“Captain Zephyr,” said Lilian’s captor who was apparently known as Commander Phrixus. He bowed slightly as a gesture of respect to the young man without easing his hold on Lilian’s arm.
Zephyr, thought Lilian. It rhymed well with ‘Sapphire’. Realising she was in great danger, she shook off her muse. She looked carefully at ‘Captain Zephyr’. He was wearing a hat which he just took off and placed it on the sofa.
Lilian raised her eyebrows. He was the figure he saw outside of the cafe! These people must have been spying on her family for quite some time.
“You understand that the General won’t tolerate any defiance, right?” said Zephyr with an air of strong warning.
“I understand Captain, but this girl had lost her memory. She is useless like this,” said the Commander, defending himself.
“Of course she lost her memory,” said Zephyr, walking towards Jeremy and Maria. “The Keeper has her memory, right?” the question was clearly directed to Jeremy and Maria.
“We don’t even know who The Keeper was. Only her parents knew about it,” said Jeremy, slightly struggling but was kept motionless by his captors.
Lilian froze. Her parents? What did her father meant?
“Dad, what are you talking about?”
“I’m sorry, Lily. There are so many things we can’t tell you,”
“Lily? What kind of name is that?” teased Commander Phrixus. “Do you know that your real name is Rhea?” he directed the question to Lily.
“My name is Lilian, you crazy monster!” snapped Lilian. She felt Commander Phrixus’ grip tightened on her elbow and the sword’s blade skimmed lightly on her neck.
“I’ll take her,” said Zephyr, nodding towards Lilian. “The Council had sent their legion here an hour ago. Stop them while I sort things out with this girl. There’s information I need before I can bring her to Pleidus,”
Commander Phrixus groaned in disgust and shoved Lilian towards Zephyr who caught her by the waist. “Be careful with her, Captain. You know who she is,” warned Commander Phrixus.
“I’m well aware of that, Commander,” Zephyr assured.
Suddenly, Commander Phyrixus made a simple gesture with his hand and his men who held Jeremy and Maria pointed their guns to the couple. They pulled the trigger. Lilian gasped. There was no sound, as if their used silencer with the gun. Jeremy and Maria fell to the floor, groaning in agony.
“Commander!” prompted Zephyr furiously. “What do you intend to prove with that action?”
“They won’t talk. They might as well be dead,” said Commander Phrixus simply before leaving the house with his team, leaving Jeremy, Maria, Lilian and Zephyr in the house.
Lilian broke free from Zephyr and knelt beside Jeremy and Maria. She burst into tears almost instantly when she saw that they were bleeding from the wound on their chests. She held both of their hands, sobbing uncontrollably.
“Mom, Dad, what is happening?” she wept. “Why do they make us like this?”
Maria reached out her hand to touch Lilian’s cold cheek. Maria was shaking, her skin burning. From the look of her face, she was in an extreme agony. And so as Jeremy.
“I’m sorry, dear,” Maria forced herself to speak. “You will know the truth sooner or later, but we want you to know that whatever happens, we will always love you,”
The words burnt Lilian’s heart.
“I’m sorry,” she said guiltily. “I’m sorry. I promised I won’t complain about moving anymore but please don’t leave me. Please...,” she pleaded. Jeremy shook his head slowly.
“It’s not as easy as that. We won’t make it. This is not normal wound. These are poisoned bullets,” said Jeremy, holding Lilian’s hand even tightly as if he was fighting with pain which was in his body now.
“They only have about fifteen minutes to talk,” Zephyr interrupted as he leant against the wall, watching the drama which unfolded in front of him. “After that they would not be able to talk because of the pain and they will only die after half an hour later.”
“Then do something!” Lilian half-yelled to Zephyr. “Please...,”
“I can’t do anything. The poison has no antidote. It is burning their internal organs now,” said Zephyr gloomily.
Lilian burst into a fit of cries again.
“Don’t cry, Lily. We know that you are a strong girl,” soothed Jeremy. “Just listen to what I want to say,” his voice dropped into a whisper that Lilian moved closer to Jeremy to listen.
“In one of the drawer of my study, there is a medium wooden chest. You will find a letter in there and several other items for you to treasure. You will also find a pouch in there. If by any chance you would meet a boy called Leon, give him the pouch,” said Jeremy slowly and with great difficulty between his bloody coughs. Lilian just nodded willingly.
“Tell him we love him,” said Maria. Lilian nodded again.
“Promise us you won’t cry anymore,” Lilian cleared her throat and wiped clean her tears with her sleeve.
“I’ll try,” said Lilian.
Jeremy turned slowly to Zephyr. “You...”
Zephyr edged nearer to them and bent near them.
“I don’t know who you are but please keep her safe,” said Jeremy as he coughed out blood again.
“Dad, don’t! He’s evil!” said Lilian, shaking her head. Startlingly, Zephyr nodded once. He pulled Lilian away from Jeremy and Maria. She felt helpless as she let go of their hands reluctantly.
Suddenly, Jeremy reached out to hold Zephyr’s jacket sleeve.
“Please,” begged Jeremy as he pulled Zephyr’s sleeve. “Please...” Both Jeremy and Maria were breathing heavily, traces of suffering and agony lingered in each of their breath.
