Xander take his earphone from the bedstand his hand faltering a bit when Isabelle turn on the bed "Will you always be here?"the little emotion twist and turn violently in his heart.
"Then you'd whisper that...You love me"That little word had made him think twice about her and their future,something he never gave a damn about,she shift again and this time he was forced to look at her.
"I might ruin your plans"She knew something or thought he knew something she knew but what could that thing be?.
He stood up and tippy toe out of the room,the light's outside was in full blown and Xander would've gone back inside thinking the party was still on if he hadn't seen his grandparents walking to their room,Xander made sure to stay out of sight till they're gone.
"Xander"he spun around the clear sign that his cover as been blown speak volumes. "You should be asleep"Grandpa Mack walk away from his wife and stride to Xander,lifting his gaze up a little he said "Where's your wife?I don't see Gary around so I..."
"I'm sorry for bailing out on you guys,I know you wanted this so much and I...in particular"Xander response elicited a chortle from Grandpa Mack.
"Wanna have a drink with this old man?"
"No wine"Xander stride to his Grandmother "Let's get you to your room"
"I'm not a pet"
"We know"Grandma Mack kiss his cheek affectionately "Now can we go"she nod.
"I don't know,I don't know"Xander take his beer and sit on the floor beside the fireplace "When I see her my heartache,I feel scared,her eyes...It's like it's telling who she is,it's defining her but still it tells me she's going to leave"Grandpa Mack drop a frame on the wall and thrust his hand on a small hole,he drag out a bottle of a vintage wine and a packet of cigarettes,Xander jump up with an outcry.
"Shhh"Grandpa Mack give him the packet and wine.
"I said no wine"he examine the drink in his hand
"Domaine de la Romanee-Conti "Romanee-Conti" 1965,why am I just seeing this?"
"Quiet down,I don't want to be chastised"
"Why?this is supposed to be in your cellar,what about the Screaming Eagle Cabernet you bought?wait! do you smoke now grandpa?"Xander remove a cigarette from the packet.
"I saw the packet with your father,I kept it here with me to remind him in the future that he really is a weak man"Grandpa Mack sit on the white armchair intersecting the room.
"Do you've a lighter?"
"No because I don't smoke,you think your guy could?"
"Nah,daddy won't,I've watched him up close for the past few years,why do you think they call me the ghost?Where did you find it?"Xander squat near the fire place and pick up a wood that as not caught fire completely and light the cigarette with it,he took a drag before sitting on the floor again.
"On the floor in his room,i was surprised and unhappy because he isn't like that,think he's dating a lady who loves to smoke "Grandpa Mack sigh pouring himself a glass of wine.
"No idea but I hope he does find one but not a smoker,maybe he'd a guest,where are the other collection of your wine?The wine cellar is empty"
"Your granny made a fit one day and I'd to you know...give it all out,it was tough"Xander scowl.
"Do you need a divorce?you gave out the wines? something you started at the age of 25"
"Does that matter?"
"It does,are you unhappy?"Grandpa Mack laugh making Xander set his brow into thin line "there's always a way out"
"Just leave me be,I'm okay with my life,and I want you to be okay with yours,I need grandchildren"
"Ask from sasha not me,I'm not interested in taking up that offer ever"Xander drink a mouthful of beer straight from the bottle.
"Why did she leave?Xander you're hellbent on punishing her from leaving but do you know the reason why?we've to know 'why'to help her,you can't hurt someone because you're scared of loosing her again,it's just not fair"
"How do you expect me to be fair?I feel hurt whenever I recall the past,whenever I say something wrong I get the urge to apologize immediately which is driving me crazy,because I don't love her"
"A relationship can't work without one person making a sacrifice"
"She left without anything to indicate where she was going or when she's coming back,I thought she was dead and the feeling grew more realizing triplicate is after her"
Grandpa Mack twirl the glass in his hand staring at nothing else but the fire,his emotions move as wave from the confusion "Triplicate?"
"Yes"
"You're making this up,triplicate isn't one to go after a girl for three years,he kills when he sees"
"I do know that,it's unbelievable for me too,Isabelle has something he wants"
"Maybe that was why she left us that letter stating where she was"Xander turn around like he was scalded by a boiling hot water "She said we can either come get her or let her go"
"Why?why didn't you tell me?"He stood up dropping the cigarette,his blood boiling "You knew where she was all this while and I fucking came to you,I'm your grandson"
"We'd to keep the secret for jamie,Xander don't you ask why jamie is suddenly back,from the time she was 11 no one saw her"Grandpa Mack said.
