CHAPTER FORTY ONE

She looked at him with disgust written all over her face. He smiled at her

“You don’t have to like my methods, it is for the greater good of everybody. I have to do somethings that I don’t like too and I have to live with the consequences. I am not going to kill Annabelle” he said to her
“Then what do you want with Annabelle? She is innocent. She was just in the wrong place at the totally wrong period of time. Why are you so attached to her?” Isabelle asked
“That is none of your business. All I want you to do is find me a way to get into the house and get out unharmed. I will handle the rest myself!” he said to her
“If you harm my mother, I would ruin all your plans and tell Damian where you are!” she said to him
“And then you would go to prison. I don’t think that is a wise decision to take” he said to her
“I really don’t care where I end up. If you hurt my mother, I will ruin you” she said

She walked out of the room and headed to her car. She looked around before getting in and driving off. She drove back home and she was really lucky to not cross paths with Damian for that day because he would have known that she was up to something. She had to find a way to get into the house and get out unnoticed. She decided to sleep on it, hoping the answers would come to her by some miracle.

*****

Damian headed back to the house and dropped on the sofa in the living room.

“How was the walk?” Justin asked
“Weird actually. I saw Isabelle then I saw Odette. I want to think it is a coincidence” Damian said
“I don’t believe in coincidences. Seeing two people you have some sort of past with in the same day, between what? Two hours difference?”
“More like minutes” he said
“Coincidence my paws!” Justin said
“There was also something wrong. I found it totally weird” he said
“And what was that?” Justin asked him
“The fact that Isabelle is aware that we have found Annabelle. She said something about it when we ran into each other. I asked her how she knew that Annabelle was found already and she said rumors travel fast” Damian explained
“Rumors travel fast? C’mon. She needs a better explanation than that. Nobody knows Annabelle is here, nobody except us so how does your ex know that we have found her?” Justin asked
“I don’t know. I can’t place my hand in it” Damian said
“Keep a close eye on Isabelle. Something tells me that there is more to the story than she is saying. I would tell one of the trusted guards to follow her and watch her for a while. If I find anything suspicious about her, I am bringing her in. We know Phillip has ears and eyes on the inside, we just don’t know who it is. It could be anybody and I wouldn’t overlook hers because she is a girl or because she is your ex girlfriend” Justin said
“She is not my ex girlfriend. I didn’t even have a relationship with her. My mom thought I was lonely and she decided to get me a girl. That is not my fault” he said in his defense
“Either ways, I am going to watch her closely!” Justin said
“One more thing. Odette said something about her doing all she cam possibly do to make sure that I don’t end up with Annabelle. It might have just been a regular threat but she cursed me once and I know how far she can be willing to go again. Keep a close eye on her too. I don’t want any surprises from anybody. We just got Annabelle back and I have a very strong feeling that we are going to lose her again. I want to prevent that from happening” Damian said
“The only way to prevent that from happening is cure her if whatever is killing her and the only way is your wolf venom” Alex said, walking into the living room
“I am not going to do it. You can’t force that decision down my throat” Damian said
“We don’t have a choice, we are running out of time here. She is dying on the inside. She has way too much magic in her body and her body is deteriorating. It can’t handle all that magic” Alex said
“Then we get a witch to get it out of her. I would do anything but give her my venom!” Damian said
“You probably didn’t get the first part of my sentence. We are running out of time! She doesn’t have time anymore. She would die if we don’t act fast” Alex said
“Finding a witch in a city full of witches is not a hard task. I would be back within the hour. I need to speak to the Cordina coven. There would be somebody powerful enough to counteract the magic that is in her with something else” Damian said as he sped off

Sally walked into the living room, holding see folders. She had stray hairs all over her face and she looked very pretty with it. Justin couldn’t help but stare at her. Their eyes met and she looked away immediately. The last thing she wanted was a repetition of what had happened between them some months back

“I ran the tests” she said
“And?” Alex asked
“Your venom is no match for hers. It is almost from a different breed of wolves. I don’t understand how that is possible since you’re siblings but it is. Your venom would be toxic to her system and it would do more harm than good” she said to him
“Is there a way to take Damian’s venom without his attention?” Alex asked
“You want to steal his venom?” Justin asked
“I don’t think I have a choice. He wouldn’t give it willingly. We all know how stubborn Damian can get and I can’t wait for him to stop being scared” Alex said
“So you want to steal his venom!” Justin said again
“Yes!” Alex said
“Okay, so we basically have to find a way to get his venom from his fangs without him knowing. How possible do you think that is? How can you think it is possible?” Justin said
“I don’t know but I’m running out of options. If I get him to bite me, can his venom be drawn out from my blood?”
“You want to get bitten by Damian? Are you crazy?” Justin asked
“I’m a hybrid. It wouldn’t have any effect” Alex said
“That is why I can’t use that method. The venom would just fade away in your system which would turn it idle even when it is removed. His bite has to be deadly to you. I can’t work with that” Sally said
“How about me?” Justin said
“I can’t do that. There is no cute for a hybrid bite. It would kill you within the hour. I can’t let you do that!” Sally said
“You said it yourself. We are running out of time. We have to get all that magic out if her before the damage becomes permanent. We would lose her if we don’t” Justin said
“And what happens to you?” Sally said
“I am collateral damage. It is a small price to pay. I would do the honors” he said
“I don’t get it. What makes Anna’s life more important than yours? Why should you sacrifice yourself for her? Her boyfriend is the one with the venom so if she dies, it’s on him, not on you. You are not going to collateral damage” Sally said”
“She is right. I can’t let you do that. We have to find another way to get it out” Alex said
“There is no other way. There is no time to look for another way!” Justin said
“There is always another way. Sit still and don’t do something stupid. I would think of something. I just need some time” Alex said
“Incase we forgot, Annabelle doesn’t have time. She is dying and she doesn’t have time for any of this” Justin reminded
“You don’t have to remind me. She is my sister. I would not let her die” Alex said as he walked away

It was past dinner when he came back in. Damian looked at him and shook his head.

“Where have you been?” Damian asked
“Busy. Did you get a witch?” Alex asked
“Yes, I did. She would be here tomorrow morning. Let’s see what she can do” Damian said
“And if she can’t help? What do you want to do next?” Alex asked him
“When we get to that bridge, we would cross it. I don’t want to have to worry about the future now. Let’s just take care of the present and move on from it” Damian said
“I guess so. We also need to talk about the courtyard m things are out of place out there and we have to rule. Right now, we are not ruling” Alex said