Chapter 77 Leverage
Half of their population?!" Melissa yelled and Nathaniel gestured to her to reduce her tone, glancing left and right. "Half of their population?" Melissa whispered in a low tone this time, bulging her eyes. "How?" She asked.
The Moon Rage was one of the few things that affected werewolves during their earlier incarnation. There were a series of stories surrounding the reason as to why, but Melissa never really believed any of them, they were too superstitious. But the main thing that happened was that wolves go berserk during the full moon. Completely shedding their humanity and turning to a beast driven by rage and instinct.
They become alpha predators, hunting and killing just for the fun of it without hesitation, or even any reason, or purpose other than a primal satisfaction that comes from the ripping of bodies into bloody shreds. It was for a long time the bane of wolves. But over the years, due to technological advancements, it was outlined as a disease, probably caused by the moon's gravitational effect on the earth or a kind of genetic post traumatic stress disorder that had affected their ancestors.
Most of the genuine answers have been lost to history but Melissa had heard that in the asylum, during the wee hours of the night, when all is stale and quiet during the full moon, strange things happen. The moon seemed to affect the asylum patients, increasing their agitation and madness. They succumb to anger and some have gone to the extent of murdering themselves.
Though Dreykov once told Melissa that it wasn't anger, but fear. A fear so deeply ingrained in them, it takes control of their mind and bodies.
"They have been trying to hide it,” Nathaniel responded. "They really have been battling with it for a long time. It ties to the reason why they want to split from us, and then take over." He said, "They believe their location might be the issue."
Melissa tapped the sofa beside her. "Why have they been hiding it?" she said. "I mean it is stupid. We could have helped them, someone could have. Why hide it all this time?" She asked.
"My customer told me, they trusted us with it once, and we turned their children back on them as weapons." Nathaniel replied.
"Weapons?" Avalors asked.
Melissa looked at Richard immediately. "Is there a possibility that they can be connected?" She asked him through telepathy.
"Remain calm," he replied through their telepathic link too. "One step at a time."
Avalors shifted his weight thoughtfully. "Now, I find something hard to believe." He said, and everyone turned their gaze towards him. "A disease, that affected the Vance pack, for years… how many years now?" He asked.
"Thirty," Nathaniel answered, anxious to know where this was leading.
"Good, three decades. Yet, you Nathaniel, found the cure. Are you like a genius or what?"
"Exactly what I am," he said and Beatrice rolled her eyes.
Melissa looked at him. "So you're saying, in the whole world, you are the only one that can cure Vance's Moon Rage?" She asked.
"Exactly so, Your majesty," he said.
"If you are doing this, what do you want in return?" She asked. "After all, you are a businessman," she added.
Nathaniel smiled, "Sincerely, I want nothing," he said. "I just want to see you rule," he said.
Melissa looked at him with scrutiny. The issue was that he had no emotional fluctuations, everything he said was true and there was nothing to dispute. This made Melissa even more curious. "What is it about me that you like?" She asked
"Your innocence," he said. "Everyone in this world is shady and hiding behind shadows to do their deeds. But you, you do not seem to want to rule, yet you do it out of sheer patriotism. I wanted that. Maybe then, you might truly see what is wrong with this pack and do something about it… Maybe you could actually take the reins from your father." He concluded.
"I cannot promise you, I can be half of what my father was, but I can tell you that, I'll try, as much as I can," she said.
Nathaniel chuckled.
"So, right now," Beatrice said. "We have leverage against the Vance pack," she declared. "Half the battle is won then," she concluded.
"Huh, no it isn't," Nathaniel spoke out. "How do we make sure this doesn't bite back at me?"
Melissa glanced at her three trustees and discovered they had the same thought. With a smile of mischief on her face, she stood up. "Guys, it is getting late," she declared.
"Huh?" Nathaniel exclaimed, his face contorting into a horrific form.
"Yeah, right," Lok said, standing up and Avalors followed.
"We need to make it home before downfall, we still have a pile of files we haven't even attended to," Beatrice said, patting Nathaniel's cheek as they all walked out in unison. "See you around, little bro," Beatrice waved at him.
"Your majesty?"Nathaniel got up following them. He was agitated and that made this even funnier to Melissa. She walked briskly, ignoring his call.
They stepped outside and Richard pressed the car's remote and it beeped. "Your majesty, please. This cannot lead to me." Nathaniel begged.
"Thank you for your help, Nathaniel," she said. "You are the best," Melissa said and entered the car.
Melissa could only contain her laughter till she got into the car. She broke out laughing. They'd all done it mostly to get back at him for screaming at Beatrice. While they were standing at the car, Richard had sparsely mentioned that he didn't like the way Nathaniel spoke to her and she was sure both of them had given Nataniel an earful before she entered with Beatrice earlier. So she'd decided to give her a little revenge.
"Sir Avalors," he heard him say.
"You are a good lad, kiddo," Avalors replied. "Keep it up, the pack has recognized your efforts. An official thank you card will be sent to you later on. Bye," he said, walking away.
They all got into the car and waved at him, before zooming off and leaving dust in their wake.