Knight's Tempus [16+]

Chapter 12

Red's Point of View

It has been 2 days since the incident, Ava and Alpha Nico also returned from their meeting yesterday and eventually announced that the pack will be having a meeting today, just the day after they arrived to discuss something important to the entire pack. The pack has been extremely busy as soon as I woke up, I visited Ava on their room too but she is still asleep so I choose to let her rest, Maggie is somewhere around the pack giving orders while I have to babysit her daughter, Mia. I do not regret it but I don't entirely like what's happening right now.

I tried to politely smile at Mia but her eyes just squinted, her small arms placed on her waist looking at me with disapproval.

"What is it Aunt Red? You're not having fun, are you?" My eyes widen and I immediately shake my head. s**t, this kid is sharp. "Your smile is fake, your eyes are uncomfortable and you can't look at me directly." She added with a knotted forehead.

I sigh wiping off the fake smile on my lips. "Yeah, I wasn't enjoying that." I confessed. Mia doesn't look hurt or anything, in all seriousness, is she even still a child? "Sorry Mia, I was just— "

"It's okay Aunt Red.”  she cut me off without a smile but her facial expression doesn't look mad or hurt either. "You should have told me earlier, I'm sorry I made you go through all this trouble." She said while she avoided my gaze.

"Oh no, of course that's not true. You're not a trouble to me, Mia." I sigh. "I'm willing to play with you but, I'm just curious, out of all the games kids could play why..." My eyes darted towards the scattered cards, "this?"

She too glanced at the scattered cards laid on the floor along with two dice. She turns to me and shakes her head. "I don't know too, Aunt Red. I like this game."

I sigh again. "This isn't an ordinary game, Mia, this a gamble. It's not for kids."

"Gamble?" She innocently asks, "but Mommy would play this game every night, alone." I stilled. Maggie...?

That woman! Why would she play this game in front of her daughter? Is she teaching her to gamble at such a young age? How unbelievable!

"Did she teach you how to play?" I ask because I keep losing on her in this game, damn it, my little pride is hurt. How could she beat me? I wanna cry, meh.

Mia adorably shakes her head. The heck, Maggie didn't teach her then how did she learn to be such a good gambler already? What if we were betting money and not candies? Gah, I'll go bankrupt than I already am.

"How did you learn to play?" I inquired curiously.

She shrugs at me and picked the dice playing with it.

I shut my mouth while thinking of how she was able to learn to play or gamble, whatever is the proper term. Is someone else teaching her? Who? If no one did, then how?

Ahhhhh! Damns, I'm so curious.

"Tell me Mia," I started staring at her and sitting closer this time, she turns to me waiting for me to continue what I was saying. "Does your Mom knows that you play this? This cards and dice, is this hers?" She shakes her head then nodded. Oh sheet of paper, I know exactly what those gestures means. "You mean to say she doesn't have any clue that you know how to gam– play?" She nods her head. Moon goddess, how the heck did that happen? All along Maggie is clueless, but how? "Why didn't you tell her? Why didn't you ask her to play with you?"

When I asked that Mia stopped tossing the dice. She pouted and looked away this time picking up the cards. I helped her.

"Because it will make Mommy sad." I glance at her my curiosity intensified.

"What do you mean?"

"Mommy plays this game every night, but after a while she would cry. Maybe Mommy isn't good at playing this so I want to be the best player of this game and help Mommy win." I got lost in my thought and stared at her unaware that I have stopped picking up the cards, Mia snapped me back into reality when she called my name.

I want to ask her about her father but that would be too nosy and insensitive of me. She might be a sharp kid but still, she is still just a child who might be wondering the same thing.

Maggie, I wonder what's big problems is she keeping to herself? Does Ava know? Maybe or maybe not. I heaved a sigh and smiled at Mia helping her pick up the cards and placed them back on the box along with the dice.

"I'll get my doll house, Aunt Red. Would you still like to play with me?" She asks me standing up. I smiled and nodded at her. She titled her head to her side looking at me in wonder. "Aunt Red, is gamble bad?"

I gulp. "Well..." Choose your words carefully Red, really carefully. "...it's not meant for kids like you. One day you'll understand whether it is good or bad." Ah, not lying not telling the truth either, just playing safe. I want to pat myself for a job well done.

"Is my doll house a gamble, Aunt Red?" She asks again. I shake my head laughing a little.

"No it's not Mia. It's not a gamble."

She pouted and nods her head then went to another door inside their room, must be the walk in closet or her toys room. When she came back, she's dragging a doll house almost the same size as hers. Wow, the roof is pink and the walls colored cream white and brick styled. She opened it into half and revealed the different levels of the house along with the golden spiral staircase in the middle. It is a mixture of pink, white and blue. Mia then handed me one of the dolls inside, it has a blond hair and blue eyes and wearing a silver dress with sequences.

