The bag slipped from Gabrielle's fingers and landed on the ground with a soft thud.
For a few seconds, neither of them moved.
Eadlin looked just as shocked as she was as though he could not believe what he had just done.
Slowly, he removed his hand from her cheek and took a step backwards. An awkward smile appeared on his face before he rubbed the back of his neck nervously.
"Goodnight, Gabrielle."
Without waiting for a response, he turned around, entered his car and drove away.
Gabrielle remained standing exactly where he had left her.
The food bag was still on the ground.
The evening breeze moved gently through her hair, yet she barely felt it.
Her mind was completely blank just filled with confusion, shock and a strange lingering happiness. .
After what felt like forever, she bent down, picked up the bag and slowly walked into the house.
The moment Gabrielle entered the living room, two pairs of eyes followed her immediately.
Ariel and Alex were seated on opposite sides of the couch.
Alex had his legs stretched across the centre table while Ariel sat cross-legged with a notebook in her hand. They both have been waiting for her to come.
At first, neither of them said a word they simply watched Gabrielle.
Gabrielle walked past them, smiling.
She dropped the food on the kitchen counter.
Still smiling.
She began arranging things inside the refrigerator.
Still smiling.
Ariel narrowed her eyes.
Alex narrowed his too.
The twins exchanged glances like they planned it.
"Spill it."
Gabrielle nearly jumped.
"What?"
Ariel folded her arms.
"What happened?" She said then stood up, her twin followed.
"Nothing happened."
Ariel stared at her.
Alex stared at her.
Neither looked convinced.
"I don't buy that." Ariel replied.
Alex nodded.
"But she said nothing happened."
Ariel turned sharply. "You are not helping."
Gabrielle rolled her eyes.
"You missed training." Ariel started.
Gabrielle sighed immediately.
"Not this again."
"You disappeared all day." Ariel walked closer.
"I was with Joan."
"That doesn't change anything." Ariel took few more steps forward.
"Your powers are dangerous, Gabrielle. Every day you keep avoiding training is another day you risk hurting yourself."
Gabrielle looked away.
Ariel continued.
"You still don't understand what you are. You keep tapping into other people's powers without realizing it. "
"What is the worst that can happen?"
"Ohh the worst? You is to open a passage which can lead to the destruction of a lot of things and even you…..."
Gabrielle wasn't listening anymore more like she was lost.
Ariel stopped talking.
Slowly, Ariel reached for her wand. The crystal at its tip glowed brighter than usual.
Alex immediately moved closer to her.
"What are you doing?"
Ariel ignored him.
The wand glowed brighter.
"Gabrielle, daughter of Queen Neta."
Gabrielle blinked.
"What?"
"Spill it."
Ariel eye ball glowed so bright as the wand flashed.
"Eadlin kissed me!"
The words escaped before Gabrielle could stop them.
Silence, everywhere went silent.
Gabrielle's eyes widened, her hands flew to her mouth.
Alex burst out laughing so hard. She sits on the couch and after a few seconds, a bowl of popcorn appeared instantly in his hands.
"Now this is entertainment."
Ariel stared at Gabrielle for a few seconds before shaking her head in disappointment.
"Your life is at stake here you are thinking about a guys kiss?" Ariel said then she turned and began walking away.
"Ariel!"
Gabrielle hurried after her.
"Ariel wait!"
"No."
"Ariel please!"
Gabrielle finally caught up to her.
"I promise I'll focus."
"I promise I'll master my powers."
Ariel slowed down.
Gabrielle immediately noticed.
"I have to help Joan, please."
That finally made Ariel stop.
For the first time all evening, her expression softened slightly.
"Intensive training for 3 days, you miss a day then I go back to my world."
Gabrielle nodded.
"Not as fun as I thought." Alex said disappointedly.
*******
Meanwhile, Eadlin drove home with one hand on the steering wheel and a thousand thoughts inside his head.
Part of him was celebrating while the other part was screaming at him.
What were you thinking?
You kissed her.
Without warning.
Without asking.
You should have done it earlier.
That was so brave of you.
