Enigma

Chapter 27- Arabella

“Why do we have to go and not Elliot?” Val whined beside me as we made our way to meet Uncle

Ryder.

“Because Eros can’t be there, and he wouldn’t stay alone with Uncle Ryder.” I explained.

“This is so unfair.” She stomped her foot while little Eros bounced on my other side.

“I don’t mind.” Beth chimed. “I like Uncle Ryder.”

I shook my head at the two and kept walking.

Honestly, I just wanted to get away from there. Away from Zeno’s piercing gaze. He had been staring at

me from the moment I entered the clearing. It made me really uncomfortable.

What does he even want from me? I never did anything to him. I never even paid any attention to him.

He had just started giving snide remarks to me and it got worse in high school. I think he has some

screw lose. How can a person be so rude to someone without any reason? If it was in my hands, I

would have chucked him in a psychiatric facility and asked the doctors to put him through intensive

shock therapy. That might have been useful to fix his twisted head.

“Uncle Ryder.” Beth squealed and ran towards the massive wolf spirit.

Uncle Ryder’s eyes twinkled.

“Hello pup. You seem excited to meet me.” He said amused.

Val and Eros cowered behind me.

“I am.” Beth grinned. “Why did you call me pup?”

“Well you are my sister’s pup, aren’t you?”

Uncle Ryder looked utterly confused.

“But I am a vampire.” Beth whined very unlike Beth.

“Off course you are but I will still call you pup.”

Two more spirit wolves came out of the tree line and sat beside Ryder. Beth looked at them curiously

while Val and Eros clutched onto me painfully.

“Hey Xan. Hi Ajax.” I greeted.

“Hi Aria.” Xander said excitedly while Ajax nodded.

“I didn’t know you two were coming as well.” Content (C) Nôv/elDra/ma.Org.

I moved closer to them, dragging my two siblings with me.

“We wanted to see if you were alright.” Ajax replied.

I nodded.

“Val, Eros you can’t hide from them for forever.” I said sighing at the two trembling figure. “Come on

now E. Introduce yourself to Xander and Ajax. They are really nice. Think of them as big cuddly dogs.”

I saw Uncle Ryder glare at me from the corner of my eye. He will definitely get back at me later.

“Hi. I… am E…ros. Nice… to meet… you.” He said nervously.

“Val.”

“I am… Valentina. Nice… to m…eet you.”

She seemed to be trembling more than Eros. Beth had taken a seat and was leaning on Uncle Ryder,

looking at the pair with amusement. She won’t let Val easy with this one. I can tell by her expressions.

Eros took a tentative step towards Xander. In a few steps, he was right in front of Xan. Eros looked be

debating a little. After a couple seconds, he shrugged and threw himself onto Xander.

“Yeah he is soft and cuddly Ari.” Eros squealed as he buried his face in Xander’s back. “Come on Val.

He didn’t bite me.”

If Xander or anyone of them were offended by what Eros said, they didn’t show it. Seeing him Val made

her move as well and unsurely walked near Xander. Eros pulled her abruptly as soon as she was in his

arms reach and Val fell on Xander. She shivered a little looking around but when nobody objected, she

just settled herself comfortably beside Xander.

I sat beside Ajax and leaned my head on him in a plan of taking a short nap till the rest of my family

comes back. They will tell me what happened later.

I had closed my eyes for just a couple seconds when I was woken up by a scream that ripped through

the forest. It was coming from the direction of the meeting house. I jumped to my feet and ran towards

the clearing. I could hear footsteps behind me.

“Mom what’s going on? We heard someone scream.”

Before I could register anything, I was pulled into someone’s arms. The person was whimpering in my

ears. What the hell is going on here? Who the heck is hugging me? I tried to get out of his hold but he

simply tightened them around me.

He slumped down and pulled me on his lap, burying his face in my hair. That’s when I saw who it was

and I started thrashing. It felt disgusting to be touched by him like that.

I looked up for help. Eros, Val and Beth slinking slowly towards Ben and Ethan and Mom and Dad were

looking at me with wide fearful eyes. They seemed to be in a shock.

A feral snarl ripped through the air from behind me and I felt someone enter the clearing. If I am correct

on who they are, there is going to be a massive mess here.

Taking advantage of Zeno’s distraction, I freed myself and leapt backwards. I saw Zeno look at the

three arrivals in shock and… is that fear? I moved backwards and stood behind a very angry Ajax.

Ohh! Someone is going to get their ass whooped.