Chapter 119

Almara’s Pov

Arthur leaves my side only to scoop Cathy up in his arms and route her to safety. Her body is limp in his secure hold, she looks no less vulnerable than Grace. I follow closely behind him, telling Cathy it’ll all be okay, though I know she can’t hear me through the chopping wind.

“Put these on.” Roman offers me two pairs of thick sunglasses and I slip on one pair on Arthur’s face. Once outside, the noise becomes much louder and the wind much stronger. Some medical professional is already jogging up to house. Though he looks like a cross of a medical worker and a special agent.

Without so much as a word the medical specialist takes Cathy from Arthur’s arms, I appreciate him being mindful of her head. Cathy moves like water, completely at the will of how others place her. Over the roaring wind, Arthur shouts for the man to take good care of her. He nods and runs toward the helicopter.

I stare at it in amazement as Arthur wraps his arms around me. I don’t think I’ve ever seen a helicopter before. It’s much larger than I expected and this one is jet black with a thick red cross going down the side. There’s no other logo or written indication of what medical facility she may be flying to, though I assume Roman will know.

Roman walks us back inside right before the helicopter takes off, I presume to safe us from getting trapped in a dust storm. Steadily silence befalls the house once again.

“I hate to say I told you so.” Robert says. He’s probably relishing in the thought that we all should’ve listened to him.

“What are the real ingredients?” Roman demands. A sly smile curls on Robert’s lips and for a moment, I wonder if he doesn’t actually know. Maybe it’s all a lie.

“First, I want an apology.” He says crossing his arms. Arthur lets out a grunt and goes to sit on the couch. Either tired of Robert’s games or from his infliction, probably both. Roman scoffs.

“Don’t make me pin you down again.” Bess finally pipes us. She’s been so quiet this whole time, like a fly on the wall observing the events.

“I guess I’ll be on my way then, seeing as I’m a free man.” Robert says. “Best of luck to you, Arthur.” Yep, he’s really enjoying this. Lily huffs. I’m about to swallow my pride and blurt out an apology when Roman practically jumps across the room. Elenor takes a step back with a gasp, clearly never having seen her husband move with such agility before.

“Listen here,” Roman is inches away from Robert’s face, veins are bulging from his neck. “We had a deal. I held up mine and now you hold up yours, be the man you’ve always wanted to be.” Robert’s nostrils flare. Roman continues, “if and only if what you offer is valuable will I maybe, utter something of an apology. Until then, this is strictly business. Do I make myself clear?”

Robert scans his eyes over Roman and for a brief moment, on the outside looking in it’s as if a father is rightfully scolding his misbehaving son. Perhaps Robert picks up on this parallel, because he physically folds at his father’s command. His shoulders slack and he bow’s his head.

“Very well,” Robert concedes. “You won’t like it though.” He casts a fair-warning glance particularly at Arthur.

I figure at this point we’re past the disgust of ingredients. Then Robert goes to sit on the couch across from Arthur and appears to be examining him. “And we really haven’t that much time.” It was after that comment an uneasy feeling settles in the pit of my stomach. I don’t think Robert is just referring to the ingredients, but the task behind them.

“Garlic cloves, quart dust from a soul stone, vampire blood, and spit from a head vampire at the Council of Bloody Hollow.” Robert lists of the ingredients, each one sounding odder than the last.

“The Council of Bloody Hollow?” Bess says both equally confused and surprised. “We defeated them during the last battle.” Robert shakes his head.

“Mostly, and at first, yes. Though that didn’t stop them from forming again underground.”

“As for the vampires blood, I assume we can just take yours?” Elenor asks pointedly.

“Actually, no. I’m a hybrid. The blood has to be from a pure vampire.”

A great realization ignites with in me, I practically jump at the insight. “Noah’s blood.” I say, though everyone looks at me waiting to explain what I mean. “The man, well vampire, who kidnapped me. There was a blood bath between Arthur and Noah. There still has to be some blood in the basement.” Perhaps Noah will be useful after all.

“I cleaned most of it up.” Arthur says.

“It doesn’t matter, a drop will do.” Robert replies.

“Well, we’re going to have to get another plan going.” Bess says. I look at Arthur, worry spreading through my entire being. As if reading my mind he puts a comforting hand on my leg, seeing warmth in that particular spot.

“Don’t worry. I’ll be fine.” Arthur says, bringing my hand up to kiss it.

“Maybe.” Robert says, ruining the mood. Per usual. Roman snarls at Robert who puts his hands up in defense. “I’m being realistic. The hardest part of this journey will be getting the spit from the Council members, that alone could take a couple days, which I don’t even know if Arthur has that kind of time.”

“Right, you don’t know so it’s best you keep your negative opinions to yourself.” Arthur growls.

“Just know, this might be the one thing that the superior Hurricane Pack doesn’t get. The fight against time is something we all lose to at one point or another.”

I swallow the lump in my throat. This is a new side of Robert I’ve never witnessed before, and why of all times does he have to be wise now.

“Then as mother said, let’s make a plan.” Roman claps his hands.

“I’ll stay here with Grace and Arthur.” Elenor offers. “A mother serves best keeping her young safe.” I almost take that as a jab to my motherhood, but a softness in Elenor’s eyes tell me she had to ill intent.

“Thank you, Elenor.” Arthur replies, accepting the help offered to him. “I’ll enjoy the time spent with my daughter.” He says, mostly to me. I smile at the comforting normalcy of his long-missed confidence.

“We already have left over garlic from the first recipe. I guess that’s the only correct part in the whole potion.” Bess says.

“How do we get to Bloody Hollow?” I ask, never even having heard of that before.

“That’s going to require some finessing on my end.” Robert says with a sigh. “They don’t just let anybody in.”

“Is this some kind of grand plan that puts you as ruler in the vampire kingdom?” I ask.

Roman slams his fist on the table, alarming everyone including Grace. “If this another one of your senseless mind games?”

“No.” Robert says flatly, “And no.” He says looking at me with a dead stare. “We’ll be lucky if they even agree to see me. They usually only let in pure vampires, you know to lessen the chances of treason.” Robert leans back with an exasperated sigh.

“This is only going to work if we can all trust each other for the endeavor of this journey. This is no light task. All our lives are at risk the minute we set foot on this plan.” Robert eyes everyone in the room. “Can you all trust me?”

There’s a mumbling of irritated agreements. This ought to be marked as an important day in history. The day the vampires and werewolves worked together.