Chapter Eleven ★ Motive Cont’

｡☆✼★━ Luna ━★✼☆｡

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Her eyes glanced my way as I pressed deeper into the shadows. I hope she didn’t see me. Crickets continued their serenade as I counted my breaths and listened for any signs of her coming outside. 

The sound of the kitchen faucet cut off and she moved away from the window. Phew. That was close. Agent Tsunade was one of the top notch agents that went MIA and was thought to be dead. Her skills were top notch and almost legendary.

My pulse quickened at the mere thought of being caught by her. Why is she here? Are all of our records incorrect? The dark feeling tightened more around my gut knocking me to my knees. Have to keep it together or she will find me here and then that’s game over.

Come on Pearl… hurry up. I scanned the backyard but nothing stirred. A few birds flew into the bushes to nestle down for the night but nothing else moved except for the creatures of the night.

Inside the house Daniel continued to moan and gripe about some assignment from his teacher. Man, what a whiny brat. I hope Pearl and the Doc can find a way to untangle his curse from me so I don’t have to listen to him. Though I wonder if what Ray said was right… would his curse have vanished if the kid died? Or would I have died with him?

Considering mermaids and our odd reactions towards most magic my bet is that I would have died too. That’s a merlock for you. Trying to get the upper hand on mermaid at any chance that they have presented to them.

Vibrations. I grabbed my phone from my pocket and opened up the phone. I snapped in a hushed voice, “Pearl where in the world are you?”

A man’s voice laughed then hissed, “She’s can’t talk right now.”

I narrowed my eyes and growled, “Ray.”

“Ohhh?” He purred and said, “So nice to hear from you darling. You know what I want I assume?”

“Don’t hurt her.” I said choking back the fear in my voice. “Just let her go.”

“Mmmm.” He replied. “Can’t. For you see… the witches and I have a bargain.”

“Bargain?” I said while using the shadows as cover and moved to the side of the house. “What, bargain?”

“I promised them the boy.” He said, inhaled then breathed, then added, “but your friend’s blood will do… it’s the least I could do for them in return for their service.”

“Ray. I trusted you.” I growled again. The moon wasn’t quite full but the boiling blood of the raging shark within in me wanted out. “I’ll make you wish that you never crossed paths with me if you hurt Pearl.”

He inhaled like he was smelling Pearl’s hair. Ray replied, “Then bring me the boy if you want your pathetic friend to be spared.”

Biting my lip the taste of copper tingled on my tongue. Oh Triton, what a mess we’re in now. Lend me your strength. The steady hum within me kept constant. A crack sounded as my hand gripped the case of the phone harder.

I looked back at the lit kitchen and whispered, “it won’t be easy…”

“You have until tomorrow night.” He said and disconnected.

Dang it all. I wanted to smash the phone on the ground right then and there. But I paused for off in the distance I heard a person whistling. I clung to the shadows to hide as the man got closer and walked up the porch. Stephen.

He stopped and flashed his golden eyes my way. I held my breath. How in the world does this guy know where I’m at? Sweat slid down my temple and back. His gaze never wavered.

Stephen whispered, “Best you leave before things get more complicated for you, miss. That’s my only warning.”

Eep. He did see me and he WARNED me! Oh Triton! Oh My Triton!! I can’t square off with a werewolf nor a legendary mermaid agent. I stayed glued to the wall and waited for him to leave.

He shrugged his shoulder and went in side after messing with the front doorknob. Inside I heard him chastise the agent for leaving the door unlocked. Now’s my chance before he changes his mind.

I rushed off to the rental house. Where it all started to get my bearings. I needed more information and help. Time to call the commander.

‧͙⁺˚*·༓☾ – Chapter 11 :: Motive Done – Stay tuned for Chapter 12… –☽༓･*˚⁺‧͙

Chapter Eleven ★ Motive Cont’

｡☆✼★━ Luna ━★✼☆｡

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I waited for him to get further down the road before I made mad dash across the road. The sirens got closer. They were probably for that one kid that Pearl and I found earlier. One would only hope so for his sake.

Edging to the darker side of the house I crouched down near the porch and listened. The kid inside was crying over something. The other person, who sounded like a woman, was there soothing him in a calm voice.

Sheesh, this kid is a sheer wimp. I didn’t cry like that when I was his age. A sudden vibration from my pant’s pocket got my attention. Pulling the phone out of my pocket I answered it in a low whisper, “Hello?”

“Good grief Luna.” Pearl replied between breaths. It sounded like she was on the run again. “Are you there at the kid’s house?”

I nodded. Not like she could have seen me nod but I still nodded out of habit then said, “Yeah. I saw Ray dash off after he heard the sirens. He didn’t seem too worried about the father.”

