CHAPTER THIRTY EIGHT
Selene arrived at the Base of the slope joining the congregation awaiting news on what transpired that turned the mountain into a miniature war zone.
The police were especially tense concerning what could be the reason. Edleweld was a country of snow, beautiful mountains, arctic culture, resources and old money wealth.
After the Guang Union incident even a bomb threat had to be investigated like was a matter of national security because it most likely could be.
"Madam." Edward pointed at the approaching figures.
Selene smiled with relief which was quickly replaced with worry when she couldn't count Ives in their midst.
"Baby." Selene met them with an affectionate hug even pulling the bodyguard carrying Silva in the fray.
"Ma'am. Please let them come with us." One of the authorities on standby said to them, being their only witnesses to what happened on the slope their recollection was invaluable.
Normally, they had the right to intrude and even detain them for such a purpose but the Arman were a powerful family whom they couldn't afford to be lax with.
"No problem." Selene agreed. While they received inspections from the ambulance on standby, Rhea and Silva gave their testimonies along with the guards present.
The Bodies of the assassins were brought down in horrible condition while those that attacked the house were added to the pile, only one arrest was made and that was the assassin who was taken away in a delirious state convinced that he was a dog. The cops had a hard time dealing with a rabid person who barked, bit and pee'd like an animal completely incapable of human reason or speech, those who were present when he was made to become this cursed his fate and feared being next on their Madam's list.
Still all their testimonies were the same, actuely describing everything that transpired including their reaction to it without the supernatural context from both Selene and Ives.
They didn't know what to make of what they experienced but also knew that saying such things willy nilly on foreign soil was the epitome of a bad decision.
"Thank you for your help. We will work to ensure your security during the rest of your stay."
"I am glad to be of service." Selene sent off the policeman and returned her attention to her daughters, she met Silva sitting in the ambulance covered with a warm tarp holding a steaming cup of cocoa.
The medics were trained to heal the body not restore a mind whose image of reality had been shattered.
Without saying a word, she sat down beside her and put her arm round her neck, bringing her close to her body. She held her child close pouring out all her love and care into this one gesture.
"Baby. You're gonna be alright." She reassured Silva.
Silva feeling the warmth of her mother's breath held her free hand and spoke softly.
"Mommy. I'm scared."
Selene couldn't restrain her smile hearing her proud vain daughter address her in such a meek and vulnerable manner though she regretted the situation that made this possible she was beyond happy to see her daughter so free with her.
"How cute. I could only bring out this part of you by doing that."
Silva's grip momentarily tightened before loosening up a bit. Selene seeing this decided to operate with more subtlety.
"There isn't a single thing in this world that can harm you. You're my precious one even if you don't allow me to treat that way. I am sorry I can't always be the mother you want me to be but know that my priorities will always lie with you."
Selene recited this love poem into Silva's ear in a soft whisper, Silva could no longer contain herself and leaped into Selene's arms to sob.
Having nearly lost her life, only a few months since she lost her father. She was forced to confront a hard truth to swallow, she wasn't impermanent.
The Indifference the assassins treated their lives with and watching the one who stood valiantly in the path of the assaliants get mowed down so easily.
She imagined what this must have felt like for her father, those in the massacres that occurred later on and finally herself.
The world she once wished to get through by simply existing, lounging away and enjoying the minute suddenly felt a lot crueler and inhumane.
And herself.
Her dreams.
Her wellbeing?
Too insignificant for it to care for. The only thing that was true and profound was the love from her mother, the strength of those who fight to protect her and the connection that is established throughout her short life.
Her cries and whimpers heralded her awakening to a more greater truth, a world where she wasn't the center and was as much subject to cruelty and pain as much as anyone else was possibly even more.
Selene held her in a tight embrace, soothing her with gentle rubs as she watched over her with a pained expression.
After five minutes of this, Silva fell silent.
"Excuse me."
Silva left Selene's arms and began to wipe her tears with the sleeves of her coat. Selene could really not consider it anything more than cute and immediately caught Silva again in a hug.
"My Sweet Baby girl." Selene swooned over her child who for the first time laughed hearing her mother call her this.
The world suddenly felt more brighter and Selene brought out a handkerchief and wiped Silva's tears.
She held both her hands and stared into her eyes in silence, shamelessly admiring the girl before her.
"What?" Silva asked worried.
