Chapter 179: Difficult life for Landon
~Third POV~
" Why did you do that grandmother?" It's so easy now, Ava thought. To her Calling Lorraine grandmother had not been easy at first. She struggled a lot, so did Lorraine.
One thing Ava, doesn't know was that Lorraine blamed her a lot. Blamed her just as she blamed Norelle. Even hated her and didn't want to see her. But when she saw her daughter bordering on the edge of madness. She had to call herself to order.
" I told you already. I wanted a familiar face, especially one that broke you." Ava nodded at her even though she doesn't understand her logic. To Ava, it must have been hard for her.
To see your daughter struggling with the urge to stay alive and then keeping someone that ended everything. Let's not even talk about Raphael. Ava sighed.
" I will be going to the first realm," Ava's face snapped up. " Yeah, I know what you are thinking. But they will come last. Now you need to concentrate on your powers. Seek them out. They have been dormant for too long." Ava looks away but nods. Lorraine walks off, thinking about why Cassius is not back.
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The council chamber fell silent as the decision was made. Captain Cassius stood at attention, his Handsome face showing no emotion as the order came down. He was to find Lorraine, and bring her back immediately. The urgency in the council's voices told him everything he needed to know about how serious things had become.
Within the hour, Cassius was making his way out of Manhattan lands. The journey to the second realm always felt strange to him. It was like stepping between two different worlds.
Behind him lay the familiar territory of his people, ahead stretched the realm where most of Mesodomica's citizens now lived in hiding.
The first realm had become their sanctuary, thanks to the moon goddess. She had never agreed with what the gods of the third realm were doing.
When they had turned against the sacred beast because of his powers, when they had made life impossible for the people of Mesodomica, she had spoken up. The moon goddess had made it clear that the people of Mesodomica were still wolves, and as such, they fell under her protection.
The other gods couldn't simply ignore her. They needed the moon goddess Selene's powers too much to risk killing her off. So they had been forced to accept this arrangement, even if they didn't like it.
Cassius found Lorraine exactly where he expected to her to be. She was already preparing for the journey to the first, having sensed that this day would come.
Her silver hair was pulled back in a simple braid, and she wore the kind of practical clothes that would serve her well on the road.
"Captain," she greeted him with a nod. "I suppose they've finally decided they need me."
"Yes, your highness. The council requests your immediate presence."
Lorraine's lips curved in what might have been a smile. "Requests. How polite of them."
They began the journey back toward the first realm, traveling by car. Lorraine gazed out the window at the passing land, her mind clearly elsewhere.
"You know, Captain," she said after a long stretch of silence, "when we return to the second realm, we won't have these conveniences anymore."
Cassius nodded. Everyone knew that the second realm operated differently. No cars, no modern technology. Everything moved at a different pace there.
"I've always preferred the second realm," Lorraine continued, her voice growing softer. "That was my land, my true home. But I couldn't stay there as freely as I can here in the first realm. Here, my people have made names for themselves. They've built lives."
She paused, watching the trees fade past the car window. "In the second realm, I was always looking over my shoulder. Always wondering when the next Lystra would come or recognize me."
Cassius understood. The second realm held too many memories, too many dangers. The first realm offered something the others couldn't; peace.
"I can guess why they want to see me," Lorraine said, her tone becoming more businesslike. "It's about Ava, isn't it?"
"I believe so, your highness."
Lorraine nodded but didn't let herself dwell on the implications. She had confidence in her granddaughter, even if she didn't always show it. Ava was stronger than people gave her credit for, stronger than she even knew herself.
Her thoughts drifted back to the moon goddess and the stand she had taken. It hadn't been easy for Selene to go against her fellow gods. The gods of the third realm were powerful and proud. They didn't like being told no, especially when it came to matters they considered their own business.
But Selene had been firm. The people of Mesodomica were wolves, and wolves fell under her domain. She would not allow her fellow gods to destroy them simply because they were afraid of what they might become.
"Captain," Lorraine said, breaking the comfortable silence that had settled between them. "How have things been here in the first realm? Have you been keeping watch on the Jackson family and the Blackstone pack?"
Cassius shook his head. "I'm not the one assigned to that duty, your highness. We have a different soldier handling that surveillance."
"I see." Lorraine's fingers drummed against the car door. "Can you get me information on all of them? I want to know what they've been up to."
"Of course. I'll have a full report prepared for you."
Lorraine was quiet for a moment, considering her next words carefully. When she spoke again, her voice carried the authority of someone who had been making difficult choices without a rethink.
"While you're at it, Captain, I want you and your team to make life difficult for Landon in the business field."
Cassius didn't ask for details or question the order. He had served long enough to know when something was important, and the tone in Lorraine's voice made it clear that this was very important indeed.
"Got it, your highness."
The car continued its journey toward the council villa, where most of the important meetings were held.
Lorraine settled back in her seat, her mind already working through the various scenarios that might be waiting for her. She thought about Ava, about the sacred beast, about the delicate balance they were all trying to maintain.
The first realm was passing by outside the windows, but her thoughts were already moving ahead to what would come next.
Whatever the council wanted from her, she would be ready. She had been preparing for this moment longer than any of them realized.
The villa grew larger in the distance. Lorraine straightened her shoulders and prepared herself for whatever battle lay ahead.
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