Chapter 41

As soon as the full moon rose in the sky, Nikjin sent for her. The shed door was opened and she was taken straight to his lair. He was dressed in a ceremonial garb that featured a large headdress decorated with feathers and beads. His leather vest and breeches were also artfully decorated with colorful stones and threads. He looked like a regal king and even Erin couldn’t help but admire his handsomeness.

“The hour has come, my Luna,” he said with much joy. “It is time to unlock the portal where my brother is waiting to die.”

If you only knew, Erin thought but said, “I have to get the magical powders from Zokman’s hut first. That is what I will use to unlock the portal.”

“Very well,” he said. “One of the guards will follow you there to get it. You shall come back here with powder and then we will go to the forest cell together.”

“As you wish,” she said meekly.

“Get the beasts ready,” he said to his guards. “Once I have defeated my brother, they shall be unleashed on the werewolf warriors who refuse to bow to my command. Now, take the Luna to Zokman’s hut to retrieve the powders.”

The nasty guard grabbed her roughly by the arm and thrust her out of the longhouse forcefully even though she hadn’t attempted to resist his leading.

“What is wrong with you?” She asked him. “Why are you so angry with everyone?”

“If you expect me to pamper you like everyone else, then you are greatly mistaken,” he sneered. “There is nothing special about you and I shall enjoy killing you tonight after my master becomes the new Alpha King.”

His threat annoyed her and she knew at that moment that she needed to get rid of him soon, or else, she would spend the rest of the night looking over her shoulders and she didn’t want that kind of distraction. Tonight’s mission was too important for her to be distracted by a jealous werewolf guard.

“Wait here,” she said to him when they got to Zokman’s hut.

“Why?” He asked suspiciously.

“Because the inside of Zokman’s hut is narrow and I do not want you to knock something over while I search for the powder.”

“I have been inside the hut before, it is not narrow,” he argued.

“The moon is already high in the sky and you are wasting Lord Nikjin’s time by arguing with me,” she said, glaring at him. “I will not be held responsible for any delays in our lord’s battle tonight.”

“Fine,” he said gruffly. “Go inside quickly and get the powder!”

***********

Their guide showed up at their suite promptly at 2 p.m. to take them to the luncheon. He was a sharply dressed black guy with a lean physique and a bored expression.

“Good afternoon, sir, ma’am. My name is Felix and I am here to take you to the presidential wing of the resort for your lunch date with Ms. Yasmin James. If you would please follow me,” he said and led the way.

“Sure,” said Derek and gave Mark a nod to indicate that he was to follow them. Ed would stay back in the suite to await their return. “Shall we, my lady?”

Rachel smiled and accepted his offered arm. They looked like a model couple in their stylish casual outfits – she in her cute jumpsuit and him in his form-fitting navy blazer, a white polo shirt, blue jeans, and shiny leather shoes.

“You look edible,” she told him. “Remind me to eat you up when we return from lunch.”

He chuckled. “I’d be surprised if you still have an appetite after having lunch with a ghost.”

Rachel laughed. “Don’t call her that. I’m sure she has a perfectly reasonable explanation for still being alive after nine years of letting the world believe that she was dead.”

“She better,” he said tersely. “I don’t even know why I agreed to go on this lunch.”

“Because you need to know the truth.”

“Maybe I don’t want to know.”

She patted his arm lovingly in a gesture of comfort. “Everything is going to be all right.”

“How do you know?”

“Sir, ma’am, please join me in the cart,” said Felix, breaking into their conversation. “This is our shuttle to the presidential wing.”

A four-seater golf cart was waiting for them on the curb with a driver in front. They were to sit in the back while Felix would sit in front beside the driver. Luckily there was an extra seat at the back of the cart for Mark to sit on.

“After you,” said Felix, waiting for them to get in. When Mark stepped forward to sit at the back, he put out his hand to stop the bodyguard. “Who are you?”

“He’s with us,” said Derek. “He will sit at the back.”

“My boss made no mention of a third guest,” said Felix, haughtily. “I was told to come with a man and a woman, not two men and a woman.”

“He either comes with us or we return to our suite,” said Derek stubbornly. “Feel free to convey our apologies to your boss.”

Felix’s eyes widened with dismay as Derek rose to leave the cart. He had been given strict instructions to bring the couple with him to the presidential wing and now they were refusing to go simply because he wouldn’t allow this oversized oaf to go with them. If he does not succeed with this simple task, he would be seen as an incompetent staffer and he couldn’t have that!

“Ok, fine. Let him come with us, but I must warn you that Ms. James will not be happy that you brought a plus one to the luncheon without informing her first,” said Felix.

“Ms. James can kiss my – “

“That’s fine, Felix,” said Rachel quickly, cutting off Derek’s rude reply before he could complete it. “I’m sure Ms. James wouldn’t mind terribly that we asked our bodyguard to accompany us to lunch.”

“Trust me, Miss, you don’t need a bodyguard here. Rosewood Resort is a very safe place,” said Felix, making one more attempt to convince them to dump Mark.

“I’m sure it is, but we insist on going with our bodyguard,” replied Rachel.

“Fine,” said Felix, giving up. He entered the cart and waited for Mark to settle down in the back before signaling to the driver to hit the road.

The drive to the presidential wing offered them a beautiful view of the resort as they drove past the private beach, the golf course, and rows of exclusive bungalows that were ideal for lengthy stays. Their destination was a tall glass building that looked more sophisticated than the rest of the resort.

“We are here,” said Felix with a smile as he alighted from the cart. “Please, come with me.”

They followed him into the building and were greeted politely by the pretty lady behind the front desk. Felix led them into an elevator and punched the highest number on the row. Thirty seconds later, they were stepping out of the elevator and walking down a wide corridor that ended at a door marked, ‘Authorized Staff Only’. Felix knocked on the door twice and waited for a response from inside.

“Come in,” said a woman’s voice.

He turned to them and said, “May I have your entry card please?”

Rachel fished inside her jumpsuit pocket and brought out the card that Sierra Ma had given them at their suite. She gave it to Felix and he swiped it across a rectangular sensor attached to the door and it clicked open.

“Please,” he said grandly, indicating that they were to go inside the room ahead of him. As soon as they stepped in, he followed them, letting Mark come in last.
As soon as Derek entered the room, he felt as if his breath left him in a whoosh. The woman sitting beside the long table was the same person they had seen at the mall, only this time, she was dressed in a sleeveless gold dress that shimmered when she rose to her feet.

“Welcome,” she said with a sweet smile. “I was afraid you wouldn’t come.”

“Thank you for inviting us,” said Rachel. She could feel how rigid Derek’s body had become as soon as he saw his mother and she knew he was too stunned to speak.
“Who is this?” Asked Yasmin when she saw Mark.

“I told them you would not be pleased with a third party coming to the luncheon but they insisted on bringing him along,” said Felix quickly.

“He is Mark, our bodyguard,” explained Rachel. “I hope you don’t mind.”

“Actually, I do mind,” said Yasmin. “I want to have a private conversation with my son and I would feel more comfortable if a stranger is not here to listen to my confessions.”

“I am not your son,” said Derek with much effort. He was still trying to catch his breath.

Yasmin’s bright smile faltered a little and Rachel felt sorry for her. “I still insist that this man excuses us. He can wait outside in the visitor’s area. He will be served his meal there.”

“Boss?” Said Mark, asking Derek’s permission on what to do.

Derek nodded and Mark left the room immediately without even a moment’s hesitation.