"Blond." I mumbled. I mean no ill but why are almost all of the dolls are blonde? Just wondering. Mia then introduced herself, in the doll's form as Elsa, the one with white hair and blue dress with a see through cape. She tells me then that my doll's name is... "Silveria?" I ask unsure. Silveria? Really? Was it because of the dress? "Who gave this doll's name?" I ask.

"Mommy."

Damn Maggie, she must have taken forever to think of a great name such as Silveria. It didn't cross my mind and the reason for this doll's given name is so not obvious from the doll itself. Wow.

I played along with her pretending to be her maid while she was the queen of the house, she is ordering me to clean the stairs when someone knocked on the door. The real one and the big one.

"Wait a moment, Mi." She smiled at me and played to herself while I opened the door. An unfamiliar boy greeted me. He's lean and his hair is white too, his skin a bit pale.

He smiled at me. "Hello Ms. Red, Luna Ava is waiting for you outside."

"Ava?" I repeated. He nodded his head. "Why? What for?"

Still smiling, he answered me. "I don't exactly know the detail Miss but from what I heard before I left to go here is it's about the meeting. She would like to share confidential information with you."

I nodded my head. The pack is extremely busy today so maybe that is why Ava sent this man rather than coming here herself.

"Okay, give me a moment." I said and did not wait for his reply, I closed the door and went back to Mia's side. "Hey Mi," she looks up to me from playing, I smile awkwardly. "Well you see, Aunt Red have to go out to meet Aunt Ava, would that be okay?"

She nodded her head. She is such a good girl, beautiful and understanding, innocent but sharp. "Will you stay here while I'm out? Can you promise?"

"Of course Aunt Red, don't worry about me. I'm a big girl already." She said still playing, this time combing her doll's hair. I laugh lightly. She sure is.

I stood up and ruffle her hair. "If that is the case then please, take care of Silveria for me."

She grins at me and saluted. "Aye aye, captain!" I smile at her before I left. As we are making our way towards the stairs, I seldom see pack members inside. I came across two lady pack members carrying boxes to be used for later, they were discussing something about Claudia's experiment which I do not have any idea about. By experiment, is Claudia already starting to counter the spell used on Knight and I?

My eyes would unconsciously glance at pale man beside me, he is good looking, his white hair and pale skin can magnetize whoever is looking at him.

As I look ahead, my eyes unintentionally spotted Knight, he's leaning against a tree and is watching... me. Why is he watching me?

Unsure what to do, I diverted my eyes at the man beside me and spike a conversation to avoid him, his intense eyes that I can feel burning the side of my face while I'm desperately trying to politely smile at the stranger in front of me. "So hey, you are really pale aren't you?" I complimented. He glances at me and smiled, it looks force in my opinion. He must be feeling all awkward, I'm a stranger and I just told him how his skin looks. Maybe he feels insecure about it and here I am unintentionally rubbing it all on him. "I'm sorry, I was trying to compliment you. I liked your hair and how your skin is."

Finally, his forced smile is replaced with a sincere one. "Thank you, Miss Red." He said and we continued walking in silence.

I wonder what Ava wanted to tell me?

Maggie's Point of View*

I opened the door only to find out it's locked from the inside. I sigh and chuckles. Red and Mia, what could that two up to?

I knocked on the door not saying anything, seconds have passed and still no response from them. I smile. They must be playing with me, trying to surprise me or something.

"Red? Mia? It's me!" I knocked again. A few moments later the door opened but instead of a surprise or other pranks the two could pull that I imagined, none came except for Mia innocent eyes looking up at me. My forehead crease, "why are you alone? Where is Aunt Red?" I ask.

"I don't know Mommy, she told me Aunt Ava wanted to talk to her so I have to stay here while waiting for her." Ava? Ava was with me before I went here. Does she ordered someone to fetch Red?

"Did Aunt Ava came here?" I ask her as I entered the room, it's spotless and her toy bag is on the side, a plate of cookies and milk on the table. 

"No she didn't." My daughter answered. That means someone else fetched Red here. I nodded my head and took Mia's hand as I gently placed her on the bed. I pinch her chubby cheeks, she frowned at me while I just chuckle. "What do you want to wear?" She shrugs. I stare at her contemplating on what she should wear, a dress perhaps or maybe that new shirt and short she picked on the mall herself? Ah maybe, it will be perfect paired with her new shoes. "What do you want your hair today?" Again, she shrugs telling me to decide and choose whatever I want for her. I sigh and took her clothes along with her shoes and changed her, tying her hair in a messy bun, maybe a ponytail will be better.

After dressing her up we went out and proceeded unto the kitchen where we spotted Ava, cooking.

"Hey, you're done talking to Red?" I ask taking a seat while Mia went to the table to help one the pack members helping Ava.

Ava raised her head to look at me from taking out something from the oven, it's a tray of bake cupcakes probably for the kids after dinner. "Red? I haven't seen Red today." I almost dropped the apple I grabbed, what the f**k?

