12 Umberto snuffs out

Umberto was implacable. He had to avenge what was done to him by Tatin. He bragged about being a gun-ner. He could not allow somebody to step on his masculinity. He could gun down people—this was his might—and might is right. All that he needed was time—the right time—with the right person. What he meant was, who would be his target? How could he bring Tatin and his friends to his knees, and to Bella and Jezebel's knees? What hurts people the most? It is somebody you love. Then, it dawned on him who could? He sneered as cunning as any deceitful dog. He would shoot Isabella and that would be the end of Tatin. He would have the praise of wolves who had their sympathy. They would look up to him as a god. Bella and Jezebel were laughing again over a bottle of liquor, until they were all down. What they did not know was, they had been outsmarted by the seven. Andrea was sneezing again because of the thick clump of shrubs where she used to hide behind, along with Lobo, and Lobo had to cover her mouth as they might be heard by Jezebel and her evil cohorts. When they were down, the two sneaked at the table and took the recorder under it. Then, they did a cat walk until they were out of the house where the gang met.

Umberto zoomed into the future timeline.

Tatin, likewise, zoomed into the future.

He saw Isabella, doing her usual grocery. That was an opportune time as no one was with her. Her driver, David, was waiting outside.

While inside the store, she did not know, but she felt she wanted to call the house. She looked for a telephone booth which she found in a corner in the building outside. Upon hearing the voice of Zen assuring her that everything was all right at home, she put the receiver down.

Then, she went back inside, but on her way to the grocery store, she bumped with Aaron. "What are you doing here?" She asked, the pitch of her voice went up as she was surprised.

Aaron was surprised, too. It was actually Tatin who had transformed into Aaron's looks.

He was mesmerized when he looked at Isabella that he wanted to almost kiss her. Isabella's eyes told him that she was wondering. What on earth got into your head that I am looking here like I am some hot cake?" she thought. She almost laughed. Then, he breathed deeply, and smiled.

"Hey, my husband, what is going on in your head that you are acting strange? I have a long list of things to buy today." She was walking among the canned goods and breads section of the store; then, she turned to Aaron and said: "Aren't you supposed to be in your office?" Then, she turned her back, but she was shocked when she saw a man pointing a gun at them—at her. Then, she looked at Aaron whose fast reflex saw the sniper pull out a gun, in an extremely precise split-second timing, deflected the bullets by the palm of his right hand like they were little balls that ricocheted back to the gunman. Umberto snuffed out as a balloon that puffed out.

Then, the husband that she thought of was gone, also in a split-second timing, as soon as Umberto was gone.

Isabella knew it was Tatin. He looked for David, asked him to drive her home.

Tatin could imagine Jezebel and Bella turning mad as dogs. He smiled. He just had to do what he had to do, he thought.

Suddenly, the two ladies were in front of him. Maybe he had put some sense in their heads with what happened.

"Why don't we reason together?" he asked. It was a rhetoric.

"Vast lands, acres that I see, the constituents in it, Isabella is yours."

Tatin frowned. He did not exactly trust Jezebel. She had betrayed him once, twice, thrice. But he'd give her another chance. After all, he was his wife, once, on paper.

"Get your lands and leave us in peace."

She and Bella left, but not at stopping to hatch another wicked plan.

The seven friends celebrated their victories over the powerful witches that were Jezebel and Bella.

xxxxxx

"What do you think are those two witches thinking this time?" asked Julius. He was throwing fireballs at Matthias, who was dodging it.

"Aren't they too crazy to think that they are a match to us? Hugh said proudly. He had created fireballs, too, and was throwing it in Apollo's direction. Apollo dodged the fireballs.

"I gave them what they wanted, for the prize of peace. I cannot allow another civil war in our land."

"Apollo and I don't think they would stop," said Andrea.

"Yes, they wouldn't," said Tatin.

"Then, what is our next plan?"

"Defend ourselves. Defend our right to live, and Isabella and her family's right to live."

Tatin bowed his head. He was getting tired of all this violence. He was not exactly happy. He was not exactly invulnerable. But, not one, no one had any idea where his vulnerability lay.