"She lived with their grandma,Isabelle told me that a lot of time and I....believed,what's there not to believe about?"
"Someone abducted her"Grandpa Mack swallow the lump in his throat "Because Mary is alive"
The masked man cuss under his breath,the only word he caught them saying is "Mary is alive"His grip on the portrait in his hand tighten,shaking his head and wiping out the sweats forming on his forehead.
Xander wanted to laugh at first,his grandfather was a no nonsense man and never joked,even now when he lowered himself and power and gave the Authority of the Mack enterprise to his only son he never jokes.
"You mean Aunt Mary,Isabelle mother is alive?"
"Yes"
"How did you know that?"
"Dagmara told me"Xander scoff.
"Aunt is dead"
"Who told you that?She's alive and well and before you ask, Hans know his mother is alive"
"Why am I just..."Xander face contort,he look closely at the place the wine and packet of cigarette are,the wine was still there but not the packet and his...he cuss,his beer is also gone "Is there some kind of magnet that attract bottles in this room?"
"No"Grandpa Mack stand up straight "Where's your beer?it was there a minute ago"
"That's also my question"
The masked man pour the whole content in the bottle inside his mouth,he throw it in the trashcan rubbing the back of his neck vigorously.
____________________FLASHBACK__________________
"I won't let you in until you tell me why you compelled that innocent boy"A young woman in her early 30s with beauties still eye catching with a mannish bob black hair stopping at her shoulders slam the door.
"Are you scared of me?I'm just 15and that isn't compelling,I hypnotize"A voice howled from outside.
"Who taught you?"Mary Augustyn sit on her black and grey couch comfortably knitting.
"I won't tell you Mary,I just want you to interpret my dream,I won't hurt you"Mary sigh and open the door,then step away for him to enter the duplex apartment. "It'll be brief,I promise"
"Stop compelling people"
"I needed that,I needed to eat"
"Your parents send you huge amounts of money and the thing you do to pay them is stealing around"Mary angrily.
"They left me at the orphanage what did they expect?"The boy sit on the floor "You're still over that man?"He point at a frame on the wall "he left you"
"For a good reason,I'll also leave one day"
"Why?why are you scared of the future?what strength don't you've to fight back?"Mary bring out her wool and knitting needle "I wanna be a chief"
"Really?"
"Someone like you...yuck You're horrible"
"If I wasn't scared of your hypnotizing skills I would have slap that gut out of your system,you told me the dream through the phone right?"
"Yeah but you didn't call back,if I hadn't escaped..."
"Through compelling or killing someone..."
"I grew up with an assassin what do you expect?"
"More,your true potential,how do you get away with everything?well let's talk about the dream"Mary drop the knitting wool and take a cup of coffee instead "Want some?"
"I'm a vampire"The two laugh "i wish I were one"Mary glare at him"I would love some"Mary hand him the cup and pour herself some "Is it serious?"
"She's going to die"
"Who?"
"Debra...and I'm sorry son... I can't stop it from happening"
______________FLASHBACK ENDS:_________________
The masked man run to the room he was directed to and a small smile grease his lip,his hand enfold around the remote control of the chip,he lift the painting and hide it behind the shelfs of the painting room.
"You'll die Isabelle,you sure will now"He ran out of the room.
Isabelle pick up the lying air conditioner remote on the bed and turn to face the window her mind far away,it suddenly jerk to reality when she saw the silhouette of a full grown man.
"That's unbelievable grandpa,I fucking saw it in the trash can,we don't have pets here,except for Gary who adopts every week,but there's none now, that's the point"Xander burst in "oh he isn't following"He throw his shirt on the bed "Are you alright?"He ask Isabelle noticing she's staring into space.
"Quiet"her voice Came out soft but with underlying danger "Someone is here"
"What?"He whisper and hear her tell him to look out but carefully and he saw the shadow of a man running "Damn it,Isabelle go inform Gary,I'll take care of it"She turn and pause.
"Why only you?you don't know if he's a..."
"I can take care of him"Isabelle nod and walk out but instead of going to Gary room,she hit the alarm meant to signal to the guards of the danger lurking around the building,she run to the kitchen and pick up three sharp knives.
