It felt like a nightmare. A dream. I don't know what that was but whatever it was, it wasn't normal.
Are they all like that? the Lycan chiefs. Then they are powerful indeed. But mortal none the less.
When I stepped into the shower from the secret room heading for the bedroom, the movement of my image in the mirror caught my attention.
I turned to the mirror in full earnest. The red cuts on my neck were not just bruises, they were open injuries.
I have another bath, clean the injuries with methylated sprit, before glossing with penicillin ointment.
The house felt empty without Ruby. she had given the place a new life, a new energy. it felt as though she was somewhere in the house.
Maybe thinking about her will take my mind off the dreadful encounter I had with her father.
'She did save you again' he did say.
How did you save me Ruby? I whispered in the empty kitchen space.
I am starting my perilous morning with tea. If it fails to calm my nerves, perhaps I will try something stronger like coffee.
'Don't let him scare you kuga.'
" I can't believe I heard that."
'yeah kuga, is me, it's been a while'.
"it's been a while spooky."
"play along kuga. The music of life, play along…"
I dialed Diana's number as I pour the mag and heard for the garden. She picked on the fifth ring.
"hello," she answered briskly.
"how are you doing Diana?" I queried as civility demands, not that I have any incline towards the feelings of the lady at the other end. I take my grudges very seriously.
The was a "what do you expect, Kuga? Cut the diplomatic crap and tell me what you want."
"is she with you?"
"no, she is with her family now. last I check the sisters were with Rhymz at the hospital. Blah, blah… you fill in the blanks," she replied cheekily.
"could you send me the financial statements, cash flows, and auditors report of Wodmax as at three years ago?".
"why not come to the office next week"
"you mean after the annual anniversary."
"you bug your company well, Kuga. After the anniversary. There are new developments, lengthy discussion we can't handle on the phone."
"that's why I need a head start. I've been out for long."
" log on to the system?"
"I found my tally ERP password obsolete. Who run the system in my absence?"
"Nora Berg," she replied, causing me to burn my tongue at the mention of that name.
"what is the devil of a lady doing in finance?".
"she was the best option we had at the time. As you know bringing in a new employee to undergo training and all. Nora brought in her team, and they salvage the situation."
"I need her number?"
"I already did. A week after your return. you've gone rusty, Kuga."
"I can't work with miss Lilith Diana,". she laugh her first genuine laugh since we started the call.
"nothing you can't handle Kuga."
"why do I feel like I am being punished. The lady is a pain in the gut, and these days I wonder if I have any guts left."
"like I said, nothing you can't handle. she is A game."
"yeah, that's the part I dreaded most. Her smart ass on my heels at every turn."
"a chance to delegate more. Keep her busy…"
"except with Nora is always the other way round. the lady keeps you busy. meddling with every thing along her path..."
"she is one of the best Kuga. she wouldn't be if she wasn't meddling.... "
" why did you do it, Kuga? what are you? you know when you first call, I was expecting an apology for starters.,
Perhaps a lousy excuse as to why you did that....., you wanted something from me that's why you called."
"things happen Diana. You know those dummies deserve a lot worse than what I did give to them....
I am not sorry for anything. I will do it all over again if I got the chance."
Diana giggled her brains to nuts over the unrelenting comment.
"it's the timing Kuga, and place. I know you are in a lot of trouble. Those Lycan brothers will not sleep till they have your two kidneys bloody on a white plate." Diana said in utter repulsion.
"you are wrong about what I wanted. I haven't asked you what I want yet."
"what do you want kuga?"
"I want to meet with him. can you make that possible?"
"hermits don't share their solitude. I believe me, the man is not your every day John."
"that's why I need to see him. the man is probably my grandfather.
In the ship he did said things about me no one else could have known except my grandma."
"he will come to you, if you want him to… hey umn… maybe you should come hang over…"
"you have Mika around?"
"there is enough room for five people. We will be only three. Whats up with you and Mika?
"what have you stolen from the feminine, that get you into trouble with women all the time?
"that is the eternal price I pay for consorting with the femine. If she is not bitter, I wouldn't know the depths of her sweetness. i am in love with the feminine."
"do you want to learn a little secret from a girl? A ripe juicy fruit of the feminine in full bloom?"
