Chapter 542
(Author’s POV)
“SIR~ …. WATCH OUT~~~” Oliver bellowed as he looked back towards his master.
*SMASHHHHHH! ~~~~~~~ … WHACK! ~~~~~ …*
The loud, jarring crash reverberated as the front grille crumpled instantly. The metal shrieked as it slammed into the thick oak, fracturing the bark and shattering the windscreen. The deafeningly sickly clatter of fibreglass and steel against the tree trunk sent shockwaves through both parties.
The multiple airbags had ensured that they survived, but Garry, who was deep in thought and not aware at all, banged his head against the windowsill. Blood started oozing out from his temporal region.
The secretary, Oliver Grey, wasn’t lucky either. His whole attention was on Garry and his safety, so the abrupt collision jolted him as his neck took a sharp hit. He grunted in pain, but still managed to utter, his voice trembling, “Sir~ …. CEO Yates~ you are …. yo~u are blee~ding. I will~ … I wi~ll take you to th~e hosi~pital. Ju~st han~g on there.” He tried to get out of the totalled vehicle, but before he could, the trashed door swung open and flew away as a man in a black mask muttered, his voice rough and emotionless; it sounded almost robotic, “Where do you think you are going? Both of you are coming with me. My master wants to have a one on one chat with you~ ….” He glanced towards the backseat, where Garry was having a hard time keeping his eyes open. He was most likely suffering a concussion.
Oliver Grey, as Garry’s loyal subordinate, tried to fight the person, but Garry mumbled, “Ol~iver~ …. do~n’t~ …. fig~ht” Through his blurry, hazy vision, he looked at the black figure and uttered, with difficulty, “Ta~ke me~ …. to you~r …. maste~r~ ….” Soon after that, he devitalized all his strength, closed his eyes and lost consciousness.
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“Luna Sara, you don’t need to leave,” Jacob spoke.
“King Larson, I have a business matter to attend to in Hensenhaven. I am taking Nora with me to teach her the ropes. But~ … my sons will be here,” Sara answered.
Last night, just after Jacob announced the sudden meeting, Sara had decided to not get involved. The vampire clan leaders’ meeting wasn’t where she, as Lycan King’s Luna, should be present. It would put Jacob Larson, their ally, in bad light in front of his people. Some of the vampire clans were extremely opposed to the idea of befriending werewolves, thinking of them more or less as their mortal enemies.
Also, she didn’t want Nora to come face to face with any of those ugly bloodsuckers. Though her daughter was a strong wolf, inside and out. Nora was still undergoing werewolf training, unlike her brothers, who had polished their skills long ago and were already combat ready. As her mother, she didn’t want to put her daughter in harm’s way. So, under the disguise of teaching her some business tactics, she asked Nora to come with her.
“If you have decided,” Jacob uttered as he nodded. Sara reciprocated. “Well then~ …” saying this, he turned around and went back to the mansion.
Sara’s attention shifted to Brave, as she said, “Rave~ …. Where is Alaric? I haven’t seen him since last night.”
Elio flinched, though no one noticed.
Brave casually answered, “He said he got some lead on the Longs and went to investigate that. He will be back soon,” Brave answered. Sara nodded in understanding.
She then looked at all three of her sons and said, her voice low, yet authoritative, “Brave~ Dion~ Elio~ …. today, this place, there might be more foes than friends here. There is a high chance it might turn into a battlefield of wits exchange, if not a bloodbath. Stay vigilant, stay alert~ … at all times. Stay close and look after each other.”
“Yes~ … my Luna,” they answered in unison. She, once more, glanced at Brave and spoke, “Don’t let you and your brothers get in any trouble, especially Alaric. With his temper, he is the most likely one to throw hands if offended. Keep an eye on him.”
“Yes, mother. You can rest assured,” Brave replied with confidence. He, too, was aware of what his mother was afraid of.
Sara patted Brave’s shoulder and settled inside the car. Nora gave a hug to all of her brothers and mentioned, “Brothers, did you not like the bracelet I made for you all? I noticed none of you has been wearing it. No matter what, it is a protective charm. It would keep you safe.”
Now that she said it out loud, all three of them looked at their wrist, and as she said, none of them had the red string on.
“You gave it to us. How can we not like it? I lost it a few days back. I will look for it in my room,” Brave said.
“I can’t find mine too,” Elio stated. “The string might have come undone. I will search for it.”
“Did you lose it too, Brother Dio?” Nora questioned. Dion’s brows wrinkled as he glanced at his bare wrist. He remembered having it on. He never took it off… so where the hell was the charm? He instantly felt fishy about this whole thing but decided not to voice it just yet. So, he said, “I took it off while bathing. I’ll go and wear it now.”
Nora hummed in understanding as she followed her mother inside the car. The vehicle drove off, leaving only dust particles and lingering exhaust.
Looking at Elio, Brave asked, “Eli, did you not sleep well last night? You seem exhausted.”
“Yeah~ … I was looking at some papers Dr. Andrew forwarded me,” Elio lied.
Dion’s eyebrows were busy again, as they arched. Last night, he had gone to Elio’s room to ask something, but the youngest was not there. “Were you reading it in your room?” he queried with curiosity.
“Where else would I be?” Elio replied, trying to sound as smooth as possible. In an attempt to change the topic, he said, “By the way, I didn’t expect the Vampire King to be so harsh.”
“What do you mean?” Brave asked as they started walking in.
“Even on a day like the solstice, he specifically asked the meeting to be arranged for the afternoon, in the massive, bougainvillaea garden, under blazing hot sun instead of doing it indoors. The atmosphere will be nasty,” Elio remarked.
“He is the Vampire King. He must have his reasons~ …. let’s not try to delve into it,” Brave said.
To Be Continued . . . . . . . .