What if she hates you now?
What if she never speaks to you again?
You are such a fool.
The argument continued all the way home.
By the time he arrived at the mansion, he was so distracted that he nearly drove past the main entrance.
As he entered the building, he spotted Doctor Song walking down the hallway carrying a tray. Several bottles sat neatly on it.
Eadlin recognized them immediately.
Sedatives.
"Who are those for?"
Doctor Song stopped.
"The woman staying in the east wing. Miss Erica's guest?"
"Funny." Eadlin replied.
Doctor Song adjusted his glasses. "What is sir?"
Eadlin folded his arms.
"How is she?"
"Nobody is allowed to know whether she's alive or dead." Doctor Song replied.
"And yet you're giving her sedatives." Eadlin fired back but in a very low tone.
Doctor Song looked uncomfortable.
"I only follow instructions."
Eadlin laughed.
"So we're giving medicine to dead people now?"
Without waiting for a reply, he walked away.
A few minutes later, Eadlin arrived outside Erica's private ward.
He pushed the door open without knocking.
Inside, he found his father sitting beside Erica on the bed.
Mr. Yungie looked up.
"Where is Erica?" He said as soon as he entered.
"What happened to good afternoon Dad?"
"Where is she?"
Mr. Yungie sighed.
"Good afternoon to you too."
Almost on cue, Erica entered the room. She froze slightly when she saw Eadlin.
"Hi, Eadlin."
"Is she my mother?"
The question landed like a bomb making the room silent as it was aimed at.
Erica stared at him.
Mr. Yungie stared at him.
Neither seemed prepared for that question.
Finally, Erica spoke.
"No."
She turned to leave.
Eadlin grabbed her arm, hard.
"Oww!"
"Eadlin." His father's voice became stern.
"Let her go."
Eadlin didn't but his eyes remained fixed on Erica.
"Dad, she has been keeping a woman hidden inside this house and drugging the woman"
"Ashley knows." Erica defended herself.
"What about everyone else?"
No answer.
"What about the pendant?"
Mr. Yungie frowned.
"What pendant?"
"The one you gave to my mother."
For the first time, uncertainty crossed his father's face.
"I don't know how she got it," Erica said carefully. "But right now my concern is making sure the woman recovers. After that, we can hand her over to the police."
"Take me to her." He said still holding her.
"No." Erica replied firmly.
Eadlin stepped closer.
The fear that usually stopped him was gone.
Freddie's words echoed in his head.
Always scared.
Always running.
Not this time.
He leaned closer to Erica.
"You really don't want to know how far I'll go to see that woman."
A chill ran through Erica's body.
"Take me to her." He added then let go of her hand.
For the first time, Erica looked genuinely afraid not just because of Eadlin but because his father would have his back now that his mother is involved.
Mr. Yungie slowly stood up.
"I want to see her too."
Erica's face dropped.
Immediately she placed a hand over her stomach.
"I don't feel well."
Mr. Yungie wasn't listening anymore. He walked directly to her wardrobe, opened it and retrieved a key.
"Stay here and rest, I will call the maids to attend to you." Mr Yungie said then left with his son.
Erica's heart nearly stopped.
I cant let them see her.
What if she is his wife? What will happen to me?
Three female workers entered interrupting her thought.
As father and son made their way through the mansion, Erica secretly instructed several maids to create distractions.
One spilled a tray.
Another started an argument.
A third claimed a staff member had collapsed.
None of it worked.
Mr. Yungie ignored everything so did Eadlin. They either refer them to Ashley or someone else.
They continued walking until they reached the isolated corridor at the far end of the east wing. The corridor felt strangely quiet.
Mr. Yungie reached the door first.
His hands trembled slightly as he inserted the key.
The lock clicked.
The door slowly opened.
Both men stepped inside.
And then, Mr. Yungie froze.
His eyes locked onto a familiar pendant resting against the woman's neck.
A pendant he would recognize anywhere.
A pendant he had personally placed around Isabella's neck years ago.
The colour drained from his face.
"Eadlin…" His cracked as he called.