"tell me your secret woman?"
"never ever read that verse to any other woman. I will keep your little secret, although I weary of it. I want to be the only woman to ever hear that from you."
"and I will honor your little secret Diana. Your wish is granted."
"not even Ruby...."
"the woman doesn't want me anywhere close to her."
"you did awaken in her most of her macabre fears and gave her a panic arrest."
"I am as guilty as the devil. Will she be coming to the anniversary?"
"she is the director of Wodmax."
"you want me to come crash at your place hah?"
"I won't repeat myself like a frustrated house wife." we both chuckled.
, "we gon see where the wing gon blow Diana."
My phone was buzzing again, it was Ruby. "I will catch up with you later in the course of the week Diana."
"alright Kuga. Whatcha back, batty boy," she was sniggering when she hang up, as I picked Rubie's call.
"I am sorry Ruby?". Silence. "hello Ruby, are you there?" another silence. But she was there.
"Ruby. Babe are you there?".
"I am here kuga, or Spooky or whoever the hell you think you are!. How dare you?
why act in such barbaric valor? I don't think I can endorse you at Wodmax anymore?"
"fair enough Ruby, I got a lot down my throat already. I did initially accept your offer because of you, and not because of the position at Wodmax."
"i don't want you around when I come to pack."
"give me a call when you are coming, and my shadow shall shimmer into thin air.
I will say sorry only once Ruby. Because that is what I feel, and I really meant it.
for the rest of the drama, you do with it as you pleased."
She laughs sarcastically. "what a sorry man you are kuga. In that tone and wording, even the most loving saint will not embrace your remorse.You are just that kind of a man…"
"what kind?".
"the kind govern by capricious cravings. Do you know the repercussions of your impulsive behavior?"
"I am tired of talking about it Ruby,"
"and you think I want to talk about any of it? the dread of it all? They could have kill you. they were about to butcher you, and put you in a body bag, your idiot," she said in a shaky sorrowful voice, and sucked in a deep breath.
.,..,..ah, maybe you think you know the clubs. Fine. I think you do, but not the people. I know what those boys are capable off. And they have powerful backing.
You fool! They will kill you like a dog, like they do anyone who stand in their way.
I want you out of this city, kuga. she said slowly before hanging up.
I walked to the tv and insert the pen drive containing the fotage into drive port on the side of the television. I wanted to watch the video."
The screen sprang alive showing myriad icons like a desktop. I Navigated my way to the drive icon and open. The five-minute video fortage happen to be the only file in the drive.
I open the video and stepped back to comfort my aching spine on the sofa.
I was entering the hall with Ruby. Ruby and kate saw each other as we walk towards the group.
The chandelier light was more concentrated in the center of the room. Looking at the number of people on the screan now I did say we were less than forty although I did estimated more than that in my earlier deductions.
Some people we lagging in the shadow of the background at the corners though.
I was with mike now.
he said something to me in a smile. It was an amiable gesture. Pleasant and measured, well calculated maybe.
No audio, even if there was, the myriad voices and music in the background would've easily submerge his voice.
And here comes the ferocious punches. I can't believe I did move that fast. The first punch was what undid mike, before the more savage once.
.
I saw Ruby rushed into the crowd, hysterical on her way through men and some of the ladies had their phones out, watching with intrigue.
Two broad shouldered men, maybe some of Mike's men, stepped in and Ruby battle with them ferociously, throw her self on my back as they pull me away from mike.
D'mick was coming in from one corner in the shower, brandishing his baseball bat with wicked smile….
I watch the video to the end. And repeated it for the third time. I still can believe I did that. the man on the screen; that was a totally different man.
But then, I did notice something as I watch the video a couple of times. there is someone smoking in the shadows, watching admidst the commotion without budging from his position.
Had he not moved away into the dark shadows of the adjoining corridors when the five minutes fortage played up to 4min 23sec, I wouldn't have known he was ever there.
I zoomed the paused video to see the image clearly. The flame of the regalia on the left hand is visible enough.
The rest of the image is blurry. But, i know only one man who smoked regealia with the left hand.
Nebulous. He was there. I may be wrong. But I found myself wishing it was him. I have so many questions for him.