Chapter 56
Soroya walked in on an argument between the lycan king, Deacon, and the vampire king, Micheal.
“You knew Paris was dating her, yet you didn’t care to inform me,” Michael accused.
“How was I supposed to know you were interested in Ann’s affairs? Bloody hell you have 6 wives. Seven women if we count Soroya,” Deacon spat, frustrated, not happy that the new Vampire King thinks he was the king of the supernaturals.
Before Michael could respond Ann’s mother and father stormed into the lycan throne room.
“You lot just can’t stay away?” Mrs. Willow shouted in anger.
“If you wanted us to stay away then maybe you shouldn’t have up and moved your family on the doorstep of the higher council,” Michael counterattacked.
Soroya slipped away quietly without anyone noticing her.
“You know we moved nearby so that I can commute to work and back instead of living far away from my family. You guys were supposed to leave the girls alone,” Eljo, Ann’s father reminded them.
“Then how will they get their memories back? They are supposed to fall in love with the two of us for their memories to come back,” Michael said.
“We know that and that was why the spell was set up like that. If the two of you stayed away, then their memories will stay away. You ruined their final year of high school, are you really going to ruin varsity as well?” Mrs. Willow questioned.
“Jessica already has her memory back,” Deacon enlightened them.
“If you hurt my daughter again,” Eljo warned.
“What? Are you gonna go all crazy on me again? I am the Vampire king now, and you can be lucky that I don’t sentence all Hunters to death,” Michael warned him back.
Eljo went red with anger and stormed off. “I quit!”
“If you don’t run the hunters, you will leave me no choice but to side with Michael,” Deacon called after him making him stop in his tracks.
“You will have innocent children killed?” Mrs. Willow asked shocked.
“Let’s not found out,” Michael interrupted.
***
When Eljo and his wife got home they were surprised to find the girls home.
“What are you two doing here?” Mrs. Willow embraced them both.
“We want to change varsities. Somewhere in Europe,” Ann said.
“Or Egypt,” Jessica added.
“Egypt?” Eljo frowned.
“Europe could be great,” Ann’s mom said, taking her husband’s hand.
A few of Ann’s young brothers stormed passed them, playing.
“Girls, order pizza,” Ann’s mom said, and dragged her husband into a room.
“We can disappear and clearly Jessica is not happy now that she has her memory back,” Mrs. Willow said.
“Our children are not the only hunters needing protection,” Eljo reminded her.
“You have always put others before this bloody family. I am leaving with or without you!” Mrs. Willow spat.
“They will hunt us down,” Eljo pleaded.
“With or without you,” Mrs. Willow warned.
“How about a one-year gab while we travel around Europe? Jessica you will have to call your parents and ask their permission,” Mrs. Willow said.
“Sounds like fun,” Ami said, who no one noticed was sitting in the living room.
“Ami? What are you doing here?” Eljo asked.
“Eero forgot something,” Ami said, with a smile, wondering why Ann’s parents are looking at her weirdly.
“Found it,” Eero said, coming down the stairs.
“Your sister and Ann are already dropping out,” Ami chuckled.
“What? It is not even the first day yet,” Eero looked confused.
“We decided we are taking a gap year instead,” Jessica said.
“And by the looks of it so are the whole family,” Ann added, highly confused with all the hunting down talk.
“A word,” Eljo grabbed Eero the eldest of his hunter kids, and dragged him outside.
“Stella?” Eero asked in shock looking at his ex-fling, also a hunter. The sun shone on her mob of red hair.
“Hello Eero,” Stella said, and averted his eyes to her full round belly by putting her hands on it.
“Stella?” Ami questioned and rushed to the door. ‘I knew staying near the higher council will have her come knocking,’ Ami thought.
“What are you doing here, Stella?” Eljo asked and hoped the baby in her belly was not Eero’s.
“Congratulations, you are going to be a father and you a grandfather,” Stella smiled.
“Excuse me?” Ami choked, pushing past the two men.
“Ami,” Stella greeted with a half-smile.
