Mathias (#1 The Chronicles of the Demon Wolf)

His name is Arthur De Vicenzo, the secret child of Lucien De Vicenzo. His existence was known a few years after the war of the third realm ended where his father held responsible for a coup d’etat. Stefano took Arthur under his care and provided everything he would need. Not only that, but Mathias also befriended him. Whenever Mathias wasn’t training with his brothers, he trained with Arthur. They were inseparable. That was why Mathias couldn’t kill him when Arthur was secretly planning to take over the Daemon Council.

Despite all he did, Mathias tried to be reasonable. He tried to bring Arthur back to the right path but the latter never wanted to listen. Mathias chose to lock Arthur in the time loop, hoping he would repent—not because he couldn’t be killed. Arthur is just a Daemon. The only reason Mathias wanted to retrieve the blade of hell is that his blood coated the blade. Arthur needs Mathias’ blood to undo the spell that binding him to the time loop.

Mathias observes the hospital room where Chelsea was abducted. It has been two hours since the abduction and the quake they all felt in the dungeon earlier was a result of illegal teleportation. Stefano has closed all portals going in and out of the realm which means the abductor might have been sent to somewhere randomly in the current realm.

“You don’t see it, don’t you?” Cynthia leans against the doorframe before glancing to the four Enforcers and her triplet brothers.

“What I don’t see?” Mathias asks her.

“I walked through the front entrance and I already could tell how he took her.” She glances outside the room. “Apparently, this part of the hospital doesn’t have many cameras installed because it’s a private wing.”

“Speak quick, Cynthia. Their lives could be in danger,” Ryker interrupts.

“Obviously, she was lying down on the bed when the abductor came. Very little crumple with the bedsheet and duvet. I could tell she’s weighed a feather. She’s underweight for a girl at her age. Untouched lunch. No meat. Ah, she’s a vegetarian werewolf—physically not possible because werewolf needs to consume meat. I guess, she replaced red meat for fishes.”

Cynthia bends down and observes the cup of cold coffee on the glass table. “Her mother was sleeping here.” then, she walked to the chair at the corner and checked another cup. “So did Alpha Owen. Supposedly, caffeinated drink keeps you awake. But, they fell asleep.” Cynthia dips her index finger into the cup before bringing it to her mouth and tasted the black liquid. “Sleeping potion. Very high dosage. Could make someone sleeps for days.”

She sniffs the air. “There’s a faint scent of blood in the air. While there is no sign of Chelsea fighting off her abductor, her sudden movement caused the wound on the crook of her neck reopened. Hence, the faint smell of blood. Nobody suspected anything about him because obviously, he disguised himself as a doctor. But, why didn’t she fight him off?”

Tanto raises his hand. “Because she’s injured?”

“Every bed in this hospital is equipped with an emergency button where the patient could reach it.” Cynthia stands next to the bed and raises the left handrail. She presses the button and an alarm blares outside the room. “Chelsea’s injury is on her right side. Her left-hand works perfectly without any pain. Mathias knows the answer why Chelsea didn’t fight Arthur or at least scream for help.”

“Arthur’s peculiar gift is controlling people to do as he says.” Mathias replies softly.

“It’s what we call love spell,” Cynthia clarifies. “Chelsea is practically a broken girl since she was born. That made her an easy victim to fall under Arthur’s ability.”

“How did you know all of these?” Lynn Rhodes, Chelsea’s mother, comes in.

“Clair de la Lune,” Cynthia replies.

“What?”

“The perfume you’re wearing is Clair de la Lune. A gift for your 45th birthday last year. As a woman who is married to a strict husband, you never questioned about the gift. You thought it was from your husband when the truth is it was Chelsea who bought it. She put it inside a beautiful red velvet box without putting a card or indicating who gave the gift. Despite being a disappointment in the family, she never forgot to buy gifts for important dates and put it where you would see it.”

“You get that from sniffing the perfume?” Tanto asks.

Cynthia shakes her head and shows a crumpled receipt on her palm. “Found this in the bin next to the bed.” she stares at the receipt before looking at Lynn again. “A red velvet box and a bottle of Clair de la Lune perfume. Date of arrival is today which is your 46th birthday. The address is your home. I know a broken girl when I see one.”

Cynthia walks to the door and says, “It’s up to you to fix this, Mathias.”

Eva keeps using her power, trying to break open the cage but nothing happens as if the cage is made to withstand her power. She sighs and sits on the floor. There are dozens of cages in the room she’s being locked in. Majority of those cages are occupied. She spots a new recruit, Chelsea Rhodes, in one of the cages. She doesn’t seem to be in good condition.

“Chelsea?” Eva stands up, looking to the higher ceiling where Chelsea’s cage being hung. “Chelsea, can you hear me?”

Gibberish grunts come from Chelsea as she tries to open her eyes to see who called her name. Eva sees several bruises on her. Why did they capture Chelsea? It doesn’t make sense. Chelsea has no connection to Mathias.

“She does have a connection to him,” someone says from the door.

Eva spins around and sees the culprit. “She’s his mate,” Arthur says, looking up briefly. Then, a playful smirk replaces his smile. “Ah, Mathias didn’t tell you, didn’t he?”

Mate…that word sinks in Eva’s mind. Was that why Mathias looked like he was counting every second he spent with her lately? Was it because he already found his mate? But, he isn’t the only one who keeps secret. She keeps a secret too.

Her mate is Chelsea’s brother. How did they all entangle in this situation?

“You’re lying,” Eva replies, shaking her head. “Mathias would have told me.”

“Well, did you tell him that you’ve found yours?”

She bites her bottom lip. Arthur knows everything. How did he know?

“That’s what I thought,” he laughs. “Liars were made for each other.”

“Aren’t you a saint one?”

He shakes his head. “I’m not a saint, Eva. Never do.”

He stretches his hand to reach for her cheek. Eva couldn’t move a muscle even though she wanted to. It feels like he has her body under his control. When his cold fingers touch her warm skin, she shivers.

“Such a shame,” he mumbles softly. “So much dark secrets hidden behind this beauty.”

“You’re going to use us as leverages to get to Mathias?”

Arthur chuckles, pulling his hand away. Then, she could move her muscles again. Arthur looks to Chelsea’s cage.

“Tell me what else you see at her.” he nods his head to Chelsea. “Other than an-almost-rejected mate.”

“Mathias wouldn’t reject her!”

“Maybe yes. Maybe no.”

Chelsea groans in the pain in her cage. She would need another administration of the cure to fight the poison in her blood. Despite being treated for over two weeks, Chelsea shows a slow sign of recovering. Her system is still tainted with Mathias’ demon wolf venom.

“She needs a cure. You wouldn’t want to lose one of your leverages, aren’t you?”

Then, he laughs loudly as he shakes his head. “Eva, you’re so blinded. Chelsea is not poisoned. She’s transforming…” Eva’s face loses its color at his words. “...into a demon wolf.”