PART 2-31 - VALEN IN TROUBLE
-SIANNA’S POV-
“I’m sorry, Mom.” Valen expressed his regret as he entered the foyer of our home with Vance. He did not let me lash out at him for his recklessness.
Automatically, I placed my hand over my heart. My entire body slumped in relief as I exhaled heavily. Still, he was going to get the hot seat.
I sat in the living room on the long U-shape black leather couch with my head turned in his direction. “Valen, I can’t accept that apology until you explain to me what the hell was going through your head.”
Vance stood by the Faux Marble White console table with a gold base, allowing me to handle our son's latest escapade. He would also feel the scourge of my tongue later.
It was a little before sunset that Vance and the team went back to the aircraft carrier ship. The journey to Dark Wolverson was long from Oscianever Loch of the Pacific Ocean and so it was the next day in the afternoon when they arrived home. I fretted the entire sleepless night, watching the hours and praying that they were fine.
Valen walked into the living room and slumped in a single black leather sofa chair as he spilled his heart out, “My last dream was very vivid and I believe that it hinted at where I could find the mermaid. So, Devin and I went to sea and I was able to meet her.” My hand crossed my chest as I became stern.
“No-no,” Vance interjected. “You should say that you dragged Devin along on a dangerous encounter.” Vance walked over and stood between both sofas, looking from me to Valen with emphasis. “Considering that he is not as adept as you at battling in an underwater situation, you risked his life by tagging him along. He could have been siphoned and taken by a mermaid and drowned.” Vance put both hands in his jeans pockets and paced the floor behind me.
“Mom, I promise that I would not have allowed anything to happen to Devin.” Valen defended, trying to calm his erratic heartbeat. “W-we were careful.”
Removing my house slippers, I turned to horizontally stretch my left leg on the couch with the right leg bent to the floor. “The fact is that you did not consult your father and me before ditching school and going off on your own.” I chastised, pointing my forefinger at him. “I specifically told you not to pursue this woman and you willfully disobeyed me.”
“I know, but we weren’t going to be there long and it wasn’t even that far from shore,” Valen muttered.
Vance shoved his hands into his pockets, furrowing his brows and holding his son’s eye contact as though he wanted to say something, but stopped himself. He sighed, shook his head, and began pacing again.
I snorted in frustration. “Valen, you went twenty-three miles away from the coast.”
“Mom, we made it back, didn’t we?” Valen thought that this was excusable. “Devin was in the boat the entire time.”
“I see. So you think because you went to confront the enemy by yourself and managed to survive after being picked up by your Dad, then it’s alright?” I asked, coyly with my eyes narrowed.
“There you go.” Vance interrupted sarcastically. His pace halted and he frowned at his eldest child.
“Yeah,” Valen said, looking innocently, shaking his head adamantly, holding up his hands. “We didn’t make trouble with anyone.”
“Uh-huh.” I listened attentively, giving him his chance to justify his waywardness. Vance and I exchanged astonished looks. There were so many faults in Valen’s story.
“Something good came out of it, Mom. She told me about the war that was coming to us.” Valen nodded, his brows tilted up in a pathetic appeal. “Her people were ready to retaliate against us for their loved ones.”
I sent him an instantaneous, razor-sharp, terrifying glare that caused his words to briefly halt in his throat for a little period of silence.
Valen inhaled deeply and lowered his head. “I knew Devin was a bit freaked out. I-I mean it was our first time dealing with merfolks and we haven’t covered that training as yet……….” He lifted his head, returning his gaze to me with amassed conviction. “……. but we handled the situation well. I told her I’d talk to Dad and we’ll meet at another point.”
My brows raised high. “You scheduled a meeting with the enemy before talking to us?”
Vance threw his hands up in the air and began pacing again. It seemed that part of the story surprised him. He bit his lower lip to bridle his temper.
A long pause passed between us. Nervously, Valen gulped. Looking down, he rubbed his palms together. Then he smoothed his uncombed hair back and continued in a low voice, “I thought it was an opportunity to speak with the mer-king and resolve this matter quickly.”
“I think that I’ve heard enough. Your father and I need to talk about this,” I asserted with a controlled tone. He wasn’t getting off the hook, not by a long shot. “Regardless of what you say, you are aware of your wrongs and this is not to be repeated.” I placed both feet on the floor and slipped them into my house slippers. “We will discuss your punishment and then we’ll talk with you.”
“Yes, Mom,” he supplied.
With an exasperated sigh, I got up from the couch and disappeared into the kitchen. With heavy steps, Vance followed me.
“Hey, Dad.” Valen rose to his feet, stopping his father. “How angry is Mom? Am I in that much trouble?”
Vance turned to face his son, looking shocked at the question he had asked. “Listen to me, you could go and take my chopper to Wolkrane Fortress and drop bombs on the island and you’d be in the same amount of trouble that you are in now.”
Valen's mouth formed into a muted ‘O.’
With that, Vance appeared in the kitchen and took a seat at the breakfast nook. Valen sulked and went upstairs to his room, knowing that it was best to stay home until his punishment was served.