24. A Terrifying Reality ZAIA. or I Am The Luna Chapter 102 By Moonlight Muse
“Dad!” I shout,
“What on earth are you doing in my home? Without even knocking!”
I come to a halt as I come face to face with Annette. She’s holding a cup of tea in her hand and looks shocked to see me.
“Where is Dad?” I ask.
She frowns. “Your father has been on a business trip for the last few days.” Hearing the shouts from downstairs, she rushes to the balcony. “Who have you brought into my house?!”
A few guards rush up the stairs and I watch her, not trusting her.
“Search the house, leave no room out.”
I walk over to Annette and hold my hand out. “Give me your phone.”
She frowns, but she takes it out of her pocket and holds it out, hesitantly. “When is the last time you spoke to father?” I ask.
“The day he left… why?” she asks, her face paling as she looks at my neck and I know she can see the blood that is trickling down it. “What is going on, Zaia?”
“I talked to Dad last night…I need to find him… Unlock the phone, please.” I say and she quickly keys in her number, and I call him.
“The number you are calling is currently switched off, to leave a message…” the operator’s voice comes.
Fuck!
I turn away from Annette, running a hand through my hair, calling Jai instead.
“Hello?” He answers.
“Track where Dad made the last call to my cell phone. His phone is now switched off and according to Annette, he went on a business trip a few days ago.” I say, my heart feeling heavy.
“On it… Is everything otherwise ok, Zaia?”
“No,” I say, unable to bring myself to tell him about Mom. “Has Bastien returned?”
“No. I’ll call him, don’t worry. Do you need backup or help?” “Just tell him things are a mess here and to call me on this number. Please.” I just need to hear his voice. I need him to help me out a little.
My head is still hurting, and I feel useless. I shifted, but I’m not healing as fast as I want it to. “Alright, take care of yourself, Alpha,” Jai says quietly.
“I will,” I reply.
Dad is missing, Mom is dead…
She’s dead.
My heart is thumping as I scan the spacious hallway that seems to be spinning. It’s my fault Mom was left here alone…
My fault she is dead…
I am a horrible person…
What have I done?
Where are you, Dad?
Focus, Zaia.
“Alpha Zaia! A call for you!” I turn to see one of Dad’s loyal guards hurrying over to me.
I take the phone and hold it to my ear.
“Hello?” I ask.
“Zaia. We failed, the car you were supposed to be travelling in… it was involved in a crash, and no one made it out alive.” Atticus’s voice comes, making my heart thump.
That was no accident…
That woman… the guards…
“No…”
“Hey… as long as you’re safe. I’m coming there. Don’t go out alone.” Atticus says and I hate that even he sounds shaken.
“How much did we lose?” I whisper.
“Seventeen people.” He replies gravely.
“I’m sorry…” I reply, knowing most of those were from his pack.
“Yeah… me too… We’ll get through this.”
“Dad’s missing, Atticus,” I whisper.
There’s silence. “I’m coming, wait for me.”
“Ok,” I say.
Please, Sebastian, call me….
That unease I felt this morning returns to me with vengeance and it’s scaring me. Things can’t get worse than this, but then why do I still feel like I’m missing something?
I hang up and look at Annette. “Did you learn anything as per our deal?”
She frowns. “That was more than enough!” she says. “What was? We had a deal. You would get me some information, or something.”
“It was so hard to find that number. I swear I went to places I didn’t think I’d ever return to.” She hisses quietly, glancing at the guards.
“What number?” I ask, now frowning.
“He never… Oh Goddess, I told him to pass you the number in person! He wanted to see the children before the business trip! Who knows if the number will still work and I worked so hard to get it! So he never stopped at your pack…”
Realisation dawns upon her, and she looks unnerved.
Everything is going wrong!
“What number?” I ask,
“I’ll go get it,” she says hurrying to her bedroom. I follow her, not trusting her as she rummages in her vanity table drawer before taking out a card. “Here. It’s one of theirs.” She whispers as if someone might hear her.
I dial the number and it rings. I wonder if it really is. Did she manage to find something? The phone is answered after a few rings, but no one speaks.
“I’m sure you can hear me.” I begin.
“Zaia, lovely to hear your beautiful voice again.”
My stomach twists as my eyes blaze, recognising that voice. “Gerard….”
“Track the call. Now.’ I mouth to one of the guards. He nods as he hurries away, and Annette stands there observing me. He chuckles. “Ah, yes. Glad that you recognised my voice.”
“Shame you aren’t dead.” I hiss. “You had your chance to end it, but you didn’t. So luckily I’m alive and well..
Now… I’m doing the courtesy to give you a warning. Stand down, admit defeat, and give up your packs before I take everything from you.”
How dare he….
“Did you hear me?” He asks dangerously. “You may have been the one to take my mother, but you will not take anything else from me. I will never stand down.” I snarl, trembling with rage.
He chuckles. “We shall see, aren’t you missing daddy dearest?” he taunts.
Father…
Unease ripples through me, but I also know what Dad would expect from me … no matter how hard it is…
“Are you a coward? That you are using my father against me?” I ask, my voice full of hatred.
“Hmm, all is fair… I have to do what I have to do…. The choice is yours Zaia, keep refusing and I will take everyone from you one by one.”
“No. You will pay for this.”
He laughs again as if what I said is amusing.
“Will I? Don’t challenge me, Zaia, when you are already losing everyone one by one… You couldn’t protect your daughter… you couldn’t protect your mother…”
His words are hitting hard, and my eyes prickle with tears.
I’m trying…
“Oh, and now your father. I’ll make sure you get his body.”
“Don’t you dare touch him! If you want to fight, come, let’s do this.” He laughs again, making my blood boil, but the panic I’m feeling for Dad is rising.
“You’ve already lost a fourth person…” He whispers and my heart sinks.
Who?
Are the children- Sebastian.
He hasn’t been in touch with me all morning…
“Sebastian…” I whisper, unable to hide the tremble from my voice.
Goddess, please no… help me. Fear consumes me as Gerard’s laugh rings through the phone. “Only this time, he came willingly. Sebastian is finally where he belongs.”
“Lie!” I snarl. “Is it? How else did I get out of there, if it wasn’t for his help? He played you, you little stupid wench.” he hisses.
“No! He would never-”
“Really? He wouldn’t? Give me a second Sebastian, say hello,” Gerard says, making my heart skip a beat. No. No, it’s probably someone else who will pretend-
“I don’t have time for that. End the call.”
My breath hitches, my eyes widening in horror as Sebastian’s cold voice comes down the line.
No…
My worst nightmare is coming true…
Gerard’s laughter echoes down the phone before the line goes dead and the phone slips from my hand, falling to the marble floor and shattering.
Just the way my heart is shattering inside of me…
