Chapter 63: Trust

“Cara. How are you doing?” Theo called Cara. Even if they lived almost their whole life together, asking such a question felt awkward between them. Theo was not the type of brother who would ask her how her day went. He was the type who would bully her until she confessed to him what she was up to.

Cara took a deep sigh, thinking something big must be coming her way the way Theo asked him. “Hmm, nothing much. You? Am I in trouble or something?” She chuckled underneath her breath.

Theo smiled, thinking about how Cara was still the little girl he knew. Uncomplicated and direct, it was one of her qualities that he liked about her. “Hmm, I can’t say it is trouble… But sort of, I guess.” He was stuttering, not sure how to address the situation to Cara.

“He knows, does he?” Cara said after a deep sigh. There was silence on the other side for a good few seconds. Cara knew exactly her assumption was right.

“Not exactly. He knows I know you, but he is not aware that it is you. I told him that it was not up to me to decide. It is up to you.” Theo clarified the concerns brewing in Cara’s mind. “Think about it and update me about your decision.” He wanted to give Cara enough time to think about their situation. He swears to keep her identity a secret at his grave, even if it would mean destroying his relationship with his father.

“Theo, I’m sorry for putting you through this.” Cara’s tone changed. “I did not mean to.” Theo was right. Cara’s voice cracking could only mean one thing.

“Hey, hey don’t even go there. Don’t blame yourself, this… For all we know, there is a greater purpose for bringing us all here.” Theo tried to be positive about their situation. He did not want Cara to sulk further. Even though the truth is… what they got themselves into today is so much bigger than them.

“I hope so… But I am really sorry.” Cara could not stop apologizing to Theo. “I will face him today. I will text you the address.” She confirmed it to Theo.

Ashton felt Cara’s dilemma. He embraced his wife from the back and kissed her shoulder.

Cara took another deep sigh as she held Ashton’s face affectionately. “Love, do you think I am doing the right thing?” She asked him, hoping to get some enlightenment about her decision.

“Honestly, my love. I am not sure if it is the right thing to do. But it is the only thing left to do. So, whatever consequences it brings, we must be ready.” He said and hugged his wife tighter. Ashton does not want to sugarcoat Cara’s decision with false hopes. “This meeting could be a game changer for all of us; we either gain a new enemy and lose a family or lose an enemy and strengthen our family.” Ashton added.

Cara bobbed her head. “I guess it is what it is, babe. I will face Thomas. He is the father I knew, and I am sure he knows in his heart that I am not an enemy.” She declared her trust in Thomas.

“I will keep you safe, babe. Let’s meet them at one of our estates.” Ashton affirmed his relentless support for his wife. He called his butler to make sure the other estate was ready for their arrival.

***

Theo walked into the room and sat beside his visibly distraught father. “Dad, she agreed. The Sakalam agreed to meet with you.” He said with a straight face.

Thomas lit a cigarette before he answered his son. “I really still can’t wrap my head around what you are doing, Theo.” The tone of disappointment in his voice was clear. “How can you casually betray your own family?” Thomas added as he rubbed his forehead.

Theo lit up his own cigarette and answered his father. “By family, you mean the witch hunters?” He asked him directly.

Thomas looked at him with furrowed eyebrows. “Of course! Who else? Are you dumb? Or are you playing me?” He confronted Theo.

Theo chuckled. He did not want to spoil it, but he was almost certain that his father’s heart would melt the moment he would find out that the Sakalam and Cara were one and the same. “Call me whatever you like but consider yourself lucky the Sakalam wants to meet with you.” Theo played his dad really well that he was about to explode in anger. He managed to leave before his father could be beaten to a pulp.

Theo and Thomas were both quiet while inside their pickup truck. Theo did not want to give Thomas a hint until he came face to face with the Sakalam. The silence between them grew more and more uncomfortable. Thomas opened the glove box and took out a hand pistol.

Theo laughed at his father’s action, which further infuriated him. “I just want to have some sort of protection,” Thomas said, almost stuttering. Theo could instantly tell that his father was agitated. “Dad, you know that gun will not do anything to the Sakalam. She is more than capable of that. She is immortal.” He reminded his father of the strength of the Sakalam.

Thomas slammed the glove box shut. “Guess what, son? My thoughts exactly! I am glad you know how powerful this being is. You can’t be playing around with her. It is dangerous; dangerous for you, for us and the people we love.” Thomas gritted his teeth in anger. What made him angrier was seeing his son calm and collected in his perceived betrayal.

Theo chose not to respond to his father’s rant. He drove straight to the address Cara sent him. It was on the outskirts of town. A beat-up path led to the isolated estate that surprisingly did not have a name. It was as if an instance like this meet up was the purpose of this place. You will die and get buried here and no one will ever know.

Theo parked their truck in front of the main house, but a butler emerged from the house and pointed them in the right direction where the Sakalam was waiting for them. Thomas’ heart was beating so hard he could hear it. He hasn’t experienced this type of fear ever, not even facing the big brothers in their secret group. His hands were sweating as he was anticipating war between him and the Sakalam.

“Hi.” Cara greeted Theo and Thomas briefly as they approached her location.

“Cara, what are you doing here? It is dangerous out here.” Thomas hurriedly got closer to Cara. He looked at Theo and hit his arm. “What are you doing there standing like a statue? Come on, bring your sister to somewhere safer.” He was determined to keep Cara safe from the war that was about to happen. It also baffled him that his boss, Ashton, was there, and he looked unbelievably calm amidst the confrontation that was about to happen.

“Exactly why I am here.” Cara held Thomas’s arm tightly. She wanted him to feel her sincerity.

“What?” Thomas looked directly into Cara’s eyes, and he realized her beautiful brown eyes were now bluish gray; the mark of the Sakalam as they know it. “Oh, my god! Your eyes!” He exclaimed as he walked slowly away from Cara. “You are…” He paused and looked at his son for confirmation. “You are the Sakalam?” Thomas confronted Cara.

“Yes, I am the Sakalam, but I can assure you that I’m still me. I’m still Cara. Please don’t hate me.” Cara begged Thomas to see through the situation; to see through her. “Whatever your group fears about me, it is not true. You know me. I would never hurt anyone. The purging badly hurt my coven and they are seeking justice, but with your cooperation we could end this war now.” The sincerity in her words silenced Thomas.

“I’m sorry Cara. I did not know. I am actually doing my part, so the purging stops. The prophecies about you... Well, it terrified my brothers. I can definitely tell them that you are not the evil witch they thought you were. I’m not just sure if my words are enough.” Thomas took a deep sigh, thinking about how he could fix the situation.

Cara nodded. She knows deep inside that it will not be an easy task for Thomas. “I understand. While you are taking your time, let’s just try our best not to hurt one another. We can’t afford more witches to die senselessly.” Cara wanted Thomas to realize how their aggressiveness had brought darkness into their lives.

“Theo and I can do that. I just need proper timing so we can forge a truce with your group.” Thomas held Cara’s hand. “Oh, Cara, I would have to warn you. Be careful, there is a traitor in your midst.” Thomas said in a straight voice.

Cara’s eyes widened. Thomas’s revelation took her by surprise. For her, this was something unacceptable. How could a fellow witch knowingly let the purging happen? She tried her best to control her anger, afraid to show Thomas how she was capable of influencing the weather.

Ashton walked closer to Cara, knowing how this big revelation might affect his wife. He placed his arms over her shoulder, showing her that he could take the lead. Ashton then looked at Thomas and asked him directly. “Who is the traitor?”