“No. It can’t be,” Ami said, the tears already running down her face.
“I am six months pregnant,” Stella informed them.
“Six months,” Ami whispered and retreated back into the living room.
Mrs. Willow walked over to Ami and comfort her. “It does not mean Eero is the father.”
‘It does. It was six months ago that he rocked up here and the week before that they screwed,’ Ami remembered the text she received from Eero who he later said, was Stella.
“I will take a gap year with you guys,” Ami said, whipping her tears.
“Ami, please. I am not the father. I can’t be!” Eero tried to console Ami.
“The night before you got called to help search for Jessica we had sex, remember?” Stella reminded him. Eero went white on his face as he knew she was telling the truth. He was upset and drunk.
“You can't tell anyone that you are carrying Eero’s baby. Michael will demand an abortion. He might even demand the both of you be executed,” Eljo said, worried.
“Um, guys, what is going on? Who is Michael? And who is this girl?” Ann questioned confused.
“Crap,” Jessica, Eljo, and Ann’s mother said, at the same time.
“Just go,” Eero spat, ordering Stella to leave.
“You should go with her,” Ami said, looking at Eero coldly.
“Ami, please,” Eero walked over to her and took her hands.
“Don’t touch me,” Ami pulled her hands from him.
“Hello everyone,” Wynn said, when he arived.
Eljo looked over at Jessica, knowing she must have mind-linked him.
“I am looking for Ann Willow,” Wynn said, keeping his distance from the hunters.
“Uncle Wynn! Uncle Wynn!” Eero’s young brothers yelled in excitement and rushed out of the house to chase him just like they use to do at the higher council.
“Boys, not now,” Eljo called them back into the house.
“Whose that?” Ann questioned.
Jessica felt her heart warm at the sight of Wynn but kept it to herself.
“Ann, will you step outside for a moment?” Wynn requested when the hunter kids stopped chasing him.
“How does he know my name and how do my brothers know him,” Ann questioned.
“Cousin from our former parents,” Eero made up a story.
“Ok. But what does he want with me?” Ann chuckled but went outside.
“Hi,” Wynn started.
“Hi,” Ann chuckled, unsure of what was going on.
“You are to go to your dorm room and sleep and when you wake up you will think that this afternoon was just a dream,” Wynn compelled her.
‘And tell her she will change her mind about studying at the same place as Paris who just broke her heart and wants to take a gap year in Europe,’ Jessica mind linked.
“Are you all nuts?” Wynn questioned.
“What is going on?” Ann questioned, confused.
“Go to your dorm and go sleep and when you wake up you will think this afternoon all a dream. Oh, and you won't remember me being here,” Wynn said.
They watched as Ann walked off and once out of earshot Wynn spoke his mind.
“A gap year?”
“Our children are not safe here,” Mrs. Willow started.
“And they will be even less safe if you dare to steal Ann away. Michael will hunt you down. I got to know him these past few months,” Wynn said, but then fell silent when he saw the pregnant girl with a swollen belly was Stella.
“Please tell me that is not Eero’s,” Wynn pleaded.
“It is not,” Eero was quick to answer, not trusting Wynn.
“It better not be. Both your heads will roll before that kid sees the light of day,” Wynn warned.
Ami stormed out of the house, her eyes red from crying.
“Not your kid, huh?” Wynn questioned and ran after Ami.
“Don’t run! You will only sign your own death warrant. Michael has made it known to all that Ann is his goal,” Wynn shouted over his shoulder before putting an arm around Ami.
“The two of you need to disappear,” Eljo suggested.
“You grew up without your father, do you really want the same for your child?” Stella’s words rang in Eero’s ears.
“I hate you,” Eero mustered the words before grabbing her by her arm and walking over to his car that Ami bought for him.
“Where are we going? Stella protested.
“Disappearing,” Eero said, and let go of her arm in front of the passenger door. Before he got into the car he raised his hand and waved goodbye to his family.
Mrs. Willow wiped the tears from her face.