"Nothing, I just wanted to capture this moment forever. I don't know when I will be able to see this again."
This time it was Selene who wiped a tear from her eye.
"Mom…"
Their moment was interrupted by Rhea's arrival.
"The cop was done questioning me so I came to check on Silva."
"I'm fine. Don't worry." Silva told Rhea.
Rhea waited in place, her eyes locked on Silva like she was witnessing another supernatural event.
"Dear. It's rude to stare." Selene snapped her out of it.
"Sorry. I'm not used to seeing Silva so Umm…." Her sentence broke off before she could finish it, she ended it there not wanting to add any unnecessary tension to their already dire circumstances.
Rhea returned with another sentence, this one more haunting and grim than the light atmosphere they were trying to maintain.
"Mommy. Someone is trying to kill us."
Selene's eyes softened with understanding.
"I know… " She sighed, "...How stressful."
Selene looked at Rhea and jokingly asked,
"Any leads?"
Rhea was shook up at her Mother's playful reaction to these events.
"No. Maybe the cops will be able to protect us till they do or…"
Rhea trailed off whilst Selene waited with a patient smile with a trace of whimsy for her final verdict.
"Mommy. Let's get Ives to do something about it."
Silva's suggestion stunned Selene who wondered why all of a sudden the girl who had no patience for her young lover was suddenly kin on the idea of him guarding them against their unseen adversaries.
Selene was about to inquire further when she heard a familiar female voice join the conversation.
"Interesting. A widow. A Brat and a nerd. All huddling together planning how to survive the next day."
This outrageous comment didn't anger them instead they all looked with familiarity and pensiveness at the arrogant woman describing them.
Selene said her name with warmth, "If it isn't Miss Aldire Tell."
...…..
Zeke received a text message in the middle of having dinner in Obsidian – possibly the most exclusive restaurant in Valkyren.
MEET ME AT VALKYREN CENTRAL BRIDGE ALONE.
"Rothschild?" Zeke saw the number and wondered why Ives would be back barely a day after he left.
He immediately put on his signature smile and ended his dinner and the desert attached to it.
"That will be all for now." He looked under the table revealing a woman underneath ravenously sucking his penis.
Zeke pressed his pocket and suddenly the woman jolted awake looking utterly confused as to what she was doing.
Zeke put himself in order while the woman moved with confusion searching her memories as what could have brought here to do this.
"Next time, try not insult the less privileged."
Zeke pressed his pocket again and said aloud.
FORGET EVERYTHING ABOUT ME, LEAVE THE RESTAURANT AND SETTLE THE BILL.
The woman immediately began acting in compliance to his omnious instructions, Zeke left with the woman in hand before dropping her off on the streets then driving off in his black prius.
He received another message.
ACOLYTE IGLES CEASE EVERY NON-ESSENTIAL ACTIVITY. ANOTHER ABERRATION HAVE BEEN UNLEASHED UPON THE CITY. THE ORDER MANDATES YOU TO TERMINATE THE INCURSION.
Zeke checked the information given to him on what he expected the thing to look like.
CHRONAL ANOMALY
NON-THREATENING BUT STILL RISK OF EXPOSURE.
UNIQUE QUALITY: NOT ENOUGH DATA.
APPEARANCE: #
Zeke suddenly acted up as he was about to read the final message, for some reason his phone had used the worst time to perform an unauthorized system update.
Zeke knew immediately that this was far from normal, he didn't need to be a prophet to know that the new Aberration was influencing things most likely information corresponding to itself.
'Hopefully It's a person.' Zeke cursed inwardly.
The Bridge was cold and quiet, this was the only bridge barely anyone used and yet no one knew why. Ives was already present in a long black trench coat, standing behind the railings looking over the city like a timeless sentinel.
"Good Evening. Mister Rothschild."
"I want Sabine to die before the end of today. Tell Beelzebub I have made my choice." Ives' first request intrigued Zeke who questioned.
"Doing so will ruin your relationship with Isolde." Zeke stated unapologetically.
"I know." Ives said with finality.
Zeke nodded in understanding.
"Very well."
Ives began walking away.
"That's all?"
"Yeah. I might be gone for a while. See you till then."
Zeke checked for any additional updates but by the time he looked up, Ives had vanished.
He wasn't ahead or cornered into anywhere.
He was gone barely a moment after they were done talking.