By the time Caleb caught up with Luna she was outside, standing in front of her carriage. A tall, male figure stood in front of her. When Caleb was a few feet away, the male figure turned around and he saw that it was her lover, Amaruq. He wasn't dressed in his usual attire, which was a leather vest with matching trousers, bare skin and his tattoos showing. In his current attire Amaruq looked like a thug pretending to be a wealthy Lord.
Caleb stopped when he looked at his face. He didn't know what to expect from Amaruq. The island was filled with stories about how he had killed men for daring to speak Luna's name in his presence without his permission. Here Caleb was escorting her to the butcher to identify bodies. He swallowed hard, keeping his features of emotionless.
Amaruq shocked Caleb by extending his right hand in peace. Caleb, Looked down at his extended hand. Then back up at Amaruq's face. When he saw no malice in his eyes he shook it.
"Young lad, thank you for assisting my wife."
His wife?? When did they get married, Caleb thought. He looked from Amaruq then back to Luna, who had moved from behind Amaruq and was now placing her hand in the crook of his elbow. They looked quite the pair. Caleb couldn't help but notice how expensive their clothing was.
Caleb found that suspicious. Amaruq had never been wealthy, and a Courtesan whose establishment had just burned down would be wearing something borrowed. He knew it then. The dark island rumors were probably true. They had knowledge about the fire.
"I was just about to ask her if she found her daughter." Amaruq said.
Caleb wanted to run and directly tell Sylvie. She needed to know for certain that her mother was evil and meant her no good. They were trying to take over the island. Caleb paid closer attention then and noticed Amaruq's appearance had caused a few onlookers to stop and stare. Then listen in on their conversation.
Amaruq and Luna were soaking up the attention. That sick Revelation hit him like a ton of bricks. They had started the fire and were using Sylvie's death as a way to catapult their new lives in society as the rulers of the island. Caleb had been right all along. Luna did not care about Silvie.
Luna had left her daughter to die. He realized he had not been listening when Amamruq touched him on the shoulder. " Boy? Are you alright?" Amaruq asked.
Luna offered then, "I imagine today was hard for him as well, my darling. He was Sylvie's only friend." She smiled at that admission.
"My apologies."Caleb said.
"None needed. It is I who should apologize. I should let you go." Amaruq confessed.
" It is fine." He lied to save face. It wasn't. He wanted to bolt.
"Would you like a ride home?" Amaruq offered.
" N-No. That won't be necessary. Thank you though." Caleb turned on his heels and quickly walked away from a couple. His heart was pounding in his ears. He had to get to Sylvie and warn her as soon as possible.
AMARUQ & LUNA|
Amaruq and Luna watched the son of the blacksmith nearly break out into a sprint to get away from them. He wanted to chalk it up to what Luna had explained seconds ago, but he just couldn't. The moment he had extended his hand in peace the boy's face turned white, as if he had seen a ghost. He didn't like that. He debated then and there on keeping the blacksmith and his family alive after the weapons were made.
The Blacksmith was unknowingly committing an act of treason by accepting his gold and forging these weapons. It was only a matter of time before the Island Authorities found out. How the Blacksmith and his son handled that would tell him how he needed to handle them. He saw the eyes of the islanders watching him and his woman. As the footman opened the carriage door he assisted her up the small carriage steps and into the vehicle. Once inside,the door closed and the carriage began to move through the muddy streets.
"Our plan is working." She told him as she moved the velvet curtains from the small carriage window to look outside.
"Did you ever doubt that it would?" He asked her. A mischieviuos gleam in his hard eyes as he stared at her.
"Never, my king." She assured him sweetly. Love for him shone in her eyes.
He stretched his legs in the small carriage, taking up more space. Even through her heavy layers she could still feel his hard muscular thigh touching her. They sat side by side in the moving carriage. Sylvie was gone. She had perished in the fire.
Luna was free, finally. When she had been pregnant with Sylvie her life had been a completely different one. The years, as well as fate had been unkind to her, but she had used her bad circumstances for her own good and turned it to her favor. She could see that more clearly now. Her tenacity and sheer will to live were unmatched and a big reason she was still alive today.
Amaruq had consumed her. She could feel his love for her engulfing her mind, body and spirirt with a fire so hot that it burned just as the brothel had, quickly and relentless. When he had thrown the Maltov cocktail at the bar she had known there was no going back. Seeing Sylvie dressed in a sexy outfit similar to hers and watching her work for Madame Bouvier had been a sight that had made her stomach turn. Though the other women envied her coveted position, Luna knew it was not all roses.
Men could be uncaring monsters at times. Especially when they paid for the attention. That was one of the very first things she had learned working in her current profession. Not Amaruq though. The tough man with so much passion in his bones that he willed himself into a wolf.
She was fascinated/enthralled. He would never fill the void of losing her child. Killing the Loux Garoux who owned this island and take it over seemed like a much better and maybe the only option. That night of the fire she had been whisked away to the other side of the Island. She had stayed hidden on a houseboat near the port.
Amaruq had sent word for her. She had arrived back when it was late into the night and the fire totally consumed the building. Luna was happy to see it burning. All the pain and false hopes that place had given had been destroyed. Bouvier was gone.
No one had heard from her or any of her cronies.
She would rather have Sylvie burn in the fire than work for Bouvier. "I can't wait for phase II." Luna told him with a smile on her face.
He picked up her gloved hand and kissed it. He placed it gently back in her lap and kept his atop hers while her stared into her eyes. He smiled at her. She thought he had a very sexy smile, "Me either my Love. Me either.
SYLVIE|
Sylvie was still sitting on the porch steps feeling sorry for herself. She had slept too long. Now with dusk upon her, she was unable to hunt and find them adequate food for the night. The wolf stared at her with those big, yellow eyes. She put her head down on her knees and rested for a moment.
She lifted her head back up. He was gone. Sylvie thought maybe he needed to handle his business. She looked around and saw the wolf standing around the corner of her home. She could only see his ears and eyes for a brief second.
She watched as he walked over to her. Something tan and furry was in between his jaws. Sylvie looked closer. It was a dead rabbit. When he was back at the foot of the porch steps he placed the carcass in front of her.
She looked down at the fresh carcass and then back at the wolf. She unconsciously covered her mouth in shock at the animal's succinct understanding and solving of their problem.No one cared if she survived. It was a strange yet lovely feeling to know that a beautiful creature like this wolf cared about her. The wolf's kind gesture humbled her and brought tears to her eyes.
She knelt in front of him and embraced him."Thank you." She whispered. She backed away and then patted him on his head. She picked up the rabbit."Time to make dinner." She declared as she stood up and walked up the porch steps she had been previously sitting on.
She opened the front door. Sylvie let the wolf enter first, then she did. Once inside, she hung the rabbit on a wireline by its two back paws. Sylvie was in shock as well as pleasantly surprised at the sudden turn of events. The wolf.
Was it a sign? Or was it Sylvie's imagination? No wolf could be this smart...