The sound of gravel skidded like she was make a quick turn on one of the dirt roads. She let out a huff then said, “Yes. I saw him run this way. I think he’s trying to backtrack but I got the bastard in my sights.”

“What about the other kid?” I asked as part of the words caught in my throat.

“Heh.” She laughed. “Since when did you start caring Luna? I thought you didn’t care for mankind anymore.”

What is with her? She has been a real pain since my transformation. I responded, “I’ve never stopped caring. Sure, I might turn into a blood thirsty creature but I’ve never stopped caring.”

She went silent. The knotted feeling in the pit of my stomach tightened. A dark feeling grew before I asked, “Pearl? You still there? What’s going on?”

Pearl whispered, I could barely hear her over the static, as her words transmitted, “Shhh. Can’t talk right now. Stay where you are… I’ll come for you soon.”

The connection ended. Oh for the love of Triton. Humph. I didn’t even get to ask her about Stephen.

Well, might as well do a bit more snooping. I edged around the house to the backyard. The night sky was taking over as the evening lightning bugs came out to greet it with nightly dance ritual. Crickets, frogs and cicadas filled the air with their dusk serenade.

Voices were coming from the room that led out to the back patio. The back door had been opened so the screen door to could let in the evening breeze. I stuck to the shadows as I listened in on their conversation.

Daniel was telling the woman about what happened. The man, Ray, apparently followed him and Calvin home from school. He knew that Calvin intercepted the man so that Daniel could get away.

Wow, these kids have some guts. To take on Ray requires being extremely brave or stupid. Either one would work. I’m going with a mix of both considering they didn’t know who or what Ray was capable of doing.

I snatched a look into the lit room. The female’s back was to me as she sat in one of the chairs. The backside of her seemed familiar. She got up and grabbed Daniel’s glass and walked to the sink.

As she peered out the window every single part of me went cold and froze. I know her. She died twenty years ago… or she supposedly died in action. How is she even here?

‧͙⁺˚*·༓☾ – TO BE CONTINUED… –☽༓･*˚⁺‧͙

Chapter Eleven ★ Motive Cont’

｡☆✼★━ Luna ━★✼☆｡

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As I approached the houses near the end of the graveled road I noticed the dark figure standing at the edge of a yard. His long dark hair with blue highlights draped over his muscular shoulders. He looked my way as I dove into some bushes.

The man shrugged and turned his attention back to the person who owned the house. I needed to get closer to hear what they were saying. Using the cover of the bushes I crawled on my belly and moved to where I could listen in to the conversation.

On the front porch of the house that the dark figure stood at I saw a man with a rifle aimed right at him. I stared at the dark figure and had no doubt that it was my ex, Ray, the merlock spy. I ground my teeth and did my best to not launch out of the bushes straight at him.

Ray kicked some of the stones around never letting his eyes wander from the man on the porch. He said, “I thought you drowned.”

“So you thought.” The man spat with his rifle still trained on Ray. “If I were you I’d leave. Now.”

“Give me the boy.” Ray said in a neutral tone.

“Go *bleep* yourself.”

Ray let out a small laugh. I imagined the grin that was plastered across his face at this moment. The other man’s expression turned sour. His body tensed up as my eyes roamed over his body. He seemed familiar.

“I won’t tell anyone that you’re still alive.” Ray mentioned and added, “if you hand me the boy.”

“Our business in Michigan is over with monster.” The guy replied. “You had your chance to kill me then and failed. Touch me or my family and you’re breaking mer-law.”

Ray let out a loud laugh as he held his sides. “Truly? Mer-law? Such monsters like you are not covered under that law. You’re no longer a man nor is the boy. You belong to me…”

He paused and added with a low voice, “…or the witches.”

“I suggest you leave before my finger slips.” The man said with a growl in his voice. I noticed his golden eyes got brighter. He had a scar across his nose and the bridge appeared to have been broken and not set right.

In the background sirens sounded. I looked down the road but did not see them. Turning back to the two men standing off I overheard Ray’s last words before he darted off in the other direction, “This isn’t over Stephen Shaw. Your contract will be fulfilled.”

I blinked then watched the man on the porch keep his rifle trained on Ray until he was no longer in sight. Part of me wanted to run after Ray but I knew the boy wasn’t safe if I did it. Energy surged through me as I kept still in my hiding spot.

The man, Stephen, lowered his rifle and went back inside. I could overhear people talking. Then the kid spoke. This was Daniel’s house for sure. Daniel’s voice wailed about someone named Gracie.

In a flash Stephen was outside and ran down the road. As he passed the bushes he glared at them like he could through them and right at me. His gaze rocked my body and it shook but I still took a photo of him with my phone. The name Stephen sounded familiar but I wasn’t sure why.

