Chapter 27: SHE WAS LONG GONE

**Zedd Evans**

The sound of my phone ringing non stop was what woke me up from my sweet sleep. I grumbled to myself as I rose into a sitting position.

Who on earth was disturbing my sleep? It was not even bright yet. The day had not fully broken.

The phone had stopped ringing and without bothering to check who was calling, I returned to my bed, lying down to continue my precious sleep from the point in which it had been cruelly interrupted.

The shrill sound of my ringing tone again made me rise as a string of curses left my lips. I could kill right now.

I reached for the phone from the other side of my bed on the bedside table.

The vibrating device entered my hands and I checked the caller ID.

It was the head of the scouts.

I tool the call instantly as different emotions overtook me. I was scared and worried at the same time.

"Steven," I said.

"We have found your sister. This morning one of our spies in the Clux pack claimed to have seen her enter the pack last night," he relayed to me.

My chest constricted with the fear that over took me.

"Shall we mobilize the scouts and go to fetch her?" He inquired. I did not saying anything, using the time to gather my thoughts in general.

"Mobilize the scouts. We are going to the Clux pack instantly."

"Yes Beta," he said to me and dropped the call. I tightened my grip on my phone without knowing.

Ellen must never be found.

I got out if bed and went to my wardrobe, retrieving my burner phone admist the chaos of clothes.

I dialed her line repeatedly but there was no answer. Was the fool still asleep?

I grew frustrated on the ninth trial and gave up. I will go and stall the scouts some way before I could contact her.

I hurried into my clothes and left my bedroom. My father was in the living room when I passed through.

"Good morning dad," I greeted him.

"Where are you off to so early? Or do you not check the time?" He asked me.

"I am-" I was interrupted.

"Good morning Zedd. Now go on with what you were saying," he said to me. I sighed and shook my head. My father could be weird sometimes.

"I am going to retrieve Ellen. One of our spies sent the information on her location. She was spotted in the Clux pack."

"Bring her home Zedd," he said to me. "Alive or dead Zedd, it does not really matter because either ways she shall end up dead. If you spare her we will all be in danger, we will all receive the punishment for her action which is not to be so."

That was the reason I had not told my father any details about my plan. He was a cruel calculating person, just like Elena.

They said the apple does not fall far from the tree. It truly does not.

"I will father," I assured him with a lie. In my heart, I knew that I was meant to protect my sister.

If spilling the truth would have protected her, I would have done so.

But revealing even the tiniest bit of the truth, the collaboration and set up would have the both of them killed.

In as much as I hated Elena right now for the chaos she had landed everyone of us into, she was still my little sister and I would never want her dead for any reason.

"I believe in you Zedd. I know that you will do what is right." In that he was correct. I would indeed do what was right no matter what. I smiled at him.

"I will father. Now I have to hurry along. The scouts are waiting for me. They need my orders to proceed."

"May the moon goddess guide you," he said and went back to what he had been doing while I slipped out of the house.

I got into my car and drove away, towards the pack barracks.

The scouts were still awaiting me when I arrived there. They greeted me as I came to address them. I accepted and replied to their greetings before I proceeded to give instructions on how we would leave for Clux pack and capture my sister -something that would never happen as long as I was alive and breathing.

They agreed to my command and we were soon leaving. I secretly brought out my burner phone and tried to contact Ellen, but it seemed like the fool was still asleep.

I hoped that she was fine.

About thirty minutes later, we arrived at the south border and crossed into the Clux pack. We waited for the planted spy to come to us so that we could head for the place where he had initially spotted her.

While we waited, I slipped out into hiding and tried Ellen once again.

She thankfully took the call on the overall third trial, fourth ring.

"Good morning," she said in a sleepy voice. She was alright. She had only been asleep as I had suspected.

"Ellen, leave Clux. They are after you," I simply told her in a grateful yet impatient voice.

"Zedd," she breathed in fear.

"Will you listen to me Ellen? I said to her. Where are you now so I can guide them away from you?" She hesitated for a while before she replied me.

"The Jade Palace Tavern," was all she said. I took note.

"I will stall them for an hour. Get on a boat and go east. Do it now," I instructed her.

"Yes," she said. I heard sounds of footsteps and things. She must be packing up to leave.

"Take care of yourself Ellen," I requested. I did not want harm to come to her in any way.

"I will Zedd," she said. I was relieved."I love you Zedd, you are the best brother any one could ever have."

"I love you too Ellen, stay safe," I concluded. I needed to go back before any one would notice that I was missing from the group and suspect something.

"And you too," was her reply. I kept the call and returned. The spy was there already.

We headed to the place he had mentioned. It was close to the jade palace. I would lead them on a wild goose chase.

I succeeded in making them search and research the environment, buying time for a still fleeing Ellen.

In the process of asking questions, someone mentioned that he had seen her go into the Jade Palace tavern and she may have spent the night there.

I messaged her instantly.

Zedd: Where are you now?

Ellen: I have left the Jade Palace Tavern. I am headed for the seaport.

Zedd: The scouts are outside the tavern. Make sure you leave quickly. Get on a boat no matter what.

Ellen: Okay. I will Zedd.

Zedd: Take good care of yourself. And be careful. The world outside is a dangerous one. Be vigilant.

Ellen: I will. I love you.

I put my burner phone away and led the scouts to the Jade Palace tavern, knowing very well that it was too late to catch up with my sister.

She was long gone.