Chapter thirty four

Eric

It had to be a lie. Maybe just a hallucination. There was no way, No f*cking way Anthony was a killer. It was just unbelievable. Still, my mind couldn't get Maisy's words out of my mind.  Anthony was the family's white sheep. The sacrificial lamb who would do anything to please his blood.

I was greeted at the garden by Father Nicholas and The Quinns.

"What happened to her?" Father Nicholas demanded, placing his palm on Maisy's forehead in a concerned manner.

"I need to get her back to the castle before anyone starts asking questions." I chimed in, aiding for the carriage.

Father Nicholas, Still not satisfied with my report on Maisy's condition followed me.

"Did she by any chance use the whisper?" He inquired, His brown eyes investigating my secrets.

"She didn't," I claimed.

My steps got quicker. The priest was not one to give up easily once he set his mind to something. The guards sighted me and opened the carriage doors in diligence. I dropped Maisy in and instructed the rider to wheel us home.

"You aren't going anywhere, Eric!" Father Nicholas bellowed, forcing the rider to stop.

The poor boy glanced at the priest then back at me wondering who to obey. One thing I was sure of was he was leaving the castle walls tonight.

"She uses the whisper, didn't she? You know how dangerous this is to her life. Her sister would have wanted you to protect her!" The old man ranted.

"Not anymore. The chimera is dead."

"What do you mean?"

"Conrad and I killed it so you don't have to worry about Maisy or her safety anymore. I'm pretty sure I can handle it."

"And how exactly did that happen? How did she even leave here without your knowledge?"

"I don't know." I retorted. A big lie on my path. Tatia was fond of finding herself in strange places even when she didn't mean too. It was nothing new, Neither was it strange.

"This is why She should leave. It's what's best for her."

Believe it or not, I would really enjoy exchanging words with this Nazi but I had other pressing matters to attend to. So I swallowed my urge instead and instructed the Rider to carry on.

As the carriage trudged past the steep lane, I heard Anthony's voice from behind me.

The rider sent a gaze in my direction waiting for my signal.

"Stop." I directed.

Anthony caught up to the carriage breathless. I could see he was seething.

"What the hell? Why are you leaving? Have you found her?"

" Yes but she isn't doing so well. I have to get her back home."

"Alone? What's up with you? Just wait, I'll get Sara and Emilia then we can leave."

Lord, It was so difficult keeping all I had in my heart concealed.

I desperately wanted to say it all and hear from my brother's mouth that it was untrue but No... I trusted Anthony. Asking that would only show I doubted my family.

"Are you alright?" Anthony quizzed, staring at my worried face in concern.

"I am." I assured, letting a weak smile to kick away any suspicion on his mind, "Get them I'll be waiting."

I watched Anthony raced back into the Quinn Manor before instructing the Rider to carry on.

***

Mr Quinn

"Do you think Maisy has the whisper like Tatia?" Lucy inquired as she wheeled me back to the party.

"Sadly, she does," I replied uninterested.

The part was beginning to get on my nerves. Ironic, considering I threw it for Maisy.

"Hello, old friend." A familiar voice interrupted my thoughts.

Where have I heard that before?

I looked up to face the speaker and was caught aback to see Osei. My gloom mood lit up almost immediately.

"What a wonderful surprise!"

Osei hadn't changed one bit. It's been twenty-five years since we last met and she looked young as day. Of course, her once bright frizzy hair had streaks of grey and her smooth ebony skin was now lined with wrinkles. She also seemed to have gained more weight.

"I would say the same. You haven't changed one bit."

Oh... I knew lies when I was told one. Osei could walk and looked like she was kissed by the goddess of fruitfulness. I, on the other hand, Looked like I was blessed by her evil twin sister.

"Don't mention it. If you don't mind, Why are you here?"

Osei gave Lucy an awkward gaze. Then, I could tell she was here for serious business.

"Lucy, excuse us," I ordered.

Lucy was unsatisfied but obeyed me all the same. When Lucy was too far to eavesdrop, Osei spoke.

"She reminds me so much of her father."

"Lucy is nothing like Silas!" I retorted sharply, almost shouting.

"Well, you loved Silas with everything you had. Didn't he betray you in the worst way possible?"

God... What exactly did she want?

"Are you here to open up old wounds or talk?"

"I am Quinn. You might think I'm just reminding you of how complicated your family life is but I'm not. You have to tell her the truth before someone or something else tells her."

"I'll tell her at my own time," I concluded, hoping to end my family conversation right there.

"Do you have the time?" She joked.

"Lord... You and your dark humor."

"You know me... How's Nodith faring? You know with supernaturals in power, There is bound to be a struggle."

"I don't know what you're going on about. The kingdom is clearly fine."

"Really? The order has got to know Nodith is in great debt and a chimera is on the loose. How?"

"Tell them there is no need to worry. Prince Eric will be getting married to my granddaughter soon and would be able to pay up the Kingdom's debt and as for the chimera. It's dead. The wolves killed it."

"I'm glad they are able to keep the balance. Maybe the order didn't make the wrong choice but what baffles me is the chimera. You do know where they come from don't you?"

"Necromancy," I answered.

"So who would do that?"

"I'm not..."

Before I could complete my words, Father Nicholas cut in, "What a wonderful surprise. Osei, It's good to see you here. What's with the August visit?"

"Can't an old woman just have fun? To be honest, I just missed the old times. Hunting down monsters... Good times."

"Times change now don't they? We used to hunt them. Now we work with them. I would have never thought this day would come."

"True. How is Valentine? Where is she? She must be all grown up now."

Osei's words made me choke. Ahe hadn't even spent a day in the kingdom and she had already opened all our skeletons. How could I blame her though? She had no idea what happened to valentine.

Osei noticed how cold and silent Nicholas became.

"Are you alright? Did anything happen to her?"

"She's dead." Nicholas shot back bluntly.

That had to hit a nerve. One would think that was enough to keep Osei's mouth in her pockets but No! She just had to talk.

"Bless her. What happened?"

Osei! How can you be so insensitive!

"I couldn't save her." Nicholas burst into tears, "My child was raped and left for dead. She was all I had."