Xander run after the shadow and like it sensed him he swung into action bringing out a gun,Xander laugh "You've got some nerves"
"I don't want to shoot you"
"Such a pity"Xander shoot the man twice in the heart and chase the others.
Isabelle thrust the knife into the chest of the man in front of her,she push him away and hit the other on the head her left hand with the knife stabbing him from his jaw,she suddenly stop aware of a strange thing,there wasn't any blood.
"Chief?"The men stood up from the ground and walk to her increasing in number with every step,Isabelle ruffle her hair getting the truth with one glance,the men were all wearing the same cloth,a tattered jean trouser and top.
She leap at them giving each one a kick in the head and to her dismay they evaporated,Isabelle continue this exercise on them all but instead of decreasing ,they increase in number.
"Stuck?I'm not in the mood to fight you"The masked man jump in front of her and the illusion made humans disappearing in a puff "Hello there Isabelle"Isabelle thrust her knife into his stomach,twisting it and plunging it deeper."ouch".
"We had a deal,get me my sister from emeryk and I'll leave but not forever"Isabelle twist it more,he groan in pain. "I didn't remember making a deal to involve my whole family in your diabolical plan"
"I didn't include Hans baby girl,and lest you forget you're the one hurting yourself,who killed Debra?just one answer why is it so difficult?"He remove the knife in the blink of an eye and had her pinned underneath him "You must be happy"
"Very"She grit her teeth.
"But we both know I won't die so easily,even though I can't heal myself"
"And we both know that at the end of the day I'll be the one to destroy you and that healing will be far away from your reach,get a private investigator or something they'll find out who killed her"The masked man grunt and push her away,Isabelle scream as her body was thrown against the wall.
"You were there,someone helped you out"
"Debra did"Though in pain she manage to utter.
"And the car exploded"
"So?"
"How's it possible that a car which tumbled off a bridge spend 10min before exploding"isabelle frown.
"What are you trying to get at?"
"The truth"The masked man drop the bloody knife on the ground opening his shirt a little to check how deep the wound is "There were two car one with you and Debra and the other with Debra lookalike"
"That's utter nonsense"
"Is it?I digged out the body Isabelle and when I did the DNA on it,it was negative which means the body isn't Debra's,don't you think she deserved to be buried properly not tossed into some lagoon with her body mutilated"he yell.
"I...I don't know what..."
"You knew"He cut in sharply "You knew they threw her into that lagoon and you knew why,Your mother isn't dead and I know if she was dead you wouldn't have protected her killer,I'm not going anywhere until I get what I want"
"Who are you?how are you related with the Mack's?this is beyond just getting revenge isn't it?"
"I'm someone who's going to ruin your entire family,watch your back Augustyn because who knows after your dear Gary your husband might be next"He put on a sympathetic smile, squat before her and stab her before dashing away with the painting firmly in his grasp.
Xander run to the balcony and stop in his track when he saw another man running out of the big gate protecting the building,he observe that the men aren't doing anything which only means they can't see him,Xander dash after the man but the loud scream of the maids in the mansion set him back.
Isabelle cover her wound carefully on sighting Xander,she struggle to get up her worry penting up 'After your dear gary'the worry the name caused suffocated her.
"Isabelle,oh my God"Xander amble towards Isabelle ignoring the continuous scream of the maids,he hadn't seen her there when he passed and he scolded himself for not observing before running off "Are you okay?"
"Go get Gary"
"Get up,are you wounded?"
"I need to see Gary,Mr Mack it's urgent please"She mutter "please"
"Okay but try to get up,I'll be back Asap"
Isabelle rest her head on the railing of the top floor,this how far she could get,she made a move to climb the stairs when she heard sirens,taking a full step back she glance down the place was a little high but the ambulance was vivid to the eye,tears fall from Isabelle eyes knowing someone she love is in there.
"Isabelle,you're bleeding"Xander touch her stomach suddenly that she flinch "You're wounded"
"Where's Gary?"Xander stilted "Where is he?"She cry.
"I'll get you some..."Xander stood up "Stay still,I'll carry you"
"Don't"
"Isabelle you need to be treated"
"I won't go with you if you don't tell me What happened to him,is he the one in the ambulance?"
"Isabelle you don't need to..."Isabelle stare resolutely at him "He was found on the third floor from his window,someone pushed him,Gary wouldn't be foolish enough to attempt suicide,it's impossible"Isabelle gasp.