CHAPTER 81

As her feet led her through the rooms of the house, Ema’s thoughts were already spiraling. Humanitarian-like though this made them, she thought of Amelia’s mother, Rosa – a weak point they had there, maybe? Or possibly the young man Elijah who has been obviously in love with Amelia could be manipulated? Next, we had Amelia's new friends – the innocent humans she had managed to gather around herself in Seattle. It is still an interesting question of who and how will seek vengeance on Amelia; It’s like target practice – the choice is endless, and, each time, it will make her suffer.

But it was not all about inflicting pain, Ema had to remember that quite often as well. No, this was not only about revenge but many more, she wanted to prove that. As far as making Amelia understand the real implications of her actions, of hiding from who and what she was, of running away from the true picture of her duties. In a way, Ema, argued, she would be doing Amelia a favor. Harsh lessons, possibly, though ones that have to be learned all the same.


Just as the first light of the day was breaking Ema found herself standing at the entrance of an average-looking apartment block. She moved silently up the stairs to the third floor, having training eyes and feet for it after years. At the end of the hallway, she knocked on the door and knocked the door in a certain rhythm that was the password.

Finally, after some time, the door opened just a bit and a man whom Ema had not seen for years looked at her. “Well, well,” the man said, his voice a growl, the result of either having been wakened by some raucous noise or smoke inhalation. Speaking aloud, I said: “Look what the cat dragged in. To what do I owe the pleasure, Ema?”

Ema managed to give a slim smile. “Hey, Marcus. It’s been a while Since I bothered you for a favor.

Marcus frowned but moved aside Ema had to step into the apartment which was filled with so much stuff. Maps, newspaper cuttings and what appeared to me as surveillance photos lined the walls from floor to ceiling. It helps me to know that Marcus had always been an incarnation and, as such, he was very meticulous in his work.

“I guess it has to be some favor if you’re coming to me,” Marcus said as he made room for Ema in the middle of a small couch. “Last I heard, you were competing in high levels, you’re now competing with the dogs! Fall from ‘grace’?


Ema’s smile turned brittle. “Something like that I guess but that is not an issue at the moment What is issue is that I require info and I require it soon. ”

Marcus exhaled, crossed his arms over the desk and looked at Ema with suspicion. “Ah, that’s a pretty expensive commodity these days, favorable information especially the type I presume you’re looking for. What do you have to offer?”


The wall was just too high, and so for a moment Ema stopped panting. Many of the connections she used as she climbed the ranks of the pack had been severed; she had created a lot of enemies during this time. However, as the saying goes desperate measures are required in the case of desperate situations.


“I can pay,” she said finally, as she fished into her pocket to bring out the amount that the man asked from her. “Not much, not right away. But I will pay. And more importantly, I can offer you protection. Things are changing, Marcus. Big things. When it all goes down, you’ll want to be on the right side. ”

Marcus laughed but it wasn’t so much fun as it seemed. “ Right side you say? And this must be your side?”

Ema glanced at him angrily and then leaned forward. “It will be,” he hissed, “Trust me on that.”

After a few seconds, Marcus did not speak, he only looked at Ema with his narrowed, analytic look. Finally, he nodded. “Okay, okay, tell me then: What kind of information are we speaking of then?”


Ema then felt relieved and then an instant fierce look of determination came across her face. “I require as much information on a girl called Amelia, last seen in Seattle, working in a bookshop as you can gather: Her routine Her associates Her vulnerabilities, for instance, An alibi, she's back to town I presume but I need to know about the people she left behind.

Marcus whistled low. “Well Ema, if a girl was good enough for you to personally go after her then she must have messed you up.”

Ema’s expression darkened. “You don’t even know that. Can you do it or not?”

“Oh, I can do it,” Marcus said quickly lest a chance be given to one of the others to take up the position; he began to pull a notebook towards him. “It simply may be that it will take time, in addition, it won’t be cheap.”


There’s something sweet and tender about handing over a part of your life, so to speak, Ema said. “When it comes to the cash… like I have said, I shall cover it. Just order me what need. ”


The more Marcus started to take notes and, later, make calls, the sensation of purpose enveloped Ema. That was only the beginning; she knew that for sure. There would be many more to come, and each day New York’s landscape was getting closer to her dream.

She thought of Amelia, of the life she could have had for herself had she stayed in Seattle. It was a house of cards, Ema knew, constructed from the fabrications and denial that characterized the Lannerts. And soon, very soon, Ema would wing it and blow all of it to smithereens.

Climbing out of Marcus’s apartment many hours later, armed with the first stirrings of information, Ema contemplated the chill smile on her lips. This wasn’t the same world anymore, the pieces were on the board – and this time, she wouldn’t back down. This time Amelia would come to understand what a mistake she had made, what the price of her decision was.

“Have fun while you can, Amelia,” Ema whispered as she blended into the flow of the city. “Because when I’m done,” she laughed coldly, “you’ll wish you’d never left the comparative safety of the pack.”

That was the promise that was in her mind and, with it, Ema evaporated in the crowd, one anonym among others. But unlike the oblivious people around her, she acted with specific intent, with an ardent goal of revenge that would change everything as pervasively known.


The battle was on, and this time Ema would not stop or hesitate until he had Amelia’s head for all the indignity, failure and humiliation she put him through. It was no longer about the pack the Alpha, or even the pack’s best interests but it was about him. This was personal and Ema would complete it to the very last drop to the worst effect if that was possible.