Zephyr let out a sighed. He slowly backed away from Jeremy and Maria. Lilian just watched them in dismay, unable to understand why Jeremy would beg Zephyr for anything.
Suddenly, Zephyr grabbed Lilian’s waist and spun her around so that she was to face the kitchen instead of the dying couple. Zephyr took out something from inside his jacket and...
Both Jeremy and Maria’s heavy breathing seized abruptly. Lilian felt as if her heart stopped for a split second before beating rapidly as her worst nightmare came true. Zephyr let go of her as he went to the senseless bodies of Jeremy and Lilian and closed their eyes.
They were dead!
Lilian did not feel like crying for she had promised Maria not to cry. Instead, anger fuelled her. Anger for the man who had unceremoniously shot her parents to death. Anger for herself who was unable to understand anything that was happening around her at the moment.
Without thinking, Lilian charged towards Zephyr who was still bowing low, looking down at her parents. She searched for Zephyr’s neck and tried to strangle him. He reacted almost immediately, turning around to face Lilian to remove her hands from his neck roughly. He gripped her wrists firmly, pushed her backward and pinned her hands to the wall. Lilian tried to free herself but he was much stronger than her.
“Don’t you try to make me angry! I won’t easily forgive you next time,” he whispered menacingly. “And I won’t even hesitate to shoot you if you scream,” he continued. Lilian was shocked by his remarks. She did want to scream just seconds ago but she suddenly felt silent. Her body was trembling with fright and fury. She hated the feelings.
Suddenly, Lilian heard footsteps outside of her house. Zephyr too was intently listening. The footsteps ended in front of the door of her house followed by a knock on the door.
“Lilian?” Ryan’s voice floated from outside. Lilian’s heart raced faster. What was he doing here? She remembered his text message just before her cellphone battery went out. Maybe he wanted to inform me that he was going to drop by. Maybe he was worried that I did not return his text message or call which made him decided to check me out.
Zephyr swiftly covered Lilian’s mouth with his hand and pulled her to the kitchen. They crouched beside the kitchen cabinet. Lilian was determined to break free from Zephyr and run towards the door- towards Ryan but Zephyrs grip on her hand was so firm.
“Remember what I said just now. Not a sound,” he hissed slowly. Lilian grunted frustratingly. How could she make a sound when his hand was covering her mouth?
Minutes passed in silence. It felt like a lifetime to Lilian.
Then, she heard the doorknob turned. The door creaked as Ryan pushed it opened.
“Oh my God,” Ryan gasped, as he stumbled backwards out of the house.
No, don’t go yet. I’m still here! Lilian was dying to call out to Ryan but she could not move. Three seconds later, he was gone. Zephyr uncovered Lilian’s mouth. As much as she wanted to scream, she just could not do it.
“He’s calling the police. They will be here in a few minutes. We must go” hissed Zephyr into Lilian’s ear. He gripped her wrist and pulled her to the back door.
“I’m not leaving my mom and dad!” Lilian hissed back, wringing free her hand from Zephyr’s grip. They stared at each other furiously.
“They were not your parents and I’m not compromising with you. This is an order,” said Zephyr angrily. His eyes were red, shone by the moonlight which penetrated trough the curtains of the kitchen’s window.
“Who are you to order me? Do you know what I’m going to do? I’m going to go get Ryan and get his help. We’ll call the police and they will sort out the rest,” said Lilian nervously, unsure whether she meant anything she said when she was very sure that she would not be able to escape from this young man.
“I gave my word to your guardian that I will keep you safe,” said Zephyr, stepping closer towards Lilian. She stepped back slowly. “Besides, they want you alive. Till then, I will keep you breathing at the very least,”
“Who are ‘they’? I don’t understand at all. Why is this happening?” asked Lilian nervously as Zephyr edged nearer to her. Lilian was already standing still, leaning against the kitchen cabinet.
“You’ll understand soon enough. You just have to follow me,”
Lilian shook head. Tears brimming in her eyes again. She stole a glance at the lifeless bodies of Maria and Jeremy sprawled on the carpet of the living room. Maybe if she stays here for a while, the police will arrive and she will be saved from this psychopath, Lilian thought.
“Or maybe, I will have to kill that boyfriend of yours. What was his name again? Ryan?” Zepyhr whispered menacingly into her ears. His warm breath tickled her neck in an eerie way. He looked into her eyes. Fears. He could see fears.
“No, not him. Please, no more killing,” Lilian was practically begging him. She shook her head and tears started to trickle down her cold cheek.
“I couldn’t help it if you are being stubborn like this,” said Zephyr, playfully raising his eyebrows.
You cold-hearted creature! Lilian screamed in her head.
“I’ll come with you,” she breathed.
“That’s my girl,” Zephyr said tonelessly, wiping her tears with his gloved hand. Lilian did not resist because she dared not move a muscle. He smiled threateningly. “But I have to give you something just to make sure you would not get cold-feet midway,”
Lilian did not understand what he meant. For a moment, she felt Zephyr’s left hand wrapping around the back of her neck before a tiny prickling pain descended on the sensitive skin of her neck like a needle drove into the dermis.
-End of Chapter 4-
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