‧͙⁺˚*·༓☾ – TO BE CONTINUED… –☽༓･*˚⁺‧͙

Chapter Eleven ★ Motive

｡☆✼★━ Luna ━★✼☆｡

​

The sounds of our feet hitting the pavement changed as we turned and headed down the graveled road. We had been running ever since we came to the surface. Pearl continued to stare straight ahead determined to catch the merlock spy, Ray.

I said in between breaths, “Look, I’m sorry that there were casualties at the base and in the bubble room. It could not be helped.”

We ran a few strides before she replied, “It isn’t you Luna. But those men didn’t need to get hurt. Had we caught on to Ray a lot sooner then this whole situation would be different.”

“But we didn’t.” I spat while the sour taste of betrayal lingered on my tongue. Ray was supposed to have been the one. Our relationship was getting serious but was that a cover up only to get closer to my father?

He had only transferred from his base about two months ago. Ray passed all the background checks though was it possible that we have more than one merlock spy among our ranks?

Scenes of the bubble room and the hallways leading up to it flashed to mind. Several of the men with twisted limbs and necks laid still on the ground never to move again. I shuddered.

Pearl winced and remarked, “I can’t stop thinking about it either.”

We had been running for good solid thirty minutes but she and I can run longer. However I noticed that she was slowing down so I matched her pace. She pointed down another road and said, “This way.”

“Are you sure?” I asked. It was odd that she knew where to go especially since we did not know where this kid lived. A knot grew in the pit of my stomach. The feeling became intense as I casted a sideways glance at Pearl. Was she replaced by a merlock spy too?

Pearl stopped. I went a few more paces in front then halted before I spun around to face her. She had in her hands a brown leather wallet and was studying its contents. Smacking my palm to my forehead I groaned aloud, “Of course, the wallet.”

She didn’t even look up and replied, “Yeah genius. How else did you think I knew where this kid lived?”

“I thought you turned it in when we got back to base?” I said and watched for her reaction.

With a quick flip she closed the wallet and placed it in her back pant’s pocket then pulled out a clamshell phone. Her fingers diligently tapped a few times on the screen as its bright light reflected in her eyes.

She smiled and said, “Never had the chance. Good thing too because your ex would have used it to wait for him at his house. This gives us an edge since he doesn’t know where this kid lives.”

“Huh.” I said then frowned as I kicked a small stone. It tumbled and skipped across the gravel road until it hit a dark mass on the other side. The mass groaned then moved.

“Holy Triton.” I said and ran to the moaning object then waved Pearl over. “Pearl, get your butt over here.”

She snapped the clamshell shut and walked over to where I stood. I couldn’t see the person’s face but I could smell Daniel’s scent all over him. Pearl frowned too then nudged it with her toe.

“Wimp.” I eyed her and stooped down to get my hands dirty. Reaching out I placed a gentle touch on the dark mass and gave a simple shake. It moaned then rolled towards us as Pearl and I both jumped back.

“Daniel?” It croaked. The person’s face was swollen and covered in dark black and blue bruises. Several slashes covered his arms like he was defending himself against his attacker. One of his forearm bones was poking through his skin and blood had marred his clothing.

The color of his skin told me that he had been like this for a while. He was pale due to the loss of blood. This kid needed our help but so did Daniel.

I crouched down again and said, “Sorry but we’re not Daniel. Do you know him?”

The kid tried to move but I stopped him and continued, “Stay still. You’re badly hurt. Do you know who did this to you?”

The kid responded, “Ugn, some guy with dark hair and dark eyes was following us. I tried… to… stop him. I think… I think he was after Daniel.”

Pearl sucked in air between her teeth. This was bad. The kids description might mean Ray had found them.

“I tried… tried to…” The kid went on and let out a shaky breath before he said, “…to …stop him.”

His body ceased up then went limp. Pearl already had her phone out calling for help. She said, “Hello? 9-1-1? I have an emergency.”

I stood back up. Pearl pointed at the next road and held her hand over the receiver, “Luna you have to go. I’ll stay here and help this kid out.”

“But–” I tried to say but she cut me off and said, “You know we can’t leave him here… he’ll die.”

The loud echo of gunshots went off not too far away. Pearl bent down and held the kid’s hand as she continued talking with the person on 9-1-1. She saw me standing there unsure of what to do and she mouthed, “GO. NOW.”

With a slight nod I took off down the graveled road leaving my friend and partner to save the other kid whose life was barely hanging on by a thread while I rushed to save Daniel’s.

‧͙⁺˚*·༓☾ – TO BE CONTINUED… –☽༓･*˚⁺‧͙

Intermission

｡☆✼★━ Taking a Break━★✼☆｡

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In short, I’m taking a small break.

As a result, I will post Chapter 11 tomorrow after this small intermission.

This story is getting tense and I can’t wait to share it with you!

‧͙⁺˚*·༓☾ – Stay tuned for Chapter 11… –☽༓･*˚⁺‧͙