CHAPTER 86 - BROTHER’S WARNING
“How come the cameras died at the same time you found Nick? Is it really pure coincidence, Ruby?” Xieaniel asked, feeling discombobulated. He tapped and tapped his laptop but the result was still the same - the surveillance cameras died and there is no footage. Even the secret cameras were off.
Olive bit the inside of her mouth and rolled her eyes.
“What do those words mean, Ethan? Are you saying I purposely killed the came-”
“That’s not what I am pointing out.” Xieaniel cut her. He removed his glasses and ruffled his hair in distress. Killing Donovan that day is more possible than killing the surveillance cameras inside the HeadQuarters since the Mizuki family is supervising and Xieaniel was handson.
Aside from Ashriel and Nathan, Xieaniel knew only Olive knows how to operate the security system so his mind was in turmoil. Nathan and Natsuki remained silent.
Olive was about to argue when the Meeting Hall door opened followed by the Cadre wearing serious faces. In just a second, the whole hall became chilly and despite being used to Cadre meetings, Mix was never used to the atmosphere.
Olive remained calm though her nervousness slowly climbing her spines.
“Everything is clean.” She consoles herself. “There will be no problem.” She added, tightening her grip to her phone.
“I tested the bottle Leon’s group found.” Venice started. “The poison was a little different compared to mine but confirmed, it was Alka.”
“Regarding the traitor,” Natsuki bumped in. “No matter how I rack my brain, I still can't remember that someone like him exists here.”
“I checked and re-checked all the data but I couldn't find anything related to him.” Said Xieaniel and pulled his hair, pissed. “How the hell did he enter?! Argh!”
“Calm down, dude.” Raith told him. It was his first time seeing Xieaniel in that mode.
“How can I freakin’ calm down if I need to reprogram and re-secure the security?” Xieaniel grunted irritably. Sensing his near outburst, Olive stood up and untied Xieaniel’s low ponytail then started to braid it.
“Calm down, Ethan.” She whispered.
Nathan sighed deeply. He completely understood Xieaniel’s outburst since he hadn’t slept for 48 hours now trying to strengthen the security and personally guarding every move the opponent might make.
“Kate and Raith, have you got anything from investigating the staff?” Asked Nathan. Kate nodded.
“They are all saying one thing, Sire. They thought Nick was a new recruit. They said he had an ID.”
“I still couldn’t get it.” Everyone’s eyes transferred to Xieaniel again. “I am confident our security is strong.” He mumbled, squeezing Olive’s hands.
“Do you think someone from the inside let him in?”
Nathan frowned with Venice’s words.
“That could be a possibility.” Natsuki bumped in. “If it is, then who? Who’s the traitor?”
“That’s what we need to know-”
Nathan stopped and Oriana flinched when her phone suddenly rang. “Shocks. I forgot to silence it.” She whispered to herself.
She bowed a little and muttered, “Sorry” before fishing her phone but then she froze upon seeing the number. It was unregistered but she knew who it was.
She glanced at Leon who was looking at her with full confusion.
“It’s my brother.” She said, causing everyone to look at her. Leon frowned.
“Who among the two?”
“First brother.”
“Put it on speaker.”
Oriana nodded and did what she was told. She answered the phone but waited for Luis to speak first. Everyone became silent as they listened.
“Oriana.”
Suddenly, Oriana felt her body turn cold but why? She hated this feeling. She knows she’s already safe with the First Rank Nobles but why? Why does she still feel somewhat… scared?
She felt her throat vibrates but managed to answer, “Brother.”
Seeing her face, Leon stepped closer and held her hand, squeezing it gently.
“What do you want?”
“That hurts. Why does my lil’ sister treats second brother coldly?”
Oriana stopped. Something’s wrong. She looked at the numbers again but her memory served her right. She then felt goosebumps all over her body.
“That’s not how you call me. Stop acting like second brother.”
Luis’ eyes dimmed but his lips curved to a smirk.
“You’ve grown, huh?”
“Tell me what you want.” Oriana demanded. “Or else I’ll hang the call.”
Luis hissed. He never thought his puppet would soon cut herself from his string.
“Meet me at the cafe between the border. The one we used to go to.”
Oriana stopped and looked at Leon who shook his head in disagreement.
