\[Denali’s POV\]
I don’t immediately speak as Rosco’s question settles around us. Even though I was the one who brought up the subject of my mother, it had been so long since I truly said anything about her that I wasn’t exactly sure if I wanted to relive those days of watching her slowly wither away in the hospital.
“You don’t have to tell me if you don’t want to.”
“No.” I say slowly while letting those memories from that time start to slowly come to the surface. “I don’t mind. It has just been so long, and I’ve never actually talked about her with anyone.”
My mother was my secret to bear since no one else gave two shits about her or even me. But since Rosco was always so open about everything with me, I wanted to do the same for him, and with our tomorrow not promised, wasn’t now the best time to be honest with the person I loved the most? And when we were finished taking care of the danger, he could help me investigate that time to see if my father truly did murder her.
“She wasn’t always that sick.” I explain. “At first, her hospital stays were every now and then, but she was bedridden more than not. From what I was told, it was because she was always weak, and having me took a toll on her body.”
Closing my eyes, I let images of my mother appear. During the first few years of my life, she may have been weak, but she was always sparkling. Her smile could light up a room. I was told that was what attracted my father to her the most, but now I wonder if it was actually the power she could offer him.
“It was only when I was six that she really began to deteriorate.” I continue, opening my eyes again. “That was about when her hospital stays grew longer and longer. It was weird because each time she would start to show improvement, and the doctors would even say that with some rest, she would be right as rain. However, as soon as my father came to visit, she seemed to take a turn for the worse.”
Looking back on it now, all the signs were there. When my father was involved, her health plummeted, but when he wasn't, it wouldn’t. Did this mean that he was personally doing something to her, or did he pay the doctors to do it? I didn’t know, but I would do whatever it took to find out.
“Do you remember the names of the doctors that took care of her?” Rosco asks me, snapping me out of my head. “Maybe they can give us some insight into things.”
“I do, but they all died mysteriously.”
I guess that was the other sign that something was amiss. All the ones who could confirm or deny my suspicions were gone. The only way to know for sure would be to get a confession out of my father or...
“Wait,” I gasp, my eyes growing wide. “Why didn’t I think of it before?”
“Think of what?” Rosco asks, his eyes lighting with curiosity. “What is it, mi reina?”
“A toxicology report.” I gasp, fixing my gaze with his. “If there was anything in her system, then they would have records of it, right?”
I knew that it was a far-fetched idea, especially given the fact that if this was an intentional thing, then there was a chance all the records would be destroyed. However, I also knew if there was a good enough hacker out there, even if someone wanted to get rid of it, he would still be able to find it. After all, once it is in the world, it is always there.
“It’s a possibility.” Rosco responds. “I can have Marty look into it.”
“He already has enough on his plate.” I counter. “With having to watch Elise and help with finding my father and the cloaked people.” I continue. “We’re already asking so much of him.”
“That is his purpose.” He chuckles. “He does whatever I say, and I let him continue to keep his freedom.”
Keep his freedom. He was speaking of him the way he spoke of Elise. Were the two truly that similar? I guess I could learn more about it later.
“Speaking of Elise.” I say slowly, suddenly worrying since I was sure she was still somewhere hiding. “Should you have some men go and search for her? It has been a while.”
“She will be fine.” Rosco responds gently. “Like I told you, William...”
The rest of his words get lost as a loud shriek fills the air and shakes the building. Eyes widening, I look to Rosco, who has the same look of shock on his face, and when he jumps up and heads to the window, I follow.
When we reach, I stare out into the night, trying to find what made the sound, but as far as I can see, there’s nothing.
“What the hell?” Rosco growls, going on alert.
“I don’t know.” I admit, continuing to scan the area. “But whatever it was, it has to be near.”
As if hearing my words, another loud screech echoes around us as a large black creature can be seen just over the horizon.
“That,” I gasp, my eyes growing wide. “Is that…”
Although I knew that other mythical creatures did exist, I had never seen them personally. For the most part, almost all went extinct, but some still existed in faraway lands with small populations, so seeing one right here in front of me left me with shock and a fear that I had never felt before in my life.
“There’s no fucking way.” Rosco hisses, his expression going slack, as I’m sure he is putting the rest of the pack on alert. “I need you to do me a favor.” He continues when he comes back to me. “Take Serenity and get into the panic room.”
“What about you?” I demand, knowing what he is planning. “You can’t expect me to go hide while you’re battling that thing!”
“Don’t argue with me.” He snaps, beginning to usher me toward the room where Serenity is sleeping soundly. “It is clearly after Serenity, and that means that you are a target as well.”
“But…”
“No, butts, mi reina.” He hisses. “You’ve got to get somewhere safe while me and the rest of the pack deal with that thing, understand?”
He grows quiet while I continue to stare in disbelief, but deep down, I know that Rosco is right. I couldn’t fight in my condition, and Serenity needed one of us with her.
“Promise me.” I say slowly, feeling my heart begin to squeeze painfully. “No matter what, you will come to find me when all of this is finished.”
“I promise.” Rosco beams. “Have a little more faith in me, mi reina; nothing in this world will take me away from you and our baby.”
“Okay,” I whisper, scooping Serenity into my arms. “Be careful.”