Cayden
I scan my surroundings while tying the opening of a huge trash bag filled with trash.
"This is much better than before," I say with a huge smile across my face as if I'm staring at my masterpiece.
I can not believe those two don't have time to clean this small place. Wrappers. Used clothes. Rotten fruits. I shudder after remembering what this house looks like. The only thing they clean is their dishes.
With a grunt, I carry the trash bag outside.
"I guess I should wash our clothes tomorrow," I mumble while walking outside to the back of the house.
I look around while dusting off my hands.
Peace.
I miss this village.
"I haven't visited Father yet," I say. "Maybe I should, with Liev, tomorrow, after washing our clothes."
It's so peaceful that I can hear the soles of my shoes stepping on the pile of snow. Everyone's asleep, I guess.
"Cold, cold, cold," I say with shaky lips as I run back to the house without wearing my coat.
"Brrrr," I shiver while I take off my shoes.
"Tuna!" I yell while wearing my slippers. "Do not sit there!" I exclaim as I walk my way to the feline creature.
"Meow," the Persian cat responds as he jumps off the side table. Its feet accidentally kick the apple resting on the wooden table, resulting in the apple falling.
Sigh.
I feel a slight shiver when I hear the cat's response. My eyebrows furrow after realizing what happened. I stop halfway through picking up the apple. Confused, I glance at the cat.
Can a cat tell a lie?
This is something new.
"Did you just lie?" I ask the cat as if I can understand its response. I reach for the apple and place it back on the table.
Do animals can lie?
"Meow," the catwalks near me and brushes its cheeks to my leg.
Again, I felt a slight chill.
But this is different from when someone is lying.
"Are you hiding something?" I bend down my knees and pet the cat.
"Cayden!" a male voice exclaims, following a door slam.
"Live!" I startle. Frowning, I lift my gaze to my brother who is standing at the entrance of the house. His chest raises as he gasps for air. Sweat is visible on his forehead. He bends his knees and rests his palms on his knees. He continues to gasp for air as if he runs in a marathon.
"What's going on?" I ask as I rush towards my panting brother. "What happened? Where's George?"
"She's... in the witch forest," he replies in between his heavy breaths.
"What!?" I quickly grab a glass of water for him. "Sit down and take a rest."
"No, no, no, no, no," he quickly replies while waving his hands. "I should go now. The guards are after me," he explains and turns his back.
"Where will you hide now?" I ask in frustration. "Why did you even run from them!? You could've just explained to them where you're going!" I nag.
"I didn't think of that," he murmurs. "They look so mad at me."
I grunt, "Why didn't youâ"
"Nag me later, okay?" he says while slightly nodding.
"No! Stay. Here," I command him.
"But they're after me!" he nervously says.
"We could explain to them what happened, okay?" I assure him. "Besides, I can't tell a lie to them. That'll just worsen the situation," I calmly explain.
He slowly nods and walks to the bed with his head hanging low.
"So, she entered the forest? How?" I ask. I walk to Liev when he is finished drinking the water.
He takes a deep breath before speaking, "She has to meet her mother. She's one of the witches in the village, remember?"
"Right," I nod and put the glass in the sink. "Does that mean she's half-witch?" I quickly turn to face my brother.
"I don't think so," he replies while he gets a new pair of clothes. "Eliza is a human, right?"
"Yeah," I nod. "Do you remember her name? She tells her name before she leaves after George's full transformation. I forgot."
"If I'm right, her name is Esperanza," he says before going into the bathroom.
"Esperanza?" I whisper as I continue cleaning the house. "I think I've heard that name before," I mumble while trying to recall where I heard that name before.
I gasp as I finally realize who she is. "Do you think everyone remembered her name?"
"I think so..." he replies. His voice echoes in the concrete walls of the bathroom.
"Saber's team is looking for her," I mumble.
"What!?" he exclaims.
"But he didn't mention it to the officials..." I scratch the back of my head. "Yet?"
Liev walks out of the bathroom. He has changed his clothes now. He sinks into George's soft blanket as he sits.
"Why are they after George's Mom?" Liev asks with a frown on his face.
"He never mentioned. He said it's better that none of us knows," I shrug.
"Are we going to tell George?"
"I..." I sigh. "I don't know. Maybe we shouldn't ruin our brother's mission?"
Liev sighs before nodding.
"Liev!" a group of men rush inside the house. Their gazes dart on me.
"Huer!" I greet the man with a bright smile and open arms. "Huer, dude! How are you doing?"
"Caydenâ"
"My brother is there as you can see. Don't worry," I put my left arm on his shoulders. "This is just a misunderstanding. You know Georgina, right?" I look at Huer before the other guards. "She had to meet her mother in the forest."
Because none of them speaks, I continue, "That's why my brother, Liev." I stop my storytelling and point at my brother who awkwardly stands up from the bed. "Liev taught Georgina the way to where Esperanza is."
"Oh, Esperanza is her mother. I guess everyone knows that by now," I add before tapping Huer's shoulders. "Go on," I say to my brother. "Explain to them."
"Cayden," Huer finally speaks.
"Hmm?" I reply while raising my eyebrows.
"Thank you for your explanation. However, we still have to bring him with us. We have protocols to follow. You know that, right? You can retell your explanations once we're there," Huer calmly speaks.
"See?" I look at my younger brother. "Sorry about what my brother did. He got scared that's why he thought of running away. He's just a cub."
I move my gaze to my brother and nod.
He looks at me and walks to the guard.
"Do you want me to go with you?" I ask my brother and follow him.
"No, it's fine," he says.
"You won't hurt him, right?" I ask Huer in a serious tone before they leave.
"No," he firmly says. "A werewolf can't lie to a werewolf."
"Alright," I say and smile before closing the door.
My phone starts vibrating in the back pocket of my jeans. I check my phone.
Saber.
"Saber?" I frown before answering his call.
"Hey!" I happily greet him. "Why did you call this late night?"
"Do you remember my new mission?" Saber asks. I hear footsteps in the background.
"Yeah?" I pause. "Wait, are you walking outside? Where are you?"
"Home," he quickly replies.
"Home? You're here!?" I exclaim and look around. "How about Shane and the others?"
"My team is there," he says.
"Why did you come here?" I ask.
"To get my rank promotion," he replies with a slight chuckle. "Why are you so shocked?"
Rank promotion?
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