"What if this pack belonged to that same woman you guys met?" Damien asked Sam. He's sceptical about their next move.
"I don't think. We have our guns. Let's get in first."
"Alright," Damien added. He held his gun closer to him and was ready to shoot anything coming. Alpha did the same because they've gotten to the mouth of the cave.
"Who's going in first?" Sam asked.
"You led us here. You should go in first." Sam looked at both of them and giggled. He moved into the mouth of the cave. Spider webs cover the entrance and he cleared them away with his gun and stepped inside the dark.
The next thing they heard from him was a scream and someone falling hard on the floor. Some light came up. He looked around him and found fossils. He yelled.
"Guys?"
"What up down there?"
"Nothing much. My back hurts. Use the ropes."
"Sorry." They both said smiling.
"You guys are laughing at me?" Sam chuckled.
They threw the rope they found In the car and went down gently with it. Alpha felt guilty for not having gone directly to Smallsvile to save Catherine but then he realised they were doing what was necessary because they'd been outnumbered. Lots of his pack members ran away after his assumed death though they've not talked about it. Probably they won't remember it.
As they reached down he turned to Damien and asked.
"What do you think will happen to Catherine?"
"Nothing, Alpha. Let's get things done first. Remember she's not the only one with them."
*********
Georgina tried calling her men, but their numbers weren't going through. She rushed out of her office into the bunker where they kept Catherine, Sarah and the children. The inside was darker because of the little lightning. She stepped into the cell room and yelled at them. Their mouths have been gagged with ropes and their hands were cuffed up to the wall. It wasn't a Spanish enquiry but it seemed like one.
"We studied you guys for a while before attacking. Where are they?"
She started to push them aside to see if they have phones with them. It was a steaming afternoon and what had happened to her men had gotten to her. She took out her phone and called a number.
"Dan, get to the armoury now, I left the door wide open. And check the back doors, they should be locked at all times."
She hung up and went back to them.
"I need answers. You guys should answer me. You know where they went to." She yelled and accused them in a rather high pitched tone.
"And I won't have my men dead just like that. I'll make sure I nab them."
She checked them and pulled at their hair. Catherine yelled when her head started bleeding. Sarah looked at her but could not do anything. The children were kept in another room away from theirs.
Georgina, when she couldn't get them to talk even after opening their mouths, walked out of the bunker after slapping Catherine across the face. Blood came out of her mouth and her head hurts from pulling her hair but Sarah was saved, she was mildly beaten. Probably Georgina has something for Alpha. though their escapade never lasted it was dissolved when they plunged into the realm.
After the first call, Georgina knew all her men sent to bring back Alpha, Damien and Sam were dead. Only Lillian managed to come back with an injury to her right hand. She was in the only car that escaped.
And She had pushed them aside and asked them questions because She knew how dangerous Alpha is and the damage he can do when power riches his hands. She was too smart not to have thrown that aside. That's why she made sure stronger men in are park went for the kill but they all died.
Alpha would have been killed had it been they known where he was earlier because after they dissolved into the realm together Georgina was separated from him. He went missing on the radar controlling the game.
She found herself in Bartôrk, in Elvira's room. When she landed she was weaker and the wolf form lacked enough power to feel itself inside of her. Elvira welcomed her and asked her to sit down.
"Georgina, I can give you all you want if you work for me. I know your weakness and your strengths. Your father was a noble thief that no one knew he stole from the vault of Fifth Alley years ago. He's still alive and I can assure you his safety if you continue working for me. I heard at some point you wanted to change your mind."
"No that wasn't it."
"Then what was it? Anyway it's a minor thing."
" Thank you ma'am. I'll continue to represent you well."
"Good. As for Aiden Alpha, I don't know how he managed to disappear from the wave bringing him here but don't worry about him. We'll deal with him in other ways. You should eat. "
***
Elvira's goal was to be the sole Luna ruling the islands. She wants to get rid of all others and make sure everything will be under her. She hates Catherine and that was known right from when they were kids. That's why Alex took Catherina away to leave with Jenn.
And all through the years, she has proven to be different and Alex took care of that till his death.
Now she's with John and Maddie Dikkorp, her uncles which only she knew are her uncles and are going to fall under her plans. But then there are things she doesn't know yet.
