Dark Moon Rising

Chapter 42: The Edge of Anticipation

Argus's Point of View

Escaping from the grip of Lucius Void and the Collective was nothing like I had imagined. The weight of it all took a heavy toll on me, Elara, and Taryn. It was as if we had broken free from a suffocating cage where every action and thought had been scrutinized and controlled. As the night passed, my sister showed a deep understanding of and compassion for what we were experiencing, connecting with us more than anyone else. The four of us stayed awake, engaged in heartfelt conversations until we witnessed the breathtaking moment when the sun broke through the horizon.

Elara's eyes held a deep understanding as she looked at me, and I realized that I could no longer conceal our findings about Eyrx from Seraphina. Elara reached out and clasped my hand as if in silent support, resting her head on my shoulder. Her comforting gesture eased my anxiety, and I reciprocated by tenderly squeezing her hand to express my gratitude. It was clear that we had to be honest with Seraphina; keeping this information from her would be unjust.

"I have critical intel to share with you. Are you in a secure location?" I asked my sister.

Seraphina gave me an amused grin, and nodded, as this was how we always started communicating when I was her handler.

In a hushed tone, I murmured, "It's about Eyrx."

"Is he injured? Did something happen to him? Is he..." Seraphina's voice trailed off, and a look of utter despair and panic etched on her face.

"No, but he was the reason why Lucius arranged this mission. We were sent to retrieve Luna Jo and Eyrx for the Collective," I explained.

Seraphina's eyes widened with surprise as she exclaimed, "Do they know about their extraordinary abilities?"

"Only Luna Jo's. They did not know about what Eyrx is or can do. Lucius wanted Eyrx for who your friend is," I replied.

Seraphina's face contorted in displeasure, her brows furrowing and lips turning downward. The anger radiated from Seraphina, and I could only imagine the barrage of horrors that raced through her mind, as my sister thought about the suffering she had endured at his hands.

My sister solemnly said, "I won't let him take Eyrx or Luna Jo. I will protect them both with my life."

I could see the concern in my sister's eyes as I spoke. "I know you will," I said softly. "We will, too. But there's something you must know about Eyrx..." My voice trailed off, feeling lost and unsure of how to tell her something I knew would shatter her world.

Elara tenderly squeezed my hand once more and completed the sentence before I could muster the strength.

"Eyrx is Lucius Void's biological son. He looks just like his father, Seraphina," Elara said gently.

In a surge of panic, my sister exclaimed, "What? No, there must be some mistake."

Seraphina turned her gaze toward me, seeking confirmation, and I responded with a subtle, silent shake of my head.

"But I felt such a strong connection with him. Why would I feel drawn to Eyrx if he was a Void?" my sister asked in disgust.

"There was no way for Eyrx to have known when you met. As far as I understand, his feelings for you are quite strong. Eyrx could have joined us when Luna Jo did, but he chose not to because he didn't want to upset you. Eyrx is afraid that you will reject him, not wanting him in your life because he resembles our adoptive father," I replied.

"Eyrx has always been the same man you met in the forest," I reassured my sister. "Who his father is and whom he looks like is not within his control. It is unfair to judge him based on that."

"Have any of you seen him?" Seraphina asked.

"No, but I trust that Luna Jo and the Moon Goddess would not provide us with inaccurate information," I responded.

"Selene knew?" Seraphina shouted, her voice filled with rage and disbelief.

Elara's voice trembled as she spoke, "The Moon Goddess moves in her own time and in her own way. When she guided your escape, Taryn and I longed to accompany you. Selene assured me she would help us break free but insisted we remain in the Collective. We harbored bitter feelings towards her for what felt like an eternity. Yet, in the end, everything fell into place and unfolded as it was meant to," Elara said softly.

Something about how Elara spoke and looked at me stirred something profound within me. At that moment, I felt an intense, strong pull and connection to her that I had never experienced before. I didn't understand it, but I definitely felt it.

"I wanted to meet Eyrx to confirm that he was Lucius's son, but Alpha Felix would not allow it until we told you. Perhaps the four of us could go to see him. But we should get some sleep before we do that," I said.

My sister sighed dramatically, exclaiming, "I don't know if I can wait."

The way she looked at me was all too familiar. I let out a heavy sigh, knowing that it signaled trouble ahead.

"I can track him, but I haven't done so yet because I needed to rectify a mistake I made. I'm heading out now. Do you want to come with me?" my sister inquired.

I sighed, realizing that I still needed to protect Seraphina from herself.

"We will go too. Should we leave a note for Adrian and Rogue?" Taryn asked.

"No, I'll text them. Give me one sec, and we can go," Seraphina responded.

Taryn looked at me with concern, and I shrugged. What could I say? We all knew how impulsive and reckless Seraphina could be. When her emotions were running high, it was the worst. We needed to go with her, despite how uncomfortable this would be for all of us.

We moved swiftly through the dense forest, guided by Seraphina's confident lead. Abruptly, she halted in front of a cabin nestled in the heart of the ancient woodland. The cabin harmoniously blended with the towering, majestic red pines enveloping it. As we approached, the cabin stirred with activity, and a deep, resonant voice emanated from within, directed at my sister.

"Good morning, Seraphina. You are all welcome to come in for a cup of coffee if you would like. But, are you sure that you want to see me?" Eyrx asked, his tone filled with a mixture of hope and uncertainty.