Chapter 55

It was mid-afternoon. Richard arrived at a part of Weredom where a fountain in the shape of a golden wolf spilled glittering water from its open mouth where vampire fangs were visible down through a deep hole and into a glimmering round pool at its base.

Although the water no longer glitters.

The place was one of Weredom's most beautiful places people could fly into and gain strength. It was magical. Luc made it so.

Richard smirked as he saw Luc standing, his eyes fixated on the golden wolf sculpture, his hands buried into his pockets.

He walked up to Luc. "I knew you'd be here."

He knew because Luc made it as a memorial for his parents back then. A wolf with the fangs of a vampire.

Luc's gaze averted toward Richard, then his head tilted at the familiarity. "You..."

"Yeah, me. Richard Hart."

Luc faced him and sized him up. "I know you. I know I do."

Richard nodded. "Yes, you do. I'm your beta. I followed you everywhere so you should know me."

Luc blinked and looked away, back at the wolf. "There's something wrong with me. Something is not right. Something like this fountain..."

Richard looked at it. The fountain was no longer glimmering. The water was just plain. You could tell there was nothing magical about it.

"I know I did this to the fountain but I don't understand why," Luc said further.

"It's because you left," Richard told him.

"So I heard but why? I know things but I don't know the whys or hows. Like how I ended up without my throne, what I've been doing after, why I rendered this fountain...unmagical. I know there's a reason but I can't seem to get it."

Richard nodded and looked at him. "That's because you had your memories taken. The important ones."

Luc sighed and chuckled. "Explains why I was trapped in Lisa's lair. With that girl."

"She's a friend. Our friend and you need to come with me."

Luc looked at him. "And why should I?"

"You need help to regain your memories? You can't achieve that by causing havoc and angering Logan. He could do something much worse." Richard made it known.

"Like kill me?" Luc questioned mockingly.

"It turns out they can do to you things worse than death. They succeeded in making you a confused man, let's not sit and wait to see what they'll do next." Richard warned.

Luc looked away and chuckled darkly. "They're so many things I'm capable of doing. Turn myself off."

Richard swallowed and shook his head. "No. No, it's best you don't do that for the sake of the innocent."

"Don't care..."

"Let's get back your memories. Everything they stole from you. You have to be patient." Richard cajoled.

"I can already feel how patient I've been for a very long time. Been waiting for something, patiently waiting but I don't know what. I don't know why I was patient when I'm far from that..."

"But you want answers, don't you? Turning yourself off and going after everyone won't give you the answer. Please, let's help each other." Richard persuaded. "This is not the time to explode."

Luc looked back at the sculpture and sighed. "And what can counter Lisa's voodoo on me? Do you know?"

Richard nodded, deciding to lie for now. "Kind of. We're gonna have to head to Brams first."

Luc lowered his gaze in thought. "Brams." He looked at Richard. "That place...not bad choice but it's funny how you came across it."

Richard shrugged. "We've been working hard. Your allies, your highness."

Luc nodded. "Okay. Let's try your way first then."

.

.

.

Xander chuckled in disbelief, his mind going round and round the only ingredient he understood. "We...we really can't let that happen. We really need to find her."

Amelia looked up at him and back at the book. "One last thing. We don't know how to defeat Xondras. What if they dart at us? We're failing in numbers and I for one don't know combats."

They looked as the door opened. Amelia gaped and stood up as she saw Finn behind Richard. It made her chuckle in complete relief. Her legs moved to pull him in a hug but Richard stopped her and dragged her toward the dining. She was confused. "What are you doing?"

Richard looked at Luc whose narrowed eyes were on Amelia. It seemed like he was trying to read her but he could feel a connection with her.

"Luc!" Xander brought his attention toward him with a smile on his face. "You're here."

Luc looked at Xander with a blank expression.

"You...remember me, right?"

"I named you, Xander. Why would I forget that?" Luc answered bluntly.

Xander chuckled at his answer while Richard took Luc's distraction as a chance and looked at Amelia. "It's best he doesn't know who you are to him." He whispered.

"Why?"

"We need to take things slow. He won't believe he's got a mate no matter what we say to him. Right now, we should be thinking about how to help him regain it." Richard explained.

Amelia sighed in disappointment. "Is there a way to counter the magic?"

"We'll find it, Amelia. Don't worry, we will." Richard assured.

Luc's eyes were glaring at Katherine who just lowered her gaze in fear. He hated her sight. "Is she also an ally?"

Richard looked at him and walked toward him. "Yeah. She's been helping. She's not her family."

"So I guess we shouldn't have a problem in defeating the Xondras." Xander hollered, looking at Amelia who just sat on a chair with a broody expression. "We've got Luc." He told her.

Amelia nodded with a smile, realizing she needed to buckle up. As long as Luc is safe and sound and will be with her all through, she'll be fine.

"You guys don't have to worry about transportation. Meredith is working on the horses." Katherine informed.

Macy looked at Stephanie, her expression laced with confusion. "Bethany is missing but Jacob said they all arrived safely."

"Did he lie or not?" Steph questioned.

Macy shook her head. "Don't know. Don't understand. Luc isn't even himself."

"You mean Finn?" Stephanie nodded in agreement. "Saw that. We also heard what Richard said to her. He doesn't have memories."

Macy scratched the back of her head and sighed. "We need to find a way to be of help."