"Hey Mia, come here baby." I called my daughter, she silently obliged and I lifted her up to sit on my lap. "Tell Aunt Ava why Red left you on our room."

My daughter's forehead creases confused but answered anyway. "Because Aunt Ava called for her." I turn to Ava and she looks just as clueless as I am. She took her gloves off at the same time Alpha Nico arrived.

"Babe!" Ava yelled and quickly approached him. "Did you called for Red using my name?" She asks, I can hear the panic in her voice, my heartbeat fasten when Alpha Nico shakes his head also confused.

"Shit." I mumbled, my daughter was quick to slap my mouth, I apologized and looked at Ava placing Mia on the sit while I approach them. I tap Ava's shoulder shaking my head. "You can't panic, don't be too negative over something like that, Red can handle herself."

"What do you mean? What is happening?" Alpha Nico asks, the authority in his voice made us cower.

"Red... seems to be missing."

As soon I said that, Alpha Nico gave order to me to keep an eye on Ava and help her calm down, it's not good for their pup because her pregnancy is sensitive. Alpha Nico disappeared and when he returned, Charles is with him along with Claudia. Good thing I told Mia to keep her Aunt Ava company while I'm waiting for their return.

"What's up? Found her?" They all shake their head, Alpha Nico left to tend to Ava while Claudia is muttering something to herself. "What the heck are you mumbling there about?" I ask, tensed too. That Red, she was just recovering from that almost-death incident and now this. How could she have magnetized trouble so effortlessly? I'm both amazed and worried. That's a rare talent in my opinion.

Claudia paid no attention to me and continued to mumble something incomprehensible and this time closing her eyes. I look at Charles but he just shakes his head at me clueless too. We were both staring at Claudia intensely waiting for her to stop and tell us something useful but instead, her voice grew louder, deeper and gravely. Far from Claudia’s voice. Charles and I stepped ready to attack anytime soon whilst Claudia with her gravelly voice continued its chant of unfamiliar words, she was swaying slightly as if dancing with her eyes closed a small sinister smile on her lips.

I shiver, the sight causing goosebumps to rise from my arms to my neck and even on my scalp. The air felt heavier, darker and colder, it’s filled with unexplainable force. I felt an undeniable fear, even Charles face turned pale yet we remained alert.

Alert for something to happen, an action from Claudia who looks possessed by something evil unknown to us. We kept waiting, in our stance ready to defend and attack when suddenly… Claudia’s eyes snapped open, wider than her usual ones, the bags under her eyes darker and bloody red eyes stared back at me directly, her sinister smile widened while her body keeps swaying, dancing to the music only she can hear.

Her mouth moved, gaping, closed and her smile returned. “…the…” she breathed. I couldn’t move, I couldn’t look away, there is this unseen force restraining me. Could it be this intense fear? I couldn’t think and I can’t see anything else but her. My mind clouded and my vision solely directed at her as she slowly approached me, her feet in an awkward position. Claudia’s body now resembles a corpse who risen from the dead. “…tempus… tempus…i—is… ours…” she breathed. My eyes widen as her clawed hands covered in blood slowly hinder my vision of her face.

Unable to move, I waited for death to swallow me but instead, my face tilted to my side the stinging sensation waking me up.

I gasp wide eyes while Claudia is staring at me gasping for air as well. “I saw it…” her eyes turned teary, the same intense fear foreign in her eyes before are now vivid, it reflected mine. s**t, what the hell was that? What did I just saw?

“Yo guys, what the f**k is happening?!” Charles raised his voice looking at us having no idea what is wrong.

“Claudia…” I breathed, “what the hell was that?”

“She…” her voice quivered, she has to clear her throat to be able to speak, “she was a witch. One of the…evil witches that the covens killed back then.” She heaved a deep sigh, “and all along she was with us.”

I felt my knees weakened. Damn it, one of the evil witches was with us? Living with us?

“Layla…” Claudia whispered. She gulps and shakes her head. Charles and I looks at her. “It was Layla; she is the witch; I mean the current vessel. And… they want the tempus.”

“What? Tempus? What the— “Charles was interrupted by the sudden mind link from Owen.

“We found them, Gamma, Beta.” Them? But wasn’t it Red only? Who was with her? “We found Miss Red and Knight in the northern forest, Miss Red is currently unconscious and…” Owen trailed of unsure what to say.

“What is it?” Charles asked through the mind link.

“Beta… Knight’s wolf is covering Miss Red’s body snarling at us. He’s— “

“Don’t agitate him, keep your distance and wait for us. We’re on our way.” Charles looks at us and nodded, we quickly set of preparing ourselves to meet Knight’s wolf in in its state once again. I just hope he doesn’t devour Red’s body; no one knows what his wolf is thinking.

Tempus… what the heck does that mean? What is it? Why?

My mind is clouded with thoughts while we’re making our way to the forest, most importantly the fact that Layla is nowhere to be seen around the pack. What is she up to? What’s her purpose?