Chapter 77 - The Unforgiving Luna

"W-who are you? What are you looking for? Why are you searching my place" I heard Lorelei ask. She sounded scared and I wondered if it was real or all an act.

"I'm not sure you want to know who I am" Grayson answered "We are looking for a very precious lady. About this tall, brown eyes, brown, long hair"

"There are a lot of people that fits that description but even so, I cannot help you. I have been indoors throughout today and haven't gone anywhere"

"Or maybe she came to you"

"I haven't seen anyone either"

"Really?" He chuckled"We'll find out"

"By the way, your daughter looks very cute"

There was silence after this statement and I could hear Lorelei's sharp breaths.

"Are you sure you don't want to start confessing?"

Shit shit shit!!!

Was he going to use her daughter to threaten her ? That would work like hell!

We are doomed! I whispered to Ryan.

The footsteps returned and I heard an unfamiliar voice "We found no one"

For some reasons, this kind of settings made me think about that day. The day it all happened.

Just like how I was hiding here, I was hiding under the table that day, away from them and at the end, they didn't find me or maybe they did, because I had let them.

"I told you there was no one here and again, why would I keep a total stranger? Those in this town should know better"

"Exactly" Grayson chuckled "Where could she have disappeared to then?" He started to whistle and he moved around a bit.

"She doesn't look like she's lying"

"Or she's just a professional"

Jeez. They were saying this to her face.

"It doesn't matter if you believe me. You won't find anyone here tonight no matter how long you check"

"Is it because you've hidden her?"

"Why would I do that for a stranger? I have no where to hide a person"

"They're two actually" he corrected.

"Two?"

"Let's leave" Ezra said and I didn't know if Grayson agreed or not. I only heard the footsteps going out and after a while came his voice again.

"We'll check the other places as well. If I find out you lied to us... Your little princess will pay"

Lorelei took in a breath as she held Mona's hands tighter.

The door finally closed and I didn't expect Lorelei to let us out right away. It was still dangerous but it was even nice when she slid a note down after a while.

'I can't put Mona in danger. Forgive me Freya. I'll have to let you out once I'm sure it's safe'

"What did it say?" Ryan whispered over my shoulder and I gave the note to him and he read it.

"We don't mind, do we?" He asked after he finished.

"Of course we don't. He could really do something to Mona if he finds me" the thought of Grayson hurting the little girl didn't sit well with me.

I would blame myself forever if anything happens.

We both took a look around this underground basement. It was like a storeroom and Ryan was quick to find a foam mattress.

"You can manage this for the night"

"No, you use it"

"I found it for you" his eyes looked different now as he stared at me. It was as if he won't back down no matter what I said "You don't expect me to sleep on this while you sleep on the cold floor do you?"

A smile sneaked it's way to my lips and I pinched his cheeks. "You've grown so much huh? You use to fight with me over these things"

"You've suffered enough, Freya. I do not plan to add to it. We both--"

"How about you tell me how you've been doing?" I cut him off. We were both tired but we could use the night to discuss this. It was something I had been curious about afterall.

Silence passed by for a few seconds as I laid down the foam mattress and Ryan took in a deep sigh before he started, sitting with both legs crossed.

"I remember how mom and Dad died"

I froze for a moment then I swallowed hard and asked "Then why did it seem as if you didn't remember anything. It was as if you had been manipulated to think I killed Mom and Dad."

"It was all an act. I wanted you to leave as soon as possible and it was the only thing I could think about"

I nodded slightly, as I understood what he meant.

"That night, we were all secretly preparing for your birthday. Dad organized a birthday surprise for the next morning, the moment you wake up but it never happened. Dad was packing our things in the middle of the night. I asked him where we were going but he didn't answer. He just asked me to get you. He looked panicked and scared. Mom was also like that. When I didn't move, she headed out to get you herself and of course, that was the last time I saw her" his voice shook as he continued "They attacked us then. From all angles. Strange looking men, dressed like assassins attacked Dad and he fought back but it was of no use since they were as strong as he was and also outnumbered him. They killed Dad and I cried until I had no tears left and eventually, I passed out."

"When I woke up again, I was with him, Ezra. He told me you had killed our parents. That our parents were no more. I didn't believe it but I couldn't even confirm what he was saying because I was his prisoner. He kept me for months and once he had made sure I was obedient enough, he started to bring me to the palace"

"The more obedient I was, the more freedom I could get. I spent my free time looking for you and Dad and Mom. They weren't even buried. It was as if you vanished out of existence. I couldn't find a single information about you. It was as If Freya was... Dead. And that day, I happened to see you at the palace. I never imagined that I would see you there of all places. I had to pretend not to know as It would put you in trouble but then you came looking for me. Ezra heard everything we discussed that day. He followed me and that was how he was able to get to you." Ryan sighed at the end, his eyes dropped down in sadness "I'm sorry for causing you all this trouble. I couldn't even protect you. I couldn't protect our family"

"No, it's not you who should be sorry" I whispered, my eyes looking in the distance as it processed all of the informations I had received so far.

"It's me who should apologize because it's true.... It's true that I killed Mom and Dad. It's fu-cking true..." A tear slid down my cheeks.