Chapter 14 More than Restoration
Five minutes. Klishei was out of Yeseus’ sight for just five minutes and that was all it took for her to disappear.
Earlier, after the meeting, the echoing scream of Suneia pierced the stillness of the sanctuary. It came from the waterfall. And when they arrived, it was too late.
Yeseus did not know what to feel. He wanted to curse himself over and over again. How could he be so careless? How come it was so easy for Daevar?
Suneia kept on crying in-between as she told them what happened but her first three words were enough.
Daevar. Klishei. Kidnapped.
Naelyr treated Suneia’s wound on her neck and brought her back to the house. Angus flew around the area to check for any other danger.
Meanwhile, Yeseus scoured the waterfalls, combed the grass for any signs, and even went as far as to the valley. He went lax. He did not expect that Daevar was that persistent to the point that he did not stop after Yeseus successfully defied his plans back at the school.
But then, it was given. Years of being starved must have driven Daevar and his pack hard. Klishei was their last hope of being restored to their former glory. Of course, they would do everything. When did Yeseus become so stupid?
By nighttime, Yeseus returned almost empty-handed if not for the wooden pen he found at the exact spot where she disappeared.
“Huh, that's the pen I let her borrow,” Suneia said as soon as she saw it in his hand.
Angus inspected the pen. “She mentioned wanting to return something to you. That’s why she followed you.”
Suneia broke down into another episode of tears. Yeseus put the pen in Suneia’s hands. “Suneia, no one’s blaming you. We’re just glad that you weren’t seriously hurt.”
“But…the worst thing happened.” Suneia sniffed. Naelyr handed her a pack of tissues. “Daevar got to her.”
Angus and Naelyr nervously glanced at Yeseus who had his fists clenched. Yeseus had successfully rescued her the other night. But still, Daevar got his way.
“Strange. Why did I not smell Daevar? None of us also felt that our mirage was disturbed.” It was a mystery on how Daevar entered. This should not have happened.
“The waterfall.” Naelyr suddenly spoke. “Due to its nature, waters cannot be subjected to any form of magic and so our mirage is weakest there.”
Her soft voice suggested she was getting to a point. “Continue,” Yeseus said, noticing that she was shuffling her fingers like she did not like what was in her mind.
“You said Daevar was a strong one. He might have been able to break through. Maybe it’s how Daevar was alone. He was the only one who could go through unnoticed.”
Angus put his finger to his chin. “That would make sense. If that’s the case, then maybe we’ll be able to track them through the waters as well. Maybe it's where they passed through and that’s why we couldn’t find any of their traces.”
“Angus, let’s go.” Yeseus was already walking. “Naelyr, stay with Suneia.”
They returned to the waterfall. Yeseus stepped into the waters and activated his wolf’s sense of smell. Angus hovered above him, providing light and aerial vision.
The waterfall poured into a long and wide river. Yeseus waded there for quite some time. They followed the flow of the water until it split into two different directions. It was where Yeseus caught a scent. They were already past the boundary of the mirage.
“Angus, let’s go back.”
The fairy was confused. “But we haven’t found a solid trail yet.”
Yeseus had already turned his back and put his foot on the dry land. “I already know where they are.”
Back at the house, Yeseus gathered them again. He rolled a map at the table. It unfurled and showed a detailed area of Efarlise.
“This is where the river split. Klishei’s trail is on the left.” The left river snaked into a plain location. No marked roads. No drawings of mountains. And it was unnamed. The spot looked like a blank area on the map.
“I've been scouting that area before. I was unsure then but now that they are headed there, I'm sure. It's the hideout of Daevar.”
“Oh, bold of him to bring her there knowing full too well that you would give chase,” Angus said.
Yeseus clenched his fists again. “I underestimated Daevar. I never thought he would actually move quickly. He does not intend to wait for the golden moon's appearing. He wants to exploit the powers of the Phoenix now. I have to rescue her."
Angus tapped on the map. "Yeseus, let us go with you. I'm afraid that this fight will be too much for you to bear alone. You can't expect to barge into their camp and return unscathed."
Suneia clasped her hands together. "Klishei had just turned eighteen for a few days. Looks like Daevar is on the rush."
“Of course,” Yeseus said. “The faster he is able to renew the powers of his pack, the sooner he is able to fulfill his revenge against me."