Enigma

Chapter 50- Arabella

Everything happened at once. The phones of the pack members started ringing one after another. The

house was filled with chaos till the phones stopped ringing.

“No one is to go out of the house while we check it out.” Uncle Leo ordered. Copyright Nôv/el/Dra/ma.Org.

There was an uproar of protests as many of the pack members had tears in their eyes. They didn’t tell

us what had happened.

“But…” Uncle Mathew started.

“We are going to check it out and the mates and the children will be staying here till we get back. No

one in any condition is to leave the house. Cassidy will be staying with you while we take Greyson with

us. The Knights and the newly shifted will stand guard. This is a serious matter and we need to be

alert. Do not let your guard down.” Uncle Leo said in a firm voice.

“But what had happened?” Aunt Stella asked looking utterly worried.

“Our houses were set on fire.” Uncle Leo said grimly.

“WHAT?”

“But our parents were home.”

“What happened to the ones that were home?”

A series of questions rang through the house.

“From what we know, no survivor was found so far.” Uncle Leo answered with a tired face.

He looked unusually calm for someone who had just lost his parents. Something is going on over here.

The sounds of protest and questions were replaced by the sobs and gasps of horror.

“Who did this?” Aunt Mia asked in a shaky voice.

“We don’t know yet but we have an inclination.” Uncle Leo looked angry. “We will have to move the rest

to safety sooner than we planned. There is a heavy chance that the demons had already started with

their attack.” The room was unusually silent. “Follow the orders and stay inside.”

He turned around with the pack following him. Mom, Dad and Greyson also left after them. I looked out

the window to see them pool into three cars and zoom off.

I looked around to find everyone looking grave or crying, except for the Knights and Cassidy. I have a

feeling that no one died. This was all a part of the plan. Everyone else were huddled together in small

groups.

I sat down beside Cassidy and tapped her on her shoulder, gaining her attention.

“They are safe, aren’t they?” I thought.

She gave me a very slight nod. I sighed in relief.

“What’s going on?”

She shook her head. I understood that she meant ‘not now’.

“Are we being watched?”

She nodded discreetly again. I tensed up but slowly relaxed myself to not make anyone suspicious.

Eros ran towards me sniffling lightly. He must be scared. I picked him up and made my way towards

were Ben, Ethan and the rest of my siblings were sitting. We looked like war refuges with the small

huddled groups scattered around.

“Ari what will happen now?” Val mumbled.

Her lower lip was trembling.

“We will wait here till the others come back. Don’t worry too much. They will sort it out and come back

soon.” I told her softly.

“I am scared.” Beth said from beside her as she moved closer to me.

“We are safe here Beth. No one will harm us here. Ben, Ethan and I will fight everything off before

anything could touch you.”

She nodded.

“Do you want to go to bed?” I asked the four of them.

“I am sleepy but I am scared. I don’t want to be alone.” Elliot said sniffling.

“How about you all sleep in the same room. We will stay with you to look over you. Will you feel safe

that way?” I asked.

They nodded. I looked around to find the younger kids drooping but were straining to stay awake

because they were freaked out. I got up leaving a sleeping Eros in Ben’s lap and walked towards Zeno.

“Hey!” He looked at me startled. His eyes were red from crying. “Would you guys help us to set the

beds for the younger kids? They look tired.”

He looked like he didn’t hear me clearly at first but nodded and got up. He walked towards Francis and

Fabian who got up immediately.

I started to ascend the staircase when Eros screamed.

“What happened Eros?” I asked dashing towards him.

He was bawling his eyes out.

“I opened my eyes and you were gone.” He said sniffling every now and then.

“I was going upstairs to set the bed. You are tired, aren’t you?” He nodded and muttered a ‘sorry’. “I will

be back soon to get you.”

The ten of us, including Vivian made our way upstairs and started with preparing for the sleeping

arrangement in my room as it was one of the two largest bedroom in the house. The other was mom

and dad’s. We also pulled out the sofa bed. It could occupy four of them and four could sleep on the

bed as it is king sized. The rest four can take the floor with blankets on them. Vivian went downstairs to

get them as I placed the last blanket on the floor.

They filed in and snuggled into the covers. Eros was comfortably sandwiched in between Beth and Val.

Everyone was out like a light. I walked out but kept the door open slightly after checking all the

windows were locked.

I found the others on the steps. Vivian was cuddled into Ben. Fabian had his head on Ethan’s shoulder.

Lucas, Archer and Hudson had occupied three steps and as their mates were sleeping they looked

awfully glum. I couldn’t believe my eyes when I found out that Valentina was Archer’s mate. The

chattiest one was paired up with the most silent one. Hudson still hasn’t found his mate yet. He looked

unhappier than the others. Francis was sitting alone a step down from Hudson as his mate Ella was

also sleeping. Zeno was nowhere to be found.

Where did he went off to? It’s not like I care but I just want to know.

Hands encircled around me, surprising the shit out of me. I stopped myself from screaming as I felt the

sparks on my body.

“What are you doing?” I asked in a whisper as he pulled me down in his lap on the topmost landing of

the stairs.

He didn’t say anything. Just pulled me closer and rested his head on my shoulder. I let him because he

was sad. I am not that petty.

“I am scared.” He mumbled quietly.

For a moment I thought he was talking to himself but he squeezed around me as I heard his broken

intake of breath. I took his palm in mine and started doodling on it. Then wrote ‘they are safe’ on his

palm alphabet by alphabet. At first I thought he didn’t get it but he gave it away when he stiffened

behind me. I squeezed his hand in order to tell him not to react and miraculously he understood. He

squeezed my hand back in reassurance. I think he understood that we are being watched because he

didn’t react much on it.