Chapter 166: Something Very Wrong

Avery’s heart pounded in her chest like a war drum trying to break free. Each beat felt too loud, too violent, as if it wanted to tear its way out of her ribs. Breathing had become difficult, shallow, ragged gasps that burned her throat. She pressed a trembling hand to her chest and bent forward slightly, the other hand braced on her thigh, desperately trying to make sense of what she had just witnessed.

She had only been walking back from checking on her mother when something, some strange pull made her pause at the hallway window overlooking the side alley. At first she thought she was imagining things. A tall figure stood below, broad shoulders and dark clothing unmistakable even from above. Ravial. But there was no blindfold strap visible at the back of his head. His back was to her, so she couldn’t see his eyes, but the build, the height, the way he moved….it was him.

Then everything happened too fast.

A woman in scrubs lay unconscious at his feet. A drunk man staggered into the alley. Ravial moved like liquid shadow, unnaturally fast, inhumanly fast and snapped the man’s neck with a single, brutal twist. The sound had carried faintly even through the glass. The body dropped like a sack of stones.

Avery had jerked back from the window when Ravial turned, pressing her spine flat against the wall, chest heaving. When she dared to peek again, the body was gone. Only the nurse remained, beginning to stir on the ground.

“Oh God…” she whispered, voice cracking.

A couple of hospital staff gave her odd looks as they passed, but she didn’t care. She pushed off the wall and started moving, fast, almost running turning corner after corner, heart slamming against her ribs.

Leitana. I have to get to Leitana.

She didn’t know what she was going to say, didn’t even know if she should say anything, but the image of Ravial killing that man so casually kept flashing behind her eyes. The same man who had lifted Charles like he weighed nothing. The same man her sister trusted with her life… and their unborn child.

She reached Leitana’s room and shoved the door open without knocking.

Leitana was sitting up on the edge of the bed, sliding her feet into her sandals. When the door banged open, she looked up and smiled brightly, the expression soft and relieved.

“Avery! Is Mama okay?”

Avery breathed out in shaky relief though she didn’t fully understand why she felt it. Nothing could have happened to Leitana in the short time she’d been gone… right? She rushed forward anyway.

Leitana stood, concern flickering across her face. “What’s wrong? Yu look like yu saw a ghost.”

Avery grabbed her sister’s hand, grip too tight. “We need to leave. Right now.”

Leitana blinked, confused. “What? What’s wrong, Avery? Mi no go yet, mi waiting for mi Ravial.”

Avery shook her head frantically, fear spiking at the mention of his name. She didn’t know where she would even take Leitana if she agreed to come, but the thought of Ravial walking through that door and realizing she had seen him… it made her stomach churn.

“Leitana, please let’s go. I’ll explain later. Just come with me.”

Leitana frowned deeper, pulling her hand back gently but firmly. “Go where? What is wrong with yu? Yu in danger? Papa can’t hurt us anymore. Mi Ravial protect us.”

Avery shook her head harder, voice dropping to a desperate whisper. “No, he can’t, he’s… ”

The door opened behind her.

Lucius stepped inside, calm and composed as always, dressed in his usual dark suit.

Avery froze. Her hand flew up instinctively, palm out. “Don’t come close to us!”

Leitana looked between them, now visibly scared and confused. “What is going on? That’s Lucius, Ravial’s person. Why yu acting like this?”

Lucius continued walking closer, expression neutral. Avery screamed, “Stay back!”

Before she could react, Lucius moved with terrifying efficiency. He grabbed her arm, twisted her around so her back pressed against his chest, and pressed a small needle to the side of her neck.

Avery gasped then everything went dark.

Leitana’s eyes widened in shock. “What yu do to mi sister?!” She rushed forward, trying to push Lucius away, but he stepped back smoothly, letting her catch Avery’s collapsing body.

“Miss Avery is going through a lot of mental strain,” Lucius said calmly, voice smooth and professional. “The doctor said she should be sedated for her own safety. She was showing signs of acute anxiety and possible breakdown. This will help her rest.”

Leitana held her unconscious sister in her arms, stroking her face with trembling fingers. Tears welled in her eyes again. “But… she was fine before…”

Lucius nodded once, respectful. “She will be fine and calm when she wakes. The sedative is mild and short-acting. The master thought it best to handle it quickly before her condition worsened.”

Leitana looked up at him, still confused and frightened, but the explanation sounded reasonable enough in her exhausted state. She nodded slowly, hugging Avery closer.

“Okay… if the doctor said so…”

Lucius gave a small, polite bow. “I will inform the master. He will want to know both of you are safe.”

He turned and left the room as quietly as he had entered.

Leitana stayed on the floor, cradling her sister, whispering soft words in Bislama while tears continued to fall.

She didn’t see the way Lucius paused just outside the door, his expression shifting from polite servant to something far colder as he pulled out his phone to report to Ravial.

Nor did she notice the faint, satisfied smile that touched his lips before he disappeared down the corridor.

The hospital room felt suddenly smaller, heavier.

And somewhere in the back of Leitana’s mind, a tiny, uneasy voice whispered that something was not right.

But she pushed it down.

Her mother was hurt.

Her sister was resting.

Her husband was protecting them.

Everything would be okay.

Wouldn’t it?

She didn’t understand what was happening.

But something felt very, very wrong.