, he put it on and jumped down the stairs in a stride, almost colliding against the front door. He felt sleepy but his mind was working double time, processing thoughts after thoughts at so much speed per second. At that rate, he knew sleep wasn't coming anytime soon. What he needed was a drink.

Yes, alcohol.

Augustus wasn't a big fan of college parties. He didn't like putting his guard down being surrounded by a bunch of kids who knew nothing but act like social climber, too emotional, some were too wild and just plain insane. It wasn't the scene that would intrigue him. But he wanted to drink with one of his brothers as they knew how to handle him when drunk and wasted.

The Welcome Party for guest students and local student who joined the summer workshops looked exactly the same like last year. Blazing pop music bounced all over the function room from four speakers at each corner while colorful lights matched the rhythm of the song. Girls were already wasted, boys were already taking advantage, some were already hooking up to their cars. He walked around carefully dodging the students, trying to go unnoticed. He sat down on the stool at the bar and gestured at the bartender for Irish Bomb, downing a tall glass in an instant. Unable to catch sight of his brothers, Augustus snatched a bottle of vodka at the far side of the counter and slipped at the back, heading to the B-wing of the building toward his favorite place.