***
Georgina went back into the office, thinking of what to do next. She knew had it been Alpha never disappeared from the realm they would have killed him. She knew how strong and strange Alphas are and she being a Beta to Elvira, she doesn't want to lose her position. She didn't care about the rumours she heard about Elvira that she isn't a she-wolf. She only cares about the integrity of her father. That is what she's protecting and she is going to do so with her life if that is what it takes. Her phone buzzed. It was a message with pictures attached. When she opened it she was surprised.
Quickly she dialled Elvira's number. She picked.
"I just got intel that they are in Cave A. We are going there now."
"Good. Make sure you get them this time."
"I will."
She hung up and went straight downstairs to assemble new men that will go to Cave A and bring back Alpha, Damien and Sam.
"You guys are going to bring them here. Make sure you use the new strategy. Never start with shooting. Bring them here alive. You are a pack. You should be stronger and ready to deal with rebels. Alpha, Damien, Sam and those ladies caused the death we've experienced so far. Bring them back here."
"Dead or alive!" They continued chanting that. They all marched out into the car and drove off to face the enemies.
Georgina went back inside and sat with Lillian who was resting in the shade eating some grapes.
"You know them better than I do, Lillian." She Said and sat beside her.
"Yes. They have mastered resilience and are risky. They are ready for anything. Especially that man called Sam. He has energy. I was able to collect some brain waves we could have used that to map out some plans."
"Where are they?"
"One of the kids, Tina, destroyed it. I think that girl could sense me from day one. She's small with a sharp mouth."
"Let's see what the guns can give us."
"Sure. Have some grapes."
***
Her men set out on a journey to nab Alpha, Damien and Sam. They have discovered that they are now in the cave. A cave is full of other parks that would easily welcome them. The men entered the SUVs and they started driving toward the road. The bower stood by the side. It was a bit destroyed, though its outlook and every other thing seem like they are ready to stand for another century.
The hound still leaves there and the poet boy now lives in it too. It looks like Damien has forgotten about him but he has plans of his own. He wanted to break into the bunker and rescue Sarah, Catherine and the children. He started planning this on the day they took them away. He was close by when it happened. The cars drove past going faster like in a race. He looked at them from the window, he smiled and said in his mind: I know they will die.
***************
That same day John went back home thinking of how to deal with Whitney. She doesn't want to stop her project and he doesn't want to bridge the family oath of not maltreating a full-blooded Dikkorp. He knows they aren't that many again. They are just a few of them with some mixed-blood scattered around.
Some of the elites are mixed-blood though they are dead now. They are all dead now. This is what Whitney referred to as genocide of a tribe. She didn't stop accusing and pointing hands at her cousins. And her audience is growing larger. She continued talking about it telling everyone what she thinks should be done fast about the death of Andrea and those of the elites. And about what will continue happening in society.
Most of the workers have stopped working. All of them are basking and enjoying the atmosphere while the economy starts suffering and they weren't paying attention to it.
John sat down on a sofa and ran through some old files that had been under the table for days. He flipped through and discovered that they are old financial statements. He threw them down and focused on the thought in his head. He knows he controls the media but it's also better to make the people have the illusion of power and he knew Withney was too intelligent not to have doubts concerning her approach to making the people believe in her.
"Time is going. I need to know what she wants. If not I am going to break the family oath and Maddie will support me on this."
He said in his mind and then stopped for some moment to think about other things. Then those weren't coming. The thoughts of what his cousin is about to get took his mind. Then suddenly something else flashed in. It was the first time he saw Jenn Guero. She was in university then. She held a paperback edition of Wuthering Heights by Emily Bronte.
He smiled.
He remembered they had talked about the book and how Emily was such a brilliant radical. That was the word he used but Jenn countered him saying she loves her writings. John laughed and asked to read sexual politics by Kate Millet. She smiled.
"I read that book already. What do you think about it?"
"I think it's a good one on what underlined the first wave of what makes women."
She laughed and started walking away. John wanted to continue speaking with her but then it wasn't possible. She doesn't have an interest in him the way he wanted it to be.
He thought about her so much that people around him nearly knew but he was successful in hiding it.
John watched Jenn from one relationship to another and yet every time he tried she never gave him a chance.
He smiled and said.
"Sometimes having the chance makes the difference." Then he sighed and continued thinking about her. The thought of her, their first chat to the first one, made him happy.
"I'll look for ways to deal with Withney. She can't continue having her ways."