“No.” She said and was about to end the call when Luis spoke again.
“Are you sure you won’t?” Oriana stopped. “Go on and don’t show up then say goodbye to your beloved second brother” Luis warned.
Oriana’s eyes widened and felt her inside trembling with anger. Hot tears of anger started to form at the corner of her eyes and Leon heard her clenched her teeth.
“Leave second brother alone.” She seethed. “What do you want from me?”
“You’ll know there. Bring no pets with you and be there in thirty minutes.”
Oriana was about to speak when she heard the dead line. She hissed. “You bastard.” She whispered in the air angrily.
She looked straight at Nathan’s eyes because she knew Leon would disapprove.
“Sire, please let me.”
“Orian-”
“Colonel please, Brother Elias is at risk.”
Their eyes locked for a couple of seconds and Leon saw her seriousness.
“Please.” Oriana pleaded more seriously.
“I know Luis. He hates Elias and will not hesitate to kill him as a warning.” Venice spoke, gently rubbing her tummy.
Oriana nodded slowly. “He does.”
“And you expect me to allow you?” Leon muttered, grabbing Oriana’s shoulder.
“Yes, Colonel.”
Leon stopped and Oriana gulped. “Sire please, allow me.”
Nathan sighed deeply as everyone waited patiently for his answer. As the leader, everything that will happen will be accounted to him and so, he must be careful. He sighed for the second time.
“Promise to come back whole and safe.”
Oriana’s face lit. “Yes Sire. I will.”
Nathan nodded and Oriana glanced at Leon who was totally disagreeing but he had no choice. Nathan approved.
“I’ll come back whole and safe.” Oriana whispered to Leon before squeezing his hand and dashing out of the Meeting Hall.
“Will she be okay?” Kate asked worriedly, wanting to run and follow Oriana.
“She will be since she will not be alone.” Nathan answered and looked at Venice who smiled at him before turning to face Leon whose face was covered with anxiety.
“Don’t be ugly, Leon.” Venice chuckled and took something from her bag. It was a small, metal box.
“I was about to present this thing but this happened.” She sighed and gave Leon the box. His head tilted in confusion.
“What is this?”
“Antidote. Follow Oriana silently. I’m afraid there is a high possibility Luis will try to poison her.”
Hearing her remarks, Leon’s rage runs through his veins he wanted torture Luis. How on earth can he hurt his own blood?!
“Can’t we just kill him?” He fumed.
“Killing him will erase our access, twin. It will only trigger the opposite side and many innocent people will die, you know that.” Olive, who remained silent the whole time, answered with a stern voice.
“You need to hurry now if you want to protect her.” She added, sauntering towards her twin as her eyes fell on the antidote.
“If you saw anything suspicious, call for backups. Don’t fight alone, you understand?” Natsuki uttered and patted Leon’s back like a kid. He nodded in response and was about to dash out when he realized something.
“By the way, how does this work? And when should I use this?”
“Oh, yeah I forgot. Silly me.” Venice quickly took the metal box and opened it, revealing ten small bottles inside.
“Once - if ever, she swallowed Alka, it will take two to three hours before it takes effect. If she has a strong immune system, it will take a little longer.” Venice explained. “Once Alka takes effect, she’ll either lose consciousness or black, bruise-like spots will appear on her skin. BUT. If two signs happened, it means she swallowed a high amount and you’ll need to move faster.”
Venice paused then took one bottle.
“After a few minutes, she’ll wake up and by that time, her mind will be distorted. It means she’ll have a hard time acknowledging people so even if you are close to her, it will be hard for her to acknowledge you.”
Leon seethed as his eyebrows met each other. He massaged his fist, wanting Venice to explain faster for him to follow Oriana sooner.
“Then she will become aggressive like a wild boar who only wanted to hurt people and she will not be able to control herself just like what happened to the third squad.”
“Okay-”
“Wait. Let me finish. Remember that she’ll not only be aggressive but her skin will be so sensitive with a single touch. Once you touch her, she will feel as if she was burning so you need to make sure she’ll be soaked in cold water. That will lessen the pain.”
Venice explained briefly and put the antidote back to the box, sealing the metal box again.
“Made her drink that in any possible way. I made ten bottles just in case. Good luck and make sure to contact us, okay?”
Leon nodded. “Noted.”