Chapter 16 Alder's Past

All of them just sit and stare at us with their bright red eyes.

As they inch closer, I hear growls, I become irritated and take a deep breath.

"I need to see Waldron. I will not ask again. Vaughn and Valentine stop the teasing and let me see him. Don't make me summon Arthur."

I said. They both scoffed, disappointed.

All of the others begin to crack up and laugh.

"So boring."

Valentine says, standing up, heading to the office in the back.

"Tari, you stay with me."

I said as Valentine said she opened the door, gesturing us in.

"Someone is here to see you, Waldron."

She says as we walk. She closes the door behind us.

Waldron looks up at me smiling, he is a tall bulky man with long black hair tied up in a ponytail and a beard.

He has blue eyes, he wears a suit just like Arthur.

"Alder."

He says he stops writing whatever he was working on. He takes a sip from his goblet and pulls out a cigar to smoke.

Tari follows behind, Waldron looks at her.

"Is that yours?"

Waldron asks.

"No."

I said as quickly as possible.

Waldron snickers, still and puts down his pen.

"Sit, what brings you here?"

Waldron says.

"No, no time I didn't come here to talk to Waldron. I need some answers from someone who I know came here. I'm looking for him. His name is Jericho."

I said, looking him in the eyes.

Waldron sighs, as he turns away from me.

"Jericho. I can't tell you because in return he gave me some information on Ohme. I volunteered to give him the power he sought, turning him into a Vorkhan. Of course, I hired someone who professionally works with genetics to get the proper treatment. You remember Hayden, he works for my older brother."

Waldron says, smoking his cigar.

"So that's why he came here? Seriously, to get the power of a Vorkhan? What's this about Ohme?"

I asked.

"Yes, I should've killed him when he first came through those two front doors. But he was a Jin. What was he doing all the way out here? Why was he alone?"

Waldron put out his cigar.

"It's because he went rogue and he was willing to prove his trust by giving up Ohme and his humanity. What he told us about Ohme was really interesting, something that we had nothing to do with. It's like a ticking time bomb over there."

Waldron says as he picks up his pen.

"You don't know that, Waldron. Jericho betrayed people who trained and raised him to do something for a living."

I say.

"Yes, that may be true, but they also used him."

Waldron says as he continues to write.

"You don't think he's using you? You don't think he will give you up? Waldron Jericho is a man of compromise; he is only in it for himself. He doesn't give a damn about you or your people. He is just taking advantage of your loneliness."

I said.

"And what do you know about me? Alder?"

Waldron asks, raising his tone as he stands up, dropping his pen.

"You came here looking for answers from me, you never call, you never come to talk, it's always about your work, come Alder. You are the one who doesn't understand who Jericho is and what he has been through. Despite that, we need to stay ahead of the others and, if I have to, we lend a rogue some of our abilities to protect himself. That's fine."

Waldron says.

"That's because it's always about business, Waldron. I would never lie to you. This could be something more than what it is. I won't kill Jericho or give a bad rep to Vorkhan's name. He's not safe out here outside the safe zone. Anyway, he'll be in my custody. Tell me where he is."

Waldron sighs, sitting back down in front of his book.

"I don't know he's there, but the last place he would probably be is at this address."

Waldron grabs his pen and writes on a piece of paper he tore from his book.

Handing the piece of paper to me.

"When you are done with Jericho, tell me what he didn't tell me from the start. There is a possibility he is withholding information from me."

Waldron says.

"I disagree. If what you are saying is true, then me being involved is out of the question. I work for these people, Waldron."

I said, turning to the door.

"You are going to have to choose a side sooner or later, Alder."

Waldron says. I walk out and Tari follows behind me.

The music is back and everyone is back dancing.

It is as loud as ever.

That office was much quieter.

We walked outside of the club, as I looked at the address.

It's not far from here.

Tari stops me from grabbing my forearm.

"Have you always known the Vorkhans Alder?"

Tari asks, pushing her gun to my back.

I slid her hand off my forearm.

"I'm not originally from Ciphia, neither are the Vorkhans. I won't tell you where I'm from, not yet. It's a long story."

I said, walking to the car.

"All four of those Vorkhans raised me when I was all alone. They sensed my power and I couldn't control it so they trained me too."

I said, starting the car.

"It makes a lot of sense that you are the way you are now, Alder."

Tari says.

"That's all I can say, Tari." I can't inform you anymore than that.

We begin driving to the address, almost reaching the destination.

"So you're basically a spy for the Vorkhan then?"

Tari asks.

I stop the car.

"Here's the plan. I need you to get to a vantage point on one of the roofs, grab your rifle and watch my back."

I say.

Tari gets out of the car.

"This isn't over, Alder, we will talk about this later."

She says before leaving the vehicle.