At that moment Elvira walked In. She wore a blue top and green jeans with an anklet that made her look like a Bohemian. She wanted to lock her hair but she was still waiting for the big win before doing that.
"Can I come in?" She asked with a paperback in her left hand.
"Take your seat, " John snapped out of his thought and grinned.
"I wanted to talk about this book and I want to talk about what has been happening recently. I have not discussed internal politics with you before. Don't know if I have gotten to that stage…?"
"You can discuss anything with me. You are talking about Withney?"
"Yes. I saw the news and the workers."
"Those," he chuckled. "Whitney has been like that since she was a child. Always causing a problem. She's our first cousin."
"Oh. "
"Your dad was closer to her. She's fond of him. And I like her so much that's why I have not stopped her. You spoke with her?"
"No. I want to know if I could. I hope she listens." He grinned and fiddled with the file on his table.
"Withney is stubborn and at the same time stunning. She's not going to listen to you. She only listens to her blood. I know she doesn't know you are blood. She's that stubborn."
"Alright," She said. "I think I should go now. I'll be back for the book discussion."
Part of the hook she used in earning Withney's trust was the bloodline. She saw that Withney was intelligent not to have read through her but she accepted the bloodline thing and hugged her tighter than when she first met her.
"I can smell it in your blood. I know Dikkorps when I see one." She smiled and hugged her closer.
Elvira came out of the elevator and walked toward her house. She wanted to discuss how she can use implication against Withney but then John knows what he is going to do. He never knew Withney works with her and that she's solely controlling Smallavile.
**********
The knobby stones in the cavern smell of animal musk and the shoes of Georgina's men shuffled over floors making the stalactites hanging from the ceiling quiver. One of the werewolves loitering about saw them coming with guns positioned and ready to shoot at anything. He ran for cover. He was in his wolf form.
They saw him and started running after him. The werewolf scampered on the walls and jumped into a hole leading to another side of the cave. He ran quickly towards the Alpha's room and was informed of what was coming their way.
"Get the visitors here." The Alpha said. He is much older than most people in the park. He has grey hairs growing on his moustache and his bald head makes him look like a judge. He was bare-chested with only a loincloth covering his lower part. Most of them dressed up like that.
He met them in the yard seated with others. Alpha was talking to them. They have already started building a team of helpers. And so far they've gotten fifty werewolves and twenty she-wolves ready to help them. The park had been in a feud with Whitney's pack for more than twenty years.
When Alpha got to the leader he was told about what happened and how they should start preparing to face the intruders.
"They are coming from the North wing. I was scrolling through when I saw them." The man said and pointed in the direction.
"Alright," he said and quickly they started planning on how to capture the men that came with guns. They know they won't relent and will always send people to capture It kill them but each they'll be ready for it.
The men moved quickly and started barricading and getting ready for whatever comes next. A bullet flew through and Alpha ducked it. The other ran towards the intruders in their wolf forms. They were ten men and three women. They continue shooting. Sam ran towards them from another angle. Since they came they've gotten chances to go around the cave so they understand how it works like a maze.
Sam grabbed them quietly but quickly from the back and slit their throats. He did that to the three men and the rest were killed by gunshots in an almost silent ambush.
After the little fight, they sat around the old Alpha. He held a staff with ancient engraving on it. It has the image of a Phoenix on it and that of Anubis and that of a face that looked like Medusa's. His face looked brighter than it was before and like it always does whenever he was about talking about things he thought they will learn from.
He positioned himself and said," Life is full of people, werewolves, she-wolves, other than us, animals and then infinity. The enemies will not stop coming. Don't show them your weaknesses."
They shouted, "Don't show them your weakness." He continued.
"When your weakness is shown to them you are dead. The World doesn't honour humble people. Throw that through the window."
After he finished talking to them, Sam walked up to Alpha Aiden and told him what he just discovered about the park and the Alpha.
"Whitney, the Luna I told you about, is from the dikkops and right she is Bartok, telling people to stay at home."
"Interesting but she is an enemy here," Alpha said.
"Yes. She nearly killed everyone here. But then her power must be backed by something."
Damien joined them and listened to them. They know it's high time for them to go back to Smallsvilla and face what is waiting for them. Alpha has been missing Catherine so much. He's just not talking about and somehow being in the sinkhole changed him a bit.
They walked back to their room with Alpha thinking about Catherine. Damien was thinking about what Sam told him about his poems and at the same time she was thinking about how to free his friends.
As they entered the room, Sam went straight to his bed and lay there looking at the stalactites, imaging how they formed, imaging how many years it took them to form. He lowered his head, looked around him and smiled.
"The world is simple when we take our time." He rolled over to face Damien, his bed is in the middle. The room came with such an arrangement.
"Damien, what are you thinking?" He asked.
"Hmm. I don't know but I have been thinking about the poems you said I recited and how I dressed. Strangely, I can't recall that."
"I shouldn't have told you," Sam said.
"It doesn't matter that much. You were great at It. Though I still want to hear you read some."
"Possibly when I get myself fully back. I would like to see how it feels."
Alpha still didn't say anything. He stayed in bed throughout the day thinking about Catherine. He tried stopping himself, but his thoughts overpowered him. He turned around to see his guys, they are sound asleep. He turned away from them.
"I need to be alone in my head." He whispered to himself then he turned to face himself, to look inward.
************
The next day, they gathered in the hall, the old Alpha admonished them before they set out to return to Smallsville.
"Kelly will take you through another route," he said
"Alright, sir," they said and followed Kelly. Kelly is taller and his chest is larger. He looks like he has been working out more than anyone in the park and his voice is firm and baritone and sounds like music.
"We have to go faster at some point. We might meet scorpions on our path. It's been year's anyone took his route."
"Alright, " Alpha said and touched his breast pocket like he kept something there.
The other men followed them. All of them are ready for what comes next. Though it's been years since they went out. They have been in the cave living on things there. Singing park music at night and listening to recitations park members got.
"You know," One of them said, "It was lovely being here. The serenity of everything and the fact that we all are our brothers' keeper."
"You are right," another one said. He wore a cap Sam gave him. It was gotten from those they killed.
When Kelly got them to exit, he signed and said, "I would have liked to have this experience but the Alpha Is sick. He needs me back and closer to him."
"Thank you, Kelly," They said and hugged and he departed as they went out through the opened archway.
***
What had stopped the rest of Georgina's men from entering was that they knew It would be unwise for them all to enter. They waited for those who entered to return with their prisoners but they never did.
They stood outside waiting with guns in their hands and bullets to use. At that moment Damien experienced an epiphany. He was able to sense deeper than before. He sensed them. He ducked by the exit door and asked everyone to wait.
"They are outside. Let's wait." He said looking at Alpha.
"Sure, we'll wait but then Sam you are amazing at shooting can you do something?" Alpha asked. Then he turned to the others.
"Sure. I need to see where they are located first. I need to position myself." He stepped gently to the door and opened it slowly so that he could peep through one of the holes scattered across it.
"This is great," he said, "They are at a great angle. It would have been a favour to them too but I'm going to use it first."
He took three grenades and asked them to get ready to open fire. Some of the men grinned and the few ladies among them moved forward to stand closer to Sam.
"We are ready anytime," Elizabeth said. She is the daughter of the Alpha. An only child but her father let her go because she said she was using it to honour her mother who wanted her to lead her park.
"Alright, then," Sam said. "Are we ready?"
"Sure" they All said.
Sam opens the door slowly and moves closer to it with grenades in his hands. The men on the other side saw the door opening and they prepared to attack too.
"The door is opening," One of them said. He grabbed his gun and got in position.
Sam finally opened the door. He stepped out and started yelling.
"I'm surrendering. I am surrendering. "
They aimed at him.
"Drop your guns." One of them yelled.
"I don't have any," Sam said.
"You fool! You want us to believe that?"
He cocked his gun and raised it to his shoulder.
"I'm blowing your head out if you don't bring out your guns."
Sam saw open space and quickly used it. The men were relaxing and thinking he had nothing much on him. He took out the grenades and quickly opened them and threw them in their way.
"He's got grenades. Run!"
Before they could run, the grenade caught up with them and blew them into pieces. Sam shouted.
"Come on guys. I did it!"
They quickly went out and headed towards the cars parked under some rock that looked like a car park. They opted in and took other cars from the dying men.
"We are going in three cars," Alpha said. "Sam, you drive that. Damien, you have this. I'm going in that. All of you can join whoever you wish but let's go six in a car."
Sam and Damien smiled. Alpha is getting himself back.